Gateway to the North - July 2017 by Prince George Citizen

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July 19, 2017

NEWS AND EVENTS FOR PRINCE GEORGE AND CENTRAL INTERIOR

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PERFORMANCE TIME: 7:00PM

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A return two years in the making Barbara LATKOWSKI Citizen staff blatkowski@pgcitizen.ca She froze and stared at her surroundings. It was the first day back at work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George Hospital, a day Stacie Reis thought she would never see after having survived a serious car accident only two years ago. “My first day back was overwhelming,” she said. “I just stood there and stared for a while. Then when I heard a baby’s heart beat again, I was so emotional.” On July 4, 2015, Reis was on her way to Kitimat to visit her grandfather one last time before he passed away. But Reis didn’t make it. On the road again after stopping for ice cream, her car tumbled down a 40-foot embankment, which left her with multiple

broken bones – ankle, tibia, sternum, shoulder, ribs and back vertabrae. While trapped in her vehicle for 14 hours, Reis knew her injuries were life threatening. With both legs twisted awkwardly, her nursing skills set in with an attempt to save them. “I knew I had to straighten my legs because before the blood supply was cut off,” Reis said. Reis lifted her legs while pinned upside down and physically straightened her legs, which is what doctors later told her saved them from amputation. For Reis, it was her faith as a Christian that helped her while trapped in her car and the long two years since. — see ‘FAITH, LOVE OF JOB, page 4 Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Stacie Reis is back at work as a nurse in the NICU at UHNBC after being involved in a horrific car crash two years ago.

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Faith, love of job helped Reis in her recovery — from page 3 “My faith helped me get through,” Reis said. “And since then it has always given me strength.” But for the 29-year-old nurse, it has been a road to recovery filled with many ups and downs. “I have thoughts about everything. There are days when I think I can’t believe this happened to me and other days where I am very optimistic,” Reis said. “But my faith and support from my family, friends, co-workers and church community have helped me through. I’m so thankful.” And it was also the love of her job that drove Reis to heal as quickly as possible. “My job pushed me to fight to get better,” Reis said. “I just wanted to get back so bad. I knew I had to do it. I even saw an occupational therapist who asked me what other jobs I might like to do. I said

‘this one is the only one.’” A year and a half ago, Reis was able to walk again but still used a wheel chair regularly until January of this year. “I still had to use a walker until March and then a cane up until a couple months ago,” she said. After numerous surgeries, rehabilitation took Reis to new levels both physically and emotionally. “My physical healing was such a big part of my life. Then the physical slowed down, then the emotional and spiritual took over,” Reis said. “Today, I’m feeling good. I’ve learned to live with chronic pain, which can be overwhelming, but it’s just learning to live with it. It’s about balance and emotionally finding a balance, too. My life has changed. It will never be the same. I grieved when I came back to Prince George after the accident. I missed my

old life, but I’m so thankful for all of the support I’ve had.” This includes the support from a co-worker, who has recently been in recovery, as well as help from a brand new puppy. “He’s been so good for me. He forces me to get up and I think that’s made a big difference,” Reis said. Just before returning to work, Reis was faced with another tough decision. “I had a planned surgery scheduled on my ankle. I decided not to have it because I didn’t want to give up my line (for a permanent position at the hospital). But I felt confident. My ankle feels good, I have mobility and I’m back at work. I feel like I’ve got the cake and ate it, too,” Reis said. Now known internationally as the “Bad Ass B.C. Nurse,” Reis is slowly integrating at the hospital by working two hour shifts to begin and will then gradually increase

her hours as time goes on. “I love my work. Parents are often grieving so it feels good to be able to make them feel more comfortable or to teach them things like putting on a diaper on a premature baby. And the babies. Even sick, the babies are so adorable,” Reis said. Today, Reis says she hopes to succeed at work and would like to teach nursing in the future. “And spending time with family and friends means so much to me and to keep my relationships and build on new relationships.” Going back to that day two years ago, Reis says she has no regrets. “I wouldn’t change anything, “I think all of this has changed who I am and my faith and values have grown as well as for those I have in my life,” she said. “And I’m writing a book. I want to tell my story. It’s been a long journey.”

Citizen photo by James Doyle

Full of Pride The 20th annual Prince George Pride Parade took place on July 8. Thousands took part in the parade, which wound its way through downtown Prince George.

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Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Marcel Labelle paddles a birch bark messenger canoe, built by UNBC students as part of a field school course.

