Creston Valley Advance, January 01, 2015 by Black Press Media Group

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Thursday, January 1, 2015

2014 in REVIEW

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The Creston-Kootenay Foundation recently announced that it awarded a $500 bursary to Jung Eun Lee (pictured above with Creston-Kootenay Foundation youth advisor Julie Ewashen) at June’s Prince Charles Secondary School graduation ceremony. She hails from Korea and is now attending the University of Calgary, with the goal of becoming an architect. The local foundation manages the funds for the bursary, of which $12,000 was raised from 2004-2009 by Creston Valley youth, and matched by the Vancouver Foundation. 250.866.5155, 5566 Hwy 3A

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Creston Valley Advance Thursday, January 1, 2015

2014 in Review

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 3

Big projects part of town’s year BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

It was a busy year for the Town of Creston, and not only because a municipal election was scheduled for November (it turned out that only two incumbents, Mayor Ron Toyota and Coun. Joanna Wilson, would run for re-election). Infrastructure got a big boost and a number of initiatives in which the town either led or partnered came to fruition. •In the late spring, the live video that appears on the Town of Creston website was improved, thanks to Kitt Santano’s Swift Internet, whose cameras now provide the images that can be seen by website visitors from around the world. •For much of the latter half of 2014, the town seemed to be full of Telus employees and contract workers as a fibre optic program was rolled out through and around the town. More than 90 per cent of homes, businesses and organizations now have access to high speed Internet connections, including Optic TV, that allow them to operate locally and compete globally. •In the spring, about 200 people gathered for three days to participate in the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments conference and annual general meeting. Visitors offered rave reviews about the meeting site, the Creston and District Community Complex, and the hospitality they were offered by organizers. •Results of a November 2013 citizen satisfaction survey were released. Nearly 40 per cent of those receiving the survey responded, and results were generally very positive, and showed significant improvement over the 2009 survey. •Parking in the downtown area has been free for a few years, but it became closer to a permanent situation when the meters were removed from the Canyon Street parking areas. In their place, vertical stickers announce a free two-hour parking policy. Coun. Jerry Schmalz campaigned for removal of the posts, but they were left in place to provide guidelines for each parking space, hopefully to maintain most efficient use of the spaces. •A $25 rebate was offered to the first 200 residents who purchased backyard compost bins. •Considerable controversy arose when construction work along Erickson Road left the road surface in a rough and dusty condition for several long weeks in the summer. New storm sewer pipes were laid in preparation for the

provincial government’s repaving of the entire length of Erickson Road, from Highway 21 to Highway 3. The road’s maintenance over the years had languished because the town border runs through its centre. However, a planned land swap agreement was enough to allow the paving to proceed, at the expense of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Paving also was done by Okanagan Aggregates Ltd. on Highway 3 near Kootenay Pass and on Highway 21 from Highway 3 to Lower Kootenay under the same contract. •The planned realignment of the Pine Street-Railway Boulevard intersection at Northwest Boulevard was delayed when the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure construction tender request went without attracting interest from contractors. The bid was put out again, though, and a contract was awarded. Construction will start in the spring of 2015. The intersection is part of a longerterm plan to move Highway 3 to Cook

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If you missed the publication of any of these items, find this story at www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca/news for links to the full stories.

Street in the downtown core. •The area south of Cook Street was busy construction-wise in 2014. A paved trails system was completed and a dog park was fenced off so local pet owners have a place to let their dogs run off leash. •The physician recruitment plan continues to pay off. In September, Dr. Eleanor Huettmayer and her husband, Phillip Curran (a pharmacist) arrived. In November, it was announced that Dr. Jeremy Kass will be taking up residence with his wife in January. •Who’s your mayor? Incumbent Mayor Ron Toyota easily outdistanced four opponents to win his third consecutive election. Coun. Joanna Wilson, the only incumbent, was returned for a fourth term. Accountant Kevin Boehmer topped the polls in the Town Council race and will be joined by retired insurance man Jim Elford, Karen Unruh (a former councillor in Fort St. John), Creston Valley Farmers’ Market manager Jen Comer and former mayor and councillor Joe Snopek. The town election marked the first ever use of a vote counting machine, which provided complete results in record time.

