AHN OCT 12 2017 by Alaska Highway News

THURSDAY, october 12, 2017 Vol. 74, No. 41

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

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“The Only Newspaper in the World That Gives a Tinker’s Dam About the North Peace.”

locals look for end to site c debate

fsj-dc rivalry begins

respite home close to reality

Site C A4 & A5

SPORTS B1

ARTS B6

Condill demolition starts soon

crossing continents

matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

When You Are Out in the Field, Time IS Money. QUALITY PARTS, EXPERT SERVICE! Aleisha hendry Photo

American adventurer Jackson Foster gives his bicycle a routine maintenance inspection during a stop in Fort St. John last week. Foster is cycling from Anchorage, Alaska, to as far south as he can get. See story on A14.

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Site C river diversion delayed to 2020

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matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

BC Hydro will miss its September 2019 deadline to divert the Peace River to build Site C—a one-year delay that will push up the dam’s pricetag by $610 million. The Crown utility informed the provincial utiltities commission of the news Oct. 4 as part of its response to the commission’s ongoing inquiry into the now $8.9-billion project. “BC Hydro has encountered some geotechnical and construction challenges on the project and the risk to the river diversion timeline has now materialized,” President and CEO Chris O’Riley

Chris O’Riley

wrote, citing the results of a construction review with the dam’s main contractor, Peace River Hydro Partners. “While this will set some activities back a year, we had a one-year float built into our schedule and are confident we can still deliver this project on time, by November 2024.” The Peace River needs to be

diverted between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1 in any given year when water levels are lowest. It’s a critical milestone that would allow contractors to start building the kilometre-long, 60-metre high earthfill dam. The delay is expected to increase Site C’s costs by 7.3 per cent from $8.335 billion to $8.945 billion, O’Riley said. However, contingency funds remain to “prudently manage risks on the project,” he said. Those risks include generating station, spillway, and Highway 29 realignment work yet to be procured. “We will work to mitigate those challenges,” O’Riley said. See DELAY on A5

Bernier hones message ahead of leadership debate matt preprost

Demolition of the Condill Hotel could start as soon as next week. City council was poised to award the $457,480 contract to NAPP Enterprises of Prince George at a meeting Tuesday. Moira Green, the city’s director of strategic services, told residents gathered at the museum Oct. 5 to celebrate the historic 75-year-old building that the demolition was expected to start Oct. 15 depending on permitting and contractor mobilization. Work is expected to be complete by mid-December. The city took possession of the hotel Sept. 29 and is looking to make demolition quick to “prevent any negative impacts on the downtown associated with vacant and derelict buildings,” an administration report notes. After demolition, the site— comprised of three separate titles and lots—will be sold for development and fall under new downtown zoning and building rules. Updates to the city’s official community plan are expected before the end of the year, Green told residents, which will allow for innovative, multiple uses of the land to bring more people and activity to the downtown. “We’re going to add people, activity, the whole spectrum, day time and night time,” she said. See CONDILL on A15

City, union make push to hire more disabled workers Aleisha Hendry

editor@ahnfsj.ca

ahendry@ahnfsj.ca

Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier is making the most of a break in the legislature this week. Bernier has been working his way throughout the province and into the northwest, travelling from Richmond on Sunday to Vanderhoof on Thursday as he seeks support for his bid to become leader of the BC Liberals. matt preprost Photo “The leadership race is part Peace River South MLA interviewing about his bid for the BC Liberal leadership of our rebrand, discussions of in Fort St. John on Oct. 7. our core principles, with new leadership and new ideas,” including former ministers province balanced. Bernier said at an event in Fort Mike De Jong, Andrew “We have to cater to the St. John on Oct. 7. Wilkinson, and Todd Stone, and entire province,” he said. “We have to remind (voters) Bernier, a former education Conservative MP Dianne Watts of what happens in rural B.C. minister in his second term also vying for the job. as MLA, is one of seven With the party’s first and why we need rural B.C. just currently running for his party’s leadership debate set for Oct. like we need Vancouver.” leadership—with a Lower 15 in Surrey, Bernier says See BERNIER on A3 Mainland-dominated cast he’s focused on keeping the

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The City of Fort St. John and the BCGEU have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a program to hire people with developmental disabilities. The program would see adults in the community with developmental disabilities be matched up with employment opportunities with the City. “When you have the city hiring people with developmental disabilities, it really is being a role model for the rest of the community,” said Cindy Mohr, executive director with the Fort St. John Association for Community Living. See HIRE on A15

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A2 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017

Local News

Contents Humour........................................ A2 Weather ....................................... A2 Local News .................................. A3 Opinion ....................................... A6 Business....................................... A9 Crime.......................................... A14 Sports ........................................... B1 Arts & Culture ............................. B5 Community ................................ B7 Classifieds................................... B11

a piece of music making history Evelyn Sim plays an 1859 Steinway baby grand piano at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum Oct. 5. The museum recently acquired the extremely rare antique from the Pickell family. It’s believed there were only three of this piano made. This particularly one originated from Carnegie Hall and was bought by the Pickells, who had it shipped up the Peace River to their ranch house on the D.A. Thomas steamboat.

this week’s flyers Home Hardware M&M Food Market Shoppers Drug Mart Walmart Jysk No Frills Save-On Foods The Brick Rona London Drugs Safeway Red Plum Mark’s Canadian Tire Miracle Ear

matt preprost Photo

Zebras, Mice, Bats, St. Bernards, and Reindeer

GAS WATCH KNOWBEFOREYOUGO Prevailing Prices

HOCKEY HA HA: We start this news chewing session with a item you may have seen from Edmonton. A judge ordered a divorced couple to share their Oilers season tickets. It’s a sad story of two married hockey fans who were in more fights than the players. They finally broke up when they got into an argument about why there are not more female Zamboni drivers.

an alien who’s the only survivor when his spaceship crashes on Earth and he can’t get back to his home planet. Here’s the problem: The alien can only fly an automatic, the spaceship is a stick.

