AHN DEC 29, 2022

Baker rises from kitchen to Netflix

By Hanna Petersen

With more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, it’s been a whirlwind of a journey since Katie Stymiest started her baking business Caked by Katie, and her latest exploit is appearing as a contestant on the brand-new Netflix show Cook At All Costs

Stymiest is no stranger to television appearances either, as she was one of three Northern B.C. based bakers who appeared on the Food Network’s Big Holiday Bake in November 2021 as part of the Reindeer Games Challenge.

But now the former Fort St. John resident is stepping out of her comfort zone with a new challenge as a home cook competing against three other cooks in the competition cooking show hosted by chef and restaurateur Jordan Andino.

“I randomly got an email one day, and I thought it was like a scam and deleted it but it was a producer from the show, and they asked if I would be interested in competing on a cooking show,” said Stymiest about how this opportunity came to be.

She eventually thought to see if it was real and replied to the email having researched the production company online. “I was like, oh, this is actually real. Then it was really exciting and kind of nerve wracking and I thought let’s check it out.”

Stymiest said she is more confident in her baking skills but was also really excited because it would be a good opportunity to show that she can cook and does enjoy cooking.

“I have no training or experience in a professional setting whatsoever with cooking. It is just me in the kitchen with my family.”

The premise of the show is to find out if a home cook can make an amazing meal regardless of the ingredients, whether or not those ingredients are really cheap or super expensive. Three contestants all compete under pressure to cook the best meal after bidding on one of three boxes. Continued on A10

2023 AREA C LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY-ELECTION

NOTICE OF NOMINATION PERIOD

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given to the electors of the Peace River Regional District that nominations for one (1) Director representing Electoral Area C for a four year term will be received by the Chief Election Officer, or designate, between 9:00 am, January 10, 2023 and 4:00 pm, January 20, 2023:

Nomination documents can be submitted in the following ways:

BY

Peace River Regional District Head Office 1981 Alaska Avenue Dawson Creek, BC, V1G 4P7

Peace River Regional District Fort St. John Office (by appointment only – please contact

Officer to schedule) 9505 – 100 Street Fort St. John, BC V1J 4N4

BY MAIL:

Peace River Regional District Chief Election Officer Box 810, Dawson Creek BC V1G 4H8 BY FAX:

jprestley@telus.net or tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca

Nomination forms will be available beginning December 23, 2023 at the Peace River Regional District offices during regular office hours, on the Regional District website at prrd.bc.ca, or can be obtained by sending an email request to jprestley@telus.net or tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca until the close of the nomination period on January 20, 2023 at 4:00 pm.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE

A person is qualified to be nominated, elected, and to hold office as a member of local government if they meet the following criteria:

• Canadian citizen;

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day (Saturday, February 25, 2023);

• resident of British Columbia for at least six (6) months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed; and

• not disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding the office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

CAMPAIGN PERIOD EXPENSE LIMITS

In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2023 Local Government Area C By-Election, the expense limit for electoral area director candidates during the campaign period is $5,398.92

THIRD PARTY ADVERTISING LIMITS

In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2023 Local Government Area C By-Election, the third party directed advertising limits applicable for the electoral area 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: Janet Prestley, Chief Election Officer at 250-263-8650 or Tyra Henderson, Deputy Chief Election Officer 250-784-3216 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.finance@elections.bc.ca; Website: elections.bc.ca

Don’t be target for car thieves

Fort St. John police are again reminding residents to “lock it or lose it” in response to a string of vehicle thefts during the recent cold snap. “According to one frontline police officer, almost every morning for the past week, the Fort St John RCMP has received a report of theft of vehicle where the vehicle was left running, unlocked, and the owner returned to find it stolen,” reads a public service announcement from Cst. Chad Neustaeter of the Fort St. John RCMP.

“This creates an avoidable hardship for the victim and unnecessary work for the police.”

Last month, RCMP also warned of consecutive reports officers received about stolen vehicles that had been left unlocked while warming up in the cold weather. Police said it is “imperative” to lock the doors if you are leaving your vehicle unattended.

“Running vehicles are easy targets for thieves. Leaving a vehicle unlocked with keys in a vehicle make it a prime target for getting

stolen and often the vehicle is not located,” the release states. “Making matter worse, the vehicle often has personal identification and belongings in it which can be used for identity theft or the debit/credit cards get used fraudulently.”

Here are some tips RCMP have previously released for vehicle owners: lock your vehicle every time you leave it unattended, even for a short time; -take all personal belongings with you when you leave your vehicle unattended, such as wallets, keys and money; remove or cover purchased items if you leave your vehicle unattended for additional shopping; -if you need to run your vehicle to warm it up, lock it and use a second set of keys to open the vehicle when you return; install and use additional safety items such as security systems, command start or a steering wheel “Club”; turn off your vehicle and lock it when you go into a convenience store or gas station, even if just for a short time.

New adventure lies in waiting

By Dave Lueneberg

Prince George Spruce Kings centre John Herrington has known two hometowns growing up – Hudson’s Hope and Prince George.

Next fall, he’ll add a third to that list – Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan.

Herrington, a former prodigy of the Cariboo Cougars hockey system, is completing his fourth and final season in the B.C. Hockey League and will head east to attend Lake Superior State University and begin play with the university’s NCAA Division 1 hockey club.

However, before that, there’s still a large chunk of hockey left to be played here and leave his mark etched with the Junior A club, possibly leading them to a second-straight playoff run.

“It’s been good. We’ve had a really good start,” said Herrington, who leads the club in scoring with 10 goals and six assists in 17 games.

“Really enjoying my season, so far. We’re rolling right now. My linemates are doing really well, getting into the corners. Most of my success is due to them.”

On Nov. 11, the club recorded its 10th win (10-5-1-1) on the road in Merritt, but it was the night before against the same Centennials, a 3-2 loss, where Herrington managed to score both goals.

“It’s a different role for me on the team this year. I get to be a bit more of a leader. I’m wearing a letter now,” said Herrington.

“It’s a cool experience and it’s a good experience for me. I split with another guy last season wearing the ‘A” so this is my first year full-time wearing the A.”

For the kid from Hudson’s Hope, the love for hockey started an early age.

