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◆ Year End Revue July, Aug P. 2, 5 ◆ Year End Revue Sept, Oct P. 5, 6 ◆ Year End Revue Nov, Dec P. 6, 8 ◆ Minor Hockey P. 3, 4
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WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2015
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Peek inside real-world healthcare REBECCA WATSON Omineca Express
Behind-the-scene hospital areas are not usually places the public is allowed to go, but Project Health has given some dedicated students a rare chance. “At one point the doctor brought out pigs feet for us to stitch. I liked it being hands on since I want to become a surgeon,” said Catherine Stier, Gr 11 at Nechako Valley Secondary School. Project Healthcare is sponsored by the School District No. 91 career and trades program in partnership with UNBC and Northern Health. Last month 24 students from Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Burns Lake and Fraser Lake enjoyed the freedom of touring various healthcare roles such as home support and recreational therapy to pharmacy and housekeeping. Participants ventured over two days to an array of stations at St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof and UNBC’s GeneSkool lab in Prince George (PG). Multiple interactive presentations with hands-on activity’s were given by nurses, dieticians, surgeons and X-ray technicians to name a few. “It was very educational and allowed me to find out what I like and don’t like. I really
Photo by Rebecca Watson
PHARMACY: Filling Vitamin K injections used primarily for newborns are Jean Johnson, pharmacy technician, Jamie George Gr 12 at FSJSS, Dorian Pierre Gr 12 at FSJSS and Joey Saharchuk Gr 11 at FSJSS. enjoyed the pharmacy stuff where we made blister packs (pill kits) and learned about IV,” Taylor Harder said, Gr 11 at Fraser Lake Elementary Secondary School. In previous years Project Health has provided a similar
opportunity for selected students however this year had some changes. A Post Anesthesia Recovery section was added, as well as an open job fair with roundtable discussions during the second day’s activities on the blood-lab
trip to PG. Youth were given the rare opportunity to learn first hand what the jobs entail and also learned how much they would make, Darren Carpenter said, career and trades program co-ordinator. “We
were so fortunate to have the staff at St. John host us for the day with such a unique structure of learning that you don’t typically see anywhere else in the province,” Mr. Carpenter said. “The second day at gene school gave stu-
dents the chance to go into a university level lab and were shown how to spilt DNA. It was absolutely full access.” This year had 38 applicants. Students were scored on academics, maturity and interest.
Giant basketball tournament coming to Fort St. James REBECCA WATSON Omineca Express
A massive basketball tournament at Fort St. James Secondary School (FSJSS) Jan. 9 and 10 will host 18 teams making it one of the largest tournaments ever held in the north. Provincial Championships generally have 16 teams and are spread over 3-4 days. The upcoming tournament is also unique since boys and girls will have both senior and junior level teams – essentially four tournaments in one. More than 50 of the 80 regis-
tered basketball players will be participating in teams from Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Quesnel, McBride, Valemount and Dawson Creek. Below is a list of the FSJSS teams and game times. Friday January 9th Jr Boys 12:30PM VS FLESS – New Gym Jr Girls 1:45PM VS FLESS – Old Gym Sr Boys 2:30PM VS Northside – New Gym Sr Girls 4:15PM VS Northside – New Gym
Jr Boys 8:00PM VS Valemount – Old Gym Saturday January 10th Sr Boys 7:45AM VS Mountain Christian – New Gym Jr Girls 8:00AM VS Quesnel – Old Gym Sr Girls 9:15AM VS LDSS – New Gym Jr Boys 9:15AM VS McBride – Old Gym Sr Girls 2:30PM VS Mountain Christian – New Gym Sr Boys 4:15PM VS FLESS – New Gym Jr Girls 6:00PM VS Valemount – Old Gym
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Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Caledonia Courier
Year End Revue - July 2014 Supreme Court ruling a “light at the end of the tunnel” Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier June 26 marked a historic day in Aboriginal-Canadian relations after a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court of Canada was delivered that upheld the rights of indigenous communites to ownership of traditional territory. The decision comes in a case that is nearly 20 years old in which the Tsilhqot’in First Nation laid claim to some 1,700 km of land in the Nemiah Valley. The decision was not just cause for the people of Tsilhqot’in to celebrate but rather set precedent for all First Nations communities in British Columbia. The news was cause for celebration for the Nak’azdli First Nation of the Fort St. James area. The Nak’azdli have been involved in an on-going struggle against the proposed North-
ern Gateway pipeline which would be built through their traditional territory. The Supreme Court decision means that aboriginal communties like the Nak’azdli First Nation, have the legal right to refuse consent to any development or encroachment on their traditional territory. Nak’azdli members took to the streets with drums and song in response to the landmark announcement. Nak’azdli chief Fred Sam hopes this will be the end of the pipeline saying “We really don’t want it going through our territory. We haven’t given our consent.” In many ways, this is not only a victory for First Nations people but for all British Columbians who opposed the pipeline, as this decision will create a considerable roadblock for companies like Enbridge to navigate around.
