A number of top money finishes for local cowboys at 2022 DC Stampede TRUST NATURE Conservation area north of city helps preserve local wild land ecology
The Fil-Can association is a perennial winner in the Canada Day parade with its exuberant and colourful floats and costumes, supports local nonprofits like the Hospital Foundation and Women’s Resource Society, and hosts an annual art exhibit showcasing local talent at Peace Gallery North. Past president Ovvian Castrillo-Hill says much the group’s events and programs are designed so the community sees Filipinos “outside of the box, or to see us outside of a stereotype.”“That’swhy we like to share our art, we like to share our music, our talents. We want to be seen holistically as a people, as an ethnic group, as contributors to the city,” she“Wesaid.want to be full citizens of this country, not just people serving. We want to be able to showcase the whole gamut of our personas, our personalities, so that’s us as individuals with our talents, with our gifts, with our passions, as well as what we do professionally…Not just for us to be able to celebrate ourselves, but for the community at large to see us for who we are, and what is what we do for the life we live here in our town.” The association has its own basketball league, holds regular consular outreach, takes part in the World Fair, and jumps at the chance when invited by teachers to present the history of culture of the Philippines to students in the classroom.Rydersaid educating students about her country is important, while Castrillo-Hill adds that the group is looking to offer a basic Filipino language course in partnership with the city. “We don’t want us to be strangers to the locals,” said Castrillo-Hill, adding that’s especially important for the youth who were born here, and who are now growing up as second and third generation Filipinos. 15 years of the North Peace Filipino Canadian Association at the Festival Plaza Lorna Nyffeler, Myra Cruz, Joy Puno, Clea Ang, Noreen Hupanda, Ovvian Castrillo-Hill, and Merlita
“Looking back, and fast forward to 15 years, the people, the community has grown, and it’s been a blessing as well to the City of Fort St. John.” The Filipino community is one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the city, with about 700 people counted in the 2016 census, the latest data available. When Jun Salinas moved to Fort St. John in October 1975 to work as a machinist at the Curtis Hoover Machine Shop, he says he counted only 35. Salinas served for three years as president of the FilCan association starting in 2008, and says the group has been invaluable helping newcomers to the community. Though it may not have existed when he first moved to Fort St. John, Salinas said Filipinos have always been like one big family regardless, helping each other settle in, whether finding housing or a job.
Ryder.
SPORTS h A4 NEWS h A13 NEWS h A16 RODEO ROUNDUP
It was an afternoon of music, games, and a delicious potluck as the North Peace Filipino-Canadian Association celebrated its 15th anniversary last Sunday. The local Filipino community holds deep roots in Fort St. John, tracing its history back to the 1960s when Teresita Pagatpatan came to work in the town’s maternity ward and became the city’s first Filipino resident. But it wasn’t until August 2007 when the Fil-Can association was established, giving long-time residents and new immigrants alike an outlet to meet friends, get settled into the community, and showcase their culture and talents to the “Thisregion.isamilestone for our Filipino community,” said association president Merlita Ryder, who immigrated here from the Philippines in 1999. “Looking back, when I first came to Canada, I was feeling so alone because I couldn’t speak my language, I didn’t have anyone to interact with. There were not many Filipinos during those times.”
on Aug. 14. Pictured are:
Continued on A14 HoursMon-Fri: 8am - 5pm Sat: 8am - Noon 9224 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC (250) 785-0463 After Hours - Leave Message QUALITY PARTS, EXPERT SERVICE! When You Are Out in the Field, Time IS Money. Presents the People’s Choice Awards Who will be Voted Favourite Person, Place or Business? Fill out the form in this week’s edition and drop it off at our of ce, or online at alaskahighwaynews.ca/contests/peoples-choice Fort St. John, BC PEOPLE’S 2022 9916-98th St., Fort St. John • Phone: 250-785-5631 Cast Your Vote Now! MATT PREPROST PHOTO Jun Salinas cuts the cake at the North Peace Filipino Canadian Association’s 15 year celebrations on Aug. 14, 2022. 15 years building Fil-Can community Flyers This Week: Safeway, The Brick, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Walmart Experience and industry credentials are most de nitely an asset, but more important is that you are a good t with our Thisteam.isa unique opportunity to join an independent, full service, IIROC rm. We need people to help establish and maintain long-term, pro table relationships with our existing client base, and to facilitate the provision of superior nancial service and nancial advice. Eligible applicants will have: • Bullet proo ethics • Formidable communication skills. • riendly, positive, and professional attitude. • The ability to or as a great teammate. • dedicated commitment to ongoing learning. If that sounds like you, let’s talk. brad@bradbrain nancial.com Are you the right person to hire our elite team? THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 |VOL. 78 NO. 33 ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS $1.50 INCL. GST The only newspaper in the world that gives a tinker’s dam about the North Peace. Est. 1944 MATT PREPROST PHOTO Celebrating
“It’s very important to me, not only me, not only the Filipino community, but my family. When I was a president they were behind me, helping me,” he said of the 15year milestone. “It’s very important for me that we build up this unity so that for our countrymen coming up here there is a place to go if they needAndhelp.”asthe Filipino community has grown, so too has its contributions Fort St. John and the North Peace region.
CULTURE CAMP Halfway River First Nation cultural camps highlight need to keep heritage alive Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
“The concept of having an organization or association at that time was born because we want everybody to feel at home,” she said, adding, “we have a family, we have someone to go to; a go-to group that we can share our foods, our thoughts, our dreams.”
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The fair will again be offering a full course ‘Dine In The Pines’ dinner and plenty of music throughout the weekend: “Dance ‘til your hearts content,” says Christensen, adding attendees also won’t want to miss the celebrity challenge where contestants compete to complete every day farm tasks. The fair traces its roots to the 1920s. In 1947, the North Peace Fall Fair Association was offi cially formed, rotating fairs between North Pine, Pineview, Montney, and Rose Prairie. In 1954, Albert and Sophie Germaine leased 10 acres to the group to use in North Pine before the land was bought outright in 1978, with 33 acres added in 1981. The fair remains there today and draws up to 6,000 visitors every year. “It really is designed around family,” Chris tensen says. “We don’t have beer gardens, we don’t have a midway. You come, the kids play and run, we have 30 acres there. A lot of young people come, they bring their handicrafts, and show off their animals they’ve raised. Families that come have a reunion out there.” Director discharge air four teen burn operated burn clean wood cons of Work Package1 land upon which the four teen burn piles will be situated, and discharge occur, is located within regional Peace district.The burn piles Coastal burn pile per day for up to two week s total duration Any personwho may be adversely affected by the proposed discharge of waste and wishes to provide relevant information may, within 30 days af ter the last date of posting, publishing, service or display, sendwritten comments to the applicant, with a copy tothe Regional Manager, Environmental Protectionat BC Oil and Gas Commission 6534 Airpor t Rd Fort St John BC V1J 4M6. The identit y of anyrespondent s and the contents of any thing submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record to regulatory approvaland site
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ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWSA2 | NEWS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
“Dine In The Pines”Saturday NightFull Course Roast Beef Dinner$25.00 per person Food Booths Open10:00am to 8:00pm Daily ThreshingSaturdayDemonstrationsandSunday ADMISSION: 5 & Under: FREE • Age 6-16: $5 Adults: $10 • Seniors: $5 August 19, 20 & 21 Bus#1 Leave NPSS 9304 86 St: 10:00 am 11:15 am 12:30 pm 1:45 pm Leave Fairgrounds:the2:30pm3:45pm5:00pm6:15pm Leave 2:151:0011:4510:3010908SeniorstheHall100St:amampmpm Leave Bus#2Fairgrounds:the3:00pm4:15pm5:30pm6:45pm We have FREE shuttle buses for the weekend, both Saturday and Sunday. There will be two separate runs. Choose either North Peace Senior Secondary direct to Fair Grounds, or the Seniors’ Hall direct to Fair Grounds. Direct shuttles only, no other stops. FREE Shuttle Bus! • Livestock • Tractors • Stock Dogs • Horticulture • Grain • Music • Bands • Spinning • Weaving • Quilting • Saturday & Sunday Pancake Breakfast • Saturday Dine in the Pines • Family Dance • Jamboree • Talent Show • Food booths & trucks • Homemade Pies • Open Air Market • Classic Cars • Weekend Camping • Lighthorse Show • Gymkhana • Heavy Horse Pulls Sunday • Log Sawing • Horseshoes • Petting Zoo Traditional Country Fair! timesDeparture We, Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. (CGL), 4501 St SW, Calgary, AB T2P 5H1,intend to submit this application to the
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Above: Raking the light horse ring at the North Peace Fall Fair Grounds. The fall fair hosts regular work bees Tuesday nights throughout the summer to get ready for the show, with a dozen regulars coming out to help. On the day of the fair, there are up to 40 directly involved. “A lot of those volunteers come for many many years and plan to come until they can’t,” says society president Bruce Christensen.
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Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca The North Peace Fall Fair isn’t just a weekend event, it’s a summer event. And when the 75th year of the fair kicks off on Friday, know that it took dozens of volunteers to ready the grounds, prepare and judge entries, serve up food and drink, and keep generations of families entertained. “It’s going to be fun. There’s a lot of things to do,” says fall fair society president Bruce Chris tensen. “There’s the traditional cattle events and the light horse is going to be expanding. At the tractor pull we are expecting 75 tractors, which is more than normal. The classic cars are com ing out, the heavy horse is going to be there. New to this year is a threshing demonstration, lots of vendors, and a church service on Sunday.”
MATT PREPROST PHOTO
Training at the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society, August 8,
In preparation for the start of the official nomination period on August 30, the PRRD has released its nomination packages. The documents are a comprehensive source of information for potential candidates, and include everything that is legislatively required to run a candidacy in the Peace region. The Regional District is urging residents who are thinking about running for local office not to delay, and to pick up a package from the District offices in Dawson Creek or Fort St. John.
