AHN JULY 19 2018 by Alaska Highway News

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 Vol. 75, No. 29

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

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Paddlers of all ages took to the Peace River July 14, 2018, to take part in the annual Paddle for the Peace. Turn to B8 for more.

Hotel buy an economic, cultural opportunity Site C stymied 9224 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC (250) 785-0463

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Fort Nelson FN buys landmark for $862K The Fort Nelson First Nation has bought the historic Fort Nelson Hotel with plans to turn it around into an indigenous showpiece in Northeast B.C. The First Nation sealed the deal for the hotel, along with associated retail, mobile home park, and townhouse developments, for $862,000 in May through a court-ordered sale. Chief Harrison Dickie says the purchase is an economic and cultural development opportunity for his First Nation and the region. “It was a no-brainer to pursue purchasing it,” Dickie said. “Owning that central, historic property gives us immediate place to showcase our local heritage and culture on a steady stream of year-to-year traffic.” The original Fort Nelson Hotel was built in 1952, with an addition built in 1980, ac-

cording to sale documents. The property lends itself well to careers the First Nations has been training its members for in culinary arts, hospitality, and carpentry, Dickie said. The plan is to target the emerging aboriginal tourism industry, Dickie said, and to “imprint” a First Nations cultural presence in the community through renovations. “There’s not a huge cultural presence in the Northeast like you would see … in Squamish, Whistler, Vancouver, Terrace,

Smithers. They all have that First Nations identity to their communities. This gives us an opportunity to do that,” Dickie said. “There’s a lot of models for success for similar projects. Imprinting our heritage, our artists’ work, our cultural design, our look and feel to the establishment and rooms gives an identity to the hotel instead of the cookie cutter look you see in the north.” See HOTEL on A3

Few reported UFO sightings from Northern B.C. in 2017 If aliens cruised the skies over Northeast B.C. in 2017, it appears they went unnoticed — or, at the very least, unreported. Ufology Research, based in Manitoba, released its 2017 Canadian UFO Survey this week, with 1,101 eyewitness accounts reported from across the country. “Results of this study show that many people continue to report unusual objects in the sky, and some of these objects do not have obvious explanations,” researchers write. “Many witnesses are pilots, police and other individu-

als with reasonably good observing capabilities and good judgment.” There were 128 sightings reported from British Columbia, mostly in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Interior. At least a dozen sightings were attributed to B.C., but no exact location was given. While there were no reports attributed to locations in Northeast B.C., there were a few sightings reported from Northern B.C. in 2017: • On June 10, a silent, bright white light was reported to be travelling east in Prince Rupert. • On July 24, an irregular

shaped object was reported to be moving in the sky in a photo from Quesnel. • On Aug. 8, a white, reflective disc-shaped object was reported high in the sky in Prince George. Other translucent discs were later found on photos. • On Dec. 22, a clouded orb near the moon was reported to be giving off a smoke ring in Prince Rupert. • On Dec. 23, two white objects were discovered on a photo of a winter scene in Prince George. On Dec. 24, white objects were also reported to be found on photo of scenery, again in Prince George.

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Construction of the $10.7-billion Site C dam was stymied by numerous safety and scheduling problems in the first three months of 2018, according to BC Hydro’s latest report to provincial regulators. The problems are outlined in BC Hydro’s latest progress report to the BC Utilities Commission, filed July 11. “While the Site C project remains on time and within budget, in the report we acknowledge two areas of concern that impacted the overall health of the project: schedule and safety,” BC Hydro President Chris O’Riley writes in his letter to the commission. “For these reasons we classified the overall health of the project for this quarter as ‘red,’ or having serious concerns.” From Jan. 1 to March 31, there were two lost time injuries, six injuries that needed medical treatment, and five other accidents that could have led to serious injury or death, according to the report. Among those was an accident in January, where shotcrete dislodged within the drainage tunnel that could have seriously injured a worker, and which shut down that work site for 24 days for a safety investigation. In another incident, “a member of the public lost traction when backing up his truck outside of the Site C gates and backed into a ditch due to winter road conditions,” the report notes. See SITE C on A3

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Local News

contents

nature abounds at the cdc

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News Opinion Community Court Docket Sports Arts and culture Classifieds

The Child Development Centre in Fort St John unveiled its natureinspired adventure playground on Tuesday, giving kids a chance to scamper between rocks and wooden play structures, scrawl on a chalkboard, climb through tunnels, explore an interpretative forest and more. The natural design elements are meant to stimulate imaginations, and promote motor fitness skills and cognitive development. “We have been told these type of playgrounds are good for children who look at the world with different perspectives and who have different challenges,” said Andy Ackerman, board chair. The playground was dedicated and named after the Nelson family, who live next to the centre and were thanked profusely for their patience and ever-present neighbourly smiles during construction.

this week’s flyers Jsyk Peavy No Frills Safeway Walmart Canadian Tire London Drugs Save-On Foods Home Hardware Shoppers Drug Mart

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KNOWBEFOREYOUGO Prevailing Prices Dawson Creek

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Fort St. John

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Alberta-B.C. border

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Bulls, Rubik’s cubes, UFOs, garbage, Hot Wheels MARS MEMO: We begin our weekly news chewing session out in space. This month the Planet Mars is extra close to Earth. It’s clearly visible in the night sky. Mars is a quiet place. Martians hate being close to Earth. They can hear those teenagers in Fort St John who drive around with windows down, blasting loud rap music.

UFO LOL: In a report published last week, Canada is one of the top countries Fort Nelson 151.9 for UFO sightings, with an average of three per day. Most of those are in Quebec. If Groundbirch 133.9 space aliens land in Quebec, they will be in very big trouble if they don’t say “Take us to t St. John, BC 7 Day Forecast Environment Canada your leader” in English and French. Chetwynd

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PHONE PHACT: In a study released last week: One in five cell phone users have dropped a phone in the toilet. People today have it too easy. When I was young we had to unplug the phone from the wall before we could drop it in the toilet.

Bob Snyder Chews the news

MOSQUITO MEMO: The best way to repel mosquitoes is to wear light colored clothing, that’s according to an expert on TV. I’m not so sure that will work with Peace Country mosquitoes. Our mosquitoes are so smart, they were probably watching TV, COFFEE CHAOS: A new study shows so now they know all about the light clothdrinking coffee every day may reduce a ing trick. You have to admit: If mosquito https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-78_metric_e.html man’s risk of prostate cancer. Guys, be very bites didn’t itch and irritate your skin, moscautious if you walk into Starbucks and quitoes would be considered pretty darn there’s a doctor wearing a rubber glove. cool critters. cubes solved while wearing a blindfold and using only his toes. And, most Rubik’s cubes solved while riding a skateboard and using only his nose and chin. Boring!

SOCCER SHOCKER: In the World Cup of soccer, the final game was France vs Croatia. Does anybody know ANYTHING about GARBAGE GAG: On CBC, a top scientHAWAII HA HA: Hawaii has banned Croatia? Croatia is the country my nasty ist said our planet has a big problem with most they contain chemicPrince George 138.9 high school teacher pulled out of her bag garbage, we’re running out of places to put als thatsunscreens, damage coral reefs. If you visit Home  Environment and naturalofresources  Weather  Weatherit.There’s Local forecasts  British Columbia tricks to make sure Iinformation failed geography. only so much garbage Holly- Hawaii, being burned to a crisp by the sun Hythe 137.8 wood can turn into movies. will make a pleasant change from being BULL BULLETIN: In Spain, it was the burned to a crisp by the volcano. Annual Running of the Bulls, where bulls THE WHEEL DEAL: Last week, marked Grande Prairie 132.4 chase stupid SEVERE people through the streets. WATCH the 50th anniversary of Hot Wheels, the WHAT’S UP, DOC?: A new study shows THUNDERSTORM  The bulls train for this all year. Some of little toy cars. My family was poor. My seeing the same doctor over the years will Calgary 130.2 t Nelson, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment Canada them take trampling lessons. Reports say parents https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-83_metric_e.html couldn’t afford Hot Wheels. I had help you live longer. Plus, you may actually many of the participants in the Running of Warm Wheels. get to finish reading the magazine that’s Observed Fort St. John Airport 11:23 AM MST Tuesday 17 July 2018 Edmonton Current Conditions the Bulls were drunk on cheap wine. at: And been in your doctor’s waiting room since 130.1 the humans had a few drinks too. STAB STORY: The next stop on our 1994. news chewing world tour is WNW Miami18 Beach, Partly Cloudy Temperature: 22.1°C Wind: gust 28 Vancouver 154.2 Condition: RUBIK REPORT: Meanwhile in India, a Florida. Last week, a man with no arms GOSSIP GAG: A new scientific study Pressure: 101.5 kPa Dew point: 9.0°C km/h man set a record by solving 2,474 Rubik’s stabbed another man with scissors he held shows the human brain is wired for gosTendency: Falling Humidity: 43% Humidex: 23 Victoria Home  Environment151.8 and naturalcubes resources  Weather  Weather Local  British in 24 hours, usinginformation only one hand. I’m inhis feet.forecasts Before they caughtColumbia the armless sip. The scientist who did the study did Visibility: 81 km tired of hearing about guys who break Ru- stabber, police issued a warning saying he a bunch of other stuff too. Call me if you Tumbler Ridge

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Fort St. John, BC

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Forecast Current Conditions Tue 17 Jul

Forecast issued: 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 17 July 2018 FORTat:ST.Fort JOHN Observed Nelson Airport 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 17 July 2018

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10520 - 100 Avenue, Fort St John, BC Wed, 18 Jul Showers. High 16. • UV index 2 or low. Fax: 250-785-5338 Ph: 250-785-5888 Night Monday to Cloudy with 60 percent of showers. Low 10. Friday 6am - 6pm •chance Saturday 9am - 6pm Sunday 12pm - 4pm

2018-07-17, 11:58 a.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 A3

Local News

Education minister’s absence from new school announcement criticized A playground spat over attendance has started over Fort St. John’s newly announced elementary school. On June 28, the province announced $30.8 million for a new elementary school across from the hospital, to address a mounting crunch of classroom space on the east side of the city. Missing, however, was Education Minister Rob Fleming, who announced the news in a press release. That drew surprise and disappointment from Peace River North MLA Dan Davies, who only learned of the news after being contacted by the Alaska Highway News. Davies said Fleming should have made the trip to Fort St. John to announce the

news in person. “This is a significant project for our city, yet the education minister took a pass on coming up north to announce it to our school district and community,” Davies, education critic for the BC Liberals, said in a statement. “In my view, this significant project deserves better than a written statement from the minister.” That’s since prompted a sharp rebuke from Fleming, who said he was busy with a cabinet meeting at the time of the announcement. The province chose to announce the news before the end of the school year to speed up the tendering process and avoid the risk of rising construction

costs, Fleming said. “What’s more important to Mr. Davies? Getting critical announcements and getting projects underway, or having photo ops? I know what my priority is,” Fleming said. “The school district wanted to go to tendering immediately, and they want to get this project started as soon as possible so they can meet the enrolment growth they’re seeing. I got this project through treasury board as quickly as I could, and then we wanted to announce it before the school year was over. If Mr. Davies thinks we should have delayed until September, and waste potential millions of dollars in cost escalations for this project, then his priorities are ab-

hotel from a1

The property maintains 20 full-time staff, with up to 40 jobs in all when the restaurant, lounge, and property management are in full swing, Dickie said. Another dozen jobs will open up once renovation plans are set, allowing carpentry students to continue their apprenticeships, he added. Dickie couldn’t estimate the cost of renovations, pending discussions with community members and the First Nations planning and economic development board on what those plans will look like. He estimated a two-year turnaround from purchase to a grand reopening. Still, the purchase has generated some controversy among some of the First Nation’s members, who oppose the decision over a lack of consultation and consent, and sent a petition

claiming no confidence in the council to the federal government. Dickie dismissed the concerns, saying the property was bought on a tight timeline well under the $1.2 million asking price, and knowing there’d be opposition from the community. “As elected council, we’re delegated to make those decisions,” Dickie said. “That’s the approach First Nations need to take. You have to make business decisions, and we knew that as council members. We don’t always have the luxury of a long, drawn out community engagement process. “This opportunity ties in with a lot of our other projects. The economy will pick up in Fort Nelson soon, and, owning a central location, it was an opportune time at that price to get into the market.”