Former councillor Tanya Wall took over the Regional District of Central Kootenay Area B directorship from the retiring John Kettle by handily defeating her opponent. Directors Larry Binks (Area C) and Garry Jackman (Area A) were returned to their positions by acclamation. Heather Suttie became the Creston representative on the School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) board of education and Rebecca Huscroft and Cody Beebe were elected to represent the South Rural zone. •Firefighting was a big subject throughout much of the Creston Valley, as fire protection was added to the Arrow Creek area and West Creston passed a referendum to get certified fire protection for the first time. Much of the Creston Valley is now covered under a mutual aid agreement provided by Creston Fire Rescue and fire departments in CanyonLister and Wynndel-Lakeview. The valley seems to be moving toward a single firefighting service that will make it easier to attract and maintain volunteer firefighters. Also in 2014, Creston Fire Rescue instituted a training program that brings prospective firefighters to town for a year of practicum experience. The first five students arrived earlier in the fall. •The largest infrastructure program in recent years was completed this summer when more than $7 million in upgrades were made to the waste water treatment plant. A number of environmental benefits will result, not least the saving of nearly $40,000 in annual energy costs. •A series of Cultivating Creston action planning workshops were held at Kootenay Employment Services. Workshop participants identified priorities to improve life in the town and Creston Valley. •A new sign bylaw was drafted after a round of consultation with business operators. A number of amendments were made before it was passed by town council in December. •The talk of the town in December turned to the subject of happiness, with residents being invited to take a survey about their quality of life and level of happiness. Part of a global project, the local effort was led by the Creston and District Community Directed Funds Committee. •Once again, Toyota has organized a snow-clearing program for seniors who are unable to clear their sidewalks of snow. He has again recruited the help of Creston Valley Thunder Cats players to come to the rescue.

Stories worth a second look

For each month of 2014, Advance publisher Lorne Eckersley and editor Brian Lawrence selected stories that they want to be sure readers didn’t miss. All can be found by browsing www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca/news or using the simplified URLs that follow each. January: “BC Wildlife Federation names Creston Valley’s Guy Hobbs artist of the year” (tinyurl.com/lkpu8ak). February: “Creston doctors locked out of Osprey Medical Clinic” (tinyurl. com/kojjkt3); “Creston’s Ricky’s All Day Grill earns company’s Rising Star Award” (tinyurl.com/l9lae2p). March: “Creston Grade 10 students complete swimming program sponsored by aquatic society” (tinyurl.com/ qclmtz6); “Creston town council decides to drop daylight time issue” (tinyurl. com/olgns4z). April: “Strong season for Creston Valley Thunder Cats led to ‘unbelievable’ second-round playoff win” (tinyurl.com/ kwrpvcj); “Creston Valley farmers unhap-

py with Agricultural Land Reserve changes” (tinyurl.com/n4b2nta); “Creston couple grateful and optimistic despite cancer battle” (tinyurl.com/llaxmxs). May: “Retired Creston firefighter honoured after 49 years of service” (tinyurl.com/mbkuzhg); “Creston Valley students preparing for fourth annual youth powwow” (tinyurl.com/ nyowanl); “Creston golfer places second in world and Australian blind championships” (tinyurl.com/p42llvu). June: “Trail connecting Erickson, Creston and Wynndel named a priority by Community Conversations participants” (tinyurl.com/nrdjey5); “Canoe trek brings Lower Kootenay Band members back to former village location on Idaho-B.C. border” (tinyurl.com/p94aoq4). July: “Lower Kootenay Band member maintaining heritage with sturgeonnosed canoe” (tinyurl.com/qcu6o8s). August: “Public piano destined for Canyon Street Walkthrough in down-

