Inside
u Beijing and back P. 6 u Early education P. 12
u Drop the hammer... P. 4 u KLP tournament P. 5
Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
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WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS New school, old school Mrs. Darlene Turner, Secretary Treasurer, thanked the Ministry of Education for their recent announcement of $5.28 million dollars being committed to the upgrades required in Granisle. “The new fiveclassroom modular project is part of the BC government’s $16.91 million modular school pilot program.” The classrooms will accommodate students in Kindergarten to grade 12 and will feature a bright open design. School District No. 91 has also received approval to seek a buyer for the old Topley School.
At the table
Mr. Rick Pooley, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, informed the Board that contract negotiations are underway with the unions representing the teachers and the support staff. While it is still in the early stages, he described the process as involving constructive conversations at both tables.
VOL. 36 NO. 08 $1.30 inc. GST
Trash into treasure
Lynn George’s class from David Hoy Elementary was at the Integris Credit Union on April 16 to get ideas from the Other People’s Trash... art show displaying local art made from salvaged or recycled materials. The class had just been to the beach to look for their own treasured trash and were going to be doing some art of their own last week. The art show at Integris will be on display until May 4. Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier
Ft. Fraser death ruled homicide Family makes plea for information from those at a party the night the young woman died
Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier An autopsy has confirmed the death of Destiny Rae Tom on Nautley First Nations Reserve near Fort Fraser on March 23 was a result of foul play. Destiny Tom’s badly beaten body was found outside a residence on the reserve after RCMP received a 9-11 call to the location at 5:25 a.m. on March 23, 2013. RCMP have interviewed some of those who were at the residence but no charges have yet been laid in relation to the incident. RCMP held a press conference in Fraser Lake on April 17, revealing little about the details of the case, but allowing Destiny Tom’s mother Vivian Tom the opportunity to make a plea for information. RCMP believe there was a gather-
ing at the residence the night before Tom’s body was discovered and while RCMP are continuing to investigate, they also believe a number of those at the party have yet to speak to police. “We’re still missing that one piece of the puzzle that can bring closure,” said North District RCMP spokesperson Lesley Smith in the Fraser Lake council chambers filled with relativesand family supporters. She then gave the floor to Vivian Tom, who gave an emotional statement pleading for people to come forward. “Our lives have forever been changed with the loss of our youngest child,” she said. “Destiny was a beautiful, caring and loving person. She was a loving mother to our three-yearold granddaughter Cassidy. Destiny loved life, loved people and had many friends that loved her.” Continued on Page 3
Dream big Meeting discusses possible future uses and plans for the new community hall Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier A meeting with potential user groups on the community hall brainstormed potential uses for the facility. There were representatives of a number of community groups with an interest in using the space, from all demographics, including seniors, youth groups, arts council and political leaders. The group provided input into potential renovations to bring the community hall building up to fire code regulations, which will be costly, especially if the theatre in the building is going to be kept to be used specifically as a theatre. Both youth groups members and arts council members spoke in support of trying to maintain the theatre, and so the District’s Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Crook said they will look at the options and costs involved with an engineer to see if it will be possible within the budget. The existing funding for the
community hall will require the work is completed by March 2015, but Crook said he hopes it would be possible to finish the project by 2014. There were some conditions put on the project, for example, trails connecting the new community hall to the curling rink and arena buildings in order to link the facilities and energy-efficiency in the upgrades. Some different ideas were brought forward as the group brainstormed and prioritized what they would like to see in the building. So far, the group proposed a wide range of uses, including using the building as a gathering place for all ages, seniors recreation space, concerts and movie nights in the theatre, creative art space, having a game or arcade room in the building, a non profit office space, or an indoor climbing wall. The group included some of the original Community Hall Committee members as well, and they seemed to like what they heard.
NEWS
Courier
Campaigning kicks off
Child Abuse Prevention Month Prevent Child Abuse America 312-663-3520 www.preventchildabuse.org BeaverOnGolfCourseC0804.EPS
Hot Retail Co-op Categories Bicycles, Accessories and Supplies Lawn and Garden Motorcycles and Snowmobiles Outdoor Furnishings Recreational Vehicles
National Car Care Month Car Care Council 240-333-1088 www.carcare.org National Donate Life Month U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 202-619-0257 www.organdonor.gov
Hot Manufacturer Co-op Benjamin Moore Paints Camp Healthcare Grasshopper Mowers Rolex Watch Whirlpool Corporation
National Lawn Care Month PLANET, Professional Landcare Network 800-395-2522 www.landcarenetwork.org
You’ll find us at 169 STUART DRIVE, FSJ lkshore@telus.net 250-996-8618
Fas Gas DaffodilsHC0804.EPS
250-996-7305
Cafe open 6am to 2pm, Monday to Friday
Open 6am to 10pm
3 cents a litre back to you!
ManRidingLawnMowerC0804.EPS
Special Events NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship National Stress Awareness Day National Volunteer Week Week of the Young Child Boston Marathon National Jelly Bean Day Take Our Daughters/Sons to Work Day
Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month ASPCA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 212-876-7700 www.aspca.org
290 elm street Spacious well maintained 5 bedroom 3 bathroom home backing onto a greenbelt. Oak kitchen cabinets, 2 gas fireplaces, covered rear deck, fenced yard attached 2 car garage new roof and newer appliances are some of the features of this executive home $279,900.