August 27, 2022 One Island Lake Neighbourhood Recognition Day August 28, 2022 Tomslake Fire Department Open House
September 10, 2022 Neighbourhood Clean-up, Lebell Subdivision - Mile 22 Park PRRD Public Hearings
September 20, 2022 @ 6 p.m.
PRRD FireSmart team conducts training with local Fire Departments When wildfires burn they don’t follow lines on a map, often crossing jurisdictional boundaries and impacting multiple communities. The PRRD FireSmart team came together with local fire departments from across the Peace region this month, to train for these types of events.
August 19, 2022 Giveaway draw! Enter by booking an assessment at prrd.bc.ca/firesmart
The deadline to submit nomination packages is just a few weeks away, on September 9 by 4 p.m.; packages submitted after this period cannot legally be considered. The packages can be submitted at the District offices, by mail fax or email. Nomination packages can also be requested to be sent via mail, by contacting the Chief Elections Officer, Tyra Henderson, at tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca or 250-784-3216.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 | NEWS | A3ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
FireSmart Community Events
It was a golden anniversary for Arthur and Laurel Hadland last Sunday as the couple celebrated 50 years of marriage at their Baldonnel farm with friends and family. It was July 29, 1972, when the two married in Burnaby. As Arthur tells it, before that Laurel spent four years chasing him around the University of B.C. when they were in the faculty of agriculture together. Or was it the other way around? “I’m not sure what happened. I think I got captured,” he says, saying marrying her was the best thing he ever did. “I am an exceptionally lucky man to be in the company of Laurel for 50 years. She’s good natured, smart, committed, considerate, and she’s a communicator. I think communication is really important.” Laurel summed up her jubilation in three sweet words: “I love him.”
August 21, 2022 North Peace Fall Fair
North Peace Fringe Area OCP, Pomeroy Sports Centre Upcoming Events Election season kicks off in the Peace region
On Saturday, October 15 voters will head to the polls to cast their ballots in the Local Government Election (LGE). In the Peace River Regional District, voters will elect four Electoral Area Directors for Areas B, C, D and E, and eight Municipal Directors for the seven member municipalities throughout the region. The future elected officials will represent their constituents on the Regional Board for a four year term. The LGE will also include elections for School Board Trustees for School Districts 59 and 60.
HAPPY 50TH, HADLANDS
2022 Next BoardPRRDeetings: September 8, 2022 10:00am | Facebook Live, Dawson Creek October 13, 2022 10:00am | Facebook Live, Dawson Creek To view board and committee meeting dates and agendas, visit: prrd.bc.ca/agendas-minutes/ Join the Discussion Engage in the active consultations happening in the Peace River Regional District. haveyoursay.prrd.bc.caPeace River Regional District Official Page Issue August 2022 2022 Fort St. ElectionMunicipalGeneralJohn OCTOBER 15 ADVANCE OCTOBERVOTING5 & 12 The official nomination period is from 9 am, August 30 to 4 pm, September 9 Pick-up a Nomination Package at City Hall or download it from fortstjohn.ca/municipal-elections For details about the nomination process, visit: fortstjohn.ca/municipal-elections or elections.bc.ca/lecfAre? you interested in running for Mayor or Councillor?
During the coming weeks leading up to general vote and advance voting days on October 5 and 12, the PRRD will be posting updates about the declaration of nominated candidates and voting locations to its website and social media platforms. In the meantime, residents and potential candidates are encouraged to visit prrd.bc.ca/getoutandvote as a one-stop-shop for all things election in the Peace region Are you interested in working the election as a paid official? The PRRD is looking for people to work on general and advance voting days. Learn more about the opportunity and apply at prrd.bc.ca/getoutandvote.
A series of mock wildland urban interface fires were hosted in the North and South Peace, with crews from Fort St. John, Taylor, Charlie Lake, Tomslake, Tumbler Ridge and smokejumpers and firefighters with the BC Wildfire Service. The exercises are meant to strengthen communication channels and build key relationships while practicing hard skills and sharing ideas. “It was great to see how fast the firefighters could adapt to the wildland fire environment. By the end of the exercise, the different uniforms were the only giveaway that we had different crews on the fire.” - Craig Wilson, FireSmart Consultant
Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca Sunday was another opportunity for bull rider Jacob Gardner to perform in front of family and friends. And, the 26-year-old from Fort St. John didn’t disappoint scoring an 86 on the third and final day of rodeo competition at the Dawson Creek Stampede on Aug. 14. “I was a little bit nervous being the last guy and I got a lot of people watching me. I kept calm. I wanted to give the crowd a show.” Gardner drew Tickety Boo, a bull with very little kick but a quick, rotat ing motion right out of the gate. “That bull really likes to spin close to the chutes,” he admitted. “He whirls it up at 100 miles an hour. He’s a really good one for a guy to ride.” Gardner, who competes this week south of the line, tied Jared Parson age of Maple Creek, Sask., who also scored an 86; both won $2504.29 for their efforts. Jordan Hansen of Amisk, Alta., took the top prize for his 88 and a pay cheque of just over $3400. There were a number of top money finishes for B.C. Peace cowboys at this year’s edition of the Dawson Creek Stampede. - Jake Gardner from Fort St. John tied Jared Parsonage from Maple Creek, Sask. for second in bull riding with his 86; both earning $2504.29. - Charlie Lake’s Tyrel Roberts tied for second with Eckville, Alta.’s Ben Andersen in the saddle bronc event with a score of 87-point-5. Each took home $2466.75. Roberts was the top finisher in the novice saddle bronc, as well, riding to a 77, good for $659.60.
Fort St. John bull rider Jacob Gardner rides the full eight seconds to earn an 86 score at the 2022 Dawson Creek Stampede. second at stampede Fan’s to Happy St John BC 250-787-0455
•
Headquarters Here
Senior Mens Hockey returns
2022
Sports
DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO
Fort St John Flyers to take ight again in Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca If you thought the pandemic was long, imagine how Fort St. John Flyers management feel. In 2019, the team asked for a oneyear leave of absence after a number of their core players were lost to the ourishing oil and gas industry. Three years later, however, and with no league for the last two, the Flyers will nally get to return to the ice this fall. “It’s looking good,” said team president Paul van Nostrand on the team’s “I’veprospects.made quite a few calls in the last month. Spoken with a number of players. It looks like we’ll have a pretty good turnout for training camp.” “We have a couple of Dawson Creek Canucks players interested in playing. They’re working up in the Fort St. John area so it’s a better t for them.” There will be some familiar faces, but also some new ones are expected at “Youngcamp. guys, for example, who have graduated from the Huskies a few years ago and weren’t interested in playing too much, at that time, have now decided they want to play now,” added van Nostrand. Under normal circumstances, being away for three years, the Flyers would have to apply to be re-instated. With no league in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid, they’re automatically allowed back in. One team, though, that has been out for a lot longer, the Spirit River Rangers, have been accepted back into the “They’veleague.gota new executive, put together a prospective list of players, and have had several meetings, so they’re back in,” said van Nostrand. With Fort St. John and Spirit River returning, the league will have at least seven teams. The others: Dawson Creek, Falher, Grimshaw, Manning, and Grande ValleyviewPrairie. had also asked to be considered for a spot, but there’s no word on their application and what stage it’s at.
Gardner
The Fort St. John Flyers in action against the Manning Comets in December 2018. Photo: Dillon Giancola
9508 Alaska Rd. N. • Fort
make you
- 17-year-old Chase Siemens from Chetwynd caught the eye of judges with his 85.5 ride in the novice bare back earning him first place and $628.56.-Fort St. John’s Stephen Culling wound up in the 10th in steer wrest ling with his time of 4.9 seconds. His prize money was $459.60.
A4 | SPORTS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 | PEOPLE’S CHOICE | A5ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
To learn more about diabetes, volunteer, advocate or donate, please contact : Northern Region (250) boyanne.young@diabetes.ca561-9284
Tristen Nielsen, seen here with the Vancouver Giants, is hoping to score big with the Abbotsford Canucks this season. (Courtesy Vancouver Giants) Tristen Nielsen pushes for spot in Abbotsford with Vancouver in sight
Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca
Cruz’n at motoX Nationals
Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca
Fort St. John’s Cruz Gordon had an overall 5th-place fin ish in the 65cc Open class and 9th in the 65cc 10-11 division. He also took 12th-place overall in the 85cc class for 7-11 year olds.
Some more changes are com ing to the Northwest Junior HockeyAlbeit,League.notas big as the de cision this past spring to add teams from Beaverlodge and La Crete to its ranks. The County of Grande Prai rie Kings will now be known as the Wheat Kings. The club saying, on its Face book pages, it added “wheat” to its branding to “pay tribute to the local farming heritage in the county.” Game and practice jerseys with the new logo are expected to arrive in time for the team’s training camp later this month.
Welcome, Wheat Kings
Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca For Tristen Nielsen, the coming hockey season could beAfterpivotal.completing his first season with the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL farm team in Abbotsford in 2021-22, the 22-year-old is hoping to make a bigger splash with the ‘baby’ Canucks this year. Sidelined in the spring with an upper body injury, the Fort St. John and Dawson Creek-raised player was able to attend the NHL club’s July development camp; Nielsen, also invited to rookie/pros pects camp for the big team in
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWSA6 | SPORTS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
WhileSeptember.thelong-term goal is to be into the National Hockey League, and team mates like defenceman Jack Rathbone and goalie Spencer Martin made their mark on the NHL Canucks last sea son, the former Vancouver Giant remains grounded on his“Myexpectations.firstyear in Abbots ford, it was such a learning process for me,” says Nielsen. “I got to play with some really amazing pros on my team that have been in the NHL — Nic Petan, Phil Di Giuseppe, Sheldon Dries... guys like that. They helped me a lot. I’m going to be ever thankful to them. Every veteran player on that team taught me something. I’m go ing to look up to them for the rest of my life.” But, like any hockey play er the slate is always wiped clean after the season and Nielsen will need to earn back a spot on the team and, more importantly, a contract to be noticed by the big club. In all of this, though, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from or who’s been there to support him. “You know, growing up, I was pretty fortunate. I had two amazing parents who raised me, helped me, and allowed me to pursue my dream.”Thebig dream, he admits, may not happen this year. It may not happen next year, but it’s not that far away. “I still have a lot the learn. Obviously, if I can make the jump, I want to,” said the 5’10, 184-pound centre who had 11 points in 41 games with Abbotsford last season. “The goal, obviously, is to earn an NHL contract. Learn how to be a pro, and then take that (next) step, when I’mTrainingready.” camp for both Canucks teams is just a month away.
