THURSDAY, september 5, 2019 Vol. A-75, No. 36
Serving Fort St. John, B.C. and Surrounding Communities
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It was the final TGIFSJ of the summer August 30, 2019 at the green space at 100 & 100. Billboarded as Party in the Park, it gave kids and parents one last chance to take advantage of games and activities before the start of the school year. Above, Kaiden Lewis from Fort St. John considers his next move while playing lawn checkers.
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Beloved pioneer, seniors advocate dies Jean Leahy had a far-reaching hand as a Peace leader
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Jean Leahy is being fondly remembered for her endless energy to make her community and the region she lived in a better place to live. Leahy, a long-time advocate in the Peace region, died August 26 at the age of 84. “She was a tremendous advocate for the environment, for agriculture, for women’s issues,” said friend and Save Our Northern Seniors Society vicepresident Margaret Little. “She was active in our community and always stood up for what she believed in.” Even as Leahy faced her medical issues, though, Little says she was still there for others, that was just her way. “She always rose above any issues that happened to her. She was always looking out for other people, always thought of others before herself.” Little met with Leahy just hours before her passing to discuss plans for the upcoming annual general meeting for Save Our Northern Seniors – there was no indication anything was wrong. Little believes her friend will be remembered for her passion. “I think of her tenacity, her spirit of adventure, her ‘stick-
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Jean Leahy died August 26, 2019, at the age of 84.
to-it-ness’ and her desire to make our community the best community it could possibly be.” That sentiment is shared by many, including another close friend, Ruth Veiner, who worked with Leahy advocating for farmers through the National Farmers Union. A former national womens president and vice-president, Leahy was active in the group for close to 25 years. In Veiner’s words, “She not only had a tremendous impact on the agricultural community, but I think Jean had an impact on everyone she met. She was a strong woman.” Leahy was probably best known in lobbying for seniors, helping to form the group, Save Our Northern Seniors Society, and garnering the attention of many in the health care com-
munity, including Northern Health. “Jean was a passionate and an effective advocate for health care, particularly seniors health,” said CEO Cathy Ulrich. “Jean’s dedication to improving her community and the lives of those around her was always clear to Northern Health.” Leahy sat on the Peace River Regional District board from 1994 to 1996. Electoral director Karen Goodings recalls their time together, referring to her as a champion of the causes she believed in. “(She was) always smiling... and always paying attention to what issues were affecting people,” Goodings said.
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Talks between West Moberly First Nations and the province, have ended with the two sides failing to reach an agreement to avoid litigation over the Site C dam. The case will now proceed to a 120-day trial to determine whether building the $10.7-billion dam infringes upon First Nations rights under Treaty 8. “We can’t disclose anything confidential from the discussions with B.C., but I can assure you that there are dark days ahead for Site C,” West Moberly Chief Roland Willson said in a press release. “Stopping this dam has always been the right thing to do. It would have taken some courage and some leadership, but it could have saved British Columbia billions of dollars and produced a clear example of reconciliation with First Nations. Instead, the Horgan Government hooked themselves up to Christy Clark’s boondoggle and are watching helplessly as it skids out of control.” The two sides will have plenty of time to prepare their case, as the trial isn’t set to begin until March 2022. Construction at Site C has been underway on the Peace River since 2015, counting a record 4,634 workers in June 2019. BC Hydro says it has started testing the five-kilometre long conveyor belt that will move the glacial till needed to build the core of the earthfill dam from its industrial lands on 85 Avenue just south of Fort St. John. Nearby residents may experience increased dust, noise and vibration, it said. The Crown utility is also building a temporary bridge to an island in the Peace River this month as part of tree clearing work. “The Rotary Forest Recreation Site on the island is now closed. Boaters and recreational users are asked to stay clear of the work area,” BC Hydro said. Construction is expected to last several months, and the bridge will be dismantled in 2020 once the island has been cleared. Clearing activities, which include logging, hauling, and burning, will occur on the banks of the Peace River every winter until the Site C project is complete in 2023, BC Hydro said.
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