Photo courtesy of Sussanne Skidmore-Hewlett
AdBuilder® Special Section Builder Themes • Financial • Planning a Garden • Earth Day • Easter
National Parkinson Awareness Month National Parkinson Foundation, Inc. 800-327-4545 www.parkinson.org
Lakeshore Realty Campaign signs are already visible, right after the offical campaign begins. Sussanne SkidmoreHewlett and some of her suppor ters were out at the Five Corners intersection in Fort St. James the day the writ was dropped (April 16) holding signs and John Rustad’s signs were not far behind.
Month-long Events Alcohol Awareness Month National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. 212-269-7797 www.ncadd.org
Jazz Appreciation Month Smithsonian National Museum of American History 202-633-3129 www.smithsonianjazz.org
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Caledonia Courier
MomGirlHuggingTreeC0804.EPS
A2 www.caledoniacourier.com
4&6 5&7 16 19–25 19–25 20 22 23
642 Stuart Drive, Fort St. James B.C. ManPlayingGolfC0804.EPS
District of Fort St. James Calendar April, 2013
SUNDAY March 2009 21 Lady’s
MONDAY
TUESDAY
2009 22MayNight 23 Date with Comedian Kevin Foxx!
Municipal Website: www.fortstjames.ca
28 5 Palm Sunday
29 6 11am Day of
Mourning Ceremony @ District Office 6:30pm Newcomers 1-3pm Construction Potluck @ NHS Safety Seminar @ CNC 7:30pm MXV Boot Camp
12 Easter
13
Easter Monday (Australia & Canada)
30 7
620 Taurus
SATURDAY
326 427 Day Prgrm 9am Addictions Day 8am MXV Boot 9-4pm Self Prgrm Camp Leadership 9am Seniors Delivery 6:30pm Lady’s Date Workshop @ Kwah 6:30pm Archery Night @ FSJSS 3:30pm Book Reading @ Library
1April9am Fool’sSnrs Day Delivery 2 24 25 9am Addictions 9am Addictions Day Prgrm 7:30pm MXV Boot Camp 9-4pm The Color Code Workshop @ Kwah 7pm Council Meeting
9 First Day 11 David Hoy of Passover Good Friday7-9pm @ ALL CANDIDATES FORUM AP.1024th
Nak’azdli Career & Education Fair! Friday May 10th 11:00am - 3:00pm at Fort St. James Secondary School Keynote Speaker, Door Prizes, Interactive Games and much more! 1157:30pm MXV Boot 2 16 Tax Day
14
Camp 9am Seniors Delivery 10-2pm Mining Career Fair @ CNC 5pm Archery 3-6pm Food Skills Wrkshp
721
9am Seniors Delivery 6:30pm Archery 7pm CAC Craft Night 7:30pm Boot Camp
139am Snrs Delivery 14 Workers Mourning Day 28 (Canada) 26 27 Mother’s Day Brkfst 5-7:30pm New Gold @ Legion Blackwater Project Open House @ 10am 34th Annual Music Makers Mother’s Day Relay 6:30pm Archery fr Vndf-FSJ 7:30pm Boot Camp
12 8:30-11am
Igniting Your Ad Sales
FRIDAY
8
May, 2013
5 19
THURSDAY
317
9am Seniors Delivery
4 18 8am MXV Boot Camp
6:30pm Archery
8 9 Day 22 Earth 9am Seniors Delivery 23 5pm Archery Administrative Professionals Day 7pm Council Mtg 7:30pm Boot Camp 3-6pm Food Skills Wrkshp 7pm Ski Hill AGM
10 24 Arbor Day
15
17
16
29 9am Snrs Delivery 30 3-6pm Food Skills Wrkshp 5pm Archery 7:30pm Boot Camp
9am Seniors Delivery 11am Career Fair @ FSJSS 6:30pm Archery
9am Snrs Delivery 6:30pm Archery
11 25 Anzac Day (Australia) 8am Boot Camp
18
Please submit all events by Wednesday for the next Wednesday paper distribution. office@fortstjames.ca
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 8 9 10 11 12 2013 13 14 Grad 3 Class 4 5 &6Prom 7 8Fundraiser 9 27th, 6:30p.m. - 11:00p.m. 15 16 17 18 Saturday 19 20 21 April 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 per21person 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Tickets 17 18 $35 19 20 22 23 Lakeside Pharmacy, Rupi’s 29Available 30 31 at FSJSS, Mane 24 Street 25 26 Salon, 27 28 29 30 Salon & Barton 31 HUB International Insurance
WEDNESDAY
8am Boot Camp
• AdBuilder Retail Help us beautify our town during Pitch-In Weeks April 17th - May 1st • AdBuilder Classified Pick up you FREE •Garbage Bags & Gloves at the District Office today! Co-op Sales Ideas ®
AdBuilder.com “Other Peoples Trash...” an Art Exhibit using salvaged materials at Integris presented by the Community Arts Council of Fort St. James ®
Office: 477 Stuart Drive West
Telephone: 250-996-8233
Follow us on Twitter: @DFSJames
Like us at Facebook: District of Fort St. James
Email: office@fortstjames.ca
Caledonia Courier Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Courier
NEWS
www.caledoniacourier.com A3
RHB ScHmitz de GRace ChartereD INCOME TAXaCCountantS PREPARATION • • • • • •
Destiny Tom’s parents and daughter were at a press conference calling for people to come forward with information. Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier
Family pleads for information
Continued from Page 1 “Whoever is responsible for Destiny’s death is still out there … my husband, children and especially our three-year-old granddaughter deserve closure to this horrific nightmare. We are not sleeping and have difficulty eating.” Please come forward with the truth, we ask you to help our family understand this and more importantly that justice is served for Destiny and little Cassidy.” “If we haven’t spoken to you, please come forward,” said Smith. “Her daughter needs closure, when she’s old enough to understand, she’ll want closure, I’m sure.” Anyone with information about this incident are asked to contact the Fraser Lake RCMP at (250) 699-7777. Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so by calling Vivian Tom, the mother of Destiny Tom, made an emotional Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477. statement asking for people with information regarding DesSmith said those who feel they are in danger can access pro- tiny Tom’s death to come forward. grams to help them via the investigators as well. Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier
CorPorate anD PerSonaL taX (PersonalanD andData Business) BooKKeePInG ProCeSSInG aSSuranCe FInanCIaL StateMent PreParatIon RHN SCHMITZ de GRACE eState PLannInG Chartered Accountants CoMPuter ConSuLtInG Fort St. James Office Fort St.Stuart James Office 169 Drive (Lakeshore Realty) Fort St. James, BC 1P0 169V0J Stuart Drive (Fridays from February 6 to June 12) To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-976-7780 (toll-free) To schedule an appointment, please call vickilynn.bobbie@rhbaccountants.ca 1-800-976-7780 or (toll-free) E-mail: Josh@rhngroup.ca josh.benham@rhbaccountants.ca Website: www.rhngroup.ca www.rhbaccountants.ca