Birch bark canoe takes maiden voyage Barbara Latkowski Citizen staff blatkowski@pgcitizen.ca For Lydia Toorenburgh, it is a symbol of a cultural journey completed. The visiting student from the University of Victoria, along with seven others from UNBC, watched in fulfillment as a birch bark messenger canoe was welcomed with traditional song and drumming as it made its way into the Nechako River. The official launch of the canoe came on

July 5, after three months of construction as part the Canada 150 project and a partnership between UNBC, Le Cercle des Canadiens Francais de Prince George and Two Rivers Gallery with a grant secured from Heritage Canada. “My daughter is offering a song to open this and my son is handing out tobacco to offer to the river, to appreciate that we still have water today,” said canoe construction instructor Marcel Labelle. — see CANOE PROJECT, page 6

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Canoe project a rediscovery of culture — from page 5 For the students taking part in the experimental learning field school, the ciman (canoe in Cree) stands as a symbol of revived cultural identity, the value of teamwork and a shared history of Metis culture. “For myself, I come from a Metis background and my family has lost much of their heritage,” Toorenburgh said. “I can now incorporate what I have learned about my history and culture and I now have a responsibility to take it back home to my family.” For fellow student Wayne Nipshank, building the canoe as a team is what made the project such a great success. “The big thing is culture and bringing it back to its roots. It’s not about the individual as much as it is about working together,” Nipshank said. Students involved with the project combined classroom teaching about Cree/Metis

This is a nice example of community coming together and sharing in a nice result. — Michel Bouchard culture and the history of French speaking people in northern British Columbia. “If you were to go back in time, back to 1867, the language spoken in these areas would have been French with the fur trading happening. “It’s important that we recognize the contributions made by these French speaking men as they canoed from fort to fort,” said UNBC anthropology professor Michel Bouchard. “We are also thankful for the partnerships

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Janique Labelle drums and sings prior to the July 5 launch of a birch bark messenger canoe, built by UNBC students as part of a field school course. made. This is a nice example of community coming together and sharing in a nice result.” The field school consisted of three courses, two of which were in classroom and the last at Two Rivers Gallery where the canoe was constructed. Labelle, an expert birch bark canoe builder, modeled a T-shirt reading “Never give up. You canoe it.” Labelle had students learn every step of the hands-on portion of the class including finding roots to attach parts of the canoe together, stitching the birch bark and sealing the canoe with spruce gum. Just before the canoe entered the water for the first time, a feather made its way

around it in traditional ceremony by Metis elder Earl Henderson. “This feather will protect the canoe wherever it may go,” Labelle said. “This canoe comes from all of the materials from mother earth. And it always finds its way back to nature.” All students received Metis sashes in recognition of completion. Henderson, a Metis elder and UNBC instructor taught the class on Cree and Metis culture and also assisted with the canoe’s construction. “Out of the eight students, six were Metis”, Henderson said. “It was an honour to see them take part in this, as part of our culture.”

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Earl Henderson does a smudging prior to the launch of the birch bark messenger canoe.

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Ancient skeletons have modern link Barbara LATKOWSKI Citizen staff blatkowski@pgcitizen.ca

He was told to never forget. Human remains dating back about 500 years were found outside a young boy’s house in Binche, near Fort St. James, in 1967 and today, a significant connection has been made with members in the community. Barry Duncan was only 10 years old when he made his way home for the holidays after attending Lejac Residential School only to be greeted with news of the discovery. “The elders told me about this. And I never did forget,” Duncan said. After the remains were found, they were reburied and found again during a housing excavation in 2013 where Duncan still resides today. “I always knew they were there but I

Handout photo

Five-hundred year-old human remains were found near Barry Duncan’s house in Binche. didn’t know what they were all about,” Duncan said.

“I took them to the RCMP and they checked for missing persons, but it was

obvious that these bones were very old.” And old they were as Dr. Richard Lazenby from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Northern British Columbia soon discovered. Lazenby has been working closely with Duncan since the remains were recovered four years ago. Since then, a remarkable discovery was found for those living in Binche and in the surrounding communities of Tachie and Nak’azdli Band in Fort St. James. Commonalities have been determined between community members today and the ancient skeletal remains. According to Lazenby, at least four to five different individuals exist within the remains but there could be more. “There are no individuals. Just a collection of bones,” Lazenby said. — see ‘I DIDN’T WANT, page 8

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‘I didn’t want to leave any of them behind’ — from page 7 “This area could have once been a community cemetery at one time, but it is unknown for sure.” For Duncan, determining the identities of the remains means keeping their memory alive by finding our more about them and any possible links to members in the community. “For me, it was a recognition of who they were. There’s an old army saying, ‘leave no man behind,’ Duncan said. “I didn’t want to leave any of them behind.” For Lazenby, seeing the eagerness from Duncan and other community members made the community project one to remember. Duncan requested assistance from Lazenby in understanding who they might have been and if there were any relationships to the present community.

