THURSDAY, june 28,2017 Vol. 75, No. 26
Serving Fort St. John, B.C. and Surrounding Communities
$1.50 inc. gst.
alaskahighwaynews.ca
“The Only Newspaper in the World That Gives a Tinker’s Dam About the North Peace.”
hospital foundation hire
swim coach sadownik mourned
FSJ police chief’s exit interview
news A3
sports B1
perspectives b9
City cannabis consultation results
grace & poise
matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
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Kristen Auger performs at National Aboriginal Day ceremonies in Fort St. John on June 21, 2018. Turn to B12 to see more.
School district readies for new elementary school matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
School District 60 plans to hire a construction management firm as it readies to build a new elementary school in Fort St. John. The district is still awaiting provincial approval and funding to build the new school near the hospital. But, the district already has an architect in place, and adding a construction manager will position the district with a “shelf ready” project when the funding comes through. “Staff have been directed to
have the project shelf ready,” said Doug Boyd, assistant superintendent of special projects for the school district, said at the June 18 board of education meeting. “Part of that is to involve a construction management firm to assist in the overall design, and we are progressing with that direction from the board.” Bids for the contract closed May 25. The two-storey school is being planned at the northeast corner of the intersection of 112 Avenue and 86 Street. The district will be looking
to do a “repeat build” of the new Margaret ‘Ma’ Murray Community School, opening this fall, with modifications, Boyd said. KMBR Architects Planners Inc. of Vancouver has been hired as the school’s prime consultant and architect, and has come up with two possible options for the school. One option, estimated at $27.8 million, would see a 38,500-square foot building that could accommodate 60 kindergarten students and 325 students in Grades 1 to 6.
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The results are in for Fort St. John’s public consultations on retail cannabis stores. City council heard a presentation from development director Ken Rogers at its committee of the whole meeting Monday. The city launched consultations May 23, receiving more than 800 responses over two weeks through an online survey and public “dotmocracy” events at Totem Mall and the Farmers Market. Here’s a look at what residents at what residents prefer when it comes to letting retail cannabis shops do business in Fort St. John: • Residents showed the most support for allowing retail cannabis shops in downtown core commercial (34%), general commercial (29%), and service commercial zones (22%). Only 15 per cent supported stores in neighbourhood commercial zones. • At 73 per cent, residents overwhelmingly supported a 200-metre setback between stores and schools. Just 16 per cent supported a 100-metre setback; 5 per cent preferred a 50-metre setback, while 6 per cent preferred no setback at all. • When it comes to setbacks from parks, residents were more evenly split — 52 per cent preferred a 200-metre setback while 48 per cent believe 100 metres or less is enough. • 53 per cent of residents prefer a 100-metre or less between stores, with 36 per cent preferring no setback at all; 47 per cent believe setbacks should be set at 200 metres. • A majority of residents, 83 per cent, think provincial legislation is enough to regulate public consumption of cannabis, and that more regulations from the city aren’t necessary. Canadians will be able to legally purchase and consume recreational marijuana starting Oct. 17, 2018. The Senate voted June 19 to pass Bill C-45, the federal government’s bill to legalize recreational cannabis, by a vote of 52-29. City council has set an August 1 deadline to have its zoning rules established. A zoning amendment bylaw permitting retail cannabis uses in the city will be presented at the July 9 council meeting. It will then go to a public hearing on July 23 before final consideration and adoption.
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