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Eagle Bay Fire Dept
Eagle Bay Fire Department
By Nigel Collett
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I hope everyone and their families are staying safe and well. Winter is obviously on its way as I peer out at the first snowfall and winterizing is in full swing. Every time I read the Scoop or Kicker, I come across articles full of great advice that speak to the sustainment of our communities through the winter months.
Eagle Bay Firehall has not had a single callout to date in October which of course is never a bad thing but I did hear on the radio that across the lake there has been a couple of chimney fires so I’m conscious we’re into that time of year.
I’ve now been a firehouse rookie for a full year and it’s a good time to reflect on whether the role of volunteer firefighter met my expectations: • Firstly, I underestimated how much there was to learn – I’m not really sur-
prised not having a point of reference to begin with. Sitting in front of a computer all my working life obviously never prepared me for this but I’ve never felt overwhelmed. I better appreciate how much there is to learn and the time it will take to acquire those skills and experience. On the flip side I was made to feel I was contributing from just showing up on day one. • The training provided is very good – you never feel you’re get- Crew practicing mechanical ventilation (blowing smoke out of buildings) in the rain. ting less or inferior training be- Photo credit: Michelle Beaudry, Training Officer cause you are a volunteer as opposed to a fulltime firefighter. values statement and it checks all the • It’s a great group of like-minded individ- boxes as to who and why we do what we uals who are there to fully support you do. and their community. I recently read the • I better appreciate how tough it is to revised CSRD Fire Services mission and attract new volunteers and I know the answer is not simple given our location. Doesn’t mean to say we should stop trying. On the training front, by the time you read this I will have taken an Emergency Vehicle Driving course. And, for our Tuesday night practice which you can see from the picture goes ahead in all weather, we are thinking about making sure we are fully prepared and ready for winter. Eagle Bay Fire Department welcomes anyone who would like more information – please contact Alan Rendell 250-5170429. He will be happy to answer any questions. Practice is on Tuesday evenings at 7pm for 2 hours, all equipment and training is provided. You can keep up to date on lots of fire related and fire department news on our ‘Eagle Bay Fire Department’ Facebook page. If you don’t follow us on Facebook we also share on Instagram. You will also find links to more information about current burning regulations and the CSRD’s FireSmart initiatives.
By Barbra Fairclough Harvest Food Bank and the Sor-
Shuswap Association of rento Food Bank. Each have reWriters in collaboration with ceived $1000. The Third House have pub- If you need to drop off a dolished a collection of creative nation to the Second Harvest works called “Celebration of Food Bank but can’t make it Creativity.” This pandemic in- during open hours or if you spired book is a collection from want to make a cash donation, artists of many disciplines email Second Harvest at throughout the Shuswap. secondharvestshus-
The proceeds from the sale wap@gmail.com or phone 250 of this book have been donated 833 4011. to both the Salmon Arm Second You can donate to the Sorrento Food Bank from the comfort of your own home by clicking on the “donate” button on www.sorrentofoodbank.ca. Call (250 253 3663) during open hours if you are wanting to arrange food for someone in need. Food donations can be dropped off during open hours. If you would like to support “Celebration of Creativity” project and are interested in purchasing a copy of the book for yourself or as a gift, books are available for purchase at Shuswap Pie Company in Salmon Arm and in Sorrento at Loonie
Book by The Shuswap Association on the Lake Dollar Store and of Writers Shuswap Artists Collective. Photos credit: Courtesy Debra Turner
L to R: Tina Hysop – Sorrento Food Bank Manager, Carmen Burt – Sorrento Food Bank Treasurer, Joyce Adrian Sotski – Third House Interactive, Debbie Turner – Shuswap Association of Writers. Photo by Shirley Bigelow Dekelver
shuswaplakeoutfitters.ca
CUSTODIAN SPARE BOARD WANTED
Applications are invited for the Custodian Spare Board for casual custodial assignments throughout the District. Custodian positions are Union positions and the salary will be $22.12 per hour.
Qualifications required include: Minimum grade 10. The Building Service Worker Certificate, or equivalent from a vocational institute is an asset. Must be able to perform all custodian duties including lifting heavy objects and shovelling snow, ability to perform cleaning and minor maintenance.
Duties will include: Cleaning of School District No. 83 sites, security, snow removal from sidewalks and entrances, other related duties as may be assigned or required.