site c from a1

WorkSafeBC issued six inspection reports and wrote 15 orders against an unspecified contractor, while the provincial ministry of energy issued another two inspection reports and three orders against a contractor, according to the report. “During the reporting period, BC Hydro also developed its own plan to achieve the safety results we want. As part of that plan, we have implemented a senior-level safety steering committee with all prime contractors to address shared safety issues and opportunities,” O’Riley writes. “We’re also hiring a permanent senior field safety manager and are regularly holding on-site safety conferences to improve the project’s safety performance and culture.” Meanwhile, BC Hydro is finalizing an agreement with Peace River Hydro Partners to settle construction delays

and overruns, and to meet key project milestones such as the planned river diversion starting in 2020. “The total potential cost of the agreement over the life of the project is $325 million,” O’Riley writes. “While the agreement will draw on our contingency budget from the main civil works contract, we have been able to manage the costs within the existing construction budget. Therefore, there is no impact to the overall project budget.” Since the reporting period, the project’s health status has been upgraded to “yellow,” or having some concerns, O’Riley notes, as problems are addressed. He also notes several major contracts were awarded in the first three months of the year, including contracts for the generating station and spillways civil works, the Site C substation, and the powerhouse and gantry cranes.

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solutely wrong.” Davies said he was “thrilled” by the funding announcement, adding the process began under the former Liberal government. “This is a big day for our students, local school officials and other stakeholders, and I sure hope we’ll get a chance to celebrate together when the groundbreaking or ribbon-cutting takes place. I look forward to it,” Davies said. Construction on the new Northeast Elementary school is planned to start in summer 2019, and be ready for students in fall 2021. It will have a capacity of 505 spaces for students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. According to education

ministry figures, School District 60 had 3,845 elementary students in 2016-17, and was at 123% operating capacity for school space. The former Liberal government announced funding for the new Ma Murray Community School at the school district’s Aboriginal Education Centre in November 2015, a ceremony that included then education minister Mike Bernier, then MLA Pat Pimm, Mayor Lori Ackerman, and school officials. Fleming said he hopes to make the grand opening of Ma Murray in the fall. “We’re looking at being available for that school opening,” he said.

CITY BEAT

Updates from JULY 9, 2018 Council Meetings PROCLAMATION – GLOBAL DAY OF INCLUSION Council proclaimed July 21, 2018 as ‘Global Day of Inclusion’ in the City of Fort St. John. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the global Special Olympics movement with the first Special Olympics Games being held in Chicago, Illinois. Special Olympics’ vision for a more inclusive world has grown to become a global movement for change and social justice that uses sport, health and education to empower people with and without intellectual disabilities around the world. Special Olympics help to build communities of understanding, inclusion and respect. STAFF RECOGNITION • Council acknowledged the upcoming retirement of Jim Rogers, Director of Protective Services, commending him for his many years of service with the City of Fort St. John. • Council presented a Long Service Award to Laura Howes, Deputy City Clerk, in recognition of her 5 years of service as an employee of the City of Fort St. John. TRANSIT FEE WAIVER REQUEST POLICY Council approved Transit Fee Waiver Request Policy No. 138/18. This policy will allow staff to approve requests from local schools for the donation of bus tickets for classes to ride City Transit during field trips. The value of the bus tickets provided will not exceed $250 per event and the total amount of waivers approved will not exceed $1,000 per year. Requests will be approved on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. ADDITIONAL FLAGPOLE AT CITY HALL FOR FIRST NATIONS FLAG Council directed staff to provide a report to Council regarding the installation of an additional flagpole at City Hall to be used for the purpose of flying a First Nations’ flag. COAT OF ARMS FOR CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN The City has been working with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on the development of a Coat of Arms for the City of Fort St. John for approximately two years. An artist rendering was brought forward to a Council workshop in December 2017. Based on feedback from Council, a revised artist rendering was provided to Council at the July 9th Regular meeting. Council advised that it still had issues with the proposed design and did not feel that the symbols adequately reflected this thriving, robust community. It was decided to abandon this project at this point. If a future Council wishes to develop a Coat of Arms, the project can proceed. TENDER AWARDS • Council awarded the tender for the Centennial Park Redevelopment project to the low bidder, Northern Legendary Construction Ltd., from Fort St John, BC, for the unit rates in their tender submission dated July 5, 2018, totaling $5,498,798.20. • A report was provided to Council advising that the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the services of an Event Coordinator for the Ice Carving Component of the City’s High on Ice Festival was awarded to Myanna Consulting for a three year term from 2019 to 2021. The proposal from Myanna Consulting was the only one received by the City and met all the criteria of the RFP. Myanna Consulting has been the City’s consultant for this annual event for the past five years and has worked well with City staff in coordinating this event. BYLAWS • Freedom of Information Bylaw No. 2426, 2018 was adopted by title only. This bylaw is required under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and replaces the current bylaw which has not been updated since 1994. • Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 2428, 2018 was adopted by title only. This bylaw establishes a local government bylaw dispute adjudication system which replaces the Provincial Court as the venue for resolving disputes of municipal bylaw infractions. • An analysis of the Cannabis Consultation data received from the public was presented at the Committee of the Whole meeting, as well as recommendations from staff that the use ‘Cannabis Retail’ be permitted in C-2 (Downtown Core Commercial); C-3 (General Commercial); and C-4 (Service Commercial) zones in the City. In addition, staff recommended that the use ‘Cannabis Retail’ be prohibited within 200 metres of a school; 100 metres of a park; and 100 metres of another Cannabis Retail use. At the Regular meeting, Council amended proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2419, 2018 to allow the use ‘Cannabis Retail’ only in the C-2 (Downtown Core Commercial) zone. As well Council removed the 100 metre setback between cannabis stores from the proposed bylaw. The 200 metre setback from a school and the 100 metre setback from a park were approved by Council and remain in the bylaw. The bylaw was then introduced and read for the first and second times by title only, as amended. A Public Hearing is scheduled for Monday July 23, 2018 in City Hall Council Chambers to allow the public an opportunity to provide input on the bylaw.

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS A Committee of the Whole meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday July 23, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. The Regular Council meeting will follow at 3:00 p.m. A Public Hearing for Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2419, 2018 will be held at 6:00 p.m.

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Local News

Interest growing in LGBT Safe Place program Nearly a dozen businesses in Fort St. John have come on board with a new RCMP program to provide safe spaces for the city’s LGBT community. Cpl. Steven Francoeur introduced the Safe Place program to Rotarians Thursday afternoon as it rolls out across B.C. “The mission of Safe Place is to increase safety for the LGBTQ and two-spirited community by providing them a place of refuge if they are a victim of crime or have any concern for their personal safety,” said Francoeur, the crime prevention co-ordinator with the Fort St. John RCMP. “Our national priority is to provide safe communities, and that is all inclusive. We matt preprost Photos want to make sure the community is safe Cpl. Steven Francouer, crime prevention co-ordinator for the Fort St. John RCMP, talks about the for everybody.” new RCMP Safe Place program at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Fort St. John on July 12, 2018. So far, Burger King, Supplement King, Gateway Esso, Remax, the library, the “If they’re being followed, harassed, “People are doing these crimes out of Northern Environmental Action Team, stalked, whatever, they can go to these pure hate,” Francoeur said. Stonebridge Hotel, First Nations Health places and call police and we’ll come and Francoeur did not have statistics for Authority, and Freedom Physiotherapy help them out,” Francoeur said. Fort St. John immediately available with are on board, Francouer said. The city is Businesses are monitored for com- his presentation. also looking to bring its facilities into the plaints from the community, and their The program began in Seattle and program, he said. participation in the program can be re- quickly spread to Vancouver, where more Businesses can sign up for the pro- voked, Francoeur said. than 300 businesses are now involved, gram, and are subject to a screening In 2014, there were 155 hate crimes Francoeur said. Prince Rupert was the process, Francoeur said. If approved, against the LGBT community in Canada first RCMP detachment to roll out the businesses sign a pledge and get a decal — only a fraction of the true scale of the program in Canada. to post in their shop windows to let the problem as most incidents go unreporThose interested in joining the proLGBT community know it’s a place to ted, Francoeur said. Of those that do, 65 gram in Fort St. John can contact Franfeel welcome and call police for help, if per cent involve violence, from common couer at 250-787-8142, or via email at needed. assault to assault with a weapon. steven.francoeur@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Crime prevention volunteers sought The Fort St. John RCMP and the North Peace Justice Society are recruiting volunteers for its speed watch and block watch crime prevention programs. Speed Watch is an ICBC sponsored educational program aimed at reducing incidents of speeding. This program not only provides awareness to drivers who are speeding, but also provides valuable data to the RCMP and ICBC on areas where speeding is a significant problem. Using portable radar equipment and an electronic digital board, volunteers monitor speeds in school and playground zones, high crash zones, and neighbourhood streets. Volunteers record the speed of vehicles and forward these reports to police and ICBC. Areas with high incidents of speeding will be considered for future RCMP enforcement. The Block Watch program is a partnership between police and citizens that draws on members of the community for help in preventing and reducing neighbourhood crime. Those interested in getting involved can contact Francoeur at 250-7878142 or steven.francoeur@rcmp-grc. gc.ca, or the North Peace Justice Society at 250-263-9209.

FARM AUCTION

for GORDON

& ROBERT OUELLETTE SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 · 10:30 A.M. SHARP DIRECTIONS FROM FORT ST. JOHN, BC: Head south towards Taylor/Dawson Creek, turn left just after the rail overpass onto the 255 Road for approximately 400 meters and then turn right onto the Baldonnel Road for 13 kilometres. Watch for Rhythm Auction signs. GPS Info-Street address is 4776 Baldonnel Road For more information on auction listings, contact Gordon at (250) 793-0263 or Robert at (250) 789-3317

