General Excellence - Newspapers Canada
Transcription
General Excellence - Newspapers Canada
General excellence 2014 Table of Contents General Excellence - Class 1011 Circulation up to 1,249 3-7 General Excellence - Class 1012 Circulation 1250 to 1999 8-12 General Excellence - Class 1013 Circulation 2,000 to 2,999 13-17 General Excellence - Class 1014 Circulation 3,000 to 3,999 18-22 General Excellence - Class 1015 Circulation 4,000 to 6,499 23-27 General Excellence - Class 1016 Circulation 6,500 to 12,499 28-32 General Excellence - Class 1017 Circulation 12,500 to 24,999 33-37 General Excellence - Class 1018 Circulation 25,000 and over 38-42 Scores43-52 General excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1011 - circulation up to 1249 General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1011 - circulation up to 1249 Judge: Heather Fowlie Best All-Round Newspaper first place Second place Gazette The Lake Cowichan LOCAL NEWS: CARTER WINS FISH DERBY ▼ A11 Times Thursday, January 31, 2013 ▼ Volume 48 No. 5 ▼ www.clearwatertimes.com ▼ $1.40 Includes HST Basketball players help choking bus driver. See page A3 inside. Blue Ribbon Runner-up Best All Round Newspaper All of Canada <1,250 circulation 2012 Clearwater receives federal funding grants January 28, 2013 WE DELIVER THE BUILDING DEPOT the foundation of your home /HUZLU/^`:[LWOLU]PSSL Home Delivery $1.46 Newsstand $1.85 GST included Honouring their mom Ski season Page A8 Page B1 We Have Moved To Serve You Better! Free inside this edition 110A Roe Avenue (Across from Wal-Mart) Telephone: 709-256-2249 Fax: 709-256-2628 On the line Digest | VOL. 17, NO. 5 | 98 ¢ + HST | www.lakecowichangazette.com LOCAL NEWS: Lake’s RCMP report and LCFD douse weekend fire PAGE 9 COMMUNITY: Local radio finds new home PAGE 3 Facing off with the mayor Truck, tires stolen in Stephenville Police in Stephenville are investigating a theft from a property in the community where a truck was amongst the items taken. According to Bay St. George RCMP, the incident happened on Jan. 19. Items were taken from a number of motor vehicles, and tires were also reported stolen. The truck was later recovered. Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP at 6432118, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or www.nlcrimestoppers.com. Police looking for public’s help To aid ongoing investigations into break-and-enters in the Cape St. George area, the RCMP is encouraging people to report such crimes. Bay St. George RCMP reported last week it was investigating numerous break-ins. If victims of break-and-enters report such incidents to police, they say it can help potentially solve a rash of similar cases. Anyone with information pertaining to recent break-and-enter incidents in the area is asked to contact the RCMP at 643-2118, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.nlcrimestoppers.com. Youth receives scholarship “ KeArra Fortune, a graduate of E.A. Butler All Grade in McKays, is among 12 Newfoundland and Labrador Housing tenants attending post-secondary school who have each been awarded a $1,000 scholarship. The scholarships are awarded annually to both tenants and their children by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “This assistance will help students meet their financial obligations, as they continue to invest in their education, and their future,” said Paul Davis, the minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, in a release. Ms. Fortune is currently attending College of the North Atlantic. Kudos to the people who waded through the federal application form. A spokesperson for Newfoundland Power said 1,033 of their business and household customers in the Stephenville area were without power for three hours on Jan. 23. A primary feeder snapped on Gallant Street in Stephenville and a second feeder had to be taken down to make the repairs. Pictured is a Newfoundland Power employee as he makes the repairs during snowy weather that resulted in intermittent whiteouts throughout the day. Frank Gale photo Four arrested following Stephenville home invasion Two suspects sent for psychiatric assessments BY FRANK GALE THE GEORGIAN Four people have been arrested in connection to a home invasion in Stephenville on Jan. 18. Charles Joseph Barron, 23, of Stephenville Crossing, and Donald Matthew King, 30, of Mattis Point, appeared in court on Jan. 21 and have been sent to St. John’s for psychiatric assessments. Tyler Bennett, 19, of Mattis Point, and Marie Diane Bennett, 28, of Stephenville Crossing, were due back in court for a bail hearing on Jan. 25. The Bay St. George RCMP received a report of an invasion at a residence on St. Clare Avenue at 8:10 p.m. on Jan. 18. The report indicated three suspects with their faces covered entered the home with knives and a machete. The occupant, a male resident, was assaulted and received some bruises and cuts due to an altercation with the men. He was taken to Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville and treated for the injuries. Police said the group stole cash, marijuana, and prescription pills from the residence, before fleeing the area in the getaway vehicle. All four were later arrested at a traffic stop in the area. Mr. Barron was charged with Please see Page A2 Appointed youth ambassador with international group Visit The Georgian online www.thegeorgian.ca BY CHRISTOPHER VAUGHAN THE GEORGIAN Mental health advocate and public speaker Jeremy Bennett is eager to help others as youth ambassador with the World Organization of Natural Medicine. Jeremy Bennett, originally from Flat Bay, This Flat Bay native has been has been named youth ambassador with speaking publicly for four years on the World Organization of Natural Medi- how he overcame obsessive-comcine. Submitted by Jeremy Bennett pulsive disorder and depression ” HUMBER MOTORS FORD Four of the dignitaries present for an announcement on Saturday of federal funding for septage management facilities in Clearwater and