AHN NOV 10, 2022

Strong Fort Nelson voice silenced

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

The community of Fort Nelson has lost a long-time standing advocate, a voice – former mayor Bill Streeper died on Saturday, Nov. 5. A former councillor, he became the first mayor of the, then, newlyestablished Northern Rockies Regional Municipality in 2009, and held the position until 2018 when he was defeated by current outgoing mayor Gary Foster in 2018.

“He will be missed by many,” said Foster upon hearing the news Sunday morning. “His dedication to our community, not only as mayor but as councillor. He had a long history in local government and the community, as a whole. Worked tirelessly. The local hospital foundation was just one of the groups near and dear to his heart.”

Foster believes Streeper will be remembered for a number of things he did, most notably, the town’s recreation facility. “After the collapse of our rec centre, Bill Streeper made sure that we had a beautiful rec centre here, that was the envy of communities all across the north... He was a larger-thanlife character,” added Foster. “Well-known by the provincial government and a tireless worker for our region.”

Peace River North MLA Dan Davies was saddened to hear the news, but chuckled loudly when asked if he has any memories of Streeper that stuck out. “You know, when Bill spoke, you listened,” he said. “He was very knowledgeable. He really cared a lot about his community. When you saw that he phoned, you made sure you picked up. He was a very strong individual.”

Davies was able to forge a friendship with Streeper, particularly when he became the area’s MLA in 2017, describ-

ing him as ‘’always being out there” and certainly not shy. “I always looked forward to going to lunch with him, go over sit in his office, catch up when I was in Fort Nelson. When he was in Fort St. John, he’d always give a quick dingle,” said Davies. “He will be missed.”

“Bill was a fierce defender of his community,” added Fort St. John mayor Lori Ackerman, who admired Streeper’s ‘get ‘er done’ approach.

“[He] fought for the services and programs that were needed to support his community, and by extension, the region. You certainly knew when he was in the room.”

Incoming Northern Rockies mayor Rob Fraser knew Streeper both inside and outside of the political circle, having his own lengthy connection to the community.

“It was a shock to hear of his passing,” said Fraser. “He was a true leader of the north. Not only did he look after that rec centre, the shining jewel in the community, his business contacts in the oil and gas industry were second-to-none and he was able to use those contacts as mayor to further the whole north, not just Fort Nelson, but the whole north.”

Fraser pointed to another accomplishment Streeper had a hand in. “The bridge across

the Nelson River on Highway 77. He was instrumental in getting that replaced from a bailey bridge to the bridge that it is today. That was important to the entire infrastructure of the north.”

Fraser also remembers his former colleague as having a great sense of humour and sharp wit, and a conversation the two had a couple of years ago at a grocery store while Fraser was in town for a visit.

“It was the day that he was opening his cannabis business. I saw him at the IGA, picking up donuts or something. He said to me: ‘Oh, you’re here for the [grand] opening of my business.”

Former Dawson Creek mayor Dale Bumstead remembers Streeper for his passion and tenacity. “For getting the best for Fort Nelson/Northern Rockies,” said Bumstead. “He was well known throughout the province and region as that direct, no nonsense leader. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

While it may not have been widely-known, Streeper had suffered a stroke a few months ago according to a family member and had just celebrated his 70th birthday this past May. No details of his passing or plans for a service have yet been announced.

Saluting our North Peace veterans

After Lana-Gay Elliott first started collecting the history of World War veterans some three decades ago, she put them in a book, Veterans Land Stories, published in 2015. Seven years later, new stories continue to fill her inbox, enough, perhaps one day, for a second book.

“It’s certainly not finished,” Elliott said this week of her project, a continuing effort with, and help from, veteran families, obituaries, the Fort St. John North Peace Museum, and local pioneer history books. “I think it will continue on for a long time… as long as I live.”

As we ready for Remembrance Day on Friday, Alaska Highway News is publishing another batch of stories from Elliott’s files on the hundreds of local men and women who served, and later came to pioneer the north. Most were ordinary people leading ordinary lives — farmers and businessmen, truckers and road builders, secretaries and teachers, whose lives were all upended by war and who answered the call of duty. Elliott thanks the families and friends of veterans, and others, who have helped her over the many years. She notes not all records are available, and some of the veteran information is more complete than others.

“It’s an ongoing project and we’d very much appreciate anyone who is willing to give us information we need,” said Elliott.

If you have a story about a local veteran past or present, or have an update and more details to share regarding the stories that follow, you can contact Lana-Gay at 250-785-3324.

Continued on pages A2, A3, A6, A7, A13, and A14

I’d like to thank the residents for their vote of confidence by electing me mayor.

I am truly committed to building a stronger community.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

LEST WE FORGET — The City of Fort St. John has declared November as both Royal Canadian Legion Month and Remembrance Day Poppy Month in honour of local and veterans across the country... Lest We Forget.

SUBMITTED

Former Northern Rockies mayor Bill Streeper is being remembered for the ‘tireless work” he did for his community and the region.

LUNDEEN, Marvin A Service: Canada; Rank: Lead ing Aircraftsman

Marvin was born in Govan, Saskatchewan, on April 27, 1924, and lived there for several years. He then moved to North Pine, B.C., in 1930 where he was raised and attended school. During this time, Marv learned to be an accomplished horse man and learned more than he wanted to know about farming. It was in this period of time he formed the resolve that later saw him through university and into the practice of law.

He moved to Dawson Creek with his family and finished high school there in 1942. He tried to enlist then but needed surgery on his nose before he would be accepted. He worked on the construction of the Alaska High way to earn the money for the surgery in Edmonton. Upon re covery he enlisted in the RCAF in Edmonton. He trained in Ed monton, Saskatoon, Brandon, and Trenton. Upon transfer back to Brandon in 1944 he was given the rank of Leading Aircraftman. He was then transferred in 1945 to Tofino on Vancouver Island where he was in air traffic con trol. Here he met Frances and fell in love. He was discharged on March 5, 1946.

Marv was accepted into the University of British Columbia under a veterans program that fall. He also married Fran in 1946 and had their son Richard. Dur ing the summer, he worked in the law office in Dawson Creek. The degree of Bachelor of Laws was granted in October 1951 and he returned to the same law of fice to article. Marvin opened his own law office on June 1, 1952, in Dawson Creek. This of fice grew to include two other partners by 1968, then back to two partners until 1974. Marv was appointed Queen’s Council on December 30, 1971. At that time, he had been past president and life member of the Kinsman Club, past district deputy gov ernor too, past president and secretary of the Senior Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Arena Commission and Ath letic Association, past president of the Ski Club, past president of the Cariboo and Peace River Bar Association, and served on the advisory committee of the Law Foundation of British Columbia.

Marv and Fran were very ac tive members of the First United Church and he had served as a member of the Board of Stew ards for 15 years, and as the Chairman of the board for two years. He was also active in the Conservative Party and served on the executive. Barry was born in 1955 and Trudy in 1958 com pleting the family.

Marv was appointed a Prov incial Judge on February 20, 1974, and held court in all the surrounding communities. In October 1974 he was transferred to Salmon Arm and other com munities there about. He served as a Provincial Judge for 16 years until his retirement on August 31, 1990. In his final two weeks as a judge, he was asked to fill in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, circling back to where he began his legal career.

He continued to live in Sal mon Arm until 2010 when he moved to Port Coquitlam, B.C.

died on December 13, 2014.

Allan was born in Romney Town ship, Kent, Ontario, on September 14, 1898, to John and Emily Rob inson, Allan being the eldest of the three children.

Allan enlisted in St. Thomas, Ontario, on January 10, 1916, and sailed for England on the SS Olym pic on June 29, 1916. At the time of enlistment he was recorded as a farmer.

He was sent on to France on Feb ruary 31, 1917. While in France, he suffered severely with reoccurring bouts of trench foot and was hos pitalized for this malady. He was discharged for demobilization on July 4, 1919, in London, Ontario. He wanted to get as far away from the trenches in France as he could, so he came to the Peace River County.

When he first landed in the Peace, he worked for another farm er and also at his sawmill while he looked for land, which he found in the Cache Creek area near Hud son’s Hope, B.C. He then returned to Ontario in 1921 to bring the rest of his family out to the Peace.

Allan was best remembered as a guide and outfitter for the Indian Department. He knew intimately the wilderness that was the North Peace, from the Rocky Mountain Trench to the Pine Pass area, and the miles between.

He was extremely skilled with his hands, be it wood, metal or leather. He was a craftsman, well recog nized for his ability. There was a log barn at Bear Flat with double-dove tailed corners that he either built or was “consulted” about the proper method. As his age progressed and his mobility decreased, he did a lot of gunsmithing and making various ornamental wooden items with in laid mountain sheep horn, which he had accumulated in his guid ing/outfitting days in the 1930s. His custom rifles were beautiful but he wouldn’t make a rifle for you if he didn’t like you; and if he did like you, you couldn’t pay him for it.

The problems he had with his feet in France eventually put him in a wheelchair for the last 20 years of his life. He was crippled up too much to continue farming, even in the 1940s.

