Oct. 13th Issue 18

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Rocky Mountain Goat www.therockymountaingoat.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Your source for weekly news and views in the Robson Valley

Volume 1 Issue 18

Farm gate sales open up

For six years, B.C. farmers were not allowed to sell uninspected meat to their neighbours. Many small producers turned to an underground economy. Now, new licenses will let some producers sell small quantities directly to their neighbours. But do the licenses go far enough? And why is only one type of license available in most areas?

See A6 More than 70 forest researchers awed and puzzled over diseases present in the Valley`s forests over the course of a five-day conference last week. Their meeting connected diseases spreading in the U.S. and abroad with ones in Canada.

Photo: Laura Keil Since 2004, cows like these on Jim and Terry Stewart`s Valemount farm had to be shipped three hours to the nearest slaughterhouse to be provincially inspected before the meat could be legally sold to consumers.

International forest gurus explore the ancient forest A5

McBride Community The Goat’s Forest enacts public new kid access policy A3 A4

More Inside:

Seeing disease for the forest

Film school in Valemount?

See A8

A2 Wednesday, October 13, 2010

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New paths and pads

Photo: Joseph Nusse Construction is sailing along for the new seniors’ housing units in McBride and Valemount. Last week, the modular units were delivered to McBride.

Photo: Laura Keil

Above: The Ministry of Transportation is installing a pedestrian yield light over Highway 5 in Valemount to calm traffic and make it safer for pedestrians to cross. Village chief administrative officer Tom Dall says council has been pushing for the upgrade for three to four years. The construction should be completed by Oct. 15th.

Photo: Harmeet Singh

Nusse Construction Basements to roofing Bathrooms and decks Renovations and retrofits

Left: Members of the New Caledonia Ramblers hiking club out of Prince George are building new boardwalks in the Ancient Forest between McBride and Prince George. Midget Mills in McBride supplied the cedar planks for the walkway.

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McBride Community Forest enacts access policy

Joseph Nusse jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com

The McBride Community Forest Corporation (MCFC) adopted a policy last week regarding public access to information.

The new policy is designed to clarify the procedures through which the public can request information regarding the MCFC and its operations, director Marc Von der Gonna says. He says the MCFC falls under the definition of a ‘public body’ within the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The policy states that all publicly available documents will be post-

ed on the MCFC website. Printed copies will also me made available at the McBride village office during regular business hours.

In compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Business Corporations Act, all requests for nonpublic information must be made in writing, tracked and presented to the MCFC Board of Directors.

If retrieving any information infringes on the time of any staff of the MCFC beyond three hours of tracked time, then any additional time will be billable at a standard rate of $30 per hour, as specified under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

Act. Any printed documents will be available at a cost of 35 cents per page.

The new policy states that the general manager of the MCFC will determine if a request is releasable. If the request is not releasable, the GM must respond in a written letter outlining the reason for refusal. If the request is releasable, the GM will allocate time within MCFC staff workload and inform the requestor at what time and date their information will be retrievable. Requests will be released only when any invoice for printing and/or MCFC staff time has been paid in full.

According to the act, the time limit for which a public body must respond to a request is ‘within 30 days.’ While the act outlines a host of reasons for which the head of a public body can deny access to information, it also states: ‘Whether or not a request for access is made, the head of a public body must, without delay, disclose to the public, to an affected group of people or to an applicant, information (a) about a risk of significant harm to the environment or to the health or safety of the public or a group of people, or (b) the disclosure of which is, for any other reason, clearly in the public interest.

The act also allows for reviews of refusals by the Commissioner, as appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. The Commissioner is empowered by the act to refer cases to mediation, or inquiry.

All proceeding can be reviewed on order of the Lieutenant Governor by an adjudicator. Under such a review, it is up to the head of a public body to prove that the applicant has no right to access of information. However, the interests of third parties must remain protected and it is up to the applicant to prove that their access to information will not reasonably invade a third party’s personal privacy.

ests and agriculture have worked on developing a foreign market for B.C. products such as beef.

“We’re in a pretty desperate situation,” he says. “We have far from recovered from B.S.E.” The mad cow scare in 2003 devastated the Canadian beef industry after the U.S. tightened its borders. Without another major market, producers were left with huge surpluses of cattle that could not be sold.

Producers across Canada are still suffering seven years later, he says. But China’s estimated $500 million market, could change that. On average the western Canada’s agriculture exports to China and Japan are valued at more than $2.2 billion annually, and account for more than 68 and 58 per cent of Canada’s agriculture exports to China and Japan respectively.

“Canada is so dependent on exports and we want to build an alternative to the U.S. market,”

he says. “The Chinese market is huge. There’s tremendous wealth and growth.”

He says they will mostly be meeting with industry officials overseas. Members of the Canadian Beef Export Federation have already been working on negotiations to expand the Asian beef export market.

parts of cow most North American consumers don’t purchase, such as internal organs.

“As a rule, it’s just not stuff we eat,” he says. “If we can capture value from that basically unselleable product in Canada, it’ll certainly be worth it.”

In 2009 Canada produced 3.4 billion pounds of beef which contributed $23 billion to Canada’s economy that year.

Cattle and calf cash receipts in 2009 totalled $5.8 billion.

B.C. only has 200,000 head of beef cattle or four per cent of the Canadian production. Alberta has over a third.

He says they expect China to be one of our major markets by 2020.

In the first six months of 2010, Canadian beef exports to Japan increased 99 per cent to 4,000 tonnes ($24.8 million); exports to Hong Kong/ Macau increased 86 per cent to 9,200 tonnes ($37 million); and

exports to Taiwan increased 52 per cent for a total 1,900 tonnes ($8.1 million). By comparison, total Canadian beef exports to the world are up 15.6 per cent by volume and 18 per cent by value Jan. - May 2010.

Commercially viable access to international markets can add $85 per head in added value for beef derived from under30-months cattle over what can be generated in Canada. Those same products sold in the US are sold at a $15 per head discount compared to the domestic market – a total value difference of $100 when selling in Asia plus Mexico as compared to the U.S. The delegates include the B.C. Minister of Agriculture and Lands Steve Thomson, the Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Jack Hayden, officials from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, and Terry Lake, BC Liberal MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson.

Beefing up trade with China Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

A Canadian delegation of politicians and meat industry politicians are in China right now, attempting to beef up agricultural exports to the newly-opened market.

The trade mission to China and Japan is one of the recommendations from the Premierappointed Ranching Task Force’s final report to raise the profile of B.C. beef. The primary focus of the B.C. meetings will be on market access for beef in China and Japan and markets for local blueberries and cherries.

China lifted its ban on Canadian beef July 3rd and since that time, Canada has seen increasing meat exports to the country.

Larry Garrett of the B.C. Cattlemens Association is part of that delegation that will be overseas Oct. 9th to 16th. He says over the past year, the minister of for-

“We’re in a pretty desperate situation.

