AHN DEC 21 2017 by Alaska Highway News

THURSDAY, december 21, 2017 Vol. 74, No. 51

Serving Fort St. John, B.C. and Surrounding Communities

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mohr plans exit from fsjacl

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merry christmas, baby

Home for the holidays Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah and Happy Kwanzaa! However you choose to enjoy the winter holiday season, the staff of the Alaska Highway News wish you and yours the best in happiness and health as we close out 2017 and ring in 2018. The News office will be closed Dec. 25 to Jan. 2 to enjoy the holidays, with a year-in-review edition on stands and in mailboxes on Dec. 28. Our first edition of the new year will be out Jan. 4, 2018. Have a news tip? A letter in response to something you read here or about something happening in the community? Stay in touch. Email us at editor@ahnfsj.ca.

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matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca eve petford Photo

Level 5/6 tap dancers opened the Studio 2 Stage Christmas recital Dec. 17 with their routine to Christmas Sing Along.

Rural bus fund finds favour at Greyhound meet matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

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Greyhound Canada is proposing taxpayer subsidies to save rural bus service across Northern B.C., an idea that found the support of at least one local politician during a public hearing in Fort St. John on Dec. 14. Brad Sperling, chair of the Peace River Regional District, says the north deserves a subsidy to maintain services as Greyhound looks to exit Northeast B.C. entirely amid crippling losses. The province already subsidizes city transit, as well as ferry service to connect coastal communities, Sperling said. “As much as we don’t like subsidies, I think it’s time. We deserve it,” he said. “Central and Northern B.C. deserves the same thing that the Lower Mainland gets.” Sperling was one of fifteen people who attended the Passenger Transportation Board hearing, and one of just seven who registered to speak to Greyhound’s proposed cuts. Greyhound says its ridership in B.C. has plummeted 46 per cent since 2010, leading to $70 million in losses over the last six

matt preprost Photo

Local government officials made up three of the seven speakers who registered to appear before the Passenger Transportation Board in Fort St. John on Dec. 14, 2017.

years as it struggles to adapt to changing market conditions. In the Northeast alone, use of the service along the Alaska Highway between Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson dropped from 18,307 passengers in 2014 to 9,647 in 2017. Greyhound says its losing $35,000 a day on its passenger services in the province. Profits continue to drop as the province subsidizes the Northern Health medical travel bus, as well as BC Transit between Prince George and Terrace, company

officials said. At the same time, industry regulations have stymied the company’s efforts to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions that has seen the rise of ridesharing and air travel, and with no action by government on regulatory reform. A provincial fund for municipalities and First Nations could fund bids from private operators to continue bus service, the company said. However, no details or dollar figures were provided with the proposal.

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It may not be the worst intersection in town, but Fort St. John city councillors are looking to curb traffic troubles at 108 Street and the Alaska Highway frontage road. The jumbled junction is home to 36 conflict points, according to a recent study, and councillors authorized staff last week to start talks with nearby businesses and the province about installing a barrier to improve safety. “It’s definitely not the worst intersection in the city, but it is a little awkward though, so it is perceived that way,” said Victor Shopland, the city’s integrated services director. The city’s worst intersection where 100 Avenue meets the highway, with 85 collisions over the last five years. There have been only 42 accidents at the highway and 108 and 109 streets, with half of those happening at the frontage road intersection with 108 Street. In a report from Urban Systems, the city’s planning consultants, that intersection doesn’t meet today’s road standards. However, it would challenging and costly to redesign and rebuild its alignment to improve safety, the report notes. See INTERSECTION on A4

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A2 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

Local News

Contents Humour........................................ A2 Weather ....................................... A2 Local News .................................. A3 Court Docket .............................. A5 Opinion ....................................... A6 Sports ........................................... B1 Community ................................ B9 Faith ........................................... B12 Classifieds.................................. B14

claus exclusive Aleena, Connor, and Hunter Matwick pose with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Home 2 Suites by Hilton on Sunday, Dec. 17. The hotel hosted the Claus couple as part of My Special Time with Santa, to give children and adults, with special needs an exclusive chance to see them outside of busy shopping malls.

this week’s flyers M&M Meats London Drugs Jysk The Source Wal-Mart Home Hardware No Frills The Brick Save-On Foods Staples Dell Safeway Shoppers Drug Mart Peavy Canadian Tire BR Small

eve petford Photo

Facebook Is Evil—Two Top Facebook Guys Say So

GAS WATCH KNOWBEFOREYOUGO

FOOT FOUND: On the coast of Vancouver Island, another human foot washed ashore. Police are baffled, it’s an ongoing mystery. This is the 13th human foot (wearing a sneaker) that has washed ashore since 2007. Here’s what I think: I think there are people somewhere dancing the Hokey Pokey and losing their feet when they shake it all about.

Prevailing Prices Dawson Creek

FIGHTER FACT: Let’s chew on some news for the final time in 2017. (I’m sure 2018 will cook up some tasty topical treats.) The Canadian Government announced it has cancelled a deal to buy new fighter jets from the U.S. Instead Canada will buy used jets from Australia. The secondhand Australian planes are in good condition—apart from a few boomerang dents.

125.9

Cheese in a mousetrap can permanently cure a mouse’s headache.

Bob Snyder

FLU FACT: Flu season is here. It seems like everybody’s sick. At the North Pole, Santa sneezed his beard off. Medical experts always say it’s a bad flu season. They never say, “Don’t worry, flu is under control. Feel free to sneeze on someone.”

Chews the news

tator Kim Jong-Un, standing at the top of a mountain. They claim he climbed the 9,000 foot snow covered peak. In the photo, he’s wearing shiny black dress shoes. Next week: A picture of Kim on the moon—wearing a Polyester leisure suit.

FLU FUN: And speaking of flu, medical researchers in Newfoundland came out with a study that shows “Man Flu” is real. Men really do suffer more than women with flu symptoms. When I had the flu my wife had no sympathy. I was choking and spluttering and gurgling and mumbling deliriously. My wife said, “If I want to hear sounds like that I’ll put on a Bob Dylan album.”

WEIGHT WAIT: In an Internet survey, 21 per cent of Canadians say they try to lose weight in early December so they can pig out Alberta-B.C. border during the Holidays. Remember: If some111.9 CLOONEY CASH: Actor George Clooney body asks, “Have you lost weight?” what they t St. John, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment Canada https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-78_metric_e.html he once gave 14 close friends one are actually doing is retroactively calling you MEGHAN MEMO: Sources in Britain say Fort Nelson 129.9 reveals million dollars each for Christmas. I’ve lost fat. Prince Harry has told his future wife Meghan respect for George. Who else but a HollyMarkle to stop wearing short skirts. MemGroundbirch FARCEBOOK: A former top executive bers of the royal family are not allowed to 124.9 wood phony would have FOURTEEN close friends? Nobody real has 14 CLOSE friends. with Facebook says he feels “tremendous show their knees. This goes back to the somewhere there’s a guy who was #15 guilt” about what he helped create. He says, time when Prince Charles wore shorts and Chetwynd 129.9 And on George’s list. How do you think he felt? quote, “Social media is ripping society apart. his ugly knees distracted attention from his Home  Environment and natural resources  Weather information  WeatherIt weakens Local forecasts  British Columbia social connections instead of magnificent ears. Tumbler Ridge 128.9 NO NORTHERNER: B.C. Premier John strengthening them. Facebook was designed Horgan admitted its hard for him to relate to be addictive, for people who seek shallow SANTA SURVEY: In a survey, 60 per cent to the North because his cabinet does not popularity.” One of the founders of Facebook of parents with children under the age of five Prince George 108.9 have a member from up here. Where a politi- recently said the same things. Wow, I hope say their kids do not believe in Santa Claus. Observed at: Fort St. John MST Tuesday 19 December cian comes from can greatly influence their theAirport guilt 11:48 theseAM guys feel is soothed by their2017 That’s up from 40 per cent five years ago. Current Conditions Hythe t Nelson, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-83_metric_e.html 112.8 thinkingCanada and their ideas. Unfortunately, hundreds of millions of dollars. My parents didn’t wait long enough to tell many politicians talk like they come from a me the truth about Santa. When I heard the Condition: Mostly Cloudy Temperature: -10.2°C Wind: NE 6 km/h planet102.4 somewhere out there in space. CHEESE CHUCKLE: Ski champion Lindtruth I was so upset I jumped in my car and Grande Prairie 103.4 Pressure: kPa Dew point: -12.3°C Wind C… -14 sey Vonn says when she sprains a muscle drove away. Tendency: Rising Humidity: 84% Visibility: 16 km KOREA KRAZY: The North Korean news she eases the pain by spreading cheese on Bob Snyder can be reached at: Calgary 97.0 agency released a picture of their scary dic- it. Cheese is a great painkiller. For example: chewsthenews@fastmail.com

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Fort St. John

Fort St. John, BC

-10°C 94.5

Home  Environment and natural resources Edmonton

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Weather information

Fort Nelson, BC

Forecast Victoria Current Conditions 127.5 Tue

B.C. avg 19 Dec Alberta Avg.

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Pressure: 102.4 kPa Tendency: Falling 98.9

CAD$ per litre, prices as of December 19. Source: GasBuddy.com 40%

Chance of ﬂurries

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Mainly sunny

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Local forecasts

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Wed The Tue contents of this newspaper are protected by20 Dec 19 Dec copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes. -15°C -8°C 30%

HIGHWAY CONDITIONS PEACE REGION

Fri Sat Temperature: -16.4°C 22 Dec 23 Dec Dew point: -18.3°C Humidity: 85%

Chance of ﬂurries

Forecast Tonight notice Night General

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Issued: 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 19 December 2017 JOHNAirport 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 19 December 2017 Observed at:FORT Fort ST. Nelson

Condition: Mainly Sunny 125.7 21 Dec 20 Dec

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Sun Mon Wind: S 7 km/h 24 Dec 25 Dec Wind C… -22 Visibility: 48 km

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FOR CURRENT ROAD Sunny Sunny Sunny CONDITIONS IN THE PEACE REGION, Issued: 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 19 December 2017 FORT NELSONNight Night PLEASE SEE THE LINK BELOW.

http://www.drivebc.ca/

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All other rights are reserved Partly cloudy Chance of flurries Clear Clear Clear Clear -14°C -7°C -8°C -12°C -16°C -17°C and commercial use is -6°C 60% prohibited. To make any use of Mainly sunny Mainly sunny Chance of flurries Sunny Sunny Sunny Sunny this material you must first obtain the permission of the Today A mix of sun and cloud. 40 percent chance of flurries early this afternoon. Temperature steady near minus 10. owner of the copyright. Night Tonight Night Night Night Tonight Partly cloudy. Low minus Night 15.

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Environment Canada Local For further information contact Wed, 20 Dec Mainly Weather Forecasts the managing editor at sunny. Wind becoming west 30 km/h gusting to 50 early in the afternoon. High minus 8. (250)-785-7669 Night Cloudy with 30 percent chance of ﬂurries. Windy. Low minus 8.

250-785-5631 Thu, 21 Dec -19°C Night

A mix of-9°C sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of ﬂurries. High-25°C minus 7. -11°C -16°C Clear. Low 60%minus 13.

Fri, 22 Dec Night

Sunny. High minus 7. Clear. Low minus 10.

Today Sat, 23 Dec Tonight Night

A mix of sun and7.cloud. Becoming sunny this afternoon. High minus 14. Sunny. High minus Clear. minus Clear. LowLow minus 15.19.

Wed, 20 Dec Sun, 24 Dec Night

Mainly sunny. Wind Sunny. High minus 9. becoming west 20 km/h gusting to 50 in the afternoon. High minus 6. Cloudy with 60 percent chance of ﬂurries. Windy. Low minus 9.

Clear

Thu, 21 Dec Night

Chance of ﬂurries

Clear

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Merry Christmas Clear

Clear

From the Management and Staff

A mix of sun and cloud with 60 percent chance of ﬂurries. High minus 7. Clear. Low minus 11.

HOLIDAY HOURS Closed Sunday Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 2017-12-19, 12:03 PM Open Wednesday, Dec. 27, 8am - 5pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 A3

Local News

Mohr to step down from ACL

CITY BEAT

matt preprost

Updates from December 11, 2017 Council Meetings

editor@ahnfsj.ca

After 16 years at the helm of Fort St. John’s Association for Community Living, Cindy Mohr plans to move on. Mohr’s resignation takes effect March 31, 2018, and the non-profit agency’s board of directors has started the search for her successor. “I feel like when you’re in this position it’s a bit of a privilege,” Mohr said. “When the time has come, you need to recognize when you’ve done all you can and when it’s time for someone else to come in with renewed energy and spark.” Mohr first took on the job in 2002 after serving as a board director, excited by the prospect of becoming involved in a different capacity. Her biggest task at the time? Educating the community about what the agency does and working on both its values and its perception among the public. “It’s a big position with lots of responsibility,” Mohr said. “I believed in what the organization was doing and was excited to be a part of it in a different capacity.” Since then, Mohr has helped increase contract revenues by $1 million, launched the agency’s signature Of The Vine fundraiser—part of a 92 per cent increase in fundraising revenues—all the while implementing a home share program and leading the construction of a four-plex as part of an semi-independent living program, among other achievements. Today, the ACL serves more than 60 community members with developmental disabilities. “Cindy has played a critical role in

LONG SERVICE AWARDS Council presented a Long Service Award to Jeremy Garner, Roads Superintendent, in recognition of his 15 years of service as an employee of the City of Fort St. John.

BYLAWS • A Public Hearing was held for Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2404, 2017. The intent of the bylaw was to include ‘liquor store’ as an allowable use in the C-1 Neighbourhood Commercial zone for a specific property located at the northwest corner of 112 Avenue and 86 Street in order to facilitate the development of a convenience store and liquor store. Following the Public Hearing, at which many members of the community expressed their opposition to the proposed amendment, Council chose not to adopt the bylaw meaning that ‘liquor store’ will not be an allowable use in the C-1 Neighbourhood Commercial zone. • Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2382, 2017 (Parkwood Neighbourhood Plan) was read for the second time by title only as amended. A Public Hearing is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Monday January 8, 2018 in City Hall Council Chambers to allow the public an opportunity to provide input on the bylaw. • Fees and Charges for Various Municipal Services Amendment Bylaw No. 2406, 2017 was introduced and read for the first three times by title only. The purpose of the bylaw is to update the existing fee schedule to reflect current process as well as the administrative costs involved to process chauffeur permits. The bylaw is scheduled to be adopted at the January 8, 2018 Regular Council meeting. • Development Approval Procedures Bylaw No. 2370, 2017 was introduced and read for the first three times by title only. The bylaw outlines the overall procedures for planning-related applications including Official Community Plan and Zoning Amendments; Temporary Use Permits; Development Variance Permits; Development Area Permits; and Subdivisions. The bylaw is scheduled to be adopted at the January 8, 2018 Regular Council meeting.

Cindy Mohr

the development and success of the organization, and while we will miss her and her inspiring leadership, we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavours,” ACL president Angela Telford said in a statement on behalf on the board. “We will miss her knowledge but know that she will be leaving the FSJACL in a strong position with qualified personnel, strong programs and a solid connection with the community.” Looking ahead, Mohr is unsure of her next steps, but said she is always willing to help. As for the future of the agency, Mohr says social enterprise and housing will be the key to its continued success. “We recognize in this sector that’s one of the biggest barriers, finding that housing to become more independent,” Mohr said. “We can’t always rely on the government. We need to be part of that.”

Council shoots down moose mascot matt preprost

AWARDS • Council received a Canadian Award for Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association recognizing excellence in governmental accounting and financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2016. This represents a significant accomplishment by a municipal government and its management. In addition, a Canadian Award for Financial Reporting Achievement was also presented to the individual designated by the government as primarily responsible for the City having earned the award, City Manager Dianne Hunter. • Council received the Community of the Year Award from Clean Energy BC in recognition of the Passive House, Micro-Hydro, and Energy Literacy Projects.

HB HEALTH AND WELLNESS SPA LIQUOR PRIMARY LICENCE APPLICATION HB Health and Wellness Spa has applied to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for a liquor primary licence to oﬀer alcoholic beverages to patrons scheduled for a spa treatment. In accordance with provincial legislation, comments from the public and local government were required as part of the application process. A consultation period was conducted however no comments were received from members of the public. Council passed a resolution stating that it recommends the issuance of the liquor licence with the service hours starting at 12:00 noon. The LCLB will now make its decision whether or not to approve the licence.

TEMPORARY SNOWBOARD PARK AT TOBOGGAN PARK Council approved a local company, Victory Skateboards, to construct a temporary snowboard park at Toboggan Hill as part of the 2018 High on Ice Festival in February 2018. Incorporating this new idea into the City’s largest winter festival will enhance the overall event and a snowboard competition will entice a new, typically younger demographic to attend. The snowboard park will be approximately 400 meters in length with three to five structures placed along the run. Early installation will allow for people who wish to join the competition ample time to practice and will further provide the community an opportunity to try snowboarding as a winter activity. There are no financial implications to the City of Fort St. John for the construction and maintenance of the temporary snowboard park. Victory Skateboards will solicit financial sponsorship(s) for the materials and construction of the structures.

INTERSECTION SAFETY – 108th STREET AT ALASKA ROAD NORTH Over the past number of years, the public has expressed concerns about the intersection of 108th Street at Alaska Road North. Staff provided options for Council’s consideration and Council authorized staff to enter into discussions with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and affected businesses regarding the installation of no-post barriers on 108th Street at Alaska Road North.