VEHICLES: 1981 Ford 3-Ton Grain Truck w/Steel Box and Roll Tarp, 59106kms · 1956 International S-1700 Grain Truck w/Hoist, Complete But Not Running ATV’s & RECREATIONAL: Steel Stone Boat • Folding Boat Seats • Honda 50 Bike, not running TRACTORS & ACCES: 1998 AGCO 9745 Tractor, Model 5002, Serial#:38386, w/Front Wheel Assist, Cab, Air, Heat, Sisu Diesel, Ezee-On Loader, 480/80R42 Rears, 380-85R30 Fronts, 4081 Hours, Serial #38386 • Case Agri-King 1570 Tractor, Serial#: 8811352 • Duetz DX 6.30 Front Wheel Assist Tractor • Universal 445 Blue Front Wheel Assist Tractor • AGCO Loader Bucket • AGCO Bale Forks COMBINES: Case IHC 1482 Pull-Type Combine w/Monitor, was shedded when not in use • Case IHC 1482 Pull-Type Combine w/Monitor, was shedded when not in use FARM EQUIPMENT: Kverneland 3-Bottom Plow, 3PTH, w/Coulters • CCIL 24’ Light Cultivator w/Sweeps, Tang Harrows, Hydraulic Ram • CCIL 14’ Spike Cultivator w/ Hydraulic Ram • CCIL 14’ Sweep Cultivator w/Hydraulic Ram • 7’ 3PTH Cultivator w/Sweeps • 12’ Disc • 50’ Diamond Harrows • 12’ Crazy Round Harrows • 24’ Crazy Round Harrows, 3 Sections • 12’ Flex Harrows • 60’ Brandt Field Sprayer • 7’ Brush Mower • 72” Finishing Mower • 15’ Mower • 18ft Pickup Reel, Fits a CCIL Swather • Swath Roller • JD 430 Round Baler, Makes 4 x 6 Bales, Has Like-New Belts, was Shedded When Not in Use • Vicon Rake • Anderson 109 Square Bale Wagon • Self-Loading Round Bale Wagon, Fifth-Wheel or Tractor Pull • 4-Wheel Wagon • 28’ Cultivator w/Hydraulic Rams and Fescue Float Sweeps • Haybuster 8000 24’ Zero-Till Drill, Three 8’ Sections, w/Hitch for 8/16/24, Double Shoot Hoe, Coulters • Haul-All Fertilizer/Grain Wagon w/Hydraulic Drill Fills • Haul-All 16’ Wagon w/ Hydraulic Drill Fills • Hopper Bottom, Tandem Axle Fertilizer/Grain Wagon w/Drill Fill • 24ft Disc • 24ft Coil Packers, was Hitched to the Disc • 80’ Heavy Spring Harrows • Willmar 50 Tandem Axle Fertilizer Spreader • JD 21 Pull-Type Swather w/Hydraulic Divider Cutter Bar • Batch Dryer • PTO 10” X 70’ Auger • 8” x 30’ Auger w/Motor • 6” x 30’ Auger • Electric 12volt Drill Fill • Grain or Bale PTO Elevator • 12’, 30” Land Roller • 14’ Fescue Float • Dirt Mover • 3PTH Post-Hole Auger • 3PTH Rock Scoop • 4-Wheel Wagon • 3PTH Blade • Loose Hay Scoop • Pea Lifters • Case IH 1190 9’ Mower Conditioner • One Way Antique Discer • Westward Yard Sprayer • Labtronics 919 Grain Moisture Tester • Forage Seed Moisture Tester • (2) 4” Bin Sweeps • 110 volt Portable Aeration Fan • 10 Square Bale Stooker • 10 Square Bale Forks • Pickup Round Bale Spike, 2 Fork Add-On • Old Horse Wagon Wheels • Clipper Portable Grain Cleaner • Emerson Portable Grain Cleaner • Canola Sieve Set • Grain Sieve Set LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT: Round Bale Feeders • (7) Bale Feeders • (7) Metal Gates • Cattle Loading Shoot, wooden on metal runners, adjustable heights • Cattle Oiler • Cattle Squeeze • Sheep Fence • (12) 7 Bar 12’ Metal Panels, round horse corral • One Horse Metal Sleigh Frame TACK: Assortment of Halters • (2) Saddles • Leather Harness and 2 Collars • Saddle Blankets • Bridles SHOP TOOLS & MISC: (6) 3’ x 8’ Stands, concrete barriers constructed with pre-cast concrete • 2-Wheel Fire Fighting Tank w/Honda pump • 2” Honda Water Pump and Hoses • Miller Welder • Miller Wire Welder • Cutting Torch • Air Compressor • Drill Press • Old Iron from a cutter • Metal Hack-Saw • 500gal Diesel Fuel Tank • 4 Tank Stands • Propane Tank • Garmin EZ-Guide Light Bar • Garmin Auto-Steer • Electric Lift 8’ x 16’ Garage Door • Plastic Jockey Box, like-new HOUSE & YARD ITEMS: Gas Furnace • Wood Fireplace, glass front • Sand Box and Teeter-totter, plastic • Bundle of Insulation CONSIGNMENT EQUIPMENT: 2620 Hay Buster Vin#26JJ042120 • International 5 Bottom Plow Vin #9112000, Model 911-561 • 2011 New Holland 14ft. Disc Bine, Model H7450 Vin #YDN090636

SUBJECT TO ADDITIONS & DELETIONS · COMPLETE LISTINGS & PHOTOS AT www.rhythmauctions.com Now accepting consignments for our Fall Consignment Sale on September 8th in Prespatou

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THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 A5

Local News

Men wanted on warrants Rip's Shoe Re-nu Has Been Repairing Boots & Shoes for 39 years and Still Saving Soles

Byron Eric Horne

Cory Joe Miskenack

Fort St. John RCMP are looking for two men wanted on outstanding warrants. A warrant was issued on March 28 for the arrest of Byron Eric Horne, 32, for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon. Horne is described as: • 6’4 tall (193 cm) • 181 pounds (82kg) • First Nations • Black hair • Brown eyes • blue flame tattoo on his right wrist and forearm • A skull with jester hat tattoo on his left shoulder • A skull with Viking helmet tattoo on his left arm above the elbow Multiple warrants have been issued for the arrest of Cory Joe

Miskenack, 29, for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited weapon, failure to comply with probation, and failure to comply with conditions of an undertaking. Miskenack is described as: • 5’6 tall (168 cm) • 161 pounds (73kg) • First Nations • Black hair • Brown eyes • Life tattoo o his left hand • Love tattoo on his right hand • Cross tattoo on his right forearm Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fort St. John RCMP at 250-787-8100. Tips can be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

We are the only shoe repair outlet from here to Anchorage.

Bail for alleged drug trafficker den on the bottom of the Arica, a container ship registered in Liberia, and which had been docked in Montreal before it stopped in Halifax. The ship was inspected by divers at the Halterm Container Terminal, where the drugs were found wrapped in plastic and hidden in the vessel’s sea chest. Bailey, along with Matthew Ryan Lambert, 34, of Richmond, and Dangis Seinauskas, 46, of Ajax, Ont., were arrested near the terminal. All three allegedly had diving equipment with them at the time of their arrest.

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A Fort St. John man arrested on drug trafficking charges in Halifax can be released on bail, a Nova Scotia judge has ruled. Darcy Peter Bailey, 46, can be released on $10,000 cash bail when lawyers finalize the plan for his release, expected Wednesday, according to a report from the Chronicle Herald. Bailey was one of three men charged with conspiracy to import cocaine after 150 kilograms of cocaine was seized from a ship in the Port of Halifax in June. The cocaine was found hid-

A6 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

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

Modernizing our democracy, a case for proportional representation

fter the fall of the Roman empire, the Medieval era bequeathed Manorialism on civilization, an oppressive, feudal system where the titled and kings organized the society into the haves and have-nots. Although some would argue that trade flourished because of agricultural and technological innovations, ironically and coincidentally, it was the beginning of climate change that allowed crop yields to increase. Meanwhile, societal dichotomization of peasants into villages that owed rent and labour services, knights and other lower status nobles indebted for military service allowed the overlords to enjoy unbridled privileges while the rest are in bondage, even with the approval of the church. This continued for centuries, and it would take the theology of Thomas Aquinas and the advent of scholasticism for faith to become reasonable. Scholastic philosophy started articulating and defending dogmas in an increasingly pluralistic context. Those who would later dubbed these thinkers leftists and radicals ingeniously denied their humanistic origin as an outgrowth of and a departure from Christian monastic schools. However, the battle between the franchised and the disenfranchised has begun on a full scale and it would continue until today. The phenomenal cultural revolution called Renaissance not only ushered a flowering of vernacular literatures, art, and philosophical pursuits, it revolutionized democracy by taking the concepts of humanistic tendencies and aspirations into astronomical levels. This marked a sharp break from the Medieval “dark ages,” a sudden burst of human opportunism and intellectual light after the supposed gloom of the stag-

nant Middle Ages. The accompanying modernization theories, illustrated by Social Darwinism and the ideas of German sociologist Max Weber, stress not only the process of change, but also the responses to that change. Historians, while looking at internal dynamics of social and cultural structures, have linked many of the trappings of modernization such as the processes of urbanization, industrialization, and the spread of education to human agency. In critical sociological theory, modernization is linked to an overarching process of rationalization where the individual becomes increasingly important. In political jargon, this individual is a voter, who, with his or her civic exercise, can help reshape the legislative landscape. Today in the 21st Century, despite immense bouts of technological breakthroughs in all of our spheres of life, our political structure, instead of disseminating the fruits of these achievements, is trying to place us in another form of human bondage, not unlike the feudal system of the Middle Ages. The NDP’s proposal of proportional representation — PR — is a recipe to prevent it and perfect our democratic institution of self-governance, its own contribution to this eternal quest for the betterment of the human race. One of the lasting legacies of the Renaissance era is the questioning and eventual modernization of many European monarchies. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most European countries dramatically expanded the franchised to include the working class, abolished plural voting for the wealthy, and reduced the power of the landed gentry in undemocratic upper legislative chambers. During the same period,

some of these countries replaced their electoral systems featuring winner-take-all with some versions of PR. Since Braunias in the 1930s, scholars have drawn a connection between these transformations and the enfranchisement of the working class and the redefinition of the word democracy. The goal of this article is to illustrate some historical perspectives and hopefully allay your concerns. Proportional representation is devised to represent your wishes of choosing the representatives that reflect your values, and not the party’s. It seeks to balance the number of seats a party wins to the number of votes it receives. The simplest explanation is what is called the Hare quota, obtained by dividing the total number of votes cast by the number of seats to be filled. In big electoral districts, the greater the number of seats to be filled, the greater proportionality of representation possible, and vice versa. An argument against PR is that it requires a “degree in political science” for “an ordinary voter” to choose a representative. I reject this condescending notion of the electorate as political neophytes. Rather than being discouraged, most voters that I have come across welcome the opportunity to be better informed before making their choices. Another claim is that the unintended plurality of representatives where there are more than two main parties leads to unstable, hung legislative bodies or weak governments. In actual fact, political stability abound in many European countries where PR is helping to create electoral fairness. In some cases, the absence of clear majorities has led to smart governance, either through workable non-executive political

agreements (like we have in B.C. now) or encourage non-partisan co-operation for the common good. Needless to say, but worth mentioning that the political apprehension being experienced in B.C. today was present in New Zealand of the early 1990s. However, the political experiment has enjoyed a popular support among the electorate. Two decades later, three out of every five Kiwis voted to keep it in a referendum, a reference made by Attorney General David Eby in his report and recommendations on electoral reform in B.C. As a stark illustration of the inadequacy of the current political system of first-past-the-post, the new Ontario Conservative government has just won only 40% of the votes, but is being rewarded with 100% of the governing power. The concept of political modernization is one of the key issues that we have to confront as we strive to continue the our democratic experiment. We have to capture the structural transformations that may or not have consequences for day-today policy practices. My final point on the PR issue is that support for it is not only progressive, socialist tendency. It is commonly employed in countries like Germany, Norway, Denmark, the UK, etc., where there have been successful liberal and conservative governments. To conclude, I remind everyone that the enfranchisement of the working class, which we all belong to, will not be complete without political empowerment. This empowerment can only come when we can collectively and truly choose our representatives. Donald Fajemisin, an NDP member, is an educator and a resident of Fort St. John

Is there a limit to the firepower we give our police?

ow would you feel if you attended the next community function and saw RCMP members standing around the perimeter carrying Colt Canada C8 carbine rifles? I am piggybacking off of a conversation from CBC radio that happened following Prince George Canada Day celebrations, where the police were on scene at the park and noticeably carrying the powerful and controversial weapon. I have wondered what reaction we would have had given the same circumstances? Would there have been a public outcry? Would anyone have noticed? Four or five hours to the north of Prince

Judy Kucharuk the desk of the green-eyed girl

George, but perhaps light years away in thinking when it comes to guns. Many of us in the north have grown up around guns, whether it is hunting rifles or shotguns. It used to be a common sight to see them on gun racks in vehicles or on display in elaborate gun cases. Even as I type

that, I can’t believe how times have changed as laws and society has evolved. The sight of guns is not terrifying — crazy people using guns are terrifying. I would far prefer our RCMP members to serve and protect us using the same firepower as the criminal. Having them attend large community functions with that same firepower in hand, is not a bad thing. The juvenile thinking that nothing could ever happen up in here is misguided. Having our RCMP members present at large, outdoor events is forward thinking. Shouldn’t we also give them the proper tools to do their job?

