AHN APR 13, 2023

THREE NEW DOCS Doctors van Deventer, Youssef, and Steer bring wide range of services

SPRING FLING

Local North Peace gymnasts awarded at Peace River meet

Generational bonding: $6,752 raised by grandma and

T.W. Buck tbuck@ahnfsj.ca

As the scissors snipped and the shavers buzzed, Brenda Baumeister and Payton Webster shared a moment of pride in their new hairdos and solidarity with seniors health and those battling cancer.

The grandma and granddaughter duo teamed up for a health care fundraiser supporting both the BC Children’s Hospital wig program and the Peace Villa care home, cutting off their locks in the lobby of the Fort St. John Hospital on March 31.

Webster, 11, first approached her grandmother, who she lovingly calls ‘Oma’, with the idea in December. Baumeister wholeheartedly supported her granddaughter’s philanthropic efforts and even committed to shaving her head.

“Isn’t this wonderful?” said Baumeister. “She’s only eleven years old and she’s already donating her hair to the children’s wig foundation. She asked me to join her, but since I don’t have hair to donate, I’m shaving mine. It all started with Payton.”

Webster cut her long hair short for donation to the wig program, which supports kids suffering hair loss due to cancer or other serious illnesses.

“I wanted to grow my hair long and cut it short, so I decided to cut it and donate it, and asked Oma if she could do it with me,” said Webster.

Added Baumeister, “She said, if she’s going to cut it anyway, she wanted to donate it.”

Together, the two also decided to raise funds to support Peace Villa through the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation, raising an incredible $6,752. The funds will be used for care home activities.

Baumeister began her nursing career at the Peace Lutheran Care Home in 1988, making the decision to give back an easy one.

Second in a six-part series on the history of the northeast B.C. forest industry

Clocked at 169km/h

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

A new driver learned a tough lesson this week after being caught by the highway patrol speeding at 169 kilometres an hour.

The BC Highway Patrol says the driver was caught for the excessive speed in a 100 km/h zone on April 2, during patrols in the Fort St. John and Dawson Creek areas.

The driver was fined $483, hit with three penalty points, and had his vehicle impounded for seven days, according to police. Two other vehicles were caught for excessive speeding that day, and the Highway Patrol is urging motorists to slow down.

“The posted speed limits serve as a reminder to the public to slow down and that exceeding these posted speed limits puts themselves and others at risk,” said Const. Matthew MacCallum.

Recall petition fails

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

An attempt to recall Dan Davies as the MLA for Peace River North has failed.

Elections BC said Wednesday, April 5, that the petition launched by Joseph Wayne Bell of Cecil Lake was not submitted to the agency as required by the April 4 deadline.

First elected in 2017, Davies is a former Fort St. John city councillor and elementary school teacher.

T.W. BUCK PHOTO

“We chose to donate to the care home because it’s where my nursing career began 35 years ago, and there isn’t a lot of funding specifically for activities,” she said. “They try to keep the clients engaged in fun activities and games, and my mother is also a resident there.”

From her start in the care home, Baumeister’s long career in local health care took her to work on the medical-surgical floor at the old hospital, and later in pediatrics, maternity, and most recently the respiratory department. After 35 years of service to the community, she will retire this year.

In addition to running the wig program in town, Baumeister also facilitates the Cancer Support Circles held the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 at the hospital.

He is currently the provincial Opposition critic for social development and poverty reduction, and was appointed last year to provincial committees reviewing the opioid epidemic and police reform in B.C.

Canvassers needed to collect signatures of 10,487 eligible voters over the last two months for their petition to have been successful. Elections BC said 23 voters registered as canvassers to collect signatures.

Financial disclosure reports must now be filed by May 2, the agency said.

granddaughter shave-o

T.W. BUCK PHOTO

Brenda Baumeister and Payton Webster get their hair cuts at the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation on Friday, March 31.

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North Peace Secondary takes part in Youth Leadership Summit

Hanna Petersen hpetersen@pgcitizen.ca

North Peace Secondary School was one of 20 high schools from across Alberta and northeast B.C. who were selected to come to Inside Education’s 12th in-person Youth Environmental Leadership Summit.

The three-day summit took place in Canmore, Alberta where six students and two teachers from each of the 20 schools were given a unique opportunity to meet and engage with over 70 expert guests from academic institutions, industry, government, Alberta’s Indigenous community, and environmental groups.

“This [Summit] gave our students the opportunity to

expand their knowledge of energy and water in Alberta,”

O’Chiese First Nation School teacher Karyn Booy said in a recent letter to Inside Education.

“I saw our students get out of their comfort zones, try new things, and be courageous. We highly valued our time here and would love to come again.”

160 students and teachers participated in a series of hands-on energy and waterfocused workshops, such as wind turbine model-building and DNA extractions from local water with University of Alberta professor Dr. Patrick Hanington, along with various off-site experiences, including guided tours of hydroelectric dams and snow sampling.

Upon completion of the Summit, each school is chal-

lenged to develop and implement an education and action project to engage their peers and their community about the energy, climate, and water topics they learned about throughout the Summit. These projects will occur from Spring Break to the end of the school year and beyond.

Inside Education is Alberta’s largest environmental and natural resource education charity.

In addition to provincewide Youth Leadership Summits, the organization is committed to inspiring students and providing support for K-12 school teachers through various avenues, including in-class learning resources, interactive presentations, experiential field trips, securing grant money where needed, and more.

ree new doctors welcomed

St. John.

Three new doctors have been welcomed into the community, with one of them accepting new patients.

The North Peace Division of Family Practice along with Northern Health and the City of Fort St. John announced the recent arrivals of Dr. Stephan van Deventer, Dr. George Youssef, and Dr. Dion Steer on Monday, April 3. All are based at the ABC Medical Clinic.

Dr. Stephan van Deventer, Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. van Deventer completed two years of Canadian fellowship training with his first fellowship covering trauma in Winnipeg. He then went to Toronto for a year-long hip and knee arthroplasty fellowship.

Dr. van Deventer graduated from medical school in South Africa, completing residency in 2018. After this he spent a year in private practice focused on orthopedic trauma care.

Dr. van Deventer will be focusing his practice on total hip arthroplasty, partial and total knee arthroplasty as well as trauma. He will be treating some hand conditions including extensor tendon injuries, fractures, trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren’s, and ganglions and bunions.

Dr. George Youssef

Dr. Youssef was a graduate and did his residency at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt in 2003. He has worked as a family doctor for 18 years in different communities in Egypt and Canada, including Cambridge, Ont., Swan River, Man., Quesnel, B.C., and Maple Ridge.

Dr. Youssef and his family relocated from Prince George, where he practiced as a family physician for over five years. His wife, Dr. Azza Makary is currently in her first year of medical residency also in Fort

SUPPLIED

Dr. Youssef arrived September 2022 and is accepting new patients. Those without a family doctor can reach him at the clinic.

“I have been in North B.C. for a while and really loved it, with its fascinating nature, lovely people, and coherent communities. However, once I moved to Fort St. John, I realized that this would be my place to live and work,” says Youssef. “Really so excited to be here and would love to help the community and be a part of it!”

Dr. Dion Steer, General Surgeon

Dr. Steer did his undergrad at Stellenbosch University and his postgrad at KwaZulu-Natal medical school in Durban, South Africa. Dr. Steer completed residency in 2007 and practiced in Durban, South Africa, until joining the Fort St. John community.

Almost all print readers between 21 and 38 years of age choose to add digital newspapers to their print reading habit.

North Peace Secondary School was one of 20 high schools selected to participate in the 2023 Generate/ Navigate Youth Leadership Summit in Canmore, AB.

Dr. Stephan van Deventer (right) and Dr. George Youssef

Fort St. John RCMP crime stats for 2022

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Fort St. John saw an increase in arson, break-ins to city businesses, spousal assault, cocaine and fentanyl trafficking, and fatal car accidents in 2022.

RCMP responded to just over 11,000 calls for service last year, with 37% of them for Criminal Code offences, according to the latest annual report from the Fort St. John RCMP.