Bob Snyder Chews the news

SANTA STUFF: Archaeologists announced they have found what may be the tomb of St Nicholas. He was the inspiration for Santa Claus. Maybe they’ll find the tomb of the grandma who got run over by a reindeer.

plans to start taxing gravity.

chi won a place in the Guinness Book of Records for “World’s Longest Tongue”. Mochi lives in South Dakota. How long is her tongue? They have to clean up her slobber in NORTH Dakota. BAT BULLETIN: On CBC they had a interesting program about bats. October is Bat Appreciation Month. What I appreciate about bats is when they do not turn into vampires and stick their teeth into my neck and suck out all my blood. I really appreciate that.

MORE NOBEL: Three other scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for their Dawson Creek 106.9 STRIPE SWIPE: News chew- research into sleep. They did ing takes us all around the experiments with mice. MedicFort St. John 118.9 world. Our next stop is Hungary. al researchers always use mice Last week a herd of zebras es- for their experiments. With the MENTAL DENTAL: Last DIET DETAILS: A new Cacaped from the Hungarian Nanumber of things scientists week I told you the true story nadian study shows cheat days Alberta-B.C. border 107.9 tional Circus. There was chaos have cured in mice, there has of the doctor who performed a help dieters lose weight. Here’s t St. John, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment when theCanada zebras ran through a never been a betterhttps://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-78_metric_e.html time to buy colonoscopy on himself. This my question: If a cheat day Fort Nelson N/A Wal-Mart and activated all the a mouse. week I saw a story on the In- helps me lose a little weight, will barcode scanners. ternet about a Russian dentist a cheat week help me lose a LOT Groundbirch SCIENCE STUFF: Last week’s pulling out his own wisdom of weight? N/A MOVIE MADNESS: Our next weirdest scientific news: Sci- tooth. Not only did he pull out stop is Winnipeg, where a guy entists announced they have his own wisdom tooth, he also iPHUN: The new iPhone Chetwynd 118.9 is selling his huge movie col- discovered how to generate gave himself a lecture on the made news. It has facial recogHome  Environment and naturallection resources  Weather information  Weatherfrom  Local forecasts British Columbia on eBay. It may be the electricity human tears.  importance of flossing after nition. For people who use the Tumbler Ridge 119.9 world’s largest private collec- It’s true, tears contain chemicals every meal. iPhone when they get out of tion: 17,000 movies. Coincident- that can be used to make tiny bed early in the morning, faally, according to the Guinness amounts of electricity. How did WONDERFUL WEB: A study recognition comes with an Prince George 102.9 Book of records, 17,000 is also scientists discover this? They shows using the Internet can cial “ugly filter.” The 2017 iPhone at: Fort St.the John Airport AM MSTworsen Tuesdayyour 10 October Current Conditions the most movies a teenagerObserved has analysed tears of8:00 people mood 2017 and cause is so state-of-the-art, it comes Hythe t Nelson, BC - 7 Day Forecast - Environment Canada https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-83_metric_e.html 105.9 ever binge-watched on Netflix. who just opened their BC Hydro depression. Gee, that can’t be with a feature that pre-orders bill. right. NThanks Condition: Mostly Cloudy Temperature: 0.6°C Wind: 21 km/hto Facebook, I the 2018 version and the 2019 NOBEL NEWS: Three U.S. now know Grande Prairie 98.4 Pressure: 101.8 kPa Dew point: -2.2°C Visibility: 24 kmhow to solve all the version. Experts say it’s the most scientists won the Nobel prize MOVIE MEMO: Hollywood world’s problems. advanced phone ever made. It’s Tendency: Rising Humidity: 82% for studying gravity. By the way, studios love to make movies in also non-dairy and gluten-free. Calgary 95.9 in our part of the world, there’s Canada. Right now a film beTONGUE TALE: Mochi is a a report the NDP government ing made in Vancouver is about St Bernard dog. Last week Mochewsthenews@fastmail.com Home  Environment and natural resources  Weather information  Weather  Local forecasts  British Columbia Edmonton

Fort St. John, BC

1°C

89.9

Fort Nelson, BC

WEATHER & ROAD REPORT

129.9

Vancouver

Forecast Victoria Current Conditions 126.9 Tue

B.C. avg 10 Oct Alberta Avg.

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Issued: 5:00 AM MST Tuesday 10 October 2017 ST. JOHN ObservedFORT at: Fort Nelson Airport 8:26 AM MST Tuesday 10 October 2017

Thu

Condition: Light 12 Oct Snow 123.8 11 Oct

97.5

0°C 3°C

CAD$ per litre, prices as of Oct. 10. Source: GasBuddy.com

Pressure: 102.2 kPa Tendency: Rising

3°C

4°C

Sunny

Cloudy

Sunny

Night Thu 12 Oct

Night Fri 13 Oct

30%

Chance of ﬂurries

Fri Sat 0.0°C 13 OctTemperature: 14 Oct Dew point: -1.0°C Humidity: 93%

Forecast General notice

Tonight Night Wed The Tue contents of this newspaper are protected by11 Oct 10 Oct copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes.

-5°C -6°C All other rights are reserved 30% 3°C and commercial use is 5°C Chance of ﬂurries Clear prohibited. To make any use of of snow Increasing thisPeriods material you must first cloudiness obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright.

HIGHWAY CONDITIONS PEACE REGION

Sun Mon Wind: NW 5 km/h 15 Oct 16 Oct Wind C… -2 Visibility: 8 km

7°C

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8°C

Sunny

Night Sat 14 Oct

Night Sun 15 Oct

Mon 16 Oct

FOR CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE PEACE REGION, Issued: 7:12 AM MST Tuesday 10 October 2017 FORT NELSON PLEASE SEE THE LINK BELOW.

-4°C 40% 1°C

Chance of rain showers Periods or of ﬂurries snow

1°C 5°C

-1°C 6°C

Sunny

A mix of sun and cloud

Clear

http://www.drivebc.ca/

#listView&district=Peace

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WeatherPhone

Tonight Night Night Night Night Night Environment Canada Local For further information contact Today Increasing cloudiness. 30 percent chance of flurries late this morning and this afternoon. WindWeather north 30Forecasts km/h. the managing editor at (250)-785-7669 High plus 3. Tonight Cloudy with 30 percent chance of flurries this evening and after midnight then partly cloudy. Wind north 30 km/h becoming light this evening. Low minus 5. -4°C -1°C -6°C 0°C -4°C -3°C Arctic Pro Wed, 11 Oct Sunny. High plus 3. 60% CSA A few clouds Clear. Low Cloudy Clear Clear Cloudy periods Night minus 6. Chance of flurries

250-785-5631

Thu, 12 Oct Night Today Fri, 13 Oct Tonight

http://www.drivebc.ca

Cloudy. High plus 3. Cloudy with 40 percent chance of rain showers or ﬂurries. Low minus 4.