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 A7

OP-ED

Province needs to take proactive approach to battling our wildfires

his spring brought back many memories from my six years working as an air attack officer with the Yukon Forest Service in the early 1990s, fighting fires across northern Canada and Alaska, using retardant and water dropping aircraft. As I was working out in my yard here in Fort St John, taking advantage of our great weather, the familiar roar of large engine aircraft coming and going from our airport, got me thinking about fires, and why are we always fighting large fires, especially when they all start so small. And why, here in the north, are we continually told by the Forest Service that they are “monitoring” some of our fires, seeing how big they can let them get and by how many people we need to evacuate before they wake up, round up some workers, and equipment and then go try put them out. Before I go too far, I do realize we cannot, and never will be able to suppress all forest fires in the first 24 hour burning period (called the initial attack or IA period). But this is the government’s primary objective for fire suppression, with some exceptions, such as for safety of crew, life over property, private property over wilderness values, etc. B.C., and our other provinces and territories, do have excellent initial attack personnel and equipment, and do a great job when called too, but sometimes these teams are not called on to do their work until the fires are well past control and have gotten so large that it take a lot more than them to extinguish. We all can remember last year’s fires and the evacuations in the southern half of the province, and remember from previous years when

Evan Saugstad MY VIEW

we had our fair share of large fires that had their own evacuations and left us with huge areas burned, and wondering why. Last year, after the fire season was over, B.C. commissioned a great report, Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in British Columbia, and came up with 108 recommendations. Although there are too many to comment on here, one stands out that I believe can help all our communities and land users when it comes to keeping our fires small, our communities and resources safe, and things much “greener.” Recommendation number 18 addresses what we used to call “pre-suppression” planning, which is the process of being ready to fight fires as and when they occur. Although, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development states they have implemented 19 of the 108 recommendations, this wasn’t one of them. Recommendation number 18 reads: “Develop strategic partnerships and operational agreements with key community members, forest professionals, First Nations, tenure holders (forest, range, guide outfitters and others), as suitable to provide increased response capacity and promote resilience across the land

base. As part of this arrangement, BC should consider training and registering partners.” From my perspective, this is key to maintaining our forests and controlling fires. This is where government commits to funding adequate resources to be available when a fire starts — and not just when they get so big that we, the pubic, demands action. This is where we, as rural communities, need to tell government what is important to us, and where and when they should be putting their efforts and resources. But, this hasn’t happened, not yet, and I doubt it will, unless we have our local elected officials (municipal, First Nations, regional districts) ask that this recommendation be carried out, and that they hold public meetings with all land users, and ask that the ministry commit to attacking all small fires no matter where they occur during their first 24-hour period, until such time that local land users tell them something different. I say this as I hear a spokesperson from the ministry say they didn’t have the resources to attack all of our most recent fires, despite not much of anything going on in the rest of the province, or Canada, that our fires weren’t threatening lives or private property (but now they are), or that June is our rainy month and so on. I get upset. Why can a bureaucrat living somewhere well south of here decide that they will let our fires burn our forests, our caribou habitat, our gas fields, our timber harvesting land base, our traplines and so on, and we get left to pay the price, with whatever the fires leave? Unfortunately, this approach isn’t new. It happens with

too much regularity. Remember the Hudson’s Hope’s evacuation in 2014? The ministry watched that fire for a week until Hudson’s Hope was evacuated, then spent millions trying to put it out, nevermind how much timber harvesting land base was blackened and future jobs lost. Or our fires of May 2016 with their evacuations? Not having adequate fire crews for initial attack does result in more large fires. Protecting our forests and their multiple values are important to us, to our livelihoods and the existence of many forest critters and ecosystems, and especially given the pressures we put on our land base through our extensive use by industries and recreational practices. I also take hope, as if the province is going to follow the recommendations of this report, that they also follow the closing advice: “With this report and our recommendations, we are proposing a substantial departure from existing practices around the handling of flood, debris flows and wildfires in our province. We are advocating for a partnership of First Nations governments, as well as local, provincial and federal governments in better preparing for emergencies. It is also imperative that we move to a multi-year, multi-pronged approach to community safety — one that involves concerted, proactive investment before emergencies happen.” From up here, and from my point of view, the world is still flat. Evan Saugstad lives in Fort St. John.

Tumbler Ridge is a true treasure of the Peace

ot sure what it is: age, ignorance, being busy, or always thinking of that next excuse to get out of dodge and go on a vacation. It’s strange how we have a tendency to take for granted what we have right in our own backyard. One place that gets overlooked is Tumbler Ridge, a place that, over the years, I have visits more often and for good reason — its a great place to play. With such a vast amount of area to cover and a variety of recreational opportunities, this is the place to go in the Peace Region. The tourism info centre in Tumbler Ridge is second to none, and should be your first stop of the trip to get maps, advice, and area information. The one aspect that I truly enjoy is the hiking trails and the variety of hikes that are available to outdoor enthusiasts. July and August are prime time. One group of hikes that are a quite popular and scenic are located south of town. A drive up the Murray River Forest Service Road south of Tumbler Ridge will lead you to a nice day of short hikes into three waterfalls with the final stop for lunch or picnic. A combo hike of Nesbitt’s Knee Falls and Barbour Falls is worth the trip with both hikes being a short walk in the woods to reach your destination. Nesbitt’s Knee Falls does have a couple short sections of steep terrain but nothing that would prevent you from taking the kids, and has a wonderful plunge pool to wade into after a short scramble down the slope to the base of the falls. Not a bad option on a hot summer day. Barbour Falls on the other hand, has a side trail to a swimming hole for a quick dip. Both trails have been upgraded in the last year and with snow pack still in the alpine and a rather wet summer we have had, both falls are pushing a decent amount water this time of year. After Nesbitt’s Knee and Barbour Falls have been tackled, head back up the Murray River FSR and end the day at Kinuseo

Jeff Richert COMMUNITY VIEWS

Falls with a short hike into the viewing area and a picnic. If you haven’t been there before, go, it’s worth the trip. The roads have the right amount of signage along the way to make sure you do not lose your way. The second area that is a favorite of many hikers is Mt. Spieker. This hike is accessed via the Wolverine Valley and is the exact opposite of the waterfall hikes. After a short but steep hike up the old coal exploration trail, you reach a different world — the alpine tundra. What is great about Mt Spieker are the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys and the different wildlife species that inhabit the high mountain meadows. Word of caution: be prepared when you hike up into the alpine, the weather can change at a moment’s notice. This time of year the meadows are in flower and that whistling you hear in the background are the marmots, always perched on the boulders taking in some rays. As always, be prepared for the elements when hiking outdoors and never forget you are in bear country so carrying bear spray, at minimum, is essential. If you haven’t spent much time in the Tumbler Ridge area and are looking to spend some time in the great outdoors this summer, take a drive south and don’t forget to stop in at the info centre as they will point you in the right direction. There are so many options to choose from that your first trip will most certainly not be your last. Jeff Richert lives in Taylor.

HaveYOUR

JEFF RICHERT PHOTO

Nesbitt’s Knee Falls in Tumbler Ridge.

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, JULY 19, 2018

Local News

Words North

firemen give thanks

Writers festival a chance to showcase student talent

Taylor firefighter Andrew Wingo presents Mayor Rob Fraser with a plaque recognizing the district’s support for the 2018 hoselay competition. The event brought in more than 40 firefighters from across the region, and raised more than $7,500 for local and provincial charities.

The 2018 Words North writing festival will showcase regional writers of all ages. On Sunday, September 30, a student reading will be held at the Dawson Creek Public Library. If you are a high school or college student who would like to share your writing, contact Donna Kane at dkane@ pris.ca. Here is a look at just one of our region’s talented young writers who will be reading at this event. Amy Crandall is a seventeen-year-old avid reader and novelist born and raised in British Columbia. She began writing in elementary school, publishing her first story on Wattpad.com at the age of thirteen. With the support of her loved ones and newfound friends on the site, Amy continued to share her thoughts and interests in the form of storytelling. Before her Wattpad.com days, she was published in A Celebration of Poets – Summer 2012 (Creative Communication, 2012) for her poem My Garden. That experience only drove her desire to further pursue writing. Her first full-

dave lueneberg photo

Application to Amend Environmental Assessment Certificate, #E14-02, for the Site C Clean Energy Project

Invitation to Comment BC Hydro, (the “Certificate Holder”) has submitted an application for an amendment of the Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC) #E14-02 for the Site C Clean Energy project (the “Project”), issued on October 14, 2014, and amended on June 22, 2018 under the Environmental Assessment Act.

The Decision Statement under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, issued by the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change on November 25, 2014, contains conditions regarding BC Hydro’s obligations in regard to the Project. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will consider comments received by EAO regarding potential adverse environmental effects from the proposed project changes and the proposed mitigation measures in the context of the Decision Statement.

The Project is located approximately 5 km southwest of Fort St. John, BC. The Project is made up of an earthfill dam along with the associated generating station, spillways, reservoir, substation, transmission lines, and Highway 29 realignments.

Decision Statement: http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/ evaluations/document/100567?culture=en-CA

The application for amendment is focused on changes to the source of quarry and excavated materials used in some aspects of construction. The following change is proposed: •

EAO accepts public comments through the following ways: • By Online Form: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/site-c-clean-energy/ commentperiod/5b4641795229790024209571

Revisions to allow for West Pine Quarry as a potential additional source of quarry and excavated material for the construction of: a. Highway 29 Realignment b. Hudson’s Hope shoreline protection c. Other areas along the reservoir requiring protection during reservoir filling

• By Mail: Kim Walters, Project Assessment Manager Environmental Assessment Office PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9V1

The public comment period is 30-days. During this period, the public is invited to submit concerns regarding new or additional adverse impacts that might result from the proposed amendment. The intention of seeking public comments is to ensure that all potential effects – environmental, economic, social, heritage and health – that might result from the proposed changes are identified for consideration as part of the amendment process. The comment period will begin on July 30, 2018, and conclude on August 29, 2018. All comments within the scope of the application for amendment will be considered as part of EAO’s review.

An electronic copy of the Certificate Holder’s application for amendment is available at: EAO website: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/site-c-clean-energy/ docs?folder=1130 Certificate Holder website: www.sitecproject.com

52667

NOTE: All submissions received by the EAO during the comment period in relation to the proposed Amendment are considered public and will be posted to the EAO website.

T:5.875”

length novel, Delusions, was a featured story on Wattpad. com, reaching #7 in the mystery/thriller genre, and surpassing 115,000 reads before its publishing. When she isn’t envisioning a new story plot, Amy can be found camping with loved ones, getting lost in a great read, jamming to her favourite tunes, or giving in to her craving of Timmies’ iced lemonades. For more information on Words North, visit peaceliardarts.org.

