AHN JAN 24 2019 by Alaska Highway News

THURSDAY, january 24, 2019 Vol. A-75, No. 4

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Seniors housing focus groups this week matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

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Chris An and his son Jayce, 3.5, were among those who dropped by the grand opening of the North Peace Family Superpark on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. It’s a dream come true for the group, after six years of all the blood, sweat, and tears that goes in fundraising for these kind of not for profit endeavours. The park features a play structure, a climbing wall, a reading hut, a toddler area, a sensory room, a birthparty room, and concession stand. “It’s great to see it being used in every way it was intended to be used,” says Jaandi Roemer, executive director.

Caribou talks take focus at resource forum matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

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A planned meeting last Thursday between the Peace River Regional District and the province to talk caribou recovery has been pushed to this week’s BC Natural Resource Forum in Prince George. The two governments were set to meet in Dawson Creek on Jan. 17, with a public presentation by Mark Zacharias, BC Deputy Minister of Environment, and Dave Nikolejsin, BC Deputy Minister of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources. The forum runs from January 22 to 24, and the regional district will be trading up from talking with the deputies — instead meeting with Environment Minister George Heyman and Forests Minister Doug Donaldson, who are scheduled to appear at the forum. “If we can bump it up to a ministers’ meeting, I’m quite fine with that. That takes us to the top,” said Brad Sperling, chair of the regional district board. “We haven’t changed our opinion, our doors are open. We want to have an open conversation. People are concerned, right or wrong, but people are concerned just by not knowing.” Local politicians have been ratcheting up pressure on the province to publicize details

of two agreements being developed with West Moberly and Saulteau to restore caribou populations in the region. They say the work is being done without appropriate consultation, and have asked the process be stopped until studies are done on the socio-economic impacts caribou recovery will have on industry, tourism, and backcountry access. The province gave a public presentation about caribou recovery planning to the regional district in October, and has invited directors to a number of conference calls and workshops on the matter over the last year. Southern mountain caribou have been listed as a threatened wildlife species under the federal Species At Risk Act since 2003. Two herds, including the Burnt Pine herd near Chetwynd and the Banff herd near Jasper, have already been extirpated. According to recent counts, there’s an estimated 229 animals in five other herds in the South Peace region. The federal government has declared there to be an imminent threat to their recovery, putting pressure on the province to take action. The province is developing a conservation agreement with the federal government under the Species At Risk Act,

outlining the efforts at habitat restoration each government will undertake over a five-year period. It’s also negotiating a partnership agreement with the federal government and with Saulteau and West Moberly, which will will contain specific conservation and recovery measures. The province says local governments and other stakeholders will be consulted before the agreements are finalized and signed. Areas to which the agreements will apply, and any restrictions on industry and recreation, are still being negotiated, it says. Saulteau First Nation has called widespread rumours of mass closures to industry and the backcountry to be untrue. The Natural Resource Forum, in its 16th year, is billed as the largest resource forum in Western Canada, including keynote lunches, Ministers’ Breakfast, networking receptions, and a line-up of other speakers, including Premier John Horgan, federal Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi, and LNG Canada CEO Andy Calitz. Other provincial ministers attending include Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, and Jobs Minister Bruce Ralston.

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A series of public focus groups about a proposed seniors housing development in Fort St. John kicks off on Jan. 23. Peace Holdings will host three public sessions for those interested in their proposed development next to the hospital. “The community support to date has been tremendous and we’re encouraged at the dialogues started because of the attention this senior housing crisis has brought to the forefront,” said Ron Brar. The 20-acre master planned development is slated for property adjacent to the hospital. The development, billed as an active adult community, is being designed for what Brar has called a “full continuum of care” that will allow residents to age in place. It’s envisioned the development will include a range of housing, including semidetached bungalows, apartments and condominiums, independent and assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities, and palliative care. The development is planned to include commercial amenities such as medical offices, a pharmacy, and a coffee shop. Brar is looking to hear from businesses interested in setting up shop near the hospital too. More than 150 surveys have been submitted as part of the company’s needs assessment so far. “While correlating the data, we have consulted with and set meetings with additional groups that have come forward and also need assistance with finding suitable housing in our community and we will be holding private focus group sessions with them,” Brar said. The public focus groups take place Jan. 23 and 24 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Jan. 25 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The sessions will take place at the seniors hall at 10908 100 Street. They are free to attend. The needs assessment is ongoing. Hard copies can be picked up and completed at the Century 21 office at 101-9120 100 Ave., or at the Canadian Grind Café.

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A2 THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

Local News

contents A3 A6 A9 A11 A14 A15 B1 B6

News Opinion Business Court Docket Perspectives Coffee Corner Sports Classifieds

winning smile

this week’s flyers Jysk Rona Staples No Frills Safeway The Brick Canadian Tire Save-On Foods Home Hardware Shoppers Drug Mart

Kim Aurala was all smiles last week, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, as she collected her $25,000 winnings from the Rotary Mega Lottery and enjoyed a hot and hearty lunch with Rotarians. Other prize winners from this year’s draw were also in attendance.

B.C. astronomers detect signals from space

GAS WATCH KNOWBEFOREYOUGO Prevailing Prices Dawson Creek

114.9

Fort St. John

127.9

B.C. Average

123.6

Alberta Average

97.9

Saskatchewan Avg.

