AHN JAN 19 2017 by Alaska Highway News

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19 2017 VOL. 74, NO. 3

SERVING FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

$1.50 INC. GST.

alaskahighwaynews.ca

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Only Newspaper in the World That Gives a Tinkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dam About the North Peace.â&#x20AC;?

PLAYGROUNDS ARE BIG BUSINESS

PREDATORS MAKING A NAME

TAYLOR THOMAS A RISING STAR

BUSINESS A9

SPORTS B1

ARTS B6

Local fire dispatch services heading south Directors decry lack of transparency in emergency services decision JONNY WAKEFIELD & MATT PREPROST reporter@dcdn.ca, editor@ahnfsj.ca

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Peace River Regional District officials have approved a contentious plan to outsource fire dispatch services to a Vancouver Island-based company. At a meeting Jan. 12, PRRD board members voted 7-5 to enter a five-year agreement with Courtenay-based North Island 9-1-1. The agreement, which will see North Island 9-11 provide fire dispatching to the entire region, is expected to cost $635,477. The PRRD approved the contract in a closed meeting Dec. 9 after the cost of its existing contract was set to spike. The board publicly endorsed the deal Thursday. Representatives from Fort St. John, Tumbler Ridge, Taylor, and Pouce Coupe voted against going with North Island.

READ MORE â&#x20AC;˘ North Island 9-1-1 president confident in service /A4 â&#x20AC;˘ Fire dispatch talks blazing front and centre /A6 â&#x20AC;˘ PRRD to release fire dispatch documents /A7 Opponents of the decision were apprehensive about outsourcing emergency services to a far away region without knowledge of local roads and geography. Regional district directors from around the region say they were bombarded with phone calls after news of the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision became public this week. Fort St. John Coun. Byron Stewart spoke against the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision, saying Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vote was a chance for â&#x20AC;&#x153;sober second thought.â&#x20AC;? See DISPATCH on A3

JONNY WAKEFIELD PHOTO

A packed gallery at last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peace River Regional District meeting.

After Hours - Leave Message

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t negotiate the Peace Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; JONNY WAKEFIELD & MATT PREPROST

reporter@dcdn.ca, editor@ahnfsj.ca

phone 250-785-5631 fax 250-785-3522 email circulation@ahnfsj.ca online alaskahighwaynews.ca facebook AlaskaHighwayNews twitter @AHNnewspaper

ALEISHA HENDRY PHOTO

Taeuk Nam receives his Governor General Academic Bronze Medal from North Peace Secondary School Principal Randy Pauls on Jan. 13.

Math protĂŠgĂŠ earns Governor General award ALEISHA HENDRY ahendry@ahnfsj.ca

Taeuk Nam wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all that surprised to learn he would be a recipient of the Governor Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Academic Bronze Medal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was expecting it,â&#x20AC;? he said during a visit to his old high school to receive the medal on Jan. 13. The 2016 North Peace Secondary School grad, who is currently attending Uni-

versity of BC in Vancouver studying general science, earned the medal by having the highest average grades during his Grade 11 and 12 years. NPSS Principal Randy Pauls said he had Nam as a student for the first time in distance education, where Nam completed Math 10, 11, and 12 during his Grade 9 year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen very often in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career when

you see a math protĂŠgĂŠ come through those kinds of things,â&#x20AC;? said Pauls, who noted that Nam also scored in the very high 90s on his provincial exams. Nam, who has taken advanced math courses for fun, says he would eventually like to follow his mathematical pursuits into teaching or research. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very proud of what Taeuk has accomplished,â&#x20AC;? said Pauls.

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Hudsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hope Mayor and Site C dam critic Gwen Johansson says her community needed to get something out of the contentious BC Hydro project, but says she â&#x20AC;&#x153;couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t negotiate the Peace Valley.â&#x20AC;? Johansson said she recused herself from negotiations with the Crown corporation, aimed at reaching a deal on the $8.8-billion project under construction 80 kilometres downstream. The deal was announced Jan. 12, but a BC Hydro news release included statements from Coun. Dave Heiberg instead of the mayor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have always said I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t negotiate the Peace Valley,â&#x20AC;? Johansson said in an email. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the same time, I have recognized that if decision-makers choose to ignore the growing body of evidence that Site C is not a good project, I cannot stand in the way of my community getting at least something for the enormous losses we will bear because of it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are fortunate that Councillor Heiberg was available and willing to step in and head our negotiating team.â&#x20AC;? See NEGOTIATE on A3

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19 2017 VOL. 74, NO. 3

SERVING FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

$1.50 INC. GST.

alaskahighwaynews.ca

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Only Newspaper in the World That Gives a Tinkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dam About the North Peace.â&#x20AC;?

PLAYGROUNDS ARE BIG BUSINESS

PREDATORS MAKING A NAME

TAYLOR THOMAS A RISING STAR

BUSINESS A9

SPORTS B1

ARTS B6

Local fire dispatch services heading south Directors decry lack of transparency in emergency services decision JONNY WAKEFIELD & MATT PREPROST reporter@dcdn.ca, editor@ahnfsj.ca

When You Are Out in the Field, Time IS Money. QUALITY PARTS, EXPERT SERVICE!

HoursMon-Fri: 8am - 5pm Sat: 8am - Noon

9224 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC (250) 785-0463

JONNY WAKEFIELD PHOTO

A packed gallery at last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peace River Regional District meeting.

After Hours - Leave Message

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t negotiate the Peace Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; JONNY WAKEFIELD & MATT PREPROST

reporter@dcdn.ca, editor@ahnfsj.ca

phone 250-785-5631 fax 250-785-3522 email circulation@ahnfsj.ca online alaskahighwaynews.ca facebook AlaskaHighwayNews twitter @AHNnewspaper

ALEISHA HENDRY PHOTO

Taeuk Nam receives his Governor General Academic Bronze Medal from North Peace Secondary School Principal Randy Pauls on Jan. 13.

Math protĂŠgĂŠ earns Governor General award ALEISHA HENDRY ahendry@ahnfsj.ca

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A2 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

CONTENTS Humour........................................ A2 Weather ....................................... A2 Local News .................................. A3 Opinion ....................................... A6 Business ...................................... A9 Sports ........................................... B1 Arts & Culture ............................ B5 Community................................. B9

DOG DAYS OF WINTER

THIS WEEK’S FLYERS No Frills Walmart Shoppers Drug Mart Canadian Tire M&M Food Market London Drugs Jysk Save On Foods Safeway The Source Rona Home Hardware Sears Sung’s

10,075 8,552 9,438 10,071 8,529 7,405 8,057 10,204 10,067 7,495 10,547 9,310 10,204 5,500

Correction The third annual North Peace Martial Arts Championships takes place March 11, not Feb. 25 as was reported in last week’s edition. —AHN

GAS WATCH

HALEY LABOUCANE PHOTO

Duke and Dot have a romp at the dog park at Toboggan Hill last week.

Horror movies and toxic snow GLOBE GAG: We start news chewing in Hollywood, where last week the Golden Globe Awards were handed out. Movie critics are saying the Oscars will be a repeat of the Golden Globes. My wife would not let me watch the Golden Globes and she won’t let me watch the Oscars. That’s because I sit there complaining: “I don’t know any of these people! Who are these people? Are these people movie stars?”

keep the name, but add “Eh” to the end. iPHACT: Last week was the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone. Back then I didn’t buy an iPhone because opening and closing my flip phone was the only exercise I got. A study shows in 10 years, the average iPhone customer has owned seven iPhones. And walked seven million miles searching for their lost iPhone charger.

Bob Snyder CHEWS THE NEWS

to answer the survey. Here are things to remember on Friday the 13th: • Never walk under a ladder, or Darth UTILITY FUTILITY: With the recent Vader’s cape. SNOW STUFF: Beijing, China issued • Never trust a black cat that dyes itself a “Toxic Snow” alert, their recent heavy KNOWBEFOREYOUGO prolonged cold snap across the province, BC Hydro reports electricity use at an allwhite. snowfall was loaded with dangerous pollutime high. That whirring sound you can • Never step on a sidewalk crack, espetion. How dangerous is the snow in Beijing? PREVAILING PRICES hear is the sound of electric meters spincially during an earthquake. Each tiny snowflake is shaped like a skull ning. That sobbing sound is the sound of • Never try to break a mirror with a and crossbones. You know snow is polluted Dawson Creek ohn, BC - 7 Day Forecast109.9 - Environment Canada https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-78_metric_e.html BC Hydro customers opening their elecrabbit’s foot. when you’re shovelling your sidewalk and tric bills. • Never buy a lucky horseshoe from a you notice your shovel has dissolved. Fort St. John 112.9 horse selling shoes door-to-door. ICE NOT NICE: Icy sidewalks in EdDRONE DETAILS: A Canadian commonton prompted the city and Alberta JACKSON JEST: A British TV show pany now sells a drone that can fly Alberta-B.C. border N/A Health Services to recommend residents about Michael Jackson created quite through the air at 100 miles per hour. They walk like a penguin to avoid falling. That’s a controversy. Michael is portrayed by say it’s aimed at guys who have a buddy Fort Nelson N/A ridiculous. You cannot walk like a penguin Joseph Fiennes. He’s English. And he’s who owns a pathetic drone that flies at Environment and natural resources  Weather  Weather  Local forecasts British Columbia unless you wearinformation a tuxedo. white. What’s next: A  movie about Diana only 90 miles per hour. Ross starring the old lady duchess from Groundbirch N/A HORROR HA HA: Now in theaters, a Downton Abbey? MILK MEMO: Canadian dairy proCanadian-made movie that’s described as ducers are nervous about the incoming on, BCChetwynd - 7 Day Forecast -112.9 Environment https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-83_metric_e.html one Canada of the scariest horror films ever made: FANTASTIC PLASTIC: In Vancouver, Trump administration. Canada restricts The Bye Bye Man. The title comes from the a woman who is not a qualified doctor imports of milk from the U.S. The modObserved at: Fort St. John Airport 3:00 PM MST Tuesday 17 January 2017 Tumbler Ridge 122.9 “bye bye” you’ll be saying to any food you was charged with doing plastic surgery in ern supermarket has many types of milk. recently ate when you upchuck during the her basement. She was arrested after she Almond milk, soy milk, cashew milk, rice Condition: Mostly Cloudy Temperature: 4.7°Ca nose job. Yeah, she really Wind: SSW 12 km/h violent scenes in the movie. botched blew it. milk, coconut milk. If you walk a cow Prince George 106.9 (You know there’s a problem if the plastic through your local supermarket you’ll Pressure: 99.1 kPa Dew point: 0.1°C Visibility: 24 km 13: Friday was supposedly an unlucky surgeon uses Play-Doh instead of Botox) make it feel very insecure. You will also Tendency: Hythe day—Friday the 13th. In an Internet Humidity: 72% make the supermarket manager very mad. N/A Falling survey, one in 20information people said they will not YUK: In business news, Amer Weather  Weather  CANUCK  British Environment and natural resources Local forecasts Columbia the house all day. That’s actually one ican Apparel clothing has been bought Bob Snyder can be reached at: Grande Prairie 103.4 leave in 19. They didn’t count the 13th person by a Canadian company. They’re going to chewsthenews@fastmail.com

St. John, BC

urrent Conditions

5°C Nelson, BC Calgary

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Edmonton 97.9 urrent Conditions orecast Vancouver

Tue 7 Jan Victoria

Condition: 120.9 Mostly Cloudy Wed Thu Pressure: 98.9 kPa 19 Jan 18 Jan 124.9 Rising Tendency:

CAD$ per litre, prices as of Jan. 17. Source: GasBuddy.com

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nly cloudy

FORT ST. JOHN Temperature: -9.2°C Fri Sat Dew point: -10.7°C 20 Jan 21 Jan Humidity: 89%

3°C 40%

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recast GENERAL NOTICE

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are reserved 1°C All other rights -4°C

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For further information contact editor at onight the managingNight

70%

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CONDITIONS REGION, PLEASE SEE THE LINK BELOW.