“My dad used to pick me up from school when I was, like, three and four, and we’d head over to the rink. They would be nobody at the rink from, like, 3:30 to 7 p.m. We’d stay

there for four hours and then have dinner. We did this three, four times a week,” Herrington added.

His father, he said, also built him an outdoor rink to hone his skills.

“I started out as a defenceman, because that’s what my dad was, but I realized I liked scoring goals a lot more than playing defence, so I switched. I love taking face-offs…another battle I had to win.”

It was, likely, that drive that got him noticed by scouts during the 2020 pod season in Chilliwack.

“We played 20 games in some 40 days in one location and I guess they were watching a lot of those games. In the summer they offered me a scholarship.”

Herrington considers it a good fit.

“They’re one of the smaller schools in a tight-knit community. It’s about five minutes across the border from [Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.] Canada. I guess a lot of their Canadian players will just walk across the border and go get Tim Hortons, all the time.”

The 20-year-old, though, is playing coy when asked if that was a deciding factor for him to sign.

Asked if there were any big influences in his young hockey career, one name came to mind – former midget Tracker coach Gerard Dicaire.

“He kind of made me the player I am today which has gotten me this far,” Herrington said.

But, no matter how far his future takes him, he’ll always be remembered by the place he grew up.

“We are so proud of him. The community is really proud of him,” said Hudson’s Hope mayor Dave Heiberg.

“He was so talented at such a very young age. That’s such a tough racket to break into but he works really, really hard at it. Very serious about it as you have to be at that age. We wish him well!”

PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS

Hudson’s Hope hockey player John Herrington is playing his final season in the BCHL before heading off to university in September.

HAND, COURIER OR OTHER DELIVERY SERVICE:

Chief Election

250-784-3201, Attention Chief Election Officer BY EMAIL:

Originals of faxed or emailed nomination documents must be received by the Chief Election Officer by 4:30 pm on January 27, 2023 at 1981 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC

ANGELAMOODYMAKEUP

ARTISTRY

TIMHORTON’S SMILECOOKIE CAMPAIGN

Thank you to our local Tim Hortons for making us the beneficiary of the Smile Cookie Campaign! Between three Tim Hortons locations, $7,392.80 was raised for the FSJ Hospital Foundation during Smile Cookie Week in Fort St. John. The event ran across Canada for a week in September, raising a record-breaking $15 million for over 600 local charities through Smile Cookie sales.

From Left to Right: Kelly Amboe (FSJ Hospital Foundation Executive Director), Ria Cunan, and then Amrinder Singh and Angela Chu

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON — Larry and Neil Evans are certainly in esteemed Royal company. After all, just how many father and sons can say they hold both a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Platinum Jubilee medal? These two upstanding gentlemen were honoured with the Diamond medal in 2012, and earlier this year with a Platinum medallion to mark the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II — all to commemorate their continued commitment to Fort St. John in the areas of health care, emergency response, and community service. Larry, formerly fire chief and city councillor, was also the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal in 2003. Above, Larry and Neil are pictured in the backyard of the Evans family home.

LIGHTAMOOSERADIOTHON

The Community donated an impressive $153,763.50 through the 19th Annual Rhyason Contracting Light a Moose. Many individuals, families, and businesses dropped by, donated online, or phoned in to make their donations to what has become a longstanding tradition to many in the community. Two corporate donors, NorthRiver Midstream, and Mustang Rentals each generously matched the first and second $20,000 earned through the radiothon doubling the value of every donation. Murray GM continued their tradition of giving $25 for every oil change completed during the 3 day radiothon, totalling a $1,500 donation. The community donated $100,000 midway through the third day, bringing the Foundation to its campaign goal. The community also secured the thrilling designation of $1 million raised over the past 19 years of the Rhyason Light a Moose Radiothon! The Foundation is honoured to represent the community’s generosity to ensure the best possible medical care in the North Peace Region. The Foundation would also like to extend a special thank you to Moose

for their continued support, and for making this year’s ‘Light a Moose’ such an incredible success. ‘Light a

has helped the foundation purchase nearly $1 million worth of vital equipment for our community.

a Moose Corporate Matching Donors NorthRiver Midstream, from left to right: Darrel Jones, Denise Barry, Mark Berrett, Kelly Amboe (FSJ Hospital Foundation Executive Director), Lyndse Campbell & Matthew Wuthrich

PHOTOSWITHSANTA

Unforgettable Memories Foto Source had their annual Photos with Santa & Mrs. Clause on several dates throughout November and December. The photo sessions were by donation and all proceeds went to the FSJ Hospital Foundation. The event has become a popular event in the community and raised over $11,000 for local health care. This year, the team at Unforgettable Memories also auctioned off the live Christmas trees they used as a photo backdrop to raise additional funds. A big thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Clause for making the long journey south to take photos with all the children who took part.

From left to right: Kelly Amboe (FSJ Hospital Foundation Executive Director), Santa Clause, Mrs. Clause, Lynette Helm (Owner) and Meghan VanderMeulen (Store Manager)

Angela created some stunning makeup looks for guests of our Denim & Diamonds Be an Angel Gala on November 5th and donated $10 from every Gala makeup appointment to the FSJ Hospital Foundation.

From left to right: Kelly Amboe (FSJ Hospital Foundation Executive Director) & Angela Moody

Badminton ends smashing year

The Peace Region Badminton & Recreational Club ended 2022 with a great junior badminton tournament. Congratulations to all the winners and participants.

WINNERS

U13 Boys

1 - Benjamin Krezanoski 2 - Jose Sta. Maria 3 - Minho kang

U13 Girls 1 - Ava Kurjata 2 - Cadence Hernandez 3 - Brooklyn Becker

Season’s Greetings

Here’s hoping your Christmas is trimmed with beauty, friendship, goodwill and all the joy this special season brings into bloom. Folks like you remind us how lucky we are to be a part of such a close-knit community. Your kindness and generosity are an inspiration to us, and we are truly grateful to have neighbours like you.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. We wish you all the best this holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

U15 Boys 1 - Jack Crook 2 - Advai Nair 3 - Connar Vig & Cas Wheat

U15 Girls 1 - Elizabeth 2 - Kori Meyer 3 - Sophie Zaldy

U18 Boys 1 - Landon Bruvold 2 - JC Sta. Maria 3 - Dyson Felix — Submitted by Rishav Sharma

From All of us at Fort St. John Sawmill, Woodlands and Taylor Pulp, Canadian Forest Products Ltd.

