108th Year - Week 17 PM 40007014
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
District drafts medical potgrowing bylaw
NOT JUST READING Smithers library team talks about the future.
COMMUNITY/A11
EARTH DAY WIN High school awarded for being green.
OUR TOWN/A17
RESOURCES BOON Special feature digs into mining industry.
MINING WEEK/B1
LETTERS SPORTS COMMUNITY OUR TOWN A&E CLASSIFIEDS THREE RIVERS
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LABOUR OF LOVE
By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
The Regional District of KitimatStikine (RDKS) has drafted a medical marijuana bylaw aimed at preventing grow-ops from cropping up near schools, daycare centres and hobby farms. Prompted by changes to the way medical marijuana is being handled by federal and provincial law, the regional district started reviewing its zoning policies in July 2014. Growing marijuana is legally permitted in areas within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and some of that land is close to public facilities, including schools, in Terrace and Hazelton. Local governments are not allowed to prohibit medical marijuana facilities on ALR land, but the RDKS wants to ensure its zoning includes provisions to prevent grow-ops sprouting too close to certain places. The draft bylaw requires medical marijuana facilities to be at least 150 metres away from schools, daycare centres, parks, churches, community halls and campgrounds. See DRAFT on A4
Smithers Secondary School students put on three performance’s of their Beatles-infused version of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost over the weekend. Drama teacher and director Heather Lytle (inset) was recognized by the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council for her years of service to her students and the community after Saturday night’s show. Chris Gareau photos
Smithers sportsplex moves forward By Chris Gareau
INSIDE
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Smithers/Interior News
A version of the proposed Bulkley Valley School District sportsplex is moving forward, with the district seeking out partners to help fund the $3.5 to 4-million project as soon as May. A more affordable version than the one drawn up by architects last September, the facility would provide turf for indoor soccer and rugby year-round. It would also include a walking track, mezzanine space, change rooms, court space for basketball and volleyball. It could also be used for other non-sporting events.
“If you look at the gym facilities at Smithers Secondary School, we need it. We’re not going to get from the government an increase in money to build a second gym, so [the district is] trying to do this and trying to build something that’s both a benefit both to the students in our district and to the community in general,” said school board chair Les Kearns at last Tuesday’s board meeting in Moricetown. Vice chair Frank Farrell said he believed everyone in the Bulkley Valley would use the facility year-round. “It’s one of those facilities that can benefit the whole community, young and old,
and it’s something much like the swimming pool that can help keep the community active during the winter months. It’s also something that can be used in the summer months as well,” said Farrell. “And it’s not just a Smithers facility, it’s something that would be a regional facility.” The board has allocated $1.5 million to construction of the sportsplex, with an option to add $500,000 for a total of $2 million. That means half the funding would have to come from elsewhere. “I’ve been working off of some of the work the Town [of Smithers] did on the second sheet
of ice around recognition of different levels of sponsorship. Certainly at the community consult phase we’ll be looking at what community sponsorship is available. “It could be naming rights on the building; it could be naming rights on the field; it could be putting plaques up on the main entryway at various levels for whatever the donations are,” said superintendent Chris van der Mark during the meeting. “It does change the game a bit with people knowing that you’re more than halfway there as a starting point. It’s a great concept, but we can’t go it alone.” See SPORTSPLEX on A3
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The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
N ews Roi TheaTRe Whooping cough increases in Smithers By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
A spike in the number of whooping cough cases in Smithers has prompted Northern Health to encourage more people to consider immunizing their children. Six cases of the illness, also known as pertussis, have been confirmed in Smithers since the beginning of March. Infants under one year old are the most vulnerable to the respiratory bacterial condition, which is highly infectious and can be contracted by people of all ages. According to Northern Health, whooping cough can be a serious disease for
unimmunized infants and starts with symptoms similar to the common cold. As the illness progresses, the cough can become severe and may be accompanied by gasping, gagging, shortness of breath or vomiting. There have been no reported deaths from whooping cough in northwest B.C. this year. Northern Health statistics from 2012 show 64 per cent of two-year-olds were up to date on all of their immunizations, compared with 79 per cent in Hazelton and 75 per cent in Houston. According to the same 2013 report, Smithers had the highest number of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases
in northwest B.C. between 2002 and 2012. A total 56 cases were reported in Smithers compared with 18 in Hazelton and 19 in Houston. Asked if there was any link between the anti-vaccination movement and the number of whooping cough cases in the Northern Health region, spokesperson Jonathon Dyck said the organization was working to educate the public about the benefits of vaccinations. “We encourage people to make their decisions based on credible sources, and contact us if they have any questions,” he said. Northern Health northwest medical health officer
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Dr. Raina Fumerton encouraged residents to contact their local health providers to discuss their vaccination needs to protect themselves from the illness. “Northern Health is seeing an increase in pertussis cases, more commonly known as whooping cough, in the northwest part of B.C.,” said Fumerton. “Public Health staff are working hard to isolate the cases of whooping cough. “The best protection against whooping cough is immunization. “This is not only a benefit for you, but also to help prevent spread to your loved ones who may be more vulnerable.”
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The Interior News
www.interior-news.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
N EWS
Sportsplex to attract more events
A3
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From SMITHERS on FRONT The superintendent stressed at the board meeting that the space would be a boon for business. “You also have event space. You have a field and you could do other things there. So you have a business plan that involves certainly your hotel and broader business community. “Even though it is a school facility, it will certainly attract events far beyond the normal series you get in a hockey season. Suddenly you’re going to get rugby [and soccer] events that are happening in the only place north of Prince George that has a structure,” said van der The proposed layout and design of the Bulkley Valley School District sportsplex. Mark.
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Low enrollment could close schools By Chris Gareau Smithers/Interior News
Low enrollment at Lake Kathlyn and Houston schools could mean more closures are in the Bulkley Valley School District’s future. A facilities review by the district showed that enrollment at Lake Kathlyn Elementary School is at 35 per cent of capacity. But even that number is inflated,
with district administration pointing out that without the 38 students being bused in from other catchment areas, enrollment would be at 18 per cent capacity. The cost savings of closing the schools would be about $250,000 per year each. The district budget is expected to take a $900,000 when it loses the province’s enrollment protection funding as soon as enrollment stops declining, expected in 2018. “I certainly don’t want to create a panic
FREE
and let the public think [closing schools] is what we’re doing,” stressed school board chair Les Kearns, adding the district would consult the public before a decision was made. “You look at the efficiency of it... can you put those students in as good or a better learning environment and save some money.” The last district elementary school to close was Quick in 2008, with Chandler four years earlier.
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SMITHERS LIONS CLUB BURSARIES CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
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There will be light snacks & cake No gifts Bring a great story to share
The Smithers Lions Club is providing bursaries to students currently graduating from a high school in Smithers and to university students who have previously graduated from a high school in Smithers. For graduating high school students, a number of $750.00 bursaries are being awarded. Applications must be received by May 31st. Information regarding these bursaries and application forms can be obtained from you high school councillor or teacher, or by contacting the club at the address below. For university students, a number of $1000.00 bursaries are to be awarded. The application deadline is September 30, 2015. Further information and an application form can be obtained from: Smithers Lions Club Box 925 Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0 Attn: Bursary Committee
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The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
N EWS
Draft regulates grow-ops our board meeting that a little larger holdback might be helpful and we’ve forwarded that on to them,” he said. He said the school district’s level of concern over a grow-op would depend on its exact conditions and location. The RDKS is not aware of any current applications to grow medical marijuana in its district. Health Canada, which processes and approves or rejects the applications, said earlier this month there were 324 open applications. The federal health authority has received a total 1,250 applications since new regulations were introduced in June 2013, but a spokesperson said it could not provide figures for individual districts. RDKS planning manager Andrew Weber said the decision to draft the bylaw came from within his organization and was not prompted by public concerns. Regional District of BulkleyNechako (RDBN) planning director Jason Llewellyn was aware of two applications to grow medical marijuana in the district, one in Topley and another closer to Smithers. However, with the applications being made through Health Canada, he did not know how far those applications had progressed. Llewellyn said the RDBN’s zoning provisions were sufficient to manage medical marijuana applications and his district was not planning to introduce a specific bylaw. “They’re dealt with in our zoning bylaw like most municipalities would, so identifying which zones they are appropriate in,” he said.
From DISTRICT on Front It also requires the property being used to be at least 10 acres in size, a measure aimed at keeping the facilities out of small-lot subdivisions and hobby-farm areas. Without a new bylaw, RDKS bylaw enforcement officer Murray Daly said medical marijuana could be permitted in some residential areas. “We allow hobby-farms and agricultural use in the Thornhill area and small-lot residential lots are allowed, agriculture, hobby-farm type stuff in small proximity of other areas,” said Daly. “If you don’t have something in place that specifically regulates medical marijuana then it could potentially crop up ... almost anywhere.” The RDKS draft bylaw is currently being circulated among relevant agencies including the Coast Mountains School District (CMSD). Its Thornhill Elementary School in Terrace is near pockets of ALR land, as is the Hazelton Secondary School. Daly said there could be changes to the draft based on feedback from agencies. “That’s why it’s being circulated to ensure we can regulate the things that we put in there to regulate,” he said. “If you put in things like no facilities within 2,000 metres of a daycare facility that might be seen as being too restrictive.” CMSD board chair Art Erasmus said the board had provided a letter of support for the bylaw with a suggestion to increase the 150 metre setback distance from schools. “There was some discussion with
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The Interior News
N EWS Balanced budget sets up this year’s election By Chris Gareau Smithers/Interior News
The Conservative federal government delivered its budget last Tuesday, the last one before this year’s election scheduled for the fall. It was the first balanced budget since 2008. The $288.9-billion budget has a $1.4-billion surplus. It also delivered on a number of promised tax cuts from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s team, with most spending increases not to take affect until 2017. Big revenue items included income splitting, allowing couples with one partner making more than the other to save on their taxes. Another was the near doubling of the allowable amount put in a tax free savings account (TFSA) each year to $10,000. Parents should also start seeing cheques in the mail for children under 18 as part of the Universal Child Care Benefit. The small business tax rate will be cut from 11 per cent to nine per cent by 2019 for businesses making under $500,000, one measure that SkeenaBulkley Valley MP and Opposition finance critic Nathan Cullen likes. “On the job front, three or four ideas that the NDP proposed were included in the budget including lowering the small business tax rate, helping out manufacturing, and some finds for innovation,” said Cullen before pointing to job losses in the
manufacturing sector over the last number of years. The MP was not a fan of the other tax relief measures, saying they were targeted at wealthier Canadians. “This is an election document. The Conservatives are trying to buy off a number of votes across the country because of the scandal and controversies that they’ve committed themselves in the Senate and with [Bill] C-51,” said Cullen. He also said that the document lacks vision, pointing out that nowhere does it mention the words “climate change.” Cullen added the money for Aboriginal education was too low when spread across the country. Potential Skeena-Bulkley Valley Conservative candidate Tyler Nesbitt said he would run on this budget. “$240 million for job training for First Nations people, that’s really important for up here,” said Nesbitt. He agreed the small business tax cut was good, liked measures for seniors, and looked forward to future spending increases for defence and transit— if Conservatives win power again. “This clearly shows [Conservatives] are there to look out for the most vulnerable in society, and living by the principles that they were elected on in the first place, and that’s to get us back to surpluses.” Potential Conservative nominee candidate MaryAnn Freeman declined to be interviewed for this story.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
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Join us Saturday May 23rd for a FREE SEMINAR and HANDS ON DEMO featuring Rick Webb, a specialist in log homes and Perma-Chink Systems products. Snacks and Refreshments will be provided at the event. Saturday May 23rd from 9:00am to 12:00pm at Brock White - Prince George, 1706 Ogilvie Street RSVP to Denise Raby: 250-596-8728 or 1-877-846-7505 draby@brockwhite.com
Community Calendar
To list your nonprofit coming events please drop off your listing at The Interior News, 3764 Broadway Ave., fax us at 250-847-2995, or email laura@interior-news.com. More information is available through our Online Community Calendar at www.interior-news.com. Deadline for submissions is Fridays at noon. Maximum 25 words. Limited space is available. We regret we cannot accept items over the phone. Living with Stroke Wednesdays 1-3 p.m. at the Healthy Living Centre April 29 to June 3. Course by the Heart and Stroke Foundation for those who have had a stroke and their caregiver. Register 1-888-473-4636 ext. 8002. Birding field trip Saturday, May 2, 7 :30 a.m. at the Chalet on West End Road, south of Quick. Leaders Mel and Evi Couslon take you through the Bulkley River Recreation site in Quick. Joint event between BV and Houston Naturalists. 250-846-5649. Looking to 2018: A Plan for Wrinch Memorial Hospital Community Public Meeting, Tuesday, May 5, 7 p.m., Mountain View United Church Basement. Add your voice to the planning. ECRS Drama Club presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance Jr. May 7 & 8, 7:30 p.m., May 9, 1 p.m., Della Herman Theatre. Tickets at Speedee, ECRS office & CountryWide Printing in Houston. BV Rod & Gun Club Sportsman’s Sale & Gun Show, Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6436 Glacier Gulch Rd. Refreshments, everything for the great outdoors. For a table, Brian Atherton 250-847-9339, Nicole Winterhalder at admin@bvrodandgun.ca.
