THURSDAY, march 28, 2019 Vol. A-75, No. 13
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The Fort St. John Huskies celebrate their NWJHL Senator’s Cup victory at Crosslink County Sportsplex in Grande Prairie on Saturday, March 23, 2019. The Huskies claimed their second championship title in a row with an absolute thrashing of the JDA Kings 8-1, winning the final series in six games. > > Full story on B1
Indigenous museum planned at Charlie Lake cave matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
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An indigenous heritage group hopes to turn the Charlie Lake cave site into a cultural museum showcasing 10,000 years of First Nations history in the North Peace. Two dozen people attended a public hearing on Monday, March 18, as the Tse’K’wa Heritage Society seeks to rezone the five-acre property, at 19629 Butte Lane, from residential to institutional. It’s the first step toward establishing a formal museum, expected to be a multi-million dollar development. “Our number one priority is to protect that place. It is a historical site,” said society president Garry Oker. Tse’K’wa means “rock house,” and though well-known to local First Nations, the cave was only discovered by archaeologists in 1974, and was excavated in the early 1980s. Among the hundreds of artifacts found were a 10,500-yearold stone bead — the oldest example of human adornment in North America — spear and arrow points, harpoon heads, as well as bones from humans and various animals including bison and raven. The artifacts tell stories of travel patterns and ceremonial practices, and make the cave one of the most significant sites on the continent, Oker said. Local First Nations, including Doig River, Prophet River, and West Moberly bought the land
Concept plan for the Tse’K’wa Heritage Centre in Charlie Lake, with indigenous artifacts found in the cave and the region.
with the cave in 2012. Preliminary plans for the museum include a cafe and gift shop, an amphitheatre and interpretative trail, and space for hundreds of repatriated indigenous artifacts from the region in need of a home to store and display. Along with preserving the cave site and protecting it from ongoing vandalism, the museum would be part of a broader effort underway to bring more visibility to local indigenous history through culture and public art. “We know the Peace Country
is well developed in all kinds of industrial development. Where is there a place where we can go to look at the local culture and have visibility to that?” Oker said. The proposed development, however, has prompted concerns from some neighbours, who worry about their property values and privacy with an influx of visitors into the area. “Our concern is it will be busy,” said Lisa Kantz. “We’re not against the beautiful idea of it being a museum. Our concern is what’s going to happen to the value of our prop-
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erty in the future. Who’s going to buy our property if there’s a bus going there every half an hour?” “I think it is going to be more popular than you think.” The museum plan calls for parking for 27 vehicles. While the museum will attract some of the estimated 350,000 tourists who travel the Alaska Highway each year, it will see more visits from local school groups, Oker said. He disagreed the museum would impact property values, and said there’s plenty of time to work with neighbours to address any concerns. See MUSEUM on A5
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The Fort St. John Arts Council is putting a focus on the 2020 BC Winter Games with this year’s street banners program. The banners were designed by Harriet Stanford. One hundred banners are being printed and they will be installed this spring.
GAS WATCH
The games will be held in Fort St. John from February 20 to 23, 2020. Up to 1,200 athletes are expected to compete in 18 different sports, including archery, badminton, speed skating to cross country skiing, and more. The Games are the first step for emerging athletes working their way to national and international success. There were 22 BC Games alumni on Team Canada in the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Fort St. John last hosted the Games in 1984. The Games are expected to generate $1.6 million in economic impacts for the city, the northernmost B.C. community to host the Games.
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Another reason not to eat kalew SNEAKER STUPIDITY: Last week, luxury company Gucci made headlines by offering “stressed” sneakers. They look dirty and old. Because they are Gucci, the price tag is $870 per pair. I have a pair of sneakers. They are very “distressed” — 20 years old, chewed on by dogs, stained from the time I fell in Charlie Lake. Food spilled on them. Burn marks from when I dropped them in a campfire. I could write “Gucci” on both shoes. I’ll let them go for $200.
SPILL THRILL: Our next stop is Atlanta, USA, where a truck flipped and spilled its load, 5,000 gallons of printer ink. At current printer ink prices, that’s worth $500 million. They cleaned up the spill but there’s a big stain on the highway. They should pour club soda on it. My mom believed any stain can be removed by dabbing on club soda.
TIM TALE: Country singer Tim McGraw was on TV saying how he lost 40 pounds by giving up alcohol. Other country singers have lost weight too. Garth Brooks dropped 30 pounds just by taking off his hat.
WWW: The World Wide Web celebrated its 30th birthday last week. If you use the World Wide Web to keep up to date with Saskatchewan Avg. 115.8 FLAT FACT: There are still people who what’s happening, you already know believe the Earth is flat, and they are try- there’s a very fine line between, “I wonManitoba Average BRIBE BUSTED: Our next news chew- ing to spread the word. According to a der what’s trending today” and, “Dear 115.5 t St. John, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment Canadais Hollywood. By now you newspaper https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-78_metric_e.html ing destination article, flat earth groups are Lord, please make it stop!” heard about the scandal where celebritnow targeting young kids. Hey kids, if the Ontario Average 115.1 ies paid huge bribes to get their kids into Earth is flat, how do you explain the skateLOTTERY LAWSUIT: A Vancouver top colleges. When those rich kids get a board park? man won $1M in the lottery, now his coQuebec Average 125.6 college degree it will be a PhD. The letworkers are suing him for their cut Four ters “PHD” will stand for Parents Have FRISBEE FIDO: Last week, a dog set people claim they contributed to the Dough. (Gee, I had to bribe my Mom to be a record by catching an 83-yard Frisbee cost of the winning ticket, they want a New Brunswick Avg Home Environment118.6 and naturalhomeschooled.) resources Weather information Weathertoss. Local forecasts British Columbia Coincidentally, the same mutt holds share of the million-dollar prize. I read the record for Most Dog Slobber On a someplace you have a better chance of Nova Scotia Avg 121.8 NAME GAME: On TV last week: A Van- Single Frisbee. being struck by lightning than winning couver baby-naming consultant makes the lottery. With my luck, I would win big money coming up with the right names KALE KONTAMINATION: Do you like the lottery and be struck by lightning on PEI Average 115.8 Observed at: Fort St. JohnReally? Airport 9:00 Tuesday March Current Conditions for new kids. I guess there’s one advantage kale? In a AM newMST study, kale 26 is one of2019 my way to claim the prize. (By the way: t Nelson, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment Canada https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-83_metric_e.html to giving your baby an unusual name. You the most pesticide-contaminated foods My retirement plan is hoping one of my Newfoundland Avg. 126.8 Condition: will never have to buy those personalized you-0.4°C can buy. Or, looking at itWNW another way: readers wins the lottery, they feel sorry Not observed Temperature: Wind: 6 km/h trinkets at gift shops. They won’t have any Pesticide is one of the most kale-contamfor me, they share.) Pressure: 101.4 kPa Dew point: -1.4°C Wind C… -2 CAD$ per litre, prices as of March 26. with your kid’s weird name. inated things you can buy. Humidity: 93% Source: GasBuddy.com
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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 A3
Local News
Arts Council plans sweeping study of economic impact, needs matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
How much does the arts, culture, and heritage sector contribute to North Peace economy, and what resources are needed to meet the growing demands of residents? No one really knows, but estimates peg the impact at a conservative $4 million, though it’s likely much more. What is known is that groups across the region are crunched for funds and crunched for space. The Fort St. John Arts Council is trying to quantify it all with a proposal to study the arts, culture, and heritage sector in the region to help with future planning. “The economic impact of this sector has never really been identified and we’d like to nail that down,” Sue Popesku, director of the Artspost, told Taylor councillors at a meeting on March 18. “Every time we have more and more people as residents, we have more demands on the arts and heritage sector.” The arts council is applying to the Canadian Department of Heritage for a $75,000 grant to help fund public engagement on developing an arts, culture, and heritage strategy. It’s already secured $20,000
city hall
news in brief Highlights from the city council meeting held Monday, March 25, 2019: Contracts • Council approved a $5.24-million contract to Interoute Construction of Fort St. John (DGS Astro Paving) to complete road and shallow utilities construction and installation in the Tahltan Road and 118 Street local service area, to support a new commercial development including Canadian Tire. Deep utilities were installed in 2018.
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Emily Cui (foreground) performs during a Pointe dance to the song “Healah” at the Northern Dance Theatre Society gala, March 14, 2019, at the North Peace Cultural Centre. The gala previewed competition numbers as well as solos from each of the club’s graduating seniors.
from the City of Fort St. John, and is looking for $6,000 each from Taylor and Electoral Areas B and C in support of its application. Arts groups are in need of more space and more people are requesting new creative programs. There’s been talk in the community about the need
for a creative hub of studio spaces for local artists, while new initiatives such as an orchestral program, and others geared toward ethnic communities are being discussed. “If we want to do effective planning for the next 20 to 30 years, we need to know what are people are looking for,
what are the trends of what they’re interested in?” said Connie Surerus, secretary of the arts council. “We keep seeing this demand and need for different types of arts programming. Having this engagement, and getting a comprehensive study done of what’s being provided
• Council approved a $599,580 contract to Chapman Industries Ltd. of Vernon for 2019 sewer projects. The projects include 160 metres of new sanitary sewer on 93 Avenue west of 93 Street to help reduce flooding in the area. A second project includes 90 metres of new storm sewer in the lane south of 91 Avenue between 90 and 91 Streets to alleviate storm water issues in the lane, according to a city report. • Council approved a $88,341 contract to Sharp Instruments Ltd. of Fort St. John for lighting upgrades at the Kids Arena Fieldhouse. The upgrades, identified during a 2015 audit, will improve lighting levels and reduce energy consumption at the club.
Other business
It’s the third year in a row the city has won the award. Shirley Collington, director of finance, was also awarded a Canadian Award for Financial Reporting Achievement, which is given to the person responsible for preparing the report. • Karin Carlson was introduced to council as the city’s new director of recreation and leisure services. Carlson replaces Ross deBoer, who left his post to go work for the City of Dawson Creek. At the meeting, council presented the local 2020 BC Winter Games organizing committee with $50,000 in seed funding to assist with its work. • Council authorized Mayor Lori Ackerman, or a designate, to attend the Job Fair for Re-
• Janet Prestley, director of legislative and administrative services, was presented with a Long Service Award in recognition of her 30 year career with the city. Prestley was hired on March 20, 1989 as an administration clerk before gradually climbing up the ranks. Prestley became director of legislative and administrative services in 2007, tasked with giving support to council and senior management, overseeing municipal elections, preparing bylaws and policies, and more. • Council accepted the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the city’s 2017 financial report.
now, what are the needs, what are the wants, to be then able to plan for the future. We’re not relying anecdotes and assumptions, we’re relying on cold hard facts.” Arts and culture is critical to attracting and retaining employees in the North, Popesku said. The sector is already strong and viable, but knowing the full scope of it will help attract more funds to meet demands. “It’s growing so fast that coming to you for more funds for that, we’re going to have to do that unless we can prove to outside sources that we need more funds from the outside, and from everyone, collectively,” Popesku said. “More space, more programs brings in more money. That’s what we want to do. We want to generate it from them, but we have to plan to do it.” Taylor council was receptive to the need for the study. Getting hard data on the sector’s impact, and knowing there are as many kids dancing as playing hockey is important, Mayor Rob Fraser said. “It will go a long way to show that the vast majority of people in this region are tied to the arts and heritage somehow,” he said.
cruiting Surgeons in Penticton on May 11, 2019. The fair connects communities with graduating students of the University of British Columbia’s general surgery training program. Bylaws • Council gave first three readings to Water Regulation Bylaw No. 2457, 2019. The bylaw regulates city water supply and distribution, and includes updates on the roles and responsibilities of the city and consumers, requirements to install water services and connections, sets water standards, and outlines how billing disputes are resolved and how the city collects on unpaid accounts, and more.
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A4 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
Local News
Caribou recovery plan proposes resource development closures matt preprost & Austin cozicar editor@ahnfsj.ca
A draft agreement between B.C., Ottawa, and two Treaty 8 First Nations proposes interim moratoriums and changes to resource development practices in critical caribou habitat to help recover three dwindling herds in the South Peace. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development provided details Thursday, March 21, of two agreements being developed as part of recovery efforts for the southern mountain caribou in the region. A partnership agreement between the two governments and the West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations targets the Pine, Narraway and Quintette herds around Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, and Mackenzie. Doug Donaldson, minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development, as well as Chief Ken Cameron of Saulteau and Chief Roland Wilson of West Moberly all termed the agreement as “historic.” “We’ve worked with Canada, the West Moberly, and the Saulteau First Nations to develop a draft agreement that protects caribou, protects jobs in the South Peace,” said Donaldson. “These agreements include tangible and real measures that are rooted in the best available science and traditional knowledge.” The agreement calls for protected areas and closures in high and low elevation caribou habitat, along with measures
NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CANADA photo
Southern Mountain Caribou.
for recreation management, maternity penning, predator control, and land restoration. The closures are targeted at resource development, and not tourism and backcountry recreation, ministry officials said during a briefing. No existing mining operations will be affected, but forestry and other tenure holders will be impacted, according to officials. The total amount of land considered for moratorium wasn’t immediately available. A new committee is proposed to review ongoing industry operations and to develop better land management practices in collaboration with companies. “The whole intent of this draft negotiated partnership agreement is to ensure the conservation and recovery of the caribou herds, that are so important to biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, but at the same time ensuring that natural resource extraction activities
can continue to be part of the economy for Northeast B.C.,” said Donaldson. Southern mountain caribou have been listed as a threatened wildlife species under the federal Species At Risk Act since 2003, two herds in the South Peace of which have already been extirpated. According to recent counts, there’s an estimated 229 animals in five other herds in the South Peace, with an estimated 74 animals in the Quintette herd, and 26 in the Narraway herd. Those numbers are down from between 150 to 200 animals in the early 2000s. “I totally believe that this is a real powerful moment in history, and it is a turning point for B.C., Canada, and First Nations people working together to save a species from extinction,” said Cameron. “This is a fantastic opportunity we have in front of us right now. We’re out of balance. What we’re trying to do is get
us back into balance,” said Wilson. Work on the agreement began in May 2018. “When the federal government issued an imminent threat status to caribou recovery across BC in May 2018, it’s their mandate in legislation that started the clock ticking on a year-long timeline before they proceeded with any cabinet decision on a unilateral order to protect the caribou habitat,” said Donaldson. “The federal government could have unilaterally imposed measures that only considered the habitat needs of the caribou and not the need of the communities.” Federal agreement The province has also drafted an agreement under the federal Species At Risk Act with Ottawa that outlines “broad recovery actions” and gives the province access to federal funding to support
recovery efforts, officials said. The agreement sets out herd management planning that will be done collaboratively between governments, First Nations, local governments, and other industry and public stakeholders. A socio-economic study on the impacts of any closures has yet to be completed, and will be done collaboratively, officials said. Donaldson was quick to emphasize it is a draft agreement. A socio-economic study on the impacts of the closures has yet to be completed. “We’ve also commissioned an independent regional economic analysis to inform this process. From our perspective, the federal government must provide adequate financial compensation to mitigate economic impacts, and we’re working with them to confirm those details before a final agreement is signed,” said Donaldson. Consultations But the clock is ticking fast, with a final agreement possible for June. Donaldson did not directly address why local municipalities were largely left out of the process, but said the information is now public. The province will begin public consultations Monday, April 1, which last the first 10 days of April, visiting communities in the Peace affected including Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John, as well as other communities affected like Mackenzie. The agreements do not set out snowmobile closures. Snowmobilers will be consulted on management practices in early May, officials said.
The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation is dedicated to working with the community to raise and manage funds to enhance patient care and comfort at the Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa Residential Care Facility.
COLON HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH Did you know that March is colon awareness month? Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and is also one of the most preventable. Regular screening starting at age 50 is important since most early colorectal cancers do not produce symptoms. The FSJ Hospital Foundation recently purchased a new colonoscope, thanks to the wonderful support of our community. Screening is done with a procedure called a colonoscopy, where physicians look at the lining of the rectum and colon using a colonoscope with a camera on the end. Dr. Rizcalla (local General Surgeon) says the upgraded equipment will result in better image quality and faster procedures for patients.
Monthly News Letter
Pictured left: Some of the FSJ Hospital’s amazing Operating Room staff. Pictured right: Dr. Rizcalla posing with the new colonoscope.
CALLING ALL BLUEY DAY PARTICIPANTS! Registration is Now Open! Every May, caring citizens collect donations from the community and in return shave their heads/ beards. Some people shave to give hope, some shave to remember someone and some shave to raise awareness. All proceeds go to the Cancer Treatment & Diagnostic Fund which is focused on early screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer with the aim to support patients close to home. “People with long hair are also able to register, fundraise and donate their locks for the ‘Wigs for Kids’ program. The FSJ Hospital Foundation is excited for this year’s event and will be adding some new additions. For the first time ever there will be Henna designs for the participants and a ‘Best Beard’ competition hosted by Beard’s Brewing Co. the evening before Bluey Day.” Says Niki Hedges (Executive Director of the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation).
Pictured left: Larry Evans having his head shaved at the Bluey Day 2018. Pictured right: Jamie Bausman, looking proud, next to her very impressive ponytail at Bluey Day 2018.