town Creston” (tinyurl.com/oohvukk). September: “Creston Valley author wins award for Christian romance novel” (tinyurl.com/mqbtk9h); “Erickson’s Tabletree supplying cherry juice to the Edmonton Eskimos” (tinyurl.com/ qyf58xf). October: “Two Bountiful leaders appear in Creston court on polygamy charges” (tinyurl.com/q3e4rm6); “Cresteramics and Creston Valley Farmers’ Market unveil murals” (tinyurl.com/lzh3vnl). November: “Play by Adam Robertson Elementary School teacher helps Creston students remember” (tinyurl.com/ k77b4rq); “Election 2014: Creston Mayor Ron Toyota re-elected to third term” (tinyurl.com/mvlffs2); “Jason Louie wins second term as Lower Kootenay Band chief” (tinyurl.com/k45wdws). December: “Town of Creston, Lower Kootenay Band councils join for inauguration” (tinyurl.com/p7vfo8o).

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2014 in Review

4 www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca Advance editor Brian Lawrence compiled this brief look back at some of the goings on in the Creston Valley over the last 12 months.

artist of the year for All He Surveys, a close-up depiction of a bald eagle. His work was selected by a jury from three finalists in a field narrowed down from more than 30 submissions. •The Nature Conservancy of Canada purchased 150 hectares to 9 — About 20 business people allow for the safer passage of grizand concerned citizens visited the zly bears through the Selkirk and Creston RCMP detachment on Purcell mountains. One of the two Jan. 6 to discuss reactivating parcels purchased was a Wynndel Citizens on Patrol, which disband- Box and Lumber property adjacent ed quietly in 2013. At least 18 to the Creston Valley Wildlife businesses, churches and homes Management Area. were broken into over the holiday •The arrest of a male suspected season, after which a group of citi- of being behind the rash of breakzens began to conduct informal ins didn’t completely end the robearly morning security rounds. beries. RCMP Staff Sgt. Bob Gollan •CBC’s Arctic Air returned for a said that one more break-in had third season on Jan. 7, starring been reported after Briaden Rosch Prince Charles Secondary School was arrested on Jan. 7. Police susgraduate Pascale Hutton, who pected that Rosch was working remained firmly grounded despite with an accomplice. her success. •Property assessment changed “Anytime I go back to Creston or little from the previous year, with even up the lake, I always feel that a Creston home valued at $267,000 the community that I was part of in 2013 valued slightly higher at when I was growing up ... really $272,000 in 2014. supported me and informed where 23 — Town council approved an I’m at now,” she said. application by property owner Chaplin West Ventures Ltd. for the construction of 85 seniors apartments on the site of the “bunker” at the intersection of If you missed the publication of any Northwest Boulevard and of these items, find this story at Vancouver Street. www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca/news 30 — Certified fire protecfor links to the full stories. tion for West Creston appeared to be a step closer, with a majority of property •Regional District of Central owners, representing more than Kootenay Area C director Larry half of the land in West Creston, Binks was surprised by the bitter- in favour of a petition for a taxaness that arose from his efforts to tion bylaw. establish certified fire protection • Vance Markus Nevalainen in West Creston. He arranged for became the Creston Valley’s first a two-week extension for a peti- baby born in 2014 when he made tion due to the RDCK office being his way into the world at 8:40 p.m. closed for much the holiday sea- Jan. 14. Delivered at home by a son, which, he said, “created a midwife and weighing seven real storm.” pounds, seven ounces, Vance was a 16 — At the Jan. 7 Creston little brother for two-and-a-halfValley services committee meet- year-old Brooke, and a son for paring, Creston Mayor Ron Toyota ents, Karla and Bob. introduced a motion to put the •Weeks after being named artdaylight time issue on the Nov. 15 ist of the year by the BC Wildlife municipal election ballots, argu- Federation, Guy Hobbs was added ing that voters should have the to the Ducks Unlimited Canada right to make the choice. Regional roster of artists. Winter ’s Wolf District of Central Kootenay Area (acrylic and coloured pencil) was A director Garry Jackman argued one of 15 artworks selected from that the town “hasn’t done its more than 3,000 entries to become homework” to show why there limited edition prints to raise should be a vote. funds for DUC habitat conserva•Artist Guy Hobbs was named tion projects, research, education the BC Wildlife Federation 2014 and public policy works.

