Caledonia Courier, November 26, 2014 by Black Press Media Group

Inside

u Echoes of B.C. P. 3 u Fort singer performs in PG P. 4

u Editorial P. 6 u Community Builder P. 8

Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759

WEDNESDAY, November 26, 2014

NEWS BRIEFS

Nathan Cullen receives parliamentary award Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier

MP for SkeenaBulkey and New Democrat finance critic Nathan Cullen has been declared the Most Knowledgeable Parliamentarian of 2014 by his peers at an event hosted by Maclean’s magazine in Ottawa last Wednesday, Nov. 19. Cullen was chosen out of 308 other Members of Parliament to receive the award. The awards are chosen and voted for by MP’s with each MP casting a vote for any of their colleagues. MP’s may vote within party lines or for MP’s from opposing parties. There are seven categories of awards that MP’s can achieve including best constituency representative, most knowledgable, rising star, hardest working MP, best orator and parliamentarian of the year. “I’m a a bit of a loss for words,” Cullen said of his award. “There are such a lot of amazing MPs in the House; to be singled out in this way by my colleagues is truly an honour.” This is not the first time Cullen has received praise from his political peers, Cullen was named the favourite up-and-coming rookie politician in 2004, the year he was elected.

PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com

VOL. 37 NO. 39 $1.30 inc. GST

Pull Together campaign increases fundraising goal from $250,000 to $300,000 Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier

An organization raising money to help support First Nations legal challenges against Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline has increased its fundraising goal from $250,000 to $300,000 by the end of December. Pull Together, the organization in question, is a grassroots fundraising group originally former in Smithers and Terrace, B.C. in 2014.

DROP THE PUCK: The Endako Enforcers took on Mt. Milligan’s hockey team last Saturday, Oct. 22 in Fraser Lake. The Enforcers beat Mt. Milligan with a finishing score of 13 - 10. A rematch will be held in Fort St. James in the new year.

Photo courtesy of Elaine Storey.

Endako takes on Mt. Milligan The movember ‘staches were out in full force at a packed house last Saturday at the Fraser Lake Arena. Thompson Creek Metals sponsored and brought their two northern mines together for an all-out hockey game to raise money for the Northern BC Friends of Children Society. The Endako Enforcers beat Mt. Milligan 13-10 in a well fought battle that will see a rematch in the new year in Fort St. James with the opposite shifts at each mine. Stay tuned for the next game! A big thank you to the two Thompson Creek Metal facilities for all their hard work in bringing Fraser Lake together for this event and thank you to everyone who came out to support this great cause.

“The Pull Together campaign is driven by people who care and are politically astute. They can see how the future of the country is shaping up and want to be part of it.” Currently there are nine or more First Nations communities involved in legal disputes with Enbridge, and six of those Nations have joined the Pull Together campaign including the Haida Nation which only recently joined as well as the Kitasoo/

Sarrah Nahornoff-Storey

The proposed route that the Northern Gateway pipeline would take from Alberta to its port in Kitimat. Photo via Google Images.

Xai’xais. Gitxaala Heiltsuk, Nadleh Whut’en and Nak’azdli. President of the Haida Nation Peter Lantin said of joining the Pull Together group. “The Pull Together

campaign is driven by people who care and are politically astute. They can see how the future of the country is shaping up and want to be part of it.” The legal claims of

these nations revolve around territorial disputes between First Nation’s communities who are opposed to the pipeline being developed on and through their traditional terri-

tories. First Nations groups are on the forefront of legal claims against Enbridge and cite the fact that according to constitutional law, Canada must consult and accommodate First Nations groups regarding development on their territories. A report conducted by the West Coast Environmental law group states that under constitutional and international law B.C. First Nations have the right to issue bans on oil pipelines in their territories. The Tsilhqot’in decision reached earlier this year in the Williams case, in which the Canadian courts ruled

that the Tsilhqot’in First Nation had legal title rights to their territories, has set precedent for other First Nation’s communities who are disputing the pipeline. Under that ruling the only times that economic development can go forward on First Nation’s territories without their consent is if the Crown can demonstrate the development is substantial and of immediate importance. Pull Together is managed in part by the Sierra Club B.C., an environmental nonprofit organization and the legal defence fund RAVEN Trust of Victoria. Continued on P. 2