Sam said he believes that the federal government needs to listen not only to the First Nation’s community, but also to all British Columbians - an overwhelming number of which are opposed to the pipeline. Sam added that thus far, there has been no contact from the federal government who are supposed to consult with First Nations on these issues. “Canada has not approached us at all.” Sam insists that Nak’azdli are not against development or business in their lands, but rather are for environmentally sound, responsible business. “We’re a forward thinking community,” he said. “We need fair deals and the environment needs to be a priority. We need to look at these partnerships in greater depth.” Sam said the decision is like seeing the light at the end of a tunnel and that he hopes the government sees it too, “Hopefully they see it’s important to work with us.”
THE DATES FOR THE NECHAKO VALLEY FESTIVAL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS ARE... March 9-20,2015. It will culminate with the festival concert on Mar. 22. Registration ONLINE opens on Dec. 8, 2014 and closes on Jan 15, 2015. The venue for all disciplines is Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship Church. You can view the syllabus and look for any other information on the website at www.musicfestivalweb/nechako.
OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (Across from the Petrocan Station)
SUNDAY LITURGY: Saturday 7:30 pm & Sunday 10:30 am DAILY MASS: Monday - Friday 9:00 am PASTORAL TEAM: FATHER FRANK SALMON 250-996-8343 SR. MAURINE BARZANTNI, SR.RENEE RICHIE
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THE CHURCHES OF FORT ST. JAMES
District of Fort St. James Calendar January, 2015 MONDAY
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11
TUESDAY
13
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
7
8
9
10
14
15
16
17
5:30pm Public Skating
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THURSDAY
7:00pm Reg Council Meeting
19
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23
24
26
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28
29
30
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6
7
5:30pm Public Skating
25 5:30pm Public Skating
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11:30 am Tween Book Club
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Please submit all events by Wednesday for the next Wednesday paper distribution. ofIJce@fortstjames.ca
Municipal Website: www.fortstjames.ca
SUNDAY
5:30pm Public Skating
The District is seeking volunteers to participate in Winterfest 2015! Please contact Mel at 996-8233 for more info. 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
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Salute to Minor Hockey: Fort St. James FORT ST. JAMES NOVICE
FORT ST. JAMES TYKES
Coach: Jeremy Johnson. Team Manager: Christie Hoy Players: Aaron Sam, Adalyn Martin, Ashton Felix, Brennan O’Bee, Carsen Wenger, Chase Chernowski, David Hoy, Dawson Sam, Devin Ketlo, Diego Johnson, Dion Abraham, Greta Saharchuk, Jada Prince, Jaidyn Erickson, John-Thomas Hayter, Keira Saharchuk, Kennedy Hoy, Logan Bayes, Nole Lantz, Owen Barr, Parker Shute.
Head Coach: Ben Hoy. Assistant Coach: JP Wenger. Players: Chase Aslin, Julius Erickson, Crosby Hoy, Graeme Gainor, Sullivan Wenger, Westley Hayter, Rachael Hoy, Emily Boyd, Max Playfair, Brendan Gooding, Griffin Hoy, Caden Collier, Audrey Luggi, Brody Macdougall, Lucas Sam, Wyatt Olesiuk, Ryder Sam, Patience Thomas, Conrad Wilson, Malykai Forshner, Nicolas Prince. Photo by Clarke Action Photography
Photo by Clarke Action Photography
Who is the Great Game of Hockey really for?