January

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Thursday, January 1, 2015 Creston Valley Advance

February

6 — Patients with appointments at the Osprey Medical Clinic got a rude surprise when they got a phone call saying the clinic had closed Jan. 31. “We were unable to reach an agreement with the doctors that would make this a selfsustaining business,” said Ken Gadicke, who owned Osprey Medical Clinic in partnership with his former accounting firm partner, Rick Minichiello. A message distributed to patients by Drs. Raphael Elemuo, Tara Guthrie and Suzanne Hopkins wasn’t quite so diplomatic: “The owners of Osprey Medical Clinic breached our contracts in January of this year. In response to our request that they honour the terms of our contract, they have locked us out and closed the clinic without notice.” •After Creston’s only remaining video rental store, Video Express, closed in 2013, Shane Gilmour started his own rental service, Video Fix, housed in a big red box now outside Overwaitea Foods. The machine is stocked with movies on DVD and Blu-ray, and include current hits and older films. 13 — More than 500 people attended the Children’s Winter Festival at Rotacrest Hall on Feb. 8, hosted by several community organizations on the Family Day long weekend. Among the activities were a Play-Doh table, painting and balloon shaving, as well as a new ice castle built by B-Boys Construction. •A few months shy of two years old, Ricky’s All Day Grill has earned the company’s 2013 Rising Star Award, presented annually to the franchisee that has shown the most improvement over the year. Creston’s Ricky’s is one of about 20 in the South Alberta District, and the award is based on a variety of criteria, not the least of which is customer feedback, which was growing steadily more positive, particularly since kitchen manager Brad Sutherland arrived in November 2012, bringing experience and familiarity for customers. 20 — Nearly three weeks after they were locked out of the Osprey Medical Clinic, Drs. Tara Guthrie, Raphael Elemuo and Suzanne Hopkins were once again seeing their patients on Feb. 17, having moved into temporary offices in the Family Practice Associates Clinic.

Lorne Eckersley

Drs. Suzanne Hopkins, Raphael Elemuo and Tara Guthrie found themselves locked out of the Osprey Medical Clinic on Feb. 3.

Brian Lawrence

Over 500 people attended the Children’s Winter Festival at Rotacrest Hall on Feb. 5.

•After just over 100 years in business, Wynndel Box and Lumber rebranded as Wynnwood, CEO Michael Combs announced to employees on Feb. 14. “It’s been a long time coming,

but I think I can honestly say today that we have saved the mill,” he said. “All of us here today have saved the mill.” 27 — Owners Ken Gadicke and Rick Minichiello said they established Osprey Medical

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2014 in Review

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, January 1, 2015 Clinic to respond to a community need. “We kept hearing that one of the challenges of recruiting doctors was the lack of clinic space,” said Gadicke, an active member of Creston’s last economic development initiative. “There was no room at Family Practice or other clinics and most doctors don’t want to set up on their own. We saw Osprey first and foremost as a community development opportunity, and if it made a little profit eventually, that would be great.” •The Creston Judo Club’s Kaeden Rendek was one of 12 Kootenay Zone judokas competing in the BC Games, coming home with a gold medal. The 13-year-old competed against nine others in his class, U16, which meant that some were nearly three years older, and others were blue belts, one higher than Rendek’s green. •A rockslide on Highway 3A around 9 p.m. Feb. 20 about 35 kilometres north of Creston near Twin Bays, closed Highway 3A in both directions. Although the road was expected to be cleared by mid-Feb. 22, several large boulders had to be broken up with a hydraulic rock hammer, preventing an opening until Feb. 23. •The Creston Valley Thunder Cats ended the regular season on Feb. 22, beating the Columbia Valley Rockies 4-1. They had secured the top spot in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Eddie Mountain Division a few weeks earlier, and finished the season with a record 80 points.