NEWS Three Fort businesses Courier

nominated for awards

small business entrepreneurs and the differences they’re making in their communities. National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. For the 2014 awards 470 small businesses 212-269-7797 Three Fort St. James businesses have been were nominated from 55 different communities www.ncadd.org nominated to take part in the 2015 Small Busi- in British Columbia. Child Abuse Prevention Month ness B.C. Awards. Nominations began on Oct. 1 and nominaChild Abuse America Bare Hands Prevent Landscaping & Design, MXV tions and voting remains open until Nov. 30, 312-663-3520 Integrated Health & Fitness as well as local bis- 2014. www.preventchildabuse.org tro the Soup Wallah have been nominated for Ten categories are available for nomination BeaverOnGolfCourseC0804.EPS Jazz Appreciation Month the awards. including best company, best concept, best emNational Museum of American History Bare Hands Smithsonian Landscaping & Design have ployer, best online marketer, best community 202-633-3129 been nominatedwww.smithsonianjazz.org for the category of Best Com- impact, best workplace, best international trade, Hot Retail Co-op Categories munity Impact and Premier’s Peoples Choice Premier’s peoples choice, best immigrant entreBicycles, Accessories and Supplies National Car Care Month award. MXV Integrated Health and Fitness has preneur and best emerging entrepreneur. Lawn and Garden Car Care Council and Snowmobiles been nominated240-333-1088 for the Best Community Impact Nominees Motorcycles that make it to the top five catewww.carcare.org Award and the Soup Wallah has been nominat- gory will faceOutdoor whatFurnishings the awards organization is Recreational Vehicles ed in the category of Premier’s Peoples Choice calling a “Dragons Den-style” panel of judges National Donate Life Month Hot Manufacturer Co-op award. where they will pitch to the judges why they beU.S. Department of Health and Human Services Benjamin Paints 202-619-0257 Mel Chesnutt, one of the owners of Bare lieve they should beMoore awarded the title of best in Camp Healthcare www.organdonor.gov Hands Landscaping & Design commented on B.C. Grasshopper Mowers being nominatedNational saying, Rolex Watch Winners receive a $1,500 cash prize in addiLawn Care Month Whirlpool “It feels awesome and we Landcare are soNetwork grateful for tion to a one year PLANET, Professional allCorporation access pass to Small Busi800-395-2522 the support of Fort St. James. We work hard at ness B.C. education and resources as well as a www.landcarenetwork.org Bare Hands Landscaping and we look forward one-on-one mentorship Section Builderwith Themesadvisors AdBuilder Specialprogram • Financial to growing with the Parkinson community from the awards sponsors. National Awareness for Monthyears so a Garden National Parkinson Foundation, Inc. come.” Sponsoring•• Planning the 2015 awards is the GovernEarth Day 800-327-4545 The Small Business B.C. Awards began in ment of British • EasterColumbia as well as Vancity www.parkinson.org 2003 and are an annual event that recognizes credit union. JESSE COLE

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 Caledonia Courier

Group raising money for First Nation’s legal challenges of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline up fundraising goal to $300,000 by Dec. 31

Month-long Events

Caledonia Courier Alcohol Awareness Month

Continued from P. 1 In the four months that Pull Together has been operational they have managed to raise well over $200,000 with donations coming from regional, provincial, national, global and independent donors. All donations made to the campaign, some of which total over $40,000, are being matched by an independent donor who wishes to remain anon-

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

ManRidingLawnMowerC0804.EPS

Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month ASPCA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 212-876-7700 www.aspca.org