Some good results for a lo cal motocross rider at the Canadian Grand Nationals in Walton, Ontario last week.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 | NEWS | A7ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca In a surprise move, council lor Tony Zabinsky announced Monday afternoon that he will not run for the position of mayor in Fort St. John. “It is with a heavy heart that I will no longer be mov ing forward with my Mayor campaign in the upcoming municipal election,” Zabinsky stated in an open letter. While confirming he won’t be running for the top elected position, the one-term coun cillor has said he will be look ing to be re-elected to one of six seats on council. “Due to personal matters that have taken place in the last 30 days, I do not believe I can dedicate the time and re sponsibilities that the Mayor oversees that would be re quired to lead this great com munity,” he continued. “I still, however, have a de sire to serve this community in the same role that I currently maintain. Therefore, I will be transitioning my campaign’s focus to be re-elected as a City Councillor for the City of Fort St.“IJohn.wish to continue to sup port this community and the future Mayor by being a teamplayer and providing the ex pertise that I have provided thus far as a City Councillor. I believe there is more to be done to make our community better.”That leaves incumbent councillor Lilia Hansen now as the lone candidate who has declared their intentions to run for the mayor’s chair this fall. Mayor Lori Ackerman had said she wouldn’t be seeking re-election in NominationsOctober.officially open August 30. Voting day is Octo ber 15.
Lequiere running for re-election Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca The head of the Fort St. John’s RCMP detachment is con cerned over the growing num ber of medical calls his officers are responding to. Inspector Anthony Hanson is hoping some form of fund ing can be found to address the shift in the job description of police.Speaking before Peace Riv er Regional District directors Thursday in Fort St. John, he said the role of his officers is becoming that of a medical first responder.“Ourofficers aren’t trained for that,” said Hanson, follow ing his presentation. “It’s not their duty function. Our job is public safety and criminal investigation. Yes, we are a first responder but in re ality it should be EHS or fire paramedics.”Withproper financial sup port, Hanson believes it could be trained professionals or a non-police-based mental health working group that could fill the gap. “Any and all sorts of ideas are possible. This is a British Col umbia/Canada problem. Yes, there are always solutions, but it’s about what society is pre pared to do.”
Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca Fort St. John’s North Peace Community Foundation is get ting ready to open its doors. In less than a month, com munity groups and not-forprofit agencies in the city will be able to apply for funds through theInfoundation.thepast,funding applica tions, for some groups, might have been made through the City of Fort St. John’s grantsin-aid program. That, though, will now be administered by the foundation – a decision made formal by city council last Monday. “This is something we have been working on for a long time,” said mayor Lori Acker man. “When we negotiated with Site C, part of that was a legacy fund agreement and how do you truly ensure that it is a leg acy? You receive those funds. You take it out of the hands of council and you put it into the community. By creating a com munity foundation, you are as sured (there’s) some longevity.”
Goodings will complete that task in October as she’s done everyday since 1988.
Peace River Regional District area B director Karen Goodings has decided to retire from politics after 34 years in the role. to retire after 34-year career in local politics
RCMP Community Foundation gets ready
“One of the proudest things is being a conduit for the people of Fort St. John,” he added. Asked if there are projects he’d like to see advanced or completed, should he be elect ed to his first four-year term, Lequiere listed a new aquatic centre to replace the exist ing leisure pool and upgrades to both the Kin and Surerus sports fields. “Living here for some 38plus years and to see the re vitalization of those two parks is fantastic.”Knownfor his sharp wit and love of community, particu larly in the sports community, Lequiere has sat on a number of volunteer boards with the city’s minor hockey, baseball, and soccer leagues, and as councillor on the emergency planning, youth advisory, tour ism, pool, and mayor’s com mittee on economic recovery. He is also the president of Josh Lequiere Society, an or ganization in honour of his late son that helps families cover the cost of a child to play a sport or go to camp.
Goodings
DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO Incumbent Fort St. John city councillor Jim Lequiere has announced he will be putting his name forward for councillor in October’s municipal election.
“A lot of things I would have liked to see happen have not happened,” she continues, “natural gasification, being one, for some of our rural resi dents. They have no choice but to use either diesel or pro pane. It’s very expensive. Al though the gas is under their feet, they can’t access it.” As she looks back on her three-plus decades of service, she concedes she will miss it. “There comes a time for fresh blood and the time has come.”Goodings has two pearls of wisdom, though, for the next person who steps up –be ready to commit the time needed to be a director is the first.“Shirley (Pomeroy) said to me, at the beginning, there’s only two meetings a months... okay? Obviously, that’s not true,” she laughs, admitting it’s become a big part of her life. The other: choose to run for the right reason – “to improve the lives of rural people.”
Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca This October, Karen Goodings will call it a career or, at least, her life in the public eye. It was fall of 1988 when the well-known Cecil Lake-area matriarch accepted a request from her late friend Shirley Pomeroy.“Iwasasked by Shirley, who was the director for electoral area B, if I would consider be ing her alternate. I agreed,” re callsPomeroyGoodings.would pass away only a short time later. “I let my name stand. No body else did. I got in by ac clamation. Basically I’ve been there ever since. I believe there was one time another person was interested, but I managed to win.” “Since then, nobody’s want ed to run against me.” Although no one has ex pressed an interest in running in this year’s upcoming muni cipal election for area B just yet, she has confirmed she’ll step aside regardless. “So, I certainly hope some one is going to this year,” she jokes.For Goodings, it’s always been about helping neigh bours in both her personal and her political life. “My whole reason for want ing to be the director was to improve the lives of rural people,” says the 34-year pol itical“Someveteran.small accomplish ments, not larges one. Had some people that finally got a telephone, for instance, that didn’t have one. Got power (electricity) they didn’t have before.”
Zabinsky exits mayor’s race Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca Fort St. John city councillor Jim Lequiere is planning to have his name on the ballot come this October’s municipal election. First chosen in May of last year in a run-off to replace Becky Grimsrud, the 64-yearold heavy duty mechanic and tradesmen made his intentions known Thursday morning on his personal Facebook page. “I still have the enthusiasm to make Fort St. John the com munity that I live in a better place and have a quality of life for the families and residents here,” he said. He said one of the benefits of being on council has been to listen to and work with resi dents on their concerns. “You know, throughout the year, I have had a lot of people and families come to me, ‘Hey Jim, can you look into this for me? Or what’s the reasoning why the city is doing this?’”
While officers do receive some medical training, there’s an added concern as the strength and consistency of opioids changes, Hanson added.Hetold directors of incidents where five and six doses of Na loxone were needed – the drug administered to reverse the fatal effects of a drug overdose. In June, the Fort St. John RCMP began the Car 60 pro gram pairing a mental health clinician with general duty RCMP officers. It’s a program Hanson is very familiar with during his time in Prince George and one of he believes has shown its value here.“It’s paid some dividends already. Having that expertise with us and allowing us to take a step back to ensure safety. It’s been very positive so far.” With more funding, however, programs like Car 60 could be expanded.Initscurrent form, Hanson said, the clinician isn’t full-time and is picked up by an officer en route to the call, adding pre cious minutes, in some cases.
PEACE RIVER REGIONAL DISTRICT PHOTO
“The partnership agree ment approved today allows us the opportunity to now reach out directly to the groups and let them know the process has changed,” said the foundation’s executive director, Susan Ad ams. As part of the decision, the city is also revamping its permissive tax exemption pro gram. “That grant program no longer exists in name but in purpose it does, and you would come through the foundation, through the grants-in-aid pro gram,” said Churches,Adams.forexample, one of the groups that might have had property taxes waived under the permissive tax exemption program. They’ll now apply throughWhilegrants-in-aid.thefoundation is based in Fort St. John, the hope is its boundaries will expand to communities like Taylor, Hud son’s Hope, and areas B and C in the regional district. “When you take that grantsin-aid decision out of the hands of politicians and put it into the hands of people in the com munity, they’re quite often very informed on the non-profits and the work that they are do ing and they can provide some good expertise,” explained Ackerman, who said the pro cess may also bring an added benefit. “They start getting a little more engaged in the com munity, they may wanna decide to run for council.”
Medical calls pressure
VIRGO AUG 24/S EPT 22 Explore creative outlets, Virgo. They may be just what you need right now to calm your mind and work through some of the problems that have been tough to solve lately.
SAGITTARIUS N OV 23/D EC 21 Concerns about nances could have you holding back on all spending, including important purchases, Sagittarius. A professional can help you establish a budget. CA P RICORN D EC 22/J AN 20 Capricorn, life may be challenging this week, and attempts to get ahead could be thwarted. You may just have to hunker down a little longer and work harder. AQUARIUS J AN 21/F EB 18 Set up your living space to ensure you feel peaceful and calm at all times, Aquarius. This can improve your overall mood and bene t your long-term health.
GEMINI M AY 22/J UN 21 This week you may start out feeling like the life of the party. But you may run out of steam as the week winds down. Plan light activities for the weekend, Gemini. CANCER J UN 22/J U L 22 Cancer, if you are feeling frustrated at work, you may want to address your feelings with friends this week. They may be able to provide a fresh perspective on the situation.