March

10 — Kootenay East Regional Hospital District chair John Kettle said taxpayers wouldn’t be seeing a tax increase in funding for capital health projects in 2014. The hospital district’s annual budget is $8.74 million, two-thirds of which would go toward the intensive care unit project at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook. •The Creston Valley Thunder Cats shut the Columbia Valley Rockies out of the first round of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Eddie Mountain Division playoffs, defeating the Rockies in four consecutive games. 17 — After a months-long controversy about a petition to

extend fire protection to West Creston residents, the final decision would be determined by referendum in November. A slight majority of property owners signed the petition to initiate certified fire protection, but the slim margin triggered concern. After consulting with Regional District of Central Kootenay management, Area C director Larry Binks said a concern arose that the province could reject the petition results because the numbers were so close. •From January to March more than 120 Prince Charles Secondary School students took part in the first year of a swimming program at the Creston and District Community Complex. Sponsored by the donation from the Creston Valley Aquatic Society, the Energetic Campus Initiative was directed at Grade 10 students. The program cost $2,700 this year and enough was donated to allow it to run for seven more. 20 — For the first time since the Creston Valley Thunder Cats took to the ice in 2000, the team became the Eddie Mountain Division champions after defeating the Kimberley Dynamiters in round 2’s game 7, which swung from Creston being down 4-1 to winning 5-4. •Cara Waddle proved that the third time really is the charm when she placed first in the March 13 finals of Creston’s Best Singer after competing in 2011 and 2012. Waddle competed against Taya Blackmore, Tamara Leavitt, Kyran Grant and Erin Collison, who faced off after judges named them the top five out of 20 singers. •The Creston RCMP detachment regained use of the police station basement at the end of the month after all Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBET) were reorganized into a federal service organized crime unit. The Creston IBET office that occupied the space included three RCMP constables, a Canadian Border Services Agency member and a half-time clerical worker. 27 —Prolific offender Jason Beaudry was arrested in Kelowna a week earlier, his arrest made on a warrant obtained because he did not return to Creston as planned. When Beaudry missed a scheduled probation appointment in Creston, Kelowna RCMP acted quickly. •The popular CBC drama Arctic Air, starring Prince Charles Secondary School grad Pascale Hutton, was one of several tele-

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Creston Valley farmers gathered outside the Creston and District Community Complex on April 11 to protest changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve.

vision shows that fell victim to the public network’s loss of lucrative NHL hockey rights. “It was a surprise and it wasn’t a surprise,” she said, “because the series has been doing well but CBC losing Hockey Night in Canada has a huge financial impact.”

April

3 — The daylight time controversy died without a chance for the public to vote on the issue. Coun. Judy Gadicke, the main proponent in taking the issue to referendum, made a motion at the March 25 council meeting to remove it from the town’s action plan. She conceded defeat after being informed by Mayor Ron Toyota that there was no chance local Regional District of Central Kootenay directors would support a referendum. •Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall said changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) threatened the province’s food security and did nothing to help farmers to keep producing food. “The ALR has been one zone for the very reason of protecting agricultural land across the province — we really don’t have a lot of agricultural land,” she said. “Every government until now has protected that land. But the Liberals are solely focused on one industry (development of liquid natural gas reserves) and they are sacrificing food security for it.” 10 — Support for Bill 24 and changes to the way the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is governed wasn’t evi-