Pull Together smashes fundraising goals

4&6 5&7 16 19–25 19–25 20 22 23

DaffodilsHC0804.EPS ymous. it alone, standing toThe next step in the gether and pooling rebattle to stop the pipe- sources with all British line will involve gath- Columbians ensures ering of evidence to equal access to justice make claims in court and a successful outand Susan Smitten, the come with much more executive director of likelihood of success.” RAVEN says this step The Pull Together can be expensive. campaign is currently “This is an exten- offering training to sive, costly legal pro- community groups and cess. The next stage in- individuals wishing to volves gathering all of help through the Sierra the evidence required Club BC. Those interfor the Nations to make ested in supporting the their cases at court. legal claims can donate While all the Nations and get involved at are committed to going www.pull-together.ca

MomGirlHuggingTreeC0804.EPS

A2 www.caledoniacourier.com

ManPlayingGolfC0804.EPS

District of Fort St. James Calendar November, 2014

SUNDAY

MONDAY

March 2009

Municipal Website: www.fortstjames.ca

WEDNESDAY 1April Fool’s Day 26

May 2009

M T W T F S S M T W T F volunteers S The District is seeking to 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 2015! 9 10participate 11 12 13 14 3 in 4 Winterfest 5 6 7 8 9

16 17 18 19 20 21 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Please contact Mel at 996-8233 23 24 25 26 27 28 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 30 31 24for 25 more 26 27 info. 28 29 30 31

30 5 Palm Sunday 11-4pm Festival of Trees

Dec, 2014

12 Easter

1-4pm Heritage Christmas @ NHS

5:30pm Public Skating

113

Easter Monday

(Australia & Canada) 12pm Strong Start

5:30pm Public Skating

214

12pm Strong Start

4pm Strong Start

2pm Snrs Mtg

7pm Council Mtg

8pm AA Mtg

4 16

429

4pm Kids Skating 5pm Yth Hockey 11-6pm Festival of Trees 6pm Adlt Hockey 7:15pm Pub Skating 7pm Santa Claus Parade 4-9pm Festival of Trees

TaurusStrong Start 2012pm

12pm Strong Start

4pm Strong Start

6pm Snrs Potluck 8pm AA Mtg

22 Earth Day

9am Strong Start

7pm NA Mtg @ NAJC 7-9pm Meditation Classes @ FSJSS

2pm Art Therapy @ Nak Hlth

Mourning Day 28 Workers (Canada)

12pm Strong Start

4pm Strong Start

9am Strong Start

7-9pm Meditation Classes @ FSJSS

4pm Tea Bag Menu @ Nak Hlth

8pm AA Mtg

Retail Friday November 28th • AdBuilder® Classified 7pm from Cottonwood Park• Co-op Sales Ideas

9am Strong Start

Festival of Trees!

(At the National Historic Park)

Call 996-7023 to enter your float!

12pm Strong Start

8pm AA Mtg

Santa Claus Parade!• AdBuilder

AdBuilder.com

4pm Strong Start

13 Last Day for 25 Anzac Day (Australia) 20-25% off Ski Passes! 11:30am Tween 9am Strong Start Book Club @ Lib 4pm Kids Skating 5pm Yth Hockey 6pm Adlt Hockey 7:15pm Public Skating

24 Arbor Day

7pm Council Mtg

7pm NA Mtg @ NAJC

Telephone: 250-996-8233

Administrative 10am Food Bank Professionals Day

6 9am Strong Start 18 10am Language Wrkshp @ HUB 7pm Silent Auction 4pm Kids Skating Social @ Pub 5pm Yth Hockey 6pm Adlt Hockey 7:15pm Public Skating

5 17

7-9pm Free Meditation Classes @ FSJSS

Igniting Your Ad Sales

Office: 477 Stuart Drive West

3 9am Strong Start 28

10am Food Bank

315 Tax Day

9am Strong Start

7pm NA Mtg

2712pm Strong Start

227

SATURDAY

7 8 9 First Day of Passover 11 Good Friday SILENT AUCTION SOCIAL EARLY10BIRD (20-25% OFF) Fundraiser for the Christmas Toy & Food Drive Murray Ridge Season Ski Passes Saturday December 6th Available at the District Office 7:00pm @ North Arm Pub Only until December 12th!