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS A Committee of the Whole meeting is tentatively scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Monday January 8, 2018 to review the proposed 2018 Operating Budget. The Regular Council meeting will follow at 3:00 p.m. A Public Hearing for Oﬃcial Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2382, 2017 will be held at 6:00 p.m. All meetings will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers and the public is welcome to attend.

editor@ahnfsj.ca

The City of Fort St. John is tired of being mistaken for local media—so much so that councillors rejected a proposal to change its mascot to a hockey-loving moose at a meeting Dec. 11. Instead, they sent city staff back to the drawing board to give its current elf mascot, Frozen John, a refresh, including a new set of clothes and perhaps even a name change. Coun. Byron Stewart said he was too troubled to vote for a moose when the city has enough issues being confused with a local news site that borrows its name from the city’s slogan, “the energetic city.” “They are connected directly with Moose FM,” Stewart said. “So, if we’re going to have a moose, and be the energetic city, who’s doing our marketing? Moose FM or us? “I see the numbers, but the majority of the numbers say something else besides a moose. I’m not comfortable going ahead with a moose.” The city launched a public survey in October to help build a new mascot, with a moose topping the character list at 45 per cent of responses, with another 33 per cent suggesting the new mascot wear a hockey jersey. Rounding out the top five choices were a fox (14.8 per cent), a deer (9.7 per cent), sunshine (4.5 per cent), and a lightning bolt (7 per cent). Twenty-eight per cent of the 331 responders suggested some other sort of character, even keeping Frozen John, or even getting him a sidekick.

• Building Amendment Bylaw No. 2407, 2017 was introduced and read for the ﬁrst three times by title only. This amendment to the City’s Building Bylaw removes sections to bring the bylaw into compliance with the BC Building Act and also ﬁxes some clerical errors. The bylaw is scheduled to be adopted at the January 8, 2018 Regular Council meeting.

Mayor, Council and staﬀ of the City of Fort St. John would like to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season!

www.fortstjohn.ca

The city had been looking to introduce the new mascot at this winter’s High On Ice festival. But Stewart said the city should keep Frozen John, give him a fresh set of clothes, and carry on. “He’s identifiable, he’s fun,” Stewart said. Coun. Lilia Hansen suggested the city consider a new name for the elf while it considers a new wardrobe. Frozen John is the colloquial name for a hill near Fish Creek where a trapper, coming in to town with furs, froze to death, however, the details of when that happened are unclear. The incident is mentioned in a North Peace Trivia book published in 1985. Mayor Lori Ackerman agreed the city should reconsider having a moose for a mascot, noting Jerry the Moose is also the mascot of BC Parks. Residents continue to contact her after reading something on the Energetic City news site believing it’s city-operated when, in fact, it’s not, she added. “We are the energetic city and we didn’t get our intellectual property in place so that’s been captured,” she said.

FROM 0-100K VISITS FASTER THAN ANY OTHER MEDIA VEHICLE.

In a recent survey of 2,461 Canadians, when it comes to driving traffic to automotive websites, or visits to a dealership, print and online newspapers rank highest.

They outperform TV, radio,

magazines, autoTRADER, Kijiji and social media. If you’re looking for better ROI from your advertising, perhaps more of your “I” should be in newspapers.

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A4 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

City wants to increase voter turnout in 2018

GOODIES ON HIS SLEIGH

MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

In the 2014 municipal election in Fort St. John, just 15 per cent of voters bothered to hit the ballot boxes. The city is hoping to see a better turnout than that when residents return to the polls in 2018—but don’t expect online voting any time soon. At their last meeting of the year Dec. 11, city councillors approved a plan to broaden advertising efforts in a bid to increase voter engagement and turnout. Among the proposed measures are drive through polling stations, “pop up shops” at city events, blanketing more local businesses with election advertising, including leaflets with tax and utility bills, and getting into schools to talk about the importance of voting. This, on top of host of advertising already in newspapers and on radio and the internet, as well as in city facilities and on transit buses. “We already do a lot of this and still people say, ‘we don’t know we have an election happening,’” Mayor Lori Ackerman said. “I wish I had a wand that made it better.” Fort St. John has a history of poor voter turnout. The September byelection saw just 7.57 per cent of eligible voters

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

It took two Salvation Army sleighs to carry a loaded lot of toys out from the Century 21 offices Dec. 15. Hundreds of toys and pyjamas were donated by the community as part of the company’s second Christmas toy drive, and will help fill Salvation Army hampers this season.

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cast a ballot, while turnout levels sat at 21 per cent in 2011. Earlier this year Ackerman had proposed creating an official voter list as a possible solution. However, only a handful of municipalities in B.C. have one, and city manager Dianne Hunter noted in a report to council that voter lists have little to no impacts on turnout levels. “The main reason these communities continue to have lists is based on the elected officials desire for a list for campaign purposes … even for this purpose the list has limited value as the voter’s contact information has been removed,” Hunter wrote, noting increased communication efforts would prove more effective. Coun. Bruce Christensen said it was time to move to online voting. But that solution isn’t simple either—provincial legislation doesn’t exist to allow it to happen. “There is sure no lack of participation on social media about any issue,” Christensen said. “I would suggest that if we had that same type of ability when it comes to voting, our voter participation would increase. I don’t know how to do it, or when it can happen, but I think that’s where we got to go.” Municipal elections take place Oct. 20, 2018.

“Unfortunately, the trends over the last several years don’t make it viable for a private carrier to survive off the fare box alone,” Greyhound senior vicepresident Stuart Kendrick said. “There is a need for community connectivity and there’s a need for a fund funded by the government to allow connectivity. There is a social mandate that needs to be addressed. Greyhound can no longer carry that social mandate burden.” Either way, losing the service in the Northeast would hurt small businesses and vulnerable persons who rely on the bus, speakers told the board. Amanda Trotter, executive director of the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society, said her clients rely on Greyhound because of their low incomes. More importantly, the society relies on Greyhound when it needs to send clients out of town for safety reasons when fleeing an abusive situations. “To be able to do this within hours is essentially important for us,” she said. “If we are unable to do this we increase their risk … that’s completely unacceptable to us.” Fort St. John Mayor Lori Ackerman said bus routes are important for residents to access a wide range of services and for businesses to do business. Social inequalities are amplified in the north, Ackerman said, and losing Greyhound could shut out residents outside larger centres like Fort St. John from coming to town for education, healthcare, or other services. “We must ensure our vulnerable population has access to good transportation that allows them to access those services,” she said. Small and medium-sized businesses,

meanwhile, rely on the bus for cargo delivery, Ackerman said. “While it may be a small auto store along the highway, the reality is that if they cannot bring in parts for their customers, their customers will go elsewhere and they will shut down,” she said. “It may be one auto supplier, but looking at the entire length of the route it could add up to 10. And perhaps those 10 are getting parts from one source, and that impacts that source in a larger community.” Other speakers at the hearing included Chetwynd Mayor Merlin Nichols, who recalled being put on the Greyhound as a young boy and shipped to school in California some 63 years ago. “Greyhound, at that time, was virtually the only transportation option that we had here in the Northeast. My parents didn’t even own a vehicle, so if we had to go somewhere it had to be on the bus,” he said. “The bus has been a very important factor in our economy at least for the last 63 years. That’s as long as I can remember. Where do we go from here? How do we maintain public bus service? That’s what I think we need to focus on.” Ken Soderquist, a retired Greyhound agent whose family operated the Fort St. John depot between 1962 and 2005, said the bus “can never compete against the car” in 2017. But, there’s still a need for buses in the north, where distances are too great between communities, he said. “They take our kids to see grandma, they take grandma to see her kids,” he said. “They take our kids to college and back. The bus also takes the new guy to his new job.” The Passenger Transportation Board expects to issue its decision in early 2018.

Traffic advisory

WAC Bennett Dam Crest Road We will be closing the road across the WAC Bennett Dam. This full closure is necessary to complete the placement of rip-rap on the upstream side of the dam as part of the Rip-rap upgrade project. Where:

About 1.5 km west of the dam on Utah Road and continuing east of the dam to the intersection of the dam crest road and the Central Control Building access road (Canyon Drive)

When:

Tuesday, January 16 to Monday, April 16, 2018

Rendering of a proposed barrier for 108 Street and the north Alaska Highway frontage road.

Time:

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

INTERSECTION FROM A1

This project is an investment in maintaining the safety and reliability of the BC Hydro system. Thanks for your patience while we complete this important work. For more information, you may contact us at 250 561 4858.

5460

Instead, Urban Systems recommends installing either a raised centre median that would completely eliminate left turn traffic on Alaska Road North, median islands on the west and east sides of the frontage road that would still restrict left turns but allow emergency vehicles to better navigate the intersection, or some mix of both. Installing a centre median would be

the easiest and cheapest option for the city, Shopland said, but could bring increased traffic into business parking lots from motorists either looking to take a shortcut or turn around. The intersection falls under the jurisdiction of the ministry of transportation, though the city is responsible for its maintenance and would be responsible for installing of any barriers, if approved.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 A5

Local News

peace region

court docket A summary of what went on in Peace Region courts for the week ending Dec. 15. Fort St John Law Courts • Vashti Megan Woods (born 1983) sentenced to 28 days in jail, handed a one-year probation order, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for theft $5,000 or under. Woods was sentenced to 60 days in jail, handed a one-year probation order, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for a second charge of theft $5,000 or under. Woods was given another 60 days in jail, handed a one-year probation order, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for a third charge of theft $5,000 or under. Woods was also sentenced 30 days in jail, handed a oneyear probation order, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for breach of undertaking. • Joel Jasper Thomas (born 1992) received a one-year probation order and was assessed a $100 victim surcharge for possession of property obtained by crime and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Thomas was also assessed a $100 victim surcharge for breach of undertaking or recognizance.

• Teffny Ailene Ellis (born 1987) was handed a conditional discharge with a one-year probation order and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for assaulting a peace officer.

• Adam Roland Hook (born 1981) was fined $500, handed a one-year driving ban and assessed a $75 victim surcharge for driving with a suspended licence.

Fort Nelson Law Courts

Dawson Creek Law Courts

• Penny Marie Komish (born 1968) was handed 24 months of probation with a suspended sentence, ordered to pay $2,550 in restitution, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for fraud over $5,000. • Gary Brandon Reno (born 1995) was given 64 days in jail, handed a one-year probation order, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for break and enter into a dwelling with intent to commit. • Ryan Eric Whitehead (born 1995) was ordered to provide a DNA sample, handed a one-year probation order, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for sexual assault. • Bryan Gary Capot Blanc (born 1983) was handed a one-year probation order and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for assault causing bodily harm. Capot Blanc handed another one-year probation order and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for another charge of assault. • Kenneth Jason Gilmore (born 1988) was handed a conditional discharge with a one-year probation order and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for assault.

• Troy Richard Brown (born 1967) was fined $1,500, handed a 12-month criminal driving ban and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for failing or refusing to provide a sample. • Christopher Dean Sharron (born 1989) was fined $1,000, handed a one-year criminal driving ban, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for failure to stop at accident with vehicle/vessel. Sharron was handed a second one-year criminal driving ban and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for being in care or control of a vehicle/vessel with a blood alcohol level over .08. • Jesse Michel Redwood (born 1991) was ordered to provide a DNA sample, handed 18 months of probation, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for assault causing bodily harm. • Derek Kirk Neilsen (born 1984) was handed 12 months of probation and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for breaking and entering while committing an indictable offence. — Tom Summer

Grinches target mail At least five community mailboxes around Fort St. John have been the target of holiday Grinches this week, according to police. RCMP received their first call about the thefts Dec. 17, which appear to be centralized in the northeast quadrant of the city. Boxes have been targeted at 118 Avenue and 86A Street; 89A street and 118A Avenue; 98 Street and 115 Avenue; 86 Street and 113 Avenue; and the Alaska Highway at the 261 Road. “We’re asking people to be vigilant and proactive,” Sgt. Dave Tyreman said. “Everyday after you come home from work, check your mailbox. If you’re not checking it, get someone else to.” Because mail is delivered in the morning, chances are the thieves are targeting the boxes under the cover of night, Tyreman said. The first incident was reported to police after camera footage near one of the mailboxes captured a suspicious vehicle pulling up just before 3 a.m. Mail theft is a criminal offence, and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The Christmas season as a whole is prime time for Grinches, said Tyreman. He cautioned shoppers to keep valuables out of their cars, or to at least hide them. “Just make sure it’s in your trunk not visible to anybody, so you’re not advertising, ‘Hey, break my window,’” he said. For residents who are travelling out of town for the holidays, Tyreman suggested having a neighbour park a vehicle in their driveway, to shovel if it snows, and to put footprints to the front door, on top of ensuring a property is well lit, both inside and out.

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A6 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

Opinion

Published every Thursday at 9916 - 98th Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3T8 by Glacier Media Tel: 250-785-5631 Fax: 250-785-3522 Online at alaskahighwaynews.ca

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Editorially Speaking

or some, it’s a joyous Christmas present delivered early; for others, it’s a sad sack of coal. Premier John Horgan made his long-awaited decision on Site C last week, making his government, as some point out, the fourth to signal approval for the controversial project. And, much like my dreamily eerie prediction, Horgan’s reluctant green light was largely predicated on the premise that Christy Clark had succeeded in pushing the point past no return. Clark, no doubt, will be laughing at Horgan’s admission every day to her grave, and it makes the whole back-and-forth letter writing fracas between the two of them last summer seem like grandiose political posturing for nothing. Perhaps the public should have caught Horgan’s decision foreshadowed in the terms of reference set for the utilities commission’s review of the project on Aug. 2, buried in paragraph 3, subsection (e): “in carrying out its inquiry, the commission must be guided by the understanding that the inquiry is not a reconsideration of decisions made in the environmental assessment process or by statutory decision makers or the courts.” Or, perhaps, the public could have picked up on the cue Horgan sent out Nov. 4 during his party’s annual gathering: “Premier John Horgan electrifies

audience of New Democrats at their 45th Convention.” In an earlier column, I mulled the possibility that a decision on Site C had likely been made well before the utilities commission delivered its final report to government, well before two ministers were sent here to engage Treaty 8 First Nations and local governments after that report was delivered, and well before there was any talk of assembling an expert panel to brief the government cabinet on its options before government and ministry staff did the same. Regardless of anyone’s opinion on Site C or Horgan’s ultimate decision, it’s hard to fault the premier for the layers of diligence he built around his review of the project. He’s likely right that the Liberals would have not ordered a review of the project on its watch if still in government; at the very least, Horgan’s four-month review brought longstanding concerns about budget overruns and geotechnical delays at the dam site under the harsh light of scrutiny and made it front page news across the province. Without a review, those concerns may very well have been noted only briefly in quarterly project updates to the utilities commission and seen by few. Still, for the time being, Site C remains a project with an unclear sense of identity. In our interview

with Horgan, the premier was adamant the project’s power will be used some day, even though he admits his decision to continue building was based on a low forecasted demand. Just who will buy the power outside B.C., and from where, remain big question marks—conversations no doubt for the coming weeks, months, and years. I imagine the government will be pursuing federal infrastructure dollars for interties to our neighbours on all sides. There’s Clark, again, chuckling. And just how much revenue Site C power will earn the province, and how the province will ultimately pay for the dam— up from $6.6 billion in 2010 to $10.7 billion today—also remain open questions. The premier was non-commital as to whether he will continue a Liberal plan to sell green bonds to finance the project, which, I presume, would lower any potential impact on hydro rates. Keep in mind, when Site C was in the news in the 1980s, the Americans were supposed to pay for the dam since they wanted the power. Locally, Horgan’s decision has bought him favour with many who thought he’d kill the project; at the same time he jeopardized his relationship with at least two Treaty 8 First Nations who were expecting a different outcome, and who scoffed at his claims of embracing reconciliation and rights guaranteed to Indigenous

people by the United Nations. Make no mistake that while Horgan’s decision has inched Site C one step closer to closure than it was in the fall, the courts have yet to rule on whether the Site C’s impacts justify any alleged infringement on treaty rights— the last domino to likely fall in this half-century saga. And which way it lands is anyone’s guess. West Moberly Chief Roland Willson and Prophet River Chief Lynette Tsakoza fully expect their case to be heard. Whether the courts grant an injunction to stop work in the interim won’t be seen until the new year, and it’s important to note the courts have refused to do so with similar requests over the last three years. Until a final court ruling on infringement is made, the Site C saga continues, but still some have already revived talks of who the finished dam will be named after. Some have suggested Clark. Others have suggested Campbell, seeing as Gordon Campbell started this game of dominoes back in 2010. Given all the animosity, the posturing, the uncertainty, and everything in between, I wouldn’t be surprised if the dam forever remains as its known now: Site C, one of some five sites along the Peace River in B.C. first identified for hydroelectric power in 1958. Matt Preprost is managing editor of the Alaska Highway News. Email him at editor@ahnfsj.ca

All I Want For Christmas is a New Bridge Deck

ear Santa, It’s me Jeff. I haven’t written you in a long time but I hope you will take the time to read a letter from a 37-year-old man because us adults also need some love, too, from time to time. I am writing to let you know that I have a Christmas wish and it is for selfish reasons. But the good news is this wish will benefit everyone else who lives up here, too, so I hope this doesn’t bump me over to your naughty list. We have this bridge over the Peace River called the Taylor Bridge. This bridge, as you might remember, caused a bit of a stir when it collapsed in 1957. It appears this section of the Peace River valley is not great for building bridges, highways, or even dams for that matter. Funny enough, in an area that is quite diversified when it comes to people and politics, there is one issue that everyone, I mean everyone, agrees upon. The bridge needs to be replaced. A couple times a year, sometimes more, the bridge is reduced to single lane traffic for almost a month in order for the bridge deck to be welded. They call it maintenance,

