AHN MAR 22 2018

THURSDAY, march 22, 2018 Vol. 75, No. 12

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.”

trash troubles piling up

LNG CANADA GEARING UP FOR FID

senior flyers NPHL CHAMPIONS

news A3

BUSINESS A11

SPORTS B1

FORT CITY CHRYSLER

SPRING FEVER vent visit

E

FORTCITYWINNER.CA to

UNLOCK INSTANT PRIZES LUXURY S E S S E R T MAT $200 CARD

SMART WATCHES

WITH ACCESS TO OVER 1 MILLION OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST POPULAR HOTELS

NEW 2017 GRAND CARAVAN

NOW

was

34,240

$

24,891 $ 184

$

from

CVP!

/BW

NOW

was

52,960

$

4X4!

with DVD !

/BW

17J250

+ TAXES AND FEES of $577

NEW 2017 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED NOW

$

from

$

32,994 $ 242

17C457

34,986 $ 257

41,604

was

$

NEW 2017 RAM 1500 SXT C/C NOW

NEW 2017 DODGE JOURNEY SXT AWD

from

+ TAXES AND FEES of $577

was

LOADED !

SAHARA

50,654

$

44,435 $ 324

$

from

/BW

17R448

+ TAXES AND FEES of $577

s n o i t a l u t a r g n Co to our

VIP

/BW

Delores Cox

Trip for 2 To Las Vegas

$

Garry Davis VIP winner of

40 Inch TV

4 DOOR! 4X4!

17W456

+ TAXES AND FEES of $577

Andrew Loeppky VIP winner of a

PLUS MORE

VIP winner of

2,500

Meagan Okrainec VIP winner of

PS4

Denny Oker

Brayden Walter

1,000

48 Inch Ultra TV

Amanda Doherty

Abe Wiebe

VIP winner of

$

VIP winner of

Tablet

VIP winner of

VIP winner of

Stereo System

WINNERS

FORT CITY

CHRYSLER

8424 Alaska Road Fort St. John

250-787-5220 | 1-877-787-5220 www.fortcitychrysler.ca

NO TWO OFFERS CAN BE COMBINED  SEE DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. PICTURES ARE FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY AND VEHICLES MAY NOT BE EXACTLY AS ILLUSTRATED. ALL VEHICLES WERE AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PRINTING.

DL#10428

A2 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

Local News

contents A2 A2 A3 A6 A9 A14 B1 B6

Weather Humour News Opinion Business Perspectives Sports Classifieds

Why skinny jeans are dangerous happy holi Bob Snyder Chews the news

this week’s flyers M&M Meats Jysk The Source Walmart Annette Reeder Home Hardware Staples Ashley Peavy Mart Rona The Brick No Frills Save-On Foods London Drugs Safeway Shoppers Drug Mart Pipeline News North

HOWDY SAUDI: Our news chewing tour begins in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia plans to build the world’s largest stadium, with 130,000 seats for spectators. I guess those beheading events are very popular.

ROYAL REPORT: Our next stop is the UK. London newspapers revealed Queen Elizabeth has won the equivalent in British pounds of 9 million dollars US betting on horse racing. That’s easy to explain. Imagine you’re a British jockey. You’re riding a horse Her Majesty has bet against. You know if you win, it’s off with your head.

You’re not going to win.

CHICKEN CHUCKLE: Last week, Fort St John city council scrapped the idea of allowing backyard chickens. Backyards or not, chickens are mostly a summertime project here in the north. Our winters are cold enough to freeze off a rooster’s McNuggets.

GAS WATCH KNOWBEFOREYOUGO Prevailing Prices

HAWKING R.I.P.: The famous scientist in the wheelchair died last week. Stephen Hawking left instructions about what he wanted on his tombstone. It’s a mathematical formula. I saw the formula on the Internet. It’s way too complicated for me to understand. I’m lousy at math. For me, math would be easier if I had 16 fingers.

matt preprost Photo

It was a festival of colours at the Northern Lights College campus in Fort St. John March 9, as students celebrated Holi, a Hindu festival marking the coming of spring. “It’s about forgive and forget.

It’s about new beginnings,” said NLC student council president Oliver White.

119.9

PADDY PARTICULARS: Saturday was St Patrick’s Day, a special day for leprechauns. Leprechauns are tiny guys. If a tall Fort St. John 129.9 guy tells you he’s a leprechaun — he’s lying about his height. St Patrick’s Day is a huge Alberta-B.C. border deal in Ireland. Ireland is now a prosperous 117.9 hi-tech country. For many years the Irish t St. John, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment economyCanada was based on potatoes, cabbage, Fort Nelson N/A and finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Dawson Creek

BELGIAN BULLETIN: There was an embarrassing mixup in Ottawa during a visit by the King and Queen of Belgium.

They were greeted by the wrong flag. The DUMP TRUMP: Last week, Donald German flag. Ooops! We don’t hear much Trump admitted he made up a bunch of about Belgium, but I hear it’s a nice place. https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-78_metric_e.html figures and told lies during a recent trade If I go there I’d like to visit the Belgian meeting with Justin Trudeau. He actually Waffle mines. bragged about it. Then he denied it. The Groundbirch one thing Trump needed to know when he LOTTERY LOL: A U.S. judge ruled a N/A DOOMSDAY DETAILS: In the States, went into that meeting was that the U.S. woman who won $560 million on the Costco started selling a Doomsday Surviv- has a trade SURPLUS with Canada. He got lottery can stay anonymous. But can she Chetwynd N/A al Kit, with enough food to keep a family that one thing wrong. So he lied. Then he keep the secret from her neighbors? Like, Home  Environment and naturalofresources Weather information  Weather  Local  British four alivefor one year.

OK, but do they lied aboutforecasts lying. Then he liedColumbia that he lied when the delivery guy brings Amazon Tumbler Ridge N/A give a refund on your Costco membership about lying. Then he lied that he was lying packages to her house 25 times every day. fee if Doomsday arrives before your mem- when he lied about lying.

JEAN JEST: Some brands of skinny Prince George 109.9 bership expires? An ad for the Doomsday kit says it will help you survive if there’s a BOSS BULLETIN: Is your boss a mean jeans were recalled, they can cause injurObserved at: Fort John Airport 11:00 AM MST 20Wilfrid March 2018 Current Conditions nuclear war. So be sure to buy an IKEA as- St.nasty, guy? According to aTuesday study by ies. Injuries? You bet. Guys have been inHythe t Nelson, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment Canada https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-83_metric_e.html 116.8 semble-it-yourself fallout shelter.

Laurier University in Ontario, if you make jured by walking into a wall while staring a voodoo and stick pins in at a girl wearing skinny jeans.

Condition: Mostly Cloudy Temperature: 1.4°C doll of your boss Wind: ESE 5 km/h IKEA IDEA: Speaking of IKEA, when it, you’ll feel much better.

With my Grande Prairie 108.4 Pressure: 101.0 kPa Dew point: -1.1°C Visibility: 81 km luck a you’re in the big city and you visit IKEA, do voodoo doll would work like acupuncture.

Bob Snyder can be reached at: Tendency: Falling Humidity: 83% you eat their meatballs? IKEA announced I’d stick pins in the nasty boss doll — and chewsthenews@fastmail.com Calgary 115.3 a new menu item for its restaurants. Bug his bad back would be cured. burgers. Yes, bug burgers, made with insects. The letters I.K.E.A. now mean: I Knowingly Eat Ants.

Fort St. John, BC

1°C

113.1

Home  Environment and natural resources Edmonton



Weather information

Fort Nelson, BC

Forecast Victoria Current Conditions 140.7 Tue

B.C. avg 20 Mar Alberta Avg.

Wed

Thu

Pressure: 101.1 kPa Tendency: Rising 114.2

0°C 4°C

2°C

30%

70%

0°C

Snow

Snow

Tonight Night Wed The Tue contents of this newspaper are protected by21 Mar 20 Mar copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes.

Night Thu 22 Mar

Night Fri 23 Mar

-4°C -6°C All other rights are reserved 30%

3°C and commercial use is -2°C Chance of rain Snow prohibited. To make any use of showers or flurries A material few flurries ormust first Snow this you rain showers obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright.

-8°C

-9°C

Chance of flurries

Forecast General notice

Local forecasts

Fri Sat 0.2°C 23 MarTemperature: 24 Mar Dew point: -3.7°C Humidity: 75%

-4°C

Chance of rain showers or flurries



British Columbia



Issued: 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 20 March 2018 FORT ST. JOHN Observed at: Fort Nelson Airport 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 20 March 2018

Condition: Light22 Mar Snow 136.7 21 Mar

CAD$ per litre, prices as of March 20.

Source: GasBuddy.com

Weather

WEATHER & ROAD REPORT

153.6

Vancouver



HIGHWAY CONDITIONS PEACE REGION

Sun Mon Wind: N 3 km/h26 Mar 25 Mar Visibility: 8 km

-5°C

2°C

4°C

Periods of snow

Sunny

Sunny

Night Sat 24 Mar

Night Sun 25 Mar

Mon 26 Mar

FOR CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE PEACE REGION, Issued: 11:00 AM MST Tuesday 20 March 2018 FORT NELSON PLEASE SEE THE LINK BELOW.

Snow

Periods of snow

-11°C

-9°C

-10°C

-6°C

-7°C

2°C

3°C

Chance of flurries

Periods of snow

Sunny

Sunny

Periods of snow 60%

Clear

Clear

http://www.drivebc.ca/

#listView&district=Peace

WeatherPhone

Tonight Night Night or flurries this Night

Mainly cloudy. 30 percent Night chance of rain showers afternoon. Wind Night becoming southeast 20 Environment Canada Local For Today further information contact km/h Weather Forecasts the managing editor at this afternoon. High plus 4.

(250)-785-7669 Tonight Partly cloudy. 30 percent chance of rain showers or flurries early this evening. Wind southeast 20 km/h.

Low minus 4.

http://www.drivebc.ca

250-785-5631 Wed, 21 Mar -5°C Night

Periods of snow

Thu, 22 Mar Night Today Fri, 23 Mar Tonight Night

Wed, 21 Mar Night

2

Thu, 22 Mar Night

Cloudy.-12°C 70 percent chance of flurries in the afternoon.

Wind east 30 km/h gusting-12°C to 50. High plus 2.

-17°C -15°C -15°C Snow. Local blowing snow.

Windy.

Low minus 6.

60% 60%

Buy One Chance of flurries Periods of snow Get Snow.One Local FREE! blowing snow. Windy. High minus 4.

Chance of flurries

Clear

Clear

Stanfi Snow.

Low eld’s minus 8.

Packaged

Cloudy. few flurries and rain showers beginning this afternoon. High plus 3.

Snow.

HighAzero.

T-Shirts Periods of snow.

A few rain11. showers early this evening. Snowfall amount 5 cm. Low minus 5.

Periods of snow.

Low minus

Buy One Get One 1/2 PRICE! All Non FR Pants and Jeans

OR

Snow. Amount possibly reaching 10 cm. Wind northeast 20 km/h. High minus 2.

Stanfiwith eld’s Cloudy 60 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 12.

Boxers and 2018-03-20, 12:02 p.m.

Periods of snow. High minus 9.

Briefs While quantities last, see in-store for details.

Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 17.

THURSDAY, march 22, 2018 Vol. 75, No. 12

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.”

the lessons learned from horses

resource rallies planned

the next generation of curlers

news A5

BUSINESS A9

SPORTS B3

Seniors home vandalism sparks concerns about police response matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

When You Are Out in the Field, Time IS Money.

QUALITY PARTS, EXPERT SERVICE! matt preprost Photo

Suzanne Sutherland gives her grandson Landon Tolsma a kiss after shaving his head in front of his peers at Charlie Lake Elementary on March 16, 2018. Tolsma has raised $13,000 and counting for cancer supports in the region.

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

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

‘He has a huge heart’

After Hours - Leave Message

Charlie Lake student raises $13,000 and goes bald to honour grandma’s cancer battle matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

CONTACT US

 phone 250-785-5631  fax 250-785-3522  email circulation@ahnfsj.ca  online alaskahighwaynews.ca  facebook AlaskaHighwayNews  twitter @AHNnewspaper

When 10-year-old Landon Tolsma learned his grandma Suzanne Sutherland had lung cancer, he knew he would be walking step-for-step beside her throughout her battle.

Faced with chemotherapy treatment and losing her hair, Sutherland decided to shave her head and lose her hair the way she chose to and not the way the drugs chose to. Noticing a lack of supports as simple as a wig or a scarf for cancer patients like his grandma, young Landon responded in turn — last October he started growing out his hair in an effort to raise money to help buy scarves and

wigs for patients who had gone bald from their treatment.

His goal was $1,500, and on Friday, he learned he had beat that by miles — raising $13,000 and celebrating his achievement by going bald himself and shaving his head in his grandma’s honour.

“I thought I should do more to support her, and raise money for cancer, to find a cure so people don’t have to suffer losing people to cancer,” he said.

Landon started raising money through his friends and family, and the power of social media drew in donations from as far away as Edmonton and Vancouver, as well as donations from local businesses, his mom Jackie Tolsma said.

Landon’s classmates at Charlie Lake Elementary even pitched in, raising more than $700, and cheering him on during Friday’s head shave.

The money will be split evenly between the Fort St. John Cancer Society and the Dawson Creek Chemo Unit.

While the plan was to buy wigs and scarves, the extra money will go much further to support patient care.

“Landon raised money for other people so they don’t have to worry about it,” Jackie Tolsma said.

“He has a huge heart. He’s just a loving boy. He’s very thoughtful.”

See CANCER on A4

Loitering litterbugs frustrating city staff matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Junk food wrappers, booze bottles, cigarette butts — city staff are growing tired of the trash piling up in the parking lots of the city’s recreational complex and want enforcement and prevention efforts stepped up.

Yana Dakounina says the city has reported the loitering litterbugs outside the Pomeroy Sport Centre, North Peace Arena, and curling rink to police, but little has been done to curb the problem — in fact, it’s only getting worse, she says.

“We report it to the cops, the cops come, and, of course, they don’t throw out their garbage when the cops come,” said Dakounina, who was found cleaning up the parking lot behind the curling rink Monday morning. “It’s just getting worse. It’s a dump.”

matt preprost Photo

Yana Dokounina cleans a pile of trash dumped on a snow pile behind the See LITTER on A16 curling rink on March 19. “It’s just getting worse. It’s a dump,” she says.

PAVING % 100 Canadian Owned

Residential • Commercial • Industrial Roads • Driveways • Parking Lots

The call came in from police dispatch around 8:24 p.m.

March 5, about a panhandler at the Peace Lutheran apartments, possibly intoxicated and looking for money and cigarettes. By the time police arrived more than two hours later, around 11 p.m., the panhandler had smashed two of the apartment doors, caused $1,000 in damage, and peed in the foyer before leaving the scene.

The response time has prompted concerns from the North Peace Seniors Housing Society and residents on social media about how police prioritize their calls. “These are buildings full of seniors, they’re very comfortable” said society manager Kimberly Wilson.

“If he would have kept at that one inside door, it would have broke right out. He didn’t get in, which we’re thankful for.”

If the panhandler did, tenants say the man would have had access to the Peace Lutheran complex, including three other apartment buildings and the church.

“It really did make the shivers run up your spine,” said one tenant, who admitted she sometimes forgets to lock her door at night, and did not want her name used.

There have been a number of incidents at the apartments where people have sought warmth in the foyer, but nothing as damaging and disturbing as the recent incident, Wilson said. She hoped police would have treated the complaints with more urgency considering the how vulnerable tenants are, and how close the detachment is to the apartments. The average age of tenants is between 75 and 80, many of them who are frail and use walkers, Wilson said. “(Police) have to prioritize ... but I think seniors should be a priority,” Wilson said. “I’m disappointed. If they came sooner, I wouldn’t have had the damage I did.”

At the time of the call, there were just four general duty officers working: two were tied up with a disturbance at the hospital, a high-risk officer situation, police say, where the person in question had drug and mental health issues; the other two were dealing with a man resisting arrest in a public place. In the 2.5 hours it took officers to clear those calls and respond to the care home, eight other calls for service were made to police.

See VANDALISM on B8

FREE ESTIMATES

250.719.0686

COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL GRAVEL SALES AND DELIVERY Serving Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Fort St. John & Surrounding Areas

33490

A4 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

Local News

Halfway River, B.C. sign new agreement on land management, economic development

Pembina plants $150K into NEAT’s food security program matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Pembina Pipeline Corporation is planting $150,000 into the Northern Environmental Action Team’s Food Secure Kids program over the next three years.

The funding will allow NEAT to continue providing food security education to Kindergarten to Grade 6 students in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.

“As a community, we all

reap the rewards of this program. We’re not just helping to grow food security knowhow in our kids, we’re also helping to grow a new generation of community-minded citizens,” Jeff Spenst, area supervisor for Pembina, said in an announcement on Friday.

“We at Pembina see this as a win-win, and can’t wait to get out to the schools this spring to lend a hand.”

As part of the program, kids learn the basics of gardening, like how things grow, and

about pollinators and compost, and learn where their food comes from and about potential disruptions that could affect a community’s food security. NEAT has a curriculum designed for each grade, and there are five schools in Fort St. John with onsite gardens where students plant food that’s made available to the food bank and the community.

“It’s really about creating healthier relationships within our food systems” said Karen

Mason-Bennett, executive director of NEAT. “We understand not everyone is going to grow their own food as adults, but knowing how much goes into getting those carrots onto your table will hopefully foster an increased respect and support for those who do.”

NEAT is getting ready for the 2018 season, and is looking for an eco-adviser to help deliver the program from April to June. To learn more, visit neat.ca.

The Halfway River First Nation has signed a government-to-government agreement with the B.C. government that aims to establish a new 6,000-hectare conservancy in the North Peace.

The conservancy, known as Tsaa Nuna, would be established in areas of cultural significance, and would be developed in partnership between the First Nation and the province.

The commitment on the conservancy is part of a new multi-million dollar agreement on land management and natural resource development in Halfway River’s territory.

Under the agreement, Halfway River will receive $5.8 million in one-time funding to support education, health, culture, infrastructure, economic development, human resources, and environmental stewardship programs.

The First Nation will also receive $1 million in capacity funding over seven years, $50,000 for a carbon offset feasibility study, and a share of annual resource revenues. The two governments will collaborate on wildlife management and economic development, according to a release from the province.

The agreement will also establish a working group to develop land management measures for Tsaa Nuna, Hackney Hills, Crying Girl Prairie, Chowade Valley, Cameron Valley, Cypress Valley and other significant areas.

Any land use changes and wildlife measures contemplated under the agreement will be subject to stakeholder engagement, the province says.

Man charged with aggravated assault after nightclub stabbing A 19-year-old Fort St. John man has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault after two people were stabbed outside a city nightclub early March 18.

Fort St. John RCMP were called to the Lonestar nightclub around 2 a.m. after reports of the stabbing.

One victim was found in the parking lot, where the alleged stabbing took place, and taken to hospital where a second victim was found, according to police. Both had non-life-threatening injuries, police say.

With the help of witnesses,

officers were able to find and arrest a suspect, who had fled the scene with a knife toward 102 Avenue, police say.