Construction set to begin on new water stations

• By Fax: Fax: 250-356-2208

S:5.875”

Amy Crandall

Construction is set to begin on five new potable water stations throughout Electoral Area B. The water treatment and bulk loading stations are being built in Buick, Rose Prairie, Feye Spring, Prespatou, and Goodlow starting this month, and work will carry on through to mid-October. Water will be shut off at the stations for a period of no more than five days, the Peace River Regional District said in a news release Monday. Advance notice will be provided so residents can make alternative arrangements for water, the district says. Only one station is expected to be down at a time during construction. The construction schedule is as follows: • Buick, Rose Prairie and Feye Spring: mid-July to mid-September • Prespatou and Goodlow: mid-September to mid-October

Construction is being carried out by Bear Mountain Construction of Dawson Creek, which was awarded a $3.4-million contract in May. Flowpoint was awarded a $1.5-million contract to supply the water treatment equipment and pre-fabricated buildings last December. In a referendum held last June, Area B residents voted overwhelming in favour of establishing a potable water function. The need to convert existing untreated water facilities in the region arose when provincial regulations began requiring all regional districts to provide treated water or no water at all. The district would be liable if contaminated water from a PRRD well causes illness or death. In November 2015, a similar proposal for potable water services through new property taxes in Areas B, C, and D was defeated by voters.

Northern B.C. food banks to benefit from fresh food fund

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Pembina Pipeline Corp. has partnered with Food Banks BC to expand a grant program that will help distribute fresh food to those in need across Northern B.C. The Fresh Food Fund will distribute $33,000 to food banks across the region to help buy meat, dairy, and produce from the community. In Fort St. John, the Salvation Army received a $4,000 grant, money the organization says will go a long way in supplementing the donations it receives to fill hungry bellies with healthy, wholesome food. “We are grateful to be able to share a variety of food, and this grant significantly helps to offset the costs of fresh, nutritious food,” said Cameron Eggie, executive director, in a news release. “Grants like these are especially helpful during the summer months. Summertime donations are typically lower but the demand is still very high.” Pembina established the fund in Alberta in 2016, and has put nearly $400,000 into the hands of food banks

across its operations in Western Canada since. The fund is targetted at food banks in rural areas with a population of 100,000 or less. “We are very excited to be able to offer this grant for the first time ever in B.C., and to help food banks acquire fresh, nutritious, and local food,” said Jeff Spenst, supervisor of Pembina’s Fort St. John district. “Food is such a basic need, and I can’t think of anything more important than making sure that our friends and neighbours in our communities don’t go hungry.” Food Banks BC is the provincial association of food banks, which works to address food insecurity and build the resources of food banks operating in the province. Pembina’s expansion of the program into B.C. is welcomed, officials say. “Fresh, perishable foods are so critical to good health and thanks to the Pembina Fresh Food Fund, food banks will have an opportunity to ensure clients receive nutritious food.” said Laura Lansink, executive director.

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 A9

Community

““I’m part of a team, develop new skills, and feel good about myself.” — Maria Stamatelakis, A11

Hudson’s Hope saddle club celebrates 50 years tom summer Alaska Highway News

The Double H Saddle Club celebrated its 50th anniversary over the weekend. Local rancher and original member Dick Ardill says the club has brought a lot of people together over the years, especially in the early days when the town lacked community entertainment. “We supplied stock for the rodeo, we’d haul them the night before and haul them back again afterwards – there was a lot of work to it, but it was fun at the same time,” said Ardill. Commercialization changed the face of rodeo, says Ardill. “In those days, nobody worked for money, it was all just volunteers. There were no prizes to start with, you rode for the fun of it,” Ardill said. Double H President Elisabeth Haagsman says the non-profit continues to be

tom summer photo

Double H Saddle Club, left to right: Julia Haagsman, Sarah Haagsman, Lisa Graham, Elisabeth Haagsman, Rene Ardill, Dick Ardill, Terylee Fieber, and Liza Ryhmer.

volunteer driven. “I love hearing all the stories that are told by our older members. We have so many mem-

bers that don’t even ride and they still have their heart in this place,” Haagsman said. The riding arena also sports

the province’s only equine program in a public school. “It gives everyone a chance. School is different for every-

one, some kids do better with animals,” said former Double H president Rene Ardill. Double H member and riding instructor Liza Ryhmer echoed Ardill’s sentiment. “Hudson’s Hope has no malls, no movie theatres, not a lot of places to hang out —- what I’ve noticed is that there’s groups of kids who come together, who are able to follow a common interest, which is horses and rodeo,” Ryhmer said. Robin Milliken, club secretary, says while sponsorship is a challenge, Hudson’s Hope has produced a lot of rodeo talent — the hometown to Salt Lake City silver medalist Deb Guelly and Calgary Stampede rider Jake Watson. “Being in a small town is rewarding: you know your group, you know your friends, you come together to put on a good show and you’re proud of it,” Millken said.

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A10 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

Local News

July land sale plummets to $27,000 After a remarkable June that brought in more than $42 million, B.C. saw its earnings plummet to practically nothing at its sale of petroleum and natural gas rights this month. The province netted a paltry $26,938 on the sale of two drilling licences on July 11. Scott Land and Lease picked up the licences, one for $16,732.32, and another for $7,357.68. Both cover 264 hectares northeast of Inga Lake and the Alaska Highway. It’s a far cry from the June sale, which was buoyed by Landsolutions GP Inc. picking up a drilling licence for $42.05

million near Halfway River First Nation. The province has earned roughly $60 million from land sales so far this year. Compared to 2017, the province had brought in $155 million through July. Most of that was on the backs of two drilling licences: one for $35 million near Dawson Creek in January, and another for $77 million at Inga/Altares in July. Year-over-year, industry has picked up 51 drilling licences in 2018, down from 53. Industry has picked up another 22 leases for the year, down from 26 in 2017. The July sale also marks a new low for 2018. The previous low was in April, when the province brought in $202,000 on the sale of two drilling licences. The next sale is set for Aug. 15.

Site C workforce jumps to 2,810 Employment on BC Hydro’s Site C dam jumped to 2,810 workers in May. That’s up from 2,242 workers on the project in April, according to figures released by BC Hydro July 11. “The month over month increase in the employment statistics is due to a number of factors including: the seasonal nature of the construction work; the start of mobilization of AFDE’s workforce; the start of the environmental and heritage contractor’s field season as well as the engineering field investigations for the high-

way 29 realignment work,” Site C spokesman Dave Conway said. There were 657 residents from the Peace Region on site employed as construction and non-construction contractors, or 23 per cent of the project’s total workforce. Local workers make up 30 per cent of the construction and non-construction workforce total of 2,160 workers, which includes work at the dam site, on transmission corridors, reservoir clearing, public roadworks, and camp accommodations. There were a total of 2,358 workers, 84 per cent, from B.C. in construction and nonconstruction contractors, engineers and project team jobs. BC Hydro says there were three temporary foreign workers employed on the

project in April, along with 37 apprentices, 226 First Nations people, and 370 women. The bulk of the project’s construction and non-construction workforce continues to be heavy equipment operators, with more than 650 employed on the project in May. There were another 300 labourers, 300 engineers, and nearly 250 other professionals, technicians, and office staff. Workforce numbers are collected monthly from contractors, which are also required under contract to report on indigenous inclusion and women participation on the project. The figures do not include indirect or induced employment, BC Hydro says, while figures are not broken down by full-time or part-time work.

DEVELOPMENT OF A PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN Pest Management Plan Reference Number: CN-18/23-BCE Applicant: Contact:

Canadian National Railway Company (“CN”) Luanne Patterson, Senior System Manager - Environmental Assessment Thornton Yard, 11717 138th Street, Surrey, BC V3R 6T5 Phone: 1-833-582-3608; Email: contact@cn.ca

Notice is given that a draft Pest Management Plan has been prepared by CN to control vegetation within certain property owned or operated by CN within the province of British Columbia as identified more fully below, on all track ballasts, rights-of-way, station grounds, rail yards, bridges, road and pedestrian crossings, and around shops, buildings and communications and signals infrastructure using the principles of integrated pest management. The use of pesticides is intended within the area to which the Pest Management Plan applies. The pest management activities are to be carried out within CN’s subdivisions of Ashcroft, Clearwater, Okanagan, Lumby, Rawlison, Squamish, New Westminster, Brownsville, Lillooet, Yale Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Fraser, Mackenzie, Prince George, Stuart, Takla, Tumbler, Albreda, Robson and Tete Jaune. The section of CN’s network covered by this Pest Management Plan is shown on the following map:

The pesticides and application methods proposed for use under this plan includes: Truvist or Navius containing aminocyclopyrachlor, Milestone or Clearview containing aminopyralid, Timber Fume containing chloropicrin, Truvist or Telar containing chlorsulfuron, Banvel or Overdrive containing dicamba, Overdrive containing diflufenzopyr, Karmex or Diurex containing Diuron, Torpedo containing flumioxazin, OcTTain containing fluroxypyr, RoundUp, RoundUp WeatherMax, RT540, VP480 or VisionMax containing glyphosate, Arsenal containing imazapyr, Esplanade containing indaziflam, Escort, Navius or Clearview containing metsulfuron-methyl, Tordon 22k or Aspect containing picloram, Torpedo containing pyroxasulfone, Detail containing saflufenacil, Garlon containing triclopyr, 2,4-D Amine 600, Aspect or OcTTain containing 2,4-D to be applied using ground-based methods and may include backpack, wick/wipe on applicator, power hose and nozzle, shrouded boom sprayer and radiarc sprayer. Other methods that may be undertaken at any time are mechanical or manual and include hand removal or cutting, weed trimming, mowing, brush cutters and chain saws. The proposed duration of the Pest Management Plan is from September 2018 and five (5) years hence, until 2023. An electronic copy of the draft Pest Management Plan with maps of the proposed treatment areas may be examined at the following address: www.cn.ca/vegetationbc. A hard copy of the draft Pest Management Plan may be requested by contacting the individual listed above. A person wishing to contribute information about a proposed treatment site, relevant to the development of the Pest Management Plan, may send copies of the information to CN at the address above within 30 days of the publication of this notice. July 19th, 2018.

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 A11

Local News

Fort St. John real estate sales stable in first half of 2018 There were 245 properties sold for $100.8 million in the first six months of 2017. Fort Nelson sales In Fort Nelson, 50 properties worth $5.1 million were sold by the end of June, according to the board. That’s up from the 25 properties worth $4.6 million in the same period last year. Half of the 20 single family homes sold since January sold for less than $83,000, and took an average of 162 days to sell, according to the board. Overall, single-family home prices have dropped from an average of $163,384 in 2017, down to $113,690 so far this year. As of June 30, there were 748 properties of all types available for purchase through MLS listings in the Fort St. John area. There were 97 properties listedin the Fort Nelson area.

Special Delivery

Real estate sales in Fort St. John have remained flat in the first half of 2018, while home prices continue to decline. The BC Northern Real Estate Board released its mid-year results on Wednesday, showing a total of 243 properties worth $90.1 million were sold in Fort St. John in the first six months of the year. Of those sales, 151 were single-family homes that spent an average of 84 days on the market and sold for an average price of $364,635. Compared to the first half of 2017, realtors had sold 114 single-family homes for an average price of $405,044. The city has also seen the sale of 18 half-duplexes (-8), six manufactured homes (-23), 22 homes on acreages (-7), and 10 vacant lots (-7) so far this year. “The market is currently stable,” the board observed in a news release. “Anecdotal reports suggest that people in the area are optimistic about plans for LNG exports.”

IRL IT’S A G abeth liz E a m m E Dawes Parents: Dawes & Andrea Matthew y’s Weight: Bab zs 7 lbs 2 o cms 7 4 : th g n Le 9, 2018 Date: July:43 am 5 Time: hn, BC o Fort St J

OY IT’S A B pher to is r h C u Bea Boutilier Charles se Shilleto le a Parents: T l Boutilier & Dary eight: Baby’s W oz 7 lbs 13 ches 0 in Length: 2 9, 2018 Date: July0:24 am Time: 1 hn, BC o Fort St J

Drop off or mail your FREE birth announcement to:

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9916-98 St., Fort St. John V1J 3T8

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

matt preprost photo

City council with Special Olympic athlete Maria Stamatelakis and Shyla Francis, an executive from the local Special O chapter. July 21 was proclaimed Global Day of Inclusion, and the city will light up the Pomeroy Sport Centre in red to mark the occasion. Special Olympics will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on July 21.