dent at the April 7 Creston Valley Food Action Coalition meeting. “A lot of us who have read the bill really closely are very, very concerned,” said Nadine Ben-Rabha, whose family operates a Lister organic dairy farm. “There has been no public consultation with farmers or the public. This is your farmland as well as the farmers’.” •A report from Supt. Jeff Jones given to the School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) board at the April 1 regular meeting recommended that Homelinks students from kindergarten-Grade 9 move from the Creston Education Centre (CEC) to share existing space at Canyon-Lister Elementary School (CLES), and that students in Grades 10-12 be supported through the Prince Charles Secondary School Learning Centre. •The Creston Valley Thunder Cats’ 2013-2014 record wasn’t simply better than the previous season’s; it was an almost total reversal, with 17 wins and 28 losses becoming 39 wins and 17 losses. “For the guys who did come back from last year, I’m so glad they did. ... They were able to reap the benefits of going through the hard times,” said Hepditch. •A plea bargain on charges stemming from a 2013 home invasion has resulted in 36- and 39-month jail sentences for Brenton Chambers, 21, and Travis Hennessy, 22, who pled guilty in Creston Law Courts to charges of possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition for the home invasion, and of break and entry and assault for the other crime. A total of 11 charges were

laid after the two incidents, but the remaining charges were stayed as part of the guilty plea agreement. 17 — The Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Governments passed a resolution requesting the provincial government to delay passage of Bill 24, requesting “that the provincial government undertake consultation with the public, the UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) and other affected parties, and that Bill 24 not be brought into force until such consultation is complete.” Delegates to the convention passed by a throng of protesters on April 11 before entering the meeting site in Creston. The rally expressed opposition to proposed legislation dividing the province’s agricultural land into two zones, with Creston Valley relegated to Zone 2, joining less productive lands in north and central B.C. •More than 200 delegates and guests drove into Creston April 9 to take part in the three-day Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Governments annual conference, with most of the meetings and events held at Creston and District Community Complex. The weekend included agricultural tours, meetings and presentations, highlighted by keynote speaker and former member of Parliament Stockwell Day. 24 — After months of having to keep quiet about the news, Creston town council announced that Telus was installing a fibre optic network to serve at least 90 per cent of town residences and businesses, and possibly spill over to some areas east and west of town.

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Thursday, January 1, 2015 Creston Valley Advance

P.O. Box 1279 • 1018 Canyon St. • Creston, B.C. • V0B 1G0 Phone: 250-428-2266 • Fax: 1-250-483-1909 www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca Published Thursdays except statutory holidays Alex O. Carruthers, Founder All rights reserved. Contents copyright by the Creston Valley Advance. Any reproduction of material contained in this publication in whole or in part is forbidden without the expressed written consent of the Publisher. Copyright in letters and other materials submitted to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. It is agreed that The Creston Valley Advance will not be responsible for errors or omissions and is not liable for any amount exceeding the cost of the space used and then only such portion where the errors actually appeared. We reserve the right to edit or reject any submission or advertisement that is contrary to our Publishing guideline.

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CONTACT US Publisher Lorne Eckersley Ext. 206, publisher@crestonvalleyadvance.ca Editor Brian Lawrence Ext. 203, editor@crestonvalleyadvance.ca Sales Co-ordinator Anita Horton Ext. 205, sales@crestonvalleyadvance.ca Circulation/Office Manager Dianne Audette Ext. 200, office@crestonvalleyadvance.ca Production Department production@crestonvalleyadvance.ca

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Letters to opinion line are welcome on any topic of local or general interest. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers; publication does not imply endorsement by this newspaper. Letters should be either e-mailed, double-spaced and typewritten or legibly handwritten, and generally not exceed 500 words. Letters will be edited in the interests of style, clarity, legality, brevity and taste, as necessary. The Advance reserves the right to refuse publication of any submission. All letters must be signed and include place of residence and telephone number. E-mail letters to editor@crestonvalleyadvance.ca; drop them off at, or mail them to P.O. Box 1279, 1018 Canyon St., Creston, B.C., V0B 1G0.