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

Please submit all events by Wednesday for the next Wednesday paper distribution. ofﬁce@fortstjames.ca

S 1 8 15 22 29

TUESDAY

Friday November 28th 4pm - 9pm

PHOTOS with SANTA CLAUS from 4:30pm - 8:30pm Saturday November 29th 11am - 6pm Sunday November 30th 11am - 4pm

Like us at Facebook: District of Fort St. James

Email: office@fortstjames.ca

Caledonia Courier Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Courier

NEWS

Story of early Fort surveyor echoes the history of B.C. get into all these little pockets of B.C.”

“...without somebody like him our whole topography and notion of what the north is would be different.”

ECHOES: Robert “Lucky” Budd has spent the last 14 years digitizing over 2700 hours of audio recordings from the CBC. Portions of those audio recordings, including one on Fort St. James surveyor Forin Campbell, provided the framework for Budd’s two best sellers Voices of British Columbia and Echoes of British Columbia. Photo courtesy of Robert Budd.

JESSE COLE Caledonia Courier

14 years of research, audio transcriptions and hard work has amounted to two books, a radio series on CBC and an uncovered story about the origins of Fort St. James. Echoes of British Columbia by Robert “Lucky” Budd is a compilation of stories and interviews from the history of British Columbia over the number of decades. It includes one about the first non-aboriginal settlers in Fort St. James who helped to map the geography of the area and open up the provinces interior. Budd’s project began in 2000 when the CBC contacted him in regards to digitizing the national audio archives.

Budd is a audio preservationist and his work in audio recording had brought him up on the CBC’s radar and he was conscripted to digitized 2700 hours of audio recordings. “In 2000, the CBC Radio went on a nationwide initiative to have all of their audio archives digitized,” said Budd. “I had just finished my undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria and I had been in a touring rock band. I had this reputation as the guy who records things… So I was somewhat headhunted by the B.C. Archives as the guy who records things and the guy they wanted as their audio preservationist.” It was during his work with the B.C. archives that Budd

stumbled upon the recordings of Imbert Orchard, a radio producer who moved to Prince George (then known as Fort George). Orchard would go on to record interviews with 998 people in northern British Columbia. It was these recordings and interviews that would serve as the basis for his book Voices of British Columbia and its subsequent sequel Echoes of British Columbia. “Imbert Orchard went around British Columbia with a sound technician named Ian Stephens from 1959 to 1966 to record what he called ‘the story of the country.’,” said Budd. “He travelled the entire province by plane, foot, packhorse, mule, boats, etc. to

During that time Orchard interviewed 998 people all of which were either first generation British Columbians or First Nations. In his work decoding the historical recordings, Budd came across the story of one Forin Campbell. “That story really spoke to me,” recalls Budd. “The story is incredible. Forin Campbell, here’s this incredible person who was among the first non-aboriginal

people to come into Fort George. There were two or three other non-aboriginal people and without somebody like him [Campbell] our whole topography and notion of what the north is would be different.” Forin came to the Fort George and eventually the Fort St. James area to be a cartographer and was tasked with mapping out the geography of the northern interior. “His job was to go over every single mountain and find out what was, quote on quote, beyond the next hill,” said Budd. “In doing so he spoke to so many locals and has a perspective on northern B.C. that nobody else would ever have because he was among the first non-aboriginal people in theses places.” Budd said that stories like Campbell’s really get into the “meat and potatoes” of British Columbia’s history. Since publishing his books, Budd has also begun work as a memoirist, taking on jobs from Canadians throughout the country. His works have also been adopted by numerous school boards in British Columbia.