Northern BC Community Sports Development Society (Northern BC Winter Games Society)
• AnnuAl GenerAl MeetinG •
Saturday, April 27, 2013 @ 9am Sandman Signature Hotel & Suites Prince George
2990 Recplace Drive Prince George, BC V2N 0B2
For more information: www.bcgames.org/NBCWGS/society.html
Editorial Page
A4 www.caledoniacourier.com
AUDIT
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Caledonia Courier
The Caledonia Courier is a member of the British
Distributed every Wednesday in Fort St. James
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governing the province’s newspaper industry. The
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• Column
Drop the hammer… or writ B.C. election begins with the dropping of the writ, whatever that means Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier The “writ” was dropped on April 16, with everyone in the media and politics using the term like a household word, but do we all really know what a writ is? It may be a traditional word, but if we are going to use it today, should we not at least make sure everyone actually knows what it means? I mean, obviously we know it means the election is official and campaigns can begin in earnest, but what exactly is a “writ”? According to the Parliament of Canada website, a writ in relation to an election is: “a formal written order instructing the returning officer in each electoral district to hold an election to elect a Member of Parliament (in the case of the B.C. election, it will be to elect a Member of the Legislature).” Blah blah blah, there was even more to the definition, but I probably already lost some with the short version, the long one would have stopped most in their tracks. In essence, the writ is the official document which dissolves the current government and marks the beginning of the official
election campaigns to form the new government. While it may seem as though the campaign has been underway for some time, in actual fact, there have been some rules dictating what political parties could do and how much they could spend. Once the writ is dropped, parties have much higher spending limits on their campaigns and those sitting in the legislature in Victoria can now dedicate themselves full-time to the campaign trail. So buckle up Nechako Lakes, here come the candidates, campaign promises and clever ads. May you all be inspired by something in their campaigns to get out and vote. In order to do so, all a person needs is to do is register by April 23 to make it easy, or just bring in proper identification to register on the spot. Voting can take place anytime between April 16 and May 14 election day, with advance polls running for those who know they will be unable to make the May 14 polls. If a person is away for even longer, they can simply send in a request for a mail-in ballot and mail it back, as long as it reaches them in time, your vote still counts.
Look for us online at : caledoniacourier.com
• Guest column
Paying for Pamela Bill Phillips Prince George Free Press Pamela Martin called me the other day. Well, it wasn’t actually Pamela Martin, it was a recording of Pamela Martin’s voice. At first I was worried there had been a security breach in the public records office in Victoria because the last time Martin was up in this neck of the woods she was helping out with the creation of a seniors’ advocate in B.C., so what would the seniors’ advocate want with youthful ol’ me? But my fears were soon allayed. Pamela (I can call her Pamela because she calls me at home on the weekends now) was calling to let me know that Liberal leader Christy Clark was delivering a 30-minute campaign ad on television Sunday night and that I should watch. Whew, my secret was safely tucked away with that ever-greying portrait hanging in the attic (OK, even that isn’t doing a good job, but you get the picture … pun intended). Pamela intoned to me how important the message was and that the upcoming election was very important. It took about 10 nanoseconds for my age-addled brain cells to click into gear. “Aren’t you a civil servant?” I asked, hopefully with my inside voice but quite likely not judging by the startled dog that suddenly needed to go outside. “Aren’t you paid with taxpayers’ dollars? Why am I, a taxpayer, paying for you to campaign for the Liberals?” Yet, there she was … a civil servant being the
voice of a blatantly political call. And, had I watched the half-hour commercial (due to my advancing age and Big Bang Theory rerun, I forgot to watch), I would have noticed that Pamela actually hosted the commercial. For the record, you pay Pamela about $130,000 per year. As my colleague at Kamloops This Week Chris Foulds quipped, “Tony Parsons only wishes he could be so vital to democracy.” But this isn’t the only time that Pamela has been out on the campaign trail while pulling down a nice cheque courtesy of you and I. Blogger Alex G. Tsakumis, who has dug up more dirt on the Wood Innovation and Resource Centre than the excavators working down there now, raised the issue about a year ago when Pamela was out campaigning with Liberal candidate Laurie Throness. Tsakaumis called the premier’s office about it and was told that Martin was “on vacation” on the day she was seen out conducting plainly partisan duties. So, it’s a year later the Liberals get caught up in the ethnic vote scandal. A cabinet minister and senior official in the premier’s office fall on their swords when it breaks that, among other things, there was a plan to use civil servants for partisan Liberal purposes. One would think that with all those savvy political operatives operating in the premier’s office someone would have figured out that government employees work for the people of B.C., not the Liberal party. They just don’t get it.