FORT ST. JAMES ATOM
First row bottom left to right: Jesse O’Bee, Trent Thomas, Connor Antoine, Shayna Prince, Adam Joseph, Candence Thomas, Caiden Olund, Lakota Julian, Nate Frederick. Second row left to right Rendall Erickson, Darci Martin, Luke Bird (Assistant), Kayle James, Terrell Goldsmith (Captain), Moniqa Julian (Assistant), Michael Webb (Assistant), Ellie Ouellette, Laine Fonda. Photo by Clarke Action Photography
The game of hockey is for kids. Kids play the game because they love it and because it is fun. As parents we must all realize, that for kids, positive participation is always more important than excellence. The personal and social development that comes from being part of a team is one of the most enriching experiences offered by the game. We must continue to live the values of fun and fair play, respect, integrity, and teamwork with a balanced perspective of expectations and definition of success. We must celebrate our good experiences with this great game. Our volunteers, our coaches, our referees, our parents and our children are all critical partners in ensuring the game sustains these high values. No one, however, is more critical than our parents. We must particularly assist our parents in setting reasonable expectations while understanding the game, its process and its administration. Being a hockey parent is no easy task. Often hockey parents are called upon to wear many different volunteer hats, some of which result in conflicting roles. A hockey parent may be a
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coach, an evaluator, a director or a referee - any of whom is required to make decisions in everyone’s best interest while still being a mom or dad wanting what’s best for his or her own child. Parents wrestle with reconciling their roles and controlling their passion as fans while being faced with the constant challenge of “doing the right thing”. Hockey Canada is committed to helping those parents meet these challenges to ensure they continue to enjoy the game and have as much fun as their kids. Minor Hockey describes amateur hockey played by athletes 20 years old and younger. Players are generally divided into playing levels according to age. The main levels and associated ages are:
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Year End Revue - August 2014 Taking home the gold
B.C. wins the North American Indigenous Games across the board Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier The 2014 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) were a year of firsts for British Columbia. It was the first time British Columbia’s volleyball team won the gold medal, the first time a team had won the medal count and the prestigious John Fletcher award and it was Kristi Howell’s first time coaching. “This years NAIG was my first time coaching,” said Howell. “I’ve always played volleyball, so I know a lot about it but I’ve never actually coached,” she added. The 2014 NAIG were
held in Regina, Sask. in late July and saw over 500 athletes attend from British Columbia. Howell, who took charge of the 2014 girls volleyball team, said that over 80 girls from British Columbia tried out for the team, which is more than they’ve ever had before. Howell said that the NAIG flew around 500 athletes from British Columbia to Regina as well as providing hotel accommodations for the athletes. Howell led her team to their first ever gold medal win at the NAIG and did so without her team being defeated once throughout the en-
tirety of the 2014 games. “It was amazing,” Howell said of her accomplishments. “I’ve played at the NAIG twice before as an athlete but I’ve never come close to winning gold or even placing in the medal count, so to win as a coach, and my first time coaching at that, was a very big accomplishment for me.” Howell’s team managed to not only win a gold, but British Columbia as a whole also took home first place in the medal count with a grand total of 161 medals. British Columbia’s win was thanks in part to Howell’s gold medal win, which tipped the scales
in British Columbia’s favour after a tie with Saskatchewan. British Columbia’s win of the John Fletcher award also added to the years prestige and marked the first time in the history of the NAIG that a province has won both the medal count and the John Fletcher award. Howell said that going from athlete to coach was no easy transition, “coaching was one of the hardest things I’ve done, there were a lot of things I had to factor in and sometimes that’s hard to juggle.” But Howell says it was her experience participating in NAIG that inspired her to give back
and get involved as a coach. “The reason I chose to coach came from the experience I had when I went to the NAIG myself,” Howell said. “I had a very good experience and I believe it helped to make me the person I am today. It opens your eyes to a bigger world and other possibilities, so being able to give back and help other girls have a similar experience was something very important to me.” The NAIG takes place every three years and while not certain she will continue to coach in the years to come she says she is definitely considering it.
Kristi Howell, coach of the 2014 U19 girls volleyball team holding up the gold medal her team won in this years NAIG. Photo by Jesse Cole
Salute to Minor Hockey: Fort St. James FORT ST. JAMES PEEWEE
Apollo Peewee Team Dawson Davis, Jordan Chipman, Charlie Ouellette, Jacob Bird, Max Burgart, Noah Amyot, Kodiak Corcoran, Tristan Sutherland, George Hayter, Connor Frederick, Jasper Tait, Charlie Geernaert, Keeley Tom, Dallen Olund, Nolan Sampson. Photo by Clarke Action Photography
Fort St. James players engage in hockey tournaments throughout the season. Each level has its own associated tournament.
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Year End Revue - September 2014 Herd of Deer: The winter season is approaching so animals are foraging and will be seen more often by roadways legs so if you crash into them they don’t generally fly up over the car,� said Ms. Hesse. If hitting a moose is inevitable, duck down as low as you can in the car. To avoid collisions altogether, one can practise safe
Rebecca Watson Caledonia Courier Leaves are turning, the air is crisp and the number of wildlife vehicle collisions will start to increase across the province. According to the BC Ministry of Transportation, October and November are peak times of the year for deer and vehicle collisions meaning soon, deer will be seen in higher numbers on roadways as we approach the high-risk time of year for many areas of the province including Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and Prince George. Gayle Hesse, a conservationist for the BC Conservation Foundation in the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program, says deer find the road attractive for many reasons. “Surprise, animals are not people. We tell our kids not to play on the road but animals don’t see the danger,� said Ms. Hesse. “The roadside is really good for animals to browse along. It’s full of willow and shrubs that get mowed and then regrows with tender young [tasty] growth. They may also see a vehicle and not recognize it as danger because they perceive their surroundings differently. They don’t think the same way people do and they don’t react the same way people do.� In the Nechako Region there are about 25 to 30 wildlife vehicle collisions/ month during peak months - almost one per day. There are about 200 wildlife collisions confirmed annually for the region however,
driving standards such as wearing a seatbelt, reducing speed in signed areas, having a clean windshield and honking the horn or flashing lights to scare animals off the road (which may work for deer but not usually for moose).