Allan was felled by a stroke and lived out his last five years in the Veteran’s Hospital in Edmon ton. He died in 1966 and is buried in the Beachmount Cemetery in Edmonton.

sometimes hiding in the machinery to save the cost of another fare on the ship to the Hope.

In his early years, he accom panied Dr. Brown on his trips to give treaty to the Indians. He also panned for gold in the Peace River.

At one time when he was get ting out logs, he was hit on the head by a falling tree that drove him down onto a sharp snag that went up through his chin and was embedded in his mouth. The splin ters were removed from the roof of his mouth and with his jaw taped closed he had a long convalescence but no permanent damage except for the peculiar plate the dentist made to fill in the teeth that had been knocked out.

Eden married Helen on March 6, 1942, in Truro, Ontario, and they had two children, son Alex and daughter Martha. They farmed in Bear Flat where the family farm was located.

He served as a tank commander in the tank division during the war. A picture of the regiment was taken in February 1943. He served from 1940 to 1945.

He served the North Peace Dis trict School Board twice as a trustee.

Eden died July 10, 1962, in the Providence Hospital in Fort St John after a brief illness. He is buried in the Fort St. John Cemetery.

Eden was born September 2, 1907, in Wheatly, Ontario, to Mr. and Mrs. John A Robinson. He made the trip west from Ontario with his family when he was 13 years old,

RUNACRES, Art

Regiment: 5th Division Westminster

Art was born on October 28, 1914, in Calgary and grew up near Red Deer, Alberta.

In 1938, Art worked in Vancouver at a bicycle shop where he built a bicycle, which he used as he started up the highway north. He got as far as Cinema where he looked for work. He was put to work building a log barn, which he had never done be fore. He then panned gold on the Cottonwood River.

When the war broke out, he start ed south, picking apples on his way to join the army. He was sent over seas as a sergeant and instructor. He returned from the war on January 2, 1943.

On February 4, he married Norma and they had one son, Colin, and two daughters, Carol and Janice. While moving around for a few years, Art earned a living in many ways, includ ing farming. Eventually, the family moved to Campbell River, B.C., where they remained for 25 years. Again, Art did all kinds of work, in cluding commercial fishing, and even built his own boat. He worked in the oil patch too. Art took writing courses while they were there and learned to publish his own books. He wrote a number of books and news paper articles. He also wrote music and played the sax, clarinet, banjo, and mandolin.

When he was 65, Art determined to come to the Peace River Country. They farmed for a short while at Flat rock, B.C. This was a tough job, clear ing land and building up a farm. In 1985, they moved into Fort St. John.

There was never any stagnation, he was never boring or bored. Until a few years before his death, he con tinued to take courses and was the focal force in a local writing group.

Art died October 16, 1992, and is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Fort St. John.

ROBINSON, Theodore Allan Regiment: 3rd Battalion, 91st Battalion, 6th Reserve Battalion; Service: France

ROBINSON, Eden Westbrook Regiment: 29th Canadian Ar moured Regiment

Regiment; Service: Overseas; Rank: Sergeant

Albert was born Decem ber 9, 1896, in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, to Sinclair Spence. He moved to Edmon ton area in 1912 where he met Elizabeth Peel.

He joined the military on February 4, 1916. He saw action in many of the Can adian infantry battles and was wounded and discharged in 1917 because of these wounds. He was a farmer be fore enlistment.

He and Elizabeth married in 1916 before he sailed off to France, and they had a family of Jean, Marjorie, Marion, Lorna, Bert Sheila, Gordon, Patricia, Dennis, and Lucy.

Albert farmed in the Ed monton area until 1930 when he and his family moved to Cecil Lake district. He was the first secretary-treasurer of the Transpine School board as well as a member and officer of the Farmers Institute.

The Second World War saw him re-enlist in the Canadian Army as an instructor and he served until discharge at the end of hostilities.

He lived in Richmond, B.C., and was active in the Alcohol ics Anonymous movement there for 19 years.

Albert passed away on March 9, 1973, at 77 years old at Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver. He is buried in the Valley View Cemetery in Sur rey, B.C.

Frank, Raymond Regiment: 1st Battalion Alberta Regiment and 260th Battalion; Service: Siberia; Decorations: War Service Badge

Frank was born on July 7, 1903, in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the United States in 1905 with his par ents. The family moved to a homestead near Athabasca, Alberta, in 1912.

He enlisted in Edmonton, Alberta on May 24, 1918, and was shipped from Victoria, B.C., to Siberia. He was hos pitalized three times for influ enza, mumps, and pneumonia during his service. He was dis charged for demobilization on June 5, 1919, in Calgary, hav ing been sent back to Canada on the SS Empress of Russia.

Frank also served in the Second World War, and was a lifetime member of the Legion and an active member of the community.

He married Annie Millen in Edmonton on August 23, 1937. They resided in Peli can Portage where Frank was stationed with the Dominion Government Telegraph. An nie lived in Edmonton while Frank was in service. They had a family of three daugh ters, Ruth Ann, Margaret, and Fran. They moved to Fort St. John with the telephone com pany. Frank retired in 1968 from the telephone company but continued to reside in Fort St. John.

Frank died on April 15, 1988, in Fort St. John and is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

WARREN, Cecil Bruce

Regiment: 16th Reg Depot, 44th Canadian Infantry; Service: France and England; Decorations: 1 Gold bar

Cecil was born in Marmora, Hastings, Ontario, to James and Alberta Warren on Octo ber 9, 1889.

He enlisted on March 25, 1916, at Deloraine, Manitoba, and sailed on the SS Olym pic on November 20, 1916, for England. At the time of enlist ment, he was recorded as a miller by trade and a Method ist by faith. He was married to Florence Millar on October 22, 1925.

He sailed from Halifax to England on the SS Olympic on November 20, 1916. He was sent to France on Decem ber 29, 1916, and was severely wounded on June 18, 1917. He was sent to the Brook War Hospital in Woolwich. He had a shrapnel wound to his head that required surgery remov ing part of his tibia bone to repair the wound on his skull. He spent one month in a hos pital in France, nine months in a hospital in England, and then was sent to Canada on the Neuralia on June 3, 1918. He wore a silver plate in his head the rest of his life.

Cecil was discharged as medically unfit for duty on August 20, 1918, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After discharge, he thought the Peace Country had more to offer than Manitoba so he traveled there in late 1918. He and Florence married and had three children, a son and two daughters.

Cecil owned farm land on the eastern border of the air port in Fort St. John when land was requisitioned for the building of the airport dur ing the Second World War. He gave up a half section of land. He farmed and hauled the mail. He was recorded as being on the Hudson’s Bay account books in 1921 in the North Peace.

He had about the first truck in the district. He engaged in the furniture business and act ed as the hamlet’s undertaker. He believed in free speech and often exercised that right. He was a staunch Conservative but believed in supporting the man rather than the party. He was one of the charter mem bers of the local Legion #102.

Cecil died on October 21, 1953, in an automobile ac cident that crushed his chest and is buried in the Fort St. John Cemetery.

PETRIE, George

George was born in Ono way, Alberta, on March 5, 1924, the youngest of eight children.

He joined the armed forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen and served until 1946.

He married Margery on December 31, 1951, and they resided in Leduc, Alberta. They had a family of two sons, Henry and Douglas, and three daughters, Catherine, Carol, and Verna.

George worked on seis mograph and oil rigs, also as a driller until 1964. He then worked for Union Oil. Over the years, the family moved sev eral locations where George worked. He had a great love for fishing, hunting, camping, and dancing. He especially like to sit around the campfire at Lil’ Dudes campground.

Due to unforeseen circum stances, George was forced to retire early at the age of 60 as he suffered a stroke in 1984. Since his stroke he led an interrupted life. He spent his last year and a half in the Peace Lutheran Care Home, where he had many friends.

George died on January 18, 2001. A military tribute was performed by the Royal Can adian Legion while the Last Post was played.

Harry was born on March 12, 1892, in Marmora, Hast ings County, Ontario. He moved with his family to Wait eville, Saskatchewan (named after his grandfather).

He enlisted in 1914 and went overseas to serve in France and was a survivor of Vimy Ridge. During his time in England, he married Edith. She had been a First World War widow.

When he returned to Sas katchewan in 1919, he came with his English bride, Edith (Ansell). In 1929, he and his family came to the Montney Valley where he farmed until 1950. They had eight children when they came to the home stead. Harry’s homestead was two miles west and one mile west of the Montney corner. They had four sons, Clifford, Jim, Harold, and Ralph, and six daughters, Mary, Joyce, Connie, Verna, Audrey, and Marjorie.

He was involved in the building of such structures as the Crystal Springs School, Community Hall, and the Old Fort St. John Hospital. These building bees were putting up log structures where his double dove-tailing expertise was in demand.

They semi-retired to Mile 49 on the Alaska Highway in 1949. Later still in 1966, they retired to the Elks’ Sunset Home in Fort St. John.

Harry died on April 2, 1975, and he was cremated and his ashes buried on the home stead in Montney, B.C.