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22 Jan

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A mix of sun and A mix of sun and IN THE PEACE Issued: 11:00 AM PST Tuesday 17cloud January 2017 cloud

21 Jan

40%

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FORT NELSON Night Sat

The contents of this Night Wed newspaper are protected by 7 Jancopyright and may 18 Jan be used only for personal non-commercial purposes.

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Wind: SSW 6 km/h Sun Mon Wind Chill: -13 22 Jan 23 Jan Visibility: 48 km

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Observed Fort Nelson Airport 3:00 PM MST Tuesday 17 January 2017 WEATHER & at:ROAD REPORT Issued: 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 17 January 2017

Chance of ﬂurries

30%

Mon http:// www.drivebc.ca/ 23 Jan

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10°C 18 Jan

-23°C in the morning. -22°C Cloudy. -14°C 40 percent chance -15°C of rain showers or flurries Wind southwest -22°C 20 km/h gusting to 40. High 30% plus 3. 30% ds of light Cloudy Chance of flurries Cloudy Clear Chance of flurries Clear with 40 percent chance of rain showers or flurries. Low minus 4.

snow

19 Jan Cloudy with 40 percent chance of ﬂurries. High zero. notes an abnormal temperature trend chance of ﬂurries. Low minus 6. Cloudy periods with 30 percent

ssued: 11:00 AM PST Tuesday 17 January 2017

Insulated FR 17-01-17 3:07 PM Coveralls

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 A3

LOCAL NEWS

Man charged with attempted murder after pub stabbing MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj,ca

One man has been charged with attempted murder after sending another man to Alberta hospital with stab wounds last week. Police were called to On The Rocks Pub Wednesday, Jan. 11, around 10:43 p.m., after a 30-year-old man was stabbed and taken to hospital by friends, Fort St. John RCMP said in a statement. The victim was stabilized at the local hospital and flown out of the province for further treatment, according to police. However, officials couldn’t immediately confirm where the victim was flown to, or his immediate condition. Court records show Kevin John Lesowski, born 1985, is charged with one count of attempted murder. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 8 and is not currently in custody. He has not been convicted of the charge. The incident is isolated, as the parties involved were known to each other, police said.

JONNY WAKEFIELD PHOTO

Mayor Gwen Johannson NEGOTIATE from A1

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Fort St. John RCMP collect forensic evidence outside of On The Rocks Pub in Fort St. John last week.

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“This resolution was made in a closed meeting, which meant we as a board of directors could not discuss (this) with our constituents,” Stewart said in a prepared statement. “What I’m asking of the board of directors at this time is to vote and allow the voices of the citizens we represent to be heard and to be considered.” “I think this was a bad decision by our board,” he added. “I think this was bad politics, and a disservice to the citizens we represent.” Fort St. John Mayor Lori Ackerman said she opposed discussing the deal in the closed meeting—a decision taken because the discussions concerned negotiations with a private company. Don McPherson, Mayor of Tumbler Ridge, said his constituents hadn’t had time to weigh the proposal. “This is the first chance they’ve had to come out and say something about it, and I think that’s wrong,” he said. Stewart said the board’s decision puts lives in danger. “I guarantee a short time down the road it’s going to be a life, and we’re going to hear about it,” he said. “And we’re talking about dollars.” Taylor Coun. Betty Ponto said more public discussion was needed to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of residents. “If there’s a huge increase in costs, and if residents are prepared to absorb those costs, we need to listen to that and move in that direction,” she said.

“I believe (Coun. Heiberg) has done the best that could be done in very difficult circumstances and I thank him for the many hours devoted to trying to get some benefits for Hudson’s Hope,” Johansson said. Under the agreement, Hudson’s Hope will receive $1 million, which includes $268,000 to establish an infrastructure trust fund; $442,000 to recognize land impacts caused by the Site C reservoir; $150,000 to upgrade Alwin Holland Park and fund other shoreline recreation development; $80,000 to support community planning; and $20,000 to support emergency rescue services. “This agreement provides the foundation for a sustainable and thriving community that supports individuals and families with quality community services and infrastructure, a variety of recreational opportunities and support for local service providers,” Coun. Heiberg said in a prepared statement. The agreement also provides for BC Hydro to fund the revitalization of the Atkinson property to include a new 25 to 33-lot subdivision, the building of a “demonstration home” in the subdivision for use by a local doctor or other community services professionals, as well as the building of a permanent boat launch and seasonal dock and day use area on DA Thomas Road and at Lynx Creek. The district and BC Hydro will also establish a community engagement committee to facilitate operational communications, and a dispute resolution process. Johansson has been one of the fiercest critics of the project, which the B.C. government approved in 2014. Hudson’s Hope, pop. 1,012, would be one of the communities most impacted by the project. The district has been negotiating with BC Hydro for years over the Site C project, saying it is the municipality most impacted by the dam’s development—standing to lose 1,037 hectares of land to statutory right-of-ways, as well as taxes from prime property for development along the Peace River shoreline.

INTEROUTE CONSTRUCTION LTD.

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A4 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

New fire dispatcher confident in serving the Peace despite distance MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

CITY BEAT

R0011363862

Fort St. John Fire Chief Fred Burrows says the department has invested more than $1 million over the last decade to improve its fire dispatch service. “The technology was to our benefit, and other departments in the region were able to experience benefits from our expenditure and technology advancement,” he says.

Updates from January 9, 2017 Council Meetings PROCLAMATIONS

The month of January 2017 was proclaimed as “Crime Stoppers Month” in the City of Fort St. John. At the 2016 year end, the Northeast BC Crime Stoppers Society had handled 330 tips in the region, with 115 from Fort St. John. Five rewards were approved with the total value of the rewards being $2,095. The 2017 theme for Crime Stoppers Month is ‘See Something, Hear Something, Say Something’.

2017 BUDGET PRESENTATION

At the Committee of the Whole meeting, Council received a presentation on the 2017 Capital Budget. Proposed capital budget projects for 2017 total $49,865,847 of which $24,000,000 is funded from the Peace River Agreement. Five Project Components were presented: C1 Transportation, Roads, Sidewalks; C2 – Facilities & Grounds; C3 – Water & Sewer; C4 – Capital Overview; and C5 – Capital expenses related to one-time projects. Included was a breakdown of where funding comes from, the budget for 2017 and forecast number for 2018 – 20121. Detailed information was provided for each of the projects. Future meetings will be scheduled to allow for further review and input from both Council and members of the public.

TOURISM FORT ST. JOHN BOARD MEMBERSHIP AMENDMENT

Council approved the recommendation from the Tourism Fort St. John Board to amend their board membership as follows: Doug Parcells – Former Director of Operations with Pomeroy Lodging to be removed from the Board and replaced by Graeme Jenkins, the new Director of Operations with Pomeroy Lodging. The Board consists of individuals who live, work or conduct business in the City of Fort St. John and are typically individuals who have demonstrated a willingness to support the City in forwarding its tourism development objectives.

DISPLAY OF MINOR HOCKEY MEMORABILIA AT THE POMEROY SPORT CENTRE

Council received a letter from Fort St. John Minor Hockey with regards to Minor Hockey memorabilia being displayed at the Pomeroy Sport Centre. It was noted that championship banners recognize the hard work of young athletes and Council directed staﬀ to hang banners at City facilities including the Pomeroy Sport Centre.

NDIT LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM – GRANT APPLICATION Council approved an application to the Northern Development Initiative Trust’s Local Government Management Internship Program for funding for the City of Fort St. John to host a Local Government Management intern. The grant being requested is $35,000 and the City is committed to providing training and exposure opportunities for an intern. The City believes it is important for local governments to promote careers in local government as many people are unaware of the opportunities that exist. This can be a beneﬁcial program for both the organization and the individual.

BYLAWS A Public Hearing was held for Oﬃcial Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2364, 2016 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2365, 2016. The subject land of the proposed bylaws is located at 8907 – 112th Avenue and is owned by St. Martin’s Anglican Church. The purpose of the bylaws is to facilitate the development of a church. Oﬃcial Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2364, 2016 changes the designation of the subject property from Low Density Residential (LDR) to Institutional (IT) and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2365, 2016 changes the zoning from Single Family Residential (R1) to Institutional (IT). Following the Public Hearing, Council read the bylaws for the third time and adopted them by title only.

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS A Committee of the Whole Meeting is tentatively scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Monday January 23, 2017. The Regular Meeting will follow at 3:00 p.m. All meetings will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers and the public is welcome to attend.

www.fortstjohn.ca

The head of the Peace Region’s new fire dispatch provider says residents will get “top-rate” service when North Island 9-1-1 begins taking emergency calls. North Island 9-1-1 President Larry Samson said his organization prides itself on its mapping system, which currently serves 51 fire departments over 56,000-square kilometres on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. “We cover a vast geographical area and dispatch a wide variety of fire departments,” said Samson, also a councillor for the city of Campbell River. “We pride ourselves on our mapping systems. We have no concerns we’ll be able to provide an excellent, top-rate service for the Peace River.” Peace River Regional District officials approved the contentious plan to outsource fire dispatch services to the organization last Thursday. The five-year agreement is expected to cost $635,477, and will see North Island 9-1-1 handle fire emergency calls out the Campbell River Fire & Rescue Dispatch Centre instead of the Fort St. John and Dawson Creek fire departments. North Island 9-1-1 is managed by and serves six regional districts, including Alberni-Clayoquot, Comox Valley, Mt. Waddington, Nanaimo, Powell River, and Strathcona. It employs 11 dispatchers, with two on duty 24-7, Samson said. It also employs one full-time staffer dedicated to keeping its mapping systems updated, and another full-time staffer to handle its communications and power infrastructure. Bryan Pearson, deputy secretary for North Island 9-1-1 and senior IT manager for the Comox Valley Regional District, said the organization’s 911 system is able to pinpoint the location of calls either through address databases for landlines, or through the XY co-ordinates provided by GPS through cellphones. “We still ask that person to verify their location, because depending on how many cell towers the phone is being picked up by, it will … impact your exact location,” he said. “It may change it from 100 metres in some areas, or, if you’re in deep forest cover, it could be larger than that. If you’re in a wide open area with direct view to the sky and the GPS satellite system, you can be down to metres or even centimetre accuracy. “We can’t control that, so dispatchers will always ask for you to provide some set of locational information so what they see on the mapping screen as your position that they have a good feeling that’s where the location is,” he said. The system has been using GPS-based phone locational information for the last six years, Pearson said. A full-time mapper is tasked with layering the system with kilometre markers on roads, significant landmarks, and colloquial names used to describe areas. They also collect new building and road information, as well as aerial photography from the regional districts, while updating the system monthly with digital road atlas data provided by the province. The organization will work with the PRRD and local fire departments to add as much data to its mapping system that it can, Pearson said. “We tend to go after all the resources we can to get the picture that we need in order to provide good locational information to our dispatchers,” he said. ‘A JOB AHEAD OF THEM’ Still, Fort St. John Fire Chief Fred Burrows is worried how dispatching services will transition between his department and North Island 9-1-1, from interfacing technology between the two agencies, to ensuring the company understands the intricacies of his department’s response area. “They have to get their heads around the fact there’s a lot of of landscape between here and where we meet up with Fort Nelson, all the resource roads, farm roads, even some of the ranches that go back into there,” he said. “They really will, I believe, have a job ahead of them.” The department receives calls from people based on ranch locations, road markers, and other local identifiers, he said.

