News

Local man making a big name for himself

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 September 2010 17:00 Saturday, 04 September 2010 16:50

Contributed photos

The cast of Hoboheme, the play Sloan starred in at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival.

One of many professional headshots Sloan has for his portfolio.

Ted Sloan in his days as an on air announcer at Moose FM.

Ted Sloan, a Fort St. John resident has been making a name for himself in Edmonton, where he’s studying theatre – including in Hoboheme at the city’s fringe festival.

September 2, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – It’s been said that Canadian theatre is a lot different than other international theatre, simply because it’s not as developed as other countries.

Canadians are a combination of different aspects of the industry, a mix of different things, with an added twist.

Add on top of that the desire to not have to impress anyone, and professionals in the field being humble about their achievements, and you’ve got a Canadian actor.

You’ve also got 21 year-old Ted Sloan.

Sloan, a student at the University of Alberta, who’s studying theatre, was raised in Fort St. John and his desire to become an actor started at an early age when in elementary school he was involved in a week long training camp on acting.

The desire, however, didn’t end there and in junior high and high school Sloan was involved in a slew of experiences that would further his progress towards becoming an actor.

Aside from his experience in school, he’s also recently had an opportunity for something more than can be taught by his professors – a lead role in a play at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival – the largest and oldest festival in North America.

Sloan played Chester MacDonald in Hoboheme, a play written specifically for the fringe. MacDonald is a rich man turned hobo when, after the Great Depression, his wife runs away with his money and he decides to start a new life and makes friends with a group of hobo’s along the way.

While Sloan wasn’t expecting such a role when he auditioned, he’s grateful for the experience he was able to get by being involved.

“When I auditioned, I didn’t think I was going to get anything,” he said. “I had no idea I was going to get the lead role. I mean it’s a very character driven play, but I had no idea I’d get that much attention.”

Sloan wasn’t the only one getting the attention.

The play, which was performed away from the fringe grounds, with upwards of 20 other shows happening at the same time as its seven performances, finished with a sold out run and a five star rating.

“Being able to sell out every night is a really good testament to the skill of the show,” he said, adding it was the whole ensemble that brought the show together and made it such a success.

The cast of 11 included eight people from the Rapid Fire Theatre improv group, which Sloan said was a really cool atmosphere to be dropped into.

While all but three people had acted together before, Sloan said the whole ensemble stepped up to the plate to make the play come together, including discussions over harmonies, music and the acting.

His favourite part of the show is that, as the audience is arriving at the theatre, the cast is in character building the set, which affords an ability for interaction you might not see in other productions.

Sloan likens it to being on a roller coaster and being in control but not so much in control that you don’t know where it’s going to go.

When the play begins, his character is the first on stage, where he sings a solo, and it is that feeling that Sloan says makes him realize why he chose this career.

“It is the feeling that I wouldn’t have been able to describe before I got into acting, but it’s a feeling where you’re just raring to go, you don’t know what’s going to happen, you know whatever is going to happen, you’re ready for it and you’re going to do it even better than last time,” he said. “It’s just a contagious feeling and that tells me that I want to be in this profession.”

It’s also a feeling Sloan is hoping to pass on to other people in the future.

With one year of school left, he is presently in talks with the university to organize and run a theatre camp next summer for youth to catch the theatre bug just like he did.

His drive to spread the passion doesn’t end there, however, In addition to acting in the future, which Sloan plans to do in a metropolitan area during the winter months, Sloan also plans to come back to areas like Fort St. John and Dawson Creek in the spring and summer to teach acting to kids who don’t get that experience in rural areas.

“A lot of the stuff that I needed to know in first year university in acting, I had no idea, or I had a very limited idea, and I think if I’ve never got that chance, someone should and I really love teaching and I really love acting, so it’s kind of marrying the two together,” he said, adding while he didn’t have a huge background in theatre after leaving Fort St. John, it certainly prepared him in other ways.

“I found when coming to Edmonton, no one knows how to do a whole lot, they’re all very good at doing one thing,” he said. “But I think that growing up in Fort St. John, since there’s nobody up there to do everything, you have to learn how to act, you’ve got to learn how to hang lights, you have to learn how to do this, you have to learn that, so being from a small town has made me a really well rounded person. There is a very strong community up there that has really helped me. I really am very proud of being from Fort St. John, I think it’s really helped a lot.”

For now, Sloan will continue his role of many things – student, son, friend, actor, and just like he would hesitate to admit, just like any Canadian actor would hesitate to admit – humble.

Shell has big plans in Montney area, as discussed at PRRD

Saturday, 04 September 2010 16:48

Melanie Robinson photo

Shell Canada’s production operation manager, Andrew Dahlin, recently made a presentation to the Peace River Regional District board about plans in the Montney area for the company. Dahlin said it’s all about being trasnparent with residents about what they’re doing.

September 2, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – Shell Canada is working to reduce its impact on residents of Groundbirch where, over the last two years, the company has been developing.

Representatives recently attended a Peace River Regional District meeting to discuss those reductions and plans for the company in the future in the Northeast region – specifically in Groundbirch.

Production operations manager with the company, Andrew Dahlin, said the company is working to understanding the subsurface they have and, through that, working on developing pads that would have up to 150 wells on site, which cuts down on the impact to local communities.

“The advantage of that is you can then put the rig on location and you don’t have to do all the big obstructions to the community,” he said, adding that a rig move involves many loads.

“So if you can put the rig there and it can stay there for six months or a year, you will see less impact. Yes it will impact pretty heavily that one neighbour that’s next to us, but it won’t impact the whole community to the same extent.”

The wells go approximately two kilometers down, out two kilometers horizontally and then are 400 metres apart.

He said the Montney formation, which is the company’s current focus, is tight, meaning gas will not flow naturally, requiring the need to hydraulically fracture the rock with large quantities of water.

Dahlin said Shell is looking to get upwards of 80 water trucks off the road each day by building a 20 kilometre water pipeline, with the objective to push water through the field through pipelines rather than by truck.

This, in turn, will reduce traffic in the area for both industry and local residents.

Dahlin said there are three main issues around water – the source, meaning a lot of the water is coming from fresh resources like the Peace River and the Kiskatinaw River, which is part of the reason for a newly announced water requisition project with the City of Dawson Creek; transportation and community consumption.

The requisition project will involve the construction of a 50 kilometre pipeline from Dawson Creek to Groundbirch, where the company will build pools to store water, where the resource will be drawn from, used for fracking and then replaced in the swimming pool by the upwards of 80 per cent water recovery that occurs after fracking.

“That way we’re hoping to get away from this continuous draw on a fresh water resource, use the reclaimed water and increase our use of that reused water,” he said.

That doesn’t, however, mean the road infrastructure in the area is fitted for industry use, he said, and that’s why Shell Canada is prepared to build new roads.

Directors on the board had an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation, many of which involved concerns over the use of water for fracking.

Area C director Arthur Hadland said he thinks water will be the oil of the future and he would like to see more consideration take place into what else could be used, making suggestions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Dahlin said after long periods of time, you’re able to get water recovery from fracking – up to 40 per cent in the first week – and he feels this is where industry has to step up to the plate and reuse the water.

Hadland said after the meeting he wasn’t happy with the company’s response.

“I think we need to know more about the use of water, I’m not happy at all,” he said. “I think it’s convenient at the present time but I do believe that we have to have more answers before we actually commit our water resources to this type of industrial activity.”

Hadland said he doesn’t feel anyone is holding their feet to the fire, but there’s more work to be done around the issue of water use and he feels the sooner the better for the benefit of the community at large.

“If we don’t start looking after it with stewardship of our resources, we are damning future generations maybe to a water shortage because it is finite, the hydrological cycle is finite and we start taking it off the surface and putting it down underground …I’ve got to see it to believe it,” he said.

Shell will be holding an open house for residents of Groundbirch to discover its plans for future development on Sept. 8.

Residents are encouraged to attend, said Dahlin,

Another meeting to discuss the new agreement between Shell and the City of Dawson Creek will take place at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.

Governments partner for new affordable housing in Northeast

Saturday, 04 September 2010 16:46

September 2, 2010

By Matthew Bains

NORTHEAST – Northeast communities are moving ahead with affordable housing developments after securing funding contributions from the federal and provincial governments.

The senior levels of government will contribute over $62 million for 32 new housing developments aimed for low-income seniors and people with disabilities in 30 communities across British Columbia. Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Taylor and Tumbler Ridge will receive nearly $7 million in total funding to add to local government contributions for 34 new housing units.

Fort Nelson will receive $1.33 million, along with about $74,000 in local funding, to build six new seniors’ housing units. Mayor Bill Streeper explained the six units will cater towards mainly married couples that are able to live independently, but the accommodations will allow them to save money by not having to worry about building maintenance. He said they will also save money on travel expenses for services in town.

“It’s an area of town that is very close to shopping, to the post office and the doctor’s office,” he said.

He added it will be built next to an assisted living complex that is being designed by the Northern Rockies Seniors’ Society, so residents will be able to take advantage of a recreational area in that facility.

The mayor said a project of this kind is definitely needed, as the community tries to address a need that has been present for some time.

“Basically, right now, we’re doing a catch up,” said Streeper. “These units will be filled pretty much immediately.”

He said they expect to break ground on the project this fall and the housing units will likely be completed next year.

In Fort St. John, eight new units will be built thanks to a federal/provincial contribution of $1.54 million and local contributions of $313,000.

Cindy Mohr, executive director with the Fort St. John Association for Community Living, said the clients her organization supports need the new units.

“One of the main barriers for people with disabilities in becoming independent is to find affordable, safe housing,” said Mohr. “Currently, many people with disabilities who have applied for low cost housing in this area are on waitlists, which prevents them moving forward in their lives.”

She said some seniors and people with disabilities end up staying with family members as a result of not being able to find affordable housing, but many others are forced to live in poverty.

Mohr, who sits on the Mayor’s Disability Advisory Committee, said while the new units are helpful, there are a great deal more needed.

Mayor Bruce Lantz said he continues to discuss a variety of possibilities with BC Housing, and officials from the Crown corporation will visit the city soon to look at potential sites.

“As the community grows it is important to ensure that we can offer residents a wide range of housing options suited to their needs and income,” said Lantz. “Right now there are gaps in that housing matrix and what we are striving to do as a local government is to ensure that those options are available in the future.”

Construction is already underway for a 12-unit seniors/disabled housing complex in Tumbler Ridge and is expected to wrap up later this year. The senior governments added $2.28 million to a local contribution of $46,000.

In Taylor, eight new units will be built with a federal/provincial contribution of $1.54 million and $99,000 of local funding.

Decision on slow pitch case still unknown

Saturday, 04 September 2010 16:42

File photo

The Fort St. John Slow Pitch Society has been short money this year after more than $100,000 was taken from its accounts last year. The society itself has also been dealing with increased vandalism on local fields, including at the clubhouse at the Surerus Ball Diamonds, which was damaged on July 27. From left: Coralee Szilagyi and Janet Prestley

September 2, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – The executive of the Fort St. John Slow Pitch Society hope to find out more information about money removed from its accounts.

At a hearing held on Aug. 18, the Society learned there would, once again, be a delay in the Courts decision on what the outcome of the case would be.

The group learned the defence lawyer for the accused, the former treasurer of the organization, entered a plea bargain to the Crown for consideration.

What that plea is, however, is unknown to the executive, said president Janet Prestley.

“If there was going to be a plea bargain, that’s up to the Crown to decide whether they’ll accept that and part of that is they have to look at not just the victims impact but also the community at large,” she said. “So has this adversely affected the community as a whole? I mean if you think about how many people are in slow pitch, that’s over 800 people, so I can’t imagine them accepting a plea bargain, but I guess that all depends what that plea bargain entails.”

Prestley added the executive would like to receive notification of the decision made by the courts.

The Society discovered last year that upwards of $100,000 was removed from their accounts, which has left money tight for the organization.

Prestley said after discovering there was money missing, the Society also realized there were a number of bills that weren’t paid, either.

While they don’t know what they’ll be getting back, she added it would be nice to see the majority of the funds returned, but admitted that’s up to the Crown.

If you look at the restitution process, however, she said the accused could be ordered to pay a certain number of dollars per month to return the funding, but depending on the amount chosen, that could be a lifetime of payments.

In the meantime, the executive will be looking to do fundraisers, which they hope to have members back them on to raise money for the organization.

The league will be organizing a poker tournament, to take place at Chances Gaming Centre on Oct. 1.

Up to 100 players can participate with a buy in of $100, but the league is also looking for 14 volunteers that will be trained to deal during the tournament.

More information on the tournament will be released in the future, but those looking to volunteer should contact the executive to learn about training opportunities.

***

The executive of the Fort St. John Slow Pitch Society has decided to offer a $500 reward for anyone with information on the recent vandalism at the clubhouse of Surerus Ball Diamonds.

On July 27, damage was done to the outside siding of the building, along with holes punched in the wall, and no one has come forward on the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fort St. John RCMP at (250) 787-8140.

Community, again, exceeds fundraising expectations

Monday, 30 August 2010 16:23

Melanie Robinson photo

It didn’t take long for the community to come together during the annual Jail and Bail fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society on Aug. 17. More than $33,000 was raised. From left: Cst. Josh Martyn, Insp. Pat Egan, Serena Warkentine (bail: $400), Suzanne Anderson (bail: 500), Brent Hodson (bail: $500), Cst. Shawn Ingham and Cst. Brad Deveau

August 26, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – It doesn’t take long for the community to come together for Cops for Cancer.