Jingle & Mingle Fort St. John style

Submitted by Aaron Schultz

Snow swirling in high winds, biting cold, yet very good numbers of Fort St. John families were not deterred from spending the evening of December 17th, 2022, at the local outdoor event called Jingle & Mingle. Hot apple cider freshly made from Fort St. John apples, barbequed hotdogs in a warm trailer provided by C&V Trailers, carolers singing beside bejeweled Christmas trees as the snow fell, all made the event perfectly Fort St. John.

A pilot program through the North Peace Community Foundation and a Fort St. John program called Small Neighbourhood Grants, coupled with the hard work of Adriana Mazzei and many local volunteers, made this event possible and a success. With a grant of $500, the help of local business and volunteers, this event hosted families from the northern end of 89A Street and throughout the City. Even our Mayor Lilia Hansen joined, whispered into Santa’s ear asking for something special for our City, however, when asked what she had asked for, Her Worship just winked.

The entry to the event was through a red and white archway of lights towards a dazzling 25-foot Christmas tree. With the street lit with bright lights on each side and lightly falling snow, the atmosphere was magical. A warmed tent for children’s activities hosted games like musical chairs and pin the nose on Rudolph. Santa brought his own cozy tent and ensured that the kids were able to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas while seated beside the fireplace.

The mission for the Small Neighbourhood Grant program is to bring neighborhoods together in spite of our busy schedules and circumstances where we often don’t even know people who live close by. People at the event commented that the event provided them with their first chance to meet those who were their own neighours but had never met. One individ-

ual noted that she had been living on the street for four years and this was the first time she had actually connected with people from the neighborhood. Many people commented that the Jingle & Mingle idea was excellent and looked forward to further Fort St. John neighbourhood activities

Predictably, our local business community was very generous and helped make this event during our Christmas season a success. Gary Young, manager at Inland Concrete, provided help and material from his team to construct the stands to support lights along the street as well as fabricating the large stand to support a 25-foot Christmas tree in high winds. Dominion Steel generously donated steel for the project. Organizers indicated that C&V Trailers donated a covered trailer, which was the center from which people mingled and a lifesaver given the cold and wind. Butcher Block provided great hotdogs, No Frills donated condiments and buns along with buns from Safeway. Casey Brouse Welding provided valuable help and provided a myriad of materials and assistance. AltaGas came through magnificently by providing a blast heater to keep all warm. Bobby Clarke from Rona helped cut and haul out the massive Christmas for the Jingle & Mingle. MCC Thrift Store was incredible with contributions. Trevor Bolin and Burger King provided gift certificates. Pineview Vegetation provided a great covered tent as well. Peace Country Movers provided snack and nibbles. Dini Smoler from Energetic Traffic Control was very helpful for the event.

Acknowledging the multicultural aspect of our community, Shahab Fatima from HennaByShahab decorated hands with beautiful henna ink art designs.

At the event, the neighbourhood generously provided a good amount of donations to the Salvation Army Food Bank. Organizers look forward to the next great neighborhood event, but this one will be in the sunshine in July.

Season s Greetings

Rotary breakfast raised $24K

The sixth annual Rotary Drive Thru Breakfast once again brought friends, families, and businesses together to raise a record $24,000 this year for projects serving the Fort St. John and North Peace community.

Rotarians cooked 1,700 hot-offthe-grill sandwiches to kick-off the new school year on Sept. 8 and raised funds to rejuvenate Rotary projects throughout the community. Proceeds will continue to support and improve the CDC Rotary Play Centre, Rotary Skate Park, the Dudley and Gayle Wagner Rotary Room at North Peace Seniors Housing, Rotary Spray Park, and Rotary RV Park.

“The Drive Thru Breakfast has become a signature event for Rotary, a time to enjoy fellowship and make

new friends while serving our community,” said Vince van Wieringen, Breakfast Committee Chair and Past President of the Fort St. John Rotary Club. “And with the success of this year’s event, we are able to provide much-needed enhancements to several Rotary initiatives that continue to have a positive impact for families in Fort St. John.”

This year’s Breakfast involved the planning and teamwork of 36 Rotary members and their friends and saw a record 1,300 preorders from residents and businesses. Deliveries went out all across town and as far as Charlie Lake. All leftover sandwiches were brought to the Salvation Army, Women’s Resource Society, and Seniors Housing to feed those in need.

MATT PREPROST PHOTOS

Wigglesworth named artist in residence

Fort St. John artist Samantha Wigglesworth has been named artist in residence by the Peace Liard Regional Arts Council.

The arts council says Wigglesworth was chosen by jurors Kait Herlehy and Cara Guri, with the residency culminating in a solo exhibition at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery in fall 2023. Wigglesworth will also receive mentorship from Guri, a visual artist based in Vancouver.

“I am honoured to be selected as this year’s artist in residence,” Wigglesworth said in a statement. “I am so excited about the opportunity to be mentored by the astounding portrait artist Cara Guri. This residency will allow me to create a profound series of large-scale colourful

SUPPLIED

Above: Artist Samantha Wigglesworth. Right: ‘Vintage Vibes’ by Samantha Wigglesworth

Wishing you all good things this year and always!

It’s the end of a year and time to report our sincerest thanks for your loyal support. It’s the kindness and friendship of people like you who’ve really made all our dreams come true. So now that it’s time to ring in the new, we’re sending our best for the whole year through. Thank you for an amazing 2022!

ENSZ Parents:

It’saBoy!

PATRICK WILLIAM STOLTZFUS

WALL JACK

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Area farm projects granted $180,000

TAURUS – APR 21/MAY 21

Taurus, work is on your brain, but it could be because you’re wired to focus on getting things done. Work is important, but remember to make time for other things as well.

GEMINI – MAY 22/JUN 21

Your bank account may not be as healthy as it could be, Gemini. Tuck those credit cards away and cut back on purchases for the time being to set things straight.

CANCER – JUN 22/JUL 22

You have been feeling less motivated of late, Cancer. That is likely due to the breakneck speed that you have been going for some time. Slow down and enjoy the break.

LEO – JUL 23/AUG 23

Leo, practicality is your middle name. The next few days you may be focused on whimsy and imagination. It could be all the feelings the holidays are bringing up.