Shaquen Mundt, 19, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault. He will appear in court on May 16, and is not in custody, according to court records.

Police continue to investigate, and believe the stabbing was the result of an argument, with alcohol being a contributing factor.

Anyone with information is asked to call the detachment at 250-787-8100.

cancer from a3

Seeing her grandson raise so much support has made Sutherland proud. While the community support has been overwhelming, it’s the family support that’s the most important, she said.

“It’s very important,” Sutherland said. “If I didn’t have my husband and all my kids, it would have been really hard.”

Charlie Lake principal Nancy

Maxfield called Landon a kind and compassionate Laker.

“He really engaged our student body in school spirit,” she said.

Fundraising is continuing until March 31. For more information, contact Jackie Tolsma by calling 250-262-6224, emailing Jackiesutherlandtolsma@yahoo.ca, or by visiting Landon’s Wish on Facebook.

matt preprost Photo

Landon Tolsma runs his fingers one last time through his hair before shaving it off on March 16, 2018.

FREEZEAPHOBIA The fear of your movie freezing right at the plot twist

Introducing faster speed & more data for less!

Pick the plan that’s right for you Browse

Stream HD

6999

$ up to

7999

$

month1 For the first year

10 Mbps | 50 GB 2

up to

9999

$

month1 For the first year

25 Mbps | 100 GB 2

up to

month1 For the first year

25 Mbps | 300 GB 2

1-year term required

ü $0 installation3 ($99 value) ü No long term commitments ü FREE home phone service for 1 year 4 ($240 value) Stop suffering. Call us today!

Rhema Communications (250) 263-4943

Rick Noble Communications (250) 219-3495

Omnicomm Communications (250) 263-4300

xplornet.com

Connect to what matters: Better movie streaming $69.99 pricing reflects a $10 discount for the first 12 months on the plan with speeds up to 10 Mbps and 50 GB of data. $79.99 pricing reflects a $20 discount for the first 12 months on the plan with speeds up to 25 Mbps and 100 GB of data. $99.99 pricing reflects a $20 discount for the first 12 months on the plan with speeds up to 25 Mbps and 300 GB of data. Packages subject to availability. Discounted prices increase in month 13. Monthly service fee includes rental cost of equipment. Taxes apply. Offer valid until April 30, 2018 for new customers and is subject to change at any time.

A router is required for multiple users. 2Actual speed online may vary with your technical configuration, Internet traffic, server and other factors. Traffic Management Policy applies. 3If installation requirements go beyond the scope of a basic installation, additional fees apply. Subject to site check, site check fee may apply. See dealer for details. 4Pricing of $19.99 per month begins in month 13. Xplornet 911 service operates differently than traditional 911. For Traffic Management Policies and 911 Terms and Limitation of Liability, see xplornet.com/legal. Xplornet® is a trademark of Xplornet Communications Inc. © 2018 Xplornet Communications Inc. 1

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 A5

Local News

Students learn leadership, teamwork by working with horses matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Horses have an uncanny ability to attune themselves with humans, and last week, seven North Peace Secondary students began to learn that firsthand as part of an equine assisted learning class.

For the next 12 weeks, students will meet once a week at the Rock Alder Ranch near Charlie Lake, paired with a horse to work through obstacles and challenges in a series of challenges meant to build leadership and teamwork skills.

The horses are the teacher, instructor Shawna-Marie Phillip said, and communicate through body language to get through the obstacles given to them and the students.

“Horses have really high functioning survival skills,” Phillip said. “That’s why they’re a good match for humans.”

Horses are also able to communicate with people without blame or judgement when a mistake is made — they simply react, she said.

“Once you get to know one another, you start to work as a real good team,” Phillips said.

Its the first year the program is being offered to high school students after a successful run at Dr. Kearney school.

Students will journal their experiences throughout the program.

“Sometimes, you won’t realize what you’ve learned until you meet some sort of challenge and think, what did I learn from the horse?” Phillips said. “You apply that to regular life and have the horse to help walk you through it.”

Thirty Dr. Kearney students will take part in the program after the spring break.

To learn more, visit Frontier Horsemanship Academy on Facebook.

Renée Laboucane named executive director of Association for Community Living matt preprost

matt preprost Peace River North MLA Dan Davies introduced his first bill as a legislator on March 15.

Davies introduced a private member’s bill to change the name of Peace River North to Peace River-Northern Rockies to reflect the entirety of the electoral district. he Northern Rockies represents 10 per cent of the province’s landmass, Davies said, and the name change would be more representative of the riding, and align with the name of the federal electoral district. The name change would also raise the profile of the region to the government, and its responsibility to it, Davies said.

“It reaches out to Fort Nelson, recognizing they are an important part of the riding, especially in these times when

PRESENTATION FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE COMMUNITY PROFILE PHASE 1

BYLAWS

Renée Laboucane

•

Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 2411, 2018 was introduced and read for the first three times by title only. The purpose of the bylaw is to amend the City’s existing Business Licence Bylaw No. 2372, 2017 to provide improved service to clients. The amendments, which are clerical in nature, apply to Schedule B – Business Licence Application Form and include a check box for Inter-Community Business Licence and a new section regarding fire inspections to streamline actions tasked to the Fire Department.

•

The following bylaws required for the 2018 Local Government Election were introduced and read for the first three times by title only: -

Election and Assent Voting Bylaw No. 2413, 2018 - the purpose of this bylaw is to determine the various procedures for the conduct of local government elections. The existing bylaw was last updated in 2011.

Amendments were required to ensure that the bylaw refers to current provincial legislation.

-

Automated Vote Counting System Authorization and Procedure Bylaw No. 2415, 2018 - the purpose of this bylaw is to authorize election staff to utilize an automated vote counting system for tallying votes and to explain how the process works. The City’s 2011 Election Bylaw had the automated vote counting system contained within it however it is now a stand-alone bylaw. There are no major changes to the bylaw.

-

Mail Ballot Authorization and Procedure Bylaw No. 2416, 2018 - the purpose of this bylaw is to allow voting by mail ballot and to establish procedures for this type of voting. If an elector is out of town or is physically unable to get to the polls, this bylaw gives the ability to mail a ballot to them. Election staff saw a higher number of requests for this service during the 2017 By-Election. The existing bylaw was last updated in 2011. Amendments were required to ensure that the bylaw refers to current provincial legislation.

TENDER AWARDS •

Council awarded the request for quotations for Security and Surveillance Upgrades to Houle Electric from Burnaby, BC, at a cost of $419,278 plus applicable taxes. The need for this work arose from concerns expressed by both City staff and members of the public regarding safety when either working at or visiting the City’s recreational facilities. There have also been numerous incidents that the existing security cameras were not able to record. As a result, a comprehensive security review was conducted for the entire recreational campus and the Cultural Centre. Recommendations were received on numerous security measures with a high focus on camera infrastructure upgrades and placements. This tender award is to implement those recommendations.

•

A report was provided to Council advising that the request for proposals for Dog Park Improvements and Development was awarded to EDS Group Inc., from Spruce Grove, Alberta, in the amount of $24,990. As the project was awarded to the lowest bidder meeting minimum specifications and the value of the tender was below $250,000, the tender could be approved by staff under the terms of the City’s Purchasing and Tendering Policy. The main component of this phase of the dog park project is to consult with stakeholders, the general public, City Council and staff on the needs and wishes for a dog park. A key component of this phase will be the site selection.

operations of rural learning centres.

There will be an open house and meet and greet March 28 at the ACL office from 2 to 4 p.m. All are welcome.

MLA Davies pitches riding name change editor@ahnfsj.ca

CITY BEAT

Updates from March 12, 2018 Council Meetings

At the Committee of the Whole meeting, Council received a presentation on the Community Profile Phase 1 work done by the Fort St. John Community Development Institute. The purpose of the Community Profile is to build an understanding of the assets, opportunities and challenges in Fort St. John. Phase 1 involved collecting census data and government statistics. Phase 2 will provide more detailed information through community surveys and community sources and will inform the development of a Social Framework for Fort St. John.

editor@ahnfsj.ca

The Fort St. John Association for Community Living has named Renée Laboucane as its new executive director.

Laboucane joined the organization March 15, and replaces outgoing executive director Cindy Mohr, who is stepping down after 16 years.

“I’m confident that her experience in social and economic development as well as her extensive skills in management will be invaluable to the FSJACL as it continues to grow and meet the needs of our community,” Angela Telford, board president, said in a statement.

“As the FSJACL moves into its next chapter, we have exciting times ahead.”

Laboucane returned to the city last year to help open the Community Development Institute as its senior facilitator. She has a business degree, and was previously the community stewardship manager at Grande Prairie Regional College, where she oversaw the

matt preprost Photo

Dale Boissonneault blesses the horses in the Frontier Equine Assisted Learning Program.

the economy isn’t doing well,” Davies said, noting the Northern Rockies is in a different watershed than Peace River.

“Fort Nelson is very different. Truly, when we think of Peace River, there’s no direct correlation to that.”

The bill will get first reading today, and then it will be up to the government to call it for second reading, Davies said.

“I’ll be frank with you, that rarely happens, unfortunately, by nature of the system we’re in,” he said.

“With that being said, this is a bill though that there’s no real cost to. It’s certainly not a partisan bill. It’s clean, a small change to the electoral act.”

Davies hopes to have the riding changed in time for the next election.

Elections BC conducts a review of electoral district boundaries and names every eight years. The last review was completed in 2015.

TEMPORARY USE PERMIT FOR MEDPRO RESPIRATORY CARE Council approved the issuance of a Temporary Use Permit to allow a health services facility, Medpro Respiratory Care, to continue to operate on a portion of 8707 – 100th Avenue for a term of three years, with an option to renew the permit for an additional three years. This use would not otherwise be permitted within the C-4 Zone under the City’s Zoning Bylaw.

SETTLEMENT WORKERS IN SCHOOLS – WORLD FAIR PARTNERSHIP City staff has formed a partnership with the SWIS’ World Fair to establish a culturally diverse community event in the downtown core. The City has expanded an existing partnership with the North Peace Cultural Centre’s Bright Nights in June to include the World Fair. This expansion allows the City to provide in-kind support of assisting with the set up and lending of tables, chairs and tents in the park located on the corner of 100 Street and 100 Avenue. The World Fair will take place on June 9, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS

The next Regular Council Meeting is scheduled for Monday March 26, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The public is welcome to attend.

www.fortstjohn.ca

Supporting Our Communities

Supporting Our Communities

R0011352385

ROAD CONSTRUCTION • ASPHALT PAVING AGGREGATE SALES • READY MIX CONCRETE SALES PORTABLE ASPHALT PLANTS AND CONCRETE PLANTS Servicing: OIL & GAS • MINING INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • MUNICIPAL • AIRPORTS

INTEROUTE CONSTRUCTION LTD.

NORTHEAST DIVISION

A6 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

Opinion

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

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

regional manager

William Julian wj@ahnfsj.ca

managing editor

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

sports reporter

Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca

sales manager

Ryan Wallace rwallace@ahnfsj.ca

sales associate

Brenda Piper

bpiper@ahnfsj.ca

circulation manager

Lynn Novack

circulation@ahnfsj.ca

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

Editorially Speaking

W

hen I first began reporting in Fort St. John in the fall of 2013, the media gallery covering city council had between four or five reporters at any given meeting.

There was a healthy dose of print, radio, and television reporters in the mix — we may have been covering the same agenda, but we were all, at the very least, able to offer the community varied perspectives on the issues up for discussion and debate from our resulting coverage.

Fast forward to 2018, and the gallery has dwindled to an average of just two reporters for some time now: just one print and one radio, though, after much troubles with turnover at CJDC, I look forward to seeing a television reporter in the gallery more often as the station once again has two news reporters in town. After all, it is a municipal election year, and the more reporters covering the happenings of city hall the

better. Nothing beats an informed citizenry, especially when they vote (hint, hint).

But I often wonder if the community has truly taken notice of the shifts in their local media landscape. It’s one thing to mourn the loss of an outlet, or the exit of an established reporter to another market; it’s another to have a larger discussion about the changing face of the industry and how it’s been impacting the quantity and quality of local coverage altogether.

Every industry has adjusted to a new economic reality that has taken hold of the Peace Region over the last four years, and it’s been no different for us in the media. We just don’t seem to talk about it as much, certainly not around these parts. But I’m working to try to change that.

Starting next week, we’ll be launching a readership survey, probably our first ever, to help us better understand how the

community is accessing and engaging with their local news.

I was hoping to launch this week, but we’re still finalizing an incentive prize for those who take chose to participate.

It’s part of an effort I’m undertaking to better understand what readers want from the Alaska Highway News as we countdown to our 75th year of publishing news in Fort St. John and the North Peace — how they read us, why they read us, what they want us to spend more of our reporting time focused on, as the reality of editorial resources in 2018 is this: there will alway be more news to cover than reporters to cover it, and to cover it properly and thoroughly like it ought to be. We have our ideas on how and where to improve, but the community certainly has theirs too — and without including them, we’re moot.

Our business model has undergone several changes over

the last number of years, and will continue evolve. Such is the nature of the beast; we’ve embraced it and we’re better for it.

To go along with the readership survey, I’m looking for a group of our dedicated readers, community stakeholders, and steadfast advertisers to join me on a Reader Insight Panel. Let’s talk about the news. Let’s talk about the state of local media.

Let’s talk about this publication.

The panel will start to meet quarterly in June, to give direct feedback on the media issues that impact them most. It’s all part of the work I want to do to help build a better media system in Fort St. John, and there’s more to come.

If you’re interested in joining the panel, shoot me a line: editor@ahnfsj.ca.

The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things.

Matt Preprost is managing editor of Alaska Highway News.

A modern-day Trojan horse for pipeline stalemate

L

istening to the radio earlier this week, I was surprised to hear about a new study being announced.

Washington state based business study is looking at potential high-speed rail service from Vancouver to Seattle and Portland, and the province of B.C. is contributing $300,000 to support the study.

The conversation on the radio continued and there was mention of how great this would be for employees of Google and Amazon who have offices in both Vancouver and Seattle. At the press conference announcing the participation in the study, our premier, John Horgan, was quoted as saying that, “It’s a physical link between our jurisdictions that will take cars off the road and will move people and goods in a safe and effective manner.”

In a way, it is like the Trans Mountain pipeline. The Trans Mountain pipeline will also move goods in a safer and effective manner but has not been met with the same enthusiasm by the province of B.C. The proposed high-speed rail line would create jobs on both sides of the border — the United States and Canada.

The Trans Mountain pipeline would create jobs on both sides of another border — Alberta and British Columbia.

The proposed high-speed rail line might have ridership of more than a million

Judy Kucharuk the desk of the green-eyed girl

people in the first year.

The Trans Mountain pipeline would give us the ability to expand our export markets for crude oil to Asia, instead of relying heavily on our distribution to the United States — an ever-changing and sometimestenuous relationship under the Trump government.

From what I understand and read, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion would also increase the amount of refined product for the Lower Mainland as the existing pipeline (yes, there is already a pipeline) would be used for the lighter or refined product and the new pipeline would be used for the heavier oils.

Considering that the price of fuel has skyrocketed in the Lower Mainland and is projected to go even higher, one would think that the resistance to the pipeline would have lessened.

The announcement about the study into high-speed transit from Vancouver to Seattle and Portland is timed perfectly.

HaveYOUR

New construction of high-speed rail lines that will benefit British Columbians and our U.S. neighbours — sure!

Adding an additional pipeline to existing infrastructure that will benefit Canadians — we apparently have to think about it.

The chasm between British Columbia and the rest of Canada gets larger every day. The chasm between British Columbian’s gets larger every day.

No one is happy.

Meanwhile, we deflect and consider a new high-speed rail line that benefits a specific group of individuals rather than twinning an existing pipeline that will benefit all Canadians.

We need to change our narrative.

How about this for a lightbulb moment: I have figured out how to move oil from Alberta through the province of B.C. Just say that you are building a revolutionary fibre optic line, and it needs to be eight inches in diameter. A modern day Trojan horse.

Shhhhhhh — don’t tell anyone.

Judy Kucharuk is a lover of sarcasm, witty people and footnotes. You can read her book Naked Tuesday, or follow her on twitter @ judylaine

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.

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 A7

op-ed

Gun culture and the right to life blocked legislation that would take guns away from domestic abusers. Propitiously, pacific Canada does not have enough crazies to cause funereal headache. However, Canada’s gun lobby agrees with the National Rifle Association that tighter gun laws will not stop shootings, and our gun safety laws and training may not hold for long.

Gun violence is on the rise in Canadian cities like Toronto, Regina, Edmonton. There has been a spike in firearms related violence with restricted guns like the AR-15 used in Parkland.

Shooting numbers are on the rise in Canada and the have more than doubled, according to CBC’s Wendy Mesley.

While all this is happening, those who claim to be the Zen masters of law and order are M.I.A. Also silent are the prolifers who champion rights to life. To progressives like me, a logical explanation for such inconsistencies is that these people do not really care about human life, but are concerned about their pocketbook and power. Why would they propose the death penalty for (accepted, despicable) drug dealers while cutting medical assistance? Perhaps the essence of pro-life posturing is about valuing one particular right, the right of the unborn to live, and approach other life and social issues through a pro-life advocacy.

Unbelievably, there has never been in human history a general acceptance of the concept of a right to life that is innate to individuals rather than granted as a privilege by those holding social and political power. The evolution of human rights as a concept

has taken place slowly in multiple areas even in the Christian domain. Despite doctrinal differences and the tensions in the ecumenical movement, support for human rights is just solidifying today, according to Jürgen Moltmann, a German reformed theologian.

In moments like these, we can heed calls for actions from brave high schoolers from Florida and NPSS. We cannot allow this slaughter as the status quo. Fear and sorrow must not dictate our response for we have the power to change this. Placating those who cling to their guns as a sport for hunting, we can strengthen our gun safety.

Our Canadian practice of mandatory training should be improved and gun owners should regularly refresh their training and renew their permits. We should not stigmatize people with mental health needs, but ensure accessible intervention when and if required.

The debate over gun safety is nothing new, but has been raging for centuries. The Roman empire had similar episodic violence that we are experiencing today.

Intelligently and appropriately, Roman leaders instituted bans on weapons within a delineated space. Those of us who took fascination to Roman history would remember the second Servile war of 104 to 100 BCE on the island of Sicily that led to certain class of people being prohibited from having firearms.

R

A summary of sentences and fines handed out in Peace Region courts for the week ending March 16, 2018.

Fort St John Law Courts • David James Campbell (born 1995) was ordered to pay $800 in restitution and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for mischief $5,000 or under.

• James Daniel Hopkins (born 1964) was handed a one-year probation order with a suspended sentence and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for theft $5,000 or under.

• Chad Jesse Sutcliffe-McCarthy (born 1993) was sentenced to 43 days in jail, handed a one-year criminal driving ban, ordered to provide a DNA sample, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for fleeing from a peace officer.

• Triston Bocephus Apsassin (born 1995) was given a 90-day conditional sentence, handed a one-year criminal driving ban, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for care or control vehicle or vessel while impaired.

• Duane Clem Groves (born

been a shift in power in the province and while the Trudeau government says they support projects like the Kinder Morgan pipeline, they continue to introduce unnecessary regulations that are effectively killing potential projects.