94.4

Manitoba Average

89.7

DISNEY DOLLARS: We start our news chewing tour in Disneyland, where their slogan is, “The Happiest Place On Earth.” Maybe they should change that to, “The Most Expensive Place On Earth.” After they announced a big increase in Disneyland admission prices, the only way a family with kids can afford to go there is if they sell one of their kids. As you enter Disneyland, they frisk you to make sure you don’t have weapons. As you leave Disneyland, they frisk you again, to make sure you don’t have money. MEANWHILE DOWN UNDER: Our next stop is Australia, where last week the temperature hit 50 Celsius. How hot was it? One Aussie guy threw his boomerang and as it moved through the air it burst into flames.

t St. John, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment Canada COSTCO CHAOS: As a follow up to last Ontario Average 99.3

Yellies were the most requested toy at Christmas. A Yellie is a furry creature that runs across the floor when your kids yell at it. I heard if your kids yell extra loud, the creature wets itself. Yellies are very finelytuned acoustically. They only respond when kids yell. They do not respond when parents sob uncontrollably.

Bob Snyder Chews the news

Gluten-Free Marshmallow Man. For the new Ghostbusters movie, the updated song will be, Who Ya Gonna TEXT?

SKOOL DAZE: A new study shows high school students get better grades when classes start mid-morning. Plus, the late start gives your dog a little extra time to finish eating your kid’s homework.

DOGGY DETAIL: It’s not just humans who enjoy movies. Now open in the town of Plano, Texas: A dog-friendly movie theatre. Imagine this: A theatre full of dogs. A couple hundred dogs all looking at the screen. It’s a 3-D movie. Suddenly there’s a scene in the movie where a guy throws a Frisbee. Mayhem.

MOON MEMO: Astronomers say the moon is moving away at about four inches per year. The moon’s gravity creates ocean waves here on Earth. In 10 billion years, surfboard stores will go out of business.

https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-78_metric_e.html

week’s story about their big buckets of NuMOVIE MONEY: 2018 was the highest WHO’S THERE? Astronomers using a new tella, Costco is now selling even bigger grossing year for Hollywood movies ever. radio telescope in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley inQuebec Average 110.1 buckets of Mac and Cheese. It’s a 27-pound Movie theatres are so busy that there’s a tercepted signals from a faraway galaxy. The bucket of Mac and Cheese with a shelf life of shortage of the special stuff they put on the signals are hard to translate. Some experts New Brunswick Avg 20 years. Coincidentally, 20 years is how long floor to make it sticky. believe they say, “Hey, Earthlings, send more 101.8 I once stood in the checkout line at Costco space probes. They are delicious!” Home  Environment and naturalinresources  Weather information  Weather  Local forecasts  British Columbia Grande Prairie. SPILL THRILL: And speaking of sticky, Nova Scotia Avg 100.2 near Flagstaff, Arizona, a tanker truck WHY FLY: Several commercial airlines are PO’d: Canada Post raised the price of flipped and spilled 3,500 gallons of liquid suggesting passengers should tip flight atPEI Average 100.0 stamps. Whenever I go to the Post Office, I’m chocolate on a highway. Imagine that, 3,500 tendants for good service. Maybe we should always in line behind a little old lady who gallons of delicious gooey chocolate! Local slip a few bucks to the pilot if he lands the Observed Fort St. John Airport 10:00 AM MST Tuesday 22 January 2019 Current Conditions says to the clerk, “Please show me anat: assortauthorities declared a fondue. plane at the right airport. Newfoundland Avg. 110.6 t Nelson, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment Canada https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-83_metric_e.html ment of your most decorative stamps so I can take time to make my selection.”Temperature:DEODORANT DAMAGE: Scientists FLY FACT: 2018 was a record-breaking -5.8°C Wind: SSE 9 km/hsay CAD$ per litre, prices as of January 22. Condition: Partly Cloudy those strong 48-hour deodorants contain year for the North Peace Regional Airport Source: GasBuddy.com Pressure: 101.1 kPa Dew point: -7.4°C Wind C… -10 MOVIE NEWS: In the works, a new Ghost- chemicals that damage the environment. in Fort St John. The airport security staff are Tendency: Falling Humidity: 89% Visibility: 24 km busters movie. Times have changed. In the That’s why I always use a 47-hour deodorant. always courteous and friendly. But not too new movie, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man friendly. Being frisked by someone with a will be the Stay Puft Sugar-Free, High-Fiber, TOY TALE: According to a news report, big smile can be kind of creepy. Home  Environment and natural resources  Weather information  Weather  Local forecasts  British Columbia

Fort St. John, BC

-6°C

Fort Nelson, BC

WEATHER & ROAD REPORT

Forecast Current Conditions Tue 22 Jan

Forecast issued: 5:00 AM MST Tuesday 22 January 2019 ST.Nelson JOHN Airport 10:38 AM MST Tuesday 22 January 2019 Observed FORT at: Fort

Wed Thu Condition: Light24 Jan Snow 23 Jan Pressure: 101.8 kPa Tendency: Rising

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Tonight The contents of this Night Tue Wed newspaper are protected by 22 Jan 23 Jan copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes.

