Group sought for community gardens

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

The City of Fort St. John is seeking public input on the future of the community gardens on the property of the Church of the Resurrection.

The gardens have been open to the public on 100 Avenue for more than a decade, and were previously managed by the North Peace Justice Society and more recently by the Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT).

However, with the closure of NEAT, the future of the gardens is unknown.

The city will be hosting a town hall at Festival Plaza on April 5, and an online survey until April 9, to gather feedback from residents and organizations.

The goal is to determine the future of the garden and ensure operations continue for the 2023 growing season.

The city says the Catholic Church, which owns the garden land, is willing to enter into a new agreement with a local group.

Mayor Lilia Hansen emphasized the benefits of community gardens, saying they’re “healthy for our community” and contribute positively to local food security, mental well-being, and urban livability.

“We want the Community Garden to thrive,” said Hansen.

The gardens offer raised beds, shared resources, and educational opportunities for residents to learn about gardening and related activities.

Spring break sports camp

T.W. Buck tbuck@ahnfsj.ca

Some students and teachers may be travelling somewhere warm this spring break, but many others are staying home with plenty still to do at school.

A dozen or so were attending the Northern Stars Sports Camp at Bert Bowes middle school last Monday afternoon.

Kory Bell and his wife, Megan, are both teachers at Bowes, and together organize basketball and volleyball camps for students, this being their third camp since last summer.

“My administration is really supportive. They see the big picture, that I’m getting kids in here and doing something good,” said Bell.

Fourteen students were taking part in a basketball camp in the gymnasium on Monday, learning the fundamentals of dribbling in between running drills.

When asked what the students have to gain from camps such as these, and what they take home, Bell said, “Confidence, that’s a big one I think with kids this age.”

“For me, these camps are about just getting kids to love basketball,” he said. “To see a grown man like me enjoying himself, and it’s still a part of my life.”

The camp ran until Friday, March 24. Northern Stars will host its next sports camp at the beginning of summer 2023.