Barriere, plus for upgrading Dutch Lake School for a community centre pose for a photograph. Pictured are (l-r) Clearwater Mayor John Harwood, M.P. Cathy McLeod, TNRD chair Randy Murray, and S.D.73 vice-chair Kathleen Karpuk. Donald Matthew King, left, and Charles Joseph Barron are escorted into Stephenville provincial court on Jan. 21. Frank Gale photo Jeremy Bennett reaching out to young people 36 Prince Rupert Drive Stephenville 709-643-8500 Toll Free: 1-866-643-1222 www.humbermotorsford.ca through the strength of his subconscious mind. It was while giving a presentation at the World Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine Congress in Toronto last year that he caught the attention of Sheila Mackenzie. She’s the president of the World Organization of Natural Medicine – an international, non-profit group that seeks to deliver primary traditional and natural medicine health care and education to people facing economic hardships due to largescale conflicts or natural disasters. Impressed with what Mr. Bennett had to say and his ongoing dedication to helping those with mental health issues, Ms. Mackenzie asked him to become the group’s youth ambassador. He’ll be travelling across Canada TRADES,DueTRADES, TRADES!! to local support of our 2013 WILD WINTER SAVINGS EVENT we have on location INCREDIBLE SAVINGS on an incredible number of late model pre-owned vehicles Elodie Adams At the official opening ceremony of the Minor Hockey Jamboree, Mayor Ross Forrest stepped onto the ice for the puck-drop in a face-off between Initiation Laker Ollie Fawcett (left) and Midget Laker Tom Day. The one-day event, Jan. 26, drew many members of the community to the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena for a great day of hockey. Jamboree packs day of minor hockey fun at the Lake ELODIE ADAMS, GAZETTE EDITOR It’s a once-a-year event that involves every child that plays hockey in Lake Cowichan. Seven teams, well over one hundred kids, and a lot of the community come out for the Minor Hockey Jamboree, and again this year was no disappointment. All the parents who volunteer as coaches, organizers, or who just come out to watch and cheer their kids on played an important role in the success of the day. Although the day was meant to be a fun one, there was still hockey to play, and each team played to their best ability. Some teams came away with a win, while other teams came away with a loss, but it doesn’t alter the fundamental enthusiasm the day brings to all who participate. The first Laker team to break the ice was the Synergy Safety Novice C2, that faced Kerry Park with a 7:30 am start. Cont’d on page 16 Please see Page A2 GET UP TO GOOD CREDIT POOR CREDIT BAD CREDIT NO CREDIT 1,150 $ WITH IN PRICE ADJUSTMENTS‡ FRIENDS & & FAMILY FAMILY FRIENDS SELLING PRICE PRICE SELLING All Applications accepted. Call John Felix! 2013 SANTA FE HWY: 6.7L/100 KM CITY: 10.1L/100 KM Credit Problems? Limited model shown 5922494 Clearwater’s septage Keith McNeill management facility will be located near the presM.P. Cathy McLeod ent sewage lagoons, said announced two major Mayor John Harwood. grants while in Clearwater Canfor has agreed to on Saturday. provide land for a new The first was for $1.4 road into the facility so million in gas tax money trucks won’t need to go by to construct septage residences to get to it. management facilities in Both the Clearwater Clearwater and Barriere. and Barriere facilities will The second was for be operated in $92,000 to partnership with upgrade the Thompsonformer Dutch Nicola Regional Lake School District. into a commuThe facilinity center. ties will help “I think make the North this is a really Thompson important Valley a better addition to place for famiyour communilies to live, grow ties,” McLeod and work, said said of the TNRD board septage manchair Randy agement projMurray. ect. “Kudos to The M.P. Cathy McLeod the people who Clearwater facilwaded through ity will mean the federal a long haul application for septic tank form.” sludge from The two the Blue River area, said facilities will be used to Thompson Headwaters treat sludge that has been pumped from septic tanks. (Area B) director Willow MacDonald. However, it About 7,300 people in the will be much shorter than North Thompson Valley or 90 per cent of the popu- hauling to Heffley Creek. “I’m thankful that we lation depend on septic were involved in the discustanks, said McLeod. sions,” she said. Until now, contractors have hauled the sludge District to move into Dutch for disposal at pits at the Lake School Clearwater and Barriere M.P. McLeod said landfills. Those landfills are clos- she has been involved in discussions to upgrade ing, however, and a new method of disposal needed Dutch Lake School for several years. to be found. Several funding The alternative would sources were explored have been to haul the septic sludge to Heffley Creek. before the success- WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013 Vol. 43 No. 5 5424275 Second Place General Excellence B.C. and Yukon <2,000 circulation 2012 6021663 THE NORTH THOMPSON BOYS SAVE LIFE: Third place 2801 Roberts Rd., Duncan | Dealer #9988 | 0% † FINANCING FOR 24 MONTHS 2013 AJAC BEST NEW SUV 27,109 $ ʕ (OVER $35K) SANTA FE 2.4L FWD AUTO. DELIVERY & DESTINATION INCLUDED. 