AHN NOV 17, 2022

Lilia Hansen began her first full day as Fort St. John’s mayor last Tuesday, Nov. 8, following a memorable inauguration cere mony the prior evening.

“Every time has been spe cial,” said Hansen Monday night, in describing her third time declaring her oath of office.

“This time, though...just to have the camaraderie. [The] team around me gives me a lot of strength and confidence going forward because I know who I have at the table and I know they are committed.”

Hansen, who won in a byelection for councillor in 2017 and was returned in the general election a year later, was asked if she had something she’s looking at tackling almost right away.

“There’s a lot of goals I would like to meet. Definitely, a rec cen tre is of interest to our commun ity, but I would really like to do is sit down with our stakeholders. Talk about everything from our health care to education.”

“Meet with our non-profit groups because I sincerely be lieve they are the fabric and the glue in our community. It’s find ing out what resources can we do as a city. We need to help support

the work they do.”

The new mayor, however, admitted council has a lot to weigh when it makes any kind of decision.

“Anyone who runs for coun cil, we definitely have ideas but we also have to balance [that] with what the community is

needing, what are their prior ities first, and what we can af ford,” explained Hansen.

“It’s true, you do want to say yes and you do want to help everyone you meet, but then you have to come back and talk with our finance [and ask] what can we afford this year?”

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.

SPORTS

SILVER FINISH NPSS junior volleyball girls place second at zone championship

OP-ED

GONE HUNTIN’

Columnist Evan Saugstad shares a hunting story

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

Council, with Hansen at the helm and newly-elected mem ber Sarah MacDougall on board, began its work, in earnest, at its first full meeting Monday, Nov. 14.

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

FORT ST. JOHN REMEMBERS — Dax Bourke, a retired corporal and Aghanistan war veteran, lays the first wreaths at the Fort St. John cenotaph with MLA Dan Davies and Mayor Lilia Hansen. Standing with the honour guard are firefighter Ryan Bowie and Sgt. Zaldy. See more on page A13

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Incoming Fort St. John City Council. Couns. Jim Lequiere, Byron Stewart and Gord Klassen, mayor Lilia Hansen, and couns. Trevor Bolin, Sarah MacDougall, and Tony Zabinsky.

Teachers to vote on new contract this

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

Teachers across the province and here in Fort St. John will have the chance to vote on a new contract later this month.

The B.C. government an nounced Monday that an agreement has been reached between the BC Public School Employers’ Associa tion, which represents the Province, and B.C. Teachers’

Federation.

The deal, reached Oct. 28, covers 49,000 teachers across 60 school districts.

“The BCTF Executive Committee met on the week end and is recommending acceptance of the Memo randum-of-Agreement that the BCTF Bargaining Team reached with the govern ment,” said Peace River North Teachers Association president Michele Wiebe in a statement.

“We know how hard the bargaining team worked to get a deal with the govern ment and we appreciate their hard work on behalf of teachers in BC.”

Details of the contract weren’t shared, however, the province has said it will outline its contents once the ratification process is complete. According to a government release: “Ne gotiations under the Shared Recovery Mandate support

government’s key priorities to improve public services and the health-care system, while supporting the Prov ince’s continued economic recovery for all.”

Province-wide voting on the agreement-in-principle will take place Nov. 28-30.

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

For the first time since 2019, Taylor residents were able to gather in person for Remembrance Day ser vices at their community hall.

The event, which has been done on a very small scale and live streamed the last two years, saw well over 200 people attend.

“For me, on a personal level, it has always been a time to reflect and remember the sacrifices made for us,” said mayor Brent Taillefer following the commemoration.

“It’s a sombre day, but also a day for reflection. To me, a chance to pay respects to those who went before us and sacrificed for us.”

Taillefer recently found out that he had a grand parent who served in the First World War and is looking forward to finding out more about his family history.

Ex-Canadian Forces member Jamie Stuart knows all-too-well of his history, having grown up in a mil itary family.

“As a grown-up, I now reflect on the lives of my grandfathers differently,” he shared with the audience.

“As a youngster I saw them as soldiers in combat, their uniforms, and their medals. Today, as a father, I marvel at their sacrifice. They left their parents, their new wives, and children and placed their per sonal hopes and dreams aside until the enemy was conquered.”

Stuart was active in the military, behind the scenes, for close to five years.

“I am grateful everyday,” he added, singling out his grandparents and parents for the values they raised him on.

As in years past, before the pandemic, the pro gram included songs from the North Peace Com munity Choir and Northern Lights Youth choirs.

An added bonus to this year was the playing of the Last Post on bugle by Sabrina Brooks.

“I really missed it. It felt really good to be back,” said Brooks, participation limited the last two years by Covid.

“It’s important to bring the community together and music is a good way to do that. It’s really mean ingful and was great to be asked back.”

A cenotaph service followed with the laying of the wreaths and a traditional lunch by volunteers with the community’s curling club.

By Heather Sjoblom

Have you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a paleontologist in the Peace Region? Now’s your chance to find out through this FREE take home kit. 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of dinosaur footprints in the Peace River canyon and to celebrate we’re handing out 200 free kits sponsored by Surerus Pipeline.

Discover what a paleontologist does and read about notable Peace Region paleontologists on our fun fact sheet. Cut, assemble, and identify a dinosaur in our bed bone craft. Pretend to be a paleontologist and excavate your very own dino saur skeleton from an earthen block using a dig ging tool and brush. 200 kits are available (one per child). Kits are recommended for ages 6+ (or 4+ with lots of adult assistance).

Available starting Friday, Nov. 18, at the Mu seum as long as supplies last.

DINOSAUR STORY AND CRAFT TIME

Roar! It’s Dinovember! The dinosaurs have been having adventures in the museum all month long, and now they are ready for a very special Dino Storytime! Join the Fort St. John Library at the museum for prehistoric tales, fearsome crafts, and silly dino fun! Drop-in, no registration re quired! Saturday, November 26th at 2 p.m. at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum.

Heather Sjoblom is curator and manager of the Fort St. John North Peace Museum

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Ex-Canadian Forces member Jamie Stuart grew up in a military family and served his country for five years.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

OATHS OF OFFICE — Nov. 7, was Inauguration Day for many cities, towns, villages, and districts, including Taylor. Brent Taillefer became the community’s newest mayor. Desirae Graziano and Murray Giesbrecht were sworn in, for the very first time, as councillors

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

A young group of students at Margaret Ma Murray Community School in Fort St. John are learning first-hand what it means to give back to their community.

Through a joint project between the Fort St. John Rotary Club and the school, kids help to raise funds for different charity groups.

Last Wednesday, Nov. 9, EarlyAct, a leadership club in the school, presented a cheque for $700 to the Meals on Wheels program.

“We had heard that Meals on Wheels needed some help and we thought we’d help out,” said teacher and coordinator Meagan Bracey.

“That’s what we like to do at our school. We do a lot of fundraising, but this is the first time we’ve raised for Meals on Wheels and it’s something we’d like to do annually.”

Bracey said the group also in-

volves itself with other projects like the hospital foundation’s Be an Angel campaign, writing cards to soldiers at Christmas, as well as funding for kids cancer, the Terry Fox Run and SPCA.

“A majority of our clients are seniors,” said Pauline Bolen with Meals on Wheels.

“The meals are prepared within the seniors’ housing kitchen and then delivered Monday through Thursday. On Thursday, they’re provided with two meals, which helps them greatly.”

“Some of our clients don’t have the capability anymore to create their own meals but they want to stay in their own homes.”