APPROVED

Muckster II Low andLocal Mid amount 2 cm. High plus 3. Periods of snow ending this afternoon then a mix of sun and cloud. Sunny. High plus 4. A few clouds. Low minus 4.

Wed, 11 Oct Night

Mainly sunny. Increasing cloudiness early in the afternoon. High plus 5. Cloudy. Low minus 1.

Thu, 12 Oct

Periods of snow. High plus 1.

Chore Steel Toe

2017-10-10, 8:49 AM

Breezy Women’s Mid and Tall

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017 A3

Local News

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Unemployment in the Northeast remained static between August and September, according to recent labour statistics. The region’s unemployment rate sat unchanged at 5.2 per cent in September. In a labour force of 40,300, the region saw 38,200 people employed, up from 38,100 in August. Another 2,100 remained unemployed last month. The unemployment rate for British Columbia sat at 5.2 per cent.

Annette Reeder

CAR WASH FOR SALE- 11204-100 AVE

Northeast unemployment unchanged

Nash Woolard was one of dozens of youngsters and families getting behind the wheel and taking control of fire prevention in the home. Fort St. John firefighters set up their engines, a bouncy slide, and barbecue in the Home Hardware parking lot to kick off Fire Prevention Week on Oct. 7. Turn to A8 to learn more.

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Real estate sales in Fort St. John are up 20 per cent in the first nine months of 2017. There were 365 properties worth $144.9 million sold in the city by the end of September, according to the BC Northern Real Estate Board. That’s up from 303 properties worth $114.5 million sold through September 2016. There have been 177 singlefamily homes sold so far this year at an average selling price of $394,882. However, half the homes have sold for less than $378,000, and homes are spending an average of 85 days on the market, according to the board. “Recent seasonal layoffs at the Site C Dam have not yet shown an effect on the market. Work continues on many of the pipeline projects,” the board observed. The city has also seen the sale of 37 half duplexes, 41 homes on acreage, 10 manufactured homes in parks and another 34 manufactured homes on land, according to the board. Twentyone vacant lots also sold. In Fort Nelson, sales have increased while listings have decreased, the board noted. There, 37 properties worth $5.9 million were sold by the end of September, up from the 19 properties worth $3.1 million in the same period last year. The municipality has seen the sale of 20 single-family homes, half selling for less than $152,500, and taking an average of 120 days to sell. Three homes on acreages and nine manufactured homes have sold in Fort Nelson so far this year. As of Sept. 30, there were 799 properties for sale through MLS listings in the Fort St. John area. There were 152 properties listed in the Fort Nelson area. Across Northern B.C., 3,878 properties worth $1 billion had sold through MLS by the end of September—up slightly from 3,834 properties worth $973.2 million that changed hands in the same time last year.

13 ways to kill a community

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Home sales up in FSJ, Fort Nelson

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There are 13 ways communities are sabotaging themselves, and Fort St. John residents will learn some important lessons to kick the habit next month. Former Alberta MLA turned author Doug Griffiths will be in the city Nov. 15 for a free public presentation about his book 13 Ways To Kill Your Community. The book’s title doesn’t beat around the bush. In it, Griffiths muses about his experience as a politician, rancher, and a teacher, and lists the things communities are doing that have a direct and negative consequence on its future— addressing everything from water quality to failing to attract businesses, to maintaining poor beautification standards to failing to engage youth, seniors, and immigrants. “Everything I do is for the sake of building stronger communities,” Griffiths says. “I believe communities are the foundation on which we build stronger families, stronger businesses, and stronger nations. Build strong communities, and success will follow.” The presentation is being hosted by UNBC’s Community Development Institute, which opened earlier this year in the city’s passive house on June 7. The institute is working to help the city develop policies to address social challenges and help diversify the region’s ecwonomy. The presentation is geared to all, including residents, business owners, political leaders, and non-profit groups. “(Doug) speaks about both personal and community leadership and how collectively it is the responsibility of all of us to create success in our community,” says Renée Laboucane, the institute’s senior facilitator. “This will be a good presentation to start the conversations regarding some of the work the CDI will be doing in the community.” 13 Ways To Kill Your Community takes place Nov. 15 at the Lido at 7 p.m. There is no cost, but registration is required. Visit cdiatunbc.eventbrite.ca for more information. bernier from a1

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Bernier’s tour this week took him along the Highway 16 corridor with stops in Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitimat, New Hazleton, Smithers, Houston, Burns Lake and Fraser Lake. If elected leader, Bernier plans to continue representing Peace River South. “This is my life, this is home. If I win, nothing changes here,” he said.

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A4 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017

Local News

Closure sought in half-century Site C saga Residents gather to give utilities commission their thoughts in what may become the last local meeting on divisive dam matt preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