In a matter of hours, through the co-operation of local businesses and residents, the local Jail and Bail on Aug. 17 was able to raise more than $33,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The annual event, done as part of the Tour de North bike tour of RCMP members throughout the northern part of the province, saw familiar faces such as MLA Pat Pimm and Coun. Dan Davies, among others, jailed until their bails were met.

“The fact that it’s a good fundraiser for a good cause, it’s all around good and people in here who participated in being arrested, they’re just having fun,” said Cst. Shawn Ingham, who helped organize the event. “They meet people in here they might not have seen for quite a while, they exchange money as far as pledge monies go, so it’s all good fun for everybody that’s involved.”

Ingham said the community has become accustomed to the event and year-after-year co-workers throughout the city prepare to have someone arrested.

He said the fundraiser wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers with the Canadian Cancer Society and members of the local detachment, who commit themselves to help on their days off.

“It’s all on their own time,” he said. “They’re not getting paid but it’s been fantastic, I couldn’t do it without them. This is a huge undertaking and I think we’ve arrested over 50 people, so I couldn’t do that running around myself.”

The goal for the fundraiser was to be anywhere between $15,000 to $25,000, but Ingham said once again the community pulled through and they far exceed that.

“That doesn’t surprise me with this city, it’s amazing,” he said. “It’s a city of 20,000, and for instance Prince George doesn’t raise near as much as we do, we raise over double that for a city that’s a fifth the size, so that’s a huge feather in the cap, the city of Fort St. John has people that are fantastic.”

Money raised at the event will go to the Canadian Cancer Society and such initiatives as Camp Goodtimes and cancer research, among others.

Residents are encouraged to donate, if they haven’t done so already, by dropping off funds at the local RCMP detachment. They will receive a tax receipt from the Canadian Cancer Society for their contributions.

The riders in this year’s Tour de North will be leaving in September and biking from Prince George to Prince Rupert from Sept. 10 to 16.

Agreement signed for reclaimed water, voters must approve

Monday, 30 August 2010 16:18

By Matthew Bains

DAWSON CREEK – The City of Dawson Creek formalized an agreement with Shell Canada on Aug. 18 to build a reclaimed water plant.

The 10-year agreement will see Shell contribute $9.75 million towards the construction of the project and the city will provide an estimated $1.5 million.

The project includes the construction of a reclamation centre, which would use a biological process to treat the water to the required standards; an attached reservoir to store the water before treatment, which is being constructed from a section of the existing floatplane base at the airport; a pump station, road upgrades and other associated infrastructure.

The cost estimate does not include construction of a water sale facility, which the city would be responsible for building and operating.

Once operational, Shell would retain the rights to use the first 3,400 cubic metres of treated water, the City would have rights to the next 1,100 cubic metres, and any additional product would be distributed evenly between the two parties, with Shell paying for its share.

“This is a milestone for the City of Dawson Creek,” said Mayor Mike Bernier. “We’ve been looking for quite a few years on how to accomplish a goal where we are securing our potable water, but not affecting industry.”

He said the city’s portion of the water could be sold to generate revenue, or be used for internal operations such as watering gardens and fields, washing roads and sidewalks, and other uses appropriate for non-potable water.

Bernier added the project would be a first in North America.

“This is a great opportunity for us as a council and a community to show leadership in Canada on being sustainable,” he said.

However, the project is subject to voter approval through the counter petition process. Eligible voters who are opposed to the project can pick up electoral response forms at City Hall and submit them before Sept. 27. If 719 (10 per cent of eligible voters) or more electoral response forms are submitted, a referendum on the project would be called.

City administrators and Shell representatives will provide more information on the project at an open house scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 13 at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre. Information sessions will also be provided to the Peace River Regional District and the Village of Pouce Coupe.

Chief administrative officer Jim Chute said the target date to have the facility operational would be September, 2011, depending on the outcome of the counter-petition process and the construction bid tendering process.

The City of Dawson Creek will be responsible for operating, maintaining and repairing the facilities and ensuring the water is treated to applicable standards, for which it would be liable if found to be negligent. However, the city would not be liable if weather conditions made it impossible to supply the agreed amount of water to Shell.

Chute said with pending federal and provincial regulatory changes that would require a higher standard of waste water treatment, the city would likely have to make a similar investment in sewer infrastructure if the project wasn’t to be built.

Chute also noted Shell is investing in pipe infrastructure to connect their pump station in Dawson Creek to wells in the Groundbirch area, which could cost the company upwards of $50 million. He said that’s relevant to the issue some Dawson Creek residents have raised about why city council hasn’t pursued piping in water from either the Murray, Pine, or Peace Rivers to meet future demand.

“Going to the Peace, the Pine or the Murray would cost us in excess of $100 million,” said Chute, adding it would require a longer, wider pipe than Shell’s pipe and that cost doesn’t include storage or treatment.

The entire agreement is available online at www.dawsoncreek.ca by clicking on the “council agendas and minutes” link under the heading “City Hall,” and following the links to the Aug. 18 special meeting of council.

Dawson, Pouce Coupe under high level of water restrictions

Monday, 30 August 2010 16:15

Contributed photo

If water levels in the Kiskatinaw River continue at levels they are at right now, the City of Dawson Creek may consider releasing water from Bearhole Lake, which has never been done before.

August 26, 2010

By Matthew Bains

DAWSON CREEK – Dawson Creek city council decided on Aug. 16 to move the city to the highest level of water use restrictions.

Stage four water conservation measures are in effect for Dawson Creek and the Village of Pouce Coupe as of Aug. 19. Residents are prohibited from watering lawns or gardens; filling or refilling ponds, fountains, hot tubs or swimming pools; and washing sidewalks, driveways or other outdoor surfaces. Washing vehicles is only permitted to ensure safe operation and/or visibility of licence plates, and if using a hose, it must have an automatic shut-off device.

Hauling of bulk water for non-potable use is not permitted and that includes for industrial purposes.

Kevin Henderson, director of infrastructure and sustainable development, said the city’s extraction permit from the Kiskatinaw River was reduced to 2 million gallons from 4 million gallons by the Ministry of Environment.

“We had to look at what our usage was, and our usage is higher than what our extraction permit is, so in order to maintain our reservoirs at full capacity, we need to use less than we’re pumping,” said Henderson. “That ensures if we get into an extended drought where we can’t pump anymore, we’ve got the best case scenario, the most water available.”

Council decided to exempt car washes from the restrictions for now, but they may revisit the issue.

“If we were able to meet our targets of getting below two millions gallons a day, they said they would keep that exemption intact,” said Henderson.

He said water restrictions have had an impact on reducing consumption, but they will have to examine data from a few days in a row to see if that trend continues.

Henderson said recent showers haven’t been enough and the region will need to see extended periods of precipitation to begin to restore river levels.

“At this point we’re still able to draw water from the river,” he said. “If the river was to go dry, we would have to come up with a whole different take on how we would get our usage down, and bring it down dramatically. Let’s hope we don’t get there.”

He said they have about 150 million gallons stored in reservoirs, but that won’t be enough by itself.

“We would have to look at how we could reduce our daily usage even more to stretch that out,” he said. “At two million gallons a day, that’s only 75 days, so that’s not enough to get us through a winter.”

However, he said there is another option they would try before taking any drastic measures.

“Before we go to even further restrictive measures, if we saw the river drying up, obviously we would release some of the water from Bearhole Lake,” said Henderson.

He said that option has never been tried before and it’s not clear how effective it would be.

“If the riverbed is dry and you release it, how’s it going to respond?” he asked. “Is it going to soak in, is it going to make it down, we don’t know for sure.”

For more information on the water conservation measures, go online to www.dawsoncreek.ca, or visit City Hall.

POLICE BRIEFS

Monday, 30 August 2010 16:12

August 26, 2010

Missing person

FORT ST. JOHN – The Fort St. John RCMP is requesting the publics assistance in locating Kyle Martin. Martin was last seen by a family member around 4 p.m. on the afternoon of Aug. 20 at the Marquis Center, located at 10304 99 Avenue in Fort St. John and has not been seen or heard from since.

Martin is a 34 year-old male and is described as having blue eyes, brown hair, 5’ 11” tall and weighing 190 pounds. Martin has a tattoo of an upside down cross on his upper left arm, the female symbol on his upper right arm and a scar on his upper lip. Martin was last seen wearing a white Bear radio station t-shirt, blue jeans and a black baseball cap.

UPDATE – On Aug. 22, the Fort St. John RCMP located Kyle Martin safe and in good health.

RCMP would like to thank the public for their assistance in locating Martin.

If you have any information regarding any other crime, please call the Fort St. John RCMP at (250) 787-8140.

Spray Painting

FORT ST. JOHN – RCMP are looking for the public’s assistance in identifying the person(s) responsible for numerous incidents of vandalism that occurred overnight on Aug. 20. RCMP responded to multiple calls on Aug. 21, of vehicles and buildings being spray painted in the area of 90 Street and 102 Avenue North to 90 Street and 113 Avenue. Most of the vehicles targeted were parked on the street in front of homes in the area.

If anyone has information regarding this or any other incidents, they are asked to contact the Fort St. John RCMP at (250) 787-8100.

Residents learn of options following local flooding

Last Updated on Friday, 20 August 2010 15:23 Friday, 20 August 2010 15:10

Melanie Robinson photo

A number of Fort St. John residents gathered at the Enerplex on Aug. 16 to hear what options were available outside of insurance for the damage to their homes following the storm that hit the city on Aug. 10.

August 19, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – Not all the damage caused to local residents homes during the storm on Aug. 10 will be covered by insurance.

While a lot of the repairs are, in fact, covered, approximately 24 residents gathered at the Enerplex on Aug. 9 to learn about what could be done for the fixes that are not.

The city contacted the Provincial Emergency Program days following the rainfall, which will help residents to be covered by uninsurable loses.

Uninsurable is the key word, said Johanna Morrow, manager of recovery and funding programs with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“Where you have things like sewer back-up, that is insurable,” she said. “The confusion here is what caused the damage? Was the water in their home caused by sewer back up or sewer water or was it overland flooding – the difference is if it was coming up from the storms and sewer systems from a pipe inside your home, you can buy insurance for that, your insurance can help you with that. If, on the other hand, the water enetered from above ground, overland flooding, you cannot get insurance for that. In BC, insurance is not available for overland flooding, so that’s the key, is finding out what caused the damage and if the damage is from an uninsurable reason, that’s where our program can come in.”

It is through that program that residents are able to get approximately 80 per cent of eligible loses after the first $1,000.

Morrow said it’s important for residents to know they are eligible for money for essentials in their home.

“This program is designed to help you get you back on your feet, to provide you with the essentials,” she said. “It is not insurance, so this is not going to cover your vacation, it’s not going to cover your coat or your sports equipment. As valuable as your sports equipment might be, it’s not considered essential, but we certainly will compensate you for clothing, personal items that are important, furniture for your home but, again, we probably won’t replace three flat screen TV’s, but we will compensate you for the loss of a television set. It’s the essentials and up to 80 per cent.”

While Fort St. John resident Crystal Dutchak, who lives near 105 Avenue and 90 Street, does not need the use of the program, as the six feet of sewage that poored into her families basement was covered by insurance, she knows people like her brother will have to make use of it.

City manager, Dianne Hunter, said she was pleased with the turn out at the event, though she wishes there were fewer people in attendance, which would mean less damage in the city.

“At least the people that were impacted did come out,” she said. “I think they had a lot of questions that will get answered in the next day or two. I think we’re all in this together and to try and provide them with assistance – it must be pretty traumatic to have your home flooded so this is one way that we can try to help them help themselves and move on from here.”

Residents have until Nov. 2 to file their applications with the provincial emergency program, but they are encouraged to do so earlier.

CN train derails west of Chetwynd with no injuries

Friday, 20 August 2010 15:10

August 19, 2010

By Matthew Bains

CHETWYND – A spokesperson for CN confirmed a train heading south towards Prince George was derailed at approximately 1:10 p.m. on Aug. 13 near Lemoray, about 64 kilometres west of Chetwynd.

Fourteen cars, mostly carrying lumber, came off the track as a result, said Warren Chandler.

“There was one derailed car carrying a dangerous good, which was sodium sulphate, however, there was no leakage of product from the car,” he said.

He added there were no injuries.

Chandler said he wouldn’t speculate on the cause of the derailment as that is still being investigated.

He said operations on the line resumed the following night.

The Chetwynd RCMP and the Ministry of Environment were informed of the incident.

Anti-HST petition approved, but not to be acted on – yet

Friday, 20 August 2010 15:08

File photo

Anti-HST campaigners were successful in getting their petition approved by Elections BC, but the victory was bittersweet, as the province’s acting chief electoral officer decided not to move it forward until a court challenge on the legality of the petition is decided, which could take years. During the petition campaign, Gary Homburg, above, was one of many who attempted to solicit signatures for the petition to repeal the HST.

August 19, 2010

By Matthew Bains

NORTHEAST – It was a short-lived victory for opponents of the harmonized sales tax on Aug. 11.