Meals on Wheels currently serves between 40 and 45 residents, per week, in an area stretching from Taylor to Charlie Lake. Bolen said this particular cheque will help to provide meals for three seniors for about three months.

Busy four years ahead for PRRD

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

The new incoming chair for the Peace River Regional District sees a busy four years ahead for the board of directors.

Area D director, Leonard Hiebert, chosen Thursday in an election by his peers, says communication tops that list.

“We seem to be lacking in a few areas,” said Hiebert.

“I really want to strengthen that, especially with our local MLAs. They’re our connection to the ministries, our connection to the governments that we have.”

“Just making sure that we, as a board, connect really well. No matter which ministry we meet. Whether it’s First Nations, the provincial government...it’s going to give us that much stronger voice with them.”

Health care, for Hiebert, is another priority.

After a two year hiatus, excited guests wined, dined, and danced at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre for the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s signature event, “Be an Angel” Gala on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

The Ralph Pomeroy Ballroom was transformed into a spectacular Denim & Diamond themed winter wonderland by the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation decorating committee (Veronica Page, Asuncion Sta. Maria, Twila Soule, and Desirae Jeannotte) and the lighting of Russell Eggleston (owner of Sound in Town).

The Foundation is pleased to announce that the community raised over $92,000 through the Be an Angel Gala in support of local healthcare! Event highlights included a raffle for a gold and silver bar (donated by Smith Fuel Services), an extravagant Swarovski Crystal door prize (donated by Desirae Jeannotte Notary Public), live music from The SweetWater Band, and a rousing live auction hosted by Peter Raffan that raised $55,000!

During the Live auction, the Foundation received a record breaking final bid of $16,500 for the “I Remember Quilt.” Every year the opportunity to honour the memory of a loved one by adding their name to the border of the “I Remember” Quilt is auctioned off at Gala. This year, Roxanne Jaschke will be added to

the quilt.

KELLY FELL PRESENTED WITH JANET TAYLOR AWARD

Every year, the Foundation selects a recipient for the Janet Taylor award who has generously donated their time, talents and passion to local healthcare in the North Peace region. The Foundation was honoured to present this year’s award to Peace Villa Recreation Assistant, Kelly Fell. Here is what Fort St. John Hospital Foundation Executive Director, Kelly Amboe had to say about the 2022 Janet Taylor Award Recipient: “Kelly is a sweetheart and an outstanding fundraiser who has volunteered countless hours assisting the Foundation team in collecting donations for our Gala. She is a nine-time Bluey Day participant and has raised over $40,000 for the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation. Anyone who knows Kelly, knows she is a very deserving recipient of this award.”

Fort St. John Hospital Foundation would like to thank the donors, sponsors, guests, volunteers and local media that helped make the gala a huge success! The event would not be possible without the amazing support of our community.

“Last week, director [Dan] Rose and myself went to a meet and greet regarding health care and nurses and the stresses are very evident and they’re very real.”

He said they were able to have a conversation with Northern

Health northeast CEO Angela De Smit.

“The message was loud and clear. We need help. I’m hoping that message was taken back,” said Hiebert, who believes oil and gas sector and agriculture are also on the list of priorities.

“The two work hand-in-hand. Working with the agriculture minister, Lana Popham, to have that communication, especially for this region. Having them

starting to come up and see what we’re dealing with and see how we’re dealing with, so we can get that support when we’re down there is going to make a big difference.”

Area E director Dan Rose was elected to the role of vice-chair at last Thursday’s meeting ahead of the regional district’s bi-monthly meeting.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Students with Ma Murray school’s EarlyAct club leadership program presenting a $700 cheque to the Meals on Wheels program Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 9, 2022.

Fort St. John Hospital Foundation

RUNDOWN RANCH PHOTOGRAPHY

From left: Kelly Amboe (Executive Director, FSJ Hospital Foundation), Veronica Page (FSJ Hospital Foundation Decorating Committee), Asuncion Sta. Maria (FSJ Hospital Foundation Decorating Committee).

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Newly-elected Peace River Regional District chair, area D director Leonard Hiebert (left) and vice-chair, area E director Dan Rose.

The Fort St. John Huskies have outscored the Fairview Flyers 19-0 in the last two meetings

- including an 8-0 shutout Oct. 29 at North Peace Arena.

Whatever Huskies are doing...it’s work-

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

After dropping four-straight, in cluding an overtime loss, in the first part of October, the Fort St. John Huskies have rebounded and won its seventh-in-a-row Nov. 12, a convincing 7-1 road decision over the Grande Prairie Wheat Kings. Head coach Todd Alexander is crediting his team’s success on two things.

“Good consistency in our play and our structure was excellent tonight,” said Alexander Satur day, who used the exact same words after an 11-0 shutout of the Fairview Flyers two nights earlier. “Our puck movement was there from start to finish [against Grande Prairie]. It was a complete 60-minute effort by the boys.”

Jaden Loverin led the way with a pair of markers for the Husk ies, who are now 10-3-1 on the season. “Lovey [Jaden Loverin] played awesome. He got re warded with two nice goals. First one was a quick shot in the slot.

Hi everyone, I hope the start of a new 4-H year is going well for you !

Remembrance Day Everyone! I hope that you all have a great one and are wearing your poppies! A lot of people that are in beef 4-H is just picking out their next 4-H animals at this time and then going to weigh them and start spending time with them!

Shipping and picking out our new 4-H animals: We shipped Oct 3,4 and 5th, it went great. Picking out my steer was a bit challenging for me this year, there was so many good steers, as there always is. I really liked a calf ever since it was born but it has longer legs then I would have wanted, his tail is really short and he is really big. So I was thinking that I would pick a different steer, but even though there is three things wrong with him, I still really liked his build.

The second one kinda hopped his stick but he stuck with it, outbattled the guy, out muscled the guy in front of the net, slid it a bit to his left, and he was able to tuck it in.”

Alexander called it an easy game for him to coach. “We had contribution from all four lines, the defence. Our goalie was good tonight.”

Huskies goaltender Jackson Powers, who played in both games last week, has taken the lion’s share in net with Daniel Sturgeon visiting family.

Sturgeon earned the shutout against Fairview and was just over 10 minutes away from one against the Kings when leagueleading scorer Keaton Mercredi spoiled it at 8:51 of the third on a puck that found its way in on the short side.

Brandon Modde continues to play well. He had three points on Saturday, including a goal, add ing to his points total of 22, fifthbest in the league; Kurtis Lee is second with 26.

Connor Cozens, Raymond

Dick,

Following play over the week end, the Kings moved in sole possession of first place, boun cing back with a 7-3 win Sunday against Beaverlodge. They sit atop the league with 30 points, followed by Sexsmith, at 28, and the Huskies in third with 21.

It’s worth mentioning Fort St. John has three games-in-hand on both, and it will be four on Grande Prairie before the Husk ies host the Flyers Friday night at the North Peace Arena, with the Kings and Dawson Creek Kodi aks playing Wednesday.

The Kodiaks are two points back of the Huskies, having played one more game.

Puck drop Friday for the Huskies and Fairview is 8 p.m. at North Peace Arena.

I ended up picking him anyway, he is a dark red curly calf with not much white. Sara picked out a steer that day as well, it was a brown long bodied steer. She also wanted to wait and see one of the calves that was still out on the range at the time, to compare it with the long, brown steer. So she waited until it came in then she compared the two of them, she liked the red steer better. So she too now has a big dark red panda eyed steer. Picking out our 4-H heifers went great, Sara has picked her heifer off her own cow, like she has done for the last 3 years in a row. I sold one of my cows and decided to give Mom and Dad the money I got from it, in trade for one of their heifers and guess what that is my new 4-H heifer.