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Sun Mon Wind: NW 16 gust 30 km/h 27 Jan 28 Jan Wind C… -21 Visibility: 3 km

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A mix of sun and Sunny Sunny cloud Forecast issued: 5:00 AM MST Tuesday 22 January 2019

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-20°C -1°C 3°C -3°C -8°C All other rights are reserved-10°C -16°C* -19°C -11°C -7°C -1°C -7°C -8°C and commercial use is Snow Clear Clear Cloudy Clear Clear prohibited. To make any use of Please this newspaper. of snow Sunny Sunny A mix of sun and Sunny Sunny thisPeriods material yourecycle must first Sunny obtain the permission of the cloud owner Todayof the copyright. Cloudy with 60 percent chance of ﬂurries this morning then a mix of sun and cloud. Wind southwest 20 km/h 2x1.5 becoming northwest 30 gusting to 50 this afternoon. High minus 4 with temperature falling toWeatherPhone minus 13 this Tonight Night Night Night Night Night Environment Canada For further information contact Local afternoon. Wind chill minus 10 in the morning and minus 24 in the afternoon. UV index 1 or low. the managing editor at Weather Forecasts Tonight Cloudy. Snow beginning this evening and ending before morning. Amount 2 cm. Wind northwest 30 km/h (250)-785-7669 gusting to 50 becoming light near midnight. Low minus 20. Wind chill minus 27 in the evening. Risk of frostbite.

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-25°C -21°C -12°C -9°C 1 or low. -13°C -18°C Wed, 23 Jan Clearing in the morning. High minus 16. UV index WOMEN’S CARHARTT FR/NON-FR CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES Night Clear. Low minus 10. A few ﬂurries

Clear

3x1 Sunny. High plus 1.

Clear

Cloudy

Clear

Thu, 24 Jan Night Clear. Low minus 1. * Denotes an abnormal temperature trend

Fri, 25 Jan Sunny. High plus 4. Today Periods of snow. 2 to 4 cm. Wind becoming northwest 20 km/h this morning. Temperature falling to NightW Cloudy. Low plus Amount 3. N E R S ! 10520 100 Avenue, Fort St Wind John, BC minus 17 this morning then steady. chill near minus 27. Risk of frostbite. U HO Tonight Fax: 250-785-5338 A few ﬂurries ending this evening then clearing. Wind northwest 20 km/h becoming light this evening. Low • Ph: 250-785-5888 minusand 25. Wind 28 in evening. Risk of frostbite. Mon. to Wed. Fri. chill 6amminus - 6pm • the Thurs. 6am - 8pm Wed, 23 Jan

Please recycle newspaper. Sat. 9am - 6pm this • Sunday 10am - 5pm Sunny. High minus 19. UV index 1 or low.

2019-01-22, 10:41 a.m.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 A3

LOCAL NEWS

FORT ST. JOHN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION PHOTOS

Above: The imaging department at the Fort St. John Hospital posing with the new CT Scanner. Below: Board members Jim Schilling (in plaid) and Marco Schwab (wearing the blue hardhat) touring the MRI during construction.

MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation turned 25 on January 10, and has scheduled a special event to mark the occasion next month. The foundation, established in 1994, is critical in raising millions of dollars that have enhanced patient care and supports at the hospital and Peace Villa care home. “Two of the foundation’s biggest projects to date are: the purchase of a CT Scanner in 2009 and the installation of an MRI in 2017,” said Niki Hedges, executive director. “These amazing tools have spared many members of our community the time and expense of travel and many residents of neighbouring communities the stress of extended travel for testing.” The hospital used its CT scanner for

the first time on January 22, 2009, after the foundation helped raise more than $1.3 million in little over a year. The scan has seen more than 5,000 patients over the past year. The foundation also funded $150,000 of the hospital’s recent $2.6-million MRI project. The MRI has scanned more than 3,000 patients since it was installed in September 2017. More recently, the Foundation smashed past the million-dollar fundraising mark from 2,500 donations between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 — well above its target of $650,000. It’s Be An Angel Gala raised an impressive $130,000 in November. A 25th Anniversary Celebration will be held February 21, 2019. Full details have yet to be announced. For more information, contact the Hospital Foundation at 250-261-7564, or visit fsjhospitalfoundation.ca.

Special Delivery

Hospital Foundation turns 25 IT’S A BOY! Jordan Don McLeod Parents: Christopher & Ashley Baby’s Weight : 7 lbs 6 ozs Date: Jan. 14 , 20 Time: 11:39 19 Fort St. John am , BC

OY! IT’S A B Stepskie s cu ar M Atlas Parents: i sk Ben Step alter er W & Heath Weight: Baby’s ozs 10 lbs 14 inches Length: 2415, 2019 Date: Jan. 46 pm Time: 3: hn, BC Jo Fort St.