“Barry and the Binche community were excited from the start,” Lazenby said. “They really wanted to pursue this. That’s the fascinating thing about this story. It was the eagerness from the community.” And for Binche, this is an important time politically and culturally as the community commits to separating from a neighbouring Tl’azt’en community, Tachie, in order to regain independence. Binche is currently waiting for Canada’s deputy minister to set a day of referendum and once approved, a ministerial order will be issued, creating a new band. The community of Binche is pursuing to correct a ‘historical mistake’ committed by the Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) which led to a merging of Binche, Tachie, Middle River and Portage/Yekooche (now independent) in 1959. “These ancient remains are vital. There is a connection as Binche moves on in the

future,” Lazenby said. Several different studies were conducted on the remains, including an osteolgy which focuses on differences between bones and teeth relating to humans as individuals covering age, sex, size and lifestyle (diet, activity and health). The osteology further concluded that there were five individuals present: one male, possibly three females (one elderly) and one of unknown sex. Radiocarbon dating also determined that two samples from two different right femurs predates the arrival of non-First Nations. DNA testing traced inheritance and maternal and paternal DNA. Samples were collected from 35 community members using cheek swabs. “This was amazing. To get that many samples from so many in the community,” Lazenby said. “And we definitely found a lot of diversity in our findings.” Through mtDNA testing, approximately 31 per cent of the Binche community members who provided samples share a common maternal ancestor with two samples from the remains and an additional 11.5 per cent share a common maternal ancestor with another one of the samples. According to Lazenby, mtDNA does not discriminate direct lineal relationships, that is, mother-daughter. The commonality reflected may have originated 10,000 years ago. One sample, for example, is most com-

mon in North American First Nations among Algonkian peoples of Ontario and also frequent in the Middle East. One male community member does share a common paternal ancestor with the ancient BK1 sample among the remains through a tiny piece of DNA inherited only down the female line. “Mitochondrial DNA also gives us a sense of when they came to North America,” Lazenby said. In this case, N is most common among Finnish people, but also is known among the Yakuts of Central Siberia,” Lazenby added. Lazenby says that given this rarity, if BK1 lived prior to the arrival of settlers as is likely, it would be reasonable to infer a direct lineal father/son relationship, though the number of generations involved is unknowable. However, he said, this cannot be stated with 100 per cent certainty. For Duncan, learning the lineage of these remains has given him peace and a sense of closure. “I still have the bones. We now want to look into facial reconstruction in the future,” Duncan said. “It feels so good, to have finally given them an identity.” For Lanzenby, it was the community that meant more than anything. “For me and my skill set, it was all about finding their identity for the community,” Lazenby said. “To answer the many unanswered questions.”

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Theft shakes Prince George BMX club Jason PETERS Citizen Sports Editor jpeters@pgcitizen.ca A break-in and theft at Prince George’s Supertrak BMX won’t stop the wheels from turning but has left the club in a tough spot as it continues its season. At the start of the July long weekend, one of the club’s executive members stopped by the Carrie Jane Gray Park facility on an errand and discovered the lock on the gate of the fenced complex had been cut. Inside, the club’s sea can storage container – located underneath the start hill – had its normally-locked door hanging open and was empty. Many of the missing items are essential for holding races. “It’s equipment-specific stuff to run our (start) gate,” said club president Corrie Anderson. “They stole our start lights, two compressors, our lawnmower, three gaspowered weed wackers, three large speakers, one medium speaker for our wireless