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

Ph: 250.261.7563 | email: fsjhf@northernhealth.ca

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city hall

news in brief Highlights from the city council meeting held Monday, July 9, 2018: • Council awarded a $5.5-million contract to redevelop Centennial Park to Northern Legendary Construction. Work is planned to start in August and be complete by spring 2020. • Council abandoned plans for a new coat of arms for the city. Council felt the design from the Canadian Heraldic Authority did not adequately represent the region and area First Nations. • Myanna Consulting has been awarded a three-year contract as event co-ordinator for the High on Ice Winter Festival, and will be responsible for planning the ice carving portion of the event. The contract includes consulting fees of $36,745 (2019), $37,442 (2020), and $38,039 (2021), and $115,000 for sub-contractors and carvers’ fees in each year of the agreement. Myanna was the only company to submit a proposal for the work, and has been the city’s consultant for High on Ice for the last five years. • Council approved Transit Fee Waiver Request Policy No. 138/18, to authorize city staff staff to approve requests for transit fee waivers from local schools. • Laura Howes, the city’s deputy clerk, was recognized for five years of service with the city. • Jim Rogers, the city’s protective services director, has submitted his retirement notice, and was recognized for his 29-year career. Bylaws • Council gave first two readings to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2419, 2018, which would allow cannabis retail stores to operate in downtown core commercial zones, with setbacks from schools and parks. A public hearing will take place July 23 at 6 p.m. in council chambers. • Council adopted Freedom of Information Bylaw 2426. The bylaw has not been updated since 1994, according to a staff report. Updates reflect “current legislation and employees’ titles in the organization who are responsible for processing the requests.” • Council adopted Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2428, which supports a new policy about how the city receives and investigates bylaw complaints, and processes disputes. Proclamations • July 21 was proclaimed Global Day of Inclusion, and the city will light up the Pomeroy Sport Centre in red to mark the occasion. Special Olympics celebrates its 50th anniversary on July 21. Maria Stamatelakis, a local Special Olympics athlete who competes in bowling, club fit, and golf told council the program has been an incredible experience. “I’m part of a team, develop new skills, and feel good about myself,” she said.

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.

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A12 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

Local News

peace region

court docket A summary of sentences and fines handed out in Peace Region courts for the week ending July 13, 2018. Fort St. John Law Courts • Jackie Danny Williams (born 1989) was sentenced to 147 days in jail, ordered to forfeit prohibited items, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge

for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm contrary to court order, and carrying a prohibited device or concealing ammo. • Philip Clayton Testawitch (born 1988) was sentenced to 15 days in jail for theft $5,000 or under. • Darcy James Hull (born 1982) was fined $3,000 and assessed a $900 victim surcharge for possession of stolen property over $5,000. • Ryan Charles Barber (born 1975) was fined $1,000

and assessed a $150 victim surcharge for driving without a driver’s licence. • Julia Alarice Lattie (born 1981) was fined $500, handed a one-year driving ban, and assessed a $75 victim surcharge for driving with a suspended licence. Dawson Creek Law Courts • Ross Gilbert Capot Blanc (born 1980) was sentenced to 60 days in jail and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for willfully resisting or obstructing a

peace officer. Capot Blanc was further fined $1,000, handed a one-year driving ban, and assessed a $150 victim surcharge for driving with a suspended licence. Capot Blanc was further sentenced to 78 days in jail and assessed a $200 victim surcharge for a charge of common nuisance endangering life. • Shawn Damien Bottle (born 1989) was fined $500, handed a one-year driving ban, and assessed a $75 victim surcharge for driving with a suspended licence. — Tom Summer

90 Anniversary th

OF THE O H MA MARSHALL SHALL FAMILY AMILY REUNION UNIO ON

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Jean Copeland (Marshall) Not even the rain could dampen the spirit, of those attending the Reunion on June 29th, 30th and July 1, 2018. Mike and Janet Marshall, Hawthorn and Mary Marshall and parents, Mr. and Mrs. McCullock arrived in Rose Prairie to their homestead in 1928. Jean (Marshall) Copeland is the only original family member remaining. Jean was only two when they arrived, you can do the math. Geraldine and Ralph were born later. We have lost 3 members in the last 3 months from that generation. Jean has been a very active participant on our reunion committee. She sold raffle tickets and looked after the guest book all weekend, as well as played music and sang the song that her dad, Mike Marshall wrote in 1929, called “WHERE THE GREAT PEACE RIVER FLOWS”. The North Peace Fall Fair Grounds was alive with activity. We had family members come from as far away as Whitehorse to the north, Surrey and White Rock to the south, Hazelton to the west and Coal Lake to the east. The children were kept busy with face painting, a treasure hunt, scavenger hunt and a children’s auction. Some adults even braved the rain for horse shoe, others played cards and just visited each other. We had an Adult Auction to raise money for the next reunion. Both evenings there was singing and lots of music. We had a get together in memory of the passing of 5 dearly loved members whom we lost in the last 3 months. The kitchen volunteers prepared delicious food all weekend for everyone. Thank you so much to Trojan Oilfield Safety Supplies for the use of their barbecue with all propane supplied. A BIG THANK YOU to all those that worked so hard to make this weekend a success. A special thanks from Janet to Terry Marshall for all the behind the scene organization. A very BIG THANK YOU to those that have stepped forward for the next reunion in 2020.

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The Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce manages the ﬂoat registration and entry intake for us every year. We are truly grateful for all they do. Please note there are some changes to this year’s Rules and Entry Categories as well as a New Parade Route from last year.

12 A Street

The Rotary Clubs of Dawson Creek are the hosts of the Annual Fall Fair Parade held Friday morning during the DC Exhibition.

10 Street

What A YEAR!

Thank you to all the participants and all the generous sponsors! Your support is helping make our Summer Cruise 2018 an event to remember. See you NEXT YEAR!

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13 Street

July 12-14, 2019 Dawson Creek BC

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WE WILL HAVE A PLAQUE AT THE MUSEUM WITH THE MARSHALL FAMILY NAMES ON IT.

2-Day Service

• All entries will begin assembling on 103rd Ave, coming in on Highway 49 (Rolla Rd) at 8:00 a.m. with parade commencing at 10:00 a.m. sharp. • Judging of pre-registered entries and ribbon distribution will take place at 9:15 a.m. prior to the parade beginning. If you are not in line at 9:00 am – you will not be judged • Entrants who have not registered with the Chamber of Commerce will not be judged! • Entries must be able to keep up with the flow of the parade or they will be excused.

Club of Dawson Creek

Club of Dawson Creek Sunrise

• Undecorated vehicles (except those in the Vintage Category) need not register. • Entrants understand that photos will be taken of the parade and may be used in future publications and promotional materials. • NOTE: Candy throwing is NOT permitted from floats for safety reasons, but can be handed our using walkers beside your float. • Parade ends at The Kin and the Memorial Arena Parking Lot. • We will need to know if you will have sound/music on the float.

Rotary

Meets Fridays, 7:00 a.m. Meets Tuesdays, NOON The DCEntry CURLING RINKentry At The GEORGE DAWSON INNBands/Band on FloatAt CATEGORIES: Marching • Commercial/Business • Draft Horse/Pony/Mounted • Non-Commercial, Non-Profit Club/Organization, Cultural Group • Vintage Cars, Trucks, Tractors • Civic / Municipal

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 A13

Local News

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The lofty covered entry makes a striking ﬁrst impression. Its arched opening echoes the shape of the living room windows, while sidelights and an arched transom frame the front door.

of which could be a wet bar.

Not all of the spaces between the columns are open. Shelves for displaying family mementos and objects d'art create visual separation between the formal living room and the informal family room. A pocket door allows the kitchen to be closed off from the dining room.

The Velarde's owners' suite has a large walk-in closet and a private A family room with a 9-foot-high ceiling is at the core of this plan. You bathroom with a double vanity plus can get there directly from almost an enclosed shower and toilet. every room in the house - from the Associated Designs is the original bedrooms, entry, living room, dinsource for the Velarde 11-051. For ing room, kitchen and screened patio. more information or to view other deThe family room has an eating bar signs, visit www.AssociatedDesigns. and a large entertainment center, part com or call 800-634-0123.

Patio

Screened Porch 13'4'' x 18' Owners’ Suite 17' x 12'10''

Bedroom 11' x 10'

Utility

The bright entry has a 12-foot ceiling and a coat closet. Columns deﬁne the boundaries of the living room, family room and dining room without sacriﬁcing the feeling of openness.

Nook Kitchen 12'4'' x 14'10''

Bedroom 11' x 10'

Dn Garage 21' x 21'6'' Alternate Basement Stairs

Family 14'4'' x 18'8'' Dining 11'8'' x 11'6''

Bedroom 11' x 10'

Utility

Standing in the Velarde's living room, you almost feel like you're outside. This bright octagonal space has a 10-foot ceiling and high arched windows on ﬁve sides. If constructed in a scenic setting, the room offers a panoramic vista. On the other hand, because the Velarde is only 50 feet wide, it ﬁts on a standard city lot as well.

Entry

Covered Entry

Living 13' x 16'3''

Velarde

PLAN 11-051

Living Area 1933 sq.ft. Screened Porch 224 sq.ft. Garage 484 sq.ft. Dimensions 50'x 72'

Garage 21' x 21'6''

1000 SERIES www.AssociatedDesigns.com

Arlen Brekkaas REDUCED

$275,000

• 55+ townhouse living • 3 bedrooms, 2 baths • garage and basement for extra space

ACTION REALTY DIRECT - 785-1234 CELL - 793-2438 OFFICE - 785-5520

$299,900

• Modern plan and colours, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths • Nice residential area and walking distance to amenities

REDUCED

$289,900 • Clean & tidy! • Close to amenities

• Large lot with good access

$299,900

• 1 bedroom, 2 bath • lots of upgrades recently including furnace, paint, flooring, and a bunch of basement finishing too! • close to shopping and walking distance to school

$385,000

• one block from Bert Ambrose and Kin Park • 3 bedrooms, 3 baths • Privacy and family!

$49,900

• Lots of recent renos • big yard space with good fence • lots of space to park and play too!

$329,900

• 3 bdrm 2 bath • Shiny new with yard space • Full warranty here

$529,900

• 5 bedrooms plus den, 3 baths • full, finished basement • nearly 3500 sq.ft. of living space

$239,900 • 3 bedrooms, 2 bath • within 5 blocks of 3 schools, easy access to public transit

• • • •

$625,000

5 bedroom, 3 bath 2,818 sq. ft. huge RV parking area and a cul-de-sac lot garage that fits a good-sized truck

$449,900 • Finch area estate styling • Double garage and well landscaped yard •Modern and easy, this is a home to call your own.

$252,900

• 2 bedrooms, 2 bath • Appliances Included Washer/Dryer Combo, Stove • Underground parking

A14 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

PERSPECTIVES

Spiritual, not religious

How do you learn as a family? Tell us #FamilyLiteracyDay fl Have a shapes scavenger hunt, taking turns ﬁnding shapes indoors and outdoors. Then make each shape with your body — kids and adults work together.

LEARN AT PLAY, EVERY DAY.