250-746-0335 | www.duncanhyundai.ca Photo by Keith McNeill ful application to the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund produced the $92,000 announced on Saturday. “I look forward to Dutch Lake being the important facility that it should be,” said McLeod. School District 73 has agreed to lease the former school for 25 years (in five-year blocks) at $1 per year, said Mayor John Harwood. Plans include handicap access and bathrooms, rooms for seniors, free space for non-profits to meet, as well as art and theater to make use of the stage in the gym. The former school will be a stop on the local transit system. The money from the federal government will augment $50,000 from Wells Gray Community Forest for the project. District of Clearwater plans to move its offices from the Flats to the Dutch Lake School. It will, however, keep the maintenance yard in its present location. About half the former school will be used by the District while the other half will be used by Yellow Community Services. It appears that possibly the Community Resource Center, now managed by YCS, will move from its present location next to Raft River Elementary to Dutch Lake. The mayor praised YCS executive director Jack Keough for his cooperation on the project. OVER 1000 SPECIALS EVERY WEEK SAFETY MART FOODS LOCATED AT BROOKFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE • CLEARWATER, BC • 250-674-2213 “We are very happy that this has come to fruition,” said S.D. 73 vicechair Kathleen Karpuk. “We’re absolutely delighted to see the school back in use again.” Other dignitaries present for Saturday’s announcement included Barriere Mayor Bill Humphreys, Wells Gray Country director Tim Pennell. Lower North Thompson director Bill Kershaw, and TNRD chief administrative officer Sukh Gill. BRUNSWICK SARDINES 00 106G TINS 10/$10. The North Thompson Times Clearwater, BC The Georgian Stephenville, NL The Lake Cowichan Gazette Lake Cowichan, BC General Excellence Class 1011 - circulation up to 1249 Judge: Heather Fowlie Best Editorial Page first place Second place Third place EDITORIAL WEDNESDAY, august AUGUST 7, 7, 2013 2013 -- SOOKE SOOKE NEWS NEWS MIRROR MIRROR Wednesday, 8 •• www.sookenewsmirror.com www.sookenewsmirror.com 8 A4 www.clearwatertimes.com Thursday, August 1, 2013 Clearwater Times Opinion “ I try to teach my heart to want nothing it can't have.” - Alice Walker, writer The Sooke News Mirror is published every Wednesday by Black Press Ltd. | 112--6660 Sooke Road, Sooke, B.C. V9Z 0A5 | Phone: 250-642-5752 WEB: WWW.SOOKENEWSMIRROR.COM OUR VIEW Global carbon tax petition going online — Care2 Group opposes mine within Kamloops boundaries Editor, The Times: We are sending this letter to your community on behalf of many Kamloops citizens who are opposed to development of an open-pit copper and gold mine immediately adjacent to, and partly within, our city’s boundaries – the Ajax mine. We have learned that current legislation allows the interests of mining companies to override the needs and aspirations of municipalities, regional districts and First Nations. The Mineral Tenure Act gives preferential treatment to the mining sector over other development opportunities such as renewable resources, agriculture, and tourism. Because of the well documented health and environmental hazards associated with open pit mining, we believe it is critical for all BC residents to be aware of this issue. What has happened to Kamloops can happen anywhere in B.C. This spring, the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities voted unanimously to support a resolution advanced by Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne calling on the Provincial Government to modernize the Mineral Tenure Act. This resolution will be put before the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) this fall, and we believe it is extremely important that local governments and First Nations across B.C. support efforts to enshrine their right to refuse proposals that threaten the well-being of their citizens or local eco-systems. We wish to clarify that we are not opposed to responsible mining. We recognize the important role this industry plays in our economy. However, developing an openpit copper and gold mine dangerously close to, and upwind from, a populated area is extremely irresponsible and should not be allowed. The health and environmental risks associated with open-pit mining require that such activity be safely away from heavily populated areas and vulnerable ecosystems. Fundamentally, we believe that the long-term health and well-being of the population and protection of the environment must take priority over the short-term economic benefits of resource extraction. The present environmental assessment process, however well-intentioned, cannot be relied upon to protect the longterm interests of local populations or the environment in which we live. Continued on page A5 BC Press Council The Times is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the BC Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to BC Press Council, 210 Selby St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 2R2 For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org Times THE NORTH THOMPSON www.clearwatertimes.com Established September 23, 1964 Member, BC Press Council EDITORIAL CARTOON Fire departments worth every cent editorial by Keith McNeill Sometimes, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Those readers who keep track of such things might recall that your editor has been trying to interest a number of organizations in promoting a petition for a global carbon tax. So far there have been no takers. So I've decided to do it myself. To recap a bit, climate scientist James Hansen has called for a global carbon tax with the revenue to be given through equal and recurring dividends to everyone. Hansen is an American whose Congressional testimony in 1988 was one of the first public warnings of the dangers of global warming. How would such a global carbon tax be brought in? Well, how do we bring in a new tax in our own local communities? Here in Canada and in other democratic countries it is often done through referendum. And how would we initiate such a referendum? Here in Canada we usually have to rely on our political leaders, which isn't likely to happen on a global basis. However, in Switzerland the citizens have the right to bring forward important questions to a nationwide vote through a petition with 100,000 Rod Sluggett Publisher Pirjo Raits Editor Britt Santowski Reporter It’s been said in a number of places, but it needs to be said again. We, at the Sooke News Mirror, want to publicly