VIRGO – AUG 24/SEPT 22

Planetary energies could be affecting those around you and their reception to your ideas, Virgo. Remain patient that things will tip in your favor after some time has passed.

LIBRA – SEPT 23/OCT 23

Your thoughts this week are about setting goals for the future, Libra. Not that you haven’t already been doing your share of planning, but now you’re firming up those plans.

SCORPIO – OCT 24/NOV 22

Scorpio, issues with your professional life may be on your mind. It could be time to make a major change in the days to come. Are you ready to move in a new direction?

SAGITTARIUS – NOV 23/DEC 21

New responsibilities have left little time to spend with your significant other, Sagittarius. Carve out moments to snuggle if you cannot get out to a romantic meal or movie.

CAPRICORN – DEC 22/JAN 20

Have you been plotting a move, Capricorn? Make sure your real estate research is up-to-date and you’re ready to take the plunge. This move may be a big one.

AQUARIUS – JAN 21/FEB 18

Aquarius, perhaps you have made a few big purchases lately and feel like your budget has taken a hit? Add up receipts and you may find it’s not as bad as you had thought.

PISCES – FEB 19/MAR 20

The latest round of funding from the Site C ag fund has been released, with eight projects across the B.C. Peace region receiving just over $180,000.

The following grants from the Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund were announced Dec. 15:

- $80,380 for the Peace River Forage Association to conduct research on prescribed burning and its impacts on soil carbon storage in the region, and another $5,000 for holistic farm management training;

- $31,346 to Zoe Newton to establish a three-acre orchard in Taylor to provide direct access to local fruit;

- $24,952 to Joyce Skage for securing pens and shelters;

- $19,470 to Dead Horse Creek Cattle Company for a Crown range watering system;

- $9,150 to Theresa Loeseken for perimiter fencing at Valley Vista;

- $5,000 for the Chetwynd Public Library Association to expand its Seed Library Educational Initiative; and

- $5,000 for Community Futures Peace-Liard to host the inaugural Agro Connect Conference and Agricultural Market in Dawson Creek.

“From infrastructure improvements that will enhance operations for producers to initiatives that introduce agriculture to residents on a new level, the PACF is pleased to continue supporting local growers and producers,” said Rick Kantz, chairman of the fund, in a news release.

“Across the Peace Region, prescribed fire has long been a land management tool used by farmers, ranchers, and Indigenous communities alike,” said association president Neil Ward in a statement. “We are excited to have the opportunity to study its effects on the environment as well as train and educate residents and stakeholders about safe procedure and pasture rejuvenation benefits of this tool.”

The Agro Connect conference being held Feb. 10 and 11 will bring producers together to share resources and network, the Trust said, while introducing the community at large about opportunities to support local food security.

And this is the third time the Chetwynd seed library is receiving a grant from the fund, which the Trust says will help residents grow their own food while also creating more food opportunities for wildlife and pollinating insects.

“With these funds, we have been able to expand the seed library service by giving out free kits to our library patrons,” said library director Melissa Millsap in a statement. “A lot of care and thought are put into these kits, having everything needed to set the growers up for success.

“This is something that our community has come to be very excited about and it is fantastic to see people of all ages learn so many great and wonderful things about what they can grow,” Millsap said.

Since the fund was launched, more than $1.7 million has been approved for local projects, according to NDIT.

This is a good time for a change of

perspective, Pisces. Maybe you have been looking at things all the wrong way. Switch things up.

Buffett,

Leto, Actor (51)

Goldberg,

Legend, Singer (44)

Diego Luna, Actor (43)

DECEMBER 31 Gabby Douglas, Gymnast (27)

The Northern Development Initiative Trust is administering the $20-million compensation fund, started in 2018 to offset farm production losses to the Site C dam and its reservoir.

The Trust says funded research by the Peace River Forage Association will take place over three years and will focus on forage production, nutrition, and soil health, with the results to be shared regionally, provincially, and nationally.

“These eight projects demonstrate the diverse ways people in the Peace Region are strengthening the agricultural industry and economy while supporting their neighbours with quality, local products,” said NDIT CEO Joel McKay.

“The PACF is pleased to support a broad range of organizations whose work directly benefits agriculture in the Peace Region.”

FALL FAIR PRIZE — From our 2022 photo files... Two people in particular left this summer’s North Peace Fall Fair with good memories. Chad Wiebe was the winner of the junior gate prize of $100, while Charles Miller was the winner of the adult gate prize of $1,000 credit from Home Hardware. At the time, Wiebe, pictured here with the Fall Fair’s 75th anniversary president Bruce Christensen, said he was debating using his prize money to buy a bow and arrow or a pellet gun. See you at the 76th fair in 2023!

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

2022, a wacky year in review

By Evan Saugstad

What will 2022 be remembered for?

No matter where we live in our once great country (no fears, we will get that back), or what our personal views are about gender, race, hate, freedoms, lockdowns, or any other controversial topic (is it just me, or has everything become controversial?), we will all shake our heads and wonder what others were thinking.

2022 was a year of school boards. Yes, a place where boring people used to be elected by acclamation to talk about mathematics, science, writing, and making sure our kids, their students, got through school and were ready to face that mean, mean world. But 2022 was weird. Headlines about the inability to deal with one Ontario teacher who wore huge prosthetic breasts to class to prove some point that was, for the most part, pointless (clowns need jobs, too?), or a school board determining mathematics is white supremacy in disguise (wonder why kids fail math?), or that Vancouver civic elections were about bringing police back into schools to work with students, and present police services and their employees as real people providing a real need to society (and put a bit of wokeness in its place!). No signs, just yet, of needing such insights up in this northern bastion of free speech and expression.

In 2022 we were told what matters most is that

we look through a lens of race, gender, or hate. Who needs hockey, oil, lumber, copper, a job, a home, a safe community; those former necessities of life took a back seat.

We started 2022 debating just what freedom was, and it never ended. Who would have thought that a few truckers could capture the world’s attention and bring Canada’s life of non-stop blockades, protests, and civic disruptions to Ottawa, and result in Justin inventing new laws to put those deplorable Canadians in their place? 2023 will likely be no better at defining this one. And Justin’s misrepresentations continue; not one hunting rifle or shotgun will be confiscated?

