GATEWAY
Your community voice for the north! WEDNESDAY
September 18 2013
H
ard work can be dirty work, but thankfully Spotless Uniform and Linen Service is there to clean up any messes. The independent, Prince George family-owned company offers something for every business, from uniform rentals to linen laundering to customized welcome mats. Spotless Uniform has deep roots in the community spanning back more than 60 years, says CEO Shaun Heighington. In 1947, Heighington’s grandfather Norm opened Prince George’s first commercial and industrial steam laundry. His father Ken continued in the laundry business and also opened Plaza-4 Dry Cleaners on Fourth Avenue. More recently, Heighington and his staff of approximately 60 at Spotless Uniform have been providing Northern B.C. customers with competitive prices, customized programs and a strong focus on customer service. Spotless Uniform always supports the local economy by investing in northern B.C. “We have a payroll of almost $2 million a year and all of that money stays In our service areas,” says Helghlngton. “We pay our taxes here. We spend almost all of our money In our service areas. Unlike its competitors, Heighington says Spotless Uniform buys almost exclusively from customers and local companies. “Everything we can possibly get from our customers, we buy from our customers. We don’t buy our trucks from down south in the United States. For example, when we need trucks, we buy them from our customers,” he explains. As the largest independent, 100 per cent Canadian, family-owned uniform renta l company in Western Canada, Spotless Uniform provides service programs to all types of industries, including fabrication shops, mechanic shops, automotive
NEWS AND EVENTS FOR PRINCE GEORGE AND CENTRAL INTERIOR
SPOTLESS UNIFORM dealerships, pulp mills, sawmills, mines and more. As part of the full rental service, Spotless Uniform picks up the soiled uniforms and coveral ls, cleans and mends them and delivers them back to the customers. Spotless Uniform also offers the exclusive SPOTRACK Inventory Management System. Rental garments have unique barcode labels attached to them and are tracked throughout their life. Reports show the number of washes, orig inal install date and the last delivery date for each rental garment. The company rents, cleans and delivers items to restaurants, including tablecloths, napkins, towels and chef uniforms. As well, they provide commercial laundry services for work camps. Prince George and Northern B.C. bUSinesses can take advantage of Spotless Uniform’s entrance mat rentals, which they change on a set frequency to keep local entranceways clean. “We also provide paper towels, toilet tissue and hand soap that is delivered on a regu lar basis too,” says Heighington. Spotless Uniform sells uniforms, coveralls and customized welcome mats “We have something to offer any business,” says Heighington. Spotless Uniform provides its customers with much more flexibility than its competitors, says Heighington. “We’re an independent, family-owned company so we can do what we need to do to make our customers happy,” he explains. “The national companies that we compete With every day have very Inflexible, one-sided programs.” Spotless Uniform’s products and services are also
more cost effective than the national companies’ because their all-inclusive programs eliminate high ancillary and high item replacement charges, Heighington adds. “On an annual basis, the cost of doing business with us is going to be lower than the cost of doing business with any national company because of the lower ancilla ry charges, and more flexible programs.” Spotless Uniform also provides businesses with more thorough customer service due to solid communication and quick resolutions to any issues, Heighington says. “Our communication is far superior than the national companies,” he says. “There’s no ca ll centre where you get referred to somebody else and have to wait for a call back. Our customers can call us directly and can speak to somebody who knows
them and their account. We can then deal with any program changes or concerns Immediately.” Spotless Uniform, which recently bought a long time competitor, Northern Linen, “keeps growing” says Heighington. “We’re expecting to continue our growth by five to eight per cent per year.” The business now serves customers “around the Lower Mainland, throughout the Okanagan, up to Smithers and throughout Northern Alberta.” “We are your ‘right size’ company,” Heighington adds. “Large enough to provide great service to multiple corporate locations, but small enough to provide thorough, personalized service.” For more information on Spotless Uniform and Linen Service visit WNW.spotlessuniform.com or call250·962·6900 or ‘·800·207·7756. The company is located at 3902 Kenworth Road East. – ADVERTISING FEATURE
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GATEWAY
WEDNESDAY
September 18, 2013
Your community voice for the north!
N E W S AN D E V E N TS FOR PRINCE GEOR GE AND CENT R AL INT ERIOR
Database for businesses located within the north NEWS PAGE 8
Securing Valemount’s future NEWS PAGE 9
SPORTS page 18
Cavers searching deep into the B.C. Underworld SPORTS PAGE 14
Open House & Metis Cultural Celebration Fort St. James National Historic Site of Canada
LIFE PAGE 26
CaribooCougars
Cariboo Cougars Thane Anderson, left, and Lien MillerJeannotte, break away from Okanagan Rocket Branden Wagner in last season action at CN Centre. Citizen photo by David Mah
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Available on-line at www.pgcitizen.ca General Inquiries 250-562-2441 Publisher: Colleen Sparrow Advertising: Dave Smith Editor: Neil Godbout Reader Sales: Alan Ramsay
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GATEWAYnews
The mystery of brain injury Peter JAMES
F
ourteen years ago, Don Callaghan woke up in an unfamiliar bed and had no idea why he was there. The Fraser Fort George Regional District board member from Bear Lake began searching for clues, hoping he would find his bearings. “I’m looking around the place and then I hear some voices and I realize they belong to friends of mine and everything starts to fit into place,” Callaghan recalled.“But I still don’t have the foggiest clue why I was there.” Cont’d on page 6
Former regional district director Don Callaghan who suffered a brain injury that did not allow him to continue as a director. Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
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GATEWAYnews Cont’d from page 5 Callaghan made his way from the bedroom to the living room, looking for more answers. He expected his friends to be surprised by his presence in their home, instead they were shocked he didn’t know why he was there. Such is the mystery of a brain injury. The symptoms vary from person to
person and can evolve over time.They don’t always present themselves immediately, but for many people with the condition once they appear, they never go away. In Callaghan’s case, he was about a week removed from getting hit by a truck in Bear Lake. He had been released from hospital, but doctors had advised him to stay with friends in Prince George in case he needed follow up care.