North Peace residents told the provincial utilities commission last week they want two simple things from its inquiry on Site C: a wellmade decision and closure. Workers, landowners, mayors, former chiefs, school matt preprost Photos teachers, farmers, 21 of them Workers, landowners, mayors, chiefs, school teachers, farmers stood to speak before the commission in what may very stood to speak before the well be the last public meeting in town on the dam since a flood reserve was in place on the Peace River in 1957. commission Oct. 2 in what may very well be the last public meeting in town on the dam it back and we want to do a more balanced cross-section since a flood reserve was placed agriculture.” in the community in support on the Peace River in 1957. or opposition to the dam. Of Construction on the dam But the commission is began in summer 2015, with the roughly 100 attendees, undertaking an accelerated, an estimated $2.1 billion just 21 spoke directly to six-week economic study of expected to be spent by the the commissioners—seven the Site C at the behest of end of 2017. A termination signalling their support, 12 B.C.’s new NDP government— or suspension would likely voicing their opposition, and which will decide later this prompt two remaining neutral in their a complicated year whether to continue or path ahead—BC Hydro has submissions. cancel the project, now two roughly $4 billion in contracts The BC Liberals, which years into construction. approved the project in 2014, committed for the project, For engineer Shawn and has signed multi-million and other supporters say 2,500 Behnam, who moved to dollar agreements with local jobs depend on the project Canada to work on the dam, governments in the Peace and that it will help Canada that’s not enough time. Such Region meet its international climate for construction Yvonne Tupper: “We need to keep this river flowing as is, and no more work needs at least a year, he impacts. change commitments. The destruction. And I don’t like reading told the commission. But, if a NDP and Green Party have For Fort St. John, in about the Canadian Environmental final report is to be filed within particular, it amounts to Agency Assessment fines that are said it’s too expensive and not the next month, Behnam $1 million a year during going right now because of the water needed to meet the utility’s and others urged them to be construction, adjusted to erosion, the water quality affecting demand. cautious in their deliberations inflation, while the regional the fish and the ungulates feeding Josh Pastoor, regional and with the numbers and district is to receive $2.4 grounds and calving grounds. And I director for the Christian submissions before them. Labour Association of Canada, million for 70 years when the don’t like seeing that clear cut along “We cannot satisfy everyone. dam becomes operational. the way.” said his union currently It’s impossible, but we have That’s on top of millions represents 750 workers on the to make the best decision,” more committed and already project. Behnam said, noting other spent on area non-profits, to work with the resource While his union takes no sources of energy, be it wind recreation development, and industry to build a city that position on the commission’s or geothermal, come with the construction of a new offers a good quality of life review, Pastoor said Site C is environmental costs just like 40-unit affordable housing and work prospects, she said. needed to keep pace with the hydroelectric development. block, among a range of other Still, the biggest concern province’s economic growth, “We have to be reasonable, measures. facing residents today remains and for several liquefied we have to consider all Fort St. John Mayor Lori economic uncertainty. And natural gas customers relying aspects. Even if I’m going to Ackerman said the dam while the commission’s on its electricity for their lose my job, I prefer to see a has dominated council’s preliminary report on the state operations. realistic report that considers agenda for several years, of the dam is comprehensive “The project will take many all aspects. And then, I can though it knew the issue was and raises many questions, more years to build and this say, ‘OK, the people who made outside its jurisdiction and Fort St. John will continue to time can be spent in securing that decision, they really did decision-making authority. exist, she said, dam or no dam. utilization of Site C’s clean their best.’ It doesn’t matter if Two years of community “It’s the reason we took the energy generating capacity to I lose my job or not.” consultations shaped both position that we should be left the fullest,” Pastoor said. For others, like landowner the city’s approach to the better off, not a community Dan Houghton, a Clara London, an end to the project, which was neither in that has had a price to pay construction officer on the Site C debate will mean a support or opposition, and its with a megaproject built on its project, told commissioners chance to return to normalcy approach to negotiations with doorstep,” Ackerman said. that many workers uprooted for her and her family after BC Hydro, she said. “Whatever your decision their lives and families to move decades of fighting the project. “We were emphatic that is, uncertainty is not healthy. to Fort St. John. “I am a landowner, I love the empowering the province People, businesses, and the “Every worker there has land, and I want my land back. should not disempower Fort community can’t make plans made a choice, that choice was My family has been destroyed St. John,” said Ackerman, around uncertainty, so, we made in good faith,” Houghton because of this project,” who appeared at the meeting look forward to its end.” said. London said, fighting back with Couns. Trevor Bolin, “And that is to integrate tears. ourselves within this Bruce Christensen, Byron “We deserve what is right Stewart, Lilia Hansen, and community and have a small and that’s what we’ve always Gord Klassen. “We chose to part providing power for all of British Columbia.” stood for. We are right, and the be pragmatic and proactive Still, many believe that landowners are right. We know to protect and promote the power can be provided in the land, we love the land, we community.” The Oct. 2 meeting featured other ways—natural gas, for protect the land, and we want The city has done much

Workers made their choice ‘in good faith’

Shawn Behnam, who moved to Canada to work on the dam: “Even if I’m going to lose my job, I prefer to see a realistic report that considers all aspects. And then, I can say, ‘OK, the people who made that decision, they really did their best.’”

instance, according to retired school teacher Rick Koechl. However, the province has been denied an opportunity to explore its use as a cheaper alternative up to one-eighth the cost of hydro power, he said. New regulations could allow the province to recommission the idled Burrard thermal plant, he added. “We happen to live in natural gas country here, and I think it’s incumbent upon us to understand that it had potential,” Koechl said. Art Jarvis, northern representative for the Independent Contractors and Business Association, agreed that natural gas is a source of clean power. However, Site C’s greatest benefit will come from having used the same water resource three times when it reaches its turbines, he said. Cancelling the project two years in with billions committed will send the wrong signal to investors wanting to do business in B.C., he said. “Cancelling this project at 20 per cent completion stage broadcasts a definite message to Canadian and foreign investors that B.C., and possibly Canada, is untrustworthy to conduct business with,” he said. “If this project is allowed to continue, and does have an excess of power generation, that translates into no power shortages for B.C. and a saleable product for the province for the next hundredplus years.” Former Fort St. John mayor Steve Thorlakson told the commission it was important to consider the 100-year lifecycle cost of Site C. Ratepayers will have to bear billions in costs if Site C were cancelled, and for no net economic benefit, he said. “Hydro bought more power last year than it sold. But it generated a net profit of $125 million, and that’s money that’s to the benefit of the ratepayers,” Thorlakson said. “That’s because of the beauty of hydro power.” CONTINUED ON A5

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LOCAL NEWS

Geotechnical problems emerged early this year CONTINUED FROM A1

Fort St. John has done much to work with the resource industry to build a city that offers a good quality of life and work prospects, Mayor Lori Ackerman (left) says. Still, the biggest concern facing residents today remains economic uncertainty, she says. Peace River Regional District Director Karen Goodings (right): “The local regional government considered it very important to have an independent examination of the proposal done before the shovels hit the ground.”