STRATHCONA REGIONAL DISTRICT

Larry Samson, president, North Island 9-1-1

“If you know where a ranch or a road location is, then you can ask the right questions so that person can find exactly where they’re going,” he said. “But if you just take a call out of the blue and it tells you it’s the white rock at Goodlow and then go four kilometres north and three kilometres west, they don’t know the right questions to ask around that information. That’s going to be the struggle, I believe, for us.” The City of Fort St. John submitted a bid to provide fire dispatch for the 11 fire departments in the Peace Region, a move Burrows said would have saved the regional district more than $1 million over five years as it would have no longer paid the Dawson Creek department for dispatch services. The two departments are currently reimbursed the equivalent of two full-time first-year firefighters to provide the service. “There was all sorts of discussion around tax increases but that wasn’t true,” Burrows said. The Fort St. John department has invested more than $1 million in its dispatching services over the last decade, Burrows said, including a dispatch centre built to meet National Fire Protection Association standards in its new fire hall, complete in 2013. That includes being able to transmit call data directly into the department’s fire trucks, while the dispatch centre is self-sufficient with its own standby power and HVAC system in the event of emergencies, Burrows said. The centre is staffed each day by one of the department’s trained firefighters, he added. “We put a lot of effort into that room and cost, never knowing in the back of the regional district’s mind that this was going to happen in the future,” he said. “When you put a dispatch room and then you put the technology into that, we’re way over over a million dollars in expenditure to make sure we provide best possible dispatch service to the residents of the North Peace. “The technology was to our benefit, and other departments in the region were able to experience benefits from our expenditure and technology advancement,” he said. Nevertheless, Burrows expects a professional and courteous transition when the dispatch services move over, and will share any information if needed. “Ultimately we’re still receiving calls for our community. It’s going to be important that a) everything goes well and b) we’re looking out for our residents at the same time,” he said. OFFICIALS INVITED FOR TOUR Samson said North Island 9-1-1 bid on the contract as it has the staffing capacity to handle calls from Peace River—roughly 2,000 calls per year— and noted technology advancements are leading to the centralization of dispatching services. “Rather than these smaller dispatch centres, you’re starting to see them become more of a regional dispatch centre,” he said. “Peace River, granted, is on the northern end, but the technology that we have now is such that we could be dispatched from Houston, Texas, or dispatched from anywhere, and the technology is there to allow us to do it.” He invited regional officials for a tour of his dispatch centre to understand its capabilities and alleviate concerns. “I think it’s important for board members who have questions to come and see our dispatch centre,” he told CBC News. “I invite them to come down, have a look at our dispatch centre, have a look at our mapping system, so we can show how top-notch it is.”

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 A5

LOCAL NEWS

Drilling activity could rise with AltaGas propane plans A propane export terminal on B.C.’s West Coast will give producers new access to world markets, but an industry group says it’s too early to say what impact the project will have on Northeast B.C. On Jan. 3, AltaGas announced its plan to build a $450-$500 million propane export terminal on Ridley Island near Prince Rupert— the first such facility on Canada’s Pacific coast.

Half of the 1.2 million annual tonnes of propane will be sourced from AltaGas’s Townsend facility north of Fort St. John, which the company announced it was upgrading late last year. “Talking to the producers, things are kind of getting landlocked up there in the northeast, so anything that provides another outlet for one of their commodities is a huge advantage,” said Dan Woznow, AltaGas vice president of energy exports. “This is one portion of the gas,

the propane, but if (producers) can get a higher value for that, that may open up other opportunities for drilling in the upstream.” The Ridley Island facility will be just ten days from Asian markets, compared to 25 days from competing facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast. AltaGas operates a similar propane export facility in Ferndale, WA. While the terminal, will provide an outlet for Northeast B.C. propane, Energy Services B.C. Executive Director Art Jarvis said it was too early to

Site C workforce 36% local in November There were nearly 1,800 workers on the Site C dam project last November, with 36 per cent of them living in the Peace Region, according to BC Hydro’s latest employment numbers. According to the utility’s November 2016 employment report released Tuesday, there were a total of 1,796 workers on the project that month, with 648 of them listed as Peace River Regional District primary residents.

Of the dam’s workforce, 1,382 were employed as construction and non-construction contractors, including the 648 locals who amount to 47 per cent of that workforce. In addition, BC Hydro said there were 120 workers employed by subcontractors on the dam. The dam employed 414 engineers and project team members in November. Overall, BC Hydro says 1,471 workers on the dam

are from British Columbia, or 82 per cent of the overall workforce. There were no temporary foreign workers on the project in November, according to BC Hydro, and there were 26 managers working through the federal International Mobility Program. A total of nineteen apprentices were employed in November. —Staff

ALL SMILES HERE

market is doing and where the price is going.” Local leaders have stressed the need to find other outlets for the regions natural gas and other commodities should the province’s liquefied natural gas plans stall. AltaGas decided to shelve its Douglas Channel LNG project last year due to low prices. Construction on the Ridley Island facility is expected to start this year. It will create 200 to 250 construction jobs, as well as 40 to 50 permanent jobs.

say what impact the facility will have on the region. The facility will be supplied by rail and road instead of a fixed pipeline, meaning AltaGas will source the remainder of its product wherever it can get the best price. “It’ll be all about price, wherever they can buy that propane the cheapest,” said Jarvis, whose organization represents energy industry contractors in Northeast B.C. “As for local impact, we won’t see that until we see what the

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SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 60 (Peace River North) KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR THE 2017/2018 YEAR All Peace River North Elementary Schools are now accepting Kindergarten Student Registrations • Children who will be five (5) years of age by December 31, 2017 are eligible for registration in Kindergarten at their local schools. • Registration for Kindergarten students for the 2017/2018 school year will take place in all Elementary Schools during regular school hours. • Please register directly at your home school. If you are uncertain of the school boundaries (catchment areas) please contact the nearest school. To maximize the opportunity that your child will be accommodated at your local school it is strongly recommended that you register at your earliest convenience. • French Immersion Kindergarten Is available at École Central Elementary School of the Arts only. Please call the school (250-785-4511) for further information regarding the French Immersion program. For students entering Grade One, French Immersion is also a possibility at Ecole Central depending on space. • Busing will be provided for rural Kindergarten programs. Availability and times vary from school to school so please call your school for the appropriate details.

If you have further questions, please contact Mr. Stephen Petrucci, Assistant Superintendent at (250) 262-6017.

Have News ??? MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Taylor DeVos and classmate Rachel Leung dropped by city hall on Jan. 16 to give councillors a much-needed break from budget discussions, and filmed them as part of a digital media assignment. DeVos and Leung are showcasing Fort St. John in music video, set to the song Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake.

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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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Fire dispatch talks blazing front and centre

s the Peace River Regional District has entered a five year agreement with a Vancouver Island-based service provider, many in the region are accusing the talking heads of, perhaps, burning down the house. Last week, PRRD board members voted 7-5 to enter a five-year agreement with North Island 9-1-1. The agreement, which will see the group provide fire dispatching to the entire region, is expected to cost $635,000-plus. Since then, the air has been ablaze with fire dispatch discussions. It seems the issue has inflamed people, and sparked debate. Once those familiar tones come across the radio, and if you are you’re there fast enough, you may find yourself in the driver’s seat of a fire engine or rescue unit. If you are slower in response, perhaps you can make the second truck. In the time it takes for trucks to roll, communication is happening and a fast response of any kind falls apart when dispatch doesn’t know the area, or can’t direct responders to the actual location of an incident. There are all kinds of stories. The address could be heard wrong, transposed wrong, or, in the 21st century, technology simply gets it wrong. In the end it is still the same: wrong. Perhaps the error is simple like Fourth Avenue West is actually Fourth Avenue East. Perhaps it is Old Lake Road versus Lake Road, and the two are an hour apart. I was once on an engine dispatched to 48th Avenue. Every firefighter on the rig knew there was no such street, or address on it in the city. Our department, a fire department in the wrong city was dispatched. I’ve watched someone faint in a public park, called 911 and proceeded to watch the ambulance circle the park for 10 minutes as the driver clearly had no idea the road he needed to drive down to access the park.

There are all kinds of stories. The address could be heard wrong, transposed wrong, or, in the 21st century, technology simply gets it wrong. In the end it is still the same: wrong.

Good thing the call wasn’t serious, but no one knew that at the time. Fanning the flames. It doesn’t matter how detailed the street and rural maps and other municipal-specific information, or schematics of locations of schools, community centres, floor plans are at a dispatcher’s fingertips, things fall through the cracks. Local landmarks, colloquial terms and/or directions that are local customs will not be picked up from dispatch services area located on the other side of a mountain range, over some the Pacific Ocean and onto an island. Fort St. John Councillor and PRRD Director Byron Stewart spoke on the colloquial. Know the difference between the Kiskatinaw Bridge and the old one? Many just don’t know there is an original curved one. It happens with over a century of change as those with institutional knowledge changes and (sounding old here) the Google Map App on the iPhone is just plain wrong. Gathering steam. I remember a call about an accident on the TransCanada Hwy. There the direction is easy: either drive north or south of the city. However, when one particular call came in, the information relayed from dispatch was immediately recognizable, even though dispatch didn’t have a hot clue what the colloquial terminology meant. “The accident is just south of the ‘Million dollar cr#!!er …?...,’” was what was relayed very questioningly, but every firefighter on the truck, or listening on the radio, knew im-

mediately, and precisely, where the accident was located. As to the process of the decision made—I understand being in camera and behind closed doors for negotiations. However, what seems to get the public red-hot on this is the closed-door nature of the decision. This subject should have been blazing front and centre, burning in a public discussion forum from the get go. Look, the fact is the fire puns are hard to extinguish. Regardless of how the decision was made, dispatch services being farmed out is not uncommon. Many communities in the U.S. are in the midst of this battle right now. Hoopeston, Illinois, is in the middle of a fight to get their local dispatch service. While the town had their own service for 911 and non-emergency calls for years, since September services are provided from outside of the community and many are sounding off. This is also not new, nor revelatory business for the Peace Region. 911 is farmed out of Prince George RCMP. Kamloops takes calls for BC Ambulance in this area. E-Comm will take over initial 911 calls from PG, who currently forward fire calls to Dawson Creek fire departments. Last week’s decision means E-Comm will forward fire calls to North Island 911, which will then dispatch local fire departments. During the scorching PPRD inferno/fracas on Thursday, Chetwynd Mayor Merlin Nichols cast a two-fold spell during the debate… “I don’t have confidence in North Island helping us with a crisis when they have a crisis of their own,” he said. “I don’t think a Fort St. John dispatcher has anymore knowledge of Chetwynd than anyone else.” —Rob Brown is the managing editor of the Dawson Creek Mirror and a former volunteer firefighter in rural Alberta.