Up until the point he woke up in the bed, anger issues that sprung up after his 1998 workplace accident, while Ingrid David had Callaghan had appeared to be recovering to learn how to cook again after a gunshot well, his friends told him later. wound to the head in 1975 took away her Now, nearly a decade and a half after sense of smell. the accident, he is still suffering the after Each year, about 22,000 British effects. Columbians suffer a traumatic brain injury, “It’s not like you forget something,” he according to figures from the Northern said of the memory issues that continue to plague him.“It’s just a hole, like a proverbial Brain Injured Group (NBIG).They can occur from almost anything from sports injuries black hole in space.” to motor vehicle collisions to workplace The symptoms of his brain injury incidents and aneurisms. eventually led him to relinquish his seat A brain injury on the district diagnosis can be board because scary because so he couldn’t much of what concentrate Each year, about 22,000 British lies ahead for long enough to Columbians suffer a traumatic the patient is sit through a unknown and meeting. He also brain injury, according to figures the timeline needed to develop from the Northern Brain Injured for progress is new skills to cope Group (NBIG). They can occur uncertain. with constant It can be memory loss and from almost anything from tough on family fatigue. sports injuries to motor vehicle members who Callaghan is one collisions to workplace incidents have to deal of many clients of with a person the Prince George and aneurisms. who is no longer Brain Injured the same and Group (PGBIG) marriages often who spoke to The dissolve as a result. Friendships are tested Citizen as part of series of stories exploring and sometimes broken because it’s difficult what it’s like to live with an injury that is often invisible to people on the outside, but for anyone to relate with with the brain injury. life changing to those who suffer from it. It’s also challenging for a community They spoke about how they acquired to provide the long-term support to help their injuries, the recovery process and people heal from the injuries, cope with what it’s like to adjust to an entirely the ongoing symptoms and flourish in their different existence in a world where a new reality. stigma still surrounds their ailments. Cont’d on page 7 Jim Switzer has learned to cope with
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GATEWAYnews Cont’d from page 6 This year, PGBIG is celebrating its 25th year in Prince George, offering counselling, employment and group home services to dozens of clients. Each brain injured person uses the services in a different manner. Some prefer the camaraderie of being around other people going through similar struggles, while other clients enjoy the practical skills they can pick up in group counselling sessions. Switzer suffered his injury in the spring of 1998 after falling down the stairs at his workplace in Aldergrove. He wasn’t found until the next day by his manager and was rushed to hospital and considers himself lucky to be alive. Like Callaghan he woke up in an unfamiliar locale, but was quickly able to deduce it was Vancouver General Hospital. “All I knew is that I was told I had a brain injury,” Switzer said.“I said,‘what the hell is a brain injury?’ I couldn’t figure it out.The only thing I can figure out is what I can do and what I can’t do.”
He moved to Prince George in 2000 after someone recommended the services of PGBIG and has been a regular around the community service organization ever since. PGBIG offered him the chance to keep busy by doing odd jobs like handling their recycling activities or labeling videos. Switzer enjoys the work, especially because it keeps him away from big groups, since crowds are something he’s been unable to handle since his injury. A counsellor at the agency also taught him techniques to deal with his anger issues. “I usually go home and sit there because a woman that was here a long, long time ago, she told me it would help if I went home and sat there,” he said.“If for two or three days they don’t hear from me, then they will come and check on me.” Angry outbursts were never a problem for David, who had been a nurse in Dawson Creek before she was shot in the head during a burglary attempt when she was 33 years old. She was found by her husband Fred and two young daughters, aged four
and eight at the time. During her 52 days in an Edmonton hospital, she had to learn how to speak again. That was just the start of a recovery that continues almost 40 years later. She had to learn to cook again because when she lost her sense of smell, she found herself burning meals. She adapted with the aid of a timer. She also finds it difficult to communicate, sometimes forgetting what she’s going to say or making leaps of logic that other people don’t get. “When it comes to jokes,” she said,“I can never remember the punch line.” Having a young family at the time of her injury was both challenging and a blessing. She had to quit her job, but taking on the role of housekeeper gave her the inspiration to push through the hard times. “I had to get [the children] off to school in the morning, cook for them, keep house, do their laundry,” she said.“As they approached their teens they needed me less and less, but I probably needed them more.”
David, Switzer and Callaghan have all made progress over the years, learning different tricks to get through the roadblocks that are put in their paths. For 2 1/2 years, Callaghan didn’t drive, because he knew his brain couldn’t process things properly to operate a vehicle safely, but the 73-year-old is back behind the wheel now. His attention span is short and he gets fatigued quickly, so he devised a plan to test himself on long road trips to make sure he’s up to the task. Whenever he comes across a sign giving the number of kilometres to the next town, he converts that figure to miles in his head. “The ease or difficulty that I have in doing that tells me if I should be taking a break or stopping,” he said.“If you have to work at it, that means you need a break and if it’s a jumble of numbers, that means your driving for the day is over.” Although he can’t do everything he used to, Callgahan has come to accept where he’s at and live within his limitations. “I’ve learned the slot where I live,”he said.
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GATEWAYnews
Database for businesses located within the north Frank PEEBLES Local companies ready to work with incoming industrial interests now have a massive website working for them. Northern Development Initiative Trust has been building their Supply Chain Connector database since May. On Monday they flicked the switch, making it live for the public. Inside it is a catalogue of almost 1,100 companies large and small who believe they have something to offer the bigger corporations behind the billions of dollars in incoming industrial projects - everything from pipelines and power developments to coastal shipping and subterranean resource extraction. These bigger corporations were involved in constructing the database, giving large amounts of input on what they wanted for an effective search, as they combed the internet for goods and services in this region. NDIT’s business development director Renata King said these
corporations put a lot of value in buying their supplies as close to their project as possible, to save logistical costs. “We’ve been very clear in who can be in this database,” said King.“It is only for those businesses located within the northern region. No exceptions. When a business signs themselves up for the database, it comes to us first and we have flags built into the system that wave to us if the company is not actually in the north.” A call went out during the spring and summer, using industrial communications lists and the economic development officers of the northern region. Everyone from caterers to bridge builders responded, providing a comprehensive profile of the features they have available - if they have safety certifications, if they are bondable, if they are First Nations-affiliated, if they are accredited by recognized associations, their employee profile, their areas of proficiency and so on. This database has dozens of headings, searchable keywords and search
refinement categories so industrial officials can easily drill into the data and get exactly what they want. It is also a database built for smartphone and tablet use, in case someone out in the field or on the road suddenly requires a certain tool, part or skill in a hurry. About 30 databases were examined for best practices by NDIT, which contracted website builder Greg Prosser of Sticky Wicket Designs. Now it stands as a unique model, said King, that other parts of the province or other jurisdictions beyond B.C. may want to mimic. Within two minutes of the site going live, Rupert Potter, the United Kingdom’s consul general in B.C., was inquiring about how U.K. business interests could best use the site. Less than 30 minutes later, the Business In Vancouver media group had broadcast the launch of the database to its online audience, and a company in the Yukon emailed an inquiry about getting listed in the database. Not without an active office
in northern B.C., was King’s response. The site was also built so, in time, anyone who does a Google search for a particular company in the region will be led to the profile on the database as part of an attempt to consolidate the region’s industrial information. There are also system processes for ensuring the data listed by each company is reasonably current. Being listed in the catalogue comes with some obligations to maintain the profile, so the database keeps its credibility. “The intent is to drive industrial attention to northern B.C. business, drive them through the portals we have set up, and also to track the online activity for our local companies,” she said.“This will help them refine their profiles, maximize the attention they can get from the outside world, and it is always going to be a work in progress.” The Supply Chain Connector database is available at the NDIT homepage (www. northerndevelopment.bc.ca).