Joyce and Luther Fonda Celebrate 60th Anniversary. Dec - 28 - 2014
Photo by Rebecca Watson
MoT estimates that for every one carcass they recover another three animals are hit and killed by vehicles. The animal may not have died right away and moved away from the road, another animal may have come and recovered the carcass, a driver may have removed it from the road or vegetation may have taken over. Factoring in the 1:3 ratio would mean an additional 600/year for a total of 800 animals killed/year in the Nechako Region. Common factors that associate roads with high numbers of wildlife vehicle collisions include good habitat and forage, water sources nearby, and long, wide, straight stretches of road. Although the first two are obvious, the last one may not be but collisions occur more than expected on long stretches because people feel safe and tend to speed up, said Ms. Hesse.
“Any collision occurs more frequently and with more severity when the vehicle is moving faster,� said Ms. Hesse. Another contributing factor is that deer tend to travel in herds. If you see one deer there is almost always another deer somewhere else around. In the winter especially, it can be common to see 10-20 deer together since they are a social creature and spend time in the same area. “If you see a deer on the road try to shift your vision from the deer you see to the one that is almost certainly following behind it,� said Ms. Hesse. It is also not uncommon to see a deer bolt out
at the last second or to run toward the vehicle in a dodging or twisting motion. This is how they are ‘programmed’ to respond to a threat in an attempt to throw off the predator. A first reaction may be to swerve but that could mean the car is forced off the road or into another vehicle. With deer it may be safer to use the breaks instead of the wheel. A collision with a moose, which can weigh up to 500 kgs (1,200 lbs), carries a much higher risk of injury or death, so it will almost always be safer to swerve out of its way. “Moose are very dangerous because they are very big animals. They have big legs so the car
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tends to hit their legs and the moose will crash right down on the car. Deer are low, same with bears. They are heavy but have short
Married in Medstead Saskatchewan, on Dec 28th 1955. They lived and worked in Golden BC, Ft St John, Edmonton Alberta and moved back to Sask. about 1959. There family grew and in 1970 came to Ft. St. James BC where they are still living independantly.
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Year End Revue - October 2014
Distributed every Wednesday in Fort St. James
Publisher: Pam Berger pam@ominecaexpress.com Office: Meriella Drogomatz office@ ominecaexpress.com Editorial: Rebecca Watson Jesse Cole newsroom@ caledoniacourier.com Production: Julia Beal Wendy Haslam wendy@ ominecaexpress.com Address: Box 1298 Fort St. James, BC VOJ 1P0 Member: B.C. Press Council Subscriptions (per year) Local: $43.50 Seniors: $37.30 Outside Local area: $60.15 (All rates include GST):
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The Caledonia Courier is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, PO Box 1356, Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1A9. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Caledonia Courier
Young writers win contest, works to be published in 2015 Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier A handful of Fort St. James students with a literary knack will have their works published in the upcoming Voices Visible journal after being chosen as winners in the Voices Visible contest. Winners were chosen from throughout the province by the B.C. Teachers of English Language Arts (BCTELA). The Voices Visible contest has English teachers submit selected works from their students in the category of prose and poetry. Submissions can by up to 1500 words and submissions must be made while a student is in grades one to 12. In the category of prose, Fort St. James student Sydney Playfair who was chosen for her short story titled Lost Things. In the poetry category Rachel Klassen won for her poem titled
Broken Inside. Rhiannon Gammon also won for her poem titled Grandma’s Hands as did Cheyenne Sabo for her piece titled A Poem About Bullying. Klassen said the win was a surprise for her saying she had totally forgotten the contest. When asked about her inspiration Klassen says she draws from her own life. “I write about my experiences and other peoples experiences.” Grade 12 students Royce Sam and Daniel DeMerchant won jointly for their collaborative work titled Who Will We Blame. DeMerchant said that entering the contest was a requirement in his 12 grade writing course at Fort St. James Secondary School but said that once he and Sam began writing they enjoyed it. “It was actually really satisfying to see how it [the poem] turned out. It feels great, Royce [Sam] and I are both about the fact that our
Rachel Klassen (left) and Cheyenne Sabo (right) are two of the winners of the Voices Visible contest for poetry and prose. Their works will be published in the 2015 Voices Visible journal. Photo by Jesse Cole
poem was chosen to be published in 2015,” said DeMerchant. Sam and DeMerchants poem deals with subject matter relating to environmental degradation, economic and political turmoil throughout the world and where we, as society, should
lay the blame, if at all. DeMerchant said that he and Sam found inspiration for their work from what they had seen progressing over time. “Royce [Sam] and I found inspiration from what we felt has been happening over time, as bigger corporations
have gotten bigger and bigger and how many people feel that they are mot being heard.” DeMerchant said that he believes the Voices Visible contest is a positive thing for young people to take part in saying, “I think that this contest is great for young
artists/writers as it challenges them to challenge themselves to really find that great piece they’ve yet to write.” The winners works will be published in a collection in the Voices Visible journal that will be sold through the BCTELA.