www.caledoniacourier.com A3

Fort St. JameS tV & radio Society AnnuAl GenerAl MeetinG 7pM MondAy deceMber 1, 2014 HigH ScHool library The TV SocieTy iS a non-profiT communiTy VolunTeer organizaTion proViding TeleViSion and radio SerViceS To The region uSing SignalS oVer-The-air receiVed By anTenna. eVeryone Welcome! 10 ft

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NEWS Fort St. James singer rocks Festival of Trees

A4 www.caledoniacourier.com

Courier

Jerusha White, of Fort St. James, played the entertainment stage at the 2014 Prince George Festival of Trees last weekend. Jerusha is currently working on an album in Victoria, B.C. Photo courtesy of YouTube.

JESSE COLE

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 Caledonia Courier

The 2014 festival is not White’s first go-round when it comes to the Festival of Trees. In 2012 White appeared on stage alongside Prince George local Curtis Abriel and former Michael Buble band member Bryant Olender to perform a few of her own songs on the outdoor stage during the festival. At only 20 years old, jazz and soul are not the first genres one would expect to hear from a young singer, but White has a love for artists well above her age bracket. In a 2014 interview with the Prince George Free Press White spoke on her influences as a singer saying, “Celine Dion, Amy Winehouse, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin. Aretha Franklin was one of my favourites growing up.” Adding that while she loves contemporary music like hip hop, she always returns to jazz and R&B. White’s album was initially recorded in between

Vancouver and Edmonton and scheduled for a release in April of 2014, but upon teaming up with Stearns the release was delayed. White is currently finishing her album in Victoria.

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Caledonia Courier

Fort St. James up-and-comer Jerusha White graced the entertainment stage of Prince George’s Festival of Trees for a second time at this years festival. White, 20 years old, is a jazz, soul and rhythm and blues singer from Fort St. James who has found her way to success both locally and nationally. White has already released a number of singles and an EP titled Gingerbread Boi which are all available for purchase on iTunes. She is currently working on a new, full length album with acclaimed Canadian producer Morry Stearns. Stearns is a member of the David Foster Band and has worked with artists such as Bryan Adams, Celine Dion and more.

Gov’t eases up on liqour policies JESSE COLE Caledonia Courier

New changes to British Columbia’s liquor laws will provide more convenience and support to citizens and businesses. As of April 1, 2015 grocery stores throughout the province will be able to sell alcohol through a separate, “store-within-a-store” according to a report released by the British Columbia Ministry of Justice. Also on April 1, provincially owned liquor stores will be able to offer refrigeration services and remain open later and on Sundays. Small breweries in the province will also see changes to help support growth and success in the industry by removing barriers that

have been detrimental to small business growth. The changes will be a gradual increase in mark-up rates so that there will no longer exist a “financial” cliff when breweries grow and enter into large production categories. Also starting April 1, 2015 all liquor stores in British Columbia, both provincially owned or independently owned will be required to purchase alcohol for the B.C. Liqour Distribution Branch (BCLDB). All products sold by the BCLDB will be sold at a common, wholesale price and will level the playing field by removing a system that allows some retailers to receive discounts on alcohol products based on which type of alcohol retailer they are.

Prior to this change, independent wine stores were subject to a 30 per cent discount and private liqour stores and rural agency stores were eligible for 16 and 12 per cent discounts respectively. These discounts were based off shelf prices at provincially owned BC Liqour Stores. Suzanna Anton, who is the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said of the changes, “It is our expectation that, starting April 2015, these changes will create a more competitive market for retailers. The changes we’re making to the wholesale price today will enable more competition between retailers to attract British Columbians into their stores and should not force any change in shelf prices.”