Elections BC confirmed that the petition to repeal the new tax system, signed by over 700,000 British Columbians, was valid. However, acting chief electoral officer Craig James decided not to forward it to the government in light of a court challenge from some of the province’s business community on the legality of the petition.

John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, one of the six business associations behind a call for a review of the petition by the BC Supreme Court, said the core of their legal argument is whether the provincial legislature has jurisdiction to repeal the HST.

“Is it valid constitutionally, because in effect what they’ve asked the BC Legislature to do is overturn federal legislation,” said Winter. “Under Canada’s Constitution, it’s our view that’s not legal or possible.”

He added he doesn’t question the validity of the petition, but he thinks the petition should have been addressed to Ottawa.

Winter said the BC Chamber of Commerce has been advocating for the HST since 2002 and they believe it is a sound tax policy. He said the tax system will encourage investment and increase productivity and competiveness in the province.

“With all the PST embedded in the products we produce and sell, our prices are far too high and we’re not competitive,” he said.

He admitted concern from businesses in Dawson Creek, for example, about further retail leakage into Alberta are legitimate, but added more tax would only be applied to about 20 per cent of consumer goods. He added he believes the price of many goods and services will drop as businesses are forced to pass on the savings from the HST to their customers to stay competitive.

“I’m not here to say this is necessarily a good thing for consumers,” said Winter. “I get that people don’t like the tax, but at the end of the day, consumers are also employees of businesses, whose jobs will benefit greatly from the imposition of this tax.”

The BC Chamber of Commerce is joined by the Council of Forest Industries, the Mining Association of BC, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, the Western Convenience Stores Association and the Coast Forest Products Association in filing the legal challenge.

Those associations maintain they are acting independently from the government, but the Vancouver Sun reported they contributed $162,450 total to the BC Liberal Party since 2005, according to campaign records.

A court hearing on the legal challenge, and a counter challenge by the Fight HST campaign, gets underway this week. A decision could be made within a couple weeks, but the appeals process could drag on for years.

Alvin Stedel, a Dawson Creek businessman who helped organize the anti-HST petition in the Northeast, said he doesn’t think the argument about jurisdiction is a sound one.

“If that’s their challenge, I don’t think the rationale for that stands up to well,” he said, adding a highly-regarded constitutional lawyer has taken up their case.

Stedel said while he can’t prove it, he believes Elections BC’s decision was influenced by the government.

“That the newly-appointed, acting chief electoral officer would do something with that much ramification all on his own is a pretty big stretch,” he said.

However, he said the court hearing could open up a constitutional challenge to the HST on the grounds the province’s elected representatives never voted to implement it, only to eliminate the provincial sales tax.

Stedel said if a court decision is prolonged, anti-HST campaigners won’t be sitting still. He said many are eager to begin a recall process for Liberal MLA’s as of Nov. 15.

“We’re going to start with the ones that are the most obvious first, and work our way through, and if a few of them get recalled, the rest of them will probably start paying attention.,” he said. “I’ve had one of the canvassers from this area offer to spend time in Peace River North to do the recall there. ‘Whatever it takes’ was the comment that was made.”

He said he doesn’t buy the argument the HST will make British Columbia more competitive, as one of the province’s closest competitors does not have a provincial sales tax at all.

“If you want to get more competitive you should be looking at trying to eliminate the direct taxation until we’re down to the same level as Alberta,” he said.

The Northeast News will continue to follow this story.

Pipeline rupture has implications for Northern Gateway

Friday, 20 August 2010 15:05

Contributed photo

Representatives from Enbridge are expecting the Northern Gateway Project to face increased scrutiny with the recent pipeline rupture in Michigan. The Northern Gateway Project would see a pipeline stretch from just outside of Edmonton, Alta. to Kitimat, BC – providing easier access to growing markets in Asia.

August 19, 2010

By Matthew Bains

NORTHEAST - With all of the attention focused on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, another oil leak in the United States that has implications for British Columbia may have gone under the radar.

A ruptured pipeline near a pump station in rural Michigan resulted in more than three million litres of crude oil spilling into a creek that drains into the Kalamazoo River. The pipeline is owned by Calgary-based Enbridge, the same company proposing to build a pipeline that would stretch from just outside of Edmonton, Alta., to Kitimat on the West Coast.

Company spokesperson Alan Roth said the leak was contained and cleanup efforts are underway. As of Aug. 12, the company reported 48 kilometres of absorbent and containment boom had been deployed.

“Essentially, the water has all been cleaned up and the shore clean up is really the part that’s underway,” said Roth. “Enbridge is going to stay there working on ensuring everything is cleaned up to the satisfaction of the people of that area for as long as it takes.”

The company has also offered to buy 200 homes in the area to address concerns about the loss of property values.

The cause of the leak is under investigation, but the Democratic congressman for the area accused the company of being negligent in maintaining and repairing their pipe and said their response was too slow.

Roth confirmed the section of pipeline in question is 41 years-old, but said age had nothing to do with the integrity of the pipe.

“Nobody wants to know more than us the cause of the accident,” he said.

The company could face federal fines upwards of US$26 million, as well as a lawsuit from a Detroit-based environmental law group.

Enbridge has been under scrutiny before in the United States for regulatory infractions. The Detroit Free Press reported the company’s American subsidiaries have been cited 31 times for safety violations by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. That agency reportedly notified Enbridge earlier this year about corrosion concerns along the section of pipe that ruptured.

Last year, Enbridge was successfully sued by the State of Wisconsin for a total of 545 construction and environmental infractions.

In Canada, the National Energy Board confirms Enbridge pipelines have ruptured nine times since 1992.

The accident in Michigan has Dawson Creek city councillor Cheryl Shuman nervous that the same thing could happen in British Columbia if the Northern Gateway Project is built. She said she’s certain Enbridge will take all possible precautions to prevent a leak, but she’s worried that won’t be enough.

“I’m concerned all the measures they say they have to avoid leaks doesn’t stop these accidents from happening,” said Shuman, who voiced her concerns about the project to an Enbridge representative during a presentation made to council on Jan. 25.

She said she’s most concerned about the Northwest, as the region is mountainous and prone to landslides and responding to a leak there could be extremely difficult. She added she worries about allowing oil tankers on the West Coast.

Roth said Enbridge operates approximately 15,000 kilometres of pipeline in Canada and leaks are very rare.

“Pipelines are proven by regulatory statistics to be by far the safest way to transport oil and gas,” he said. “Enbridge devotes a lot of resources, and has a very extensive and intensive pipeline integrity program, to reduce the risk of spills and leaks to as close to zero as possible.”

Roth admitted the Northern Gateway Project will be under increased scrutiny following the rupture in Michigan. However, he said the project is important for Canada to bring oil to the West Coast to export to growing markets in Asia.

The project is currently under a joint review panel by the National Energy Board and the federal Ministry of Environment. A spokesperson for the NEB said the company’s history wouldn’t come under the board’s consideration unless it was formally submitted as evidence during the public hearing process.

For more information on the regulatory process and how to participate, go online to www.gatewaypanel.review-examen.gc.ca.

Fire extinguished at EnCanawell site NE of Fort Nelson

Friday, 20 August 2010 15:05

August 19, 2010

By Matthew Bains

FORT NELSON – An EnCana spokesperson confirmed that a natural gas well that had caught fire at a site northeast of Fort Nelson had been capped and the fire extinguished as of Aug. 11.

Carol Howes confirmed the fire happened about 100 kilometres northeast of the town, in the area of Kotcho Lake, around 5:40 a.m. on Aug. 7.

“There was a release of sweet natural gas while drilling operations were going on and then a fire occurred,” she said.

Howes said the drilling crew was immediately evacuated and one worker who suffered a minor injury to his forearm was given first aid on site.

She added the well is in a remote area and there were no nearby residents.

The Oil and Gas Commission is investigating the fire with co-operation from EnCana, but no timeline has been given for when a report on the incident might be expected.

Howes said incidents like this one are a rare occurrence for EnCana.

However, fires at well sites have happened before in the Northeast. In 2008, a ConocoPhillips well near Groundbirch, 30 kilometres east of Chetwynd, caught fire, and in 2007, a fire at a ConocoPhillips well near Tumbler Ridge burned for several weeks. There were no injuries resulting from either fire.

More recently, a gas well blow-out resulted in a fire at a site near Hythe, Alta., earlier this year. There were no injuries resulting from that incident.

Suspect arrested in Chetwynd area murder on other charges

Friday, 20 August 2010 15:03

August 19, 2010

By Matthew Bains

CHETWYND – A suspect in the murder of a man from the Moberly Lake area is in police custody, although charges have not been laid yet.

Investigators with the RCMP North District Major Crimes Unit said efforts to locate a man believed to be involved in the death, who fled to Alberta, were successful. He was arrested on previously outstanding, unrelated charges and was returned to British Columbia where he is being held on those charges.

“In addition to the current investigational findings, officers are awaiting the examination results of forensic evidence and final autopsy reports,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk in a statement. “Dependent on the investigation findings, it is anticipated that a report is to be forwarded to the Crown in the coming months, for their determination of charge approval.”

Harley James Allison, 48, died in hospital on Aug. 1 from severe injuries suffered after being assaulted.

Chetwynd RCMP found the man in a wooded area in the vicinity of the 5700 block of the South Access Road around 6 p.m. on July 30 when responding to a call of a man down. Allison was taken to the local hospital for assessment before being flown to Vancouver General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police continue to investigate and anyone with information is asked to call the Chetwynd detachment at (250) 778-9221 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

POLICE BRIEFS

Friday, 20 August 2010 15:02

August 19, 2010

Suspicious Person

FORT ST. JOHN – The Fort St. John RCMP would like the public to be aware of a suspicious person.

On Aug. 5, Fort St. John RCMP received a report of a suspicious male in the Matthews Park area, approaching children and asking them to come to his house and play.

Witnesses reported the suspect as being male, between the ages of 25 and 35 years-old, with brown or dark blonde hair, a brown mustache and a scar below his eye reaching to his mouth. The suspect’s vehicle has been described as being a blue four-door pickup with a matching canopy.

If you have information regarding this suspect, call the Fort St. John RCMP at (250) 787-8100. If you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Residents feeling hosed over bulk water

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 15:50

August 12, 2010

By Matthew Bains

FORT ST. JOHN – Rural residents outside of Fort St. John feel they are getting soaked when it comes to rates they pay for water and sewer services.

Residents in the Airport Subdivision, especially, take issue with the fact they pay $2.50 per cubic metre for water and $2.13 per cubic metre for sewer. A charge is added on top of that by North Peace Airport Services, as the airport buys water from the city and delivers it to homes in the subdivision.

“The North Peace Airport Services charges us 20 per cent on top of what the town charges us, so we’re looking at $5.56 per cubic metre for our water and sewer compared to $1.38 per cubic metre for the city,” said resident Geri Pearson.

She said she understands urban residents pay water and sewer frontage taxes, but she said rural residents pay for the water system as well.

“My sister who lives on 111 Avenue pays $164.21 per year, but for our property taxes out in the rural area, we pay water and sewer maintenance as well, which is collected via the parcel tax on our annual property tax bill, and mine was $316.30,” she said.

The rate for rural bulk water users increased in 2008 to $1.25 a cubic metre from $0.69, and then again in 2009, to $2.50. Pearson said over the last decade, rural residents have seen a 450 per cent total increase in the water and sewer rates, compared to just 14 per cent in the city.

Debbey Ffitch, another resident in the subdivision, said she can’t understand why they are being charged the bulk water rates.

“We’re just saying we’re residential, we’re not bulk, but [city council] are insisting we should be paying a bulk rate.,” she said. “Our water has nothing to do with the bulk plant.”

She added in Dawson Creek, rural bulk water users pay just $0.87 per cubic metre compared to in-town residents who pay $0.68 per cubic metre.

Arthur Hadland, the regional district director for Area C, said he believes the rates are unfair and there is no justification for the disparity. He said it seems counterintuitive that bulk water rates would be more expensive than the rates charged to residents on a water service line.

Hadland said the contribution of rural resources and energy to the city are being ignored.

“I really feel the rural areas are net contributors to the city,” he said. “The municipality exists because of the rural resources.”

Hadland and a number of rural residents will make a presentation to city council on Aug. 23 to have their issues addressed.

However, Fort St. John Mayor Bruce Lantz said city residents have traditionally paid more to maintain the infrastructure.

“The city’s obligation is to city taxpayers,” said Lantz. “Those taxpayers pay a certain rate through the water system, but through their taxes they also pay for any improvements or maintenance to the water system that our neighbours in the rural area don’t pay for through their taxes.”

He said the increased bulk water rates correct a disparity where rural residents could purchase bulk water cheaply and not pay anything for maintenance of the system. He said before 2008 the bulk water rate had remained unchanged for 15 to 20 years, though the costs of repairs and upgrades continued to rise.

Lantz said a year ago, the Peace River Regional District paid for a consultant to look at the water system and how it is priced and the report indicated the city was justified and equitable in its pricing of bulk water.

He said he doesn’t dispute the contributions of rural communities to the city, but it’s not a one-way street.

“If the city didn’t exist, those rural people would have nowhere to shop, nowhere to get their entertainment, nowhere to get their recreation,” he said. “We provide all those facilities and those are provided by the City of Fort St. John for the equal use and benefit to the rural residents.”