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GATEWAYnews
Securing Valemount’s future Charelle Evelyn
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ormer Valemount mayor Jeanette Townsend was disturbed by a letter she read in a local paper. A tourist had written in to say that he couldn’t find a store where he could buy white socks. Townsend, who served as the
village CEO for six terms between 1990 to 2008, moved to Valemount in the late 1980s and said back then there were a variety of places residents could shop locally for essentials. “Now, there’s nothing,” she said. “It’s disappointing how low it has gone from what used to be a thriving community.” Cont’d on page 10
Art displays have been put up in empty store windows along Valemount’s main drag.
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GATEWAYnews Cont’d from page 9 The Valemount and Area Chamber of Commerce, on which Townsend currently serves a vice chair, is pushing for more development both large and small. Townsend said she sees a diversity of economic opportunities as the key to securing the village’s future. Current mayor Andru McCracken acknowledges that there’s a hole in the Valemount economy. Last summer, he curated a public art exhibition called Opening, which featured the art of Maria Hiske in empty storefront windows. The display, along with promotional tourism material in other windows, is just the beginning, McCracken stressed. “An open store front is a sign of decay, but it’s also a sign of change.There’s new opportunities happening. Getting the artwork there in the meantime is a pretty happy medium,” he said. There are other small but positive signs in Valemount.
(VGD) year-round skiing resort, the village The village appears to be attracting those needs more of everything, said Townsend. with that entrepreneurial spirit who are “As much as we want to see VGD creating their own jobs, said Valemount developed, we don’t want to pin our hopes chief administrative officer Anne Yanciw, and dreams on just one project,” the former such as a bakery, an ice-cream maker, a mayor added. foot truck, a taxi “We should service and a not neglect microbrewery. other potential But the dream As much as we want to see development.” needs to be bigger, VGD developed, we don’t The other according to want to pin our hopes and development Townsend. Townsend refers “The economy dreams on just one project. to is the flagging has been We should not neglect other village resort and deteriorating over potential development. spa project - a $70 the last few years,” million endeavour she said, noting – Jeanette Townsend that currently sits the town may as an empty 5.9not have made it acre plot in the core of the village. through the closure of the local mill in the A billboard advertising the commercial mid-2000s without its tourism industry. and residential project went up in the Valemount was designated a resort former high school site in October 2008, municipality by the province in 2007 and but that has been the extent of the boasts 500 hotel rooms. development. And while there is potential with the According to Shirley Sander, president of proposed Valemount Glacier Destination
Saas Fee Land Developments, everything was ready to go - from having the architects lined up, to village approval, to construction financing. “And then the financial global meltdown happened in ‘08 and ‘09 with what happened in the States and all funding everywhere dried up for big projects,” she said. With the global economy on the rebound, Sander said she’s been pounding the pavement looking for new sources of money to get the 181-unit condo development off the ground. “It’s prime to be the next Canmore... I’ve had many, many people say to me,‘if somebody built something I would buy there. I’ve been waiting for somebody to do something in that town for 30 years,’” Sander said. In May, a lender out of Ontario was willing to put up the necessary bridge funding but that deal fell through when Sander couldn’t get signed documentation from the village. Cont’d on page 11
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GATEWAYnews Cont’d from page 10 Council voted May 15 to approve, in principle, a draft development agreement. Based on legal counsel, the village didn’t want to sign the document because there was precedent of such an agreement being used to by a developer to sue a municipality. “The developer’s situation is a real concern but our role here is to determine the best interests of the village,” McCracken said during a council meeting.“We’re not the village of Saas Fee, we’re the village of Valemount. We are not a line of credit for any developer and we should never act like one.” “It killed the deal,” Sander said, who added she doesn’t feel as though she has the support of the current council and administration like there was in the project’s infancy.“No lender is going to accept an unsigned document.” During a council meeting, McCracken also publicly stated that the upkeep of the property has been poor and that Sander was lax in paying her property taxes,
statements Sander called humiliating. She said that she is diligent in mowing the property’s grass every year and that while they may not have received it on an annual basis, the village has the property tax they’re owed. “The majority of the town is in support [of the project] still and they’re completely outraged with the treatment that I got. That’s the feedback I’m getting from everybody,” Sander said. The people behind projects such as Valemount Glacier Destinations, Saas Fee and Canoe Mountain should be treated better, said Townsend. “Those who look to invest their life savings in our area, I believe, merit our consideration and co-operation,” she said. “Their success will benefit our area.” McCracken said the village is on board with the Saas Fee project and that the next steps are in Sander’s hands. “I don’t want to go and keep hitting my head against the wall. It gets painful,” Sander said.“What are the next steps? I guess that’s yet to be determined.”
CN Rail cleaning up debris Frank PEEBLES A small forest piles up at the foot of the CN Rail bridge each year, at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako rivers. The eastern footings get the biggest tangle of trees and other woody debris, due to the way the Fraser bends around a corner there and the Nechako dumps its watery load with more force on the western side. The collection of driftwood stacks up through the spring and summer, making the area unsafe for canoeists and kayakers. If any of the trees suddenly broke loose, it could threaten anyone immediately downstream. Generally, however, the annual buildup is no cause for public concern. “CN Rail regularly removes the logs,” said Carrie Mishima, a spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the main oversight department for a fish-bearing
waterway like the Fraser River.“They inform us when they are going to do it; there is plenty of communication.They do so under best-management practices established to protect fish habitat. It is not a concern for us so long as they adhere to those plans, and they do.” It is approaching the time of year when that extrication work is done, said a CN Rail offical. “Our engineering guys wait until fall, until the water recedes to its lowest levels,” said Warren Chandler, the railway company’s senior manager of public and government affairs.“They use a processor [a large industrial machine] to pick the logjam apart and let the logs continue down the river as they would have had the bridge not blocked their way.” Chandler said the machine is pressurewashed before entering the river so no fuel, grease or other pollutants enter the water.