To register for Bluey Day 2019, please contact the FSJ Hospital Foundation or register online at fsjhospitalfoundation.ca For more information about Bluey Day, ‘Wigs for Kids’ and the ‘Best Beard’ event at Beard’s Brewing Co. please stay tuned on the foundation’s facebook page or contact the FSJ Hospital Foundation.
Located around the corner form the giftshop in the FSJ Hospital • Open Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm • 250.261.7563 fsjhospitalfoundation Fort St. John Hospital Foundation FsjHosp fsjhospitalfoundation.ca
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 A5
Local News
Support needed in push for more care beds matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
Healthcare advocates in Fort St. John are looking for community support in their push to get the provincial government to provide more long-term care beds in the city. Save Our Northern Seniors (SONS) is pushing for a third house at Peace Villa that could accommodate 60 new beds. Peace Villa already has 123 beds, but there at least are nine people waiting to get in. Northern Health already has the property to build a new facility, SONS representatives said last week. “We’re actually in a crisis when it comes to assisted living,” Jean Leahy told a Rotary luncheon on Thursday, March 21. “We certainly have to have this facility, and the sooner the better. It’ll take two to three years to build it, so it’s not something that will happen overnight.” SONS formed in 2002 to address local healthcare services
and issues in the community, particular for seniors. The city and region is facing extraordinary pressure for care facilities, with waiting lists at some existing facilities totalling more than 100. “It’s not just for seniors that we need these places,” said Margaret Little. “There’s people in our hospital right now that need to be out of the hospital. You don’t get better in a hospital situation.” It’s the government’s responsibility to provide these facilities, and more visible support from the community is needed, Leahy said. SONS is looking for letters of support from residents, businesses, and community groups. “We have a submission to government saying we want this building done,” Leahy said. Letters can be emailed to Leahy at jleahy@shaw.ca, or Margaret Little at mackeno@ xplornet.ca. Letters can be snail-mailed to Leahy at Apt.107, 9819-107 Avenue, Fort St. John, B.C., V1J 7B4.
taylor district
ing funding from the Northern Development Initiative Trust to help build a playground at its new pavilion in Peace Island Park. Highlights from the District • Council approved a weekof Taylor council and commit- day rental rate for the Peace Istee meetings on March 18, 2019: land Park Pavilion at half the cost of the weekend rental rate • Council approved a series for the 2019 season. The rates of comments regarding the will be included in the 2020 disposition of an oil and gas Consolidated Fees & Charges parcel in Baldonnel up for Amendment Bylaw. auction in May. The district • Council gave the first three will be requesting consultation readings to Financial Plan on emergency response and Bylaw No. 832, 2019, which water planning as the parcel sets the budget for 2019 and falls within the district’s water- outlines expected revenues shed and fire protection zone. and expenses through to 2023. • Council approved an increase in credit card limits for Pre-meeting feast the Lone Wolf Golf Club general manager and restaurant Fort St. John city council manager to $25,000 each. The delivered a Burger King dinincreased limits will meet op- ner to Taylor chambers before erational needs, and eliminate the start of Monday’s meeting, the use of personal credit cards holding up their end of a losfor district business, staff say. ing bet from the High On Ice • Council authorized May- Winter Festival. or Rob Fraser to attend the The bet began when Taylor BC Mayor’s Caucus in Prince Coun. Brett Taillefer chalGeorge from March 31 to April. lenged Fort St. John Coun. TreEmergency preparedness and vor Bolin that the winner of the caribou recovery are expected festival’s Mayor’s Ice Carving to be hot topics on the agenda. Challenge would buy the other • Council will write a letter dinner. The bet quickly expanof support for Doig River First ded to include both councils. Nation, which is applying for Taylor won the ice carving federal funding for a land-use challenge last month with a study on the K’ih tsaa?dze Tri- sculpture of a campfire. bal Park. “The carving challenge is • Council will write a letter something we look forward to of support for the Peace Pas- every year,” Mayor Rob Fraser sage Skating Club, which is said. seeking up to $10,000 from BC “I’ve been mayor for five Hydro’s GO Fund grant pro- years now, I’ve attended five gram to provide support for of these and I think my name low-income skaters who oth- is on there (the trophy) three erwise can’t afford to particip- times.” ate in the sport. The district will challenge • Council waived rental fees Fort St. John in the carving for the Peace Country River contest next year, Fraser said. Rats to host the annual poker “That will be part of the fun, rally in July at Peace Island determining what the bet will Park and the new pavilion. be back and forth,” he said. • Council will write a letter of support for the Peace Country River Rats, which is seek—Matt Preprost
news in brief
record temps
dave lueneberg photo
Splashing through the spring melt in Taylor. Record breaking temperatures are making quick work of spring melt in Fort St. John. The city set a new temperature record on March 20, with the mercury reaching just under 14 degrees, according to Environment Canada data. The previous record high for the day was 12 C in 1992. The city also set a record on March 18, when temperatures at 13. 5 C, up from the previous daily high of 11.8 C in 1990.
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The Tse’K’wa museum is planned to be developed in phases over five to 10 years, a timeline that will depend on funding. “It’s a long-term project, no doubt about it,” Oker said. “I believe that a lot of people can and will benefit locally around there,” Oker continued. “If they got something to offer, come and join us, come and help us create a nice place for people. We’re open for any kind of suggestions to make that happen, we don’t want to impose on people or put our agenda first.
“We’re quite open to be a good neighbour. We want to share with everyone. It’s a beautiful history and we need to let people know that we have something here.” Brad Sperling, electoral director for Charlie Lake, declined to comment, citing the public hearing process. The museum and its proposed rezoning has support from the cities of Fort St. John and Dawson Creek. A bylaw for the property’s rezoning and redesignation will come before the regional district board for a third reading in April.
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A6 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
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The Alaska Highway News and the early 1950s
A
s the 1940s came to a close, George and Ma Murray worked hard to establish the Alaska Highway News. Ma sold advertising to everybody she could and with people that couldn’t pay for it she would accept the occasional bag of potatoes, eggs, or other food. Once, she sold a one inch by one inch ad to Mr. Cuthill of Cuthill’s Meats, who said that’s all he could afford. He had as much business as he could handle. He told Ma he had a number of chickens that he needed to pluck and dress. Ma immediately jumped on this and said Mr. Cuthill, “If you buy a two by two ad, I’ll pluck and dress those chickens.” Mr. Cuthill laughed and said, “Mrs. Murray, you have a deal!” Ma cleaned all but three that night before she tired out and George dressed the last three. This was one of the many things that both George and Ma did to establish the paper. As the 1950s dawned, and the need for information about events and happenings increased, the Alaska Highway News was being established as the newspaper to read in the North Peace. The following 10 years would see many major events both local and worldwide. The Korean War had started, and while Ma gave coverage to the highlights of it, her main focus was on the local happenings, which she published religiously. In 1951 and 1952, the next big event to change the face of the north took place; the last one being the building of the Alaska Highway, which had opened the north, and helped bring about the discovery of oil and gas in the Northeast. Prior to 1951, there had been some exploration in B.C., but little came from it. When oil and gas was discovered around Fort St. John, it was literally in our backyard. As the drilling companies and the rigs descended on Fort St. John, Ma made ‘damn shur’ she was involved and made everybody aware of what was happening. Almost every paper in 1952 has a detailed column of who was drilling where, how deep they were, and whether they had hit anything, gas or oil. This is where I come into the picture as my father,
A Commonwealth Drilling crew from the early 1950s, with Herschel Evans, Tool Push, on the far left. The names of the other workers in the picture are not known.
Larry Evans Herschel Evans, was a Tool Push for Commonwealth Drilling. Ma’s way of gathering this information included loading her old car with a little something for the Tool Pushers. She would then drive out to the nearest rigs and visit with the Tool Push. The following is an excerpt of the many columns on the oil and gas activity printed in the Alaska Highway News. In the column below, from the June 26, 1952, you will see “Ye Ed” — this was Ma’s pseudonym for herself. “Another Well Blows; Six Holes Belch Gas; No. 9, McLeod Farm Breaking just right for the front page, and also when a story was really needed, Pacific Pete No. 9 on the Jack McLeod farm blew in on Wednesday morning with a jolt of varicoloured vapor at the torch pipe where the gas is discharged. It turned from yellow, to brown, and then to white, before it was shut off. The well is down to the
lower triassic sands somewhere near 4400 feet. This was the second blow, a minor one last week, and it is too early for any further details, as Ye Ed had to elbow her way through dozen field cars and trucks to get even this. Mr. Herschel Evans is the tool-push. None of the brass was about that early in the morning. This is very good news. No. 9 is in a beeline with No. 4 on the Bouffioux farm. The Regent at Mile 25 is drilling for Pacific Pete-British Dominion and are down 3565. They have not encountered anything that has been released. Cascade is drilling ahead with considerable grief we understand. There has been surface gas, but there has been other troubles to contend with. Jack Rutledge is the tool-push and the hole is down to the triassic at about 4160. No. 10 on the Art LeClerc farm is drilling ahead, making 2470 feet up to Tuesday. Norman Dease is tool-push and everything is humming along the way it is expected. No. 5, Tri-Province, Artemenko farm is drilling ahead. They have lots of pipe and cement arriving and must be burying all their secrets. The hole is about 6500 feet deep but we haven’t had any advice as to what they have encountered. Many old timers are going to
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Latest Trudeau budget leaves me cynical
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he federal budget came out on March 19, and while it’s pretty obvious to everyone that it’s a preelection budget, some of the items are laughable: high speed internet to everyone by 2030 – only 11 years from now! But one in particular strikes me as particularly dark, devious, and dishonest. I’m referring to the announcement where the government says it is going to write off some $950 million owed to the government by First Nations – money owed for hiring lawyers and consultants to pursue lawsuits against not only the feds, but also B.C. and other provinces. Implicit in this announcement is the suggestion that the “money pot” will be allowed to build up to that level again, making it really a $2 billion commitment, or more. Already, Grand Chief Ed John has applauded the announcement. Grand Chief John sat on a National Forestry committee I chaired, so did Elizabeth May. Both Grand Chief John and Ms. May struck me as bright, informed, and committed on the forestry file. But Grand Chief John has been a public federal Liberal supporter, so take his endorsement of this announcement with a grain of salt. Successive governments, Liberal (Chretien, Martin), Conservative (Harper) and Liberal (Trudeau Jr.) have operated on the principle that the loans would be repaid from ultimate settlements – that
Steve Thorlakson seem to take forever. Who really does benefit you ask? Lawyers, of course! Lawyers that the government wants to support them in this fall’s election. Lawyers that charge by the hour, charge for everything, and those billable hours that count for everything. The longer things drag out, the more billable hours, the higher the profits for lawyers, the more our First Nations continue to have to tolerate substandard housing, poor water, and sewer services, inadequate education health and education, etc. The massive tragedy is those same lawyers have no incentive to resolve issues for their indigenous clients, but often, in my opinion, use fear and greed to keep their (the lawyers’) cash clocks spinning. Fear that the First Nations might get a better deal for their people “if they just hold on,” and greed in that too many in First Nations leadership as has been documented by others, continue to live in the lap of luxury while their rank and file members wallow in poverty.
be disappointed if they do not spring us a news story soon, as Frozen’s Jack’s hollow was looked upon as a likely.” In the early years they were drilling hoping to hit oil, and while they did strike oil, they also hit natural gas, which they could not use as there was no way to transport it out while the oil was trucked out. As the 1950s unfolded, more events were to take place that would again change the Northeast forever. The Alaska Highway News was privy to these and developed into a well-established newspaper. These events will be discussed in the coming articles, such as the collapse of the Peace River Bridge, the building of the McMahon Plant, the visit of Princess Margaret (whom Princess Crescent is named after), and the arrival of the Pacific Great Eastern (PGE) Railroad, also known as BC Rail/CNR. The 1950s were indeed turning into a rockin’ and rollin’ decade.
Larry Evans is a former fire chief, city councillor, and lifelong historian living in Fort St. John.
The Liberals are cynically fishing using your money as bait, enhanced with the virtue sharing suggestion of helping First Nations – while their goal is simply to retain power during their self-inflicted, entitled scandals such as SNC-Lavalin. And a post script – an “anonymous source” has leaked to federal Liberal friendly media (CTV and Winnipeg Free Press so far – keep count) that our Prime Minister had issues with Attorney General Wilson-Raybould more than a year ago – ostensibly over a proposed appointment to the Supreme Court, and that Trudeau ultimately overruled Wilson-Raybould, appointing a justice “more in line with Liberal values.” In the process, they dragged a Manitoba justice through their mud, and even forced him into commenting about his wife’s serious illness as the reason why he withdrew his name. This government has totally lost the moral authority to govern. And, if lawyers don’t light their hair on fire by the mistreatment of this judge to serve federal Liberal political ends, then the old joke comes to mind: “What do you have with 100 lawyers on the bottom of the ocean? A good start.” That’s my opinion. Steve Thorlakson is a resident and former mayor of Fort St. John.
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 A7
OP-ED
More than meets the eye in province’s draft caribou agreements
I
f something smells like a skunk, is it really a skunk? On March 21, the B.C. government released its “draft” strategy and agreements for the protection of caribou near Chetwynd, Mackenzie, and Tumbler Ridge. After months of requests by local governments and stakeholders to be involved, we now get a quick look, a quicker consultation period, and, voila, all will be proclaimed as law by mid-summer. After a quick read, I can see why it took so long for our government to make it public. Our government just short-circuited the process by excluding most of the area’s population from participating in major land use and decision-making processes that will affect us, our livelihoods, and potentially, the viability of our communities. It’s difficult to know where to start this, as it has been all so wrong. Not wrong in the sense for the need to protect caribou and their recovery. Certainly, wrong in the process used, wrong in selecting two communities over the rest, and wrong for selling this as some wonderful merging of traditional and scientific knowledge. But, before getting to the wrongs, I do need to send out congratulations. Congratulations to Chief
Evan Saugstad Roland Willson of West Moberly First Nations (WMFN) and Chief Ken Cameron of Saulteau First Nations (SFN) and their legal teams. This is a great agreement for your nations. No longer can B.C.’s statutory decision-makers make determinations without your approvals, which essentially gives you control and management of a vast area, which both nations always wished. Congratulations on gaining control over development on band and band member traplines. Congratulations on new jobs and long-term funding. Congratulations to WMFN for a community forest tenure, and the ability to determine its forest management objectives. Congratulations on convincing government to quietly turn a big part of Tree Farm Licence 48 (TFL) into an addition to the Twin Sisters (Klinse-za) Park. I do have to wonder, why did government determine that SFN has more rights than the Metis and the McLeod Lake Indian Band? Did the B.C. government just ignore the fact both groups of people
have been living in this area long before SFN immigrated from Manitoba? For me, it’s relatively easy to see how our governments got this so wrong. This is about cramming caribou management down our throats under the guise of righting historical grievances. This isn’t only an agreement about protecting and conserving caribou. This is about our governments quietly transfer their power and governing roles and responsibilities to one that favours one segment of the population over the rest. SFN and WMFN have never advocated on behalf of “all” communities; that’s not what they elected their leaders for, nor is it their role. This agreement is only about their communities. If they did wish to represent us all, they would have insisted that affected local governments, the Metis people of B.C., and the MLIB were all represented as legitimate parties to these agreements and outcomes. These agreements do not use all available science. Nothing about the single largest cause of the collapse of these herds, that being the WAC Bennett Dam and Williston Reservoir, which blocked historic caribou migrations routes and that nothing in these agreements will change that. Or, that current declines are largely
caused by predation and the not the loss of habitat. How can Doug Donaldson, our minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations, claim that, “The federal government could have unilaterally imposed measures that would only consider the habitat needs of caribou and not the needs of communities”? News flash, Doug: There’s nothing in these agreements that looks out for the needs of all area communities. You selected two to represent the rest and assumed the others will benefit. And how can you say, “some local industries might be impacted and the governments will work to ensure that the effects are limited”? Really? Yes, Canfor and other tenue holders may get compensation, but the community at large won’t even get so much as an apology for what they lose. And, finally, what the heck is the rush? Numbers show that the current wolf kill and maternal penning program is increasing the caribou herd by leaps and bounds. The need to hurry an illconceived plan through in a few short days is ludicrous. Yes, caribou may eventually need more area, or different management strategies. There’s no immediate need for new parks and almost
unfettered control given to one group of peoples to the detriment of others and then call that “caribou management.” Simply put, and given the detail that is now in these agreements, nothing will change in this brief consultation effort. To our area residents and all those others affected by this plan, be prepared for a month of lip service. But, there is always hope. The Metis people of B.C. and/ or the MLIB could take a page out of the WMFN playbook and sue the government over the loss of their rights and this then could be completed fairly and properly. At the same time, the rest of B.C. should wake up. This is what happens behind closed doors. One day, some other mammal — or bird or fish — will be called special and jobs and public lands will disappear into a special management status, managed on our behalf by someone who does not represent or report back to us, the general public. Too bad we weren’t just dealing with skunks. If we were, we could declare Ottawa and Victoria a nuisance and just get rid of them. Guess we just have to put up with the smell. Evan Saugstad is a former mayor of Chetwynd, and lives in Fort St. John.