Telkwa Museum Grand Opening, Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Refreshments served, draw for a hanging basket. cjirving@telus.net. BV Famer’s Market New Hours 9-1 Saturdays at the Corner of Main St and Hwy 16. May 9-Sept. 26. Locally grown produce, live music, coffee. Poetry at the Smithers Public Library Tuesday, May 12, 7 p.m. Melissa Sawatsky and Kevin Spenst with his new book Jabbering with Bing Bong. www.smithers. bc.library.ca. Peregrine Falcons of the Mackenzie River Valley Thursday, May 14, 7:30 p.m., NWCC. Keith Hodson photographic presentation. BV Naturalists. Evening Birding Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. at the parking lot on Pacific Ave. Leader Alex Woods takes you through the wetlands behind Canadian Tire. BV Genealogical Society Perennial Plant Sale & Raffle Saturday, May 23, 9 a.m. at the Goat Statue Park, Main St & Hwy 16. Viewing 8-9 a.m. To arrange pick-up or help with digging in the Smithers/Telkwa area call Karen Mitchell 250-847-9052 or Dale Gilbert 250-8472107 by May 20.
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A6 www.interior-news.com
The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
2010
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Web poll Do you agree that Smithers should build a new cultural centre?
No 28% Yes 72%
Life is what happens while the cell phone charges
I
stand in front of you to tell you about the longest weekend I have ever had. Would you like to know what happened? I was having a few difficulties with my phone, and all of a sudden butter fingers over here dropped it. Smash goes my screen. Now it is definitely not turning on. I went without a phone for the three days, only because the store wasn’t open. When I was without a phone it got me thinking about cellphones, social media and what it means to be a teenager. I feel as though I am the typical teen. I have a cellphone that I like to check more often than I need to, I have Facebook and I definitely check that more than I need to. As much as I really don’t care what you ate for dinner or that you went to the gym, I still find myself reading every single post. I am different than most teenagers though because my mom has full access to my phone and my Facebook account, and as soon as she doesn’t I will either have moved out or she will have pulled the plug on it because I’m not using it responsibly. Only 68 per cent of the parents with children that have social media are actually friends with them on it. Are you friends with your kids? Makes you wonder what they are up to that they have to hide it from their parents, or do they even care? Teens spend on average 31 hours a week watching TV, 17 hours listening to music, 10 hours on social media, three hours watching movies and four hours reading a magazine.
That’s close to nine hours each day that media has taken up. By the age of 18, Teen Health and the Media Website said a teenager would’ve watched over 350,000 commercials. That’s ridiculous. Facebook has over 1 billion users, if it was a country it would be the third largest. So it makes you think, is the media really what it is all cracked up to be? Is it worth missing something that’s happening right in front of you just so you can look down at your phone? Just like anything there are pros and cons to social media. Some advantages include staying in touch. Facebook is a site that you can read what others say when they put it on the news feed, you have friends and you can message people. It’s a great way for me to stay in touch with all my friends I met in 4-H. You can also meet new people. I received a friend request from someone. I had no idea who it was, so I messaged her and asked “how do you know me?” She said well I don’t really but I might move up to Houston and I wanted a friend. My step mom was asking around and your name came up. Once she told me some of the familiar people that she asked I felt much better and we ended up meeting. I can now say she is one of my great friends. We can communicate all the time even though she is a province away because we are linked through social media. Some cons; cellphones have every app so accessible that it can be a huge distraction. You could also very easily meet the wrong kind of
people. It’s becoming an addictive drug, how often do you check your phone just simply to check it? This is becoming a huge problem for face-to-face interactions, there are fewer people actually talking to a person because it is just as easy to send them a quick text or snap chat. Snap chat is an app were you can send a few words along with a picture for up to 10 seconds at a time, then that picture is supposedly gone. Things that you put online can haunt you forever and it can be nearly impossible to erase the stuff you put on there, even if you managed to delete it people have still seen it and they know. There isn’t very much privacy anymore, what happens in Vegas no longer stays in Vegas. Media has always said that what you look like is what you are worth. Girls aren’t happy with what they look like, so they put filters on their pictures to make them look flawless. What if she got lost? No one will know what she looks like because she looks so different in her pictures. Out of my high school this winter there was only one sports team, junior girls’ basketball. Out of all graduating students there were only four who participated in school sports, but in order for them to play they were forced to go to a different town. Why are people getting lazy? Sports used to be the way that people socialized, but now it’s just easier to send a text. So many people act differently over a phone
InteriorNEWS THE
Serving Smithers, the Bulkley Valley, the Hazeltons and District, Houston and District, and published on Wednesday of each week at 3764 Broadway Avenue, Smithers, B.C. Copyright number 321634. Stories, photographs, illustrations, designs and type styles in The Interior News are the property of the copyright holders, its illustrations repo services and advertising agencies. Reproduction in whole or in part, without written permission, is specifically prohibited. Authorized as second-class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash. PM40007014
or online. I found from experience that people don’t understand what and how something is said when it is written out in text. Text doesn’t have tone or true emotion. Do people think that just because they aren’t saying rude things to a person’s face that it still isn’t hurtful? Are people getting bottled up with media because they are perhaps scared of facing reality? There is no longer an industrial revolution, it is now the social media revolution. What can be done for this problem that the 21st century is facing? Well put the phone down and have a real conversation with someone, limit time spent with an electronic device in your hand. Go outside and really smell the roses. Or in 4-Hers cases go outside and smell the animals and all the lovely smells that go along with them. And just remember that we only get one chance at life, make it the best that you possibly can and don’t miss anything. Take a moment and look up from your phone and you will see what a great world we live in. I obviously made it through what I thought was the longest weekend ever and came through with a different perspective on having a cellphone, social media and what it means to be a teenager. Life is what happens while the cell phone is charging. — Jody Siemens Speech from Regional 4-H Demonstration and Public Speaking Competition. • ESTABLISHED APRIL 13, 1907 • MEMBER OF THE B.C. PRESS COUNCIL
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The Interior News 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 within 45 days 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
The Interior News
www.interior-news.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
L ETTERS
READY TO GET IN THE FIELD
Federal budget a disappointment
VIEW FROM THE HILL MP Nathan Cullen
Phillistine Olson celebrates her graduation with other Wet’suwet’en graduates Northwest Community College’s School of Exploration & Mining’s Mining Exploration & Natural Resource Field Assistant program in Smithers last Thursday. Coastal GasLink’s $239,000 contribution sponsored 22 seats in the program. Contributed photo
Farmers should run farmers’ market
TO:
Editor: This letter is in response to a recent development regarding the Smithers farmers market. As of April 11 it appears that we the farmers have lost control of our market to a group of crafters, most of whom have no understanding of agriculture and have no interest in farming in the Bulkey Valley. Because of this event it should be noted by our early morning customers, your usual purchase will not be available until 9 o’clock. We would like to thank you for your patronage over the past years and apologize for any inconvenience. It should also be noted that while I can personally live with the changes made on April 11, my question is what happens the next time the crafters decide they need another time change to promote their business, A move such as this would make it seem reasonable to consider a new venue to market our produce. Again I apologize for any inconvenience. Robin Hawes Dunnloggin Ranch Smithers
Letters to the editor policy
Letters are welcomed up to a maximum of 250 words. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, brevity and legality. All letters must include the writer’s name, daytime telephone number and hometown for verification purposes. Anonymous, or pen names will not be permitted. Not all submissions will be published. Letters may be e-mailed to: editor@ interior-news.com.
Would you rather have more truck or train traffic?
for the road repair, but that does not always happen as fast as everyone likes. Bryan Swansburg Smithers
Editor: Canada exists in significant part because of the existence of the railway; the odds are good that those tracks were there before yourself. I hope you are not surprised when the railway capacity expands at about the same rate as the rest of society. So the question is, would you rather have several hundred containers on each train, or would you prefer several hundred more trucks on the highway? Aside from the increased traffic density the trucks will consume at least four times the diesel; and heavy trucks do most of the road damage. And before the truckers get upset, the trucks would generate more employment. I understand that they pay
Your
Grant Harris Publisher
T HE E DITOR
Mining leaves a small footprint Editor: Almost 60 per cent of B.C.’s land base, including parks and protected areas, is either closed to mine development and mineral exploration or has significant restrictions placed upon it. For an industry that contributes significantly to the B.C. economy, that essentially leaves only 40 per cent of the province available for mineral-based economic development regardless of where mineral deposits might be located. If you take things a step further, the area of B.C. covered by registered mineral titles actually covers less than 12 per cent of the
TEAM
Chris Gareau Editor
Laura Botten Front Office
province’s land area. However, the numbers above don’t tell the whole story because the land area actually taken up by mineral exploration and mining activity covers just 0.05 per cent of the province’s land base; and close to half of that is reclaimed and rehabilitated land from older, decommissioned mines. In terms of a core resource industry, BC’s mining and exploration industry has an incredibly small footprint. Which brings me to my main point: if 60 per cent of B.C.’s land base is essentially off limits, how much of our province’s mineral wealth is locked up and economically out of reach? Are there adjustments and accommodations that could reasonably be made to unlock potentially rich mineral deposits? With so much of our province’s land base effectively off limits to mining and mineral exploration it makes sense to ask these questions and see if there may be a better way, because it would be a shame to leave hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars in potential economic activity sitting idle in the ground helping no one. Shane Perich Coquitlam, B.C.
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I wrapped up my first budget as Opposition Finance Critic last week with a teleconference with riding reporters, one of whom lobbed a new question at me: how to scrutinize the federal budget, a huge document of many hundreds of pages that touches on almost every aspect of the daily lives of Canadians. I replied that my job is to give government credit for the good things in the budget and to offer better ideas for the bad. It’s been said the only good parts about Mr. Harper’s budget were lifted directly from the NDP’s economic plan that just three months ago announced a strategy to lower the small business tax to 9 per cent from 11 per cent over two years. The Conservative budget proposes to do this over four years. We also offered help for innovation and for manufacturers to add value to our natural resources. Small businesses in Canada create 80 per cent of all new private sector jobs. They’re the backbone of communities, especially in the Northwest, where our traditional resource-based economy continues to evolve with jobs in tourism, arts and culture, retail, and a wide range of knowledgebased businesses. What needs to be
different from the not-so-good-stuff in Finance Minister Joe Oliver’s delayed budget? Amongst the biggest problems is that too often Oliver grants favours to the wealthy, such as doubling the TaxFree Savings Account limit, and saddles future generations (“Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s granddaughter”) with staggering tax implications. Specific to Northwest BC, this budget is a big bust. Western Economic Diversification, the well from which we primarily draw federal infrastructure funds, was mentioned only once: in relation to a telescope in Hawaii. There’s no funding to boost the Coast Guard that does critical search and rescue and oil spill cleanup, little that adds value to our natural resources, no real ambition to help the mining industry, and the phrase “climate change” isn’t mentioned once. The budget sets aside only $40 million for First Nations education, far from the $1.9 billion promised just last year. And, of course, in order to table a balanced budget, made possible only by raiding the federal contingency fund, this budget offers nothing new for veterans, national child care, minimum wage, or dropping the retirement age back to 65. The federal budget, much like your family budget, is a statement of priorities. Mr. Harper gave so much to those who don’t need help and so little to those who do. Overall, the 2015 federal budget is a disappointment and a wasted opportunity when so much was possible.