SPENCE, Sinclair Albert Regiment: 151st Battalion, 8th Battalion; Service: France and Canada; Rank: Lance Corporal

SENZ,

WAITE, Harry, Wilbur Regiment: 28th Battal ion; Service: England and France

Midget Trackers remain unbeaten

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

It was a win and a tie this weekend for the NEBC midget Trackers, home to the St. Albert Crusaders in a two-game series. On Saturday, Carver Lequiere set up one goal and assisted on another as the Trackers dropped St. Albert 4-1.

“Carver has really impressed me, so far, this year,” said head coach Jared Winkel. “He’s been

a work horse, super strong. Good on his feet. Goes to work in the corner.”

In six games, Lequiere has seven goals and 13 assists.

Goal scorers in the twogame opener were Lincoln Bueckert, Tristan Simpson, Xavier Burgher, and Brody Mickey; goaltender Evan Baker stopped 28 of 29 shots.

On Sunday, MacCoy Willms led the way, scoring both goals in a 2-2 affair. “He’s a man amongst boys, at this point,”

Huskies make it ve straight

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

The Fort St. John Huskies have climbed back into third place in the Northwest Junior Hockey League standings after dropping the Dawson Creek Kodiaks 10-3 Friday night, their fifth win in as many games.

The Huskies, who had leads of 2-1 and 6-3, ended the game in the third with four unan-

swered goals, peppering Kodiaks goalie Corey Ross with 44 shots throughout the game.

“I just thought our game tonight was really dialed in. We got contribution from all four lines,” said head coach Todd Alexander following the game. “They got a couple of power play goals. Those are things we can make better adjustments on. A couple of them went off some our players that were try-

said Winkel. “He’s almost a little too strong for his own good. He’ll get into penalty trouble making a play that someone else would but because he’s two times stronger, it looks bad on his behalf.”

His two-goal performance gives him six goals and six assists in five games. Goalie Ryder Hunt made 29 saves in the tie for the 4-0-2 Trackers who are in Whitecourt (6-0-2) in a battle of unbeaten teams next Saturday and Sunday.

ing to block shots. That’s just hockey sometimes.”

Three different Huskies players had two-goal nights: Ashton Underhill, Colby Busche, and Justin Brownlee. Other markers in the game came from Kurtis Lee, Thomas Loewen, Chase London, and Brandon Modde. Shots on goal were 44-21 in favour of the Huskies, off until Thursday when they travel to Fairview to play the Flyers.

LAKESHORE 4-H

y

4-H Communit y Cl ub LAKESHORE 4-H REPORT

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Trackers forward Carver Lequiere (20) had two helpers in a 4-1 win over St. Albert Nov. 5, 2022.

NPSS Athletics update

Jaclyn McNicol NPSS Athletics Director

It was another busy week for North Peace Secondary volley ball teams.

BOYS

The senior boys team trav elled to Prince George on Nov ember 4-5. Their first game against provincially-ranked Duchess Park started slow, but the Grizzlies quickly turned it around and took them to ex tra points in the second set. With high praise from the other team, the Grizzlies moved onto DP Todd. A similar story here, the team started slow but we were able to take the second set and push their opponents to a third. The boys were excited and everyone in the gym was firing on all cylinders. The boys ended up dropping the third set 15-13 to finish Day 1 at 0-2.

On Saturday, the senior boys resumed the round robin against Mackenzie Second ary and took both sets. The last round-robin game of the day was against Prince George Secondary. The Grizzlies ended up dropping both sets to PGSS, however, recogniz ing what needs to be adjusted for their next meeting at zone championships.

Moving into the playoffs, the boys were matched up against College Heights. The Grizzlies squad played very well and made the opponent work for their opportunity to play in a medal match. College Heights and Duchess Park ended up facing each other in the gold medal match.

“We received plenty of feed back from the organizer and the other coaches on how much the North Peace pro gram has advanced, and the skill level of the athletes on the team,” coach Tyson Lyons said.

The team MVP for the week end went to Bryce Telford who continuously demonstrated leadership on the court.

The junior boys team trav elled to their first tournament in Prince George, where they continued to develop and grow as volleyball players. It

was a big learning curve as the Grizzlies’ toughest match was in their own heads. The tournament had its highs and lows but the team collectively never gave up. The Grizzlies’ middles increased their pres ence at the net and got a better feel for tracking the ball on the other side of the net defending altogether.

Dyson Felix stepped up starting for the first time as set ter and found a natural fit into the role. He proved very valu able setting the left side and in transitioning from defence to offence. Andreas Schneider found his offensive touch this past weekend and became a notable threat by the end of the tournament. As this group con tinues to develop, they only get better each game.

GIRLS

The Junior girls travelled to Dawson Creek to take part in the yearly regional tourna ment. The juniors, overall, had a great weekend as were super-focused. In an excit ing finals match NPSS Griz zlies played their season rivals DCSS. While the girls made great choices during this game, DCSS took the win. The team’s stand outs this weekend were Amy Ballard, who played con sistently all weekend, with strong plays in front of the net, and great saves and Natalie Eggiman, who demonstrated her skill with great second ball plays on the out of system attacks.

The team is looking forward to their finals match up in zone championships November 1112, hosted by NPSS, at Margaret Ma Murray school. For more information, please check out the Grizzlies Instagram page: @ northpeacegrizzlies

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

• Senior boys and girls teams travel to Peace River to play in their final season tournament, before zones.

• Junior boys team travels to Prince George for zones Nov. 11-12.

• Junior girls host zones at Ma Murray School Nov. 11-12.

The NPSS junior girls volleyball team were silver medallists in Dawson Creek this past weekend.

Sharma ends play at para-badminton worlds

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

Rishav Sharma has completed play at the world para-bad minton championships in Tokyo.

The Fort St. John athlete finished third in his pool with a record of one win and two losses - falling 21-13, 21-16 to 10th-ranked Ruthick Ragu pathi from India and 21-8, 21-14 to Indonesian Dheva Anrimusthi, ranked 7th in the world.

“My group was tough this time but I would say my physical fitness, staminawise, I felt really good. More of a lack of technique or consistency, maybe,” said Sharma, shortly after his final match.

“I would say [Dheva] was the best player I’ve gone up against in my career.”

In fact, midway through the second match, Anrimushti only led by a point, 11-10.

“It was pretty close. I tried my best. I was going full out. I didn’t care about any injur ies,” Sharma joked. “I just wanted points.”

He was, however, able to win his second game against

2019 Pan-Am Games bronze medallist Kleiber Eduardo Mi jares-Palacios of Venezuela, beating the 28th-ranked play er in straight sets 21-10, 21-17.

Sharma is 33rd in the world.

“There was some really good competiton. Good to know where I stand. I can see the difference,” he said in siz ing up his opponents at the international event.

“Some of these guys play eight, nine hours a day, six days a week.”

Sharma, on the other hand, has a full-time job with the City of Fort St. John, and while he does get onto the court, it’s

most often to help teach kids about the sport.

At 25, he’s one of the moreexperienced players at tour naments like these.

“I was talking with one of the Indian coaches. He said ‘you used to beat these kids and now they’re getting bet ter.’ I said, that’s part of life,” keeping his sense of humour all the while.

He admitted, just like a tournament earlier in the year in Brazil, you do get better by competing against some of the best in the world.

Besides doing some sight seeing, Sharma is planning to watch the championship final in his division Sunday (Toyko time) before making the long flight home early next week.

And, while there’s no plans for anymore competitions until at least the new year, there is another important overseas trip set for Januarya visit home to India, the first one in over six-plus years.

The northern B.C. trans plant will be packing his bad minton racquets, though.

“A couple of the Indian players said - Oh, you’re com ing home? You should give us a call.”

Season looks bright for speed skaters

Ten members of the Fort St. John Elks were in Grande Prairie last Saturday, Oct. 29, to compete in the Peace Wap iti Speedskating Club’s Arctic Winter Games short-track qualifying meet. Al though B.C. doesn’t participate in the games, it was a good opportunity for skaters from our side of the border to get in some much-needed ice time.

For many, it was also the first chance since the pandemic to be able to see familiar faces and to compete against one another. Below are the results from Elks club skaters. Great job, everyone!

Austin MacGregor (Neo-Junior B1 Mixed)

500 metre, 1st (52.17 sec.)