Weighing the 4-H animals: I am not sure yet when we are weighing them but I think that Sara & I will soon see how big our 4-H animals are. I would also like to welcome our new members in the Wonowon 4-H Club too.

Oct. 8, 9 and 10, 2022 was our shipping, it went really good! The �irst day was moving all of the cows that were in over across the river into our shipping �ield. The second day was bringing all the cows from our shipping �ield and into our shipping corrals. Then we sort, which is sorting off all the calves off of the cows, then sorting steers and heifers. We also sort our heifers that we want to keep and the ones we want to sell. Usually we have a cattle liner come the day we sort, but this shipping we can’t do that so we had it come in the morning before we preg checked our cows. The day after we sorted, we loaded the steers and the heifers that we were selling. Then we preg checked our cows. Shipping is always to good way for us to pick out our 4-H animals sense we are always working with them at shipping time. It gives us a good idea which ones to pick! Picking our steers was little different this year, we ended up picking a couple steers out of a couple cows that were the last ones to come in from out on the range. Weigh-In is just around the corner for us! I will be taking a steer, a heifer and maybe a cow/calf pair this year! I am excited to see what my 4-H animals weigh. I am also excited to get started on feeding them grain and spending time with them! Spending time with the animals is my favourite part about 4-H, I love it and I always have, always will!

A Special Thank You to CO-OP For Sponsoring This Page!

Grace Trask Wonowon Club reporter

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

between the teams

Cayden Frenette, and Nathan Brownlee rounded out the score sheet versus the Wheat Kings.

Sara’s Heifer

Sara’s Steer

NPSS girls win silver

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

Oh so close for the North Peace Secondary junior girls volleyball team at the North Central zone championship held Nov. 11 and 12 at Margaret Ma Murray Community School.

The Grizzlies, who lost just once before the gold medal game Saturday, were beaten in a backand-forth championship battle against the College Heights Cougars from Prince George 25-21 and 25-19.

“Our girls played really well. Not the outcome I had hoped for,” said Grizzlies head coach Mackenzie Uskiw.

“There were a lot of great things coming out of that game. Something we have to work for and look forward to next season.”

Competition over the two days was close and safe to say any one of the teams were good enough to be in the final.

“We have a lot of great teams in the north. Some real good competition. There’s lots of progress that has happened since the start of the season and the girls definitely came to play today.”

A second team from Fort St. John, the Dr. Kearney Cougars, finished fourth after falling to Dawson Creek Secondary in three sets in the bronze medal game. The Cougars took the mid-

dle set in the best-of-three, 27-25.

The tourney was open to players in grades 8, 9, and 10. DKMS, which fielded a Grade 9 team, wasn’t scheduled to play in the zones, but became a last-minute entry when Prince George Secondary pulled out due to injuries.

“Very proud of my team. It was awesome weekend,” said Cougars coach Jonah Burridge.

“Normally, Grade 9 teams don’t actually go to zones (Dr. Kearney doesn’t have Grade 10 students) but with how competitive we were at regionals and then having a team drop out, it opened up a spot for us and we really took advantage of it.”

“We came here ready to play. Showed everyone that we can play with the older teams.”

While there are two berths for the zone in the upcoming provincials in Surrey Sept. 25 and 26, NPSS has opted not to attend, opening up the other spot to DCSS, by virtue of their bronze medal win.

Gold medallist College Heights will be the other representative from the region in the Junior A division championship.

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

Both the head coach and team captain of the Fort St. John senior Flyers men’s hockey team appear to be on the same page and agree what needs to be done.

Andrew Leriger and Adam Horst both feel hard work will be what gets the team back on the winning track after the Flyers were doubled 6-3 Saturday night by the Falher Pirates, their third loss in their first four games.

“We need to get more aggressive,” said Horst, reflecting on the outcome.

“We really have to band together here and figure out what it takes to be effective in this league. Hard work is where it starts and I think we started to show signs of that tonight. Hope-

fully, we can keep building on it.”

The Flyers actually outshot the Pirates 42-34 but ran into penalty trouble early on in the game.

While it’s not something the coach wants to see, Leriger remains optimistic things can be turned around.

“I did see a lot of positives. We battled back, tied it up 3-3, but made some mental errors. Like I said to the boys, they had two power play goals and a shorthanded one...there’s the three extra.”

“We really need to get away from these simple mental mistakes that are costing us goals.”

Like Horst, Leriger believes there was some improvement in his team’s play from the game before. “The guys are working harder. They’re working better as a unit. I see a lot more positives

than negatives.”

“We’re in a bit of process of building some chemistry here,” added Horst, who admitted it’s an adjustment.

“We have a lot of younger guys who have never played in this league.  This league is different than playing junior. Guys are seeing that and trying to adapt.”

The Flyers will enjoy a bye weekend this coming Friday and Saturday before travelling to Falher Nov. 25. They’re back home a night later, on the 26th, against the Grande Prairie Athletics. Puck drop is 8:30 p.m. at the North Peace Arena.

Not a bad year for

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

Cowboys and cowgirls competing on the rodeo circuit are always striving to be better – Fort St. John’s Jake Gardner is no exception to the rule.

In general terms, though, the 26-year-old is pretty happy with the 2022 season, although he admitted he had hoped for a better result at the recent Canadian Finals Rodeo in Red Deer.

“You know, I’m happy with the way my year ended, but I’m definitely not happy that I’m not in the number one spot,” said Gardner Sunday. “It’s a competitive sport, so the work is going to start immediately after. It just means I’m going to work harder to get to that number one spot next year.”

Gardner, though, was chosen as the recipient of this year’s Kenny McLean Award named after a famous saddle bronc rider from the South Okanagan who passed away while waiting to compete at a rodeo in Taber, Alta. in 2002.

“It’s an award for competing at both rough stock and timed events. Kenny was probably one of the most decorated cowboys. He was a legend and to win an award named after him is great.”

On Nov. 11-12, Gardner took part in another high-profile event, the PBR Canada National Finals in Edmonton, where he rode four different bulls.

He received a no score in the

first round against Smoke Bomb.

“Good little bull, kind of like a firecracker. I tried my hardest but I didn’t quite get the whistle and it is what it is,” said Gardner.

He was able to rebound with scores of 81 and 86 on Alberta Springs and Superstition in the next two go-rounds.

“Been on Alberta Springs previously. It was kind of a rough start. He kinda fell down at the start, rode him out a bit, and got an 81 which gave me a good pick for the third round. Superstition: I watched my buddy, Wyatt Gleason, ride him for 90 points earlier in the season, so I got to pick him and it worked out alright.”

Gardner, however, would be bucked off in the championship go-round by Catfish.

“Been on him before. Kinda tricky [bull]…gets a lot of people on the ground. He was just better than me that day. Wish I could have it back.”

With his aggregate score of 167, Gardner finished the twoday event in sixth place.

He’ll return back to the Peace Country in a couple of weeks for another PBR-sponsored event Nov. 25 at the Ovintiv Events Centre in Dawson Creek.

To learn more about diabetes, volunteer, advocate or donate, please contact :

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The North Peace Secondary Grizzlies (in white) on the floor against another Fort St. John school, Dr. Kearney, in round-robin play at the junior girls volleyball zone championship, Nov. 11, 2022.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Fort St. Flyers forward Cooper Willms battles along the boards with two Falher Pirates players while temmate Liam Mavin races in for support, Nov. 12, 2022.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Fort St. John bull rider Jake Gardner is, generally, happy with his 2022 season, however...

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

The Canadian Finals Rodeo has released its complete list of win ners from this year’s five-day event.