Detachment commander Insp. Anthony Hanson gave city council an update Tuesday, April 11, on policing activity in the city last year. Here are the numbers from his report:

Calls for service:

(2021 total)

Municipal - 8,507 (8,688)

Rural - 2,560 (2,984)

Total - 11,067 (11,672)

Criminal Code calls:

(2021 total)

Municipal - 3,429 (3,117)

Rural - 672 (756)

Total - 4,101 (3,873)

Criminal Code offences: (2021 total)

Persons - 1,201 (1,146)

Property - 1,987 (1,852)

Other - 913 (875)

Violent crimes:

(2021 total)

Robbery City - 9 (11)

Robbery Rural - 1 (2)

Assault PO City - 15 (12)

Assault PO Rural - 1 (2)

Sex offences City - 75 (86)

Sex offences Rural - 16 (15)

Aggravated assault City - 105 (80)

Aggravated assault Rural - 25 (24)

Utter threats City - 218 (185)

Utter threats Rural - 51 (61)

Common assault City - 327 (295)

Common assault Rural - 55 (79)

Violence in relationships:

(2021 total)

Spousal dispute, no assault: 233 (225)

Spousal abuse: 19 (18)

Spousal assault: 161 (138)

Spousal, other offence: 106 (112)

Property crimes: (2021 total)

Arson City - 26 (4)

Arson Rural - 11 (3)

Property crimes cont’d:

Break and enter business City - 60 (53)

Break and enter business Rural - 40 (50)

Break and enter residence City - 62 (72)

Break and enter residence Rural - 15 (24)

Theft and mischief: (2021 total)

Vehicle thefts - 176 (160)

Theft from vehicles - 230 (115)

Theft over $5000 City - 15 (19)

Theft over $5000 Rural - 28 (28)

Theft under $5000 City - 239 (207)

Theft under $5000 Rural - 35 (49)

Shoplifting - 127 (102)

Mischief - 335 (312)

Public disturbances - 785 (856)

Drugs: (2021 total)

Cocaine trafficking - 51 (42)

Cocaine possession - 24 (37)

Fentanyl/other trafficking - 13 (9)

Fentanyl/other possession - 336 (35)

Drug overdose calls - 27 (19)

Fatal overdose - 16 (14)

Impaired drivers: (2021 total)

CCC & Immediate Roadside Prohibitions - 196 (283)

MVA 24 hrs/7 day/30 day warning - 76 (94)

By drug - 80 (68)

Motor vehicle accidents: (2021 total)

Fatal - 6 (3)

Injured - 112 (98)

Damage only - 522 (563)

Mental Health Act Related: (2021 total)

Municipal - 242 (282)

Rural - 55 (67)

Total - 297 (349)

Bylaw calls: (2021 total)

Noise bylaw - 137 (212)

False alarms - 529 (527)

Other bylaw - 105 (98)

The Fort St. John RCMP detachment covers an area that extends north to the Sikkani Chief Bridge, west to Williston Lake, east to the Alberta border, and just south of the Peace River.

The majority of officers, 38 of them, are tasked with municipal policing. The detachment also has 12 provincial officers, three First Nations officers, and one reserve and one auxiliary constable. As of this month, the report notes there have been six staff transfers and two new recruits coming on board.

Court Docket, March 27 to 31

• CHIPESIA, Arthur Joseph (born 1965) was given a four-month conditional sentence with 12 months probation and ordered to submit a DNA sample for sexual assault committed in Fort St. John on Oct. 15, 2022.

• FIELD, Kayden (born 2003) was given a suspended sentence of 12 months probation for assaulting a peace officer in Fort St. John on Oct. 21, 2022.

• CAPOT BLANC, Nicole Emily Jean (born 1997) was granted a conditional discharge with 12 months probation for assault committed in Fort Nelson on Jan. 14, 2022.

• RAKOSE, Daen Robert (born 1979) was given a suspended sentence of 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $100 victim surcharge for forcible entry committed in Fort St. John on Oct. 13, 2022.

• GREY, Brenden Steve (born 2000) was sentenced to one year probation and given a five-year discretionary firearms prohibition for uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in Dawson Creek on Sept. 21, 2021.

• PETERKIN, Raymond Percy (born 1987) was granted a conditional discharge with one year probation for using a forged document in Fort St. John on Nov. 7, 2019.

• LAVIGNE, Jordan Luc Jean (born 1988) was fined $500, subject to forfeiture, and ordered to pay a $150 vic-

tim surcharge for possessing a firearm without a licence or registration in Prophet River on Nov. 17, 2021. Lavigne was also fined $1000 plus a $300 victim surcharge for breaching a release order.

• VIG, Kevin Dwith (born 1996) was prohibited from driving for one year and fined $1,000 for driving while impaired, committed in Fort St. John.

• DUPUIS, Matthew Joseph (born 1987) was sentenced to one year probation, fined $500, and ordered to pay a $75 victim surcharge for driving while prohibited or license suspended in Fort St. John on Nov. 17, 2022.

• AUGER, Coty Steven (born 1988) was prohibited from driving for one year and fined $500 plus a $75 victim surcharge for driving while prohibited or licence suspended in Dawson Creek on May 13, 2022.

• KOTCHEA, Trina Stephanie (born 1990) was prohibited from driving for one year and fined $500 plus a $75 victim surcharge for driving while prohibited or licence suspended in Fort Nelson on Aug. 27, 2022.

• WHITFORD, Zane Steven Joseph (born 2004) was given a one-year $500 recognizance after allegation of causing fear of injury or damage to property in Dawson Creek on July 10, 2022.

Missing woman found safe in California

Fort St. John RCMP say a woman reported missing by her family has been found safe and sound in California.

Police put out the call Tuesday, April 4, for help to find Joy Maureen Davies, 67, who hadn’t been heard from by family since last September.

RCMP said they had last interacted with Davies in the Baldonnel area on Sept. 29, 2022, and that she did not have a known cell phone number and that her family

did not have a last known address where she used to live. There were concerns for her mental wellbeing.

On April 6, RCMP said she was found safe and sound in California with the help of Interpol.

“The woman’s family was updated and reassured of her wellbeing,” Cst. Chad Neustaeter reported in an update. “The Fort St John RCMP are happy about the positive outcome and wish to thank the media and the public for their assistance in this matter.”

Woman arrested for assault in store

A Fort St. John woman is facing an assault charge after an altercation at a local store last weekend.

RCMP say Erin McKinnon was arrested April 3 after receiving a report about the assault at the unnamed retailer the previous day.

In a news release, police say the employee knew the woman suspect and had asked her to leave “due to her chronic shoplifting.” The em-

ployee, however, was assaulted after following her out of the store.

Police say McKinnon was under court order to not be at the store due to previous incidents. She was found and arrested the next day, and is also charged with uttering threats and breaching release orders.

McKinnon was remanded in custody until April 5 for a court appearance, police said.

Hi everyone,

Gymnasts awarded at Spring Fling

T.W. Buck tbuck@ahnfsj.ca

Thirty-six athletes representing the North Peace gymnastics club were present for the Spring Fling in Peace River.

“Many of our athletes that attended were performing their routines for the first time this season, the first time ever or performing new upgraded skills within their routines,” says NPGA Team Lead Mimi Lessard.

“We are very proud to say that our athletes had many personal bests and took the top All Around Placements in all the categories they performed in, a few even brought home special awards.”

Recognition goes to Natalia Carroll for her ‘Flying High’ award for her cast in her bar routine; Kathryn Yates and Jasper Wright for their ‘Nailed It’ award for their beam dismounts; and Maylee Shillito for the ‘You Knocked Our Socks Off’ award for her amazing vault routine.

Olivia Lingel and Kendal Huth Rocked their categories in the handstand competitions and brought home awards for holding their handstands the longest. Cordelia Millions won a handstand competition.

WONOWON 4-H CLUB REPORT

WONOWON4-HBEEFCLUB MonthlyReport

Howdy Y’all! I hope that everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather and enjoyed spring break!

I hope the start of a new 4-H year is going well for you !

Shipping and picking out our new 4-H animals: We shipped Oct 3,4 and 5th, it went great. Picking out my steer was a bit challenging for me this year, there was so many good steers, as there always is. I really liked a calf ever since it was born but it has longer legs then I would have wanted, his tail is really short and he is really big. So I was thinking that I would pick a different steer, but even though there is three things wrong with him, I still really liked his build.

Sara and I have been spending as much time with the 4-H animals as we can, petting them and doing stuff with the halters. They are growing very good and they are all getting pretty quite, they are all doing very well. We are scratching them as well, my steer is still a bit touchy when it comes to being stretched but he is doing very well and he has really calmed down.

District Commutations was on March 3, 2023 was great! It was very nice to see some people that I haven’t seen in a while. I also had fun and I hope that everyone else that was there did too. A huge Thank You to all the parents, 4-H’ers and supporters of 4-H that put so much work into making District Communications happen. Also a very big thank you to all the Judges of this event, without you all it wouldn’t have been possible and I want you all to know how much we appreciated it.

I would also like to tell everyone that they all did very well with their communications, so great job everyone. I have decided not to go and compete at Regional Communications this year. I hope that others take the chance to take their presentations to the next level.

I also hope that everyone has a good time at Regional and good luck.

Club Meeting

I ended up picking him anyway, he is a dark red curly calf with not much white. Sara picked out a steer that day as well, it was a brown long bodied steer. She also wanted to wait and see one of the calves that was still out on the range at the time, to compare it with the long, brown steer. So she waited until it came in then she compared the two of them, she liked the red steer better. So she too now has a big dark red panda eyed steer. Picking out our 4-H heifers went great, Sara has picked her heifer off her own cow, like she has done for the last 3 years in a row. I sold one of my cows and decided to give Mom and Dad the money I got from it, in trade for one of theirheifers and guess what that is my new 4-H heifer.

Weighing the 4-H animals: I am not sure yet when we are weighing them but I think that Sara & I will soon see how big our 4-H animals are. I would also like to welcome our new members in the Wonowon 4-H Club too.