E-mail us at : newsroom@caledoniacourier.com
Caledonia Courier Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier
NEWS
www.caledoniacourier.com A5
Courier The ins and outs of the IIO
Krenz said "morally and ethically" sexual assault likely should be looked at by an outside investigator, however at this time those investigations are still done by the police force themselves. Ralph Krenz of the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) There will be a legislative review in 2015 which could potentially address of BC visited Fort St. James last week to educate people on the some of the problems with the definition of serious harm being used. organization. Krenz also explained some of the requirements of working for the IIO, which The IIO was established to provide a civilian group to inwill make the organization more and more independent from police influence as vestigate when the RCMP or municipal police (on or off-duty) time goes on. are involved in incidents where a civilian was seriously harmed While at this point there are around two-thirds of IIO investigators have exor killed. perience as former police investigators, over time he said this will decrease as the While Ontario has had an independent investigator for organization can train people from within their organization. The investigators can these kinds of cases for much longer, B.C. only recently came not have been a police officer in B.C. during the five years before taking the poout with their own, after incidents such as the 1998 death of Ralph Krenz of the Independent Investigations office sition, so already there is some separation from their previous affiliation with a Frank Paul and the 2007 death of Robert Dziekanski in the of BC spoke in Fort St. James on April 18. police force. Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier Vancouver International Airport. The goals of the IIO are to complete fair, thorough investigations of incidents, The Braidwood Commission report laid out how the IIO to improve the timeliness of the investigations and to provide transparency and acwould work, and in September of 2012, the IIO office opened their doors. countability in each case. Krenz also discussed some of the obligations of the police officers at an incident While the head office is in Surrey while the organization gets esablished, Krenz said there are plans to when it does occur and how initially, preservation of the scene and evidence does fall to the local police eventually have satellite offices across the province. force, but is then handed over to IIO investigators or overseen by experienced IIO forensic experts. Krenz laid out the jurisdiction of the organization, and how the definition of "serious harm," which The IIO was called to investigate an incident in Vanderhoof on March 10, when a truck was stunt drivcomes from the insurance definition, does limit their oversight on certain matters. ing but an officer did not pursue the vehicle when it left the scene. For example, an alleged sexual assault by a police officer would not fall under their jurisdiction beThe officer later discovered the vehicle crashed into a post near Burrard Street and Highway 16. The cause the definition of serious harm they use only includes injuries which may result in death, cause officer reportedly spoke to the driver, who later fled the scene. serious disfigurement or may cause substantial loss or impairment of mobility of the body as a whole or Three passengers were also in the vehicle, two of which were seriously injured in the crash. of the function of any limb or organ. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. LEFT: Photo of Luke Marshall blocking Henry Thomas' back set during a match Saturday evening in the Kora Lee Prince Memorial Volleyball Tournament at Kwah Hall on April 13 and 14. The annual tournament was finally won by the host team KLP.
Super Sale!
Leon Erickson photo
Kora Lee Memorial Volleyball Tournament The Eighth annual Kora Lee Memorial Volleyball tournament was a success. Eight teams entered, with players coming from Prince George and a team from Chetwynd to round out the field. The two day event held on April 14 and 15 held some amazing games, with over 70 per cent of the games playing at three in best of three sets. Tournament organizers Leon Erickson and Kristi Howell, along with family and friends of the tournament were very pleased with the
results. The organizers would like to send a special thank you to Candace Erickson for soliciting local businesses for sponsored items and the participants thoroughly enjoyed receiving the items and attending the local businesses as patrons. The results of the tournament are as follows: 1st A Div = KLP (Host) 2nd A Div = Mookies Cookies (Local) 3rd A Div = Crooked Arrows (local) 4th A Div = Chetwynd 5th A Div = TAP (local and PG mixed team)
FREE EVENTS going on can be
submitted to the Caledonia Courier online calendar, visit: www.caledoniacourier.com and see the calendar on the bottom right and click on add your event.
6th A Div = Nakazdli Youth 1st B Div = I'd Hit That (Local) 2nd B Div = Nak'azdli Recreation Kora's boyfriend Matt Karey had always supported Kora's love of sports. As such, his inspirational attitude had carried over into the Kora Lee Memorial volleyball tournament. Each year a recipient would be voted as the Matt Karey "Most Inspirational Participant". This year the most inspiring and dedicated participant recognized is Wayne Sam.
We Believe in B.C.
On May 14th, vote for change. Learn more at:
ELECT
“We stand poised on the edge of a historic election, for the first time in a generation we have a real chance of electing Conservative MLA’s. If we hesitate now the opportunity will pass us by; let us not wait another generation. Are we not Conservatives? Now is our opportunity, now we must act, now we must be united and show leadership and vision by electing a Conservative MLA here in Nechako Lakes and with your help and support we will succeed!” Dan Brooks
DanBrooks2013.ca
Authorized by Gerald Caron, Financial Agent (250) 567-3285
A6 www.caledoniacourier.com
Courier
NEWS
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Caledonia Courier
LEFT: A meeting at the District of Fort St. James office involved brainstorming and prioritizing on potential plans for the new community hall. There were youth group representatives and seniors advocates and many others.
Great Prices!
Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier
presented by
Community Hall planning Continued from Page 1 “It really makes my heart feel good that everyone here has said something around the arts,” said Monica Grill, of the Community Arts Council of Fort St. James. Who has been working on getting a community hall in the community for years. The last hall was torn
down in the eighties. The work on planning for the community hall will be ongoing for some time yet, and other user groups interested in potentially utilizing the space can get in touch with Kevin Crook at the District of Fort St. James at 9968233.
CNC and faculty come to tentative contract
on tour
Northern BC
Meet these authors shortlisted for BC Book Prizes at a free reading event
Thursday, April 25 | Fort St. James Fort St. James Public Library 3:30 pm 450 Douglas Avenue ✑ 250.996.7431
Jackson Davies, Bruno and the Beach: The Beachcombers at 40 Roderick Haig-Brown
Regional Prize & Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award
Victoria Miles, Mimi Power and the I-Don’t-Know-What Sheila Egoff Children’s
Literature Prize
Book sales at the event. Have your copy signed by the author! For details and the On Tour blog, visit www.bcbookprizes.ca
Community Events
The College of New Caledonia has reached provincial bargaining teams for their efforts in Community Events are free of charge as they are a tentative agreement with its faculty associa- reaching a successful conclusion to these nesponsored by the Caledonia Courier tion. gotiations,” said David Rourke, President of Members of the Faculty Association of the CNC’s Faculty Association. COMING EVENTS... thank all those who contribute their month. Contact (Sue) at 250-996College of New Caledonia will hold a ratificaIf the contract is ratified by the association, Will appear as space is available, free labour to this program as well as 7728 (h) for more information. those who provide food and other charge in this section. Coming *** tion vote on the new deal during their annual it will then go to the CNC Board of Governors of necessities. We also run a small events are available to non-profit FORT ST. JAMES SEARCh & food bank on Tuesday morning, organizations only. This area is not RESCUE... steering committee general meeting April 27. for ratification. and are very thankful for all who for thank you submissions meetings first Tuesday of every “We are delighted that we were able to reach If ratified by the board, the deal would then intended contribute to this endeavor. For or selling products. It is simply a month. 7:00 p.m. above the Fort B AM BAM TRUCKING further information please call Gwen place for nonprofit organizations a St. James Firehall. Training is the an agreement and hope it is ratified by Faculty go to the Post Secondary Employers AssociaAndrews 567-6744. place to announce upcoming free third Tuesday of every month at the Association members in the near future,” said tion for final approval. *** activities. You can e-mail your item Firehall at 7 p.m. New members Ft. St. James B.C. Call (778) 667-0346 Sandra Rossi, CNC’s Director of Human ReSERVICE TIMES... at St Patrick’s to advertising@ominecaexpress. welcome. Anglican Church, Fort St James, com or by fax: 567-2070. Your *** sources, in a press release. In a Jam, call BAM BAM.organizations’ announcement can will be 10:30 am every Sunday. Free MUSIC MAkERS...New members The deal Bincludes AM BAM TRUCKING both local and sectoral lunch every Tues between 11-1pm also be dropped off at our office always WELCOME. Not everyone Ft. St. James B.C. Call (778) 667-0346 Services: with music and Prayer. Please come located at #111-250 Stuart Drive, has to be on stage, there is lots compensation template table settlement comand join us. Fort St. James. Decision of the of work behind the scenes. Call Ft. St. James B.C. Call (778) 667-0346 of theRemote Water Hauling, Water testing and Treatment. Gravel Hauling, Excavation work. agreement *** publisher is final. Rosemary Allan at 250-996-8997 for ponents. As per usual, details BAM BAM TRUCKING In a Jam, call BAM BAM. FIREwEED CLOThES *** more info. will not be disclosed until after it is ratified. DRIVE...The Fireweed Safe Haven *** UNTOLD TRAUMA...author Services: Now providing Liquid storage tanks for Water and Waste Management. For Residential and Industrial uses. In a Jam, call BAM BAM. “We thank and congratulate the local and Ft. St. James B.C. Call (778) 667-0346 is doing a winter clothes drive. We ThE ThRIFT STORE...has a new seeks contributions from non-
BAM BAM TRUCKING
l Remote Water Hauling, Water testing and Treatment. Rainwater harvesting solutions.