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GATEWAYsports Spruce Kings bus becomes home away from home
Ted CLARKE
If
the Prince George Spruce Kings ever want change their name, they might want to choose Greyhounds. That would be fitting, considering how much time they spend riding the bus. Geographically speaking, the Spruce Kings’ closest competition in the B.C. Hockey League is in Merritt, a mere 553 kilometres away from Prince George. On winter roads, that’s a seven-hour trip. But they only play one regular season game in Merritt.That’s because the Centennials are in the Interior Division, while the Spruce Kings are part of the Mainland Division, grouped with Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley. All of their division rivals are at least seven-and-a-half hours away, with Chilliwack being the closest trip at 688 km. According to communications director/ broadcaster Ron Gallo, the Spruce Kings were on the road for about 50,000 kilometres last season.The league average per team, excluding Prince George,Trail and Powell River, is about 8,000 km. “It’s difficult but we have to manage it,” said head coach Dave Dupas.“These guys have to learn how to sleep and how to get their rest on the bus. We have to make sure they’re home early most nights so they catch up on their sleep.” The other factor that weighs against the Spruce Kings on the road is they are usually playing well-rested teams. All their Mainland rivals are within an hour’s drive of each
other.The longest trip for Interior Division teams within their division is Penticton to Salmon Arm, 2 1/2 hours away. “These teams in Vancouver and the Okanagan where the kids live at home, they can drive to the rinks, they don’t have to take a bus,” said Dupas.“Those guys don’t have this problem that we have, and it gets more difficult as the season wears on.” Dupas stresses the positives of the long bus rides to his players. “Other teams don’t have to go through that adversity but it builds character and mental toughness,” he said.“They’re like brothers by the end of the season, they’re so close, it really is like a family, and they battle for each other.” The new Spruce Kings bus has 11 sleeping compartments for a team of 20 players.That means the rookies better get used to curling up for a snooze in the seats. With 58 games to play, 30 games in 2003-14 are on the road, starting with next weekend’s BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack, where the Kings will play Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo.The Spruce Kings will make two ferry crossings in January, starting the new year with a weekend trip to Powell River, Port Alberni and Chilliwack, Jan. 3-5, then another visit to Vancouver Island for games in Victoria (Jan. 17) Duncan (Jan. 18) and Nanaimo (Jan 20).They make make just one trip this season to their furthest opponent in Trail (987 kilometres from P.G.) on Nov. 8. The three-game weekends are killers but they minimize the number of times the Kings have to leave home. Six of their 12 road trips are three-gamers this season.
Spruce Kings Peter Funnell, left, Wes McCleod, Anthony Collins, Brandon Busse, and Matt Lees, and the rest of the team pack their bags for Quesnel, then Vernon. Citizen photo by David Mah
February is the shortest month of the year and thankfully for the Spruce Kings, it’s an easy one on their travel schedule with 11 of 14 games at the Coliseum. Dupas did change the team’s practice schedule from 8 a.m. starts to noon. The players attending school will have to switch their spare periods to the third block of the day rather than the first one. “It gives those guys the opportunity to sleep in,” said Dupas.“When we’re travelling as much as we do and when you have to get up at 6:45 every morning to be on the ice by 8 o’clock you don’t get caught up sleep. By Christmas time you can see it. The guys are worn out and in practice there’s just nothing there.” That extra time on the bus is especially hazardous during flu season. When one player gets sick, it spreads to the rest of the team in quick order. Last season in
November, the Kings were down to one goalie, four defencemen and eight forwards for a game in West Kelowna. “It happens at least once a year where our whole team will get the flu,” said Dupas. The Spruce Kings will be in Merritt this Saturday to wrap up their brief preseason. The Kings lost their first exhibition game 5-2 at home to the Cents on Sunday and were defeated 3-1 by Vernon Wednesday at 100 Mile House. The two overnight trips haven’t left a lot of time for practice. The Kings were on the ice Thursday afternoon for only their third practice since training camp ended last weekend and they’ll have one more Friday before they leave for Merritt. The Coliseum is closed Sunday and Monday and that leaves three days to practice before the season begins in Chilliwack.
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GATEWAYsports
Cavers
searching deep into the BC underworld
Frank PEEBLES Walls of rubble blocked their way into the Taku karst gullet, but a team of local cavers still took many long walks deep into the B.C. underworld. Led by Prince George veteran cave explorer Bob Rutherford, the team of nine flew into the legendary caving zone in northwestern B.C. to see if they could find a passageway from the many openings on the surface of Mount Sinwa down to the Taku River more than a vertical kilometre below. Water made this journey, they knew, so if humans could follow it would be the longest Canadian cave. “By Day 10 we still had caves going, we were still surveying, but it became pretty clear that we were unlikely to get into the main system,” Rutherford said.“Yes, we could easily have missed ‘the one’ but everywhere we went it consistently ended in a blockage of rubble. It was consistent enough that it wouldn’t personally justify
the money and time for another return trip.” Yet Rutherford isn’t too upset by the result. “A lot of people seem to think the mission is just to find ‘the big one’ but there is no disappointment in this trip.The Taku has been a huge question mark, a legendary question mark, and that has now been ruled out for the caving community.That’s an accomplishment on its own. And it was 12 days with great people on a great excursion in one of the most beautiful places in the world - nothing disappointing about that.” Other curiosities were ruled out as well. This enigmatic region is a protected area overseen jointly by BC Parks and the Tlingit First Nation.They asked the group of cavers to keep their eyes open for a few thingsy. “There are loads of mountain goats up there, but no marmot, no caribou, deer and moose always like it lower down so none of those either, but lots of ptarmigan and lots of Richardson’s ground squirrels,” Rutherford said. Cont’d on page 15
GATEWAYsports - a two-foot layer of permanent transparent ice, giving the team a surreal floor to walk on with a view clear through to the rocks “We saw a lot of evidence that the goats below.The longest single passage was about were using some of the caves as shelter, 400 metres. Most were chimneys that ended so that was interesting.These caves were in a larger cavern at the bottom but was mostly inhospitable, technically difficult to walled in impassable reach, but there were a rubble from that few that had potential point on despite clear if anyone happened evidence that water to be up that high for Interesting continued on through. some reason. We even Interesting considered one of them underground terrain underground terrain for our own camp and is what cavers live for. is what cavers live for, did use it to dry out – Bob Rutherford said Rutherford.The some of our gear.” Northern BC Caving The general definition Club is more than of karst is limestone 20 years old, has an terrain perforated active base in Prince George, and is plugged with holes eroded by water over millions closely into provincial and national peer of years. Over the space of about a city groups. Due to the safety concerns and block, said Rutherford, the Taku karst would technical realities of the activity, only well sometimes have three or four significant prepared people should venture into any holes - caves - into which the mountains cave, and to foster that the club welcomes rain and runoff would disappear. One of the caves was coated in something inquiries via twitter (#nbccc) or their Facebook group. Rutherford had never experienced before Cont’d from page 14