OY! IT’S A B ichael M Winston ner Bit Parents: Mike & Tara t: eigh Baby’s W ozs 7 lbs 6 , 2019 18 n. Date: Ja 23 am Time: 4: hn, BC Fort St Jo

Drop off or mail your FREE birth announcement to:

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

Blueberry River to unveil treaty land settlement plans on January 25 MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

The Blueberry River First Nation will host a public open house January 25 as it winds down its treaty land entitlement negotiations. The negotiations settle a land debt Canada still owes the First Nation from the signing of Treaty 8. The open house will be similar to one hosted by Doig River in December, and give the public a chance to understand

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

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

the treaty land entitlement process, what lands Blueberry River has selected, and its intended use for the lands. Blueberry River is part of the former Fort St. John Beaver Band, which was made up of members of Blueberry and Doig River before the two became separate nations in 1977. The open house takes place Friday, January 25, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Pomeroy Hotel in Fort St. John. Presentations will take place at 2 p.m. at 4 p.m.

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FORT ST. JOHN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION photos

An infant during IV therapy using an Alaris pump.

2019 Have A Heart Radiothon to improve pediatric care matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Radio listeners will want to tune their dials to 98.5 FM on Valentine’s Day to take part in the 17th Annual Have A Heart Radiothon in support of the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation. The Foundation will be broadcasting live on location at Safeway in Fort St. John from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to raise $45,000 needed to buy six Alaris syringe pumps. These pumps help improve IV medication safety for patients, the Foundation says. “For infants and pediatric infu-

sions, where weight is a critical factor in drug and fluid dosages and protection, these pumps are essential,” the Foundation notes in a news release. “These pumps will help achieve the most accurate pediatric dosage possible. It takes a lot more to take care of children, they have specific needs and deserve the best technology. Funds will help physicians provide the best possible medical care for children in the Northeast.” If the Foundation beats its fundraising target of $45,000, it will be allocate the extra funds to additional infant and pediatric equipment that’s needed at the hospital.

UBC researchers want input on Fort Nelson health services matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

The University of British Columbia is looking for public input on how to improve rural health services in Fort Nelson. The school’s Rural Evidence Review project is looking to connect with residents to help identify the pressing healthcare issues in the community, and their priorities for health services. The project is being led by a team of researchers from the Centre for Rural Health Research in UBC’s Department of Family Practice.

“The RER aims to collaborate with rural citizens to provide robust, comprehensive and rural-relevant evidence to inform rural health service planning in British Columbia,” officials say. An anonymous survey has been launched in support of the project, and can be taken by visiting https:// u b c . c a 1 . q u a l t r i c s. c o m / j f e / f o r m / SV_77zOjfWWBNV3wax. The survey takes 10 minutes or less to complete. Those interested in taking part can also call project co-ordinator Christine Carthew, at christine.carthew@ubc.ca or 604-827-2193.

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BC Chamber looks to fill board vacancy in Northeast B.C. matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Ensure others stay safe Certified commerical vehicle inspector Learn how to conduct and document a full vehicle inspection. Designated inspection facility operator Understand your roles and legal responsibilities as an inspector. Both courses run February 8–10 on our, Fort St. John campus.

The BC Chamber of Commerce is looking for a board director in Northeast B.C. Moira Green has termed out out of her position, and wants to ensure her replacement protects the region’s business community, the organization said in a news release last Tuesday. “Being on the board has allowed me to impact on the way the business and government work together in BC—and specifically in the North through robust policy development,” Green said in a statement. “Whoever steps up—and ultimately steps in, needs to ensure government is behaving credibility in our region—that means taking a principled and balanced approach to natural resource development and preservation.” Northeast B.C. is only home to 2% of the population, but drives 9% of the provincial GDP, noted Green. “The economy is highly diversified

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and resilient and includes agriculture, forestry, tourism and yes—oil and gas,” Green said. Green works as the general manager of community services for the City of Fort St. John, and was the city’s former economic development officer. Key issues for the region include leveling the playing field when it comes to cross-border transportation issues. “I’m invested in this region—and because of that I want the Northeast to have a strong presence at the table. As the voice of the BC Business community—there is no better place to drive change than on BC Chamber’s board,” Green said. Preferred board nominees should have board experience and expertise in information technology, government policy, and law and regulatory governance, the Chamber says. Nominees must also ensure the natural resource sector is represented at the policy level, it says. The nomination package is available at www.bcchamber.org. Nominations close Feb 4, 2019.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 A5

LOCAL NEWS

Student rangers sought for Fort St. John

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BC PARKS PHOTO

Prince George Crew constructing a boardwalk in Fort George Canyon Park.

MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

Are you a student looking to immerse yourself in B.C.’s parks and backcountry this summer? The province is now accepting applications for the BC Parks Student Ranger Program. The program is in its second year, giving 48 young adults between the ages of 18 to 30 training and employment opportunities in the province’s parks and protected areas. “The student rangers play a key role in environmental stewardship while preserving the natural, cultural and historical values that British Columbians cherish,” Environment Minister George Heyman said in a news release.

“I hope the program inspires young adults to consider a meaningful and rewarding career looking after B.C.’s beautiful parks and protected areas.” This year, 12 crews of four student rangers will work in regions throughout the province, including Fort St. John. Work experience includes projects focused on ecosystem restoration, invasive species control, trail building and maintenance, and outdoor education. Other regions being recruited for include Prince George, Terrace, Bella Coola, Williams Lake, Manning Park, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Victoria (Goldstream Provincial Park), Black Creek (Miracle Beach Provincial Park), North

Vancouver (Mount Seymour Provincial Park), and Sechelt (Porpoise Bay Provincial Park). Crew lead positions begin May 13 and crew members begin May 26, and end at the end of August. Those interested must be enrolled in full-time studies in the past academic year and plan to return to fulltime studies in the fall. The province has set a 30% indigenous hiring target. Applications are being accepted until Feb. 24, 2019. To learn more and apply, visit http://www.env.gov. bc.ca/bcparks/employment/ student-ranger/ The program was established with with proceeds from the sales of BC Parks specialty licence plates.