We have far from recovered from B.S.E.” Larry Garrett, B.C. Cattlemens Association

“We’re all in this together trying to get the beef business back on its feet,” he says.

One easy export could be the

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A4 Wednesday, October 13, 2010

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An introduction: Harmeet Singh hsingh@therockymountaingoat.com

As the newest reporter for the Rocky Mountain Goat and new resident of Valemount, you may see me wandering the village, confused by all the streets named after trees. I’m from Ontario, the part where we don’t have trees.

I like to think I’m more complex a person than can be explained in a short article. But I’ll give you the basics: I am 5’1” (and three quarters), single, childless and I enjoy caffeine. I hail from Niagara Falls, Ont., which is nothing like Toronto, so I shouldn’t be considered evil. The past four years of my very long life have been spent in Ottawa at Carleton University, being educated (and put in place) by some of Canada’s best journalists and media experts. Hopefully, the skills I’ve learned obtaining my bachelor’s degree in journalism will serve this community well.

Though I was born in Canada, I am from an Indian family (just in case my name didn’t tell you that). This means

that I may not survive winter. This does not mean that I will be worshipping the cows who reside in the Robson Valley region. I will, perhaps, photograph them from time to time.

Journalists are often over-eager people who like to know more than other people (or at least act like they do). I am not the exception to this. I am, in fact, fresh out of journalism school, which means that I (a) ask a lot of questions (b) am a little bit annoying and (c) must either intern for the Rocky Mountain Goat, or wash dishes for a living.

In all seriousness, working for the Rocky Mountain Goat and moving across Canada was actually a choice, one that’s shaping up to be a good one. Community news is crucial and I am grateful that I can contribute to this community alongside talented young people.

After all, it is a great community. Since being here, I have discovered the hilar-

ity and inventiveness that is VCTV, that food tastes better in Valemount than in many other places and that waking up to mountains makes it much easier to get out of bed. I will also soon feel comfortable enough to use “wwoofer” in a sentence and not feel like it’s an insulting word.

I look forward to learning more about the people that make this area so amazing (that means you). So if you feel like stopping by to educate me about the happenings of Valemount, please do— I’ll need your help.

Publisher’s note: Harmeet is but one of many professional journalists who has answered our call to come help build a new culture in small town journalism.

Instead of absantee owners siphoning economic funds out of our community, we present a vision for the future: A newspaper where journalism is our highest priority, and where journalists can also call themselves owners. We are comitted to our cause, but we also need your support. Thank You!

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International gathering at Ancient Forest Global forestry academics revel at local gem Joseph Nusse jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com

“Some of the researchers at the University of interior it is similar, but the distances are not as Northern British Columbia think that this forest long as in Canada. Trucks in Sweden range from is 2000 years old. It is a very unique eco system.

22 tonnes to 60 tonnes in the north. We will ship It has been at least 2000 years since disturbance. up to 200 km by truck, but for distances over 100 You will have ongoing small levels of disturbance, km, Sweden is now starting to encourage shipthe odd tree blowing down or falling out, but the ping logs on trains. They are even testing 80 tonne main remnants of the stand have carried on,” trucks now for further distances.” opened Marc von der Gonna, General Manager Egbäck says that it took government encourageof the McBride Community Forest, as he played ment to achieve accommodations enabling comhost on Sunday to a group of PhD candidate stupanies to ship logs on trains. dents from the Swedish University of Agricultural Professor Erik Valinger from the Swedish UniSciences (SLU). versity of Agricultural Science is the organiser The group, comprised of more than twenty asfrom the Swedish end of the tour. He says he also piring forestry academics from Sweden, China, hopes to help with a similar tour for Canadian Finland, Germany, Poland, Estonia and Latvia, students to go over to Sweden and Europe. took time to stop at the recreational site located 8 Photos: Harmeet Singh Valinger says that in Sweden, most of the forests kilometres west of Slim Creek on Highway 16 as are in their third generation of management. He forest of Pine and Larch, but the majority of wood harpart of their province-wide tour. says that in ancient days, tress were cut, but mostly sinvesting in China is of deciduous trees further south.

Ken Day manages the Alex Fraser Research Forest in Ing says that the main use for wood in China is pulp gle trees, out in the forest. In the mid-twentieth cenWilliams Lake for the University of British Columbia. and furniture. tury, Sweden started implementing clear cut strategies.

He is the main organizer of the whirlwind tour of B.C. “Wood is one of the most important parts of our “In the mountains where you have temples, or where as well as the tour guide and host. history has taken place, the trees do have spiritual val- economy,” he says.

“The students are actually going to do a seminar ue in Chinese culture,” she says.

Like B.C., Sweden is now having to compete with naabout the differences between Swedish and British tions such as Russia and Chile, however Valinger says According to Ing, while deforestation is an issue in Columbian forest management when they get back China, most management is planned by the govern- that unlike B.C., they have not affected Swedish industo Maple Ridge, but it will take us all afternoon,” Day ment through the local forest try to a great degree. laughs.

“Our industries are not built bureau. In addition to a tra“In Sweden, ninety percent of the for“I was in Sweden last year and I had a discussion with dition of forest management on volume. We focus on much one of the professors from SLU. A year and a half later, (which, like in Sweden, falls ests are pine and spruce. There is some more quality of sawn timber, here we are.” under national agricultural birch too. It is easy to be a forester in for example. They can not Day says that the goal is to get some UBC students to agencies) local people do get Sweden because you have to know only compete with us in this yet. go to Sweden next year. some input. long needles or short needles, prickly or But in paper and pulp, we def“Their land area is smaller than B.C., but it is very initely are feeling these pres“We have a lot of forestry smooth.” large in European standards. To go over and see the schools in China. Almost in Larse Carlson, graduate student from sures as are you.” results of over three hundred years of forest manage- every province there is a forHe says that while in SweSweden. ment is pretty stunning. Their industry is focused on estry school, or a specialized den, value added constitutes quality and a breadth of products that we do not have agricultural university for the majority of their forest inhere at this time.” dustry, in Finland value added this.”

Liy Ing is a graduate student at SLU from China.

As local host, von der Gonna found himself answer- is even more developed.

She says in the northeast of China there are significant ing many questions regarding local forest harvest “They have a longer chain of producing high quality goods from the timber. They are also using spruce and practices.

“We’re are trying to work within much pine.”

Mats Varik is a SLU PhD candidate from Estonia. more of a natural type of a system, within “Fifty percent of our land is still forest, pine, spruce a natural disturbance, that is where a lot of our partial retention harvest comes in. It is and silver birch. Forestry is a very important part of not a clear cut managed, even age regime at Estonia’s economy, Even during Soviet times, forestry was very important to us,” he states. all.”

“We have always produced mainly timber for buildStudents were quick to note the biodivering. During Soviet times, matches were made in Estosity of B.C.’s forests.