THE INTERIOR NEWS, P.O. Box 2560, Smithers, B.C. 3764 Broadway Ave. • Phone 847-3266 Fax 847-2995 NEWS: editor@interior-news.com • ADVERTISING: advertising@interior-news.com
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
N EWS
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Geoscientist presents LNG research By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
The polarizing discussion for and against LNG pipelines in B.C. took a different turn when a wellknown geoscientist raised questions about whether there was enough gas to supply more than one terminal during a talk in Smithers on April 16. David Hughes worked for the Canadian Geological Survey for more than 30 years and is now a fellow with the Post Carbon Institute, a think tank with a focus on promoting sustainable energy. Hosted by the Bulkley Valley Research Centre and the Northwest Institute for Bioregional Research, he delivered a presentation on the future of LNG in B.C. at the Northwest Community College in Smithers. Based on his research for an upcoming report, Hughes said there was disparity between industry forecasts from the National Energy Board and provincial
government projections. The provincial government has committed to having three LNG facilities in operation by 2020. According to information
more than triple from what it is today and that would provide enough gas for one terminal,” he said. “One terminal would essentially wipe out all of Canada’s surplus capacity
“One terminal would essentially wipe out all of Canada’s surplus capacity for exports according to the NEB’s forecast up to 2035,” -David Hughes Geoscientist from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission, projected growth in the industry rests on increased production from the Horn River and Montney basins in the northeast of the province. But Hughes said information in the NEB Canada’s Energy Future 2013 report suggests the province could not produce enough LNG to support more than one terminal. “[The NEB] are suggesting that B.C. will
for exports according to the NEB’s forecast up to 2035.” Hughes researched how many wells would need to be drilled and how much water it would require to support the industry in “high-case” and “low-case” scenarios. If there was more than one terminal, and the NEB figures were correct, he said Canada would need to start importing gas to meet the demand of the processing plants. “The bottom line is if
you believe the NEB is right and we can triple B.C. gas production to build five terminals would mean that Canada would have to import about 70 trillion cubic feet of gas to have enough supply to meet our own requirements plus the needs of those five terminals,” he said. “Anything more than one terminal would push Canada into being a net importer of gas and we’ve been a net exporter for many, many years.” Northwest Institute executive director Pat Moss said her organization had arranged for Hughes to tour the region to provide more detailed analysis of the industry. “Our interest is that there has been a lot of hype about LNG and all this talk about potentially 12, 13 projects in the northwest,” she said. “We’re hearing from the proponents all the time but there hasn’t been a lot of very concrete actual information and at this point no financial decisions have been made to go ahead with any of these projects.”
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TO ALL GRADUATING STUDENTS • CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2015 Bulkley Valley Community Foundation Scholarships and Bursaries The Bulkley Valley Community Foundation provides scholarships and bursaries for 2015 graduating students who attend high school in Smithers, Houston and Hazelton. Applications are accepted from April 1 to May 15, 2015. Scholarships and bursaries are awarded to qualifying students in each of these communities. The information package, bursary and scholarship criteria and application form is available on the Foundation website www.bvcf.ca under the grants icon.
but it’s full of promise when you ask for your returns to be donated to the BC Special Olympics at the Smithers Bottle Depot Advertising space donated by The Interior News
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For further information contact: Ms. Geri Britton, Executive Director BV Community Foundation Box 4584, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0 PH: 250-847-3310 Email: bvfoundation@bulkley.net In Houston: Sandra Lavallie PH: 250-845-7266 The Hazeltons: Pauline Gomez PH: 250-847-7515
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Evelyn Mountain Contracting and Mountain Man Wildfire will be holding Wildland Fire Fighting and Powersaw courses in the month of May. S100 Basic Fire Suppression includes: S130 Fundamentals of Fire Fighting, S190 Fireline Safety, S232 Portable Pumps and Water Delivery Systems & WHMIS $200.00 SA-10 Refresher Course (evening session) $35.00 Powersaw Operator: Maintenance, Safety and Operation $300.00 If interested please email emc@xplornet.com for further information. We are also accepting applications for the 2015 Wildfire season. Please send resumes to emc@xplornet.com or fax to 250-846-5501
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The Interior News
www.interior-news.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
A9
The Smithers Secondary girls’ soccer season kicked off in Terrace.
Contributed photo
Smithers girls kick off season The Smithers Secondary girls played two games April 18 in Terrace in their first soccer tournament of the season. After a month of practicing in the gym, the team was excited to have the opportunity to play outside. With a large number of new players on the team, the weekend’s tournament was the first chance for the team to
play together . The first game was against Terrace. Smithers had a strong start scoring an early goal. The goal scored by Chantel Gammie was a rocket that the goalkeeper was only able to palm upwards into the roof of the net. Terrace dominated the second half but with strong defense, Smithers held out to maintain their lead and
record a 1-0 victory. In their second game, Smithers played Prince Rupert. Both teams battled hard and the game provided great early season conditioning. Smithers played strong defensively and had the greater share of the play and lots of shots, but could not score and the game finished 0-0.
TAKING AIM AT 3-D SHOOT Travis Solmonson lets loose at a grizzly bear target at the Bulkley Valley Bowmen’s Annual Spring 3-D Competition Saturday. The Vanderhoof man was one of 234 archers who took part over the weekend, making it the largest 3-D competition held in Smithers.
Chris Gareau photo
— Contributed
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
S PORTS Taekwon-do students medal
St. Joseph’s School
Pre-Kindergarten Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
Fri., May 15th Doors open at 8am
By Fred Hudson Kelowna
Students from Smithers’ Harmony Taekwon-Do were at the 2015 ITF Western Canadian Championships in Kelowna on April 11. They collected a number of medals: - Ashton Simpson, 7 - bronze in patterns, bronze in sparring. - Isaac Konst, 8 - silver in patterns, silver in sparring. - Ryan Konst, 10 - silver in sparring. - Raquelle Mulvey, 11 - bronze in patterns, gold in sparring. - Sarah Konst, 12 - Sparred. Sarah fought well, losing in the first match to the girl who won her division. - Maddie Berendregt, 14 - silver in sparring. - Alex Berendregt, 14 - silver in sparring. - Own Berendregt, 15 - gold in sparring. - Ed Dewijn - First Dan, 44 - silver in patterns, silver in sparring. - Fred Hudson - Third Dan, 50 - gold in patterns, gold in sparring.
• • • • •
Children must be 4 years of age by December 31, 2015 to enroll in this program. Please bring your child’s Care Card and immunization record. The first month’s fee is payable at time of registration. Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning class $170.00 per month Tuesday & Thursday morning class - $115.00 / month.
Class times are from 8:30 - 11:30 am. Harmony Taekwon-do student Isaac Konst kicks up medals in Kelowna.
For more info call the school office at 250-847-9414
Contributed photo
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Based in Burns Lake, Pine Ridge Modular Homes Ltd. is a family owned and operated full-service modular home dealership. Since opening in 1995, we have delivered hundreds of homes to happy customers all over British Columbia. Our unbeatable prices and service after the sale are what have made our name legendary in Northern BC. We offer free quotes and consultations as part of our dedication to finding the perfect home for your needs and your budget.
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C OMMUNITY
The Interior News
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
A11
Library staff have big ideas for slated new building By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
The team behind the Smithers Public Library says the sky’s the limit when it comes to what the facility could achieve for its community but, for now, bricks and mortar are keeping a lid on their big ambitions. Library board co-chair Corry Tremblay and director Wendy Wright say the local library could play a major role in community development if it had more room to expand. Instead, they say the building is limiting the types of services the library can provide. Shelves are bursting at their seams, forcing library staff to make do with some unusual cataloguing arrangements. Children’s and adult’s nonfiction share the same spaces on shelves too tall for children to reach and wheels have been added to some shelves so they can be wheeled around to make more room. The only place to host readings and public events is in the same communal space used by people who are trying to read and research. Tremblay said the facility was in a “catch-22” situation. “There’s lots of things we could offer but because we don’t have
Smithers Public Library director Wendy Wright and board co-chair Corry Tremblay.
Alicia Bridges photo
the space we can’t do them so then there’s some people that maybe aren’t interested because they think what we have to offer isn’t really what they want,” she said. Efforts to secure funding for a new library started more than a decade ago and plans were drawn up, but the project was put on hold while the Town of Smithers shifted
its focus to the construction of a second sheet of ice. With the ice arena project now complete, town council last week announced it wants to build a new cultural centre as one of its strategic priorities for the period from 20152018. The building would be designed to house a number of organizations
OPEN BURNING AND SPRING CLEANUP WEEK Smithers Fire Rescue would like to remind residents that the Town of Smithers Open Burning Bylaw prohibits any open burning of domestic waste materials, garden refuse, garbage, land clearing or noxious materials. The Town of Smithers Works and Operations crew will pick up extra residential garbage during Spring Cleanup Week May 4th-8th. Please leave your refuse out on your regular calendar day. Items that will not be picked up include: recyclable and compostable materials, white goods (refrigerators, freezers, etc.) batteries, tires, or paint. Garden prunings (small branches & brush) must be bundled & tied and no longer than 4 ft. in length. A compost drop off site is located at the Town of Smithers Works Yard, at 2888 19th Avenue, for residents to drop off leaves, grass clippings and other compostables year round.
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For more information on Spring Cleanup Week, please contact the Works and Operations Department at 250-847-1649 or Smithers Fire Rescue at 250-847-2015.
including the library, museum and art gallery. Dedicated meeting rooms, a quiet area, a separate space for teens, more display areas and places to sit are some of Wright and Tremblay’s hopes for the new facility. They also hope to expand their digital literacy and technology
“A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR REGION” 37, 3RD Avenue, PH: 250-692-3195 PO Box 820, TF: 800-320-3339 Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 FX: 250-692-3305 www.rdbn.bc.ca E-MAIL:inquiries@rdbn.bc.ca
MEETING SCHEDULE 2015 April 30, 2015 ...........RDBN Board Meeting/
SNRHD Meeting May 14, 2015............RDBN Committee Meetings May 28, 2015............RDBN Board Meeting/ SNRHD Meeting June 11, 2015...........RDBN Committee Meetings The Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 will be presented for Board review and approval at the April 30, 2015 Board meeting. The Audited Financial Statements are available for inspection at the Regional District office at 37 3rd Avenue, Burns Lake, B.C. during regular business hours from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday. Meetings tentatively commence at 10:30 a.m. Please call (250) 692-3195/1-800-320-3339 for further information
PUBLIC IS WELCOME
programming, which Tremblay said was an increasingly important part of the library. Now that the town has shown its support for a new building, the library is calling on the community to start sharing their ideas for the proposed space. “One of the other jobs we have ahead of us is inspiring the community to let them know all the different possibilities for libraries and that it could be so much more than what it is,” said Wright. “The next step would be hearing from the community which of those things they want to see here in Smithers and communicating all of that back to town council to make it a reality.” Smithers mayor Taylor Bachrach outlined the vision for the new building when he announced it as part of the town’s list of strategic priorities. “It’s about creating a civic space where the community can come together and not only engage in arts and culture activities but build community,” he said. “I think right now the library provides a bit of a unique space in that regard, it’s open to everyone, there’s no cost to participate but it’s very small and it’s an old building so hopefully this strategy will help take that to the next level.”