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GATEWAYsports Ted CLARKE
Developing Pidherny recreation area
Hard-core mountain bikers know what the Pidherny recreation area has to offer. It’s a 600-hectare paradise nestled against the Nechako River in the northwest corner of the city’s bowl area, accessible through a network of close to 30 kilometres of trails also used by walkers, runners, skiers and snowshoers. Development of the area has been a longterm project for the Prince George Cycling Club and the Nechako Ridge Trail Society over the past two decades and on Sunday, Sept. 29, the club’s latest efforts to make Pidherny even more appealing to the masses will be showcased on Bring Your Family Biking Day. The day will start with the inaugural Prince George Tricycle Race), a combination of road cycling, cross-country mountain biking and downhill mountain biking.There will be also be guided cycling tours along the trails, a barbecue, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the two new trails the club has developed over the summer. The $75,000 trail-building project, still under construction, has been paid for through a
combination of federal, provincial and local funding. Funding sources include the Western Economic Diversification Fund ($38,000), Northern Development Initiatives Trust ($26,000), Regional District of Fraser-Fort George ($4,000), Ministry of Forests ($4,000) and the Prince George Cycling Club ($5,000). The club hired First Journey Construction of Williams Lake to build the new trails.The first is an 800-metre beginner/intermediate cross-country trail dubbed Green Eggs and Ham, which leads uphill from the skills park at the bottom of the park parallel to Pidherny Road. It will be used especially for the club’s Sprockids learn-to-ride program. There’s also a new 3.5-kilometre intermediate downhill trail called Papa Woods, named after Pidherny trail builder Brett Woods. It begins near the top of the Pidherny site near Foothills Boulevard and extends westward to the mid-section of the trail system, crossing numerous trails to give riders better access to the top portion of the recreation site. Built with timber ramps, bridges, and stunt structures built to code, the trail has been open to riders since late July. Cont’d on page 17
GATEWAYsports ride. About 80 per cent of the trails are for advanced riders. Baker said the single-track The new trail will tie into a parking lot off trails at Otway Nordic Centre are bettersuited to beginner- or intermediate-level Foothills Boulevard across from Vellencher riders, but he said the club will continue its Road being built with the support of efforts to make Pidherny more appealing to the Ministry of Transportation, which all users. is supplying the labour and equipment. Downhill riders have been using steep For safety reasons, the ministry wants to trails carved into Cranbrook Hill that run discourage riders from using an existing through private land. However, those trails parking lot near the landfill site that forces are subject to closure if the land sells and riders to cross an active gravel pit before the landowner wants to restrict public they reach the trails. access. Liam Baker, the club’s Pidherny director, “We wanted to build said Pidherny has great up the site in Pidherny potential as a tourist in anticipation of that,” attraction and its value said club president to the community Pidherny is more of an allJillian Merrick. will only increase mountain site so it has more “Pidherny is more of with each new cross-country and beginner an all-mountain site development. stuff so people learning the so it has more cross“Part of the goal of sport can come out and feel country and beginner all this is to make it stuff so people more of professional safe. rec site with really – Jillian Merrick learning the sport can come out and feel good signage and safe.” mapping and higherMerrick said the club would like to see a quality trails,” said Baker.“Prince George co-ordinated effort to market Pidherny as really lacks the longer trails for all types of a tourist destination with the city working riders.There are unofficial illegal trails all together with other cycling clubs in over town that are shorter but we wanted Smithers, Burns Lake, Mackenzie, Quesnel to build longer trails that will prompt more and Williams Lake to get the word out about users to get out to a huge area that’s really what the region has to offer recreational close to town.” riders. She said the next local project will Pidherny became a sanctioned recreation be to expand the mountain bike skills area area in 2010. Part of that process involved at Pidherny. club members dismantling wooden jumps The new trail construction has brought and tabletops built by riders for unsafe out volunteers to help with the project stunts. but more are needed to help with the Because most of the existing trails have Sept. 29 event . For more information go to considerable elevation changes, Pidherny pgcyclingclub.ca. is known as a more challenging area to Cont’d from page 16
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GATEWAYsports Sheri LAMB
Cariboo Cougars start journey with season opener
The road to Moose Jaw, Sask., begins in Abbotsford for the Cariboo Cougars. Moose Jaw will host the 2014 Telus Cup pitting the top midget teams across Canada against each other for hockey supremacy, April 21-27. Before the Cougars start to envision hoisting the championship trophy as they skate around the ice, they’ll have to win the B.C. Major Midget League, which gets its regular season underway Sept. 28-29 at the first of two Showcase weekends. The Cougars will face the Greater Vancouver Canadians in a pair of morning games, Saturday (11:45) at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre and Sunday (8:30) at the Richmond Oval.The following weekend (Oct. 5-6) the Cougars will host the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds at CN Centre in games at 3:30 p.m. and 9:15 a.m., respectively. Before the Christmas break the Cougars will play 26 games, including 10 at home. Cariboo wraps up the first half of its season on the road against the Thunderbirds, Dec.
21-22. Of their remaining 20 games the Cougars will play 12 of them in Prince George. The all-star weekend is slated for Jan. 1719.The Cougars wrap up the regular season with four home games against the BCMML finalists from the 2012-13 season with a visit from the Okanagan Rockets (Feb. 22-23) before the defending champions Vancouver Northwest Giants are in town March 1-2. The battle for the Cromie Memorial Cup begins March 7 with the championship series getting underway March 21.The BCMML winner will travel to Alberta to face the Alberta Midget Hockey League champion in a best-of-three series to decide the Pacific representative at the Telus Cup. For the full BCMML schedule see www. bchockey.net. Cats nearly purr-fect in exhibition games The Cougars completed a four-game exhibition road trip in West Kelowna on Sunday morning with a 4-1 win over the Pursuit of Excellence hockey academy. Steven Jandric had two goals while Brogan O’Brien and Brayden Dale had singles. Jeremy
Matte picked up the win in the Cats’ net. Jandric had a team high four goals on the weekend as the Cougars finished with three wins and one loss. Saturday, the Cougars beat the Burnaby Winter Club 4-2 with Riley Pettitt notching two goals and Keith Redden and Dallas Goodwin potting the others. In their second game, the Cats fell 3-2 to the Okanagan Hockey Academy. Jandric and Mitchell Williams had the Cariboo goals. Cariboo opened the preseason tournament with a win Friday over South Delta. Cougars head coach Bryan MacLean and his coaching staff will chop the 28-man roster down to the maximum 20 players before the team heads back out onto the road for another four exhibition games starting Friday in Chase where they’ll play the Kootenay Ice. Cariboo will face the Thompson Blazers, Saturday at 10 a.m. in Chase, before heading down the highway to the CNC Arena in Kelowna to play the Okanagan Rockets at 6 p.m.The preseason finale is Sunday in Chase versus the Blazers.