I know in our region there is a sense of growing anxiety and frustration among those communities that would directly benefit from natural resource projects going forward. It often seems as though we are taking one step forward and two steps back.

That’s why, in January, I was happy to read that the Chiefs’ Council, representing 30 communities engaged in the First Nations-led Eagle Spirit energy corridor, is raising funds to challenge in federal court the Trudeau government’s proposed Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which would ban oil tankers from shipping oil through Northern B.C. ports.

It’s important to get the word out that there is a large contingent of First Nations people who want our natural resources to be developed and know that this can be done in an environmentally safe and responsible way. We must continue to show our support for these projects to help ensure that they move forward, as they will benefit all Canadians.

Bob Zimmer is the MP for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies.

1984) was fined $500 and assessed a $75 victim surcharge for driving with a suspended licence.

• Corbin John Hubley (born 1994) was given a conditional discharge with 12 months of probation and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for possession of a controlled substance.

Dawson Creek Law Courts • Ryan Allen Hick (born 1993) was sentenced to 14 months in jail, handed a oneyear probation order with a 10-year mandatory firearms ban, ordered to provide a DNA sample, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for robbery.

• Marvin Patrick Stewart (born 1972) was fined $1,800 and assessed a $270 victim surcharge for driving without reasonable consideration.

• Joshua Franklin Clarke (born 1985) was handed a one-year probation order and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for disobeying a court order.

• Justin Darryll Garbitt (born 1987) was handed a one-year probation order and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for willfully resisting or obstructing a police officer.

— Tom Summer

tion e next genera h th in a tr s u lp it He by booking w of hairstylists supervised one of our lists!

Apprentice Sty Get a cut, color or style and save!

All services booked with an apprentice stylist re ce ive a 20% DISCOUNT and are checked by a senior stylist

Donald Fajemisin is an educator and a resident of Fort St. John.

First Nations eager to play role in LNG ecently, LNG Canada reaffirmed its commitment to build its proposed liquefied natural gas export terminal with plans to start construction in 2018.

Not only is this great news for British Columbia and Canada, it also highlights what many of us already knew, that there is a growing number of First Nations in British Columbia that support the responsible development of natural resources.

As Ellis Ross, Skeena MLA and former chief councillor of the Haisla Nation, has put it in the past: “For us to be truly successful, we need to see our people among the first in line for the permanent skilled jobs — pipefitters, electricians, millwrights — that will come if LNG projects move ahead. In Kitimat’s boomand-bust economy, that will be the only way for us to make good on the promises we’ve been making to our youth — that if they get an education, they will get good jobs and build fulfilling careers.”

In fact, according to the B.C. government, in 2017 the province had entered into 64 natural gas pipeline benefits agreements with more than 90 per cent of eligible First Nations located along four proposed natural gas pipeline routes.

Since that time, however, there has

court docket

FISHING FOR LOCAL NEWS?

Mon - Weds 9-5:30 Thurs, Fri 9-7:30 and Saturday 9 - 4:30 Gift Certificates Available

“Best Salon & Best Spa” 2017

10440 100 Street | 250-787-1553 | www.hbhealthspa.com

GLASS HOUSE GET THE BIG CATCH OF THE DAY!

Alaska Highway NEWS

(250) 785-5631

Special Delivery

L

ast Wednesday, some North Peace Secondary students staged a 17 minutes walk-out of their classes to the front of the school in solidarity with their US counterparts.

The students, with the backing of the school administration and a couple of their teachers, observed a 17-minute silence to honour the students whose lives were prematurely cut down by gun violence in Parkland, Florida.

With the unrelenting spate of mass killings down our southern border, many people are beginning to ask the sacred question, “is there is any right to life?”

What is perplexing about all this is that the right to life is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Accordingly, every human being has an inherent right to life, and that this right shall be protected by law, and not be deprived of such except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. On this premise, why are the pro-lifers not as concerned as they are with abortion, euthanasia, individual liberty?

Immediately after the shooting, there was the predictable posturing to take on the gun lobby that has always proposed the false recipe of avoiding mass killings by supplying more guns.

The NRA, beside carrying politicians in their pockets like nickels and dimes, has always stymied genuine efforts on firearms research.

With its deep pocket budget, it has always lobbied to make it even easier for people with mental illness history to have their gun rights restored, and

peace region

AUTO GLASS

Fir Pellets in Stock

We do ICBC Claims at shop

10996 Clairmont Frontage, Alaska Hwy

Fort St. John • 250.785.3433

IRL IT’S A G arie M tt le Scar Sheldon Parents: ntz Sarah Ka eldon h S n e d a s &P eight: 8 lb Baby’s W 21 inches Length: 11, 2018 r.

Date: MaJohn, BC Fort St

OY IT’S A B van a n o J Jack Parents: rask Lindsay TPotter l e a h ic &M eight: Baby’s W ozs 3 1 s 7 lb hes 1 1/4 inc Length: 2ar. 13, 2018 Date: M 3:37 am Time: hn, BC o Fort St J

Drop off or mail your FREE birth announcement to:

The Alaska Highway News, or email: compose@ahnfsj.ca

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

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

Your minimum donation of $125 to the FSJ Hospital Foundation will not only purchase a flower petal, but the money raised will also go towards much needed medical equipment that will help to provide the best healthcare and service possible.

Ph: 250.261.7563 | email: fsjhf@northernhealth.ca

www.fsjhospitalfoundation.ca

A8 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

FORT CITY

CHRYSLER

SPRING

FEVEREvent THE 2018 LINE UP IS HERE!

THAT MEANS HUGE SAVINGS ON ALL 2017 MODELS

ALL REMAINING 2017 MODELS MUST GO! LEASE OPTION

NOW

was

2018 RAM 1500 Q/C SXT

52,835

$

37,995 $ 247

$

Lease from

4X4!

LEASE OPTION

NOW

2018 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT

was

32,690

$

29,595 $ 199

$

Lease from

/BW

18R135

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523

oink

2 DOOR !

4X4 !

/BW

18W186

+ TAXES AND FEES of $523

Have some debt you want to pay off?

$10,000 PAY OFF YOUR DEBT WITH UP TO

UP TO

CASH BACK!!

QUALITY USED VEHICLES 17HD286A 2016 RAM 3500 SLT HEMI 17J67A 2016 JEEP CHEROKEE 4X4 PT886 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AWD 17JR419A 2016 DODGE JOURNEY 17C467A 2016 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 17JR474A 2015 JEEP RENEGADE PT891 2017 CHEV TRAX 4X4

$46,891 $24,991 $32,991 $19,891 $18,991 $17,991 $23,991

PT884 17C407A 18CO33A 17R441B 17C460A 18GR141A PT894 17R335A

2018 JEEP COMPASS 4X4

NOW

was

30,891

$

28,991 $ 221

$

from

ALL NEW!

NOW

42,991

39,991 $ 304

$

4X4!

+ TAXES AND FEES of $577

2017 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

from

21,991 $ 170

PT893

$

2017 JEEP PATRIOT

23,991

$

$49,891 $9,491 $14,491 $9,991 $25,991 $42,991 $44,991 $7,991

/BW

/BW

was

FORD EXPEDITION MAX 4X4 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE HONDA CIVIC CHRYSLER 200 BUICK ENCORE AWD RAM 1500 LONGHORN Eco Diesel DODGE DURANGO RT AWD FORD EDGE

$

from

+ TAXES AND FEES of $577

NOW

was

2017 2015 2015 2013 2015 2015 2012 2008

4X4!

+ TAXES AND FEES of $577

FORT CITY

2017 RAM 3500 LARAMIE C/C DIESEL NOW

was

68,991

$

63,891 $ 479

$

from

/BW

/BW

PT892

17C471A

+ TAXES AND FEES of $577

!

LEATHER! LOADED

4X4!

18HD42A

CHRYSLER

8424 Alaska Road Fort St. John

DL#10428

250-787-5220 | 1-877-787-5220 www.fortcitychrysler.ca

PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO ALL LOCAL TAXES AND FEES OF $523.00 ON NEW / $577.00 ON USED. ALL NEW VEHICLES PAYMENTS ARE BASED OFF AN 84 MONTH TERM AT 4.49% / O.A.C. ALL USED VEHICLES PAYMENTS ARE BASED OFF AN 84 MONTH TERM AT 5.49% / O.A.C. ALL LEASE PAYMENTS ARE BASED OFF A 60 MONTH LEASE TERM AND HAVE A 20,000 KM/ YEAR CLAUSE. SEE DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 A9

Business matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

BC Hydro has signed a $1.6-billion contract for the generating station and spillways for the Site C dam, one of three deals announced by the Crown utility March 16. The AFDE Partnership of Aecon Constructors, Flatiron Constructors Canada, Dragados Canada, and EBC Inc., will be responsible for the civil works portion of Site C’s powerhouse, penstocks, spillways, and power intakes.

The partnership will mobilize to the site this spring, with 1,600 workers on site during the peak of construction in 2021, BC Hydro says.

The contract is more than $300 million more than its original estimate of $1.25 billion. BC Hydro says it is the second largest to be awarded on the project, behind the $1.75-billion main civil works contract awarded to Peace River Hydro Partners.

BC Hydro has requested an amendment to its environmental assessment certificate after changes to the design of the generating station and spillways.

BC Hydro says construction will involve the placement of 700,000 cubic metres of concrete, or the equivalent of 280 Olympic-sized swimming pools; 34,000 tonnes of rebar; and two spillways measuring 17 storeys high, and the width of five highway lanes.

The partnership has signed a labour agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115, the Construction and Specialized Workers Union (CSWU) Local 1611 and the Construction Maintenance and Allied Workers (CMAW).

BC Hydro says there is a target apprenticeship rate of up to 25 per cent, and that local and Indigenous hiring will be prioritized.

Aecon holds a 30 per cent stake in the partnership, and has a portfolio that includes the John Hart Generating Station in Campbell River, first built in the 1940s and undergoing a $1 billion replacement.

“With Aecon’s work nearing completion on BC Hydro’s John Hart Generating Station project, we look forward to leveraging our seasoned capabilities to execute the Site C generating station and spillways civil works,”

Mark Rivett, executive vicepresident of Aecon Infrastructure, said in a statement.

Aecon, based in Canada, is the subject of a national security review into its $1.5-billion sale to China Communications Construction Company Ltd. (CCCC). Ottawa’s review falls under a section of the Investment Canada Act that allows it to gather information on “whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that an investment by a non-Canadian could be injurious to national security.”

Flatiron Constructors, which holds a 27.5 per cent stake in the partnership, lists dams in California and Colorado among its portfolio, including an $180-million upgrade to the Ruskin Dam powerhouse near Mission, B.C. Dragados Canada also holds a 27.5 per cent stake, and has built 250 dams worldwide, including dams in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Spain, along with upgrades to the Ruskin Dam. EBC Inc., which holds a 15 per cent stake, has a smaller portfolio that includes constructing a service building for Hydro-Québec’s Mercier Power Station in Maniwaki, about 300 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

The Site C project is part of EBC’s strategy to establish itself as a contractor in Western Canada, the company said.

BC Hydro announced two other contract deals last week.

F&M Installations Ltd., headquartered in Nanaimo, has been selected to build the Site C substation. The contract is valued at $33 million.

REEL COH Inc., based in Quebec and part of the REEL Group headquartered in Houston, has been selected to design, supply and commission the generating station and spillways powerhouse bridge and gantry cranes.

That contract is valued at $23 million.

A contract for hydro-mechanical equipment has yet to be awarded.

The NDP government announced Site C construction would proceed in December following a four-month review, and revising its projected cost to $10.7 billion.

BC Hydro says the contract fits within its revised budget.

The Site C dam budget was originally $8.3 billion.

CHOOSE A PROGRAM THAT WILL GET YOU THE JOB

83%

of CNC grads found their education helped them get the dream job

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

“We always loved camping and thought what better way to enjoy it more than working a campground.”

— Adam Ragan, A13

Resource rallies planned for April and May Fort St. John for LNG will stage another rally in support of the fledgling export industry in B.C. on Saturday, April 21. Special guests include researcher and writer Vivian Krause, who has been making national headlines for her research into the ties between American charities and Canadian environmental groups.

“FSJ for LNG has done what we can do here in Fort St. John. With the message Vivian will deliver on April 21, I am hoping that Fort St. John citizens will go beyond our community and join me in defending oil and gas, and the Canadian economy as

a whole,” organizer Alan Yu said.

Yu said LNG Canada’s recent signal that it’s drafting final investment documents on its estimated $40-billion export facility in Kitimat and associated pipeline network (see A11) is good news. If given the green light by stakeholders, LNG Canada executives say the plan is to start construction this year.

“With the worldwide government policy shift adopting more natural gas into their energy mix, we have seen a steady rise in the demand and prices of natural gas,” Yu said.

“This is accelerating

% 0 5 off

Vivian Krause the equalization of supply and demand of LNG and we can almost see the point where demand will overtake supply.”

Yu has invited Premier John Horgan and Energy Minister Michelle Mungall to the rally, saying the group is willing to set aside politics.

“I would like to appeal to John Horgan to encourage more LNG companies to build in B.C. as he did on his last Asian trip. This is a generational chance and the timing is very ripe now,” he said.

Yu is still finalizing a location for the April 21 rally.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and North Peace Airport Services will host a natural resource rally and social Friday, May 4, and the Pomeroy Hotel.

Keynote addresses will be made by the Northeast BC Resource Municipalities Coalition, and Resource Works.

Assorted Boots & Shoes

ce

Pri . g e

R

LIMITED TIME ONLY SHOP NOW FOR BEST SELECTION RipsShoeRenu.com • ripsshoerenu@shaw.ca

Dawson Co-op Mall • Phone: 250-782-8283 Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM • Saturday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

R0021513243

Site C generating station, spillways deal signed

Contact Us

A10 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

BUSINESS

Buildings win construction awards

Homework a must before you decide to refinance your mortgage

Three buildings in Fort St. John were recognized at the Northern BC Commercial Building Awards in Prince George on March 8.

Kalmar Construction took home an Award of Excellence in the office category for the Birch Tree Building on 10019 103 Avenue.

Western Canadian Construction won an Award of Excellence in the residential apartment category for the Hudson Condos at 10307 112 Street.

Northern Legendary Construction won an Award of Excellence in the residential townhouse category for the Cornerstone Townhouses on 97 Avenue.

In all, nine buildings in the North Peace were

s your home an ATM machine to finance debt consolidation?

Residential appraisers often complete high volumes of work for the purpose of refinancing. Mortgage refinancing is the process of replacing your mortgage or mortgages on your property with a new mortgage. Historically, refinancing may have been completed to capture the advantage of lower interest rates or borrowing more money to capture the equity in the home, etc. Refinancing must adhere to the new interest rate stress testing guidelines.

As interest rates slowly begin to climb, compounded by declining property values, refinancing may not be an option.

If you are planning on shopping around before the end of your mortgage, do your homework first. A renewal at your current financial institution will be fairly straightforward. You may want to negotiate a shorter amortization period, which will increase your payment, however, reduce long-term impact of interest rate increases.

Moving your existing mortgage to a new lender will result in qualifying for the mortgage. You may have to pay CMHC fees if it is high ratio financing.

You will have to qualify for interest rate stress testing. The current value of your home may be lower than it was when you purchased it three years ago. Let me say that again, another way. You may have more owing on your home today than what you could sell it for.

Don’t go cry wolf. The sky is not falling. We are experiencing a market correction. How many times have you heard the old timers say this generation has never had hardship?

Back in the early 1980s there were double-digit interest rates and rapid inflation, then the market crashed.

The correction took several years. You could rent a house for cheaper than you could buy a house. A lot cheaper.

I

BUSINESS EXAMINER PEACE CARIBOO SKEENA PHOTO

Eric Bell of Northern Legendary Construction with his two awards of excellence for the Cornerstone Townhouses in Fort St. John and the Gateway Industrial Park in Dawson Creek.

nominated for an award.

The ceremony, put on by the Business Examiner, is a celebration of the north’s best in commercial, residential, and industrial construction.

In Dawson Creek,

Northern Legendary also won an industrial Award of Excellence for the Gateway Industrial Park.

NewGround was awarded excellence for the new North Peace Savings & Credit Union building.

Highway maintenance contract awarded The federal government has signed a five-year, $79.8-million contract to maintain the Alaska Highway to White Bear Industries of Terrace.

The contract, announced March 19, covers an 835-kilometre stretch of the highway north of Fort St. John at Mile 83 to the Yukon border. Work includes highway rehabilitation, cleaning and repairing ditches, snow removal, sanding, ice control, and

pavement line marking.

“The maintenance of the Alaska Highway is key to the economic prosperity of the northern part of this region,” Carla Qualtrough, minister of public services and procurement, said in a statement.

“The work resulting from this contract will make the highway safe for travellers and will ensure local communities get sustainable, safe and reliable infrastructure assets that will contribute

directly to their quality of life.”

The province of B.C. is responsible for maintaining the first 133 kilometres of the Alaska Highway up to the Mile 83 marker. Public Services and Procurement Canada is responsible for maintaining the remaining 835-kilometre stretch to the Yukon border. The Yukon government is responsible for maintaining the rest of the Canadian portion of the highway.

NORTHEAST BC REALTY

Specializing in Commercial Real Estate

©2018

LIFE AT GROUND ZERO

REAL ESTATE REALITY CHECK Have a real estate problem or question you want answered? Email editor@ahnfsj.ca to have it featured in a future article and analysis by Edwina Nearhood.

A correction allows one an opportunity to take more fiscal responsibility for spending habits. It might force people to take care of what they have versus throw it away and buy a better model.

The short-term outlook is pointing to regulatory control that impacts the housing market. There may be unintended consequences to taxation and mortgage policy that will impact the market in the north differently than intended in the larger centers.

There does continue to be a growing trend for foreclosure sales at forced sale values. What does that mean? A market value is determined by what a house will sell for in less than 90 days. When the local market is exhibiting longer marketing periods, a 90-day sale would be a discounted sale. There are currently 22 listings of homes under foreclosure priced under $500,000 in the Fort St. John area.

THE LAST WORD Be financially responsible for all real estate purchases. Be sure to understand how all of the variables impact each situation. Every situation is unique.

Edwina Nearhood is a life-long resident of Fort St. John, with 30 years experience in the appraisal industry.

RON RODGERS

Ltd.

Phone 250 785 4115

Edwina Nearhood

OWNER / MANAGING BROKER Email: ron@northeastbc.com

NEBC is located at NEBCRealty.com 10220 101 Ave. Fort St John BC V1J 2B5

Specializing in Commercial Real Estate

BCNCC MLS® 2011 thru 2017 TOP COMMERCIAL Realtor TOP DOLLAR and/or MOST NUMBER OF UNITS SOLD for BCNREB MLS®

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Owners plan to retire - Well established, reputable business - million dollar revenue and room to grow!

Water delivery with over 25 years of providing a necessary service to the area! Great opportunity to get in to business for yourself

Share Purchase NOW ASKING $850,000 MLS® N4507327

For Sale 30,640sf Building on 4 Acres of Land REDUCED NOW ASKING $750,000 10500 13 Street Dawson Creek BC GREAT DEVELOPMENT SITE IN THE HEART OF DAWSON CREEK

Call Ron to arrange viewing - Owner would consider reasonable offers

Land & Building in “As-Is, Where-Is” condition. Contents not included in asking price. MLS® 166295

The City of Dawson Creek is open to rezoning measures that would complement the existing neighborhood Potential for a combination of commercial and residential

For Sale DEVELOPMENT LAND 36.36 Acres Development Land along East By-Pass Road recently incorporated into the City of Fort St John boundary.

