ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A2 | NEWS | THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020
Clean yards feed his peers Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca Call it his sense of civic doody: Grade 3 Bert Ambrose student Austin Faulkner spent the first few weeks of this year’s spring running his own poopscooping business, and cleaning up 1,260 kilograms of dog waste from 47 yards around town. And because of it, he was able to raise $2,008.50 to support the breakfast program at his school. “I get to eat breakfast in the morning but lots of people at my school don’t,” said Austin. “I wanted to send some money so they would be able to get food to feed other kids.” The daily breakfast program at Bert Ambrose serves five to 10 students per day, and includes a fruit basket available to students who need an extra snack for morning recess or lunch, said Principal Laurie Wright. The basket is emptied daily, and many students grab a piece of fruit after school before they head home, she said. The school has not formally run the program since spring break because of COVID-19. However, it has started to bring in a small number of students who need supports, and the school will provide breakfast and snacks as needed, Wright said. Austin’s donation will go a long way, and will help to fund the program next school year for three months, Wright said.
“We are so proud of this young man and thankful to him and his supportive parents,” said Wright. The school has also delivered food hampers and grocery store gift cards to several families, thanks to the grandparents of one of its students, Wright added. A big animal lover, Austin said his favourite part of his job was getting to see all the dogs. And getting to spend time with his dad Craig, who also helped out, was pretty cool, too. Austin saved some of his earnings, and plans to buy a portable swimming pool to enjoy this summer. He might clean up a few more yards still this year, and return to business next spring. “It’s always good to give back,” he said. In the meantime, Austin is keeping busy with his school work at home, but is eager to return to class. “I want to go back to school to see all my friends and hang out,” he said.
Austin Faulkner delivers his earnings to Bert Ambrose principal Laurie Wright.
Spring Cleanup: June 1 - 14th The Peace River Regional District Spring Clean Up program will be happening this year from June 1 to 14. Tipping fees will be waived for sorted, self-hauled waste that comes from your property. Make sure to check what waste is accepted before hauling. During Spring Cleanup, some PRRD Transfer Stations and Landfills will have extended hours! Check prrd.bc.ca/landfill transfer-station/ for the full list of hours. Please remember to practice social distancing while at the landfills and transfer stations, so that together we can flatten the COVID-19 Curve. Thank you for working with us during this time.
2020 Cleanup Coupons Each year, the Peace River Regional District mails out free cleanup coupons that let residents take up to four free loads per year at any PRRD landfills or Tier 1 and 2 transfer stations. Make sure you check what items are accepted at your nearest landfill/transfer station before taking your load. Who gets cleanup coupons? Cleanup Coupons are available for all residential properties within the PRRD, which includes both rural and municipal residents. Each coupon value is equal to $13.75 and entitles disposal of up to 250 KG or 2m3 of eligible residential waste. There is a limit of one coupon per household per visit. When can I expect to receive my coupons?
PRRD RN/RPN Return of Service Scholarship The Peace River Regional District Board recognized the need for more health care professionals in the region and has developed a Health Care scholarship program. These scholarships and bursaries will assist in the recruitment of new health care professionals to the region and encourage health care professionals in the region to expand their skills. Six scholarships of $5,000 are available to individuals enrolled in a RN/RPN degree program. First priority for this scholarship is given to graduates from the Peace River Regional District. Completed applications are to be returned by email to the Regional District at prrd.dc@prrd. bc.ca by June 30th of each year.
For more information this opportunity or other PRRD scholarship and bursaries:
Cleanup Coupons have now been sent by mail to all households in the PRRD who used their cleanup coupons the year before. Coupons for this year can be used from May 1st, 2020 to April 30th, 2021. What do I do if I did not receive my coupons? If you did not receive your cleanup coupons, you can request that they are mailed to your address. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, coupons are not able to be picked up at PRRD Offices and must be requested by mail.
Development Services Public Notices The PRRD Development Services Department has added new procedures for applications to continue moving forward while still maintaining transparency and dialogue during these times of social distancing. How to Review Proposed Developments in Your Area: •
Public Notices will be posted on the windows of both PRRD Offices.