Jeff Richert COMMUNITY VIEWS

I call it a Band-Aid solution. The welding creates some serious delays and after too many times sitting in the traffic lineups to get across the bridge it started to make me think: if the Peace Region has generated so many benefits for the people of British Columbia in the form of electricity, natural gas, lumber, agricultural products, etc., and the Taylor Bridge is an important lifeline to more northern communities, don’t we deserve a new one? Why did the people in the Lower Mainland get new bridges and we didn’t? Haven’t we done enough to get new a bridge, too? I think the people of the Peace Region deserve some action on this issue. For some strange reason, our provincial government doesn’t seem interested in

giving us any sort of concrete action or plan whatsoever. When I queried our local Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure office about the issue, I received a lovely canned response—you know, those responses from government that never give you any details or meaningfully answers your questions. I’m willing to be reasonable here, so maybe we can find some middle ground. How about getting a new bridge deck? A new bridge deck could be a cheaper option to replacing a bridge and maybe, just maybe, address the many concerns that revolve around the bridge. So Santa, if you could spare a few moments and some of that spare Christmas magic that you possess, please help a fella out because all I want for Christmas is a new bridge deck. Merry Christmas, Jeff Jeff Richert lives in Taylor and ran as an independent candidate in Peace River North in the 2017 B.C. election.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 A7

op-ed

Views on the News liberals rushing timeline on cannabis RE: ‘Conservatives in a haze on cannabis legislation,’ Alaska Highway News, Dec. 7 I am writing in response to the recent opinion piece by Jeff Richert regarding the federal Conservatives’ concerns with the Liberal government’s plan to legalize marijuana by July 1, 2018. Before I address my concerns with the legislation and the rushed timeline the Liberal government has put forward to implement it, I would first like to correct a factual error made by Mr. Richert with regards to a firearms rights petition. The petition process in general is often misunderstood. Petitions are a way for citizens to ask a direct question of the government and are a fundamental part of our democratic system. Since I support a petitioner’s democratic right to have their voice heard, I will table it in the House of Commons regardless of the subject matter and whether or not I agree with the petitioner. When I first started as a Member of Parliament, a fellow MP and friend (and a decorated RCAF pilot) Laurie Hawn gave me this good advice: “regardless if we agree or not with a petition, it is our job to table it.” The petition Mr. Richert refers to was put forward by a citizen, Marc Bennett, and in my duty as a Member of Parliament, I presented the petition in the House of Commons. To be completely clear, it wasn’t “my” petition, but Marc Bennett’s. The petition asked that a firearm’s classification be returned to non-restricted status, NOT unrestricted as written by Mr. Richert. To obtain a restricted or non-restricted firearm, one must go through a rigorous process which includes applying for a firearms licence, going through a thorough screening process and police background checks, and going through the necessary firearms safety training courses. As co-chair of the Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus and as a firearms owner, I will always support the Canadian outdoor traditions of hunting, fishing and sports shooting. I also continue to support a system that provides safe, licensed firearms ownership for lawabiding Canadians, while also ensuring that criminals do not have easy access to firearms. With regards to the Liberal legislation to legalize marijuana in Canada, my opposition is based off the concerns of doctors, scientists, and law enforcement officials who have all said that this plan is being rushed. Most concerning to me, especially as a father of four, is the effects marijuana can have on the development of the young brain. The current Liberal bill recommends 18 as the federal minimum, with provinces having the power to raise the age. However, medical professionals have testified that the brain continues to develop until the age of 25. According to the Canadian Medical Association, increased use of marijuana before the age of 25 increases one’s risk of developing mental disorders (such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety) by up to 30 per cent compared to those who have not used marijuana under the age of 25.

As Dr. Laurent Marcoux of the Canadian Medical Association testified at the Standing Committee on Health, “We still want to set the age at 21, and maybe 25, because the damage done to the brain will be permanent.” I am also concerned about questions surrounding how to test for drug impaired driving as there is currently no way to accurately measure a driver’s level of impairment roadside. There is concern that once marijuana is legalized, we will see an increase in the number of drivers who try to drive while drug impaired, which will almost certainly lead to more accidents. In fact, in the United States, AAA found a large increase of marijuana users involved in fatal accidents after Washington State legalized marijuana. Police have also warned that under this rushed deadline, law enforcement will not have had enough time to get the specialized training needed to enforce the anticipated changes. As Deputy Commissioner Rick Barnum, Investigation and Organized Crime, OPP testified at committee, “…if legislation is ready to go in July 2018, policing will not be ready to go August 1; it’s impossible. The damage that can be done between the time of the new legislation and police officers being ready to enforce the law in six months or a year can make it very hard for us to ever regain that foothold.” I have heard similar statements from many within our communities who will be responsible for implementing this legislation once it becomes law. With the rushed timeline, they simply will not be ready to adequately enforce the changes and there are still too many unanswered questions. That is why I continue to remain opposed to the current Liberal legislation to legalize marijuana. —Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament, Prince GeorgePeace River-Northern Rockies

Hospital blessed them with miracle workers On behalf of Shelley Chmelyk and myself, we would like to thank all of the Fort St.

John hospital staff in whole, for the expert service that we were provided with for the 8.5 months of our stay. When we got back from PG, we were both terrified that she would not get past her bone cancer, let alone survive. We cannot explain in words how thankful we are for the miracle workers that we were blessed with. God bless you all as you did for us. — Tom Herridge and Shelley Chmelyk, Fort St. John

wants land returned This is an open letter to John Horgan, the Premier of British Columbia. I am requesting my expropriated land returned to me. Parts of seven parcels of my husband’s and my property were taken without our consent by full expropriation December 12, 2016, for the Site C Dam project. In light of all of the information regarding the economics of the project that is now public because of the BCUC Site C Inquiry, it is known that the project that is being pushed forward is not in the best interest of all British Columbians. Expropriation is in place for projects that are for the public good. Site C is now known to not be economical for the public good; rather it will leave the BC Hydro ratepayer with an impossible debt. I am hereby requesting the return of all of my expropriated land to myself and my husband and I am requesting that an immediate stop be put to any further work done by BC Hydro or their contractors on all of these properties. In light of the economics, I hereby state that the government now knows that this expropriation is in fact breaking the expropriation laws as expropriation is only in place “for the best interest of the public.” In light of the economics, it is now known that these lands are better for the public to be returned to the lawful owner and returned to agriculture use. If these two requests are denied, all of British Columbia should be in an outrage as this means that the BC Government will expropriate any private

HaveYOUR

property for any reason (theft), not just for the good of the public. This is not supposed to happen in a democratic country such as beautiful Canada. Please forward this to any person or authority that has jurisdiction over B.C. expropriation. Please respond immediately to this urgent request. The B.C. government should not be allowed to expropriate for political party reasons—if they do we no longer have a democracy. — Clara London, a Bear Flat rancher

a failed Party RE: ‘Site C dam will be completed,’ Alaska Highway News, Dec. 14 Premier Horgan and the NDP Caucus, You and your government have failed the citizens of British Columbia. Cancellation of Site C was handed you by the BCUC and the McDougall report. Tell us what the backroom deals are! Is there money from the contractors moving in the backroom? Are unelected appointees dictating provincial policy? What is it? What a stupid decision! Our public utility is broke and broken. Enron style accounting is the name of the game. The people’s total debt obligation is $76 billion and counting. The $50 billion IPPs are a vehicle to bilk money from the taxpayers. The project is totally unnecessary with a minimum of eight failed purposes being provided by proponents in the last seven years. Site C will be the economic and environmental disaster of this century and you will be its final author. Have the engineers a SNC-Lavalin provided you with a written statement that the project is safe and stable? I doubt it. Please provide the taxpayers with the evidence. Has your mysterious accountant provided you with evidence contradicting the acknowledged experts? It is not to late to cancel Site C and be honest with the taxpayers of this province. Stop Site C or your party will

become a footnote in the annuls of British Columbia. Is there any integrity remaining in politics? In sincere dismay, — Arthur A. Hadland, Baldonnel

FSJ COMMUNITY GUIDE LEAVES VISITOR WANTING I was visiting Fort St. John recently and picked up a copy of the Fort St. John and area community guide published by the local Chamber of Commerce. The guide shows many photos of the beautiful scenery in the area including the Peace River valley and talks about quality of life and recreational opportunities available to the area’s residents. As a business publication it mentions the various industries of the region, including agriculture. It also mentions the Site C Clean Energy Project. The guide states that Site C is being built to meet the province’s long term electricity needs and talks about how much power it will produce and what the contribution to the economy will be. What I found interesting is that it glosses over the high level of controversy surrounding this project. The landscapes and activities that the guide is promoting will be negatively affected, if not outright destroyed, by the construction of the dam. Some of the best agricultural land in the country will be lost to the reservoir. The Chamber of Commerce seems to suggest that you can have it both ways; that you can allow every industrial project to proceed while keeping the integrity of the natural environment and the quality of life and activities it supports. Many Fort. St. John residents are opposed to the Site C project. They question if the project is necessary. It is a complex issue with many unanswered questions. By stating only the positive impacts of the project and totally omitting any mention of the undeniable and significant negative impacts, the Chamber of Commerce does the people of the region a disservice. —Al Macleod, Kamloops

Do you have something to say or a story to share? The Alaska Highway News wants to hear from you. Email us at editor@ahnfsj.ca with “Have Your Say” in the subject line. Letters should be kept under 300 words, and must be accompanied by your full name, city, and a daytime phone number (for verification purposes only). We reserve the right to edit letters for length, taste, accuracy and libel. Letters will be published each Thursday.

A8 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

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LOCAL NEWS

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A10 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

Local News

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From all of us May your holiday be trimmed with peace, joy and goodwill.

Alaska Highway News

s e h s i W t s e m r a W Sending you and yours tidings of comfort and joy at Christmastime! May the spirit of the season warm your heart and home at the holidays and throughout the New year.

yourlife@dfcl.ca • 250-785-9603

SEASON’S GREETINGS

to our neighbours, associates, customers and friends. Your kindness and generosity during this past year have made serving you and this community a real joy. We want to say thank you and wish you the very best this Holiday Season.

brandt.ca 1-888-227-2638

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We appreciate all the goodness you have brought to our year.

A12 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

from all of us

Wishing your Family a

MerryfromCourhFrisamtmilya! s Thank you from the

Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the

Fort St. John CO-OP Petroleum 10808-91 Ave. Fort St. John, BC

250-785-9088

7315-100 Ave. Fort St. John, BC

250-785-5651

www.fsjcoop.com

Northeast BC Crime Stoppers wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We thank the community and our financial sponsors for their ongoing support in 2017! Together we are helping the police to solve crime, making our communities safer!

1-800-222-8477

Box 6369, Fort St. John, BC V1J 1H8 www.crimestoppersnebc.ca

47001

Merry Christmas

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 A13

LOCAL NEWS

Five things to support a great community Edwina Nearhood LIFE AT GROUND ZERO

REAL ESTATE REALITY CHECK

ECONOMIC GROWTH A community that illustrates consistent population growth is a healthy community. It’s easy to sell in a growing community as there is often lots of movement. There is nothing harder than trying to sell a home in a stagnant community. That great buy may be a very hard sell down the road. RECREATION What are the recreation opportunities in a new community? Northern communities often have fantastic opportunities for all ages. I have heard with amazement that recreation for youth is affordable, accessible and meets many skill levels so no one gets left behind. Did I mention how great the backyard recreation is in the north? Outdoor recreation, hiking, recreation vehicles, fishing, camping and just plain relaxing and enjoying the big blue sky are all activities readily available and affordable. I think the Santa Claus Parade could fit in this category. There are so many wonderful events throughout the year that everyone looks forward to. Movies in the park, parties in the park, Canada Day Parade, the farmers’ mar-

Have a real estate problem or question you want answered? Email editor@ahnfsj.ca to have it featured in a future article and analysis by Edwina Nearhood.

ket, street parties, winter and summer, and so much more. ARTS Access to the art community also is a great drawing source. Music, choir, band, theatre, library, history and museums and so much more, oh my. We do have long winters in the north. The arts community and art season keeps us going and entertained on those long winter nights. Fort St. John is often on the forefront winning many awards for quality artists and performances. Our school band program is growing at a time when many districts are cancelling this important program. EDUCATION The quality of public schools and daycare is a consideration for all incoming residents. Access to post-secondary and trades campuses also are a drawing card. Opportunities for localized training to fill gaps in areas of

DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO

Members of the Fort St. John Ministerial—Tony Warriner, pastor of Evangel Chapel, Gwen Koop, breakfast project coordinator, Karla Marsh, executive director of Community Bridge, and Andrew Eby, pastor of North Peace MB Church—gather together on Dec. 14. The ministerial is using the $1,500 raised at the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser in February to provide breakfast for the needy over the Christmas holidays. From Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, volunteers from local churches will prepare and serve breakfast each morning from 8 to 9 a.m. at Evangel.

need are an important way to keep skilled trades and professionals home so they can work where they play.

part by living an active and healthy lifestyle.

HEALTH

This list of things that can make a community great could be so much bigger. Take a look around and notice the good things going on. Notice the great organizations, volunteers, and employers ready to offer a hand and make life better. A community that gives has a strong heart. I would like to thank all of the amazing people in Fort St. John who make it a great

Access to quality healthcare is a must. As northern communities begin to age, we see seniors as the fastest growing demographic. We need to make sure we have qualified services to keep them home and keep them healthy. Preventative healthcare is better for all of us. Support is needed for our caregivers. Let’s do our

THE FINAL WORD

place to live. If you ever need inspiration, all you need to do is stop for a coffee in the Heart of the City and listen to the conversations going on. The people are the heart of any community and I think the residents of Fort St. John and our rural neighbours do a pretty great job! Thank you Fort St. John—I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year. Edwina Nearhood is a lifelong resident of Fort St. John, with 30 years experience in the appraisal industry.

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Ryan Wallace @ 250-785-5631 rwallace@ahnfsj.ca Debbie Bruinsma @ 250-785-5631 dbruinsma@ahnfsj.ca RyanBrenda Wallace Piper @ 250-785-5631 Advertising Manager bpiper@ahnfsj.ca Email: rwallace@ahnfsj.ca | Office: 250-785-5631 9916 98 Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3T8

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BREAKFAST FOR THOSE IN NEED

A14 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

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House

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RANDELL

Living areas provide close to 4,000 square feet of space. Another 1,000 square feet are available in the deep storage space and huge bonus room, and nearly 1,500 more in the garage. One exceptionally long and lofty section of the garage could shelter a motor home. In the marble-tiled foyer, a dramatic staircase sweeps up to the left while straight ahead, two sets of columns ﬂank the arched passageway leading into the great room. On the right, a columned archway guides guests into the elegant dining room. The expansive great room easily accommodates a grand piano, along with couches, easy chairs, and more. Other

features include a bayed nook, ﬁreplace, and home entertainment center. On the left end, another column-ﬂanked arched opening leads into the large library.

Randell

A family of cooks can work comfortably together in this open, roomy kitchen, which is linked to the stately dining room by a butler's pantry with built-in buffet. Laundry appliances are handy, in a combination utility/hobby room. Amenities in the Randell's luxury owners' suite include a double walk-in closet, dual vanity, clawfoot tub, shower, and private toilet. An exterior door leads to the patio spa.

Spa

PLAN 30-395

Firepit Up

Patio 20'2'' x 17'

Owners’ Suite 18' x 15'

Nook Kitchen

The Randell is an estate-size home, built on a grand scale. Fluted Tuscan columns parade across the wide front porch of its classic front facade and a circular turret anchors the left corner. Decorative corbels rim the eaves, matching triangular pediments cap the door and window above, and shutters accent multipaned windows.

Great Room 24'4'' x 21'8''

Garage 23'6'' x 22'10'' (47' deep at RV bay)

First Floor 2623 sq.ft. Second Floor 1263 sq.ft. Living Area 3886 sq.ft. Storage/Bonus 1037 sq.ft. Garage 1427 sq.ft. Dimensions 91'5'' x 84' 3000 SERIES www.AssociatedDesigns.com

Util. /Hobby 16'6''x12'2'' Library 12' x 14'8''

Three more large bedrooms are upstairs, along with a second laundry room, bonus room and deep storage room. The largest bedroom boasts a private bathroom and spacious walk-in closet.

Foyer Up

Dining 12'2'' x 13'4''

Covered Porch

Storage 13' x 36'6''

Garage 22' x 21'6''

Bedroom 13'8''x15'6''

Bedroom 14'8'' x 19'11''

Associated Designs is the original source for the Randell 30-395. For more information or to view other designs, visit www.AssociatedDesigns.com or call 800-634-0123.