Drug addiction in 2022 moved from being one of poor personal choice to one of a medical condition. Huh, and yes, in 2023, things will be expanded to give more free drugs to ensure those who are addicted stay alive and stay addicted, and, in good ol’ woke Vancouver, decriminalize possession of these poisons to ensure an unfettered access to addictions. Oh boy, I wonder if 2023 is when we wake up and decide that free drugs in schools will be the solution to keep kids from using the poisoned ones?

In 2022, we started giving out free money for dental programs, but with a warning: the Parliamentary Budget Officer expects that, in Justin’s haste to make good on his promise to keep Jagmeet in his back

pocket, this free money, given on the honour system, will be like the COVID giveaway where billions were sucked up by cheats, thieves, and those who could make no senses of the rules, but applied anyways. Great news for more inflation.

In 2022, B.C. was ordained with a new Premier (so was Alberta, but at least they allowed for a democratic election). True to David’s socialist roots, the first order of business was to welcome himself into our world by handing back billions of our tax dollars and calling it his largess. Why didn’t he just drop the tax rate and save us the expense of cutting a few million checks? More inflation?

In 2022, the Competition Bureau of Canada received a complaint that RBC was providing loans to energy companies in violation of their emissions reduction goals. What’s next, banks can’t write mortgages on homes with gas water heaters, stoves, and furnaces, or give loans for fossil-fuelled trucks and cars?

2022 did have good news and progress. Most Canadians, including our younger generations, woke up and now see Justin’s role of dividing us into little groups and encouraging us to hate each other based on race and gender is not very good for Canada. Who would have thought a war in Europe would turn our attention to the importance of a secure and reliable energy supply, or that the Chinese dominance in

all things manufactured is not a good thing, and that Sir Donald was correct in moving America to being self-sufficient in all things that matter. Yup, but we are still being sucked in to believing Democrats are good for Canada, as their societal values are more important than our gas, oil, lumber, cars, or anything else that Canada can provide.

Climate change finally began to take a back seat to the importance of an affordable life. Yup, people are beginning to wake up to the reality that forcing energy prices up force our standard of living down, and that, for most, this is important. Who wishes for empty cupboards, cold homes, or no way to get to work? Will 2023 see the wasteful use of tax dollars that subsidize electric cars be turned into programs making lives more affordable?

And just to make sure and remind everyone that this year was all about 22s, Ottawa’s band of deceivers is banning a few of them too.

What’s up in 2023? Who knows but one thing is for certain, the further from mainstream our political world tries to “nudge” us, the more we will push in the opposite direction to ensure Canada stays in the middle. Let’s just hope that 2023 is remembered as the year wokeness was buried in an unmarked grave.

Getting a fresh start

By Ruby McBeth

My New Year’s resolutions this year are about facing change boldly and upgrading my attitudes.

There are three areas of change that I have faced lately. Firstly, I completed a two-hour Zoom session called “Stay on the Road.” This is for people nearing 80 (yes, that’s me) who may have to take a road test. One thing I learned was to position the seat back so that the head rest was close to my head. The next day I was rear ended - just lightly. Although neither car or driver suffered any damage, I realized the value of their advice. The course is put on several times a year by ICBC and the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of B.C. (COSCO).

Secondly, I read a book that helped me to work on my attitude of white entitlement.

Layla F. Saad’s book is called Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor . Layla gives exercises to help people become aware of their prejudices and attitudes of entitlement.

Finally, I read a book about living and dying. When Breath Turns to Air is the autobiography of Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer at the age of 36. He began writing his life story as a final positive action when he could no longer work as a surgeon. His wife Lucy completed the story after his death. Lucy and Paul chose to have a child after he was diagnosed. The baby girl was a great comfort to Paul in his last days. Paul Kalanithi gives an example of how to live fully right to the end. You can listen to it free on Libby. My own copy which I had requested as a Christmas gift arrived at my door a week before Christmas.

GALLAGHER’S LIGHT SHOW

Once again, Sean Gallagher has opened up his property off the West Bypass road for people to drive through to see the Christmas light show. And once again more lights have been added. It really is amazing – something your grandchildren will want to see. A box has been set up by the miniature church for donations to people in need in Fort St. John and area. Last year, the Gallaghers received $15,000 which they gave away to local families.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change [their] future by merely changing [their] attitude.” — Oprah Winfrey

Happy New Year.

Ruby McBeth lives and writes in Fort St. John.

COPYRIGHT & LEGAL NOTICE

to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about our content, please let us know first. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit mediacouncil.ca or call 1-844-877-1163 for more information.

Second class mail registration No. 0167

Evan Saugstad lives and writes in Fort St. John.

CONTRIBUTORS

Ruby McBeth, Evan Saugstad, Ken Boon, John Grady, Don Pe it, Heather Sjoblom, Jaclyn McNicol, Merlin Nichols

William Julian Regional Manager wj@ahnfsj.ca

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Ma Preprost Managing Editor editor@ahnfsj.ca

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9822 101 Avenue, Fort St. John, BC, V1J 2B2 Phone: (250) 787-7758

This Holiday Season

The Salvation Army is receiving $36,223 to support food bank services in Fort St. John, the province announced this month.

The dollars come from the latest intake of the Northern Healthy Communities Fund, which the province says will allow the Salvation Army to hire an additional fulltime food bank worker “to increase their capacity to serve the public.”

“The objective with the new position is to shift the applicant’s food bank towards a more welcoming and community-based program,” reads a project backgrounder provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

“The applicant explained that over the past year as the community has grown, they have seen an in-

creased demand for their services and would like to be able to meet this demand without the current delay in service.”

The Northern Healthy Communities Fund has now given more than $7.1 million to 54 projects across Northern B.C. since it began in 2021, according to the province. There was $25 million over five years to help communities near the Coastal GasLink and LNG Canada projects increase capacity of services and fund capital projects.

Also announced was funding for transitional housing and a 24hour daycare in Kitimat, funding for a youth Foundry Centre as well as shelter upgrades in Terrace, and funding for curling rink upgrades in Fraser Lake, among other projects.

From the front page

“There was a save box, there was a spend box, and then there was a surprise box. And so, we bid on these boxes, and we had no idea what was inside,” explained Stymiest. “Then we got our box, and it was like you know the big unveil. We opened up our boxes and then we were given a timeframe to make a meal out of those ingredients.”