1000 metre, 1st (1 minute, 49.68 seconds)

Maria Hansen (Neo-Junior C2 Mixed) 1000m, 2nd (1:54.38) 1500m, 1st (2:59.28)

Erik Hansen (Youth 12 Mixed) 200m, 1st (25.57) 400m, 1st (48.82) 800m, 1st (1:36.33)

Max Wu (Youth 12 Mixed) 200m, 1st (24.60) 400m, 3rd (50.28) 800m, 2nd (1:36.61)

Tara Ashrafi (Youth 12 Mixed)

200m, 2nd (25.57) 400m, 2nd (49.95) 800m, 3rd (1:38.60)

Taha Ahmed (Youth 13 Mixed)

Taylor Speedway hands out awards

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

The Fort St. John Stock Car Associa tion, also known as the Taylor Speed way, held its annual banquet and awards Saturday, Nov. 5. Trophies were handed in the four different divisions:

Mini-stock Juniors:  1) Anthony LaFountain; 2) Logan Sidoni; 3) Delani Bulley; Rookie of the Year: Levi Henderson

Mini-stock Adults:  1) Richard Hildebrand; 2) Jamie Legal; 3) Erin Hall; Rookie of the Year: Nicole Hunt Bomber class:  1) Devon Beebe; 2) Justin Tackaberry

IMCA modified:  1) Johnny Beau mont; 2) Aaron Tubbs; 3) Jason West gate; 4) Trevor Brown (also Rookie of the Year)

The club also honoured some of the others who made racing possible: Pit crew of the Year - Duncan pit Volunteers of the Year - Jason and Byron Westgate Sportsman of the Year - Chelsea Babcock

Helen & John Beaumont Sr. “Most Dedicated” Memorial Trophy - track er announcer A.J. Everton Kari Krahn Memorial Trophyvolunteers Sue Everton and Sherry Hildebrand

And, in a bittersweet moment, the club paid tribute to long-time execu tives Kelly and Sherry Hildebrand, who are stepping down from the board, but will still be seen around. For those close to the track, it just wouldn’t be racing without a Hawai ian theme in the pits.

1500 metre, 1st (2 minutes, 44.88 seconds)

Connor Mason-Bennett (Junior B2 Mixed)

500m, 1st (55.59)

1000m, 1st (1:49.07)

1500m, 2nd (2:44.88)

Subhaan Ahmed (Neo-Junior B1 Mixed)

500m, 1st (55.16)

1000m, 1st (1:51.04)

1500m, 3rd (2:56.48)

200m, 5th (29.58) 400m, 4th (55.78) 800m, 6th (1:56.11)

Maida Ahmed (Child 6-8 Mixed) 100m, 1st (19.75) 200m, 2nd (41.94) 400m, 3rd (1:17.72)

Kensley MacGregor (Child 6-8 Mixed) 100m, 3rd (24.14) 200m, 2nd (43.23) 400m, 1st (1:33.48)

NPSS ATHLETICS PHOTO

SUBMITTED

Rishav Sharma inside the Yoyogi Nation gymnasium.

SUPPLIED

Taylor Speedway mini-stocks junior drivers (l-r) Levi Henderson (rookie of the year), Delani Bulley (3rd place), Logan Sidoni (2nd place), and Anthony LaFountain (1st place).

— Fort St. John Elks Speedskating Club

Gwen was born in Stras bourg, Saskatchewan, on December 21, 1921, to Ernie and Cora Paris. Gwen moved with her parents to Mont ney, B.C., when she was ten. She attended Crystal Springs School, then completed her schooling by correspondence. While studying she took care of her baby sister.

She started her secretar ial career with the Provincial Government in Pouce Coupe, B.C. In 1942, she joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps.

Gwen and Bob were mar ried on October 10, 1945, in Fort St. John and made their home in Montney. They had a daughter, Donna, and son, Delbert. After the children left home for school, Gwen re sumed her work as secretary/ treasurer for the government agent in Fort St. John and finally with Mental Health. She retired in October 1986.

Throughout her life, Gwen was active in her church and community. She was member of the Montney Community Club, belonged to the Mont ney W.I., served as a 4-H lead er, and helped with the local Lutheran Church’s Children’s School. In retirement she joined the Horticultural Soci ety and the Historical Society.

Gwen died on November 14, 1988, and is buried in the Montney Cemetery.

They established a stop ping place at on the highway for the next 14 years at Trutch, mile 200. They had four chil dren, Ross, Patty, Timber, and Kathy. During this time Don was also a guide outfitter so mostly the stopping place was Alene’s job.

They moved to Fort St. John in 1963 for advanced school ing for the children. Don had bought furs all the years they were in Trutch, with two stores, one on the Prophet and one at the Halfway Reserves. When Don died in 1980, Alene took on the buying of furs. She had a little moccasin shop on the highway where they lived.

PECK, Alene (Darnall) Service: Canada and England

Alene was born in 1921 to Ross and Margaret Darnall in Payette, Idaho. She went to Grade 1 in Chelan, Washing ton. They came to the Peace Country in 1928. There was no school here then but they got the Fish Creek school in 1931.

Alene went to normal school to become a teacher and returned home to Fort St. John to teach before she joined the Air Force.

She signed up in Edmonton with the Royal Canadian Air Force and took her basic train ing in Rock Cliff, Ontario. She was then sent to Lethbridge and Calgary before being sent to England for six or seven months. During her time off she got to travel in England, Scotland, and Ireland. She served for about two-and-ahalf years as a clerk account ant before returning home in the fall of 1946. Upon return, she taught in Charlie Lake for six months then she taught a year in the Yukon. She mar ried Don in Whitehorse.

Regiment: 65th Battalion, 188th Battalion, 10th, 15th & 19th Battalions; Service: Canada, England, and France; Rank: Sergeant

Fred was born on October 25, 1881, in Herne Bay, Kent, England. He was one of 12 children of a London fireman. He had run a steam boiler for a Toronto bricklayer, pros pected on the Grand Trunk, cooked for survey parties.

Fred came to Canada in 1905 to settle and kept push ing north and west each year. He came to the Peace in 1911. Fred had seen service all over the world with the British Navy and had been a surgical guinea pig for them when his appendix ruptured. Fred liked the water so he took to the northern river and cooked on the Hudson’s Bay Peace River boat, making 17 miles a day from Peace River Town to Hudson’s Hope, a 250 mile distance.

He enlisted in St. Albert, Saskatchewan, and it is re corded that he had served five years in the Royal Navy since 1900 at the time of the Boer War. At the time of his enlist ment on November 8, 1915, he was listed as a seaman, R.N. Fred sailed from Halifax on the SS Olympic on October 19, 1916, landing in Liverpool, England.

Fred served 11 months in Canada with the 188th Bat talion, 10 months in England with the 15th Battalion, and 21 months in France. He was appointed Sergeant on Nov ember 11, 1916. He was hos pitalized for a wound on his left foot from a shell on Oc tober 10, 1917, and was sent to Connaught to recover. He also had a shoulder wound on November 11, 1917. He was discharged because of de mobilization on June 16, 1919, in Toronto, Ontario.

After discharge, he came back to the Peace River area and put a claim in on land in the Jim Rose Prairie area. At the same time, he was running the scow Ingineka, which was pushed by a tug, hauling ma chinery, freight, and passen gers. He moved to Hudson’s Hope in 1925 and went into the restaurant business. He sold out in 1929 and took to trapping, which he continued until he retired in 1946. He re tired to Gold Bar until his long illness, which took him to hos pital in Edmonton.

Fred died on September 26, 1965, and is buried in the Hudson’s Hope Cemetery.

PARKER, Eva Gwendolyn (Gwen) Regiment: Canadian Women’s Army Corps; Ser vice: Canada; Rank: Corpor al; Decorations: War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Volunteers Medal

CHAPMAN, Fredrick James

Jack was born on Decem ber 26, 1922, and grew up at Sunny Side, Charlie Lake, B.C.

In 1942, he joined the army and served until he was wounded near the Belgium border on October 5. Jack was hospitalized due to his injuries until 1946. While recovering in Edmonton at the Veteran’s Hospital, he met Bernice. They married on September 7, 1946, in the Anglican Church in Fort St. John. They had a son, Ken, and two daughters, Sherry and Heather.

Jack spent most of his work ing life ranching and guiding in the Peace Country. In 1987, Jack and Bernice retired to Charlie Lake.

Jack died on October 17, 2006, at the age of 83. He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

George was born in Hex ham, Northumberland, Eng land in 1882. He lived in Newcastle-on-Tyne when he joined the British Army. He saw active service from 19141918. At the close of the war, he was in the army of occupa tion in Cologne, Germany. It made a total of six years in the armed services.

In 1924, he and his wife came to Canada with their daughter, Peggy. They took up residence in Sedley, Saskatch ewan, and later they farmed at Bechard, Saskatchewan. A friend told them about the Peace River district and in 1950 they came north to Charlie Lake, B.C. where they leased the Charlie Lake Café.

George worked for Pacific Petroleum for 13 years and was honoured upon his retire ment for his faithful service. Following retirement, they took up residence in the Elks Sunset Home for the next sev en years.

He was a Legion #102 Mem ber and was in a picture taken in 1965 of Vimy Ridge Veter ans. He was 82 years old when he passed away peacefully with his wife by his side in the Fort St. John General Hospi tal on April 4, 1974. George is buried in the Fort St. John Cemetery.

They lived in a crude cabin that first fall and Johnny went to work at a sawmill. They had a family of 10 children. At some point, the Coopers had a café in Charlie Lake that boasted staff of four.

John died in 1974 and is buried in the Fort St. John Cemetery.

Edward was born March 25, 1900, at Powerscourt, in County Wicklow, Ireland. He left Ireland at the age of 16 to serve in the British Army in Northern Africa and South West Asia for 10 years. He saw service in Egypt, India, Iran, and Iraq with the 47th Royal Dragoon Guards.