L EO J U L 23/AUG 23 Don’t take anything for granted this week, Leo. Even seemingly mun dane events can have a signi cant impact on both your present and your future.
DeliverySpecial Drop off or mail your FREE birth announcement to : The Alaska Highway News, 9916-98 St • Fort St. John • V1J 3T8 or email: compose@ahnfsj.ca keepsakes...makeDeliverySpecialnoticesgreat CELEBRATEBIRTHBABIES Ph: 250.261.7563 www.fsjhospitalfoundation.caemail: fsjhf@northernhealth.ca BABY BOUQUET WALL MICHAELAIDENCEPEDA Parents: Amanda van Nostrand & Gustave Cepeda Weight: 5 lbs 15 oz Length: 18.5 inches Time: 11:51 pm Date: August 1, 2022 Fort St. John, BC It’s a Boy! ARIES M AR 21/AP R 20 Aries, now could be a good time to map out your nancial future. You’re riding a professional wave and your nances will bene t signi cantly from your hard work. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS AUGUST 14 Halle Berry, Actress (56) AUGUST 15 Joe Jonas, Musician (33) AUGUST 16 Madonna, Singer (64) AUGUST 17 The Kid Laroi, Rapper (19) AUGUST 18 Christian Slater, Actor (53) AUGUST 19 Bill Clinton, U.S. President (76) AUGUST 20 Andrew Gar eld, Actor (39) TAURUS AP R 21/M AY 21 Taurus, you can be a strong and formidable advocate for any cause you choose to support. Figure out what ideas you want to align with this week and voice your support.
Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca The River of the Peace Metis Society is carving out its future in Hudson’s Hope with totem poles representing the four elements expected to arrive thisTheSeptember.poleswill be just one aspect of a longhouse being built at the local school, a project fully funded by BC Hydro and overseen by the society. Society president and project man ager Valerie Paice says the totem poles and the longhouse will provide a much-needed gathering space for the community, connecting residents to indigenous culture and heritage. “This is something we need be cause everything’s down there –baseball, soccer, all the barbeques and community tournaments. I think it’s going to be a benefit,” she said. “We’re putting something in the com munity that everyone can share.” The poles themselves are being carved by Curtis Dickie, a former chief of the Fort Nelson First Nation, who belongs to both the Kwakwaka’wakw and Dene people, and is currently the nation’s culture co-ordinator. Paice said she’s grateful for Dick ie’s hard work and is looking forward to seeing the completed totem poles, represented by wind, water, earth, and fire, making the longhouse inclu sive of all First Nations. “Our infinity sign will be on it, but there’s also 12 nations that I work with. I think it’s going to be a nice asset to the community, instead of putting up tents all the time and then taking them down,” she said. Dickie says he started carving in 2007 as a way to honour his Kwakiutl First Nations heritage with family in Port“I’veHardy.kind of blended the two dif ferent forms of art into my own, and it seems to be getting more and more attention as I go,” he said. “This is my first real significant commissioned piece. I’ve done several large panels and different carvings that have been recognized in the Peace Regional Jur ied Art Exhibition.” The elements are being etched into Douglas fir, which is not the typical wood choice of a totem carver; red cedar is traditionally used as soft wood is far more pliable and easier to work“Basicallywith. I took a piece of paper and started sketching out what I en visioned would represent these ele ments best. Once that was sketched out I put it on the logs and began carving,” said Dickie. Despite the material, Dickie is cre ating art at an astonishing rate – two pieces have been completed, with two more to go. Wind and water remain, with fire and earth already finished. The Northern Rockies Arts Council was informed of the endeavour, and has recruited local photographer Tif fany Weatherston to capture Dickie’s progress on film. “It is an exciting undertaking we wanted to share with the commun ity,” said the Weatherstoncouncil.saidshe was honoured to take part, and has had the pleas ure of shooting many scenes for local groups. “I’m there to document every thing, and it’s been going well. I’ve seen his process and how some of the ideas have changed and evolved because of the way the wood is,” she said. -Local Journalism Initiative TIFFANY WEATHERSTON/BLOM PHOTOGRAPHY Curtis Dickie working diligently on the next set of totem poles.
L IBRA S EPT 23/O CT 23 Libra, it is important to de ne boundaries between work and home life this week, especially as you explore remote working opportunities or a promotion. SCOR P IO O CT 24/N OV 22 Scorpio, your close relationships could bene t from some increased conversation this week. Small talk is a start, but dig into topics that are meaningful to you and your partner.
P ISCES F EB 19/M AR 20 Frustrations with nances may have you feeling poorly at the moment, Pisces. Some news at work could provide the relief you need.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWSA8 | NEWS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
Longhouse taking shape
DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO
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Chase Siemens from Chetwynd took top spot in the novice barebacks at the 2022 Dawson Creek Rodeo.
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HUMILITY OF THE DIVINE
A midsummer’s picking from the author’s garden motivated people willing to work for less than minimum wage in support of a noble cause. Think of gardening like raising children, or a puppy –it’s a labour of love. Like them, one must work on the plant’s timeline, from germinating the seeds through to harvest and preserving. Remember, in this part of the world you are competing with the reality that a couple weeks of wages can buy enough produce for the entireAndyear.thenext time as you slowly follow that monster fertilizer wagon as it lumbers down the highway to the next field, don’t be surprised if you see, prominently displayed on its rear, one of those not-soflattering freedom comments about Trudeau. No need to wonder why. Evan Saugstad lives and writes in Fort St. John.
support of the Government
By Evan Saugstad I n today’s world, what’s the first thing that comes up when we talk food? The price, of course, unless you live in those parts of the world where having something that remotely represents edible on your plate is your primary concern. And then there’s what our federal government would like us to talk about. On one hand, we have multiple government agencies whose mandates are to help set or regulate prices and production for some food products such as dairy and eggs, and other agencies that work with and help support our food production industries to ensure they can meet our needs and demands, all while trying to remain profitable and use our surplus to help feed the rest of the world. On the other hand, we have Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his not-so-helpful group of Yes Boss Ministers believing that the future of Canadian food production will be managed by their emission targets and not by the traditional metrics of need, demand, price, environmental impacts, etc. Yes, you read that correct. Trudeau believes that the most important metric to manage our food supply is his imaginary emission target, and that when he sets it everyone should just say “yes, boss” and do his Trudeau’sbidding.latest carbon plan is to reduce fertilizer use by mandating a 30% reduction in its emissions and subsequent use. Not surprisingly, the push back from those who use and rely on fertilizers to grow their crops has been one of disbelief, outrage, and an overwhelming sense of, “Are you kidding me?” Now, I am not a farmer, but do know a few, live in an area where agriculture is a dominant industry, and understand the pitfalls of trying to make something grow when nature does not always have the same plan. I am also a lifelong gardener. Growing foods, or raising livestock is a tough business, and not for the faint of heart. Yes, we can all hear about bumper crops, high prices, and great years, but that is not the norm. For those who try to grow gardens, you understand the risks. Growing something is much more than sticking a seed in the ground and then coming back in a few months to reap your bounty. Very seldom does it ever work that way. More often than not, it’s the other way around. Too hot, too cold, too much rain or wind, or hail or floods, or fires or insects, or some new and never seen disease all take their toll. Some you can mitigate or minimize, while for others you must accept the cards you are dealt.Fertilizer is one of those things that helps, and therein lies the disbelief that Trudeau’s view of farmers is that they know not of what they do; that they just need a good smack alongside the head to bring them back to reality, and an understanding that they do not know how to apply fertilizers, or how much to use. Yes, just reduce fertilizer use and the world will be a better place. You believe farmers just willy-nilly apply fertilizer irrespective of cost or outcomes? You believe they think more is better, and damn the high prices – ever wonder what happens to a farmer that goes broke? It’s called a farm auction, and for some, that is a thriving business. Food wise, what should Canada be: Are we to be a provider to the rest of the world, compliments of our huge agriculture land base, world class agri-business, and the thousands upon thousands of dedicated farmers and ranchers who spend their life growing and producing life’s essentials?Or,dowe follow Trudeau’s method of beating things down, tearing them apart, and destroying what we have? Hard to believe with a penchant of spending taxpayers’ money, Trudeau wouldn’t be embarking on programs to help farmers with better support and technologies that can increase food production and supply, but then again, that is likely asking too much from someone who has only one vision in life. Or, are we to lead the world in a self-made carbon reduction scheme that now proposes to limit fertilizer use so we can reduce the amount of foods we grow to help feed the world? Yes, less food means we can reduce the amount of energy and carbon that each tonne requires to get it where it’s supposed to go. My flat-earth question to those who rely on food at an affordable price: Would you rather alternate between shivering and sweating while you eat, or just alternate between sweating and shivering while you wait for some kind farmer to supply your Interestingly,food?while Trudeau embarks on his challenge to reduce our food supply and security, you have communities like Doig River embarking on a plan to increase their food security. They recently received government funding to create community gardens and infrastructure to help with their own food security. I am all for more gardens and better knowledge about growing food, but do have some friendly words of advice, this coming from someone who has spent the past few years tending rather large gardens. The problem is not growing things but finding Fertilizer and food insecurity
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Dave Lueneberg Sports Reporter sports@ahnfsj.ca
OPINION / LETTERS ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 | OPINION | A9 Published every Thursday at 9916 - 98th Street, Fort St. John, B.C. V1J 3T8 250-785-5631 alaskahighwaynews.ca
CONTRIBUTORS Judy Kucharuk, Ruby McBeth, Brad Brain, Bronwyn Moser, Larry Evans, Evan Saugstad, Charo Cullen,J.E.Nichols,KenRoutledge,Fajemisin,Morrisson,DonKalpanaLloret,Loganathan,Peit,JoleenDonaldRobinBoon,MerlinJohnGrady,Stanway,A.M.ValerieLucas Interested contributing?in Send an email to Managing Editor Ma Preprost toeditor@ahnfsj.caatgetinvolved!