Community chatter (PRRD approves outsourcing fire dispatch services, alaskahighwaynews.ca, Jan. 12) “Guarantee there will be screw ups just like when ambulance services changed, there are problems with them, police, hydro when trying to get directions already, so now can add fire to that, very angry about this.” — Malcolm Dutchak, via Facebook “The firemen are against it that it will cost lives. Save a few bucks lose a few lives. Glad they care about our lives over the cost.” —Amanda Botbijl, via Facebook “With all the wildfires we had this past season you would think they’d prioritize better” —Tamera Thomas, via Facebook “We want names, who voted this through,

I know who didn’t but put the other names out there. I’m sure they will NOT be elected again. Instead of going forward, we always seem like we are going backwards, shame on you!” —Wendy Perreault, Via Facebook “It’s all dollars and no sense!” —George Deigh, via Facebook “Very bad decision shame on you time for new directors of prrd” —Donald Pepper, via Facebook “This is a very bad move. Could be disastrous!!” —Margaret Scanlon, via Facebook “Saving money at the expense of the people.” —Eva Beaton

“This is disgusting!!! Cannot hardly wait for election time.” —Tammy Gregoire, via Facebook “They do not know where places are and seem to think most of the area is in Alberta! Needs to be dispatched locally!” —Suzanne Fuller, via Facebook “Given the frequency of power outages on Vancouver Island, and also the potential for earthquakes, I hope the new dispatch centre has power back up for emergencies.” —A Cartwright, alaskahighwaynews.ca “That will be fantastic when the only road they know will be the Alaska Highway. There had to be other ways to save 300K per year.” —“Rusty”, via alaskahighwaynews.ca

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 A7

LOCAL NEWS

PRRD to release fire dispatch documents, chair says JONNY WAKEFIELD & MATT PREPROST reporter@dcdn.ca, editor@ahnfsj.ca

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) will release documents related to a closeddoor decision to outsource fire dispatch services at its next meeting. On Jan. 12, the PRRD publicly confirmed its decision to enter a fire dispatch services contract with North Island 9-1-1 after an hour of heated debate. The new contract will see fire dispatch services moved to Vancouver Island. Some worry the out of town operators won’t have the local knowledge to dispatch fire crews to remote areas, putting lives and property at risk. Fort St. John, Taylor, Pouce

Coupe and Tumbler Ridge voted against the proposal, saying it would cost local jobs and endanger public safety. The region received three responses in its request for a new fire dispatcher last year— including North Island, Fort St. John and E-Comm. The board approved the five-year, $635,477 contract with the Vancouver Islandbased company at a closed meeting Dec. 9, but publicly endorsed the decision last week. Supporters say the new contract will come at a significant costs savings. In an interview with the CBC, Board Chair and Area C Director Brad Sperling said documents set to be released at the next board meeting will show why the board opted

against the local proposal. “Once those reports are public, which should be by the next meeting, I can show exactly where my concerns were, but between now and when those reports are made public, it would just be hearsay,” he said. “I had no problem with Fort St. John’s bid with their price point—I had concerns with some of their levels of service and safety and those questions couldn’t be answered for me.” The district’s current policy is to discuss contract negotiations privately and confirm any decision in a public meeting. MAYOR DEFENDS FIREFIGHTERS The City of Fort St. John fired back at Sperling, noting

in a statement that Sperling’s comments were the first time concerns over the city’s service and safety levels were raised. The city cited a 2013 report that found 95 per cent of alarm calls were answered within seven seconds and that 99 per cent of alarms were answered within eight seconds. “I would like to express council’s pride in our fire department,” Mayor Lori Ackerman said in a statement. “These dedicated and professional people go above and beyond to ensure our safety. I am very disheartened and disappointed that a decision based on dollars is now being defended at the expense of the reputation of these dedicated people.” The city said its bid to the

PRRD to provide fire dispatch services for the entire region amounted to a $140,000 difference per year. Over five years, that places the city’s bid at roughly $1.3 million. Fort St. John Coun. Byron Stewart criticized the board’s move to make the decision at a closed meeting. “This resolution was made in a closed meeting, which meant we as a board of directors could not discuss (this) with our constituents,” Stewart said Jan. 12. The union that represents fire fighters in Fort St. John also came out against the proposal. Shortly after the vote, Sperling moved to release the documents in the consent calendar of the next meeting. That meeting is set for Jan. 26.

Hudson’s Hope ready to celebrate old man winter TOM SUMMER For the Alaska Highway News

Originally from Valemount, Emily Nusse is a relative newcomer to Hudson’s Hope, but the similarities shared by the small towns have made her feel at home. Nusse brings more than five years of experience in the recreation and hospitality industry, making her a natural fit as the new community events co-ordinator for the district. Nusse also holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Recreation Management from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), and has demonstrated great passion for the outdoors in her work as ski instructor at Red Mountain Resort. “These events are important because they create a sense of community pride amongst residents and participants,” said Nusse, who’s organizing the district’s winter carnival this year. “They remind everyone that for such a small community we have an array of activities and recreation opportunities available. It’s a great way to showcase to visitors and people considering to move to Hudson’s Hope that this community is a fun place to live with a great quality of life.” This year will mark the eighth annual Winter Carnival, a community event created in late 2009 by Nusse’s predecessor, Greta Goddard. Goddard is a longtime resident of Hudson’s Hope, having taught at Hudson’s Hope School for many years, as well as running her own fitness program. The first Winter Carnival was inspired by the spirit of the Olympic games, complete with a torch relay. “It really grew and grew, over the years. So much participation from the public, and support from local businesses. The event speaks loudly to the character of the incredible community here in Hudson’s Hope,”

Goddard said. Carrying on the tradition, Nusse has called on local talent to help create some new additions, alongside previous favourites. These include a Bollywood-style dance class, and a public belay demonstration of the newly-installed climbing wall at Hudson’s Hope School. The eight-day celebration starts Jan. 28 and finishes on Feb. 4. Day 1 will begin with an opening ceremony, followed by a hockey game with the Minor Hockey league, and finish with activities at the Snowed Inn Cafe at the Pearkes Centre. Day 2 is a ski day, with the public encouraged to come check out the slopes at the Hudson’s Hope Ski Hill. In addition, figure skating and dance shows will be on display at Hudson’s Hope Arena. Day 3 will see a Snow Day of activities at Cameron Lake, and curling hosted by the Curling Club at the curling arena. Day 4 features story time at the Hudson’s Hope Public Library, snowshoeing at Hudson’s Hope Arena, and drop-in classes for kids, teens, and adults; hosted by Northern Rockies Karate. Day 5 is bingo at the New Horizons Senior’s Club, and the abovementioned Bollywood-style dance class. Day 6 celebrates fitness with local gym Fit for Life at the Pearkes Centre. Cross-country skiing will also be offered at the Hudson’s Hope Arena. Day 7 enjoys a change of scenery with games, sleigh rides, and outdoor skating at the Beryl Prairie Fire Hall. Day 8 saves the newest attraction for last: the climbing wall at Hudson’s Hope School. The Recreation Society is also hosting their Adventure Zone at the Pearkes Centre. The celebration will conclude with a closing ceremony featuring a dinner social and quick auction.

TOM SUMMER PHOTO

Volunteer Amber Booker (left) and events co-ordinator Emily Nusse are gearing up for Hudson’s Hope’s eighth annual Winter Carnival, set to begin Jan. 28.

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B.C.’s worker safety regulator says a series of vehicle incidents that led to a brief shutdown at the Site C dam worksite last week were minor and relatively common on wintertime construction sites. WorkSafeBC officials confirmed Jan. 10 that they were aware of “several incidents that have occurred recently” at the dam site, involving rock trucks, heavy earth haulers and an excavator. BC Hydro briefly paused work on the North Bank of the Peace River last week after what a spokesperson called a “series of minor vehicle incidents.” Work resumed later that day. In an email, WorkSafeBC spokesperson Erica Simpson said BC Hydro was not required to report the incidents under the Workers Compensation Act. “All were minor in scope and none involved any worker injuries,” WorkSafeBC spokesperson Erica Simpson said in an email. “These incidents took place over a period of time and none were immediately reportable to WorkSafeBC.” Employers are required to report incidents that involve serious injury or death of a worker, a major

structural failure, release of a hazardous substance, or fires and explosions. None of the incidents in question met those descriptions, Simpson said. In winter and extreme cold conditions, equipment and vehicles often experience issues such as loss of traction, slipping off a road, sliding/ skidding,” she wrote. “If an incident is minor in scope– not uncommon on a large civil construction project of this size and scope–it is not necessarily immediately reportable to (WorkSafe).” “As with all projects of this scope and size, our officers inspect on a regular basis looking at health and safety program issues and operational compliance with health and safety during various phases of the construction process.” Site C is an $8.8 billion hydroelectric project on the Peace River near Fort St. John. It is expected to flood around 83 kilometres of the Peace River Valley, and is among the largest infrastructure projects in B.C. history. According to the project’s first annual report, there have been no serious injuries or fatalities on site. Contractors and employees have filed 194 “near miss” reports, 82 equipment or property damage reports and recorded three “lost time” incidents.

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Great opportunity on this light industrial zoned property. Ideal location oﬀers excellent accessibility and exposure for your business, just oﬀ the Airport Road, and minutes to town and hwy. With large home and shop this is perfect for crew housing or home based business. The 3840 sq ft shop is in pristine condition and features 20`ceilings, and 11 X 24 Mezzanine. 2668 sq ft home waiting for you! Boasting 7 bdrms, 2.5 bth, and a fantastic enclosed patio/ hot tub room

More info at www.century21.ca/101200315

$2,475,000

10215 Beaver Road

In city limits, this 0.89 acre C3 zoned property is perfect for your business. There 2835 sq ft shop has 2 12’ doors. Blocks to the Alaska Hwy, this property oﬀers easy access for you and your associates. Loads of potential. More info at www.century21.ca/101198621

$499,000

14924 Stoddart Creek Road

Wonderful opportunity to own a like-new home, phenomenal shop all on 160 acres on Stoddart Creek Road. Built in 2014, this 1700 sq ft home features 3 bdrms, and 2 bths,. The custom built home boasts high end ﬁnishes including triple pane windows, in ﬂoor heat throughout, quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, Electrolux Appliances with induction oven, HRV heat exchanger, and ensuite bath in Master bdrm, with Airtub and custom shower.

More info at www.century21.ca/101129362ww

$1,500,000

Dr. Valerie Young has been announced as the lead keynote speaker for the upcoming Spark Women’s Leadership Conference in May. The conference takes play at the Pomeroy Hotel in Fort St. John May 16 and 17, and will centre around the theme ‘Inspired by Tough.’ Young, an internationally known speaker and writer, will give attendees a presentation on overcoming the so-called “imposter syndrome.” Young authored the award-

winning book The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It, and has become a leading expert in confidence building. Young has shared her advice to thousands across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, conference organizers say. Registration for the conference opens in February. For more, visit sharingthespark.com —Staff

Chocolate festival reimagined as date night for couples Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Peace Arts Gallery Society’s annual celebration of chocolate is getting a face-lift this year. The usual Chocolate Festival has been re-imagined as an adult-oriented evening called Fire & Ice: An Event in Chocolate. The event will feature chocol-

ate sampling from professional bakers, a bar with chocolate inspired drinks, and a silent auction with plenty of goodies for that special someone. Fire & Ice takes place Feb. 11 at the North Peace Cultural Centre. For more information, call 250-785-1992. — Staff

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 A9

Business

MATT PREPROST 250-785-5631 editor@ahnfsj.ca

- Trevor Zahara

The playground tycoon Designer of the new playground in the Fort St. John McDonald’s has ties to region ALEISHA HENDRY ahendry@ahnfsj.ca

You never know when a Swiss army knife will come in handy. When the giant novelty scissors wouldn’t cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Fort St. John McDonald’s new playground, Trevor Zahara saved the day by pulling out his Swiss army knife and getting the job done. Zahara is the president of Peak Play Environments, the company responsible for the new playground, and was on hand for the opening. “It is wonderful coming back to this community and having roots here and seeing the family values and community values that (owner Bryan Boresky) brings to the table is a stellar example for anyone in business,” he said. So how does one become a playground tycoon? Zahara grew up on a homestead on the banks of where the Smokey River meets the Peace River in Alberta, but he spent his fair share of time in the B.C. Peace Region. As his grandparents owned the North Pine General Store, he and his family spent a lot of time in the region. “I remember crawling around as a kid in the basement around the inventory that was left over after the store shut down and seeing the gas pump outside,” said Zahara. In the mid-1980s, Zahara was working at a treatment facility for emotionally disturbed children and making toys and furniture out of wood as a hobby, when he was asked if he could build a backyard playground for a local family. From there, the idea was planted. In the summers, he worked on designing and building playgrounds, and would work doing commercial renovations in the winters. It wasn’t until 1995, when his company landed the contract to supply McDonald’s with playgrounds that Zahara became a full-time playground provider. He’s responsible for all the restaurant’s playgrounds in Western Canada and has opened playgrounds all over the world. He attributes his drive and focus to his experiences growing up. “I grew up on a farm where you have to be smart about your expenditures and where you focus your enterprise—I learned a fantastic work ethic there and I bring that to what I do today.” Zahara has worked with Boresky for the last 15 years, in both his Fort St. John and Dawson Creek locations, and has always been impressed with his commitment to the community.