We had a Club meeting not too long ago and we talked about our barn decorations and what we are doing for it. We also talked about everyone’s 4-H animals and how they are doing. I am very proud of everyone for how well, everyone is doing on their projects.

A Very Special Thank You To CO-OP For Sponsoring this page!

Grace Trask Wonowon 4-H Club Reporter

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Days a Week

More than 180 athletes from across northern B.C. and Alberta will be in Fort St. John April 15 for the Northern Lights Invitational, including 72 athletes from North Peace Gymnastics.

Session 1 athletes with coach Jana from Peace River

SUPPLIED

Coach Jason and Jasmine Allan on the beam

Rotary Mother’s Day Run returns to Surerus Park on May 14

The Rotary Mother’s Day Run is set to take place on Sunday, May 14th, 2023, at Surerus Park. The event, which has become an annual tradition, includes a 10km, 5km, and 2.5km race route, a hot pancake breakfast, an activity and obstacle course for all ages, and more.

Registration for the event is now open at Stride and Glide Sports. The cost to register is $30 plus a $2 registration fee, and registration is free for children 10 and under. This year’s event will be timed, and prizes will be awarded to the best times. Each registrant will receive a swag bag with items from local sponsors, and the first 350 mothers to cross the finish line will receive a Mother’s Day flower.

Rotary chefs will be flipping pancakes for all race participants, and those who have not registered to race can bring a non-perishable item or donation and join in for a hot breakfast while cheering on the racers. A free-entry, all-ages ac-

tivity and obstacle course will be available for families to enjoy before, after, or during the race.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society. Since 2012, the Rotary Mother’s Day Run has raised over $100,000 to help families most in need in the community.

“We are thrilled to bring back the Rotary Mother’s Day Run and Pancake Breakfast for another year,” said event organizer Patricia Budgell. “It’s a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day, get some exercise, and support a worthy cause in our community. We are grateful to all our sponsors, participants, and volunteers who have made this event a success year after year.”

For more information about the 2023 Rotary Mother’s Day Run and to register, please visit strideandglide. ca/88-events/363-2023-mothers-dayrun-walk-fort-st-john-bc

100 Street closed for reconstruction

Starting April 11, 2023, the city of Fort St. John announces it will begin work on the next phase of the 100 Street reconstruction project, which will see the replacement of underground infrastructure and the rebuild of 100 Street.

Knappett Industries was rewarded fourth phase of the contract for $8.2 million after completing the previous three.

The construction will bring the closures of 100 Street between 101 Avenue

and 103 Avenue, and will have detoured routes using 98 and 102 streets, between 101 and 105 avenues.

Construction is expected until Sept. 30, and the city has said all the businesses would remain open during the construction, but access may be modified.

Bus routes affected include 1 Northside, 3 Central-Prospect Park, 5 Southwest. Detoured routes will travel 98 Street and 105 Avenue, where temporary bus stops will be located.

City exits resource coalition

Fort St. John will no longer be a member of the Resource Municipalities Coalition after this year.

The city said Wednesday it will not renew its membership beyond a current agreement expiring at the end of 2023, citing “challenging budgetary pressures and a thorough review of all discretionary expenses.”

“The City of Fort St. John has been a proud member of the Resource Municipalities Coalition for many years,” Mayor Lilia Hansen said in a statement. “We appreciate the valuable work the Resource Municipalities Coalition has done in the past and the support they have provided to our community.”

The coalition was officially formed in September 2014 as the as the Northeast B.C. Resource Municipalities Coalition, in an attempt to unify municipalities in northeast B.C. as a lobbying group on common issues of concern.

Fort St. John is by far the largest member and funder of the coalition, with other municipalities including Taylor, Tumbler Ridge, Mackenzie, and the Northern Rockies among the membership.

Local chambers of commerce along with the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, the Northern BC Trucker’s Association, and the Truck Loggers Association are also associates of the coalition.

Since forming, the coalition has lobbied the province to enforce tax and

labour laws on out-of-province contractors, and drafted a number of economic reports and position papers on resource development in the region. Its last report was a review of the northern B.C. rail system.

The city in a statement says it “remains committed to supporting the growth and development of the resource sector and will continue to work with various organizations and levels of government to advance the interests of our community.”

In a statement, the coalition said it was saying goodbye the city as a member “with a heavy heart.”

“The Resource Municipalities Coalition has been working on behalf of its municipal members throughout the province to champion responsible resource development as it sustains our provincial economy and improves the quality of life for all British Columbians,” a statement said.

“Our member municipalities, the District of Mackenzie, District of Tumbler Ridge, District of Taylor, the City of Fort St John, and Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, have built the Resource Municipalities Coalition to work collaboratively on relevant shared concerns that impact communities throughout the province and it is with a heavy heart that we say good bye to the City of Fort St John as a member of the Resource Municipalities Coalition on December 31, 2023.”

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Museum happenings: ose Were Good Days

By Heather Sjoblom

Spring is on the way!

We have several spring break camps coming in for programs at the end of March and are beginning to prepare our school programs package for field trips (to be released in April). Program information is always available year-round at www. fsjmuseum.com. May and June often become quite busy with programs so book early to avoid disappointment. We also have lots of fun, brandnew events coming up.

The Charlie Lake Conservation Society is hard at work on a large exhibit about the natural history of Charlie Lake with lots of hands-on, interactive items for kids. Teachers will also be able to book a program for classes on the natural history of Charlie Lake (spots are limited). We’re excited to host it midMay to mid-September. Stay tuned for more details.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Animal Footprint Kit

(Available at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum Friday, April 14 for as long as supplies last) : Celebrate the biodiversity of the North Peace Region of British Columbia through a free take home kit sponsored by Burger King. This kit introduces children ages 3-12 and their families to notable local animals from beaver to lynx. Discover fun facts about wildlife in the Peace Region and learn what their footprints look like. Use your knowledge to pair animals to their footprints in a matching game. Create your own animal footprints with salt dough.

• Newcomer Story Night

(Friday, April 28, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum) : Call -

ing anyone who considers themselves a newcomer to the North Peace! Come and hear stories of other people’s arrival and challenges settling in Fort St. John and area. Share your own experiences (optional) and meet other new people. Tour the museum and enjoy coffee, tea, and refreshments. This is a free event.

EXHIBITS

• “Those Were Good Days” Memories of B.C. Police Constable Lawrence Clay (Now through May at the North Peace Regional Airport) : Constable Lawrence Clay served as a British Columbia Provincial Police Officer in Fort St. John from just before the construction of the Alaska Highway through the eight-month construction in 1942. Discover the challenges he faced from American generals ignoring his position to locals bootlegging whiskey. Life in the North Peace was difficult with his salary

not always coming through on time and a huge district to cover by car and horseback. This free exhibit is up at the airport until May.

• “A Long Way” Ethel Rutledge’s Journey to Providence Hospital (Free Exhibit at the Fort St. John Hospital) : Experience Ethel Rutledge’s journey from Hudson’s Hope to Providence Hospital in Fort St. John to give birth in 1932. Told in Ethel’s words, this exhibit looks at the challenges and dangers of her sleigh rides to and from the hospital as well as the long wait before and after giving birth. This exhibit is presented in partnership with the Fort St. John Hospital Arts Committee. The display case is in the hospital lobby between reception and Cool Beans Cafe.

COLLECTIONS & ARCHIVES

Have you wondered how museums label artefacts? All our papers (documents, etc.)

are labelled with pencil as are items such as boxboard. Our textiles have numbered twill tape labels sewed on. The majority of our physical objects are labelled with Paraloid B-72 liquid label and then the accession number (a tracking number given to every item in our collection) is put on top with an IDentipen. The liquid label is a transparent coat rather like clear nail polish. Museums used to use nail polish years ago but the problem was the over time, the polish flaked off leaving the number illegible. Why all this history? Our liquid label has finally arrived after a year of supply chain issues so we’ve been busy catching up numbering our artefacts that have been donated and catalogued during that time!

FUNDRAISERS

As you’re doing spring cleaning, please keep in mind that when you recycle metal at ABC Recycling, you can

select the FSJ North Peace Museum as the charity to donate your ticket to. De-clutter your home and yard and help preserve local history at the same time!

Do you have some empty bottles, juice boxes, or pop cans? Bring them to the Fort St. John North Peace Museum and we’ll take them to the recycle depot for you. Please don’t flatten them. Do you shop at COBS Bakery?

Mention the Fort St. John North Peace Museum and COBS will donate 5% of your purchase to us.

MUSEUM GIFT SHOP

Late winter is always a busy time in for ordering in the museum gift shop as we gear up for a busy spring and summer. We have lots of new kids’ books including natural history books and dinosaur books. We’ve just replenished out stock of Usborne books for children including wipe clean activity books, puzzle pads, sticker and colouring books, lift the flap books, Look Inside Books, paint with water books, etc.