William Julian Regional Manager wj@ahnfsj.ca Ryan Wallace Sales Manager rwallace@ahnfsj.ca Ma Preprost Managing Editor editor@ahnfsj.ca Tom Summer News Reporter tsummer@ahnfsj.ca Lynn Novack Circulation Manager circulation@ahnfsj.ca We acknowledge the financial of Canada
EVAN SAUGSTAD PHOTO
The widely circulating news photo of Pope Francis kissing the hand of the indigenous residential-school survivor, assuming it was a truly heartfelt act, was both moving and significant, at least to Thoughme.I’m not a fan of Catholicism nor the pope, the image somewhat brought to mind how the Biblical Jesus most profoundly washed his disciples’ feet, the act clearly revealing that he took corporeal form to serve. And that he, as a hopeful example of the humility of the divine, joined humankind in our miseries, joys and everything in between.Regardless, many indigenous people have learned the hardest way about being considered disposable and likely feel the pope’s hand-kiss definitely will not suffice.Yes,human beings can actually be consciously or subconsciously perceived and treated as though they are disposable and, by extension, their suffering and death are somehow less worthy of external concern, even by otherwise relatively civilized countries and their religious institutions. Along with the inhuman(e) treatment they suffered while living in the religious residential schools, the immense inhumanity is also evident with the many indigenous children who were deemed unworthy even to be buried in properly marked graves by Christ’s supposed messengers, let alone their remains returned to their indigenous families. Jesus must be spinning! — Frank Sterle Jr. White Rock Letters to the editor
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWSA10 | PUZZLES | THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 TODAYS PUZZLE PREVIOUS PUZZLES HOWTOPLAY:ANSWERSFill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the num bers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few num bers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box. 40.Springs39.Podcrop37.Cream35.Clad34.UncookedAmerican32.South31.Kind27.Former:26.In24.Certain21.Jacket20.Final18.Haste17.Scramblepreceding16.Period15.River14.Hatchet13.Driveonce12.Italian9.Felon’s5.Hunger____1.President’sACROSSOceightmoney,awaybarriersEaster(for)featurespoemameshyph.ofmusicrangeofthedwellerup 41.Flat 44.Goesbreadonand on 46.Grape or orange drink 47.Ice mass, for 48.Soshort long, in London: 2 8.Spicy7.Pardonpronoun6.Biblical5.The4.3.Limbthrough2.Passing1.Out-of-dateDOWN____”57.“Broadcast56.Hang55.Shady54.Self-images53.Employerlinking52.Negativewds.wordtreearoundLowerBritish____ 9.Molten ow 10.Center of 33.Least30.Female29.Ship’s28.Pupil27.Peculiar25.Dry23.Duct22.Long21.permission20.19.Satisfy11.TournamentrotationGavetoFatwayowildernesssiteocersheepdistant 36.Health haven 38.Pay 51.Wild50.Pullcheese49.Ripen,47.Public45.Section43.Schoolobject42.Worshiped41.Window40.Madattentionglasssessionvehicleasorhauldonkey TODAY’S PUZZLE PUZZLESPREVIOUS ANSWERS BRAKESBOULEVARDAVENUEAUTOMOBILEASPHALTAIRBAGACCIDENTACCELERATE DENTDEFENSIVEDANGERCURVECRUISINGCRASHCLOVERLEAFBRIDGE PATROLLICENSEINTERCHANGEGEARFUELFASTEXPRESSWAYEXHAUST K YMCSPOT PLEASE NOTE: Colour lasers do not accurately represent the colours in the finished product.This proof is strictly for layout purposes only. CREATION DATE: 07/19/22 MODIFICATION DATE July 21, 2022 11:31 AM OUTPUT DATE: 07/26/22 APPROVALS ACD/CD:ArtSeniorCopywriter:Accounts:Producer:Copywriter:Director:PLEASEDOUBLECHECK FOR ACCURACY. Software: InDesign Version: CS6 #400 – 1085 Homer Street, Vancouver BC, V6B 1J4 p: 604 647 2727 f: 604 647 6299 www.cossette.com DOCKET # : 11179675 CLIENT: McD DESCRIPTION: Print Ad FILE NAME: 111179675_McD_Aug_McCrispy Ad_9.84x3.indd TRIM: 9.84" x 3" BLEED: 0" IMAGE RES: 300 dpi NOTES: Prod Mgr.: VB Acct Exec : -Art Director: -Copywriter: -Assoc. Creative Dir.: -Creative Dir: -Operator: CF 1PROOF # At participating McDonald’s restaurants in Canada. Product availability varies by restaurant. ©2022 McDonald’s Classic Classic McCrispy TM McCrispy Bacon Deluxe Bacon Deluxe
There is a weight to glory that may not be apparent when one sets out on a quest for glory. But the weight is there, nevertheless, and will ultimately crush the one who seeks for personal glory – maybe not this year or next, but ultimately the weight of glory will be too great to bear. The desire for personal glory is not a phenomenon that has plagued the world only in the last two or three or ten years. It has been around in one form or another since ancient times and before. No ethnic, religious, ideological, or social entity can claim immunity from the desire for glory, aka Power.There is no vaccine or other therapy that can relieve the burning itch once it fastens on the vitals. Even Jesus Christ was troubled by the weight of glory. Not that He sought glory for Himself. He didn’t. But His disciples certainly did and one of them, Judas who refused the only remedy, was ultimately crushed by its irresistibleOnweight.oneoccasion when they were in private conversation, Jesus asked the twelve what they had been disputing along the way. Obviously, He knew the answer, but the disciples needed a confession for their own moral and spiritual growth. But, for well-earned shame, the disciples remained silent at this time and refused to acknowledge that along the way they had been arguing about who would bear the greatest weight of glory. As for Jesus, He was not about to seek His own glory and His entire life taught the importance, the vitality of humility in all of life’s experiences. Humility, the sole antidote for the destructive desire for personal glory. But we humans don’t come by humilityNaturallynaturally.wewant to be first and best in everything even at the expense of all else that matters most for happiness and peace in this troubled world. And so, we have what we have: wars in Ukraine, East Africa, Yemen, Central Africa, West Africa, potential for more war with really loud noises in the South China Sea, and the recent history of wars almost worldwide, almost continually until we are all but hardened to the blood, the gore, the pain, the separation, the death. Show me one war in the last 100 years that was not ignited by an inordinate desire for personal glory. Oh, the weight of glory the perpetrators will bear not just in history but in the divine judgment!Weseeonce-liberal democracies using oppressive measures for population compliance.
From
BRAD BRAIN the evacuation zone
By Ruby McBeth A ugust is the month for Fall Fairs. On the first weekend in August Lorne and I at tended the Kiskatinaw Fall Fair. The breakfast Satuday morning looked so good we got one to share even though we had eaten at home. I entered four photos and placed in two categories. I had enough money to buy us ice cream cones on Sun day when we picked up the photos and prize money. Since Lorne grew up in Arras the Kiskatinaw Fair was home ground for him. We saw our niece Brenda there with her grand children. Shirley Grayson a friend from Sons of Norway who grew up in Groundbirch was also there. The second week in August we took in the pancake breakfast at St. Marks on parade day in Dawson. And, of course, the third weekend in August is the North Peace Fall Fair. I have been preparing photos and we will enter vegetables. There is a section in Handicrafts called Senior handicrafts. Entries are taken on Friday from 3pm to 8pm. To top off the month, the Hud son’s Hope Fair is on the fourth weekend in August. This year I see they have a 3-D archery shoot at 9 a.m. Lorne will be able to see his archery friends at that.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “A smile is a facelift that’s in everyone’s price range!” (Tom Wilson) Ruby McBeth lives and writes in Fort St. John.
I am writing this week’s column from the evacuation alert zone of the Keremeos Creek forest fire. It hasn’t been perilous for us but we were instructed that, if the situation deteriorated, we would have just one hour’s notice to leave with whatever we could take with us, and it wasn’t up for negotiation.That didn’t give me a lot of options. We are camped south of Penticton. But my pickup truck, which I need to haul my travel trailer, was in Kelowna, about a hundred kilometres away. Which basically means I need to be prepared to let my travel trailer, and everything in it, burn to the ground.Wedid what we could to get ready for a hasty departure, just in case. Took the awning down. Put things away. Took a lot of pictures of the trailer and contents in case I needed it for an insurance claim. But even as the smoke blotted out the sun, and ash rained down on us, and the fire fighting helicopters buzzed overhead, I wasn’t as concerned as you might think.The fire wasn’t close enough that we needed to be evacuated yet, we were just on alert for the potential of evacuation. There were lots of fire fighters on duty. We were supposed to get an hour warning if we needed to get out, and there was a back road escape route. With no truck to haul my trailer, all we would need to do was get in the car and go. I really didn’t agonize over the potential for loss, and part of the rea son for that was there wasn’t anything more for me to do. It was out of my hands now. It was an interesting situa tion. Calmly waiting for a potential disaster that may or may not happen. Part of the reason why I wasn’t more agitated is that I wasn’t in the same situation as others. I wasn’t go ing to lose my house, or my livelihood. After all, it’s just a travel trailer filled with things, including my golf clubs and the Xbox. But still, these things are mine and I like them. I quickly found perspective on the importance of all the things that we accumulate. If it came right down to it, I could cut all this stuff loose without regret. I can always buy another Xbox. Of course, I have the luxury of saying all this because the trailer is insured.Thefunny thing, now that I am in this situation where I know in ad vance that I could suffer a loss, is that I usually renew my trailer insurance automatically. But, like most people, I never really expect to actually need theIt’scoverage.notasif when my insurance comes up for renewal I say to my self. “Yep, better get full coverage. I don’t want to lose everything in an inescapable forest fire.” I simply renew the coverage without giving it much thought.Here’s the point. We insure our stuff, and we do it automatically because we wouldn’t dream of be ing uninsured. But too often we don’t adequately insure ourselves. Without question my most valuable asset is my ability to earn an income. And its probably yours as well. I can always buy another Xbox. But if I can’t work because of accident or sickness, now what? Where’s the money that I need to live going to come from now? The answer is disability insurance. Personally, I own as much as I qualify for. Nobody ever plans to be caught in an emergency situation, or to suffer a loss. But it happens. You can always buy another Xbox, and still we put insurance on our stuff without thinking about it. Replacing your ability to earn an income is not as easy, yet some people walk around with inadequate, or even zero, disabil ity insurance. Or, they think they may have some sort of coverage through work, but don’t even know what their coverage is. If that sounds like you, talk to an insurance professional about your income protection needs. You can al ways buy another Xbox, but replacing your income is not as straightforward. And you don’t usually get advance warning on a potential disaster. Brad Brain, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, TEP is a Certified Financial Planner in Fort St John, BC. This material is prepared for general circulation and may not reflect your individual financial circum stances. Brad can be reached at www. bradbrainfinancial.com.