“In Sweden, 90 per cent of the forests are nia for all of the Soviet Union. Also dowling has always pine and spruce. There is some birch too. It been manufactured in Estonia, however plastics have is easy to be a forester in Sweden because put these wood products out of business recently.”

Varik says that Estonia’s wood industry has always you have to know only long needles or short been shifting to accommodate changes in geo-politics. needles, prickly or smooth,” laughs Larse “In January we joined the European Union, so we are Carlson, a graduate student from Sweden.

Tibetan prayer flags wave in the wind at the base of a friendly “There are no cedars at all, just in the gar- making products for them now. First our commands giant. A group from Prince George was present at the ancient dens.” came from Moscow, now our commands come from tree to meditate as part of a global movement to pray for joy, Samuael Egbäck, also a SLU PhD candi- Brussels,” he laughs. peace and harmony on the tenth day of the tenth month of 2010 date, notes differences in how logs are transMattias Berglund, was the only member of the tour at 10:00am in all local time zones across the world. Domenic ported in Sweden. who was not a professor or PhD candidate. He works Demarzo, participant, says over 35,000 people took part in the “In the northern part, it is quite similar; Cont’ on A16... planned event. transportation is directed to the coast. In the

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

Small Canadian meat producers may finally get a hoof up, seven years after the first infected animal with mad cow disease led to a regulatory crackdown.

The provincial government has developed two new licenses that will allow some producers to sell uninspected meat directly to consumers up to a certain amount each year. It’s a boon for small and remote farmers who were forced to go underground or stop producing altogether when uninspected meat became illegal six years ago.

“These new licences will support local producers and processors around the province and will allow us to continue protecting the health and food safety of Photos: Laura Keil all British Columbians,” New farm gate licenses mean farmers in remote areas will be able to slaughter their animals on their farm without a says Ida Chong, Minis- government inspection before selling to customers. ter of Healthy Living and But she says if you went Sport, the ministry that Valley farmers underground you could oversees meat inspection. respond The government will be run into problems with adding Class D and E li- B.C. assessment.

For farmers like Mac “If your income is illecenses in addition to Class Cochrane, that’s good A and B facilities. Class C gal, you can’t show it, and news. He and his wife transitional licenses will be it doesn’t count, so people Deb slaughter eight to 10 would be losing their farm phased out. animals a year. He says it’s Class E licenses, allowing status.” “just” profitable for him Daniels says some small farmers to slaughter up to to bring the animals to a 10 animals a year, will be producers simply stopped slaughterhouse north of available in any area of the raising animals. She and Barriere, once you factor province, given a “proven her husband continued, in hauling the stock three lack of slaughter capacity.” but their only option for hours, returning home, Class D licenses are is- complying with the rules and then picking them up sued in nine designated was to ship their animals again a week or two later. areas and allow 25 animals on a ferry to Vancouver IsThe closest slaughterhousa year and sale to retail land where they would be es are north of Barriere, within the area. D license slaughtered and shipped Prince George and Edson, holders aren’t allowed out- back at a huge cost to them. all a three-hour drive from Since the spring, Daniels side the designated areas is the Robson Valley. to ensure they don’t com- has been working with a The cost of the freight promise A and B facilities, Class D license which alalone can run up to $800, Lisa Daniels was one of lows her to slaughter up to and the whole process the first people to receive 25,000 pounds live weight of slaughter, cutting and a new Class D license. She and sell directly to conwrapping can add up to runs a 20-acre farm in sumers or to retail. thousands of dollars.

“For us, that’s a fair bit,” Powell River and was part “It gets pretty expensive of a consultation group she says. before you’ve made a nickMany producers fall outwith the government to el,” says Valemount farmer change rules many saw as side the Class D license Jim Stewart. areas. The Robson Valley draconian.

He says the farm gate “It took farmers being le- is not deemed remote or license would be a relief gitimate business people to populated enough to be elfor small farmers, many being criminals,” she says. igible for Class D licenses. of whom have continued Northern Health, respon“There was never a chance to sell uninspected meat, where we could say, ok, we sible for implementing the despite the regulations – can actually grow our busi- licenses in the health aurules which were slippery thority, will be accepting ness. to enforce anyway.

“I hate underground stuff applications for Class E li“The sad part of it is you and basically that was the censes in November, which don’t get sick from the loresult in rural and remote allows 10,000 pounds to be cal beef,” he says. “I don’t areas: meat was going un- sold directly to consumers think the government recbut not to retail. derground.” ognizes that you’re going

Uninspected: the politics of slaughter

New meat laws could spell big changes for Valley farms

to buy eggs from me, and they’re going to be good eggs or you’re not going to buy from me. It’s as simple as that.”

Mark Froese of the McBride Farmer’s Institute says while the 10 animal limit will satisfy most of the group’s two dozen members in the McBride area, the number is arbitrary and should be higher.

“I don’t see the distinction between 10 and 25 animals. It may as well be 25.”

Froese farms 70-100 bison and says he has shipped them all over eastern B.C. for slaughter, but the cost and time aren’t the only hurdles. If he wants to ship them to a provincial facility in Prince George, it’s a three month wait.

“If you phone today, they’ll give you a date three months down the road when you’re supposed to deliver.”

The new system will have meat inspection officers visit each farm initially.

Northern Health is training four officers who will train license holders in proper slaughter technique across northern health, says Lucy Beck, regional director of public health protection. The officers will also enforce and monitor production.

The training will likely take one day, and enforcement will be based on a “complaint basis” with license holders inspected every 3-5 years, she says.

Class E license applicants will have to go through a feasibility study which looks at how far away they are from a slaughter facility - it means it’s not certain Robson Valley farmers will be able to obtain a license.

“What exactly is a part of the feasibility study hasn’t been determined yet,” she says. “They haven’t said yet that if you’re within this distance you can get a license, and if you’re within this distance you can’t.”

With only four officers for 600,000 square kilometres of territory to potentially cross beginning in January, she says it could take several months, especially due to winter weather conditions, she adds.

Cont’ on next page

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

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negate the need for Class E licenses, according to the new rules, which are based on lack of slaughter ability in an area. But the slaughterhouse would allow local producers to process their meat more affordably, boost industry in the area and allow producers to sell their meat to restaurants and stores.

It also means that if an agreement is reached to allow interprovincial trade, Valley producers using a local or regional slaughterhouse could sell their meat, for example, at the Jasper Farmer’s Market.

A boost for organics

Prospective slaughterhouse in McBride

Could cut eligibility for E license but allow restaurant sales

Cont’ from last page

Slaughterhouses in Peril?

Part of the controversy surrounding the new licenses comes from abattoir operators.

Class D licenses let the permit holder slaughter other people’s animals, for example, which some see as threatening the viability of existing abattoirs.

“We’re in a hard spot with these licenses to be quite honest,” says Kevin Boon, general manager of the B.C. Cattlemen Association.