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Rotary ALEISHA HENDRY PHOTO

Trevor Zahara, president of Peak Play Environments, designed the new playground in the Fort St. John McDonald’s.

“He pushes the envelope on what he pushes in the community because he supports the community and the community supports him, and that’s very good for my business.” Zahara is a strong believer in an active lifestyle, which is what a playground essentially stands for. He noted that while he worked on installation of the FSJ playplace, he witnessed parents and grandparents leading children through the structure, which he was pleased to see. “It engages the family to participate together and engage in physical movement,” he said, which can lead to “confidence building and growth and agility and strength. For the family that can engage their children in those types of activities, you can’t go wrong.” Zahara feels movement is important for everyone at all stages of life. “I think movement is so crucial for us. You know if you’re pondering one of the challenges we face in life, go for a walk. Get some movement, get some exercise, and I think that offers an opportunity for being positive.”

Doig River sees $144K for pipeline, wildlife programs

Tuesdays at NOON at the George Dawson Inn or ROTARY CLUB OF DAWSON CREEK

e s i r “Service n u S Above Self”

Fridays at 7:00am at the Dawson Creek Curling Club

Imagine your family is anywhere in the world! Pick a spot on the map and learn about that country together online. How do you learn as a family? Tell us: #FamilyLiteracyDay

Find more ways to learn at play as a family at www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca

Trades & Apprenticeships INTAKE START DATES January to May 2017

BOARD OF GOVERNORS NLC’s Board of Governors is empowered by the College and Institute Act of British Columbia to manage, administer, and direct the affairs of the College. If you would like more information on the activities or decisions of the Board or to view Board meeting minutes, go to the College website at nlc.bc.ca, visit your local campus library to view a paper copy, or request a copy from your local Campus Administrator.

Automotive Service Technician Level 2

Feb. 20

Carpentry Level 3

Feb. 27

Electrical Foundation

Feb. 6

Oil and Gas Field Operations

Feb. 6

Plumber Level 3 Professional Cook Level 1

Feb. 6

Professional Cook Level 2

Mar. 20

Welding Apprenticeship

Jan. 30

April to June 2017 Automotive Service Technician Level 3

Apr. 18

Carpentry Level 4

May 8

Plumber Level 4

Apr. 24

Welding Apprenticeship

1-866-463-6652 nlc.bc.ca

Feb. 20

May 1

Register online at nlc.bc.ca through the Apply Now link, email study@nlc.bc.ca or call 1-866-INFO-NLC to speak with Campus Services

371/17.01.19-AHN/MIRROR-B0D-L

The province is contributing $144,000 in funding to train members of the Doig River First Nation in pipeline craftsmanship and wildlife monitoring. The funds have already helped trained 10 members in pipeline craftsmanship, with eight employed with Surerus Pipeline on the $235-million Plateau pipeline project, according to the province. “This community-based skills training project is successfully connecting Doig River First Nations members to good jobs in the resource sector and helping to build a better future for all of us,” Doig River Chief Trevor Makahaday said in a statement. The training programs will support 21 Doig members, according the province. The pipeline training is conducted in Fort St. John by Ready4Work Industry Training, while the University of Northern British Columbia will lead the wildlife monitoring certificate program in the Doig community. The funding is being provided through the province’s $30-million Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund. —Staff

“If you’re pondering one of the challenges we face in life, go for a walk.”

A10 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

The Year Ahead:

MP Bob Zimmer

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FORT MOTORS 11104 Alaska Road, Fort St. John, BC Phone: 250-785-6661 | Toll Free: 1800-282-8330 www.fortmotors.ca

Local MP Bob Zimmer has his work cut out for him this year as he and his federal Conservatives continue to press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s feet to the fire, and with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump expected to shake up North American relations. When the Liberals went against the grain of their political base last year with approvals of Pacific NorthWest LNG and the Trans Mountain and Line 3 pipelines, the moves even caught Zimmer slightly by surprise. However, he concedes the government can’t simply say no to every resource development project when there are national social programs to fund. In 2017, Zimmer looks ahead at how Canada will bargain with President Trump, the future leader of his Conservative Party, and reflects on juggling the his work load in Parliament and his family life at home.

before. Before TPP, we actually had different agreements. They were not as wide-ranging as the TPP is, but we’ve traded with those countries and we’ll continue to trade with those countries.

AHN: Your party will be electing a new leader this year, and certainly has an interesting slate of candidate. What will you be looking for from leadership hopefuls, and what will the next leader need to do in order to be successful in the next election? BZ: I’ve already said I’m supporting Andrew Scheer. The reason why is Andrew has always had a message of uniting conservatives, not just conservatives that belong to the party, but conservative people in general. We have different spectrums in different parties, there’s liberal parts that are conservative. I think it’s appealing to those conservatives Alaska Highway News: across the country, and Andrew What was your biggest is committed to that and trying accomplishment as MP in to bring us all together. 2016? I see Kevin O’Leary as an Bob Zimmer: I think just to interesting addition to the contribute to the yes decision for race. He’ll bring a lot more Pacific NorthWest LNG. I think profile and a lot more attention getting the accelerated capital to the debates. I think that’s cost allowance and getting the something we should look export licence extended, that forward to. I embrace Kevin little contribution to make it coming. I talked to Kevin about a viable project to me was the three weeks ago in Ottawa and most rewarding. We just are had a good conversation with waiting for it to be announced him. Whatever happens at the to proceed, but that’s my biggest end of the day, I think it will be so far. good for the party. AHN: What was the most surprising moment in Canadian politics for you last year? BZ: I was surprised to see some of the things going on in the Liberal Party, just how quickly things seemed to return to normal for that particular party, even though I have some friends on that side of the aisle. But it’s surprising it’s happening this quickly for a prime minister that’s that popular. Just surprising to see the winds changing that dramatically. The polling numbers are changing. To see some of the influence and the access fundraisers, etc., the Clinton-esque type campaigning, when we see that on the Canadian side it’s quite alarming. To happen this soon in the new mandate, it was interesting to see. AHN: What are the priorities for your opposition government in 2017? BZ: For me, especially from our side, is trade with the new President-elect Trump. Softwood lumber being one of them, he’s committed to renegotiating TPP and NAFTA. For myself, personally, I’m going to be in Washington late January just to try to meet the new administration, meet key members, and try to have a conversation that Canada is their biggest trading partner and we want to make sure it stays that way. Most comments the new administration has made has had its focus on Mexico, but the softwood lumber agreement really involves Canada for the large part, and I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better. We want to be pre-emptive and get down there and have some good conversations before anything is written in stone. AHN: Incoming U.S president Donald Trump won’t be signing on to the TPP, effectively killing the deal. How does this decision impact your work as critic for the AsiaPacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative? BZ: It’s quite dramatic, but I think Canada is its own country. We’ll have our own negotiating with those particular countries, Japan and the Asian countries. We’ve negotiated with them

AHN: What was your proudest personal moment in 2016? BZ: I still pinch myself that I have this job. Being present for President Obama’s address to Parliament and getting to sit there in Parliament, to be a part of that, to me, it’s one of the privileges and honours of this job. I disagree with President Obama on a lot of things but just to be in that particular role, it’s an honour for me to be there as a representative of Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies. Part of being a dad and living in Fort St. John, we moved back over the summer, but watching my daughter play on an allgirls hockey team in Fort St. John and watching my son play hockey, he plays at Notre Dame in Saskatchewan, and I say sometimes the best part of my week is getting there Saturday mornings and watching the hockey game with a cup of Tim Hortons. AHN: What’s one thing you want to try in 2017? BZ: I say there’s always two kinds of people in Ottawa: those who are really good golfers and those who don’t have time to golf. I’m the latter, so I’m not really good at personal time. My goal I guess, is personal, but I have so many roles in Ottawa that sometimes you wonder if you’re doing them all effectively. So it’s just to be more effective at each individual role I have. I’ve been Asia-Pacific Gateway critic now for a few months and deputy critic for families, children and social development for a year or more. So there’s different things like that I want to be better at, and that happens as time progresses. AHN: What’s one book recommendation you have for readers this year? BZ: Unflinching: The Making of a Canadian Sniper by Jody Mitic, that’s the book I’m currently reading. It’s a really great story. It’s our version of American Sniper, I guess, I’d say even better. A good story, and it’s true, and I’ve met Jody and he’s a good guy. Visit alaskahighwaynews.ca to read more from this interview.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 A11

LOCAL NEWS

Eco-cash up for grabs

HOUSE FIRE INVESTIGATED

Schools in Fort St. John still have time to enter for the chance to win cash for new technology. Ten environmentallyconscious schools from across Canada have the chance to earn $25,000 for sharing their eco-innovations in the Su-

perpower Your School contest through Staples. Any schools doing projects or initiatives to help the environment are able to enter. The entry deadline is Jan. 31. Visit www.staples. ca/environment for more information.

HAVE YOU BEEN FORCED TO SWITCH YOUR MEDICATION? BC PharmaCare has expanded its Reference Drug Program as of December 1, 2016, which means that if you use PharmaCare, your medicine might have been switched with a different product at the pharmacy. Patients affected by this policy of medication substitution are those who take medication for high blood pressure (hypertension), angina, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn, ulcers, high cholesterol, muscle pain, or arthritis. Has this policy caused you any issues, have you experienced any medical problems, new or increased costs, or other concerns (i.e., more trips to the doctor/hospital)?

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

FORT ST. JOHN FIRE DEPARTMENT PHOTO

The City of Fort St John Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 12:23 AM Tuesday morning on the Swanson Lumber Road. Upon arrival, crews reported a mobile home with heavy smoke and flames coming from the attic. Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the early hours of the morning and extinguished the fire by 3:24 AM. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The premises is currently under 24-hour surveillance.

Our survey is open January 9-28, 2017 from Monday to Saturday, 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Call 604-800-8251 or 1-800-313-0737 www.betterpharmacare.org

U.S. energy market outlook a sobering read in gas country

SPECIAL DELIVERY...