thank the scores of firefighters who came to the fire which destroyed our building. The firefighters from all of the outlying areas, through the district’s mutual aid agreement, didn’t fail us. Which brings about the whole mutual aid premise, and it’s a good one. This allows smaller communities the ability to afford their fire departments and because large fires happen infrequently, each department does not need every single piece of equipment which may be required. This is a good thing and it works. But most of all, the local fire department, under the direction of Fire Chief Steve Sorensen, did a remarkable job of not only fighting the fire but of helping out before and after the flames were out. This is what happens in a small community where people matter. So, when the councils in the future start to question every single line item in the fire department budget, perhaps they should remember what these people do in our community. They risk life and limb to help others and most do so voluntarily. It’s never a pleasant job but it is a necessary one. The businesses that were impacted by the fire will survive. While rental premises are scarce in Sooke, each one will probably find space somewhere. Our office is now located at the Seaview Business Centre at 6631 Sooke Road. This is our first issue since the fire and we have managed to pull it off even though we don’t yet have phones, didn’t have any Internet for awhile and barely found a pen or pencil. But, like the postal service, the paper must get out. Thank you to all who helped make our ‘transition’ easier. signatures. A good example of this was the recent vote that brought in limitations on corporate executives' salaries and perks. How much should the carbon tax rise to? As far as I know, Hansen hasn't defined that. However, here in British Columbia we have a carbon tax that gradually rose to $30 per tonne of carbon dioxide and that seems to be having some effect.. According to Wikipedia, the world produces about 30 billion tonnes per year of carbon dioxide through the burning of fossil fuels. A carbon tax of $30 per tonne of carbon dioxide would therefore raise about $900 billion per year. Assuming there are 5 billion adults (aged 18 and over) in the world, such a tax would result in a social dividend of about $180 per person per year – effectively doubling the annual income of hundreds of millions of people. Such a social dividend would compensate everyone somewhat for the risks that global warming is causing. The petition has been posted online on Care2, a social network website developed to connect activists from around the world. All readers of the Times are invited to check it out at www.thepetitionsite. com/286/384/042/petition-for-a-referendum-on-a-global-carbon-tax/ How to reach us: General: Phone 250-642-5752; fax 250-642-4767 Publisher: Rod Sluggett publisher@sookenewsmirror.com Office Manager: Harla Eve office@sookenewsmirror.com Editor: Pirjo Raits editor@sookenewsmirror.com Reporter: Britt Santowski news@sookenewsmirror.com Advertising: Rod Sluggett sales@sookenewsmirror.com Circulation: circulation@sookenewsmirror.com Production Manager: production@sookenewsmirror.com Creative Services: creative@sookenewsmirror.com Classifieds: Harla Eve, office@sookenewsmirror.com Vicky Sluggett 2010 WINNER ANOTHER VIEW Big hearts in a caring community away and I can get my city hit Sooke is one amazing whenever I choose and I get community. I came here nature at its best in Sooke. just over eight years ago But the biggest reason as a reporter and was then includes the great friends I appointed editor. I always have made and the general thought my stay here would be community of involved and a few years and then I would passionate people who choose be off to another gig in another to live here as well. They town or city. Somewhere bigger, volunteer and do for others brighter and more trendy. without looking for a As it turned out, that pat on the back. They has not been the case. do it because they care. Most of it has been my One thing cemented choice. Sure, there have my thoughts about been times when I was Sooke. Most people are getting a bit bored with aware that the Sooke the same old, same old, News Mirror office and who wouldn’t. Sooke building burned on July is not my home town, I 31. Fire razed four other wasn’t born here or have business premises as the history so many well. others have. Sooke has some of But, I have embraced Pirjo Raits Hard Pressed the kindest and most this community for a thoughtful people I variety of reasons. Some have ever met. It is a of them are because of community that looks after its the quality of rural life I enjoy own and doesn’t necessarily call at my waterfront home, other for help from anywhere else, reasons are because of the People just respond. Like the incredible artists who grace firefighters who went above and and make the area a more beyond the call of duty to help beautiful place. They draw their inspiration from the region and I save our computers by covering them with tarps while the fire draw my inspiration from them. blazed away. No one knew the And one can’t forget about the fire would take over and result in natural beauty which embraces total destruction of the building. me every time I look around. I They even helped the day after have the best of both worlds. the fire to help us recover what Victoria is a scant 45 minutes we could and they didn’t have to. While doing my job and taking photos of the fire, hugs, condolences, coffee and kind thoughts were given out freely and without any expectation of anything in return. That’s community. It was just such caring actions that made me not just a reporter but a victim of the fire. I am stoic and can take a lot, but the simple offer of coffee from Wendy Milne got me and I was overcome with emotion. I realized I was a part of this community not just an observer. Anyone who has been involved in a fire knows how the flames take everything. No