are looking for jackets, boots, snow First Nations students and staff name! “The Bargain Basement”. pants, mitts, hats, scarves, fleeces, who experienced Catholic We are still at the same location, etc, for men, women and children. residential or day schools abuse in across from Shoppers Food Mart. Suppliers: The items will then be given to Northern BC. For more info email Donations of clean clothing and Waste Management. For Residential and Industrial uses. families in the community that need es: Kathyhansen1@gmail.com small housewares are greatly Water testing and Treatment. Gravel Hauling, Excavation work. l Rainwater harvesting solutions. BARR Plastic Tanks and Liquid Handling. (manufactured by Norwesco) including small and large vertical and them. If you do not have anything at appreciated. Please, no books or *** Suppliers: horizontal impact resistant molded seamless polyethylene tanks. Pick up tanks, freestanding tanks, below ground tanks. home that you can part with but still magazines. Proceeds are used for FORT ADULT CENTRE FOR e Water Hauling, Water testing and Treatment. Gravel Hauling, Excavation work. rage tanks for Water and Waste Management. For Residential and Industrial uses. l BARR Plastic Tanks and Liquid Handling. (manufactured wish to contribute, you can purchase community needs. Open Wed-Sat, EDUCATION...Suite 221-250 mitts, socks, or thermal underwear. by Norwesco) including small and large vertical and Stuart Drive, in the Goodwin 12 noon to 4pm. (Across from the Petrocan Station)ZCL composites: Fibreglass Tanks for Long Term Storage of Wastewater. GRAF Rainwater harvesting solutions. roviding Liquid storage tanks for Water and Waste Management. For Residential and Industrial uses. Please drop items off at the Fireweed Building. Open daily 8:00-4:00. *** horizontal impact resistant molded seamless Rainwater Harvesting, Infiltration Retention Cisterns, Drinking Water Reservoirs. utions. Safe Haven. For more information Call 250-996-7712 for more SERVICE pUBLIC polyethylene tanks. Pick up SUNDAY LITURGY: Saturday 7:30 pm & Sunday 10:30 am please contact Talia at (250) 996information. ANNOUNCEMENT...If you ater harvesting solutions. tanks, freestanding tanks, DAILY MASS: Monday - Friday 9:00 am 8081. Every little bit helps. know anyone, including a child, *** below ground tanks. *** who has been abused or harmed FIREwEED STOppING ThE PASTORAL TEAM: FATHER FRANK SALMON 250-996-8343 l ZCL composites: Fibreglass ers: AUxILIARy TO STUART LAkE by a psychiatrist call the Citizens VIOLENCE & OUTREACh Liquid Handling. (manufactured by Norwesco) including small and large vertical and SR. JANE DWYER, SR. PAT MACAULAY, SR. DIVINA PEDRO Tanks for Long Term Storage hOSpITAL... Monthly meeting 2nd Commission on Human Rights at: SERVICE For those who believe of Wastewater. GRAF Wednesday each month. Hospital all is possible!...Provides free 1-800-670-2247. Plastic Tanks and Liquid Handling. (manufactured by Norwesco) including small and large vertical and 250-996-2275 t molded seamless polyethylene tanks. Pick up tanks, freestanding tanks, below ground tanks. Cafeteria 7:00 p.m. *** Confidential, Safe, and Supportive Rainwater harvesting ntal impact resistant molded seamless polyethylene tanks. Pick up tanks, freestanding tanks, below ground tanks. *** ALCOhOLICS ANONyMOUS... counselling and outreach services solutions. Rainwater ss Tanks for Long Term Storage of Wastewater. GRAF Rainwater harvesting solutions. FORT ST. JAMES pUBLIC for women. Hours of Service: Every Thursday, 8 p.m. at the United Harvesting, Infiltration omposites: Fibreglass Tanks for Long Term Storage of Wastewater. GRAF Rainwater harvesting solutions. LIBRARy hOURS... Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Church Hall on 2nd Avenue. Contact filtration Retention Cisterns, Drinking Water Reservoirs. Retention Cisterns, Tuesday 11:30-8:00 and every other Friday. Location: 996-8290. ater Harvesting, Infiltration Retention Cisterns, Drinking Water Reservoirs. Drinking Water Reservoirs. Wednesday 11:30-4:30 Room 203, 349 Stuart Drive, Fort *** Thursday 11:30-4:30 St James, BC Phone: (250) 996FIREwEED SAFE hAVEN...a Friday 11:30-8:00 1214 Fax: (250) 996-7647 Email: safe place for women and their Saturday 11:00-3:00 fire.or@telus.net children leaving violence or abuse. Water Delivery and Gravel Seamless Polyethylene Tanks Excavation *** 24 hour access - please call 996*** NEChAkO VALLEy ST pATRICk’S ANGLICAN 8000. COMMUNITy SERVICES ChURCh... hosts a free lunch every *** SOCIETy...Child and Youth Tuesday from 11.00am - 1.00pm. Mental Health and Counseling All are welcome. This lunch is FORT ST. JAMES pARENT Services available at no cost. made possible through the generous ADVISORy...3rd Tuesday every Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 giving of time and resources,by month 7 p.m. at High School. pm. Call 996-7645 for appointment. many people in the region, including *** *** Sylvia Isaac, The Roman Catholic DROp IN AT ThE LEGION... for FORT TRAp AND hANDGUN Church, Camp Living Water, and fun darts. No charge. Every Saturday Water Delivery and Gravel CLUB... meets last Sunday of every many other individuals.We wish to 2:30 p.m.
Gravel Hauling, Excavation work. In a Jam, call BAM BAM. l Now providing Liquid storage tanks for Water and
OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
THE CHURCHES OF FORT ST. JAMES
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Tom Fletcher Black Press
Courier
NEWS
Chinese bank backs Kitimat refinery
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Liu Yanping, deputy head of corporate banking, and Huang Jifa, deputy The Industrial and Commercial head of investment banking Bank of China, the country's largat the Chinese bank, said est bank, has agreed to take part in in the statement: "We are financing a large-scale oil refinery very pleased to be working proposed for Kitimat. toward a comprehensive Kitimat Clean Ltd., a company agreement to finance a reowned by Black Press chairman finery in Canada, which is David Black, announced the signplanning to export refined ing of a memorandum of underfuels to China and other standing Thursday. The agreement Asian countries in the fucommits the bank to "be the Chiture." nese financial advisor to Kitimat Black released a Mustel Clean and cooperate in the financGroup poll in February that ing of the proposed Kitimat refinfound three out of four B.C. ery and associated pipelines and residents support the idea to other elements," Black said in a refine crude oil in Kitimat statement. rather than export the raw "Chinese companies will be David Black, owner of Kitimat Clean Ltd. and Black Press. product, diluted bitumen Sharon Tiffin/News staff involved in the engineering and from the Alberta oil sands, construction of the refinery," Black by tanker. said. "Up to 100 per cent of the output from the refinery is The same poll found that 57 per cent respondents opposed planned to be sold to Asian markets, including China and In- the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project. dia." Black has suggested his project may grow to include an alHe added that majority control of the businesses will remain ternative pipeline proposal, or oil shipped by the CN Rail line in Canada. that already connects the Edmonton area with the North Coast.
