AHN JAN 6 2022 by Alaska Highway News

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022 | NEWS | A3

Airshow set for summer 2022 After five long years, the Fort St. John air show is set to return to the skies next summer. The two-day show is planned for July 30 and 31, with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the Yellow Thunder aerobatic demonstration team, and the Erickson Aircraft Collection already lined up. Organizers will be putting a big emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with interactive displays, as well as showcasing local education and employment opportunities in the aviation industry. “We really want to focus on producing an engaging, effective, and interactive show both in the air and on the ground,” says show producer Sandi Miller. “Our performers are all very excited to come back to Fort St. John.”

More performer and show announcements are expected in the new year. Miller says the focus right now is getting the right people in the right places to help with volunteering, concessions, administration, marketing, and hospitality to make the show a success. And though the Covid-19 situation remains a question mark, Miller says organizers are committed to putting on a show that everybody can enjoy and attend. “Things are going to change drastically between now and July, but we know that the audience is there, we know that they’re hungry for a show,” Miller says. The last air show took place in 2017. Show plans were cancelled in 2019 due a lack of resources at the time, and postponed in 2020 due to runway maintenance at the airport.

TOM SUMMER PHOTO

Karla Harder, Judy Olson, and Natasha Knightly were among those putting together Christmas hampers at the Salvation Army, Dec. 21, 2021. More than 200 hampers went out to those in need.

Busy week for Christmas hamper deliveries It takes a village to bring Christmas to those in need. Twenty volunteers helped the Salvation Army in Fort St. John prepare and deliver more than 200 hampers over Christmas, giving families in need a full holiday meal with all the fixings, plus toys and gifts and more. “It’s pretty exciting to be able to help that many people. They’ll get a full Christmas meal, with turkey

and the fixings, potatoes, pie. We’ll send that off with them so they can enjoy that at home,” says Executive Director Jared Braun. “And all the families with kids will be getting gifts for different age groups, thanks to all the toy drives that people have been generously putting on for us.” Christmas dinner took place Dec. 23, and was sponsored by NorthRiver Midstream.

“Christmas reminds us about God who sent his son Jesus as a baby, born in a humble way to show love to all people. Jesus understands the challenges and concerns of those living in poverty and he wants them to know they are loved,” said Braun. “We at The Salvation Army want to display that love so that everyone can believe that they matter and that they are loved.”

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 60 (PEACE RIVER NORTH)

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

JUST SANTA AND ME — Simone Matvej, 6, from Fort St. John, get some one-on-one time with Kris Kringle during the Skate with Santa event at the Pomeroy Sports Centre speed skating oval December 19, 2021.

Board of Trustees Meetings January – June 2022 DATE

MEETINGS

START TIME

No vaxports for school staff

Christmas Vacation: December 20, 2021 – January 3, 2022; Schools re-open January 4, 2022

The Peace River North School District said Dec. 17 it will not be moving forward with a proof of vaccination policy for its staff. The school district cited high vaccination rates, low risk of transmission, replacement staff shortages and capacity at critical levels, and keeping schools open as its priority. The decision also comes after a review of the

January 24

province’s K-12 Sector Guidelines for Vaccination Policies, the school district said. “The Board continues to encourage full vaccination for all staff, students and families,” the Board of Trustees said in a statement. “The Board will continue to monitor the effects of the pandemic on the local education system and be attentive to its evolving nature.”

Concrete foundation program completed BC Hydro says it has reached a major milestone at Site C with the completion of the dam’s roller compacted concrete program. In a project update Dec. 15, BC Hydro said 1.68 million cubic metres of roller compacted concrete has been placed since 2017 in three large buttresses, or foundations, that support the powerhouse, spillways, and the dam abutment. The powerhouse buttress was completed in 2018, the upper spillway buttress in fall 2019, and the dam and core buttress in October 2021, according to BC Hydro. “Combined, the buttresses measure approximately 800 metres long and up to 70 metres wide and will ensure the stability of the dam structures, including in the unlikely event of a major earthquake,” BC Hydro said. The concrete was manufactured on-site and transported by trucks to the buttresses. Of the concrete placed, 650,000 cubic metres was placed for the powerhouse buttress,

650,000 cubic metres for the spillway buttress, and 450,000 cubic metres for the dam and core buttress. BC Hydro says the Site C buttresses form the secondlargest concrete structure in B.C. after its Revelstoke Dam, and is the largest roller-compacted concrete dam structure in Canada. The total volume of the Site C buttress is six times the volume of concrete used to build the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world, according to BC Hydro. “Roller-compacted concrete has many properties similar to conventional concrete, but is constructed with a placement method that makes it well suited for large-scale dam construction,” the company said. There were 4,633 workers employed on the dam in October, the last available employment data. As of Dec. 21, there were 592 workers in camp, with none in isolation due to COVID-19. There were zero active cases amongst the workforce at that time.

January 10

February 7 February 22 (Tues) March 7

In-Camera Committee of the Whole Meeting Regular (Public) Committee of the Whole Meeting In-Camera Board Meeting Regular (Public) Board Meeting