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Out with the old

Wouldn’t it be nice to flip the ing in his life that would indicate calendar to a new year and think he is prepared to run the country. that maybe, just maybe, 2015 To do so would mean he would be would be better provincially and overwhelmingly successful in federally when it comes to politics Quebec and Ontario, because the and government? Don’t hold your likelihood he is going to get supbreath. port from the west is slim. On the federal scene I think it’s fairly certain that a majority can be pleased with the systematic destruction of our democratic institutions, the secrecy and autonomy under which the prime minister operates and the utter lack of foresight when Lorne Eckersley it comes to encouraging an economy that isn’t completely reliant on foreign investProvincially, Premier Clark ment, global corporations and doesn’t face an election, which petroleum development. It is also could be why she continues to entirely possible that the scheduled make Dumb and Dumber look federal election (remember who smart. How else to explain her put the fixed election date in place wholesale sellout of the environso that governments couldn’t ment and economy to the liquid manipulate election timing?) will natural gas industry, also known be moved ahead to avoid the as fracking? What I love about Conservatives having to face the supporters of this filthy industry is court cases faced by ex-senators that they seem to think there are like Mike Duffy. two different planets — the surface Given those, and other black and belowground. We haven’t marks, I continually hear supporteven begun to understand the devers of other parties talking like it is astation that is being caused by a given that the dislike for Harper pumping water and chemicals will result in the defeat of the deep into the ground to force the Conservative government. Who do gas out, but it is patently obvious you think is going to beat them? that, earthquakes aside, that poiThat’s the question I ask, because I soning water never was, isn’t and can’t foresee Thomas Mulcaire or never will be a sane idea. Justin Trudeau becoming national People in the Kootenays should leaders. Mulcaire has the political be particularly wary of the recent savvy but it seems like too great a approval to construct the Site C leap to think that Canadians are dam, with many still able to going to entrust the national govremember what happens when rivernment — and economy — to the ers are dammed to create reserNew Democrats. And Trudeau voirs. Goodbye arable land, goodmight be smart and young and bye residents, look out fish and handsome, but he has done nothwildlife. More importantly, Site C

This is the Life

power is needed so that companies — mostly non-Canadian I suspect — can get that vaunted liquid gas out of the ground. And then deliver it by pipeline (another brilliant idea) so that it can be loaded onto tankers and shipped (the final stage in this trifecta of stupidity) to other countries. Surely, you might be saying, that there will at least be political opposition to the plan for LNG development. Not from NDP leader John Horgan who, curiously, said, “You can’t be against everything.” Hilariously, he seems to be sort of, but not adamantly, against Site C. So here in our province we have an Opposition leader who doesn’t like to be too opposition-y and federally we have leaders who don’t mind opposing, but lack the credibility and experience to be effective. Personally, I am glad that my work gives me close looks at local governments, because at the very least I find occasional moments where sanity reigns. Even the regional district, which I have described as a system designed to fail, makes decisions close enough to home that interested citizens can bend the ear of their directors. Once we send people off to governments in Victoria and Ottawa, it’s game over, though. The interest of the people is secondary to that of big business, and resource exploitation is promoted like it’s the last of this year’s vehicles — buy now before the next big thing comes along. 2015: Out with the old, in with the older. Lorne Eckersley is the publisher of the Creston Valley Advance.