Stymiest said describing cooking under pressure on the show as stressful was an understatement.

“You have this huge clock, and it’s counting down and the host is doing the countdown too and it is incredibly stressful and like high pressure intense. But at the same time, because it’s so high stress and intense it’s really exciting!”

Before the show was announced, Stymiest was also under contract so she couldn’t tell anyone about her experience filming the show in Toronto.

“I couldn’t tell anybody, obviously, like my spouse knew and then my dad knew as well because he had to help with childcare when I was gone. But that was it,” she added. “It’s been driving me crazy not being able to tell anybody and share the exciting news and it feels so good to finally let it out of the bag.”

In order to prepare for the challenge, Stymiest said she practiced during her Sunday family dinners by experimenting with new recipes.

“I really used those few Sundays as like a test run almost, I would pick a style or a recipe and I would try some-

thing new and challenge myself and cook up a big feast for us.”

She first started her baking journey back when she lived in Fort St. John shortly after her first daughter was born.

“I really struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety and both as a way to stay sane and warm, I was just in the kitchen to keep busy. I randomly just decided to start baking as a thing to do to pass the time,” said Stymiest, who now lives in Prince George. “I put my daughter up in her little baby seat on the counter and we would literally bake all day long and I fell in love with it.”

She then launched her business Caked by Katie in 2016 taking orders online and baking at home all the while documenting it on her Instagram account @cakedbykatie where she now has more than 100,000 followers.

Stymiest said she never imagined she would have all of these incredible experiences because of her love of baking.

“I mean, you could have asked me back then, like, what’s your wildest dream for baking? And I would have never, ever have guessed.”

She said the experience of being on Cook At All Costs was a wild amazing adventure. “It is something that I don’t think you could ever duplicate. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am just so glad that I jumped on it,” said Stymiest.

All of the episodes of Cook At All Costs are available now and streaming on Netflix.

Veterinarian program ‘high priority’

By Arthur Williams

UNBC has been actively looking to develop a veterinarian medicine program for roughly a year, according to university vice-president academic and provost Dr. Wendy Rodgers.

The most likely model for the program would see students take two years of instruction at UNBC and two years of clinical, hands-on instruction at a partner university, Rodgers said.

Currently, veterinarian medicine programs are offered at the University of Calgary, University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, University of Guelph in Ontario, University of Montreal and University of Prince Edward Island.

“This is a high priority for UNBC. We think UNBC is a perfect place to have a veterinarian program,” Rodgers said. “We’re just launching some discussions with the other universities to see who is interested in working with us.”

Currently in B.C., Thompson Rivers University and Douglas College offer programs leading to a credential as a Registered Veterinary Technologist.

Developing a stand-alone veterinarian medicine program, with all the clinical facilities and faculty necessary to teach the program at UNBC, could cost in the order of $250 million and take some time to start up, she added.

Once a partnership is formed, then UNBC would need to secure funding, hire faculty and develop a curriculum, she said. It’s too early to estimate how long those steps could take, she said, but if things fall in place it could happen relatively quickly. “I’m pretty confident we’ll be able to work something out with a partner institution,” Rodgers said. “It could be within the next 18 months, put it that way.” The university would also need to secure funding to support stu-

dents through the four-year program, both in the form of provincial funding and scholarship programs, she said.

“It’s a very expensive proposition for a student to go into veterinarian medicine,” Rodgers said. “We’d need support for four consecutive years to get one cohort through the program.”

Currently the provincial provides financial support for British Columbian students to attend the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. This fall, that number was increased from 20 students to 40 students. The province has set aside 15 per cent of B.C. seats for students with an interest in a career in rural mixed animal practice, starting in 2023.

Support for a veterinarian program at UNBC has been strong, Rodgers said. Local MLAs, local governments including the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, area farmers and ranchers, the BC Cattlemen’s Association and other groups have voiced their support for the initiative.

According to information released by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training on Monday, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan is in discussions with several B.C. universities, including UNBC, regarding new models for veterinarian training.

The ministry is in support of those discussions, and is looking at other ways to address the shortage of veterinarians across B.C. in the short- and long-term. Veterinarians and veterinary technologists have been added to the list of priority occupations under the Provincial Nominee Program, to encourage veterinarians to immigrate to British Columbia from outside Canada. There is a provincial and national shortage of veterinarians, Rodgers said.

— Prince George Citizen

It’s

for allowing us to share in your hearing journey over the past year, we look forward to seeing you in 2023!

— Prince George Citizen

NETFLIX

A still of Katie Stymiest on the Netflix show Cook at All Costs, now streaming.

Northern cancer centre celebrates 10 years

By Hanna Petersen

It has now been ten years since BC Cancer opened the Centre for the North in Prince George, bringing state-of-the-art, life-saving technology closer to home for residents of more than 115 communities it serves.

Patients from these communities in northern B.C. previously needed to travel to further to other centres to access treatment. Dr. Robert Olson was the first physician hired to the Centre for the North and moved from Vancouver to help open it. Now Dr. Olson is research lead at the centre and his work in precision radiation therapy is world renowned. He said he is grateful for the community’s support over the past decade, helping to advance leading-edge research and enhance care in the north.

“I am proud of what our clinical trial team has accomplished,” says Dr. Olson. “We lead numerous international clinical trials from our relatively small centre, pushing the boundaries on where trial leadership can occur. In addition we have placed a specific

emphasis on making clinical trial follow up easier for rural, remote and Indigenous communities through innovations in clinical trial protocols.”

This October, he published new research on his SABR-5 clinical trial. His team found patient side effects from SABR (an innovative cancer treatment that delivers higher doses of radiation over fewer treatments) can be minimized, while still remaining effective at controlling cancer spread. Donor support through the BC Cancer Foundation helped fund the trial and will be essential as Dr. Olson looks to expand it.

“It has been inspiring to see BC Cancer – Prince George become a leader in cancer research and care globally,” says Sarah Roth, president and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation. “Donor support has played an important role in this success and I look forward to seeing what the next decade brings as this momentum continues.”