Fort St. John bull rider Jake Gardner finished fourth overall in six go-rounds with a com bined purse of $11,490.40 and was eighth in the all-around cowboy division with his earn ings total of $37,362.

Gardner, unfortunately, was thrown off three of the six times he climbed on.

Another Fort St. John cow boy, Stephen Culling, was ninth in steer wrestling and brings home $17,474.99 from the

championship.

Like Gardner, Culling had a couple of tough entries – re ceiving a 10-second penalty on opening night for breaking the barrier and then receiving a no time on night three.

Hudson’s Hope Jake Watson, who was bucked off on the Fri day night, finished eighth in saddle bronc. His final money count was $4308.90.

And, Pouce Coupe’s Lane Wills also finished in the #8 spot earning $2872.59 in ladies barrels.

Just one big event remains on the calendar this season – the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas Dec. 1-10.

Mixed results for

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

The Northeast B.C. midget Trackers returned home from a doubleheader in Whitecourt on the weekend adding another tie to their record, but also their first loss of the season as well.

Carver Lequiere scored twice; Taryn Hoskyn had the third Saturday in a 3-3 tie with the Wolverines.

Bane Hildebrand and MacCoy Willms each scored once Sunday in a narrow 3-2 loss Sunday morning.

It was a better fate for the bantam Trackers, though, in their two-game home series against Fort McMurray.

On Saturday, Mason McGin nis and Jasmin Bueckert each potted a goal and a helper as the Trackers edged out the Junior Oil Barons 4-3.

McGinnis added one more tally on Sunday, as did Damon Clay, Shea Feener, Deacon Thomas, and Easton Goulet in a 5-2 follow-up win over Fort Mac.

It was tougher weekend for the U-13 peewee Flyers – beat en 12-2 at home Saturday before a close 8-7 loss in Peace River.

Trae Alexander factored in on both Flyers goals Saturday, while Channing Salinas had one goal and three assists on Sunday.

The Midget Trackers are home to Grande Prairie Friday (6 p.m.) and Peace River Sunday (1 p.m.) at the Pomeroy.

The bantams are in Grande Prairie Sunday.

The Flyers are idle.

Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

Former North Peace Hockey League commissioner and Manning Comets coach and player Jack McAvoy has died at the age of 78.

“Jack was a hard-nosed dedi cated guy,” said Fort St. John senior Flyers president Paul van Nostrand.

“He could be gruff, at times, but he was very fair. He had the league’s best interests at heart, all the time.”

McAvoy was head of the league for two different terms: the 1979-80 to 1985-86 seasons and then, again, 1987-88 to 2022.

“I really enjoyed talking to him,” van Nostrand continued.

“We used to talk a lot both during hockey season and in the off-season too. I’ve known him since 2007…so 15 years. We became pretty good friends. We had a lot of respect for each other. I’m really sad to see him go and I’m going to miss him.”

“The NPHL and its fans pass

along condolences to his wife, Patty, and family,” said a state ment from the league.

Born in 1944, McAvoy grew up in Edmonton but moved to Manning in his adult life, spending over four decades involved in minor and senior men’s hockey. McAvoy decid ed earlier this year to retire as NPHL commissioner.

The Town of Manning held a ceremony in his honour last month in which it re-named its arena after him. His health, unfortunately, kept him away from the dedication.

“He was a huge supporter of girl’s hockey. He always had the time to talk hockey whether it was from the grassroots level to his beloved NPHL,” added the league.

The Fort St. John Flyers held a moment of silence prior to its game Saturday night with the Falher Pirates.

A service is planned for next summer but no date or details have been given.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Fort St John steer wrestler Stephen Culling competes at the Spring Breakup indoor rodeo in Dawson Creek in April 2022.

Dave

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

The Fort St. John Salvation Army kicked off its annual kettle cam paign Monday morning.

Executive Director Jared Braun said it’s their biggest fund raiser of the year.

“We’re known around the world as the Salvation Army for this, especially at Christmas sea son. People are getting into the giving spirit, but we also see the need,” said Braun. “It’s been a very trying year and so it feels, more than ever, the heart of what we’re doing with this campaign is so critical.”

City of Fort St. John CAO Milo MacDonald was person ally touched by the campaign as a young child. “My mom was a single mom and we were really impoverished. I think that’s the best way to put it,” said MacDon ald, who now sits on the group’s advisory council.

“In those days, the Salvation Army was the reason we were able to put food on the table. It was where we bought our clothes. You know, my mom was working

three jobs but she just didn’t have enough to pay rent, put grocer ies on the table, and support two little kids.”

“It was the Salvation Army that made the difference for us.”

Braun said the goal for this year is to raise $110,000 between now and Dec. 24.

While it might be lofty, he’s confident the community, as it’s done in the past, will step up. While they hope to have all its kettles manned by volunteers, there is a tap option at the lar ger stores with three different amounts for $5, $10, or $20.

Those wanting to donate can also do so at select drive-thru locations such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and the Tim Hortons by the mall with cash kettles set up outside the drive-thru windows. The other locations include Can ada Safeway, No Frills, the Totem Mall, and Walmart.

Braun said volunteers are needed every day until the cam paign ends. To find out more, you can go the Salvation Army’s website: Safsj.org or email: christ mas@nchope.ca.

Edwina the ‘heart warrior’

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Friends and family will come together this Friday to raise funds in support of a Fort St. John woman recovering from a recent heart transplant.

Edwina Nearhood under went the operation in Septem ber, moving to Vancouver two years ago to be closer to doctors as her heart was failing. While her body has taken the new heart, Nearhood lost her eye sight due to complications from the procedure.

Long-time friend Gloria Coates says the funds raised at Friday’s dinner, dance, and auc tion at the Lido will support her recovery, from rehabilita tion to housing, to a seeing-eye dog and other assistive technol ogy needed to help her with her blindness.

“She’s touched everybody’s lives in Fort St. John, I’m sure, in one way or another,” said Coates, who met Nearhood when she moved to town from Newfoundland in January 1998, and have been “best of friends ever since.”

“I’ve never met a person like Edwina. She just lights up everybody’s world. She does it naturally,” said Coates. “She’s the kindest gentlest soul. She’ll turn anybody’s bad day into a good day.

“She’s so giving of herself, it’s time to reciprocate. What she’s given, she deserves it back.”

A life-long Fort St. John resident, Nearhood was a wellknown and respected local real estate appraiser before she left. In recent years has been a health care advocate through the Pa tient Voices Network working to improve B.C.’s health sys tem. Nearhood says during her transplant, low blood pressure damaged her optic nerves and

caused her vision loss, a rare and unexpected side effect. She describes her vision now as like being in a dark basement with blacked out windows, but says she doesn’t see her blindness as a handicap. In fact, she sees it as part of a bigger purpose in this new chapter of her life.

A former Alaska Highway News columnist, Nearhood has plans now to write a book, and the story of her medical experi ence has piqued the interest of her doctors so much they plan to do a case study about her, and have her speak with medical students.

“I dream about my physio and how I’m going to be mobile and what I’m going to do,” said Nearhood from St. Paul’s Hos pital on Sunday. “I visualize it all. I just get up and do it. My default is to look forward.”

Friday’s fundraiser will in clude a dinner catered by An iela’s Kitchen, and live auction prizes including helicopter rides, a trip to Vancouver to see the Canucks play the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a trip to Jasper for Valentine’s Day weekend.

Nearhood will also be shar ing a recorded message for at tendees. “She’s definitely not a quitter. She switched gears to what can I do now,” said Coates. “The doctors and nurses are

amazed at her attitude, how she can be so cheerful, embracing this as a new challenge.”