Citizen file photo

Jacobus Arnold leads the pack across the finish line as he competes in the 2015 BMX Race for Life at Supertrak BMX. microphone, our microphone control box, our stereo amp, our stereo mixer, our

start light control box, call box, start gate controller, miscellaneous small tools, angle

grinder, sockets, all our speaker cables. They even stole a fan.” The club reported the theft to the RCMP and a file has been opened. Nothing in the storage container was insured. “It’s so expensive for insurance and nobody ever really touched it in my 15 years down there,” Anderson said. “We’re on the hook for everything.” Anderson said the cost of new gate equipment alone ranges from $10,000 to $20,000. For Anderson, the financial loss is upsetting and so is the fact someone would steal from a volunteer-run organization that seeks to provide sporting and recreation opportunities for kids. “We’re a non-profit and we spend countless hours fundraising to keep our race fees low and affordable for our riders and their families,” said an emotional Anderson. — see CLUB GEARING UP, page 10

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Club gearing up for annual fundraising event — from page 9 “And the last weekend in July, we’re hosting our provincial multi-point (races) and our Race for Life where we raise money for B.C. Children’s Hospital. “We raise money to give back and then somebody just took it all from us.” Fortunately for the club, BMX Canada has loaned Supertrak its control box, call box and start light so races can still be held. But, Supertrak officials must return the equipment by Aug. 11 because the national organization will be hosting a meet in Kelowna. After that race weekend, Supertrak has permission to use the BMX Canada gear until early October. “We have to have it back a week before Thanksgiving weekend to Chilliwack for our big finals,” Anderson said. “So we do still have the option after (Aug. 11) to use it but I really hope we have our own stuff

by then.” Without its own equipment, Supertrak is left without a long-term solution. With the BMX Canada equipment in place, races were held early the next week. Anderson said community members are already stepping up in a time of need. “I will say my faith in humanity was restored,” she said. “Somebody brought us a weed wacker (and we are getting) questions on donations coming in and all kinds of stuff starting to get the ball rolling to fundraise and help replace this stuff.” Anderson is asking that, where possible, people keep their eyes open for the stolen items. She is also appealing for their return, no questions asked. “If we could get that gate equipment back, that would be absolutely huge,” she said.

Citizen file photo

Seth Ross, right, and Wyatt Cameron race through a corner at Supertrak BMX.

Effort underway to house evacuated animals Barbara LATKOWSKI Citizen staff blatkowski@pgcitizen.ca In light of the recent wildfires which have devastated and evacuated thousands in B.C., communities throughout the province are also pulling together to save the animals who have been evacuated. Chelsea Wallach is helping run a crisis centre for horses and livestock in Prince George on behalf of the Prince George Horse Society. “This all began three days ago,” Wallach said on July 10. “It was just a thought and then on Sunday, we got a call asking for help in Williams Lake. And so I got as many friends and trailers together as I could and we brought 29 horses here.” The horses were brought to the Prince George Agriplex on 18th Avenue which is where the crisis centre continues to run.

“We will take in horses, animals and livestock of all kinds, shapes and sizes,” Wallach said. The Prince George Horse Society is currently being run by Wallach’s parents, Curt and Nora Wallach, and so far, 56 animals, mostly horses, have found a welcoming new home away from home in Prince George. “It’s so amazing and so uplifting to see all of the communities come together and work as one,” Wallach said. “We are so thankful to all of our many volunteers. It’s just been amazing and people from the horse community are helping out so much by bringing in hay and whatever else is needed. It’s been so awesome.” Wallach says anyone can just show up to Agriplex where their animals will be greeted with clean stalls and fresh water and hay. — see VANDERHOOF GROUP, page 14

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Local dancer gets provincial nod Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca Caitlin McCormick danced to new heights in your youthful career as a performer. The 16-year-old dancer from Dance Your Hart Out Studio was the runner up in the Modern II class at this year’s Performing Arts B.C. provincial championships. She was the only finalist from northern B.C. in any category of dance. She was not alone, however. Elsie Coombs, 15, was also along from DYHO as an official observer while McCormick competed. McCormick has been an official observer in past years (her sister Abigael McCormick was a past provincial qualifier and is now at Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver learning more of the trade) and considered those experiences

fundamental to her scoring such high points this year. “The outcome for me was obviously amazing, but going in the past and seeing all the talent from all the different regions of the province, and how good everyone is, really gave me the impression I wasn’t probably going to get anything. For that reason I went in pretty chill, not worrying about getting anything except experience,” she said. She said the adjudicator kept a poker face throughout the competition and had plenty of constructive feedback for all the participants, so she was no closer to a hint about her high scores until the moment it was announced. “I even got corrected on my face,” McCormick laughed. “I was thinking the whole time about the choreography and I guess that showed in my expression.” Coombs said it would be understandable