“You want to help the small guy, but at the end of the day, they’re not the guys who keep our industry running.”

He says the association is in favour of D and E licenses in areas of the province only where it’s nearly impossible to access abattoirs on a timely basis. Cutting travel costs is also more humane for the animals, he notes.

But some abattoirs have put a lot of investment into their operations, he says. He also has

concerns about these license holders expanding production beyond their quota, hurting slaughterhouses even more.

“We do have some concerns around the E licenses as to who is going to police or monitor and enforce these regulations,” he says. “What is the chance they’re

get producers that were never taking full advantage of abattoirs - whether federal or provincial.

In Canada provincial and federal legislation both govern the sale of meat. Federal inspection is generally for meat that is crossing provincial, territorial or national borders.

Due to the cost of run“It kind of took your heart ning a federal facility, out of the business. We were there are far fewer in B.C. so distracted by the fact we than provincial slaughtercouldn’t sell at the farm gate. houses. Boon says it’s not the equipment. More than How do you keep your farm 85 per cent of beef cattle set if you don’t have any in- raised in B.C. is trucked to Alberta for federal inspeccome?” tion.

Lisa Daniels, “For the beef producer, Powell River farmer it’s very hard to access a federally inspected plant,” going to stay within those 10 he says. animals?”

Boon says there are discussions But farmers such as Mark going on right now between the Froese say they don’t think this three western provinces, B.C., will have a huge impact on their Alberta, and Saskatchewan, business, since the licenses tar- about a cross-border trade

agreement.

They are working on standardizing the meat inspection regulations, so meat crossing a provincial border doesn’t have to be inspected by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency official.

Boon says that would probably exclude a Class E license since other provinces are licensed differently.

McBride Slaughterhouse?

McBride resident Mike Monroe has been working on opening a slaughterhouse on his property on Mountainview Road. The facility would be Class A certified, which means the operator could slaughter as well as cut and wrap meat for local producers. The scale would be 20 head of cattle a week.

“It’s been a long struggle, but we’re getting close,” Monroe says. “We’re in the final push.”

A local slaughterhouse would

While he has concerns over enforcement, Boon says he sees the value in farm gate sales.

“The farm gate sales tend to go to the people who are really concerned about where their beef comes from,” he says. “They want to be able to walk out and see the animal, how it’s raised, what it’s eating. That gives those little guys a little more opportunity to make a little more money off it.”

Daniels’ farm in Powell River is certified organic. The new licenses mean she can now put an ad in the paper advertising her meat.

“If you can’t recover some of the costs, people are less likely to be part of the organic thing.

Now I can do that without being afraid I’m breaking the law.”

She is also now able to contact a local restaurant for one type of poultry, for example. While she would like to grow the meat as part of her farm now, part of her philosophy is sustainability, and so they will always be a small operation.

She wants to attract young people to farming.

“That’s the best thing about these new regulations is the business will start to look more attractive to young people and that’s where it needs to go.”

Got a comment?

Send it to us! lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Forest afficionados study local fungi

Photos: Laura Keil Researchers examine a tell-tale sign of Armillaria, a fungus that causes root disease. Nearly all tree species are susceptible. Signs include white mycelial fans under and within bark of roots and lower bole, rhizomorphs (black shoestring-like structures) on the surface of dead or infected roots, or golden-yellow mushrooms that grow from infected material in the autumn.

Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Annosus root and butt rot, Armillaria root disease and Comander Blister Rust: not the kinds of words you want to hear at the dinner table, unless of course, you’re at the Western International Forest Disease Work Conference.

Last week, 70 delegates from across North America gathered in Valemount to compare notes on dozens of strange diseases not many people have ever heard of.

It’s the biggest, most influential gathering of forest pathologists in the pacific northwest, says organizer Michelle Cleary.

When they were not spelunking in pine stands near Kinbasket, she says delegates used their time together to share new ideas about new diseases that are on the horizon that perhaps they’re dealing with down in the states that may affect the forest resources of B.C. “There’s a lot of cross-border diseases,” Cleary says. “They don’t stop at the border; they come north.”

The theme of this year’s conference was an anniversary. But a rather unusual one: “This year was an important year to celebrate the centennial of White Pine Blister Rust – or the introduction of this Blister

Rust fungus in North America,” Cleary says. “It has since spread all throughout our pacific forests affecting five-needle pine, white pine, white bark pine. It’s been the basis for a lot of these people studying the disease.”

“Are we any further ahead in what we know in terms of being able to restore the species? Being able to breed for resistance?”

She says another priority was to explore the Robson Valley.

“This is a gem in my mind,” she says.

“Whenever I’m up here I feel like I’m on vacation.”

She says the remoteness did not deter any of the 70 participants who came from as far north as Alaska and as far south as New Mexico, as well as one Swedish participant.

“It’s a hotspot for diseases, so for a pathologist it’s a haven.”

Diseases have over the years developed a relationship with tree species, she says.

“It’s something as managers of the forest that we need to consider when we’re harvesting and managing for future forests.”

There are still many hidden diseases that result in significant impacts to the forest’s health and growth.

The forest disease conference is held in a Canadian location once every four years.

Jonas Ronnberg

Nancy Gillette

Researcher with the Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

Research Entomologist, USDA Forest Service

Jonas Ronnberg works in Sweden studying silviculture and pathology.

He says in Sweden, forest management is much different than in Canada.

There are more than 350,000 private forest owners in the country.

Forest managers tend to thin a stand three times before the final cut - and all waste wood is evacuated and new fertilizer brought in. The waste wood is then used to heat water which heats nearby homes.

He says his study of Annosus root and butt rot is needed because it is a commercially important disease of conifers.

The Department is part of the Forestry Faculty of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and is stationed in Alnarp, in southwestern Sweden.

Nancy Gillette is an entomologist, in other words an insect scientist, from Berkeley, California. She has been studying the red turpentine beetle or Dendroctonus valens which exists throughout Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. In North America it is only a minor pest but it was accidentally introduced to China 35 years ago, and in the last 10 years has begun to kill trees in the millions. The beetle carries fungal spores that infect the tree and Gillette has discovered 12 new fungi carried by the beetle. She is trying to find out why the fungus has become so bad in China, in case the fungus returns to North America.

www.therockymountaingoat.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A9

Rooting around for clues Adrian Leslie Grad student at Royal Roads University, Victoria

Adrian Leslie is working on his Master’s thesis on how to best manage Armillaria Root Rot, a disease that infects new healthy trees if left in the soil of a logged area. The root rot has had an impact on trees around the world, but there is much controversy about whether or not stumping is a solution. He is studying a 15-year-old stumping trial near Revelstoke for his research. He says the government has spent money to find a solution, but stumping, for example, is very expensive.