Entry is by donation is at the door, and there will also be plenty of other silent auction items up for bidding — a good chance to pick up some unique gifts for Christmas, says Coates.

“The response from the com munity is just amazing. Noth ing but good things to say about

To RSVP to the fundraiser, email Coates at glorcoates@ gmail.com.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

The kettle campaign for Fort St. John’s Salvation Army has begun. This year’s goal is to raise $110,000. Seen here (l-r) are executive director Jared Braun, volunteer coordinator Patricia Budgell, City of Fort St. John CAO Milo MacDonald (back) and Salvation Army food bank coordinator Melanie Mason.

Edwina Nearhood

Fort St. John,” she said. “They sure come together when the need is there.”

TAURUS  APR 21/MAY 21

It may have taken a while, but you’ll start to see some results from actions you initiated weeks ago, Taurus. Your steady pace will pay o in a big way.

GEMINI  MAY 22/JUN 21

Lean on all of your social contacts this week, Gemini. If you’re looking to get out of the house and have fun, they will probably have some ideas on where to go.

CANCER  JUN 22/JUL 22

Be on guard with issues concerning your love life and relationships, Cancer. Things that were working out smoothly may need a little extra attention for the time being.

LEO  JUL 23/AUG 23

Luck will manifest itself in some surprising ways over the course of the next few days, Leo. Seemingly out of nowhere you will have a good turn of events that propel you forward.

VIRGO  AUG 24/SEPT 22

Negotiations will go in your favor this week, Virgo. Therefore, if you’ve been seeking a raise or a promotion, you may see that the tides have nally shifted in that direction.

LIBRA  SEPT 23/OCT 23

Watch out for overspending that can derail the careful budget that you have set in place, Libra. It may be wise to leave a credit card at home for the next few days.

SCORPIO  OCT 24/NOV 22

Brace yourself, Scorpio, as things could get a bit wild this week. Energy levels rise and tempers may are. Figure out the best way to stay calm amid this confusion.

SAGITTARIUS  NOV 23/DEC 21

Plenty of good vibes are coming your way, Sagittarius. You just need to gure out if you’re going to share some good fortune with others and when that will occur.

CAPRICORN  DEC 22/JAN 20

A sweet connection with someone else could happen this week, Capricorn. This may be the start of a lasting relationship, whether it is romantic or platonic.

AQUARIUS  JAN 21/FEB 18

Don’t be afraid to showcase your natural talents, Aquarius. Your unique skill set enables you to have a little fun with others and show o a bit at work.

PISCES  FEB 19/MAR 20

Figure out ways to connect with the life force that is all around you, Pisces. Try meditation in the outdoors to blend two experiences.

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

A suspect has been arrested in the appar ent arsons of two vehicles, including Fort St. John’s overdose prevention van last month.

The two fires occurred on Oct. 2 about an hour apart.

The first vehicle set on fire just after 8 p.m. involving a City of Fort St. John pick-up at the Pomeroy Sport Centre.

The second, just after 9 p.m., in the Northern Health parking lot, off 100th Avenue, destroyed the van.

At the time, no suspects were identified.

“After an exhaustive investigation the Fort St. John RCMP Crime Reduction

Police say charges have been approved against Wyczesany for two counts of ar son and damage to property.

He’s been remanded in custody and will appear before a judge.

Authorities are also looking into whether there’s a link to other fires around the same time.

RCMP are asking anyone with infor mation to contact them at 250-787-8100, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or through email at: www.northernbc crimestoppers.ca.

Farmers ready to burn mort-

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

More than a decade after acquiring its grain elevator, the North Pine Farmers Institute will officially “burn” its mort gage later this month.

The Farmers Institute says it has paid off its mortgage and loans after acquir ing the concrete facility on Elevator Road from Cargill in 2010, and saving it from demolition.

“The demolition of the Cargill con crete elevator was imminent,” shared Margaret Little in an email to Alaska Highway News. “The North Pine Farm ers Institute recognized the importance of having a local elevator in our area or face, once again, trucking their grain to Dawson Creek and beyond.”

“The Elevator Committee had the vi sion and by accessing grants and loans through the Northern Development Initiative Trust and the Peace River Regional District, the vision became a reality,” said Little.

The NPFI was developed in 1930 with a mandate to enhance farm communities and rural life, and to support for rural

development from an economic and so cial point of view.

With Cargill’s elevator slated for demolition, it saw a need for better transportation of agricultural products in the region and spent about $1.6 mil lion on its acquisition and repairs.

After extensive upgrades and acquir ing rail access, the institute opened the refurbished elevator in 2012.

Today, it remains owned by the Farm ers Institute and is operated by Viterra, moving about 70,000 metric tonnes of farm crops a year.

“The Elevator Committee included President Larry Houley, Wade Cusack, Martin Moore, Gordon Hill, Brian John ston, and Blane Meek,” shared Little. “This formidable team worked tirelessly to ensure that there would continue to be an elevator and access to the railhead here in the North Peace.”

The Farmers Institute will celebrate the momentous occasion with a dinner and evening of entertainment on Nov. 22 at the Lido.

Unit was able to identify 27-year-old Dennis Wyczesany as the person respon sible for the arsons.”

RCMP HANDOUT

FILE PHOTO

Elevator #1 in, owned by the North Pine Farmers Institute and operated by Viterra.

By Evan Saugstad

In the stillness of a new day at dawn, a few degrees above freezing, we stand quietly and listen. A squirrel chatters as it sends spruce cones clattering through the limbs, bouncing their way to the ground. A bird chirps as the forest slowly awakes. Time for me to let out a bugle and see if a bull elk is talkative this morning.

We stand in the same place, at the same time, on the same date as the previous opening mornings. September 1 is opening day of elk season and we are once again at our spot, our “honey” hole so to speak. It has been good to us before. I am here with my stepdaughter, Caitlyn; this has become our time together. I first brought her here in 2019 in search of her first elk. I had been here many times prior and knew elk called this place home.

I take a deep breath and then blow hard into my plastic tube, pushing air across the small elastic band, using my lip to control the pressure. I start by mimicking the deep and resonating sound of the bugle, then let it change pitch higher and higher, until running out of air. Pause. Then a quick breath and finish with a succession of grunts, these last coming as my stomach puts pressure on the lungs. It’s loud, must be as loud as elk are. It’s taken a lot of practice to get it right and today it sounds good.

In the distance, an elk immediately bugles back, maybe 300 or 400 yards away, hidden in the dense timber. Ah yes, here we go again. Will it be like 2019, when that bull came charging in, screaming in defiance, spoiling for

a fight? Or like 2020, when that bull just quietly appeared, facing us as it tried to find the source of his irritation? Or like last year, when we had to move further along the trail to get an answer and then have him cautiously approach us as he roared his challenge?

No long shots in here, no long-distance sightings either; maybe 75 yards at the best, more likely 30 or 40. We need to be close, and that is the conundrum. Do we move to him, or hope he comes to us? Another bugle, another answer. Yes, he is coming closer…more bugles, more answers...No, sounds like he isn’t moving, maybe still thinking if his challenger is worth the confrontation.

He knows where we stand, he knows the exact spot, that is how good his ears are in pinpointing the source. Our ears are not so good, but we do know about where he is; been there before and know it is thick, too thick, and noisy to sneak in on.

This day, if we are to be successful, I think he must come to us. We will never get close but we do move up the trail another couple hundred yards, blow again, another answer, but still in the distance. Maybe he is taking his cows and backing off, or maybe he is losing interest. You just never really know for sure.