Why we pay more than the sticker price for conservation land in the long run
W
hen you buy a new truck, you know you’ll be faced with more bills to maintain it, whether for oil changes, tire rotations, or even a replacement engine. You may not know, however, that when land is purchased for conservation and “returned to nature,” money will also be required for future maintenance, although the specific needs may differ from your four-wheeler. Let me back up. The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and Public Stakeholders that conserves and enhances fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by existing BC Hydro dams. Funding the purchase of lands for conservation is one way we do our job, and it’s one of the most effective tools to compensate for habitat loss. While the initial capital cost is typically high, the long-term value for fish and wildlife can be outstanding. The FWCP doesn’t hold title on the land purchased, but provides funding for land conservation groups,
S. ROOKE PHOTO
Woodland caribou at Kennedy Siding lands.
such as The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC), to buy, own, and manage the land. We recently provided NTBC with more than half a million dollars to purchase and maintain Kennedy Siding. The 223-hectare (551acre) property southeast of Mackenzie includes critical over-wintering habitat for threatened Woodland
Caribou and is now part of a much larger complex of conservation lands. The Kennedy Siding Caribou Herd is stabilizing, currently at a population of around 50 animals. The land purchased was privatelyowned and was at risk of being developed, potentially jeopardizing the stability of the herd that utilize the
HaveYOUR
property’s valuable habitat. Other species to benefit from the Kennedy Siding purchase include moose, elk, mule deer, black bear, and grizzly bear. The project aligns with a land securement priority action in our Uplands Action Plan and woodland caribou is one of the priority species we’re supporting.
There will be, however, ongoing maintenance and stewardship costs for this property. These will likely include: an assessment for invasive plants and potential treatment; forest modifications to protect caribou habitat; signage; and ensuring safe public access while maintaining the conservation value of the lands. Although there may be identified short-term needs, it’s common for organizations like The Nature Trust of BC to raise a percentage of the initial asking price and invest it in an endowment fund. Interest earned from the principle each year is then available to meet long-term ongoing maintenance costs. A constant flow of money to look after any future maintenance needs. Now, wouldn’t that be a nice option when thinking about your truck? Chelsea Coady is the Peace Region manager for the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. Her column will appear bimonthly in the Alaska Highway News. Have a question? Email her at chelsea. coady@bchydro.com.
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.
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A8 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
Local News
Fort St. John RCMP seize weapons, drugs
books are good for the mind Local children’s authors Bev Berg and Megan Knott were at the Coles in Totem Mall on March 23, 2019, for a signing, and to talk about their new book, Perfectly Me. dave lueneberg photo
matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca.
Fort St. John RCMP seized a large number of weapons and drugs from a man found asleep behind the wheel on Monday morning. Officers were called out around 7 a.m. to check on a man who was passed out behind the wheel of a Dodge pickup truck in a parking lot near 93 Avenue and 93 Street in Fort St. John, according to a news release. At the scene, officers saw open alcohol and what was believed to be cocaine. The man tried to flee when he was awoken by officers, but was arrested. The man, from Taylor, was prohibited from driving at the time, and is the registered owner of vehicles that have fled from officers in recent weeks, according to the release. Officers found a loaded handgun, a rifle, a knitted mask, multiple collapsible batons, several knives, as well as suspected cocaine, fentanyl, cannabis, mushrooms and an undisclosed amount of cash. The man’s truck was impounded. “A file like this highlights the importance of the relationship between the public and the police,” Cst. Chad Neustaeter said in the release. “Reporting something that appeared out of the ordinary assisted the police in removing dangerous drugs and weapons off the streets, making both Fort St John and Taylor safer for us all to live.” The man has been released on conditions and a promise to appear in court.
Cougar sightings in Charlie Lake matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca.
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Conservation officers say they’re monitoring reports of cougar sightings in the Charlie Lake area. The cougar may have followed prey into the community, however, their presence is not a concern at this point, according to officials. “We do live in British Columbia and that means Cougars are present and co-exist with us without conflicts all the time,” said officer Tristan Montjoy. Residents in the area have reported spotting a cougar, and paw prints in the Paradise area of Charlie Lake. The Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club said Friday that a deer kill found on one of its trails in the Beatton Provincial Park was most likely killed by a cougar. The club is asking hikers and skiiers to be vigilant when on the trails. The public is encouraged to report further sightings by calling 1-877-952-7277.
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 A9
Business
Local News
Macro shares continue climb with strong results in 2018 matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
Shares in Fort St. John’s Macro Enterprises have climbed nearly 50% year-over-year, as work continues on a number of key pipeline and facility projects in Northern B.C. The pipeline company reported net earnings of $8.9 million, or 30 cents per share, on revenues of $191 million for 2018. That’s up from a loss of $3.4 million, or 11 cents per share, in 2017. Macro was buoyed by a strong fourth quarter, which brought a 511% increase in revenue, most of it from pipeline and facilities construction, and maintenance work. Revenues are forecast to exceed $300 million in 2019, as work continues on the North Montney Mainline and the Groundbirch Compressor Station, and begins on the Coastal GasLink pipeline, the company said. “The Company expects significant activity levels to continue in 2019 and beyond as a result of its joint venture activity with Spiecapag Canada Corp. and the Company’s focus on its blue chip pipeline owners and operators with their construction and maintenance programs across Canada,” the
company reported with its year-end results on March 21. Macro shares opened at $3.51 on Friday, March 22, up more than dollar from this time last year. Macro will build a 166-kilometre section of the Coastal GasLink project in a joint venture with Spiecapag Canada Corp. The contract is currently estimated at more than $900 million, with a 40-60 split between Macro and Spiecapag. Construction is underway, and in-service date is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2021. The company continues to plan for its section of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, and wait for a start date to begin construction from the federal government. The work is estimated at $375 million, though the company is not forecasting any revenues from the project in 2019. “The Company remains very active bidding and estimating costs on projects for its larger clients and anticipates a general increase in both construction and core maintenance work in 2019,” it said. Meanwhile, the company reported that it has now exceeded 22 quarters and 4.2-million man hours worked without a lost time injury.
B.C. fracking report makes 97 recommendations nelson bennett Business in Vancouver
B.C.’s existing regulations for hydraulic fracturing are “robust,” a special scientific panel reports. But it adds that the rapid adoption of unconventional oil and gas extraction in B.C., and a lack of data makes it difficult to quantify the risks, which include mini-earthquakes, fugitive methane emissions and water use. “It is the view of the panel that the current regulations under many acts appear to be robust… however, insufficient evidence was provided to the panel to assess the degree of compliance and enforcement of regulations,” the report states. The three-member panel makes 97 recommendations for improving the regulatory regime. The scientific panel was struck by the NDP government to address concerns about B.C.’s natural gas industry. Even without increased demand for natural gas from a nascent LNG industry, the Montney play in B.C.’s northeast has been a hotbed of investment and activity, due to its high concentration of natural gas liquids, which includes oil and condensate. The development of the Montney play has resulted in concerns over things like induced seismicity (mini-earthquakes), use of fresh water, fugitive methane emissions and impacts on ground water. The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, which ordered the review, says that it has already implemented changes that address some of the concerns raised in the report, including to legislation to address the problem of abandoned and orphan wells, and new regulations for permitting the storage dams used in hydraulic fracking. The science panel points to a dra-
matic shift in drilling methods in B.C. in the last decade. Whereas 85% of wells drilling in northeastern B.C. in 2007 were conventional vertical wells, by 2016, 98% of the producing wells were drilled using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. “The very rapid development of shale gas in NEBC has made it difficult to assure that risks are being adequately managed at every step,” the panel notes. There are environmental pluses and minuses with unconventional gas oil and gas extraction. On the plus side, horizontal drilling takes up a much smaller footprint. Multiple wells can be drilled from a single well pad. Multiple well pads in unconventional drilling has a smaller footprint. On the other hand, the increased use of fracking can trigger minor earthquakes, most of which are not significant enough to cause any damage to buildings. There are also concerns about increased methane emissions, although it appears that that is more of a concern with shallower wells, whereas the ones drilled in B.C. tend to be at much greater depths. One major concern associated with unconventional oil and gas is the amount of fresh water they use. Shell’s Groundbirch operation, for example, uses 100% recycled water. The BC Oil and Gas Commission estimates that 40% of all water used in fracking now is recycled. The panel raise concerns about an increase in “legacy sites” should there be a downturn in oil and gas development. The concern is that the government will be left with abandoned wells. “Legacy site cleanup could become a significant financial burden to the people of BC,” the panel warns. The B.C. government recently passed new regulations to deal with the issue of dormant and orphan wells.
“This project will, I think, help create a hub for LNG fuel in B.C.” — Peter Gallenberger, FortisBC, A10
Contact Us matt preprost 250-785-5631 editor@ahnfsj.ca
fantastical face
dave lueneberg photo
Alayah Harrison from Taylor, 7, gets her face painted with her two favourite animals, a kitty and a unicorn, by Coles/Indigo employee Cindy Thomas.
Public caribou meetings next week Four days of public meetings on caribou recovery plans in the Peace Region have been scheduled for April 1 to 4. Staff from both the provincial and federal governments, as well as the West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations will share information on the draft agreements, answer questions, and take feedback. The dates are: Chetwynd - Monday, April 1, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Chetwynd Recreation Centre Fort St. John - Tuesday, April 2, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre Tumbler Ridge - Wednesday, April 3, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Trend Mountain Hotel and Conference Centre Dawson Creek - Thursday, April 4,
5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Co-op Mercer Hall at Encana Events Centre The provincial government announced March 21 a draft agreement between B.C., Ottawa, and the West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations to protect caribou habitat and recover dwindling populations in the South Peace. The province and Ottawa have also reached a separate agreement under the federal Species at Risk Act. The province’s agreement with West Moberly and Saulteau targets the Pine, Narraway and Quintette herds around Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, and Mackenzie. The province is also soliciting feedback online at https://engage.gov. bc.ca/caribou.
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A10 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
BUSINESS
Homebuyers, beware of spring fever
S
pring fever and buying season are about to hit. Buyer beware! I have said this many ways. Let me say it again. When buying a home, do your own due diligence. Work with real estate professionals to determine the purchase price is optimal. Those professionals may be your trusted realtor or real estate appraisers. Realtors are paid commission for all sales. Appraisers are paid to provide unbiased valuation advice for a wide scope of work. When an appraiser gets an appraisal request from a mortgage broker or lending institution the request is most commonly for the purpose of mortgage financing. It is not for the purpose of negotiating a sale. The appraisal report belongs to the lender and most likely will not be released to the buyer. When an appraisal request is received from a buyer, the report belongs to the buyer. Depending on the appraisal request, the report may be utilized for negotiating a sale and/or for mortgage financing. The lender or mortgagor may not necessarily accept the appraisal for lending purposes. Typically lenders will broker their own appraisal based on each lender policy. There has been a high volume of homes fall into foreclosure over the past few years. When moving without selling your home there are numerous factors to consider. I would exercise extreme caution prior to entering into a new purchase agreement before selling your original home. I recently was requested to complete a market rent appraisal on a property by an out-of town “B” level mortgage broker. The new contract was subject to a dated lease agreement. Unfortunately, the lease rate at that time has declined and is no longer considered accurate. This is where things get convoluted and tricky. The mortgage broker has paid for the market rent appraisal and has invested time and money into their current deal. They “need” the deal to go through so that they collect their commission. I do not have any agreement or relationship with the mortgagee. I have been requested to complete a desktop market rent report. I cannot verify the current occupancy. The current rental conditions indicate market rents to be $200 below the original lease rate. What does this mean? I have rela-
ing countries p lo e v e d in n e Wom aily to get d m k 6 f o e g a r walk an ave ch as 20 kg. u m s a y r r a c d water, an
NELSON BENNETT
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
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LIFE AT GROUND ZERO
tionships with local mortgage brokers that would have conversations with their client that would offer sound advice on how to get them where they want to be. That may include waiting until they are more financially stable to make the second purchase. There are professional lenders that offer sound lending advice in the best interest of their clients. In other circumstances where the broker “wants to be paid” they are motivated to finalize that sale. In this case the broker’s assistant indicated to me that the value I had applied “didn’t work,” and asked if I would take another look. First, I would like to say it is very unethical for me to offer a predetermined value requested by a client. My job is to offer an unbiased opinion. My response was to hold the market rate I had finalized after thorough research and analysis. My thoughts continued after the e-mail conversation. It is these situations that put people at risk of foreclosure “helping” them get into a mortgage that they really aren’t qualified for. Investment properties are high-risk properties for foreclosure. It is a fine line between stretching the application, mortgage fraud, and high risk assessment. In the entire process the mortgagee was not aware of the situation. Appraisers have valuable information to educate and inform property owners. Although we may not provide the answer the homeowner wants, we provide sound advice that may protect their financial status or allow them to make an informed choice on alternative solutions. Buyer beware. It is disappointing to be unqualified to make a residential purchase. Time and time again, I have seen buyers shop for expensive mortgages only to at some point realize they are beyond their level of comfort. #appraisersknow. Edwina Nearhood is a life-long resident of Fort St. John, with 30 years experience in the appraisal industry.
New $150M LNG terminal planned
Business in Vancouver
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.
Edwina Nearhood
A provincial environmental review has begun for a $150-million LNG terminal that will supply both the domestic and international markets with liquefied natural gas from the FortisBC Tilbury Island plant. The WesPac Tilbury Marine Jetty project has entered the BC Environmental Assessment review. A 45-day public comment period starts April 2. The company behind the project, WesPac Midstream Vancouver, plans to build a temporary floating bunkering berth until a permanent one is built, sometime in 2022. Once in operation, it would have one berth for one LNG carrier, and a berth for smaller LNG bunkering barges. In addition to a domestic bunkering market, WesPac expects there will also be LNG export opportunities, with Asia being the main market. The terminal is expected to see up to 69 bunkering barges and 68 LNG carriers coming to and from the terminal annually. The company wants to have a temporary floating terminal in place by 2020 to meet what is expected to be a new demand for LNG bunkering from the marine sector. That’s when new sulphur emissions caps come into effect for the international shipping industry. Some international vessels are expected to switch
from bunker fuel to cleaner burning LNG. “The reason why we want to build a temporary berth is to be able to get in the business of moving the LNG to bunker vessels sooner,” said project manager Peter Gallenberger. “The reason we want that is that the International Maritime Organization have regulations hitting in 2020 that will require shippers to significantly reduce sulphur emissions. LNG is one of the alternatives that are being adopted by shippers, so we want to be ready for that market. “This project will, I think, help create a hub for LNG fuel in B.C.” But even without the new IMO regulations, a domestic market for LNG for the marine sector is already developing. Seaspan and BC Ferries have been moving some of their ferries to LNG, and it’s a market that is expected to continue to expand. The proposed jetty will be located at Tilbury Island in the south arm of the Fraser River, where FortisBC’s Tilbury Island LNG plant has undergone an expansion. The new terminal would have an annual capacity of 3 million tonnes of LNG per year. I Building the permanent terminal will require dredging in the south arm of the Fraser River. Gallenberger said he expects the EAO process will take about nine months. The project’s construction is expected to employ roughly 100 workers, and 10 permanently once in operation.
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 A11
A summary of sentences and fines handed out in Northeast B.C. courts for the week ending March 22, 2019.
was fined $1,000 for unlawful possession of dead wildlife and fined $1,000 for hunting on agriculturally cleared without the owner’s consent. • Brandon Eric Robichaud (born 1995) was granted a six-month conditional sentence for wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer
Fort St. John Law Courts
Chetwynd Law Courts
• Joel Roger Beaulieu (born 1997) was handed a one-year driving ban and fined $1,000 for driving while prohibited. • Christopher Wayne Zarbock (born 1989) was handed a one-year driving ban and fined $500 for driving while prohibited. • Lori Margaret Makadahay-Lineham (born 1979) was handed a oneyear criminal driving ban and fined $1,000 for care or control of a vehicle or vessel while impaired. • Cody William Strong (born 1987)
• Michelle Patricia Simonson (born 1979) was sentenced to 30 days in jail, handed a three-year criminal driving ban, and given a one-year probation order for failing or refusing to provide a breath sample. • Dennis William Frayne (born 1987) was sentenced to 30 days in jail, fined $500, and assessed a $150 victim surcharge for driving with a suspended licence.
peace region
court docket
— Tom Summer
Special Delivery
Local News
OY IT’S A B illiam W n Lachla iel Dan Parents: nett ill Bar Dan & J Weight: ’s y b Ba ozs 6 lbs 14 inches /2 1 1 2 : th 9 Leng r. 13, 201 Date: Ma 1:55 pm Time: 1 hn, BC o Fort St J
IRL IT’S A G mpf tu S Anika ts: Paren mpf elmut Stu H & ia r Ma eight: Baby’s W gs k 0 2 .7 3 5 cms Length: 5 10, 2019 r. Date: Ma1:38 pm 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
ted in the t Wall is loca re Baby Bouque Hospital Birthing Cent Fort St. John
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 supplied photo
www.fsjhospitalfoundation.ca
Fort St. John RCMP Cst Cooke, Cst Belanger, Cst Rissanen, Cst Shillito, and Cst Bergmark took part in the 2019 Law Enforcement Charity Hockey Tournament in February.