NOTICE TO ALL WATER USERS The Town of Smithers Works and Operations Department will be conducting a Flushing Program beginning Monday, May 4, 2015 until approximately Friday, May 29, 2015. One week prior to the Flushing Program beginning, chlorine will be added to the system in controlled quantities, to offset iron, bacteria, silts and other substances that have settled out of the water and become lodged in the distribution system. Users will probably be able to detect the taste or odour of this chlorine until approximately June 5, 2015. The quantity of chlorine injected into the system will not be allowed to exceed two milligrams per litre and will not be injurious to your health. This is a normal chlorination dosage in many communities. Anyone finding this taste or odour objectionable will be able to quickly dissipate it by allowing a container of water to stand with the surface uncovered for a short time, or by boiling the water for a couple of minutes. If, during the course of the flushing program, the water from your taps becomes coloured or dirty, please run taps continuously for a period of time, and you will find that the problem will clear up. Should that action not correct any problem with taste, colour or odour, feel free to contact Dale Chartrand, Chief Utilities Operator, at 250-847-1649. Also, by running your taps prior to laundry washing and avoiding the use of chlorine bleach in your laundry during the course of the flushing program, you will minimize the possibility of laundry staining caused by Manganese. The Town would like to thank water users for their patience and co-operation during the Flushing Program. Our aim is to provide the community with the best quality of water possible.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
C OMMUNITY
Invitation to Submit Proposals
Telkwa museum gets a facelift for Monday’s grand re-opening
One of the oldest buildings in Telkwa has received a facelift just in time for its grand re-opening this month. The Telkwa Museum Society spent the last five months upgrading the village museum, putting up new walls, installing shelving units and cupboards in the back display area, and cleaning and dusting the roughly 3,000 artifacts currently on display. Before, the museum would take donations from community members and due to lack of storage space, had to put the items unorganized in the backroom. “People donate to us and we had nowhere to put the donations other than to just keep stacking them,” said Linda Hanson, treasurer with the Telkwa Museum Society. Now, the new shelving units allow them to categorize and display the items
for people to see. “It looks like junk, but it’s not, it’s all really important artifacts and history of our area. Now we have a place to put all of our artifacts that are not on display and people can come into the back and see them,” she said. In addition to the upgrades, they have scraped and waxed the floors and reorganized some of the displays. The society received a $5,000 grant from Wetzin’Kwa Community Forest last year and were able to match the donation with some 14 volunteers donating roughly 230 hours to complete the project. “People are so excited to come and see what’s in here and now the room is tidy enough that we can have people come in and do research,” said Hanson. “It’s a resting spot for our heritage and for our history.” The last time the volunteer-run museum did renovations was two years ago when they replaced old single-paned windows with double-paned windows,
which has also helped reduce heating costs. Hanson said this is just the beginning of numerous upgrades that they hope to make to the decades-old building. Up next, they hope to have a fundraiser to start a database so they can catalogue all their artifacts and donations. “People can use that for research and can go back to the back stacks and find the items,” she said. In the future, they also hope to have a space where locals and visitors can research the area. The building was originally a school and was moved to its current location and turned into the museum in 1986. Last year, the museum saw roughly 1,400 people come through their doors between May and September. The grand re-opening of the museum is on May 4, where they will also unveil a plaque acknowledging the founders of the museum and their two new displays: a fishing display and a doll collection.
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Items FOR SALE up to $500
Featured Athlete Megan Hunter The archery world has a new sharp shooter in Meghan Hunter. The 12-year-old from Telkwa took part in the Bulkley Valley Bowmen’s Annual Spring 3-D Competition Saturday after falling in love with the sport just one week earlier. Meghan wanted to try her hand with a bow after watching her cousins loose arrows. “I’ve been doing pretty good,” beamed the young archer after taking a shot from a tree stand.
Great Mother’s Day Gift ideas for the Golfer!
ECONO ADS
The Village of Telkwa invites all downtown commercial businesses to submit proposals for the above program. The Village has secured $20,000 grant funding available for commercial property owners in the downtown core that are wishing to improve their facades. Selected projects will be reimbursed up to 50% of the eligible renovation costs to a maximum of $5,000. Application packages can be found on the Village’s website www.telkwa.com and are available at the Village’s office. The application deadline is May 15 th, 2015. Every application will be reviewed by the Façade Improvement Advisory Committee and selections are expected to be announced by end of May.
UB
Telkwa/Interior News
Façade Improvement Program
CL
By Kendra Wong
Downtown Telkwa
$
5+GST
Ph. 847-3266 Fax 847-2995 3764 Broadway Avenue, Smithers
“Definitely,” is how Meghan answered whether she would keep up her newfound passion.
Dan’s Source for Sports congratulates Megan, please come and see us for your $25 Gift Certificate. Proud to support local and aspiring athletes in the Bulkley Valley.
1214 Main St., Smithers • 250-847-2136
The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
C OMMUNITY Big turnout to Daffodil Dash
g n ri
Sp
A13
ch Com e ou ck e t! it
Carnival
Friday, May 1st 6:30–8:30 St. Joseph’s School Gym
By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
Crowds of walkers, runners and cyclists crisscrossed central Smithers on Sunday to raise more than $10,000 in the first annual Daffodil Dash. The event, which has replaced the Relay for Life locally, comprised a three kilometre or five kilometre walk, run or bike with challenges along the way. From croquet courses to giant jenga with a fitness-based twist, the event put the spotlight on health and fitness while raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society. The Bulkley Born & Bred team raised the most money for the event, collecting $3,745 in donations. Cody Campbell raised the most for an individual with a donation of $1,715.
www.interior-news.com
Great games & prizes, silent auction, cake walk, food and LOTS of FUN for the family!
Participants walk between challenges at the first annual Daffodil Dash on Sunday.
Chris Gareau photo
MOST PEOPLE BRUSH THEIR TEETH THE SAME WAY EACH DAY. CHANGE HANDS TO REACH NEW SPOTS.
PIRATES TAKE EBENEZER
To learn more talk to your dentist or visit yourdentalhealth.ca
Ebenezer Canadian Reformed School students dress up in preparation for their performance of The Pirates of Penzance at the Della Herman Theatre May 7-9. Tickets are available at Speedee or the Ebenezer School Office for $10.
Contributed photo
Midsummer Music Festival Volunteers
donated by the
Your transition to less pain and more mobility.
WE HAVE MOVED! Our office is now open in our new location, 1260 King Street (corner of King and Third, across from Muheim School). Everyone welcome. No referrals required. 1260 King Street, Smithers TEL: (250) 877-7575
Volunteer and join us July 3, 4, 5.
info@transitionsphysio.com
• midsummer music festival • smithersmusicfest.com •
CH Portman Physical Therapist Corp.
• Call Kaila 250.893.8977 or Mountain Eagle Books •
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A14 www.interior-news.com
Northwest
The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
60 Exhibitors & the Auto Dealers Show!
Civic Arena
EXPO
Bring down the kids! Have a Ball Rentals is set up with their
At the Chamber of Commerce booth we’re honouring our airport and local airlines with a
Hawkair Trip for 2 Draw
just climb inside and play in their pool
Just bring down any confirmation paper showing you’ve flown out of Smithers within the past two years and you qualify… email confirmation papers or any expired ticket. Thank you for flying locally
6 to 8 pm Friday, May 1 10 to 5 Saturday, May 2 Have a Ball Rentals 847-3665
D D O O U U B B L L E E E E X X P P O O S S U U R R E E
Human Hamster Balls,
Stage Entertainment Schedule Friday Juanita MacIntyre guitarist/vocalist 4:30pm Keith Cummings, organist/vocalist 5 pm Ransome Slaughter & Dan, guitarists/vocalists 5:30 Simone Hug and her music students 6:00 Alanna Butler and her music students 6:30 Theresa Mohr, guitarist/vocalist 7:00 Creative Roots Dancers 7:30 Peter Dawson, guitarist/vocalist 8:00 Kristina Willing, guitarist/vocalist 8:30
BV Home Centre
Over 74 years of one on one service to your community
Bulkley Valley CREDIT UNION Come see the exciting new products at our booth.
Hwy 16 – Houston 250-845-7606
Hwy 16 – Telkwa 250-846-5856
Library Story Time 11, 11:30, 12 Laura Owens singer/guitarist 12:30 Chicken Creek Band 1:00 Juanita MacIntyre, guitarist/vocalist 1:30 Simone Hug and her music students 2:00 Keith Cummings, organist/vocalist 2:30 Kristina Willing, guitarist/vocalist 3:00 Peter Dawson, guitarist/vocalist 3:30 Theresa Mohr, guitarist/vocalist 4:00 Ransome Slaughter and Dan 4:45
Outdoor Show New Arena
Together we have so much more to offer. Serving from the Hazeltons to The Lakes District See us at Booths 39 & 40
Friday May 1 from 3pm to 9pm Saturday, May 2 from 10 am to 6pm Admission $3 -
Saturday
Children 8 & under free
SMITHERS DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EVERYTHING GLASS! Glass Glass for for your your Auto, Auto, Home Home && Business Business
District Chamber of Commerce
“We Mean Business”
The Interior News
Northwest
Friday May 1 from 3pm to 9pm Saturday, May 2 from 10 am to 6pm Admission $3 - Children 8 & under free
Trade Expo
Civic Arena - Vendor & Booth No. All West Glass 36/49 Alpine Physiotherapy 46 Bluestone Mini Treat Bulkley Valley Credit Union 39/40 Butterfly Dreams Linen 30 BV Electric 38 BV Exhibition 5 BV Home Centre 23 BV Museum / BV Genealogical Society 32 BV Rod & Gun Club 6 CFNR 45 Childrens’ Play Area 17 CJFW CityWest 24a Coast Mountain GM DeJongs Mini Doughnuts Doug Donaldson MLA 35a Eden Spa 27/28 Four Dimension Computer 7 Frontier Chrysler Hart Modular Homes 48 Hawkair Aviation 16 Hoskins Ford Hugs Healthy Organics / Classical Homeopathy 31 Hy-Tech Drilling 21 New Arena
Evergreen Industrial
www.interior-news.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Kendra’s First Aid 25 Mary Kay Cosmetics 47 Nathan Cullen MP 41 North Central Plumbing & Heating Northern BC Tourism 37 Northern Vacuum, Sewing & Spirit Stone 11 Pacific Homes / Ptarmigan Meadows 42/43 Pine Ridge Modular Homes 35 Praxair 36a St.Joseph’s School (food) 26 Seabridge Gold 22 Seacret Skin Care Seawest Hardwood Floor Refinishing Sitka Tree Service 44 SpeeDee Interior Stationery 9&10 Skeena Sight and Sound 19&20 Smithers Exploration Group 24 Smithers Family Chiropractic 18 Smithers Public Library / Friends of the Library 2/3 Smithers Rugby (food) 33 Starlynx 21a Student Works Painting 29 Sweet Dreams Esthetics 12 Synergy Arts Photography & Videography The Co-operators 15 The Moose FM 1
Tourism Prince George 8 Town of Smithers 4 Tropical Pool & Spa 13/14 Wetzinkwa Community Forest 34 Home Based Businesses - Vendor & Booth No. Integrity Lock & Key HB1 Jeunne Global HB2 Origami Owls Designer HB9 Rick’s Photography HB10 Simply Delish Soups / CD Walkers / ECO Spa HB5/6 Skeena Bat Project HB7 Taylor Sound / Jamberry Nails HB8 Young Living Tri Young Living HB3 Younique HB4 New Arena Aquabatics Sports Glacier Toyota Harley Davidson / Wayside Industrial Evergreen Industrial KD Cloths Loggers Sports Neid Enterprises Sullivan RV Sales & Service Valhalla Pure Civic Arena Main Entrance
Glacier Toyota
Auto Dealers Show
Coast Mountain GM, Frontier Chrysler, Hoskins Ford
Aquabatics Sports
Neid Enterprises
Exit
1
KD Cloths
Loggers Sports Info.