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

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

HOROSCOPE ARIES (MARCH 21 TO APRIL 19) You feel uncertain about your goals, which makes you resentful about group pressures. It’s OK to have second thoughts about things. It’s a changing world! TAURUS (APRIL 20 TO MAY 20) You thought you knew what you wanted with your career and life direction, but lately you’re not sure. Mars is retrograde at the top of your chart, and that shakes things up. GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) You’re excited to learn new things. However, part of you wonders if you’re being brainwashed. You’re not. You’re just checking things out. CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) It was clear how you wanted to handle shared property and inheritances, but now you’re having second thoughts. That’s OK. These are important issues. LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) Mars opposite your sign all summer makes you annoyed with partners. You either can be grumpy this summer, or patient and happy. It’s your choice. (Happy sounds better.) VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) Don’t worry if you feel confused about your job now. One moment you’re turned on, and the next you’re turned off. That’s the story for the entire summer! LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) You have vacation ideas and party plans that are exciting.

For Thursday July 19 2018

Then suddenly they don’t appeal to you, and you want to change your mind. That’s OK. It happens. Ditto for romance.

PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MARCH 20) If you believe in something, you can make it a reality. However, this summer you will question some of the things you believe in. Don’t worry — many feel this way as well.

Angela Griffin PEACE REFLECTIONS

shows that Mary was literate, a visionary and a healer. Some surmise it was Mary who taught Christ to make a mud paste with spittle to put on the eyes of the blind in need of sight. Modern scholars view Mary Magdalene as one of Jesus’ most prominent disciples, who likely bankrolled His mission and who certainly stood by Him to the end. In 2016, Pope Francis raised the July 22 memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to a feast day on the church’s liturgical calendar as a call for Christians to reflect more deeply on the dignity of women. Catholic clergy and laity have been fighting for the ordination of women since the early 1970s. According to recent polls, the majority of Catholics favor the ordination of women. Womenpriests is a renewal movement within the Catholic Church that began in Germany with the ordination of seven women on the Danube River in 2002. Yet, the Vatican remains adamant in its refusal to acknowledge the ordination of women. In 2008, the Vatican decreed that any woman who sought ordination, or bishop who conferred holy orders on her, would be excommunicated. It went a step further in 2010, categorizing any such attempt as delicta graviora — a grave crime against the church — the same category as priests who sexually abuse children. Ordained women priests and female bishops are reclaiming an ancient spiritual heritage to shape a more inclusive, Christ-centered 21st Century Catholic Church. If the Church continues to refuse to shift from antiquated patriarchy, it will lose more followers who will have no choice but to define themselves as spiritual, not religious. The Peace is a place of many peoples and faiths. In this space, readers are invited to share their own reflections of faith in the Peace. If you have a story of faith you’d like to share, email angelamarygriffin@gmail.com.

Acknowledging an Empty Card

Dear Annie: My daughter graduated from high school a SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) few weeks ago and had sent out This summer you are undecided announcements to family and about certain situations at home friends. She has been receiving or within the family. One day you congratulations cards and notes know what you want, then the in the mail, and some have innext day, you change your mind. cluded monetary gifts to acThis is not insane; it’s human knowledge her going to college nature. Relax. in the fall or just in celebration of her big life event. Monetary SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) gifts are definitely not expected, You can expect to be unsure but I’m concerned about how to about some financial plans this address a card that arrived from summer. One moment you’re family friends who have been gung-ho, and then the next in our lives since my daughmoment, you’re second-guessing ter’s birth; they are the in-laws things. of one of my siblings. The card arrived with nothing enclosed, CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) and though that is not unusual, This is a tricky summer. At the envelope was open/untimes you are confident, and sealed (looked as though it was then suddenly you are privately never sealed), and the card was wondering what you’re really inserted with the open portion doing. That’s normal. Mars is in facing up. I’m thinking one of retrograde. two things happened. Either a check or cash was included AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) and fell out or was taken out or Your confidence is challenged nothing was enclosed and the this summer, and this will envelope was mailed without continue until November. Don’t being sealed well. worry if in the midst of feeling like you know what you’re doing, you suddenly question everything.

Catholic, male acquaintance told me it annoys him when people identify as spiritual, not religious. In response, he began identifying himself as religious, not spiritual. So, what’s the difference? Spirituality incorporates a relationship and dialogue with a higher presence. Religion is an institutionalized system of beliefs and practices in service of a higher, supernatural power often called God. More people identify as spiritual rather than religious. Increasingly, young women in particular shun patriarchal religions. On Palm Sunday 2018, Catholic youth implored Pope Francis to usher their Church into the 21st century by welcoming female priests and also allowing priests to marry. The Church responded that Jesus had already spoken regarding these matters. The Vatican means that Jesus did not allow married or female priests; however, Peter, the rock upon which Christ built His church — the first pope — was a married man. Jesus also had female followers. Mary Magdalene was as much a disciple of Christ as any male apostle. Mary Magdalene was not widely thought of as a prostitute until the 6th Century when Pope Gregory the Great depicted Mary Magdalene as the anonymous, sinful woman mentioned in the chapter before Mary is introduced in the Gospel of Luke. Feminist scholars believe Pope Gregory created this narrative around Mary Magdalene because crafting this legacy in connection with Christ’s most renowned female follower kept women in a place of lowliness within Church hierarchy. It wasn’t until 1969 that the Catholic Church stated that Mary Magdalene was distinct from the sinful woman mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. Mary Magdalene came from a wealthy family in the thriving fishing village of Magdala, located on the Sea of Galilee. She was an independent woman who had unrestricted time and wealth, laden neither by father or husband, whose life was dramatically changed by her encounter with Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospel of Mary, an early Christian text,

My quandary is whether I should mention something to the senders or not. If they did enclose something, they would want to know that it was missing when it arrived, but if they didn’t, I don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable by mentioning it. What is the best way to handle this type of situation? -- Grateful for Love From

with some people insisting on calling me Jane.

Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE

Family and Friends Dear Grateful: Before I answer your question, I want to tell you how much I love your signature. Gratitude is one of the best life skills that anyone can cultivate, and the fact that you are feeling gratitude for two of the most important things in the world -- your family and your friends -- is excellent. As for the card in question, your thoughts make perfect sense. If my check were taken or I didn’t seal my envelope, I would want my friend to tell me. Thank your longtime friends for the card, and explain to them the way the envelope arrived -- that it looked as if someone tampered with it. Dear Annie: How happy I was to see my name, Janie, in print in your column. The writer to you was frustrated when people misspelled or mispronounced her given name, so she chose the nickname Janie. Then she couldn’t win, as people got that wrong, too, calling her Jane. No one can better relate to her anger than I can, for in my many years, I have had to live

It so happens that I’m proud of my name. Some years ago, a second cousin whom I’d never met surprised me with a letter saying she had found my name and address in her mother’s address book and she wanted me to know we have the same name. Thus began a correspondence between us. When she and her husband did a lot of traveling last summer, they went out of their way to come to Shreveport, Louisiana, to meet me and spend the day with me. Our names brought us together, she being named for her grandmother, who was my great-aunt. A niece named after me visits often. When we’re out and about, we attract attention by calling each other Janie. I’m not always proud of myself, but I stay proud of my full name. -Janie Griffith Dear Janie Griffith: It sounds as though you have a lot to be proud of, for your sibling to have named a daughter after you. Thank you for writing with a testament to how names can bring people together, too. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2017 CREATORS.COM

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 A15

Coffee Corner SOLD $689,900 11023 109 St, MLS# R2286732

Gorgeous custom 4 bed, 4 bath high end home located in the very popular Westridge Estates. .

$445,000 9807 115 Ave MLS# R2276235

$309,900 11312 95A St, MLS# R2275204

Over 1300 sq. ft. per floor and 5 bedrooms, this home has so much to offer for the price.

4 bedroom/2 bathroom family home located in Fort St John Estates and just a block from Bert Ambrose school..

TODAYS PUZZLE

matt preprost 250-785-5631 editor@ahnfsj.ca

$319,900 9612 97 Street MLS# R2254854

$999,000 Part Sec 7 Charlie Lake, MLS# R2276256

150-acre property located on Charlie Lake-offering approximately 500 meters of waterfront bordered by rock cliffs on both sides.

Immaculate 4-bedroom/3-bathroom half-duplex built in 2002 and ready for a new owner.

$4,500/month 10228 101 St, MLS# C8019363

Prime office space available in downtown core. Just over 3400 sq ft of offices. Also includes a single bay with overhead door and large paved lot.

$339,900 11333 89A St, MLS# R2253480

Unique design for that empty nester, traveller, or someone looking for simple living with this single level townhouse.

$999,000 Lot 7 Enterprise Way, MLS# C8019426

4.5 acres of I-1 land available for sale with most of the property gravelled and services at the lot line. Contact listing agent for more details.

hOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box. PREVIOUS PUZZLES ANSWERS

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

ABSOLUTE ZERO AFTERGLOW AMPLIFY ASTEROID ASTRONOMY ATMOSPHERE ATOM BELT BRIGHTNESS CELESTIAL CHROMOSPHERE CLOUD COLLISION

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • •

COMET CONSTELLATION CORONA CRATER DUST DWARF EARTH ECLIPSE FLARE GALAXIES GAS GIANT IMPACT

LIGHT YEAR MATTER NUCLEUS OPTICAL CAMERA ORBIT RADIATION SOLAR SYSTEM SPACE STAR SUN UNIVERSE

TODAY’S PUZZLE

19. Evildoing

21. __ Connery, 007 24. British sword 25. Type of cyst

26. Musical composition 27. Advises

31. Herring-like fish

32. Chocolate powder 34. Somalian district El __

35. Indicates position 36. Refurbishes

40. Exclamation of surprise 41. Football field

45. Hilly region in India near China 47. Come to an end 48. Most mad

52 Sheets of glass

9. Expression of contempt

14. Expression of horror

15. Famed architecture couple 16. Escape

46. Arranges

49. Commercial

50. Skywalker’s mentor __-Wan 51. Single-reed instrument 55. Voodoo

5. Body parts

6. Returned material authorization (abbr.)

57. Monetary unit of Zambia

8. One from Asia

60. Frames-per-second

7. Mega-electronvolt

9. A superior grade of black tea

58. World of Warcraft 17. “The Raven” author character

10. Thin

20. Removes

12. General’s assistant (abbr.)

18. Chiefs’ tight end

59. Paddling

22. Pesto dish

64.Chafed

28. Old woman

29. Early multimedia 30. This (Spanish) 31. Part of a play

67. Metal-bearing mineral 68. Remains as is

69. Large predatory seabirds

70. The Science Guy

38. Builder’s trough

CLUES DOWN

39. Tell

41. Google certification 42. Electric current

63. Cologne

66. Remove

33. Elephant’s name

37. Home of the Flyers

62. Gall

13. Tiny

1. Central Chinese province

2. The marketplace in ancient Greece

PREVIOUS PUZZLES ANSWERS

24. Type of writer

65. A way to analyze

61. Tell on

the score.

23. One who roots against

60. Most agreeable

11. Circles of light around the head

59. Bones (Latin)

FINISH

Material for your weekly game page

stop When do you at red? at green and go

Why did the socc player bring stringer to the game?

What goes up and down but doesn’t move?

A: The temperature.

4. Beef intestine

A: So he could tie

1. Owns

54. Stares lecherously

56. Consisting of a single element or STARTcomponent

e eating A: When you’r a watermelon.