He said he doesn’t believe an accurate comparison can be made with Dawson Creek because of the extent of, and differences in, the infrastructure required. He added most municipalities are looking at increasing their water rates.

The bulk water rates in Dawson Creek are, in fact, under review.

Lantz said he believes council remains firm in its decisions regarding water rates, but hopes the delegation will give them an opportunity to communicate that position more clearly.

He added he has suggested to Hadland and the regional district that Area C could develop its own water system, but there’s been no indication they would like to pursue that.

Water restrictions in effect in DC, Pouce Coupe; lifted in Taylor

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 15:48

Contributed photo

Water levels in the Kiskatinaw River, the source of water for Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe, have led to water restrictions in the two communities.

August 12, 2010

By Matthew Bains

PEACE REGION – Increased restrictions on water use in Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe came into effect on Aug. 12.

Stage three water conservation measures will be in effect until further notice. Lawn watering is now prohibited, and any permits to water newly-seeded or turfed areas are no longer valid.

Kevin Henderson, director of infrastructure and sustainable development with the City of Dawson Creek, said record-low water levels on the Kiskatinaw River, the sole source of water for residents of the city and the village, prompted the restrictions.

He added rainfall over the August long weekend made little difference on the water level in the river.

The public is asked to refrain from any other non-essential use of water during this time. Filling or refilling garden ponds, ornamental fountains, hot-tubs and swimming holes is prohibited. Washing of vehicles should be limited to ensuring safe operation or visibility of windows or licence plates.

All watering must be done using a hose with an automatic shut-off device.

Stage four is the highest level of water restrictions, and if enforced, Henderson said that would limit water use to only the most fundamental uses for day-to-day living. He said since the current water conservation bylaw was enacted in 2008, there has never been a need for stage four, or stage three, conservation measures previous to this decision.

Henderson said he is concerned about the compound effect of having three dry summers in a row and said the river depends on groundwater aquifers, so it may take an above-average year of precipitation to replenish them.

Starting last year, stage one conservation measures automatically came into effect from May 1 to Sept. 30, which restricts lawn watering to twice a week.

More information on water conservation measures in Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe can be found online at www.dawsoncreek.ca.

In the District of Taylor, stage three water use restrictions have been lifted and stage one has been reinstated. Public works superintendent Gordon Davies said that means lawn watering can be done on odd-numbered days from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for all residents.

“The reduction from stage three has to do with the controlled use of water, and the fact BC Hydro released more water for power sales, which has assisted us with our wells in the river,” said Davies.

He said low water levels on the Peace River have resulted in two separate occasions this summer where stage three restrictions were enacted and then rescinded. He added those restrictions could be reinstated again if dry conditions were to continue.

A journey of neverending hope underway for local families 0

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 15:42

Melanie Robinson photos

Brent Harris, along with his wife Mary Matthews, will be traveling to Mexico to receive treatment for his multiple sclerosis on Aug. 28. The family is raising money for the three MS patients at the care home to receive the treatment. From left: Mary Matthews, Brent Harris, Aiden Matthews, two and Jordan Matthews

Since returning from Mexico where he received treatment for his multiple sclerosis, Rocky Tompkins has been seeing huge improvements in his body – including the ability to straighten his hands, which he hasn’t been able to do in 10 years.

August 12, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – The journey is one of hope for many multiple sclerosis patients.

It is one, however, that usually takes those patients outside of Canada, and sometimes around the world, to receive CCSVI or chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency.

The procedure was discovered in Italy in 2009 and has been able to show varying improvements in patients’ symptoms – some dramatically and others day-by-day.

Tompkins, who referred to himself as a ‘guinea pig’ before leaving for Merida, Mexico for the procedure, is now providing more hope to the patients awaiting their surgery.

“Which minute,” was his response when asked what kind of progress he’s made since his surgery, citing examples such as being able to straighten his hands for the first time in 10 years, curling his toes, better eyesight, better tolerance of the heat and less headaches.

Add on top of that his new ability to taste things, which he didn’t realize had been hampered by the disease, and losing the sensation of walking on marbles, and what he calls the ‘wow factor’ is huge.

Tompkins tells the story of waking up in the recovery room and not knowing whether he’d underwent the surgery – until he realized what he could do.

“I didn’t have a clue, I didn’t realize that I had the operation yet so all this going on at the same time, it was just overwhelming, I didn’t know what to think,” he said.

He added he is hoping to regain a lot of his abilities as he progresses from the surgery.

“I have no doubts whatsoever that most of me will come back – there may be things that won’t, but they’ll come back in a different way,” he said.

His message to others who go to get to the procedure is not to lose hope – the results will come.

Tompkins isn’t the only one looking for hope.

Without much thought, he could think of five people he knows who are also looking to take a similar journey, either to Mexico, or some of the other treatment facilities around the world, including three at the Fort St. John care home.

One of those residents is 41 year-old Brent Harris.

Harris was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was 30 and within six months, he and his family saw the progression from him working as a safety superintendent to not working again and having to walk with a cane.

Now, 11 years later, Harris lives in the care home full time, is unable to walk and he and his family see the disease progressing more and more – that’s why he and his wife Mary Matthews will be leaving at the end of August for Mexico where he will receive the same procedure as Tompkins on Aug. 28.

“Everyday there’s something more that he can’t do. I know that’s the disease, but if there is something out there …I think anybody in my situation would do the same thing. I hope they would, well in our family’s situation, we just want the best for him,” said Matthews about the decision to go to Mexico.

Her family, like the Tompkins’ family has no option to go somewhere in North America, as it’s not presently offered. They are, however, inspired by the announcement the first week of August stating the Saskatchewan government will be taking part in new research to understand the CCSVI procedure by funding clinical trials.

“It’s great for their province and hopefully the rest will follow suit,” said Matthews. She later added, “it’s angioplasty, that’s what I don’t get. I know people who have had angioplasty, you’re not put out, it’s very in evasive, and that’s what our doctor said, he’s not concerned in the least about the procedure. The flight, maybe, because he will be tired, and the heat, Brent’s very susceptible to heat.”

It’s a journey, however, that Harris is excited for as he counts down the days to the trip.

The family says they are inspired and more excited about the journey after seeing Tompkins’ progress since his return to Fort St. John.

“From what I’ve seen with Rocky, it makes the world of difference,” said Harris.

Matthews said it’s important to do the trip now because of how Harris’ disease is progressing, and if it doesn’t work, at least the family knows they tried.

“Because really we don’t have five years, we don’t have even 16 months or whatever, not watching it go downhill the way it has,” she said.

The family is looking to raise approximately $20,000 for the journey and is also looking to raise money for the other two patients with MS in the care home to receive the procedure as well.

“Give me a chance,” said Harris, adding his ultimate goal “would be for me to walk again and go back to work and make some money to support my wife. That would be the ultimate goal.”

A dinner and dance fundraiser will take place at the Royal Canadian Legion in Fort St. John on Aug. 28 for the three residents at the care home – the day of Harris’ procedure. The cost is $35 and tickets are available at the Legion, World Gym, Fort Motors or they can call Janine Welsh at (250) 789-3325.

NEAT offering free assessments to reduce waste, energy use

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 15:41

August 12, 2010

By Matthew Bains

PEACE REGION – The Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT) is offering free waste and energy assessments to businesses in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.

“We’re basically concentrating our efforts on the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors, just because they are generators of quite a bit of the items that end up in the landfill,” said program co-ordinator Beth Thompson, who added it’s estimated businesses contribute about half of the total waste in landfills in the Peace River Regional District.

Thompson said NEAT conducted a survey and a brief assessment last summer in Dawson Creek. She said the results confirmed there was not as much recycling being done in the city as they would have liked there to be, but a lot of interest in improving that.

The organizations goal now is to offer assessments tailored to each business that will suggest simple ways to reduce waste output.

She added the staff was trained by BC Hydro to assess businesses and suggest energy-saving tips, as well as inform owners about incentive programs offered by BC Hydro.

Thompson said they have four eco-advisers – two in each community – who will conduct the assessments. The program will be ongoing and she hopes NEAT will be able to conduct at least three assessments per week between the two cities.

Besides helping the environment, businesses can learn how to save money, whether by reducing energy costs or tipping fees at the landfill. Thompson said businesses will also be recognized for their efforts through a four-stage award system, with decals indicating the business has been NEAT-approved.

“We’re just going to keep working away at it, because each business we go to will need follow-up visits,” she said. “We certainly don’t want to start something and then just drop it, we want to keep working with people until they hit the highest stage possible.”

Businesses interested in booking assessments should call 1-888-689-6328.

Haying is for horses for local farmers

Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 August 2010 21:10 Tuesday, 03 August 2010 21:04

Melanie Robinson photo

Local farmer, Shane Wagner, was on hand to help with the haying process with horse teams at a farm just outside of Fort St. John recently. Wagner said he enjoys the process of using teams of horses, though it takes longer to do.

Norbert Stoll photos

From top: Everett Patterson and Bruce Coleman also took part in the haying process.

August 5, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – It’s not often you see it, but when it happens residents are keen to watch it.

Haying is not uncommon in the Peace Region or other agricultural areas in Canada, but to see it being done with teams of horses, is rare.

A farm near Fort St. John did just that recently, however, with three, sometimes four, teams of horses. The key, said Shane Wagner, who helped out, is to have teams of horses that are worked daily.

“There’s a few more of us in the horse community doing it but you’ve got to have horses, and not only that, you’ve got to have horses that you work on a daily basis,” he said. “If you don’t work them except for haying well then they’re not in shape.”

Wagner said he likes the process of haying with horses because, while it takes longer to do – 20 acres in a day for the three teams versus 20 acres an hour with a tractor – you’re not using any diesel fuel and it’s a lot more cost effective.

“And if you look along, there’s very little that’s left standing, where with a tractor, with a corner, you always lose some,” he said. “It’s not that great, but this gets it all, it’s just the old way I guess.”

Wagner, and the other men who were doing the haying, said it was important to get the process done then – on July 9 – and not only because the region was seeing good weather at the time.

“The old timers will tell you that bailing hay made at the end of June has twice the nutrients in it than a bail made in the middle of July has,” he said. “The grass is just better, it starts to dry, when it starts to dry it loses its nutrients and the grasshoppers come, so end of June, first of July is the best time to hay.”

Another key, he said, is to have no rain for five or six days to allow time to start cutting and to put the hay into bails.

Wagner said some locals continue to use teams of horses for cutting oats as well, and when they do, they are always happy to see local residents turn out to take pictures.

In fact, he said, those thrashing oats with teams of horses often get the senior’s of the community visiting and setting up chairs to watch the experience.

“It’s worth it for the people in the area.”

Haying is for horses for local farmers

Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:57

August 5, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – It’s not often you see it, but when it happens residents are keen to watch it.

Haying is not uncommon in the Peace Region or other agricultural areas in Canada, but to see it being done with teams of horses, is rare.

A farm near Fort St. John did just that recently, however, with three, sometimes four, teams of horses. The key, said Shane Wagner, who helped out, is to have teams of horses that are worked daily.

Wagner, and the other men who were doing the haying, said it was important to get the process done then – on July 9 – and not only because the region was seeing good weather at the time.

Another key, he said, is to have no rain for five or six days to allow time to start cutting and to put the hay into bails.

Wagner said some locals continue to use teams of horses for cutting oats as well, and when they do, they are always happy to see local residents turn out to take pictures.

In fact, he said, those thrashing oats with teams of horses often get the senior’s of the community visiting and setting up chairs to watch the experience.

“It’s worth it for the people in the area.”

Constant vandalism frustrating for league

Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:56

Melanie Robinson photo

Some of the damage the Fort St. John Slow Pitch Society has had to deal with this year.

August 5, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – It’s not the first time it’s happened this year, but the executive of the Fort St. John Slow Pitch Society are frustrated with the latest damage to its facilities.

The president of the group, Janet Prestley, received a call on the morning of July 28 saying the clubhouse at the Surerus ball diamonds was vandalized.

The incident caused extensive damage including broken windows, a hole through a wall and siding ripped off the building.

“There’s nothing in that clubhouse that could be of any value to anybody except for the league, which is primarily supplies,” said Prestley. “Slow pitch has experienced a ton of vandalism this year at the park, we’ve had to replace some of the portions of the dugout, there was graffiti all over it and nobody ever sees anything.”

She added in this case, the city will be doing the repairs, but when it comes to incidents of graffiti at local diamonds, it’s up to the volunteer organization to do the repairs.

On top of that, the organization is facing monetary troubles as it deals with a lawsuit with its former treasurer, and vandalism is not an easy fix, she said.

“In this instance, the city is paying for this, thank God for that but bottom line all taxpayers pay for vandalism that’s done on city property, whether it’s at the skateboard park, Centennial Park, when people are wrecking the trees that are in the downtown core, I mean it’s all money the city is having to shell out to replace something that’s already there,” she said. “What point is there to do it to begin with, I don’t understand how people get a kick out of wrecking other people’s property.”

The incident is expected to have happened after 10 p.m. on July 27. Anyone with information is asked to call the RCMP.

More wind power on the horizon for the Peace Region

Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:32

Archived photo

The Peace Region is potentially going to be the home of a new wind power project near Tumbler Ridge that could see 79 wind turbine generators on site. The first wind farm in the region is the Bear Mountain Wind farm (above) outside of Dawson Creek.