Regional district’s pleas ignored CONTINUED FROM A4 Peace River Regional District director Karen Goodings said the district faced much difficulty trying to convince the previous Liberal government to undertake a proper cost analysis and demand forecast as recommended by the federal-provincial review panel that studied the project in 2013 and 2014. Today, there remains no “clear indication” Site C will remain within its $8.8-billion budget and on time for a November 2024 in-service date, she said. “The local regional government considered it very important to have an independent examination of the proposal done before the shovels hit the ground,” Goodings said. “Our concerns were relative to what you are now undertaking, one being cost and the other being need. Had this been done, we would have lived with the outcome regardless of whether it was to build or not to build.” Arlene Boon, whose land at Bear Flat BC Hydro expropriated in December 2016, said 34 farm operations in the Peace River valley will need mitigation plans if Site C continues—plans she worries has not been budgeted for. The cost to drill new water well supplies for just three landowners has come at a $124,000 cost to BC Hydro, she said. “Independent agrologists now have been engaged and so far not one land owner or tenure holder has a plan in place to my knowledge,” she said. BC Hydro has said it would need to collect around $3 billion in sunk and remediation costs from ratepayers if Site C were cancelled by the end of 2017. Lifting the flood reserve would open the valley to development and offset some of those costs, Boon suggested. “Most of these lands have a buyback policy and, like many others, my husband and I will purchase our land back when this project is terminated,” she said. The commission’s final report is at the start of November with a cabinet decision expected by the end of the fall legislative session on Nov. 30. Independent auditors have so far

Former Treaty 8 tribal chief Bud Napoleon: “When my ancestors entered into a treaty, they did not give up our laws. We still haven’t. To this day, I do not find anywhere where we gave up our water rights. In fact we still have our riparian water rights, which includes the Peace River, the river that BC Hydro is trying to build a dam on.”

Dan Houghton: “Every worker there has made a choice, that choice was made in good faith. And that is to integrate ourselves within this community and have a small part providing power for all of British Columbia.”

found the project’s main civil works hampered by geotechnical problems that have escalated costs and forced its main contractor to file for a year-long schedule delay last month. Auditors have also raised concerns about BC Hydro’s ability to keep the project on time and budget, and to accurately tender and award future contracts for construction still to come, including a generating station and transmission lines. However, BC Hydro says delaying the project by more than a year could drive final costs as high as $12.5 billion, while cancelling the project outright and acquiring power from different sources could cost around $7 billion, it says. For engineer Behnam, no project has come in on time and budget in his 12 years in the mining and engineering field. “It’s about prediction, but you can’t predict 100 per cent of everything,” he said.

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Site C construction began in summer 2015, with an estimated $2.1 billion expected to be spent by the end of 2017. The commission’s inquiry began Aug. 9 at the behest of B.C.’s new NDP government shortly after it took power from the BC Liberals, which approved the project in 2014. Deloitte LLP—consultants hired by the commission to audit the status of the dam, energy supply alternatives, and provincial demand forecasts—has so far found the project’s $1.75-billion main civil works contract was $136 million over budget when it was awarded in December 2015, and two months behind when work began in 2016. Roughly $33.5 million in contingencies were used to get construction on track by January 2017. Construction this year has been hampered by geotechnical problems, including two separate tension cracks that formed on the north bank of the Peace River in February and May. Construction crews have been excavating the bank to remove historic landslides in the dam site area, however, continued slope instability caused a work stoppage and 72 layoffs in July. The delays have further escalated costs and forced main contractor Peace River Hydro Partners to file for a 435-day schedule delay in August. Another 200 layoffs followed in September. “Like all large, complex projects, Site C faces risks and uncertainties,” O’Riley said. Deloitte has also raised concerns about BC Hydro’s ability to keep the

project on time and budget, and to accurately tender and award future contracts for construction still to come. Still, a cancellation or suspension of Site C would prompt a complicated path forward—BC Hydro has committed to roughly $4 billion in project contracts, and has signed several multimillion dollar agreements with local governments in the Peace Region for construction-related impacts. BC Hydro and Deloitte have estimated suspending Site C will cost between $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion, while Deloitte estimates a delay of more than a year could drive final costs as high as $12.5 billion. Completely terminating Site C and acquiring power from different sources would cost around $7 billion, BC Hydro says. That includes roughly $3 billion in sunk and remediation costs that would need to be collected from ratepayers if the dam is cancelled by the end of 2017, BC Hydro says. The commission’s final report is due Nov. 1 with a cabinet decision expected by the end of the fall legislative session on Nov. 30. “The Site C review is working—giving the BCUC, government and all British Columbians the information, analysis and answers we need to make the right decision on the project,” Energy Minister Michelle Mungall said. “Once we have the final report, government will consider the advice from the BCUC, along with other environmental and First Nations considerations, and make a final decision on the future of Site C in a timely manner.”

Despite the delay and extra costs, Site C remains the “best option” for ratepayers and the province’s energy needs, O’Riley said. “Despite the challenges we have encountered and the risks that remain, our analysis continues to confirm that completing Site C as planned is still the most cost-effective option for our customers,” he said. “Suspending, or terminating and finding the power we need from other sources—which carries its own set of uncertainties—would cost billions more than completing Site C.” In early June, former Liberal premier Christy Clark and former BC Hydro president Jessica McDonald warned missing a summer deadline to award the first phase of Highway 29 realignment work—and begin the relocation of some residents in the river valley—would push the river’s diversion back a year at a cost of up to $630 million. The two were responding to then opposition NDP leader John Horgan,

who asked BC Hydro to rein in Site C construction as he sought to form a minority government and order a review following the May election. Horgan said Clark’s claims were “unsupported” and urged her to recall the legislature to face a confidence vote. Clark would later lose the confidence vote at the end of June, while McDonald was quickly fired and replaced with O’Riley after the NDP took office in July. Landowner Ken Boon, expropriated last December and initially expected to move this summer, was unsurprised by news of the delay. “It was likely convenient to blame us for delays when it was their own problems causing the delay,” he said. Boon, along with other project opponents, have questioned the location of Site C and the structural soundness of the river valley’s slopes throughout years of different hearings on the project. “Here we are two years in with budget and schedule overruns. What is next to go wrong?” he said.