Fort St. John RCMP help score $23K goal for BC Children’s Hospital matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
Five Fort St. John RCMP officers took part in the 2019 Law Enforcement Charity Hockey Tournament in February, helping to raise $23,000 in support of the BC Children’s Hospital. Constables Cooke, Belanger, Rissanen, Shillito, and Bergmark joined their peers from across the province
in Merritt Feb. 23 to 25. The tournament drew officers and first responders from Prince George, Fort St. John, Yukon, Merritt, the South Okanagan, First Nations, the Conservation Officer Service, and BC Corrections. The tournament has raised more than $100,000 over six years for the children’s hospital.
Turn your passion into a career Gain the technical, business, and creative skills to work in the growing digital economy. Learn game design, marketing, and web development. For more information, visit nlc.bc.ca/game-design.
Use your head, wear a bike helmet Spring is here. The days are longer, the sun is melting the snow and the sidewalks are clear. What a great time for families to go for evening walks or having the kids ride their bikes. It is also time to remind parents and children alike that it is the season to dust off the bike helmets before riding. According to Safekids.org, “Properly-fitted helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by at least 45 percent – yet less than half of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet”. Bike helmets are designed to absorb energy from an impact, protecting the skull and brain from injury. Going over the rules of the road with your child is an important way to kick off the bike riding season. Did you know, in BC, police can issue violation tickets to parents or guardians for permitting their children under the age of 16 to ride without a helmet? Police can also issue violation tickets to any cyclists, regardless of age, for not wear a helmet while cycling. The fine for both is $29. Police often choose to have a discussion about helmet use and safe driving practices over enforcing
through violation tickets in an effort to educate cyclists. Reminding children to wear a helmet all the time while riding a bike is the first step. Setting an example by wearing a helmet when you go riding with your child is a great way to reinforce your beliefs in the benefits of helmets while also keeping yourself safer while you ride. Here are some quick tips to keep you and your child safe this bike season: • Wear a properly fitting helmet with straps done up properly to protect from head injuries. •Wear bright colours and use lights while riding; be safe, be seen! •Follow the rules of the road and use hand signals. •Drive the same direction as the flow of traffic and be aware of traffic around you. •Make eye contact with pedestrians and drivers of motor vehicles to ensure they see you. Use your head, it just makes sense to wear a bicycle helmet. — Cst. Chad Neustaeter, Fort St. John RCMP
A12 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
Local News
Addictions, mental health discussed at MLA roundtable
supplied photo
Peace River North MLA Dan Davies with his BC Liberal colleague Jane Thornthwaite, opposition critic for mental health and addictions, and others at a roundtable in Fort St. John.
MLA Dan Davies held a roundtable talk about mental health and addictions this week. Davies hosted his BC Liberal colleague Jane Thornthwaite, opposition critic for mental health and addictions, to meet with officials in Fort St. John and talk about the need for expanded treatment services, street clinics, and counsellors. “Mental health and addictions challenges affect all areas of B.C. and smaller cities like Fort Saint John are no exception,” Thornthwaite said in a news release. “But smaller or more rural municipalities often struggle with fewer services and less access to trained professionals than urban centres. Access to accurate overdose data would help to identify gaps and target services where they are most needed. Northern residents need immediate treatment and recovery options when they reach out for help.” In Northeast, there were 20 overdose deaths recorded
in 2018, 14 of them involving fentanyl. Three people died from an overdose in the region in January. Two dozen community groups and health agencies have formed a Community Action Team in Fort St. John to address the drug crisis. Its purpose is to get the groups working together to address prevention, intervention, treatment, and aftercare measures in the city — what’s already here, and what more is needed to help. “One of the distinct advantages of being a smaller city is the ability to have all of the critically important people who are involved in this work come together to talk about what is actually happening,” Davies said. “It was amazing to see the wealth of knowledge all together in one room. I personally want to thank everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules to attend and we hope to see more interaction like this in the future.”
Northern Rockies alerts Residents in the Northern Rockies are being encouraged to sign up for the municipality’s new emergency notice system. The Voyent Alert system will alert residents of emergencies such as wildfires and floods, and other critical incidents, according to the NRRM. “The Northern Rockies has a great new tool to inform people in the case of an emer-
gency – in this connected age, the municipality is able to convey information at a critical point in time, using the most popular communication methods available,” Mayor Gary Foster said in a news release. Residents can register to receive alerts through their mobile or landline phones, or through email or text messaging. — Matt Preprost
House
of the
ALDEN
The interior living space measures in at nearly 1400 square feet. Its compact floor plan makes the home economical to build, heat, and maintain, which is equally appealing to families starting out, and empty nesters looking to downsize. With minor changes, it could be wheelchair accessible. It doesn't feel small inside. Entering through the covered porch, you step into a bright and spacious gathering space that fills the left side of the home, front to rear. A gas fireplace tucks into the front corner of the living room, next to a bank of multipaned windows facing the street. More light washes in through high side windows in the living room, and taller windows
in the dining area. A raised eating/conversation bar marks the boundary of the dining area and an otherwise open kitchen. Standing at the built-in cook top, family cooks can serve up informal meals and snacks directly from pots and pans to plates and bowls. The sink's window offers a view of the partially covered patio and outdoor landscape beyond. Patio access is via sliding glass doors. Bedrooms, bathrooms and utilities fill the right side of the Alden. The owners' suite at the rear has a roomy walk-in closet, plus a private bathroom with a shower and dual vanity. Secondary bedrooms share the main bathroom, while laundry facilities are in the passthrough utility room that links with the two-car garage. Associated Designs is the original source for the Alden 30-904. For more information or to view other designs, visit www.AssociatedDesigns.com or call 800-634-0123.
Patio 17' x 10' Owners’ Suite 13' x 14' Dining 11' x 11'
Kitchen
Brick veneer columns add to the traditional-style Alden's look of secure permanence. The one on the left is truly a column, supporting and accenting the porch. What looks like another column on the right is actually part of a matched set of slender wall sections flanking the garage door.
Bedroom 11' x 10' Living 17'2'' x 18'
Entry
Alden
Bedroom 11' x 10'
Util.
Covered Porch
PLAN 30-904
Living Area 1392 sq.ft. Garage 462 sq.ft. Dimensions 40' x 60'
Garage 20'4'' x 21'8''
1000 SERIES www.AssociatedDesigns.com
© 2019 Associated Designs, Inc.
Alaska Highway News A part of YOUR Community
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 A13
Local News
Library News — March 2019 Candyland, Sorry, Snakes and Ladders, and of course, who can forget Monopoly. For many families with young children, these familiar classics are what come to mind when hearing the word “boardgames.” Boardgames are a fantastic resource for building early literacy, numeracy an fine motor skills, as well as for developing social and communication skills, facts that can be difficult to remember during the 12th round of Candyland for the day, or in the wake of a Monopoly meltdown. Thankfully, the modern tabletop board game industry is up to the task of keeping the pastime fresh, entertaining and interesting for the whole family. A walk through the shelves of independent toy stores or boardgame shops will reveal a wide selection of beautifully designed, high-quality games plastered with award stickers from educational and parenting publications—but how many can one family buy? Many games carry higher price tags than classics that parents re-
member from childhood, and taking a chance on purchasing something that may not be the right fit can be daunting. Enter Fort St. John Public Library’s brand new collection of early learning and family board games! Thanks to a funding grant from Success By 6 and Children First, FSJPL is establishing an in-house collection of modern board games, focussing specifically on young children and their families. Many options, such as My Very First Animal Upon Animal by Haba Games, are specially designed to introduce toddlers as young as two years old to the fundamentals of gameplay, with sturdy wooden pieces that will hold up to their enthusiastic play. Other choices, such as Peacable Kingdom’s Hoot Owl Hoot, represent a fantastic new trend in games for children: cooperative play. This growing genre of games requires players to work together, sharing ideas and resources, in order to win the game as a team. Don’t worry, FSJPL’s new collection includes plenty of
HABA photo
HABA Animal Upon Animal game.
competitive board games as well, but introducing children to different styles of play is a great way to help foster collaboration and communication skills that will come in handy in school and later in life. FSJPL will begin sharing this collection at Unplug and Play, a new drop-in program for families coming this Spring. At Unplug and Play, families can explore these new resources together, with
staff on hand to help introduce new games and concepts as needed. This collection features games appropriate for children as young as two years old, and many will be a lot of fun for families with older elementary-aged kids as well. Games are available for in-house use during Unplug and Play only for the time being, with the entire collection planned to begin circulating to card-holding patrons by Summer 2019.
Unplug and Play will begin in April with two sessions to fit your family’s schedule. Drop in Saturday, April 13 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the CCRR. Drop in Thursday, April 18 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Library. For more information on this or any other programs, please visit fsjpl.ca. Morgan Churchill is the children’s services and program coordinator at the Fort St. John Public Library.
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A14 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
PERSPECTIVES
The crosses we bear
T
he Way of the Cross or the Stations of the Cross grew out of imitations of Via Dolorosa, (Way of Sorrows or Way of Grief ), a street in Jerusalem believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to His crucifixion at Mount Calvary. For centuries, the 600-metre trek has been a celebrated place of Christian pilgrimage. Pilgrims returning from Jerusalem in the Middle Ages, brought the Way of the Cross devotion home to their own churches, recreating the stations of Christ’s Passion inside their own parishes. During the 15th and 16th Centuries, the Franciscans built many outdoor shrines in Europe to duplicate that journey renowned in the Holy Land. The typical stations are small plaques with reliefs or paintings placed around a church nave. They are: 1. Pilate condemns Jesus to die; 2. Jesus accepts his cross; 3. Jesus falls for the first time; 4. Jesus meets his mother, Mary; 5. Simon helps carry the cross; 6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus; 7. Jesus falls for the second time; 8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem; 9. Jesus falls for the third time; 10. Jesus is stripped of his clothes; 11. Jesus is nailed to the cross; 12. Jesus dies on the cross; 13. Jesus is taken down from the cross; 14. Jesus is placed in the tomb.
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.
Participants walk from image to image, meditating on Christ’s Passion, stopping at each station to say selected prayers. The celebration is especially common on the Fridays of Lent, especially Good Friday, in a spirit of reparation for the suffering that Jesus endured for us. The Way of the Cross has become one of the most popular devotions in many Western Christian
Angela Griffin PEACE REFLECTIONS
churches, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic. Community celebrations are usually accompanied by various songs and prayers. Particularly common as musical accompaniment is the Stabat Mater. At the end of each station the Adoramus Te is sung. The Alleluia is also sung, except during Lent. I was 33, the age Christ was when He died on the Cross for all mankind, when I had an epiphany of sorts. I was participating in the Stations of the Cross during Lent, and it occurred to me that veneration at Christ’s Cross was a metaphor for the crosses that we carry in our own lives. As we bear our own cross, we fall many times and need help carrying it as Simon of Cyrene bent to help Christ carry His Cross. We need to forgive our neighbours and surrender to God’s will for our lives, as Christ did. We even die onto our cross, and cry out to God for mercy as we do. I realized that we were not meant to live lives without struggle, pain and sacrifice. Rather, we grow closer to Christ in our suffering because we come to understand more fully the sacrifice of His suffering for us. Christ’s Passion is a metaphor for how we are to live our Christian faith. Followers are not promised an easy way, or a rose garden. We are only promised that He will walk with us through every struggle. He will be our light in every dark night of our souls. He will carry us when he can no longer walk. He will resurrect us and give beauty for ashes. He is with us always. 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.
Find more ways to learn at play as a family at www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca
HOROSCOPE ARIES (MARCH 21 TO APRIL 19) People notice you today whether you are aware of this or not. In fact, people in power, including the police, will notice you. (It’s important to know this.) TAURUS (APRIL 20 TO MAY 20) Travel or a chance to do something different and stimulating is what you want today. You want to break free from boredom and do something different! GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) This is a good day to attend to banking needs and discussions about wills, inheritances and shared property. You’re in a serious frame of mind and ready to do business. CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) Because the Moon is opposite your sign today, you have to go more than halfway when dealing with others. This simply requires a bit of patience, tolerance and accommodation. LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) Today you find yourself in a position where you have to put the wants and needs of others before your own. It’s a minor thing, but it’s there. VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) This is a playful day for you! Accept invitations to party and schmooze. Enjoy sports events and fun activities with children. Romance will blossom!
For Thursday March 28 2019
LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) You will enjoy cocooning at home today if you get the chance. You want to relax among familiar surroundings. SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) Discussions with others will be interesting today because you want to get right down to the nitty-gritty of things. You won’t waste time on superficial chitchat. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) Focus on money, earnings and cash flow today. Know what you owe and know what you own, because when it comes to money, information is power. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) Today the moon is in your sign, which makes you a little luckier than all the other signs. Why not ask the universe for a favor? AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) Seek out some solitude in beautiful surroundings if you can do so today, because this will please you. You need time to contemplate your navel. Take some time so you can mentally and physically rejuvenate yourself. PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MARCH 20) A confidential conversation with a female might be important today. Any heart-to-heart talks with friends or members of groups will be meaningful. This is a good day to take a serious look at your future goals.
Opinionated Guest Dear Annie: We often invite my brother-in-law to share dinner with us. He lives alone across the street and seems to enjoy the food when he comes over. I am writing because he is very opinionated and shuts me down whenever I say something that he disagrees with. Recently, it was when I said that Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs is patient and that the New England Patriots were underdogs before the game, which the Patriots won -- barely. But my brotherin-law disputed both of my comments and left no room to have another perspective. In addition, after he has finished a meal, he often begins talking about food, where he’s going to get it next -- Chinese takeout, for instance -- or where he gets the best meatballs, etc. Is it me, or is this recurrent behavior a put-down to me, seeing as I’m a good cook and he seems competitive with me about other matters? I haven’t cut him off as yet because of family ties, but I’m pretty tired of this kind of boorish behavior when he comes over at our invitation to have dinner together. Thank you for weighing in. -At the End of My Patience
Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE
Dear End of Patience: I’m not so sure that his talking about his favorite meatballs or where he likes to get Chinese food is a putdown about your cooking. That is, of course, unless you are serving meatballs or Chinese food that night. No one likes to be around an opinionated person who refuses to listen to another’s perspective, so you might ask your husband to help with this situation -- either by talking privately to your brother-in-law or in defending you at dinner when the conversation gets heated. Dear Annie: My boss is currently in marriage counseling. I found this out directly from him. He goes to regular weekly meetings with his wife. He’s always in an especially bad mood on those days. I think their marriage is in a really bad state. That already makes me sad, but I’ve also met his three kids, and they’re wonderful. I worry about them and about my boss. Is there anything I could do to help him in this time of need? I know I would want the people around me to be compassion-
ate if I ever told them I’m going through something. I offered my boss some homeopathic stress relief pills, but he brushed me off. What do I do? I don’t want to stand idly by while he suffers. -- Bearing the Brunt of Boss’s Breakup Dear Bearing the Brunt: Though I truly admire your compassion for your boss’s unhappy marriage, I don’t think you should take this one on unless you are planning on leaving your job. The fact that he brushed you off when you offered him your stress relief pills may be an indication that it’s time to sit this one out. Sometimes not doing anything except listening without trying to offer advice is the best thing you can do. If he reaches out to you again, acknowledge how he feels without being patronizing or making the conversation about you. Lastly, if in fact his marriage is in a bad state, then he has a right to be sad. Also, he is doing something about it by going to marriage counseling. Let’s hope he has a good counselor and in time his sadness and bad moods lessen. 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 28, 2019 A15
CoffeeSCorner OLD $549,900 14466 275 Rd, MLS# R2299430
$1,089,000 11699 Sharden Dr, MLS# R2343722
$1,190,500 6819 Elevator Rd, MLS# C8016502
$1,500,000 10231 85 Ave, MLS# C8017317
Located 18 minutes NW of Fort St John on a gorgeous 1/4-section of land. The property features: a 16x76’ SRI modular home built in 2010,
8.525 Acres of heavy industrial land with storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water to lot line, paved street, hydro.
4000 sq ft high-end custom-built home sitting on 10 private acres only 12 minutes from Fort St John
Industrial 4.5 acres completely chain link fenced. Yard is compacted and graveled with gate.
TODAYS PUZZLE
Contact Us matt preprost 250-785-5631 editor@ahnfsj.ca
$479,900 9211 118 Ave, MLS# R2346727
$999,000 Part Sec 7 Charlie Lake, MLS# R2276256
$1,599,000 8484 Old Fort Rd, MLS# C8019368
$999,000 Lot 7 Enterprise Way MLS# C8019426
One-owner, custom-built home located 150-acre property located on Charlie Lake in the NE end of Fort St. John across from Kin offering approximately 500 meters of waterPark, close to Bert Ambrose. front bordered by rock cliffs on both sides.
High-end 6400sqft office building with detached 48’x36’ shop on 2 acres, located on the SW end of Fort St John.
4.5 acres of I-1 land with most of property gravelled and services at the lot line.