By Matthew Bains

PEACE REGION – Another wind power project is moving ahead in the Peace Region after receiving environmental approval from the Province.

Capital Power L.P., a subsidiary of Edmonton-based EPCOR, has received an environmental assessment certificate for the Quality Wind Project, which is to be located about 10 kilometres northeast of Tumbler Ridge.

“Needless to say, we’re thrilled,” said company spokesperson Jay Shukin. “We are very encouraged by the site that we picked and the wind regime we believe we have.”

He added they still need to obtain some permits and finalize the land tenure process, but if completed as anticipated, they will start preliminary site work later this year.

The proposed $455 million project involves constructing 79 wind turbine generators, as well as a substation, a 22-kilometre transmission line, access and maintenance roads, and other infrastructure. Shukin said the company already has an agreement in place with Copenhagen-based Vestas to supply the turbines for the project.

The environmental certification is conditional on 101 commitments the company must implement throughout various stages of the project, mainly around mitigating impacts to wildlife and waterways.

Bird and bat fatalities are a common concern with wind farm projects, and the company is required to monitor and evaluate any impacts over the first two years of the project, and apply additional mitigation if required.

There were two groups that submitted concerns about the project during the public comment period of the environmental assessment process. A group representing ATV riders in the area were concerned about losing access to existing roads and trails, while a guide/outfitting company was worried about the impact to their business.

Shukin said roads in the area will be accessible to the public, and added there would be no restrictions to hunting as a result of the project.

The project is expected to generate $98 million in local and provincial taxes over its 25-year lifespan. The two-year construction phase is expected to generate an average of 170 person-years of full-time direct employment. The operational phase of the project is expected to generate 300 person-years of employment.

Shukin said his company is committed to employing local contractors as much as possible for the project.

Tumbler Ridge Mayor Larry White said the construction jobs created by the project will be very beneficial to the town, as well as the additional tax base.

“We’re looking at, certainly, a diversification of our tax base, which is what we’re trying to do,” he said.

There are three other wind projects proposed near Tumbler Ridge, and one near Chetwynd, that have received Electricity Purchase Agreements from BC Hydro. Three of those projects have entered the pre-application stage of the environmental assessment process.

White said although there will be some visual impacts to the landscape, he hasn’t heard any opposition to the projects from residents so far. He added the wind resource that Tumbler Ridge has is attracting a lot of attention.

“We’re certainly getting our name on the map, no doubt about that,” he said.

The Dokie Wind Energy Project received environmental certification back in 2006, but has stalled due to financial issues until it was revived through a partnership between Plutonic Power and GE Energy Financial Services last year. That project, located 40 kilometres southwest of Hudson’s Hope, is expected to be complete next year.

Victoria-based Aeolis Wind had proposed two wind projects in the region, but did not receive an agreement with BC Hydro for either. One project, the Thunder Mountain Wind Project, proposed 33 kilometres southeast of Tumbler Ridge, did, however, receive environmental certification last December.

The company’s president and CEO, Juergen Puetter, said while not being selected by BC Hydro was disappointing, they see opportunities for the project to move ahead in the future.

“I can’t be too specific, but we’re working on a number of scenarios, and from my perspective, it’s not a question of if, but when the project will go ahead,” he said.

Puetter said he believes price was the main factor behind BC Hydro’s selections, but cautions that the Crown corporation may have overlooked other important factors. He said of the four wind projects that have previously been awarded agreements, two were abandoned (the Holberg Wind Energy Project and the Mount Hays Wind Farm Partnership), one was delayed (the Dokie project) and only one is operational (the Bear Mountain Wind Park).

“Only time will tell how many of the current crop of projects that were awarded will actually be built and I don’t expect it will be 100 per cent of them,” he said.

Puetter said he expects demand for electricity in the region to grow as the oil and gas industry expands. He added they’re also waiting to see how BC Hydro will implement the new export policy outlined in the Clean Energy Act, adding some public utility companies in California have expressed an interest in the Thunder Mountain project.

If it were to go ahead, that project would be the largest wind farm in the world, with a capacity of 1,400 megawatts, more than the proposed Site C Dam. However, Puetter qualified that by saying the 900 megawatts produced by the dam would be firm (dependable) power, and the wind power would not be, adding building the dam would actually expand wind power potential in the region.

He said the Hackney Hills project, a smaller wind farm proposed 100 kilometres west of Fort St. John, has an even better wind regime than the Thunder Mountain site and he sees future potential for that project as well.

Movement underway to revive BC Conservative Party

Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:23

Matthew Bains photo

The BC Conservative Party held a meeting on July 27 in Dawson Creek, hosted by local members. From left: Alvin Stedel, Bob Zimmer and Dan Wilson. A similar meeting was held in Fort St. John the following day. The party believes with support for the Liberals slipping, now is the right time to offer a right-of-centre alternative to government.

August 5, 2010

By Matthew Bains

NORTHEAST – A grassroots movement is afoot to revive the BC Conservative Party and the organizers believe the Peace Region is a good place to start.

Three organizers were at the George Dawson Inn in Dawson Creek on July 27 to hold the first-ever meeting of a provincial Conservative Party in the region.

“Dawson Creek, for a long time, has been a hub of conservatism,” said Bob Zimmer, regional director for the provincial association. “I remember being at a Social Credit parade with my grandma when I was about six years-old, in Dawson Creek. It’s a conservative place, and it’s a neat place to start this off.”

Despite a turnout of only a handful of people, Zimmer said he’s encouraged by the enthusiasm he is hearing. He said with this new incarnation of the party, people may be sitting back to see how it turns out. However, he said he feels there is growing support in the Peace, and elsewhere in the province, for a right-of-centre alternative to the provincial Liberals and NDP.

“We’ve seen a drastic shift to the left, and it’s shown us a need to get the right off the ground again as an oppositional force to balance out our province, because right now we’re just seeing left parties,” he said.

The Conservative Party hasn’t held a seat in the Legislature since 1978, but Zimmer points to the support for the Social Credit Party and the Reform Party of BC in the past as examples that right-of-centre parties can win seats, and even form governments, in British Columbia. He added they see strong support for conservatives in the Peace, the Okanagan, the Fraser Valley and parts of Vancouver Island.

“The whole province is quite conservative,” he said. “When you look at the province overall, it’s quite blue.”

Zimmer was joined that evening by Dan Wilson and Alvin Stedel, organizers in the North and South Peace, respectively, who also helped organize the petition drive against the HST in the region. The BC Conservative Party’s statement of philosophy and principals states it supports repealing the HST.

Zimmer said he doesn’t believe that policy is contrary to the conservative philosophy of cutting taxes for businesses, even though many businesses support the HST.

“What we are hearing from a lot of businesses is although they will save with the HST on equipment and things like that, their employees are saying, ‘look, we need more money to cover the cost of the HST,” said Zimmer.

Wilson said although the HST has many people angry with the BC Liberals, there are other issues such as the alleged scandals surrounding the sale of BC Rail, and the opposition to the carbon tax, for example. He added the public should also be concerned about the proposed Recognition and Reconciliation Act, which he said would give First Nations veto power over resource development in the province.

Zimmer said British Columbians are concerned about deficit spending and long-term debt. He said Conservative government would introduce a debt repayment plan, with any budget surpluses committed to debt repayment.

He said it wouldn’t be practical to promise large cuts to taxes and spending right away, but he said there are ways to reduce the size of the provincial budget over time. He said, for example, a Conservative government would establish zero-based budgeting for government departments, encouraging department heads to find cost savings rather than spending surplus money to maintain or increase budget allocations.

“We’re constantly looking for places where we can save money, rather than constantly looking for places where we can increase taxes – that’s where conservatives and liberals are different.”

The party’s policy document states the environment would be a top priority for a Conservative government. It states the carbon tax would be repealed, but Zimmer said they would pursue reducing carbon dioxide emissions by encouraging innovation and new technologies, and promoting fuel economy and energy conservation.

However, the policy document states the party would also promote the establishment of new coal and precious metals mines, as well as offshore oil drilling.

More information on the party and their policies can be found online at www.conservativesbc.com.

Jay Hill announces retirement

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 15:06

Prince George-Peace River MP Jay Hill announced he will not be running for his position in the next federal election. His career spans 17 years in the riding and following his resignation, he and his wife intend to move to Calgary to be closer to two of their children.

July 29, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

NORTHEAST – When Jay Hill started his political career 22 years ago, he certainly did not think it would be a career that lasted as long as it did.

The MP for Prince George-Peace River, who first ran for federal politics in the 1988 election for the Reform Party, announced last week he would not run again in the next election.

Hill said the decision did not come easily, but he has always said he would get out of politics when things continue to go well, and he believes now is that time.

“I’ve always believed that, unfortunately, a lot of politicians stay beyond their best before date so I’ve always wanted to exit while things are going well and I thought I was still reasonably well thought of,” he said. “I think that’s, hopefully, still the case and so I started to look towards the next election and believed it was the right time for me to leave.”

Leave politics, not his love for the Northeast or the people in it.

Hill was born in Fort St. John in 1952 and, through his connection with agriculture, was able to represent the industry when he served as the president of the BC Grain Producer’s Association and as the director for grain with the BC Federation of Agriculture.

He was first elected into federal politics in 1993, and since then, has seen a lot of changes, especially in the last six years.

With minority governments, Hill said he’s seen an increase in partisanship both at the federal level and also through relationships with provincial government’s and municipalities.

It is those partnerships Hill said he’s proud of, and what have allowed Canada to get through the downturn so successfully.

Those relationships, however, did not come easy.

“[You’re] always sort of one vote away from an election and so it’s very difficult to take the partisanship out and actually work co-operatively and collectively as a Parliament to get things done for Canadians,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest difference that I have noticed, compared to the first three Parliaments that I was part of, which were majority Liberal governments. Although I was certainly not happy being in opposition for those 13 years, it did provide a stability for the country by having majority governments as opposed to having this constant threat of an election campaign.”

Hill is not the only one to notice the difference that partisanship has made, either. He said he was surprised by the number of phone calls and e-mails he received hours after making the announcement of his decision.

A phone call from Opposition House Leader, Ralph Goodale, is just one example of the relationships he’s created over the years.

“I found Mr. Hill a person that you could do serious business with, especially when you are trying to make parliament function in the situation of a minority government,” said Goodale to the Northeast News. “I appreciated his candor and we could arrive at a conclusion on what we would do on an issue – we could just look at each other and shake hands and we both knew the next steps to take. His words could be counted on and I will miss him on the job.”

Hill speaks fondly of the accomplishments he’s made in the past 17 years – some on a personal level, some political.

He spoke fondly of the ability, after 10 years of arguing for it, being able to reinstall the northern living tax deduction for residents of MacKenzie. He said he believes the deduction was removed by error and he’s indebted to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty for the sense of foresight and fairness he showed in that situation.

Politically, Hill said he’s proud of the changes the federal government has made to bring financial stability and low taxation to the nation.

“I hope that we’re not going to see the end of that,” he said. “Canadians, whether they realize it or not, currently pay the lowest taxes that they have in 50 years under our government. As well, the changes we have made and continue to make to the justice system of Canada, bringing a greater level of accountability – those that break the law will be held accountable for their crimes under our government. Lastly, I think the continued focus on democratic reform, in particular of the upper chamber of the Senate to try and bring elections to the Senate of Canada and also term limits to ensure that somebody doesn’t serve for 30 years, I think, are worthwhile goals and certainly supported by the people in western Canada and in Prince George-Peace River. So some major accomplishments there, and some jobs still left to be done, but I would look towards that.”

Hill said there have been many challenges with his career in politics, but that’s the nature of the job in providing strong leadership for northeastern British Columbia. He said the new MP for Prince George-Peace River will face continued challenges in industries such as agriculture, forestry and oil and gas.

“We’re a long ways from Ottawa up here in northern BC, and it takes a lot to be noticed, it’s hard work and I would commend that hard work to them to address those challenges,” he said.

While Hill and his wife, Leah, are intending to relocate to Calgary, where two of their children now live, he is quick to add that does not mean he has lost his connection with the place he was born and raised.

Hill said he has a love for the Northeast, and the people in it, and laughs when he says he drank the water from the Peace River quite early in his life.

That laughter didn’t last long, however, as he thought about what he would say to the constituents who, after many years, have continued to support him and what he has done to represent the region.

Hill, in fact, could be seen choking back tears when asked that question and his response can easily be summed up in two words: “thank you”.

Swan Lake landfill project nixed by regional district board

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 15:03

Contributed photo

An industrial landfill proposed near Swan Lake (seen here) will not be going ahead as the regional district board voted not to approve the necessary zoning and official community plan amendments.

July 29, 2010

By Matthew Bains

DAWSON CREEK – The controversial industrial landfill project proposed next to Swan Lake will not be going ahead after the board of the Peace River Regional District voted to refuse an application for the required zoning and official community plan amendments on July 22.

However, that decision was not without a rigorous debate, and the vote was split six to four in favour of refusing the application, with the directors of Tumbler Ridge and Taylor being ineligible to vote for technical reasons.

Chetwynd director Evan Saugstad opposed the motion to refuse the application, stating he wasn’t supporting the project, but felt the provincial environmental assessment process should be completed before the board made its decision. He said there were questions around if those types of landfills are needed in the region, where they should be located, how they would be managed and how financial security would be guaranteed for the life of the project, that needed to be answered.