For adults, The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving back in stock along with new books on canning and fermenting. We have LanaGay Elliott’s Veteran Land Stories back in print and are awaiting copies of Jay Sherwood’s latest (and final) book – Kechika Chronicler: Willard Freer ‘s Northern BC and Yukon Diaries, 1942-1975. Purchases from the museum gift shop help us preserve and present the history of Fort St. John and area through exhibits, educational initiatives, and collections management.

Heather Sjoblom is manager and curator of the Fort St. John North Peace Museum

Man is missing

Jordan Dean Nande, 27, has been reported missing from Fort. St. John. Nande has ties to Fort St John, Fort Nelson, Williams Lake and potentially Kamloops.

Initially reported missing by family in Kamloops on April 1 as he was expected to visit at that time, Nande has a courtimposed curfew in Fort St. John and was last seen by his probation officer in the Peace town in March.

Nande is described as: Indigenous male, 5’10 (178 cm) tall, 154 lbs (70 kgs), Black hair, Brown eyes.

Nande’s family last spoke with him about three weeks ago when he said he was in Kamloops.

The Fort St John RCMP continue to investigate and request the public’s assistance in locating Nande to confirm his well being.

If you have any additional information regarding Jordan Nande contact the Fort St John RCMP at 250-787-8100. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.

FORT ST. JOHN NORTH PEACE MUSEUM ARCHIVES

A throwback photo taken by Duncan Cran of the opening of the North Peace Historical Society’s exhibits at Peace Island Park in 1968.

Fined $43k for burning pallets

A Charlie Lake company has been fined $43,000 for burning commercial wood pallets in violation of waste disposal rules under the Environmental Management Act.

According to a ministry of environment ruling, it was the third enforcement for the same issue against Kalia Resources.

The penalty was issued in February after a joint investigation by the ministry’s environmental enforcement unit and conservation officers on January 24, 2021.

According to the ruling, officers observed “many commercial wood pallets” being burned that they said the company had been paid to remove from a local business.

At a January hearing, the company counter-argued the burning debris pile contained “fallen trees, brush and untreated blocking” and that the pallet wood that was observed and photographed was fencing. The company argued that “hundreds of pallets” were stacked on its property awaiting reuse, and that the pallets were not treated

with chemicals.

A ministry adjudicator, however, dismissed the company’s arguments, and ruled with investigators that the company was aware that burning the pallets without authorization contravened the Environmental Management Act, which it noted “undermines the basic integrity of the Ministry’s regulatory regime, and significantly interferes with government’s ability to ensure that regulatory objectives are met.”

The adjudicator levied a base fine of $20,000, and ultimately increased the penalty to $43,000 based on aggravating factors and previous contraventions by the company.

Kalia sought to have the fine reduced noting the company was “essentially on the verge of bankruptcy” and unable to pay.

However, ministry director Stephanie Little ruled that, “Although the ability to pay is something that I may consider under this factor, I find in the absence of any supporting evidence to substantiate this claim, a reduction is not warranted.”

Unemployment jumps to 5.3%

Unemployment in northeastern B.C. jumped more than a percentage point to 5.3% in March, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. According to the monthly labour force survey, there were 33,900 people employed and 1,900 unemployed in the region last month. Employment has dropped considerably year-over-year from last March, when 36,100 were reported to be working and unemployment was too low to report by Stats-Can due to confidentiality reasons. Month-over-month, there were 900 fewer people working than in February, when unemployment was reported at 4.1%.

Across B.C., job growth grinded to a halt in March, as the province lost 100 jobs overall. This comes after B.C. had been showing signs for months that its labour market was slowing. The 6,700 jobs added in February were preceded by the addition of 8,000 jobs in January and the addition of 17,000 jobs the month before that.

Despite the static jobs growth, B.C.’s unemployment rate fell 0.6 percentage points between February and March, reaching 4.5%, as fewer people participated in the labour market. In the northeast, the participation rate was posted at 64.3%, down from 67.2% this time last year.

B.C. unemployment rates, March 2023

Kootenay - 3.2%

Vancouver Island/Coast - 3.6%

Thompson/Okanagan - 4.7%

Lower Mainland/Southwest - 5.2%

Northeast B.C. - 5.3%

North Coast & Nechako - 6.3%

Cariboo - 7.1%

B.C. saw jobs lost in agriculture (-5,000 jobs), construction (-4,000 jobs),

and health care and social assistance (-5,800 jobs). Gains were seen in transportation and warehousing (+9,100 jobs), and accommodation and food services (+3,700 jobs).

Meanwhile, Canada added 35,000 jobs last month as the unemployment rate remained static at 5%.

The subdued jobs data comes the same month the Bank of Canada chose not the hike its key rate for the first time in a year. The central bank had sought to cool the economy through rate hikes in a bid to tamp down on high inflation.

TD senior economist James Orlando said the national jobs market is showing no signs of slowing and the Bank of Canada knows the economy is still running too hot. “Looking beyond the headline, the fundamentals remain solid. Workers continue to clock in more hours every week and their wages are rising,” he said in a note. “With all the jobs gained in the private sector (although nearly half were part-time), there is strong underlying momentum that continues to build in the Canadian economy.”

Despite indications the economy is not slowing enough to the Bank of Canada’s liking, CIBC senior economist Andrew Grantham said he doesn’t expect the central bank to hike its key rate at its next policy announcement April 12.

“However, with gains in employment appearing to be narrowing by sector, we still suspect that overall job gains will lag the rapid growth in the population as 2023 progresses, seeing the unemployment rate rise modestly and wage inflation ease,” he said in a note. “That will keep the Bank of Canada on hold this year, before allowing for rate cuts starting early in 2024.”

— files from Glacier Business Wire

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY

Kalia Resources was fined $43,000 for burning commercial pallets in January 2021.

STREET SWEEP— Dave and Jodie with Dawson Road Maintenance were sweeping the gravelly remains of winter on the Alaska Highway at 100 Street the morning of April 5.

It’saBoy!

DASYLIN JAY FEHR

Parents: Jeremiah&CaitlynFehr

Weight: 7lbs9oz

Length: 21.25inches

Time: 02:33am

Date: March16,2023

Hometown: Prespatou,BC

Special

BIRTH

ARIES  MAR 21/APR 20

Aries, your emotions may cloud your judgement in the days to come. It’s better to seek the advice of a third party who can guide you without the added drama.

TAURUS  APR 21/MAY 21

Messages from the universe could come across as confusing or vague, Taurus. You might need someone with cosmic intuition to help you sort out what is going on.

GEMINI  MAY 22/JUN 21

A stagnant energy has been surrounding you lately, Gemini. Fortunately, you are able to brush that away soon enough and feel rejuvenated.

CANCER  JUN 22/JUL 22

Cancer, if you haven’t devoted enough time lately to taking care of yourself you might awaken this week with a foggy head. Take care of yourself.

LEO  JUL 23/AUG 23

Responsibilities could have you feeling overburdened, Leo. The trick is to ask others to lighten your load. There are bound to be several volunteers willing to lend a hand.

VIRGO  AUG 24/SEPT 22

Virgo, try not to compare yourself to others this week. Everyone is unique, with his or her own strengths and weaknesses. An unfair comparison could dampen your spirits.

LIBRA  SEPT 23/OCT 23

You might nd it challenging to articulate your feelings to a romantic partner, Libra. If you stumble over saying the words, why not write them down, instead?

SCORPIO  OCT 24/NOV 22

Sometimes your pragmatic side gets into a tussle with your optimism, Scorpio. Being a realist doesn’t have to mean you give up hope. There are many things that can go your way.

SAGITTARIUS  NOV 23/DEC 21

Sagittarius, while you may feel like sleeping the week away, awaken to the possibilities before you. Numerous opportunities await, so answer the door when they knock.

CAPRICORN  DEC 22/JAN 20

It is alright to feel uncertain about what the heart wants, Capricorn. Not everyone has things all gured out. Ponder your likes and dislikes to determine your path.

AQUARIUS  JAN 21/FEB 18

Aquarius, messy work and small mistakes can sabotage all of your hard work thus far. Buckle down and focus on the details. Have someone check that everything is perfect.

PISCES  FEB 19/MAR 20

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

APRIL 9 Kristen Stewart, Actress (33)

APRIL 10 Mandy Moore, Singer (39)

APRIL 11 Alessandra Ambrosio, Model (42)

APRIL 12 Saoirse Ronan, Actress (29)

APRIL 13 Allison Williams, Actress (35)

APRIL 14 Chris Wood, Actor (35)

APRIL 15 Luis Fonsi, Singer (45)

SUPPLIED

This two-month-old Labrador retriever puppy is one of five puppies available for adoption at the Fort St. John SPCA location.

SPCA seeing rising numbers

The BC SPCA is seeing a marked increase in the number of puppies being surrendered into its care.

BC SPCA senior protection and stakeholder relations officer Eileen Drever said many of the puppies are coming from people who started breeding dogs during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand was high, but have now been overwhelmed with the costs of caring for their animals.