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
CLUES DOWN 1. Sports award 2. Monetary unit of Angola 3. Some animals live here
4. Former CIA 5. Global health group 6. Male given name 7. Opposite of right 8. Open Payment Initiative 9. Desert plants 10. A bird that cannot fly 11. Off-Broadway theater award 12. Lump of clay 13. Barbie’s pal 16. Seldom
PREVIOUS PUZZLES ANSWERS
37. Intestinal pouches 38. Eight 39. Emerald Isle 40. Interpret characters 41. Abandon 43. Felines 45. Energy and enthusiasm 46. Resembles a pouch 47. Relating to sense of smell 49. Swiss river 50. Bradley Int’l Airport 53. __ __ __ __ yonder 57. Tarred and ___ 58. Boyish 59. This (Spanish) 60. Male parent 61. Lounge chair
Q:
PETS PHARMACEUTICAL PLANTS POISON PREVENTION SAFETY SPRAYS TOOTHPASTE TOUCH UNINTENTIONAL
Material for your weekly game page
okie Why did the coital? sp ho e th to go
Q:
What kind of egg did the bad chicken lay ?
Q:
Where do bulls get their messages?
A: On a bull-etin board.
CLUES ACROSS 1. Joint 6. A group of countries in special alliance 10. Stone 14. Move with a splashing sound 15. Can be fixed 17. Giving human characteristics to the nonhuman 19. Other side of yang (Chinese) 20. Consume 21. Gave it a go 22. One point north of due east 23. Fat used to make puddings 24. Turfs 26. Not awake 29. Not nice 31. Frighten 32. Political action committee 34. Skin problem 35. Type of music
18. Noses 22. Denotes past 23. Selling at specially reduced prices 24. __ Claus 25. Comes before two 27. Fencing swords 28. Nocturnal rodent 29. Chinese revolutionary 30. Electronic countercountermeasures 31. Enjoyable 33. Villain 35. Discussed 36. Waterfall (Scottish) 37. Old television part (abbr.) 39. Roughly chipped flint 42. Helps change channels 43. __ Sagan, astronomer 44. Cooling unit 46. Uttered words 47. Small integers 48. Type of data 49. Inspired 50. France’s first Jewish PM 51. Famed sci-fi novel 52. Body parts 53. Nigerian City 54. Amount of time 55. Coloring material 56. Type of constrictor snake
• • • • • • • • • •
EMERGENCY FERTILIZER GARAGE GASOLINE HARMFUL HEALTH HOME INGESTION INJURY MEDICINE PAINT
A: A deviled egg.
TODAY’S PUZZLE
• • • • • • • • • • •
y.
ACCIDENT ALCOHOL ASSESSMENT ASSISTANCE BATHROOM BLEACH BURN CAUTION CHEMICAL CLEANSER DEATH
A: He felt crumm
• • • • • • • • • • •
COMPLETE EACH GRID WITH NUMBERS FROM 1 TO 4, KEEPING IN MIND THAT: - A number can only appear once per row - A number can only appear once per column - A number can only appear once in each box of 4 squares
A16 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
LOCAL NEWS
Museum News — March 2019
Don’t feed deer, conservation officers say Conservation officers in Fort St. John are asking residents to stop feeding growing numbers of deer foraging for food inside city limits. Feeding wildlife has been an ongoing issue in the city, Tristan Montjoy said, and residents may be unaware they’re doing more harm than good. While feeding deer isn’t illegal, it does put the animal’s health and public safety at risk, Montjoy said. “When individuals feed the deer it encourages them to congregate and stay in the urban environment,” Montjoy said. That not only increases the risk of human-wildlife conflicts as deer become habituated to humans, increasing the chance of property damage and aggressive behaviour, but it also attracts their predators into town too — cougars, wolves, coyotes.“That’s a concern for us,” Montjoy said. Deers are attracted to bird feeders, hay, grain, pet food, and people feeding them vegetables, bread, and other gro-
ceries. Most human food is not part of a deer’s natural diet, and feeding them can lead to malnourishment or a nutrient deficiency, Montjoy said. And as deer become conditioned to people, they lose their natural response behaviour to predators, and become more vulnerable to attack, even by family pets, Montjoy said. There have been recent instances where deer have been killed by family pets, he said. “The Conservation Officer Service is asking the public to stop intentionally feeding the deer,” Montjoy said. The issue has become a particular problem in Old Fort, where residents say the neighbourhood has seen an increase in traffic over the last week as families come in the evenings to feed the deer everything from bread to cookies. While deer numbers have increased, Montjoy figures they will disperse as the spring thaw continues and gives them access to more food outside the city. —Matt Preprost
Archives & Collections Did you know that the museum collects obituaries? If you have a recently deceased relative who lived in this area and have not posted his/her obituary through Hamre’s or in the Alaska Highway News, please feel free to email it to the museum archives at fsjmarchives@fsjmail.com or drop it off at the museum (we can scan and return it to you or keep it if you no longer want it) so that we can improve our records. School Programs School programs are back in full swing at the museum. We have two new offerings this year. Our Building the Alaska Highway Program is now available for grades 4 to 6 as well as Grade 1 (original program) and high school. Call the museum for more information. Upcoming Events
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• Documentary Night: 225th Anniversary of the Rocky Mountain Fort, Friday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at the Museum This year marks the 225th anniversary of Rocky Mountain Fort. Established in 1794, Rocky Mountain Fort was the first to be built in the North Peace region, at the confluence of the Moberly and Peace Rivers. It closed sometime during 1805 for unknown reasons and wasn’t rediscovered until 1975. Detailed excavations began in the mid-1980s. Join us for a presentation on the history of the fort (featuring excerpts from the only existing journal written at the fort) and the archaeological digs, as well as
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We’ve recently received shipments of new items for the gift shop, which include cookie cutters, wooden animal magnets, dinosaur egg and fossil kits, and more! Come and check them out! The Arts Council is hosting a Storytelling Series at the museum during various Saturdays in March and April. For more information, please contact the museum at 250-787-0430 or Sue Popesku at the Arts Council. Please note that access to museum parking lot is now only via 100 Street due to construction on Centennial Park between the museum and the Pomeroy Sport Centre.
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Exhibits • Shears, Sutures, and Syringes: Unusual Medical Instruments Used Through the Years, Now until May 2019 at the Fort St. John Hospital Shears, Sutures, and Syringes showcases some of the weird, odd, or downright scary medical tools used throughout the years. All the artefacts in the display case are from the museum’s collection and most were used in the local hospitals! • Capturing the Past: Cameras of the North Peace, January 28 – June 2019 at the North Peace Regional Airport This exhibit showcases a few of the museum collection’s cameras that were used by prominent local people, including Dr. Kearney and Duncan Cran. • Say Yes to the Dress: A Journey through the History of Infant’s Clothing in Western Culture, Now until May 31, 2019 at the museum Our special exhibit this fall, winter and spring looks at the various tasks women undertook in the North Peace from typical women’s jobs like nurse or teacher to less typical jobs such as trapper, interpreter, and politician. It also looks at a variety of handicrafts from mukluks to embroidered tablecloths made by local women. This is one of our largest exhibits with twenty-two interpretive signs spread out around the museum. These purple signs are integrated into many of our permanent exhibits, showing that women in this area were involved in all different kinds of work inside and outside this home. Marjo Wheat and Heather Sjoblom curated this exhibit. • Tools of the Frontier Tools of the Frontier looks at a variety of tools and their uses for trappers and homesteaders as well as the changes in technology over time. Summer student Walker Brady assembled this exhibit. Some changes to this exhibit will be made over the next few months. Check back often! Caty Virostek is manager and curator of the Fort St. John North Peace Museum.
2019 Fort St. John airshow cancelled
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MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca
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a short film shot during the digs.
The Fort St. John International Airshow scheduled for this summer has been cancelled, organizers say. The airshow was set to take off July 24, but s being cancelled due to a lack of resources needed to “to produce a safe, efficient and entertaining show this year,” the airshow society said in a news release Tuesday. “The Society is firmly committed to producing the highest quality show each season and will be working to ensure that a weekend show will take place in 2021,” the statement reads. The society, made up of local volunteers, has been producing airshows for the city and region for the last 25 years.
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400 Highway 2 250-782-7752
Sports & Leisure
B
THURSDAY MARCH 28, 2019 CONTACT US 250-785-5631 editor@ahnfsj.ca
JAKUBOWSKI A WORLD CHAMP
PREDATORS FOURTH AT PROVINCIALS
SPORTS B3
SPORTS B4
9224-100 Street, Fort St. John, V1J 3X2
PHONE: 250-785-0463
Huskies’ championship a true sign of perseverance
The people behind a championship
Dillon Giancola THE DILL ZONE
F
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
Geoff Dick’s goal in the last minute of the second period put an end to a strong 10-minute of stretch of play by the County of Grande Prairie Kings and put the Huskies up 3-1. Fort St. John would go on to score five goals in the third period of Game 6 on March 23, 2019.
DILLON GIANCOLA sports@ahnfsj.ca
As the buzzer sounded in Game 6 of the NWJHL Final and the Fort St. John Huskies stormed the ice, mobbed their teammates, a familiar sight was unfolding. The 8-1 win on March 23 to win the Senator’s Cup was very similar to Game 4 of the 2017-18 season, which the Huskies won 5-2 to win the championship. “It’s surreal, hard to believe that it’s really happening. It’s really special to be a part of this. This one means just as much as the last one,” said Huskies goalie Jonathan Bateman. However, though they might mean the same, the two seasons couldn’t have been more different. “It was a lot harder to win it this year. We struggled a bit, but got through it and it shows how much character we have,” said Huskies forward Geoff Dick. It’s a cliché to say a team battled adversity on way to winning a championship, but last year’s team didn’t really face any real adversity. The team started the 201718 season 10-0, and the year played out like the rightful conclusion to years of fighting and growing together as a team. Early adversity It certainly was a conclusion of sorts, as the 2018-19 team had 14 new players, and an entirely new leadership group. Gone were veterans and former captain Jared Lang (captain), and assistants Shawn Wilson and Josh Richardson. In were new captain Jeridyn Loewen and assistants Gary Loewen and Jared Loewen. Instead of starting the year 10-0, the Huskies went 2-3. Later, after winning six games in a row before
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
Huskies captain Jeridyn Loewen receives the Senator’s Cup trophy from NWJHL Commissioner Jaime Salm.
the Christmas break, the Huskies followed that up by losing four out of their next five games. The team clearly had what it took, but it took a lot of work. “It wasn’t easy, and took a bit for us to step into these roles. You need to earn the respect of your teammates and we were able to make that step and push through,” said Jeridyn. Coach Todd Alexander said it was a rough transition to start. “This leadership group, it took them a bit to understand that everyone was now looking up to them. Once they realized it, they owned it and did things their way, and the new guys looked up to them,” Alexander said. Playoff struggles From there, the Huskies found their stride, rolling through February to the league’s top spot and
clinching a first-round bye. After winning back-to-back 2-1 games to take a 2-1 series lead over the North Peace Navigators in the semi-final, it looked like the Huskies were about to ride their defence to a strong series win. But the Navigators had other ideas. Instead, the Huskies lost their next game 10-4. Few teams can take a loss that lopsided and go on to win a title. Making matters worse was that in the next game, the Huskies put up 56 shots at home, and still lost 4-3. Now, the team was headed back to Peace River down 3-2 in the series. Apparently, it was no big deal, as the Huskies won 3-2 and 3-0 in consecutive days to win the series. “That first round for us was a good lesson. I was impressed that we didn’t worry about it or get upset when we couldn’t score, they just kept playing and buried
one when they could,” said Alexander. That confidence showed through in the final against the County of Grande Prairie Kings. The Huskies lost Game 1 in overtime only to win the next two games 6-3 and 7-3. The team was in danger of falling behind in the series in Game 5 with 5 minutes left, but they scored twice, and completely dominated the Kings in Game 6 to win it all. “Everyone on this team had a piece of this win. Our bench is so deep, and I’m just super proud. This is a good moment for the guys, a special one that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives,” said Alexander. Jeridyn Loewen summed it up best. “It’s such a privilege, and I’m honoured to win backto-back titles with this team. After all the hard work we put in, this is the icing on the cake.”
or the second straight year, the Fort St. John Huskies are NWJHL champions, and for the second straight year, against all odds, I didn’t jinx the team in the final series. Last year, in my first trip on the team’s bus, the Huskies won the title, beating the North Peace Navigators 5-2 in Game 4. This year, in my second trip on the team bus, the Huskies once again clinched the title with a blowout win on the road. Yes, what I’m trying to say is that if anyone wanted to give me credit for the team’s success, they wouldn’t be wrong. OK, fine, I’m kidding, but there are a lot of people who do deserve credit. Start with the team’s coaches, executive, and managers, many of whom are volunteers and been doing it for more than a decade. Sometimes, as a person who never won any big championships growing up, and who grew out of touch with minor sports living in bigger cities, it’s easy to question how much these championships really mean to the people involved in winning them. But being at the arena and at the subsequent celebration, as I’ve had the pleasure of being at the past two seasons, you really get a sense of how much this means to the coaches and management. The same goes for the team’s volunteers, such as trainer Edward Schmidt, who never misses a Huskies or Flyers game if he can help it. There is waterboy Doug Lambert, whose been with the team longer than anyone currently involved, and reliable equipment manager Bill Snow. These are largely thankless roles which, beyond the actual organization itself, go unnoticed. But when the game ends and each one of them gets to hoist that Senator’s Cup trophy, you realize they wouldn’t trade it for the world. You don’t have to be paid to enjoy something to that extent, and you don’t have to play the game to feel a part of the accomplishment. This is the same for all the teams in the area, whether it’s the Trackers, Predators or Flyers, they all have people in these roles giving their time. It’s not just the time that is spent at the rink, but time spent away from loved ones that stands out the most. As coach Todd Alexander reminded the team on the bus ride home, it’s only because of his wife and family’s support that he’s able to keep coaching the team and doing so at a high level. And then there are the players. Playing Junior B hockey presents a strange dichotomy — you’re getting to do what you love, but you know there’s not a lot higher to climb. Some players will go on to play college, and some later in men’s leagues. Most are just out of high school, playing while they still can before taking their schooling or careers more seriously, in one sense putting their lives on hold. But when these players win and you see the smiles on their faces, there’s no doubt that every second put into getting there was absolutely worth it.
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B2 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
Local Sports
Trackers finish dominant season with team’s first provincial championship dillon giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca
supplied photos
Above: NEBC Trackers captain Connor Kindrat and assistant captain Nick Loewen take the first skate with the provincial championship banner on March 21, 2019. Below: Coaches Gerard Dicaire (left) and Brendan Loewen (far right) with graduating Trackers Connor Kindrat, Nick Loewen, Tyler McArthur, Logan Kimmie, Cayden Fernette, Tyler Turner.
R0021217976
For the first time in team history, the NEBC and Yukon Midget Trackers are provincial champions. While they may be unlikely winners to some, the team expected nothing less. “At the beginning of the year, I sat down with the parents and told them I had extremely high expectations for this team, that we were going to get back to provincials and win gold,” said Trackers Coach Gerard Dicaire. The Trackers hosted the B.C. Hockey Midget Championships last year, but lost to Prince George early and couldn’t recover, settling for bronze. There are no semi-finals in this tournament, so teams can usually only afford to lose one game if they want to make the final. “It felt amazing, it was that buildup from last year finally paying off. It really seemed like nobody at the tournament expected us to win, so our mindset was that the only people who believe we will win is us,” said Captain Connor Kindrat. A change in the team There were those who doubted the Trackers’ ability to contend right from the start of the season. Last year’s team had a high-octane offense with three of the league’s top scorers. This year, all three players moved on from the Trackers, and while that’s a big loss for most teams, Dicaire and the Trackers didn’t waiver. “I wasn’t concerned about our roster. We had eight 15-year-olds returning, and we switched to more of a defensive style of play,” said Dicaire. The change paid off. Last year’s team was second in the league in scoring with 153 goals, but just fifth in goals allowed at 90, leaving the Trackers with 46 points, good for third in the league. The 2018-19 team scored just 125 goals, the fifth most, but allowed just 66, tied for the best mark, and they had even more points this season with 48. Unfortunately, the Trackers
still had to settle for third place in the NAHL, something the team was really crushed by. “We were winning everything to start the season, so when we realized we wouldn’t win the league, that shock hit us and everyone was upset. But with provincials around the corner, we focused in on that and realized we didn’t want to come up short again,” Kindrat said. The start of provincials Kindrat told a teacher before the tournament that his team would go 6-1 and win it all, but lose early. Little did Kindrat know how right he would be. “I knew we might have a mental lapse, but when we lost that second game, nobody had doubt, we just shook it off and said next game we have to win,” said Kindrat. The Trackers beat Saanich 3-1 to start the tournament, but fell behind 3-0 to North Okanagan in the first period, and lost the game on an own goal, 4-3. From there, the Trackers went on a roll, starting with a 3-0 win over Okanagan Central which Dicaire called his team’s best game of the year. They also won a do-or-die game against Burnaby 2-0. The Trackers played Central again in the final, and though they fell behind 2-1 in the second, were able to tie it up and Logan Kimmie scored the go-ahead goal early in the third. The Trackers won 3-2. “As a coaching staff, myself and Brendan Loewen couldn’t be more proud. From the players to the parents, volunteers and board of directors, everyone was so great to work with, and what these kids accomplished is surreal,” Dicaire said. For Kindrat, who is one of six Trackers that will age out of midget this year, this was the perfect way to go out. “Winning as a Tracker is huge, especially as we transition to junior hockey. Coaches are looking for guys who have won and have what it takes,” Kindrat said.