During a heat wave this sum mer Lorne and I have discovered two well-shaded provincial parks at Charlie Lake. The first one we vis ited was on the east side of the lake at Beatton Park. You drive down past the ski lodge. The park is down by the lake and has a fishing dock, a boat launch, a children’s play area and camp spots. The second one is at Mile 54. There are signs on the highway but the entry is sort of hid den. You go in just at the end of the weigh scale area. This camp ground is very well shaded and private.
SENIORS HALL Fall Fair season is here
We see once-liberal democracies bending the minds of the vulnerable intoOh,compliance.thegloryof it all! How great grows the weight! We in Canada have been pretty smug in thinking that the problem lies over there somewhere to the south. It doesn’t.Inseeking the weight of glory, we engage with the best in economic and industrial exploitation of people who cannot help themselves. We decry the waves of “better-life seekers” forgetting or choosing not to know that it is frequently our own home-grown industries using our personal investments of surplus funds that are driving them off their lands and from their cities. Can you feel the weight? We continue to elect corrupt governments that use our own money to buy our allegiance and enhance their weight of glory. Don’t our so-called leaders understand that bought allegiance is only as good as the money they spend to get it? Don’t we, the bought, realize that we are being pimped. When the money’s all gone, what then?Whom will you phone? When inflation has eaten up our remaining reserves, what then? I’ve been observing governments around the world more in these last three years than ever before. What I see bodes no good for us peons who support them with our cheers and our dwindling wealth. We have been put on notice that everyone will appear before the judgment seat of God. That is one tribunal from which there is no appeal. That warning applies to Mr. Trudeau, Mr. Putin, Mr. Biden, all contenders for the throne, to me, and the school janitor.All,without exception, will appear. There is a weight to glory that may not be apparent when one sets out on a quest for glory. But the weight is there, nevertheless, and will ultimately crush the one who seeks for personal glory – maybe not this year or next, but ultimately the weight of glory will be too great to bear. Be wise; give God all the glory now and appear without the weight at the judgment.Bytheway, here are the ancient words straight from the messenger to the city of Corinth: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ where everyone will receive the penalty or the reward for things done in the body, whether they were good or bad (2:5:10). Merlin Nichols lives and writes in Chetwynd.
By Merlin Nichols
LEARNING THE LINGO This week’s term is “SIM card.” I learned about the SIM card when my phone stopped working. The fellow at Telus tried many things and finally said he would have to remove the SIM card and put it in again. That fixed the situation. The SIM card is a card the size of a finger nail inside the back of the phone. It has unique information on it that al lows your phone to connect to your network (e.g. Telus).
e weight of glory THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 | OP-ED | A11ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
CHARLIE PROVINCIALLAKEPARKS
SPCA seeks new local facility
Environment Canada issued heat warnings for most of the province on July 25 last ing through Aug. 1. New daily temperature rec ords were set in several com munities in Northeast B.C. on July 27 and July 28, as well as in the Alberta Peace. Many other areas of the province saw temperatures 10 degrees higher than nor mal, with records also falling throughout the Interior, Lower Mainland, and on Vancouver Island.Bycomparison, 619 people died in B.C. during a week of extreme heat across the prov ince last summer, known as the heat Accordingdome.to a report from the province’s chief coroner in June, that include 23 heat-re lated deaths in northern B.C., four of them in the Northeast. — with files from Bob Mackin
WILDFIRE AT WILLISTON — An idling wildfire at Williston Lake flared up last week during hot and windy weather. The Folded Hill Creek wildfire east of Nabesche River is in a remote area of the lake, officials say, and is being monitored with no current plans for suppression. The fire started July 26 and was previously being held at an estimated 30 hectares. It’s since grown to an estimated 200 hectares, and believed to have been caused by lightning.
Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca Work is expected to ramp up this fall on logging the Watson Slough to make way for the Site C dam reservoir, but BC Hydro says it will first need to breach beaver dams and cull the animals from the wetland before crews can begin. The slough was given a reprieve from logging in 2017 after pressure from the regional district to preserve it for as long as possible. With reservoir filling slated to begin as early as next year, BC Hydro says it will begin lower ing water levels in the slough this fall so that standing trees can be safely cleared over the winter.Spokesman Greg Alexis says work is being timed to “minimize the risk to amphib ians and migratory birds” but that the beavers first need to be removed from the wet land so they don’t repair the breaches of their dams. He says euthanizing the beavers was determined to be the most humane way to re move them from the slough as the animals are known to be aggressive and territorial, and “very susceptible to preda tion” without a lodge. “The likelihood of a beaver surviving relocation is quite low, while the stress of trap ping and relocation will be quite high,” Alexis said. “Addi tionally, suitable locations for release that are absent of established beavers are rare. This is problematic because beavers are very territorial and will fight to defend their territory.”Anestimated 90 hectares will be cleared at Watson Slough, though there is no estimate on the number of beavers to be removed. Alexis says meat from the beavers will be shared with local First Nations.“The trapper doing the work will be making use of the fur pelts and sharing the meat with local Indigenous groups,” heAlexissaid. says the slough needs to be cleared of standing trees this winter so they won’t pose a safety hazard once the reser voir is “Loweringfilled. the water level at Watson Slough is necessary so that most of the standing trees can be cleared safely over the winter,” he said. “Prior to lowering the water level, we’ll need to breach the beaver dams. To make sure beavers don’t repair the breaches, we have to remove them.” Despite the loss of wetland and the impending elimina tion of the beavers, Alexis says BC Hydro has partnered with Ducks Unlimited to replace what’s being lost and target ing 500 hectares for wetland compensation projects. The goal is no net loss of wetland functions.In2019, 50 hectares of new wetland area was added by Ducks Unlimited by Clay hurst. Alexis says 135 hectares of wetland is being worked on this summer 50 kilometres south of Dawson Creek, with another 40 hectares be ing worked on 30 kilometres northeast of Fort St. John. “The compensation oppor tunities identified so far are a combination of building new wetlands, saving established wetlands that were already under threat of being lost in the region, and incorporating wetland construction in areas that can be reclaimed once project construction is com plete,” Alexis said. Ducks Unlimited says its mandate remains wetland conservation and is working with BC Hydro to compensate for Site C impacts, including Watson Slough. However, a spokesperson said the organ ization is not directly involved in the decommissioning of Watson Slough and was un able to comment further. “The best way to conserve wetlands is to avoid impacts wherever possible. Where this is not possible, we establish partnerships to deliver wet land restoration and compen sation projects,” said Sarah Nathan, the organization’s provincial operations man ager for B.C. -Local Journalism Initiative
1) Maintain existing bridge in good condition The ministry says this would involve “ongoing maintenance and repair investments” as re quired to maintain the bridge as a “safe crossing.” Today, the bridge’s open steel grid deck requires more than 100 main tenance days per year, at a con servative estimate of $1 million.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWSA12 | NEWS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
The ministry says this con cept would support future economic growth both in Northeast B.C. and across the province. “This concept creates new opportunities for safer active transportation on the bridge and enhances connec tions to trails and Peace Island Park,” the ministry says. “This concept would require a new in-stream and foreshore bridge footprint.”
WILLISTON LAKE OUTFITTERS PHOTO
Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca There were zero heat-related deaths in northern B.C. dur ing a wave of record-setting heat across the province last month, according prelimin ary data from the coroners service.From July 26 to Aug. 3, there were 16 deaths attributed to heat in the province, most of them in the Fraser Health re gion where eight deaths were reported.Sixdeaths were reported in the Interior, and one death was recorded in each of the Vancouver Coastal and Island healthAccordingauthorities.tothe coroners service, six of the deaths were in the 70-to-79 age bracket. There were two each in the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups, three in 60-69, and three 80 and“Thereabove.is no direct temper ature at the time of death but there is evidence (circumstan tial, scene environment, med ical history) to support that heat played a significant caus al effect on the death,” reads the Aug. 9 report.