Dn Open to Bedroom Foyer 12'2'' x Below 13'4''

Bonus Room 13' x 32'

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 A15

Local News

Davies endorses de Jong to lead BC Liberals GLASS HOUSE FREE matt preprost

BC Liberal leadership candidate Mike de Jong is quickly locking up support for his campaign in Northeast B.C. On Dec. 13, Peace River North MLA Dan Davies gave his endorsement to the five-time finance minister to lead the party. “It was a hard decision, that’s why I’m one of the last people out of the gate here to endorse someone,” Davies said. “I wanted to do my homework and pick someone that would make the best leader of our party and eventually the province as premier.” For Davies, a teacher by trade, it was de Jong’s platform on education that sealed the deal, along with his experience as a 16-year MLA who has handled everything from health to labour to aboriginal relations to finance as a cabinet minister. De Jong has proposed to boost spending on both early childhood and post-secondary education, expanding Kindergarten to four year olds, and handing out yearly grants to children when they turn six. Education is fundamental to reducing poverty, Davies said. “If (poverty reduction) was as simple as a program, it would have ended years ago,” Davies said. “But giving people hope and opportunity with education can make a big difference in our country and our province.” Davies joins his South Peace counterpart Mike Bernier, who is one of de Jong’s campaign chairs after dropping out of the leadership in October. De Jong has also nabbed endorsements from Northern Rockies Mayor Bill Streeper and Jack Weisgerber, a former MLA for Peace River South from 1986 to 2001, and a former Social Credit cabinet minister and BC Reform party leader. “I never ask people, or tell people, to vote for me. I say I hope they’ll consider me, I hope they’ll consider the work I’ve done,” de Jong said to a crowd of party members in Fort St. John on Dec. 6. De Jong said his party wasn’t perfect when in government, and made no apologies for the balanced budgets he produced as finance minister from 2012 to 2017. “If you’re looking for someone to go around the province with their head held low and apologize, I’m not that guy. We were a damn good

We do ICBC Claims at shop 10996 Clairmont Frontage, Alaska Highway, Fort St. John • 250.785.3433

matt preprost Photo

BC Liberal leadership candidate Mike de Jong makes his pitch in Fort St. John on Dec. 6, 2017.

government, but we weren’t a perfect government, which is why we’re talking to you as a members of the opposition,” he said with a laugh. New NDP Finance Minister Carole James has a tough job ahead of her to continue producing balanced budgets, de Jong said, criticizing her September budget update that included a number of new tax measures. “We all know what happens when a new government comes in. They come in and, within days of taking office, they have a press conference and what do they say? They say, ‘Oh my goodness, we can’t fulfill any of our promises. Why? There’s no money, it’s worse than the outgoing government said, and those guys weren’t telling you the truth,’” de Jong said. “What happened this time? It was exactly the opposite. It was better than we said. It’s a testament to our strong economy. “And then what did they do? They raised your taxes,” he continued. “They raised income taxes, they raised corporate taxes, they raised carbon taxes. Why would you do that in a year when the economy is performing better than anywhere else in Canada and the government has the revenue that it needs?” On education, de Jong has pledged an annual $500 education grant for children older than six, on top of the one-time $1,200 grant they can already receive to put into a registered education savings plan, an initiative he rolled out in 2013. “Imagine if every year thereafter we put another $500 into that RESP,” he said. “By the time that child graduates from high school, they’ll

Sunday, December 24 Public Skate

Progress Energy Free Skate 11:00am-2:00pm Oval

Monday, December 25 Closed

have upwards of $8,000 in that account. And no young person in this province will ever be able to say, or have to say, ‘I want to be X but I can’t afford to get the training,’ because the money will be there for them.” A decision by the NDP to cancel Site C would have been “scandalous” and akin to lighting a $4 billion pile of cash on fire, de Jong said. The provincial economy relies on resource development, and has been successful by implementing policies with entrepreneurship in mind, he said. “We can be defensive about that,” he said. “Or, we can look at the world in the eye and say, ‘Yeah, We’re from Canada, we’re from British Columbia. We are blessed with an abundance of resources that the world needs, and we are going to show the world the right way, the correct way, the responsible way, the sustainable way to harvest those trees, extract those minerals, or draw energy out of the land.’” BC Liberals will vote on a new leader Feb. 1 to 3. Also in the race are former transportation minister Todd Stone, former advanced education minister Andrew Wilkinson, Vancouver MLAs Michael Lee and Sam Sullivan, and former Conservative MP and Surrey mayor Dianne Watts. De Jong plans to visit the region, with a stop in Fort Nelson, before the party’s leadership convention. “I’ve seen first-hand how people in the Northeast respect Dan, and I think they respect him because he’s a straight shooter,” de Jong said. “When he came to me, that’s what he said he liked about me, too. So, I think we’ll make a good team.”

December 25-26: closed January 1: closed

North Peace Leisure Pool December 25-26: closed January 1: closed

Pomeroy Sport Centre & North Peace Arena

December 24: closed at 3:00 pm December 25-26: closed January 1: closed

Kids Arena Fieldhouse

December 24: closed at 3:30 pm December 25-26: closed January 1: closed

Public Works Crews will be out clearing the roads when needed no matter what the day is. That’s the way we roll.

www.fortstjohn.ca

Wednesday, December 27

Thursday, December 28

Friday, December 29

Saturday, December 30

Closed

12:00 - 2:30pm 3:00 - 5:30pm East Rink

2:00 - 5:00pm West Rink

3:00 - 5:30pm 6 - 8:30pm East Rink

12:00 - 3:00pm 4:00 - 7:00pm Oval

12:00 - 1:30pm West Rink

12:00 - 1:30pm East Rink

12:00 - 1:30pm West Rink

10:30 - 11:45am West Rink

1:45 - 3:15pm West Rink

1:30 - 3:30pm Kids Arena Fieldhouse

Progress Energy Free Skate 12:00 - 2:30pm 3:30 - 6:00pm Oval

Drop in Hockey (16+) Drop in Hockey (8-11) Drop in Hockey (12-15) Parent & Child Stick & Puck Bouncing Beans

City Hall, Development Services & Bylaw Offices

6:00 - 7:30pm West Rink

Sunday, December 31 Public Skate

Holiday Hours

Tuesday, December 26

Drop in Hockey (16+) Drop in Hockey (8-11) Drop in Hockey (12-15) Parent & Child Stick & Puck Bouncing Beans

AUTO GLASS

CHIP REPAIR

editor@ahnfsj.ca

1:30 - 3:30pm Kids Arena Fieldhouse

9:45am - 12:45pm Kids Arena Fieldhouse

Monday, January 1

Tuesday, January 2

Wednesday, January 3

Thursday, January 4

Friday, January 5

Saturday, January 6

Closed

1:00 - 3:30pm 4:00 - 6:30pm East Rink

3:00 - 5:30pm 6:00 - 8:30pm East Rink

2:00 - 5:00pm West Rink

3:00 - 5:30pm 6:00 - 8:30pm East Rink

12:00 - 3:00pm 4:00 - 7:00pm Oval

12:00 - 1:30pm West Rink

12:00 - 1:30pm East Rink

12:00 - 1:30pm West Rink

10:30 - 11:45am West Rink

1:45 - 3:15pm West Rink

6:00 - 7:30pm West Rink

9:45am - 12:45pm Kids Arena Fieldhouse

fortstjohn.ca

A16 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

JOIN our team

British Columbia

Experience the power and joy of sport Special Olympics changes lives, hearts, and minds through the transformative power and joy of sport. Through our year-round sport and youth programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities and our work in health, Special Olympics fights inactivity, injustice, and intolerance. Our athletes become accepted and valued members of their communities, and help lead the way to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Special Olympics BC – Fort St. John is welcoming volunteers to help power our inspiring sport programs. We currently offer 5-pin bowling, athletics, bocce, Club Fit, curling, figure skating, golf, rhythmic gymnastics, and swimming. SOBC – Fort St. John hosts its Toonie K walk in the spring and a golf tournament in June. The money raised from these fundraising events stays in the community to support SOBC – Fort St. John athletes and coaches with training, competition, and travel. The golf tournament is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and there are currently opportunities to sign up a team or get involved as a sponsor. To get involved, please contact localcoordinator@sobcfortstjohn.ca. Follow SOBC – Fort St. John on Facebook at @SpecialOlympicsBCFortStJohn.

Our thanks to these valued provincial partners for making a difference with Special Olympics BC:

BRITISH COLUMBIA

1 Colour

C=22 M=100 Y=89 K=15

Volunteer | Donate | Participate www.specialolympics.bc.ca | Email info@specialolympics.bc.ca Facebook & Instagram specialolympicsbc | Twitter @sobcsociety

Sports & Leisure YEAR IN REVIEW

THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017 CONTACT US 250-785-5631 editor@ahnfsj.ca

SR. FLYERS 2017 RECAP

9224-100 Street, Fort St. John, V1J 3X2

SPORTS B2&B3

PHONE: 250-785-0463

SPORTS B4

Holiday guide for the sports fan

2017 YEAR IN REVIEW JANUARY

PHOTOS OF THE YEAR

MIDDLETON CROWNED B.C. JUNIOR MEN’S CURLING CHAMP

Dillon Giancola

It was a big win out of gate 2017 for Team Tardi and Fort St. John’s Sterling Middleton, who came away winners from the B.C. Junior Men’s Curling Championship in New Westminster on New Year’s Day. Team Tardi beat Team Habkirk 11-5 in eight ends to take the trophy. “This was my first provincial final. There were some nerves before (the game) for sure,” Middleton said. The team tore through the tournament with a 5-2 round robin record, and beat Team McCrady to secure a berth in the finals, where they met Kyle Habkirk and his rink from Victoria.

THE DILL ZONE

PREDATORS MAKING THEIR MARK ON NORTHERN HOCKEY MATT PREPROST PHOTO

2017 saw the first season of the LB Energy Predators female hockey organization. The Predators are a U18 female team of top-shelf players from around the north, who won a tournament in Fairview the Jan. 14 weekend. “We’re a regional team with players from as far as Vanderhoof, we’re looking to do our best to make it to provincials,” said Coach Rob Larson. On Jan. 21 they locked horns in the ladies division of the third annual KFC Old Posts tournament in Dawson Creek, showing off their fluency in the universal language of hockey. “I just started playing with the Predators this year,” said Taiylor Dingwell. HELLENBACH RACING TRADES SAND FOR ICE Hellenbach Racing was spitting up snow instead of sand Jan. 26 on Charlie Lake, as the team’s converted Polaris UTV proved climate was a challenge, but not a deal breaker. “It was a rocky start, I was dead last off the line (because of our battery). But by the end of the second lap, I was first, until I blew a tire. I finished though,” said Joe Loomis of Dawson Creek.

Nick Young and Ashley Rouble went to Mission in March to take part in the 2017 BC Golden Gloves Championships.

It was the Wapiti Off-Road Association’s first event of the year, featuring different race classes in size and type. The Wapiti Off-Road Association is a non-profit group in its second year and is based out of Grande Prairie. ROUBLE, YOUNG WIN GOLD AT ALBERTA BOXING PROVINCIALS Fivestar boxers landed combinations at Alberta provincials in January, bringing home new hardware in sanctioned matches. Ashley Rouble, 17, KO’d the tournament in Grande Prairie Jan. 14 and 15, with a provincial award for Top Junior Boxer and a tournament gold medal. “This was the first time I’ve fought a girl close to my weight and age, I’ve always fought women older than me,” Rouble said. Nick Young, 15, also won by unanimous decision and took home gold. He wants more ring time before joining the provincial team. “I want to rack up a couple more wins, have a couple more fights and get some more experience before I go for the nationals,” said Young.

PHOTOS OF THE YEAR

FEBRUARY WARM WEATHER WOEFUL FOR LOCAL SKI HILLS Much like the last few weeks of this year, warm weather last January hurt the local ski hills. Chinooks bring high winds and warm weather during winter months, and are often a welcome relief for northern residents. But they weren’t helping to keep skiers on the slopes in the Peace Region, with the two B.C. hills struggling. Big Bam had finally opened, after having all of last season ruined by unseasonably warm weather. But the celebration was short lived, after they missed a weekend due to lack of snow coverage. “The hill has far too many brown spots with grass and dirt showing through,” said Big Bam President Jody Mather at the time. SPORTS COUNCIL WANTS TO SEE SLEDGE HOCKEY GROW Using your upper strength to not only get yourself moving, but to also score a goal is what makes sledge hockey such a fun and challenging sport. The Fort St. John Sports Council held a sledge hockey tryout on Feb. 11 as part of the High On Ice winter festival. “We have more people here this year than we did last year, so the word is getting out,” said Mandy Gallant, one of the organizers for the sports council. ACEHOLES WIN SECOND STRAIGHT CRYSTAL CUP It almost looked like Mother Nature was going to ruin everything, but in the end, the sixth annual Crystal Cup Pond Hockey Challenge went on to have another successful year. The Crystal Cup final was a rematch of 2016’s final between the Ace Instruments Ace Holes and Ironhide, which was an intense game right until the horn blew. The Ace Holes would emerge as champions for the second year in a row, winning 6-5.

HALEY LABOUCANE PHOTO

The Ace Instruments Ace Holes won the Crystal Cup for the second year in a row at the Crystal Cup Pond Hockey Challenge on Feb. 19.

he Christmas holidays are a time to take a break from everyday life. Time off from work, if you’re fortunate, time off from driving around doing errands, and a chance to stay at home with those closest to you. Even the local sports teams take a break, and those of us who are passionate about the Huskies and Flyers have to accept the fact that we won’t be visiting the North Peace Arena until the new year. Although, the Flyers will be hosting a family skate Dec. 23 at 4 to 5 p.m., in case you want to hang out with a player. Plus, there’s pizza. Though the pace of life changes for a couple days, it’s heaven on earth for the sports fan. There are tons of sports to watch on TV during the holidays, and it gives you the opportunity to either bond with someone close to you while you soak in the entertainment, or escape from a nagging family member to your den, and find solace through sports. Not that anyone would ever do that. The NHL has never quite tapped into the Christmas spirit with special Dec. 25 games. Or, maybe, because the league gives its players Christmas Day off, tapping into the holiday spirit is exactly what it’s done. You can tell where my priorities are. Either way, there’s a fun Montreal at Edmonton match, and I’ll definitely be watching the Maple Leafs try to knock off the Rangers, both on Saturday, Dec. 23. It has long been argued that the NFL doesn’t really care about its players, so it’s no surprise that there are games Saturday through Monday. Works for me. Atlanta at New Orleans and Seattle at Dallas are full of playoff implications Sunday, so be sure to tune in. There are two bad Christmas Day games, but nothing is better than reading your new book or having a 10 a.m. nap because your kids woke you up at 6 a.m., the lovely sounds of athletes colliding into each other in the background. The NBA staked its claim to Christmas Day long ago. And while many in Canada don’t care much for basketball, the association’s marquee game, Cleveland at Golden State, is worth turning into at 1 p.m. But this is Canada, so I’d be run out of town if I didn’t mention everyone’s favourite, the World Junior Hockey Championship. The tournament begins Boxing Day, as always, with four games going day one. They start at 10 a.m., so there’s a ton of fun to be had all day long. There’s nothing better than cheering for players you’ve never heard about and getting upset when the Canadians lose to Russia. Or, you can go shop. People apparently like to do that on Boxing Day. Whatever your preference, enjoy the sports, and Merry Christmas. Dillon Giancola covers Peace Region sports for the Alaska Highway News. Email him at sports@ahnfsj.ca

#"//*45&3

This weeks customer is Mathew Stockley from FSJ. Mathew had been shopping far and wide for a new Ford F150 Mathew spoke to Kelly at Bannister Ford and she found him the perfect truck AND the best deal! Why not get yourself a Bannister deal from kelly today?!

To all our Peace Country Friends Please Celebrate Responsibly – Don’t Drink & Drive

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B2 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

2017 YEAR IN REVIEW LUSSIER OUTLASTS FOSTER AT BFL47 Travis Lussier admits it wasn’t his best fighting experience, but nevertheless he walked away from Battlefield Fight League 47 in Coquitlam Feb. 18 with a win. Lussier beat James Foster in three rounds by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27), fighting off a cold that sapped his cardio and coming off a training camp he squeezed in between working long days out in the patch. “It wasn’t the greatest of experiences, but we pushed through and got the job done. I got to bring a W back to Fort St. John and I’m in number one contention for the welterweight title,” Lussier said.

MARCH 26TH MASTERS ALL AROUND GAMES IN FORT ST JOHN Heather McCracken went into the weekend hoping to achieve some personal bests. She came out with a gold medal in the Ladies 35 age class. The Fort St. John speedskater was one of five local speedskaters who competed on an international level at the 26th Masters’ Allround Games at the Pomeroy Sport Centre March 10 to 12. “It’s unbelievable. It’s a crazy feeling—I never expected that,” said McCracken. “I worked hard and got three personal bests over the weekend, I’m just really happy.” FORT ST JOHN AWARDED 2020 BC WINTER GAMES It was announced that up to 2,000 of British Columbia’s top athletes and coaches will come to Fort St. John in 2020 for the BC Winter Games. City and BC Winter Games officials made the announcement outside the Pomeroy Sport Centre on Friday, March 10. “Our youth are going to be exposed to a higher caliber of competition and to be able to do it here at home is secondto-none,” said Mayor Lori Ackerman. SEASON OVER AS HUSKIES FALL TO NAVIGATORS IN GAME 7 The Fort St. John Huskies fought and clawed their way back from the brink of elimination twice against the North Peace Navigators in NWJHL semifinal action. But it wasn’t enough, as the Huskies fell 6-3 in Game 7 in Peace River on Saturday, March 11.

“I am very proud of our team,” Huskies President Michael Bacso wrote to fans on Facebook. “The players, the fans, the coaching staff. Every year we take steps forward. Next year will be our biggest test yet with hosting provincials and I hope you all will join us for that journey!”

PHOTOS OF THE YEAR

KYLIE KALAS - WRESTLING RUNS IN THE FAMILY Though she has entered the halls of junior high, young Kylie Kalas has been pinning down a successful amateur career in wrestling since picking up the sport from her family more than four years ago. The then CM Finch student brought home three golds and a bronze during the 2016-17 season, earning podium finishes at tournaments in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, and Edson. Wrestling is a sport that runs deep in the Kalas blood. Her father and uncles began wrestling themselves when they were just five years old in Hearst, Ont. When they invited her down to take part in a practice, she gave it a shot and hasn’t turned back. JAKUBOWSKI BRINGS HOME GOLD Darlene Jakubowski had gold on her mind when she left for Austria, and she returned with gold draped around her neck. The Fort St. John figure skater took to the ice in Graz March 23 and captured a gold medal in the women’s Singles Level 6 figure skating event at the Special Olympics World Winter Games. “It feels good,” Jakubowski said shortly after landing back in Fort St. John. “I didn’t get to carry the flag (during the closing ceremonies) like I hoped. But I landed my axel though. I got my one thing done.” NORTH PEACE MINOR BASEBALL STEPS UP TO BAT IN ALBERTA North Peace Minor Baseball was looking to swing into a new season of baseball, with an eye on building opportunities for youth looking to get into the sport. 2017 was the association’s first season with Baseball Alberta, a move president Forrest Liddicoat said would expose players to new experiences and opportunities to build their skills. The association signed up with Baseball Alberta in the winter after sending three teams that put up a strong per-

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Wrestler Kylie Kalas with the medals she’s earned so far in her young and successful career.

formance and finals finish at a house tournament in Grande Prairie in 2016.