2 Valhalla Pure
Harley Davidson
36
HB5
HB1
HB6
HB2
HB7 HB8
3
Sullivan RV Sales & Service
49
HB9
Exit
35
24
23
35a
24a
22
HB4
34
25
21
33
26
21a
HB3
4
HB10
36a
5
48
37
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38
6
Smithers Chamber
Seating
Stage
7 8 Exit
9 10
46
39
45
40
32
27
44
41
31
28
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Exit
11
20 19 18 Childrens Play Area
12
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Sponsors: The 2015 Northwest Trade Expo is brought to you by : Event Organizer
Exhibitors’ Reception
Exhibitors’ Draw
Stage Entertainment
Trip for Two Kids Inflatable
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www.interior-news.com
The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
C OMMUNITY
The Bulkley Valley Museum wants you to take its survey This is open to May 15 with results shared on bvmuseum.com. The number of women entering convents
has risen six-fold in the past decade, highest in 25 years. Dissatisfaction with modern society, searching for meaning in
our culture, finding that meaning through religious life. I went to an all girls Catholic school taught by nuns. At one
time I wanted to be a nun, but grew out of that fairly quickly. It seems such a choice is drastic but some orders offer
“taster weekends” where one can get a “taste” of what the life is like. Book sale: May 2930. Drop off donations
at the library. Closing with: Great minds have purposes, little minds have wishes. —Washington Irving
VIEW FROM THE PORCH Lorraine Doiron Have you ever watched people waiting to cross the street at a light? I see some who hit the button for the “OK to cross” sign just once. Others hit the button two or three times. One young fellow kept hitting it until he was able to cross. Human nature is wonderful to see. Did you know that dementia affects one in six people over the age of 80? Prevention using five key strategies: moderate physical exercise, brain exercise, no smoking, a healthy diet, looking after your heart. The Residential Tenancy Branch is visiting Smithers May 14 for a free information session. The focus will be on the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. You will need to register: HSRTO@gov. bc.ca, put “Northern BC Workshop” in the subject line or by phone 604-880-1816. The Bulkley Valley Genealogical Society Perennial Plant Sale is May 23 at Goat Statue Park. Have a look at the available plants from 8–9 a.m. Sale is 9 a.m.12 p.m. Need help digging up your plants or to arrange pickup? Call Karen 250-847-9052 or Dale 250-847-2107 until May 20. A raffle that day of gardening items. Tickets are at downtown merchants in Smithers, Telkwa and Houston. Also on sale at Safeway on Fridays and Saturdays plus most BVGS members have tickets. The Bulkley Valley Museum is conducting a survey. They would like to know how the Museum is perceived. The results of the survey will inform policy and programming decisions, as well as broader visioning and strategic planning. A 10-question survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RDW5S2L.
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*Offer includes TELUS Satellite TV Basic Package and is available until June 1, 2015, where access and line of sight permit, to residential customers who have not subscribed to TELUS TV or Home Phone in the past 90 days. Cannot be combined with other offers. Regular prices apply at the end of the promotional period. TELUS Satellite TV is not available to residents of multi-dwelling units. Rates include a $5/mo. discount for bundled services and a $3/mo. digital service fee. TELUS reserves the right to modify channel lineups and packaging, and regular pricing without notice. HDTV-input-equipped television required to watch HD. Minimum system requirements apply. Final eligibility for the services will be determined by a TELUS representative. TELUS Home Phone and Long Distance service terms apply; visit telus.com/serviceterms for details. Taxes and 911 service charges are extra. Calling features available in most areas. Prices may vary by area. Some restrictions apply; visit telus.com/homephone for details. Long distance rates apply to direct-dialled long distance calls only, for residential customers having TELUS as their primary long distance carrier. Some restrictions apply; visit telus.com/longdistance for details. Calls terminating in the 218 and 712 area codes and overseas calls terminating on a wireless phone or audio-text facility may be subject to higher rates. Unlimited calling applies to calls to both wireless and wireline phones in Canada, the U.S., China, Hong Kong, India and Singapore. For all other listed countries, unlimited calling applies to calls to wireline phones only. TELUS, the TELUS logo, TELUS Satellite TV, telus.com and the future is friendly are trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under licence. © 2015 TELUS. TEL421_STV_SmithersInteriorNews_8_83x12.indd 1
4/9/15 4:20 PM
O UR T OWN
The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
www.interior-news.com
A17
Biodome’s far-reaching benefits not just environmental By Kendra Wong Smithers/Interior News
You are what you eat. It’s a motto that Rick Hubert understands well. The Smithers Secondary School teacher is the brains behind one of the school’s most popular and widelyrecognized projects — the geodesic dome greenhouse and biomeiler. The biodome is currently being used to grow and harvest a variety of vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, beets and radishes, which are used to feed students in the school. The biodome project began with Hubert two years ago as a way of helping his wife who has cancer. “I started thinking ‘why
isn’t she getting better, we’re doing everything right’,” he said. “Then it started hitting me one day. To get better, you need to have really nutritious food and that’s how you get a body better.” Through research, Hubert found that food grown on a large agricultural scale is missing a lot of the vital trace minerals and nutrients that the body needs. “Then I started thinking, if we’re going to get my wife better, we need to start growing our own food,” said Hubert, who recently won the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. From the fall to winter 2013, Hubert, along with a handful of students, set out to build the biodome. According to Grade 10 student Logan Lush, the
most challenging part was getting the right angles to assemble it. “There’s two different shapes, pentagons and octagons, so you have to cut all those angles so that it builds the dome,” said Lush. Emily Hobley McCosker, also a Grade 10 student, got involved with the project two years ago and volunteered to help build the biomeiler, an environmentally-friendly boiler. “I’ve always had a passion for helping the environment,” she said. “I just have a desire to live in a world that’s clean for everyone.” The 120-cubic metre biomeiler consists of three to four layers of manure, wood chips and compost, and heats water to circulate through the biodome.
2015 Bulkley Valley Soccer www.bvsoccer.ca Houston•Smithers•Telkwa•Hazelton SOCCER PARENTS Bulkley Valley Soccer Meeting Monday, May 11th at 6:00pm Aspen Conference Room For more information, please call Suzanne Rourke at 250-847-3577
For the
Month of May
50
¢
from every Pharmasave
Brand Product purchased will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life
Monday – Friday 9 am – 9 pm • Saturday 9 am – 6 pm • •Sunday & Holidays 10 am – 5 pm • Seniors’ Day every day • 10% off 3752 4th Avenue • Smithers •250.847.4474 (some exclusions may apply)
The school’s cooking class currently plant and harvest the vegetables and use them in the class. They have also started a project where they collect and bag produce to sell to staff and students as a salad. In the summer, they’ll be supplying food for some summer camps. Recently, Hubert was awarded a $4,000 grant to expand the project. In the back corner of the compound, they plan on starting a 1,600-square foot permaculture-style garden with fruit trees and berries, which they hope will be up and running this year. As for his wife, Hubert said the project has had a positive impact on her health. “You’re not supposed to live after a brain tumour and
SSS students celebrate winning $25,000 in a national contest for school-based green initiatives last week.
Chris Gareau photo
she has . . . she’s doing okay, but it’s dangerous where she’s at,” he said. “Not necessarily the products out of the greenhouse, but the stuff that we’re incorporating, I don’t believe for a second that she
could be alive if it wasn’t for all this stuff we are doing.” SSS last week won $25,000 in the Staples Canada Superpower Your School Contest. It was one of 10 winners chosen from 600 entries.
5 1 0 2 n r a e Ready, Set, L r o f n o i t a t i v n An I s r a e y 4 & 3 n e Childr nts e r a p r i e h t & old READY SET LEARN EVENT DATES Choose ONE event to attend and REGISTER at the school below: Friday, May 8th WALNUT PARK SCHOOL 9:30-11:30am Monday, May 11th MUHEIM SCHOOL 9:30-11:30am Tuesday, May 12th, TELKWA SCHOOL 9:30-11:30am Wednesday, May 13th, LAKE KATHLYN SCHOOL 9:30-11:30am Thursday, May 14th, SILVERTHORNE & TWAIN SULLIVAN SCHOOLS (hosted by Silverthorne School 3:00-5:30pm, includes Dinner) Ready Set Learn Events are open to ALL childre Participate in a n 3 & 4 years ol variety of skill an d and their fam d pl ay based activiti and community ilies. es, enjoy a snac service provider k, meet school s. Receive a fa staff mily resource A JOIN IN ON T CTIVITY bag. HE EARLY L EARNING FU www.bced.gov. N! For more in bc.ca/early_lea formation: rning
For further information 250-847-5517
A18
A&E
www.interior-news.com
The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Mask-making offers connection to nature By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
Becoming one with nature through creative expression is the focus of a mask-making workshop being held at the Smithers Art Gallery this weekend. Hosted by Julie Chaplin and Kym Putnam, the Speaking Up Behind The Mask workshop will take participants through a process of connecting with the natural world through the creation of their own mask. The two-day workshop will begins on Saturday, when participants will learn how to mould a mask from their own face using plaster strips. On Sunday, Chaplin said the group would move outside. “The second day is going to be set aside going out into nature, spending time in nature
and doing a meditation, finding an element of nature that we’re really drawn to and then sitting and listening to its message or wisdom,” she said. Inspired by that experience, the group will then decorate their masks. Chaplin said she was inspired to run the workshop by her own experience attending a similar workshop. “It was just an awakening kind of moment, finding our own intuition inside, our own answers to our questions within us instead of seeking them elsewhere, but just using our own inner wisdom,” she said. Registration for the workshop, which begins on Saturday at 5 p.m., closes at midnight tonight. Contact Julie Chaplin on 250-847-4824 or register online at http://outdoormommas.com/ Speaking Up Behind The Mask workshop co-organizer Julie Chaplin prepares supplies for the event events/speak-up-behind-the- at Smithers Art Gallery this weekend. Registrations close at midnight tonight. Alicia Bridges photo mask-workshop/.
EXTRACTING B.C.’S NATURAL GAS TO PRODUCE LNG A SPECIAL SERIES ON LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
Hydraulic fracturing is a tried and tested way of accessing natural gas.
18-150 metres:
Typical depth of potable water sources and domestic wells in B.C. Typical depth of a hydraulically fractured natural gas well in B.C.:
2,000-4,500 metres
100%
of natural gas wells have multiple layers of steel casing cemented in place to protect groundwater
85%
of all new natural gas wells in B.C. are hydraulically fractured
98.5%
of the fracturing fluid is a mixture of water and sand; the rest is additives, many of which are found in everyday household products
Hydraulic fracturing is not new to British Columbia. It has been used for nearly 60 years to extract natural gas safely and efficiently. The natural gas industry, including hydraulic fracturing, is regulated by the BC Oil and Gas Commission, which employs hydrologists, agrologists, geologists, reservoir engineers and environmental analysts who ensure that the industry is following B.C.’s laws and regulations. The Commission also hosts fracfocus.ca, a website that provides detailed and objective information about hydraulic fracturing in B.C. The BC LNG Alliance is the voice of British Columbia’s new LNG export industry. Our mission is to foster the growth of a safe, environmentally responsible and globally competitive LNG industry in British Columbia and Canada.
Connect with us: bclnga.ca
I 778.370.1392 I
@bclnga
I
in BC LNG Alliance
Cecilia Elaine Midnight, 72 years old of Smithers, BC, passed away on April 18, 2015 following a short fight with cancer. Cee was born in Vancouver on November 20, 1942. Her greatest love was spending time with family and friends. Cee is survived by her husband Allan and will be sorely missed by him. Allan will treasure the 51 happy years he had with her. Cee is survived by her daughter Debbie, her two sons Michael and Vincent, her two granchildren Brooke and Cody, two Sisters Jean and Kathleen and one brother Ken. Cee was a member of CWL where she made many treasured friends in Smithers and the north west. A memorial service for Cee will be held Friday, May 8, 1:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish.