to come away from observing the provincials and feel intimidated but for her it was another sign that she should commit herself to dance. She was allowed to take part in some of the workshops made for the 19 competitors and she dove in with gusto. “They said I could do the tap workshop, but I didn’t have any tap shoes. I haven’t done tap since I was four. So I did it in my socks,” she said. “Now, I think tap is going to be very important for me this year. I’ll be working very hard on it. You have to be driven,” Coombs added. “You’re at Point A and you have to get to Point B, so the only way there is to be dedicated and focused, or else why do it?” McCormick has been driven for years, and this year she added flying. She commissioned Calgary choreographer Sarah Dolan to work with her this past year and the results were

game-changing, the up-and-comer said. “I’m so glad I could show Sarah how much her work with me really meant,” said McCormick, about getting the runner-up award. “It felt good to represent DYHO and Prince George and Quesnel (she won her way into provincials through the Quesnel Dance Festival), but all of northern B.C. “It felt really good to hear all the cheering I got from all over the whole region, there was so much support just because there were so few of us up against the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. I want all the dancers from this region to feel that. It was special. I really appreciated that, and I want to do that for others, too.” Perhaps next year Coombs will be back as a competitor. McCormick said she was going almost immediately back into the preparation work for next year.

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Vanderhoof group also helping out — from page 10 “All will be waiting for them when they get here,” Wallach said. “When they arrive, we just take their info and mark the horses.” Groundskeeper, Brittany Stevenson from the Nechako Valley Exhibition Society in Vanderhoof, is also on the ready for any animals who are in need of rescue. “We haven’t had any animals in yet except for two horses locally,” Stevenson said. “But our doors are open for any of them needing help.” The Prince George Humane Society is accepting pets that might be in need of a temporary refuge. The society is asking the community to help in providing the following items: medium to large dog kennels, litter boxes including foil pans from the dollar stores and cat litter. Many others in various communities are also continuing to post their properties on social media outlets including Facebook to offer housing for any animals in need of assistance. For Wallach in Prince George, it’s all about being prepared. “We are ready and we have been picking up and bringing animals back and forth, in and out of fire zones,” Wallach said. “It just goes to show how great Prince George has been. All the volunteers that have been with me, no one asked or worried about going into a fire zone. No one hesitated.” For more information, visit the Prince George Agriplex at 4199 18th Ave., or in Vanderhoof, contact Brittany Stevenson at: 250-567-8571.

CITIZEN photo by BRENT BRAATEN

Home away from home Grant Sopp and his dog, Midget, were evacuated from Williams Lake because of the recent wildfires in that region and, along with about 100 other evacuees, took up residence at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George.

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Sharing in joy

aving worked in education for over 30 years, I consider myself to be one of the luckiest people on the planet, and I look forward to continuing my work until I am in my 70s. What is it about what I am doing that gives me such joy? How does one achieve professional satisfaction? Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal may have found the answer in her study of positive empathy, which is basically sharing other people’s joy. As a teacher, this is actually very easy to do. Children are full of joy, laughter and curiosity. When we share these with them, we feel happy as well. It could be something as simple as wishing a child a happy birthday, complimenting them on a success or sharing the joy of a moment of enlightenment. In class discussions, for example, I

Lessons in Learning Gerry Chidiac regularly find that students come up with insights that have eluded me and that is always a thrill. One of the greatest joys of teaching is running into former students who tell me about what they are doing in life and about their accomplishments. I often tell my current classes of how I look forward to hearing their own stories because I know that I will. In addition, I witness the good in my students on a regular basis and I have learned to point it out. They do so many kind things for each other. They admit when they make

a mistake. They persevere when dealing with challenges. They are truly inspirational and I allow myself to be inspired. It was very affirming for me to read that these are also some of the key findings in McGonigal’s research. They explain why through many years in a very challenging profession, one filled with budget cuts, long hours of marking and planning, everchanging curriculums and numerous other stress points, I still look forward to going to work every morning. On the other side, it has also been found that as humans, we are designed to feel the pain of others. We cringe when we see someone getting injured. We naturally respond with empathy when we see others in stressful situations. These are all good, especially when they motivate us to take action to help others in need. They can, however, have a detrimental impact on us if we are not careful. Some would suggest consciously blocking the negative emotions of others, especially in the workplace. McGonigal emphasizes, however, that “positive empathy” also keeps us energized. The challenge is that it does not necessarily happen as automatically as feeling the negative emotions of others; it needs to be consciously cultivated. There are several