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Caledonia Courier Wednesday, November 26, 2014

www.caledoniacourier.com A5

Friday November 28th

Midnight Madness at the

Historic Park November 28th

The Opening of the Festival of Trees Friday 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm Saturday 11:00 am until 6:00 pm Sunday 11:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday night

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AUDIT

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 Caledonia Courier

Editorial Page

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• Column

Liquor changes could push up prices VICTORIA – When the B.C. government announced its latest changes to liquor distribution, the reaction was not what I expected. Private store representatives complained bitterly that the government is allowing further expansion of fridges and “cold rooms” in selected government liquor stores, and longer operating hours that include more Sunday openings. Those hours, along with non-union staff, are the private stores’ big advantages as things stand in B.C.’s hybrid liquor retailing system. The B.C. Government Employees’ Union didn’t seem at all perturbed that staterun stores’ key advantage was also going to be gone effective April 1. That would be preferential wholesale pricing, in which the government’s mo-

nopoly wholesaler sells to them at cost and to private stores at higher rates. How much higher? Liquor Distribution Branch officials were carefully vague on that, and it varies depending on which of the 22 wholesale categories you look at. They released a graph that suggests the average wholesale cost to government stores might be going up 10 to 15 per cent to create a “level playing field” with private stores. That wholesale price difference is the main reason private stores have generally higher retail prices. And the majority of the province’s revenue of nearly $1 billion a year comes from this monopoly wholesale business, where the hidden tax is coyly termed a “mark-up.” When the new, sim-

plified system comes in next spring, a bottle of hard liquor will have a “mark-up” of 124 per cent. That’s right, LDB more than doubles the price with its wholesale

will see a 73 per cent mark-up. Wines are taxed at 89 per cent, with extra luxury tax on premium wines. Beer gets a per-litre tax with ascending rates

Clark acknowledged that the first guiding principle of this overhaul is to keep that government revenue coming. The new BCGEU

Alcohol will soon be available in grocery stores throughout British Columbia.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons author J.D.

liquor tax. And if it’s premium booze, anything valued at more than $21 a litre will get an extra luxury tax on top of that. Coolers and ciders

for small, medium and large breweries. Then of course there is federal and provincial sales tax applied to all of it. Cheers! Premier Christy

Look for us online at : caledoniacourier.com

president, Stephanie Smith, doesn’t sound like your bullhorn-toting socialist of yore. She insists she’s gungho to compete head to head with those pri-

vate interlopers and get back some lost market share, particularly on the high-volume cold beer sales. The union has another ace in the hole. Its current contract stipulates that LDB can’t close stores. In some small towns there are government stores that lose money, particularly since they’ve had more private competition. But at least for the duration of this BCGEU contract, the government retail arm will continue to operate in some places as a perverse social program, subsidizing retail clerk jobs that pay nearly twice what private retail pays. And let’s face it, running a till at a liquor store is not rocket surgery. Private and government store staff have to take the same training, and liquor inspector sting opera-

tions have increased vigilance on ID checks in all stores. With higher wholesale prices applied to government stores, this kind of artificial support will cost more. The only way LDB could maintain it without subsidizing it from the wholesale windfall would be to raise retail prices. The LDB says this new simplified system is “not intended to impact consumer pricing.” Note the careful choice of words. Oh, one last thing. There is another new tax in the works. It will be applied to higher-alcohol beverages, in an effort to reduce adverse health effects. Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Twitter: @tomfletcherbc Email: tfletcher@ blackpress.ca

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Travel

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Travel RV LOT rentals $8.95 a day. 362 days of sunshine, pets, events, classes, entertainment. Reserve by 11/01/2014. www.hemetrvresort.com. Call: 1-800-926-5593

Trades, Technical

Employment Business Opportunities 25 ROOM Imperial Motel for sale in Grand Forks...$789K. Contact andrewsmith1951@shaw.ca (Owner) for more information.

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ELECTRICIAN Houston, BC DH Manufacturing is looking for a F/T Electrician. Candidate needs to be min. 3rd yr, reliable, team player, mechanically inclined, able to work independently on projects. Wage will be negotiable on experience. Email to: dhmnfg@gmail.com GPRC, FAIRVIEW Campus requires a Heavy Equipment Instructor to teach in our Heavy Equipment Program! Please contact Gavin Winter at 780-835-6695 or visit www.gprc.ab.ca/careers for more information.

