THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 2016 VOL. 73, NO. 83
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From left: Fort St. John firefighters Jasen Donszelmann, Sean Murphy, Gordon Mckay, and IAFF Local 2143 President and firefighter Matt Crompton.
Firefighters honour victims at 9-11 memorial MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca
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Most Canadians remember where they were Sept. 11, 2001, when news broke that a pair of passenger jets crashed into the World Trade Center towers, followed by a third into the Pentagon and a fourth into a field in Pennsylvania. Fort St. John firefighter Matt Crompton was jumping out of bed and heading out the door to his Grade 12 psychology class at Caledonia Secondary in Terrace, when he caught the footage playing out on TV. “‘Something terrible has happened.’ That’s what my mom said,� Crompton recalled. “We sat around in school that entire day and watched the news on those old pullout cart TVs with a VCR underneath. “I think for everyone it was almost surreal. You see these things happen
Coun. Gord Klassen will speak as acting mayor.
overseas and different parts of the world, but it hit home,� he said. This Sunday, Crompton, along with his fellow firefighters and local dignitaries, will mark 15 years since the 9-11 attacks with a memorial ceremony outside the fire hall. Crompton, who today is a 10-year
member of the local fire department and president of the IAFF Local 2143, said the event is to honour those who were killed in the attacks and emergency response that followed. “For us, personally as a fire department, the loss of firefighters that happened on September 11, the 343 FDNY members that lost their lives and gave, really, the biggest sacrifice they can give in their career is probably the biggest reason we want to do this,� he said. “To honour that sacrifice and pay respect to all the 2,700 people that gave their lives that day.� The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. with a flag ceremony and a moment of silence. Acting Mayor Gord Klassen is among the speakers. A pancake breakfast in the fire hall will follow, by donation to the FSJ Firefighters Charitable Society. See MEMORIAL on A5
Caravan hits the road as Site C court date nears First Nations appeal begins Sept. 12 MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca
Opponents of the Site C dam hit the highway from Bear Flat to Montreal Monday morning as a federal court date looms for the West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations. The Treaty 8 nations are set to appear in court Sept. 12, appealing a federal judge’s decision on the project’s impact on constitutionally-protected rights to hunt, fish and trap after the challenge was dismissed by a judge in Vancouver last year. On Sept. 5, more than 60 people gathered at Bear Flat to see the Treaty 8 Justice for the Peace Caravan off on its cross-
Canada trip to raise awareness before the hearings begin. “We’ve all been saying no in our own way. Some of us have been saying no by writing letters to MPs, to MLAs, to the premier, to cabinet ministers, to the prime minister, to anybody who will listen,� said Helen Knott, a spokesperson for the caravan. “At the same time we’ve been saying no, we’ve been saying yes. We’ve been saying yes to honouring the treaties that our ancestors have signed. We’ve been saying yes to clean water that our grandchildren deserve, we’ve been saying yes to agricultural land.� See CARAVAN on A11
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Coun. Clarence Willson of West Moberly First Nation and Chief Lynette Tsakoza of Prophet River First Nation took turns at the podium Monday, Sept. 5, during the launch of the Treaty 8 Justice for the Peace Caravan across the country.
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