CLUES ACROSS

Mr. H needs to find his way through the clouds to reach his HELICOPTER; 43. them 3. Covered the sword canBelonging you help to him? 44. Nostrils 4. Cleanser

53. Department of Housing and Urban Development

A16 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

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ON NOW AT YOUR ALBERTA GMC DEALERS. GMCOffers.ca 1-800-GM-DRIVE. GMC is a brand of General Motors of Canada. Offers apply to the purchase of a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab Denali 4X4, Canyon Crew Cab Denali 4X4, Acadia Denali and Terrain Denali equipped as described. Offers apply to qualified retail customers in the Alberta GMC Dealer Marketing Association area only on select vehicles delivered from July 4 to July 31, 2018. *Offers are valid toward the retail purchase of an eligible new or demonstrator 2018 MY GMC delivered in Canada between July 4th, 2018 – July 31st, 2018. Up to 20% Of MSRP Cash Purchase Credit is a manufacturer to dealer incentive (tax exclusive), valid toward retail cash purchases only on select 2018 models in dealer inventory the longest as of July 4th, 2018. Not compatible with lease and finance purchases. By selecting lease or finance offers, consumers are foregoing the Up to 20% of MSRP Cash Purchase Credit which will result in higher effective cost of credit on their transaction. Credit is calculated on vehicle MSRP (which excludes vehicle freight and A/C charge), excluding any dealer-installed options. Credit value will vary with model purchased: models receiving a 15% of MSRP Credit are: Canyon (excl. 2SA), Acadia, Terrain, models receiving a 20% of MSRP Credit are: Sierra LD. Dealer may sell for less. Dealer trade may be necessary. As part of the transaction, dealer may request documentation and contact General Motors of Canada Company (GM Canada) to verify eligibility. These offers may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. Conditions and limitations apply. Void where prohibited. See Dealer for full program details. GM Canada reserves the right to amend or terminate offers for any reason in whole or in part at any time without prior notice. 2 Whichever comes first. Limit of four complimentary Lube-Oil-Filter services in total. Fluid top-offs, inspections, tire rotations, wheel alignments and balancing, etc., are not covered. Conditions and limitations apply. See your dealer for details. 3 Whichever comes first. Conditions and limitations apply, see your dealer for details. 4 Visit onstar.ca for vehicle availability, details and system limitations. Services and connectivity vary by model and conditions as well as geographical and technical restrictions. Requires active connected vehicle services and data plan. Data plans provided by AT&T or its local service provider. Accessory Power must be active to use the Wi-Fi hotspot.

Sports & Leisure

THURSDAY JULY 19, 2018 CONTACT US 250-785-5631 editor@ahnfsj.ca

2018 BOCCE WINNERS CROWNED

LADIES HAVE FUN AT LONE WOLF

SPORTS B2

ARTS B3

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

PHONE: 250-785-0463

PEACE COUNTRY CHAMPS

Golf, the great equalizer Dillon Giancola THE DILL ZONE

SUPPLIED PHOTO

NAPA Peace Country Open Championship Flight winners Travis Eggers, Cheryl Lequiere, and Percy Peterkin. For more results, turn to B3.

Tate Haugan a world champion once again DILLON GIANCOLA sports@ahnfsj.ca

For the second time in his young career, Tate Haugan is a world champion triathlete. This time, it’s the 2018 Junior Men’s Fyn ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship. Haugan won the race the morning of July 10, in Fyn, Denmark, with a time of one hour, seven minutes and 32 seconds. Haugan beat out Denmark’s Oscar Gladney Rundqvist by 36 seconds. Haugan built up a sizeable lead after the swim and the bike portion, although Denmark’s Gladney Rundqvist was able to make up 36 seconds on Haugan in the run. In all, 22 juniors competed in the race. Haugan was the only one from Canada. Haugan left at the beginning of June to race in Osaka, Japan, then carried on to Sittard, Netherlands. He was based out of Sittard for seven weeks, training with his team and travelling to races throughout Europe. He raced in Wuustwezel, Belgium and Holten, Netherlands before moving on to Svendborg, Denmark to race the ITU Junior Cross Triathlon World Championships where he was crowned the Junior World Champion. Haugan will be living and training in Victoria for the rest of the summer, and doing some racing within Canada. His next major races will be the Kelowna CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup and the Montreal CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup, both in August.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Tate Haugan (centre) on the podium.

Taylor One-Pitch tourney goes July 20 to 22 DILLON GIANCOLA sports@ahnfsj.ca

Both hitting and pitching are hard enough when it comes to slow pitch without limiting the pitch-count to one. Patient batters try to wait for the best pitch, while crafty pitchers will attempt to get hitters to swing at the worst possible strikes, but when it comes to onepitch tournaments, that strategy gets thrown out the window. Ball players will have another chance to play this unique style of slow pitch at the Taylor Mixed Slo Pitch League’s One Pitch Tournament, July

20 to 22, at the Taylor Ball Diamonds. For years, the tournament was only open to the league’s nine teams, but this year, the tournament organizers decided to open play to all teams, including those from the Fort St. John Mixed Slow Pitch Society. The reason of that is the tournament fees will go towards safety fence capping for the Taylor diamonds next season, something the Fort St. John league bought this year. As well, the annual Arnie Isberg Memorial 1-Pitch Tournament is so popular that it only made sense to reach out

to a wider group. “One pitch tournaments are really fun. The games are quick, and more relaxed, while offering a fast pace and still that competitive edge,” said organizer Tyson Hildebrand. Hildebrand said there have been several incidents this year of people getting scraped up by the top of a fence and is looking forward to buying fence capping. So far, 16 teams have registered, double the number that played in 2017. All teams are guaranteed four games, and can camp at the diamonds for free.

t’s been said that golf is a good walk spoiled, and to that I say, whose walking? Few inventions in the past 100 years have been more important than the golf cart. It provides stamina for those of us who think walking for fours, nevermind carrying a very heavy, awkward-shaped backpack, is a bad idea, and allows us to put that energy into our swings. It’s all about making sure only our backs hurt after a four-hour round, not our legs. But I’m not here to talk about the benefits of carting over walking, nor will I talk about how charging golfers per seat for a cart is immoral, but that’s a story for another day. Instead, I want to talk about how no other sport brings about the highs and lows of selfesteem like the game of golf. We’ve all heard horror stories of people slamming clubs like Tiger Woods or breaking them across a tree. I broke a club once myself many years ago, partly by accident, but those days are behind me. In reality, golf isn’t just about cheering when you get a birdie and being mad when you four putt, or chip a ball over the green. It’s about the experience, enjoying the warm weather and beautiful scenery, and getting a slight bit of exercise, all the while hoping one day you’ll actually become as good of a golfer as you want to be. That’s the thing about golf, you can never stop improving, as long as you keep putting the time into it and don’t blow out both of your knees. You don’t need to be fast, or tall, or skinny, or young. You just need to try things, and keep tweaking your game. I go golfing quite a bit. I’m not terrible, and am definitely better than I was 10 years ago, or when I started golfing in high school. But I’m nowhere near as good as I want to be, let alone as good as a lot of people I know who golf as often as I do. My youngest brother is one example. He golfs less than half the amount I do, but is consistently eight strokes better than me. I beat him once in Phoenix in 2011 and I still remember it vividly. When you have friends who are the same level as golfer as you, it brings you closer together. You’ve both experienced the feeling of failed dreams, and you can push each other, knowing that maybe you could actually win. The best part of having a mediocre golfer for a friend is when they say, “hey, bogey golf, nothing wrong with that,” every time you miss a painfully close putt for par. I’m not saying all good golfers are bad people. In fact, the best part about golf is anyone can be good. When you hear that someone who doesn’t look athletic can shoot 80 consistently, or is a scratch golfer, you immediately say, “no way, that’s really impressive,” every time. Nothing compares to the feeling you get when a good golfer tells you “good shot.” You can be golfing with someone who just birdied a 580-yard par 5, and your third shot can travel 160 yards and bounce off the fringe before landing in a bunker, and hearing a good golfer tell you that was a good shot immediately erases the sting of a double bogey. The Peace Region is full of golf tournaments right now, both for charity and for sport. Certainly not this year, but maybe two years from now, I’ll finish fifth in the fourth flight of a tournament, and that will be good enough for me. Dillon Giancola covers Peace Region sports for the Alaska Highway News. Email him at sports@ahnfsj.ca.

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B2 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

Local Sports

Tour of the Peace looks for riders Dillon giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca

supplied photo

On Saturday, July 7, Lisa and Byron Stewart hosted their 14th annual Monkey N’ Around Bocce Tournament. There were 24 competing with an age range of 8 to 61. The morning could not dampen of this fun filled Mexican Fiesta themed day of Bocce. The 2018 champions are Kerris and Teresa German. Above, from left: From left, Byron Stewart, Kerris German, Teresa German, and Lisa Stewart.

Peace Motocross Association rides July 21 Dillon giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca

As the 2018 Peace Motocross Association season starts the second half, it returns to the North Peace this weekend for the first time since the season began in Taylor. Peace River hosts two days of racing this weekend, July 14 and 15, before Fort St. John gets a turn on July 21. The Fort St. John day will be round seven out of 10. Racing begins at 9 a.m., and all classes, including beginners, kids, ladies and pros will race twice each. Go to the PMA’s website to see the race order. Below is a list of the leaders in each PMA class, prior to the Peace River races. Braden

Gunter has the most points of all leaders with 194, while Nathan Sendziak has 191 in the 80cc 7-11 class. Season Leaders (after round 4 of 10) Youth - Scott Hopson 162 points 50cc 4-6 Beginner - Lincon Lessard 135 50cc 7-9 - Easton Rouble 166 50cc Intermediate - Hunter Stephan 169 65cc - Cormick McFadden 181 80cc 12-16 - Easton Hall 165 80cc 7-11 - Nathan Sendziak 191 Ladies - Caslynd Plante 175

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MX 2 Expert - Ethan Toews 179 MX 2 Intermediate - Timber Wuthrich 182 MX 2 Junior - Josh Heck 140 MX 2 Novice - Holden Rosebush 154 MX 3 Expert - Scott Hopson 170 MX 3 Intermediate - Braden Gunther 194 MX 3 Junior - Brady Lawlor 177 MX 3 Novice - James Conway 134 Schoolboy - Holden Rosebush 135 Supermini - Easton Hall 160 Vet Junior - Justin Lundstrom Vet Master - Conan Fowler 178

Bike riders have one more week to register for the 2018 Tour of the Peace, the bike ride which raises money for Type 1 Diabetes research. However, this year, runners and walkers can participate as well. On September 8, people will embark on either a 150km bike ride, a 75km bike ride, a 10km run or a 5 km walk from Peace Island Park. Registration closes on July 23. Organizer Dan Webster said he and the organizing committee added the other disciplines to make the event more accessible. “Not everyone was able to do a 150km bike ride. But people want to participate and we want to fundraise so this is a no-brainer,” Webster said. The Tour of the Peace has raised between $15,000 and $20,000 its first two years, but Webster said they would like to raise around $30,000 this

year. The extra disciplines will enable more people to participate than the 18 riders that came out the past two years. Each participant is responsible for raising a minimum amount. Webster said the early registration deadline exists to allow his team to prepare for the extra people this year, as a lot of work goes in to organizing it and making sure the event is safe. The money goes towards JDRF, formally known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. “JDRF is our charity of choice. They’re leading the way for the most inventive and hopeful message for a cure and improved control with diabetes,” Webster said. Webster encouraged those who would like to contribute but are unable to bike or run, to donate to one of the riders. Registration can be done through the JDRF website at jdrfca.donordrive.com.

Vikes Soccer Camp returns Dillon giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca

As is tradition, the University of Victoria Vikes Soccer Teams are headed back to Fort St. John to host another Vikes Summer Camp, July 23 to 27. The camps will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day, at either the Dr. Kearney Middle School or Surerus soccer fields, though all campers will meet at Dr. Kearney each morning.

Fresh off the excitement of the World Cup, the camp will look to capture that spirit and teach it to the next generations. Vikes Head Coach Wilson, who played in the 1986 World Cup with Team Canada, will lead the camp once again. Here’s a video showing some of Wilson’s career highlights. The camps will focus on teaching individual skill and knowledge of the game, and is open to all players born between 1999 and 2010.

PRO GOLF WEEKLY UPDATE Golf News, Tips, Trivia & Stats

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