Services

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Financial Services

Obituaries

THE DISABILITY Tax credit. $1,500 yearly tax credit. $15,000 lump sum refund (on avg). Covers: hip/knee replacements, arthritic joints, COPD. For help applying 1844-453-5372.

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Misc. for Sale

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Merchandise for Sale

Firearms WANTED: FIREARMS. All types wanted, estates, collections, single items, military. We handle all paperwork and transportation. Licensed Dealer. Call 1-866-960-0045 or visit: www.dollars4guns.com

Obituaries

Roy Goodwin It is with great sadness that the family of Roy Goodwin announces his passing on Monday Nov. 17, 2014 at the age of 81 years. Roy was born in Fort Fraser on June 18, 1933 where he lived until he met his wife Jannette. They relocated to Fort St. James in 1954 where they made their home and raised their family. He co-owned and worked at Stuart Lake Lumber for many years until his retirement in 1999. He was an avid outdoorsman and spent many years hunting, river fishing and in his boat on Stuart Lake. Roy was preceded in death by his loving wife Jannette, parents Arthur and Charlotte Goodwin, brother Robert (Janet) Goodwin, sister Bella (Norman) LePoidevin, brother–in-law Victor Gerhardi and brother–in-law Henry Unger. He is survived by his sister Emma Unger, daughters Pam (Andy) Little, Vicki (Bill) Legebokoff son Mike (Angela) Goodwin grandchildren Shannon (Brent) Rosa, Eric Little, Ryan (Ashley), Cody, Shelby Legebokoff, Carla, Dallas, Lane Goodwin great-grandchildren Ridge, Mia Rosa along with numerous other family members. He will be sadly missed, forever loved and never forgotten. Many thanks to Dr. Stent and the staff at Stuart Lake Hospital, Dr. Bashir, Dr. Din, Dr. Lawry, Dr. Singh and the amazing staff in the kidney dialysis unit at the University Hospital of Northern BC. Your kindness will always be appreciated. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or to the Canadian Cancer Society.

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Career Opportunities

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24/7 • anonymous • conﬁdential • in your language

YOUTH AGAINST VIOLENCE LINE

1-800-680-4264

info@youthagainstviolence.com

Stand up. Be heard. Get help.

FORT ST. JAMES AND AREA

BUSINESS DIRECTORY OIL & LUBE

BAM BAM Oil & Lube

Oil

240 Douglas, Fort St. James In the old Fort Diesel Building

CALL

CHANGE AND LUBE “Warranty Approved”

TIRES

778-667-0346

to book you appointment!

NEWSPAPERS Serving Fort St. James and area since 1972 Pam Berger Publisher

Career Opportunities

COLLEGE OF NEW CALEDONIA Fort St. James Campus

Misc. Wanted Private Coin Collector Buying Collections, Accumulations, Olympic Gold & Silver Coins + Chad: 778-281-0030. Local.

250-996-8482

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INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT WORKER REFERENCE NUMBER:

14-137SN

This position provides support to students who have behavioral or cognitive needs including those associated with FASD. Secondary disabilities such as homelessness, drug/alcohol misuse, mental health concerns, and crime related activity may also be issues that students need assistance with. Qualifications include two years’ postsecondary education in a relevant area. Must have three years of relevant work experience and knowledge of First Nations culture. To find out more information about this and other opportunities, and directions on how to apply, please check our website at: www.cnc.bc.ca/Human_Resources/employment.htm Join us. We offer a supportive workplace, great benefits, and competitive salaries. And we have opportunities to grow, both within our college, and within our communities.