2017 EIA Energy Outlook shows troubling trends for Canadian natural gas

Surging exports and a declining dependence on foreign oil are two trends the Canadian oil and gas industry would welcome—if they were happening here instead of next door. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook, released Jan. 5, instead presents a grim picture for Canadian oil and gas— one where producers are increasingly competing with their largest market. The report, released Jan. 5, highlights declining foreign imports and steadily growing exports as two of the big trends in U.S. energy. A net importer of energy products since 1953, the U.S. is expected to become a net exporter of energy by 2026 thanks to a major ramp up in hydraulic fracturing. The amount of oil and gas U.S. customers pipe in from Western Canada is expected to decline through 2040, while Eastern Canada is expected to buy more American natural gas due to its close proximity to the Marcellus Shale. Meanwhile, U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) exports are expected to surge to more than 10 billion cubic feet a day. The first shipload of American LNG landed

Let’s Art program kicks off Students can stretch their artistic muscles thanks to a new program being launched this month. Put on by the Peace Arts Gallery Society and the North Peace Cultural Centre, the Let’s Art after-school program will introduce kids aged five to 14 to the arts through the exploration of different mediums. Students will have sessions with qualified instructors with a variety of artistic backgrounds. Sessions will run Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 3:30 to 5 p.m. with different mediums on each day. Tuesday will focus on 2D work such as drawing, painting, textile and collage. Wednesdays will be 3D art, looking at basic skill development in sculpture. Fridays will be an open studio where students can finish a project or work on a piece of their own. For more information, call 250-787-0993. — Staff

in Japan earlier this month, raising more questions about whether B.C. LNG projects can be competitive in a flooded market. The report is troubling news for businesses in natural gas producing regions like Northeast B.C., Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kathleen Connolly said. “If the U.S. is our only customer, it’s not looking very positive for us,” she said. ”If we see what they’re talking about in terms of developing reserves in America, they’re not going to need our natural gas.” Chelsie Klassen, a spokesperson with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said the report isn’t all bad news for the Canadian energy industry. While the headlines have focused on the U.S. becoming a net exporter of energy, the country will still rely on Canadian crude oil to fuel its economy. “If you read through the details of the report, what you’ll find is the U.S. will continue to be a net importer of crude oil at seven million barrels per day,” she said. Klassen added the recent approvals of the Trans Mountain pipeline and Pacific NorthWest LNG would help diversify Canada’s energy markets.

R0011357146

JONNY WAKEFIELD reporter@dcdn.ca

OY! It’s a B ÉAZAR I EL TIMAT R ELÉAZAR WALTE arents: ter P ifer Wal & Jenn Samuelaby’s Weight: B z 8lbs 6o 1” 2 Length: , 11:22am , 2016 Dec. 21 St. John, BC Fort

IRL! It’s a G SIEBERT IA M A IN : AL Parents iebert elli S Bill & N’s Weight: Baby 12oz 6lbs 0cm 5 Length: 7, 1:11pm 201 Jan. 6, owon, BC Won

It’s a GIRL! IYLA VICTORIA TEETER Parents: Desirae Jeannotte & Luke Teeter Baby’s Weight: 6lbs 12oz Length: 51.5cm Dec. 23, 2016, 9:54pm Fort St. John, BC

It’s a BOY! NASH HARTLEY HARVEY COOPER Parents: Chase Cooper & Tanya Bell Baby’s Weight: 5lbs 13oz Length: 19” Jan. 11, 2017, 9:55pm Fort St. John, BC

It’s a BOY! RYKER ARTHUR VAN ESCH Parents: Ryan & Whitney Van Esch Baby’s Weight: 8lbs 8oz Length: 20.5” Dec. 31, 2016, 8:03pm Fort St. John, BC

Drop off or m ail yo ur FRE E b anno unce irth The ment to: High Alaska 9916 way New -98 S s, John t., Fort S t. V1J 3 T8 or em a il : comp os ahnf e@ sj.ca

It’s a GIRL! LEXI AKYLENKO Parents: Willi & Alexandra Akylenko Baby’s Weight: 7lbs 13oz Length: 50cm Jan. 14, 2017, 6:51am Charlie Lake, BC

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

Northern

ated in the t Wall is loc re Baby Bouque Hospital Birthing Cent hn Fort St. Jo

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

Lights Published by the NLC Communications Department January 2017

World-class chefs visit the Professional Cook training class

NLC dancers go viral!

Bhangra in the Snow is a video taken on the Fort posted it to Facebook and YouTube. St. John Campus and posted to the NLC-International The dancers practiced twice a week for the Facebook page, and viewed over 282,000 times, semester, honing their skills. “I am honoured to be able to spend time with the with 318 comments by January 12th. The YouTube video received 280,221 views in the last 28 days. The international students,” said Cleo Baker, International video can be viewed on NLC’s Education Program and Student Support Clerk. “It has made my YouTube channel at youtube.com/ This video has been viewed all world a better place. They have watch?v=jU7DZVHMrKs. over the planet, with the most The video also received over worked so hard and are so humble views coming from India. 5,000 shares, and reached media about this. I believe the video is – June Stanley so popular because it shows how news outlets CBC, MooseFM, NLC Web Content Assistant Energetic City and more. much fun we were having.” The plan is to continue with follow-up videos of “After watching a YouTube video of Bhangra dancing on the East Coast, the dancers thought it Bhangra to highlight the community and region. would be great to make a video showcasing their “The students have already received requests from dancing here at Northern Lights College,” explained a local school to come and dance,” said Handley. Kathy Handley, Fort St. John Campus Administrator. “While the group didn’t film at -30º, it is still a great “Cleo Baker came up with an idea to Bhangra in example of NLC ‘Doing winter well!’ ” the snow, and that is just what they did! Dance Handley congratulated everyone who made the instructor and business management student Jitesh video possible, especially the International Education Rajan choreographed this dance just for this specific department team, the Fort St. John Campus Student performance.” Council for supporting these kinds of student After some quick organization and parking lot activities, and the expertise of the Marketing staff for prep by the Facilities staff, the NLC Marketing producing the video. department took some footage, created the video, and Well done everyone!

“

The Professional Cook training class on Dawson Creek Campus was recently visited by two worldclass chefs, invited by NLC Chef Instructor Michael French. “I had the pleasure of meeting these two guests,” said Rod Cork, Chair of the Trades and Apprenticeships department. “It was great to have these world-class industry representatives come in and work with our students.” Chef Marton Sipos grew up in Hertfordshire, UK, before working across Europe in pastry kitchens with some of the best in the world. “I enjoyed coming to Northern Lights College,” said Sipos. “This group of students is really keen and engaged.” Executive Chef Ken Buckland grew up in Montreal, and worked in various kitchens across Canada before being recruited by Spectra Food Services and Hospitality, and moving to Dawson Creek.

Chef Sipos (second from left) and Chef Buckland (second from right) stand with NLC Professional Cook students and instructors.

A12 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

PEACE REGION

COURT DOCKET A look at what happened in Peace Region courts for the week ending Jan. 13. There were no cases up for disposition in Fort Nelson, Hudson’s Hope, Tumbler Ridge or Chetwynd. Fort St. John Law Courts:

• Rylan Edward Birkbeck (born 1996) was sentenced in Prince George to one year probation with a suspended sentence and assessed $200 in victim surcharges for assault and mischief $5,000 or under and assessed $400 in victim surcharges for four counts of breach of an undertaking or recognizance, committed in Fort St. John. Dawson Creek Law Courts:

• Michael Bruce Ramstead (born 1992) was handed a suspended sentence, 18 months probation, a 10-year firearms ban, ordered to provide a DNA sample, and assessed a $500 victim surcharge for one count of trafficking a controlled substance, • Braden Douglas Wilson (born 1992) was fined $500 and assessed a $150 victim surcharge for one count of wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer. • Wayne Bradley Pizzey (born 1968) was sentenced to 15 days in jail and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for one count of breaching a probation order; handed a further 15 days in jail, a three-year driving ban and assessed another $150 in victim surcharges for one count of driving while prohibited and one count of breaching an undertaking or recognizance; and was handed a further 50 days in jail and three-year driving ban, along with another $50 victim surcharge for another count of driving while prohibited/license suspended. • Matthew Leonard Burke (born 1989) was sentenced to six days in jail and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample • Robert Franklyn Lafferty (born 1980) was fined $1,500, handed a one-year driving ban, and assessed a $225 victim surcharge for one count of driving while prohibited.

• Glen D. King (born 1989) was handed a $1,500 fine, a $450 victim surcharge and 12 months probation on a charge of assault. • Anthony S. Bottle (born 1971) was given a $1,000 fine, a $150 victim surcharge and a year’s driving prohibition after being found guilty of the lesser included offence of driving without due care and attention. • Daniel L. Ryan-Hunter (born 1988) was handed a $500 fine and a $150 victim surcharge on a charge of breach of probation. He was given a conditional sentence of 60 days, a one-year probation order and a $100 victim surcharge on a charge of breach of probation. On a charge of driving while prohibited, RyanHunter received a $1,500 fine, $225 victim surcharge and a 12-month driving prohibition. • Jesse C. Vandergoes (born 1977) received a zero-day jail sentence and a $100 fine on a charge of breach of probation. Vandergoes received a $500 fine and a $75 victim surcharge after being found guilty of the lesser included offence of driving without a driver’s licence. • Cindy J. Belcourt (born 1962) received 12 months probation, a $100 victim surcharge and a 12-month suspended sentence on a charge of theft $5,000 or under. —Matt Preprost, Jonny Wakefield

NORTHEAST BC REALTY

SASSY HARDT PHOTO

Fort St. John RCMP stationed outside of the Scotiabank in Fort St. John on Jan. 16.

Police seek bank robbery witnesses Police are searching for witnesses to a robbery at the Scotiabank in Fort St. John on Monday. According to RCMP, a lone man entered the bank around 4:34 p.m. Jan. 16, produced what appeared to be a black handgun, and de-

Specializing in Commercial Real Estate

blue safety gear outfit. Police are urging any witnesses who saw the suspect in the area to call the detachment at 250-7878100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. —Staff

Copper stolen from BC Hydro work sites Police are asking for the public’s help to solve a copper wire theft from a BC Hydro site earlier this month. BC Hydro reported a “substantial” amount of copper wire was stolen from two of its work sites in Fort St. John

on Jan. 5, police say. The wire was stolen from a site on the Alaska Highway and East Bypass Road, and from another side at the railroad crossing bridge in Baldonnel. Police believe the theft

took place between Jan. 2 and 5. Anyone with information is asked to call the detachment at 250-7878100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. —Staff

Police search for trailer, snowmobile thief Fort St. John RCMP are asking for the public’s help to identify a truck believed to be involved in a trailer and snowmobile theft earlier this month. Police say they recovered the trailer and snowmobile

Jan. 4 after they were found abandoned in a ditch on Todd Road just north of Taylor. The items were returned to their owner, however, police say they were seen around 9 p.m. the previous night hitched to an

unknown truck in the area. Anyone with information on the truck is asked to call the detachment at 250-7878100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. —Staff

RON RODGERS

Ltd.

Phone 250 785 4115

manded cash from the bank tellers. The man ran out the back doors and down a back alley past the Salvation Army and may have entered a black SUV-type vehicle, police say. He was wearing a black balaclava and a two-piece

OWNER / MANAGING BROKER Email: ron@northeastbc.com

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NOT IN THE ALR

MLS® C8007129

LIGHT INDUSTRIAL LAND PLUS 3 buildings on site; 4,737sf+/- main office/shop; gas heating and 3 phase power, drinkable well water and plumbing to lagoon system, telephone and great highway exposure 30’x50’ shop; 16’ overhead door, water & power to shop, heated metal clad building 28’x32’ warehouse; o/h radiant heat, mezzanine

Asking $1.58 Million

Call Ron for info or to arrange viewing MLS® C8008471

0.576Acre Commercial Lot corner lot by highly used traffic circle. Retail Strip Mall, daycare, office...all needed in the area! Asking $699,000

Loads of water front property along Snider Creek and Blueberry River. Rail runs through property Access off south from 272 Road (with potential access from Ade Kat Road just off Apsassin West Road and Snider Creek Drive). With over 930+ acres to develop, the possibilities are endless; trails for hiking, snowmobiling, quads or horses, build your home overlooking the waterfront and enjoy the view, take advantage of season fishing and hunting on your own land. There is even room to operate your business from here (give the Regional District a call to learn more about the land use regulations for this site).