Saugstad said he felt those questions would not be answered unless the assessment process was complete and without those answers he could not make an informed decision.

“I don’t have the information to base [a decision] on other than a political decision to say that the people don’t want it there,” he said. “Just because somebody doesn’t like it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good or bad.”

He said if the environmental assessment process didn’t answer those questions to the board’s satisfaction, they could still retain the right to refuse the application.

Fort St. John director Bruce Lantz agreed.

“We have an environmental review process for a reason, and I don’t think we want to circumvent that or jump ahead of that, because that negates the whole purpose of having it,” he said.

Dawson Creek director Mike Bernier and Hudson’s Hope alternate director Darryl Johnson also opposed the motion.

However, Electoral Area D director Wayne Hiebert, who represents the Tupper area residents opposed to the landfill, said he felt many of those questions were already answered, but he just did not agree with the location.

“I feel we do need a landfill for the oil and gas industry, but this, from everything I’ve looked at, is just the wrong location for it,” he said.

Electoral Area C director Arthur Hadland said it was clear residents did not want the landfill at that location, adding the conflict was indicative of a larger problem.

“I think we just see this continuous effort to industrialize the rural communities, and I’m opposed to that happening, and I think we need to send a clear signal that this willy-nilly application process in not acceptable,” he said.

He added he was not confident in the objectiveness of the EA process, citing when the OSB plant was proposed in Fort St. John, he attended some of the meetings and was not impressed.

“I couldn’t tell the difference between the proponent and the environmental assessment people,” he said, a comment that was received with enthusiastic applause from the Tupper area residents who were at the board meeting.

Resident Colleen Borodula said she was relieved by the board’s decision, but disappointed by some of the directors’ faith in the environmental process.

“We don’t trust the environmental assessment office, it’s just a paperwork shuffle,” she said.

Corey Higham, representing the proponent, Secure Energy Services, attended the meeting, and said the board’s decision was disappointing.

“We feel we had a good site, and we were working through the environmental assessment process to answer the technical questions and concerns the public and the board had, so we’re a little disappointed they didn’t let that process play out the way we think it should have,” he said.

He said his company has not yet made a decision on whether to pursue an alternate site in the region.

Group hires lawyer to look into oil and gas safety issues

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 15:01

Matthew Bains photo

Lois Hill and Brian Derfler with the Peace Environment and Safety Trustees Society requested the regional district’s support as their group engages a lawyer to look into the legal implications of current and new regulations regarding the health and safety of residents living near gas wells or facilities.

July 29, 2010

By Matthew Bains

PEACE REGION – A group representing landowners in the Peace Region is not satisfied with the government or regulator’s assurances about the safety of the oil and gas industry and have retained the services of a lawyer in an effort to change regulations.

“At this point in time, we’re not looking at lawsuits or legal action in that sense,” said Lois Hill, member of the Peace Environment and Safety Trustees Society (PEST). “If we can work collaboratively with government and with industry to achieve the changes we want, that would be the ideal situation.”

Hill said they received funding from Vancouver-based West Coast Environmental Law to cover most of the cost of retaining a lawyer from a Victoria law firm, but they are required to pay $1,200 of the $6,000 cost. She made a request on July 22 that the regional district provide $2,000 to cover that expense, as well as the group’s own expenses as they continue their own research and conference with the lawyer.

Hill said the lawyer would look into the legal implications under current legislation as it relates to protecting the public’s safety from the risks she said residents living near gas wells or facilities are exposed to. She added the lawyer would also examine the regulations set to be enacted under the Oil and Gas Activities Act in the near future.

“We need to be sure that, when we come up with the positive reasons that we need change and we need to be protected, that the Ministry won’t just turn around and say that will all be covered in the new Act.”

Hill said her group’s own examination of some of those proposed regulations doesn’t convince them protection of the public’s health and safety will be improved. She said, for example, they had asked that companies be required to inform landowners of the potential for a risk or hazard before any lease is signed for their properties, but the Ministry and the OGC would only agree that landowners should be informed about any quality of life issues such as dust or noise.

“Those are the kinds of things we would like to see changed in the new legislation,” said Hill.

She added concerns about health and safety were amplified by the gas leak that occurred last November south of Pouce Coupe. She said the Oil and Gas Commission’s investigation into the incident failed to address or even acknowledge the health impacts to residents and their livestock.

“We decided, as the Peace Environment Safety Trustees, that we weren’t satisfied with this, and we wanted to find out what further actions or direction we should take,” she said.

She added Northern Health was never involved in that investigation. Medical officers with the health authority wrote a letter to the OGC in February citing their own concerns with the lack of co-ordination with medical staff at the time of the incident.

PEST called for a public inquiry into the gas leak and a petition they circulated garnered signatures from nearly 40 local individuals and 28 different regional and provincial groups that supported that request. The regional district board also supported that call.

Ministry aims to change people’s vision of work they do

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 14:57

Contributed photo

Part of Minister of Children and Family Development, Mary Polak’s visit to the Northeast included a visit to the Fort St. John Friendship Society and its students.

July 29, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – It’s been just over a year since Mary Polak was chosen for her position as the Minister of Children and Family Development, but she has some strong goals in mind.

The minister, who was in town to attend an elders and youth gathering in the region, also met with local agencies such as the Child Development Centre and the Fort St. John Friendship Society.

She said such visits are important for residents around the province to realize they have a connection to both the ministry and Victoria.

“It’s good for me to be able to see first hand what’s going on in communities, to get to talk to staff on a pretty personal and informal basis, to hear about some of the challenges that they’re facing, but also to show to them that there is a commitment on the part of the ministry to really be supporting them and working with them,” she said.

The agencies in the Northeast, she added, work very well together, which benefits members of the communities in which they serve, but she said like the ministry, there are challenges when it comes to recruitment and retention.

At the Child Development Centre, for example, they are working to recruit professionals such as speech and language pathologists, but have been finding it difficult to do so.

Polak said it’s difficult in this region because when it comes to administration jobs, oil and gas companies tend to pay more.

Recruitment and retention, however, is not the ministry’s overarching goal.

“Up until now, we’ve really been known in public as the ministry that comes and takes your kids away,” she said. “What I am hoping to see happen in a few years time is that we are finally known for what we do best, which is being the first place that a family should call if they need some help and support.”

She said that goal is not going to be achieved overnight, as there is trust to build with residents.

The goal, however, she quickly added, is achievable.

“It’s something that our people are really, really good at, but we need to be able to do the work to get that message out so that families don’t feel threatened by that kind of contact,” she said.

Progress has been made in that, in the last year, the ministry staff have changed how they are viewing themselves and a change in practice is underway in how the ministry, which has a staff of approximately 4,300 employees, works with families.

The idea, she said, is to move more towards a holistic assessment as families come to them.

“We’re looking at everything around that family, and in some cases the extended family, and determining not just is the child at risk but what areas of support can we bring to bear for this family,” she said. “Maybe if we add some additional supports early on, maybe we can stop a family from getting into an at risk situation. So thinking a lot more in a preventative way.”

Other changes at the ministry level include working to provide families with the services they need in this day and age and determining how the government can work together to create more day care spaces, covering day care funding for parents and looking into present issues around part-time day care as well.

Polak said residents are likely to see the ministry look at all regulations for childcare to see if they make sense, because not all present regulations are realistic and the challenge is determining the scope of the problem.

“We’ve got to look at all of those things because availability and affordability are two of the biggest concerns that we hear from parents and at this point in time, sadly, you end up with people who are inhibited in terms of getting back into the workforce just because they can’t find childcare,” she said.

HST on the minds of many, says Hansen

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 14:56

July 29, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – While it wasn’t the purpose of his travels, the new harmonized sales tax was certainly a large part of Colin Hansen’s discussions while in the Peace Region.

The Minister of Finance said his visit last week was part of a tour he and other cabinet ministers like to take after the spring session and, while the aim is to get feedback from various communities around the province, this year’s discussions are largely based around the new tax.

“I think now that we’ve had a few weeks experience with the tax, I think people are starting to appreciate how it does apply and how it doesn’t apply and I think for the vast majority of people it’s not having as big an impact as people were anticipating,” he said.

A lot of discussions in the Northeast, he added, are based around some of the issues between British Columbia and Alberta – a concern before the tax was put in place on July 1.

The elimination of the provincial sales tax and the harmonization, he said, is actually going to be a large benefit for the majority of businesses, leveling the playing field with the sister province in the long run.

Hansen compared the challenges between a business in Fort St. John and a business in Grande Prairie, for example.

Before the HST, the Fort St. John business would be paying an additional seven per cent on everything from telephones, vehicle purchases, stationary items and carpentry, among others, but under the HST, just like in Grande Prairie, those costs can be claimed fully at 12 per cent.

The goal of the Province, said Hansen, is to get that message across to residents and also, Alberta based companies who may be contracting with local workers. The perception is often that Alberta companies working in BC can only claim the five per cent back when it comes to supplies when in fact, they can claim the full 12 per cent.

“I think there’s a real communications challenge and I think when it comes to the HST, I’ll be the first to admit that we’ve done a terrible job on the communications and actually explaining to British Columbians how the HST works, how it’s going to be better for the economy,” he said.

While there are benefits for business, Hansen said he admits there are challenges for individual consumers, but not to the extent people were expecting.

“What I’ve found is the more we can inform people about how it works, the more people are prepared to say ‘yep, I actually get it. The HST is actually a much better tax system than the [system] that it’s replacing,’” he said.

He admits the Province is still facing criticism from people who believe the new tax was being considered before the election in May 2009.

Hansen stood by the fact that the conversion was not on the radar.

“The HST was not on our radar and it was based on information that Ministry of Finance officials brought to us after the election that actually prompted us to revisit the whole issue of HST,” he said.

MPs visit Dawson Creek to get first hand look at shale gas development

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 21:44

Matthew Bains photo

Members of the federal Conservative caucus, including Prince George-Peace River MLA Jay Hill, toured Dawson Creek and the surrounding area on July 16 to further understand the development of the region’s natural gas resources.

By Matthew Bains

DAWSON CREEK – The federal government is watching with interest the development of natural gas resources in the Northeast.

Nine members of the Conservative party’s energy caucus joined Prince George-Peace River MP Jay HIll in Dawson Creek on July 16 to view first hand the activity in the Montney shale gas formation.

James Rajotte, MP for Edmonton-Leduc, explained he and his colleagues make up part of a larger caucus of more than 30 members. He said when the House of Commons is in session, the caucus facilitates meetings in Ottawa with representatives from all sectors of the energy industry. However, in the summer, he said they like to meet with stakeholders all over the country.

“We try to get MPs together in one region for one or two days to learn about that area,” he said.

He said there’s been a lot of interest in the oilsands development in northern Alberta and the unconventional natural gas development in northeast British Columbia from MPs not from those regions, so that was the purpose of this visit. The MPs spent the previous day touring around Fort McMurray.

“I think we need to reach out even more to our colleagues and make sure they are informed of the importance of the oil and gas industry and what it contributes, not only to the regions in which it may be located, but the benefits to the nation as a whole.”

Hill said the importance of the oil and gas industry to the Peace Region cannot be understated and they will be bringing that message back to Ottawa.

“We’ll be looking at every way possible to assist the industry in making sure it continues to create the thousands of new jobs that are being created by this new technology,” said Hill. “It’s just a tremendous opportunity here in the Peace River country.”

Dawson Creek Mayor Mike Bernier said the visit was a good opportunity to familiarize the MPs with the type of development happening in the Montney shale gas formation, which is quite a bit different from conventional sources of natural gas.

He said that included a tour, facilitated by EnCana Corp., of production wells and drilling rigs. He said one of the highlights was showing how many wells could be drilled on one lease, or pad, reducing the footprint on the land.

The mayor added the caucus members were also impressed with the abundance of agriculture evident in the region and the ability for the two industries to coincide.

The day also included a luncheon at the EnCana Events Centre and Bernier said the venue is a showcase of the partnerships between industry and the community.

“Companies like EnCana have been such a big part of our community, helping to push us along and be part of the vision of seeing Dawson Creek grow and prosper,” he said.

While the MPs’ visit didn’t include stops in Fort St. John or Fort Nelson, Peace River North MLA Pat Pimm attended the luncheon and said it was encouraging to know Ottawa recognizes the significance of the region to the national economy.

“It’s very exciting times for British Columbia, for northeastern British Columbia especially,” he said. “In the next 10 years, I think the North is going to be leading the province and I think the province is going to be leading Canada.”

Dawson RCMP report making significant arrests of drug traffickers

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 21:43

By Matthew Bains

DAWSON CREEK – The Dawson Creek RCMP have reported making some significant arrests of drug traffickers in the city.

Police made four arrests on July 14 after targeting a main supplier of cocaine in the Dawson Creek area. As a result of information from the public and police surveillance, they reportedly interrupted a drug deal, resulting in the seizure of one ounce of cocaine.

A subsequent search of a residence on 92 Street in the 1700 block led to the arrest of three local males. The search resulted in the seizure of eight ounces of cocaine, with a street value between $16,000 and $25,000, a small quantity of marijuana and nearly $25,000 in cash.