Try again, and again, but silence, no response, and with the rising temperatures our day ends. Although still early, warm temperatures mean bugling is over. We’ll leave him alone and try another day.

On the long walk out, I wonder if we should have done things differently.

Maybe pushed him a bit, gone right after him, or tried

to quickly get closer while it was still cool. But we didn’t and can only wonder. It won’t end like in ’19, when Caitlyn’s well-placed shot put her first elk on the ground, or like in ’20 when we could only watch as he stood partially hidden and then quietly walk away, never offering up an ethical shot. Nor like last year, when we watched him slowly making his way through the trees, bugling all the way, only to have a gust of wind take our scent to him just as he was about to come into the open, and then watch him vanish in a flash — once again not offering an ethical shot in his hasty and noisy retreat.

This is one reason I still call the Peace Country home, why I don’t go south like the rest and find someplace warmer to hang out. No better place to be outdoors and hunting. No better place to be with family and friends.

I grew up hunting. Deer used to be my favourite but that ended when I discovered elk. Still enjoy my deer hunts, but nothing compares to elk, just as nothing beats elk as the best wild meat on the table.

I can only imagine what this country looked like in 1793 when Alexander Mackenzie (Sir) traversed the Peace River on his way through to the Pacific Coast at Bella Coola, becoming the first known person to cross North America by land. The following is from his account, Alexander Mackenzie Journal: “Thursday, May 16, 1793... A considerable river discharged itself by various streams. According to the Rocky Mountain Indian, it is called the Sinew River [now known as the Pine River]. This spot would be an excellent situation for a fort or

factory, as there is plenty of wood, and every reason to believe that the country abounds in beaver. As for the other animals, they are in evident abundance, as in every direction the elk and the buffalo are seen in possession of the hills and the plains.

“... killed two elks, and mortally wounded a buffalo… The country is so crowded with animals as to have the appearance, in some places, of a stall-yard, from the state of the ground, and the quantity of dung which is scattered over it.”

This is likely the first written account of elk hunting in the Peace. Somewhere after his 1793 account, elk virtually disappeared. Although remnant herds existed, scattered across the Peace-Liard, more recent accounts report elk as “showing up” in the late 1950s in the South Peace, and in 1984, elk were transplanted into the Dunlevy Creek area to increase numbers. Today, Northeast B.C. has an estimated 15,000–25,000 elk, with between 1500–1800 harvested annually, about 60% bulls and 40% cows.

Next week, my elk season continues.

Evan Saugstad lives and writes in Fort St. John.

Support

By Ruby McBeth

In October, ACL Construction donated $2000 to the Seniors’ Club and chal lenged 14 other construction firms to donate. The following firms responded: S. Young Enterprises Ltd. gave $1000, Ag gressive Equipment Rentals $1000, Big League Utilities $2000, and WL Construc tion $1000. We will let you know as other construction companies address this chal lenge. The Doig River First Nations has also given $1000. Thank you so much to these donors for considering the seniors.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO

To make sure that you are giving to a real charity, you can go to the Revenue Canada website to see if they have a charity number. Another helpful website is Can adaHelps.com. Canada Helps is a website through which you can donate to any legitimate charity that is registered on the website. They will send you one receipt at the end of the year for all of your dona tions. That can make things easier when income tax time rolls around. Charities are only listed on the Canada Helps website if they are registered charities.

When we are giving to charity, we may wonder if the money really gets to the programs we want to support. How much of our donation goes into administration and fundraising? This question comes up in our mind as we open the charity request package and see things like calendars, greeting cards, a gift bag, and a pair of socks! If I want socks, I will buy socks! It feels like I am being pressured by the gifts.

The website Charity Intelligence Canada will tell you what percent of your donation will go to the cause and what to admin istration, and fundraising and rates them based on factors such as their impact. Of all the envelopes I received in the last few weeks, only one, Indspire, a charity for indigenous education, received five stars from Charity Intelligence Canada.

Half of the charities that sent me re quests for money had only two stars; the others had three stars. I now feel less guilt at not responding to these charities.

LEARNING THE LINGO

This week’s term is ‘download’. To down load is to copy from the internet to your computer system. Some documents that I receive cannot be opened without down loading them.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“You are under no obligation to remain the same person you were a year ago, a month ago, or even a day ago. You are here to create yourself continuously.” — Richard Feynman

Ruby McBeth lives and writes in Fort St. John.

Email your letters to the editor to: editor@ahnfsj.ca

COPYRIGHT & LEGAL NOTICE

or other forms. Reproduction is prohibited without wri en consent of the publisher.

Alaska Highway News is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, an independent organization established 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.

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RUBY MCBETH PHOTO

Melissa Young presents a $1000 donation to Wendy Clayson, president of the Seniors Club.

Ruby McBeth, Brad Brain, Bronwyn Moser, Larry Evans, Evan Saugstad, Charo Lloret, Kalpana Loganathan, Don Pe it, Joleen Morrisson, Donald Fajemisin, Robin Routledge, Ken Boon, Merlin Nichols, John Grady, J.E. Stanway, A.M. Cullen, Valerie Lucas

Interested in contributing? Send an email to Managing Editor Ma Preprost at editor@ahnfsj.ca to get involved!

William Julian Regional Manager wj@ahnfsj.ca

Ryan Wallace Sales Manager rwallace@ahnfsj.ca

Ma Preprost Managing Editor editor@ahnfsj.ca

Tom Summer News Reporter tsummer@ahnfsj.ca

Lynn Novack Circulation Manager circulation@ahnfsj.ca

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative.

Dave Lueneberg Sports Reporter sports@ahnfsj.ca

REMEMBRANCE

I remember you

Young soldier boy Who lied about your age But your sergeant knew And in every battle that would rage He kept one eye on you And he told you on a quiet evening “Tomorrow’s never sure And a letter to your mom Would mean a lot to her”

In the ruins of that farmhouse He dropped an envelope and pen And left you for a while To check on all the men So you could write In the starlight of that long and frosty night Before the dawn

I see you lonely sailor Standing by your gun

The deck awash with stormy seas And staring out to watch for dangers Every one As you’ve done so many days before Adventure’s worn off Oh so long ago You often wish that you were done But even so You feel you’ve got a duty But no one else can know The things you’ve seen How can you explain The terror of the battle When the sea seems filled with sailors And then endless days Of standing in the rain, Watching for the distant ship That tells you that same battle will begin again? Then another lonely day With memories of that home that seems So far away

Jim Lequiere told us of a Remembrance Day poem his granddaughter, Capri Wickham, put to paper in 2020 when she was 12 years old.

“Capri is now 14,” writes Jim. “She wrote it as a school pro ject at Freedom Thinkers in Baldonnel. Capri lives with her parents in Charlie Lake.”

Thank you for letting us share it with our readers as we remember the heroes and fallen on this day.

Dear, my grandchildren

There was a war in 1914

A war against the countries

It lasted four years

Fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins All who could Were sent off to war

During the conflict they fought Guns firing, boots pounding, men yelling Like petals on a poppy They fell I cannot tell you How many lives were lost in that war Too many to count

I remember you Grizzled veteran Battle scarred and worn Uniform once new Smeared with blood and dirt And torn Wondering in the dead of night What you were fighting for But you fought on ‘Cause otherwise The freedoms we still had Would all be gone That was somehow there In the corners of your mind With the memories of the beautiful place That you had left behind Like, long ago And if you died there fighting Would anybody know The reason why?

Or would you have an unmarked grave That would only be forgotten By and by?