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Opinion

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Editorially Speaking

suspension of Site C is unacceptable to the people of the Peace Region. While the BC Utilities Commission calculates the cost of that decision for the provincial government, North Peace residents made it clear to commissioners they want an end to a yo-yoing saga that has caused uncertainty for residents across the board, and kept a highly divisive issue alive in the community for far too long. It’s hard to blame them. Many residents and businesses would love to have a $9-billion infrastructure project at their doorsteps to try to take advantage of, if even for just a decade—just as much as farmers would love a river valley without a flood reserve to begin appropriately investing in their operations. No doubt about it, the Peace Region remains agitated that it has little control over much of its destiny. The feeling is as palpable today as it was four years ago when public hearings began, or 35 years ago when the utilities commission studied the dam for the first time. As resident and businessman Art Jarvis put it to commissioners:

“We beg the BCUC, after absorbing each testimonial, to conduct a thorough, in depth, and complete investigation in order to ensure a final true report on the viability of the project and end the confusion and indecision between friends, neighbours, and taxpayers of this province.” Or, as regional district director Karen Goodings said, had a review been done in the first place, “we would have lived with the outcome regardless of whether it was to build or not to build.” As the BCUC wraps its public meetings in Victoria this week, it’s important to reiterate the commission will only be analyzing and calculating cold hard numbers— and they have plenty of them to use to help shape its final report due to government expected at the start of November. The commission has been considerably neutered here in the years since it was stripped of its legal authority to review the dam ahead of its foregone construction. Still, it will not and does not play to emotion, plenty of which was on display during its meetings in Fort St. John Oct. 1 and 2. The job of sorting out compet-

ing emotions and balancing them with the financial interests of the province will be left to cabinet. Energy Minister Michelle Mungall was quick last week to remind the public that her government won’t be considering the commission’s report by itself. There are First Nations and environmental considerations it will take into account as well. It gives me the feeling the government already has all the documentation the utilities commission has, minus its final report, which many don’t expect to change much by the time of its release. There may be some greater clarity on some gaps identified in the report, but the estimates of continuing, suspending, or terminating the project will likely stay in the same ballpark, new budget overruns included. It’s likely the government has a copy, or at the very least has read a copy of Deloitte’s uncensored report, which has noted its concern about continued overruns and scheduling delays on Site C. That was officially confirmed by BC Hydro last week after months of local rumblings. A critical river diversion target will be pushed

to 2020 at a cost of $610 million, but the utility says the project can still be built and put in service by November 2024. The government has a tough choice ahead and has likely already begun ruminating on it, if it hasn’t decided already. It’s a choice that will leave at least one side of the issue dissatisfied, if not outright livid. Ain’t that the way it goes though in politics? If the government chooses to continue Site C, it must be held to account to limit the project’s financial liability to ratepayers. Fears of ballooning costs and tepid demand are real and need to be tightly managed. If the government chooses to abandon the project, it must ensure the Peace Region stays whole as work ramps down and then let the Peace decide what it wants to do with the river. But at all costs, government must not choose to suspend Site C. Such a decision would be an insult to the people of this region who have been wanting an ending to this story for too long. —Matt Preprost is managing editor of the Alaska Highway News. Email: editor@ahnfsj.ca

Waiting for the LNG Key Word: Consolidation

ith the recent cancellation of the Pacific NorthWest LNG and Aurora LNG projects in Prince Rupert, the list of B.C. LNG projects being cancelled or delayed continues to grow ever longer. A look in our rear view mirror had a Liberal government in 2013 projecting three projects by 2020 in conjunction with a series of claims that have not come to fruition. Given the current situation, it leaves many people wondering where LNG export plans in British Columbia are headed. Recent global developments leave me scratching my head wondering how viable any BC LNG project is, given current global market conditions. Woodfibre LNG in Squamish seems to be advancing at such a slow pace it makes one wonder if the approval was nothing but a publicity stunt for a premier on the eve of a party convention last fall. Tilbury LNG, located on the banks of the Fraser River in the Lower Mainland, is so small it’s not even worth mentioning. The current state of the B.C. LNG export industry is like being served a plate of Tic Tacs while having been promised

Jeff Richert COMMUNITY VIEWS

a full course Christmas dinner. A look towards our major competitor, Australia, shows us a project no company would ever want to replicate, and is certainly one that all proponents have factored into their decision making and risk analysis for future developments: Gorgon LNG. Located on the north coast of Australia, Gorgon was completed with final costs around the $54 billion mark, approximately $20 billion over budget. Budget overruns, production delays, cost overruns, labour unrest, and, most recently, renegotiated supply contracts with a major buyer have plagued Chevron’s project. Nobody wants a Gorgon. Nobody wants to take on that kind of risk. Some energy analysts have changed

HaveYOUR

their tune and have predicted a change in global LNG supply and market dynamics, even going as far to say the window for LNG exports from Canada is opening as excess supply is reduced and demand forecast to increase. With buyers wanting to purchase LNG on the spot market instead of oilindexed contracts, the financial risk for projects is still a very live issue. A solution to address the high-risk game of building LNG projects in British Columbia is spreading risk around by increasing the number of partners on a project and consolidating project components. This is something that should have happened a long time ago as the number of proposed projects rose to double digits in numbers. Moving forward if you hear news about companies consolidating their interests and working together on a B.C. LNG project, that’s the moment when we all should be paying close attention. Jeff Richert lives in Taylor and ran as an independent candidate in Peace River North in the 2017 B.C. election.