Since the centre opened, the north has shown incredible support, from individual donors to local businesses

to community fundraising initiatives. In 2021, Rio Tinto and the Prince George Community Foundation jointly donated $155,000 to support research and clinical trials in precision radiation therapy in Prince George. This was the community foundation’s largest donation at the time. Selen Alpay also donated $100,000 to help expand the Precision Radiation Therapy Program in March of this year.

This summer, the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North continued their tradition of rallying local cyclists to participate in the Tour de Cure. The team of 35 riders raised nearly $130,000, all of which stays in the north. To date, they have raised almost $1.5 million.

These funds all help BC Cancer equip the centre with critical technology, expand its research capabilities and attract world-class experts.

They also support the BC Cancer Foundation’s Patient Comfort Fund, which provides resources for patients and families travelling from other communities to Prince George for treatment.

- Prince George Citizen

Notice of 2023 Board Meetings

Members of the public are encouraged and welcome to attend Board Meetings.

View meeting agendas and minutes on our website at: www.prrd.bc.ca

Watch the Board Meetings live on Facebook!

The 2023 Peace River Regional District Regular Board meetings are scheduled as follows, starting at 10 a.m., unless otherwise noted throughout the year.

Date Location

January 12

February 2

February 22 (Wednesday) -

Dawson Creek

Dawson Creek

Special Budget Meeting Dawson Creek

February 23

March 9

March 30

April 20

May 4 & 18

June 8

June 29

July 20

August 17

September 14

October 5 & 26

November 16

Dawson Creek

Dawson Creek

Fort St. John

Dawson Creek

Dawson Creek

Fort St. John

Dawson Creek

Dawson Creek

Dawson Creek

Fort St. John

Dawson Creek

Dawson Creek

December 8 (Friday)Fort St. John

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

CAUCUS TOUR — From our 2022 unpublished photo files... MLAs Dan Davies and Mike Bernier hosted their new party leader Kevin Falcon and a group of caucus colleagues for a three-day tour around the Peace region in July. Here, they meet with the North Pine Farmers Institute to learn about the history of the number one elevator and the challenges and opportunities facing area farmers. The farmers institute was one of a handful of business and community groups visited during the tour.

By Nelson Bennett

The $40-billion LNG Canada project in Kitimat is past the 70% completion mark, site preparation work has started on the $5.1-billion Woodfibre LNG project in Squamish, and the Cedar LNG proposal in Kitimat just last month made it through the BC Environmental Assessment process.

Whether or not Cedar LNG – the first LNG project to have a First Nation as a majority owner – gets the green light is now in the hands of provincial environment and energy ministers and a former member of Greenpeace – federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.

Their decisions on Cedar LNG are expected by the end of December.

“I hope, when I return to next year’s energy forum, we are sharing the news that we have achieved a favourable financial investment decision on one of the world’s first indigenous majority owned LNG infrastructure,” Haisla First Nation Chief Crystal Smith said Nov. 30 at an energy forum hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Bennett Jones.

The Haisla are majority owners of the Cedar LNG project, some salient features of which is that it will be entirely electrified and is majority owned by the Haisla. While it may seem like progress to have two LNG projects underway and a third potentially getting the government green light, the reality is that Canada ceded field to the U.S. in the race to capture market share in the growing global LNG market.

And concerns were raised that Canada might likewise cede the field to the U.S. on other new decarbonization fuels and technology, such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCUS). How Canada can participate in the energy transition while also maintaining energy security, both domestically and globally, was one of the topics at a panel discussion.

A simplistic view of the energy transition is just to turn off the oil well taps and switch to renewable energy. Despite Europe’s best efforts to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis now gripping Europe underscores the hazards of not securing enough traditional energy in that transition.

“You can’t stop servicing the customers who need the energy today,” said Susannah Pierce, president and country chair of Shell Canada. “Because we see what’s going on in the world when you don’t have energy. So we need to make sure there’s redundancy. We need to make sure there’s reliability. Because we can’t stop producing energy that people need today.”

Europe is in the grips of a major energy crisis – one that Canada, despite abundant natural resources, is powerless to help with. It had failed to seize earlier opportunities to build pipelines for the export of both oil and natural gas. When German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz came to Canada in August to see if Canada might have some fossil fuels to spare, notably natural gas, the Canadian government offered him hydrogen – the production of which is even further off in the future than LNG.

Peter Tertzakian, deputy director of ARC Energy Institute, threw a bit of cold water on Canada’s aspirations of one day becoming a major exporter of hydrogen.

While he said there will be a role for hydrogen domestically for certain sectors, he expressed doubts about exports. “I’m less optimistic, candidly, about Canada being a hydrogen exporter,” he said.

He said the “chemical gymnastics” required to transport hydrogen make it challenging. Hydrogen is challenging to transport, so it might first have to be made into ammonia, transported, and then converted back into hydrogen at the receiving end.

Tertzakian added that hydrogen could end up competing with other “green” energy sources. “It’s not clear to me that hydrogen will be the winner,” he said. “There’s a lot of exuberance around hydrogen right now, but I would say we have to be careful not to put all the proverbial eggs in one basket, because there are a lot of other very interesting technologies that carry energy in different ways, convert energy in different ways, that can be competitive.

“We have to start thinking about green-on-green competition into the 2030s today, otherwise we will potentially misplace or misallocate billions of dollars.”

Roger Dall’Antonio, CEO of FortisBC, pointed out that in 2017, FortisBC was the only LNG producer in Canada. At that time, the U.S. had no LNG export projects. It now has several, producing 90 million tonnes per annum of LNG, while the first major LNG exports from Canada are not expected until mid-decade.

Lisa Baiton, new CEO for the Canadian Petroleum Producers (CAPP), is a former managing director for Canada Pension Plan Investments. Ten years ago, she said many investors considered Canada a potential leader in LNG exports.

“For a lot of different reasons, that capital went elsewhere,” she said. “The U.S., which was nowhere on LNG seven years ago, is now the world’s largest exporter of LNG. And that could have been Canada’s opportunity. “We are facing that same opportunity – or evaporation of the opportunity – now on a lot of the CCUS and other GHG reducing innovations.”

Tertzakian added that, not only did the U.S. beat Canada at LNG, it is now using Western Canadian natural gas to do it. “We have two of the largest natural gas producers in Canada that have

signed deals with Gulf Coast LNG exporters,” Tertzakian said. “The United States is only (too) happy to act as our agent, take a cut of the value of natural gas, and transit it through the U.S. to global markets.”