discrimination, no picking out what to burn, just all of it. That’s the hard part. We can all replace things, but we can’t replace people and I learned a big lesson through those flames and that is that community and people matter. What I found was a community full of people with big hearts and as a consequence my heart has been opened up as well. Appreciation and respect for the people who make up the community of Sooke is a lesson learned. Thank you Sooke for showing me your true nature. Get borrowing under control Editor, The Times: Re: Get ready for Hydro rate hikes, July 18 issue. Yes, the BC Hydro rate increase tsunami is coming after the earthquake of B.C. government debt. This will hit lower income people – hard. All levels of government are increasing fees and service rates rather than raise income taxes on those who can contribute more and pay more property tax. I don't want to see any drastic action to increase job loss, but governments at all levels need to limit their spending growth to the level of inflation and get borrowing under control. Phil Harrison Comox, B.C. Letters Policy The Times welcomes all letters to the editor. We do, however, reserve the right to edit for brevity, clarity, legality and good taste. While all letters must be signed (and have a telephone number for verification purposes) upon submission, writers may elect to withhold their names from publication in special circumstances. 74 young Road, Unit 14 Brookfield Mall, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N2 Phone: 250-674-3343 Fax: 250-674-3410 Email: newsroom@clearwatertimes.com www.clearwatertimes.com Subscribe to the Times Publisher: Al Kirkwood Editor: Keith McNeill Office manager: Yevonne Cline We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. In Town / Out of Town Rates 1 year $57.75; 2 years $110.25 Prices include GST The North Thompson Times Clearwater, BC The Lake Cowichan Gazette Lake Cowichan, BC Sooke News Mirror Sooke, BC General Excellence Class 1011 - circulation up to 1249 Judge: Heather Fowlie Best Front Page first place Second place Third place LOCAL NEWS: CARTER WINS FISH DERBY ▼ A11 Times Thursday, January 31, 2013 ▼ Volume 48 No. 5 ▼ www.clearwatertimes.com ▼ $1.40 Includes HST THE NORTH THOMPSON January 28, 2013 WE DELIVER THE BUILDING DEPOT /HUZLU/^`:[LWOLU]PSSL Honouring their mom Ski season Page A8 Page B1 We Have Moved To Serve You Better! 110A Roe Avenue (Across from Wal-Mart) Telephone: 709-256-2249 Fax: 709-256-2628 6021663 the foundation of your home Home Delivery $1.46 Newsstand $1.85 GST included Free inside this edition 5424275 Vol. 43 No. 5 Truck, tires stolen in Stephenville Police looking for public’s help To aid ongoing investigations into break-and-enters in the Cape St. George area, the RCMP is encouraging people to report such crimes. Bay St. George RCMP reported last week it was investigating numerous break-ins. If victims of break-and-enters report such incidents to police, they say it can help potentially solve a rash of similar cases. Anyone with information pertaining to recent break-and-enter incidents in the area is asked to contact the RCMP at 643-2118, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.nlcrimestoppers.com. Clearwater receives federal funding grants Clearwater’s septage Keith McNeill management facility will be located near the presM.P. Cathy McLeod ent sewage lagoons, said announced two major Mayor John Harwood. grants while in Clearwater Canfor has agreed to on Saturday. provide land for a new The first was for $1.4 road into the facility so million in gas tax money trucks won’t need to go by to construct septage residences to get to it. management facilities in Both the Clearwater Clearwater and Barriere. and Barriere facilities will The second was for be operated in $92,000 to partnership with upgrade the Thompsonformer Dutch Nicola Regional Lake School District. into a commuThe facilinity center. ties will help “I think make the North this is a really Thompson important Valley a better addition to place for famiyour communilies to live, grow ties,” McLeod and work, said said of the TNRD board septage manchair Randy agement projMurray. ect. “Kudos to The M.P. Cathy McLeod the people who Clearwater facilwaded through ity will mean the federal a long haul application for septic tank form.” sludge from The two the Blue River area, said facilities will be used to Thompson Headwaters treat sludge that has been pumped from septic tanks. (Area B) director Willow MacDonald. However, it About 7,300 people in the will be much shorter than North Thompson Valley or 90 per cent of the popu- hauling to Heffley Creek. “I’m thankful that we lation depend on septic were involved in the discustanks, said McLeod. sions,” she said. Until now, contractors have hauled the sludge District to move into Dutch for disposal at pits at the Lake School Clearwater and Barriere M.P. McLeod said landfills. Those landfills are clos- she has been involved in discussions to upgrade ing, however, and a new method of disposal needed Dutch Lake School for several years. to be found. Several funding The alternative would sources were explored have been to haul the septic sludge to Heffley Creek. before the success- THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013 Four arrested following Stephenville home invasion Vol. 39, Issue 04 bcclassified.com www.starjournal.net 2013 New Year’s baby recognized with cheque 2011 CCNA “ ..... page 2 Property assessments have reduced funds available to run District (L to r) Retired Barriere businessman Dave Baines (l), presents a cheque for $333.50 to the areas first New Year’s baby, Illyana, and her proud parents Peter Hunt and Jamie Raelff. The cheque was for the baby’s weight measured in loonies. As the Mayor sees it ..... page 9 By Elli Kohnert North Thompson Star/Journal Four of the dignitaries present for an announcement on Saturday of federal funding for septage management facilities in Clearwater and Barriere, plus for