Year End Revue - November 2014 J.K. Johnson: Portrait of a Veteran The oldest man in town talks about his experiences in the armed forces as well as his life in Fort St. James Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier J.K. Johnson lives with his wife Irene in a modest bungalow house on Stones Bay Drive overlooking the scenic Stuart Lake in Fort St. James. At 89 years old Johnson has lived in Fort St. James for 67 years making him, as he put it, the oldest man in town. It’s his claim to fame, he says. Johnson is also one of the last living veterans of WWII in the province, if not the country. Born in 1925 in Calgary, Johnson enlisted in the Canadian military in September of 1943, towards the end of the conflict, after returning to Alberta from California where he had been living and studying aircraft mechanics. “I guess I shouldn’t have [joined] really, because I had previously been taking an aircraft mechanics course down in California and I had a job in Minneapolis, Minn.” Alas, Johnson’s patriotism got the better of him in the end as he made his way back up to Canada to enlist. “It was take the job in Minneapolis, Minn. or go home and join the armed
forces.” Enlisting in the airforce, Johnson originally tried to join the navy. “I went into the navy recruiting office and they weren’t recruiting at that time,” Johnson said. “Right next door was the airforce, I went in and joined.” Johnson initially trained as a radio operator for an aircraft gunnery before training as a navigator and finally, upon discharge in September of 1945, a Flight Officer. During his military career, Johnson was stationed throughout western Canada in cities such as Edmonton, Saskatoon and Calgary, he was never deployed overseas. Johnson remembers his service years with fondness, urging young men and women continue to enlist, saying, “I enjoyed every minute that I was there. I would strongly suggest that any young man [or woman] who is more or less at loose ends should join the services. The navy, army, airforce, whatever. It’s a great experience.” Johnson served until the end of war when he was discharged. After the war he studied in Calgary for a few years before deciding that he was
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too much of an outdoorsmen to be stuck behind a desk. It was then that he made the trip to Fort St. James in 1947. Married on his birthday to his wife Irene, in 1953, Johnson and Irene had five children: Kevin, Brett, Royce, Janine and Marilyn that they raised in Fort St. James. Ever the patriot, Johnson set about organizing and building the town’s first Legion building. “I was involved with the Legion right from the beginning,” Johnson says. In an account he wrote down, Johnson details the stages of the buildings creation including a trip by bush plane to Germanson Landing to observe log building methods in 1969 and the Legions first celebration in 1970. “Most of the labour was volunteered for which we thank Walt Taylor, Dutch Forshner, Olv Luthehouse, Jerry Playfair, Bob Vandlander, Bill Wilkes, Art Strong, Jim Perrin, Jack Spry, Ed Chrysler, Tom Browne, Jack Day, George Warning, Earl Hemminsgon, Art Besudreault, Art McInnis, Ralph Iilerbrun…” The list goes on and on ending finally in “There are others who’s names were not recorded but their assistance was appreciated.”
John played an intrical role in the Legions operations in the years following its building, but in his old age he had taken a step back from the veterans organization. “My conscience bothers me a little bit, because at one time I was very involved in the legion and now I’m taking a back seat.” He says the Fort St. James Legion has gradually begun to go downhill, attributing the decline to low membership, financial woes and “a sign of the times.” Johnson is still very involved in the military going-ons in Canada today, weighing in on the current military mission in Iraq. “…The problem is now what we’re fighting is not the type of war we were all used to. It’s easy to point a gun at a man or an airplane or boat and shoot it, or get shot, but the type of war we’re fighting now, which includes terrorism, are some of the most heinous crimes man can commit; to pick on innocent people to prove a point, that’s the part that really bothers me.” Johnson recounted his first experiences in Fort St. James and a record of the towns inhabits in the late 1940’s in a short memoir he wrote.