GEOFF BOUGH PHOTO

The Fort St. John Army Cadets biathlon team. From left, Cadet Rexxell Grant, Cadet Jorja Creighton, Sgt .Tyler Kitt, MCpl. Devyn Rough, and Sgt. Zachary Byford.

Cadets take silver and bronze at regional biathlon competition GEOFF BOUGH Alaska Highway News

On January 20, 2019, five Army Cadets from Fort St. John entered into a regional biathlon competition at Otway Nordic Centre in Prince George. The competition consisted of air, army, and sea cadets from corps and squadrons located in Prince George and Northeast B.C. The course was a sprint race where cadets skate skied four laps that were 1.2 kilometres each, and three bouts of shooting five targets in the prone position at 50 metres. Each missed shot results in a 40-second time penalty. Sergeant Tyler Kitt received a silver medal for placing second in the Youth Males category (17-18 year olds), with an overall time of 38:04.08 (including penalties). Sergeant Zachary Byford received a bronze medal for placing third in the Senior Males category (15-16 year olds), with an overall time of 39:07.9. Master Corporal Devyn Rough placed sixth in the Junior Males category (12-14 year olds), and Cadet Rexxell Grant and Cadet Jorja Creighton placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Junior Females category. The team of Fort St. John Army Cadets are all new to the sport of biathlon and this competition was the first for all of them.

“I am extremely proud of our cadets and how far they have come. It takes a great amount of courage to take on a new sport and compete the same year and I admire their strength and determination,” Captain Geoff Bough, team coach. The provincial biathlon competition will be taking place at Mt. Washington on Vancouver Island, February 8 to 10. Cadets will learn whether they have qualified to compete in two weeks as other regional competitions are still taking place. However, both Sgt. Kitt and Sgt. Byford have a good chance of going as a team based on their combined times at regionals. Biathlon is a competitive winter sport that combines cross country skiing and marksmanship, which originated in Europe and is becoming more popular around the world, and is an Olympic sport. It takes a great deal of cardio training and discipline to be successful. With the BC Winter Games coming to Fort St. John in 2020, representatives from Biathlon BC are working hard to start up a biathlon course in the Peace Region, which will introduce a new winter sport for the residents of the surrounding area. The Army Cadets look forward to their success with hopes of having a local facility to increase training opportunities and potential opportunities to host regional competitions in Fort St. John.

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A6 THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

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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WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? Send your letters to: editor@ahnfsj.ca Please put “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line. All letters must be accompanied by a daytime phone number (for verification purposes only) and your full name. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, taste, accuracy and libel. Please keep letters under 600 words. We ask that submissions protest the policy - not the person. Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect those of the Alaska Highway News.

NATIONAL NEWSMEDIA COUNCIL The Alaska Highway News is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please let us know first. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES The Alaska Highway News retains sole copyright of advertising, news stories and photography produced by staff. Copyright of letters and other materials submitted to the Editor and accepted for publication remain with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent of the publisher. Second class mail registration No. 0167

Remembering Peter Vandergugten

hen the Alaska Highways News asked me to consider writing a periodic column, the first thing I thought was, how could I possibly measure up to the standard set by Evan Saugstad’s excellent opinions? Then I realized that maybe I could break in gently and suggested that I do a few tribute pieces. This first one came quite naturally with the recent death of my friend and colleague Peter Vandergugten. I would like to thank Yvonne and David Vandergugten and Jim and Margaret Little for their input and suggestions. These next few columns are intended not only as tributes, but to educate about the commitments made by leaders to make here better – before the memories are lost to time. Peter was born August 3, 1937, at Den Haag (The Hague) Netherlands, and immigrated to Canada in the 1954 to seek better opportunities than still war-ravaged Holland. He subsequently sponsored two brothers and a sister to immigrate. His first full job was with CIBC in Toronto (where he met and married Yvonne in 1963), and later joined Associates Finance which took him and his family across Canada including stays in Sault Ste. Marie, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. Oldest son David was born in 1968 and youngest son Andrew in 1970. They moved to Fort St. John in 1974 where Peter started St. John Mortgages, and shared office space with his long time friend Peter Priebe. The downturn after the National Energy program was hard on the business, and Peter liquidated it and started Country Home Kennels in 1987 in Charlie Lake, which he continued until selling in 2007. Peter was always interested in local, provincial, and federal politics. A fiscal conservative with a strong social