He immigrated to Canada in 1926 and worked his way west to Fort St. John, B.C. In 1927, he homesteaded at Mile 49 ½ on the Alaska Highway. The following years until 1935 were filled with homesteading, trapping, and prospecting.

Ed then moved to Stewart, B.C., where he worked in the Big Missouri Copper Mine. He married Alice Wakefield on June 6, 1937, and they had a family of six children, John, Kathleen, Eddie, Reg, Willie, and Karen. They continued to reside in Stewart until 1943 then he moved back to the Peace with his family to farm and ranch. He moved from the farm at Mile 49 ½ to the ranch at Mile 60 to retire. He was ac tive with both the Legion and the Farmer’s Institute.

Edward died on August 25, 1977, and is buried in the Fort St. John Cemetery.

John was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Wisconsin, U.S.A., on January 29, 1897. His mom was Laura Markham.

He enlisted in Regina, Sas katchewan, on June 20, 1918, and was listed as a farmer and a member of the English Church at that time. He sailed on the SS Kildonan Castle for England, arriving on Septem ber 9, 1918. He served as an army cook while overseas. He was hospitalized with tonsil litis on October 4, 1918, and was treated at Shorncliffe for three months. John left Eng land on the HMT Araguaya on May 5, 1919, from Liverpool to be invalided to Canada. He was in the Military Hospital in Winnipeg after he arrived. He was discharged on October 4, 1919, having served in Eng land for one year. Reason for discharge was demobilization.

Both his family and his wife’s family had left Wis consin to come to Beechy, Saskatchewan. Returning to Canada, he married Royce in 1922. In 1927, they left the prairies and came to the Peace River Country. John had a Sol dier’s Grant and took up a homestead at Charlie Lake.

CAZES, Arthur Lawrence

Art was born in 1900 in Kalispel, Montana, moving with his parents as a small child to Melford, Saskatchewan area. They traveled by covered wag on to Melfort where Art was raised, becoming a farmer, a blacksmith, and mechanic.

He met his wife Florence (Judy) Harley in Melfort. They moved their family of 12 chil dren to Cecil Lake area in 1951, where he farmed until his death on April 30,1956.

Art was a talented musician and played his violin at many Cecil Lake dances, most of their children played too. Their home was often the place to be on weekends with listening to music and dancing.

Art is buried in the Cecil Lake Cemetery.

POWELL, Jack Kenneth Regiment: Fort Garry Horse Regiment; Service: England and Holland; Rank: Corporal

FOSTER, Edward Regiment: British Army, Roy al Dragoons Guards; Service: Canada, England, and France; Rank: Lance Corporal

DODD, George James Regiment: British Army, Northumberland Fusiliers Service: France and Ger many; Rank: Private

COOPER, John Lemuel Regiment: 15th Depot Bat talion; Service: England; Rank: Private

TAURUS

APR 21/MAY 21 This week you need to slow down and smell the proverbial roses, Taurus. You’ve likely been moving at breakneck speed and you can’t maintain this momentum. Take a break.

GEMINI  MAY 22/JUN 21

Gemini, when someone presents an idea to you, use your intuition to determine if you should get involved. You can trust your gut on this decision.

CANCER  JUN 22/JUL 22

Cancer, even if you are in control of a situation, delegate some of your tasks to others and lighten your load. It’s good to build a team of people you can trust and rely upon.

LEO  JUL 23/AUG 23

Leo, if there is not much excitement happening around you right now, drum up some of your own. Try to schedule a social gathering before people get busy with the holidays.

VIRGO  AUG 24/SEPT 22

Virgo, if you can’t change your current situation, learn to live with things until you can see new horizons. You may need to grin and bear it for a bit.

LIBRA  SEPT 23/OCT 23

Libra, you’ve already taken an important step, now you just have to ne tune and nesse a situation. Figure out what works for you and then make your move.

SCORPIO  OCT 24/NOV 22

It’s not time to throw in the towel just yet, Scorpio. Keep working every angle and exhaust all avenues. You may nd a way to make things work to your advantage.

SAGITTARIUS  NOV 23/DEC 21

There’s a strong crowd of people rallying around you lately, Sagittarius. Harness their collective energy to pull yourself through a challenging situation.

CAPRICORN  DEC 22/JAN 20

You may need to take a few steps in one direction before you gure out that the other path is the way to go, Capricorn. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

AQUARIUS  JAN 21/FEB 18

Aquarius, just when you’re ready to move out the door, someone is trying to pull you back inside. Be rm with your resolutions. If it’s time to move on, then do so.

PISCES  FEB 19/MAR 20

Pisces, you won’t make any strides if you are not willing to take a few risks. Explore some new possibilities in the days to come.

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

‘I’m either in or I’m out’

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

Outgoing Fort St. John mayor Lori Ackerman is looking forward to what ever lies ahead of her as she steps away from politics.

The community’s 11-year mayor made her final public appearance as mayor last Thursday afternoon at a chamber of commerce luncheon.

“So, what’s next for Lori Ackerman political-wise?” asked Taylor coun cillor Michelle Turnbull during an audience Q&A, following an intimate moderated session.

“I think that ship has sailed,” said Ackerman frankly, but could only keep serious for a brief moment.

“Maybe, I’ll run for the mayor for the District of Taylor and get you guys a new pool,” she joked.

Once the laughter died down, Turn bull followed up by asking:

“Do you see this as the end to your

political tenure, onto other different things now, or do you see yourself get ting involved again, whether it’s at a municipal level, provincial...perhaps even federal?”

“You know, I never close windows, I never close doors, [but, no] I just don’t think so. We just got a dog. It’s kinda like having a seven-year-old,” Acker man responded. “You know, where I’m at is pretty cool.”

Ackerman began her new role as the CEO of a newly-formed company, Blueberry River Resources, last Friday.

She admitted she will be kept busy with a number of new ventures be ing set up and considered for the operation.

“I’m not a back seat person. If we’re going to take a road trip, you need to know I’m driving. I’m not a back seat kind of girl. I’m either in or I’m out.”

While she might be out politically, she is ready to grab the wheel once again, ready to drive in a new direction.

May spend close to $6 billion

Nelson Bennett nbennett@biv.com

Enbridge announced last week plans to spend $5.5 billion in B.C. expanding natural gas pipelines.

The company announced Nov. 4 plans for a $3.6 billion expansion to its T-South line, which runs from Chet wynd to the Lower Mainland and the U.S. border. Another $1.9 billion could be spent expanding its T-North line in B.C.

The Alberta midstream company made the announcements along with its third quarter financial report. After completing what it called an over-sub scribed open season for the T-South pipeline, Enbridge said it had sanc tioned an expansion that will add 300 million cubic feet per day to its capacity.

“Enbridge’s assets in the ground con tinue to be in high-demand and will continue to be critical in supporting growing energy demand while provid ing the world with a safe and secure source of energy,” said Cynthia Hansen, executive vice president and president of Gas Transmission and Midstream at Enbridge.

Should the planned expansion re ceive the necessary regulatory approv als, the company said the expanded pipeline would be in service sometime in 2028.

Enbridge also announced plans to

conduct an open season to determine if there is sufficient shipper demand for an additional expansion to the T-North line as well, on top of the expansion it had just sanctioned in the previous quarter.

The T-North line runs from Fort Nel son and ties into the T-South segment, and east to interconnecting pipelines at the B.C.-Alberta border.

Enbridge had already previouly sanc tioned an expansion to that line — 535 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) — earlier this year, and is now already con sidering doubling that by another 500 MMcf/d. That expansion would have an estimated capital cost of $1.9 billion.

“Pending sufficient customer inter est, the open season could result in an expansion of T-North of approximately 500 million cubic feet per day,” the com pany said. “The potential expansion would serve growing regional demand for natural gas, West Coast LNG exports and downstream demand.”

Earlier this year, Enbridge an nounced it was taking a 30% stake in the Woodfibre LNG project in Squamish, now estimated to have a capital cost of $5.1 billion.

The Woodfibre LNG project will re ceive natural gas from the FortisBC Eagle Mountain-Woodfibre Gas Pipe line, which in turn will get its gas from the Enbridge T-South line.

Business in Vancouver

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Outgoing Fort St. John mayor Lori Ackerman speaks at her final public engagement Thursday, Nov. 3, at a chamber of commerce luncheon.

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DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

WELCOME ABOARD — Thomas Whitton signs his statement of declaration to become School District 60’s newest school trustee. Whitton won 1,260 votes on election day Oct. 15, and will officially become a school trustee on Nov. 7.

e Canadian military: An essential service

By Ruby McBeth

Iwas sorry to hear that the Canadian mil itary has a shortage of people entering its ranks. The men and women in our armed forces are there to help out in time of disaster. We heard of them showing up in the Maritimes to help with the Hurricane Fiona clean up. These people are trained and disciplined a truly essential service corps in times of need. Our Special forces are in the U.K. train ing Ukrainian soldiers. Our armed forces do good work.