Will Littke Industry researcher with Weyerhaeuser

Will Littke was one of the only industry researchers at the conference. He has worked for 35 years as a forest pathologist and his current focus is on foliage disease and root disease of Douglas Firs. He says the logging industry has to deal with protected lands, making it important that harvesters understand the dynamics of the spread of disease. He also lectures at the University of Washington in the Forestry Department’s Integrated Forest Pest Management division.

Simren Brar Grad student at UBC Forest Pathology and Genetics

Photos: Laura Keil

David Shaw of Oregon was one of 70 delegates at the five-day conference in Valemount last week. Participants took field trips around the Valley to examine various forest diseases.

Attention all Robson Valley tourism businesses: The Rocky Mountain Goat is distributed free in Jasper and Mt. Robson

Simren Brar is studying White Pine Blister Rust for her master`s degree at the University of British Columbia. She is collecting samples of rust from western Canada at high elevations and using genetic markers to determine the genetic diversity in a population.

She says the conference is a good opportunity for her to exchange ideas with other people who are not just working in her area of study, but also people who are looking at other problems. She worked in Valemount studying Armillaria in 2007 with a professor and was happy to return.

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www.therockymountaingoat.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Business watch:

The bull, the bear and The Goat

Trading Post opens

Esthetician sets up shop

Photo: Laura Keil The iconic Trading Post at the end of 5th Avenue is finally open.

Owner Henry Unger has been working on the project for several years. The multi-purpose building is already home to a hardware store, art gallery for the newly-formed Valemount Crafter’s Guild, and home base for Valemount’s new Mixed Martial Arts club. The upstairs is also used for community events such as yoga classes and meditation.

Unger plans to charge for use of the facilities through a percentage share on sales for arts, crafts and paid classes.

The hardware store is part of the Irly Building Supplies franchise. Unger plans to sell stock the store with all kinds of building supplies including electrical and plumbing.

Unger also plans to showcase his own woodworking including carvings that have taken him years to complete.

Photo: Laura Keil Melanie Fleetham is ready to spiff up your nails, eyebrows, lashes and more.

The esthetician moved from Jasper last spring and has set up shop inside Noreen’s Hair Design on 5th Avenue in Valemount.

“Over the years, we’ve had our eye on Valemount,” says Fleetham. She and her boyfriend moved to Tete-Jaune so she could still commute to Jasper each week. But she didn’t enjoy the commute,

and jumped at the opportunity to set up shop in Valemount. She’s open Monday to Thursday, and still works in Jasper Friday and Saturday.

She’ll be offering manicures, pedicures, all types of waxing, 3D lash extensions, hair services, and eventually makeup. “Somewhere a bit remote, it’s good to have a place where you can treat yourself,” she says.

More disputes over softwood headed south Federal and provincial ministers talk tough

Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell says it is time Bell recommends that it would be far more producto find new markets for B.C. softwood. This is in re- tive for the U.S. lumber industry to work cooperatively sponse to the U.S. government’s request for consulta- with B.C. to boost demand for wood products across tions with Canada under the 2006 Softwood Lumber North America.

Agreement with regard to British Columbia’s timber “The continuing protectionism from U.S. lumber pricing policies. producers reveals the importance of developing new “British Columbia has always honoured and contin- markets for B.C. wood products, such as we are doing ues to honour its commitments under the 2006 Soft- in China.” wood Lumber Agreement. I am disappointed that the The federal minister of international trade, Peter U.S. is initiating arbitraVan Loan, also did not tion. hesitate to call out the “The continuing protectionism from U.S. The recent U.S. comU.S. government’s move. lumber producers reveals the importance plaint is based on the “I am disappointed that of developing new markets for B.C. wood large volumes of mounthe United States has retain pine beetle-attacked jected cooperative diaproducts, such as we are doing in China.” timber that has been harlogue on this matter in

Pat Bell, B.C. Minister of Forests vested and the request favour of formal dispute and Range for consultation revolves settlement. There is no around British Columjustification for arbitrabia’s auction-based priction, and Canada will ing system make this point forcefully in consultations,” he said at “B.C. lumber producers have suffered during the a press conference on Oct. 8. recent downturn just as much as U.S. producers.

“The U.S. complaint deals with a pricing system that From 2005 to 2009, the U.S. lumber producers have is no longer in place,” he continued. increased their share of the U.S. market from 62 to 72 “Canada and British Columbia have been transparper cent, while during the same timeframe B.C.’s share ent on B.C.’s market-based timber pricing system. This declined from 20 to 16 per cent,” says Bell. system was already in place when the Softwood Lum-

ber Agreement was established. The increased proportion of low-value logs in B.C.’s timber harvest is due to the unprecedented mountain pine beetle infestation.

Regrettably, the United States decided to rely on unfounded allegations, which are flatly contradicted by trade and other economic data.”

The U.S. federal government announced its request for consultation on Oct. 8, 2010. The trade impasse has now moved beyond consultation to the process of arbitration.

www.therockymountaingoat.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Agreement reached by CREA, Competition Bureau Multiple Listing Service will remain under realtors’ control After a summer of confusion and limited information, details have finally emerged over what changes may be in store for the Canadian real estate market.

Last February, the Competition Bureau announced its intentions to try to force Canadian realtors to offer more options in the services they provide. One, of many, proposed changes the Competition Bureau specifically demanded was that the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the primary realty network over which 90 per cent of all Canadian transactions now take place, be opened up to use by non-members of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) selling residential properties. The Competition Bureau has maintained that the motive behind all of its proposed changes has been a more competitive market of services for Canadians whishing to sell their residential properties.

On Sept. 30, the Competition Bureau and CREA announced that they have reached a tentative agreement, a move which has created peace in what has been a very hostile atmosphere of legal jostling.

While the agreement must still be ratified by realty association members, the new rules will likely be in effect for ten years. The agreement was reached in an effort to avoid what would likely have been a very costly and drawn out legal show down scheduled to have started in April 2011. If the agreement is not ratified, litigation will continue as scheduled, however, both the Competition Bureau and CREA are optimistic. The final test will come at CREA’s Special General Meeting (SGM) scheduled for Oct. 24 in St. John’s Newfoundland where Canadian realty representatives from across the country will vote on the issue.

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While details of the agreement have not bee released pending the SGM, both parties have confirmed that, if approved, public parties will not have open access to the MLS. The agreement will contain other concessions which could change the nature of realtor services in Canada, allowing more choice in exactly what services realtors’ clientele can enlist, however Georges Pahud, President CREA, has stated that the agreement does not require brokerages to change their business models.

CREA has based the majority of its argument on the prospect of diminished client care and shoddy legal services if realtors are abruptly forced to underbid each other and offer partial services. Pahud has also confirmed that under the agreement, realtors offering a ‘listing only’ service option will not be restricted from the network, a point the Competition Bureau has based much of its argument for more competition on.

Pahud says that this has been a misconception, and that association members have always had access to the network, even if they were already offering ‘listing only’ services.