This is undeveloped land just waiting for someone to make it their home and/or income producing property ASKING $750,000

MLS® 8009724

115+ room motel REDUCED NOW Asking $4.8 Million

50’x122’ Commercial Lot 3,000+sf two story home (circa 1998) attached 2 car garage 5 bedrooms, 4 bath, formal dining & living room divided by 3-faced fireplace, 10 ‘ ceiling in fully finished basement, country setting front porch, PLUS 2,400sf shop with 14’ overhead doors to fit RV and horse trailer parking & second floor space…Fenced acreage with man-made fish pond, horse shelters and pasture, just under 10 acres of land (ALR)

Stripped, fenced & ready for Development Central Downtown FSJ area

Asking $154,900 MLS® N4507275

Development Opportunity

MLS ® C8003641

adjacent Alaska Highway, Building over 44,770sf (22,385sf+/-per floor), plus 18,000+sf public area with existing commercial leases, Business & Liquor Licenses!

OWNER’S MOTIVATED

Owners’ retirement plan is your OPPORTUNITY to take on this well established service business!

FOR SALE 4.455 ACRES Light Industrial

FENCED, NO SERVICES GREAT VISIBILTY AND ACCESS OFF HIGHWAY!

4.5+ acres Commercial Land

MLS® C8006711

MLS® R2089480

Julia Frontage Road Just north intersection of HWY 97 ALASKA HIGHWAY AND HWY 29 TO HUDSON’S HOPE

Shares includes

Will consider all qualified offers - share or asset

NEWLY incorporated into the city boundary

NOW ASKING $695,000

930+ acres LAND FOR SALE adjacent to the Blueberry

MLS® N4506822

Executive Country Home with Potential for Future Development

ASKING $1.48 Million

MLS® C8005117

50’x150’ Commercial Lot Located by new commercial development in downtown FSJ

Asking $139,000 MLS® C8000963

9 truck water delivery with over 25 years of providing a necessary service to the area! ASKING $1.498 Million Share Purchase MLS® N4507327

Confidentiality agreement required for info

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR COMMERCIAL, RETAIL OR INDUSTRIAL LEASE SPACE, CALL RON RODGERS FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NORTH EAST BC AREA Information is not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale, or buyers already under contract. All measurements and information is believed to be accurate but not guaranteed and should be verified.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 A13

LOCAL NEWS

The Year Ahead: Area C Director Brad Sperling

SENDING THEIR LOVE

Brad Sperling is a relative newcomer to the Peace River Regional District board, first elected in November 2014 to represent Electoral Area C. But he’s no stranger to the region, having lived in Charlie Lake for 10 years and Fort St. John for 35 years. Sperling has worked for the past 35 years as a carpenter, building skills sure to come in handy after being elected chair of the PRRD board late last year. In 2017, Sperling looks ahead at economic diversification, the health of Charlie Lake, and the importance of citizen health in the upcoming provincial election.

AHN: What direction will you be looking to guide the district’s budget deliberations for 2017? BS: What should be done every year, due diligence. Stop the waste, use it properly for the benefit of the area. AHN: Electoral Area C withdrew from the North Peace Economic Development Commission in late 2016. What prompted the withdrawal, and what alternative processes/ organizations are in place to coordinate development in the area? BS: As important as economic development is, you need to have proper and basic services for that growth. My focus is to use those services for the people and businesses that are there now so that we can have proper growth in the future. AHN: Concerns over the health of Charlie Lake took on renewed prominence in the community last year. What actions will you be pushing the PRRD to take to address the concerns, and what direction would you like to see development take surrounding the lake? BS: Charlie Lake is healthy, maybe too healthy. By working with the conservation society and FLNRO we will find a balance. AHN: Fort St. John continues to expand its border, while planning for the North Peace Fringe Area OCP continues to be developed. What progress on that OCP can residents look forward to in 2017, and how do you see the needs of Fort St. John being balanced with rural residents living in the fringe areas? BS: The OCP will be completed in 2017. As for balance between the city and Area C, more emphasis will be put on working together and still retaining our identity. AHN: With a provincial election approaching, what will you be listening for from candidates on the campaign trail? BS: Issues that concern the district. Although the economy is always on our minds, I believe the issue surrounding health care in this area is still #1.

ZER0 FORT CITY

CHRYSLER

EVENT NEW 2016 DODGE JOURNEY CVP 25,584

was $

21,989

21,998

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523

156

/BW

SK# 16J414

*0% to 84 months on SXT and higher models

30,989

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 from /BW

108

*0% for up to 84 months

NEW JEEP WRANGLER SPORT 4X4 2DR was $

NOW

16,998

from

NEW 2016 JEEP PATRIOT SPORT MANUAL was $

NOW

20,989

was $

27,998

SK#16PA70

NEW 2016 DODGE DART SE MANUAL NOW

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 from /BW

23,998

188

169

SK# 16W296

*0% available up to 72 months

SK#16D15

*0% for 36 months and up to 84 on SXT and higher models

NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS ON IN-STOCK REMAINING 2016’S NEW JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT 28,339

was $

NEW 2016 CHRYSLER 200 LX

NOW

25,998

23,998

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 from

163

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 from /BW

169

/BW

*0% available for up to 48 months and 84 months on North and higher models

SK#16CK19

NEW 2016 RAM 1500 REG CAB 35,714

was $

33,704

was $

24,998

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 from /BW

177

SK#16R318

NEW 2016 DODGE CHARGER R/T “SCAT RACING PACK” 65,664

NOW

29,998 $ 208

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 from /BW

was $

NOW

NEW DODGE GR CARAVAN CVP 31,339

was $

56,998

NOW

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523 from /BW

23,998

*0% to 84 months

FORT CITY

SK#16JR426

*0% for up to 60 months and 84 months on North and higher models

363

SK#16TW334

*0% for 36 months and up to 84 on SXT and higher models

NEW 2016 JEEP RENEGADE SPORT 4X4

NOW

Price Leader

NOW

28,989

was $

fill

R0011361584

Brad Sperling: Diversify and retain our industries. With the uncertainty of LNG, we need to push for value-added development. Forestry, we need to lobby the province to ensure the allowable cuts stay in this area to support local jobs and business. Agriculture, the one constant for the area when the other industries are down, needs to be protected. As the area grows, more emphasis needs to be put on infilling or utilization of unproductive soil.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Shopper’s Drug Mart’s had a big donation for the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation. Last fall, the Love You campaign gave residents the opportunity to donate to the Foundation by purchasing a paper leaf, apple, butterfly, or bird that was then displayed in the store. Between that, and a raffle for flight vouchers from West Jet, Shopper’s Drug Mart was able to raise $32,495, which goes towards the foundation’s Eastern Star Children’s Fund. Pictured: Shoppers Drug Mart District Manager, Dale Bobby; WestJet Station Manager, Wayne Davidson; Shoppers Drug Mart FSJ Store Owner, Irvin Tang; Shoppers Drug Mart FSJ Manager, Tammy Koponyas; Hospital Foundation Chief Development Officer Jessica Kalman.

151

SK#16CH177

CHRYSLER *0% for 84 months

SK#16C34

8424 Alaska Road Fort St. John 250-787-5220 | 1-877-787-5220 www.fortcitychrysler.ca

DL#10428

Alaska Highway News: As the new chair of the Peace River Regional District, what are the greatest opportunities and challenges facing the PRRD in 2017, and what momentum from 2016 will you be looking to build upon?

ALL 0% RATES AND PRICES ARE GOOD TILL CLOSE OF DAY JANUARY 31ST 2017. PAYMENTS ARE ALL CALCULATED BI WEEKLY OVER 84 MONTHS  THE RAM 1500, JOURNEY CVP, CHRYSLER 200 LX, AND CHEROKEE SPORT ARE ALL CALCULATED AT 3.49% 0% AVAILABLE FOR SHORTER TERMS, AND/OR HIGHER MODELS THE WRANGLER SPORT IS CALCULATED AT 1.99%, AND THE RENEGADE SPORT AT 2.99% 0% AVAILABLE FOR SHORTER TERMS AND/OR HIGHER MODELS THE DART, GR CARAVAN, CHALLENGER AND PATRIOT ARE ALL CALCULATED AT 0% INTEREST RATE FOR 84 MONTHS. ALL PAYMENTS INCLUDE LOCAL TAXES AND FEES OF $523.00. INTEREST RATES ARE O.A.C, AND NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS ARE O.A.C AS WELL. PRICES ARE FOR REMAINING IN STOCK 2016 UNITS ONLY, ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY IF DEALER TRADE IS NEEDED. AL UNITS WERE AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PRINTING, BUT DUE TO LIMITED STOCK, SOME UNITS MAY SELL FAST. PICTURES ARE FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY AND UNITS MAY NOT BE EXACTLY AS ILLUSTRATED. SEE DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS.

A14 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Hunting in the night for those elusive northern lights Darcy Shawchek THE F-STOP

ately, it has been tough for me to find the northern lights through the thick blanket of moisture that has been festering over the Peace Region for almost the entire winter. But persistence and a small fortune in gasoline, cheesy popcorn, and coffee has made it possible in some instances. Plan your trip I use aurora watch apps and webpages to find out how strong the auroras will be on any given night. There are three common levels of strengths: green means weak, yellow means moderate, and orange means strong. The uncommon level of red generally means “holy gonchcakes!” Make sure you bring lots of liquids, and cheesy popcorn for the show.

DARCY SHAWCHEK PHOTO

Taken in Rose Prairie the night before the Super moon. Settings were F3.5, six seconds at 1600 ISO.

If it’s cold, bring a set of mitts, hat, scarf, hot gels, snow pants, and boots. Don’t forget your spare batteries, strong tripod, and make sure that you have your memory card. Gauge the clouds It’s kind of hard to shoot through them clouds, but in

most cases they will break up late at night during mid-cycle. Figure out what direction they are traveling and plan your trip the opposite way. If you travel with the clouds, your chances of seeing the auroras is “nope, not happening.” Get away from the city

Tree and brush clearing: Taylor to Dawson Creek

We will be removing/pruning trees and brush along the route of our 138 kilovolt transmission line between Taylor and Dawson Creek. The route is west of the Alaska Highway from Taylor to the top of South Taylor Hill and east of the highway from there to Dawson Creek. Please be aware of our contractor vegetation crews and equipment. Later this year, we will begin replacement of some poles and power line equipment to bring the line up to as-new specifications. Property owners along the power line route have been previously notified about this work in writing. When: Time:

January 3 to February 28, 2017 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

To learn more about this work, please contact us at 250 561 4858. For more information about our vegetation management practices, please visit bchydro.com/trees.

5222

Publication: Size: Insertion date: Deadline:

Alaska Highway News (Fort St. John) 6.171” x 5.5 (77 Lines) Jan 12 & 19 Mon Jan 9 @ noon

It is very important that you travel away from all unnatural light pollution. I like to travel 40 to 400 kilometres away on most occasions. Being away from unnatural light is my main goal when shooting the auroras. Being near town will lessen the visibility of the northern lights greatly. So let’s say it’s supposed to be a good night for auroras. You’re driving around and you don’t see nothing—kind of depressing right? Hint: Stop the truck, turn off the lights, put your Facebook away, stuff your face with cheesy popcorn, get out of the truck, and let your eyes adjust. They might be dim, they might be awesome—you won’t really know until your eyes adjust to the dark and you swallow your popcorn. Setting up the shot Make sure that your camera is on “M” mode, set your F-Stop to the smallest number it can go, and you are at an ISO ranging from 1000 or greater (and you have a mouth full of cheesy popcorn. You are going to want to expose at lengths between six and 30 seconds depending on your ISO and how bright the auroras are. The hardest part of setting up is focus. There is a trick. Turn auto focus off, stuff your face with popcorn, look through the viewfinder, and

Persistence and patience The lights might boom or they might leave you skunked. If you get bored and pack up, you’re not doing it right. Grab some popcorn and get comfy. Sit in the truck if you have to and run your camera remotely or be a diehard like myself and stand there until you freeze your stuff. When I go out and shoot, I usually slice my hand and paint war on my face with… no. Don’t do that, but be persistent. Don’t give up. Frame your shots nicely, use a wide angle lens, shoot lots, and cover the sky. It will happen if you try hard. Darcy Shawchek is a photographer based in Fort St. John, who is on a mission to capture the breathtaking and majestic Peace River area through the lens, day or night. Email him your photography questions at dr.shawchek@ gmail.com

Get checked out at library Read Dating ALEISHA HENDRY ahendry@ahnfsj.ca

E V SA

try to focus as best you can on a bright light far off in the distance or a star. Then, while the camera is on the tripod, switch to live view mode. Zoom in on the light or star and fine tune your focus while zoomed. Note: you are not using the zoom on the lens. On your camera are two buttons (+) & (-) which allow you to zoom in on what is being displayed on the LCD screen.