This property plays a significant role in the upcoming City Official Community Plan and future development within the expanding city growth plans - the City is open to all development concepts.

TURNKEY OPERATIONS BUSINESS, LAND & BUILDING New Frontier Bar & Grill in Fort St John BUILDING: 7500sf buildings with seasonal patio, commercial kitchen (includes all appliances and equipment), interior design with country design including dance floor, DJ booth, 2 open bars, stage for live music, lounge seating LAND: 0.66 Acres Lot on 100 Ave with paved parking & alley access BUSINESS: Includes business name and all social and promotional materials, all kitchen and bar equipment, office and club furnishings, most décor, AND LIQUOR LICENSE (subject to BC Liquor transfer approval), club shuttle service vehicle, 1600sf storage shop and additional C-Can storage along rear alley.

Business is currently open 2 nights a week with DJ and occasional live entertainment.

Potential to extend operating hours and expand commercial kitchen use to include private parties and happy hour specials.

Excellent Income Producing Opportunity!

MLS® C8013087 Please DO NOT Discuss With Staff or drop in during business hours.

Call Ron for Details and Financial information.

Two Year non-disclosure/confidentiality agreement required prior to provision of detailed information.

Asking $2.2 Million

Manager's home on site with lagoon & cistern currently leased (not been valued into the asking price which represents the Development Land value only).

Land located along East ByPass Road just south of the Fort St John Hospital, east of schools, parks/recreation, and residential development and north of commercial and retail.

This area of the city is part of the long term expansion plan and definitely worth looking at if you are an investor or developer.

ASKING $2.48 Million MLS® C8015396

FOR SALE

Light Industrial Dawson Creek BC

Dock Terminal Facility

9.68 Acre corner lot 12,000sf Main Building consists of 15 dock level bays, 3300+sf office. Additional Buildings 7200+/-sf shop with 3 drive thru bays and 1600sf storage shop

ASKING $2.5 Million Exclusive

WHY LIST YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WITH NORTHEAST BC REALTY RON RODGERS Ron has over 32+ years real estate experience in northeast BC

NorthEast BC Realty is the only real estate office in northern BC that focuses on commercial real estate and offers additional insight specific to commercial real estate Ron has been the top selling commercial Realtor in this area for over 7 years & counting

(TOP DOLLAR and/or MOST NUMBER OF UNITS SOLD for BCNREB MLS)

By listing your commercial property for sale or lease with Ron Rodgers of NorthEast BC Realty, you will have someone who has a wealth of knowledge, experience and commercial oriented resources within the industry working on your behalf.

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 A11

business

LNG Canada aims for construction start this year, but hurdles remain In 2016, when LNG Canada hit the pause button on its multi-billion dollar liquefied natural gas project in Kitimat, CEO Andy Calitz made it clear the project was “delayed not cancelled.”

“The project in Canada is FID ready and has not been cancelled,” Calitz said in 2016.

At a Globe conference forum on energy transition March 14, Calitz confirmed the company plans to seek a final investment decision from the main partners, which includes Royal Dutch Shell, this year.

Despite skepticism that a large LNG project will ever be built in B.C., both Calitz and Shell senior executives have been telegraphing their intent to move ahead with LNG Canada project for months now, and have said they expect to make a final investment decision in 2018.

Calitz went a bit further last week, saychung chow Photo ing the goal was to start construction this LNG Canada CEO Andy Calitz said the company’s multi-billion dollar liquefied natural gas project in year.

“When we paused LNG Canada in 2016, Kitimat has been delayed but not cancelled. when oil prices were $35 and there was no market for LNG in Asia, at the time we said The project has all of its environmental cost of $40 billion, although LNG Canada we wanted to be in construction in 2018,” approvals in place, as well as agreements has never put a firm number to the proCalitz said, in answer to a question about with First Nations. ject. That includes the LNG plant itself, a the timing of a final investment decision.

While he conceded there are significant new pipeline and upstream natural gas “My answer remains unchanged,” he challenges to building a new LNG project assets. said, adding LNG Canada is preparing fi- of the size LNG Canada has in mind – not “LNG Canada will be the largest infranal investment documents for approval of the least of which is building a new gas structure project ever launched in this the stakeholders. pipeline across a mountain range – Calitz country, and there is no shortage of fundThose stakeholders include Shell, and also said there are some distinct advant- ing for it for the so many reasons that it three of Asia’s biggest companies: Pet- ages, one of them being short shipping makes sense,” Calitz said at last week’s enroChina, Kogas and Mitsubishi. distanced to Asia. ergy transition forum.

LNG Canada originally had planned to The LNG Canada project has been One of the hurdles the company still make a final investment decision in 2016. roughly estimated to have an all-in capital faces is at the federal level. Last year,

Canada slapped tariffs on fabricated steel imports from China, South Korea and Spain.

Since the large LNG modules that are needed cannot be built in Canada, LNG Canada would need to bring them in from Asia. Unless the project gets an exemption from the federal government, the tariffs would add significant costs to the project.

In a statement, Finance Canada did not answer whether a ruling had been made to exempt the LNG Canada project from the tariffs.

“We are aware of Canadian LNG proponents’ concerns about the potential impacts of the imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on fabricated imported steel components, or FISC,” a spokesman said.

“Finance Canada continues to carefully monitor this issue, and we are conducting normal due diligence and consultation with implicated stakeholders as we do when considering all remission requests.”

The 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline, approved for construction by the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission in 2016, would bring gas from the Groundbirch area to the LNG Canada facility.

Mitsubishi is a member of the Cutbank Ridge partnership with Encana, one of the most active drillers in B.C. over the last six months, with 145 wells drilled.

Crews broke ground on the LNG Canada site in early December 2015.

— Business in Vancouver, Alaska Highway News

Province announces hydraulic fracturing review The B.C. government has appointed a three-member panel to undertake a review of hydraulic fracturing.

Energy minister Michelle Mungall announced Thursday the scope of the review, expected to be completed by the end of the year. The panel will study the hydraulic fracturing process and its impact on earthquakes, water quality and quantity, and fugitive emissions.

The panel will also review

regulations and and provide recommendations to minimize environmental risks, Mungall said.

“Protecting our air, land and water is central to our government’s direction of sustainably developing the province’s resources and creating jobs for British Columbians,” Mungall said in a statement.

“We know British Columbians have questions about hydraulic fracturing. It’s our job

to make sure that natural gas operations continue to meet world-class standards and best practices for environmental protection.”

Included on the panel are hydrogeologist Diana M. Allen, a professor at Simon Fraser University; Erik Eberhardt, a geological engineering professor at the University of British Columbia; and Amanda Bustin, a geological engineer and geophysicist.

Nalaine Morin advise the panel on traditional Indigenous knowledge.

The panel will collect information and scientific evidence from organizations, industry experts, Northeast B.C. communities, Treaty 8 First Nations, and environmental groups, the province said.

Industry has used hydraulic fracturing in its drilling processes since the 1960s to extract natural gas and oil from shale

On Sale Until Mar 31st

Fort St John, 10444 100th Street

1299

1299

$

MISSION HILL FIVE VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY BC VQA Reg. $14.99 518530 750 ml

2

$

1499 MISSION HILL FIVE VINEYARDS CABERNET MERLOT BC VQA Reg. $16.99 257816 750 ml

SAVE

$

2

$

Bonus Ethical Bean coffee

FREE with purchase WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

50

LAMARCA PROSECCO Italy Reg. $17.99 321182 750 ml

SUMAC RIDGE PRIVATE RESERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER BC VQA Reg. $13.99 142893 750 ml

3899 BAILEYS IRISH CREAM Ireland 266619 1.14 L

only available at

500

1299

$

$

only available at

PUMA CHILEAN RED Chile Reg. $13.99 39407 1.5 L

1.5 LITRES! SAVE

1

2799

$

1649

1299

$

$

BAILEYS IRISH CREAM Ireland 5959 750 ml OR

$

$

GNARLY HEAD AUTHENTIC BLACK USA Reg. $16.99 5330 750 ml

SAVE

1

00

SAVE

00

only available at

SAVE

2

$

$

WISE OWL HOOTING WHITE New Zealand Reg. $14.49 3544 750 ml

SAVE E

00

1199

$

JACKSON-TRIGGS RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON BC VQA Reg. $13.99 543884 750 ml

SAVE

$

Dawson Creek, 1020 Alaska Avenue

1199

$

formations in Northeast B.C., according to the province.

Last fall, Mungall ruled out a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing when pressed by Peace River South MLA on the issue during a budget debate about the energy ministry. She said she was also impressed by industry standards in the region to recycle water throughout the fracturing process, and limit impacts on the water table.

SAVE

1

00

$

$

3149

JAMESON IRISH WHISKEY Ireland Reg. $32.99 10157 750 ml

SAVE

1

$

50

100

50

$

$

2199 FRÏS VODKA Denmark Reg. $23.99 124964 750 ml

only available at

SAVE

$

200

BC's Largest Selection of Spirits, Beer & Wine!

While supplies last. *Inventory by store will vary. Prices are subject to change without notice. In the event of a change, the product description and display price in the liquor store will prevail. Prices do not include taxes.

A12 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

Local News

Geoscience BC, UBC update Hudson’s Hope on aquifer, groundwater research tom summer Alaska Highway News

Geoscience BC Chief Scientific Officer Carlos Salas and University of BC research co-director Dr. Aaron Cahill met with Hudson’s Hope residents to release their findings on Peace Region aquifers and methane groundwater movement on March 6.

Around 20 people attended, mostly rural landowners interested in well placement for drinking water.

Salas began with his final report on the Peace Project.

In July and August 2015, electromagnetic scans were taken over an 8,000-square-kilometre section of the Peace between Hudson’s Hope, Charlie Lake, and Pink Mountain — about a quarter of the size of Vancouver Island.

The biggest finding from the survey is that Geoscience BC

hudson’s hope

news in brief Saddle Club seeks shelter repair

The Double H Saddle Club approached council for additional funding to build a new breezeway at the riding arena, after the old one partially collapsed.

Aging timber and tin contributed to the fall-in on March 11. No horses or people were hurt, and repairs are estimated at $3,000.

Council moved to amend the ask for the repairs, as the club had already been approved for $5,500 in funding for upgrading its arena bleachers with railings before the damage.

“Safety comes first,

now knows where the abundant and high quality aquifers are in the Montney play.

“For a good aquifer, you want gravel or sand, you don’t want silt and you don’t want clay,” said Salas, noting that eight shallow wells were drilled and core samples taken to compare aerial data to the reality of underground conditions.

Meanwhile, Cahill and his team have been studying natural gas movement in Beryl Prairie and Farrell Creek since last fall.

Geoscience BC and the University of BC are taking part in a new project in which 30 wells in the Peace Region will monitor groundwater for methane and other hydrocarbons.

Eight wells will be installed this summer, with a total completion date set for 2019. The wells will provide baseline data for methane and hydrocarbons levels in groundwater

close to oil and gas fracking activities.

“We’ve been doing a lot of research on groundwater with the aspect of gas leaking, that’s a big concern,” said Cahill.

“Gas migration is a really complex problem: you need people who understand the geology, people who understand groundwater, people who are experts on atmospheric processes.”

To date, there have been just 144 confirmed gas migration cases out of 24,251 energy wells in the province.

The project is being undertaken in collaboration with the BC Oil and Gas Commission, as well as Simon Fraser University and the University of Calgary.

“Our job is to put good science into British Columbians’ hands, to make informed decisions on resource development,” Salas said.

when you’re dealing with 1,200-pound animals,” said Saddle Club president Liz Haagsman. “We wanted to apply for grants to pull out a set of bleachers, so we can tie those horses away from kids.”

his class come up with a business plan for a skateboard park,” Rowe said.

Coun.

Travous Quibell helped build the original park, noting it cost $30,000 and was assembled by hand.

“It’s still in pretty good condition, it’s built to last.” said Quibell.

Skateboard park upgrades considered Council moved to look at Youth Coun. Jade Rowe’s report on the cost of building a new skate park.

Professional companies charge $40,000 for basic setups, said Rowe, adding that a park on-par with Fort St John’s concrete installs would cost much more.

Rowe added that local teacher Dillon Donahue is running a business and skateboarding class.

“I suggested that the kids in

Solar array fully operational

tom summer Photo

Carlos Salas with a groundwater grid chart during a presentation in Hudson’s Hope on March 6, 2018.

ray installed last year. Matus said the next step is to organize budgeting so that power bill deductions are accounted for through BC Hydro’s monthly crediting system.

Last year, the district installed solar panels on the arena, curling rink, district shop, tourist information centre and district office, and lagoons. volunteer nominations

The district turned on its solar power system last week.

Solar panels installed on public buildings are now live, with the exception of the outdoor swimming pool, which will operate seasonally.

“We’re online, we’re actually producing electricity,” said Chief Administrative Officer Tom Matus.

The district had a 500kW ar-

The District of Hudson’s Hope is seeking nominations for youth between the ages of 13 to 19 for ‘Youth Volunteer of the Year’ and ‘Volunteer of the Year’ for adults who have made positive contributions to the small town.

Nomination forms are available at the District Office, and hudsonshope.ca. Nominations

can also be sent via email to clerk@hudsonshope.ca with ‘Volunteer Appreciation’ in the subject line.

The deadline for nominations is April 13.

Adult recipients will have their name added to the plaque in the District’s foyer, with a monetary donation awarded to the club, organization, or charity of their choice.

Youth recipients will also have their name added to the foyer, and a donation of $1,000 can be used as a bursary or given to the club, organization or charity of their choice.

Tom Summer is a Hudson’s Hope correspondent for the Alaska Highway News.

Email your news tips to thomas.a.summer@gmail. com.

House

of the

STEVENSON

Natural light washes into the vaulted entry through an arched-top, griddedglass transom that crowns the doubledoor entry. Even more striking, the rear wall of the home is more glass than solid walls, and almost all of the windows are capped by transoms. That makes for an exceptionally bright home.

On the right side of the vaulted entry hall, double doors open into what could be a study, home office, or even a fourth bedroom, if needed. A roomy coat closet is on the left side of the entry, just before a hallway that runs perpendicular to it. The owners' suite anchors the left end, family gathering spaces are straight ahead, and bedrooms are to the right.

Storage closets, including a built-in china hutch just outside the dining room, line the hallway.

A wide arched opening leads into the vaulted great room. French doors on the far side open onto a deck that spans most of the rear. Flames dancing in the two-sided gas fireplace can be enjoyed from both the vaulted great room and the octagonal dining room.

Stevenson PLAN 10-502

Living Area 2810 sq.ft.

Garage 729 sq.ft.

Dimensions 73' x 59'

Deck

Deck

2000 SERIES www.AssociatedDesigns.com

In the Stevenson's kitchen, counters wrap around three sides of a wide window bay, while a centrally placed cooktop work island adds even more work space. A roomy walk-in pantry nestles into a corner next to the naturally bright vaulted sun room. Luxury amenities in the vaulted owners' suite include a vista sitting room and a plush private bathroom.

Associated Designs is the original source for the Stevenson 10-502. For more information or to view other designs, visit www.AssociatedDesigns. com or call 800-634-0123.

Kitchen

Sitting 12' x 9'8''

Vaulted Sun Room 10' x 15'

Vaulted Great Room 17'4'' x 24'2''

Vaulted Owners’ Suite 15'6'' x 18'10''

Dining 15'2'' x 15' Bedroom 11'2'' x 11'10''

Utility

The custom brick work and stone veneer of the Stevenson's lofty and gently arched entry exude a distinctly European charm. While this contemporary ranch-style home was designed for construction on a lot with a rear down slope, it could just as easily be built on a flat parcel.

3-Car Garage 29'2'' x 21'6''

© 2018 Associated Designs, Inc.

Workshop/ Storage 8'2'' x 9'8''

Vaulted Entry

Study 11'2'' x 14'4''

Bedroom 11'2'' x 14'2''

Covered Entry

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

$549,900

4 bedrooms, 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

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 A13

Local News

matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Taylor residents will see their tax rates increase five per cent this year, but the average homeowner will pay the same as last year as property values in the district continue to decline.

Council and residents got an update on the district’s fiveyear financial plan Monday, which forecasts a $13.7-million balanced budget for 2018.

Total operating expenses are budgeted at $6.3 million, while capital spending is budgeted at $7.4 million. The budget sets aside $573,000 for reserves.

The budget calls for residential tax rates to increase 16 cents, up from $3.24 to $3.40 per $1,000 of assessed value. It means the average homeowner will still pay around $1,088 in taxes under the formula, after homes values dropped an average of six per cent for 2018. The average home value in the district dropped from $336,000 to $320,000 year-over-year.

Mayor Rob Fraser characterized the budget as status quo when it comes to operational spending to maintain service levels, and aggressive on its capital spending as the district gears up to develop the Parcel Z subdivision.

“Their tax rate is going up only because the value of their homes went down,” Fraser said. “To maintain any service level, we have to try to get the same amount of money.”

The district expects to collect an extra $443,000 in rev-

enues this year, driven largely by an increase in provincial grants through the Peace River Agreement, 85 per cent of which goes into reserves to support capital funding, according to finance director Mike McPhail.

The district expects to collect an extra $30,000 in taxes this year from properties that bucked the assessment trend this year and will end up paying more. The district is planning to hold the line on industrial tax rates, while business tax rates are proposed to rise 32 cents, from $5.22 to $5.55, also due to assessment declines.

The district has budgeted $1.5 million for golf course operations, $2.2 million for community services and parks and recreation, and $540,182 for protective services.

The district is forecasting a $63,000 increase in operating spending, driven largely by two per cent wage increases across the board.

Half of the district’s capital budget, $3.7 million, is earmarked for borrowing for the Parcel Z subdivision development, with a draft loan bylaw currently being reviewed by the province before going to voters for approval.

Other major capital projects this year include $897,000 for sewer and road work to Pine Avenue West, $600,000 toward the purchase of a new fire truck, and $325,000 for a standby generator for the water plant.

The budget is slated for first three readings at the next council meeting on April 3.

Cross- court

matt preprost Photo

Are you 50+ and would like a place to socialize and make new friends? If so, please join us on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the senior’s hall. Be part of the fun at the Fort St. John 50+ Club located at 10908 100th Street. We offer activities such as floor curling, table tennis, cards, cribbage, shuffleboard, pool/billiards, and carpet bowling. Pickle ball is held on Tuesday and Thursdays evenings at 7 p.m. at the Duncan Cran School gym.

Our members would like to extend a friendly welcome to visit our centre. For more information please call 250785-7897, Floyd at 250-787-1920, or Annette (pickle ball) at 250-793-4394. Above: Dorothy Dyer and Eira Lucas play a game of table tennis with Don Clayson at the senior’s hall.

New caretakers hired for Peace Island Park matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Adam and Nancy Ragan have been hired as the new caretakers for Peace Island Park.