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, January 1, 2015

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(6:00) Juicebox ’ Canada Weekend Marilyn Denis Children etalk ’ Written The So Gas Gas KOMO 4 News Good Morning KOMO 4 News Hanna Ocean Explore Rescue Wildlife Outback (6:00) Today (N) ’ Astrob Chica Tree Fu Lazy Poppy Noodle High School Football CBS This Morning KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Recipe Innova Dr. Chris Lucas Oil Off Road College Basketball Morning News Morning News News News High School Football SportsCentre SportsCentre NFL Countdown (N) (Live) Å SportsCentre (N) SportsCentre (N) Sportsnet Central Sportsnet Central Sportsnet Central Curling BC Provincial Championships. (N) (Live) Å Ances Fishful Saturday Morning News (N) Å Fish’n Fishing Boat TV Driving Shrinks Rob Ro Kate and PAW Curious Arthur Magic Doki Ad Wild Wild Maker Martha Monster Busy Animal Super Artzooka Cross Our Vancouver Absolutely Doc Zone ’ Paid Paid Icons Live Life Planet Space FA Cup Soccer Teams TBA. (N) ’ (Live) Paid Smerconish (N) CNN Newsroom CNN Newsroom CNN Newsroom CNN Newsroom CNN Newsroom Auction Auction Auction Auction Auction ›› “2 Fast 2 Furious” (’03) Paul Walker. ’ › “Babylon A.D.” Hunters Hunters Hunters Hunters Hunters Hunters House Hunters House Hunters House Hunters Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ ›› “XXX: State of the Union” (’05) Storage Storage “I Think I Do” (’13) Mia Kirshner. Å Will Will Will Will Will Will Will Mamma Sidekick Sidekick Squirrel Nerds Chucks Sponge. Sponge. Parents Rabbids Bread Turtles Sanjay CBC News Now CBC News Now With Andrew Nichols From Toronto. (N) Å CBC News Now Paid Paid › “Wrath of the Titans” (’12) ’ Å ›› “Total Recall” (’12) Colin Farrell. ’ Å Wrath Vegas Rat Rods Vegas Rat Rods Vegas Rat Rods Gunslingers (N) Gunslingers (N) Gunslingers (N) Princess Princess Princess Princess Princess Dating Rituals Dating Rituals Dating Rituals Dating Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme My 600-Lb. Life ’ My 600-Lb. Life ’ My 600-Lb. Life ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Matt Alien Looney Legends Tom/ Adven Annoying Dragons ›› “Barnyard” (’06, Comedy) Å Wingin’ It Slug Wizards Gravity ANT Good Austin I Didn’t Dog Jessie Liv-Mad. Girl On Spot Coolest P. Affairs Atl. Eats Office Paid ›› “17 Again” (’09) Zac Efron. “Head of State” Just for Laughs Cash Cash Match Match Just for Laughs Seinfeld Seinfeld Big Bang Big Bang Chopped Canada Chopped Canada Chopped Canada Chopped Canada Chopped Canada Chopped ’ Å Paid Paid Paid Paid Paid Paid Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Paid Paid The Curse of The Curse of The Curse of The Curse of The Curse of Stargate SG-1 ’ Panic Button ’ Stargate SG-1 ’ Town Town Face Off ’ Å Doctor Who Å Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman ››› “Joe Kidd” Live Paid Bord. Bord. Bord. Bord. Bord. Bord. Border Border Border Border (4:00) CTV News Weekend ’ Å CTV News Weekend ’ Å Octo Mike Truck Zack Little Dora Big Toopy Caillou Cat in Babar Ready, Weekend Morning News Reid Fiest and Bindu Suri. (N) Fish’n Fishing Boat TV Driving Moves Moves Ultimate Restor Woodwr’t Michigan Michigan Crafts Antique Roadshow British Baking Cooking Cook Words Interfaith Believe Gurbani Watno Dur ’ Punjab Mehak Punjabi Lamia Virasat Quran Monsieur Max, Rby Arthur Schtrou Animo Erky Spirou Magi Tintin Motel Oniva Ricardo Saturday Morning News The news with Kent Morrison. (N) Fish’n Fishing Boat TV Driving Moves Collec VideoFlow Å Movie Movie Movie Events ›› “The Man in the Iron Mask” (’98) (:45) ›› “The ’Burbs” (’89) Å ››› “The Family Man” Rachel, la star Cobayes Pouvoirs-corps humain La légende de Versailles Salles de Pass Tm Pass Tm Dangerous Drives Stunt Stunt NASCAR Racing NASCAR Racing NASCAR Racing

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