ways that this can be done. Interestingly, one of the most effective ways is to spend time with children, allowing ourselves to embrace their joy and laughter. This would certainly explain why many teachers and child care workers are so happy in their professions. There are other things that we can do as well, like enjoying the playfulness of animals. We can also appreciate the beauty of art and athletics simply for the joy of seeing them done well. In addition, we can allow others to do nice things for us, not just for the satisfaction that it brings to us, but for how happy it makes others to give to us. Finally, we can make a conscious effort to see the good in others. Sharing compliments also makes us feel good. Sometimes we may feel a pang of jealousy but if we can progress through this and share a sincere compliment, we begin to develop a positive habit that often leads to positive progress in our own lives. Some professions, like teaching, lead more easily into developing positive empathy, but it is still an attribute within the grasp every person. It has more to do with how we interact with others than what we do in our work. As the English proverb states, “A joy that is shared is a joy made double.”

Chamber names CEO Barbara Latkowski Citizen staff blatkowski@pgcitizen.ca The board of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce has appointed a new CEO. Effective July 10, Erika Ewacha assumed the new role, replacing Christie Ray who announced her departure in the spring after four years as CEO. “While they are some very large shoes to fill, I am confident that Erika will excel in the role and that while the selection process was onerous, I feel the board has been able to add value to the membership by extending the offer,” said chamber president Corey Naphtali.

Ewacha has worked with non-profit organizations including the Canadian Red Cross, the Parkinson Society BC and the Canadian Cancer Society. She has extensive customer service and sales experience and also worked for the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce from 2014-2017, first as executive assistant and then as executive director. With a love for the great outdoors, Ewacha is thrilled to begin her new position with the Prince George chamber and working with the business community again. Naphital and the board are confident the management skills and experience Ewacha brings will help provide a stronger foundation for growth opportunities.

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Constitutional duty

have been stopped a few times over the last little while and asked what I think about the decision to allow the B.C. NDP to form government with the support of the B.C. Greens. My answer is that I think it was the correct decision and I base that response on the constitutional role of the lieutenant governor. In many ways, Christy Clarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting with the lieutenant governor put a spotlight on the nature of our democracy in Canada and demonstrated a rising awareness that the lieutenant Governor has a very powerful and important position in the functioning of our system. The fact is that Judy Guichon was fulfilling her constitutional role to seek the advice of the Premier as to how confidence may be achieved in the legislature. The fact is that the B.C. Liberals were given a chance to govern but they were unable to maintain

Politics 101 Tracy Summerville confidence in the house thus there were two options left to the lieutenant governor: allow the NDP try to maintain confidence or call for another election. It seems to me that her choice to give the NDP the same opportunity to maintain confidence is the right one. The vote was so very close (both the seat count and the popular vote) that really it is not a stretch to believe that this outcome reflects the will of the electorate. In the end, the lieutenant governor simply constructs the government in line with the election results. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; see CLARK PACKAGED, page 18

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Clark packaged NDP, Green policies in speech — from page 17 Her decision is framed by the democratic process. For me, the most interesting part of the last few weeks came during the B.C. Liberal throne speech. Some weeks ago, I went out on a limb to suggest that this almost tie might lead to a government that can work across party lines because the democratic election process showed that we have an electorate that is fairly evenly divided about the role of government in B.C. The electorate seems to want policies from both parties that include a growing economy with a strong social contract (meaning that the state does have a role to play in supporting social programs and other policies that lead to better opportunities). I suggested that Clark could “now reach out and say that the electorate is asking for more cooperation across the aisle. [And that] they [could] open the door to all sorts of new policy

options.” I argued that “[she could] begin to repair the damage with public sector unions….advance climate change policy [and even] demonstrate that a female premier [could] promote equality by recognizing the needs of women and families across the socio-economic spectrum…” Curiously, that is exactly what Clark did. She essentially took the policies of the NDP and the Greens and packaged them into the throne speech. We know now that this move was largely reported to be a crass reversal of the B.C. Liberal platform and a way to maintain power rather than any genuine belief in the importance of any of the policies, like poverty reduction, which as Les Leyne said in his column in this paper on June 22, the Liberals had been “stonecold” on in the past. Yet, curiously, at least one poll showed there was a bump in the Liberals popularity after the throne speech. The Vancouver

Clark Sun reported that the Mainstreet Research poll showed that support for the B.C. Liberals had risen since the last poll taken just after the election. The article said it is not clear whether the throne speech was the direct cause of the boost but on some key issues, like childcare and early education spending, “71 per cent either strongly or somewhat approved of the idea of government spending.” The article also reported

a different poll showed that voters did not want Clark to continue as premier. What this says to me is that people do want a government that will work across the aisle but they want a government that will do that all the time and not just when it is just politically expedient. It is now time to see if the NDP can learn this lesson. If not, we can then go to an election.