APRIL LIELKE WINS CANADIAN TITLE Three fights in three days left Dylan Lielke a little bruised, but he walked away as a two-time Canadian Amateur Nationals champion. The amateur nationals were held in Lethbridge, Alberta, from April 5 to 7, and local fighter Lielke beat last year’s silver medalist Ali Wasuk with a triangle choke submission in the second round. He fought in the featherweight class, after fighting at lightweight the last two years. “It feels awesome, almost better this time, more validating,” Lielke said about being champion. TOM’S CONSTRUCTION CLAIMS OILMEN’S HOCKEY TITLE Another year, another set of engravings for the trophies at the Fort St. John Oilmen’s Hockey Tournament. The 14th annual four-on-four event wound down with a handful of wideopen leads and an 11-round shootout to cap off three days of hockey action Saturday, April 8, at the North Peace

Arena. Tom’s Construction skated away with a convincing 8-3 win over Northern Vac Services in the Petroleum Club game to take the tournament’s title trophy. It’s the first time the company will see its name engraved on the trophy since joining the tournament four years ago. “It’s awesome, it’s a great feeling,” company owner Tom Fisher said. “Winning’s always fun.” FIVESTAR NAILS REBIRTH OF BOXING WITH REGENESIS New legends were born and others were told anew at Regenesis. Fivestar Fight League’s 18th event was held at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre April 14 in front of a loud and appreciative sold-out crowd of more than 600 people. There were 16 fights in total, fought over four hours. Boxers from the Fivestar Boxing Academy went 8-2. “This was about being able to put the work into these kids and kind of unleash the regenesis and rebirth of Fivestar into the boxing world. It was our first boxing show,” Fivestar coowner and head coach Justin Donally said.

PHOTOS OF THE YEAR

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MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Darlene Jakubowski took to the ice in Graz, Austria, and captured a gold medal in the women’s Singles Level 6 figure skating event at the Special Olympics World Winter Games on Thursday, March 23. Jakubowski shows off her medal after arriving home in Fort St. John on March 26, along with a second medal she won after participating in a new World Games off-ice dance competition.

PHOTOS OF THE YEAR

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Tanya Larkin, Daina Purchase and Michelle Darling were dressed to a “T” for the event, with matching evening wear and rollers, at the Ladies Taylor Bonspiel, Jan. 28 and 29.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 B3

2017 YEAR IN REVIEW MAY

PHOTOS OF THE YEAR

ROUBLE WINS NATIONAL TITLE It was a meteoric rise for Ashley Rouble. She started boxing in late 2016 and by May she was crowned Best Youth Boxer from Boxing Canada and Canadian National Champion in the 64-kilogram division. “No, not even close,” B.C. provincial coach Bob Pegues said when asked if he had witnessed a rise like Rouble’s before. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. Not to win top BC, top in Alberta, and top in the country.” Rouble trained as a kickboxer for three years at Fivestar Boxing Academy but only had her first boxing match in December. “It started to hit me on the plane ride home. It still seems surreal,” said Rouble about being champ.

FORT ST. JOHN RODEO MAKES ITS RETURN

FONTEYNE WAS THE ‘FACE OF THE FLYERS’ The Fort St. John Senior Flyers mourned the loss of one of the longstanding faces of the team and member of the board of directors. Rod Fonteyne died on Wednesday, May 3, following a battle with cancer. He was 84. A small, private service was held for Fonteyne in his home town of Wetaskiwin, Alberta. “He’s been the face of the Fort St. John Flyers since he arrived in town in the early 1960’s,” said Paul van Nostrand, president of the Senior Flyers. GYMNASTICS DEMOLITION SET Almost two years after a devastating fire, the North Peace Gymnastics Centre was finally set to meet its fate. The centre

The Killbillies won two of their three matches, with a win over the Kill Jills from Calgary by a score of 250-136 and a 168-92 victory over the Kootenay Coalition.

DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTOS

Colten Beaumont with his mini-sprint kart at Taylor Speedway’s first ever Hit to Pass event June 17.

was later demolished this summer. “It’s a hazard and an eye sore, and it’s an ongoing cost,” said Wally Ferris, general manager of community services for the City of Fort St. John.

“It’s for fun, just an idea, and other people shared that idea and here we are today,” Sapp said.

CROSS CANADA CYCLE A TRIP OF A LIFETIME

KILLBILLIES IMPRESS AT FLAT TRACK FEVER

It took nine months, but the trip of a lifetime finally arrived for a trio of Fort St. John cyclists. Robert Sapp, Ben Dawson, and Dawit Feyissa left for their crosscountry cycling trip on May 27. A fourth rider, Jason Everaert, joined them from Ontario.

The Killbillies roller derby team entered its first-ever Flat Track Fever tournament and left looking like veterans. The tournament, held in Calgary from May 26 to 28, showcased some of the best roller derby teams in Western Canada.

JUNE

After a grueling 12-year hiatus, the Fort St. John Rodeo was set to return. On July 22 and 23, the North Peace Light Horse rodeo grounds were once again filled with cowgirls, cowboys, and rodeo livestock. It all started when the B.C. Rodeo Association approached Link Copeland and his father Adam to see if they would be interested in holding a rodeo in Fort St. John, as they needed a few more events in B.C. The Copelands then talked to Jodie Surerus about it and a group of organizers and volunteers, and they all began working together to make it happen. “The Fort St. John Rodeo used to be one of the biggest rodeos in B.C.,” said Surerus. SKATEBOARDING COMES ALIVE IN THE NORTH Skateboarding is back in Fort St. John. From the opening of Victory Skateboards, to a Canada Day skateboard competition, locals are looking to capitalize on the city’s skateboarding culture that has continued to grow since the Rotary Skate Park opened in 2013. When the old skateboard shop closed down three years ago just after the park opened, Cole Andrews noticed a void and decided it was time to open up shop.

WEEKLY PRO RACING UPDATE Postseason Racing News, Stats & Trivia

All-Time Top Driver’s Bio

This Week’s Racing News

NASCAR is still waiting on Monster’s sponsorship decision. Six months ago executives from NASCAR and Monster spoke positively about their new and developing relationship that saw the energy drink maker take over entitlement sponsorship duties from Sprint. Both sides were optimistic Monster would exercise a two-year option and remain in the role through 2020, with a decision needed by December. In the months since, Monster has not only asked for an extension of the December deadline, until just after the first of the year, but also asked for a second extension until the spring. NASCAR granted both requests, though has quietly begun identifying new and potential replacements in case Monster doesn’t renew. If Monster were to opt out, it places NASCAR in a precarious position for the second time in three years where the search for an entitlement sponsor becomes a pervasive cloud hanging over the season.

Dec. 21, 1971 - Clyde Minter, who finished in the top five in each of his first four Cup starts, died on this day at age 50. Minter was 27 in 1949 when he started the sixth and eighth races in NASCAR’s first Strictly Stock season and finished fourth at both Martinsville and North Wilkesboro. He made eight starts in 1950, finishing third at Charlotte and fifth at Martinsville. Minter started his 42nd and final Cup race in 1955.

Racing Trivia

Jimmie Johnson has won the championship 7 times. How many times has he finished second? a) 0 b) 1

c) 2 d) 3

Answer : c) Jimmie Johnson finished second in the championship in 2003 and 2004.

Racing History

Jimmie Johnson Born: Sept. 17, 1975 Cup wins: 83 Cup top-tens: 341 Cup championships: 7 Jimmie Johnson was born in El Cajon, California, and began racing motorcycles at the age of four. After graduating from Granite Hills High School he competed in off-road series. In 2000, he began racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He moved to Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series in 2002. After finishing fifth in the points in his first full season, he was second in 2003 and 2004 and fifth in 2005. Johnson won his first Cup series championship in 2006. He went on to win the Cup series championship the next four years and became the only driver in NASCAR history to win five consecutive championships. During the 2011 season, Johnson finished sixth in points, while he finished third in 2012. In 2013, Johnson won his sixth championship. In 2016, Johnson won his seventh championship to tie Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most championships.

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B4 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

Local Sports

Flyers finish 2017 in first Dillon giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca

dillon giancola Photo

Lien Miller-Jeannotte battles for the puck against the High Prairie Regals in the Flyers 12-2 blowout victory Dec. 16.

moving on up

supplied Photo

Members of the Fort St. John Figure Skating Club were in Dawson Creek Dec. 9 and 10 for skating and skill tests. From left to right, the skaters and the tests they passed: Addison Stone (American), Shaye Peebles (European), Jillian Stone (Harris Tango, Starlight and Bronze Interpretive), Sophie Stevens (Jr. Bronze Skills), Haley Patterson (Bronze Interpretive), Emma Stevens (Sr. Bronze Skills), Emma Shipalesky (Starlight), Yuri Kunimura (Viennese), Emma Eggimann (Starlight and Paso Doble). Not pictured - Jasmine Whitford (Ten Fox)

A quick look at the standings from both the current NPHL season and the 2016-17 one would show that 2017 has been pretty kind to the Fort St. John Sr. Flyers. And while that may be true, the year was not without some pretty big disappointment. Presently, the Flyers are once again on top of the West Division, and the entire league, with a 9-3 record, one point ahead of their revamped rivals, the Dawson Creek Sr. Canucks. Since getting whooped by the Sr. Canucks 6-0 on Dec. 7, the Flyers have reeled off three straight wins to go into the holiday break on a high note. “Winning always brings confidence. Last night was a big boost for us,” Flyers head coach Andrew Leriger said about his team’s 5-4 overtime victory over Manning Dec. 15. “We were down 4-2 with seven minutes left, and we came back and it was good for morale. Nothing ever hurts when you’re winning.” The game was even more crazy in that the Flyers had 77 shots on net, compared to Manning’s 23. But last year’s NPHL goalie of the year, Braden Gamble, stood on his head, and was only beaten by a Rick Cleaver penalty shot in overtime. “We’ve never played against him when (Gamble’s) been in all honest good. We’ve always had success against him, but last night he was unbelievable,” Leriger said. The Flyers used that momentum to crush a High Prairie Regals squad 12-2 Dec. 16. “Our guys did what I asked them to do, keep it simply and they got results,” Leriger said about the win over High Prairie. The Flyers are situated for a strong run at the NPHL playoff championship and Coy Cup title. But the team was in the same position just under 12 months ago and came up short. The Flyers came into January 2017 atop the West Division, and would finish that month on top of the league,

Beatton Community 4-H Club Report Club Report: by Harlan Giesbrecht Even horses like Christmas so make a recipe! Here’s a recipe for Christmas horse cookies:

Peppermint Patties 1/3 Cup Oats 1/3 Cup Grain (plain) 1/3 Cup Molasses 1/3 Cup Flour Peppermints 1. Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees

Club Activities: by Aurora Lea So, on Dec 6, 2017 the new executives had their first meeting. During this meeting we discussed how we were going to plan the meetings. We had a motivational speaker come and teach us about teamwork and leadership. We went to the senior’s home on Monday and decorate bird houses with the seniors.

Hi, I’m Har lan Giesbrecht. I am in grade 3, and this is my second year in the Beatton Community 4-H Club. My family has a small farm with horses, chickens, ducks, geese, quail, sheep, goats, and pigs. I have been riding horses since I was three. I love to trail ride, and I’d like to learn more about roping. I chose the 4-H horse project because I want to learn more about training and raising horses. I lost my best horse, Pixie this fall, and the old horse my parents gave me after that. Jewels was really old and died right before Christmas. So, this year for Christmas, my parents surprised me with a new horse named Shooter! Shooter is fast, he’s really tall, and I’m teaching him to go over obstacles. I can’t wait to use Shooter in 4-H! This year I was elected as the junior reporter for our 4-H club. I’m really excited to share news about our 4-H club this year. Until then I plan to follow the 4-H motto, “Learn to do by doing.”

3. Mix together all ingredients except for peppermints. 4. Form cookies using spoon/scoop/hands and place on a lined cookie sheet 5. Take a peppermint and place it in the middle of each ball of the cookie dough, pressing down to ﬂatten slightly. 6. Bake for 21 minutes or until golden brown. May need to let them dry out. A real Horsie Favorite! The Peppermint adds just enough allure for the finicky eater. I found this recipe at: http://eventingnation.com/for-the-eventerthat-has-everything-holiday-horse-cookies/ Did you know some horses like peppermints?

Merry Christmas, and I will be back in the new year as the senior reporter!

About the writers

This will be my last article for you so thank you for letting me write for you all and hope you have fun reading the new articles to come. I can’t tell you who the new executives are because that would be spoiling it for you guys. Hope you had fun reading this see you in the new year.

2. If you prefer, use food processor to chop Oats and Grain into a ﬁner texture

Even though it is winter, we still go to the arena to ride when it’s not too cold, and when the roads aren’t bad. My friend and I have fun riding together, and my sisters like to stand on their horses and try to do trick riding!

winning the Lawrence Cup for being the best team in the NPHL regular season. But like previous years, the wheels came off for the Flyers in the playoffs. “I thought we played over our heads, winning games we shouldn’t have won. We progressively in my mind got worse,” Leriger said. “Our guys were not showing up in pratices, and expecting to just go out and win but it doesn’t happen.” Indeed, that’s how things played out. While the Flyers took care of the fourth place Sr. Canucks handedly, winning the first round playoff matchup four games to one, the Flyers fell to the third place Spirit River Rangers four games to one in the next round. The Rangers then went on to sweep the Falher Pirates and win the NPHL championship for the fifth straight season. This year, the Rangers are not in the league. While it was an unfortunate end to the 2016-17 season, the Flyers did receive recognition for their good play. Rick Cleaver was the NPHL MVP, Leriger was the coach of the year, and Adam Horst was named both centre of the year and playoff MVP. The Flyers headed into the 2017-18 season determined to be better, but once again faced some adversity. “This year was a slow start for us, we start 0-2 and our guys aren’t used to losing two in a row. A little panic set in among the veterans … and we’ve worked our way up,” said Leriger. Cleaver is once again leading the league in scoring with 27 points and 17 goals, six points ahead of the next closest player. The current Flyers have had to deal with injuries to Horst, Reid Campbell and Jake Ebner, to name a few, as well as losing ice time to the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge, but the team has persevered, and heads into 2018 in a good spot. “Now the seriousness gets started. I’m excited about January, it’s a very busy schedule for us. Guys will have to be on their game,” Leriger said.

Club helping decorate birdhouses at Peace Villa Care Home.

Hi, my name is Aurora Lea. I am in grade 5, and this is my 3rd year in Beatton Community 4-H. I live in the corner of Montney on a small farm with horses, dogs, and cats. I chose to be in 4-H horse project this year because I want to learn some more things that I have some trouble doing. I’m lending my horse that I used last year to Harlan’s sister, Alexa because her little Shetland pony has a lot of pony attitude. I got a new horse named Kahlua. She is the sweetest thing you will ever see but she has some spunky attitude. I can’t wait to learn more and teach Kahlua in 4-H! I plan to follow the 4-H motto: “Learn To Do By Doing” for the rest of year! I was elected the Sr. Club Reporter and I am really exited to write for you all every month.

12864 Rose Prairie Rd., Fort St. John, BC Phone: 250-785-4578 Website: npvc.ca

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"Veterinary care founded in our community, for our community"

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 B5

Arts & Culture

dancing into christmas

eve petford Photos

Level 2 tap dancers perform a routine to “It’s Not Christmas Without You” at the Studio 2 Stage Christmas recital Dec. 17 at the North Peace Cultural Centre.

Acro Level 3/4 performed an outstanding dance to “Carol of the Bells.”

Primary tap to “Merry Christmas, Baby.”

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B6 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

Arts & Culture

darcy shawchek Photo

The Geminids peaked Dec. 13, as seen here out in Charlie Lake, but will continue to be visible this month, according to NASA

Geminids shower the skies Did you catch a shooting star Dec. 13? Planet Earth is making its annual pass through the dusty trail of 3200 Phaethon, meaning the annual Geminid meteor showers will continue to shoot through the skies this month. The peak came the night of Dec. 13 and morning of Dec. 14, according to NASA, however, the Geminids will continue to be visible for skywatchers. Geminid activity is broad, according to Bill Cooke with NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “With August’s Perseids obscured by bright moonlight, the Geminids will be the best shower this year,” Cooke said. HOROSCOPE ARIES (MARCH 21 TO APRIL 19) You feel serious in an ambitious way today. You have big plans; however, today you might be met with obstacles. Give this little thought, because you’re on a roll! TAURUS (APRIL 20 TO MAY 20) Despite your political or religious views today, you will say very little. You don’t want to be caught rooting for the wrong side. It’s better to be safe than sorry. GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) This is a good day to roll up your sleeves and deal with redtape matters about taxes, debt, insurance issues, inheritances and shared property. It’s boring, but it’s gotta be done. CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) Discussions with close friends and partners will be serious today. You can’t avoid this, either. Just face the music. LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) You are prepared to work hard today, which will impress a boss or someone in a position of authority. Your standards are high, and let’s hope others’ are, too. VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) Children might become an increased responsibility today. Meanwhile, discussions with romantic partners also will be serious. They might address the division of labor or how to share expenses.