“We have had almost 350 puppies come into care so far, compared to 200 at this time last year,” Drever said. “Although puppies do tend to get adopted more quickly than adult dogs, puppies and their moms require a huge commitment of time and energy from the BC SPCA’s foster volunteers. Moms and their puppies require round-the-clock care until

the puppies are weaned. The puppies also need to be house-trained and socialized.”

As of Wednesday morning, April 5, nine dogs under one-year-old were listed for adoption at SPCA locations throughout northern B.C.: five in Fort St. John, two in Prince Rupert, one in Dawson Creek, one in Quesnel and none in Prince George.

The large number of puppies coming into the SPCA’s care is taxing the organization’s resources, Drever said.

“There are just too many people who still think this is a good way to earn quick money and don’t understand the amount of care required and the costs involved,” Drever said. “That is why we encourage everyone to make sure they are getting their dogs from reputable breeders. Or better still, adopt a dog from the BC SPCA or a rescue organization with a good reputation.”

By Hanna Petersen

An effort is underway across northern B.C. to make sure young people from low-income families can access federal dollars for their post-secondary education especially those who may lose out if they do not apply before their 21st birthday.

The Northern Promise is an initiative funded by the Government of Canada, to help young people access the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) which is money hat the Government of Canada adds to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for children from low-income families.

On average, only 33 per cent of eligible young people in northern B.C. are receiving the CLB as compared to the national average of 43.81 per cent.

Through the Northern Promise, northern B.C.’s four post-secondary institutions and area credit unions are working together to boost participation.

Canada Learning Bond funds will help to pay the costs of a child’s full- or part-time studies after high school at apprenticeship programs, trade schools, colleges, and universities.

The Government of Canada contributes up to $2,000 in an RESP for an eligible child. This includes $500 for the first year of eligibility and $100 each year the child continues to be eligible (up to and including the benefit year in which they turn 15).

Recipients from eligible families must apply for the Canada Learning Bond funds before their 21st birthday. Young people are eligible to apply retroactively and claim the full amount of the funds for which they’re eligible.

“Once an eligible young person turns 21 years old, they can no longer get Canada Learning Bond funding. That’s why the Northern Promise is so focused on making sure every eligible young person applies for and receives this money for their education,” said Lisa Gardiner, Project Manager for The Northern Promise.

The campaign is also calling on parents to open an RESP account for their children who have social insurance numbers so they can begin claiming the funds available to them as early as possible. The Northern Promise has established a website on how to apply for the funding or receive more information.

T.W. BUCK PHOTO ONE LAST SNOW —

By Arthur Williams

Plows out removing the

Appurtenancy, beetles, and government regulations

Second in a six-part series

By Evan Saugstad

This past winter, Canfor announced the closures of the Chetwynd Sawmill and Pellet Plant and the Taylor Pulp mill. Insufficient timber supply to maintain all current Canfor facilities was cited as the rationale, and that the “available” timber would be used to ensure their other “local and regional” manufacturing facilities stay “sustainable.”

Last week was Part 1, the history of forestry in Northeast B.C. Prior to today, most mill closures were about consolidation. As one facility closed, its timber supply would be used to supply either new or upgraded ones that were both larger and more efficient. Now, some facilities are closing due to timber supply availability. The exceptions were the Chetwynd pulp mill and multiple facilities in Fort Nelson, which were primarily closed for economic reasons.

The consolidation of the forest industry was partially driven by the desire to increase efficiencies through scale. Consolidation was also a response of necessity to changing government regulations. What was once considered forest waste became mandatory to remove and utilize. Elimination of beehive burners required new and expensive capital investments. Advancements in milling technologies and efficiencies required mill rebuilds.

Forest planning, community consultations, new road and bridge construction standards, changes to silviculture regulations, all made it exceedingly hard for small scale operators to not only stay competitive and profitable, but stay in compliance to the new and ever-changing regulatory regimes. Many choose the option to sell and let someone else deal with the changes.

In May 2019, I wrote on some of the reasons why consolidation occurred.

In the early 2000s, the BC Liberal government eliminated appurtenancy as it applied to the forest industry. Appurtenancy connected a forest tenure to a specific mill(s) and had been in place for a few decades. Appurtenancy required a tenure holder to receive government approval to keep their tenure and use

that timber to supply in another if they wished to close a process facility.

Its elimination was controversial at the time and remains so today. Government (politicians) argued what it should be economics that dictate where best to manufacture wood products and not political expediency to determine where facilities must be. The tenure holders supported its elimination as it would allow wood fibre to “flow” more efficiently to the places where it could be best used utilized and that, overall, would make the industry more sustainable and economically viable.

Those opposed, many being small communities that had or were faced with mill closures, argued the opposite, and that appurtenancy was needed to ensure their communities could survive economically. The same argument continues today, as it is sufficient to say that the elimination of appurtenancy contributes to some of what we see today, and certainly allows for what we will face tomorrow.

Note: this is a very short version of appurtenancy, as it is complicated. Premier Horgan once said he would

bring appurtenancy back but subsequently dropped that position. Likely because it no longer works in the age of an integrated industry that moves different parts of the tree to a variety of facilities for better utilization.

Canfor has clearly articulated it intends to use the timber that was/is used by their Chetwynd and Taylor facilities in other “local” (Fort St John) and “regional” (Prince George area) facilities.

Canfor said there is not sufficient fibre available to keep the Chetwynd sawmill and pellet plant and Taylor pulp mill operational. So why is that? How can we so quickly change from having an abundant timber supply that was able to sustain our forest industry in perpetuity, to becoming what we hear today? What has changed so dramatically in such a short time?

This can be summed up in a couple words: government policy. Rightly or wrongly, for better or worse, which all depends upon your own view, government policy has changed, and has changed dramatically in a few short years. The forests are still out there, there are still lots

of trees, trees that were once available to be harvested, but can no longer be, as government policy has put them off limits to any form of harvesting. There are also some short-term impacts and losses attributable to pests (mountain pine and spruce bark beetle) and the mismanagement of wildfire.

In the 1990s, mountain pine bark beetle (MPB) was discovered in Tweedsmuir Park, west of Prince George. Despite the advice — in some cases, outright pleas —that government, the NDP at the time, should immediately begin a slash and burn program (or logging) to remove the pine beetle infested trees and keep them from spreading, government declined and stated nature would be allowed to take its course within our parks. The result was that over the next few years, mountain pine bark beetles spread across the province, consuming most of our pine stands. Some estimates say 80% of all mature pine in B.C. died as a result. The Peace Country was not exempt.

Initially, it was thought the Rocky Mountains would stop the beetle spread. Initially, a few showed up and the local

industry tracked them down, and burned those trees and beetles, hoping it would work and the mountains would stop the majority. This lasted a couple years before it was realized it was a losing battle. Billions of beetles flew over the mountains on strong summer winds and attacked most of our pine forests. Pine represented about 30% of the softwood (conifer) cut in the northeast.

The Ministry of Forests, in consultation with industry, set about a program to focus harvesting on pine stands before they deteriorated to where they were economically worthless. In some parts of the province such as west of the Fraser River on the interior plateau, pine stands were 80% of the forest. It was no secret the day would come that overcutting pine would lead to a future with less timber available and fewer processing facilities.

Next week, Part 3, What happened to the trees, caribou agreements, and the 30x30 agenda.

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Evan Saugstad lives and writes in Fort St. John

EVAN SAUGSTAD PHOTO

Mountain pine bark beetles spread across the province, consuming most of our pine stands, including in the Lower Burnt River, seen here in July 2008.

Easter re ections: Rebuilding his church

By John Grady

It is utterly impossible for human beings to place ourselves into the mindset of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He had just endured taking all our sins on the cross with just a handful of followers at the cross during His death and then three days later was resurrected having conquered sin and death itself.

You would think at the time of the resurrection from the tomb there would be a cheering crowd of believers at the tomb welcoming Him as a conquering hero.

Instead, you have Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus who had previously been healed of spiritual affliction by Jesus who, on the early Sunday morning while it is still dark, walks to the tomb

by herself. In seeing the stone had been removed from the tomb, she turned back to where the eleven disciples were hiding stating that Jesus had been removed and she didn’t know where He had been taken. We know from scripture that Peter and John ran to the tomb in part confusion, fear, and disbelief to confirm He had been removed and saw for themselves the tomb was indeed empty.

It wasn’t until later that Mary again went back to the tomb and encountered the risen Christ in His glorified body and became the first eyewitness testimony to the resurrection. Jesus’ top priority was ascending to the Father but devoted 40 days after his resurrection to restoring and rebuilding the faith and removing the confusion

of many of His followers. He wasn’t just restoring their faith in Him and assuring them of their eternal life, but asking them to spread His Gospel of love and forgiveness to the entire world.

The disciples were in hiding with the doors locked when He appeared among them showing His hands and side, saying, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He then breathed on them stating, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

As scripture notes, He did more miraculous signs among them, including giving them a fishing lesson and restoring Peter (the denier) to favour. After the 40 days, His followers did turn the world upside down and, yes, many lost their lives being obedient to His call.