TV producer visualizes local film fest Two weeks at film school inspires local TV station manager Harmeet Singh hsingh@therockymountaingoat.com

Earlier this week, VCTV station manager Andru McCracken arrived back in Valemount after an intense two weeks at the Gulf Islands Film and Television School (GIFTS) on Galiano Island, B.C. It was an important step for his own professional development, he says, but it could mean a huge leap for VCTV and the Valemount community.

McCracken arrived as a true representative of his community. “By the end of this course,” he told his film

Secondary School New Bride c s M Graduation Dinner Caterer Needed!

This year’s graduation class will be holding their grad on Saturday, June 25th at the Robson Valley Recreation Centre. We are looking for a caterer for approx 450 – 500 people. Bid to include menu plan, copy of Caterer’s License and references to be submitted to the McBride Secondary School by Friday, December 10th. If you have any questions, please call the school at 250-569-2295.

McBride Secondary School Craft Fair This year’s Craft Fair will be Saturday, November 27th 11:00 - 3:00 p.m. There is a table fee of $15.00 or 10% of sales what ever is greater, to a maximum of $50.00. This year the money will go towards helping McBride Secondary School PAC. Tables are going fast, so make sure you call 250-569-2295 a.s.a.p. to book a table.

If you can sing, dance, play an instrument etc. and are interested in participating in the Talent Night, please call the McBride Secondary school at 250569-2295 for more details by Friday, October 22nd.

Proceeds towards the McBride Secondary School Snowboard Team.

Actors Kim Smith and Dusty Tyler play anti-conspiracists Harvard and Noah in Andru McCracken’s short film titled ‘The Mother of All Conspiracies’. An activist is about to uncover the Mother of All Conspiracies, but in an age of lies, does Truth matter? school colleagues, “you’re going to know where Vale- GIFTS, but with more of a focus on television. Though mount is on the map and you’re going to know about Galiano Island has the advantage of being so close to the transformative power of community television.”

Vancouver’s film elite, Valemount will have the benBut before that would happen, McCracken had to efit of several old GIFTS students willing to visit the have his own work critiqued by fellow filmmakers, area, he says. That would be in addition to a supportestablished and aspiring. The result of the intensive ive community. On Galiano Island, he says, everyone feedback was McCracken’s short film, Mother of all wants the film school to do well, and he imagines it Conspiracies, which aired on Valemount Live last would be similar in Valemount.

Thursday and will play again this week on VCTV. Later this month, documentary filmmaker and forThe long-term result from the course will be im- mer GIFTS student Charles Jones will join McCracken provements to VCTV, he says. His passion for the local for two weeks of discovering Valemount. Jones created station led him to pitch the show to bigger broadcast- School’s Out?, a documentary about rural school cloers in Vancouver. The Knowledge Network has now sures in B.C., which has been airing nightly on VCTV invited Valemount to submit content for its website, for the past week. an initiative McCracken says he hopes the entire comBy next October, McCracken and his film school munity can join. peers hope to create a small film festival in Valemount.

“We live in an age defined by TV,” says McCracken.

The idea will be for filmmakers to arrive with a script “In your 500 channel universe, the only thing miss- in mind and create their short films within a weekend, ing is you.” within the Valemount area. The films would then be That’s where community television comes in, he says, screened by the community. allowing members of the community to become more Until then, McCracken will be inviting his GIFTS media literate. colleagues to explore Valemount, and will be inviting “Who ever heard of somebody being able to read, but Valemount to explore how community television is not being able to write?” made.

He says he sees in Valemount’s future a school like

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Valley photo journal:

www.therockymountaingoat.com

Photo: Joseph Nusse Replacing a rail is no small job for modern railroads, but less manpower is now needed. According to an onsite C.N. representative, the rails shown in this picture are all 1482 feet in length. Crews replace a rail length by pulling one of fifty lengths out of the back of this rail train, and into place. Length are then trimmed to length and fastened to each individual tie. Longer rails can even be bent around corners. C.N.’s modern operations are based on much higher traffic and twentyfour hour use of rail lines.

Gardening with Pete Peter Amyoony Special to The Goat As I write today’s column on this windy October day, I see thousands of golden leaves flying past my window. The fall wind is once again delivering a wealth of nutrients from the poplars and cottonwoods for me to gather up and eventually feed to the garden.

Whenever I see bags of leaves out at the curb to be taken away as “garbage”, I am tempted to throw them in my truck and add them to my compost, but as an organic gardener, I worry about bringing home some Roundup, Tordon or Weed and Feed. The large trees with their roots going deep into the subsoil, bring up many useful “micro-nutrients” which may not be available to our garden plants in the topsoil, but they also tend to absorb any chemicals which are sprayed on the soil above their root zone.

Some folks just pile the leaves on their gardens and flower beds and use them to protect the bare soil from the harsh winter weather. In the spring, the partially rotted leaves can be worked into the soil. They give not only micronutrients for the plants but also a large amount of organic matter for the worms and other “little crawlies” that live in healthy soil.

I usually gather up the leaves into piles beside my compost bins and mix them with food scraps, garden waste, manure or straw to the compost pile. The more variety, the better the compost! It is best not to put

more than a 1 inch (2.5cm) layer of leaves, as they tend to compact into a slimy mess. If you are lucky and have access to enormous quantities of leaves, you can just pile them out of the way in large piles and by the second year they will break down into “leafmould” which is one of the best soil amendments you can get. (And it is free!!) I have learned over the years to lay a sheet of plastic or a tarp on the ground before building a leaf pile, manure pile or any other pile because the weeds such as quack grass or thistle or the roots of bushes and trees will invade the pile and use up all the nutrients before you can get them to the garden.

So, take time this year to enjoy the beauty of the fall leaves on the trees, on the ground and then again next year in your salads and veggies. They are definitely not garbage!!

Pete Amyoony is a gardener in the Robson Valley of central B.C. high in the Rocky Mountains near Mount Robson. He has lived, worked and gardened in the Dunster area for over thirty years.

Paper couriers needed!

We are looking for individuals who regularly drive to McBride Wednesday mornings.

We are also looking for individuals who regularly drive to Jasper either Wednesday evening, or Thursdays.

We pay for gas!