GATEWAYlife
Southside in the fall
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Fall is here and with it comes the beautiful fall colours.The leaves are starting to change and everything is calming down after the heat and busyness of the summer. But just because fall is here does not mean there are not things to do. The Grassy Plains Annual Fall Poker Ride is a beautiful ride over rolling meadows and open fields.The ride lasts approximately four hours and the price of your hand includes lunch and supper. Rain or shine, it’s going to happen.The all-grass trails are a wonder to see for the rider and easy on the horse’s feet. There is no need for your horse to be shod. With October comes more indoor entertainment, like the Annual Harvest Supper and Grassy Plains Hall.The delicious supper including entrées, beverages and desserts, it is a great time for friends, neighbours and
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family to enjoy a great meal and celebrate the hard work they have accomplished. Come and celebrate with us and join in on the conversation and laughs. Want a good excuse for a classy date night? Go see some live entertainment.The Lakes District Arts Council is pleased to present Pieces of Eight, the 2013/2014 Performing Arts Season. Starting it off on Oct. 1 at the Lakes District Secondary School is the Montreal Guitar Trio.This performance was one of the most popular ones in previous years, so what better show to start off with this year? This is a need-to-see. More details at www.lakesdistrictarts.com. With all these happenings, it’s a wonderful autumn season on Southside that you will surely enjoy. Southside website: www.sedabc.ca
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GATEWAYlife
Farmers Markets in our communities
SATURDAY, 5TH OCTOBER 2013
Bulkley Valley Farmers’ Market Local product and music featured every week. Located in Central Park Building Parking Lot, corner of Hwy 16 and Main Street in Smithers.The outdoor market is open Saturdays from 9a.m.–noon. Market runs weekend until the end of September.
Chetwynd Farmers Market
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Local vendors selling honey, vegetables, preserves, plants, baking, arts, crafts, bath and beauty products. Located at Pine Valley Exhibition Place,Thursdays from 2p.m.-6p.m. Market runs from until Oct. 10. Cont’d on page 21
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Pleasant Valley Community Market Offering a variety of crafts and local produce. Located at Steelhead Park on Hwy 16 behind the Flyrod in Houston. Fridays from 10a.m.-3 p.m. Market runs until Sept. 21.
Prince George Farmers’ Market Over eighty vendors offer wares including fruits, vegetables and herbs, bread and baked goods, sweet and savoury preserves, specialty meats, bedding plants, cut flowers, soaps, woodcrafts, art, clothing, garden decor and jewelry.Two locations: 1074 Sixth Avenue (yearround) and at the corner of George Street and Third Avenue (summer only). Saturdays from 8:30a.m. to 2p.m.
Valemount Farmers Market Located at the Information Center Grounds every Thursday from 4p.m.-7p.m. Market runs until the last week September.
Vanderhoof Farmers’ Market Home baked, grown and made goodies. Located at Riverside Park Thursdays from 11a.m.-3p.m. Market runs into September.
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GATEWAYlife
Fraser Lake showcasing Development park This fall, the Village of Fraser Lake is showcasing its Development Park – locally and globally. This is an excellent business opportunity. There are seventeen shovel ready development lots with excellent highway frontage available. The development park is adjacent to Highway 16, providing direct access to local industrial facilities, international shipping via the Port of Prince Rupert, and international air transportation via Prince George International Airport. All the lots are serviced with street lights, water, sewer and storm drains. Natural gas is provided to the development park and individual connections are available to setup as required.There are six highway commercial lots and eight light industrial lots, ranging in size from 0.46 acres to 3.73 acres. The Village of Fraser Lake was established in 1914 and incorporated in 1966 at the same time that Endako Mines went into production.The Endako Mine has recently undergone a major $500 million expansion that was completed in March 2012. Fraser Lake’s forestry sector continues to be strong with West Fraser operating one of the most efficient
sawmills in North America and they are continuing to invest in their plant and the community with a bioenergy plant currently under construction. Fraser Lake is the gateway to recreation activities in the Fraser Lake and Francois Lake area with ample tourism activity and a strong local market. With this major resource-based economic activity spurring additional development in Fraser Lake and the surrounding
region, the municipality has developed a fully serviced commercial and light industrial Development Park that is ideally situated to capitalize on the economic surge in northern BC. Please contact the Economic Development Officer at vfledo@fraserlake.ca or 250.699.1655 for more information on this opportunity. Launch your Boat. Launch your Business. Launch your Life.
GATEWAYlife
A fall visit to Huble Homestead Historic Site Summer is not complete without a visit to Huble Homestead Historic Site. If you have never visited in the fall you are missing out. Huble Homestead is open weekends from Sept. 7 to Oct.14, and continues to offer guided tours, lunch, shopping, plus beautiful autumn colours.
The final event of the 2013 Huble season is Old Fashioned Thanksgiving on Monday, Oct.17, a great family event full of activities like apple bobbing, scarecrow making, pumpkin carving, demonstrations and entertainment. Huble Homestead Historic Site is located 40km north of Prince George, just off Highway 97 on Mitchell Road. More information can be found at hublehomestead.ca, and follow us on Facebook,Twitter, and Instagram to keep tabs on what is happening on the homestead.
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GATEWAYlife
September in the BC Peace Valley of Chetwynd Fall is all about enjoying the natural beauty of our community. Cont’d on page 25
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GATEWAYlife Cont’d from page 24 Autumn is setting in, in the Peace Region.The leaves are changing, the air is getting a bit crisper, and Chetwynd is becoming the perfect fall playground in the Peace. Being in the valley, Chetwynd offers a beautiful site to take your breath away whether you are in town or in the wilderness surrounding our wonderful community. There is a multitude of walking trails in an around the town to get you out enjoying the cool fall weather and beautiful scenery our community has to offer. If you are feeling more adventurous take a hike up Mt Baldy from the in town access point.There is even
more to accomplish for those who are even more the adventure seeker; the Ghost Mountain trail winds down the back side of Mt Baldy to keep you out enjoying a longer excursion in the fresh air. For those that prefer a lighter adventure but still wish to enjoy the scenery, as well as the community, take a drive, or leisurely stroll, through town to see our 134 Chainsaw Carvings scattered around town. Really explore town and see the collection that brings carvers, and visitors, in from around the world each June. Stop for a late lunch in one of Chetwynd’s quaint restaurants/cafes, to easy out of adventure mode and into a relaxing evening.
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GATEWAYlife
Annual Open House & Metis Cultural Celebration
Fort St. James National Historic Site of Canada Cont’d on page 28
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GATEWAYlife Cont’d from page 26 The Fort St. James National Historic Site of Canada will be hosting their annual Open House & Metis Cultural Celebration on Saturday Sept.21. There will be FREE Entry & Beef Dips. This event is a season ending thank you and a celebration of Metis cultural past at Fort St. James. Twitter @DFSJames Facebook: District of Fort St. James
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GATEWAYcommunity calendar Barkerville Historic Town
Houston
Sept. 27 – 29 4th Annual Amazing Race to Rebuild Barkerville
Library Book Sale
Come experience Barkerville in a whole new way, and join in on the fun as teams of up to five players embark upon a 90-minute, multi-station relay race with distinctly Victorian flair. The great fire of 1868 has left Barkerville in much need of repair and it is up to you and your “Fire Brigade” team to race through a series of exciting challenges that will help rebuild the town, and lead the ultimate winner to a golden grand prize. Registration for the “Amazing Race to Rebuild Barkerville” takes place on the day of competition. To find out more call Judy at 1.888.994.3332 extension 29. Website: www.barkerville.ca
Sept. 27 – 29 Geekenders Lost in Time 2: Take the Sky Barkerville will play host to Geekenders Lostin Time 2: Take the Sky, a fun-filled, sci-fi party-convention. Filmmaker Denise Crosby, best known as Lieutenant Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation; Claudia Christian, author and Babylon 5 star; Dean Haglund, co-star of The X-Files and other special guests and performers who will appear throughout the three-day event. For more information check out the website BarkervilleGeekend.com
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Do you have books that you just don’t want to keep anymore? The Houston Public Library will be having a used book sale taking place Sept.19 to 21. The book sale will be during the operation hours of the Public Library. On the 19, the library will be open from 12p.m. – 7p.m., on the 20, from 10a.m. – 5p.m. and on the 21 from 12p.m. – 4p.m. For more information please call 250.845.2256.