Do we honour you? Do we value greatly everything that you went through To give us what we have today? I’d like to say We do I’d like to say we’d all stand up And speak for anyone Whose rights and freedoms are ignored I’d like to say we all would feel That we could certainly afford To go that far Time will tell But as we hold within our hands The legacy you’ve left us I’ll remember well The soldier boy The veteran The sailor on the sea Keep them in my heart And let them speak to me

— David Blaney, 2022

Do prophets relate today?

By John Grady

So much of history, culture, sin, nations, future evil, fear is all written by the prophets, and yet for some of us we really do not know how their words can and do apply to us today.

To help us better relate to them and their messages noted below is a simple quiz.

This quiz might help us in iden tifying with some of the prophets and their messages and how our faith can also be challenged. These prophets spoke God’s word with courage as they were faithful tellers of God’s words. Let’s explore.

Have you ever wondered why God decided to use prophets? Is there a certain prototype or profile of a prophet?

How does God decide to use a certain person to be a prophet? Are prophets just negative doomsayers full of doom and gloom?

What is the difference between major and minor prophets or is it just the length of what was stated?

Why is much of the Old Testa ment devoted to the stories of the prophets?

Do you find it interesting that when Jesus first announced who He was and why He came He did it through the prophet Isaiah?

Should we listen to what the prophets said thousands of years later? Are we to pay attention to the messages of the prophets or were their messages for the generation they lived in?

When Jesus and the Apostles referred to “scripture” were they referring to the “law and the prophets?”

Are there unfulfilled prophetic words still to be fulfilled? Is it true the prophets spoke God’s word when it was being ignored?

Have you even been on top of the mount like Elijah was on Mt. Carmel and had an anointing of God’s power only to fall into fear and depression like Elijah?

Do we need a prophet like Amos who spoke against the wealthy, those who oppressed the poor and perverted justice?

Do you find it amazing that God told Hosea to marry an adulterous wife to identify to the Hebrews how they had treated Him?

Have you like Jonah ran from God’s will to speak His truth?

When God asked, “whom shall I send?” and Isaiah owned it and said, “send me,” would you or I respond the same way?

Are you open enough to ask the Lord tough questions like Habak kuk when we see or face issues that test our faith?

Are you like the weeping prophet Jeremiah, who when we see God’s heart and are asked to speak a tough message?

How are you unlike Daniel will ing to compromise or are we like Daniel prepared to be the object of mockery because of our faith?

What visions or dreams have you, like Ezekiel, had and yet ignored them?

Do you get encouragement from Haggai’s message?

Do you see hope and encourage ment from the words of Zechariah that can affect our lives?

Crises happen in our lives and yet the Apostle Peter quotes from Joel on the day of Pentecost as God’s word was and is true hun dreds of years later. How do we handle crisis?

Now I want you to look outside Look at the trees

The hills, the flowers All of it was fought over All of it was won For you And for your children And for their children

Remember this Remember the men who died The children who lost their fathers The women who lost their husbands Their sons Be grateful.

— Capri Wickham, 2020

John the Baptist and New Tes tament prophet sent to prepare the way of the Lord’s message was simple, “repent and be baptized.” Are we being asked to prepare the way of the Lord’s return and is our message to be the same as John’s?

The Apostle John wore a proph et’s hat on the Isle of Patmos in writing the book of Revelation, and are we in the end times that he wrote about?

John Grady lives and writes in Fort St. John.

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Cadet Noah Liddicoat stands as part of the honour guard at the cenotaph during Fort St. John Remembrance Day Ceremonies, Nov. 11, 2022.

Remembering Indigenous veterans from Northern

Hanna Petersen hpetersen@pgcitizen.ca

Lheildi T’enneh Elder Clifford Quaw has a special interest in WWII history, not only because he loves learning but because he’s known so many northern B.C. Indigenous veterans personally.

When the Second World War erupted in September 1939, many Indigenous people again answered the call of duty and joined the military.

By the end of the conflict in 1945, over 3,000 First Nations members, as well as an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits, had served in uniform.

Quaw said there was about 40 or so Indigenous veterans who had served in World War II from northern B.C. but all of them have now died.

“We don’t have one left. We always remembered what they had done, all the sacrifices, and what they went through, hell, just so we can have the freedom we have today,” said Quaw.

Nov. 8, marks National Indigenous Veterans Day which is a memorial day observed in Canada in recognition of aboriginal contributions to military service, particularly in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.

“They enlisted in the Canadian Army and from then on, they were treated as equals, unlike the society of the day. There’s a lot of racism in those days,” explained Quaw.

“They were treated as persons or humans. They’d say ‘you watch my back and I’ll watch your back’ because it was: you’re going to kill or be killed. And like other veterans in WWII, they went through hell.”

SKILLED SOLDIERS

Quaw explained that First Nations soldiers brought special skills to the battlefield like their ability to get the lay of the land, they were crack shots and well versed in reconnaissance.

“In those days, they were stewards of the land and they weren’t afraid,” said Quaw.

Indigenous soldiers were also used as code talkers as they would translate sensi-

tive radio messages into Indigenous languages like Cree or Dakelh so they could not be understood if they were intercepted by the enemy.

Another Indigenous “code talker” would then translate the received messages back into English so they could be understood by the intended recipients.

“I knew seven First Nation veterans from Lehidli, Nadleh, Nak’azdli, Saik’uz and they never talked about it,” said Quaw. “But they talked about the good times.”

Quaw said one of them was his uncle Jimmy and he used to drive to Vanderhoof to sit in a Café and hear Jimmy and other vets talk about the fun times they had and how they would play jokes on each other.

Quaw said he learned later that William Nooski, who was from Nadleh, was in the first Canadian dividson a paratrooper, same with Dave Benoit from Nak’azdli and Alec Paul from Saik’uz was in the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders.

“I researched it after awhile and realized that Alec Paul had gone ashore in Normandy on Juno Beach same with William and Dave,” said Quaw, adding that Paul

told him that Juno Beach was hell.

“He said American soldiers were slaughtered, like shooting ducks in a barrel,” recalled Quaw. “He said you started running for your life and if you saw your buddy drop beside you, you couldn’t stop. If you did you would become a target, so he had to leave all his buddies behind because they had to achieve their objective.”

Quaw also reflected solemnly on the fact that Indigenous people made such good soldiers because of their experiences in residential schools.

“They were already trained and conditioned to obey orders that’s why they make good soldiers.”

Quaw said after the war that same conditioning made it difficult for Indigenous veterans to seek help for their trauma because they lived by a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ mentality.

SECOND CLASS CITIZENS

However, despite being treated as equals on the battlefield, Indigenous veterans faced many challenges when they returned to Canada.

It was not until 1995, fifty years after

the Second World War that Indigenous Peoples were allowed to lay Remembrance Day wreaths at the National War Memorial to remember and honour their dead comrades.

“They gave so much, and to be treated like that? Still makes me mad today, how they treated our First Nations veterans.”

Returning Indigenous veterans were also not entitled to the same benefits as non-Indigenous veterans and many had to give up their status as the Indian Act specified that Indians absent from the reserve for four years were no longer Indians.

“You’re stuck in the middle, no rights. They had nothing and yet they came home and ignored it all and came back to reserves and tried to reform their lives again.”

This resulted in a number of Indigenous veterans including Tommy Prince, the most decorated Indigenous war veteran whose medals included the American silver star and six service medals, facing lives of despair and poverty.

“They had fought as equals as comrades in arms from all segments of Canadian society, so it was a melting pot and yet when they came home and took their uniform off, they were treated as second-class citizens in their own land.”