The Interior News
www.interior-news.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
A23
C OMMUNITY A gardening recipe for ‘chemical be gone’
FOR THE BIRDS Brenda Mallory
When did gardening get so complicated? Gone are the days of starting a few seeds in some good soil and hoping for the best. Have you seen the products on the market that will get rid of bugs, grow something in the shade, seed for the back lawn and something different for the front? Of course it is not a good thing to have any bugs or weeds in your garden. What do we do? Buy some good chemicals that will kill one or the other. There are titles like Weed B Gone, Slug B Gone, Ant B Gone and
Real Estate
Real Estate
so it goes. As sure as the day is long someone will call me and tell me they have Robin B gone or some other bird is missing from the summer garden. Kind of makes sense when you think about it. You muck about with the natural process in the garden killing worms and other bugs. The birds get sick or just don’t come to your garden. What do you think all those chemicals are doing to your pet or your child? You can make a weed killer or lawn tonic with things from your home
Real Estate
Real Estate
pantry. Stuff like ammonia, dish detergent, vinegar, and other things. Here is a recipe for weed killer: one gallon white vinegar, one cup salt, one tablespoon liquid dish soap. Mix it up and use some sort of spray system to kill weeds. It will kill other plants but it is worth a try. What do I know? I don’t kill weeds. I do attack slugs with my salt shaker. The big wasp year had me getting rid of those with my fish and water traps. The birds survived, my dogs and cats were not sick and I saved a lot of money.
Real Estate
Real Estate
Bulkley Valley Real Estate
To be honest I would rather have lots of flowers and a few weeds. I have to admit I quite like the look of chickweed and dandelions. Both can be eaten. Next time you are loading up on chemical treatments read the label to see if the product is worth your investment. Check online just in case there is a safer solution to your gardening problems. Let me know what you think when you call 250-846-5095 or email your suggestions to mallory@bulkley.net.
Real Estate
Real Estate
Email: remaxbv@telus.net Located in the Log Office at 3568 Hwy. 16 Each Office Independently Owned & Operated
250-847-5999
Pick up your FREE copy of our Real Estate Flyer and our map of the Bulkley Valley. View more of our listings online at www.remaxsmithersbc.ca or on Facebook.
$54,900
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
$263,500
$355,000
NEW LISTING
$199,500
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
$340,000
$289,900
NEW LISTING
#94 - 95 Laidlaw Road
1474 Chestnut Street, Telkwa
3845 Fourteenth Avenue
1509 Chestnut Crescent, Telkwa
48680 Mill Bay, Granisle
4372 Birch Crescent
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Nicely upgraded 14’ wide mobile Quick possession All appliances included www.realestatesmithers.com
Leo Lubbers
mls n244246
$95,000
NEW PRICE
Squeaky clean, 3 bdrm + den home Attractive hickory floor, cozy fireplace Big fenced backyard, nice sundeck www.smithershomes.com
Ron Lapadat NEW PRICE
mls n244299
$460,000
5 bedrm, 3 bathroom, 3300 s.f. home Open layout, big master bdrm, ensuite 2 bdrm inlaw suite, 24x24 workshop www.smithershomes.com
Ron Lapadat
mls n244218
$77,500
NEW PRICE
Handyman special! 2098 sf, 5 bdrm, 3 bathroom home Garage, paved drive, views Sundeck, garden shed
Karen Benson
mls n244144
$446,000
NEW PRICE
Beautiful home on Babine Lake Large sundeck, osbe, shop, carport Vaulted ceiling, bright, open layout Gardens, greenhouse, full basement
Jantina Meints
Spic & span, updated 4 bdrm, 2 bath Newer roof, furnace, hotwater tank Great views, next to Dogwood Park www.smithershomes.com
Ron Lapadat
$48,500
NEW PRICE
mls n
$437,500
NEW PRICE
Lot 1 Upland Road
Francois Lk, NoraLee Resort
Lot A Morris Road, Telkwa
#25 – 7691 Highway 16
#39 - 95 Laidlaw Road
4346 Whalen Road
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+/- 11.7 acres, treed, private Established road to house site Shallow well, minutes to Smithers www.realestatesmithers.com
Leo Lubbers NEW PRICE
mls n238150
8 cabin units, RV site 15 acres with 1200’ frontage Operate the storage + restaurant www.realestatesmithers.com
Leo Lubbers
mls n4507208
5.4 acre view lot near Telkwa Established driveway, no GST Great building sites, mature trees www.smithershomes.com
Ron Lapadat
$389,500
$239,900
mls n238736
Enjoy lakefront living 5 bdrm, 4 bathroom, vaulted ceilings Large sundeck, double garage Mountain and lake views
Sandra Hinchliffe
$189,500
mls n238238
14x70 mobile, 3 bedrooms Upgrades to floor, paint, windows Appliances incl, quick possession www.realestatesmithers.com
Leo Lubbers
$269,900
mls n242860
5 acres, paved road, 4 bedrooms New kitchen, bathrm, exterior stucco In-law suite or home based space www.realestatesmithers.com
Leo Lubbers
$294,500
mls n241601
$439,500
3567 Second Avenue
9199 Bluff Road
#10 - 3278 Park Place
#11 - 1205 Montreal Street
3885 Seventh Avenue
4391 Reiseter Avenue
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Solid, roomy 4 bedroom rancher Large 75x125 lot, by Muheim School Concrete foundation, vinyl windows www.smithershomes.com
Ron Lapadat
mls n243723
Panoramic view of Tyhee Lake 3 bedroom rancher, detached studio Huge deck, hot tub Double garage, 5 acres
Donna Grudgfield
mls n243369
1134 s.f. 2 bedroom home Addition for third bedroom 8x24 covered sundeck, fenced yard 8x13 front entry, freshly painted
Donna Grudgfield
$345,000
$545,000
mls n243290
2 bedroom, 1170 s.f. condo Enclosed garage, double paved drive Lots of upgrades, new flooring Nat gas fireplace, new deck
Donna Grudgfield
$349,900
mls n243234
Great family home 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms Newer windows, doors, flooring Central location
Peter Lund
$239,900
D L O
S
mls n243714
Impeccable rancher, walk out bsmt Vaulted ceilings, 4 bdrms, 3 baths West exposure, Silverking subdivision www.smithershomes.com
Ron Lapadat
$170,000
mls n242062
$235,000
5855 Lake Kathlyn Road
1335 Driftwood Crescent
1431 Driftwood Crescent
3952 Broadway Avenue
4157 Second Avenue
3684 Railway Avenue
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4 bedroom main house, 4000 sf shop Detached office/studio Telus tower contract in place Seller may trade for a home in town
Donna Grudgfield
mls n241290
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Cute starter home 2 bedrooms, fenced yard High eff furnace, detached garage Great value
Sandra Hinchliffe
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mls n242318
Come see us at the
2015 Northwest Trade Expo May 1 & 2
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3684 Princess Crescent
32449 Colleymount Road
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2200 Hankin Ave, Telkwa
• • • •
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Well maintained and solid 4 bedrooms, fenced yard Excellent commercial location Zoned residential or commercial
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mls n241601
Peter Lund Res. 847-3435
Brand new quality building One & two bedroom condos Wheelchair accessible, elevator 6 appliances, central location
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100 acre lake shore farm Custom built 1996 3/4 bdrm home Beach, boat ramp, parklike Recreation life style
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1845 sf, 4 bedroom rancher New Hazelton prime residential area Open design, wheelchair friendly Huge park like lot
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mls n237285
Charlie McClary Cell. 877-1770
Unique home, converted church Living area has 14’ ceilings Many upgrades including furnace Pellet stove, OSBE, garage
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Jantina Meints Cell. 847-3144
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A24
www.interior-news.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
THREE RIVERS REPORT
The Interior News
Church could hand over hospital management By Alicia Bridges Hazeltons/Interior News
Management of the churchrun Wrinch Memorial Hospital could be handed over to Northern Health depending on the outcome of a public meeting next week. United Church Health Services (UCHS), which operates the hospital in affiliation with Northern Health, is developing a plan for health services for the period until 2018. Next week the UCHS board will hold a community meeting inviting feedback on the plan, including whether or not the church should hand over management to the provincial government’s Northern Health authority. Wrinch Memorial Hospital, which also has a pharmacy and dental clinic on its grounds, is the last remaining facility operated by UCHS.
SMITHERS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Alyssa Anderson Sunday 10:00 AM Worship & Children’s Program
At the corner of Queen St. & 8th
250-847-3333
Bethel Reformed Church Welcomes you to worship with us 10 am & 2:30 pm every Sunday
Pastor Lou Slagter 3115 Gould Place Smithers
250-847-2080
CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Sunday Worship Services temporarily at 11:15 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (4023 First Ave.) Sunday School for ages 3-6 during the morning worship service. Pastor Ken Vander Horst
smitherscrc@telus.net Phone 250-847-2333
“Groundwork” on The Peak at 9:30 am Sundays
Vancouver Coastal Health took over management of its other two hospitals in Bella Coola and Bella Bella in 2013. UCHS board member Peggy Muir, who is based in Hazelton, said next week’s public meeting would help determine whether the community wants Northern Health to take over. “If they think that the Northern Health could run it better and more efficiently we would certainly listen to that,” she said. “On the other hand if they say ‘we really want the United Church to stay in the hospital’ then we would work at doing that, at least in the near future and see how things go as far as physicians and other staff.” She said one major difference with the health authority in charge would be the loss of a local hospital board.
SUPERCHARGED IDEAS Majagaleehl Gali Aks Elementary School Grade 1 student Jayden Northwind proudly displays his entry in the 2015 Pacific Northwest Regional Science Fair in Smithers from April 17-18.
Robert Purney photo
See PUBLIC on A25
Come worship with us at
Main St. Christian Fellowship
FAITH REFORMED CHURCH OF TELKWA Pastor James Folkerts (URC-NA) 1170 Hwy 16, Telkwa
Sunday mornings 10:30 a.m. Pastor Rick Apperson
Services at 10 am & 2:30 pm
1065 Main St., Smithers Phone: 250-847-1059
Faith Alive Christian Fellowship Upper floor Fitness Northwest Centre, Broadway Ave. 10-12 noon Sundays Youth meeting Fridays at 7 pm
Listen to “Whitehorse Inn program” Sundays at 9 am on The Peak 870 am
Join us for Services. Renew your FAITH! We welcome visitors and new members.
ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH
FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH
Rev. Jacob Worley
Morning Worship 10:45 am with Junior Church and Nursery
1636 Princess Street
Sunday 10:00 am - Service and Sunday School
4th Sunday
2:00 pm service at St. John the Divine, Quick
Rev. Don Mott, Phone 250-847-3864
250-847-6155 • Quick 250-847-9881 • Smithers
on the corner of Queen St. and 7th Ave.
Pastor Chris Kibble www.smithersbaptist.ca
250-847-3725
This proof has been carefully prepared by THE INTERIOR NEWS
according to our understanding of your specifications. It may contain CANADIAN Mount Zion errors, please check for proper spelling of names, prices and phone numbers. Fax changes to us at 847-2995 REFORMED CHURCH Lutheran Church Sunday Worship Services
Meeting in the Historic St. Stephen’s Church
10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
1620 Highway 16 in Telkwa
Pastor James Slaa 2788 Upper Viewmount Rd. All welcome to attend! Contact number 250-847-5879 www.smitherscanrc.org
Sunday Morning Worship 10 am
For information e.mail mtzionsmithers@yahoo.ca
Saturday Service • Everyone Welcome •
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
Welcomes You! Sunday Celebration Service 10:30 a.m. Children’s Ministries during service Corner of Viewmount Rd South & Hwy 16
250-847-2466 www.mvachurch.com Affiliated with the PAOC
Seventh Day Adventist Contact 250-847-5983 3696 4th Avenue
Rev. Dwayne Goertzen Pastor Trevor Brawdy 250-847-2929 Email: efree@uniserve.com Website: www.smithersefc.org Services at 9 & 11:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. 1838 Main St.