Please submit resume with full supporting documents to Make a Future at www.makeafuture.ca.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
North Okanagan-Shuswap School District No. 83
CSRD Release
Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) Directors adopted a bylaw extending the services of the Shuswap Watershed Council for a three-year term until the end of 2023 following approval from the Inspector of Municipalities. "We appreciate the Inspector of Municipalities allowing the Shuswap Watershed Council’s efforts to continue for a three-year term until the electorate can be fully involved in a voter assent process,” says CSRD Board Chair Kevin Flynn.
A voter assent process for the Shuswap Watershed Council could be initiated at any time within the three-year extension period, depending on direction from the members. Participants include Electoral Areas C, D, E, F and the District of Sicamous.
Any future plans to make the Shuswap Watershed Council permanent or to extend it the beyond the three-year term will require the approval of electors by an alternative approval process or referendum. The agreement was also subject to the maximum tax requisition limit remaining at the current rate.
Residents in the service area pay an annual parcel tax for the Shuswap Watershed Council's services. In 2020, this amounted to $10.56 per property, however, the amount can vary slightly depending on the tax assessment roll.
The purpose of the Shuswap Watershed Council is to collaborate, promote, protect and monitor water quality in those parts of the Shuswap Watershed that make up the service area, and to promote recreational water safety.
“The Shuswap Watershed Council has been very active in ongoing monitoring, and now, mitigation of pollutants in our watershed. The extended algae bloom of 2020 clearly points to the need for local involvement in the reduction of nutrient overloads, and highlights the significance of the problem for all residents and visitors to our area," says Paul Demenok, Electoral Area C Director and Board Chair of the Shuswap Watershed Council. "We need to have actions taken that will preserve the quality of our watershed for generations to come,” Demenok adds.
Governments need Oversight
MP Mel Arnold, North Okanagan- Shuswap
There is a question that more than one constituent has raised with me in recent months: “why is Prime Minister Trudeau constantly seeking to gain more power?”
When Trudeau undertook a campaign for electoral reform in pursuit of a ranked ballot system, he was merely seeking to expand his own power, not the power of the electorate. When COVID-19 arrived in Canada in March, Trudeau introduced a motion in the House that would have given him unchecked authority to tax and spend, without Parliamentary oversight, until December 31, 2021.
What was most ironic at that time was that it was Trudeau’s failure to properly exercise his existing powers that allowed the COVID-19 virus to enter and spread across Canada, unchecked. The PM failed to use the powers he had and still needed to grasp at more power by trying to neutralize Parliament’s function in our democracy.
As the WE charity scandal raged in August, Trudeau chose to prorogue • 18 Hole Championship Golf Course Parliament and shutdown committees • Community Centre that were investigating the scandal. • Tennis & Pickleball Clubs Now that Parliament and its commit- • Restaurants & Shopping tees have resumed, Trudeau’s MPs • Walking & Hiking Trails have been filibustering committee meetings to once again block investiga- • A Multitude of Water Sport Activities tions into activities of the Prime Minis- Choose from a breathtaking Lake View or a quiet secluded Mountain View Lot, ter’s Office and his government’s re- or take a look at our 55 plus Development, Autumn Ridge. sponse to the pandemic. In 2015, Trudeau said that, "for Parliament to work best, its members must be free to do what they have been elect• • • No set time to build Free hold properties Water & Sewer at lot line ed to do — represent their communities • Golf invitation fee waived with purchase in Parliament and hold the government • Friendly Active Community to account." It seems that five years in • Building restrictions in place to ensure power has eroded the PM’s respect for your investment. Parliament. Governments should operate with oversight of Opposition parties and provide reasonable transparency for Canadian citizens and yet Trudeau Contact our Sales Team: sales@shuswaplakeestates.com www.shuswaplakeestates.com 250 675 2523 Located 83 km East of Kamloops on the T.C.H. continues to lead our country in the opposite direction.
Canada is a democracy where the government is accountable to the people represented by their Opposition to make sure that democracy is upheld, and transparelected representatives of all political stripes; opposition parties ency and accountability are restored for constituents of the North are a key component of this system’s balance. I will continue to Okanagan – Shuswap and indeed all Canadians. work with my colleagues as members of Her Majesty’s Official