CNC - A COMMUNITY FOR LEARNING AND TEACHING THAT CARES, SERVES, AND LEADS

College of New Caledonia B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A • C A N A D A • W W W . C N C . B C . C A

Serving Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Fort Fraser and Fraser Lake

Pam Berger Publisher 150 W. Columbia St Box 1007, Vanderhoof BC V0J 3A0

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ADvertiser STUART NECHAKO

Reaching Every Door

Serving Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Fort Fraser and Fraser Lake

Pam Berger Publisher 150 W. Columbia St Box 1007, Vanderhoof BC V0J 3A0

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A8 www.caledoniacourier.com

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 Caledonia Courier

ty Build i n u er mm Pioneers

Courageous Battles

Athletes

Achieving

Brought to you by your MLA John Rustad

Human Interest

Serving the community of Fort St. James

Featuring the spirit of the local people

Jasmine Lakusta has a heart three sizes too large JESSE COLE Caledonia Courier

As I sit down to write this community builder I am reminded of the classic Dr. Seuss christmas story How the Grinch Stole Christmas. What jogs my memory about this particular christmas story is the portion in which the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes too large. Jasmine Lakusta knows all about hav-

ing a big heart. The humble owner of Beauty by Vengeance in Fort St. James is a dedicated humanitarian who spends her time doing volunteer and charity work as locally as her involvement in the Toy and Food Drive and as globally as her work in Nigeria providing wheelchairs for polio patients. A native of Quesnel, B.C., Lakusta has lived in Fort St. James for the last 14 years after moving north from Vancouver. Lakusta’s passion for charity began with her involvement in Rotary International, “In 2007 I started with Rotary Interna-

tional… I had gone on a humanitarian trip to Nigeria through them for polio vaccinations. That was the first major thing in this town that I did.” Lakusta raised $5,000 for her mission to Nigeria during a time when Fort St. James was economically challenged and many were struggling just to get by. “I did quite a bit of fundraising in about three weeks. It was a time when our community was really hit hard economically with mills shutting down. People donated about $5,000 in two weeks to support a third world country and buy wheelchairs for polio survivors.” Lakusta says that kind of generosity makes up the fabric of Fort St. James. “I love this community, it’s amazing, the community spirit here,” she said. Adding that even in tough economic times the town still came together to raise money to help people. It was her experience both with Fort St. James and Nigeria that inspired Lakusta to get involved locally as well as globally.

ation Christmas Child, and the Toy and Food Drive. Lakusta took over the Toy and Food Drive after the previous organizers left town and has been organizing it in conjunction with a handful of other people for the last four years. She says that during her first year running the program was very

“ It’s a passion...

I think no matter what your circumstances are you can always help somebody else, Jasmine Lakusta is the owner of Beauty by Vengeance in Fort St. James and an active member in the communities charitable scene. Photo by Jesse Cole.

“When I came back from Nigeria I was really overwhelmed by how awesome our community was and I thought it would be

good to get into local things, too,” said Lakusta. Since then Lakusta has been involved in a plethora of activi-

ties throughout Fort St. James including working with the Humane Society, the (now defunct) Rotary, Calenders for a Cause, Oper-

chaotic and she’s been working on streamlining the program so that if she is unable to be involved those who inherit the benefit will have an easier time. “What I’ve been

working on this last year has been putting together a hard drive of everything you need to run the Toy and Food drive,” Lakusta said. “So if something were to happen to me there is a plan for it so nobodies going into it blind.”

In addition to her humanitarian work Lakusta also owns and operates her own business. The sheer magnitude of energy it takes to run ones own business is exhausting but to add philanthropic work on top of it is enough to make anyones stress level shoot through the roof. But Lakusta finds inspiration and energy for her work from the world around her. “It’s a passion. I feel so fortunate for where we live and all of the things that are provided for us. I think no matter what your circumstances are you can always help somebody else,” she said. “If you can change one persons day or life, that’s what life is about for me.” She adds that its not always a grand gesture needed to make a difference but the little things that often help the most.

John Rustad, MLA Nechako Lakes

Box 421 183 First Street, Vanderhoof Tel: 250-567-6820 Fax: 250-567-6822

Toll Free: 1-877-964-5650 Email: john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca Website: www.johnrustadmla.bc.ca