The SPCA continues to investi gate options for its animal shel ter in the North Peace after the local facility was closed earlier this year due to concerns about the structural integrity of the building.Thebuilding on 81 Avenue was closed in March following an inspection, and a timeline hasn’t been set for a possible move, says branch manager Candace Buchamer, who notes it’s been difficult to find ad equate housing that would meet the agency’s needs. “Basically, the BC SPCA is now moving forward to iden tify a new facility within Fort St. John to care for the animals in need in the community,” she said. “After the safety concerns were identified, we’ve been looking into repair costs and potential market value of the building, whether those repairs would be Buchamerfeasible.”says the SPCA had originally looked at renting space but soon realized modi fications would be needed to accommodate animals and the work of caring for them, some thing most landlords do not allow.It’sunclear if the agency will return to its original facility in the future. She says part of the assessment involves weighing whether it’s appropriate for donor funding to be used for any repairs, and nothing has been set in stone for a new lo cation to purchase. “I was informed that they are looking for a new location for us. It may be a tempor ary location, as in two to three years, until they can they more solidly make a determination on our existing facility,” said Buchamer.Though the facility is closed, the shelter’s work continues. Buchamer says she’s been grateful for the community’s support in the meantime, with fosters continuing to fill in the gaps and caring for animals in need.“We’ve had an amazing fos ter network, that really has been our saviour throughout all of this. If it weren’t for our fos ters keeping our homes open to cat after cat, we wouldn’t have been able to help the amount that we have during this time,” she said. “Our fosters have beenCatsintegral.”remain in need of the most help, says Buchamer, with a high number of surrenders and abandoned pets coming to the society. Thirty-six remain in care, with more on a waitlist. “We’re just one organiza tion working in the area, and I know that there’s multiple res cues that are all full and over whelmed by the issue as well,” sheMeanwhile,said. a new manager has also been hired for the South Peace SCPA in Daw son Creek, helping to reduce Buchamer’s daunting work load – she had previously been overseeing operations for both branches. The SPCA’s provincial transfer program is still operating, with cats being moved to homes on the coast and elsewhere in B.C. More than 47 cats have been trans ferred in the past two weeks. Anyone looking to get in touch with the SPCA should remain patient, as they’re too busy to be able to monitor their phone, but if you leave a message, staff and volunteers will return any calls. You can give them a call at 250-785-7722. -Local Journalism Initiative
Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
The report adds a caveat that, “The data are considered preliminary and subject to change as coroners’ investi gations conclude. These data were compiled by Coroner Notification Date, which may differ from the date of injury.”
Beavers to be culled for Site C logging
3. Replace existing bridge with a new two-lane bridge According to the ministry, “This concept would also cre ate new opportunities for safer active transportation on the bridge and enhance connec tions to trails and Peace Island Park. “This concept would re quire a new in-stream and fore shore bridge footprint.”
4. Replace existing bridge with a new four-lane bridge
5. Renew the existing bridge and add a new twolane bridge The ministry says adding a new solid deck surface would “prolong the useful life of the existing bridge” and would “meet current and future demand by increasing cap acity through a new two-lane bridge.”“This concept also creates new opportunities for safer active transportation on the bridge and enhances connec tions to trails and Peace Island Park,” the ministry says. “This concept would require a new in-stream and foreshore bridge footprint for the new two lane structure.”Theministry says engin eering investigations are con tinuing, including bridge inspections and in-stream inspections that include di ve-team investigations for riverbed erosion and in-river geotechnical drilling. More than 1,000 comments through virtual open houses, surveys, and written submis sions during the first round of public engagement last fall, the ministry says. Among the top concerns raised were the size of the bridge and ability to handle oversized loads and industrial equipment, construction time lines and limited opportunities for detour routes, safety con cerns with the South Taylor Hill and bridge approach and unprotected sidewalks, and maintaining connections to Peace Island Park and the boat launch.Thebridge, opened in 1960 and now 62 years old, sees 7,500 vehicles a day, accord ing to the ministry. About one-third of that is commer cial truck traffic, it says. The 712-metre two-lane bridge has carried drivers across the Peace River at the same spot where its predecessor collapsed after a 1957 landslide.
No northern heat wave deaths Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca
The provincial government says it is considering five con cepts for the future of the Tay lor Bridge. The transportation ministry on Tuesday said it has opened a second round of pub lic engagement on the bridge, with written submissions being accepted until Sept. 30. Among the five concepts being con sidered, according to the min istry, are:
“The bridge structure would be strengthened and repainted. This renewal would enable wider lanes to improve travel comfort, smoothness, and reliability,” the ministry says. “This concept would see some improvements for active transportation.”
2) Extensively renew exist ing two-lane bridge According to the ministry, this would involve adding a new solid deck surface “to minimize ongoing maintenance and re lated bridge closures.”
Five concepts for Taylor bridge
Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
Ducks on Little-Levin Lake, one of seven conservation areas overseen by the Nature Trust of B.C. in the Peace region. At right, these Calypso Orchids are rare and hard to find as they only bloom for a short time.
‘Just
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 | NEWS | A13
MATT PREPROST PHOTO Jim and Margaret Little with Carleton and April MacNaughton of the Nature Trust of B.C. during a recent trip to the Little-Levin Lake conservation area north of Fort St. John, Aug. 11, 2022.
On a map, Little-Levin Lake looks like a small jellybean or even a thumb print pressed into the patch work of farmland and forest north of Fort St. John. On the ground, its 60-plus hectares is rich with flora and fauna, filled with red waters common to muskeg lakes and bounded by black spruce and birch and willows, a small piece of wetland oasis being preserved for generations of wildlife to come. For decades, Jim Little and his wife Margaret have been coming here to enjoy its undisturbed beauty: the waterlilies lining the shores and dotting the lake with yellow, fleshy flowers, and the Western Grebes making it home for their mating dances across the water. There are the beavers and loons too, and the rare calypso orchids mixed in with the mauve daisies and paintbrush es, and the highbush cranberries and wild raspberries that fill out the forest.“Our main concern for this piece of land was it stays like this forever,” says Jim, who traces his connection to this particular spot back to his grandparents, Olaf and Thea Levin, who homesteaded nearby in the ear ly 1930s.Thelake is found at the headwaters of Indian Creek in the Montney area, a waterbody measuring some 600 metres long, accessible only through private property and a rugged quad ride through thickly overgrown trails. Jim recalls childhood days hiking from his grandparents’ home and into the secluded area during the fall. He knew from an early age he wanted to preserve the land for the future. “One year, this lake was just total ly covered with wild waterfowl,” he says. “There wasn’t another spot for a bird to land.” Of the Grebes, seen flying but not dancing during this outing, he says, “They do a fancy deal when they’re breeding. What they do is wrap their necks around each other, then they run across the lake together. It’s quite a deal.“They’re on any of these kind of lakes,” he says. “There’s only a pair or two a Thelake.”Littles purchased the land surrounding the lake in 1999, but first Jim had to convince Margaret it was a good place to buy. She still remembers the 80-degree day and the two-mile hike in. After her initial bewilderment and skepticism of the trek, she was sold. “We ended up buying the property and have been coming out every year since,” Margaret says. Now, she adds with a laugh, “when Jim shows an in terest in a piece of property, I usually sit up and listen.” The Littles bought the property from Roy Garlock with the goal of preserving the lake, a dream they made reality when they transferred it to the Nature Trust of B.C. in 2012. It’s now one of seven conservation areas preserving local wild land ecol ogy, most of them wetlands.
“Those are the areas that are often the most sensitive,” says Carleton MacNaughton, the Nature Trust’s conservation land manager for the Interior & Coastal Mainland, who joined the Littles during their annual visit to the lake this week. “We try to acquire properties that have some thing rare on it, or it’s just really rich with“Folksspecies.”likeMargaret and Jim Little, their generosity and forward think ing, and the long-term view for their property that they owned and stew arded for so many years on their own… nobody lives forever, but if you want those habitat values to remain long after you’re gone, then we set something up,” he says. “It’s a pretty greatOtherlegacy.”local Trust projects include elk, deer and thinhorn sheep winter range at Dunlevy, as well as Class 1 wetland and waterfowl habitat at McQueen Slough north of Dawson Creek, and Boundary Lake bordering the Alberta border northeast of Fort St. MacNaughtonJohn. travels to the region yearly to visit the conservation areas and meet with partners like Ducks Unlimited and donors like the Littles. The check-ins are also a chance to complete various ecological assess ments to keep a baseline under standing of what’s happening on the land.“If we just came and visited and looked at the signs and walked away, you wouldn’t really keep track of what’s going on year-to-year and know whether you’re moving the ecological needle in a good way, or if the property is slipping back to something you don’t want them to be in,” he says. “We want to make sure it’s optimal for wildlife habitat so we like to keep a baseline going.” That said, MacNaughton adds a lot of the work also comes with the drudgery of cleaning up someone else’s“Wemess.were down at Comstock Slough (north of Dawson Creek) and spent a whole day just picking up il legal dumping spots on the property. Household garbage, kids toys, mat tresses, cable clippings from some job,” he says. “The big sign’s right there, you can’t miss it. They do it anyways.“It’sreally frustrating. Certainly it happens a lot more in the lower mainland where we’ve got a lot more people, but it happens everywhere unfortunately.”MacNaughton says the Nature Trust is still being sustained from an original $4.5-million endowment from the federal government at its founding in 1971. He says the Trust is always looking for more projects and interested if landowners have prop erty of ecological significance they would like to see secured. “It’s a really good deal if you have a piece of property that’s like this, that can stay forever the way it is,” says Margaret.Fornow, MacNaughton says Lit tle-Levin Lake is hands-off in terms of its management needs. It can only be accessed through private property with landowner permission, and the lake and surrounding forest will stay as is long after the Littles are gone. “Our wishes for the property are in line with Margaret and Jim’s wishes for the property. Keep it natural, and that’s what we’ll do our best to do,” he says. “We like our well-kept secrets. Just between us and the wildlife.” between us and the wildlife’
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WHERE TEENS SHOULD VOLUNTEER It’s most motivating for young people when they can select volunteer opportunities that align with their passions, interests and ambitions. There are a large number of potential places where teens can volunteer, including: • Seniors residences • nimal shelters • Libraries • Food ban s • ommunity centres It’s worth pointing out that not all volunteering opportunities require a long-term, ongoing commitment. harity undraisers li e run or the cause events and community occasions like the town’s Easter parade often require volunteers for only one or two days. Volunteer experience invariably strengthens a young person’s resume; however, the real value of volunteering is emphatically the positive impact it has on others as well as on the volunteer. volunteering: how to get them involved
From front page “We want the locals to know who we are and what we do so in the future our children, our grandchil dren, when they grow up here, their friends will know they’re Filipino heritage Canadians,” she said. “It will be something they can em brace and they won’t feel alienated because they’ve been told about it, or they read about it.”