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Travel RV LOT rentals $8.95 a day. 362 days of sunshine, pets, events, classes, entertainment. Reserve by 02/14/2015. www.hemetrvresort.com. Call: 1-800-926-5593
Employment Career Opportunities TRAIN TO be an apartment/condominium Manager! Government certified online course. Access to jobs across BC registered with us. 35 years of success! BBB Accredited Member. Visit us online at: www.RMTI.ca
Drivers/Courier/ Trucking
Lakes District Maintenance Ltd. has openings for PLOW TRUCK OPERATORS
Positions are available in Bob Quinn Lake and Jade City. Both are camp locations with bunkhouses available for successful candidates. Positions are for this winter season. Wages start at $21.18/hr plus isolation, bunkhouse & other allowances. Experience is an asset, but not required. Class 3 BC Drivers licence with air required. Apply with resume and current drivers abstract:
In person: 881 – Hwy 16W Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 Fax: 250-692-3930 Email: careers@ldmltd.ca More career opportunities at ldmltd.ca/careers/
NEW YEAR, new career! CanScribe Medical Transcription graduates are in high demand. Enroll today and be working from home in one year! Email: info@canscribe.com. Or call 1800-466-1535. Or visit us online: www.canscribe.com.
Seeking full-time MOA/Practice Manager to join our team at a busy ophthalmology and retinal subspecialty practice in Vernon. We strive to provide high quality patient care in a friendly and team-oriented setting. Our office is paperless and uses the latest in eye care technology. We are looking for an experienced MOA who is highly organized, able to multi-task and communicates effectively. This position fulfills a leadership role in our clinic and will command a high wage. Please email cover letter and resume to hhollands.office@me.com
Trades, Technical 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 PLUMBER/GAS FITTER (2nd, 3rd, 4th year or J/man) required for Grand Forks company. We provide residential service, renovation, and construction services to our clients. If you are self-motivated, a problem solver, and have good communication skills - we need you. Please send detailed resume to plumberdandy@telus.net or fax to 250-442-3327.
• SAW FILER • ELECTRICIANS • MILLWRIGHT/WELDER - Surrey B.C Searching for highly motivated and ambitious individuals to work and be challenged in their field. Competitive Wage & Good Benefit Package Offered! Please forward your resume: Fax:(1)604-581-4104 Email: careers@tealjones.com Visit: www.tealjones.com
Services
Financial Services ARE YOU $10K or more in debt? DebtGo can help reduce a significant portion of your debt load. Call now and see if you qualify. 1-800-351-1783 IF YOU own a home or real estate, Alpine Credits can lend you money: It’s That Simple. Your Credit / Age / Income is not an issue. 1.800.587.2161.
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Home Improvements FULL SERVICE plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, reliable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1800-573-2928
HOT TUB (SPA) COVERS. Best price. Best quality. All shapes & colours available. 1-866-652-6837 www.thecoverguy.com/ newspaper? STEEL BUILDINGS/metal buildings 60% off! 20x28, 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, 50x120, 60x150, 80x100 sell for balance owed! Call 1-800-4572206 or visit us online www.crownsteelbuildings.ca. STEEL BUILDINGS. “Really big sale!” All steel building models and sizes. Plus extra savings. Buy now and we will store until spring. Call Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422 or visit www.pioneersteel.ca
Legal Notices
Private Collector Looking to Buy Coin Collections, Silver, Antiques, Native Art, Estates + Chad: 250-499-0251 Local
FORT ST. JAMES AND AREA
BUSINESS DIRECTORY OIL & LUBE
Legal Notices
BAM BAM
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CONTRACTORS The Stuart Lake Golf Club is seeking proposals for the following positions: 1. Clubhouse Manager(s), 2. Golf Course Grounds Manager(s). These positions are for the 2015 golf season and proposals for each position could be from one or more persons acting together. A package of information outlining the duties, responsibilities, and expectations of the work to be performed is available to all interested persons by contacting the Club. Please contact: Del Whitford, President, Stuart Lake Golf Club, PO Box 158, Fort St. James, B.C., V0J1P0
PRIVATE MORTGAGE Lender. Funding smaller - 2nd, 3rd, & interim mortgages. No fees! Pls email: grpacific@telus.net Courtesy to agents.
Oil & Lube
Oil
240 Douglas, Fort St. James In the old Fort Diesel Building
CALL
CHANGE AND LUBE
778-667-0346
“Warranty Approved”
TIRES
to book you appointment!