The Ragans introduced themselves to District of Taylor councillors Monday, and made the move after managing a campground and RV park in Lac la Hache.

“It’s something we’re passionate about,” Adam Ragan said. “We always loved camping and thought what better way to enjoy it more than working a campground.”

The Ragans take over from Barb Bell, who retired from her post after a decade of managing the park.

Mayor Rob Fraser said the district was looking for a family operator instead of a corporate operator to maintain the family-friendly 109-hectare park.

“It felt right to use to have someone who chose the community as a place to live,” Fraser said. “Peace Island Park is an important part of the community. We want to make the park better and better every single year.”

The district plans to spend

$204,784 on the park’s operations in 2018, and another $300,000 on capital improvements over the next five years.

The Ragans made headlines last summer during the Cariboo wildfires after hosting evacuees at the Fircrest RV Resort on Lac la Hache despite being under an evacuation alert themselves.

The Ragans noted they have high standards to meet in succeeding Bell.

“We have big shoes to fill, but we’re hoping two heads are better than one,” Nancy Ragan said.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY CALL .. TO PLACE YOUR AD

DECOR

PAINTING Box 297 Charlie Lake, BC V0C 1H0

RESTAURANTS

Brenda Arsenault

250-262-1278

Coat of Many Colours

Painting

Open 7 Days a Week: 5:30am - 10:00pm

Consider it Covered Email: cmcpainting99@gmail.com

RENTALS

ROOFING

2 or 3 Bedroom Townhouses

NOW AVAILABLE Willow View Terrace

Looking for a 3 bdrm, 1.5 bath Townhome?

Available Immediately is a bright and inviting home that features in-suite laundry, back patio, 2 parking stalls and even if you don’t drive the bus stop is only a 3 minute walk!

CALL: 250-782-6601 and view TODAY!

48293

www.alaskahighwaynews.ca

Ryan Wallace

Advertising Manager Email: rwallace@ahnfsj.ca | Office: 250-785-5631 9916 98 Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3T8

Brenda Piper Sales Associate

Email: bpiper@ahnfsj.ca | Office: 250-785-5631 9916 98 Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3T8

www.alaskahighwaynews.ca

DENTURES

250-843-7885

dine in • take out • catering

R0051169490

Taylor tax rates to rise in status quo budget for 2018

A14 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

PERSPECTIVES

Hearts Alight

W

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) Today Mercury goes retrograde in your sign, which will attract people from your past back into your world, especially expartners and old friends. Get ready!

TAURUS (APRIL 20 TO MAY 20) You will be successful doing research in the next few weeks, because retrograde Mercury will help you. If you need to study history or find solutions to old problems — go for it.

GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) Your ruler Mercury goes retrograde today, which is why old friends are popping up out of the woodwork. Expect to hear from people from your past, including people you knew from clubs and organizations.

CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) You will be in contact with parents and bosses you have not seen for a while during the next few weeks. This might be your opportunity for closure or a chance to clear the air.

LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) During the next few weeks, you will finish school papers, books or writing projects, because studying the past will be easy.

Travel might be delayed.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) You have a wonderful opportunity during the next few weeks to wrap up unfinished projects related to insurance, inheritances and shared

For Thursday March 22 2018

property. Make this opportunity work for you.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) You like to look good. Therefore, be forewarned that you will bump into ex-partners during the next few weeks. Look sharp, because living well is the best revenge.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) At work you will be plagued with silly errors due to misplaced papers, late deliveries, mixedup communications and staff shortages. Cope as best you can.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) Many of you will encounter old flames in the next few weeks.

Others will deal with past issues with children. Make this work for you.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) Expect to hear from family members you haven’t seen in a while. The next few weeks are a good time to finish repair projects at home.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) Mercury retrograde will cause transportation delays for you during the next few weeks due to missed buses and trains, car breakdowns and confused schedules. Good luck.

hen my mother was a young woman in Scotland, her elder brother was distraught over a broken engagement.

My mother devoted the Nine Fridays to her brother, praying to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for her brother’s broken heart to mend. When I was a young woman, I did the same for my elder sister struggling with a broken relationship of her own.

The tradition of attending Mass on the First Friday of each month for nine consecutive Fridays comes from St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Catholic nun and mystic. On December 27, 1673, Jesus disclosed to Sister Margaret Mary the Nine Fridays’ devotion. One was to receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of each month for nine consecutive Fridays.

One was to sit in Eucharistic adoration at a Holy Hour on Thursdays, meditating on Jesus’ Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, a practice that later became widespread among Catholics. Devotees were to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart nineteen days after Pentecost, on a Friday.

In return, Christ promised that He would give participants the necessary graces for life, peace in their families, consolation in all their troubles, and refuge in life and death. He promised to abundantly bless all their undertakings and He also promised an infinite ocean of mercy. He said that tepid souls would become fervent, and fervent souls would speedily gain perfection. He promised to give priests the power to touch the most hardened of hearts, and that devotees would have their names eternally written in His Heart.

Christ also promised to bless places where the image of His Sacred Heart was exposed and venerated.

My mother’s childhood home was bombed by the Luftwaffe during WWII. For three consecutive nights — March 13, 14 and 15, 1941 — bombs fell on Clydebank, Scotland resulting in 528 deaths and 617 serious injuries.

12,000 houses were damaged and 4,300 homes were completely destroyed.

As German bombs rained from the sky, my mother, age two, stood in her crib beneath

Angela Griffin PEACE REFLECTIONS

a picture of the Sacred Heart.

That was the only wall left standing, and she emerged unscathed. That same picture now hangs in her Canadian home.

More than 11,000 people were rendered homeless after the Clydebank Blitz. My mother and her seven brothers and sisters were separated, billeted in homes about town.

Her father was in hospital, unable to walk, for two years.

The Sacred Heart appeared at the foot of my grandfather’s hospital bed one night and raised His right hand in Holy Benediction over him.

The following morning, my grandfather walked out of the hospital and reunited his family under one roof again.

They lived in a country cottage in Kirkintilloch, a cottage given to them by the Girl Guides, until the end of the war, and enjoyed huge duck eggs for breakfast each morning in spite of severe food rations.

Those were the happiest years of their lives as a young family.

After my mother prayed for her brother, when both were still in their twenties, to the Sacred Heart over nine consecutive Fridays, her brother healed and eventually married another. After my Nine Friday devotion for my sister, her relationship was restored; they eventually married and had four lovely children together.

Fort St. John is blessed to have Exposition, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on the First Friday of each month after the 7 pm Mass at the Church of the Resurrection. It’s a beautiful, uplifting service during which the celebrant and congregation partially pray and sing in Latin.

All are welcome.

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.

Shifting Attitude on Gratitude Dear Annie: I’m in my late 30s.

I’ve read the many letters you’ve printed about how thank-you notes have gone the way of the dodo. I have a different angle on this complaint.

Let me preface this by saying that I am not perfect in this realm. It took my wife and me forever to get around to sending thank-you notes after our wedding, and I think that most of the readers who have weighed in are expecting too much.

That said, I am noticing a trend of giving no thanks at all. When I get a gift or someone does a favor for me, I send thanks via email or text (though I realize that a handwritten note or a phone call would be better). That’s all I expect myself, but some of my peers don’t even text a thank-you when I give them something. I find that very annoying.

I used to chalk up this thankyou note issue to laziness, but I’m beginning to agree with your readers who say that gratitude is trending down. It’s disturbing. It takes next to no time to shoot off a quick “Thanks for that!” on your smartphone. -- You’re Welcome

Dear You’re Welcome: Laziness is the enemy of gratitude, PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MARCH 20) and reading your letter I have to Checks in the mail will be late agree that it seems to have the in the next few weeks. If looking upper hand in a big way. Thanks for a job, go back to wherever to technology, it’s easier than ever you applied or worked before for to be self-absorbed and unappreyour best chance. ciative of others; to do whatever’s

Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE

convenient.

But the good news is that gratitude is also the enemy of laziness.

Fight the good fight by looking for ways to be more thankful in your own life every day. Perhaps you will be a positive influence on your friends. In the meantime, I’d stop sending them presents.

Redirect your generous energy toward charitable causes or loved ones who will really appreciate it.

Dear Annie: Your advice to Granddad’s Girl about speaking to him about his driving abilities fell far short. This man very likely has early dementia, as evidenced by his geographic disorientation.

His continued driving is a huge risk to himself and others. His family needs to insist he see his doctor, accompanied by a family member, to discuss this. I am a retired internist, and I often had to deal with this difficult problem. This was often scheduled as a “check up” to avoid alarming the elderly patient.

Discussion of driving abilities and tests of memory, spatial orientation, reflexes and executive functioning can be done in the office. Almost all states have laws

requiring or allowing physicians to report impaired or potentially impaired drivers.

Going beyond having the DMV test his driving abilities, which might lead to his license being revoked, I would encourage the family to disable or remove his car. Simply taking his keys away is not enough. One of my wily elderly patients simply had the car towed and the ignition system replaced.

This is a very contentious problem in my experience, because it means a loss of independence, and often, a move to an assisted living facility or the home of a family member. These were some of most difficult discussions I had with patients and family, but they were necessary for the safety of the patient and the public because of the high risk of accidents. -- Retired Oregon Internist Dear Retired Oregon Internist: You’re right. In my response, I should have been more emphatic about the importance of getting her grandfather a medical evaluation. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

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, MARCH 22, 2018 A15

Coffee Corner

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

SOLD $567,500 9813 269 Rd MLS# R2208403

$159,900 5782 Baldonnel Rd MLS# R2149165

2,899 sq. ft 3 bedroom/2 bath family home sitting on 5 acres just minutes from FSJ waiting for a new owner.

$789,900 13318 Gourley Sub MLS# R2167731

Great place to start. 2 bdrm (could be 3) 1976 mobile on 1 acre 10 minutes from Fort St John.

Picture perfect country property 18 minutes from town. 2 storey 4 bed 2970 sq ft home on 10 acres.

$15.50/sq. ft + NNN C, 10503 - 89 Ave, MLS# C8012981

$2,100,000 8300 - 21 Street, DC MLS# C8015114

$23/sq. ft + NNN 11579- 85 Chevron Front, MLS# C8014514

3600 sq. ft. attached shop available for lease.

Access to Alaska Highway, 2 storey office bldg Office reception area +3000 sq ft 2 bays shopw.

No drop-ins. w/ 7 offices, attached 18,000 sq. ft. shop.

TODAYS PUZZLE

$549,900 10904 111 Ave, MLS# R2233389

Stunning home in desired Westridge with all the features you could want! Vaulted ceilings, hardwood & tile floors, stone fireplace and more!

$1,500,000 10231 - 85 Ave, DC, MLS# C8017317

Industrial 4.5 acres completely chain link fenced. Yard is

8,000 sq. ft. Dream building situated on 2.5 acres in compacted and graveled with gate. Power shed on steel Dawson Creek. Level/graveled yard is fully fenced. pilings, open covered storage shed. Ready for occupancy.

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

• • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • •

ABSTRACT ANAGRAM BOXES BRAIN CELL CHALLENGE CIPHER CLUES CROSSWORD CRYPTIC CRYPTOGRAM DECODE

• • • • • • • • • • • •

DETECTIVE ENIGMA HANGMAN HORIZONTAL JIGSAW LOGIC MOVE NUMBERS ORGANIZE PUZZLE RUBIK SCRABBLE

SCRAMBLE SEARCH SOLUTIONS SOLVER SORT STACK SUDOKU TEASER TEST TRIVIA VERTICAL WORDS

TODAY’S PUZZLE 17. Fathers

DRAW THE MIRROR IMAGE OF THE PICTURE YOU SEE 20. Clothes

21. Opera’s Callas

Material for your weekly game page

23. Lentil dish

Q:

26. Make sense of a language

fly Why do birds winter? south for the A: It’s easier than walking.

25. Energy-saving module

27. Hurries through

29. Songs to one’s lover

30. Name given to plant groups

Q:

32. Improves

Why did the M&M go to college?

A: Because he wan ted to be a Smartie.

34. Patriotic women

35. Inflamed swelling on the eyelid

37. Instrument in Indian music 40. Request

Q:

42. Make into leather without using tannin

What kind of key opens a banana?

A: A monkey.

43. Defies

6. Married woman

9. Nocturnal rodent

13. Suffix

14. A way to disappoint 15. Saddle horse

16. West African country 17. Philippine island 18. “Girls” creator Dunham 19. A type of twin 21. Groans

22. Infections

23. What a beaver makes 24. Thou

25. Make a mistake 28. Receive 29. Dresses

31. Burn the surface of 33. Where coaches observe

36. Ceremonial offices 38. Paddle

39. The body’s main artery

41. Altered the original state

45. Short-billed rails 46. Northern Thai province

48. Albanian monetary unit

49. Who the Wolverines play for 51. Oath

52. Astronomical period 54. A single unit

56. Presides over 60. Spoiled tot 61. Hillsides

62. Fertility god

city

3. Unit of length

4. Type of electricity 5. Article

6. Mothers

7. Monetary unit

8. Single Lens Reflex

9. Tan-colored horses

10. Region

11. Cautious in spending money 12. Belittle

14. Sarcastic

47. Neither

49. Flower cluster

50. Phonological unit

Can you find the matching pair?

52. Leaves in water 53. Cavalry-sword

55. Famed American cartoonist

1

2

56. Messenger ribonucleic acid

3

57. Scarlett’s home 58. Make

59. Stony waste matter

61. What to do at auction 65. Incorrect letters

5 6 4

63. Assuage

64. Signs a contract

65. Ancient Greek war dance 66. Allows

67. Lunar crater

68. Crash a motorcycle (Brit. slang) CLUES DOWN

1. Loose-fitting undergarment

2. Western Romanian

PREVIOUS PUZZLES ANSWERS

1. Punctuation mark

44. Alleges

9

7

8

10 ANSWER: NO. 2 AND NO. 9

CLUES ACROSS

A16 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

Local News litter from a1

It’s the height of provincial hockey tournament season in Fort St. John, and Dakounina says the city should be beefing up its enforcement and prevention actions to keep up appearances.

“They do it on purpose: we clean it up and the next day there’s even more garbage,”

Dakounina said of the litterers.

“It’s a disgrace for the city. We have people from all over the province coming here. We cannot keep up with it. It happens every night.”

The city confirmed it has reported two incidents of loitering and littering at its recreation facilities to police. The

Clean.

Fluff.

Fold.

Faster!

A SH R T

CAN BIN GO

BARRELL RACE

April 14, 2018 Lakota Centre Dawson Creek

city doesn’t have a littering or a loitering bylaw, however, there are provincial laws against it, and mischief charges are allowed under the criminal code.

“RCMP do routine patrols of the recreation campus as their schedules allow,” a city spokesperson said.

“If anyone witnesses crim-

inal behaviour, they are encouraged to report it to the RCMP. RCMP will respond to reports on a priority basis. For example, a report of public intoxication is prioritized higher than a report of littering, though both may be responded to depending on the availability of officers.”

As the snow melts and spring turns to summer, Dakounia fears the problem will only become worse. Used condoms and needles are often found in the bushes behind the rec complex, she said.

“It bugs me so much,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful city, and they don’t care.”

No time for laundry?

Drop it off, and let us do the dirty work!

Get your clothes cleaner faster with our high-efficiency washers and dryers, including oversized units for extra-large loads.

• Free Wifi • Coin Change • Detergent Vending • Snacks, Soda & Television • Commercial Pickup & Delivery Join us at www.facebook.com/ groups/355958451280169/ for special offers and information!

GCM

ECO FRIENDLY CLEANER

LAUNDRY SERVICES

800-106TH AVE • DAWSON CREEK • BC 250-782-9389

All Services in House

Open Daily: 8:00 am-8:00 pm

250-782-9389 • 800 - 106th Ave • Dawson Creek

IT’S

INVENTORY

TIME

March 31 is our year end...

So March 31 is inventory time...

So we need to reduce inventory which means...

HUGE SAVINGS ON IN STOCK ITEMS CARPET, VINYL, CERAMICS, PAINT & AREA RUGS

WE WOULD RATHER SELL IT, THAN COUNT IT We are still the in town Benjamin Moore dealer for paint and accessories and we offer Air miles, free quotes and free consult /expert advice on flooring, paint and window blinds.

787-1842

10020-96 Ave., Fort St. John, BC V1J 1L3 Website: www.braunsflooring.com

Sports & Leisure

THURSDAY MARCH 22, 2018 CONTACT US 250-785-5631 editor@ahnfsj.ca

STREEPERS DOMINATE IN FAIRBANKS

BRAUN MEDALS AT CANWEST

SPORTS B2

SPORTS B3

B

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

PHONE: 250-785-0463

Am I the only one against Tiger?

Dillon Giancola THE DILL ZONE

T MATT PREPROST PHOTO

The Fort St. John Senior Flyers are the 2018 Campbell Cup Champions. The Flyers beat the Falher Pirates 7-6 on March 13, 2018, to win the NPHL final in five games. Visit alaskahighwaynews.ca/photos for a gallery of highlights from the game.

Flyers finally take back Campbell Cup DILLON GIANCOLA sports@ahnfsj.ca

Jeff Shipton, the captain and centre for the Fort St. John Senior Flyers, won the Campbell Cup in his first year with the team, the 200809 season. Who could have guessed he would have to wait until his 10th season with the team until he would hoist the Campbell Cup again?

But that’s how long it took the Flyers to get back to the

NPHL final and win the Campbell Cup, which they did on March 13, beating the Falher Pirates 7-6 and taking the final series in five games to end an outstanding 201718 season.

It wasn’t all disappointment for the Flyers, however. Following the Campbell Cup-winning team in 2009, the Flyers were deemed ineligible to participate in the NPHL playoffs, because they were playing at a triple A level.

Basically, they were too good.

As a result, the Flyers spent four seasons focused on the prestigious Allan Cup, which they hosted and won in 2010, and the Savage Cup, awarded to the best triple A team in B.C. But the inability to compete in a full season and playoffs was lacking. The team returned to double A and NPHL playoff eligibility in 2013-14, but the Campbell Cup eluded them for four years, until last week.

“It’s been a long, heavy

grind. But this is what we play for every year and this one is right up there,” Shipton said.

Paul van Nostrand, president of the Flyers since 2008, was appreciative of all who helped the Flyers reach this level.

“It’s a great feeling and accomplishment by our organization.

It’s very satisfying to finally achieve that this year,” he said.

See FLYERS on B4

DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO

Connor Bowie tried to will the NEBC Trackers to win in their first game of the 2018 Midget Tier 1 BC Hockey Championships on March 19. The Trackers lost 5-4 to the Prince George Cougars. Visit alaskahighwaynews.ca to stay up to speed with the tournament. The final is March 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Sims, Young, and Pomeroy at nationals this week DILLON GIANCOLA sports@ahnfsj.ca

The trio of Nick Young, Brayden Sims, and Lincoln Pomeroy, who fight out of the Fivestar Boxing Academy, had a goal of making nationals at the start of the season.

That moment is finally here, as the 2018 Super Channel Championships begin next week in Edmonton, March 26 to April 1.

The three fighters, along

with coach Justin Donally, just returned from Salmon Arm where they were attending Boxing B.C.’s provincial training camp in preparation for nationals.

Each fighter faces a different challenge in Edmonton. Sims has a full weight class of eight fighters, Young has six fighters in his class, and Pomeroy will be one of four fighters in his weight class.