The Interior News
www.interior-news.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
T HREE R IVERS R EPORT Community feedback sought From CHURCH on A24 The Wrinch Memorial Hospital Advisory Board is made up of community members, including First Nations representation, and provides input on how the budget is spent. Muir said UCHS had not been pressured by Northern Health to step aside and that the church was willing to continue running the hospital if that was the community’s preference. She added the hospital would not be closed under either management. “The same people in the community always worry that the hospital is going to be closed and so the United Church would not want the hospital to be closed, it would not close it,” she said. “Northern Health has said very strongly that they would not close the hospital if
they did take over the running of it.” Northern Health spokesperson Jonathon Dyck issued a brief statement in response to questions about a potential management change. “We have a good working relationship with the United Church Health Services Society,” he said. “If there were to be changes to the operations at Wrinch Memorial Hospital, it would be a collaborative effort.” Gitxsan Health Society provides health services to members of the Gitxsan First Nation in the Hazeltons area. Executive health director Julie Morrison said she would need more information about the potential Northern Health takeover to support or oppose it. “I am not sure at this point in time
because I wouldn’t know the details of it all,” she said. “We’d need more information before we could we make a decision one way or another.” She hoped the new plan would include measures to ensure the hospital’s obstetrics department remained open, and to continue the hospital’s good working relationship with Gitxsan Health. “Obstetrics is a very important part of the services that Wrinch Memorial Hospital provides and we’d like to see that continue on,” said Morrison. “It just means so much more to a pregnant mom to have her family there for support and it’s difficult for people to travel distances to be there and wait for a child to be born.” The new UCHS plan will also address an ongoing doctor shortage at the facility.
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The hospital is funded for seven physicians and although it currently has eight, some are part-time so the facility does not have a full complement. Muir said the new strategic plan would be created with the same consultant, Gary Ockenden, who helped write their last one. Ockenden will also attend next week’s public meeting, where the topics discussed will include managing tight budgets, illness prevention and sensitivity to First Nations cultural practices. The public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Mountain View United Church basement in Hazelton on May 5.
A25
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www.interior-news.com
By Alicia Bridges
Hazeltons/Interior News
The Gitanyow First Nation last Tuesday signed an agreement to receive benefits from TransCanada’s Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline project. Although TransCanada would not reveal details of the agreement, a statement from the company said it
UP TO included financial benefits and environmental impact mitigation. “We want to be clear that the First Nation will receive significant benefits, not only in financial compensation but in contracting opportunities and investments in skills training that will benefit the members for many years to come,” said a spokesperson for the pipeline proponent. TransCanada is proposing
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See your GMCL dealer for details. GMCL reserves the right to amend or terminate offers for any reason in whole or in part at any time without prior notice.. <>The 2014 GMC Terrain received the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles among compact SUVs in the proprietary J.D. Power 2014 Initial Quality StudySM. Study based on responses from 86,118 new-vehicle owners, measuring 239 models and measures opinions after 90 days of ownership. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of owners surveyed in February-May 2014. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com. *†U.S. Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov).
T HREE R IVERS R EPORT
A26 The Interior News
The Interior News 250-847-3266 editor@interior-news.com
www.interior-news.com
In accordance with Section 26 of the Community Charter, the Town of Smithers intends to dispose of the following lands to the Central Park Building Society by way of a 5 year lease agreement at $1.00 per year for the purpose of community, cultural, and recreational activities.
Public Notice
Commonly known as the Central Park Building located at Highway 16 and Main Street and legally known as Lot A, District Lot 865, Range 5, Plan 1054.
This is not a tender nor a request for offers. Further information can be obtained by contacting Susan Bassett, Director of Corporate Services at (250) 847-1600, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Call Coast Mountain Chevrolet Buick GMC at 250-847-2214, or visit us at 4038 Yellowhead Highway 16 West, Smithers. [License #10041]
The Interior News
T HREE R IVERS R EPORT Climate funds received By Alicia Bridges Hazeltons/Interior News
The District of New Hazelton plans to put a $1,555 grant from the B.C. government’s Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program towards implementing its plan to reduce emissions locally. The municipality last week received the funding as part of a program which returns carbon taxes paid by communities which have signed the B.C. Climate Action Charter. District corporate officer Robyn Carle said the money would be used to implement projects under the municipality’s new Community Energy and Emissions plan, which was introduced at the March 2 council. “What we decided to do is take any of the money that we got back, because it’s a carbon tax rebate ... and use it towards municipal energyefficient projects,” she said. “Basically it lists actions that we want to take and who is going to take them, because there is a couple of other groups that were involved with this,
and what year we are going to do them.” The plan, which was created in conjunction with B.C. Hydro, evaluates the community’s existing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and identifies measures to reduce them. A sustainability checklist for new buildings, introducing renewable energy systems and promoting an efficient wood stove program are among the measures outlined in the plan, which is available from the district.
The $1,555 grant from the province was announced on Earth Day. Environment Minister Mary Polak said local governments had influence over about 40 per cent of all greenhouse emissions in B.C. “The province works closely with them as many of the decisions that result in the biggest [greenhouse gas] emissions reductions come from the leadership of our cities and communities,” said Polak.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
www.interior-news.com
Cracking the curber code… When Walt says, “Yes, Yes, it it’s extra clean...”
He means, “Thanks H to the flood!” (15% are not from BC)
Get a vehicle history report! Buy from a licensed dealer!
Find out how at WatchoutforWalt.com
Save the date!
Three Rivers Correspondent
The award-winning The Interior News has an opportunity for a Three Rivers Correspondent. This position is perfect for a communityminded Hazelton resident. In an effort to enhance coverage of the Hazeltons we are looking for an individual who lives in the area who can attend community events, write articles and take photographs. The Hazelton correspondent will liaise with our newsroom to decide on coverage and what local issues to report on. Black Press is Canada’s largest independent print media company with more than 170 community, daily and urban newspapers across Canada and the United States. Previous newspaper reporting experience is not required. Anyone interested in this paid position can send a resume and writing and photography samples to:
Grant Harris – Publisher Box 2560, Smithers, B.C., V0J 2N0 250-847-3266 Email: publisher@interior-news.com
Thank you for your interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. www.interior-news.com
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• gvsbc.ca • • 250.847.4499 • • Main St. - Smithers •
A27
250-847-3266 Email editor@interior-news.com Find us on Facebook at Smithers Interior News
A28 www.interior-news.com
The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
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The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
www.interior-news.com
B1
Special Feature to The Interior News
Mining Week May 3-9, 2015 May 3-9, 2015 is BC Mining Week. Mining is one of BCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and oldest industries and BC Mining Week is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the importance of the modern industry to British Columbians. Activities are planned for Vancouver and communities around the province. We invite you to participate in the celebration!
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B2 www.interior-news.com
The Interior News
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD THAT LEADS TO KSM SUCCESS Seabridge Gold and their KSM Project reached some major milestones in 2014. On July 30th they received their provincial environmental approval, followed by their federal environmental approval on December 19th. The process that led them to this point started in 2008 when the company made the decision to focus on the KSM Project’s economic potential and the new priority of preparing and submitting an Environmental Assessment application as well as other vital permits for the project’s development. The journey has its origin way back in 2000, when Seabridge acquired the KSM Project and its historic gold and copper resource. Since then, extensive exploration and resource drilling, along with ongoing geological interpretation, has not only confirmed but grown the resources at the initial Kerr and Sulphurets deposits. It has also resulted in the definition of the Mitchell deposit, and the discovery of the
Deep Kerr and Iron Cap deposits. This continued determination and hard-work from the geological team led Seabridge to initiate a joint harmonized environmental assessment review in 2008 – a process
that resulted in a submission in January 2013. In the meantime, drilling continues at the KSM site and in 2015 they intend to extend the Mitchell deposit at depth. This follows on from the great success in
the last few years with the discovery of higher grade core zones at Deep Kerr and Iron Cap. The geological and economic success that is represented by the on-going drilling at KSM is one step along the road to the project becoming a mine. Another significant step was the successful completion of the environmental assessment process. This process would not have been possible without the involvement of the Nisga’a Nation, Tahltan, Gitxsan, Gitanyow and Skii km Lax Ha, federal, provincial and municipal governments, regulators and local communities, as well as KSM’s neighbours in Alaska. Seabridge recognises the role everyone has played in this step and has gained a tremendous amount of insight and feedback. “The environmental approvals represent very much a company success, one that would not have been achieved without the dedication of each member of the Seabridge Team. I am very proud of
KSM PROJECT The path Seabridge Gold and the KSM Project have taken so far has been a long and winding one. Our success so far has been thanks to a dedicated and hard-working team, as well as the support of the communities close to KSM. 2000: Seabridge acquires KSM
2008: Focus switches from exploration to development. Seabridge decides to prepare for environmental assessment submission.
Exploration and resource drilling
Community and First Nations engagement
Exploration and resource drilling Community and First Nations engagement
2013: Harmonised environmental assessment application submitted.
Exploration and resource drilling 2014: Provincial and federal environmental assessment approval received.
PROVINCE of BRITISH COLUMBIA
FEDERAL
APP
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
ROV ED
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Going Forward: • Ongoing Aboriginal and community engagement. • Develop strategic relationships and joint venture partnerships. • Maintain commitment to ongoing environmental monitoring. • Continued exploration and resource drilling.
The Interior News
the way the project has been embraced by the local communities, the Nisga’a Nation and the First Nations of NW BC”, concludes Brent Murphy, Vice President, Environmental Affairs. In particular, the company acknowledges the importance of meaningful, open and honest discussion with surrounding communities, in particular the Nisga’a Nation and other First Nations near the KSM Project. Seabridge’s Environmental Manager, Elizabeth Miller recounts their engagement philosophy, “True engagement involves compromise, it is not just about informing and answering comments but requires some flexibility to adjust development plans to address concerns raised. It requires putting literal rubber to the road and spending time with local community members and regulators to have open, meaningful and frequent conversations about the KSM Project. This engagement effort was also of benefit to us in developing the meaningful commitments which we have made to local communities based on our growing understanding of their needs and aspirations.” However, as far as Seabridge Gold has managed to bring the KSM Project - through advanced exploration, deposit definition and the environmental assessment process - it still has some distance to go before it even gets close to becoming an operating mine. Strategic partnerships and financing are required along with approximately 150 additional operating permits. Further permits will require additional regulatory review. To date, Seabridge has 43 permits in place for early site construction camps and access roads. Future permit reviews will be overseen by the KSM Mine Project Mine Review Committee (MRC), chaired by the Ministry of Mines staff – the same members who reviewed the 43 permits obtained by Seabridge in September 2014. This committee comprises representatives from provincial and federal government ministries who have an inter-
est in the KSM Project (Energy and Mines, Environment, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Transportation and Infrastructure), and regional agencies representing health, lands, water and environment. Its members include representatives from Nisga’a Nation, Tahltan, Gitanyow and Skii km Lax Ha. The committee will continue to review permits for the KSM Project throughout construction and operations for the life of the mine. As further permits are put in place, Seabridge can begin to develop the essential infrastructure that will help ensure the KSM Project is a success. This includes future development of twin tunnels that will transport ore underneath the mountains, from the mine site to the processing plant and tailing management facility, and the construction of a road to facilitate access to the site. These are just a few steps that still need to be taken before the KSM Project can become the KSM mine. As they move forward, Seabridge wants to reinforce their commitment to ensuring that the KSM Project upholds the highest environmental standards and provides local communities with important benefits for present and future generations. Seabridge is also keenly aware that engagement doesn’t stop with submission and receipt of their environmental assessment certificate. The KSM Project team intends to continue engagement efforts through 2015 and beyond, keeping community members informed of their progress in permitting activities and supporting local initiatives in line with their commitment to contribute to the social and economic stability of northwestern British Columbia. Yes, 2014 was a pretty big year for Seabridge, but they know it’s just one step towards better things to come.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
The Nechako Group of Companies The Nechako Group of Companies operates in the road and bridge maintenance and construction industry in several communities in Northwestern BC. Community involvement is important to us and we pride ourselves on delivering quality products and services to our customers.