As we celebrate Easter and His death and resurrection, what is our role as the church (Body of Believers) in fulfilling His commission for us? Or, is it the same that He gave to His followers after His resurrection?

Is His church today being comfortable as His church, waiting for His return, or waiting to pass onto glory, or are we fulfilling His commission?

Do we need a fresh visitation of His presence?

As we celebrate “He is Risen,” may we have a fresh vision from Him of His calling and purpose for each of our individual lives, and may we walk in it for His Kingdom’s sake.

John Grady lives and writes in Fort St. John

far behind.

By Merlin Nichols

When was the last time you made a moral decision without looking back to see if someone was looking back to see what you were going to choose?

A few days ago, I listened to an expert testifying before the Arizona State Legislature, lecturing the lawmakers on public education in the state.

This expert qualified herself by flaunting her Master of something or other degree.

“I have a master’s degree,” she intoned boastfully, and thereby am qualified to instruct you on public education in the state. Is that so?

The gist of her wisdom follows:

It is obvious that parents are not qualified to decide what is best for their children.

Certainly not qualified to question the school boards on curriculum content or other school requirements.

That must be left to the experts. We who know what children should be learning are the only ones who should be deciding on curriculum and other requirements.

Children are in school to be socialized according to the current ideology.

Oh yes, math and language skills will also be taught.

But we stress that parents always must give way with-

talk’

Dear Miss Patti,

My three-year-old is all about potty talk right now. I’m getting tired about hearing about poop —Pooped Out Dear Pooped Out, This happened for most of us at some point! It’s actually not surprising if they are in the middle of potty training when we’re constantly asking them, “Do you need to go poo?” LOL We use this language with them all the time but it’s in another way and children have no way yet of distinguishing what’s an appropriate time for this talk.

Many times, children use this language (including swear words) and we laugh. This gets a reaction and children love to make us laugh. Of course, they are going to repeat things that have made us laugh or gain our attention.

I suggest first ignoring the comments and see if that works in itself. If it doesn’t, it’s great to have conversations already at this age when this kind of talk is appropriate and when it’s not. If, in your own family, you find this kind of language never appropriate, then share that. If, in your family, you want rules around the talk then maybe state that we only use those words in the bathroom.

out protest to the experts on decisions about schooling.

Huh? Did I hear that correctly?

Frankly, I found her lecture disturbing – not so much because this expert holds to these ideas. In a free society she is entitled as a free agent to have and to hold what she chooses, but disturbing because the State Legislature gave her the time of day. Clearly, our elected representatives are not free from the tightening, frightening grasp of those who boast themselves as experts.

Sadly, the same ideology seems to be taking a vice-like grip on government and its various agencies in our Canada, once strong and free.

When I was a boy, strong and free and eager to learn in our one-teacher-oneroom-multi-multi-grade, log-construction schoolhouse in small-farm-country Saskatchewan, we had separate, clearly defined, wellscreened biffies out back.

With not even a thought of a communal biffy between. We were satisfied. And we grew up, looking straight ahead, and went out to make our way in an exciting world. Now the world is just plain scary.

And now we look sideways and over our shoulders to see who is monitoring our choice of pronouns.

And even more scary, we censor our own communication lest we “offend” someone’s sensibilities.

Instead of making our own

decisions as befits sentient human beings, we wait for the government or the health authority or the school board to decide for us.

As though we don’t know how to decide for ourselves what is best for ourselves.

As if we do not know how to bring up our own flesh and blood to be decent, thinking, creative, productive citizens.

Problem: perhaps we’ve abdicated our human responsibility to the point that making our own decisions is approaching absolute zero.

Granted, it is now more dangerous.

With governments encroaching ever more deeply into the family structure, to stand between our prepubescent children and the government or its agents when our children have been coopted by wokism could land us in jail.

Or render us childless.

Children now have the right to choose irreversible, mutilating surgical and chemical procedures before they have the right to vote for their favourite school board candidates.

And we citizens have lost by default much once-cherished ability to choose for ourselves and our children. Though we still have the right to protest government diktats, exercising that right puts us at risk of serious sanctions. The most recent heavy hands have come down in Calgary and we can be sure of this: others are not

So why not just shrug our shoulders, if we have any, and be happy? It’s the way of the world in 2023 and beyond – it seems.

Unless…

Let me think…

We could avoid public libraries, swimming pools, and other places of common access and be content as second-class citizens in Oh Canada while continuing to pay the taxes of the first, and maybe hunker down out of sight somewhere in the bush – or maybe not.

But I submit that there is an option: We could cease to be intimidated. We could open our eyes, find out what is happening in our country, and stand up to the experts and their proxies in elected office.

And we could rise in righteous indignation and throw the change agents out of office at the ballot box, at the first opportunity, at the polling station nearest our residence.

Let’s make that moral decision without looking back to see if someone is looking back to see what we are going to choose.

By the way, I’ll end this with a word from the Ancients: “Wisdom is the principle thing, therefore get wisdom” and “keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.”

If this still continues, you can be clear about expectations. “I’d really like to play (share lunch, etc.) with you but if you keep using those words I’m going to take a break and come back and play when you’re ready to use nice words.” Usually, children’s biggest currency is time with you so losing that time might be enough incentive to stop.

Being old school, growing up we would swear around our friends, (I’m talking teenage years not at the age of three) and then an adult would walk in the room, and we would stop. We learned this skill of a filter or a switch of when this talk was appropriate and when it was not or when it was disrespectful. Today, we can hear many adults around us without this skill and children are listening and then not understanding why we’re upset when they talk the same way.

—Miss Patti

Send your questions to Miss Patti at motherofdragonflies2021@outlook.com

Merlin Nichols lives and writes in Chetwynd

CACTHETUOKROWRI OMUSCLESSEVIETY OKEETPSSCIRCUIT LABOEDENYMOOVIY DNGLRNAONVLUNGE OHGETTOREHEARTS WTAISNXRDHEEALC NGFITHYTISNETNI

3. Dozen

Community table to be formed for new NHA OPS site

Northern Health, Fort St. John Chamber released this joint statement regarding continued collaboration of harm reduction, overdose prevention in Fort St. John:

Northern Health and the Fort St. John Chamber of Commerce share a common goal of ensuring the future Health Services Centre at 10067 - 100 Avenue is a good neighbour to nearby businesses and the surrounding community.

In response to the continued rates of drug toxicity deaths in the community and the region, there has been recognition of the importance of establishing a permanent location for overdose prevention and harm reduction services (OPS) as well as much needed wrap-around health services including primary

health services and health care referrals, mental health and substance use support and life skills supports.

We also recognize the need for ongoing engagement and collaboration that addresses the needs and concerns of

those the Health Services Centre will serve, and the neighbourhood in which it is located. The Chamber and

Northern Health are jointly moving forward with a recent recommendation from the Chamber’s Board of Directors, to establish a community table where best practices, questions and local business concerns can be discussed and addressed on an ongoing basis.

A community advisory committee will be formed and include members from local businesses and organizations. This committee will hold its initial meeting in April 2023.

Additional recommendations from the Chamber in support of nearby businesses, such as providing free Naloxone training and other education, have been well-received and will be the subject of ongoing discussions as the community advisory committee, and the future Health Services Centre, are established.

B.C. minimum wage rises, possibly more increases in the wings

By Rob Shaw

B.C.’s New Democrat government was under immense pressure when it came to raising the minimum wage this week.

On the one side, union allies were pushing it to hold the line on a policy promise to link the minimum wage to the rate of inflation. On the other, the business community was pleading with government to cap the rate hike during a skyrocketing year of inflation that threatens to decimate alreadybeleaguered businesses, especially in the restaurant sector.

The NDP, ultimately, let the rate rise the full amount. The minimum wage will jump 6.9 per cent in June, from $15.65 an hour to $16.75.

There are two main factors at play. The first is pressure from other provinces. The NDP used to pride itself in leading Canada on the minimum wage. But Ontario beat it to the punch last week, announcing it had green-lit a 6.8 per cent to $16.55 an hour later this year.

In its press release, the Conservative Ontario government, who you might assume would be catering first to business

interests, called the increase a “fair and balanced approach that means more money in their pockets so they can support their families and continuing building a stronger Ontario for all of us.”

Ontario also took a gleeful little shot at B.C. in its public materials. “Ontario’s new minimum wage is the highest of any province in the country,” read its news release. “For example, Quebec has a minimum wage of $14.25 an hour, British Columbia has a minimum wage of $15.65 an hour, and Alberta has a minimum wage of $15.00 an hour.”

B.C. did not want to be left behind, and with the most recent increase it is back out in front. “BC is one of the most expensive provinces in Canada,” said BC Federation of Labour president Sussanne Skidmore. “So it makes sense that we continue to have the highest minimum wage of any province.”

The second factor is that this new premier is not nearly as concerned about appeasing the business community as the previous one. John Horgan had at least been forced to court the business community in his attempt to move from

opposition to government in the 2017 election. His finance minister, Carole James, tried to keep spending in check. His deputy minister, Don Wright, was a highly-regarded economist who worried about things like long-term fiscal growth for the province.