“I think we have a good

chance at bringing home three gold medals. We have our work cut out for us but I think we’ll perform very well,” Young said.

Donally likes where the three fighters are at headed into nationals. “I feel good.

I don’t worry about who they’re fighting, just that we’re as prepared as we can be. These guys are workers and they’re tough, they’re northern boys,” Donally said.

All three fighters have been

training every day for weeks since provincials, focusing on their cardio.

“This is the best training I’ve ever had and I’m as prepared as I can be. I just want to stand my ground and fight my best fight,” said Pomeroy.

Sims is equally confident.

“The competition seems pretty strong but I think I’ve got them beat.”

Visit alaskahighwaynews. ca to follow the fighters.

he sports scene is buzzing right now, both locally and professionally, but one major story is causing me distress.

For now, I’m trying to ignore it as much as I can, because in less than two weeks sports fans will be up to their ears in all the talk about how “Tiger Woods is back.”

I, for one, can’t handle it. I’m especially upset that I can’t just laugh it off and say people are dreaming and Woods has no chance.

He is coming off a second-place finish at the Valspar Championship March 8 to 11, and a fifth-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational March 15 to 18. I never thought Woods would win another PGA tournament, much less a major, but he is playing his best golf of the last five years just two weeks out of the 2018 Masters.

I hate to admit it, but Tiger has a shot. But here’s what has me confused — doesn’t anybody else dislike him? Everything I read and listen to has sports pundits singing Tiger’s praises, declaring how good a Tiger run would be for the sport of golf, and that when he’s in contention on a Sunday, there’s no sporting event like it.

In the last two months, not once have I heard someone say, “but Tiger Woods kind of sucks, and he’s not a good guy, and we shouldn’t be cheering for him.”

Maybe I’m just a hater, but I don’t think so. I used to blindly hate tremendous athletes like Lebron James and Peyton Manning, but then I got over it.

I can more than appreciate how good Tiger Woods was in his prime, and how massive a comeback would be. I just don’t want to see it happen.

Unlike most people, I never liked Tiger. I normally ride for the underdog. Except Roger Federer. He’s never been an underdog in his life. He also seems like a great person.

I’m not one to judge, and cheering for jerks is fine — I kind of cheer for Floyd Mayweather Jr., which is pretty indefensible — but this is the one case where everyone is cheering for one guy only.

This is a little petty, but I think my disdain for Tiger comes from an interview he did when he was king of the golf world. Some Canadian reporter thought it would be a good idea to ask Woods who he thought would win a particular NHL playoff series that year.

I cringed, knowing what was to come. Woods laughed in the reporter’s face, and said that nobody cares about hockey anymore. He wasn’t really wrong, but I hated how smug he was when he said it.

Maybe it’s just my Canadian insecurity complex kicking in, and I should just suck it up and enjoy watching history in the making. But I’m not going to.

Dillon Giancola covers Peace Region sports for the Alaska Highway News.

Email him at sports@ahnfsj.ca.

BANNISTER DAWSON CREEK

BANNISTER DAWSON CREEK

A “Family” Business with “Family” Values

250.782.8589 1609 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC

Bannisterford.com

This week’s customer is Melody Pierce pictured with her sister Rhoda. Melody was referred to Bannister Ford by a good friend to get her first new car. It was really a case of love at first sight, and after a test drive in the New Ford Fusion, it was a done deal! Why not get yourself a Bannister deal from Kelly TODAY!

R0011503213

B2 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

Local Sports

Streepers finish first and second

One game away

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner photo

Husband and wife duo Buddy and Lina Streeper celebrate after placing first and second, respectively, in the 2018 CGI Open North American Championship Sled Dog Race on March 18.

dillon giancola Photo

Nolan Legace celebrates his second goal of the Huskies 7-4 win in game three against the North Peace Navigators on March 18. Up 2-1 in the series, the Huskies had an opportunity to clinch the series and the NWJHL championship in Peace River Tuesday nightafter press time. Head to alaskahighwaynews.ca for the story.

supplied photo

The U14 Northern Strikers competed at provincials in Edmonton last weekend, with an 0-2-1 record.

The U16 boys and U16 girls teams went as well, with records of 0-3 and 0-2-1, respectively.

R0021217976

Buddy and Lina Streeper continued their outstanding 2018 season with a one-two finish in the GCI Open North American Championship Sled Dog Race in Fairbanks, Alaska this weekend.

Buddy finished the three-day race in 235 minutes and 30 seconds, while Lina had a time of 237 minutes.

Lina was third headed into the final day, and posted the fastest time on Sunday with a time of 97 minutes and 25 seconds to move up a spot.

“It was awesome, never has a Kennel had that much dominance and it’s great,” Buddy said.

It was redemption for Buddy, who finished second in this race a year ago. The win in Fairbanks comes on the heels of him winning the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship in Anchorage on Feb. 25. He also finished second in that race in 2017.

For Lina, this is her second big finish in two months, after winning the Pedigree Stage Stop in February.

The Streepers, who own and run Streeper Kennels in Fort Nelson, have been in the sled dog game a long

time, and are as dominant as ever.

“We work hard. We know what to do and how to win. With that recipe you know where to focus your energy,” Buddy said.

The Streepers have two more races before the season is over — one in Tok, Alaska, and one in the Northwest Territories.

GOING VIRAL Buddy streamed live video of him and his team during the race on the first and third day. Viewers got a rare look into just what goes on during a championship sled dog race, and Buddy’s commentary helps give some insight.

Buddy said that the video has gone somewhat viral, and he was been surprised by the reaction.

“There’s been 30 newspapers from all over North America contacting me asking what’s going on. It’s really catching on, and allows the spectator to get into the driver’s seat.”

The video can be seen on the Streeper Kennels Racing Sled Dog Facebook Page and on YouTube.

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

This Week: The WGC - Match Play Championship

The World Golf Championships (WGC) Match Play Championship started in 1999 and is one of the four WGC events on the PGA Tour Defending: Dustin Johnson each year. Eligibility for this event Winner’s Purse: $1,660,000 consists of the top 64 available players from the Official World Golf Ranking. The championship will start with pool play, with 16 groups of four players playing roundrobin matches, Wednesday through Friday. The winners of each group will advance to a single-elimination bracket on the weekend, with the round of 16 and quarterfinals on Saturday, and the semifinals, finals, and consolation match on Sunday.

Austin Country Club Austin, Texas 7,108 yards, Par 71

Golf TV Schedule

What is the only major championship Rory McIlroy has never won? a) Masters b) British Open Answer: a) Masters

Rory McIlroy ran off five Tournament Results birdies over his last six holes 1. Rory McIlroy and closed with an 8-under 64 Score: -18 Earnings: $1,602,000 for a three-shot victory in the 2. Bryson DeChambeau Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.

Score: -15 Earnings: $961,200 It was his first victory on the PGA 3. Justin Rose Tour since the Tour Championship Score: -14 on Sept. 25, 2016, the day Palmer Earnings: $605,200 died. “I wish I walked up that hill and got a handshake from him,” McIlroy said. “But I’m so happy to put my name on that trophy.” Bryson DeChambeau fired a closing 68 to take second, one stroke ahead of Justin Rose, who shot a final round 67.

Golfing News

WGC - Match Play Championship Day Time Network Wednesday 2:00pm-8:00pm GOLF Thursday 2:00pm-8:00pm GOLF Friday 2:00pm-8:00pm GOLF Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm GOLF Saturday 2:00pm-6:00pm NBC Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm GOLF Sunday 3:00pm-7:00pm NBC

Golf Trivia

Last Week: Rory McIlroy won at Bay Hill

?

c) US Open d) PGA Championship

After shooting 67 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday to move within two shots of the lead, Rory McIlroy cited another instance of poor fan behavior he experienced during his round. “There was one guy out there who kept yelling my wife’s name,” McIlroy said. “I was going to go over and have a chat with him. I don’t know, I think that they need to limit alcohol sales on the course.” Tiger Woods has to deal with large galleries on a regular basis, and McIlroy estimated last month the commotion that surrounds Woods on a regular basis costs him a half shot per round.

A spectator in his gallery on Friday had to be removed for constantly yelling.

Lessons from the Golf Pro The chip-and-run shot is one of the most difficult parts of the game to master, yet it is the part of our game that we spend the least amount of time working on. This nonchalant approach to the chip shot is what separates the cream of the crop from the remainder of the field. Here are a few easy steps to practice whenever you have that difficult chip-and-run shot in front of you. Narrowing your stance is the first bit of advice. If you are a right-handed player, put more weight on your left foot to keep the loft out of your shot. When you are ready to take the shot, play the ball inside your right foot with your hands positioned ahead of the ball. Finally, make a putt-like motion, keeping your wrists firm and strike the ball with a clean, crisp stroke.

Player Profile

Rory McIlroy

Turned Professional: 2007 FedEx Cup Ranking: 24th World Ranking: 7th PGA Tour Wins: 14

FedEx Cup Standings Through March 18, 2018

1) Justin Thomas 1,573 pts. / 4 top tens

2) Patton Kizzire 1,314 pts. / 4 top tens

3) Phil Mickelson 1,149 pts. / 5 top tens

4) Dustin Johnson 1,044 pts. / 4 top tens

5) Jon Rahm

982 pts. / 2 top tens FedEx Cup Standings continued...

Player Points 6) Justin Rose 940 7) Brendan Steele 866 8) Jason Day 852 9) Tony Finau 850 10) Paul Casey 842

PLACE YOUR AD HERE!

Top 10s 4 2 2 3 3

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 B3

Local Sports

Team Giroux wins kids bonspiel

supplied photo

dillon giancola photo

From left, Victor L’heureux, Presley McKay, Wyatt Wieler, Jack Landry-Stewart, and Ani Giroux celebrate after winning the A event at the 2018 Kids Kin Curl Jamcan Curling Conspiel on March 17.

Dillon giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca

A group of first-time curlers from Ecole Central Elementary School won the A event at the 2018 Kids Kin Curl Jamcan Curling Bonspiel on March 17.

Team Giroux, consisting of eightyear-olds Presley Mckay, Victor L’heureux, and Wyatt Wieler, nineyear-old Jack Landry-Stewart, and coach Ani Giroux beat the Button Pushers in the A final at the all-kids bonspiel.

Team Haab 2, which is made up of Olivia Haab, Brigette Clarke, Avel Wuthrich, and Vienna Wuthrich, beat Team Craig in the B final, while Black Ice beat Lucky Charms to win the C event. In the skunk event, Race Car beat out Haab 1.

“It went very well. Everybody had a good time and walked away with

a prize, and a smile on their face.

I’d say that’s a success,” said Dave Stewart, current vice-president of the Fort St. John Kin Club and incoming president.

This is the second year the Kin Club has put on the event, which has been going on a long time before that.

While there were only 14 teams this year, down from 23 a year ago, there was still more than 55 curlers, and the rink was full of joy all day long.

“We like doing things for the community and families. Anything we can do in this regard to put on a smile on kids’ faces is worth it” Stewart said.

Through the event, Stewart said the Kin Club is hoping to help rejuvenate the youth curling scene in Fort St. John. Four curlers joined the youth league as a result of the bonspiel last year, and the Kin Club is hoping for the same in 2018.

Brooke Braun at the CanWest Short Track Championships last weekend. She finished in the top three in all four of her races.

Braun wins bronze at CanWest Dillon giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca

She already won national gold in long track speed skating this year, and now Brooke Braun of the Fort St. John Elks Speed Skating Club has a bronze medal from the CanWest Short Track Championships to go along with it.

Braun, along with Elks skaters Joshua Telizyn and Sidney Bennie, was in Kamloops last weekend for the meet of the best skaters in Western Canada. Telizyn finished fourth in his age group, while Bennie (12) finished 11th.

Braun, 15, had a good short track season leading up to CanWest, and saved the best for last, placing second in the 1500m and 3000m races, and third in the 200m and 400m. There were 16 skaters in her age group.

“I’m really happy with my performances. I had a really good weekend,” Braun said.

Braun is proud of the season she’s had, and said it was a result of pushing herself to be better.

“The biggest thing was I was able to focus more this year and push myself physically and mentally.”

The season is now over for the Elks, and, for Braun, it’s a bittersweet feeling.

“I had a really busy season this year between long track and short track, so I’m both happy and sad that it’s over,” Braun said.

She is planning to spend the summer building strength and stamina to do better next year, and she hopes to earn a spot in the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer next March.

PRO RACING THIS WEEK Racing g News,, Stats & Trivia Race Preview

Location: Martinsville, Va. Date: Sunday, March 25, 2:00 p.m.

Last Year’s Pole: Kyle Larson Last Year’s Winner: Brad Keselowski

Martinsville Speedway

Distance: 0.526 miles Shape: Oval

The first race at Martinsville Speedway was run on September 7, 1947 and Robert “Red” Bryon won $500 out of a $2,000 purse.

NASCAR was formed in 1948 and Martinsville Speedway ran its first NASCAR race on July 4th of that year. At slightly more than half a mile, Martinsville Speedway is the shortest track on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit but it has 800-foot straights, turns banked at only 12 degrees and has been called “two drag strips with a turnaround on each end.” Current points leader and last week’s winner, Martin Truex Jr., finished 16th in last year’s race. Jimmie Johnson leads all current drivers with 9 career wins at Martinsville. The race will be shown live on FS1 at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 25th.

Last Weekend’s Race: Martin Truex Jr. won at Fontana Martin Truex Jr. started from the pole on Sunday, then swept the first two stages and the victory, leading 125 of 200 laps in the Auto Club 400 and beating runner-up Kyle Larson to the finish line by a whopping 11.685 seconds. The victory was Truex’s first at Fontana and the 16th of his career. Kevin Harvick entered the race riding a wave of three straight wins and was the heavy favorite to win a fourth. Harvick’s bid came to an abrupt end on lap 38, when contact with Kyle Larson’s No. 42 Chevrolet sent Harvick into the outside backstretch wall, crippling the car.

Martin Truex Jr. Born: June 29, 1980 Crew Chief: Cole Pearn Car: Toyota

Year 2018 2017

Wins 1 8

Top 10s 4 26

Avg. Finish 6.6 9.4

2018 Standings Cup Series Top Ten Drivers 1) Martin Truex, Jr. 2) Kyle Busch 3) Joey Logano 4) Brad Keselowski 5) Ryan Blaney 6) Denny Hamlin 7) Kyle Larson 8) Kevin Harvick 9) Clint Bowyer 10) Aric Almirola

Points 216 207 197 183 181 176 174 170 155 148

Xfinity Series Top Ten Top 10s 4 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 2 2

Drivers 1) Elliott Sadler 2) Tyler Reddick 3) Justin Allgaier 4) Christopher Bell 5) Daniel Hemric 6) Cole Custer 7) Spencer Gallagher 8) Ryan Truex 9) Brandon Jones 10) Matt Tifft

Points 199 195 194 172 169 144 143 140 139 132

Top 10s 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2

Lowe’s will not return as sponsor for Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 in 2019 Lowe’s Companies Inc., which has been the No. 48 team’s only primary sponsor since 2001, will not return to Hendrick Motorsports in 2019. Since the No. 48 team’s debut in 2001, Lowe’s has experienced an unrivaled level of success with Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel, winning seven Cup championships, 83 pointspaying races and 35 pole positions along with 222 top-five finishes, 341 top-10s and more than 18,000 laps led. “We are so appreciative of everyone at Lowe’s. They have been amazing partners,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “With seven championships, this program has delivered far beyond what anyone could have imagined.” Lowe’s chief customer officer Michael P. McDermott said only that the company was “evolving” its strategy. Sponsor after sponsor has scaled back on full package commitments, and teams now sell open inventory on their cars in pieces. A full season sponsor is now almost unheard of in any racing series and one by one the Fortune 500 backers have altered their marketing spends. Along with crew chief Chad Knaus, the No. 48 Chevrolet team is one of the best in stock car history.

Now Hendrick Motorsports will put Johnson’s car on the open market and they can sell the inventory in pieces for the first time.

Racing Trivia Which driver has the most top 10 finishes at Martinsville? a) Richard Petty b) Jeff Gordon

?

c) Darrell Waltrip d) Bobby A.lison

PLACE YOUR AD HERE!

R0011358416

Race Details

Top News Stories

Answer : b) Jeff Gordon finished in the top 10 in 38 out of 47 races at Martinsville.

This Week’s Cup Series Race: STP 500

B4 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

LOCAL SPORTS

Stevia, a healthy alternative to sugar

S

tevia is the latest sweetener and sugar replacement craze on the market. Steviol glycosides are the sweet compounds that are extracted from the Stevia plant. It is approved for use in Canada in a variety of foods as well as a table top sweetener.

With stevia being fairly new, the research behind it is limited in comparison to other sweeteners and sugar replacements. The majority of side effects or cons linked with stevia occur on rare occasions, and the benefits or positives of this sweetener tend to outweigh them.

Advantages: 1. It is derived from a natural source, which means that no additional additives have to be added.

Disadvantages:

Stephenie Sutherland HEALTH HACKS

Check the nutrition label to ensure that you are buying pure stevia extract.

2. It contains no calories. If you are looking to lower your caloric intake without sacrificing the odd sweet treat, stevia is a great alternative.

3. It doesn’t cause a rise in blood glucose levels, which means that it is safe for diabetics to use.

4. It may help to lower blood pressure; although, this may be a negative effect for those with chronically low blood pressure.

of people. As with all sugar substitutes and replacements, use in moderation.

1. The most commonly reported side effect is upset stomachs caused by bloating, diarrhea, and nausea.

2. People on medications for diabetes or to control their blood pressure may experience a negative drug interaction.

This is because stevia helps to lower blood sugar and blood pressure.

3. For some, it has a bitter aftertaste; although, others enjoy the taste.

4. It is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, which can make it difficult to get used to when using it as a sugar replacement.

5. Allergic reactions have occurred, but the number of reports is very few.

More research is needed, but for now small amounts have been shown to have no adverse effects on the majority

Wellness Round Up: A Science Daily article states that researchers have found that stevia stimulates a protein that is responsible for the release of insulin in the body after a meal. These findings open up new possibilities for the control and possibly the treatment of diabetes in the future.

Stephenie Sutherland is a Fort St. John student studying nutrition and food sciences. She can be found at the gym, hiking local trails, and serving up a hot cuppa joe at Whole Wheat and Honey. Have a question? Email her at stephenie.sutherland13@gmail.com.

TRACKERS FROM B1

The Flyers have been a good team since their return to double A status for the 2013-14 season, but were never able to reach the NPHL final, as the division rival Spirit Rangers made it and won the Campbell Cup four straight years. The Rangers did not ice an NPHL team this year, but nine former Rangers played for the Falher Pirates, who the Huskies beat in the final.

“I think it made it sweeter to be able to win the Campbell Cup against those guys,” said Lee Hartman, the general manager of the Flyers who took over the position at the start of the 2013-14 season.

When asked what it was about this version of the Flyers that made the team successful, van Nostrand was quick to sing praises of Shipton.

“The Flyers have seen a lot

of fantastic leaders, and Jeff is right at the top of the list.

I can’t emphasize enough what an honest and clean player he is, and he leads by example,” van Nostrand said.

Shipton saw it a little differently.