Mud Drags Rev up those engines, Mud Drags are in town! Hosted by Nadina Offroad Society, Houston’s 1st Annual Mud Drags. Taking place Saturday, Sept.21 at the Houston Airport. Located 12 km from Houston and three km from highway 16.For more information please contact houstonmud@gmail.com
Farmer’s Market The wind down for the Houston Farmer’s Market is approaching. On Friday, Sept.27 from 10a.m. – 3p.m., it will be the last Farmer’s Market for the season. The Market has many wonderful things to offer, from jewelry, hand lotions, all the way to fresh produce, baked goods and meat. Best of all, these lovely vendors are local. Visit our website: www.houstonchamber.ca Cont’d on page 33
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GATEWAYcommunity calendar Cont’d from page 31
Oct. 5 - Junk in the Trunk
Prince George
If you are looking for a new treasure drop by the CN Centre parking lot between 9a.m1p.m. and shop from a variety of vendors. If you looking to clean out your home you can pre-book a stall for a $10 donation and sell items from the trunk of your car. For more information contact REAPS 250-561-7327 or email events@reaps.org
Sept. 20 to 22 - Clean up the World Help Clean up the World this weekend by collecting litter from a local park. Bags available by contacting REAPS. Phone: 250. 561.7327 or email: events@reaps.org
Sept. 21 to 22 - Outdoor Adventure Show This free show will be a massive indoor/outdoor expo, featuring hunting, fishing, powersports, and outdoor recreation. There will be over 100 exhibitors in and around the CN Centre from 10a.m.-5p.m.
Sept. 21 - Evening of Pink The Evening of Pink is an annual event aimed at raising funds to be used in the fight against breast cancer and increasing awareness within the community. The event will take place at the Prince George Civic Centre, $80 per ticket - Tickets available @ Inn Flower Place and Coast Inn of the North or call 250-552-2114 for tickets. Cocktails 5:30p.m. - Dinner 7p.m.
Sept. 25 - Five Finger Death Punch Five Finger Death Punch Wrong Side of Heaven tour featuring opening bands; Escape the Fate, Miss Magi, and Gemini Syndrome. Tickets are now on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets. CN Centre from 6p.m. - 10p.m.
Sept. 27 – Prince George Cougars The first game of the season against Kamloops. Cougars will be sporting their special commemorative jerseys to celebrate 20 years in PG. CN Centre. Doors open at 6:30p.m. puck drops at 7p.m.
Sept. 28 - Mennonite Fall Fair The annual Mennonite Fall Fair at the Prince George Civic Centre from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Great crafts, used items and food, and produce to take home. Lunch will be served all day. Money raised for Food and Clean Water projects in Third World countries and local charities. For more information, contact Wendy at 250.-963.9276
Sept. 28 – Prince George Cougars The Prince George Cougars are set to host the Kamloops Blazers at the CN Centre. Doors open at 6:30p.m. puck drops at 7p.m.
Oct. 14 - Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Celebration @ Huble Homestead Historic Site Bring the family out to Huble Homestead to enjoy the autumn leaves and try apple bobbing, pumpkin carving, scarecrow making, and learn how pioneers prepared for winter with our heritage demonstrations. Event runs 10a.m.-4p.m. Huble Homestead Historic Site is located 40km north of Prince George, just off Highway 97 on Mitchell Road. Admission is by donation. For more information, call 250-564-7033 or visit hublehomestead.ca.
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GATEWAYsnapshot
takeonPG features of the month
#7 Search for tree spirit carvings Certain people have a deep connection with nature. Elmer Gunderson is one of those people! A master local wood carver, he has spent time adding beauty and fantasy to Cottonwood Island Park. Look for his detailed carvings found right in the trees.
#21 Storm the hill The University of Northern BC was built atop Cranbrook Hill and the road up is perfect for athletic training or casual evening strolls.You can park your car on one of the side streets or the church parking lot at the bottom. For an added challenge, start at the nearby Aquatic Centre. Get a great view of the city from the top!
#41 Warm your wiggly toes The Wild Life is your premiere outdoor recreation shopping destination in Prince George. Locally owned and operated, this small business will suit you up and keep you moving with quality camping, running, and hiking gear. Choose from the wall of colourful socks to keep your feet dry!
#122 Eat fresh from the garden No space for your own? Share and grow fresh produce in the community garden downtown off Victoria Street. Literally “reap what you sow”—it’s a great way to contribute to a greater cause while eating healthy.
#244 Gaze out at colourful tree tops
Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope by reenacting the fundraiser each year. Before the races, pledges are sought out and communities band together to raise money for cancer research.
#365 Wander through alleys turned to art
The summit on Teapot Mountain provides a spectacular 360 degree view of trees, lakes, rivers and wetlands. In the fall, a rainbow of colours blankets the forest below and makes for an amazing photo opportunity; greens, yellows and golds are brilliant under the spotlight of a clear autumn sun.
The Back Alley Mural Project is a cool urban take on art.The colourful murals liven up our downtown back streets and add character to the areas they cover. Grab a brochure at the Visitor Centre to learn more about each piece.
#260 Carry on for a cause
Tag your tweets or Instagram photos with #takeonPG and join our online community. We want to see you in action!
Since 1981, Canadians have been honouring the memory of
More activities at takeonPG.com
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GATEWAYfashion Band of Outsiders presents
comfy, urban and sporty clothes, LA style
The Band of Outsiders Spring 2014 collection is modeled during Fashion Week, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Karly Domb Sadof )
NEW YORK - Los Angeles-based designer Scott Sternberg, creative director of Band of Outsiders, really, really likes “The House of the Rising Sun.”The song played many times both before and during his runway show. But the show Sunday in a Chelsea gallery space was inspired by much more than a 1960s vibe, Sternberg said afterward. “Hollywood noir, sirens, bohemia, and Robert Altman’s ‘The Long Goodbye,”’ he said backstage, listing the themes that guided him.“All mixed with something supersporty, fresh and pure.” Translated into clothes, that meant a lot of very comfortable, sporty yet urban looks which would fit right in in Los Angeles - indeed, the Hollywood sign, or actually the back of it, figured prominently into Sternberg’s stylish visuals. But they’d work for a young customer pretty much anywhere else, too, in these informal days.