PRO GOLF WEEKLY UPDATE Golf News, Tips, Trivia & Stats
This Week in Pro Golf
Top News Stories
Rory McIlroy seeks to extend his hot streak with a second Match Play crown The World Golf Championships (WGC) Match Play Championship started in 1999 and is one of the four WGC events on the PGA Tour each year. Eligibility for this event 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 round-robin 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 semi-finals, finals, and consolation match on Sunday.
PGA Tour suspends Robert Garrigus after he tests positive for marijuana Robert Garrigus posted a message on Twitter on Friday, admitting that he failed a drug test for marijuana and that he has been suspended by the PGA Tour. The Tour on Friday said Garrigus “violated the PGA Tour Anti-Doping Program by testing positive for a substance identified as a drug of abuse. In accordance with the PGA Tour Conduct Policy, he has been suspended for a period of three months.” Garrigus, 41, becomes the first PGA Tour player suspended for using a “drug of abuse.” That would presumably make Garrigus eligible to return at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, June 27-30, in Detroit. Garrigus, who lives in Phoenix, has appeared in seven PGA Tour events this year. He missed the cut in five of them. His most recent cut made was a T-64 at the Genesis Open in February.
Paul Casey became the first back-toback winner in the 19 years of the Valspar Championship. Casey held his nerve down the tough closing stretch on the Copperhead course for a 1-over 72, blasting out of a fairway bunker safely to 20 feet for a twoputt par and a one-shot victory over Jason Kokrak and Louis Oosthuizen. It was the first time since this event joined the PGA TOUR schedule in 2000 that the winner was over par in the final round.
Lessons from the Golf Pro
FedEx Cup Standings
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.
Through March 24, 2019
Course Stats Yards: 7,108 Par: 71 Defending champion: Bubba Watson
TV Coverage Day Time Wednesday 2:00pm-8:00pm Thursday 2:00pm-8:00pm Friday 2:00pm-8:00pm Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm Saturday 2:00pm-6:00pm Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm Sunday 3:00pm-7:00pm
Network GOLF GOLF GOLF GOLF NBC GOLF NBC
Pro Golf Trivia Which golfer leads the PGA Tour in driving accuracy? a) Jim Furyk b) Matt Kuchar Answer: a) Jim Furyk
c) Paul Casey d) Ryan Armour
?
Last Week in Pro Golf Paul Casey won the Valspar Championship
Tournament Results Player Score Earnings 1. Paul Casey -8 $1,206,000 T2. Louis Oosthuizen -7 $589,600 T2. Jason Kokrak -7 $589,600
1) Rory McIlroy 1,348 pts. / 6 top tens
2) Xander Schauffele 1,298 pts. / 3 top tens
3) Matt Kuchar 1,275 pts. / 3 top tens
FedEx Cup Standings continued... Player Points 4) Paul Casey 1,193 5) Charles Howell III 1,031 6) Gary Woodland 1,026 7) Dustin Johnson 972 8) Justin Thomas 969 9) Marc Leishman 966 10) Rickie Fowler 957
PLACE YOUR AD HERE!
Top 10s 3 4 6 5 5 4 3
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 B3
Local Sports
Sheryl Jakubowski to retire after becoming Special Olympics world champ dillon giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca
After Sheryl Jakubowski won two gold medals at the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games last August, she said the last thing she wanted to accomplish in Special Olympics was compete at the world summer games. Not only did she race at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, she became a world champion, winning gold in the 5000m on March 18, 2019. Jakubowski also placed fourth in the 10,000m, setting personal bests for both events. Not bad for a 50-year-old. “I always dreamed of going to a world summer games after I went to the world winter games. It was awesome, I did so good I shocked myself,” said Jakubowski. Jakubowski said she didn’t compete at the worlds just for herself, or for her hometown, Fort St. John. “I did it for all the mothers out there. I’m a mother to three daughters and two grandchildren, and I did this for mothers
who couldn’t,” Jakubowski said. It’s the perfect way for Jakubowski to end her Special Olympics Career, as she plans to retire from competition. “I’ll still be in it, and will give my thoughts to athletes on how they can better themselves, and I want to keep my self in shape,” she said. Jakubowski put in a lot of work that led up to this moment, including going to the gym twice a week and running at the Pomeroy Sport Centre twice a week all winter. She said she owed a lot of her success to the many coaches and trainers in both Fort St. John and Special Olympics Canada who have helped her along the way, as well as her family. “My coach in Fort St. John, Crystal Laboucane, really pushed me and was very supportive,” said Jakubowski. In the end, what matters most to Jakubowski is that she set an example for others and show them what is possible. “Who knows, maybe one day my grandson will go there now and that’s really something.”
Vertical Slam changes location The Vertical Slam Ultimate Challenge will look a lot different this year. Gone is the challenge of racing up the massive hill of the Big Bam Ski Hill and in is running in the beautiful trails of the Beatton River Valley. The run is still scheduled for June 8, but organizers decided to switch locations after Big Bam increased its rental fee. “We totally understand that Big Bam is a non profit and they did what they had to, and we hold no ill will towards them,” said Vertical Slam President Laurie Cardinal. “We are very excited about our new route.” The new route will cover part of the trail that runs alongside Cecil Lake Road, as well as go in and up the hill in behind the turnout. Though the vertical
element won’t quite be the same, and the obstacle course won’t be returning, there are some new things added to this year’s event. There will be the 5km, 10km, and 15km runs, with no 2.5km option. In addition, there will be a halfmarathon option of 21.5km. “This is the first half marathon in the area and we’re really excited about it. We wanted to have something for everyone, whether that’s a hike, a shorter 5km run, or something more challenging,” said Cardinal. The goal of the Vertical Slam Ultimate Challenge remains to raise money for the school district’s Hot Meals Program. — Dillon Giancola
heather massik/ special olympics canada photo
Sheryl Jakubowski shows off her gold medal from the 5000m and fourth-place ribbon from the 10,000m at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi.
NLC rodeo team off to CIRA finals The Northern Lights College Rodeo Team has three riders competing in Brooks, Alberta this weekend in the CIRA Finals. Not a bad way to end the program’s first season. Denton Spiers leads the team, as he was the CIRA regular season points champion in bull riding and will be one of the favourites to win the Canadian final, which runs March 28 to 30. Fallyn Mills made the finals in two of her events, finishing third in breakaway
roping and fourth in goat tying, as well as sixth in the all around. She’ll have a good chance to win the finals in one of the events. In the last college rodeo before the finals in Olds, on March 16, Mills won the goat tying event. Her teammate, Sierra Jones, was second in goat tying at that event and will be competing in Brooks as well. — Dillon Giancola
PRO RACING THIS WEEK Racing g News,, Stats & Trivia Race Preview
Location: Fort Worth, Texas Date: Sunday, March 31, 3:00 p.m. Last Year’s Pole: Kurt Busch - 197.368 mph Last Year’s Winner: Kyle Busch
Texas Motor Speedway Track Details Shape: Quad-oval Distance: 1.5 miles Turns / Straights: 24º / 5º
Texas Motor Speedway is home to two Cup Series races each year, the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 and the AAA Texas 500. Texas Motor Speedway’s layout is very similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway (formerly Charlotte Motor Speedway). Jeff Burton (1997) and Dale Earnhardt, Jr (2000) both earned their first Cup Series win at Texas Motor Speedway. Earnhardt’s victory was a then-record for fewest races to notch a victory in the “modern era” on the Cup circuit, winning in just his 12th start, breaking the record held by his father, Dale Earnhardt (16 starts). Current points leader, Kyle Busch, won last year’s race. The race will be shown live on FOX at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 31.
Last Week’s Race: Brad Keselowski Won at Martinsville Brad Keselowski routed the field at Martinsville Speedway to give Team Penske its third Cup victory through the first six races of the NASCAR season. Keselowski led 446 of the 500 laps around the shortest track on the NASCAR schedule. “The car was really good. Just a great day for a team,” Keselowski said. “Just one of those days you dream of as a race car driver.” The win was the third this season for the new Ford Mustang. Toyota has won the other three races. Elliott finished second, while Kyle Busch was third
Brad Keselowski Born: Feb. 12, 1984 Crew Chief: Paul Wolfe Car: Ford
Year 2019 2018
Wins 3 2
Top 10s 4 20
Avg. Finish 6.3 13.4
2019 Standings Cup Series Top Ten Drivers 1) Kyle Busch 2) Joey Logano 3) Kevin Harvick 4) Denny Hamlin 5) Brad Keselowski 6) Aric Almirola 7) Martin Truex, Jr. 8) Kyle Larson 9) Kurt Busch 10) Ryan Blaney
Points 237 222 213 205 176 174 169 163 160 155
Xfinity Series Top Ten Top 10s 6 4 5 5 4 5 5 2 4 3
Drivers 1) Tyler Reddick 2) Cole Custer 3) Christopher Bell 4) Brandon Jones 5) Austin Cindric 6) Michael Annett 7) Justin Allgaier 8) Noah Gragson 9) Ryan Sieg 10) John Hunter Nemechek
Points 220 213 206 183 179 178 171 161 153 149
Top 10s 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 2 3 3
Tony Stewart headlines new nominees for NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2020 The 20 nominees for the 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class were announced last week, and there are six new individuals on the list. Three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart headlines the group, which was revealed on “NASCAR America.” This is Stewart’s first year of eligibility. Stewart, who co-owns Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team StewartHaas Racing and who also previously raced in the IndyCar Series, was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in Daytona Beach, Fla. Also new to the list are Sam Ard, Neil Bonnett, Marvin Panch, Jim Paschal, and Red Vogt plus 14 carry-over nominees from previous ballots. With the addition of the new six, Kirk Shelmerdine, who won four championships at Richard Childress Racing with Dale Earnhardt, was dropped off the list. From the list of 20 nominees, five inductees will be elected by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, which includes a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.com. Voting Day for the 2020 class will be Wednesday, May 22. NASCAR also announced three new nominees for the Landmark Award given for outstanding contributions to the sport. The nominees were Edsel Ford II of Ford Motor Co., Pocono Raceway founder Dr. Joseph Mattioli and Mike Helton, the first non-France family member to be named NASCAR President.
Racing Trivia In the last 10 races at Texas Motor Speedway, which driver has the most victories? a) Kyle Busch b) Joey Logano
?
c) Kevin Harvick d) Jimmie Johnson
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Answer : d) Jimmie Johnson has won 4 of the last 10 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
This Week’s Cup Series Race: O’Reilly Auto Parts 500
B4 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
LOCAL SPORTS
Flyers battling for a spot in Coy Cup final DILLON GIANCOLA sports@ahnfsj.ca
The NPHL season didn’t go how the Fort St. John Senior Flyers planned, but after a month off to lick their wounds and rest up, the Flyers are back at the North Peace Arena this week to host the Coy Cup and try and end the season on a high note with a provincial championship. The Flyers kicked off the tournament on Tuesday, March 26, against the Prince Rupert after press time, and again on Wednesday against the Dawson Creek Canucks for Robbie Alexander Night. The other team in the tournament are the Williams Lake Stampeders, and the Flyers will play them Thursday, March 28 at 8 p.m., with the Canucks
and Rampage squaring off in the early game at 3 p.m. The playoffs will begin Friday, March 29. The second and third-place teams after the round robin will face off at 8 p.m. to meet the top round robin team on Saturday, March 30 at 8 p.m. in the Championship Game. The Canucks had the best season out of the four Coy Cup teams, and are the defending Coy champions. They had a 2-1 lead over the Grande Prairie Athletics in the NPHL final, but lost three games straight, including Game 5 in overtime, and will no doubt be trying to erase that bitter taste of disappointment with a commanding Coy Cup win. The Flyers will be looking to win their third Coy Cup, after they won the tournament in both 2015 and 2016.
DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO
The Predators dominated the Kamloops Blazers in their second-last round robin game, winning 5-0 on March 23, 2019.
Predators place fourth at provincials DILLON GIANCOLA sports@ahnfsj.ca
The Peace Midget Predators’ third season and first as a full-time program came to an end March 24 with one last game at home in the provincials. The Predators played the South Island Royals, and could have clinched third place with a win. The girls played well and outshot South Island, but lost 4-1. “They had a great effort today, outshot the other team badly, but we were unable to find the back of the net and that hurt us today. We had a great tournament, could have beaten any team on a given night, but that’s just how it goes,” said Coach Rob Larson. The Preds finished provincials with a 2-3 record, not as good as they’d hope but a good showing from a team and program that is still in its infancy. All three teams they lost to would go on to medal. With the win, South Island moved into a tie with North Shore with seven points, but because of a tiebreaker, advanced to the final against Richmond. There was
less than four hours between the end of the Predators game and the start of the final, and South Island was unable to overcome that, losing to Richmond 4-0. Overall, the Predators are happy with the effort they showed at provincials and the way they played. “We battled hard, had some downfalls, but kept pushing ourselves. Most of us have been a family for three years and you don’t ever give up on each other in a family,” said Captain Beth Connelly. Connelly is one of eight players on this Predators team that will be moving on next year. It’s a big turnover, but Larson thinks the Predators will be able to handle it. “There are a lot of good players still to come and we’ll have a decent team next year for sure,” Larson said. The Predators are holding an I.D. camp in Dawson Creek on April 6, in order to identify girls who have potential and could play on the Predators next season. Anyone is welcome to attend and details can be found on the team’s Facebook page. — with files from Dave Lueneberg
SUPPLIED PHOTO
The U19 Female Northern Strikers at the Fort St. John Airport, waiting for their flight to Costa Rica, on March 19, 2019.
Northern Strikers help out in Costa Rica ADE BRUSSOW Alaska Highway News
The U-19 Female Strikers team left Fort St. John on March 19 to go to Costa Rica during spring break as a pre-season warm up for the high school soccer season. They will return March 30. The team got the idea to go on the trip from a fellow competitive team from Saint Albert. That team has often gone on trips such as these, but they highly recommended the Costa Rica trip as their favourite one. Over
the last few months, the Strikers have been fundraising and collecting donations to make this trip a reality. The girls are working with a company based in Costa Rica. The company recommended the team bring some supplies for the locals, so each member of the team is taking a backpack filled with school supplies, toys, and clothing to give to local children. The team will also be playing games in the U-17 2018 World Cup Stadium against Codia U17, Dimasuki U17, and Liberia U17.
LAKESHORE 4H Community Club Hello readers! I’m Liam Koop from the Lakeshore 4-H Community Club and things are definitely gearing up for 4-H activities. Some of the members are looking forward to getting their pigs and sheep this spring break. The initial weigh-in is happening at the end of March early April. Pigs right now should start at 50 to 100lbs and sheep start around 30 to 50lbs. The target weight for pigs is over 200lbs and sheep about 100lbs. My brother and sister have already picked up their sheep from South Peace Colonies. In addition to verifying initial weights, lamb and pigs will be checked for overall health, tagged if necessary, and given appropriate vaccinations. The theme for Lakeshore is tractor names so I’m going to name my pig John Deere. My sister is naming her lamb White and my brother is naming his lamb Lamborghini (and yes, that is a tractor manufacturer). The real work for those raising 4-H project animals begins after the weigh-in. We will be responsible for feeding, and caring for the health and well being of our project animals. In addition to this, we need to train our animals to be safe and well-mannered in the show and auction ring. After weigh-ins, our Lakeshore club will be holding an auction and family dance fundraiser on April 27 at Cecil Lake Hall. Each of us have been going to different businesses in town to look for donations for the fundraiser. I really look forward to the fundraiser. Everyone is welcome.