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017 A7

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ancelling or suspending the $9-billion Site C dam on the Peace River shifted from options to distinct possibilities last week, as B.C. Hydro retreated from a crucial point it has been sticking to for months. The new CEO formally conceded that the project will be over budget, because he can’t make next year’s deadline to divert the river for a critical phase of the dam construction. Chris O’Riley, who has been in charge of the work since it started and became CEO after the change of government ousted the former B.C. Liberal appointee, said that will tack $610 million on to the costs, and pushes the project past its contingency funding. It also heightens skepticism about other schedules, price quotes and assurances that taxpayers have been given going back years about the project. Those doubts are in play at the same time the independent utilities commission, which indirectly forced the confession, is poring over the whole project. This isn’t quite the Titanic hitting the iceberg. It’s more that something repeatedly acknowledged as a risk has become a certainty, just at a time when all the other risks are being scrutinized. It’s enough to prompt a cold sweat in the senior ranks of B.C. Hydro officials as they await the cabinet verdict on the dam’s future. It’s also enough to instill a sense of dread within everyone who is going to pay more regardless of what happens to the project. The setback was declared early enough in the seven-year schedule that the completion date could still be met, Hydro says. But it’s also early enough to make the NDP cabinet wonder: What else can go wrong? The project has slipped seven per cent over budget just two years and $2 billion into the work, mostly because of two cracks in the graded river bank that needed fixing. B.C. Hydro also acknowledged in filings with the utilities commission that it is in dispute with the contractors over the causes of the delays and who should pay for what. Those differences are routine in most construction jobs, but these ones are bigger. There are also significant risks ahead in the second-biggest part of the project—buying and installing the actual generating equipment, as well as a highway realignment. Despite all that, BC Hydro told the utilities commission it’s keen to push ahead. Mostly because executives think it’s too late to turn back. The latest filing says if the dam is terminated, ratepayers would incur $3.2 billion in costs without anything to show for it. BC Hydro also said that Site C could run 50 per cent or more over budget and still be more cost-effective than the alternative sources that others are touting. That’s either reassuring or terrifying, depending on your outlook. The statement relates to an ongoing argument about the cost assumptions related to alternative sources of power. The commission will have to resolve that en route to delivering its report to cabinet by Nov. 2. That report won’t make a recommendation. It will just be hard data on three options — complete the dam on schedule in 2024, suspend it indefinitely, or terminate the project. One of the basic questions it has to answer along the way is whether the project is on budget. The preliminary report last month found that it was. Now, the final report will conclude it is not. How much weight the commission puts on that while reporting on the three options will shape the framework for cabinet’s eventual decision. The political arguments over that call will run forever. The costs will run almost as long. Governments can recover from all kinds of mistakes. But the ones that have the biggest ramifications usually relate to power. On a broader scale, B.C.’s reputation is on the line to some extent. At a time when 21st-century engineering marvels abound, after almost 40 years of offand-on study, the biggest Crown corporation in B.C. faces tough questions about whether it can finish what it has always described as a relatively low-impact addition to the power system. Les Leyne covers the B.C. legislature for the Victoria Times-Colonist.

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recommends replacing it with a new one more frequently, follow that guideline. • Take advantage of Fire Prevention Week every October to change the batteries in your smoke alarms, and test them monthly. • If installing hardwired alarms, have the work done by a qualiﬁed electrician and test them after they’re installed. • Smoke alarms should be installed at the head of all stairways in the home and outside sleeping areas.

ARE YOU FIRE-READY?

Keeping your family safe in the event of a fire We can’t always anticipate when disaster will strike. However, when it comes to ﬁres in the home, we can take preventive measures to ensure our loved ones and ourselves come through unscathed. Here are three essential steps to ensure the safety of your family in the event of a ﬁre.

Phone (250)263-0101 • Fax: (250)263-0104 Toll Free: 1-877-332-0101 Dan.Davies.mla@leg.bc.ca

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THAT ANNOYING ALARM! If your smoke alarm goes off every time you burn your toast, your biggest mistake would be to unplug it or take out the battery for some peace and quiet. House ﬁres do the most damage at night, when people are sleeping; if you forget to reconnect the power source, you’re putting your life in danger. Instead, ask your local ﬁre hall for advice on where to install smoke alarms so they cause less of a nuisance, or ask about better-working brands.

1. CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS Fire alarms are by far your greatest ally when it comes to fire safety. The fact of the matter is, smoke detectors save lives. Make sure alarms are installed on every floor and near every bedroom, and test them regularly by holding down the “test” button. Never disconnect a fire alarm that goes off frequently — when cooking, for example. Instead, open a window or turn on a fan.

at least twice a year is so important. Create a realistic scenario — location of ﬁre, where everyone is, etc. — and then put your plan into action. • Set off the smoke alarm • Evacuate your home as quickly as possible • Have everyone gather at the designated meeting place • Review your plan and make any necessary changes You never know when you’ll have to leave your home at a moment’s notice. Fortunately, a little preparation will go a long way in keeping you and your family safe during a ﬁre emergency.

2. CREATE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN A well-rehearsed fire escape plan will go a long way in keeping everyone calm and collected should a fire break out in your home. A good plan will map out two ways to exit each room in your house. It will also indicate the location of every smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher. Finally, your plan must include a designated meeting place that’s safe and easily accessible at all times. Try to meet at a place where the firefighters will see you as soon as they arrive. 3. REHEARSE YOUR PLAN Smoke can engulf your home in as little as three minutes, which doesn’t leave you with much time to get out. That’s why rehearsing your fire escape plan

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017 A9

Business

“As a British Columbia-based company, we are proud to be part of this important project.” - Frank Mikes, President, Macro Enterprises

Macro JV finalizes $375-million Trans Mountain contract Fort St. John-based Macro Enterprises and its joint venture with Speicapag Canada Corp. has finalized a $375-million contract to build 85 kilometres of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The joint venture will build a section of the expansion in the Coquihalla-Hope area. Construction also includes upgrades to one pump station. Construction is anticipated to start once regulatory requirements are met, the company says, with the contract expected to last until November 2019. “As a British Columbia-based company, we are proud to be part of this important project,” Macro President and CEO Frank Miles said. “We will continue to support Trans Mountain in their continual engagement with stakeholders, specifically working with Aboriginal and local communities ensuring positive working relationships now and in the future.” Macro began in Fort St. John in 1994. Company shares rose sharply Oct. 5, rallying 11 cents, or 4.33 per cent, to $2.65. Over the last five days, shares have gained 0.39 per cent and 18.60 per cent year to date. Spiecapag is part of the Entrepose Group, and has built pipelines across the world, including Angola, South Africa, Colombia, and Yemen. The $7.4-million pipeline expansion will increase Trans Mountain capacity to 890,000 bbls per day from 300,000 bbls a day between Edmonton and Burnaby. A legal challenge against the project began in federal court Oct. 2, while the NDP government reiterated last week it would use every available means to halt the project. Meanwhile, a recent Angus Reid poll found 47 per cent of British Columbians believe the pipeline should proceed as planned. Just 33 per cent thought the project should be scrapped.