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Applications for development are posted on the PRRD Website Active Developments Engage Page (Make sure you check out the new and improved Active Development Page!) at prrd.bc.ca/engage.
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Paper copies can be requested by contacting 250-784-3200 or emailing prrd.dc@prrd.bc.ca for curbside pickup between 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday-Friday at PRRD Offices.
visit prrd.bc.ca/scholarships
Celebrate your birthday with the Charlie Lake Fire Department! Next PRRD Board Meetings:
May 28, 2020 June 11, 2020 10:00am | Dawson Creek 10:00am | Dawson Creek
To view board schedules and minutes visit:
prrd.bc.ca
If you or someone in your home is between the ages of 2 – 12 or over the age of 75, you can request a drive-by birthday cheer from the Charlie Lake Fire Department, complete with a firetruck, lights, and sirens. Contact the Charlie Lake Fire Department at 250-785-1424 between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday – Friday to request a Birthday Drive-by. Requests will be scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A8 | NEWS | THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020
SENIORS HALL Spring Work It is hard to believe but spring is finally here. Both of our local greenhouse businesses are willing to take orders over the phone or by e-mail. You will want to ask what time is best. One place said that opening time was very quiet while the other said it was quieter near the end of their day. The problem I had was arriving at 9
a.m. to pick up my order — I saw all the lovely flowers and wished I could have bought more! Face masks anyone As the restrictions are loosened, I for one want to be careful in public places. I have some face masks I can wear and I am starting to use them. There are three types of face masks: industrial, medical, and do-it-yourself (DIY). The industrial ones are the N95’s that you hear talked about.
In the past you saw workers wearing them. They keep out impurities in the air including bacteria and viruses. They are the gold standard in face masks. The second type are the medical masks. You have seen those on your dental hygienist. The problem with industrial and medical masks is that they are in short supply. That is why there has been an explosion in the development of the third type: the DIY masks. For homemade masks, one website gave a listing of the efficiency of various materials. From high to low they listed: vacuum cleaner bags (95%), dish towels (82%), cotton t-shirts (74%), antimicrobial pillowcases (65%), wool scarves (62%), linen (60%), and silk (58%). What they are calling for is two layers of tightlywoven fabric. You sew, glue, or staple them
together using folds or darts to allow room for breathing. Google “make your own face mask” to see some of the interesting approaches. Just one piece of advice: when you wear a mask don’t wear good earrings; they tend to get tangled up in the mask’s ties. Our daughter Barbara helped us out by sewing masks - a plain brown one for Lorne and a pretty print one for me. When I wear mine on our evening walks, I am glad it is feminine. An adventure Ryan Kennedy walked the 2,650mile Pacific Crest Trail which goes from Mexico to Canada. To watch the video he made from his trip, Google “Pacific Crest Trail - One Second Every Day -YouTube.” This is sort of a variation on slow T.V. — a quiet pleasure. — Ruby McBeth
RUBY MCBETH PHOTO
Ruby McBeth shows off one of her favourite masks she’s been wearing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
Two of the laundry bags that were decorated by community members and then donated to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation by SJA Promotions.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A12 | NEWS | THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020
Bureaucracy scam Kalpana - Unemployment is becoming a real problem in Fort St. John during COVID-19. The food banks are overwhelmed, people are scared, trying to make ends meet while facing an uncertain future. The Government reassures us every five minutes on the news, telling us there is financial help for those who need it. Of course, they don’t tell us about the days we will have to spend on the phone and the paperwork we will need to pile up in order to access that help. Charo - I personally witnessed a person staying on the phone for five hours, waiting for an EI employee to listen to her case and give her assistance. At the end of those five hours, a message told her that the offices were now closed and instructed her to call tomorrow. So she did and then she spent the whole next day engaged in the same activity. This is not the only case. I have heard of several people going through the same ordeal. Crazily, it seems to be the norm now. Phone assistance is becoming a nightmare of recorded messages, wait times, and operators who have no idea of what they are talking about. This is unacceptable when