A 29 year-old suspect is facing charges of trafficking cocaine, possession for the purposes of trafficking, possession of marijuana and possession of the proceeds of crime. A 25 year-old male was charged with possession of the proceeds of crime and was also charged on an unrelated file for possession of ecstasy for the purpose of trafficking. A 20 year-old male was charged with possession of cocaine for the purposes of trafficking, while a 26 year-old male was charged with possession of cocaine.

Those individuals were all released from custody pending court appearances.

Cpl. James Rutledge with the General Investigation Section said the arrests are significant.

“This group of individuals certainly are major players in the Dawson Creek area in the cocaine trafficking trade and that’s why they were targeted by us,” he said.

He said as long as there is demand in the city for drugs the supply will continue, but hopefully the police pressure will slow that supply and deter other individuals from becoming involved in drug trafficking.

On July 2, police report arresting a local woman allegedly very active with street level drug trafficking.

The 38 year-old suspect was arrested allegedly in the process of delivering drugs in the passenger seat of a car stolen from Prince George. She was charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime after police seized 13 ecstasy tablets, a quarter ounce of crack cocaine, with a street value of over $500, and $3,800 in cash from the vehicle. She was granted a conditional release pending a court appearance.

A 43 year-old male driver from Prince George, who was also facing a charge of possession of a different stolen vehicle from his hometown, was also released from custody pending a court appearance, on the condition he cannot be in Dawson Creek.

On June 17, the RCMP arrested a 20 year-old male resident who is reportedly well-known to police and was out on bail for numerous violent offences including assault causing bodily harm, break and enter and forcible confinement. A search warrant was executed for the suspect’s home, resulting in the seizure of a prohibited weapon, a half-ounce of cocaine with a street value of over $1,000 and $3,780 in cash.

The man was charged with five related offences and remains in custody pending a trial. A 20 year-old female faces a single charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking and was released from custody pending a court appearance.

Rutledge said having the male suspect off the street is a benefit for the safety of the community.

“Certainly having him off the street is going to make a difference for us in terms of serious crimes in the Dawson Creek area,” he said. “Somebody who is into those violent crimes as well as drug trafficking is a recipe for disaster.”

Rutledge said the detachment recently changed the structure of how members are organized, filled some vacant positions and added a Crime Reduction Unit position to help with drug enforcement and prolific offenders.

“A recent increase in resources has helped make targeting these individuals possible,” he said.

He added the public’s co-operation continues to be vital in these types of investigations.

“It is very valuable, because a lot of times it points us in the right direction,” he said. “It’s a starting point for our investigations.”

He encouraged anyone who sees suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods to call the detachment at (250) 784-3700, or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Police brief, Robbery, assault in Fort St. John

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 21:43

FORT ST. JOHN – Police are looking for information regarding a robbery and assault on July 17 that sent one victim to the hospital with minor injuries.

Two males were reportedly approached, assaulted and then robbed in the early morning hours in the wooded area behind North Peace Secondary School. The suspects fled with a small amount of cash.

The male victim was treated for his injuries and released from hospital the same day.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Fort St. John RCMP detachment at (250) 787-8140, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppersfsj.ca.

Nitrogen plant proposed for Dawson Creek for oil and gas

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 21:41

Contributed photo

Ferus Inc. is looking to start doing business in the Dawson Creek area with the construction of a nitrogen gas plant, if approved.

By Matthew Bains

DAWSON CREEK – Ferus Inc. announced it has acquired land in Dawson Creek for the purposes of constructing a $20 million liquid nitrogen plant to serve the oil and gas industry in the region.

The Calgary-based company owns and operates six cryogenic (involving very low temperatures) plants throughout Alberta and is looking to expand.

“Dawson Creek is sitting in the heart of one of the largest shale gas plays in the world, and so to go there, for us, makes great operational sense,” said the company’s president and CEO, Richard Brown.

He said they already truck their products from plants in Red Deer and Strathmore directly to well sites in the Peace Region, so building a plant in the city would save the company on expensive handling and transportation costs.

Brown explained the plant would produce 200 tonnes of liquid nitrogen a day by taking air from the surrounding environment, cooling it to temperatures approaching minus 173 degrees Celsius, then separating and venting the oxygen and further cooling the nitrogen until it condenses into liquid form and is stored.

He said liquid nitrogen is used by the industry in natural gas well stimulation and completion. He said that reduces the amount of water required for hydraulic fracturing, and improves water recovery from the well, improving the well’s performance.

Brown said the amount of nitrogen used depends on each companies “fracking” formulas, but any one well could use up to 50 to 100 tonnes.

He said the plant would require 15 to 20 operators and drivers for the transport trucks that will be registered in British Columbia.

“We’ve already started hiring out of Dawson Creek,” he said, adding they are already contemplating a second plant should the market demand require one.

He said the plant(s) will be state-of-the-art, and although most of the construction would happen on-site, it will require special equipment to be built in California. He said there other plants, in Edmonton, for example, that produce nitrogen as a by-product of producing oxygen for commercial purposes, but this will be the only plant that produces strictly nitrogen for the oil and gas industry.

Brown said they expect to operate in Dawson Creek for at least the next 20 years, and as such, they will be looking to get involved in the community. Executives from the company will visit the city during the airshow and they have already committed to sponsoring the Fall Fair.

“We’re very excited to be part of Dawson Creek and we see a long future there,” he said.

The company still needs to submit a development permit application before proceeding with the project.

Mayor Mike Bernier, who acts as the city’s economic development officer, said he met earlier with Brown and the company’s board of directors in Calgary to discuss the proposal.

“It’s amazing, excellent news that Ferus has made a choice to start up a brand new plant right here in Dawson Creek,” said Bernier. “They were very passionate about the fact they are a small but growing company and want to be part of the community right from the get-go.”

While in Calgary, he said he met with executives from companies such as EnCana, Shell, Enbridge and Calfrac and what he heard was very positive for the long-term economic growth of the city.

“The message was the same from every company that I met with in Calgary – all of their activity, all of their discussions around the boardroom are all about Dawson Creek and the Montney (tight gas formation),” he said. “It’s not a short term – they all talk about 20 or 30 year windows of involvement in this area.”

Bernier added executives from two other companies indicated they are looking at relocating to or expanding in Dawson Creek as well and he expects some more announcements in the near future.

• Dawson Creek city council awarded a contract to MHPM Project Managers to oversee the development of an effluent water reuse project, in partnership with Shell Canada. The contract will cost $225,000, which will come from higher than anticipated revenue from bulk water sales to date and an additional environmental levy on the non-potable bulk rate. The request for proposals received one other response from Denmar Cost Consultants with a bid of $41,000, but a review revealed the bid was incomplete as per the mandatory requirements of the proposal and the bid was disqualified. MHPM Project Managers is the firm overseeing the construction of the Calvin Kruk Centre for the Arts.

• The new Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Bill Bennet, has accepted an invitation from the City of Dawson Creek to meet with local stakeholders during the air show.

Rock show in Dawson creates conflict in South Peace

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 21:38

Matthew Bains photo

Tumbler Ridge Mayor Larry White (left) and town councillor Kelly McManus were in Dawson Creek to speak to their counterparts about concerns regarding a concert at the EnCana Events Centre conflicting with the annual music festival, Grizfest.

By Matthew Bains

SOUTH PEACE – Having classic rock acts compete for the attention of fans in the Peace Region on the August long weekend has the District of Tumbler Ridge concerned.

Mayor Larry White and town councillor Kelly McManus relayed those concerns to their counterparts during a meeting of Dawson Creek city council on July 12. The conflict is that rock and roll legend Meatloaf is scheduled to perform at the EnCana Events Centre in Dawson Creek on July 31, the same day the music festival Grizfest kicks-off in Tumbler Ridge.

White said it wouldn’t be an issue except Grizfest primarily features classic rock acts such as Loverboy, Chilliwack and Nazareth.

“It makes this event at the EnCana Events Centre potentially harmful to our attendance figures,” he said.

White said the town council and the community support the events centre, but he said they should work together to avoid situations like this in the future.

“All we are asking from your council is that you realize our concerns and ask for due consideration for future years,” he said. “I would suggest that if Fort St. John were to have an airshow the same weekend as Dawson Creek, you would probably be a little upset with that too.”

McManus said he was part of a delegation from Tumbler Ridge that met with representatives from Global Spectrum Facility Management in the spring of last year. He said there was an acknowledgment then that it wouldn’t be prudent for the events centre to go head-to-head with Grizfest with similar acts.

He said he understands the priority of management and city council is to fill the seats, but he said this type of conflict is counterproductive to that goal for both parties.

“Clearly, this year will be a test case for that,” said White.

Ryan MacIvor, general manager of the EnCana Events Centre, said management never intentionally schedules shows to conflict with other events in the region. He said often it’s a case where the act sets the date and management has to make it work.

“For us to turn that event away would be very challenging for us as a facility management company, but also for our contract with the City of Dawson Creek,” he said.

MacIvor said they are eager to help the organizers of Grizfest in any way they can. He said last year that included lending some equipment out for the festival.

Dawson Creek Mayor Mike Bernier agreed that Grizfest has become a premiere, showcase event for Tumbler Ridge, but he said he doesn’t think the Meatloaf concert will have much of an impact on attendance there.

“I don’t think it will deter people from going to your event, because yours is a whole weekend-long event and I think people make their decision based on that,” said Bernier.

Councillors Cheryl Shuman and Theresa Gladue indicated they and their families would be attending Grizfest this year as they had in the past.

Councillor Bud Powell said he wouldn’t be attending either event, because he makes a point of attending the World’s Invitational Gold Panning Championships in Taylor on the long weekend. He said with all of the events going on in the region, scheduling conflicts with the events centre are inevitable.

Although Grizfest will feature the classic rock acts mentioned above, it will also feature Doc Walker, Mariana’s Trench, Social Code and much more. For more information on the schedule, other attractions and ticket information, go online to www.grizfest.com or phone (250) 242-4246.

Tickets are still available for Meatloaf, with special guest Lisa Bouchelle, at the ticket outlets at the events centre or the Co-op Mall, or by phoning 1-877-339-8499 or going online to www.dawsoncooptickets.com.

• One of the most successful and celebrated Canadian musicians of all time, Bryan Adams, will play the EnCana Events Centre in Dawson Creek on Aug. 17. Over a 30-year career of performing, songwriting, producing and composing, Adams has released a wealth of hit singles and albums, wracked up numerous awards and recognitions, including Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, and advanced humanitarian causes worldwide through his own foundation and other charitable causes. He is a recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada, and was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Tickets for the show can be purchased through the contacts mentioned above.

Online Edition - Dawson Creek Air Show

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 14:39 Wednesday, 14 July 2010 14:36

Open publication - Free publishing - More snowbirds

Carbon tax rises, raising price of fuel

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:27

July 15, 2010

By Matthew Bains

NORTHEAST – Amongst all the public fervour surrounding the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax on July 1, an increase to the carbon tax on that same date went largely unnoticed.

The carbon tax rates as of July 1 are based on $20 per tonne of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions, an increase of $5 per tonne from last year. That equates to an increase of 1.12 cents to 4.45 cents per litre of gasoline and 1.27 cents to 5.11 cents per litre of diesel. The rate for natural gas is now 99.32 cents per gigajoule and 3.08 per litre of propane. The tax also applies to jet fuel and heat generated from coal.

However, according to the Ministry of Finance, the government has returned over $1 billion to British Columbians in personal and business tax cuts in the first two years of the carbon tax, $232 million more than was collected.

That didn’t convince George, a Dawson Creek resident who was filling up his pickup truck at a local gas station on July 11, that he is paying less in taxes than he’s getting back.

“I think it’s getting out of hand with the taxes,” he said. “I think something has to be done.”

He said it’s close to $100 in British Columbia to fill up his truck, while in Grande Prairie, Alta., it’s only about $82. He said he and his wife can afford the extra cost, and it hasn’t changed their lifestyles much, but he said his daughter is a single parent and the increase really hits her.

Kyla Kirtzinger, said it costs her about $70 now to fill up her minivan. She said the increased cost of gasoline means she carpools as much as possible with family members so they split the cost. She said she lives out of town in the Farmington area, so she limits the times she goes into Dawson Creek as much as possible.

“It has changed my mind about getting a truck,” added Joe Wright. “I’m glad to have a small car.”

However, he said he doesn’t believe the carbon tax will change people’s consumption of gasoline much, because they’ll pay whatever it costs to fill their tanks.

One group that has been particularly opposed to the carbon tax in the Peace Region has been farmers. Those concerns prompted the Peace River Regional District to pass a resolution calling on the Province to exempt farmers from the tax, but with no effect to date.

Tom Krantz, who raises over 700 head of cattle south of Tomslake, said even a small increase in the cost of fuel can have a huge impact on his bottom line. He estimated he spends about $43,000 a year in fuel costs and an increase of just a few cents a litre means he pays thousands of dollars more.

“I think it’s BS, really, we’re getting taxed to death,” he said.

Krantz said he tries not to pay much attention to the cost because he needs the fuel and he has to pay regardless of the cost. He said swath grazing, a practice used to extend the grazing season, helps to save him some money, but not much, adding large grain farmers may be able to reduce their fuel costs through techniques for tilling and spraying, but ranchers have very few alternatives for baling hay and taking their livestock to market.