Those days, though, are over.

Premier David Eby has made it clear he intends to spend huge deficits to try and wrestle down social problems like housing, healthcare, climate change and affordability. Although he’s appointed many special advisors to give him advice in key areas, none focus on business or the economy.

Small businesses do have some valid points to make on the minimum wage.

They have in recent years absorbed new employer-paid sick days, a new employer health tax, increased WorkSafeBCpremiums, rising property taxes or rent, higher carbon taxes and a new provincial holiday. Add to that the estimated $20,000 annual impact of the minimum wage increase on a business with 10 employees.

The restaurant sector, with its thin margins and labour challenges, is particularly

hard-hit. There have been several high-profile closures in Victoria and Vancouver so far this year, and the Restaurant and Foodservices Association has warned more could be coming.

New Democrats don’t want to look like they are actively choosing to ignore the business community every year on the minimum wage — even if they are. So Labour Minister Harry Bains suggested this week he’s crafting legislation to make it law to increase at the annual rate of inflation. Doing so would remove lobbying, pressure and unpredictability.

“We’re considering that right now,” Bains said in an interview. “We did say that the future increases to the minimum wage after we reach $15 an hour will be linked to the rate of inflation. So, last couple of ones we did it through OIC (cabinet orders). But we are looking at legislation going forward.”

The government is not stopping there. Bains said he just recently received a report from the Fair Wages Commission on a pathway to the “living wage,” which is a totally different number advocates base on what it costs to afford rent, food

and other items in a particular city. The rate for Vancouver is $24.08 an hour — $7.33 more than the new minimum wage in June.

“That report has been handed to us now, and I’m just going over that and then we will make that public,” said Bains.

I asked the minister if the goal it to get B.C. to surpass the soon-to-be-legally-linkedto-inflation minimum wage, and closer to the living wage instead. “We just wanted to see what are the possibilities to deal with the discrepancy between the minimum wage and the living wage,” said Bains.

“There was a time when the gap was narrowing. But when COVID hit us, that started to increase again. So we wanted to see if there is a way to deal with that.”

Rob Shaw has spent more than 15 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for Glacier Media. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio. rob@robshawnews.com

Plans for the building at 10067-100 Avenue include rooms for people to inject or inhale illegal street drugs.

Northern B.C. gets economic boost with new gold mines

By Nelson Bennett

It has been six years since the last new gold mine – Brucejack – went into production in B.C. Now, as many as three could be pouring first gold next year: Premier, Blackwater and Cariboo Gold.

While the Premier and Cariboo Gold mines are brownfield projects with historical mining, the new Artemis Gold Blackwater project south of Prince George is a large greenfield project that will generate a significant number of jobs and economic activity in an area hard hit by sawmill and pulp mill closures. Combined, the three new mines represent an initial capital investment of $1.5 billion over the next couple of years, and hundreds of new jobs.

Premier mine – low volume and high grade

The first of the three new gold mines to go into production will be the Premier underground gold mine near Stewart. Ascot Resources is aiming to pour first gold by the first quarter of 2024. The capital cost of the project is $300 million, and much of the new works are already built or nearing completion.

The mine is located within Nisga’a treaty lands. An agreement with the Nisga’a provides the First Nation with cash payments, training, employment and business opportunities. Sprott Streaming is helping to finance the mine with a US$110 million gold and silver streaming agreement.

The Premier gold mine has been mined since the early 1900s, most recently as an open-pit operation until the late 1990s, so a lot of the infrastructure needed to operate a mine is in place. “We have a lot of strategic infrastructure advantages that a greenfield site doesn’t have,” said Ascot CEO Derek White. “That’s why we’re able to go much quicker. We’re benefiting from all the historical infrastructure.”

Ascot has designed a huband-spoke approach, with one central mill near the historical Premier mine site, and four distinct deposits, all to be mined underground. The furthest deposit is 44 kilometres away by road. Since a lot of the infrastructure is already in place, most of the capital investment has been in refurbishing the mill and a tailings pond and water treatment system.

“In 2023, the big things for us are putting in a new stateof-the-art water treatment

plant,” White said. Ascot expects the mine to produce 150,000 ounces a year, with average grades of 7.5 grams of gold per tonne. To put that in context, Blackwater’s average annual production would be just under 400,000 ounces per year with gold grades of 0.75 grams per tonne. “These are high-grade underground deposits,” White said. “So small volume, high grade.”

Ascot will be ramping up to about 200 workers this summer. Once in operation, the mine will employ 230 to 250 miners. While some of the miners may live in camp at the site, others may end up living in Stewart, B.C., White said.

Blackwater Gold – locally owned and low carbon

With an initial capital cost of $645 million – and up to $1.4 billion total over a 22year mine life – Artemis Gold’s Blackwater open-pit gold mine south of Vanderhoof will be largest new mine built in the region in more than a decade. Plus, it is largely locally owned, with 41 per cent of the owners being board members or management, including Vancouver developer Ryan Beedie, who is a director and major shareholder.

“We live here,” said Artemis Gold CEO Steven Dean. “This is our home and our decisions are made here in Vancouver, and not in Toronto or some other head office outside of the province or even outside of the country.” The Blackwater project was green-lit just last month with the issuance of a Mines Act permit. Early works construction has already started. “We’re already well into construction,” Dean said.

The Blackwater project will create 500 jobs during an 18-month construction period, with production expected later in the second half of 2024. It will employ 300 miners in the first phase of operation and up to 450 in later phase expansions. The project will expand in phases, with the expansions focused on processing, starting at six million tonnes annually in Phase 1, 12 million tonnes in Phase 2 and 20 million tonnes in Phase 3.

The mine will be in a region that has been hard hit in recent years by sawmill and pulp mill closures, so it will provide a welcome injection of jobs and tax revenue.“British Columbians will benefit from hundreds of new jobs of this new mine, with both its construction and multiple decades of operation,” said Josie Osborne,

minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation. “We’re hoping to be able to support employment and re-employment of some of those people in the forestry sector, maybe with a little bit of retraining into our sector,” Dean said. “Whether it be operators, truck drivers, maintenance people in the mill, there are some common skills between the two industries.”

Wheaton Precious Metals is staking the project with a US$141 million streaming agreement. “We think it’s a robust asset that has some potential upside even beyond what they’ve identified so far,” Wheaton CEO Randy Smallwood said. “It looks like a really good asset that will deliver a lot of gold and silver to us. It’s a strong team that’s had great success building other operations and other mines around the world.”

An economic impact study by KPMG estimates the mine will contribute $13 billion to the B.C. economy over its 22-year life, including $2.3 billion in provincial revenue. The Blackwater will have a lean carbon emissions profile. Its processing plant will be fully electric, and therefore zero emission, and the company has an agreement with Caterpillar in which the mine’s haul trucks can switch to fully electric in 2029. “We have an agreement whereby we will be one of the first to receive these pieces of equipment,” Dean said.

Cariboo Gold – bringing Barkerville back to life

Osisko Development has plans to bring the historic gold mining region of Barkerville back to life. The company had planned to have a new mine in operation last year, but it has been delayed, and the company is now aiming to pour first gold in 2024. The project has a total capital cost of close to $600 million – $137 million for the first phase and $451 million for expansion. In January, Osisko published a new feasibility study that estimates the mine will produce an average 163,695 ounces of gold a year over a 12-year period, with gold grades of 3.72 to 4.43 grams per tonne. “This feasibility study demonstrates that the Cariboo Gold project will be a large-scale, long-life and profitable gold mine,” said Osisko Development CEO Sean Roosen. “It will also produce significant quantities of gold in its initial years at a capital cost below $140 million.”

SILVER MEDALISTS — Predators lost in the gold medal game against Tri Cities, 5-0 but skated away with silver medals around their necks after a hard fought game.

T.W. BUCK PHOTO

THERE BE DANGER — Along with the spring thaw comes parking lot pools. Be cautious when driving through or around these as you never know what’s under the surface.

repairing the sign at the Pomeroy Sport Centre.

Northern B.C. men who aided Mountie celebrated

By Mark Nielsen

The efforts of two men who came to the aid of a B.C. Highway Patrol member during a pullover that turned violent were acknowledged on Thursday.

With the matter now before the court, details provided on what happened were limited but it was clear that Wilmar Salaza and Robert Wheeler did not hesitate when they came across the scene near the intersection of Highway 97 N and 10th Avenue in Prince George on March 25 at about 11:30 a.m.

In preparation for getting his “N”, Salaza’s son was driving when they saw a man attacking the member.

“I told my son, you need to pull over, I need to help the police officer,” he said. “No need to think about it.”

Jobs at Site C grow to 4,856 in February

The jobs count at Site C grew to 4,856 workers in February, according to the latest employment figures from BC Hydro.

The company and its contractors reported reported 78 more workers month over month from January as construction ramps up for another summer season, which could lead to first power being generated this year.

Roughly one in five workers were local, with 863 Peace region residents employed overall. Locals comprised 21% of contracted construction and non-construction workers.