For Thursday December 21, 2017

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) Today you have to deal with an authority figure at home — perhaps a parent, an older relative or maybe even the government. Get ready for this discussion. SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) You might be worried about something today. Whatever you propose might get shot down by someone in a position of power and authority. (No fun!) SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) You will be very careful about how you spend your money today. In fact, if you do buy anything, it will be practical and long-lasting. (Oh yeah.) CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) You’re in a serious mood today because things are serious — it’s just that simple. Fortunately, you’re prepared to take on responsibilities and shoulder whatever is necessary. This is admirable

“The thin, waning crescent Moon won’t spoil the show.” The Geminids take their name from where they originate—the constellation Gemini. As for 3200 Phaethon? Astronomers don’t know exactly what the “weird, rocky object” is, other than the Earth passes through its debris trail every December. “Phaethon’s nature is debated,” Cooke said. “It’s either a near-Earth asteroid or an extinct comet, sometimes called a rock comet.” Astronomers will be studying 3200 Phaethon closely this year, as it makes its nearest pass to the Earth since its discovery in 1983, according to NASA.

Changing Diet Changes Relationship Dear Annie: Last weekend, I got a text from my dad that said: “I’m going vegan LOL.” (Yes, he says “LOL.” He’s hip like that.) I laughed and brushed it aside, but during dinner last night, he and my stepmom told me they are serious about it. It definitely took me by surprise, but I was supportive and excited about the idea, so much so that I even went with him to Barnes & Noble to pick out an awesome vegan cookbook. But since then, I’ve been having a strangely emotional reaction to his decision.

We love to eat. That’s our “thing.” We go out to dinner, try new, unusual cuisines and eat our way through new cities when traveling. He even AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) seriously considered taking a Today you’re prepared to look at leave from work to audition for things in a serious way, even if a Food Network show. Some it means giving something up. of my best memories involve You see now that you just cannot meals we’ve shared. And now deny reality when it knocks on what? I’ll order sashimi, and the door. he’ll have ... seaweed? I have no PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MARCH 20) issue with the decision itself; Someone older or more responsible might have advice I’ve done every juice cleanse for you today. Whether you want and 30-day challenge under the to take this advice is another sun -- and I love me some seamatter, of course. weed. I actually find the choice quite admirable. What I realized is that the

Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE

child in me is afraid that a piece of our relationship will be lost. Through my parents’ (nasty) divorce, no matter how things were between them or between us -- no matter when new people came into the picture and old people left -- whenever we sat down at the table, all of the yuckiness melted away. This feels like one more thread of consistency and connection being cut.

Dear Annie: I have a weird question for you. I live in a Midwestern community that has expensive water and sewer costs. I also exercise every day, and as a result, I drink a lot of water -- and I mean a lot of water. So when my wife is not home, I urinate in the bathroom sink. Then I wash my hands, which rinses the sink basin at the same time. This uses a fraction of the water that flushing the toilet would use. Multiply that by dozens of times a day and the savings are significant. Urine is sterile; the sink gets washed out afterward; and my hands are clean. What are your thoughts on my actions? -- Sink Secret

Are there any actions you suggest I take to move forward? -- Herbivore Dilemma

Dear Sink Secret: I think you ought to knock it off. For one, urine isn’t sterile; that’s just a Dear Herbivore Dilemma: myth. For another, if you’re reYou are clearly a thoughtful ally bent on saving water, there person to have such insight are plenty of ways to do so -into your emotions and their such as installing a low-flush roots. Perhaps this is the oppor- toilet -- that don’t require lying tunity you’ve needed to express to your wife. some long-held feelings. Talking through these concerns will Send your questions for Annie Lane to bring you closer than ever. And dearannie@creators.com. To find out with time, you’ll find out that it more about Annie Lane and read features other Creators Syndicate columnists was never about the food; it was by and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. about sitting down together. COPYRIGHT 2017 CREATORS.COM

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 B7

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• • • • • • • • • • • •

CONCIERGE CRUISE CURRENCY CUSTOMER DEALS DESTINATION ESTABLISHMENT EVENTS EXCURSION FARE GUIDE HOSTEL

• • • • • • • • • • • •

INDUSTRY INVOICE KEYCARD LEISURE MERCHANT OVERBOOKING PASSENGER SIGHTSEE SUITE TOUR TRIP VACATION

TODAY’S PUZZLE

CLUES DOWN 1. Pie _ __ mode 2. Portuguese cape 3. Ottoman military title 4. Movable frame used in burials 5. Type of coal 6. A treeless grassy plain 7. Artist’s workroom 8. Assists 9. Protein-rich liquids 10. A song of praise to God

PREVIOUS PUZZLES ANSWERS

33. One who avoids animal products 38. Quick to learn 41. Mechanism in an organ 43. Redo with new materials 45. Epics 47. Wings 49. Extrasensory perception 50. Cavalry sword 55. Bangladeshi monetary unit 56. Not the bottom 57. Afflicted 59. Bound 60. One who is highly skilled 61. Jewish spiritual leader 62. Tall, rounded vase 63. Liturgical language of Hinduism (abbr.) 64. Cheek

ANSWER: NO. 3 AND NO. 8

CLUES ACROSS 1. Member of a Semitic people 5. Certified public accountant 8. Residue 11. Sayings attributed to Christ 13. The products of human creativity 14. Listen to 15. Longed 16. No (Scottish) 17. Descriptor 18. Yankees’ sensation Judge 20. Zero 21. Comics legend Lee 22. Honorary title holder 25. “Uncle Joey” 30. Graceful and stylish 31. Pitching term 32. Former Mets outfielder Jones

12. Much __ about nothing 14. Japanese city 19. Atomic number 10 23. Egyptian goddess 24. Go places 25. Having ten 26. Complete 27. Automotive belt 28. Psyche 29. Melodious bird 34. Medical personnel 35. Acquired 36. Type of beverage 37. Neither 39. Spanish monetary units 40. Small area of grass 41. Your 42. Diana __, singer 44. Salt’s partner 45. Made of wood 46. No longer alive 47. Alaskan island 48. Wild animal’s resting place 51. Swiss river 52. Partiality 53. “Luther” actor Idris 54. UNLV’s “Runnin’ __” 58. Criticize

B8 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 B9

Community

“How we raise the money, not just for Site C but for a range of other projects, is very much an active discussion with the minister of finance.”

- Premier John Horgan, B10

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

From left: Shawn Doré, Cameron Eggie, Gerry Attachie, Kevin Emes, Chief Trevor Makadahay, Kelvin Davis Jr., Tatjana Eggie, Christina Redgun, and young Kelvin Davis III.

Timely donation helps fill holiday hunger MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

The Doig River First Nation and Clean Harbors Canada are wishing a Merry Christmas and happy, healthy New Year to families in need this holiday season. The First Nation and company partnered to donate and deliver 40 whole turkeys and $1,000 cash to the Salvation Army on Dec. 18. That’s good news for the agency, which is expecting to

help at least 134 families this year, but only had 100 turkeys to hand out. “Now no one on Wednesday is going without a turkey,” executive director Cameron Eggie said. “We would have had to buy the extras, so when the call came through it was awesome.” Clean Harbors donated 40 turkeys to Doig last year as part of its working relationship with the band and its work in Doig’s traditional territory. When the company suggested

doing the same this year, Chief Trevor Makadahay suggested paying it foward to the Salvation Army instead. “We we more than happy to do that,” said Kevin Emes, the company’s community engagement lead. Doig topped up the turkeys with the $1,000 donation. “It’s in our culture to share as much as we can,” Makadahay said. “Hopefully other communities will see this and it sparks them to give, too.”

Imagine your family is anywhere in the world! Pick a spot on the map and learn about that country together online.

LEARN AT PLAY, EVERY DAY. How do you learn as a family? Tell us: #FamilyLiteracyDay

Find more ways to learn at play as a family at

www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca

FORT ST. JOHN & DISTRICT CHURCH DIRECTORY

ANGLICAN CHURCH of CANADA NoRTH PEACE PARISH Please join us at our temporary location at the Peace Lutheran Church @ 1:30pm Ph: 250-785-6471 “All are Invited and Welcome Here” - (Luke 14:23) SERVICES St. Martin’s, fort St. John, BC Sundays 1:30 p.m. Rev. Enid Pow ********** Church of the Good Shepherd Taylor, BC - Sundays 10:00 a.m. ********** St. Matthias, Cecil Lake, BC 3rd Sun. of the Month 3:00 p.m. Holy Communion BAHA’I fAITH BAHA’I fAITH National Baha’i Information 1-800-433-3284 Regular Firesides Mondays @ 8:00 p.m. Deepenings continued Wednesdays at 250-787-0089 Next Feast Info. 250-787-0089 ********** BAPTIST CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 9607-107th Ave., fSJ Ph. (Office) 250-785-4307 Pastor: Michael Hayes Associate Pastor: Doug Janzen SUNDAY WoRSHIP SERVICE 10:30AM ********** CATHoLIC RoMAN CATHoLIC CHURCH (Resurrection Church) Pastor: Rev. Vener Sabacan Phone 250-785-3413 www.fsjcatholic.ca MASSES: Saturday 7:30 p.m. Sunday - 10:00 a.m. oNLY OFFICE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. BAPTISM: Contact the Pastor 3 months before baptism. MARRIAGES: Contact the Pastor 3 months before the wedding. ********** ALLIANCE CHURCH 9804-99 Ave., fort St. John, BC V1J 3T8 Ph: 250-785-4644 fax: 250-785-8932 e-mail: office@fsjalliance.ca www.fsjalliance.ca SUNDAY WoRSHIP SERVICE: 9:15am & 11:00am KIDVILLE: for ages 2yrs.-Gr.6 @ 9:15am **********

CoMMUNITY CHURCH CHARLIE LAKE CoMMUNITY CHURCH Associate Pastor: Jared Braun 250-785-1723 fax: 250-785-4136 clcc@pris.ca SUNDAY SCHooL: 10:40am SUNDAY WoRSHIP: 10:40am 1st left turn off Alaska Highway past the Charlie Lake Store. ********** PEACE CoMMUNITY CHURCH 10556-100th Street, Taylor, BC Pastor: Wally Pohlmann Phone: 250-789-3045 HoURS: 9:00am-Noon Monday-Wednesday & friday Email: office@taylorchurch.ca Website: www.taylorchurch.ca SUNDAY ADULT CLASS - 9:30am SUNDAY WoRSHIP SERVICE - 10:30am ********** EVANGELICAL foRT ST. JoHN EVANGELICAL MISSIoN 8220-89th Avenue, fSJ Pastor: Andy Wiebe Sunday School September-June begins at 9:30am Sunday mornings. Worship Service - 10:45am Phone: 250-787-2550 ******* INTERDENoMINATIoNAL UPPER PINE GoSPEL CHAPEL Church Phone: 250-827-3833 Email: upgc@pris.ca Board Chairman: Andy Burkholder 250-827-3811 Box 66, Rose Prairie, BC ********** LUTHERAN PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 9812-108th Avenue, fort St. John, BC V1J 2R3 Office Phone: 250-785-2718 Pastor: Rev. Kebede Dibaba Regular Worship Schedule: 9:00am Youth, Adult Bible Study 10:00am Sunday Worship Service & Sunday School ********** PEACE RIVER MUSLIM ASSoCIATIoN Information: 250-787-1264 Jumm’a (Friday) Prayer @ 1:00pm 203-10903-100th Street, fort St. John, BC email: tahermorsi@shaw.ca ********** MENNoNITE NoRTH PEACE MENNoNITE BRETHREN CHURCH North Peace Mennonite Brethren Church 10816 106 St. fort St. John, BC V1J 5V2 250-785-3869 Lead Pastor: Andrew Eby Associate Pastor of Youth & Young Adults: Don Banman SUNDAY SERVICE TIMES: 9:15am & 11:00am **********

MENNoNITE MoNTNEY MENNoNITE CHURCH SUNDAY MoRNING: Sunday School & Worship: 9:30am SUNDAY EVENING: 2nd & 4th Sundays: 7:00pm Everyone Welcome! Pastor Warren Martin Phone: (250) 827-3231 ********** NoNDENoMINATIoNAL CHRISTIAN LIfE CENTRE “Associated with “Fellowship of Christian Assemblies” “King Jesus is Lord Over the Peace” 8923-112th Avenue, fort St. John, BC V1J 6G2 website: www.christianlifefsj.ca Ph: 250-785-4040 fax: 250-785-4021 Pastor Steve Oboh Principal of Christian Life School: Garry Jones Everyone Welcome Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00am Nursery available and Sunday School is held during the sermon for ages 3-12 years. Christian Life Centre is “Home of Christian Life School” ********** foRT ST. JoHN NATIVE BIBLE fELLoWSHIP Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wed., Night Bible Study: 7:30pm Pastor John A Giesbrecht 250-785-0127 ********** GIDEoNS INTERNATIoNAL Fort St. John Camp Ray Hein 250-827-3636 John Giesbrecht 250-785-0127 ********** NoRTHERN LIGHTS CHURCH INTERNATIoNAL (Rose Prairie, BC Sunday Service: Pre-Service Prayer: 10:30am Worship Service: 11:00am Everyone Welcome ********** THE SHELTER CHURCH “...the Lord will be a shelter for His people” Joel 3:6 9808-98A Ave. fort St. John, BC 250-785-3888 SUNDAY SERVICE: 10am Pastor: Oral Benterud 250-785-9151 ********** PENTECoSTAL THE PENTECoSTALS of foRT ST. JoHN Phone: 250-787-9888 Pastor: Jason McLaughlin Sunday 10am Service, Sunday School Youth Sunday 11am Worship Service Tuesday 7pm Prayer Wednesday 7pm Bibile Study Friday 7pm Youth **********

PENTECoSTAL ASSEMBLIES of CANADA EVANGEL CHAPEL 10040-100 St., fort St. John Phone: 250-785-3386 Fax: 250-785-8345 Lead Pastor: Tony Warriner Sunday Services: 9:30am, 11:00am www.evangelfsj.com ********** The Journey 10011-100 St., fort St. John Phone: 250-785-6254 Pastor: Larry Lorentz Services: Sundays: 10:30am Tuesdays: 7:00pm **********

PRESBYTERIAN fort St. John Presbyterian Church 9907-98th St., fort St. John, BC Phone: 250-785-2482 fax: 250-785-2482 12:30 p.m. - Pie and Coffee 1:00 p.m. - Worship Service Everyone is invited to participate ********** REfoRMED TRINITY CoVENANT CHURCH Sunday Service: 10:00am Meets at the The Plaza 8111 100th Ave fort St. John, BC Elder: Mike Donovan Phone: 250-787-7702 www.trinitycovenant.ca matthew@trinitycovenant.ca Affiliated with C.R.E.C. ********** THE SALVATIoN ARMY THE SALVATIoN ARMY Sunday Worship Service: 10:30am 10116-100th Ave., fort St. John, BC Come Worship With Us. For information; Phone 250-785-0506 or food Bank 250-785-0500 ********** SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 9008-100th Avenue, fort St. John, BC Phone: 250-785-8632 Pastor: Cavin Chwyl Phone: 250-719-7949 Saturday Service: 9:30am ********** UNITED CHURCH of CANADA ST. LUKE’S UNITED 9907-98 St., fort St. John, BC Office: 250-785-2919 Rev. Rick Marsh Email: stlukeuc@telus.net Sunday Worship Service @ 10:00am Christmas Eve Service @ 7:00pm All are Welcome! The United Church of Canada is a Union of Congregationalist, Methodist & Presbyterian Churches in Canada formed in 1925.

B10 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

question and answer

Premier John Horgan on Site C, trade mission to Asia matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Premier John Horgan has a trade mission to Asia booked in the new year where he plans to talk LNG, but when he plans to visit Northeast B.C. remains to be seen. Horgan has faced intense criticism and much praise across the province in the days following his decision to continue building the controversial $10.7-billion Site C dam—a decision he admits wasn’t easy and knows has left his supporters in the region considerably upset. But the premier, fresh off his first session in government, maintains his hand was forced and that the project will prove its worth in the end—even if its cost continues to rise with uncertainty over who will buy its power and how it will be paid for, and how it will affect his relationship with some Treaty 8 First Nations. The Alaska Highway News spoke with Horgan about his Site C decision, the need for its power, how he plans to pay for it, and what exactly he’ll be doing in China. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Alaska Highway News: You have two major issues to address with Site C, the first is driving demand for its power. There is considerable time before Site C is finished and starts generating power. What’s your plan and where do you see opportunities? John Horgan: We looked at the load forecasts that Hydro had projected, we looked at load forecasts that came from the utilities commission’s review, and we took the low end of those forecasts to make our determination on viability going forward. I’m optimistic clean, green energy will be in demand increasingly in the years ahead. We, of course, have to look at a project the magnitude of Site C—it’s, no pun intended, a generational project, and we’re going to see electrification of not just British Columbia but North America in the years ahead to meet our collective climate objectives. We didn’t want to weigh heavily on that at the announcement because we’re seven years out from completion. We have forecasts that have been inaccurate year after year by Hydro, so we didn’t want to make bold predictions about the value of this asset to electrification. But it is undeniable that it’s not just the energy produced from Site C, but the capacity that also comes with the project that allows other renewables to come on stream and to be backstopped by the dispatchability of Site C. It’s a long-term project and we have to think long-term. I’m confident that as we strive, all of us in North America, to meet our climate objectives that this power will be used.

province of bc Photo

Premier John Horgan speaks with reporters at the B.C. legislature after announcing his government will continue the Site C dam to completion Dec. 11.

the market. That also includes projects like Site C, and others. But the fundamental challenge right now is to contain costs. We have the spillway and generation house contracts that are in the hands of BC Hydro now. They’re reviewing those, and that, of course, was factored in to increasing the budget expectation. The key element is to keep it at $10.7 billion and that’s why we’re going to have a new project management team that will include the private sector, government representatives from treasury to ride herd on contractor costs. That’s critically important to meet our objectives here. But how we raise the money, not just for this project but for a range of other projects, is very much an active discussion with the minister of finance. AHN: Your announced turnaround plan includes mention of new community benefit programs, but no details. What will these new programs include, and how will they add to the agreements already signed by communities here?