Steve Thorlakson conscience, his first foray into politics was in the early 1980s when he ran (unsuccessfully) for mayor. He shifted to the Chamber of Commerce and was elected as president. I was vice-president and Peter Priebe was treasurer. The Chamber was deeply in debt and had been losing membership – and us three amigos took steps to turn that around. In one year, the Chamber was debt-free and membership had tripled. Peter and I took a stab at local politics as a team, and we both were elected in 1986 as aldermen (now called councillor). Peter was subsequently re-elected six times (I think this is a record!) We fought like hell – often – but were always the best of friends. The city was insolvent (not bankrupt, but deeply in debt), infrastructure was in bad shape, and 40% of businesses and residences were vacant – a real challenge. The first big test of leadership was to deal with the partly completed cultural centre, a very divisive issue, and Peter saw that the future of the community would be bleak without finishing the new Heart of FSJ. He stood resolute then and always, and was actively involved in the new pool, Fair Share, and more. His singular legacy was leading Communities in Bloom, winning a runner up and first Canada-wide. Peter loved sailing, hunting, and bird dogs. He helped me and my son on successful deer and moose hunts, and

CITY OF FORT ST JOHN PHOTO

Peter Vandergugten served on Fort St. John city council from 1986 to 2005.

pheasants with son David and friend Jim Little. Peter was tough, stubborn and determined. When afflicted with cancer, he said, “This S.O.B. won’t beat me!” He even went pheasant hunting right after chemo! Peter retired to Maple Ridge in 2009 to be near family, and beat cancer twice more! I’d like to conclude with the last 3 lines from Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem, Requiem: Here he lies where he long’d to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill. Steve Thorlakson is a resident and former mayor of Fort St. John.

Schadenfreude fairies hellbent on industry destruction

ow would you feel if it seemed like your livelihood was under the microscope every second of every day? Would you feel insecure, worried, and perhaps defensive? You think to yourself, “What can I do to make my voice heard above the din amplified by highly financed lobby groups?” It seems like we live in a world of Us versus Them, and I don’t even know who Them are anymore. I do know one thing though — the lack of respect is worthy of a good ol’ fashioned whooping! Regardless of how you feel about the oil and gas industry, please, please do not disrespect the families, communities, and regions that derive their livelihood from it. We are all Canadians doing our best in

Judy Kucharuk uncertain times and we need each other more than ever. Yes. Respect. That is what we want and that is what we deserve. Don’t mock us for forming a convoy in a show of strength. Don’t undermine our attempts to stand up for ourselves against an onslaught of negativity and fear-mongering that comes in the form of letters asserting that an oil and gas company is responsible for climate change. I wonder if the mayor from Whistler wrote his letter by the warmth of his natural gas fireplace? I know, I know, that comment

was unnecessary and illustrates the lack of respect that we have for one another: A kneejerk reaction that serves no one and certainly doesn’t promote dialogue. We are all responsible for climate change by virtue of the fact that we live and breathe and consume. We are all stewards of our forests, lakes, and streams. But, we will never make strides forward unless we learn to work together instead of angrily pointing fingers. We are in this — not Us or Them. When I look up all I can see is a flock of Schadenfreude Fairies hellbent on destruction. Why would Canadians wish misfortune on fellow Canadians? If I could remove a word from our vernacular commonly tossed around as an adjective it

would be “partisan,” prejudiced in favour of a particular cause. The synonyms speak volumes: biased, prejudiced, discriminatory, unjust, unbalanced. Blatantly partisan discussion does nothing to further a conversation and further reinforces the insecurities on either side of the equation. Until we can sit in a room with no hidden agenda and work towards a common goal, we will not move forward and the fissures and fractures appearing in communities across Canada will lengthen and deepen. Is this really what we want? Judy Kucharuk is a lover of sarcasm, witty people and footnotes.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 A7

OP-ED

More diverse, inclusive government can help avoid another prop rep vote

n December 20, Elections BC pronounced proportional representation (PR) dead, for at least for a few months or years, but it won’t go away. It will be back, in one way, shape or form, as politics never seem to leave anything for dead. This kind of reminds me of women’s fashions – skirt lengths seem to go up as high as possible, then go down to low as possible, and everything in-between, but the extremes never go away. Although I wish this would just disappear (no, not women’s skirts!) and leave us with what we currently have, that is likely just too much utopian thinking on my part. I did actively campaign to keep first-past-the-post (FPTP) as our preferred voting system, and truly believe that for our large and diverse province (same for Canada), we have the best system to address our diversities, despite all the rhetoric. I know many think the same way, but not all do, and one day, it will start all over again. One thing is more than certain: The Honorable David Eby will never be put in charge of developing something like this again, unless someone really wants the next plan to also fail. It’s a good thing we had David in charge, but I guess his failure is not all that unexpected. His youthful exuberance, political inexperience, and

Evan Saugstad unwillingness to listen to his elder peers saved us and, for that, all of B.C. needs to send a very big thank you to him. He may be smart and a good lawyer, but he really does lack in life experience. More recent polls seems to suggest that a simple yes/no question could have put the “let’s get rid of first-past-the-post referendum” into the 50% plus 1 category. I doubt he will be on Andrew Weaver’s 2019 Christmas party invite list either. But, I digress. Not what I really wanted to write about. I want to say thanks to the good voters of Northeast B.C. Peace River North and South led the province in saying yes to keeping FPTP, as a percentage of those who voted. That just about says it all as to who we are. We are overwhelming conservative (nothing new) and we don’t like change when it’s just for the sake of change. We also have an overwhelming mistrust of slick-talking southerners who say, “Trust me.” Also, a shout out to all the rest of B.C. who voted to keep our current system. Thank you. We needed every vote to bury this sucker. Also, good to see that us