Call Joe, 250-566-1444

www.therockymountaingoat.com

The Tourism Directory

Call Leigh at 250-569-8807 or info@leighcreative.com

Open at 4:30 pm daily

CLOSED from October 11 5th Avenue till 1002 November 24 Valemount, B.C.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

$40 for 4 weeks, or $20 for one week

Teepee Meadows Cottage

Spectacular mountain and marshland scenery Phone:250-566-9875

Eatery and Gift Shop

1152 - 5th Ave, Valemount B.C. 250-566-0154

Located 3 km west of Valemount

Visit us at www.caribougrill.com

A13

Hosts: Claude, Alke & Noland Germain 545 Jack Adams Road, Box 786 Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0

The Business Directory New Construction, Renovations Additions, Framing, Finishing Cabinetry & Wood Doors

Certified Septic Installer Bobcat Skid Steer With Various Attachments

G & A Moore Ventures Gerald Moore Contractor

McBride, BC

Windshield Repair/Replacement Specialists

PET SUPPLIES-HOME ELECTRONICS SHAW DIRECT TV-SIRIUS RADIOS FLAT GLASS-MIRROR-SCREENS CUSTOM VINYL SIGNS-BANNERS-VEHICLE GRAPHICS-MAGNETIC SIGNS WOOD & PELLET STOVES & SUPPLIES WOOD PELLETS @ Country Wide Sales & Services Ltd Conveniently located downtown @ 1160-5th Ave

www.mooreventures.ca Tel: 250.569.2269

CRACKMASTER

Cell: 250.569.7147

Open 9 am -5:30 pm Monday thru Friday

250.566.4380

For Drywall Services CALL TODD @

WAHOO ENTERPRISES

250-569-0320

STR8 UP Renovations New Construction, renos, form building. shops, decks.

Journeyman carpenter, 17 years experience.

Call Jeff Wagner, 250-569-7906

Place your ad here For only $40/month

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

www.therockymountaingoat.com

Twenty for a Toonie: The Classified Ads Classified ads policy If it is for free, it is free.

Up to 20 words for $2, 30 words for $3, 40 words for $4 etc. If the asking price is over $499, then it is $5 for 20 words, $6 for 30 words etc. Non-business announcements are welcome at the same rates.

The Rocky Mountain Goat reserves the right to refuse to print any classified submission that is not an advertisement of a private sale, or rental arrangement.

For Sale

For Sale

Salvaged metal siding for sale. Perfect for any outbuilding or shop. Approximately 550-600 square foot coverage. Will consider any offer! Call Joe 250-566-1444

5th Wheel. 28.5’ Citation Supreme 1997 Excellent condition, Queen walkaround Bed, Oakcabinets, 2 DoorFridge, Microwave, 3 Burnersstoveoven, Full Bath, Awning, Airconditioning, $14900.00. Call 1-250-566-9884, Valemount or jvgeorgeca@yahoo.ca

Glass carboys, $20 each (retail $40) and multi-purpose plastic tubs 30L, $15 Call 250-566-4606

Trusses for sale. Approximately 42 foot span. 14 units. Single slant, could be modified with a chalk line and skill saw. Now considering offers! Call Joe 250566-1444 and skill saw. Now considering offers! Call Joe 250-566-1444

Flooring, Wide Plank Fir, 8”, T&G, new, kiln dried, select grade, $2.95/sqft. Please call 250-573-1817 evenings.

How to submit an ad Found

To submit your classified ad, e-mail or call the goat, or place your ad in an envelope with payment and drop it in our mailbox, 1070 5th Ave For Rent Shared Accommodation dwntwn McBride Incl: lge bdrm with private entrance, ADSL, phone/voice box, furniture. Shared: util, TV, house/yard. NS, ND/A (no drugs/alcohol), No Pets.

Refs plse. $450 - 569-8807 Older 2 bedroom house on 6th Ave. $450/month plus utilities. 250-566-4790.

Roommate Wanted $295 plus shared utilities.

1 bedroom in 2 bedroom apartment in Valemount.

250-566-4044 Nanny Needed Nanny Required. Sept – Dec part time. Requires 2 days in Crescent Spur, 2 days in Dunster Jan–Apr – full time live in at Crescent Spur. Salary based on experience. Pls email resumes or inquires to Jessica@crescentspur.com.

You can reach me at 250553-2300 or 250-968-4486.

Plain Talk Horoscopes

Building Materials

1 pair of black, OR, Goretex gaiters on McKirdy Peak.

Call 250-566-4396 to claim.

500 gal. single-wall fuel tank. Asking $200. Call 250566-5069, ask for Jared Mobile Home with full addition, and large garage on a lot, in Valemount recently renovated. comes w/ fridge stove washer dryer.

Currently rented. Asking $110.000.00 O.B.O Call 778 328 7285 leave a message.

Mazda B4000 4/4 1994.

C/W Canopy, 2 sets of tires on rims, well maintained, kept all receipts, 293K. Reason for sale; family got bigger. Asking $2500. Call JF at 250-566-8411.

Post your ad online

Braun Juicer.-Multi-press MP-50. Fruits and veggies, gently used. $45. Pressure canner “Wearever” $70. Lv msg: 250-566-1588.

Two used satellite dishes. As is, taken off of house. Open to offers, 250-566-1444.

Minolta 2050 copier with two bottles of toner. Asking $300 OBO. Black and White copying only. Upto 11x17 size, also double sided. Older machine but still reproduces well. Handy for someone who needs to make copies of maps, booklets, handouts, etc. Call Rashmi at Infinity 250-5664225. Available for testing / viewing at Infinity Office & health, Valemount.

Wanted Wanted: Coffee grinder. Call 250-566-4606.

By Craig Elder, M.A. Economics

Aries: You have to make a decision about settling for being comfortable versus striving for your dreams. Good thing you have lots of sweat pants.

Taurus: You will annoy those around you when you claim luck had nothing to do with your recent string of good luck.

Gemini: The happiness of the entire world, if not the galaxy, rests on your actions today.

Cancer: As mars crosses through your sign remember that a stitch in time is a penny earned that will keep the doctor away.

Leo: You will begin to wonder this week how many leftover turkey sandwiches is too many.

Virgo: Your continued boasting will lead to challenges by others. It is your choice: pistols or swords.

Libra: A few nice compliments give you the confidence to move mountains. This is ridiculous. Why would you even want to do such a thing?

Scorpio: You have developed strong feelings for someone, but maybe you should be realistic. There is more to life than happiness and joy.

Sagittarius: You will be less of a drain on society today.

Capricorn: You are not seeing straight today, your vision is clouded and you don’t know where to go.

You best let someone else drive.

Aquarius: Help others this week but hold it over their heads so you can guilt them into future favours.

Pisces: This week lacks excitement. Zone out and let it pass you by.

ARE YOU BORED? I’m looking to start a friendCarpool Employment ship club for winter sports, hiking, events and activities I am looking to carpool Quickway Pilot looking in Jasper, and nighboring periodically with someone for part time drives. Phone towns. Call Vanda at: 250who travels to Jasper, and to www. .net566-1722, or fax resume to 566-0173. travel to other towns. I will 566-4207, or mail Box 69 Sudoku, Kakuro & Futoshiki Puzzles pay for part gas! Call 566- Valemount.

0173.

Sudoku-Puzzles

jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com

Sudoku 9x9 - Hard (135013854)

6 Village of McBride

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Water Conservation Plan

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Notice

October 13, 2010 The Village of McBride has recently completed a Water Conservation Plan and prior to final approval would like to provide the community with an opportunity to review and comment on the plan.