JH: There’s three key elements that we wanted to focus on in the announcement, and we haven’t fleshed those out in any significant way because we hadn’t made decision to go or no go until last week in cabinet. I didn’t want the public service to be working on programs that would not be realized and I wanted to make sure my colleagues and cabinet in the government caucus had every opportunity to make arguments and look at evidence before we started putting in place the mitigation that we’re going to need to diminish some of the impacts AHN: The second issue is of this project. financing this project. Your The largest one, in my government predicted rate opinion, the largest challenge increases of around one is reconciliation with per cent in 2025 and 2026. indigenous communities. You Meanwhile, the previous know full well in the region government was developing there’s division on the project a plan to sell green bonds to between indigenous and nonhelp finance its costs. Is this indigenous communities, in something your government households. There are people will consider picking up? that believe the project is not in the best interest of the JH: Firstly, we have to look at province and there are people what our borrowing needs are who believe it’s the only way going to be for a range of issues to go. This plays itself out right across the spectrum, whether across B.C. Even in my own it be schools, hospitals, roads, household my spouse believed bridges, transit infrastructure on balance the project would and so on. We have a pretty have a negative impact on a hefty capital plan, $14.6 billion whole range of issues. So, we’re in capital expenditures over trying to work through those. the next three years, according Indigenous reconciliation is a to our September financial key part of that and we’re going update. That’s very ambitious. to have programs over time We have to look at innovative that will address those issues to ways to raise that money in the best of our ability.

The loss of agricultural land is paramount to people of British Columbia, so we want to make sure we were doing well more than the previous government was doing and having a dedicated stream of revenue that was coming from the project to put directly into food security, not just in the Peace, but right across the province. This is a provincial asset. It has a local impact, but it has a provincial impact as well, and that is our ability to feed ourselves into the future. So, food mitigation, agriculture mitigation is a key part of that. And, lastly, we want to make sure we’re training more people. The current number of apprentices on site is woefully inadequate and we want to make sure that there are community benefit agreements. The public is spending, through BC Hydro, $10.7 billion. We want to make sure local companies get the maximum benefit from this, that we’re training the next generation of skilled workers, and that, most importantly, that everyone benefits from this expenditure, not just a select few. AHN: The province has been threatened with a $1 billion treaty lawsuit and injunction. Do you believe your government can advance reconciliation with Treaty 8 nations who are still very much opposed to this project? JH: The Treaty 8 Nations, West Moberly in particular, are absolutely entitled to follow the path that they’re on. I’m not going to say this was an easy decision, certainly not for them. But I had to look beyond the narrow and look at the broad, and the broad conclusion that I came to was that if we’re going to realize the objectives that we set as a government of genuine reconciliation, across the province not just in the Peace, we needed to make sure that we did not saddle ratepayers today with $4 billion in debt and to get nothing in return. AHN: What are the next steps in terms of ramping up work and addressing landowners in the valley? JH: That work will be ongoing. I have not directly reached out to the landowners. Nothing I can say at this point will ease the pain and disappointment that they have. I’m hopeful with some time will allow us to be able to sit down and work out the best way forward. But I absolutely understand and respect the deep disappointment they feel

right now, and the last thing they need is for government officials to come in and say, ‘how can we help?’ I think we need to allow people to feel their grief on this and then we’ll do our best to pick up the pieces.

AHN: Let’s talk natural gas quickly. I understand you have a trade mission to China in the new year, as well as meetings with LNG Canada. What are your priorities?

JH: I’ve been to Kitimat earlier in the fall. I met with AHN: There is a photo of LNG Canada officials as well you circulating with a yellow as Kitimat LNG. You will stake with your name on it as know Kitimat is a community part of a campaign to pay for that welcomes industrial legal challenges against the development. Kitimat LNG was dam. Did you buy that stake, the first out of the gate actually and what do you think should to start advocating getting the be done with it? first export permit and are still working diligently to await the JH: Someone bought that turnaround in prices so they in my name at an event in can proceed. my constituency. There’s no LNG Canada, again, a getting away from the fact that large project that includes I’ve been around this issue Shell Canada, three offshore for decades. I was the energy companies, KoGas, Mitsubishi, spokesperson for the official and PetroChina. So when we opposition for a decade, I’ve visit Japan, Korea, and China in been to the region many, many January, I intend to meet with times. I understand energy those three companies and talk policy, I’ve been on many to them about their continued sides of Site C over the years, interest in a final investment depending on circumstance. decision on LNG Canada. We I’ve never run away from want to make sure that we that. If people want to make can get our natural resources symbolism of a yellow stake to higher-priced markets. The they’re certainly entitled to do advent of hydraulic fracturing that. But that was purchased has meant North America is by someone at a meeting and awash in gas and that’s driving was in my name, and I didn’t the price down, making it disagree with that. I didn’t difficult for producers in the want to discourage people Peace to succeed. from doing everything they We’re fortunate to have a lot could to get us to a point of liquids, particularly in the where we could have a genuine Montney, which has allowed discussion. projects like AltaGas’s propane People need to remember export facility in Prince Rupert that had the BC Liberals won to be built. I visited that site as the election we would not have well. So, I think there’s a bright had this conversation. They future for natural gas in the would have continued to lead Peace and in British Columbia, people with the impression but we want to make sure the project was on time and we’re meeting our climate on budget when it was not. objectives. We’re serious about They would have continued reducing our emissions, I to think it was OK to have know the industry is as well. inadequate apprenticeships That electrification is part of coming out of the project, that, as well as ensuring that and they may well not have indigenous people are full worked to redouble our efforts participants in these projects for true reconciliation. This going forward. That takes me back to, if I is not a decision we came to with enthusiasm, but it was a could, the reconciliation issue. decision we had to make in the We fully embrace the United Nations Declaration on the interests of British Columbia. Rights of Indigenous People AHN: Do you plan visit to going forward. But the Site C Northeast B.C. before the project is 25 per cent complete and it’s not the same as talking next legislative session? to indigenous people about JH: We’ll have to see. I’ve the impact of a new mine or a been to the region many times, cut block or a drill site or a gas I have not been since I was plant. I think that’s important sworn in as premier. When the legislature sits I have to be in it for you and your readers to and over the Christmas season understand. We fully expect to I had not anticipated coming be working with indigenous to the Peace. But certainly people as partners in economic in the new year I will be up. I development. But in the case of have very fond memories and Site C, it was already started positive relationships with before we arrived. There was many people in the region, litigation underway when we and I look forward to being arrived, there will be litigation continuing on today. there soon.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 B11

perspectives

A united cry for change

long service

Judy Kucharuk the desk of the green-eyed girl

Judy Kucharuk is a lover of sarcasm, witty people, and footnotes. You can read her book “Naked Tuesday” or catch her on CBC Radio Daybreak North where she shares her “Peace of Mind.” Follow her on Twitter @judylaine

matt preprost Photo

Jeremy Garner receives a 15-year long-service award from city councillors Dec. 11. One afternoon in 2000, Garner took a tour of the city’s water plant, parting with the words, “I would like to work here one day,” according to the city. Flash forward to Dec. 30, 2002, and Garner was hired as a water/sewer utility operator. Garner was promoted to superintendent of utilities in September 2008, and was later named the city’s roads superintendent in September 2014.

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can hardly believe that it has only been a month since our family unwittingly became players in some sick and twisted Escape Room scenario: solving a series of riddles and puzzles, cracking codes, and strategizing. What do we win? Healthy parents and an satisfactory outcome to our request for an inquiry into what exactly happened (or didn’t happen) on Nov. 19, 2017, when my mom fell down the stairs in her home and wasn’t able to be transported to hospital for 90 minutes. I say parents plural, because, as you might recall, after mom arrived at hospital my father collapsed with a suspected stroke. Yeah, it was a crazy day. On a side note, when I wrote the original column a few weeks ago, I neglected to mention that after being reassured that mom and dad were no longer in imminent danger of a untimely death, my husband and I left that night and drove to Edmonton in a snowstorm to be present for the birth of our new grand-daughter Isla Rose Seebaran. It was heart-wrenching to leave my parents in the hospital, but I knew my sisters would be there for them, while we were there for my daughter as little Isla came into the world three weeks early. She is absolutely perfect and the perfect antidote for stress! After spending the 10 days with Amy, Ian, and Isla, I returned to Dawson Creek and it wasn’t long afterwards that I submitted the inquiry into the Patient Care Quality Office (PCQO). I wanted to provide an update as to the outcome. They were extremely empathetic and caring in their approach to following up on what happened and we appreciate their thoughtfulness. They have reviewed the complaint(s) and have provided me with the outcome of the review. Moving forward, it was important for us that the system be reviewed in order to make changes for the future. I am accepting of the response, and that every issue we brought up in our complaint has been addressed and investigated. The communication breakdown was reviewed and interviews were held with those involved. As I mentioned before, a human system is always at risk for human error. It is the recognition of that error and/or the system that facilitated the error that will make the system better and more reliable. Mom and dad are getting better each and every day. It amazes me at how human beings are able to bounce back from traumatic experiences. My sisters and I still walk around a bit like zombies, but that is to be expected when the world shifts beneath your feet. The most surprising outcome of this entire experience are the tweets and Facebook messages where others have shared their stories of horror and survival navigating the often complex Patient Transfer Network in Northeast British Columbia. I am reminded of the Hunger Games Mockingjay, a fictional bird who communicates through mimicry and I think to myself, “We all need to be Mockingjays— we need to share our very similar stories so that the Powers-That-Be realize that we need change, that these are not isolated incidents.” Northeast British Columbia is important! We are important! Be a Mockingjay!

From the management & Staff at Fort City Chrysler We all wish you and yours a very

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2018 JEEP COMPASS SPORT

$163 B/W

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 Stk# 18CO28

2017 RAM 1500 SXT 4X4

$234 B/W

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 Stk# 17R311

was $27,434

now

$22,589 was $46,149

now

$36,694 was $31,014

now

$24,999 was $56,626

now

$36,298

All payments are inclusive of taxes and fees of $523.00. Payments are calculated Bi-weekly over 96 months @ 4.19%. All payments are OAC - See Dealer for complete details. 90 days no payments- 2 months will be added to the end of loan. Interest calculated after 60 days. See dealer for details. Holiday bonus cash, is an after tax rebate. See dealer for complete details. Pictures are for display purposes only and vehicles may not be as illustrated. All units were available at time of printing but due to advertising deadlines, some units may be sold. See dealer for complete details.

cALLING ALL WRITERS! Are you a community-minded know-it-all who wants to earn some extra cash writing? The Alaska Highway News is always looking for new contributors to add to our pages.

Interested? Email editor@ahnfsj.ca to learn more!

B12 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

FAITH

Inviting in the stranger

here is an unprecedented population movement of migrants and refugees across Europe as the persecuted take enormous risks to find peace and freedom away from the oppression they encounter at home. One such Middle Eastern couple made a harrowing journey across the desert though the wife was heavily pregnant. Seeking refuge from political persecution, this couple was repeatedly turned away. No one welcomed them. This is but one of countless stories of families who have fled conflict, persecution and extreme poverty in the Middle East and North Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are

Angela Griffin PEACE REFLECTIONS

women and children, are resorting to extreme measures to escape with little more than the clothes on their backs. They are running from all they have ever known and all that they have loved to seek a better future elsewhere, usually for the sake of their children. Many do not survive their odyssey of faith and hope. Desperate to flee a broken and fractured homeland, many have perished. It was recently reported by the Red Cross that 2,000 Syrians trying to

reach Europe drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. Behind that devastating number are the individual life stories of men, women and children who have sacrificed everything to find peace in a place that is not their homeland. The Bible explicitly states how we are to care for refugees. In recounting the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus says we are to have that sort of mercy on every life, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:29-37). God loves the foreigner and calls us to do likewise. “You are to love those who are foreigners.” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19) Exodus 12:9 says: “Do not oppress a foreigner” and Job reminds us to, “Leave the door open to the traveler.” (Job 31:32). Christians are to invite

Special Delivery IT’S A BOY Caileb R ose Alwis Parents: & Elen a Rose Baby’s W 4.4 Kgeight s Time: Length6:53 pm Decem : 54 cms Fort Sber 11, 2017 t John , BC

IT’S A GI Kiera RL Pa Jason rents: KetrinMouland Baby’sa Milton Weigh t 8 lb Time: s 1 oz 1 : 5 Length 9 am Decem: 19.75 inch e b Fort S er 13, 2017s t John , BC

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The Alaska Highway News,

the stranger in. “For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me.” (Matthew 25:25-36) The first refugee couple that I mentioned is the Holy Family first forced to make a perilous journey to Bethlehem to satisfy the census requirements of their Roman oppressors, and then having to flee the murderous clutches of King Herod as his henchmen butchered Jewish males under the age of two seeking to kill the Messiah. Christ then was a political refugee. As present-day refugees set out on similarly perilous journeys towards a better future, Canadians can certainly help with the most basic of things. Clean water, food, hygiene items, clothing, sleeping bags, blankets, temporary shelter and basic healthcare are essential to rescuing people from the depths of their struggle. Bounteous, beautiful Canada is called to alleviate the

suffering of refugees in crisis. On its website, the Canadian Council for Refugees states that Canada welcomed 300,000 new permanent residents in 2016 and again in 2017. This is above the levels of 250,000 in recent years. Nevertheless, the CCR calls the Canadian government to set a minimum standard of 1% of the country’s population, which would be 350,000 each year, and to invest the resources needed for the successful settlement and integration of refugees into Canadian society. It is written in the Jewish Talmud that whoever saves one life saves the world entire. The life of Christ certainly transformed the world forever. Every refugee’s life has a divine purpose, and we are called to preserve those lives and to help each one fulfill his or her God-given destiny.

SPECIA DELIVERY The Peace is a place of many peoples and many faiths. If you have a story of faith you’d like to share, please send it to: angelamarygriffin@gmail.com.

Did you score the winning goal? Do you know an amazing teammate who deserves a moment in the sun?

IT Roch’S A GIR elle P L ar ClariParents: son & Ri ssa McP Babycky Parshee o ’s W eig n 8 Time lbs 11oz ht: Leng : 12:3 Dece th: 21.5 8 pm i m Fort ber 16, nches 2 Nels on, B017 C

9916-98 St., Fort St. John V1J 3T8 or email: compose@ahnfsj.ca

Fort St. John Hospital Foundation Baby Bouquet Wall This is a wonderful way for family and friends to acknowledge these special miracles

ted in the t Wall is loca re Baby Bouque Hospital Birthing Cent Fort St. John

Your minimum donation of $125 to the FSJ Hospital Foundation will not only purchase a flower petal, but the money raised will also go towards much needed medical equipment that will help to provide the best healthcare and service possible.

Ph: 250.261.7563 | email: fsjhf@northernhealth.ca

www.fsjhospitalfoundation.ca

Send us a photo of the player in action for the paper. Email sports@ahnfsj.ca

9916-98 St., Fort St. John, BC Laundry Services 250-782-9389

Duvet Cleaning

Professional Wet Cleaning Eco-Friendly Dry Clean Results!

We are More than a Laundromat!

• Drop-off Laundry Service • Self-serve Laundromat • Commercial and Holiday Hours: Industrial Services CLOSED • Executive Fine Dec 25-26 & Jan 1 Cleaning Executive Fine • Cowboy Press

• • • •

Cleaning Formal Wear Bridal Wear Suits Pressing

All Services in House

Dec 24 & 31 Closed at 6:00 pm (Last Wash 5pm)

250-782-9389

Open Daily: 8:00 am-8:00 pm

250-782-9389 • 800 - 106th Ave • Dawson Creek

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 B13

community in photos

matt preprost Photo

Stuffing the Salvation Army sleigh with goodies outside Century 21 on Dec. 15. matt preprost & EVE PETFORD Photos

Above: Young Eli Sinclair’s eyes light up at a tray of cookies up for snacking at the North Peace Seniors Housing Christmas party and concert Dec. 10. Below: May I have this dance? Party in the Parka provided a beautiful dance floor for couples and families to enjoy on Sunday, Dec. 17.

submitted Photo

Larry Evans, Evelyn Sim, and Jewel Bacon share a moment at the museum’s Christmas Tea Dec. 6.

May your holidays shine brightly with joy and good fortune that continues throughout the New Year. We wish you and yours all the best at this special time. Thank you for your generous support in 2017. We could not do what we do without your support.