“I think it was having new faces. Guys like (Brandon) Millin and (Lien) MillerJeannotte, having some youth, it feels good for the old guys like me, (Brady) Busche, (Adam) Horst and (Rick) Cleaver. It’s been the same guys in the dressing room and practice year after year, and the new guys made it a lot of fun,” Shipton said.

Despite the odds in favour of the Flyers, the team had to overcome its share of adversity this season. Fort St. John was a respectable 10-5 in league play through Jan. 17, until they were swept in the Coy Cup play-down series at the

hands of the Dawson Creek Senior Canucks. The final game of that series was a heartbreaking overtime loss, and was the Flyers’ third straight loss including NPHL regular season games.

“It’s obviously unfortunate it happened, but since that happened we barely lost a game, and it just clicked at the right time,” said goaltender Travis McLean, who was named the NPHL Playoff MVP. The Flyers had a dominant 12-0-2 record, regular season and playoffs included, after the loss to Dawson Creek on Jan. 21.

“Our guys said, ‘Our season isn’t over with, we’ve got something to prove,’ and that showed,” Leriger said.

It’s a fitting end to the season for a storied team with a winning tradition.

“We take a lot of pride in being a Flyer,” McLean said.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

The Demoulin (left) and Trask teams tied for the Taylor Curling Club 2 X 2 Bonspiel championship on March 17. Go to alaskahighwaynews.ca for the story.

LAKESHORE 4H Community Club Hello readers!

I’m Liam Koop from the swine club and I am here to give you an update on the activities of the Lakeshore 4-H Community Club. On Feb.17, our club members presented their Communication Projects at the Pugh’s house. Everyone did well on their projects. We had speeches, educational displays, and a Speak and Show.

A big thanks to our judges Mr. and Mrs. Sones.

4H Reporter Liam Koop

Lakeshore Club members and leaders.

Judges viewing some of the educational displays

Printed in Canada | E&OE December 2015 15264-S01-03

Now it’s time for members to focus on our animal projects. The two types of animal pro-jects Lakeshore members are working on are beef and swine. The beef club members have already begun work with their project animals. My brothers and I are part of the swine club. We will be picking up our pigs soon. I am looking forward to bringing home my pig, feeding it and watching the pigs in their pen. The first weigh-in is going to be at our house at the 24th of March. I hope my pig is 125 pounds at least! This will give him a good start to his target weight range, which is 220 to 270 pounds. I hope other 4-H members have good animals to work with as well.

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 B5

Local Sports

supplied photo

Skiers line up at the start line for the kid’s races at the Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club’s Fun Loppet.

Ski club takes next step with second loppet The Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club held its second annual Fun Loppet last Saturday, and the event built off the success of the first one. Thirty-nine skiers of all ages competed in the races at Beatton Provincial Park, on a near-perfect day weather-wise, with the sun out and the temperature reaching six degrees Celsius.

“It was a bit icy at the start of the adult race and a little soft at the end, but other than that it was perfect and we couldn’t have asked for a better day.

The loppet was really good and everyone enjoyed themselves,” said Becky Grimsrud, who, along with Kara Simons,

organized the event.

The day started with kids races, a 700m Classic Bunnies race for girls and boys and a 1.3 km classic for girls and boys.

Abigail Kress won the girls 700m with a time of 10 minutes and 33 seconds, while Truman Jarnagin won the boys race with a time of 11 minutes and 49 seconds.

Mia Simons was first in the 1.3 km race for the girls, while Jude Kress was the top boy and third fastest overall. Go to whiskeyjacknordic.ca for the full results.

The adults raced in the afternoon, in three distances — 5km, 10km and 15km, with both

a classic and free technique race for each. Kara Simons won the women’s 5km classic, Barbara Jarnagin won the women’s free technique and Melvin Jarnagin won the men’s free technique.

Julianne Kucheran won the women’s 10km classic with a time of one hour, seven minutes and 27 seconds, while Chris McPhedran won the four-man free technique 10km. Three skiers did the 15km distance.

Shannon Armstrong and Theresa Thompson tied in the classic in one hour, 33 minutes and 50 seconds, while Jay Morrison had a free technique time of 55 minutes and 58 seconds.

Dillon Giancola photo

Jonathan Bateman, left, and Jared Loewen received their awards for Goaltender of the Year and Defenceman of the Year, respectively, prior to the start of game three of the NWJHL final on March 18. NWJHL Vice President Michael Mercredi presented the awards. Huskies Head Coach Todd Alexander also received his award Sunday night for Coach of the Year.

Dillon Giancola photo

Todd Alexander, centre, had the honour of dropping the puck for the 2018 Midget Tier 1 BC Hockey Championship ceremonial faceoff alongside his son Trae and daughter Tayzen during the opening ceremonies on March 19. NEBC Trackers captain Curtis Hammond, right took the faceoff against the captain of the Prince George Cougars.

LANDMARK CINEMAS 5 AURORA FSJ CURRENT MOVIE LISTINGS FROM MARCH 23 TO MARCH 29

PACIFIC RIM UPRISING Nightly: 7:00 3D, 9:50 Matinees: 1:00 3D, 3:50

SHERLOCK GNOMES Nightly: 6:40, 9:40 3D Matinees: 12:30 3D, 3:30

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE Nightly: 7:20, 9:55 Matinees: 1:10, 4:10

UNIT 2000, 9600 - 93 AVE, FORT ST. JOHN, BC PH: 250-785-8811 (MOVIE INFO LINE) WWW.LANDMARKCINEMAS.COM/FORT-ST-JOHN

TOMB RAIDER Nightly: 7:10, 10:00 3D, Matinees: 12:40 3D, 3:40

A WRINKLE IN TIME Nightly: 6:50, 9:30 (Thursday 4:00 showing only)

Matinees: 12:50, 4:00

B6 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

General employment

General employment

General employment

General employment

Mental Health/Substance Use/Anti-Violence Clinician Clearwater & Barriere, BC Posting date: March 12, 2018 Status: Regular full-time (one position per community) Closing Date: April 3, 2018 Position Summary There are two positions available for a blended mental health/substance use (MHSU) clinician and anti-violence counsellor as part of our integrated counselling team.

Qualifications Masters Degree from an accredited educational institution in related field. Individuals with bachelors degree in nursing and social work may be considered with combined qualifications and experience. Two (2) years’ recent related clinical experience.

Remuneration Successful candidate can expect a comprehensive extended health package and competitive wages with other similar agencies. Relocation expenses may be available.

Mental Health/Substance Use/Anti-Violence Clinician Clearwater & Barriere, BC CONTACT: YCS Selection Committee 612 Park Drive, Clearwater BC Phone: 250 674-2600 | Fax: 250 674-2676 Email: adam.m@yellowheadcs.ca Website: www.yellowheadcs.ca

53782

Senior Office Administrator - Fort St. John Tourmaline Oil Corp. is a Canadian senior crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company. We are focused on long-term growth through an aggressive exploration, development, production and acquisition program in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.

We are currently looking for a Senior Office Administrator to join our office in Fort St. John, BC. The successful candidate will be responsible for or assist with the following duties but not be limited to: • Manage the day-to-day operations of the Fort St. John office.

• Manage Operational Invoicing and Accounts Payable Tracking.

• Manage projects as assigned on a day-to-day basis.

• Supervise, guide and mentor junior staff (Office Administrators) • Support the Superintendent and other employees through scheduling, logistics, preparation and distribution of agendas, minute-taking, and recordkeeping • Maintain close contact with staff and their respective workloads by checking incoming e-mail, faxes, and messages on a regular basis.

• Provide comprehensive administrative and reception support (when needed) including typing, handling of incoming/outgoing mail, internal paperwork, and incoming calls.

• Prepare invoices, memos, letters, and other documents when required.

• Liaise with building management and respond to building maintenance issues.

• Liaise effectively with other departments within the company and external partners to ensure efficient planning and execution of requests.

• Oversee the handling of couriers, incoming and outgoing mail.

• Act a liaison between the Calgary office and the field employees.

• Organize company sponsored events.

Description of Candidate: • Post-secondary diploma in Business Administration or related discipline preferred.

• Minimum seven (7) years related work experience.

• Advanced competency in Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Attention to detail, ability to multi-task and strong organizational skills are essential.

• Ability to work under pressure and meet timely deadlines.

• Exceptional written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work independently or in a team environment; can function well with little direction.

• Positive and upbeat attitude.

• Well-spoken, professional, and speaks excellent English.

• Takes pride and ownership in their work.

• Proactive and self-motivated.

Please submit resumes in confidence to careers@tourmalineoil.com by March 31, 2018.

Tenders

Tenders

Tenders

Tenders

INVITATION TO TENDER City of Fort St. John – 92A Street-Phase 1 Sealed Tenders clearly marked CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN – 92A STREET-PHASE 1 will be received at the main reception desk of City Hall no later than 2:00 PM, local time, April 5, 2018.

Contract documents, contract drawings and any reference material for this project will only be distributed electronically in digital format (PDF) through the MERX tendering website at www.MERX.com/urban under the “Agencies, Crown & Private Corporations” tab. Information will be available online on or after March 15, 2018.

The work to be undertaken generally consists of, but is not limited to, the following:

General employment CARETAKER WANTED Portage Mountain Yacht Club: Established in 1969, it is a private member club, made up of boaters and campers alike. It is located on the beautiful Williston Lake, near Hudson’s Hope, B.C. Position is for 6 months (may to Oct) with a monthly salary based on experience, Accommodations are included. Duties include but not limited to the following.

-grounds keeper (mow grass, removal of drift wood, yard clean up) -building, equipment and water system maintenance (clean up and fixing, painting) -fueling boats -daily security rounds -assist the Staff Captain with the Annual Fishing Derby, as needed. For more information call: Ken Karpiak @250-793-3723. Send resume to: pmvc1969@hotmail.com or mail to: PMYC, Box 6431, Fort St John, BC V1J 4H8 LOOKING TO HIRE! Anyone interested in inserting flyers into The Dawson Creek Mirror 1 Day Per Week. Please Drop Off Resume at The Mirror Paper, 901100 Ave, Dawson Creek, or call Tanis at 250-782-4772 or 250782-4888 for More Information.

Skilled Help DF Technical & Con− sulting Services Ltd is looking for a Full Time Indoor Air Quality Consultant Excellent Career Opportunity for strong, independent person. Good com− munications and basic computer skills are required.

Indoor air quality, restoration, remedi− ation and/or con− struction experience an asset.

To apply send resume to: info@dftechnical.ca

Obituaries

Coming EvEnts

Kevin Victor Brandl November 21, 1962 – March 1, 2018

Kevin was born in Fort St. John, taking his schooling here. He went to college in Kelowna for 2 years, took a Real Estate Course and spent 2 years in Vancouver in Real Estate before returning to Fort St. John in 1989 to work with V.E Brandl Ltd. Kevin was compassionate and generous to others, especially towards people who struggled with health issues, as he himself struggled with depression.

His family will always remember his concern for others and his kindness within the family.

Words cannot express our feelings at the loss of someone so precious to us.

Kevin is survived by his parents Vic and Edith; brothers Barry (Marnie) & nephew Noah and Ron (Larisa) and nephew Nikita; niece Eva, as well as many more relatives.

A word of “THANKS” for the many condolences, flowers, food and support that has been offered at this most difficult time.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in memory of Kevin to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation or a charity of your choice.

There will not be a funeral service at this time.

Borderline Culture Series presents: Annie Lou-Saturday, March 24, 2018 at the Demmitt Community Centre (1/2 Mile South of Hwy 43 on RR 132). Doors open at 7:00 pm (AB time) Music at 8:00pm Advance tickets: $25. Door: $30. For tickets and information call 780-356-2904 or go to www.borderlineculture.com Fort St John Country Quilters Guild. Monday March 26 North Peace Cultural Centre 7-8:30pm.

Refreshments provided

The family of Kevin Victor Brandl is deeply saddened to announce his sudden and unexpected passing on March 1, 2018 at the age of 55.

Mile “O” Quilter’s Guild meets every Tuesday & Thursday in Dawson Creek at KPAC in Studio #10 at 7pm Dawson Creek Seniors Hall Activities 1011 McKellar Ave. Floor curling, carpet bowling, pool, line dancing, bridge, crib, darts, bingo, Wellness Exercise, craft classes.

Schedules are available at the hall. Come and see our hall and try out our activities.

SATURDAYS: LEARN YOUR ROOTS - Genealogy information NAR PARK ROOTS BUILDING 10:00am peacecountryroots.ca

Coming EvEnts

Save the Dates July 13, 5:00 pm to July 15, 2018 at 3:30 pm for the Annual Mile Zero Cruisers Summer Cruise weekend starts with Registration held at the Dawson Co-op. Bring down your pride and joy and register for the Summer Cruise Car Show weekend. All registrants will receive access to all weekend events as well as a chance to win prizes.

Check in this paper for more details closer to the show!

PC Roots Group Meeting: 4th Sunday/month - from Sept-June 1:30pm in the Archives Room at The Calvin Kruk Center. Getting started on family tree research, need Help?

Come learn & share experiences with other amateur genealogists.

New members welcome. For more info call: Lynn- 250-7824058. Neil- 250-7827651. Website http://peacecountryroots.ca

South Peace Historical Society Meetings Third Wednesday of the month. In Dawson Creek at the Calvin Kruk Centre Archives Room at 2 pm.

SUNDAYS: FAMILY TREE HELP - Peace Country Roots Group Meeting - Fourth Sunday of each Month at the CALVIN KRUK CENTRE in Dawson Creek 1:30pm

PC Roots Group Building Open: Every Saturday Sept-June 10:00am-12:00pm to members wanting to use the genealogy library. A member will be available by appointment to anyone requiring help on how to get started on your family history. Everyone is welcome. We are located in the small building in NAR Park.

For appointment call: Lynn- 250-7824058. Neil- 250-7827651. Website http://peacecountryroots.ca

Thursday at 9:30 amNew Beginnings Baptist Church in DC, 10221-18th St.-TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). Phone: Gail at 250-782-7208 for more info.

Lost in 1986 DCR nurse Debbie from Victoria.

Call Petaa. 519-3936559

Announcements

Announcements

Personal Messages

is having your message, your offer, remembered by your customer. The advantages of print advertising in the Alaska Highway News, The Northerner & The Mirror

PRINT IS MEMORABLE PRINT IS PERSONAL PRINT IS PERSUASIVE

PRINT IS EDUCATIONAL PRINT IS COMPATIBLE PRINT WORKS WELL WITH OTHER MEDIA The KEY of advertising is repetition - having your message come first in your customers mind.

With print advertising you can do it.

Call your Alaska Highway News sales rep today

JOURNEYMAN SHEET METAL WORKER/GAS FITTER in affordable Williams Lake, BC. Visit: www.sd27.bc.ca for full position details and how to apply. Please attach copy of certification with application.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1855-768-3362 to start training for your workat-home career today!

Ryan Wallace @ 250-785-5631 rwallace@ahnfsj.ca Debbie Bruinsma @ 250-785-5631 dbruinsma@ahnfsj.ca Brenda Piper @ 250-785-5631 bpiper@ahnfsj.ca

Tenders

Tenders

Tenders

INVITATION TO TENDER City of Fort St. John – 2018 Sewer Projects Sealed Tenders clearly marked CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN – 2018 SEWER PROJECTS will be received at the main reception desk of City Hall no later than 2:00PM, local time, March 29, 2018.

Contract documents, contract drawings and any reference material for this project will only be distributed electronically in digital format (PDF) through the MERX tendering website at www.MERX.com/urban under the “Agencies, Crown & Private Corporations” tab. Information will be available online on or after March 15, 2018.

•

Approximately 440 lm of roadway reconstruction including streetlighting, curb and gutter, and sidewalk

•

Approximately 440 lm of watermain and services

• Approximately 80 lm of sanitary sewer replacement

•

Approximately 440 lm of sanitary sewer and services

• Approximately 205 lm of sanitary sewer installation

•

Approximately 545 lm of storm sewer

• Approximately 205 lm of 300 mm storm c/w catchbasins

The work to be undertaken generally consists of, but is not limited to, the following:

All inquiries should be directed to the Consultant: Urban Systems Ltd., Chad Carlstrom, P.Eng., Contract Administrator, 250-785-9697, email: ccarlstrom@urbansystems.ca

All inquiries should be directed to the Consultant: Urban Systems Ltd., Chad Carlstrom, P.Eng., Contract Administrator, 250-785-9697 Email: ccarlstrom@urbansystems.ca

City of Fort St. John: 10631 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC, V1J 3Z5 Attention: Jim Stewart, Engineering Manager.

City of Fort St. John: 10631 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC, V1J 3Z5 Attention: Jim Stewart, Engineering Manager

www.fortstjohn.ca

Coming EvEnts

The Key To Advertising

Career OppOrtunities

Tenders

Obituaries

www.fortstjohn.ca

Irmgard “Irmi” Bergen, nee Irmgard Voigt, died peacefully in her sleep in her home on Thursday, March 15th in Fort St. John, BC, at the age of 81.

Irmi is survived by her husband Isaak Bergen, children Josh and Corinna, and sister Mary Elizabeth Winship, along with 5 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Irmi was born on November 14th, 1936, in Darmstadt, Germany, to Heinz and Bertha Voigt. She worked as a secretary there, until she immigrated to Canada in January 1973 to marry Isaak Bergen, a foreman for Takla Logging. Living in Prince George, she and Isaak had two children. They moved to a farm close to Burns Lake and set about teaching them to love nature and a farming lifestyle. Her husband, children and grandchildren remember her as a kind wife, mother, and grandmother who encouraged them to love God and serve him.

Irmi was accomplished at playing piano in church and sang hymns with all her heart. She was a witty and dedicated individual who was passionate about her translating work for the Voice of Hope mission in Russia. She was an active and dedicated member of the Upper Pine Gospel Chapel, and often brought food to people who were sick or grieving. She also played piano for the seniors at the Abbeyfield house.

Celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 24th at 2:00pm from the Upper Pine Gospel Church with tea to follow in the church basement.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Irmi’s life. If so desired expressions of sympathy can be made to; Voice of Hope Mission PO Box 786 Winkler, MB R6W 4A9 Condolences may be forwarded through www.hamresfuneral.com

Celebration off Life Lf for the late

MARGARET GUNTHER of Fort St. John will be held Thursday, March 29 at 1:00pm from the Cecil Lake

Christian Fellowship Church.

In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy can be made in memory of Margaret to Ethnos Canada Re: Matt Gunther Box 707 Durham, ON N0G 1R0

Condolences may be forwarded through

www.hamresfuneral.com

52509

Classifieds

250-785-5631 classifieds@ahnfsj.ca

Book Your Ad Now!

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 B7

Classifieds Source Electrical Services Ltd. Apprentices/Jour− neyman Electricians Busy Electrical Company seeking electrical appren− tices or journeyman to work full time.

Commercial experi− ence an asset. Posi− tion to start imme− diately. Top wages, benefits negotiable. onb@source electrical.com

For Sale MiSc BULK SALE. 1,500 Metric/SAE 11 piece wrench sets plus 12,000 single size wrenches. Sale $12,000.00. Forward interest by email to tkachukr@shaw.ca COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE: $0.99/each for a box of 180 ($178.20). Also full range of tree, shrub, and berry seedlings.