northerners didn’t buy-in to the B.S. about how another system would automatically result in better represention and better government. That is simply not true, and, worse than that, a fallacy. Good government comes from good people following a good plan. And further, a good plan is more about what we need and not just about what we want. Simply put, it’s sort of like Mom telling us that in order to be healthy us kids couldn’t just eat meat and desert; we also had to eat our peas and carrots too. It wasn’t about what we wanted, it was about what we needed. We also need to make some changes if we wish to keep our current system. The vast majority do want a government that is more inclusive and diverse, and not just about old white guys with a long list of life of experiences, making all the decisions. The NDP, to their credit, have figured this out, but it took a process of appointing candidates in some ridings, versus having riding membership select or elect them. They chose to appoint some candidates in some ridings when they felt they needed more diversity within their own party. It has worked out well in terms of getting more women and ethnic minorities on the ballot and elected, but it hasn’t automatically resulted in smarter or “better” people

now leading our province. Not everyone is capable, nor should just anyone be elected as one of our leaders. BC Liberals need to take a page out of this same playbook and it doesn’t have to be all about the party appointing who will be their candidates in our ridings. It can start with some of the old war horses retiring, hopefully soon and certainly before the next election, to allow for more diversity. Riding memberships have a big role to play in this. They/we need to pay more attention to having a diverse group of people selected as their/our candidates and need to search out these people from within our communities and encourage then to run. If we, as ridings, aren’t going to do it, then I would agree, at some point, the party needs to step in and help achieve this. Without more diversity and inclusion, we will soon be back to the voting table looking to change our electoral system. Reading some of the postmortems on why the referendum failed has been interesting, and especially some of the quotes coming from so-called experts who teach political science at our universities. I’m not sure why our media goes to these people, as invariably, they have it wrong. It’s not hard to figure out why. It seems our universities are full of people who have never worked

outside of our learning institutions, and now spend all their time talking to young adults. They may be good teachers and able to generate lots of statistics and propose new ideas, but in my simple world, they forget one thing. They teach “kids” who love to talk about changing the world, but, when the talking is done, kids tend to forget to do their homework when they get home. A large percentage of young people don’t vote, and that won’t change. More simply put, they don’t have the interest, or the time or the experience. In their minds, they are too busy looking out for themselves and willing to let others figure out who will run our country or province. Older people tend to know why we vote, and what we vote for, even if it’s to keep the status quo. We also tend to know what makes our system work. For most, big changes are a hard sell, as we have learned that slowly reshaping our future, one step at a time, is usually the safest process. After all, it took generations to convince people that the world is round, and once they believed that, life just seemed to get more and more complicated. In the old flat world, one never got too close to the edge, as you might just fall off and disappear! Evan Saugstad lives in Fort St. John.

Wishy-washy math behind province’s CleanBC program

ack in the autumn of 2018, the BC NDP released a policy paper called CleanBC. It was an effort on the part of the NDP-Green coalition to show they are serious about climate change issues and willing to put their words into action. The problem, as is so often the case, is that it’s only an outline that gives generalizations without any specifics. How realistic are the goals that have been presented in their policy paper? On page 52 of the document, there is a section called Goal Snapshot. One of those goals identified has to do with home heating and the type of energy that apparently will be used by the year 2030. It states: “60% of homes and 40% of commercial buildings will be heated with clean electricity.” It might be fair to ask, what do they mean by clean electricity? The likely answer from their vantage point would include hydroelectricity. At present, under the former Liberal government, B.C. is not allowed to produce energy from any other source other than “clean” sources to the tune of 92% of its portfolio. That law is still intact today. Raising the bar to 60% of all homes using “clean” energy immediately disallows the use of natural gas for home heating, because it’s no longer considered clean, being a fossil fuel. We have to understand that the vast majority of homes in 2019 here in B.C.

Rick Koechl Mike Kroecher TWO OLD GUYS WITH ISSUES

use natural gas for home heating. A reality check is in order to understand the ramifications 11 years from now — if this policy change is going to happen. Stats Canada, in its 2016 Census, indicated B.C. has 1,881,969 detached or semi-detached homes. Keep in mind this does not include apartment units. FortisBC, one of B.C.’s natural gas and electricity utility providers, has crunched the numbers for us, stating the average house needs about 90 gigajoules of energy for heating. Translated, that would be about 25 megawatt hours of straight electricity per household per year. If we take 60% of all those B.C. homes (not including apartments or commercial buildings) the number ranges around 1,129,181. Clearly that number increases significantly each year with new home construction. We would need around 28,229,535 megawatt hours of additional electricity to accommodate just electrical heating. One Site C will apparently produce about 5,100,000 megawatt hours per year. That means we would need close to six new

equivalent Site Cs just for residential homes, not including apartments or commercial offices. Where would this source of “clean” energy come from? Clearly, no other Site Cs are being planned, with very limited prospects for any other alternatives such as large scale solar or wind power. Where will the NDPGreens obtain this massive amount of clean power to achieve their 2030 goal? It would appear CleanBC hasn’t given adequate consideration to this question. Another critical question to ask the folks at CleanBC is electricity pricing. All ratepayers of this province are bracing for yet another 2.6% hike on April 1 as rates continuously rise. For the record, there are no discounts offered by BC Hydro for electric heating. That program was phased out years ago. This government apparently does not want us to use natural gas, oil, or wood for heating, so going electric is the consumer’s only choice. If you do the math on this 25 MWh of electricity for yearly individual home heating purposes, at today’s BCH rates of approximately 11.5 cents/kWh, you would be adding about $2,800 to your hydro bill every year. This would not include the present bill that you are already paying on a monthly basis. Chances are, that you, and most other British Columbians, would not be able