Rotary Lake Holiday Skating Schedule: OPEN: December 26-31 NOON to 5:00 pm

Through the spirit of friendship and in appreciation of the support you have given us over the year, we would like to wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year We look forward to seeing you in 2018

July 13-15, 2018 C Dawson Creek B

m o c . s r e s i u r c o r e z mile

Rotary

Clubs of Dawson Creek

If you would like to ﬁnd out more about Rotary you can contact the Rotary Club of Dawson Creek Sunrise at RotaryDCSunrise@gmail.com

Rotary

Club of Dawson Creek

Meets Tuesdays, NOON at the George Dawson Inn

Rotary

Club of Dawson Creek Sunrise

Meets Fridays, 7:00 am at the DC Curling Club

B14 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

Classifieds Reach almost 2 million people in 101 papers for only $395/week for a 25-word text ad, or $995/week for a formatted display ad

Coming EvEnts

Are You In Debt with your Credit Cards? Consolidate your credit card for less. With rates from 2.3% APR offer bad credit or low income OK. 1-800-581-8288

South Peace Historical Society Meetings Third Wednesday of the month. In Dawson Creek at the Calvin Kruk Centre Archives Room at 2 pm.

Save the Dates July 13, 5:00 pm to July 15, 2018 at 3:30 pm for the Annual Mile Zero Cruisers Summer Cruise weekend starts with Registration held at the Dawson Co-op. Bring down your pride and joy and register for the Summer Cruise Car Show weekend. All registrants will receive access to all weekend events as well as a chance to win prizes. Check in this paper for more details closer to the show!

SUNDAYS: FAMILY Coming EvEnts TREE HELP - Peace Country Roots Group communityclassifieds.ca SATURDAYS: LEARN Meeting - Fourth Sun1-866-669-9222 YOUR ROOTS - Geneday of each Month at Book by province alogy information NAR the CALVIN KRUK CENor whole country PARK ROOTS BUILDING TRE in Dawson Creek SAMPLE NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT and save over 85%! 10:00am peacecountry1:30pm roots.ca LAND ACT

LegaL/PubLic Notices

WEDNESDAYS: COMPUTER INFORMATION -Seniors Computer Club - Dawson CO-OP Bistro 1:00pm 250-782-4668 for more information

Land Act: Notice of Intention to Apply for a Disposition of Crown Land

Take notice that Enviro-Ex Contracting Ltd. from Prince George, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO), Northeast Region, for a Licence of Occupation situated on Provincial Crown land located at Sikanni Chief River. The Lands File for this application is 8015949. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Jason Pederson, Authorization Officer, Northeast Region, MFLNRO, at 100, 10003110 Avenue, Fort St. John, BC, V1J 6M7, (250) 261-2063. Comments will be received by MFLNRO up to January 17, 2018. MFLNRO may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at www.arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/index.jsp for more information and a map of the application area. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

LegaL/PubLic Notices

Land Act: Notice of Intention to Apply for a Disposition of Crown Land Take notice that Enterprise Renewables (2017) Ltd. from West Vancouver, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (MFLNRORD), Northeast Region, for an Investigative Wind Power Licence situated on Provincial Crown land located in the vicinity of Southwest Dawson Creek, Peace River District. The Lands File for this application is 8015965. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Joyce Veller, Authorization Officer, Northeast Region, MFLNRO, at 100-10003-110th Avenue, Fort St. John, BC V1J 6M7, (250) 787-3438. Comments will be received by MFLNRORD up to February 1, 2018. MFLNRO may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at www.arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/index.jsp for more information and a map of the application area or send comments directly to: AuthorizingAgency.FortStJohn@gov.bc.ca A Government decision for this application is expected on or after February 01, 2018. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

Career OppOrtunities MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1855-768-3362 to start training for your workat-home career today! SANDMAN INNS RURAL BC recruiting management couples, both full-time and part-time roles available. Ask us about our great employee perks and accommodation. Apply on https://sandmanhotels.prevueaps.com

Urban Systems Ltd. Civil Engineering Technologist We are searching for an enthusiastic Civil Engi− neering Technologist to join our team. For more information, please visit our website: www.urbansystems.ca

Domestic Help WanteD Nanny/Live-in Caregiver required for 4 children ages 8, 6, 3, & 5 months. Full-Time Livein only. Duties include: Care for the younger children at home. Make beds and do laundry. Light house cleaning. Working hours 8am4pm Monday-Friday Weekends off. $10.25/hr or $1640/mth. Must speak English. Related Experience necessary. Prefer high school graduate or someone with higher education and/or caregiver training. Call 250219-2291/250-4679112 or email: salverene01@yahoo.com

47023

General employment

Now Hiring the following Positions:

Kitchen Staff & Servers Interested parties are asked to please submit your resume: In person: Located in Arras, BC Email: jobs@thearrasroadhouse.com OpEn 7 DayS a WEEK: 5:30am - 10:00pm

250-843-7885

dine in • take out • catering thearrasroadhouse.com

General employment

Announcements

Office/ clerical

Announcements

Burger King Fort St

Council & Committee Meeting Dates

John is hiring Crew (Starting $12), Supervisors (Starting at $15), Assistant Manager (Starting at $17) and Managers (Starting $18.75). Previous experience an asset, but not necessary as Crew will be trained. Business management, training, schooling is an

Landsong Heritage Consulting Ltd. Cost Controller Prepare project cost estimates and propos− als, management of contracts and accruals, accounts payable, ac− counts receivable and payroll. Details available on website. Please sub− mit CV, with references and cover letter to joanna@landsong.com, subject: Cost Controller Job Application. No telephone inquiries or faxes please. www.landsong.com

asset for Supervisors, assistant managers and Managers. Please send

Each year, Council publishes the adopted Council and Committee schedule for the following year in compliance with Section 127 (1) of the Community Charter. 2018

Council 5pm

Recreation 10am

Public Works 9am

Protection 1pm

January

2nd & 15th

2nd

15th

February

5th & 19th

5th

19th

March

5th & 19th

5th

19th

April

3rd & 16th & 30th

3rd & 30th

16th

May

22nd

June

4th & 18th

4th

18th

July

3rd & 16th

3rd

16th

August

7th & 20th

7th

20th

September

4th & 17th

4th

17th

October

1st & 15th

1st

15th

November

5th & 19th

5th

19th

December

3rd & 17th

3rd

17th

Trades Help

resumes to bkfsjco@gmail.com

Hamilton Janitorial Services is looking for Light Duty Cleaner $15.00 per hour. Full Time. 36.5 hours per week. Training will be provided. Light Duty Cleaner duties: Sweep, mop and wash floors, Wax and polish floors, Dust furniture, Vacuum carpeting, area rugs, draperies and upholstered furniture, Clean, disinfect and polish kitchen fixtures and appliances, Disinfect operating rooms and other areas, Clean and disinfect bathrooms and fixtures, Clean and disinfect elevators. Pick up debris and empty trash cans, wash windows, walls and ceilings. Clean changing rooms and showers. Workplace Settings: Office building, Industrial facility, Commercial building, Private residence, Recreational Facility. Security and Safety: Bondable, Criminal record check. Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: Fast-paced environment, Work under pressure, Tight deadlines, Repetitive tasks, Handling heavy loads, Physically demanding, Attention to detail, Combination of sitting, standing, walking, Standing for extended periods, Bending, crouching, kneeling. Essential Skills: Reading text, Numeracy, Writing, Oral communication, Working with others, Problem solving, Decision making, Critical thinking, Job task planning and organizing, Significant use of memory, Continuous learning. Send resume and cover letter including whether you have a driver’s license N or full or international and availability for work to admin@hamiltonjanitorial.com Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. Applications accepted by email only.

TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING BCCSA/WCB Certified FSJ: Jan. 17 &18, 20 & 21, 23 & 24 PG: Jan. 27 & 28, 30 & 31 1-866-737-2389 or roadsafetytcs.com

Amperage Energy Inc Heavy Duty Mechanic Amperage Energy is looking to hire a part time to some days full time heavy duty me− chanic to work in the Dawson Creek area. Oilfield equipment ex− perience is a must, also any oilfield tickets would be a asset. Please send your re− sume to: debbie @amperageenergy.com daniel @amperageenergy.com amperageenergy.com

King’s Energy is cur− rently seeking a PRD Valve Tech for their Dawson Creek branch Visit kingsenergy.com to apply or email re− sume with position and branch location to: RD.HR @kingsenergy.com

All Council and Committee meetings are held in Council Chambers on Mondays

(or next business day if a holiday falls on the Monday)

at the District of Taylor Office located at 10007 100A Street, Taylor, B.C. Committee of the Whole meetings will be scheduled as needed on either the 1st or 3rd Monday of the month at 4:00 PM

ApArtments/ Condos for

For Sale MiSc

COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE: $0.99/each for a box of 180 ($178.20). Also full range of tree, shrub, and berry seedlings. Free shipping most of Canada. Growth guarantee. 1866-873-3846 or TreeTime.ca. SAWMILLS from only $4,397 - MAKE MONEY & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info & DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/ 400OT 1800-566-6899 Ext:400OT

Li-Car Management Group

We have a variety of apartments, town homes, executive homes, and duplexes for rent. To apply for these,please email reception@licar.ca or visit our website at www.licar.ca

Business OppOrtunities

Phone: 250-785-2662

Convenience Store Opportunity - Moberly Lake, BC. Please contact Michael Butte at mbutte@gasplusinc.com

General employment

Looking for a new opportunity? Submit your resume today!

Accounting Clerk - Our clients in the Fort St. John area are currently seeking an experienced Accounting Clerk to add to their team! This is a fulltime, temporary (3 to 6 months) position with the opportunity of permanent hire. In this position you will be responsible for a variety of tasks, such as: payroll data entry, working with and assisting in vendor accounts/charge backs, PST, GST & WCB remittances, and General administration support as required. Office Administrator - Our clients in the Fort St. John area are currently seeking an Office Administrator to join their team of office professionals. In this position you will be responsible for a variety of tasks ranging from daily Administrative to Bookkeeping. This is a great opportunity for those who want to pursue a career in Bookkeeping and Accounting. Some responsibilities of this position include; data entry of AP/AR, preparing person and corporate tax returns, answering phones, and invoicing. Receptionist - Are you a quick learner with great customer service skills? Are you organized and able to work well on your own as well as in a team environment? Then this may be the opportunity for you! Our clients are currently looking for an outgoing individual to join their team! This is an entry level position that includes basic reception duties such as; filing, answering the phones, and other duties as assigned. The successful candidate will want to grow with the company and have excellent customer service skills. Experience is considered an asset, but is not required. If you think you’re a fit for any of our listed positions, please email us your resume with 3 work related references today! 10139 101 Ave. Fort St. John, BC V1J 2B4 | p. 250.785.8367 | f. 250.785.4795 | www.macenna.com e. apply@macenna.com

R0011352370

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Announcements

R0011352381

Announcements

250-785-5631 classifieds@ahnfsj.ca

Book Your Ad Now!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017 B15

Classifieds HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENT? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in Walking/Dressing? Disability Tax Credit $2,000 Tax Credit $20,000 Refund. Apply Today For Assistance: 1-844-453-5372.

Business services GET RESULTS! Post a classified in 101 newspapers in just a few clicks. Reach almost 2 million people for only $395 a week for 25-word text ad or $995 for small display ad. Choose your province or all across Canada. Best value. Save over 85% compared to booking individually. www.communityclassifieds.ca or 1-866-669-9222.

LegaL/PubLic Notices CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer Employment/Licensing loss? Travel/Business opportunities? Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US Entry Waiver. Record Purge. File Destruction. Free Consultation 1-800-3472540. accesslegalmjf.com Mobile/Manufactured HoMes for sale

Pine Ridge Modular Homes 14’, 16’ & 20’ Singles. 24’-30’ Double Wides. S.R.I. Homes, Fort St John-Mile 49.5 (250)262-2847

Mobile/Manufactured HoMes for sale

2017 MANUFACTURED HOMES starting under $80,000 delivered! Best Buy Homes Kelowna www.bestbuyhousing.com - Canada’s largest in-stock home selection, quick delivery, custom factory orders, new parks! Text/call 250-7652223.

ApArtments/ Condos for BIRCHVIEW MANOR Furnished and Unfurnished 1 Bedroom Suites. Adults Only, Senior Discount. Bus Stop at Front Door. 250-784-5817

Business For sale

SuiteS For rent For Rent: FURNISHED SMALL SUITE in Dawson Creek, Downtown. WiFi & Internet. Phone: 250-782-7042 For Rent N/S, 2 bdrm Rancher Style, Suite in townhouse. Includes utilities, free parking, Appliances, laundry machines, sunroom, 1 small quiet domestic pet is ok. $1350 /month. 250-789-9127 Steel BuildingS / granarieS STEEL BUILDING SALE ... PRICED TO SELL!i 20X23 $5,998. 25X27 $6,839. 30X33 $8,984. One End Wall Included. Bonus Drill/Impact Driver Combo Kit Included. Check Out www.pioneersteel.ca for more prices. Pioneer Steel 1-855-212-7036

Business For sale

Steel BuildingS / granarieS STEEL BUILDING SALE ... FALL CLEARANCE SALE ON NOW! 20X21 $5,990. Front & Back Walls Included. 25X25 $6,896. One End Wall Included. 32X33 $8,199. No Ends Included. Check Out www.pioneersteel.ca for more prices. Pioneer Steel 1-855-212-7036

Domestic cars Nissan Electric Leaf 2016 29,500 kms. If interested call 250-261-9392

250-785-5631 classifieds@ahnfsj.ca

NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING

AGRICULTURAL LAND COMMISSION NON-FARM USE APPLICATION No. 56832 & PRRD FILE NO. 198/2017 SW ¼ of Sec�on 22, Township 85, Range 20, W6M, PRD Northwest of Charlie Lake

Proposal: To develop a potable and non-potable water u�lity; as well as, construc�on of water storage pits, and waste water holding tanks once the water wells and water u�lity construc�on is complete.

This no�ce is in general form only. Relevant background documents may be inspected from Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:30am – 4:30pm at the PRRD Dawson Creek office (1981 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC) or 8:30am – Noon and 1:00pm – 4:30pm at the PRRD Fort St. John office (9505-100th Street, Fort St. John, BC). Wri�en comments or concerns accepted. Chris Cvik, Chief Administra�ve Officer

For more informa�on:

When: Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 7 pm

Where:

Charlie Lake Community Club/ Hall, 12717 Charlie Lake Hall Road, Charlie Lake B.C.

www.prrd.bc.ca

Development Services Department Tel: 250-784-3200 Fax: 250-784-3201 Toll Free: 1-800-670-7773 Email: prrd.dc@prrd.bc.ca

diverse. vast. abundant.

"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more." —Dr. Seuss As one gets older The Christmas List gets smaller and the things we really want can’t be bought. To Friends & Family Our wish for You & Yours is Good Health, Love, Peace and Joy in a very complicated… but incredibly beautiful world.

Our past year was filled with wonderful grandson moments and additions to both families. Now we have 4 grandsons and what fun! Matt & Jill did the annual “Search for the Perfect Tree”on our property and the photo above not only features the chosen tree but also a very curious 3 year old that popped his head through the saw just as I was taking the picture! Both Clarks enjoy the great outdoors and all that it offers. Hayes is a very happy, hungry 10 month old that will very soon be able to stand up to his older brother. Gentle Grady is a wonderful older brother to 3 month old Charlie Ross - who is every parent’s dream. We were in Toronto twice this past fall to visit with Cass & Steve and although we won’t be together this Christmas, we know that we have been blessed. “Never take for granted the people we love. Be thankful for today because in one moment…your life can change.” Our hearts & prayers go out to those who are facing challenging times. Much love, Clark & Judy Clark & I, Don & Barb, Garth & Sue were treated to a 16 day Panama Cruise this past November 2017 by my parents. It truly was a fantastic trip and the last night on the ship, my 92 year old father said, “If I’m feeling this good when I’m 95, I’d like all of us to cruise to Australia!”

48502

Business OppOrtunities

Book Your Ad Now!

B16 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

“Get The Good Stuff” 250-785-0463

9224 - 100th Street

2017 / 18

NHL GREAT CANADIAN

HOCKEY TOUR ENTRY DEADLINE: THURSDAY, FEB. 1 at 5PM DRAW AT THE LIDO

SUNDAY, FEB. 4 at 5PM Doors open @ 3PM

Fort City

www.arctichottubsfortstjohn.com

Financing available

Always Proud To Support Our Community!

10008 97 Ave - Open until 10 pm 9316 Alaska Rd N - Open until 11 pm

SEMI-FINALISTS WEEK #1 EMMA CALLIOU WEEK #2 CHRISTOPHER EVANS WEEK #3 BLAKE MITCHELL WEEK #4 DEB MIEDEMA WEEK #5 DONNA CARLSTROM WEEK #6 JENELLE RUSSELL WEEK #7 DENISE PERRET WEEK #8 REID BREKKAS WEEK #9 TINA BELCOURT

8424 Alaska Road North, Fort St. John, BC Phone: 250-787-5220 1-877-787-5220

9424 100 St | Fort St. John, BC 250 785-3006

www.fortcitychrysler.ca

Drop off entry form at one of the participating businesses

2017-18 NHL GREAT CANADIAN HOCKEY TOUR NAME:________________________ AGE:__________________

ADDRESS:_____________________ PHONE #: ___________________

SEMI-FINALISTS WEEK #10 REGAN GOERTZ

CELL#_______________________

MUST BE 19 OR OLDER TO ENTER

ONLY 8 QUALIFIERS REMAINING ! GET YOUR ENTRY IN TODAY!!

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN: 2 tickets/1 hotel for 12 nights and airfare.

GAMES

CITIES

Tuesday February 20, 2018

Colorado @ Vancouver

Thursday February 22, 2018

New York Islanders @ Toronto

Saturday February 24, 2018

Philadelphia @ Ottawa

Monday February 26, 2018

Philadelphia @ Montreal

Tuesday February 27, 2018

Nashville @ Winnipeg

Thursday March 1, 2018

Nashville @ Edmonton

Friday March 2, 2018

New York Rangers @ Calgary

Alaska Highway News Phone: 250-785-5631 • Fax: 250-785-3522