BHANGRA UNION The BC Government Employees Service Union held an open house Oct. 3 to showcase its new building on 100 Avenue and 102 Street. The $5-million buildIng will house local BCGEU offices and provide meeting space for members as well as community groups. Left: The Northern Lights College Bhangra dancers perform for open house guests. Above: BCGEU president Stephanie Smith speaks to members during the open house. Aleisha Hendry Photos

Petronas ‘committed’ to North Montney Petronas is reaffirming its commitment to the North Montney after putting a significant number of its assets in northern Alberta up for sale. The Malaysia state-owned oil and gas company has hired BMO Capital Markets to sell off its assets in the Deep Basin. It includes more than 400,000 gross acres with a 63 per cent working interest, ownership in three gas plants and pipeline network, and 32,000 acres of royalty, fee and fee-leased lands in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “I can say from the outset that withdrawing from Canada is not what is happening,” Progress spokeswoman Eryn Rizzoli said. “The potential sale of our Deep Basin assets, which represents a small portion of Progress Energy’s resource base, would allow us to focus on our North Montney development, which represents significant growth opportunities in Canada.” In a mid-year earnings update, Petronas reported earnings of CA$13.4 billion, up 35 per cent from the CA$9.9 billion recorded in the same period last year. Progress had been producing 540 million cubic feet of gas per day to the domestic market and generated CA$261 million in the first two quarters of 2017, Petronas said. “Despite the decision not to proceed with (Pacific NorthWest LNG), Petronas remains committed to monetise the natural gas resources in the North Montney area in Canada,” the update reads.

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*Traditional copper wire or copper wire hybrid networks are subject to capacity constraints and environmental stresses that do not affect TELUS fibre optic technology, which is based on light signals. Internet access speed depends on location, usage within the home network, internet traffic, applicable network management and server configurations. For a description of TELUS’s network management practices, see telus.com/networkmanagement. †Offer subject to change without notice. The $15/mo. discount for 24 months is available to customers signing up for TELUS Internet 250/250 and Optik TV You Pick 6 or higher. Regular price (currently $90/month) applies at month 25. Offer only available with Optik TV You Pick 6 or higher. Downgrading to Lite or Essentials will trigger the removal of the $15 Internet discount. Minimum system requirements apply. Final eligibility for service will be determined by a TELUS representative. Internet access is subject to usage limits; additional charges apply for exceeding the included data. Rental equipment must be returned in good condition upon cancellation of service. TELUS, the TELUS logo, TELUS PureFibre, Optik TV, the future is friendly and telus.com are trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under licence. All rights reserved. © 2017 TELUS.

A10 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017

BUSINESS

Time to spend the rainy day fund?

Edwina Nearhood LIFE AT GROUND ZERO

ong-term residents in the north have lived through more than one boom bust cycle. The past 20 to 25 years have noted smaller ups and downs then what was experienced in the early 1980s. Past experience in a downturn teaches resiliency and to

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IS IT A BUYERS MARKET? Long-term planning can help define strategic investment purchases. A good indication of a buyers’ market includes several indicators: • An oversupply of inventory • Growing marketing periods—has the days on market for your product increased? • Are market prices declining over what has been experienced previous? Are rental rates declining? Lease terms softening? Are rental incentives offered? • Construction volumes can also be an indication of trends in the market of choice—review year-over-year history, look at past market trends. • What is the level of security in your economic sector? Are you making a long-term choice? If you have reviewed these topics and can identify your level of confidence, you will have a strong negotiating position. Is the dwelling you are interested in purchasing vacant? Seasonal purchases in late fall and early winter months offer additional motivation. If you have been saving your rainy day fund to maximize your purchase plans now may be the right time for you. EMOTIONAL PRICING

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avoid overextending ourselves. It also allows us to be in an opportunity of leverage and ability to purchase when real estate is “on sale.”

Over the years, I have watched many clients use their homes as an ATM machine. Capitalizing on rapidly increasing market conditions to finance disposable spending might be OK once or twice, but can become dangerous when you begin to erode away at your hard-earned equity in your home. This is dangerous when market and economic conditions soften. There is growing evidence of

a foreclosure market in many communities in Northeast B.C. often as a result of overextending disposable income spending. I have had many clients calling me and explaining they need their property to be worth a certain value to be approved for financing. I hear my real estate sales colleagues mirror the same words that their clients need to sell their home for a certain price to be able to clear the title upon sale or to pay off excessive debt. This becomes a difficult conversation. Often times when a home is overlisted because of unrealistic expectations, the home becomes even more difficult to sell and will often end up selling at a discount greater than the realistic price originally suggested. In a buyers’ market, if you are looking at upgrading your home you may be at a greater advantage to discounting the sale of your entry level home to capitalize on the reduced sale price of your dream home. A 10 per cent discount on a $400,000 house can quickly be recovered if you are able to purchase a quality custom home well below replacement cost from a motivated seller. The $40,000 discount on your first home can quickly be recovered as you set-up for a long-term stay in your dream home. If you have responsibly built up equity in your home, now may be the best time to upgrade. True, your existing home may have dropped in value, however, if you are in a responsible financial position to upgrade now is the best time. Get professional advice from all of your trusted professionals including accountant, mortgage brokers, financial planners, real estate agents and real estate appraisers to make a solid plan for future investments. Edwina Nearhood is a lifelong resident of Fort St. John, with 30 years experience in the appraisal industry.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017 A11

LOCAL NEWS

Of The Vine an elegant evening Wine aficionados of Fort St. John will have a night just for them at the annual Of The Vine fundraiser this weekend. The Fort St. John Association for Community Living hosts the fundraiser each year and features a variety of wines for tasting, as well as hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. The event is meant to be an

elegant evening out for the community where they can dress up as much as they want and help out a good cause. Funds raised help with operational costs for the FSJACL, as well as provide programs that aren’t government funded. This year’s entertainment will be provided by Shania Twain tribute act, Shania Twin. This year’s wines will be provided by three B.C.

wineries—Wild Goose Vineyards, Silver Sage Winery, and Switchback Organic Vineyard. The Wild Goose will have a red and a white, Silver Sage wines will have a red, a white and two dessert wines, and Switchback will have a red, a white and a rosé. Of The Vine takes place Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Lido Theatre. For more information, call 250-787-9262.

Celebrate fall with Phoenix Volunteer Club

a cake walk, and other prizes. The fall harvest carnival takes place at the Taylor Community Hall on Oct. 21. The fun starts at 11 a.m. For more information, call 250-785-1430.

The Phoenix Volunteer Club is celebrating the pre-winter season with a fall harvest carnival later this month. The event will feature a variety of vendors for those looking to get a jump on their holiday shopping, as well as games and activities for kids,

Your news here Have a news tip to share, a club milestone to celebrate, or looking to recognize a neighbour? Email your news updates to editor@ahnfsj.ca.

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