Printed in Canada | E&OE December 2015 15264-S01-03
4H Reporter Liam Koop
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 B5
Local Sports
Fort Bowling Lanes league standings: week 24 Here are your standings for week 24 of the Fort Bowling Lanes leagues. Blue Balls, the fourth place team, won the Wednesday Night League for the week, while Ball Busters held serve in the Coffee League and increased their lead. Mixed No Cap Overall points / week 24 1. The Fantastics - 208.50 / 7.50 2. Got Balls - 188.50 / 5.00 3. Good Time Girls- 167 / 9 4. Blue Balls - 161 / 12 5. Trouble - 151.50 / 7.50 6. Rusty Gates - 143 / 11 7. Freeze Frame - 132 / 2 8. Bowl Movements - 130.50 / 10 9. Comic Reliefs - 130 / 6 10. Forever Friends - 111.50 /3 11. Big Chucksees - 110.50 / 4 12. Here 4 The Beer - 73 / 1 High Series 1. The Fantastics - 3,921 High Single 1. The Fantastics - 1,524 Individiual Leaders Mens Single Flat - Kevin Alexander - 365 Mens Series Flat - Kevin Alexander - 844 Ladies Single Flat - Marlene Bigcharles - 340 Ladies Series Flat - Brianna Warnock - 764
High Averages Ladies 1. Marlene Bigcharles - 207 2. Brianna Warnock - 200 3. Clara Skauge - 188 Mens 1. Kevin Alexander - 240 2. Percy Arnault - 219 3. Elvis Calahasen - 203 Coffee League Overall points / week 24 points 1. Ball Busters - 105 / 6 2. Shady Ladies - 94 / 4 3. Five Alive - 86 / 5 4. Fab Five - 80 / 2 5. Pin Poppers - 75 / 3 High Series Shady Ladies - 3,358 High Single Ball Busters - 1,230 Ladies Series Beth Cobet - 681 Ladies Single Beth Cobet - 287 Ladies High Average 1. Joanne McGinnis - 181 2. Jeannette Ward- 168 3. Cindy Dettling - 166 Kids Leagues Ages 11 - 14 Boys Single Flat Logan Dalley - 250 Girls Singles Flat Tejana Walterlea - 230 High Averages
Boys 1. Logan Dufresne - 148 2. Parker Mayes - 140 3. Logan Dalley - 138 Girls 1. Tejana Walterlea - 126 2. Destiny Bigcharles - 123 3. Sierra Bigcharles - 97 Ages 8-10 Boys Single Flat Cade Hackman - 177 Girls Single Flat Brooklyn Bigcharles - 171 High Averages Boys 1. Cade Hackman - 112 2. Marcus Vandal - 96 3. Joel Newhook - 70 Girls 1. Brooklyn Bigcharles - 110 2. Emma Schram - 89 Ages 5-7 Boys Single Flat Bentley McPhee - 123 Girls Single Flat Natalie Richards - 108 High Averages Boys 1. Bentley McPhee - 86 2. Josh Vandal - 82 3. Hayden Schram - 81 Girls 1. Natalie Richards - 77 2. Tayah McPhee - 65 3. Sarah Dionne - 50 League play goes each Wednesday night, 7 to 9 p.m.
dave lueneberg photo
Tae Ha , 8, of Fort St. John grabs the loose ball during a kid friendly, non-contact game of rugby held Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Field House. The City of Fort St. John and Engage Sport North gave kids a chance to learn about rugby as part of International Rugby Day.
Send Trades to Cam Martin cam@accro.ca As of March 26 Send Trades to William Julian Julian12@telus.net 1. Leafs Falling - 1613 12. Zachs Stars - 1540 2. EastGoalie Coast Captain 1597 13. AHN Sports - 1535 One -_____________________________________________ 3. Yzerwings - 1596 14. Crosby Selects - 1530 4. Wine Kitz - 1595 15. Malkin in the Middle - 1527 Goalie Two _____________________________________________ 5. Datsukian - 1591 6. Kenmore Elite POINTS AS- 1584 FOLLOWS T7. Do As I Seguin Not As I Drouin - 1575 Goal 1 Point T7. Coast Coasters - 1575 9. Last Place - 1572 Assist 1 Point 10. Dougsters Dogs - 1548 SHG 1 Point 11. McDavid Hasselhoff - 1544
PP Goal
1 Point
16. MMJH Canadiens - 1518 17. - 1516 OTBraun Goal 18. Bash Bros - 1489 Hat Trick 19. Got This One - 1475 20. Auston Power - 1469 Shoot Out Win Goal 21. 2 Fast 4 U - 1445 Goalie WIN 22. MacLeod - 1266
Goalie Shut Out
1 Point 3 Points 1 Point 2 Points 3 Points
Box 5 J. Pavelski EDM A. Panarin PIT B Wheeler NJD Hedman TBL We’ve got theV.news covered! P Laine TOR From local events to top stories that
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Classifieds Career OppOrtunities
Career OppOrtunities
Northern Savings Credit Union has an exciting career opportunity for a Business Account Manager located in Terrace, BC. This is a key position in the branch providing business financial solutions and exemplary member service. This role is the primary point of contact to a portfolio of members whose basic business needs expand both the lending and investment spectrum. The Business Account Manager also demonstrates strong relationship management and business development skills in order to bring new business members to Northern Savings Credit Union. Minimum Qualifications: Education: • Completion of post-secondary education is required. • Completion of business credit lending program is preferred. Experience: • Previous business lending experience required. • Previous retail lending experience preferred. For more information about this position or to apply visit www.northsave.com LegaL/PubLic Notices
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SAY NO to FAKE NEWS! 63% of Canadians can’t tell the difference between real and fake news. Support reliable LOCAL journalism. Join the list www.newspapersmatter.ca.
Mile “O” Quilter’s Guild meets every Tuesday & Thursday in Dawson Creek at KPAC in Studio #10 at 7pm
Acquired Brain Injury Support Group: ABI Support group meets every 2nd & 4th Thursday of month at 6:00pm at the Northern Brain Injury Association office: #11-1405 102 Ave Dawson Creek. Please call 250-719-4673 for more information. http://nbia.ca/
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.
Obituaries
Obituaries
Obituaries
Career OppOrtunities
Business Account Manager
With great sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Harvey DeVeyrac, a longtime resident of Dawson Creek, BC, passed away with his family close on March 13, 2019, in Creston, BC, at the age of 72 years. Harvey is lovingly remembered by his wife, Joan; their two children, Darwin DeVeyrac and Dawn Reierson; grandchildren, Melisia, Trinity, Faith, and Kaleb; sister, Irene Hewitt; and brother, Vic DeVeyrac; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their children. By his choice, Harvey was cremated and will be honored in private at a later date. Harvey will be fondly remembered for his love of golfing, curling, and coffee with friends. His children are grateful for him passing down his love of driving, hard work, and especially the importance of family. Harvey’s family would like to offer many thanks to all the friends and relatives who expressed their condolences by way of phone calls, emails, flowers, and prayers.
LegaL/PubLic Notices
LegaL/PubLic Notices
(full name, or names, of registered owner)
of 5795 Baldonnel Rd, Baldonnel, BC V0C 1C6 (PO Box 128, Baldonnel, BC V0C 1C0) (mailing address)
intend on making an application pursuant to Section 30(1) of the Agricultural Land Commission Act to exclude from the Agricultural Land Reserve the following property which is legally described as,
3.54 hectares of SE 12-84-18 W6M (legal description from the title certificate) (street address if applicable)
Any person wishing to express an interest in the application may do so by forwarding their comments in writing to,
The Peace River Regional District at 9505 100 Street Fort St. John, BC V1J 4N4 (name and mailing address of the local government) , 2019
(14 days from the date of second publication)
NOTE: • This notice and the application are posted on the subject property. • Please be advised that all correspondence received by the local government and/or the ALC forms part of the public record, and is disclosed to all parties, including the applicant.
LegaL/PubLic Notices
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Fort St. John Pilot Project
1. Additions of 11 new roads in order to access harvestable volumes in the following operating areas. Operating Area
Managing Participant
# of new road additions
Blair Creek
Canfor
1
Blue Grave Creek
BCTS
1
Cache Creek
BCTS
1
Kobes Creek
BCTS
1
Laprise Creek
Canfor/BCTS
2
North Fontas
BCTS
1
South Fontas
Canfor
1
Trutch Creek
Canfor
2
West Farrel Creek
BCTS
1
Managing Participant
# of blocks
Aikman Creek
Canfor
2
Apasassin Creek
Canfor
3
Blair Creek
Canfor
1
Blue Grave Creek
BCTS
1
Etthihun River
Canfor
3
Jedney Creek
Canfor
3
Laprise Creek
Canfor/BCTS
2
Trutch Creek
Canfor/BCTS
2
Have you thought about a career as a Registered Massage Therapist? Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy is hosting an Info Session in Fort St. John on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Have questions? Practical Director Robynne Madill, RMT will be providing information about our massage therapy program and answering questions. Please call or email to register or for more information 800-7018863 heatherk@ovcmt.com www.ovcmt.com
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
Please join us on June 2nd for the 2nd annual Walk to End ALS. at the Greenspace at 100th Ave. & 100th St. Fort St. John, BC Registration for the event will begin at 10am. There will be food, music, games, raffles, activities and lots for the whole family to do. The walk is about 4km long but the route brings you back to the Greenspace multiple times, if you need to shorten your distance. We are encouraging you to sign up teams this year and challenge other teams to raise money as well. Sports team vs. sports team. Business vs. business. School vs. school. Create some competition and let’s make this year better than last! Go to this site to preregister for this walk: events.alsbc.ca.
TOPS Evening Sessions Meet Thursday at 6:00 pm New Beginnings Baptist Church in DC, 10221-18th St Phone: Judy 250-782-9540 or Gail 250-782-7208 for more info.
Business OppOrtunities
LegaL/PubLic Notices
LegaL/PubLic Notices
APPLICATION FOR PESTICIDE USE Application # 105-0984-19/22. The applicant is: British Columbia Hydro Power and Authority, 333 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5R3, 250-794-0756, Robin Routledge can be contacted for additional information. The purpose of the pesticide use is to control invasive weeds in two areas near Fort St John, B.C. by using a backpack sprayer or hand pump to spot apply Milestone (aminopyralid). The first area is on the main project lands of BC Hydro’s Site C Clean Energy Project. The secondary location is from 5km’s west of Hudson’s Hope on Highway 29 to near Fort St. John (18km west of the Hwy 29/97 Junction.) The estimated size of the treatment area is 8.05 ha. Proposed start date is July 1, 2019, proposed end date is July 1, 2022. Permit application and maps can be found online: www.sitecproject.com or by visiting the Site C Consultation office located at 9948 – 100th Ave in Fort St John. A person wishing to contribute information about the treatment site for the evaluation of this permit application must send copies of the information to both the applicant at the address above and the administrator under the Integrated Pest Management Act (Suite #325, 1011 4th Avenue, Prince George B.C. V2L 3H9) within 30 days of the publication of this notice.
LegaL/PubLic Notices
LegaL/PubLic Notices
LegaL/PubLic Notices
Coming EvEnts PC Roots Group Meeting: 4th Sunday/month - from Sept-June 1:30pm in the Roots Building at NAR Park. 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
LegaL/PubLic Notices
Notice of Public Advisory Group (PAG) Meeting Fort St John Pilot Project The Fort St. John Pilot Project is a collaborative forest management planning initiative between forest licencees and the BC Timber Sales Program in the Fort St. John Timber Supply Area. A PAG meeting will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2019 in the Fort St. John Northern Grand Hotel. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information to the public on progress made by the forest licencees and the BC Timber Sales Program in achieving sustainable forest management. The general public is invited to attend the public portion of the meeting, which starts at 6:00 pm. The meeting agenda also provides time for the general public to ask questions or provide input on forest management issues. Public intending to make a presentation must contact Peter Zhang one week prior to the public meeting.
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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
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.
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TERVITA LANDFILL OPERATOR − SILVERBERRY, BC As an Operator you are responsible for the competent handling and disposal of waste, maintaining and implementing safe work procedures consistent with regulatory requirements.
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Responsibilities: Site Operations − Responsible for knowing and following the Standard Operating Procedures and mastering critical tasks; − Basic understanding of Regulatory and Operating Approvals such as waste classification, materials that can and cannot be accepted at site, and general operating parameters; − Competent handling and disposal of waste in compliance with regulatory requirements; − Maintaining and implementing safe work procedures; − Tracking waste volumes in Tervita software applications. Customer Service − Responsible to develop and understand the foundation building of the Tervita culture of Superior Customer Service towards our Internal & External customers; − Provide disposal costs to customers. Environment Health & Safety − Ability to fill out and issue safe work permits per Lead Op and or Landfill Manager direction; − Near Miss/Hazard ID and Incident identification and reporting; − Know and follow the ERP, three levels of emergency, and Tervita Policies; − Operate in a safe manner according to the Health and Safety Manual; − Basic understanding of Environment and Regulatory compliance; − Applicable Safety Courses as set out in the HSE Manual. Qualifications: − Must have a mechanical background; − Heavy equipment operational experience would be an asset; − Any level Operator, as per Pathways Program, would be an asset; − Must be self−motivated and able to function in a team environment; − Basic computer knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel and email is required; − Must have a valid Class 5 driver’s license; − Grade 12 Education or equivalent required. www.tervita.com
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN Supply, Delivery and Commissioning of a Burn Building Proposals clearly marked CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN – Supply, Delivery and Commissioning of a Burn Building will be received up to 2:00 pm, local time, March 28, 2019. RFP documents 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 14, 2019
http://www.fsjpilotproject.com/fos.html All comments will be reviewed by Canfor and/or BCTS, and may result in revisions to the proposed amendment. Prior to the close of the public review period, written comments concerning this amendment should be made to Canfor and/ or BCTS at the following address:
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For information concerning the meeting or how to become a PAG member, contact Peter Zhang @ 250-261-8061/Peter.Zhang@canfor.com
The proposed FOS amendment is available for public review and comment until 4:30pm May 20, 2019 at Canadian Forest Product’s Fort St. John office and/or BC Timber Sales Peace Liard business area. The digital data can also be found in the Fort St. John Pilot Project Website in this location:
Canadian Forest Products Ltd. RR 1 Site 13 Compartment 2 Fort St. John, BC V1J 4M6 Attention: Peter Zhang, FIT Phone: (250) 787-3613 Fax: (250) 787-3622 Email: Peter.Zhang@canfor.com
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For fur ther information on the For t St. John Pilot Project, visit our website at www.fsjpilotproject.com
2. Changes to the configuration of existing FOS blocks to natural or logical boundaries to prevent isolation of timber in the following operating areas. Operating Area
Save the Dates July 12, 13, 14, 2019 for the Mile Zero Cruisers Silver Anniversary Summer Cruise weekend Bring down your pride and joy and register for the Car Show weekend. For online Registration and more information:
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Notice of Amendment to Forest Operations Schedule #3 (FOS) Notice is hereby given that an amendment to Fort St John Pilot Project’s Forest Operations Schedule #3 (FOS) has been prepared regarding timber harvesting activities planned in the Fort St. John Timber Supply Area (TSA). The amendment proposes to modify the planned location of timber harvesting and road construction activities that may occur in the Fort St. John TSA prior to Sep 31, 2023. FOS Amendment #367 is comprised of the following 2 elements:
SATURDAYS: LEARN YOUR ROOTS - Genealogy information NAR PARK ROOTS BUILDING 10:00am peacecountryroots.ca
250-785-5631 classifieds@ahnfsj.ca
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I, Michael Haab and Suzanne Haab
by April 11
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DEVEYRAC, Harvey July 18, 1946 − March 13, 2019
NOTICE OF EXCLUSION APPLICATION Regarding Land in the Agricultural Land Reserve
and located at
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BC Timber Sales 9000 17th Street Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4A4 Attention: Tony Wipfli, RPF Tel: (250) 262-3335 Fax: (250) 784-0143 Email: Tony.Wipfli@gov.bc.ca 54266
All inquiries should be directed to the Consultant: Urban Systems Ltd., Rob Close, Contract Administrator, 250-785-9697 Email: rclose@urbansystems.ca City of Fort St. John: 10631-100 Street, Fort St. John, BC, V1J 3Z5 Attention: Deputy Dan Golob, Fort St. John Fire Department
www.fortstjohn.ca
Domestic Help WanteD Nanny/Live-in Caregiver required for 4 children ages 10/7/4/ & 18-months. Full-Time Live-in only. Duties include: Care for younger children at home. Make beds and do laundry. Light house cleaning. Working hours 8am4pm Monday-Friday Weekends off. $10.25/hr or $1640/mth. Must speak English. Related Experience necessary. Prefer high school graduate or someone with higher education and/or caregiver training. Call 250219-2291/250-4679112 or email: salverene01@yahoo.com NORTHERN PROPERTIES Cleaner Required
Duties: Wash windows, walls, ceiling, vacuum carpeting, area rugs, drapes, upholstered furn, pick up debris, empty trash container. Distribute clean towels and toiletries: clean changing rooms, showers, kitchen, bathroom fixtures and appliances. English and no experience necessary. Perm/ft. $15.50/perhr. Please apply info@northernprop.ca or admin@northernprop.ca
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 B7
General employment
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NORTHERN PROPERTIES Housekeeper
Child Caregiver: 8 years old girl & 25 month boy. $14.00 per hour. Permanent-40 hours per week. Employer’s home/94 Ave, Completion of Secondary School, some college/CEPEG/Vocational or technical training in child care or related field. 1 to 2 years supervision of children. Main duties: Assist children on personal hygiene. Plan, prepare meals for children, participate in games, reading and may perform light housekeeping. Accommodations could be made available on a live-in basis at no cost. But not a condition of employment. Apply by email: herbert_barateta@yah oo.com
Child Caregiver: 8 years old girl & 25 month old boy. $14.00 per hour. Permanent-40 hours per week. Employer’s home/94 Ave, Completion of Secondary School, some college/ CEPEG/Vocational or technical training in child care or related field. 1 to 2 years supervision of children. Main duties: Assist children on personal hygiene. Plan, prepare meals for children, participate in games, reading and may perform light housekeeping. Accommodations could be made available on a live-in basis at no cost. But not a condition of employment. Apply by email: herbert_barateta@yah oo.com
Perform light housekeeping duties, apply and dispense household linen, detailed cleaning/housekeeping duties: be responsible for kitchen & bathroom fixtures and furniture cleaning, common areas, changing rooms & showers, overall clean appartment unit presentation. English and no experience necessary. Perm/ft. $18.50/perhr. Please apply info@northernprop.ca or admin@northernprop.ca
General employment TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING BCCSA/WCB Certified FSJ: New TCPs-2-days April 3-4 April 9-10 Re-Certs-1-day April 5 & April 8 PG: New TCPs-2-days Apr 13-14 Re-Certs-1-day April 15 1-866-737-2389 or roadsafetytcs.com
Auctions 1 PARCEL REAL ESTATE - Kelowna, BC. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, May 1 in Edmonton. 0.44 +/title acres, 2017 built 1200 +/- sq ft home, Lake Okanagan & mountain views. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; Realtor - Tom Moran PREC: 250-784-7091; Brokerage: Re/Max Dawson Creek Realty; rbauction.com/realestate.