SENIORS HALL HISTORY

Last year, I sorted through the history materi als at the Seniors Hall and

passed them along to the museum. Recently, a new piece of information came to light. We have been told that our present building was originally Henry’s Ho tel. If anyone knows about this hotel or has a picture, please contact the mu seum or the Seniors Hall at 250-785-7897.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

It is possible to get bogged down looking at all the requests we get from charities. I suggest a fresh approach.

First, if you have one charity you feel is import ant to you, then give to them as you are able. After that, look around you. Consider donating your time to a charity. I have

friends who help out at the Salvation Army food bank each week, and others who regularly work at the Hos pital Auxiliary gift shop. There are other ways to give locally. Donate cloth ing you no longer need to a thrift shop. Check with local charities to see what they need. I took the left over Halloween candy and some plastic cutlery to The Warming Centre and asked what they needed. They said paper cups. When you give locally you know you are meeting a need and not paying for an administra tor or for advertising. More on that next week.

FSJ SENIORS REUNITE EVENT

A film Montana Story is being put on by the FSJ

Seniors’ Task Force on Monday, November 14, at 7 p.m. Register with Laura Beamish by phoning 250785-8880 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those registered get free admission and free popcorn.

The film is at the Land mark Cinema 5 Aurora. If you need transportation the bus will stop at Abbey field and Apartments 1 or 3. You can learn the details when you register.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest ap preciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

— John F Kennedy

McBeth lives and writes in Fort St. John.

Religion in the north

By John Grady

For me, there is nothing more boring than statistics, and I have always doubted Stats Canada reporting as I have questioned the reliability of how the subscribers respond.

Unfortunately, it is hard to dismiss two separate recent reports from the 2021 Stats Canada census.

The first was reported recently by Alaska Highway News showing in Fort St. John and the surrounding area that 58.4%, or 16,590 of the population, have no religious affiliation.

There were 10,435 who did identify themselves as being Christians, with 2900 who identified themselves as being Catholic, Anglican 575, Pentecostal/Charismatic 495, United Church 425, Baptist 335, Lutheran 280, Jehovah Witness 250, Anabapist 235, Latter Day Saints 130, Presbyterian 115, Christian Orthodox 75, and Reformed 15.

Stats Canada documented that there were seven non-Christian religions representing a population of 1410.

As Christians, we can spin the numbers any way we would like, but if that is not a wake up call for Christians, who are supposed to care for the eternal lives of their neighbours, friends, and family members, then I don’t know what else you would call it.

Out of the 10,435, there were 3865 Christians who did not identify a denomination and 680 claimed to follow a Christian ministry.

One of the apparent reasons many do not identify denomination is the belief denomination is not a biblical term, and the other reason is some religions claim to be Christian but do not fulfill the biblical mandate.

The tag ‘Evangelical Christians’ was not used but that is declaring that Christians share their faith. Unfortunately, there is not much personal evangelism that takes place and the numbers certainly support the lack of evangelism.

For serious, committed Christians, the numbers are actually much lower than the 10,435 reported by Stats Canada. The true biblical reference reflects those that have repented, have placed their faith in the Savior and Lordship of Jesus Christ, thus being born of His spirit in their hearts.

As Jesus taught in the Gospel of John, we must be “born again,” which is of His spirit. If that is the true test, then the number is not as high as the quoted 10,435. What separates Christians as a biblical reference is we are the Body of Christ or the Bride of Christ.

The second report, noted by CBC from the 2021 Stats Canada census, was that 34.6% of people in Canada have no religious affiliation, however, in B.C. that number reaches 52.4%.

As part of the invitation committee that reached out to the Billy Graham Evangelical Association requesting Billy to come to Vancouver to hold a crusade, I recall that one of the key reasons he agreed was a report that less than 2.7% of the population in the lower mainland and surrounding area did not attend any worship facility.

As true believers and followers of Jesus Christ we need to heed the words of our Lord in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

John Grady lives and writes in Fort St. John.

Ruby

Hudson’s Hope Museum News: Lest We Forget

By Tom Summer

It’s been awhile since I’ve sat down to write one of these - Summer is long over, and Fall has come and gone, so here’s a long overdue update.

AGM AND CHANGING ROLES

We held our AGM this fall and I decided to step down from the presidential rolethat honour goes to one of our longstanding members, William Lindsay. Thanks Bill for all the work you do. And a big thanks to the rest of the returning board and our dedicated cur ator, Patti Campbell.

THE GHOSTS OF MEDAK POCKET

Remembrance Day is almost here, and I thought it would be appropriate to write something for our veterans. Both of my grandfathers served in World War II and that was always my connection to the holiday.

Recently I’ve had the pleas ure of working with a couple veterans, and one told me about their experience at ‘The Medak Pocket’, a post-Cold War conflict in the Balkans scarcely talked about, and often referred to as “Canada’s secret battle”.

If you’re wanting to know more about the impacts and legacy of the conflict, Carol Off has written a book about the soldiers who were there - titled The Ghosts of Medak Pocket

In September 1993, Can adian Peacekeepers were sent by the UN to enforce a ceasefire line in southern Croatia, which had been occupied by the then Serbian Republic of Krajina. French troops had been at tempting to resolve the situa tion with little to no success.

Forces from many sidesCroatians, Serbians, and Bos nians, were all fighting to secure and expand their territorial claims in the former Yugoslavia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

On Sept. 9, the Croatian Army rained down heavy ma chine gun and artillery fire, at tempting to force the Canadians out of the Medak Pocket. They expected our troops to retreat, but the peacekeepers returned fire and held the line, fortifying their position and forcing the Croatians back.

Official records state that the fighting lasted two days, with 27 Croatians killed and only 4 Canadians wounded. How ever, 11 villages were razed to the ground - the aftermath of a brutal genocide perpetrated by Croatian soldiers who butch ered Serbian men, women, children, and elderly.

No survivors were found by the peacekeepers, only remains. In total, 16 charred and muti lated corpses were discovered.

William Ray of the 2nd Bat talion Princess Patricia Can adian Light Infantry described the carnage in detail for the National Post in 2018.

“There was a stench of burned metal and plastics, and another, dankly sweet organic stench,” wrote Ray. “Personal belongings were scattered everywhere. People’s memories, their realities, were spread like shrapnel on the ground in this smoking testa ment to inhumanity.”

Many who returned from Medak described the experi ence as a living nightmare, with PTSD affecting regular duty and reservists alike - it’s considered one of the most severe conflicts seen by the Canadian military since the Korean War. 875 men were sent from Canada, a mix of regular and reserve soldiers, with 70% of the battalion being reservists.

Medak remained largely unknown for nearly a decade,

as the Canadian Government never publicized the conflict due to a military scandal, which happened the same year in Somalia. Shidane Arlone, a Somali teenager, was beaten to death by two Canadian soldiers participating in peacekeeping efforts there.

At the time, it was thought that the public would view Me dak Pocket and the increasing dangers in the Balkans nega tively, despite the intervention preventing further loss of life.

The silence on Medak was finally broken in 2002 - when Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson bestowed the Com mander-in-Chief Unit Com mendation on the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

The battalion documented the tragedy thoroughly, leading to the conviction of several Cro atian officers for war crimes.

“Your actions were nothing less than heroic and yet your country didn’t recognize it at the time,” Clarkson told them.

LEST WE FORGET

We’re also featuring World War I Battlefield Artist Mary Riter Hamilton this month.

Hamilton was the sister of the late Frank Riter of Hudson’s Hope.

After the war ended, Hamil ton traveled to Europe to paint the battlefields. Her paintings documented the destruction and devastation of World War I, depicting the locations of Vimy Ridge, Somme and Ypres.

350 paintings were complet ed over the span of three years.

In honour of her, the museum will have Irene Gammel’s book The Story of Battlefield Artist Mary Riter Hamilton available.

A wreath will also be laid by our board president at the Hud son’s Hope Remembrance Day ceremonies in honour of all our veterans.

FIRESIDE TALES

For the past few years, author and historian Jay Sherwood has been putting together a book about the life of my Great Uncle, Willard Freer, Kechika Chronicler: The Northern B.C. Diaries of Willard Freer

I was shocked and saddened to learn that Jay passed away in October.

I had been meaning to call Jay and ask how the book is coming along, and I wish I had called sooner - we’ve lost a good writer, a great historian, and a friend to the museum. He’ll be missed by many. How ever, the book is finished and has been sent for editing to the publisher - no word on a release date for now.

Freer was one of the cowboys hired in 1934 for the Bedeaux Expedition, which saw Citroen half-tracks make their way through the wilderness of Northern Alberta and B.C. The journals chronicle Freer’s life after the expedition, from 1942 to 1975. He spent much of his time living along the Alaska Highway in Fireside north of Fort Nelson, along the Liard River.

On a positive note, a tran script of the diaries is now avail able thanks to Jay, with copies being sent to both our museum and UNBC.

The Hudson’s Hope Museum is open five days a week, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. We’re always looking for vol unteers, if you’ve got time to support local history.

If you would like any further information, please call 250783-5735 or email at hhmus eum@pris.ca.

Tom Summer is Vice-Presi dent of the Hudson’s Hope Historical Society.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

By Ken Boon

Ok, that title might be a little over the top, but the recent BC NDP leadership contest fiasco does demonstrate the measures those in power will occasionally take to hold onto that power.