Party planning 101

uly is a busy month. In addition to two major music festivals bookending the month (Smithers Midsummer Music Festival and ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art), there are three, fairly important, birthdays to plan, prepare and perspire about. This year in particular are some milestone birthdays included in the mix but I will maintain the illusion that my mom is still 59 and my husband is still 39. Along with my mom and my husband’s birthday celebrations this month, our sweet, firstborn is turning six. If one of those people would like to move their birthday celebration to another month to spread around the joy to different months, I would not say no. I have been party planning for the last

Home Again Megan kuklIs two months and if my version of party planning includes ignoring everything until the day before, then there may be a reason that I look a little bit frazzled at the end of July. I am hopeful that the weather holds for all of the celebrations and that the presents (and/or parties that I may or may not be planning) are well received and that everyone involved is happy at the end of it. — see BEST TO KEEP, page 20

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N A C

D E L L CE

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Best to keep party expectations low — from page 18 If the lucky birthday people are not happy, then I at least hope that they are too tired to make a fuss about it. I have learned a few things about party planning throughout this process that I would like to share with readers in the hopes that my hard-earned wisdom is spread around. For one, lower the expectations of the person who is having the birthday. It is better to be surprised by a gift or a party than to be disappointed. For the people in your life who hate surprises (i.e. mom), throw them a party that is not really a surprise party but includes people who they weren’t expecting and maybe a

If there are multiple people in your family with birthdays in the same month, it proves that these people are callous and uncaring about your feelings. parade. It helps if the surprise guests are liked by the guest-of-honour and if the special birthday girl or boy hates parades. Also, if you have a chance to organize a fashion show with multiple children, it will be well-received but horrific to organize (particularly if you leave the costumes to the last minute). If at all possible, you should try to have no more than one birthday party per month. If there are multiple people in your family with birthdays in the same month, it proves that these people are callous and

uncaring about your feelings. They delight in your organizational stress and they may be laughing at you behind your back. Have a small family or no friends. This will help keep your costs down and really allow yourself time to relax and visit with the people who come to the party rather than try to plan food and cook for 70-plus guests. Disclosure: I wasn’t the person cooking or planning meals. I leave that to better cooks than myself (i.e. virtually anyone else in the world). For mom’s party, my

husband and brother organized the feeding of the people and for that, I will be eternally grateful. (Quick shout-out to my aunties who helped plan my mom’s birthday. I couldn’t have done it without you). Enjoy the party! Everything will be fine and, if something goes horribly awry, there are beverages to dull the pain (except for at the six-year-old’s party – that will just be exhausting and you will have to bare it stone-cold sober). Good luck in your own party planning. Take a close look at the people around you and ask them leading questions like, “you don’t really want a big birthday, do you?” Or, “let’s just go out for dinner, the two of us.”

Updated will avoids hassles after the funeral

News Tip? Call 250-562-2441

raham and Alice (not their real names) had been married for 23 years when Graham died Legal Brief suddenly of a heart attack. Because they were a blended family, Graham and Alice had decided to Carolynne Burkholder keep their assets separate. Graham owned The easiest scenario is if you die with a the house while Alice owned the boat and spouse but no children or grandchildren. trailer. They each owned their own vehicle Then your estate goes to your spouse. It’s and they had separate bank accounts. similar if you die with no Graham was estranged from his daughter Amy If you die without a will spouse and just children from his first marriage in British Columbia, the so your estate is divided equally among your but he was very close to Wills, Estates and children. Alice’s children, Justin and But for Graham’s Nicole. Succession Act (WESA) estate, it was much more Graham had always sets out what happens complicated. intended to make a will to your estate. Under WESA, which leaving everything he came into effect in March owned to Alice but he 2014, Alice was entitled to all the housenever got around to it. hold furnishings and the first $150,000 “Well I can always do that on my death bed,” he said. Unfortunately, Graham never of Graham’s estate. The rest was divided equally between her and Amy while Justin got the chance. and Nicole did not receive anything. If you die without a will in British CoWESA makes a distinction for blended lumbia, the Wills, Estates and Succession families. Act (WESA) sets out what happens to your — see BEST NOT, page 21 estate.