upgrading Dutch Lake School for a community centre pose for a photograph. Pictured are (l-r) Clearwater Mayor John Harwood, M.P. Cathy McLeod, TNRD chair Randy Murray, and S.D.73 vice-chair Kathleen Karpuk. Photo by Keith McNeill ful application to the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund produced the $92,000 announced on Saturday. “I look forward to Dutch Lake being the important facility that it should be,” said McLeod. School District 73 has agreed to lease the former school for 25 years (in five-year blocks) at $1 per year, said Mayor John Harwood. Plans include handicap access and bathrooms, rooms for seniors, free space for non-profits to meet, as well as art and theater to make use of the stage in the gym. The former school will be a stop on the local transit system. The money from the federal government will augment $50,000 from Wells Gray Community Forest for the project. District of Clearwater plans to move its offices from the Flats to the Dutch Lake School. It will, however, keep the maintenance yard in its present location. About half the former school will be used by the District while the other half will be used by Yellow Community Services. It appears that possibly the Community Resource Center, now managed by YCS, will move from its present location next to Raft River Elementary to Dutch Lake. The mayor praised YCS executive director Jack Keough for his cooperation on the project. SAFETY MART FOODS LOCATED AT BROOKFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE • CLEARWATER, BC • 250-674-2213 “We are very happy that this has come to fruition,” said S.D. 73 vicechair Kathleen Karpuk. “We’re absolutely delighted to see the school back in use again.” Other dignitaries present for Saturday’s announcement included Barriere Mayor Bill Humphreys, Wells Gray Country director Tim Pennell. Lower North Thompson director Bill Kershaw, and TNRD chief administrative officer Sukh Gill. BRUNSWICK SARDINES 00 106G TINS 10/$10. $1.40 incl. HST PM0040030872 B.C. tinkers with log export rules OVER 1000 SPECIALS EVERY WEEK A spokesperson for Newfoundland Power said 1,033 of their business and household customers in the Stephenville area were without power for three hours on Jan. 23. A primary feeder snapped on Gallant Street in Stephenville and a second feeder had to be taken down to make the repairs. Pictured is a Newfoundland Power employee as he makes the repairs during snowy weather that resulted in intermittent whiteouts throughout the day. Frank Gale photo Keith Moore toasted as Citizen of the Year ..... page 11 STAR/JOURNAL photos: Elli Kohnert Baby Illyana was born on Jan. 1, 2013, weighing in at 7 lbs, 5 oz. 7 78195 50017 It’ a girl! The celebrated first baby of the New Year arrived right on time, January 1, 2013. Her name is Illyana, and she is Barriere’s newest young resident. Happy parents, Jamie Raelff and Peter Hunt, are full of pride and shy smiles due to all the attention their little girl has been receiving. Most recently, retired Barriere businessman Dave Baines presented the little newcomer with a cheque that had the amount calculated out to match the baby’s weight in loonies. Baines told Illyana’s parents that a number of years ago he was touched by the action of a wealthy businessman he met in Edmonton who had wanted to share his fortune with someone for a good cause. The businessman had decided to give the first baby of a New Year its weight in gold, to be spent by the baby’s parents for the future benefit of the child. Baines said he was inspired by this, and decided he also wanted to help a child achieve a successful future. As a result, for more than 10 years, Baines annually presents the area’s New Years baby (from McLure to Little Fort) with the child’s birth weight in loonies. For Illyana, with a birth weight of seven pounds and five ounces, this amounted to $333.50. Baby Illyana’s parents say they both share in the care of the their new little girl. Peter is obviously happy to be Illyana’s dad, and remarked on how seldom she cries. “When she wouldn’t go back to sleep after a night feeding I was wondering why she was fussing; so we gave her another bottle, and when she’d had enough she just fell asleep, and we did to,” said Peter. Jamie, already seems to be comfortable and relaxed in the role of new mom to Illyana. The role suits her well as she cuddles the newborn and whispers to her softly, “You are the first New Year’s baby of 2013.” 8 S E R V I N G T H E N O RT H T H O M P S O N VA L L E Y F R O M H E F F L E Y C R E E K TO B L U E R I V E R April 27 & 28 NT Agriplex and Celebration of Rural Living Expo & Trade Show Fall Fair Grounds Barriere, B.C. For More Information or to Reserve Your Trade Show Booth Space contact: Jill Hayward at 250-319-8023 • email: ruralexpobarriere@gmail.com • www.ruralexpobarriere.com Don’t be disappointed book your space today! Two suspects sent for psychiatric assessments BY FRANK GALE THE GEORGIAN Four people have been arrested in connection to a home invasion in Stephenville on Jan. 18. Charles Joseph Barron, 23, of Stephenville Crossing, and Donald Matthew King, 30, of Mattis Point, appeared in court on Jan. 21 and have been sent to St. John’s for psychiatric assessments. Tyler Bennett, 19, of Mattis Point, and Marie Diane Bennett, 28, of Stephenville Crossing, were due back in court for a bail hearing on Jan. 25. The Bay St. George RCMP received a report of an invasion at a residence on St. Clare Avenue at 8:10 p.m. on Jan. 18. The report indicated three suspects with their faces covered entered the home with knives and a machete. The occupant, a male resident, was assaulted and received some bruises and cuts due to an altercation with the men. He was taken to Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville and treated for the injuries. Police said the group stole cash, marijuana, and prescription pills from the residence, before fleeing the area in the getaway vehicle. All four were later arrested at a traffic