Baiton said the oil and gas industry understands it has a role to play in decarbonization. But investment is increasingly constrained by what she called regulatory and policy “pancaking.”

“We have not been investing enough to keep the existing system functioning as it should,” she said. She said Canada’s decarbonization policies lack the kinds of incentives that the U.S. provides, including for decarbonization technologies like CCUS, under the new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). That act, Dall’Antonio noted, subsidizes half the cost of developing green hydrogen production.

“Look at the U.S. IRA and compare it to the federal and provincial policy pancake,” Baiton said. “The U.S. is really an all-you-can eat buffet of carrots – incentives. They want to own this space. And I would say Canada is still more of an allyou-can-eat buffet of sticks.”

First Nations in Canada are playing an increasingly important role in advancing both traditional and new energy development. While the Haisla are developing the Cedar LNG project, with Pembina Pipeline Corp. as an industry partner, the Fort Nelson First Nation are involved in a number of other clean energy projects, including geothermal energy and biomass.

The Fort Nelson First Nation have a partnership with Peak Renewables, which plans to build a new wood pellet plant. Wood pellets, made from wood waste, have a market in Asia and Europe, where they are burned as a carbon neutral alternative to coal to produce power. Fort Nelson Chief Sharleen Gale, who is chairperson of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, said all “net zero” projects, including transmission lines, will necessarily run through First Nations territories, who will necessarily need to be active partners. “So we really need to be at the forefront of this transition,” she said. “We don’t want to be just coming along with the transition – we actually want to lead it.”

— Business in Vancouver

LNG CANADA

LNG Canada site construction activities in Kitimat, September 2022

CLASSIFIEDS

Career OppOrtunities

Land Act: Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land

Take notice that 1307507 BC Ltd from Vancouver, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Forests (FOR), Northeast Region, for a Community Institutional, Licence of Occupation situated on Provincial Crown land located at District Lot 583, Peace River Regional District

FOR invites comments on this application, the Land’s file is 8016177. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Andrew Tofflemire, (250) 774-5518, Authorization Officer, Northeast Region, FOR, at 100-10003-110th Avenue, Fort St. John, BC V1J 6M7. Comments will be received by FOR up to December 31, 2022. FOR may not be able to consider comments received after this date.

Please visit the website at http://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information.

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Visit http:// www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about Freedom of Information.

Casual Cleaners (5534573) Hudson’s Hope BC

250−782−3666 samfriendjobs@ gmail.com

Sam’sFriend RestaurantFood andBeverage

Career OppOrtunities

ServiceS for Hire

250−782−3666 samfriendjobs@ gmail.com

which you meet the qualifications. Please apply online, www.murphyoilcorp.com/life-at-murphy/

Job Summary

Reporting to the Asst. Superintendent, Montney Asset, the Field Administrator will be responsible for all office administration duties in the Montney Field Office. The role’s primary accountability is to ensure the effective day-to-day support of various requirements to ensure the overall administrative needs of the office/asset are met in a professional manner.

Responsibilities

• Provide detailed oversight/management to field accounts-payable process – ticket coding, creating/processing PO’s / AFE’s, etc. – in an efficient and time-sensitive manner to facilitate accurate financial data.

• Work with external service and supply vendors when required to address gaps in invoicing process

• Work with different disciplines to ensure required regulatory information/files are organized and uploaded to cloud-based document repositories.

• Execute basic reception duties and maintain a clean & safe reception area

• Assist different departments in various data gathering requirements – manhours, fleet vehicle kilometers, etc.

• Support the onboarding process for new employees and contractors to ensure all activities and requirements are coordinately appropriately.

• Act as liaison with Murphy’s IT department to ensure that all shared office equipment is well functioning.

• Work with field management to track and report on all workers’ required training and assist in booking training as required.

• Manage general supply requirements/inventory for field office

• Assist in preparing and maintaining presentations and spreadsheets

• Effectively respond to various ad hoc requests for information and/or project support

• Execute basic office administrative responsibilities not limited to: note-taking, arranging travel, monitoring group email accounts, social event coordination, etc.

• Collaborate with other administrative professionals at Murphy in the interest of continuous improvement initiatives.

• Work to become a local subject matter expert on key administrative tools and applications used by all field personnel.

Qualifications/Requirements

Desired/Preferred Qualifications

Murphy Oil Company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or have appropriate work authorization in Canada will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, genetic information, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status or any other category protected by federal or provincial law.

Steel BuildingS / granarieS

Livestock

PRRD advances lakes study

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

A new study will investigate the potential to remove and manage unwanted aquatic vegetation in three local lakes, including Charlie Lake north of Fort St. John, it was announced earlier this month.

According to a news release from the Peace River Regional District, the study to remove aquatic vegetation will also include Swan Lake and One Island Lake south of Dawson Creek.

“The study follows feedback from residents that excessive aquatic vegetation is detracting from recreational use, reducing aesthetics and creating a safety issue for lake users,” the regional district said in the release.

The PRRD says local biologist Brian Paterson has been tapped “to conduct the early stages of planning and feasibility.” Fieldwork began in June of this year.

“The study will produce an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for each lake, which minimizes potential environmental impacts and is required to obtain provincial

permitting,” the regional district said.

“These EMPs will contain general information regarding lake ecology and biodiversity, suggest areas to focus harvesting efforts and incorporate best practices to minimize unwanted effects to the focal lakes.”

The PRRD began to advance the lakes initiative in January 2021 with a meeting with the province to discuss concerns in Charlie Lake. A business case was authorized to be developed in March 2021, and a request for proposals from biologists issued in October that year.

The idea comes from a similar project in Williams Lake, where a lake weed harvester and provincial license was acquired to improve safety for two boat launches, a beach, and a designated float plane area.

Public input is being sought, including areas of concern identified by residents. Feedback is being collected until January 20 on the regional district website.

To learn more about the project and give your input, visit https:// haveyoursay.prrd.bc.ca/

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

A CUP OF CHRISTMAS TEA — It was a warm return of the Old-Fashioned Christmas Tea at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum on Dec. 7. Familiar faces and friends young and old gathered to enjoy tea and coffee in fancy cups, as well as home-baked goods.