There has been much debate about how the party disqualified Anjali Appadurai from the race, which resulted in the coronation of David Eby as party leader and premier in waiting. However, the most thorough, revealing and fascinating analysis I have seen is by investigative journalist Martin Lukacs, and I encourage those who are interested to read it here: breachmedia.ca/how-thendp-establishment-stole-theb-c-leadership-race/

It paints a pretty pathetic and desperate picture of the inner workings of those in control of this leadership race. So how can those in control of a party with “democratic” as their middle name fall to such depth? This sure doesn’t seem like the same party that formed government under Premier Dave Barrett in the 1970s. Barrett famously jumped onto a table at his first cabinet meeting where he exclaimed, “Are we here for

a good time or a long time?”

His words proved prophetic as his government made major bold and beneficial changes that still hold strong today though his government only lasted for three years.

That is not today’s BC NDP. However, it could be argued how that same spirit was present when John Horgan formed government with the BC Greens in 2017 after 16 years of BC Liberal rule. While not perfect, that arrangement seemed to work well until Horgan called an early election during Covid, in a successful bid to get absolute power without interference from the pesky Green Party.

Meanwhile, it has become pretty clear that what many former NDP members/voters thought they were getting in the 2017 election did not materialize with this NDP government. So when a smart young candidate with real environmental credentials threw her name into the leadership race this year, it’s easy to see how that resulted in renewed interest by many. The revealing piece by Martin Lukacs also makes it very clear why that potential contest was shut down by the party.

Today’s NDP seems to be fixated on holding power by staying just slightly “left” of

the opposition Liberals, and not going as “radical” as they worried Anjali would try to take them.

This NDP government has done some good things, including the ICBC fix under Eby’s guidance. But Site C, LNG, and old growth logging are just a few examples of where they have failed a big part of their former base when it comes to environmental, climate change, and energy policies. They seem to be influenced by the same big money lobbyists who controlled the former Liberal government. Their referendum on electoral reform appeared to be sabotaged by design because neither of the two major B.C. political parties really wants to see that happen. Unlike our current first-past-the-post system, electoral reform would result in a stronger democracy and less chance for absolute power for one party.

Could Anjali have won? We will never know, but I think what people most wanted to see was an honest to goodness leadership race with public debate on the issues, and that was taken away undemocratically.

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

A Canadian forces armoured carrier with UN markings, patrolling a road in former Yugoslavia during early 1990s peacekeeping operations.

Ken Boon lives and writes at Bear Flat.

demobilization on March 27, 1919, in Ottawa, Ontario.

Jack spent several years working as a painter in Detroit but at his brother’s urgings he came west to find farm land.

In 1928, he was one of the first settlers in North Pine. In 1933, he returned to Ontario and came back with his wife Olive, whom he married on July 6, 1934. They had two daughters, Peggy and Eleanor. Jack was a dedicated farmer and he continued his interest in crops and gardens even after his retirement and plowed right up until he was 78 years young. Jack died in 1970 and is buried in the North Pine Cemetery.

New supportive homes opened

Dave

Jim was born on April 11, 1897, to the Hiram Samuel Lawrence’s in McLeod, Alberta.

Jim enlisted in Regina, Saskatchewan, on June 13, 1918, and was listed as a farmer and a Presbyterian at that time. He was discharged on February 11, 1919, at Regina, Saskatchewan, to return to Bethune, Saskatchewan.

In the early days, Jim was a trucker as he freighted for Bowes and Herron and Carmichaels. As the country started to open, he hauled for storekeepers in Montney, Rose Prairie, and North Pine, as well as transporting grain and livestock to Dawson Creek. Jim had been married but his wife had predeceased him by 25 years.

In 1939, he was the driver for Her Majesty’s Mail and continued for 35 years. Failing health caused Jim to become less active near the end of his term but for many years folks set their clocks by the arrival of the mail. Jim’s mail truck was the best way to get to town and he was seldom without a passenger. He had made his home with his long time friends in North Pine.

Jim moved into Fort St. John in the early 1940s where he worked as a parttime taxi driver and undertaker. He also helped to build a home for them all on 103 Avenue in town.

He was a Legion #102 member and was in a picture taken in 1965 of Vimy Ridge Veterans.

Jim died in March 24, 1975, at the Lions Gate Hospital, and is buried in the Taylor Cemetery.

Gar was born on November 30, 1914, in southern Ontario.

Prior to meeting Win, he worked for a small contractor based in Kimberly, Ontario, running a bulldozer. He continued this work for a time. He and Win married in May 1941 and he worked with his in-laws that winter, falling and hauling hardwood trees to a mill thirty miles away.

In the spring of 1942, he read that equipment operators were needed in Dawson Creek, B.C., to start on the new Alaska Highway. He and the rest of the crew traveled by train with the equipment to Dawson Creek, then “walked” the equipment to the Kiskatinaw River to start construction on the north side of the river. Later, they built a small shack and Win came west to join him. In February 1943, that section of highway was complete so they moved to Muncho Lake, B.C., By early summer 1943, their part of the highway was completed. Win had already gone back to Ontario to await the arrival of their daughter, Louise.

Stopping in Edmonton at a recruitment office, Gar joined the service. Following basic training, Gar was sent to Newfoundland to take part in submarine patrols with a Canso Aircraft Division as a radio operator. Later, he transferred to a telephone linesman position and travelled all over Newfoundland. Their family increased over the years to include Bob, Bill, Ted, and Bruce.

He was then shipped to Whitehorse, Yukon, in 1944 to help construct telephone lines on the new Alaska Highway. When the war was over and the telephone lines turned over to private contractors, Gar came home. He then went back to Ontario to help with the building of Highway 400, living in a tent for the summer with Win and two small children.

sports@ahnfsj.ca

Fort St. John’s new supportive housing complex was formally opened on Monday, and its importance was clearly evident with temperatures outside the ceremony hovering near -25 with the wind chill. After being a vision for close to five years, the Salvation Army’s annex building is now a reality.

“We are really humbled to be given this task by B.C. Housing, to support people in a way that gives them dignity, gives them value,” said executive director Jared Braun to a small gathering inside the new living space. “Giving hope today is what we’re all about as an organization and today we’re celebrating a way that we are going to be able to offer hope for people, who maybe feel hopeless. Forty-two people who are either homeless right now or under threat of homelessness will be welcomed into this place.”

“We are thrilled to be a part of this, to be working in partnership with the City, with the Army, and with the community to build housing like this,” said David Sheach, representing B.C. Housing.

“We recognize, as well, that this kind of housing is fundamentally important to people finding shelter, safety, and an opportunity to change…an opportunity to find their own spiritual route and to

have a life of hope.”

The new complex features shared laundry rooms, common areas, a commercial kitchen and courtyard, and rooms for medical workers and caseworker support staff, when needed. The units themselves include a kitchenette, washroom, bed, and small living area – three suites are purpose-built for people with mobility challenges, and one floor has been designated for women.

Major Sheldon Feener, who oversaw the Salvation Army in Fort St. John in 2015 and 2016, attended the ceremony. He said the need was there then, and it remains now, for the Northern Centre of Hope and the new supportive housing complex. “My gosh, indescribable. Just as you drive through town, whether it’s summer or winter, doesn’t matter. The need is so pressing and you can see it everywhere,” said Feener.

“There’s people on the streets that shouldn’t be on the streets. Homelessness is not just a big city issue anymore. It’s an issue we face everywhere.”

Fort St. John mayor Lori Ackerman knows first-hand some of challenges families are facing when it comes to homelessness, having been a former team member in family services.

“This is such a beautiful facility. It’s part of the very much-needed services in the community,” said Ackerman.

Jack was born in Eganville, Ontario, on June 2, 1981, to the Theodore Tiegs’ in a family of 12. His early years were spent in the mines and lumber camps of Northern Ontario. Before the war, he hurt his left knee in a fall while playing football; he was in hospital for 60 days at Granville Hospital, Vancouver, B.C.

Jack enlisted in Sudbury, Ontario, on April 7, 1917. He was recorded as a machinist and a member of the Church of England. While he was overseas he served as a cook. He sailed from Halifax on June 22, 1917, and landed at Liverpool on July 5, 1917.

He was sent to France on July 30, 1917, and in September he was kicked in the knee by a horse and was sent to Marseille Hospital on October 18, 1917. He spent the next five months in various hospitals.

He sailed for Canada at the end of the war on the SS Cassandra on March 28, 1919, and was discharged because of

They then bought his father’s farm with a loan from the Veterans’ Land Act and started farming in 1946. The long, hard hours of work took their toll and Gar had a heart attack in April 1958. They decided to move back to Fort St. John in 1962 and Gar got a job helping to build oil field roads north of town. After a trip to Ontario to sell the family farm they bought a store in Goodlow, B.C., adding the post office in 1966.