For Sale MiSc 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.
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In search of
GARTH MCRAE We are trying to locate Garth McRae who is a potential beneficiary of an estate. He may have once resided in the Charlie Lake, BC area. It is our information that he lived in Alberta during the 1980’s and 1990’s employed as a truck driver and/or swamper. If you have information on Garth McRae please contact: Dentons Canada LLP Barristers and Solicitors 2900, 10180 – 101 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 3V5 Attention: Doris Bonora 780-423-7179 Email: peggy.campbell-harker@dentons.com
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ApArtments/ Condos for
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RENTFSJ.CA
778-834-RENT(7368) We have a variety of furnished units ready to move in! Options of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms units, with all furnishings
RENTFSJ.CA Home away from home Business OppOrtunities
CARETAKER FOR PRIVATE GULF ISLAND NEAR SIDNEY
For detailed job description and to apply, please email: islandcaretaker2019 @gmail.com
Business services Arctic Duct Cleaning, Furnace & duct cleaning, Chimney sweep. 250-787-7217 (FSJ)
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Notices / NomiNatioNs
TROUBLE WALKING? HIP or KNEE REPLACEMENT, or other conditions causing restrictions in daily activities? $2,000 tax credit. $40,000 refund cheque/rebates. Disability Tax Credit. 1844-453-5372
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Houses For rent Available Immediately in Dawson Creek: 1 Bedroom Basement Suite, 3 Bedroom Bungalow, 5 Bedroom Family Home. 1-250888-7158
ApArtments/ Condos for BIRCHVIEW MANOR Furnished and Unfurnished 1 Bedroom Suites. Adults Only, Senior Discount. Bus Stop at Front Door. 250-784-5817
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ApArtments/ Condos for
Li-Car Management Group
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
Phone: 250-785-2662
ApArtments / Condos-For FSJ Motor Inn. 10707-102St. Close to downtown. Furnished/Private rooms/Kitchen/bathroom, TV/Wi-Fi/utilities included. Call Gary 250-682-1982. No lease, month to month basis. $950/month.
Rooms Two rooms furnished bedrooms $600.00 month. April 1st. Phone 1-780-287-8118 in Fort St John B.C
Space For LeaSe SELL or LEASE in Pouce Coupe. .45 Acres C1 Zoned, Hwy. Frontage. 1630 sq. ft in 2 Story Building. 250-719-8111 Steel BuildingS / granarieS STEEL BUILDING SALE...”BIG BLOW OUT SALE - ALL BUILDINGS PRICED TO CLEAR!” 20X23 $5,977. 23X25 $5,954. 25X27 $7,432. 30X31 $9,574. 32X31 $9,648. One End Wall Included. Pioneer Steel 1-855-212-7036. www.pioneersteel.ca
Please Recycle this Newspaper Let’s talk ticks
T
MATT PREPROST PHOTO
Garry Oker, president of the Tse’K’wa Heritage Society, speaks at a public hearing in Charlie Lake on March 18, 2019.
DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO
Dean Whitcomb celebrates his second goal of Game 5 on March 21, 2019, which gave the Huskies the lead with just 3.3 seconds left in the game.
icks give most people the creepy-crawlies, and for good reason. Some ticks are capable of transmitting infectious diseases that can have some serious consequences. Ticks most commonly live in tall grass and brush or wooded area. They do not jump or fly, but will climb up on to a grass blade or bush and hold out their front legs in search of a host and will grab on as they pass by. There are several species of ticks in British Columbia. The most common include the winter tick, the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the Western black-legged tick. The winter tick is usually seen on deer species, particularly moose, and less commonly on livestock and horses. Wood ticks can be seen on many mammals including rabbits or small rodents, and larger wildlife, deer, livestock, dogs and humans. Black-legged ticks can be found on mice, lizards, dogs, deer, humans and horses. In BC, they are strictly found near coastal areas, while the other species are more widespread into the interior and northern areas. We care about ticks because they are potential vectors for bacteria like Borrelia burgdorferi (transmitted by some black-legged ticks), which causes Lyme disease. We are fortunate to be living in an area that this disease is very uncommon, but people and pets travel, and the ticks’ areas are expanding. Most dogs that are exposed to B. burgdorferi have a transient infection. The dogs that become sick most often show signs of sudden lameness and lethargy. The lameness may appear to shift from one leg to another and they may also have mild joint swelling, reluctance to eat, and a low grade fever. These clinical
Dr. Kim Jones NORTH PEACE CREATURE FEATURE
signs usually appear 2-5 months after the tick has fed on your pet. Ticks can also cause a serious disorder called tick paralysis. This is a sudden, progressive paralysis that can result in death if not treated. It is thought to result from a toxin in the tick’s saliva. Treatment consists of removing the tick and supportive care. The best way to protect your animals from ticks is by using a tick prevention product. Contact your veterinarian for a recommendation that best suits your needs. Checking your pets daily for ticks is also a good idea, as removing them promptly can decrease the chance of infection. If it is warmer than 4 degrees, ticks can be out. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it as close to the head/pet’s skin as possible and with steady force lift the tick straight off the skin. Do not squeeze the tick or place a noxious substance on it, as this may cause the tick to regurgitate and can increase the chance of disease transmission. If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, contact your veterinarian to assist you. Once the tick is removed, place it in a small container with a tight fitting lid and a damp cotton ball and contact your veterinarian to discuss submitting the tick for analysis. Dr. Kim Jones joined the North Peace Veterinary Clinic care team in 2009 after graduating with distinction from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
AT THE ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS WE ARE
THINKING GREEN! DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO
Fort St. John Predators Maria Ayre (17) tries to clear the puck out of her own zone during 2nd period action on March 24, 2019, at the Female Midget Provincials. The Preds would fall 4-1 to the South Island Royals.
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B8 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
LOCAL SPORTS
Davide Loro wins Roubaix series
PAT FERRIS PHOTO
2018 Roubaix series champion Robert Sapp presents the trophy to 2019 champ Davide Loro.
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
Jonathan Bateman gets his turn to hoist the Senator’s Cup after Game 6 on March, 23, 2019.
The 2019 Roubaix race series has come to a close with a new champion, Davide Loro. Davide edged out the defending champ by a whopping 12 points. Race conditions for Race #3 yesterday were dry, smooth and fast. The third race in the series showed the rest of the pack picking up steam with Nicholas “Young Gun” Guliov winning today’s race with a time of 1:17:54. Defending champ Robert Sapp came on strong in second at 1:20:05, with Dan Webster hot on his
heels at 1:22:28. Davide Loro finished in fourth at 1:26:02, Darren Guliov fifth at 1:26:10 and Gary Hilderman rounding out this impressive group of early season racers at 1:35:38. Way to go Davide and with these great conditions we encourage all riders to come out and get riding! See you next Sunday, March 31 at 2 p.m., starting from Kal Tire for a fun 50km race, a half distance will be available. — Pat Ferris
Inconnu swimmers medal in Edmonton
SUPPLIED PHOTO
The Fort St. John Bantam Flyers won bronze at provincials on March 20, 2019.
Bantam, midget Flyers medal at provincials Both the Fort St. John Tier 2 Midget Flyers and Fort St. John Tier 4 Bantam Flyers were away at provincials last week. The Midget Flyers went undefeated in their four-game round robin before playing the also-undefeated Hollyburn team. The Flyers lost 3-0 on March 20, taking home the
silver medal, putting an end to one of the team’s best season’s in recent memory. The Bantam Flyers were 2-2 after their round robin, and played Prince George for bronze, who they beat 4-3 earlier in the tournament. The Flyers won once again, this time 6-2, to take home the bronze medal on March 20.
This past weekend, Owen Lang, Cameron Louie, Eric Louie, and Griffin Ternier-Smith from the Inconnu Swim Club competed at the Alberta Spring Championships in Edmonton. There were over 500 swimmers competing in the fast swim meet with many records set. All four swimmers competed in seven events and two relays each over the four-day event. Owen Lang took home 3 medals; bronze in the 50m freestyle, and the 100m freestyle, plus silver in the 50m butterfly. Also, to his credit, he made the A finals (top 10) in every swim this weekend. “Owen is a dedicated swimmer and works very hard. I’m happy he’s seeing these results because he deserves it,” Coach Norah Vogan said. Cameron Louie also took home a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle. It was
an exciting race where he was placed on the outside lane. “In short races like the 50m freestyle, all you need is a lane to win,” said Vogan. “Cameron took his opportunity and finished strong. That’s called outside smoke.” Eric Louie had a solid swim meet where he got another Western Swimming Canada qualifying time in the 100m butterfly; adding to his now four qualified races. He will be swimming in April at the Western Championships. Griffin Ternier-Smith had a strong swim meet where he dropped more time in his 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and 400m freestyle. “Griffin had tough competition! There are lots of nationally ranked swimmers in Alberta and they gave him good competition,” Vogan said. — Norah Vogan
FORT ST. JOHN & DISTRICT CHURCH DIRECTORY
ANGLICAN CHURCH of CANADA NoRTH PEACE PARISH Please join us at our temporary location at the Peace Lutheran Church @ 1:30pm Ph: 250-785-6471 “All are Invited and Welcome Here” - (Luke 14:23) SERVICES St. Martin’s, fort St. John, BC Sundays 1:30 p.m. ********** Church of the Good Shepherd Taylor, BC - Sundays 10:00 a.m. ********** St. Matthias, Cecil Lake, BC 3rd Sun. of the Month 3:00 p.m. Holy Communion ********** BAHA’I fAITH BAHA’I fAITH National Baha’i Information 1-800-433-3284 Regular Firesides Mondays @ 8:00 p.m. Deepenings continued Wednesdays at 250-787-0089 Next Feast Info. 250-787-0089 ********** BAPTIST CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 9607-107th Ave., fSJ Ph. (Office) 250-785-4307 Pastor: Michael Hayes Associate Pastor: Doug Janzen SUNDAY WoRSHIP SERVICE 10:30AM ********** BAPTIST CHARLIE LAkE CoMMUNITY CHURCH 12731 244 B Road, Charlie Lake (1st left turn off the Alaska Hwy. past the Charlie Lake Store) 250-785-1723 office@charlielakechurch.com www.charlielakechurch.com Lead Pastor: Joshua Goetz Associate Pastor: Jared Braun Sunday Worship: 10:40 AM Sunday School during the service nursery-grade 6 ********** CATHoLIC RoMAN CATHoLIC CHURCH (Resurrection Church) Pastor: Rev. Aruldhas Lucas, SAC Phone 250-785-3413 www.fsjresurrectionchurch.com MASSES: Saturday 7:30 p.m. Sunday - 10:00 a.m. oNLY OFFICE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 -12:00 noon & 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. BAPTISM: Contact the Pastor 3 months before baptism. MARRIAGES: Contact the Pastor 6 months before the wedding. **********
ALLIANCE CHURCH 9804-99 Ave., fort St. John, BC V1J 3T8 Ph: 250-785-4644 fax: 250-785-8932 e-mail: office@fsjalliance.ca www.fsjalliance.ca SUNDAY WoRSHIP SERVICE: 9:15am & 11:00am kIDVILLE: for ages 2yrs.-Gr.6 @ 9:15am ********** CoMMUNITY PEACE CoMMUNITY CHURCH 10556-100th Street, Taylor, BC Pastor: Wally Pohlmann Phone: 250-789-3045 HoURS: 9:00am-Noon Monday-Wednesday & friday Email: office@taylorchurch.ca Website: www.taylorchurch.ca SUNDAY ADULT CLASS - 9:30am SUNDAY WoRSHIP SERVICE - 10:30am ********** EVANGELICAL foRT ST. JoHN EVANGELICAL MISSIoN 8220-89th Avenue, fSJ Sunday School September-June begins at 9:30am Sunday mornings. Worship Service - 10:45am Phone: 250-787-2550 ******* INTERDENoMINATIoNAL UPPER PINE GoSPEL CHAPEL Church Phone: 250-827-3833 Email: upgc@pris.ca Board Chairman: Andy Burkholder 250-827-3811 Box 66, Rose Prairie, BC ********** LUTHERAN PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 9812-108th Avenue, fort St. John, BC V1J 2R3 Office Phone: 250-785-2718 Pastor: Rev. Kebede Dibaba Regular Worship Schedule: 9:00am Youth, Adult Bible Study 10:00am Sunday Worship Service & Sunday School ********** PEACE RIVER MUSLIM ASSoCIATIoN Information: 250-787-1264 Jumm’a (Friday) Prayer @ 1:00pm 203-10903-100th Street, fort St. John, BC email: tahermorsi@shaw.ca ********** MENNoNITE NoRTH PEACE MENNoNITE BRETHREN CHURCH North Peace Mennonite Brethren Church 10816 106 St. fort St. John, BC V1J 5V2 250-785-3869 Lead Pastor: Andrew Eby Associate Pastor of Youth & Young Adults: Don Banman SUNDAY SERVICE TIMES: 9:00am & 11:00am **********
MENNoNITE MoNTNEY MENNoNITE CHURCH SUNDAY MoRNING: Sunday School & Worship: 9:30am SUNDAY EVENING: 2nd & 4th Sundays: 7:00pm Everyone Welcome! Pastor Warren Martin Phone: (250) 827-3231 ********** NoNDENoMINATIoNAL CHRISTIAN LIfE CENTRE “Associated with “Fellowship of Christian Assemblies” “King Jesus is Lord Over the Peace” 8923-112th Avenue, fort St. John, BC V1J 6G2 website: www.christianlifefsj.ca Ph: 250-785-4040 fax: 250-785-4021 Pastor Steve Oboh Principal of Christian Life School: Garry Jones Everyone Welcome Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00am Nursery available and Sunday School is held during the sermon for ages 3-12 years. Christian Life Centre is “Home of Christian Life School” ********** foRT ST. JoHN NATIVE BIBLE fELLoWSHIP Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wed., Night Bible Study: 7:30pm Pastor John A Giesbrecht 250-785-0127 ********** GIDEoNS INTERNATIoNAL Fort St. John Camp Ray Hein 250-827-3636 John Giesbrecht 250-785-0127 ********** NoRTHERN LIGHTS CHURCH INTERNATIoNAL (Rose Prairie, BC Sunday Service: Pre-Service Prayer: 10:30am Worship Service: 11:00am Everyone Welcome ********** THE SHELTER CHURCH “...the Lord will be a shelter for His people” Joel 3:6 9808-98A Ave. fort St. John, BC 250-785-3888 SUNDAY SERVICE: 10am Pastor: Oral Benterud 250-785-9151 ********** PENTECoSTAL THE PENTECoSTALS of foRT ST. JoHN Phone: 250-787-9888 Pastor: Jason McLaughlin Sunday 10am Service, Sunday School Youth Sunday 11am Worship Service Tuesday 7pm Prayer Wednesday 7pm Bibile Study Friday 7pm Youth **********
PENTECoSTAL ASSEMBLIES of CANADA EVANGEL CHAPEL 10040-100 St., fort St. John Phone: 250-785-3386 Fax: 250-785-8345 Lead Pastor: Tony Warriner Sunday Services: 9:30am, 11:00am www.evangelfsj.com ********** The Journey 10011-100 St., fort St. John Phone: 250-785-6254 Pastor: Larry Lorentz Services: Sundays: 10:30am Tuesdays: 7:00pm **********
PRESBYTERIAN fort St. John Presbyterian Church 9907-98th St., fort St. John, BC Phone: 250-785-2482 fax: 250-785-2482 12:30 p.m. - Pie and Coffee 1:00 p.m. - Worship Service Everyone is invited to participate ********** REfoRMED TRINITY CoVENANT CHURCH Sunday Service: 10:00am Meets at the The Plaza 8111 100th Ave fort St. John, BC Elder: Desmond Jones Phone: 250-785-8289 www.trinitycovenant.ca matthew@trinitycovenant.ca Affiliated with C.R.E.C. ********** THE SALVATIoN ARMY THE SALVATIoN ARMY Sunday Worship Service: 10:30am 10116-100th Ave., fort St. John, BC Come Worship With Us. For information; Phone 250-785-0506 or food Bank 250-785-0500 ********** SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 9008-100th Avenue, fort St. John, BC Phone: 250-785-8632 Pastor: Cavin Chwyl Phone: 250-719-7949 Saturday Service: 9:30am ********** UNITED CHURCH of CANADA ST. LUkE’S UNITED 9907-98 St., fort St. John, BC Office: 250-785-2919 Rev. Rick Marsh Email: stlukeuc@telus.net Sunday Worship Service @ 10:00am All are Welcome! The United Church of Canada is a Union of Congregationalist, Methodist & Presbyterian Churches in Canada formed in 1925.