When was the last time you were checked out? Such is the question for the Fort St. John Public Library’s upcoming Read Dating event on Feb. 4. If “read dating” sounds a lot like “speed dating,” it’s because the premise is the same. Participant will have mini “dates” with different people, only here; it’s to talk about books. There’s absolutely no pressure on people at Read Dating, said Fort St. John Public Library Program Co-ordinator Morgan Churchill. The idea is to make new friends and talk about books. “There are worse places to make a romantic connection,” Churchill said. “Instead of it being a singles event where you’re looking for a romantic partner, we wanted it to be a fun opportunity to get out and meet other people who like books.” Participants don’t even have to be single—anyone that loves a good book and likes to talk about books, be they single, married or otherwise, is welcome to take part. Bring a book, magazine or movie you think would be a good conversation starter—it doesn’t have to be a deep reflection of your soul, said Churchill. The idea came about after Churchill heard about similar events at the Vancouver and Prince George libraries. While

those events were meant to be a singles mixer, Churchill wanted to make the Fort St. John event more about making friends than pressure people to find a date. “It’s just a good opportunity to be exposed to some new books,” she said. “Maybe you really like to read true crime and haven’t stepped out of that zone in awhile, and you’ll meet someone who can show you some great historical fiction or fantasy and decide those are books and authors you’d like to try.” Those that are interested in participating have to register at the library, and if they’re of a mind can make up a name that describes their reading habits. “If you’re into intrigue books, you could call yourself Tom Clancy,” said Churchill. “If you like literary romance, you could be Jane Austin.” Read Dating is an event for people 19 year and older, which is part of the library’s growing adult-oriented programming. The library also offers Ugly Crafts, which is creative play for adults that takes place the third Thursday of the month, and Board Games and Brews, held at Casey’s Pub the first Wednesday of the month. “We’re having a lot of fun growing our adult programming, so people can check our website to see what else if offered for adults,” said Churchill, adding that the library is open to ideas for what adults in the community would like to see.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 A15

LOCAL NEWS

Men’s basketball league looks to extend its reach Players wanted for league action this spring KEVIN BUCHHOLZ For the Alaska Highway News

Are you interested in playing basketball in town? Well if your answer is even a maybe, then you’re encouraged to look into the FSJ Men’s Basketball League, a weekly meeting of likeminded guys who will give you a workout along with some exciting basketball action with some of the best players this city has to offer. “The league is currently looking for individuals interested in taking part in their upcoming spring league,” says league commissioner and referee Ben Rauscher. “We are looking to have four teams of eight, though we have allowed for pick up players in the past.” An inexpensive registration will get you one game a week for eight weeks, jersey rental, fulltime refs and scorekeepers—a pretty reasonable price point compared to other sports in the city. “I’ve just about recouped my costs on the jerseys. We would use any surplus budget to purchase other league items, like new basketballs and a sports-specific first aid kit,” Rauscher says. The league is currently running a drop-in night on Wednesday evenings at North Peace Secondary from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. That’ll set you back the cost of a large coffee, but Rauscher is hoping to get enough people inter-

ested to continue with league play. And speaking from experience, it is a good time with many great players. “The fall league ended with Team Black beating Team Blue in the finals, getting a little revenge for a hard loss to them in the spring league in (overtime),” Rauscher recalls, attributing the victory to the presence of all-star center Dan Penner, who previously played for Carleton university. “He was absent from the spring final and they only lost by one point.” There are many talented basketball players in the city, Rauscher continued, from Jon Zaleski, the center for Team Red, or Team White’ss forward Nick Donnelly. Alex Neily plays point guard for Team Black. “It’s just hard to get people who are able to play consistently.” Explaining why he doesn’t run a longer season. Rauscher would like to run a longer season, but acknowledged the difficulty in getting players to play consistently. “Past league president Aaron Olsen and I discussed it and we decided that an eight week season would allow for more people to be able to play consistently,” he said. Anyone interested in playing, is encouraged to get in contact with the league at fsjpioneer@ hotmail.com, or just drop-in and see how you stack up against Wednesday nights until the league starts.

HALEY LABOUCANE PHOTO

The FSJ Men’s Basketball League is currently running a drop-in night on Wednesday evenings at North Peace Secondary from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Thank you to everyone who donated to our annual Toy Drive. And a Huge thank you to our local dealerships for helping make the toy drive so successful. Aspol Motors Browns’ Chevrolet Buick GMC Capital Ford Inland Auto Centre Peace Country Toyota And great big thank you goes out to our organizer Danny Schilds and all the volunteers who helped transport, sort and package all the donations received from our very genorous community!

a c . s r e s i u r c o r e z www.mile

A16 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

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ON NOW AT YOUR ALBERTA CHEVROLET DEALERS. AlbertaChevrolet.com 1-800-GM-DRIVE. Chevrolet is a brand of General Motors of Canada. Offers apply to the lease of a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Double Cab Custom Edition 4WD (1CX, L83, K05, PCP, RC7, SFZ, Z82), Cruze Hatchback LT Air & Auto (1SD, K05), Trax LS Air & Auto (1LS, KPK, PCQ), Equinox LS FWD (1LS, K05) equipped as described. License, insurance, registration, administration fees, dealer fees, PPSA and taxes not included. Dealers are free to set individual prices. Limited time offers which may not be combined with other offers, and are subject to change without notice. Offers apply to qualified retail customers in Alberta Chevrolet Dealer Marketing Association area only. * Offer valid January 4 to January 31, 2017. Credit is tax-inclusive and applies to the purchase, lease or finance of an eligible new 2017 vehicle from dealer inventory. In order to be eligible for this incentive, customers must trade in a vehicle that they own (vehicle must have been registered and insured in Canada in the customer’s name for the previous consecutive sixty (60) days) to the selling dealer OR terminate their existing lease (any brand) and re-lease an eligible new vehicle. Credit amount will vary depending on vehicle purchased: $1000 towards the purchase of a new 2017MY Chevrolet car, crossover, mid SUV, mid pickup, or full size van; or $1500 towards the purchase of a new 2017MY Chevrolet LD/HD pickup or full size utilities. The following vehicles are excluded from this offer: Spark LS, Malibu L, Bolt EV, Camaro ZL1, Colorado 2SA. Customers who do not qualify for Trade In Bonus Days must add a down payment equivalent to the Trade In Bonus Incentive to achieve stated pricing. Customers must take delivery on or before January 31, 2017 to be eligible for this incentive. Limited time offer may not be combined with certain other offers and cannot be redeemed for cash. General Motors of Canada Company reserves the right to modify, extend or terminate these offers, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice. Conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details. † Offer valid at participating dealers to eligible retail lessees in Canada who enter into a lease agreement with GM Financial and who accept delivery between January 4 to January 31, 2017. Eligible 2017 Silverado 1500 Double Cab Custom Edition 4WD/Cruze Hatchback LT Air & Auto/Trax LS Air & Auto: Lease based on a lease purchase price of $40,402/$21,943/$23,689, which includes $500/$1,000/$0 lease cash (tax exclusive), $2,500/$0/$0 available manufacturer to dealer delivery credit (tax exclusive) and either $1,500/$1,000/$1,000 manufacturer-to-consumer (tax inclusive) Trade-In Bonus or additional $1,500/$1,000/$1,000 down payment in lieu of Trade-in Bonus. Bi-weekly payment is $199/$123/$134 for 24/48/48 months at 1.9%/0.5%/0.5% interest rate on approved credit to qualified retail customers by GM Financial. The $62/67 weekly payment is calculated by dividing the bi-weekly payments of $123/$134. $2,850/$0/$0 down payment is required ($4,350/$1,000/$1,000 down payment is required if not eligible for Trade-in Bonus). Total obligation is $13,194/$12,720/$13,920, plus applicable taxes. Option to purchase at lease end is $28,464/$9,558/$10,104. Consumer may be required to pay Dealer Fees. Price and total obligation exclude license, insurance, PPSA, registration, taxes and optional equipment. Excess wear and tear charges not included. Other lease options are available. Dealers are free to set individual prices. See your dealer for conditions and details. As part of the transaction, dealer may request documentation and contact General Motors of Canada Company to verify eligibility. Annual kilometre limit of 20,000 km, $0.16 per excess kilometre. Security deposit may be required. Payment may vary depending on down payment/trade. ¥ Purchase price includes a cash credit of $5,000 Manufacturer to dealer, (Tax exclusive) and applies to cash purchases of new 2017 Chevrolet Equinox LS FWD models at participating dealers in Canada. Purchase price of $23,995 includes freight, air tax but excludes license, insurance, registration, dealer fees and taxes. By selecting lease or finance offers, consumers are foregoing this $5,000 credit which will result in higher effective interest rates. Dealer may sell for less. Offer may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. General Motors of Canada Company may modify, extend or terminate this offer, in whole or in part, at any time without notice. See dealer for details. ¥¥ Fuel consumption ratings based on GM testing in accordance with Government of Canada approved test methods. Refer to vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca for details. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. 2 Vehicle user interfaces are products of Apple and Google and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible smartphone and data plan rates apply. 3 Visit onstar.ca for coverage maps, details and system limitations. Service plan required. Available 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot requires WPA2 compatible mobile device and data plan. Data plans provided by AT&T. Services vary by model, service plan, conditions as well as geographical and technical restrictions. OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity is available on select vehicle models and in select markets. Vehicle must be started or in accessory mode to access Wi-Fi. 4 Requires Double Cab LTZ 2WD or Crew Cab Short Box LTZ 2WD with available 6.2L V8 engine and Max Trailering Package. Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner’s Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow. 5 Based on WardsAuto.com 2016 Large Pickup segment and latest competitive information available at time of printing. Excludes other GM models. ◊ The Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Equinox (tie), Chevrolet Silverado HD and LD, and Chevrolet Tahoe received the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles in their respective segments in the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Initial Quality Study, based on 80,157 total responses, evaluating 245 models, and measures the opinions of new 2016 U.S. vehicle owners after 90 days of ownership, surveyed in February-May 2016. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com. The Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Silverado HD, and Chevrolet Camaro received the highest numerical scores in their respective segments in the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, based on responses from 33,560 U.S. original owners of 2013 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership about problems experienced in the past 12 months, surveyed in October-December 2015. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com ** The 2-Year Scheduled Lube-Oil-Filter Maintenance Program provides eligible customers in Canada, who have purchased or leased a new eligible 2016 or 2017 MY Chevrolet (excluding Spark EV), with an ACDelco® oil and filter change, in accordance with the oil life monitoring system and the Owner’s Manual, for 2 years or 48,000 km, whichever occurs first, with a limit of four (4) Lube-Oil-Filter services in total, performed at participating GM dealers. Fluid top offs, inspections, tire rotations, wheel alignments and balancing, etc. are not covered. This offer may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives available on GM vehicles. General Motors of Canada Company reserves the right to amend or terminate this offer, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice. Additional conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details. ▲ Whichever comes first. See dealer for details.