Free shipping most of Canada. Growth guarantee. 1-866-873-3846 or TreeTime.ca.

Business OppOrtunities

LegaL/PubLic Notices

HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENT? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in Walking/Dressing? Disability Tax Credit $2,000 Tax Credit $20,000 Refund.

Apply Today For Assistance: 1-844-453-5372.

CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer Employment/Licensing loss?

Travel/Business opportunities? Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US Entry Waiver. Record Purge. File Destruction. Free Consultation 1-800-3472540. accesslegalmjf.com

Business services Arctic Duct Cleaning, Furnace & duct cleaning, Chimney sweep. 250-787-7217 (FSJ) GET RESULTS! Post a classified in 98 newspapers in just a few clicks.

Reach almost2 million people for only $395 a week for 25-word text ad or $995 for small display ad. Choose your province or all across Canada.

Best value.

Save over 85% compared to booking individually. www.communityclassifieds.ca or 1866-669-9222.

SAWMILLS from only $4,397 - MAKE MONEY & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info & DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT 1800-567-0404 Ext:400OT.

MASSAGE ACUPUNCTUREL CUPPING 250-264-2322 Chronic pain, fertility, lymphatic drainage, stress, pms. Direct insurance billing.

LegaL/PubLic Notices

LegaL/PubLic Notices

HealtH & Beauty

Land Act: Notice of Intention to Apply for a Disposition of Crown Land

Take notice that Gordon Bueckert from Prespatou, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO), Northeast Region, for an Agriculture Sale situated on Provincial Crown land located at Roseland Creek.

The Lands File for this application is 8015966 .

Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Joyce Veller, Authorization Officer, Northeast Region, MFLNRO, at 100-10003-110th Avenue, Fort St. John, BC V1J 6M7, (250) 7873438. Comments will be received by MFLNRO up to April 29, 2018. MFLNRO may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at www.arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/index.jsp for more information and a map of the application area or send comments directly to: AuthorizingAgency.FortStJohn@gov.bc.ca A Government decision for this application is expected on or after April 29, 2018.

ApArtments/ Condos for

ApArtments/ Condos for

Across from Tremblay School 1170 sq. ft home on a large lot 73x123 Updated kitchen: Plenty of working space.

Numerous kitchen cabinets & newer built-in dishwasher. Spacious living room: featuring gas fireplace & bay window accent. 3 bedrooms: master features walk-in closet & den. Bathroom: newer tub surround & wainscoting. Upgrades include newer fencing, insulation in attic, new deck 2010, spray foam insulation in the crawl space. Shingles replaced in 2012. Painted with modern colours throughout. Heated work shop & fully fenced large back yard & a custom dog run off the shed. Plenty of parking space, double sized driveway and back alley access. Willing to 1 year lease with option to buy. Call 250-219-5946

Phone: 250-785-2662

Furnished Rooms for Rent in D.C. Includes utilities,wi-fi/TV/laundry, private entrance/parking. No Pets/Drugs. Please phone: 250-782-0001

LegaL/PubLic Notices

LegaL/PubLic Notices

Real estate Wanted WANTED TO BUY A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN TUMBLER RIDGE. PHONE: 250-784-1952

$67,995.00

LegaL/PubLic Notices

LegaL/PubLic Notices

SportS & ImportS 1997 Honda CRV For Sale, 255,000 kms.

Phone: 250-786-5157

LegaL/PubLic Notices

LegaL/PubLic Notices

Application for a Permit Amendment under the Environmental Management Act

Proposed Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 2411, 2018 Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Fort St. John will be considering adoption of Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 2411, 2018 at the March 26, 2018 Regular Council meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers.

The purpose of the bylaw is to amend the City’s existing Business Licence Bylaw No. 2372, 2017 to provide improved service to clients.

The amendments, which are clerical in nature, apply to Schedule B – Business Licence Application Form and include the following: • A check box for Inter-Community Business Licence has been added for ease of processing and clarity of the application type.

• A new section regarding fire inspections has been added to Part D (for internal or office use only) to streamline actions tasked to the Fire Department.

No other changes were identified for this amendment.

Copies of the proposed bylaw and related documents may be inspected at City Hall – 10631 – 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from March 13 to 26, 2018.

Additional information regarding the proposed amendments can be obtained by contacting Ken Rogers, Director of Development, at krogers@fortstjohn.ca or by telephone at 250-787-8157.

Written comments regarding the proposed bylaw amendments may be submitted to Laura Howes, Deputy City Clerk, via email at lhowes@fortstjohn.ca by noon on Monday March 26, 2018.

www.fortstjohn.ca

LegaL/PubLic Notices

250-782-2757 or 250-219-3454

BAKERVIEWBOATS.COM Sale Now On! 10? Aluminum RIB $3333. 5 hp Tohatsu propane motor $2269.

Galvanized trailer $995.

Package price: $4995.

Financing available.

Dealers Welcome. 1800-571-7697.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

LegaL/PubLic Notices

For more info call

“Bringing Home tHe news since 1944”

LegaL/PubLic Notices

2002 Dodge 2500 24 valve (white) 365,000 kms, rebuilt AutoTranny-Turbo, 90% B.F.G Tires, command start, very little rust $12,000 obo. Text or phone 250-254-0804

Boats

For the best in LocaL news, sports and Features

LegaL/PubLic Notices

Trucks & Vans

LegaL/PubLic Notices

Westcoast Energy Inc., doing business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Spectra Energy), a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. intends to amend its existing Permit PA-16322 issued August 18, 2017 by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BC MOECCS).

This permit authorizes the discharge of emissions from Spectra Energy’s sweet gas transmission system comprised of 17 compressor stations and associated pipelines.

The purpose of the Permit amendment is to accommodate a facility expansion project at Willow Flats Compressor Station 2 (CS 2). The location of discharge associated with the expansion project is adjacent to the existing CS 2 site which is that part of Lot D Block A, District Lot 272, Peace River district, included within Plan A1538, except Plans B7618 and 14739. This location is approximately 17 km west of Hasler, British Columbia (B.C.) and 43 km west of Chetwynd, B.C. on Highway 97.

The facility expansion project is required to increase compression capacity on the Fort Nelson Mainline, Fort St. John Mainline, and Grizzly Valley Mainline. It is anticipated the timeline for construction of the proposed project will begin in the third quarter 2018 and operation will commence in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Compressor Station 2 is in operation 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. The existing sources of discharge at CS 2 are two 10.6 megawatt (MW) natural gas turbine driven compressors, one 14.1 megawatt natural gas turbine driven compressor, two 0.8 MW natural gas turbine driven generators (one is backup), one 0.11 MW emergency diesel reciprocating generator (used for backup) and three heat medium boilers (one is backup). The project will include the addition of one 22.4 megawatt natural gas turbine driven compressor and two 0.77 MW natural gas reciprocating engine driven generators (one is backup). The new compressor and auxiliary equipment will be located on Spectra Energy owned land immediately adjacent to the existing CS 2 site.

Including the project, CS 2 authorized discharge limits at full capacity will be: • PM2.5 = 2.1 tonnes/year, increasing by 78% • VOC =7.0 tonnes/year, will increase by 53% • NOX = 934 tonnes/year, will increase by 11% • CO = 243 tonnes/year, will increase by 43% • SO2 = 8.4 tonnes/year, will increase by 37% An air quality assessment has been conducted, and it indicates the project addition will result in a small increase in pollutant concentrations in the immediate vicinity of CS 2. The assessment indicates that there is no meaningful change in air quality concentrations regionally, beyond the immediate area of CS 2.

Any person who may be affected by the proposed amendment and wishes to provide relevant information may, within 30 days after the last date of posting and publishing, send written comments to the applicant, with a copy to Director, Oil and Gas Authorizations of Ministry of Environment at 325, 1011-4th Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H9. The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record.

LegaL/PubLic Notices

Contact: Reg Mullett Telephone: (403) 699-1750 Address: 2600, 425 – 1st Street SW, Calgary, AB/T2P 3L8 Email: Reg.Mullett@enbridge.com 53778

LegaL/PubLic Notices

RVs/CampeRs/ TRaileRs

Don’t miss this great functioning home!

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

LegaL/PubLic Notices

RVs/CampeRs/ TRaileRs

2006 Triple E Motor Home Commander 32 ft. with 2 slides

We have a variety of apartments, town homes, executive homes, and duplexes for rent. To apply for these,please email reception@licar.ca or visit our website at www.licar.ca

Steel BuildingS / granarieS STEEL BUILDING SALE...”BIG BLOW OUT SALE - ALL BUILDINGS REDUCED TO CLEAR!” 20X21 $5,560 23X23 $5,523 25x25 $6,896 32X33 $9,629. 33X33 $9,332.

One End Wall included.

Pioneer Steel 1-855212-7036.

Basement suites

Houses for sale

Li-Car Management Group

ApArtments/ Condos for BIRCHVIEW MANOR Furnished and Unfurnished 1 Bedroom Suites. Adults Only, Senior Discount. Bus Stop at Front Door.

250-784-5817

Houses for sale

250-785-5631 classifieds@ahnfsj.ca

FOR SALE R0011352381

Trades Help

Book Your Ad Now!

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE Application for a Permit Amendment under the Environmental Management Act

PEACE RIVER REGIONAL DISTRICT

Westcoast Energy Inc., doing business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Spectra Energy), a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. intends to amend its existing Permit PA-16322 issued August 18, 2017 by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BC MOECCS).

This permit authorizes the discharge of emissions from Spectra Energy’s sweet gas transmission system comprised of 17 compressor stations and associated pipelines.

No�ce of Public Hearing

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 2309 (Gardner), 2018

For More Informa�on: Contact: Development Services Tel: 250-784-3200 Toll Free: 1-800-670-7773 Email: prrd.dc@prrd.bc.ca

prrd.bc.ca

HW AY 9

7N

85 AVE

The Peace River Regional District is hos�ng a mee�ng to discuss the proposed Zoning Amendment.

Proposal: To rezone the subject property from A-2 “Large Agricultural Holdings Zone” to I-1 “Light Industrial Zone”.

HIG

Compressor Station N5 is in operation 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. The existing sources of discharges at CS N5 are two 10.6 megawatt (MW) natural gas turbine driven compressors, two 0.25 MW natural gas reciprocating engine driven generators (one is backup), one emergency 0.04 MW diesel reciprocating engine driven generator, and two heat medium boilers. The project will include the addition of one 22.4 megawatt natural gas turbine driven compressor and, two new 0.77 MW natural gas reciprocating engine driven generators (one is backup). The new compressor and auxiliary equipment will be located on the existing CS N5 site hence there is no need to acquire new land.

City of Fort St. John

79 AVE 77 AVE

Subject Property

Including the project, CS N5 authorized discharge limits at full capacity will be: • PM2.5 = 1.5 tonnes/year, increasing by 65% • VOC = 6.0 tonnes/year, increase by 71% • NOX = 433 tonnes/year, increase by 26% • CO = 257 tonnes/year, will increase by 39% • SO2 = 6.5 tonnes/year, increase by 68%.

240 RD

An air quality assessment has been conducted, and it indicates the project addition will result in a small increase in pollutant concentrations in the immediate vicinity of CS N5. The assessment indicates that there is no meaningful change in air quality concentrations regionally, beyond the immediate area of CS N5.

Any person who may be affected by the proposed amendment and wishes to provide relevant information may, within 30 days after the last date of posting and publishing, send written comments to the applicant, with a copy to Director, Oil and Gas Authorizations of Ministry of Environment at 325, 1011-4th Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H9. The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record.

This no�ce is in general form only. Relevant background documents may be inspected from Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:30am – 4:30pm at the PRRD Dawson Creek office (1981 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC) or 8:30am – Noon and 1:00pm – 4:30pm at the PRRD Fort St. John office (9505-100th Street, Fort St. John, BC).

Wri�en comments or concerns accepted.

Chris Cvik, Chief Administra�ve Officer

diverse. vast. abundant.

Contact: Telephone: Address: Email:

Reg Mullett (403) 699-1750 2600, 425 – 1st Street SW, Calgary, AB/T2P 3L8 Reg.Mullett@enbridge.com

34933

North Peace Leisure Pool, 9505 – 100 Street, Fort St. John, B.C.

City of Fort St. John

98 ST

Where:

Parcel A (46726M) of the NW ¼ of Sec 19, TP 83, R 18, W6M, Peace River, Exc PL 20464

265 RD

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 | 7:00 pm

240 Road, west of Fort St. John

265 RD

When:

The purpose of the Permit amendment is to accommodate a facility expansion project at Mackie Creek Compressor Station N5 (CS N5) The location of discharge is at the existing site which is, District Lot 2911, Peace River District. The location is approximately 16 km north northwest of Beryl Prairie, British Columbia (B.C.) and 24 km northeast of Hudson Hope, B.C. The facility expansion project is required to increase capacity on the Fort St. John Mainline. It is anticipated the timeline for construction of the proposed project will begin in the third quarter 2018 and operation will commence in the fourth quarter of 2019.

53779

B8 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

local news vandalism from a3

Police officials say their calls are prioritized on a scale from one to four: the panhandler, who hadn’t been causing an immediate disturbance at the time of the first call was rated a four, the least priority. Police would receive two more calls about the man, one that he was kicking at the doors, and another that he had walked away.

“Relatively speaking, it’s still a much lower risk than everything else we’re dealing with,” said Fort St. John RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve Perret.

“Dispatch won’t dispatch an officer until someone is clear and available for next call.”

When it comes to shift scheduling, it’s a constant juggling act, Insp.

Mike Kurvers, the detachment commander says. While there are other policing units on the streets with general duty officers — plainclothes

Call volumes are unpredictable, Perret added. “Policing is very fluid,” he said. “We may have shifts where we there’s very little calls for service, and we have other days, much like the beginning of this shift, where it’s just call after call after call.

We can never predict when and why people are going to call police.”

The same night, police had received a traffic complaint before the call about the panhandler. An officer wasn’t dispatched on that call until after midnight, Perret said.

Police say they are investigating the panhandler matter.

“The public has to be aware we will get to them.That is our responsibility,” Kurvers said. “But they have to be cognizant that files will be prioritized. We have multiple competing demands to address in the community.”

officers, the serious crime and drug units — they normally aren’t called off their investigate work unless there’s a major incident.

And the fact the police detachment is a block away from a call doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an available officer nearby. Officers are expected to be out on the streets, Kurvers said, and not in the office.

The detachment receives an average of 13,000 calls a year, and covers a area that extends north to the Sikkani Chief Bridge, west to Williston Lake, east to the Alberta border, and just south of the Peace River.

“We’re not waiting for calls. We tell people get on the road. That’s your job: go drive around, go walk the beat, go talk to people,” he said.

“We have to give 24-7 coverage. It’s a contact juggling act to make sure we have maximum resources in place.”

Whether you want an adrenaline fueled adventure or tranquil get-away, this magazine is packed full of ideas to help you...

EXPLORE

The District of Hudson’s Hope is looking for an interested group or individual to put together an Easter event between March 30 and April 2.

“Eggs hunts are absolutely the go-to and something parents typically expect in an Easter event,” said Special Events Coordinator Kaitlyn Atkinson, “I am open to any event that is family orientated and related to the spirit of the holiday.”

Atkinson will be available to promote the event through the district’s social media pages and offer logistical support from public works if needed.

Interested parties are asked to contact Atkinson at sec@hudsonshope.ca and submit their plan for approval. Funding will be provided by the district.

ACTIVITIES IN OUR REGION | PHOTO CONTEST | CAMPGROUND LISTINGS | AND MUCH MORE !

Distribution | 14,500 copies distributed to BC Parks, Regional Tourism, Information Centres and Participating Advertisers

INVESTMENT:

Format | Glossy magazine

Half Page (7” x 4.7” or 3.42” x 9.5”) $600

Deadline | Friday, April 27 2018

Special Olympians in Fort St. John held their fifth annual Toonie K fundraiser on March 17, raising more than $3,800 to support their programming and development, and offset travel costs to competitions.

Athletes spent the morning and early afternoon collecting pledges and walking the Northern Vac Walking Track at the Pomeroy Sport Centre, with a goal of wrapping the track in toonies.

By the time the walk was finished at 2 p.m., $3,830 had been raised, and athletes received a visit from Fort St. John firefighters.

Wyatt Turney won the event’s athlete door prize, receiving a $20 gift card from The Chopped Leaf.

Ernie’s is matching prizes for the top pledge earners, which will be awarded at Special Olympics BC Fort St. John’s year-end banquet in June. Donations are still being accepted.

The organization will hold its next fundraiser in June, when its annual golf tournament tees off June 16 at Lone Wolf.

For more information, contact localcoordinator@sobcfortstjohn.ca or follow the group on Facebook.

Hudson’s Hope calls for Easter volunteers

THE NORTH

Distribution Date | Friday, May 25, 2018

Special O athletes raise $3,800 at toonie walk

Full Page (8” x 10.5” with .25” bleed) $1000

Quarter Page (3.42” x 4.71”) $300

Contact Ryan or Brenda today

250.785.5631

Alaska Highway News

Tom Summer is a Hudson’s Hope correspondent for the Alaska Highway News. Email your news tips to thomas.a.summer@gmail. com.

ountries c g in p lo e v e d Women in daily to get m k 6 f o e g a r e walk an av 20 kg. s a h c u m s a y r water, and car from the

AR! What A YpE articipants

and e th ll a to u yo k Than Your support is ! rs o s n o p s s u n all the genero r Cruise 2017 a e m m u S r u o e 5! helping mak you July 13-1 e e S r. e b m e m event to re Welcome All Cruisers to the Annual Summer Cruise!

RE • RECOVER

RESPOND • RESTO

-7778 m 250-782tor ation.co ism Damage • Vandal ation • Fire/Water iation • Disaster Restor ent • Mould Remed • Asbestos Abatem Country Serving the Peace

00 78 • Cell: 250-719-91 82-77res ce: 250-7 try ration@gmail.com peacecoOfOffiun peacecountryresto

July 13-15, 2018 C Dawson Creek B

m o c . s r e s i u r c o r e z mile

1 Unsafe water, lack of basic sanitation and poor hygiene cause 80% of all sickness and disease and kill more people than all forms of violence, including war.

2 The biggest killer of children under the age of FIVE is unsafe water: 1.8 million children die every year – ONE child will die every 17 seconds and 5000 children will die today.

3 Without safe water and sanitation, life and livelihood are under threat: · 8000 people die every day from waterborne disease · Women and children (usually girls) spend hours each day fetching water, often under threat of violence · Lack of sanitation and privacy lead to early drop-out from school among girls · Every year, 40 billion hours spent collecting and hauling water in Africa alone · Disputes over water jeopardize peace in every continent · Drought and starvation threaten lives and livelihood of millions of people.

4 At this moment, 900 million people in the world do not have access to a source of safe water within 1 km of their home; 2.5 billion lack access to adequate sanitation, 1 in 4 in the developing world has none.

5 Women in developing countries walk an average of 6 km daily to get water, and carry as much as 20 kg.

Rotary

Club of Dawson Creek

Meets Tuesdays, NOON At The GEORGE DAWSON INN

Rotary

Club of Dawson Creek Sunrise

Meets Fridays, 7:00 a.m.

At The DC CURLING RINK