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Music for the people Norm Dagenais (left) and Sharon Buck playing in the dining and sitting room of the Residential Care area of Stuart Lake Hospital. Once a month they enjoy going and playing music for the seniors that live there. They have been doing this for about a year and a half. The employees say the seniors really enjoy it. Jaquie Dagenais photo
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Caledonia Courier Wednesday, April 24, 2013
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Caledonia Courier
Thirty-seven years later Today there are separate home care nurses and licensing officers. Public health nurses do less in the schools and there are many other programs addressing parenting, community development, teaching and safety. There is a prenatal registry program and public health nurses no longer have prenatal classes regularly. They do work in collaboration with many community services, but no longer offer travel health which is now being offered by physicians and pharmacists. Public health nurses now have several new programs, some of which require special certification or training. Nurses and others such as pharmacists now are required to take an immunization competency program to administer many vaccines. Nurses also carry out some cancer screening such as pap smears and breast exams and offer testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, and can counsel and dispense some methods of birth control. These all require special training and/or certification. Public Health Nursing is a varied and rewarding branch of a nursing career for anyone who is interested, according to Short. As with all nursing it is a career that involves continuing education. Short’s last day at work was Friday April 12, due to accumulated holiday time she has and a new nurse will start training in May. Please be aware that service from the health unit will be somewhat limited until the new nurse is fully functioning. In the interim the dedicated health unit staff includes a nurse working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and a clerk who works part time every day. Short had some parting advice for the incoming nurse who will replace her, saying the nurse should “enjoy the job and realize it takes about three years before you feel like you know what you’re doing,” she said, because of all the different training and aspects to the position. “It’ll be a big learning curve but it’ll be fun,” said Short. She will now be tackling the 30 years of projects she has been putting off, visiting grandchildren in Houston and Dawson Creek and taking time to
Contributed
Pat Short is retiring after 37 years as a public health nurse in Fort St. James. Short said she has thoroughly enjoyed her work and wishes to thank all those who have allowed her into their lives to share in the growth and development of individuals and the community. “I think that Fort St James is quite unique in the level of co-operation that all of the service providers have displayed over the years and I want to thank them as well,” said Short. “It has been a great pleasure working with all and I know that the good work that is being done will continue. We are all fortunate to be living here and Fort St. James is known in the area for the way we work together, which branches into all areas.” She said the non-profits in town offer a lot to make this happen. In 1976 Short came to the Fort, while in her twenties and still single. She came from the Nass Valley to work with Health Canada as a Public Health Nurse/Outpost Nurse, a one-nurse position that covered nine reserves and two logging camps from Fraser Lake to Ft. Babine and Takla Landing. At that time Short chartered a plane (usually Ernie Harrison) to fly into three of them and the logging camps (Lovell Cove & Leo Creek), where she would stay for one to three days to do the work there. The work there would include immunization and prenatal care as well as treating or evacuating the sick as a doctor would come only once every three months to the more remote areas. In 1979 Pat married Phil Short and to be closer to home, came in to the provincial health position in Fort St. James when it came available - a onenurse position at the time. This did not include the outpost work of diagnosing and treating, just the public health piece that has evolved and changed significantly over the years. This is one of the many reasons she liked public health nursing so much as it is always changing to Pat Short has been a Public Health nurse in the community for decades. meet the needs of the client - the community. Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier Public health nursing’s primary programs are in health promotion, community development and disease prevention. travel and exercise. Thirty-three years ago Short also did some home care nursing, community care licensing, Note: frequent screening and teaching in the schools as well as the regular programs of prenatal Nursing week is May 6-12. Theme: Nursing, a leading force for change. classes, parenting and normal child growth, development and safety.
Community Minded Human Interest
Courageous Battles
Atheletes
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Featuring the spirit of the local people
Caledonia Courier Wednesday , April 24, 2013
Act locally to make a lasting green impact For inspiration and advice, we present three young B.C. eco-heroes whose community-based environmental actions have (or will potentially have) a global impact. Vancouver’s Claudia Li was inspired to start saving sharks after watching biologist and activist Rob Stewart’s documentary Sharkwater. “That night I couldn’t sleep,” Li says. “The documentary talks how important sharks are for our ocean ecosystem… and how some species are being pushed to the brink of extinction because they’re being overfished to make shark fin soup.” Shark fin soup symbolizes face and respect at dinner banquets, mainly weddings, and is consumed in mainly middle- to higher-class Cantonese style dinners. Li had tasted shark fin soup mere weeks before at her cousin’s banquet and was deeply troubled when she realized that she, her family, and her community were unwittingly participating in this ecological disaster because they didn’t know any better. In response to this, Li began what would become Shark Truth, a grassroots not-for-profit aimed at promoting shark conservation by implementing a cultural perspective shift. “Start with what and who you know,” says Li. “The place where we can make the most powerful impact is within a community we understand.” Shark Truth has raised public awareness and saved the lives of 2800 sharks. Kimberly Gulevich of Fort St. John is an active volunteer at Student Energy, a non-profit organization that is working towards a future of sustainable energy. She came into the public eye as a high school student whose science project on methane capture entitled “Got Gas?” was awarded the 2010 Weston Youth Innovation Award. “There are many ways to help the environment,” Gulevich says. “By starting with small actions yourself, and moving to educating others, a great impact can be had.”… Community groups are a great spot to start – environmental and science and technology groups are good resources.” Gulevich also stresses the importance of networking and connecting with people you know who may be able to help further your initiatives. project or cause. “My project opened my mind to the possibility of environmental engineering as a career path,” says Gulevich. “It also showed me how willing a community is to surround you in a project, and how encouraging youth, and females, in science is important. And it proved that it does not require a lot of technology or capital to implement small scale environmental options.”says Gulevich, who has attended four Canada-wide science fairs, the 2008 Taiwan International Science Fair and the Intel International Science Fair (2010) and who has been on the receiving
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Earth Day Colouring Contest April 22nd
REDUCE RECYCLE REUSE One Prize Winner in Each Age Group Sponsored by the following businesses....