to afford the additional costs incurred. If BC Hydro does not remotely have the capacity at present (even including Site C) to meet this new demand, why is CleanBC pushing this idea? One would have to wonder if BC Hydro really would want 60% of us by 2030 to use electricity for home heating? Who in the NDP-Green government has done the math that would allow for this transition? We have to assume this was just a number picked out of a hat. To be fair, the 2019 provincial budget will be aired next month, perhaps giving some substance to CleanBC intentions for 2030. In the meantime, BC Hydro has been spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on PowerSmart ads and programs, asking us to conserve electricity and to use it wisely. Fair enough, but why then would this latest government shift, and defy the purpose of years of BC Hydro efforts to have us conserve or save energy? Perhaps this gives the present government some credence to the optics for building a third dam on the Peace River. Mike Kroecher is a long retired resident of the Peace, expressing his deep roots in the land through his art. Rick Koechl is a recently retired teacher of the Peace with an enthusiasm for politics and energy.

Letters to the editor TIME FOR CANADA’S RESOURCE TOWNS TO STAND UP AND SPEAK UP For too long, the working people of B.C. resource towns like Fort St. John haven’t had a real voice in the political decisions directly effecting their lives, and livelihoods – about pipeline projects, new mines, forestry tenures. That’s not only a tragedy for Fort St. John, it’s a travesty for resource development across

Canada. Last spring, we launched Suits and Boots to change that. Founded by six people in April, we have since grown to more than 3,200 people across Canada – Suits in offices and Boots out in the field alike doing the important work that makes Canada such a prosperous nation. We have held rallies and flown banners over Parliament. We have written Senators asking them to kill the

current version of Bill C-69 and send back to the House of Commons so this flawed attempt at re-working Canada’s environmental assessment regulations can be re-done. We have sat down with politicians in our capital to call for change. We have been invited to the Prime Minister’s Office to hear our side of the story. We have been constructive, offering solutions and ensuring the perspectives of resource sector working Ca-

HaveYOUR

nadians finally gain a voice. We have an impact. Because you now have a voice. We have only been successful because 3,200 Canadians have signed on to get involved – writing letters to Senators and MPs, showing up at events, and lending their support. Bill C-69 will soon be going before the Senate environment and natural resources committee. The fate of Canada’s resource

sector hangs in the balance. Now is the time we need our voice. Now is the time for Fort St. John and other resource towns across Canada stand up, be counted, and speak up. We can help you do that. If you’re interested, visit suitsandboots.ca to read more, and make your voice heard in Ottawa. — Rick Peterson, founder, Suits and Boots

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

A8 THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 A9

Business

““It’s not an exact science, but we try to budget without going too far off what our airline partners are putting in their schedules.”

— Gord Duke, airport director

Airport traffic sets new record MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project Certified Corridor

LNG Canada Facility (3rd party)

South of Houston Alternate Route

TransCanada’s NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) Existing System

Proposed Coastal GasLink Metering Facility

Highways

Proposed Coastal GasLink Compression & Metering Facility

Cities and Towns

Mackenzie

Tumbler Ridge

Potential Future Coastal GasLink Compression Facilities (TBD)

Smithers Telkwa

Terrace Prince Rupert

Fort St. James

Houston

Burns Lake

Kitimat

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project

Fraser Lake

3 Vanderhoof

Prince George 16

8 Section Section

– 92 km – 48 km

Section ➌3 – 104 km Section ➌4 – 93 km

Section ➌6 – 80 km Section ➌7 – 83 km

Section ➌5 – 82 km Section ➌8 – 84 km

Please join us in Fort St. John for the second of five Regional Economic Summits intended to connect local businesses and job seekers to opportunities with CGL Prime Contractor(s) and their subcontractors. What:

Regional Economic Summit #2 – with Surerus Murphy Joint Venture, Civeo Corporation, 4 Evergreen Resources LP, M&M Resources Inc., Black Diamond Cygnus LP, Dakii Services LP

Date:

January 30, 2019

Place:

Fort St. John – Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre, 11308 Alaska Rd, Fort St. John, BC V1J 5T5

Time:

8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Pipeline Project

ded on the associated Coastal GasLink pipeline project. “What these contracts and subcontracts represent is tremendous opportunity for individuals to find employment on the LNG Canada project through our contractors and subcontractors,” Susannah Pierce, LNG Canada’s director of external relations, said in a press release. Site preparation work began in the fall of 2018. In October, 249 local workers from the Kitimat area, including First Nations, were employed on the project by LNG Canada and its contractors. The number of jobs to be created this year is estimated to be in the high hundreds, ramping up to about 4,500 at peak construction in 2020 and 2021. That’s just for the LNG Canada project. Another 2,000 to 2,500 are expected to be employed on the Coastal GasLink project. — Business in Vancouver

2:00 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

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