NEWSPAPERS Serving Fort St. James and area since 1972
Email: roy48@telus.net or by telephone or fax at 250-996-7584
Pam Berger Publisher
250-996-8482 Advertising: advertising@ominecaexpress.com News: newsroom@caledoniacourier.com Website: www.caledoniacourier.com
Serving Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Fort Fraser and Fraser Lake
Pam Berger Publisher 150 W. Columbia St Box 1007, Vanderhoof BC V0J 3A0
Tel: 250-567-9258 Fax: 250-567-2070 Email: advertising@ominecaexpress.com
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
Tel: 250-567-9258 Fax: 250-567-2070 Email: advertising@ominecaexpress.com
Kidney disease strikes families, not only individuals. THE KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF CANADA www.kidney.ca
A8 www.caledoniacourier.com
Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Caledonia Courier
Year End Revue - December 2014 Taxidermy; the art of life and death wild meat. “I think as long as hunting continues, and hunting has increased in popularity due in part to the benefits of wild meat, I think because of that
Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier Heidi Hill’s office isn’t your typical work environment. There are no office chairs, computers or filing cabinets, instead her work space is filled with the hides of bears, elk and wolves. Hill owns and operates Blue Mountain Taxidermy on her ranch located in between Vanderhoof and Fort St. James. Her work inhabits the grey space between the bucolic pastures that surround her log home and the often morbid association the public has with taxidermy. A taxidermist since 2006 Hill says that taxidermy was a natural choice for her given her upbringing. “I grew up working in an outfitting business and I was always involved in hunting as a child and I still am today… I always enjoyed working with it [the hides] and bringing them, in a sense, back to life.” Hill works with her apprentice, Hannah Steffey, completing taxidermy jobs for clients as local as Vanderhoof and Fort St. James and as global as Europe and the United Kingdom. Hill and Steffey primarily work with wild game animals such as deer, elk, bear, moose, coyotes and wolves but Hill admits she’s had clients request other animals. “I was asked to do a dog once,” Hill says. “Someones pet dog - I don’t do those.” Hill also doesn’t taxidermy fish, although she does know how to. “I don’t really mount fish for clients. I have before and we occasionally do a fish for a life-sized diorama… but as far as anyone wanting a fish, we don’t do those. It’s a different kind of artwork.” Most of her material comes from hunters who use the meat for food and Hill says through taxidermy the skins of the animals don’t go to waste.
taxidermy could actually grow in the future.” Most of Hill and Steffey’s work is client based with clients brining in hunted animals or road kill (most
often owls) but she does sometimes sell her work. “A bear skin rug sells for about $210 per foot, so six feet times $210 equals your price.”
Student of the Week ) Grade 11 Fort St. James Secondary ) Nominated by Lenore Aspell and Jhen Bridgeman
Kiana Ferguson “Kiana has been a volunteer at our Breakfast for Learning program for three years and she is now on our student council, as well.” “She is a very dedicated young lady who is always willing to cheerfully help out.”
Community Events Community Events are free of charge as they are sponsored by the Caledonia Courier Taxidermy is an often overlooked art form that shies away from the spotlight; it is a blue-collar artform in the truest sense of the word but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t require the same finesse and level of skill that other, more mainstream artforms require. Taxidermy requires math (used when stretching and forming a hide), painting, sculpture and an understanding of anatomy. This is represented particularly well in the taxidermy of fish, who when dead lose their magnificent colourings, colouring that artists like Hill do by hand to recreate the animals natural beauty. In order to learn and perfect her craft, Hill attended two different schools where she studied taxidermy, the Penn School of Taxidermy in Calgary as well as the Missoula Valley School of Taxidermy in Thomp-
son Falls, Mont. There she learned the intricacies of taxidermy. “It’s a step program,” she says. “If someone brings you a full wolf or coyote it’s in a body form, so you have to skin it, most of them are skinned already, but if they’re not we flesh them [removing excess meat off of the hide]. Then it gets salted and dried before being sent to a tannery.” Hill’s hides are sent to a tannery in Kamloops. “When it comes back I can measure the hide, order the form [the base shape of the animal being taxidermied] and then fit it to the form and glue it on. After that we let it dry and then the bases are designed and once they’re dry we do some sculpting with clay and finally airbrush the model.” The process requires a lot of dexterity as taxidermists
must be both visual artists, seamstresses and butchers. Steffey was originally hired because she was a known seamstress to Hill. “I knew [Steffey] and her family through the fairgrounds and I knew she was a hard working country girl and that she liked to sew,” says Hill. “When I hired her I needed someone to sew bear rugs. She came and tried it out and she liked it.” Steffey is poised to take over Hills operation when hill retires. Taxidermy as an industry is not in the decline Hill says but it also isn’t growing. “A lot of taxidermy businesses have shut down in Prince George as the owners get older and there is no one to take over the business,” she says. Despite this Hill is optimistic that taxidermy has future thanks to the increase in interest towards hunting and
COMING EVENTS... Will appear as space is available, free of charge in this section. Coming events are available to non-profit organizations only. This area is not intended for thank you submissions or selling products. It is simply a place for nonprofit organizations a place to announce upcoming free activities. You can e-mail your item to advertising@ominecaexpress. com or by fax: 567-2070. Your organizations’ announcement can also be dropped off at our office located at #111-250 Stuart Drive, Fort St. James. Decision of the publisher is final. *** THE DATES FOR THE NECHAKO VALLEY FESTIVAL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS ARE...March 9-20,2015. It will culminate with the festival concert on Mar. 22. Registration ONLINE opens on Dec. 8, 2014 and closes on Jan 15, 2015. The venue for all disciplines is Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship Church. You can view the syllabus and look for any other information on the website at www. musicfestivalweb/nechako. *** VOLUNTEER WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY!...Are you or anyone you know interested in becoming a volunteer? No matter your age or your interests, there are plenty of opportunities for you or your family members to volunteer within our community. At Volunteer Fort St. James we assist local nonprofit organizations in recruiting volunteers and assist volunteers to find an organization(s) they want to work with. If you chose to become a volunteer you are in control. You get to choose the event(s) you volunteer for, how often you volunteer and how much time you’d like to volunteer. Volunteers are not obligated to volunteer for any opportunities, no questions asked. It is as simple as that! If you’d like to become a volunteer, when opportunities become available you have the option to be notified by email, or you can check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/volunteerfsj or stop by the Volunteer Fort St. James Office Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 – 12:30 pm.