Quaw reflects that despite the bravery of these men, Canada did not treat them as heroes, and points to the fact that First Nations peoples did not even have the right to vote federally without conditions until 1960.

Quaw noted that his uncle Jimmy once said that, “I didn’t realize when I got into the army, when I came home, this would happen to us.”

“They gave so much, most of them gave their lives and when they came home, they were second-class citizens.”

— Prince George Citizen

HANNA PETERSEN PHOTO

Lheidli T’enneh Elder Clifford Quaw reflects on Indigenous veterans in northern B.C.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTOS

Left: Taylor firefighter Mark Brush stands at his post during the wreath-laying ceremony outside the Community Hall on Remembrance Day. Right: The Northern Lights Youth Choir performs ‘Peaceful’ during the day’s services. For more pictures from this year’s Remembrance Day, visit alaskahighwaynews.ca/photos-and-videos

NortechWelding& FabricatingInc.1 Welder&1Painter/ Sandblaster Tanktruck&tailer repair/inspection/ manufacturingfa− cilityinDawson Creek,BC,seeking 1ticketedWelder and1Industrial Sandblaster/

BEDELL,CarrieLynn

October31,1952−November3,2022

OnThursday,November3,2022,CarrieLynnBedell,loving motherandsister,passedatage70.CarrieLynnwasbornon October31,1952,inDawsonCreek,BC,toRichard(Dick) andLucyBedell.

CarrieLynnhadanunshakablefaithinGod.Nomatterwhat shewasexperiencinginherownlife,shetookthejobof prayingforothersseriously.ShelovedGod,herfamily, nature,andmusic.Shewasknownforhersassy outspokenness,resilience,andgreatcapacitytolove.

CarrieLynnwasafreespiritwhosebrightlightwillshineon throughherdaughterElaine;herpartnerToni;sonsScottand Ben;grandchildren;sistersWanda,Dixie,andShannon;and brothersLarry,Clarke,andBilly,andtheirfamilies.The familycametogethertocelebrateCarrieLynn’sbirthday aheadofherpassing.Shefeltlovedandcherished.Shewill bedeeplymissedandforeverloved.Donationsmaybemade inlieuofflowerstoalocalfoodbank.

Annual General Meeting

Fort St. John and Area Senior Care Foundation

November 29, 2022, 7:00 pm

In the Fellowship Lounge of the Peace Lutheran Church. Located between the main church entrance and Apartment 11 of the NPSHS complex on 108th Ave.

Come early if you would like to renew your membership for $5.00.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

DUCHESNE,KyleB.

Jan16,1987−Nov6,2022

Kylewastakenawayfromussuddenly onNov6th,2022,attheageof35.

Kylewasasweet,fun,loving,and hardworkingfatherandhusband−his familywashiseverything.Hemethis wife,Caitlin,attheendof2007.Itwas loveatfirstsight.Theymarriedin 2014andstartedexpandingtheir familywiththebirthoftheirdaughter Oliviain2017andthebirthoftheir sonSebastianin2018.Theyresidedin DawsonCreek,BC,forovertenyears untiltheyrelocatedtoCamrose,AB,to beclosertofamilyin2021.

Kylewasverylovedandadoredbyall. Helovedworkingwithhishands, buildinganythingwithwood,and tinkeringinthegarage.Healsoloved hangingoutwiththeirfriends.

Lefttocherishhismemoryishiswife, Caitlin;children,OliviaandSebastian; mother,YvonneDuchesne;and siblings,CrystalDuchesneof Beaverlodge,AB,andDeanDuchesne (VeroniquePelletier)ofOutlook, Sk.Kylewaspredeceasedbyhis daughter,Alexandra,andfather,Kelly. Therewillbenoserviceheld.

Kylewillbeforeverlovedandmissed. Weloveyou,Kyle. Tosendcondolences,pleasevisit www.burgarfuneralhome.com.

BurgarFuneralHomeCamrose& Daysland(481751Ave,Camrose, Alberta,T4V0V4)incareof arrangements.780−672−2121 "Dedicatedservicesince1906."

MarieGejdos

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful mother, Marie Gejdos on October 26, 2022.

Marie passed away peacefully at the 100 Mile District Hospital surrounded by the love of all of her children, most of her grandchildren and her youngest brother by her side.

Marie was born in Mannville AB June 15, 1931 but left home at an early age. She met dad (Frank) in Coleman AB and they married in October, 1954. They moved to a few di erent communities before settling in FSJ in 1964. Marie loved Fort St John and remained there until May, 2022 when she moved to 100 Mile House to be closer to family due to her failing health. She dearly missed her friends from FSJ and a part of her heart always remained there.

Marie’s love of life shone through in most everything she did. She loved to cook and was an amazing cook and baker. It warmed her heart to share the wonderful meals she prepared. Her other great love in her life, besides her family, was playing cribbage. Mom and dad spent most weekends playing crib with friends and enjoyed playing at the Legion as well. She could outplay most people but always graciously stated ‘she was just lucky’. Mom was known as the neighbourhood ‘baba’ due to her genuine love for kids and was a surrogate grandma to many, many children.

Marie and Frank, who predeceased her in 1993, were very active in their younger years participating in bowling and curling leagues, dancing, card playing, camping and socializing with their many friends in Fort St. John. Marie was also involved with the CWL (Catholic Women’s League), she was a Welcome Wagon Hostess for a few years and worked for the Hudson Bay Company.

Marie is lovingly remembered by her children, Terri (Wayne) Schoenenberger, grandson Trevor (Lauralee) Schoenenberger & great-grandson Wyatt, granddaughter Trina (Mike) Barrette, great-granddaughters Luella and Frankie, Dorri (Andy) Larstone, granddaughter Joy Larstone (Brad Shaw) and great-grandson Max, grandsons Kelly and Adam Larstone, Frank (Brenda) Gejdos, grandson Garrett, Barbara Gejdos and Kelly (Rhonda) Gejdos, grandson Tyson (Alecia Speager) and granddaughter Taylor, her brothers, Bernie (Pat) Shalagan and Peter Shalagan and her sister, Sister Doloretta Shalagan along with sisters and brothers-in-law, her nieces, nephews and godchildren and many, many friends.

Special thanks to Dr. Omer and the nurses at 100 Mile House Hospital as well as the sta at Carefree Manor, who tenderly cared for her during her short stay there.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, November 25th at 1:00 pm at the Catholic Church of the Resurrection: 9504 – 100 Ave. Fort St. John

In lieu of owers, we ask that donations be made to the Ukrainian Relief in memory of Marie Gejdos. Hamre’s Funeral Chapel is entrusted with service details (www.hamresfuneral.com). Live stream link available at Hamre’s.

Seniors receive $25,000 for sup-

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Support programs for Fort St. John seniors received a $25,000 boost on Remembrance Day.

Roxanne Chmelyk of the Fort St. John and Area Seniors Care Foundation said the donation from CNRL is very important for the community.

She says the funds will allow the foundation to

continue serving about 300 people through its meals on wheels and light housekeeping programs, and hundreds more through its social outreach, including musical gatherings and weekly bingo.

“We do look after the seniors that are low income and vulnerable and need to have extra help and care and nutrition,” Chmelyk said.

“When you deliver

meals on wheels and housekeeping, it means somebody is coming to your door, someone from the community. It’s a voice, it’s a presentation, it’s communication. It keeps them involved with the community,” she said.

“Everything costs and all this will really go to do that. It’s very uplifting when you see the community come together.”

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Roxanne Chmelyk of the Fort St. John and Area Seniors Care Foundation (centre) with CNRL administrator Tracy Cholmodeley and NEBC construction superintendent Chris Willson.