stop in the area. Mr. Barron was charged with Please see Page A2 Donald Matthew King, left, and Charles Joseph Barron are escorted into Stephenville provincial court on Jan. 21. Frank Gale photo Jeremy Bennett reaching out to young people Appointed youth ambassador with international group Visit The Georgian online www.thegeorgian.ca BY CHRISTOPHER VAUGHAN THE GEORGIAN Mental health advocate and public speaker Jeremy Bennett is eager to help others as youth ambassador with the World Organization of Natural Medicine. Jeremy Bennett, originally from Flat Bay, This Flat Bay native has been has been named youth ambassador with speaking publicly for four years on the World Organization of Natural Medi- how he overcame obsessive-comcine. Submitted by Jeremy Bennett pulsive disorder and depression HUMBER MOTORS FORD 36 Prince Rupert Drive Stephenville 709-643-8500 Toll Free: 1-866-643-1222 www.humbermotorsford.ca through the strength of his subconscious mind. It was while giving a presentation at the World Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine Congress in Toronto last year that he caught the attention of Sheila Mackenzie. She’s the president of the World Organization of Natural Medicine – an international, non-profit group that seeks to deliver primary traditional and natural medicine health care and education to people facing economic hardships due to largescale conflicts or natural disasters. Impressed with what Mr. Bennett had to say and his ongoing dedication to helping those with mental health issues, Ms. Mackenzie asked him to become the group’s youth ambassador. He’ll be travelling across Canada TRADES,DueTRADES, TRADES!! to local support of our 2013 WILD WINTER SAVINGS EVENT we have on location INCREDIBLE SAVINGS on an incredible number of late model pre-owned vehicles The Georgian Stephenville, NL Please see Page A2 Credit Problems? GOOD CREDIT POOR CREDIT BAD CREDIT NO CREDIT All Applications accepted. Call John Felix! 5922494 KeArra Fortune, a graduate of E.A. Butler All Grade in McKays, is among 12 Newfoundland and Labrador Housing tenants attending post-secondary school who have each been awarded a $1,000 scholarship. The scholarships are awarded annually to both tenants and their children by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “This assistance will help students meet their financial obligations, as they continue to invest in their education, and their future,” said Paul Davis, the minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, in a release. Ms. Fortune is currently attending College of the North Atlantic. Blue Ribbon Runner-up Best All Round Newspaper All of Canada <1,250 circulation 2012 ” Police in Stephenville are investigating a theft from a property in the community where a truck was amongst the items taken. According to Bay St. George RCMP, the incident happened on Jan. 19. Items were taken from a number of motor vehicles, and tires were also reported stolen. The truck was later recovered. Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP at 6432118, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or www.nlcrimestoppers.com. Youth receives scholarship Second Place General Excellence B.C. and Yukon <2,000 circulation 2012 Basketball players help choking bus driver. See page A3 inside. Kudos to the people who waded through the federal application form. On the line Digest BOYS SAVE LIFE: The North Thompson Times Clearwater, BC North Thompson Star/Journal Barriere, BC General Excellence Class 1011 - circulation up to 1249 Judge: Heather Fowlie Blue Ribbons North Thompson Star/Journal, Barriere, BC Sooke News Mirror, Sooke, BC The Georgian, Stephenville, NL The Lake Cowichan Gazette, Lake Cowichan, BC The North Thompson Times, Clearwater, BC JUDGE’S COMMENTS Class 1011 – Best All Round Newspaper First - The North Thompson Times Lots of great photography showcased throughout both editions. Also great to see strong editorial page. Adding photos of voices in your stories will help you engage with readers. For example, it would have been nice to have a head and shoulders photo of the bus driver in the A3 story in Jan. 31 edition. (I also would have considered that story as a contender for front page) Second – The Georgian Nice placement of photos on front page - really draws the reader in. Good mix of local content. Editorials could use some strengthening. Aim for topics related to news stories and try to avoid “soft” topics when possible. Don’t be afraid to take a stance on something more controversial than flu season. Third – The Lake Cowichan Gazette Great front page in Jan. 30 edition. One area to grow the paper is through its editorial page content. Strive for staff-written editorials on the topics that matter most to your readers. Also continue to encourage letters to the editor. Based on Aug. 7 edition, seems like reader engagement is strong in your community. As a newsroom, you can build on that by carefully reading what they have to say and looking for story ideas within their comments. Nice selection of columnists. General Excellence Class 1012 - circulation 1250 to 1999 General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1012 - circulation 1250 to 1999 Judge: Keith McNeill Best All-Round Newspaper first place Second place The Columbia Valley’s Newspaper Since 1956 From Canal Flats to Spillimacheen VALLEY ECHO T he Wednesday, October 2012 Wednesday, August31, 21, 2013 invermerevalleyecho.com Vol. 57 Vol. 56 Issue Issue 40 34 1 $ 05 INCLUDES GST PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856 BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont Power of nature at Edgewater Elementary Pg A10 Dine 'n' dance with No Island at Strand's Pg A10 FORT MACLEOD, ALBERTA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2013 www.fortmacleodgazette.com NEWS • TSN takes a shine to Heart of the Rockies CD release Tim Hus will hold a CD release party at the Empress Theatre. Page 5 NEWS White Sox Jack Altman returned to Granum, where