He added it’s hard to compete with ranchers in Alberta and Saskatchewan, for example, who pay less for fuel and have received subsidies for drought relief.

“There’s not much of a future for the cow/calf industry in British Columbia if something doesn’t change,” he said.

However, Cheryl Shuman, Dawson Creek city councillor and chair of the BC Sustainable Energy Association in the South Peace, said she supports the carbon tax. She said the beauty of the tax is that everybody knows it will rise, so regardless of the market price for fuel, it discourages people from buying gas-guzzling vehicles or homes that aren’t energy efficient.

“It’s the incentive …the carbon tax is going up and that should inspire people to become innovative in their energy use,” she said.

The tax on carbon emissions will rise by $10 to $30 per tonne in 2012, but Shuman said to really be effective the tax may have to be much higher, like $150 a tonne.

She said she’s not in favour of exempting one industry over another and said the oil and gas industry, for example, has paid tens of millions of dollars in the carbon tax and it has forced that industry to come up with innovative solutions to reduce its emissions.

POLICE BRIEFS

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:26

July 15, 2010

Unattended car rolls down hill, collides with car and home

DAWSON CREEK – Charges are pending against the owner of an unattended vehicle that rolled down a hill, colliding with a parked car and crashing into the bedroom of a house in Dawson Creek.

Police are investigating the collision, which occurred in the afternoon of July 11 in the 500 block of 100A Avenue. No people were hurt in the incident, but the home was seriously damaged. The vehicle owner faces charges for failure to properly secure the vehicle.

Graffiti at Charlie Lake Elementary

FORT ST. JOHN – On June 23, the Fort St John RCMP received a complaint from Charlie Lake Elementary for vandalism done to their outdoor playground. An unknown suspect(s) spray painted black graffiti on parts of the jungle gym as well as to the exterior of the school. The vandalism took place sometime between the evening of June 22 and the early morning of June 23.

At this time the police have no known suspect(s). Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the person or person’s responsible for this act of vandalism.

If you have information regarding an incident please call the Fort St. John RCMP Detachment. If you have information and wish to remain anonymous please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Suspicious Structure Fire

FORT ST. JOHN – On July 9 just after 10 p.m. the Fort St. John Fire Department and Fort St. John RCMP responded to a structure fire in the area of 86 Avenue and 82 Street. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire but one building under construction was destroyed and a second house suffered heavy damage. There were no reported injuries as a result of the fire. The RCMP are treating the fire as suspicious at this time.

RCMP are asking for help from the public as two suspects were observed fleeing the scene. Anybody with information should call the Fort St. John RCMP at (250) 787-8140 or if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Fort St. John pool opening delayed for second time By Melanie Robinson

Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:26 Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:22

Melanie Robinson photos
Pool manager Karin Carlson said residents are sure to notice the changes in the pool facility when it opens its doors again on July 19.

July 15, 2010

FORT ST. JOHN – Just days before the opening, the City of Fort St. John has announced the opening of the North Peace Leisure Pool will once again be delayed.

For the second time since the beginning of renovations in April, the approximately $750,000 project has been hindered by materials not arriving in the city on time.

This time the pool opening is on July 19.

While pool manager Karin Carlson said she understands people are frustrated with the additional six weeks it will take to have the pool up and running again, residents are sure to notice the differences when the facility opens its doors.

“I think people will notice the minute they walk in the door because our whole greeting station has been changed, so it’s right in the centre of the lobby,” she said. “People will also notice our lobby has been fully retiled, so the floors have been tiled, all of our change rooms have been retiled and we’ve added an additional family change room.”

To cool off in the warm weather, residents of Fort St. John decided to take advantage of the Spray Park last week, instead of a dip in the pool.

And that’s just the things residents will see. Behind the scenes, Carlson said there’s a lot of work being done as well.

That work includes changing the sanitation system from salt and chlorine based to a UV light and chlorine based system, the side stairs are brand new, along with both diving boards and their platforms and paint touch-ups have been done both in and out of the pool.

Carlson said she doesn’t think the added time for renovations will cost any more and contractors are working around the clock, seven days a week to ensure the changes are done by July 19.

For that reason, she does not expect any more delays.

“We’re doing contract meetings every morning just making sure that everybody is working towards the same date,” she said. “So it’s really down to the wire, it’s just the final pieces are starting to come together.”

In the meantime, Carlson recommends residents take advantage of the numerous programs offered in the community including Play in the Park and the walking group, along with the Spray Park, open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day – all of which are free.

The opening, she said, will fall within a scheduled two-week swimming lesson, so there will be free refreshers for swimmers who will miss out on those lessons because of the delay.

Lessons will begin again at the pool on July 26.

Right now the city believes the cost of the renovations are on budget, but further information will be available in the fall when the operating budget is reviewed.

Tembec responds to questions about mill fire near Chetwynd

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:20

Reuben Solomon photo
Tembec officials have said employees at the pulp mill in Chetwynd are trained on fire prevention and fire detection and therefore the proper system were in place when the fire broke out on June 30.

July 15, 2010

By Matthew Bains

CHETWYND – An investigation into the fire at Tembec’s Chetwynd pulp mill continues, but a representative with the company says the mill had adequate fire prevention systems in place.

“Mill employees are trained on fire prevention and fire detection,” said John Valley, executive vice president of business development and corporate affairs. “There is also a connection with outside organizations, including the Chetwynd Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Fort St. John and Dawson Creek Fire Departments.”

He added the response from firefighters was “timely, professional and very much appreciated.”

The provincial Office of the Fire Commissioner will be heading the investigation and Valley said his company will assist in any way they can. No one was injured in the blaze.

Dawson Creek fire chief Gordon Smith confirmed there were two or three previous fires at the mill that his detachment responded to since the agreement was signed to provide fire suppression services to the mill. However, he said those were much smaller incidents.

Valley said he was only aware of one incident in the last few years where a small fire broke out at the mill, but was extinguished by mill workers before fire crews arrived.

He did acknowledge there was some fire suppression equipment at the mill years ago that was later given to Chetwynd firefighters.

The company issued an update on July 5 of the situation, stating the fire was primarily concentrated in the log storage and chip pile area of the mill site, resulting in the loss of an estimated 40,000 cubic metres of fibre.

Damage to the pulp production area of the mill was reportedly minimal. The mill is expected to be back into production by late this week or early next week.

Valley said they weren’t expecting any interruption in the workforce as a result of the fire. The mill employs about 145 workers directly and 100 to 120 in contract jobs.

He added they did not have an estimate on the total cost of the fire at this time. However, the update said the company expects their insurance claim to be in excess of $5 million.

Smith provided an update to Dawson Creek city council on July 12. He said as of that morning the fire was still smoldering in some areas, but was well under control, and Tembec crews were using on-site hoses to extinguish the remaining embers.

He said his department worked around the clock to contain the fire, accumulating over 450 hours of overtime. He said Tembec will pay the fire department nearly $115,000, including $32,000 related to overtime.

****

The Forest Practices Board, an independent watchdog for forest and range practices, announced fire preparedness will be scrutinized more closely as they perform their audits of operations across the province this summer.

The audits would apply to forest tenure licencees and would include harvesting, road building and reforestation practices, for example, but would not apply to wood product manufacturing operations like the pulp mill.

Board chair Al Gorley said audits are performed every year on a random sample of a dozen or more operations across the province and added the timing of the announcement following the fire at the pulp mill was coincidental.

“It’s a normal part of the audit, but because we’re going into the hot part of summer, and we’ve had some serious fire seasons the last few years, we’re just putting a little extra emphasis on it,” he said.

The press release states, “in other years, the lack of proper fire tools and equipment has been an issue that has come up fairly often during board audits.”

Gorley said it has been quite a while since auditors have discovered a serious case of non-compliance, but the board is concerned that a number of minor situations could increase the potential for serious wildfires.

“Small signals that people may not be paying attention have led us to put some extra emphasis on it,” he said.

The information from the audits may be used to make recommendations to government and is available to the public online at www.fpb.gov.bc.ca/

Residents have opportunity to follow hospital’s progress

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:18

Contributed photo
The site of the Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care Centre is ever-changing and Northern Health is wanting to keep residents informed on the progress with the installation of webcams, accessible through its website. The webcams are updated every 15 seconds but Northern Health will be installing a real-time camera in the coming weeks.

July 15, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – The progress of the Fort St. John Hospital cannot be seen in person, but it can be seen through technology.

ISL Health has set up a webcam on site that is updated every 15 seconds and Northern Health is working to set up a real time video webcam for residents to follow the project’s progress.

The idea, said project manager Tom Sparrow, is to continue with open communication with the community and surrounding residents.

“We want to make sure that they’re very aware of what is going on at the site and that they have that opportunity to access that information at their leisure,” he said. “It’s just another tool that we can use to provide that open access to information for anyone that is essentially interested in learning what is going on for the hospital project.”

In fact, he added, people around the world can answer a lot of their questions about the project just by looking online, including the progress being made and addressing concerns about environmental issues and movement of materials on site.

“It’s the same old analogy of a pictures worth a thousand words – well this picture is in real time, which allows you to see exactly what’s going on on that site right now,” he said.

In the meantime, work is continuing both on and off site.

The extension of 112 Avenue, connecting 86 Street and 79 Street continues with the contractor back on site, there has been a pump installed at the pumping station and turning lanes are being put in on 79 Street for access to the hospital and residential care facility in the future.

More work is also beginning in the next two to three weeks on 86 Street with water and sewer changes for the facility.

“As far as off site services work, there’s been a lot of work done and will continue probably until September of this year,” said Sparrow. “As far as the site itself goes, the steel continues to go up in a very quick way.”

The residential care side of the project also continues to progress, he added.

The wood frame at the facility continues to go up and Sparrow said it’s moving along very nicely, along with the pre-work done for pre-fabricating walls.

With the weather this year, Sparrow said things surrounding the project are progressing nicely.

“I know we’d all like to see some rain but from a construction stand point it’s very helpful not to have rain because of course the work can continue and is continuing in a very good fashion,” he said.

Northern Health is expecting to have its real time cameras set up in the coming weeks.

More information is available at www.northernhealth.ca.

Local MS patient travels for medical relief from symptoms

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:05

Melanie Robinson photo
Local Fort St. John resident Rocky Tompkins has no doubts for the procedure he traveled to Mexico to receive last week. The MS patient received CCSVI or chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency, a procedure not yet available in Canada.

July 15, 2010

By Melanie Robinson

FORT ST. JOHN – The last 22 years of Rocky Tompkins 48 year life have been a challenge, but it’s a challenge he has faced head on.

Tompkins has multiple sclerosis and, though the disease has progressed over the years, he’s trying something new to slow that progress down.

Referring to himself as a ‘guinea pig’, Tompkins made the decision to travel to Mexico last week to be part of a medical treatment not yet available in Canada.

Tompkins said he’s not only doing it for himself, but also his friends in the community who also struggle with the disease.

The treatment, known as CCSVI or chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency, was discovered in Italy in 2009 and has been able to show varying improvements in patients’ symptoms – some dramatically and others day-by-day.

According to the MS Society of Canada’s website, the treatment involves “‘balloons’ to open up narrowed veins or inserted stents into veins to help keep them open. This requires passing a catheter (wire) through the veins to the area of venous narrowing so that it can be widened.”

There are a number of medical centres offering the treatment around the world, including in Italy, India and Mexico, but when an opportunity came up for Tompkins just a couple weeks ago, he jumped on the chance.

“For some reason, I have no doubts,” he said before leaving. “It will be pretty straight forward for after effects and so on. But there is always is a chance, but I’m not worried about it.”

That’s the way he is, said his mother, Janet Ferguson, who said it was a whirlwind trying to get the plans together for Tompkins to go to Mexico.

But, she too, has no doubts following the research she’s done on the treatment and the process involved with getting him to Mexico and back.

She said she’s looking forward to having her son back after the treatment, as she’s seen it progress greatly over the years.

Tompkins used to work for the oil and gas industry, but when he started falling asleep on the job, his friends expressed concern about his safety.

He was already going to local doctors for tests to determine the cause for the changes, but it was a visiting specialist to Fort St. John that suggested he might have MS.

Following a series of further tests, it was determined that he did, in fact, have the disease and soon after Tompkins was told he would be in a wheelchair within three years.

Now 22 years later, Tompkins is still not completely confined to a wheelchair, but can move with a walker.

He’s noticed his symptoms have progressed, and in the last year had two bad cases of the flu, including H1N1, so he thinks it’s time to try other methods.

“I’m hoping that I never have to take [certain] treatments again,” he said. “It should go back to the point where things are working normal.”

The trip was slated to cost Tompkins approximately $20,000 after it was all said and done.

At this point, through the help of close family friends, just over $11,000 has been raised, but the family is looking to the community for help with some of the remaining costs.

Ferguson has started a fund for Tompkins at the CIBC in Fort St. John at 100 Avenue and 100 Street.

Those interested in making a donation, can access the account for Janet Ferguson, in trust for Rock Tompkins – Institution #010, Transit #030 90, Account # 85 62989.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, along with its fellow organization in the United States, has recently started studies to determine the effects of CCSVI on MS patients.

On June 11, it was announced seven research projects would begin, with total contributions of $2.4 million, including a $700,000 research grant for the University of British Columbia.

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