The plan may be viewed at the Village of McBride Office, 100 Robson Centre-855 SW Frontage Road, during regular business hours from October 13-20, 2010 and the plan will also be available for viewing on the Village of McBride website at www.mcbride.ca.

In addition, we will be holding a drop in open house session, on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm in the Village of McBride Council Chambers; we will have a representative from the engineering firm available to respond to questions pertaining to the plan.

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The most-read newspaper in the Valley!

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Solution:

Get exposure for your ad

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Community Events October

Oct. 14 Open House for proposed Starratt Marsh wildlife management area Valemount Best Western Hotel and Suites Drop-in 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Valemount Chamber of Commerce AGM 7 p.m., Best Western Hotel Oct. 16 Jason Blaine Valemount Commmunity Theatre 7 p.m.

Oct. 27 McBride Secondary Talent Night 7 p.m. at the Roundhouse Theatre $5 admission, children free For details or to enter, contact: 250-569-2295

November

Nov 6th McBride Elks and Royal Purple Garage Sale 10:00 2:00 p.m.. If you would like to book a table @ $10.00/ table, please call Barb Jackson: 569-2645.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A15

Ongoing diversions Every Wednesday Valemount Seniors’ Music Night, 7p.m.

Location: Valemount Golden Years Lodge Every Thursday Cribbage tournament, everyone welcome Location: Valemount Golden Years Lodge lower level 1-4 p.m.

Every Friday In Valemount: Musical jam at The Gathering Tree cafe, 7 p.m.

Hamburgers and drinks at the Legion, 5:30 p.m.

Every second Saturday Valemount Circle Dance, 7pm - 9pm Contact Micah: 250-566-1782 First Saturday of every month Dunster Family Dance 7pm to 10pm Instruction from 7-8pm and short sessions throughout the evening. Lots of variety dances (waltz, fox-trot, polka, cha-cha, two-step-schottische, etc). Pot luck snacks at 9pm and then more dancing until 10pm. Admission - $5 for anyone over 12 - maximum of $10 per family.

Nov. 20 Valemount Arts and Crafts Fair Location: Valemount Secondary gym Contact Jan @250-566-4396 to book a table

Hidden gems of the Valley

Got a community event or announcement?

Let us know! lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

Thank Yous Valemount Minor Hockey Association would like to extend a big Thank-You to Dave Craig and Nestor and Janet Kunka for the generous donation of hockey equipment that will help outfit many new players of the game. Your support is very much appreciated.

Robson Valley Weather Wednesday 16 4

Thursday 11 2 P.O.P. 60%

Friday 8 1 P.O.P. 40%

Saturday 9 2

Sunday 9 1

Monday 11 2

The crashing thunder of a waterfall 10 km up the Small River forest service road just off Hwy 16 east of Dunster

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www.therockymountaingoat.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

1455 8th Place, Valemount

Lot 4, Crown Rd, Tete Jaune Cache

Near new 3 bdrm home Semi fenced level yard Lots of parking Underground sprinklers Excellent location

Semi treed 3.9 ac Lot Greenhouse/storage building Awesome views Has water & access Privacy fence in front

3110 Morgan Rd, McBride

# 3-1095 Dyke Rd, McBride

NEW

Nice 2 bdrm mobile Good shape with woodstove Private lot in MHP Good starter home

#11-1095 Dorval Rd, McBride

NEW

806-4th Ave, McBride

Reno’d mobile home Large addition with woodstove End unit with large lot Immaculate condition Excellent location

Fraser Riverfront property Large 133 acre hobby farm Five bedroom, 3 bathrm home Barns, sheds, and shops Excellent condition & location

2300 Westlund Rd, McBride

D

CE REDU

Ancient case study continued

...Cont’ from A5

as a forester for Skogssällskapet, a Swedish timber company. For Berglund the details and operations of the McBride

60,000 hecatres but our actual harvesting land base is only 23-24,000 hectares.

Our annual allowable cut is 50,000 cubic metres,” states von der Gonna.

“I manage about 25,000 ha, over twen“I manage about 25,000 ha, over ty-six different estates but we cut about twenty-six different estates but we 100,000 cu metres per year. On average, cut about 100,000 cu metres per we probably have about 75 years beyear. On average, we probably have tween rotations,” counters Berglund. about 75 years between rotations.”

“We have about an 80-100 year rota-Mattias Berglund, forest man- tion for spruce and pine in our Commuager from Sweden nity Forest,” replies von der Gonna.

“We may have 700 cubic metres per Community Forest were of keen inter- hectare, but we will only get 300 merest. chantable cubic metres out of that. As “The Community Forest is about we slowly get more management in place, we should be able to increase that.”

Berglund, says that his company mainly sells round-wood into markets, similar to the McBride Community Forest.

They also do timber trading for other companies, but wood is sold as bush sort to different companies for products at different prices.

Photos: Harmeet Singh “I think one of the biggest difCruising marks still plainly visible on century- ferences is also that the ownold trees. The Anceint Forest was scheduled to ership structure is so differbe harvested even as recently as 2005

NEW

Cute cottage Just reno’d & painted One large bedroom Excellent for single person Large lot, good location

12300 Crown Rd, Tete Jaune Cache

37 acre horse farm Cross fenced with barn Large 4 bdrm home Detached truck shop Excellent view location

ent than what is in Sweden. In Sweden, more of the forests are privately owned. So the driving forces are completely different,” says Berglund.

Berglund says that his company does all kinds of different sales from a kind of off the stump sale, similar to BC Timber sales, to well-sorted and marketed timber sales more akin to bush sort practices or even sort yard marketing.

“One big difference here is that a lot of volume per hectare is left as dead wood. We are restricted by law that we cannot leave more than five cubic metres per hectare of fresh fallen wood over a diameter of about 10cm.”

Berglund notes another big difference is that in Sweden a lot of waste wood is used as biofuels.

According to Berglund, artificial diversification of Sweden’s forests has already started.

“In the southern part of Sweden there is a big interest for Douglas Fir and it has been introduced. There is also half a million hectares of lodgepole pine that has been planted in the north of Sweden. Back in the 1960’s or 70’s, they were worried about a lack of timber supply, so they decided to plant something that

Large 3 bdrm log home On 4 landcaped acres Detached shop with loft Excellent view location Fenced for privacy

Photos: Harmeet Singh grows faster. The seeds were all taken from different regions of Canada. It took a while to figure out which seeds from which region works best, but they are now growing on average 50 per cent faster than Sweden’s native Scots pine.”

After a morning of revelling in the Ancient Forest, the group was taken to a block within the McBride Community Forest for some more examples of local forest harvesting methods.

In 2005, the Ancient Forest was set aside after a logging plan for the site was presented to the public. In a whirlwind of activity including citizens’ groups and NGOs, the forest was taken off of the logger’s list and the trails and forest has now been protected with recreation site status. It has also been given old growth management status.