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Best not to rely on law — from page 20 If Amy had been both Graham and Alice’s biological or adopted daughter, Alice would have received the first $300,000 of Graham’s estate, the household furnishings and half of the remainder. If Alice had died before Graham, or if they had died within five days of each other, Amy would have inherited his entire estate. The law provides for all situations including if you die without a spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles,

cousins, great-grandparents, greataunts, great-uncles, first cousins once-removed and second cousins. However, relying on the law is not usually a good option, as Graham and Alice’s situation shows. If you don’t have a will and you are wondering what would happen if you die, you can look at section 23 of WESA or give me a call at 250-565-8000 or email cburkholder@hsjlawyers.com. Carolynne Burkholder is a lawyer with Heather Sadler Jenkins LLP

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CITIZEN photo by BRENT BRAATEN

Mini master Amelia Murphy looks over her masterpiece while at the Two Rivers Gallery Summer Art Club this past week. Summer Art Club is a half-day art camp for children ages five to 10. Two Rivers also offers Creativity Camps (all-day camp) for children in Grades 1-7.

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Ex-Cariboo Cat gets nod from the PM Jason PETERS Citizen Sports Editor jpeters@pgcitizen.ca Word of Myles Mattila’s work has reached the highest office in the land and the holder of that office reached out directly to the 18-year-old Prince George hockey player. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a message to Mattila via Twitter, congratulating him for his efforts in promoting youth mental health and for receiving a major accolade from B.C. Hockey, the Chair of the Board Award. Mattila, a recent graduate of the Prince George-based Cariboo Cougars major midget program, was sitting in his bedroom when the tweet came in and couldn’t quite process what he was seeing. “I was in my room, on Twitter at the time, and I saw Justin Trudeau actually mentioned me in a tweet in French first,” Mattila said.

“I was like, ‘Huh, what is really going on?’ And then he tweeted one in English and I was like, ‘Wow! Justin Trudeau actually tweeted at me.’ I ran upstairs and told my parents and they couldn’t believe it – they thought I was just joking around but they looked for themselves and, sure enough, he actually did tweet at me. “He usually tweets out about political stuff, not so much about hockey players and being involved in mental health so that was awesome to see.” Mattila, now living in Kelowna where he will start junior hockey in the fall with the Kelowna Chiefs, was presented the Chair of the Board Award while at the B.C. Hockey annual general meeting earlier this month at Sun Peaks Resort. The award, given to an individual who has “brought honour to the amateur hockey fraternity through an outstanding hu-

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Myles Mattila of the Cariboo Cougars battles for position with Thomas Ferland of the Saint Francois Blizzard during a Telus Cup game in April at CN Centre.

Twitter screen capture

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tweet to Myles Mattila is shown in the image to the left.

manitarian endeavour,” recognized him for shining a light on the importance of youth mental health and creating avenues of support for those who are struggling. Mattila began his campaign during his early high school years. Last summer, he founded a program called MindRight, which was launched with help from the Cariboo Cougars. The program includes a website, mindright.info, and has since drawn the attention of more than 90 minor hockey associations in B.C. Mattila hasn’t limited his work to MindRight. In May, he led a Balancing Our Minds youth summit in Prince George and he’s also a spokesperson for mindcheck.ca, which came into being after former Vancouver Canucks player Rick Rypien – suffering from clinical depression – took his own life in August 2011. Mattila also recently

joined Foundry BC, a new network that offers wellness services for young people. Mattila said the tweet by Trudeau is helping to spread the word about the issue of youth mental health. “I just think it’s really exciting that my message, which I’ve been doing the last few years, is finally getting through,” Mattila said. “And also, (the tweet) really helped out a lot – lots of exposure.” Mattila’s youth mental health initiatives also received recent recognition from another prominent Canadian, Trevor Linden. The former Canucks captain and the team’s current president of hockey operations had a $2,500 scholarship in his name awarded to Mattila, who was one of four recipients around B.C. While Mattila is playing hockey for the Chiefs this coming season, he’ll be attending post-secondary classes in business and law.

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