ENTRY FORM
Drop off at Lakeshore Realty, 169 Stuart Drive, Fort St. James
Contestants must bring entry in person Deadline for entries April 25, 4pm
Ages 4-6
Name _______________________________________
Ages 7-9 Ages 10-12
Phone _______________________________________
Celebrate Earth Day April 22 . conserve . reduce . recycle 477 Stuart Drive W.
250-996-8233 end of $50,000 in academic scholarships. Who says being green doesn’t pay? Vancouver’s Veronika Bylicki says that the list of things you can do to help the environment in your community is endless.
“There are so many different levels to work on,” says the 18-year-old. “Whether you want to work hands-on towards local conservation efforts at a bog or you want to make a ban on bottled water at your school…or, if there is
Embrace Earth Day APRIL 22 250-996-8482 newsroom@caledoniacourier.com www.caledoniacourier.com a proposed pipeline in your region, you can mobilize a group of people to rally against it. The possibilities are endless.” Bylicki is the creator of Plan-It Earth, an environmental conference that mobilized over
200 youth to become aware of and engage in issues of urban sustainability. “Never ever feel like you are too small, insignificant or incapable of making a difference,” she says.
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INCLUDES ALL UBC researcher Joanne Schroeder presented some of the findings on children in the Fort St. James area on April 16. You can subscribe online at Schroeder spoke at the Fort St. James Nacaledoniacourier.com or call 250-567-9258 tional Historic Site to a room of nearly 40 people Joanne Schroeder stands in front of the screen at the historic site where she and we will help you set up your e-sub to about the results of tests on children entering kin- spoke about research results for the area on early childhood development. dergarten across B.C. Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier Many aspects of brain development peak at 169 Stuart Drive West, or around the age of three years old, explained at the Lakeshore Realty office Schroeder said the research can now be Schroeder, so this research can be used to look at used to plan programs and to encourage differences across the population to see where inequalities exist, what might be determining them and what can be done to address inequali- people to make the most of the services which exist. ties in early development. While the research does not point finThe test, called the Early Development Instrument (EDI), was degers at particular causes of vulnerabilities veloped in the nineties, the test is used across Canada and internationally to measure vulnerabilities in young children, which means they among young children, Schroeder did The Vital Statistics Agency, Ministry of Health, is looking are at “increased risk of difficulties in the school years and beyond” spend some time asking the audience what for an individual to serve as a Marriage Commissioner for according to the UBC Human Early Learning Partnership website causes might be contributing to these isFort St James. The individual will perform civil marriages sues. (HELP). Everything from electronics and within the community on behalf of the Agency. The test looks at five areas which are considered to be good predictors of adult health, education and social outcomes, and is not used to “screen time” to changes in family and community dynamics were raised as conlook at individual child or teacher performance. For information and an application form While the provincial average is for 30 per cent of those tested to tributing factors. please visit our website at: Schroeder said while it is sometimes show vulnerabilities in one or more area, the School District 91 averwww.vs.gov.bc.ca/marriage age is 33 per cent, only a little above the provincial average, however, assumed the children displaying vulnerFort St. James in particular has the highest rate of children with vulner- abilities are from poor backgrounds, she abilities in the district at 46 per cent. Vanderhoof, alternatively, has the said this is actually not the case and most lowest rate with 26 per cent but other parts of the province, including are from the middle-class. “The responsibility for turning around the Prince George School District, have even higher rates of vulnerthe trend in vulnerability is with all of us,” abilities than Fort St. James. However, Schroeder did say there are some good signs in the data. she said. The latest three years of data has seen a drop in vulnerabilities in the Fort area from 49 per cent to the 46 per cent, and one key area of improvement she called a “huge, statistically significant” decrease in vulnerabilities is in the area of language and cognitive development. In this area, there has been a drop from 35 per cent of those tested being vulnerable, to now just 21 per cent in the latest published results being vulnerable. Emotional maturity was one area she said needs more work, which has actually seen an increase in vulnerability amongst those tested, from 20 per cent to 26 If you have seen a photograph you would like in the per cent in Fort St. James.
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For files appearing before the Fort St. James Provincial Court on April 16. Jarret D. Anatole was sentenced to two days in jail and charged a victim surcharge of $50 twice and two orders of 12 months probation for one count of assault with a weapon and one count of criminal harassment. Shawn E. Carlson was sentenced to 24 days in jail for failure to comply with a probation order. Beatrice A. Joseph was sentenced to six months suspended sentence and six months of probation for theft and one day in jail for failure to comply with condition of undertaking or recognizance. Charles Joseph was fined $1,000 and
prohibited from driving for one year and charged a victim surcharge of $150 for driving without due care and attention.
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