Learn more about the KSM Project Learn Learn more more about about the the KSM KSM Project Project
Products & Services: • Grading • Dust Control • Traffic Control
• Culvert Installation • Miscellaneous Road Construction
Call: 1.250.683.1881
Seabridge Gold www.seabridgegold.net www.ksmproject.com Seabridge Gold Inc.Inc., Seabridge Gold Inc., www.seabridgegold.net 1235 Main Street, Box 2536, community@seabridgegold.net ksm_community@seabridgegold.net 1235 Street, P.O.P.O. Box 2536, 1235Main Main Street, P.O. Box 2536, community@seabridgegold.net Smithers, BCV0JV0J 2N0 1.250.847.4704 1.250.847.4704 Smithers, BC 2N0 Smithers, BC V0J 2N0 1.250.847.4704
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Exploration and Mining in the Skeena Region British Columbia
3. Alloycorp began construction activities at their Kitsault molybdenum-silver project 4. Seabridge Gold received their Northwest BCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Skeena Region reenvironmental approval and initial mains the most active mineral exploraconstruction permits for their KSM tion region in British Columbia, despite gold-copper project a decline in exploration spending across the entire province. The Skeena Region 5. Pretium Resources delivered a feasibility study for their high-grade represents approximately 28% of maingold Brucejack project land British Columbia, covering over 6. Northwest Transmission line to Bob 253,000 square kilometers. Quinn Lake and extension to Red Companies spent $161 million exChris was commissioned ploring for minerals in the northwest in 7. Gold Reach Resources expanded 2014. This is a 20% decrease over the resources at Ootsa by 87% 2013 figure, reflecting the world-wide 8. Colorado Resources released a decline in mineral exploration spendmaiden resource at the North ROK ing. Similarly, regional exploration copper-gold project and completed drilling decreased by 39% to 151,204. an exploration program at the KSP Some major programs continued to gold project drill, expand, and define deposits in 9. BC Geological Survey geologists 2014. Other projects fortunate enough completed year two of the Northern to secure funding completed drilling Porphyry Project at the Bronson and geophysical surveys. Many explorTrend ers took the fiscally challenging days as artwork 01_Layout 1 15-04-14 5:48confirmed PM Page 2 10. Kaizen Discovery an opportunity to conductad inexpensive, work such as soil sampling, prospecting and geological mapping. These activities allowed workers to get into the field without exhausting the treasury, while still generating new data. A benefit of a slower season realized by both major mining companies and junior explorers was the opportunity to compile and interpret historical data and drill core. Mine development expenditures totalled about $208 million in Skeena. At least $300 million was spent on infrastructure projects directly related to the mining and exploration industry, including hydro transmission lines and port expansions in Stewart and Prince Rupert representing long term investment in the region. There are 80 active exploration and advanced projects in Skeena.
By Jeff Kyba B.Sc., GIT
Regional Geologist, Smithers
porphyry-style copper mineralization at Tanzilla 11. A new copper-gold system, Pyramid, was discovered 50 km north of Dease Lake by Gold Jubilee Capital Corp. 12. Doubleview Capital drilled 404 m grading 0.25% Cu and 0.25g/t Au at the Hat project
Huckleberry Mine
The largest operating mine in the northwest, the Huckleberry coppergold-silver-molybdenum mine located 123 km southwest of Houston, is operated by Huckleberry Mines Ltd. Ownership is divided between Imperial Metals Corp (50%) and a consortium of Japanese companies (50%) including Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Huckleberry reported a 17% increase in metal production in 2013, the latest reporting period for the mine. Higher grades and better recovery during 2013 resulted in a metal production increase of 17%. Total output was 18,693 tonnes
The Interior News
copper, 92.8 kilograms gold, and 7403.5 kilograms silver from 5,895,193 tonnes of ore mined from the Main Zone Extension pit.
Red Chris
At the time writing in 2014, Imperial Metals was in the final stages of construction at the Red Chris copper-gold project located 80 km south of Dease Lake. The project is now connected by the Northwest Transmission line which provides 287kv power and now connects the project to grid-based power originating near Terrace and is a major milestone in infrastructure construction for northwestern BC. Imperial constructed the 93 km extension from Bob Quinn to the project and sold it to BC Hydro in late December for $52 million. Mining is underway at the Main and East zones with ore being crushed and stockpiled (at the time of writing) in preparation for commissioning mill equipment. Because of the tailings dam breach and resulting flood at the Mount
Imperial celebrates the start-up of the Red Chris Mine in BC
2014 Significant Events:
1. Imperial Metals started mining and continued construction at the Red Chris coppergold project 2. Banks Island Gold began producing at the Yellow Giant gold project
imperialmetals.com
The Interior News 400
THOUSANDS OF METRES
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METRES DRILLED IN NORTHWEST BC 2001 TO 2014
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EXPLORATION SPENDING IN NORTHWEST BC 2001 TO 2014
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
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Polley mine, also owned by Imperial, a third party review of the tailings impoundment area made recommendations to be integrated into the design. Capital costs have increased modestly to total $643M for the completion of the 30,000 tonne per day mine. The expected mine life is 28 years.
KSM (Kerr-SulphuretsMitchell-Iron Cap)
The KSM gold-copper porphyry project owned by Seabridge Gold Inc received provincial approval of an Environmental Assessment application in late July and federal approval in mid-December. Significant pre-construction permits were also granted in September, allowing building of roads, construction camps, and rights-of-way to the Mitchell-Treaty tunnels, and site preparations at the mine site and tailing management facility. Ground-breaking activities are expected in 2015. Exploration activities included a large re-mapping program and drilling at Deep Kerr, MacQuillan and Iron Cap. Drilling followed up 2013 results and totalled 29,508 m in 29 holes. The KSM project is planned to operate over a 55 year mine life with an estimated capital cost of $5.3 billion. The initial 25 years would be an open pit mining operation processing 130 000 tonne per day decreased to 90 000 tonne per day for the remaining 30 years. Ore would be fed to a floatation mill and produce a gold-copper-silver concentrate which would be trucked to the Stewart port facility.
Brucejack
Pretium Resources continued exploration and development activities at the Brucejack-Snowfield high-grade gold project located 65 km north of Stewart and 6 km from the KSM project. Efforts during 2014 were largely focussed on corporate initiatives to ensure project financing and permitting remained on schedule. The company’s Environmental Assessment application was formally accepted in mid-August. Surface drilling totalled 9,325 m in 7 drill holes and 14 wedges. Results confirmed the presence of high-grade gold mineralization at the Valley of the Kings below the present Mineral Resource estimate as well as increased confidence within
the resource block model. An updated feasibility study released in June adjusted project specifics including gold price, increased reserves, and higher gold grades. Results remained positive for the proposed 2,700 tonne per day milling operation forecasted to operate for 18 years and produce 226 tonnes (7.27 million ounces) of gold. Kitsault molybdenum – silver mine Avanti Mining (Alloycorp Mining Inc. as of December 1st) is working to reopen the past- producing Kitsault molybdenum- silver mine. The project received an amendment to an existing Mines Act permit and federal approval of their Environmental Assessment application in June. These approvals allowed the company to begin road and camp construction and infrastructure upgrades. Also in June, the Nisga’a First Nation and the company successfully negotiated a Mine Benefits Agreement. Details of the agreement include a net smelter royalty of up to 2% (based on prevailing molybdenum prices) and a resolution to all outstanding litigation. A memorandum of understanding with the Wilp Luuxhon First Nation was also signed. Construction activities are scheduled to continue throughout the winter, with top priorities focused on upgrading the Nass River Bridge and a 150 bed construction camp. The mine plan outlines a 45,000 tonne per day mill to be active for at least 14 years. The company plans to truck concentrate to Prince Rupert or Vancouver.
Closer to Smithers
In February, Metal Mountain Resources submitted an application for an amendment to their existing Mines Act Permit to build a 250 tonne per
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day onsite mill at their Dome Mountain gold mine located 35 km east of Smithers. An Environmental Assessment application of the Morrison copper-gold project was referred to the Minister of Environment in mid-July but suspended in mid-August pending the outcome of the Independent Expert Engineering Investigation and Review Panel, which is investigating the tailings dam breach at Mt. Polley.
This summary is based on the complete report “Exploration and mining in the Skeena Region, British Columbia” by Skeena Regional Geologist Jeff Kyba, which is available at http:// www.empr.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/PublicationsCatalogue/InformationCirculars/Documents/IC20152/05_Kyba.pdf. The report is made possible through the co-operation of companies operating in northwestern BC.
GEOTECH & MINERAL EXPLORATION SERVICES Canada Operations Smithers – Head Office 2728 Pacific Street Smithers, BC V0J 2N0 Tel: 250.877.2710 Fax: 250-877-6256
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info@driftwooddrilling.com
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Quick Mining Facts
Gross mining revenues for the BC mining industry were $ 8.5 billion in 2013.
PwC Digging Deep: The mining industry in British Columbia 2013
British Columbia’s mining industry pre-tax net earnings for 2013 was $1.387 billion.
PwC Digging Deep: The mining industry in British Columbia 2013
Cash flow from BC operations in 2013 was $2.6 billion, an increase of 15% over 2012.
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The Interior News
In 2013, the BC mining industry made total payments to the government and government agencies of $511 million, an increase from $504 million in 2012. PwC Digging Deep: The mining industry in British Columbia 2013
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Average salary and benefits were $114,600 in 2013, down from $121,900 in 2012. PwC Digging Deep: The mining industry in British Columbia 2013
PwC Digging Deep: The mining industry in British Columbia 2013
Resources Work for Everyone in BC This is Ford Country What are you Driving? Serving the Bulkley Valley for over 80 years Handling all your Sales, Parts, Service and Body Shop needs
On May 8 Smithers Exploration Group connects the benefits of exploration and mining to businesses from Smithers to Vancouver
Join us at the annual Mining Luncheon Date : Friday May 8 Time : 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Location : Hudson Bay Lodge, Ferguson Room, Smithers, BC Price: $25 (purchase your tickets early; no sales at the door) Purchase: Contact the Smithers Chamber of Commerce 250.847.5072 or e-mail info@smitherschamber.com Northwest BC leads the province in mineral exploration spending 161 million spent in 2014
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
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Imperial Metals Corporation
In February 2015 Imperial achieved a long awaited milestone for the Company, when the first copper concentrate from Red Chris mine was produced on February 17. The commissioning of the Red Chris mine is the culmination of the significant effort Imperial has put into this project over the eight years since it was acquired. The Northwest Transmission Line and the Iskut extension, completed in late October 2014, were key components to the development of the mine. The Northwest Transmission Line now stretches all the way to Tatogga and provides clean grid power to the northwest quadrant of British Columbia, providing a catalyst to further economic development in this region. The first truckloads of copper concentrate were delivered to the Port of Stewart at the end of February, and the first ship was loaded on April 11, 2015. Commissioning of the plant continues and operating crews are achieving continuous improvement and moving toward steady-state operations. As progress is made, emphasis will be on achieving design metal recoveries and throughput. A community referendum was held in April on the Impact and Benefits Co-Management Agreement that has been negotiated between the Company, Tahltan Central Council, Iskut Band and Tahltan Band. The Agreement covers issues related to envi-
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ronment, training and employment, as well as revenue sharing. The community responded with a 87% favorable vote on this historic agreement. Imperial would like to acknowledge the support and contributions of the Tahltan First Nation, the local residents, and all the men and women who have worked over the past eight years to realize the completion and commencement of operations of the Red Chris mine.
PRETIVM IS ADVANCING ITS HIGH-GRADE GOLD BRUCEJACK PROJECT IN NORTHERN BC.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
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