Gaming revenues continue to flow back into city coffers after being cut off during the Covid-19 pandemic. The city netted $189,467.40 between April and June 2022, according to a letter to the city from the BC Gaming and Policy Enforcement Branch in July. Casinos reopened on Canada Day 2021 after be ing shuttered at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, leaving munici palities across the province with big holes to fill in their budgets.Gaming revenues generated in Fort St. John have long sup ported operating the Pomeroy Sport Centre, while a share of revenues are also set aside by the province for gaming grants available to non-profit organizations.Sincecasinos reopened last year, Fort St. John has earned $654,000 from its share of local revenues.Coun. Tony Zabinsky said those are of great help to the city. “And it should be noted that this is a good amount of money that we get quarterly,” he said at last Monday’s coun cil meeting.
According to a review published Research, teen volunteers demonstrate higher levels of wellbeing, personal development and social connectedness than their nonvolunteer peers. This evidence suggests that getting your own teen involved in volunteering will provide them not only a chance to ll out their resumes, but also the opportunity to become happier, more well-rounded individuals. WHY TEENS SHOULD VOLUNTEER Volunteering can promote various aptitudes in teens such as leadership and communication skills, which will serve them well in their educational pursuits and on the job market. However, there are also psychological bene ts that volunteer work a ords them. Research reported on in the 2014 review indicates that teens that do volunteer work have higher self-esteem and resilience than those that don’t.
Teen
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWSA14 | NEWS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
“It was actually the district’s initiative to reach to Northern Health just to get their input. They’ve been working really well with us,” said Heiberg. He added that the district wasn’t obligated to put out the order, but felt it was appropri ate to protect residents while the aerator is “Unfortunately,I’mfixed. asking the public to be patient a little while longer until we can get this one sorted out, and keep ing our fingers crossed we should be able to fire the plant up,” Heiberg said. It’s estimated the repairs will take three weeks, with the order remaining in place until the work is complete. Staff are working hard to stay on top of the situation, said Heiberg. Twenty units in the aera tor were cleaned last Friday to start, before deciding it would more efficient to replace them entirely. The units which make up the aerator are made of plastic, noted Heiberg. “It just wasn’t feasible to take them out and clean them. Some were damaged, so staff decided with consultant from the contractor that we’re bet ter off just to replace that medium,” he said. Sand for the plant’s reverse osmosis filters is also expected to arrive this week, Heiberg added.“We should be able to have that piece fixed up, and I was going to update the commun ity as soon as the sand arrived,” saidTestingHeiberg.continues for ironbacteria and E.Coli, following super chlorination last week. Test results indicate they re main at acceptable levels. “From the feedback I’ve got ten, it went very well. The well is before the aerator and if we can kill those iron providing bacteria at the source it will probably not plug up the rest of the system so bad - that’s the theory,” Heiberg said. In the meantime, the Beryl Prairie water stand is open for anyone wanting water for their animals or pets.
Among the first genera tion of immigrants to come here, Salinas is proud of his Fil-Can identity, and see ing local families growing while maintaining their cul ture and integrating into the community.“I’mproud to be a Fili pino. I’m proud to be Can adian,” he said. “I’m very thankful of what happened,” he adds of the formation of the associa tion. “I would like to see for the next generation that the unity would still be there. Helping each other is the key.“In the future, hopefully the next generation will fol low those footsteps.”
HOW TO ENCOURAGE TEENS TO VOLUNTEER
in 2014 by the Institute for Volunteering
Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca
One of the best ways to get teens to volunteer is to lead by example. This can mean volunteering yourself when you get the chance, or doing volunteer activities as a family, which has the added advantage of promoting bonding and mutual respect between the family members involved.
Hudson’s Hope Mayor Dave Heiberg is asking residents to continue to being patient while the district works out issues with the water treat ment plant, after a Do Not Consume Order was issued lastInweek.amedia release, Heiberg says the district consulted with Northern Health over the or der and decided they would put the order in place as a pre cautionary measure while the plant’s aerator is repaired, as several damaged units need to be replaced.
Fil-Can celebrating 15 years Artisan Cheryl Bisnar with some of Aug.celebrations15Association’sCanadianPeaceatonPhilippinesfromBayongindigenousherbagsthedisplaytheNorthFilipinoyearon14,2022.
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PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given to the electors of the Peace River Regional District that nominations for the following of ces for a four year term will be received by the Chief Election Of cer, or designate, between 9:00 am, August 30, 2022 and 4:00 pm, September 9, 2022: •One (1) Director representing Electoral Area B •One (1) Director representing Electoral Area C •One (1) Director representing Electoral Area D •One (1) Director representing Electoral Area E
In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2022 general local election, the expense limit for electoral area director candidates during the campaign period is $5,398.92.
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Nomination forms are available beginning July 29, 2022 at the Peace River Regional District of ces during regular of ce hours, until the close of the nomination period on September 9, 2022 at 4:00pm, or can be obtained by an email request to tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca or tab.young@prrd.bc.ca QUALIFICATIONSFOR OFFICE
A person is quali ed to be nominated, elected, and to hold of ce as a member of local government if they meet the following criteria: •Canadian citizen; •18 years of age or older on general voting day, October 15, 2022; •resident of British Columbia for at least six (6) months immediately before the day nomination papers are led; and •not disquali ed by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding the of ce, or be otherwise disquali ed by law.
In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2022 general local elections, the third party directed advertising limits applicable in each of the four electoral areas is $809.84. The cumulative third party directed and issue advertising limit in all BC local government election areas is $161,967.47 For further information on the nomination process, please contact: Tyra Henderson, Chief Election Of cer 250-784-3216 or Tab Young, Deputy Chief Election Of cer at 250-784-3207 or (toll free) 1-800-670-7773. For further information on campaign period expense limits and third party advertising limits, please contact Elections BC: Toll-free phone: 1-800-661-8683; Email: electoral. nance@elections.bc.ca; Website: www.elections.bc.ca RIVER REGIONAL DISTRICT
By hand, courier or other Peace River Regional District Head Of ce 1981 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC, V1G 4P7 mail Peace River Regional District Chief Election Of cer Box Dawson810,Creek BC V1G 4H8 By fax to: 250-784-3201,
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Attention Chief Election Of cer By email to: tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca Originals of faxed or emailed nomination documents must be received by the Chief Election Of cer by 4:30 pm on September 16, 2022 at 1981 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC Nomination documents can be submitted in the following ways: SELL YOUR &SnowmobileBoatRVCarMotorcycleMore PlaceFASTER!YourFREE Ad Today! 15 Words or Less Some restriction apply. Contact us for details. buy • sell • subscribe to our newsletter Contact Lynn @ 250-785-5631 or classi eds@ahnfsj.ca for details Email rwallace@ahnfsj.ca with any inquiries or to submit an obituary. Obituaries Honour and share the memory of a loved one with a touching tribute. All obituaries booked with us run in the print edition digital edition on our website and are shared on Facebook Fort St John Hospital Foundation GeneralAnnualMeeting Everyone is welcome to attend 7 PM SeptemberWednesday28th2022, @ Northern Lights College, room 154-155 Notice of special resolution: Purposed changes to the Constitution & By-Laws To have voting privileges at the AGM you must be a paid member 30 days before the meeting. GET RESULTS! Reach almost 2 million people in 92 papers for only $395/week for a 25-word text ad, or $995/week for a formatted display ad Book by province or whole country and save over bccommunitynews.com/85%!advertise1-866-669-9222 X THIS IS WHERE YOUR AD SHOULD BE EQUIPMENTMISCANNOUNCEMENTSFARM flHow do you learn as a family? Tell us #FamilyLiteracyDay Find more ways to learn at play as a family at www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca Have a shapes scavenger hunt, taking turns finding shapes indoors and outdoors. Then make each shape with your body — kids and adults work together. LEARN AT PLAY, EVERY DAY.
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Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca Remembering history is im portant to every culture. No matter what your back ground might be, traditions, even language, can quickly disappear from generation to generation.Eldersand knowledge keep ers with the Halfway River First Nation are hoping that doesn’t happen to their community. Again, this summer, the HRFN is holding what it’s call ing cultural camps, outings meant to pass on knowledge to the Volunteers,young. like Jeff Metecheah, teach kids trad itional methods of hunting and fishing and ways to live off the“Whenland. we get the game, we process the meat and put food away for the winter.” “I guess we have about 100 people this year coming and going including some visiting from other communities,” said Metecheah, one of the driving forces behind the idea. One of the more popular meats is moose. “We also have elk and deer. We’ve got some really nice buck deer, so far. I think they’ve been shooting some beaver too and snaring rabbits for the elders.” “We’re trappers, as well,” he added.What’s unique about the concept is that there’s no motorized vehicles. “It’s a traditional camp. We useBesideshorses.”its founding herit age, the area also has a longstanding history of cattle ranching dating back almost 75 “Theseyears. kids here, they love this. That’s why we’re still here. They don’t want to go home,” Metecheah said. Sixteen-year-old Ryder Ach la loves everything about the camp.“Ilove the hunting part. We provide for the camp.” “It’s really all about encour aging our future generations to stay with the land,” said Metecheah, something he hopes these kids will carry on. “My late uncle Bernie, he saved this area for us, and that’s why we’re here today.”
DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO Ryder Achla, 16, saddles his horse ahead of a two-and-a-half hour trip back to the Halfway River First Nation from a weekend cultural camp. Nation as part of a cultural camp. Right: An arbour meeting place River First Nation’s
Culture, tradition, history passed on to next generation DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTOS Left: Youth with the Halfway River First
are learning traditional ways of hunting and fishing
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWSA16 | NEWS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
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