There were 3,330 B.C.

residents, or 69% of the workforce, working for construction and non-construction contractors, and in engineering and project team jobs, according to the report.

Not all were on site or in camp at one time, BC Hydro says.

There were 201 apprentices reported to be working on the project last month, up from 174 in January, as well as 358 indigenous workers and 471 women working on the project.

There were no temporary foreign workers employed in a specialized position, says BC Hydro, with 39 managers and other profes-

sionals working under the federal international mobility program.

In February, the first turbine rotor for the dam was placed into the Unit 1 generator pit inside the generating station. Construction of the earthfill dam is around 90% complete, and the project more than 70% built overall.

BC Hydro president Chris O’Riley told the BC Natural Resource Forum in January that the official target for commissioning is still nearly two years away.

However, he suggested the company could potentially generate first power in December of this year.

For Wheeler, it was a “split second decision.”

“The guy was attacking him for who knows what

reason but the officer was in need of assistance so just figured I’d help out,” he said.

BCHP Chief Supt. Holly Turton said their actions not only allowed the officer to put the suspect in handcuffs but prevent more serious injury.

“They jumped in to assist knowing full well they were putting themselves at risk,” Turton said.

Salazar and Wheeler were presented with certificates of appreciation and BCHP challenge coins during a ceremony at the North District RCMP detachment.

“A small token when you consider their remarkable actions,” Turton said.

A third man who also stepped in was unable to attend but will also be presented with a certificate and challenge coin at a later date.

Robert Charles Waite, 66, has since been charged with aggravated assault and two counts of assaulting a peace officer.

New power lines planned Prince George to Terrace

By Arthur Williams

BC Hydro is looking to build approximately 440 km of new, 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines from Prince George to Terrace, according to information provided to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.

In a letter to the board dated Feb. 16, BC Hydro stakeholder engagement advisor Debra Lamash said three sections of new 500 kV transmission line are planned, along with three new capacitor stations and expansion of existing substations along the route.

“As noted in my September 16, 2022 letter regarding electrification, industrial customers are increasingly seeking to electrify their operations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Lamash wrote.

“Meeting the needs of potential large scale industrial developments in this region will require new 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines and associated infrastructure to be developed from Prince George to Terrace.”

The new lines are expected to follow generally the same route as BC Hydro’s current

transmission lines along Highway 16, she wrote. The project would be divided into three sections: a 170-km section from the Williston Substation near Prince George to the Glenannan Substation near Fraser Lake, a 130-km section from Glenannan to Telkwa Substation near Telkwa, and a 140-km section from Telkwa to Skeena Substation near Terrace.

“We have been reviewing preliminary studies that were completed when these lines were previously considered to determine what additional work is needed,” Lamash wrote. “We expect the system additions will take around 8 to 10 years to plan, consult on, permit, design, and build. As noted in my earlier letter, other system expansion including new transmission lines beyond Terrace may also be required.”

BC Hydro plans to complete their studies and design work, and seek the necessary permits and approvals between this year and 2028, she added. Construction was slated to begin between 2026 and 2033. No cost estimate was provided.

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Wilmar Salaza (left) and Robert Wheeler were presented with certificates of appreciation on Thursday. With them are BCHP Chief Supt. Holly Turton and Northern BCHP Insp. Darren Woroshelo.

BC HYDRO PHOTOS

Spillways, powerhouse and generating station construction continues at Site C on the Peace River.

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OBITUARIES

Janet Carrie Ferguson

October 21, 1940 ~ March 19, 2023

“Think of her as living in the hearts of those she touched. For nothing loved is ever lost and she was loved so much”

With great sorrow, the family of Janet Ferguson wish to announce her passing in the Fort St. John Hospital on March 19, 2023 after a lengthy illness.

Janet will be sadly missed by her husband Tom Ferguson, son Rod Tompkins, daughter Marlene Tompkins (Dean Donnelly), daughter Marilyn Israel (Wade Israel), grandsons Ethan and Hayden Donnelly, as well as granddaughter Alex Israel.

Janet was predeceased by her parents Bert and Violet Wilson and her son Rocky Tompkins.

As a family, we wish to convey our sincerest thanks to Dr. Boyer (Janet’s family doctor), as well as to Dr. Loomes and all of the nursing and care giving staff at the Fort St. John Hospital. The kindness and professionalism shown to Janet during her short stay there was and is very much appreciated.

Janet was laid to rest in the Rose Prairie Cemetary on March 24, followed by a lovely funeral service at Hamre’s Funeral Chapel. Thank you to Gord Klassen for officiating, Tom Cole for leading us in singing the three hymns that Janet had loved so much, as well as to Gail Pugh and her sisters for providing lunch afterwards. I would also like to thank Dean Donnelly for making the beautiful video tribute to Janet.

Rest in peace Janet.

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A look into the past

20 YEARS AGO –

April 1, 2003

Chicago finally came to Fort St. John, the musical all about husband-killing jazz girls and their trial. Roxy and Thelma light up the screen as they murder and manipulate their way to stardom. The plot of the story is well known as is the extensive background of making the movie. Someone in Hollywood has been trying to bring Chicago to the big screen for almost twenty years, since Bob Fosse put Chicago on Broadway. In the end it was the Broadway director Rob Marshal who brought All That Jazz to the silver screen.

20 YEARS AGO –

April 4, 2003

School District 60 is providing information and recommendations for parents in response to growing public concern over the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the country. The newsletter was distributed to all the schools in the district this week. “Our main concern is that our parents have as much reliable information from the health authority as we can obtain,” said SD60 superintendent Ron Samborski. To date, there have been 178 reported cases of SARS in Canada, with seven deaths being blamed on the illness. Along with the letter from the district is information from the Northern Health Authority regarding SARS and what to look for, as well as from which countries the disease has originated from, China, Vietnam, and Singapore.

34 YEARS AGO –April 4, 1989

The long-awaited an-

nouncement for the new Beatton River crossing finally came yesterday as Highways Minister Neil Vant laid out the government’s plans for a new bridge and grading construction. North Peace MLA Tony Brummet says the New Beatton River Crossing will give rural residents a safer route to and from Fort St. John and will solidify the resource and agricultural industries’ economic ties with the city. “There is absolutely no question of the importance of that road in terms of access and economics,” Brummet said in an interview. “It’s the only connector

between the Boundary Lake oilfield and the service industries in town.”

35 YEARS AGO –

April 7, 1988

Cynthia Neilson of Fort St. John recently spent the day in a wheelchair as part of an architectural design project. Neilson, a second-year Architectural Technologies student at Calgary’s Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, spent 24 hours in a wheelchair to experience firsthand the frustrations and difficulties common to the disabled. Architectural instructor Stanley King felt

that lectures and workshops about the difficulties faced by the handicapped in an environment designed essentially for those in normal physical condition would not adequately capture the paraplegic experience. What better way to dramatize the challenges than have each student spend an entire day confined to a wheelchair.

49 YEARS AGO –April 2, 1974

Three students from Dr. Kearney (who take French courses) spent their spring break in France. The girls left

for France from Vancouver with the rest of the 461 students from schools across Canada. Although they spent nine hours on the plane Cheryl Bartell, Patty Knutson, and Heather Wilson had enjoyed their stay in Ville Jurs, a suburb of Paris. Patty Knutson preferred the Fontain Bleau Castle (in which Napolean lived) to the many things she saw. Chery Bartell was intrigued by the old buildings, and mentioned the museum where the Mona Lisa painting is kept.

59 YEARS AGO –April 5, 1964

Some 200 delegates from all over B.C. arrived in Kelowna last week to attend the BC Teen Town Association conference. Three full packed days of business and fun. Fort St John was represented by four delegates, Cathy Bowness, mayor; Marion Milan, Colleen Palmer, and Margaret Hughson, treasurer and sweet heart candidate. They were escorted by Mr. and Mrs. O Hughson.

64 YEARS AGO –

April 6, 1959

An otherwise quiet Friday noon hour was shattered when two jet bombers of the US Airforce thundered in from Alaska to take on emergency fuel here at the Fort St. John airport. The flight of two, commanded by Major Jack M Smith of El Paso, Texas, was returning to its base in Texas City. The second ship, piloted by Cpt Charles Halsey also of El Paso had “lost” a motor en route which was the immediate cause of the stopover. Examination showed that the engine had only become flooded.

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS ARCHIVES

Three carriers of the Alaska Highway Daily News earned prizes for establishing new customers on their routes as part of a contest in April 1985. Bill Dyer (left), publisher of the Alaska Highway News, presented the prizes to: (left to right) Paul Caron, Perry Pomeroy, and Tom Leney. Leney is the carrier for route 260 in Hudson’s Hope and earned a camera, film, tickets for two to the Lido Theatre, and cash. Pomeroy services the Airport on route 252 and won an AM-FM clock radio and two tickets to the Lido. Caron is on Route 163, which is between 107th Avenue and 103A Avenue in Fort St. John and earned a desktop calculator.