There was barely a fitted waist in sight. A roomy, sheer long white dress revealed white running shorts underneath, and was paired with sandals made of rope - and comfy black socks (The stiletto-wearing, now blistered feet in the audience must have been sighing with jealousy). There were huge oversized vests, big nylon skirts, long maxi-dresses, pajama-style pants and wide trench coats. Some designs were as casual as little white shorts and a white T. For a pop of colour, there was a bright green sweater vest with fringes for sleeves. And there were prints, the nicest of them a silk twill “scarf print” in cobalt blue, red and pink. There was also a printed see-through rain poncho, worn with absolutely nothing underneath - presumably for those who like being sexy in the rain. – Scott Sternberg
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GATEWAYhealth&leisure
Tips to
stay cold and flu-free Heading into cold and flu season, it’s an important reminder that the best way to stay healthy is through prevention. While nothing will guarantee you will be able to completely prevent illness related to cold and flu viruses, take a look below for some tips from Bowen Chen, pharmacist, to help fend off illness before it hits.
Stay rested – Factors that may increase the risk of catching a cold or flu are fatigue and emotional stress. Be sure to take the time to rest if you feel something coming on, and don’t go into work if you wake up with a fever, aches and pains, or are coughing, sniffling, and sneezing. Cont’d on page 40
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GATEWAYhealth&leisure Cont’d from page 38
Wash your hands –Yes, we have all heard this over and over, but hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness.The cold and flu viruses can spread through indirect contact such as touching objects like door handles, and can live for 2 to 8 hours on surfaces. Everyone should wash their hands frequently with soap and water, or if unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid sharing food and beverages – Cold and flu viruses can spread through direct contact, such as sharing drinks or food. Avoid sharing straws, bottles, snacks and utensils with others, especially if you are sick. Cover your sneezes and coughs - When you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue if possible. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve if you do not have a tissue handy. Lead by example and teach your family to follow suit. Get a flu shot - The most effective way to decrease complications and reduce the impact of the flu is to get a preventative vaccine shot.The North American vaccine is developed each year to work against three strains of influenza virus, based on trends seen in the Southern Hemisphere.The best time for vaccination is early October to mid-November. For more information on cold and flu prevention, and to find out which who are offering the flu shot, please visit your local pharmacist and healthcare provider. www.newscanada.com
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GATEWAYgrill
Dinner time is
family time
In many households back to school time is the most frantic and exhausting time of the year. With parents at work, and kids at school it can be hard to coordinate family time during the week. Despite everyone’s differing schedules, it is important to set apart time during the week for families to participate in activities collectively. Dinnertime is the perfect opportunity for parents to spend time with their kids and learn about their new school term.
While time is not on your side during the week, it is important to prepare meals packed with healthy ingredients that support your families’ active lifestyle. Honey is a natural source of a wide range of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and natural energy. The natural energy found in honey will not only provide the entire family with an added boost, but the antioxidants found in honey will help everyone stay healthy and fight disease. Cont’d on page 44
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GATEWAYgrill Cont’d from page 42 Here is a family friendly recipe that will get the whole family together:
Honey Garlic Beef Stir Fry Ingredients:
½ cup (125 mL) BeeMaid Honey ¼ cup (50 mL) teriyaki sauce 3 cloves Garlic, minced 2 tbsp (30 mL) Oyster sauce 1 tsp (5 mL) Sesame oil ¼ tsp (1 mL) Hot sauce or red pepper flakes 1 lb (500 g) Thinly sliced beef strips 1 tbsp (15 mL) Challenge Canada Corn Starch 2 tbsp (30 mL) water 2 tbsp (30 mL) Crisco Canola or Vegetable Oil 1 pkg (600 g) Europe’s Best Zen Garden frozen Vegetables Directions: 1. Sauce: Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl. Reserve. In a separate bowl combine beef with ¼ cup (50 mL) reserved sauce.2.
Combine cornstarch and water. Reserve.3. Heat large non-stick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add oil. When pan is hot, add beef. Cook until outside of beef is cooked, about 2 minutes. Add frozen vegetables and sauce. Bring sauce to a boil, cook, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes until vegetables and beef are cooked through. Add cornstarch mixture. Cook, stirring constantlyuntil thickened, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.Tips• Replace beef with shrimp or thinly sliced chicken.• Serve with rice or noodles. For more family friendly recipes, visit www. beemaid.com www.newscanada.com
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GATEWAYcareers The career-killing moves that employers hate the most Peter Harris | Workopolis A survey of more than 1,700 companies released by recruiting firm Recruitment Revolution reveals the candidate behaviours that most annoy employers and cause people to miss out on jobs. Participants
shared their biggest irritants in resumes and correspondence, at job interviews, and on the job.
Resume wrongs LOL is no laughing matter. Of all of the recruiters surveyed, over 80% said that using any kind of emoticons or text-speak abbreviations such as thx (for thanks) or 2 (for to or too) is unacceptable. So while accepted industry terms such as SEO for search engine optimization are considered okay, in most cases, spell out the whole words. And make sure the whole words are spelled correctly.The majority of employers said that finding a single spelling mistake in a resume would deter them from interviewing that candidate. Also, don’t list inane pastimes as your hobbies such as ‘clubbing,’ ‘looking after my cats,’ or ‘watching reality TV.’ Cont’d on page 47
GATEWAYcareers Cont’d from page 46 The vast majority of employers found these to be off-putting. While conventional career advice is to list activities which have some relevance to the job, this survey showed that employers don’t mind seeing things such as travel, sports and family time. Three quarters of the employers surveyed said that they regularly screen potential candidates on social media sites. Facebook and LinkedIn are the most commonly referenced with Twitter and Google+ also being checked to a lesser extent.
Interview blunders If you get past the resume and social media pitfalls, you get to face the in person scrutiny of a job interview.The most common reason that the employers surveyed said they wouldn’t hire a candidate is if they seemed to avoid making eye contact with them at the interview. The second most common blunder would be showing up with noticeable bad breath. Having confrontational or defensive body language were the third biggest candidate
turn offs for employers. “We hope that this snapshot of employers’ pet hates will help people to be more aware of how they present themselves online, on application forms and in person, so that they make the best impression with potential employers,” said Anna Taylor, the director of RecruitmentRevolution.com. And once you’ve made that proper impression and landed the job, you still have to keep it.The survey also lists the most common behaviours from new employees that bother their bosses. The five most annoying on-the-job traits:
1 Being late for work 2 Being rude to junior staff 3 Surfing the Web or social media sites during work hours
4 Making personal phone calls during work hours
5 Dressing inappropriately Employers also said that it takes roughly a month for new hires to get up to speed and start making a valuable contribution to the business.You can download the full report from Recruitment Revolution here.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
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www.pgcitizen.ca | Wednesday, September 18, 2013