we are talking about a public service. Kalpana – It is not only EI. The same situation happens with Canadian Revenue Agency. If you call them because you need support filing your T4, you need to plan for hours waiting on the phone, whereas if you file your taxes late, you will be fined. I think in what we call “normality”, we have forgotten who is the boss here. We are the bosses. We vote for the politicians, we pay for the public services with our taxes and then, when it comes to claiming our rights, like EI during a pandemic, or help filing taxes, we are treated like garbage. Something does not make sense here. Charo - Yes, I think that basically we have inverted the roles so badly in this game of sub-democracy we play, that we have forgotten that the noun democracy means “the power of the people” (from the Greek Demos=people, Kratia=power). It is clear we need to reduce the number of Senators, MLAs, and politicians of all ilk and increase the number of workers in Government helplines in order to make these adequate. And note I’m not saying ex-
SOLANGE SANHUEZA
cellent, just adequate. Which they are not at the moment. If we are offered benefits that we are awarded by Law, but we cannot actually access those benefits because of the Government’s bureaucratic incompetence, then we are being scammed of our fundamental rights. Kalpana - Also, have you noticed there is no way to complain about bureaucratic incompetence? The Government has not taken the trouble to establish a custom-
er service quality standard for public assistance, nor an office to solve problems related with their own service provision. So, even though, since we are a Democracy, we are the bosses, how do we control the process? How do we make sure we receive what is due to us? How do we enforce our position as the most important part of the system? Charo - Well, we are complaining now. Consider this a complaint, Mr. Trudeau. Perhaps you should pick up
your cellphone and record how long does it take you to contact EI to access the emergency help you have announced ad nauseam? Kalpana - Well, he must have a very good cellphone, so chances are at least he won’t run out of battery, like the rest of us. Charo Lloret is from Spain; Kalpana Loganathan is from India. They reflect on their experiences immigrating to Canada.
PRRD collecting organic waste for pilot project Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca The Peace River Regional District, along with the Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT) are looking for organic waste to help with a vermicompost pilot project. There will two be dates in May where the community can come and
drop off scrap and garbage food that would normally be composted at home. The pilot project was started during the BC Winter Games needs additional organic material. “This is an interesting situation,” said NEAT Executive Director Karen Mason-Bennett. “Normally we would approach restaurants and schools to gather this
material, but due to the COVID pandemic, they are closed.” Organic waste can be dropped off betwen 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on May 16 at the Community Gardens (96 St. and 100 Ave) and May 30 behind the Kid’s Arena Fieldhouse. Accepted waste includes any kitchen and food scraps, collected in a bin, and can include bones, meat,
and cheese. Restaurants are able to participate. The PRRD says “the organics will be used to feed worms that will test the feasibility of an organics diversion program,” in hopes to use worms to help reduce organic waste. For more info, contact NEAT at 250-785-6328, or the PRRD at 1-888-689-6328.
PRRD examining solid waste options Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca The Peace River Regional District is examining new options for solid waste services and system financing. On April 23, environmental consultant Veronica Bartlett from Morrison Hershfield went before the board to review previously discussed priorities and strategies. “There’s certainly more interest in a regional solution for energy recov-
ery and residual waste management, for both organics and non-recyclable materials” said Bartlett. Two outstanding issues are curbside collection in rural areas and illegal dumping. Rural curbside would cost around $1.4 million if implemented. “Recycling and garbage disposal is less accessible compared to municipal collection,” said Bartlett. Illegal dumping continues to be a problem, with the PRRD offering
spring and fall cleanup programs in order to combat the issue. Dumping primarily takes place on Crown land, said Bartlett, and suggested an outreach program could reduce it. “There’s an opportunity to get feedback from stakeholders, such as the agricultural community,” said Bartlett. Harmonizing residential disposal rates is also listed among the priorities. As of May 1, residents pay $55 per tonne for bulk household waste
including furniture, and 80 cents per bag for small household waste. Wood, metal, and animal carcasses are also charged at $55 per tonne, with a $6 fee each for tires. Unsorted waste is charged at $110 per tonne. A lower priority option is to send waste in neighbouring regions like Alberta, where it can be managed, said Bartlett. Ensuring an efficient waste facility network and improving access to local waste services are also listed among the PRRD’s priorities.