THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2018 VOL. 75, NO. 52
SERVING FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
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2018 YEAR IN REVIEW
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he earth shook in more ways than one in Fort St. John and the North Peace in 2018. A quiet start to the year grew ever more turbulent as Treaty 8 First Nations ratcheted up their pressure on the province over Site C through the courts, while the province turned to the courts to ratchet up its pressure on Alberta over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Indeed, energy and resource development remains a going and growing concern across Western Canada, and throughout the year, our region saw its fair share of celebrations and forward momentum, from the sanctioning of LNG Canada to the start of major infrastructure projects that will change the face of Fort St. John for decades to come. How closely did you pay attention to the headlines? Here’s a look back at some of the bigMATT PREPROST PHOTO ger stories of the year and some PHOTOS OF THE YEAR — Anja Trummer, a Grade 11 exchange student studying at North Peace Secondary, swerves around of our favourite photos too. It’s Caroline Mereski on her way to the net as youngsters Austin Mereski and Callan Foster look on during a game of shinny at certainly an exhaustive list, but the Finch Community Skating Rink on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2018. by no means covers it all. Do you have any outstanding thoughts on the news of 2018? As always, our inbox is open at editor@ahnfsj.ca.
JANUARY • The Peace Region’s New Year’s baby was once again born in Dawson Creek. Camilla Nora Taylor was born Jan. 1, 2018, at 7:25 a .m. to mom Tricia and dad Ryan of Bay Tree, Alta. Fort St. John’s first baby of the year, Hannah Dawn Hofer, was born Jan. 2 at 7:20 a.m. to Marie and Kevin Hofer of the South Peace Colony. • A Dawson Creek teenager was killed Jan. 5 after a single vehicle accident on the Taylor Bridge. No age or name of the victim was released, however, police did note the victim was under 18. • The Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club unveiled plans Jan. 4 for a new day lodge at the cross-country ski trails at Beatton Park. The lodge is being built ahead of the 2020 Winter Games. • The West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations file claims BC Supreme Court Jan. 15 alleging Site C is being built in violation of their rights under Treaty 8. The two nations warned Premier John Horgan in 2017 that his approval of Site C would lead to a civil suit, and claimed any damages could be as high as $1 billion. • Mary Hopkins and Doug Wilson took the top prizes in the annual Rotary Mega Lottery on Jan. 13. Hopkins won $25,860 in the 50/50 draw and wWilson won $20,000 in the first prize draw. Whoever said helping out the community never paid off?
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
PHOTOS OF THE YEAR — Jesse Mcarthur does a backflip during the Snowboard Rail Jam during High On Ice Winter Festival activities on Feb. 11, 2018.
• Steven Page, a 51-year-old man from Toronto, is arrested Jan. 16 after forcing the evacuation of the North Peace Regional Airport. Officers were called to the airport after Page was refused boarding onto a WestJet flight for being intoxicated. He was charged with mischief, uttering threats, and assault. The airport was closed for about an hour. • Industry spends $12.9 million for petroleum and natural gas rights at B.C.’s first land sale of the year on Jan. 17. Eighteen drilling licences and six leases were sold. • Pembina Pipeline Corp. rings in the New Year with a major $50,000 donation to the United Way of Northern BC on Jan. 19.
dill Hotel goes sideway, as city councillors learn about a 180% hike in costs at a Jan. 22 meeting. NAPP Enterprises says its crews encountered up to three times more asbestos than the company expected to clean up when it bid on the work. It prompted council to halt demolition and order a legal review of the city’s procurement practices and a pair of hazardous materials assessments completed as part of the tendering process. • A a pair of wannabe thieves try to steal a credit union cash machine in Hudson’s Hope Jan. 26, leaving behind a trail of debris and surveillance images. The suspects used a snowmobile and a vehicle to try and pull the ATM from the lobby of the North Peace Savings and Credit Union.
• Demolition of the Con-
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• Sean Surerus takes the reins of Surerus Pipeline Jan. 22, taking over from his father, Brian. • The City of Fort St. John mourns the death of longtime building inspector Rick Fudge, who died Jan. 27. Fudge was just 47, and became a building inspector for the city in 2005. • Totem Mall was once again the target of vandals on Jan. 29, as a vehicle smashed through three different sections of the building, causing extensive damages. • Northeast B.C. records a remarkable 3.8% unemployment rate for January, the lowest in B.C., and a dramatic rebound from January 2017 when unemployment was recorded at 10.5%.
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