You can sign up today to become a volunteer at www.volunteerfsj. ca. For more information you can e-mail us at volunteerfsj@telus.net or call us at 250-996-8284 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11:30 – 12:30 pm). *** ST PATRICK’S ANGLICAN CHURCH...Services at St Patrick’s Anglican Church will now take place only on the first Sunday of the month except for special occasions. *** STUART LAKE OUTREACH GROUP FOOD BANK SCHEDULE... is the third Wed of each month: January 21, 2015, February 18 and March 18 from 10:00 am to noon at the Food Bank behind St. Patrick’s Anglican Church, Stuart Drive. Volunteers needed. Call 250-567-6744. Food Bank needs canned meals, beans, stews, soups, tuna, salmon, sandwich meats, pasta and sauce, tea, coffee, toilet paper, canned milk, cereals, etc. At this time we have lots of sugar! Thank you for your generosity. *** UNTOLD TRAUMA...author seeks contributions from non-First Nations students and staff who experienced Catholic residential or day schools abuse in Northern BC. For more info email Kathyhansen1@gmail.com *** FIREWEED STOPPING THE VIOLENCE & OUTREACH SERVICE For those who believe all is possible!...Provides free Confidential, Safe, and Supportive counselling and outreach services for women. Hours of Service: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and every other Friday. Location: Room 203, 349 Stuart Drive, Fort St James, BC Phone: (250) 996-1214 Fax: (250) 996-7647 Email: fire.or@telus.net *** STUART LAKE OUTREACH GROUP... hosts a free hot lunch each Tuesday from 10.00am to 1.00pm in the space behind St. Patrick’s Anglican Church. Meals are served by members of area churches and other volunteers from the community. We wish to thank all those who assist by cooking, serving, and cleaning up. Your help is invaluable. We also host a free Christmas Dinner on Christmas
Day to all who are lonely or in need. Volunteers for these programs are needed. Please call Gwen at 250-5676744. *** ST. PATRICK’S ANGLICAN CHURCH SERVICES... will now take place only on the first Sunday of the month except for special occasions. *** FORT ST. JAMES SEARCH & RESCUE... steering committee meetings first Tuesday of every month. 7:00 p.m. above the Fort St. James Firehall. Training is the third Tuesday of every month at the Firehall at 7 p.m. New members are welcome and training is provided. For more information please contact Paul at 250.996.7478 or Rod at 250.996.3231 *** FIREWEED CLOTHES DRIVE... The Fireweed Safe Haven is doing a winter clothes drive. We are looking for jackets, boots, snow pants, mitts, hats, scarves, fleeces, etc, for men, women and children. The items will then be given to families in the community that need them. If you do not have anything at home that you can part with but still wish to contribute, you can purchase mitts, socks, or thermal underwear. Please drop items off at the Fireweed Safe Haven. For more information please contact Talia at (250) 996-8081. Every little bit helps. *** FORT ST. JAMES PUBLIC LIBRARY HOURS... Tuesday 11:30-8:00 Wednesday 11:30-4:30 Thursday 11:30-4:30 Friday 11:30-8:00 Saturday 11:00-3:00 *** AUXILIARY TO STUART LAKE HOSPITAL... Monthly meeting 2nd Wednesday each month. Hospital Cafeteria 7:00 p.m. *** NECHAKO VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY...Child and Youth Mental Health and Counseling Services available at no cost. Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Call 996-7645 for appointment. ***