In 1973, Gar, Bob, Bill, and Ted, all having experience operating heavy equipment and trucks, decided to form the company, Gar Baker and Sons. This company was located just outside of Charlie Lake, B.C., and operated until December 15, 1985. During the summer of 1975, Gar lost his right leg. The store was sold in 1978 and they moved to their homestead to clear more land. The tractor was called Gar’s motorized wheelchair. They worked together picking roots and hooking up equipment.

Gar was an active member of the Legion 224 in Cecil Lake.

Gar died in his sleep on June 14, 1985, and is buried in the Cecil Lake Cemetery.

LAWRENCE, James Duncan (Jim) Regiment: 1st Depot Battalion Saskatchewan Regiment

TIEGS. John Ernest (Jack) Regiment: 60th Canadian Forestry Draft Co., 8th Construction Co.; Service: Canada, England, and France; Rank: Private

BAKER, Garnet Percy (Gar)

The AACA is organizing a special gathering in Fort Nelson (BC) and through Google Meet. This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada.

Lueneberg

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Members from Fort St. John and Doig River councils and invited guest speakers pose for a group photo with Salvation Army representatives outside the supportive housing building.

Fort St. John Health Unit, 10115 110th Ave.

BELL,

Reginald Howard (Pat)

Regiment: Royal Edmonton Regiment; Service: North Africa and Italy; Rank: Private

Pat was born in 1917 in Poplar Point, Manitoba, to Alexander and Elizabeth Bell. At the age of 12, Pat moved to Montney to start homesteading with his parents.

In 1940, he enlisted in the Royal Can adian Army and in 1943 he was sent overseas. While serving in Italy, he was wounded and went back to Britain to recuperate. While there, he married Chrissy in Motherwell, Scotland, on September 25, 1945, at the war’s end.

They returned to Montney in 1946 and Pat farmed land a mile west of the “corners” in Montney. They only had one child that died at birth on October 18, 1952, and is buried in the Montney Cemetery.

Pat loved the outdoors and sports, so he coached the youngsters in Montney in hockey and baseball. He farmed there for many years until ill health required he retire. After many years of ill health due to a weakened heart, Pat died on February 28, 1975, in Fort St. John, and is buried in the Montney Cemetery in the family plot.

6, 1918. He was then transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot on Sep tember 10, 1918. He was discharged in Vancouver on July 20, 1919.

Victor was famous throughout the Peace River Country as a game warden and a guide. Of outspoken views on pol itical matters, Victor was staunch friend and supporter of the premier at the time. He was married and had one son and one daughter.

He was a charter member of the Elk’s Lodge and prominent in the Legion.

Victor had been in ill health for two years. He suffered from an impaired heart ever since being overseas. He died on December 21, 1954, in the Fort St. John Hospital. He is buried in the Fort St. John Cemetery.

Victor was born September 8, 1888, in Bedshot Lea, near Farnham, Surrey, England.

Prior to the war, Victor was promin ent in the mercantile life in Victoria, where he and several of his brothers owned a business. He was for years at tached to the Maynard’s Shoe Store.

He enlisted in Victoria, B.C., on May 27, 1916, and was shipped to England on the SS Scandinavian on February 6, 1917. He was dispatched to France on November 19, 1917, and was wounded in his right arm and leg at the Arras Front in France. He was evacuated to the hos pital at Camp Fort Pitt Military Hospital in Chatham on August 31, 1918. He was sent for recover to the Moore Barracks Hospital at Shorncliffe on September

HOPKINS, Evan Regiment: 37th Battery, Mount Ash Hirgoed Brigade, and 9th Lancers; Service: Africa, Europe; Decorations: 1 Medal

Evan was born in Bridgend, Wales on May 27, 1888, to Thomas and Hanna Hopkins. He met and married Mary on December 18, 1909. They had three children, Ina, Charles, and Clarisse. Evan suffered a great emotional loss when Ina died at two years old and his wife died of tuberculosis in 1925.

Evan fought in the second Boer War in 1902, South African Campaign, 37th Battery, under the command of the Brit ish. They were the last to surrender with the O.R.C. in June 6, 1902. He was 14 years old at that time.

On March 2, 1915, he enlisted in the Army for a second tour and served his country in Europe as a Signalman Ar tillery Gunner from 1915-18. Signalers were used in forward positions to pro vide artillery support and report enemy locations back to Company Command ers and Battalion Headquarters. Dur ing his enlistment, his life was nearly lost when a bullet hit the locket with his wife’s picture in it that he wore.

On June 5, 1928, having sent his son to Canada, he boarded the ship Ausonia in Southampton, United Kingdom, and arrived in Montreal, Quebec.

He worked for the Canadian National Railroad as a conductor and engineer in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.

On November 9, 1937, he was awarded a Soldier’s Land Grant near Nut Moun tain, Saskatchewan, to farm. He moved to Ontario and lived on several farms there. In June 1962, he moved Mile 72 on the Alaska Highway to live with his son and his family.

Evan died on June 5, 1970, at the age of 82 in the Providence Hospital in Fort St. John and is buried in the Fort St. John Cemetery.

WILLIAMS. Victor Lawrence Regiment: 2nd Division Cyclist Depot, Canadian Machine Gun Depot; Service: France; Rank: Private

Bay Mare Belgian/ Percheron cross, 16.3hands, good-disposition, easy-to-catch. good barn manners, good with feet $5000. 780-835-9670

Gray Belgian/Percheron cross gelding. 17.1 hands, started two years ago, sound, good disposition. $6000. 780-835-9670

Looking for 3-horse angle-haul horse trailer. 250-759-4956

Strawberry Roan Belgian gelding 17.1 hands, sound, no bad habits, started twoyears ago. $6000. 780-835-9670

6 Border-Collie RedBlue Healer Cross with black-lab very cute & friendly. Asking $300. 250-789-3778

Service at Fischer’s Funeral Services, 4060 1 Avenue SW, Salmon Arm on Monday, November 14th at 1PM, reception to follow at the Crown and Anchor Pub in Salmon Arm.

It is with great sorrow, the family of

Rocky Stewart Tompkins

wish to announce his passing on October 25, 2022.

Rocky was born in Fort St. John on April 27, 1962 and was 60 years old. Rocky was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when he was about 25 years old. is disease caused him many problems, but he always kept a positive attitude.

Rocky is survived by his mother Janet Ferguson, step father Tom Ferguson, brother Rod Tompkins, sisters Marlene Tompkins and Marilyn Israel. He was predeceased by his father Don Tompkins.

e family would like to thank each and every one of you who helped Rocky and showed such kindness over the years. We would also like to thank the medical sta in the Fort St. John ICU who were so professional and so kind.

In lieu of owers, please donate to the MS Society or the FSJ Hospital Foundation.

Process Operator (Temporary)

NorthRiver Midstream is a Canadian owned and operated gas gathering and processing business based in Western Canada. With operations in Northeast British Columbia and Northwest Alberta, and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. NorthRiver provides connectivity for its customers to major demand markets including the U.S. Pacific Northwest, U.S. Midwest and Western Canada.

Our purpose is to connect Canadian energy to the world, and we will do this by co-creating energy infrastructure projects with our customers, partners, and the communities that benefit from our operations.

We are actively recruiting for a Temporary Process Operator at our McMahon Gas Plant in Taylor, BC. Reporting to the Supervisor, Operations, the Process Operator is responsible for managing day to day operational activities and trouble shooting equipment and/or process problems. The ideal candidate will possess a 4th class power engineering certificate, and have 1-3 years of operations experience in a gas processing facility.

To learn more about us and this exciting opportunity please visit https://careers.nrm.ca/

Fire safety advent calendar returns

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

It’s a tradition that been passed on through the generations – Christ mas advent calendars, and the Fort St. John Firefighters Charitable Society is offering up a unique twist again this year.

Yes, there will still be chocolate inside each of the 24 doors, Belgian chocolate, but also a fire safety tip inside, as well. “We are honoured to have been select ed to receive the pro ceeds from this project,” said firefighter Jayden Ockenden.

“And the fact that it also has daily holiday fire safety messages helps to keep our community safe during the holidays.”

This year’s calendar, designed by Quinn Clark with SJA Promo, is of a firefighter placing the star on a Christmas tree.

“It is such an honour to share this recognition with all of our partners on this project,” said Kai ley Odermatt, co-owner of SJA Promo.

“Our industry is truly one of collaboration and creativity and we love using our skills to engage the community with fundraising projects like these.”

“We had such fun last year with the project, we just had to do it again this year!” said Home Hardware owner Shelley Gallinger. “We love sup porting the Firefighters and the great work they do for our community.”

The AFDE Group

is also on board as a sponsor.

“We feel privileged to be working in the Peace region and projects like these help us give back to the community,” says Jennie Gagnon.

“We love the uniquely Fort St. John design!”

Money from the sale of the calendars will go to the society which, in the past, has helped sup port burn survivors and provided financial sup port to families to cover such things as costly medical travel expenses.

Just 500 calendars have been done up, and based on its popularity last year, they’re sure to go fast. They’re $25 each and available at the Fort St. John store of Home Hardware while quanti ties last.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Fort St. John firefighters are bringing back the popular Christmas advent calendar to help families and burn survivors. The unique $25 calendars are being sold at Home Hardware in Fort St. John.