he was once a pitcher for the White Sox. Page 14 REGIONAL Connecting Susan Simpson and Kids First are getting things set for Back to School Connect. Second section, P7 Single Copy - $1 ftmgazet@telusplanet.net VAUDEVILLE VOICE Photo by Frank McTighe Juno Award nominee John Wort Hannam performed Friday at the Empress Theatre as part of the Fairy Tale Vaudeville show. The Fort Macleod singer-songwriter sang some of his established songs as well as a new one he wrote earlier in the week. Photos, Page 10. EMS veteran raises concerns with ambulance ROB VOGT GAZETTE CONTRIBUTOR A long-time emergency medical services worker has come forward with concerns about the inability of ambulances to respond to emergencies in rural Alberta because they are busy transporting patients in non-critical situations. George Porter, who has been working in ambulance service 40 years, appeared as a delegation at the Aug. 14 MD of Willow Creek council meeting. Porter opened by joking that day could be his last working for Alberta Health Services because he had been directed not to talk to elected officials — so he spoke with the local MLA and Coun. Neil Wilson. “I’ve had some very serious concerns about EMS since Alberta Health Services took over,” Porter said, adding he has not been quiet about it. “For almost two years I got not a single response.” Porter admitted he does not have all the answers, but he recognizes the problem and it is not hard to fix. At times there have been no ambulances available in Claresholm or Calgary as examples, because every one is doing an inter-facility transfer. That means transferring patients from one medical facility to another. “It’s leaving huge areas and sometimes this whole section of the province without an ambulance to respond,” Porter said. Porter noted there are a lot of managers but still a problem. “We have no vision, we have no leadership.” Porter was asked to do a deployment review. He agreed, but he wanted a 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO LT WAS MINUS MINUS 0% FINANCING ENDS SEPT. 3! MINUS $45,370 $10,000 CASH COMBINED CREDITS $ 2,670 SCOUGALL’S CLEAROUT $32,700 YOUR TRADE plan of action in place to deal with his findings. Porter submitted that report in February and there has been no change. Porter has waited, and decided to talk to MD of Willow Creek council. When Porter advised Alberta Health Services officials, he was sent an e-mail not to talk to council. “I don’t know what else to do,” Porter said. “We’ve had people die.” Porter cited an example of the closest ambulance being an hour away when a patient’s chest collapsed. “There have been several instances where patients have been compromised,” Porter said, adding he is not sure if some patients would have survived with an ambulance responding sooner. Porter warned there will be a high-profile incident where an ambulance is too far to respond. “In my opinion they (Alberta Health Services) are in an undefendable position,” Porter said. Porter then cited an example of an ambulance in Vulcan used to take someone to the hospital to have the insoles of their shoes fixed. It left the area with no ambulance for six hours, because there was no back-up. Porter also reported he talked to an Alberta Health Services official who admitted 60 per cent of the calls coming from High River don’t need an ambulance. That number climbs closer to 80 per cent in communities such as Claresholm and Black Diamond. “Why are we taxiing people around?” Porter asked. Continued on Page 2 STOCK #132031 $YOU PAY . . . WE WILL FINANCE YOU TOO! The Macleod Gazette Fort Macleod, AB PHONE 403-553-3311 www.scougallmotors.com NEWS Love at first sight? MaxWell Realty Invermere FORT MACLEOD WAS FOUNDED IN 1874 WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE Volume 131 • Number 34 Third place Students at Prairie River Junior High School stage a play. - Page 3 NEWS Sucker Creek business donates to youth council. - Page 5 The senior high drama class at St. Andrew’s School presented A Midsemester’s Afternoon Daydream on Jan. 22 throughout the day for the school and public. The play was a spoof based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Terry Hogan, left, and Kenneth Halcrow, show emotion while playing their roles as Emmy and Brittney respectively. Hogan was filling in for an absent actor. Please see more photos and a story in next week’s South Peace News. NEWS NICOLE TRIGG/ECHO PHOTO At the Kraft Celebration Tour event on Monday, August 19th, Heart of the Rockies Triathlon organizer Bruce Stroud was profiled by TSN during the live SportsCentre broadcast that took place at Kinsmen Beach in Invermere, which attracted at least 1,000 enthusiastic people waving signs and cheering loudly for the cameras. 2013 marked the 30th anniversary of the triathlon, which Mr. Stroud started, and he is still competing at the age of 69, making him a likely candidate for the TV feature. Tremendous online support for the Rotary Club of Invermere's Kinsmen Beach Splash Park proposal landed Invermere a spot on the coveted tour, as well as a $25,000 donation towards the project. For full coverage of the Kraft Celebration Tour event, see Friday's Columbia Valley Pioneer. VJ (Butch) Bishop Owner/Operator 4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 • Excavators • Mini-Excavators • Bobcats • Dump Trucks • Water Trucks • Compaction Equipment • Snow Plow • Sanding Equipment • Crane Truck • Mobile Pressure Washing & Steam Cleaning • Underground Services • Site Prep & Demolition • Road Building • Land Clearing • Controlled Burning • Rock Walls • Rip Rap • Top Soil • Sand & Gravel Joussard students are learning to ski the right way. - Page 11 SPORTS Regals eliminated from NPHL playoff contention. - Page 18 Council left to clean up the mess Chris Clegg South Peace News Shoddy accounting for a grant to help build the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre might cost High Prairie taxpayers as much as $10,000. Paperwork for the grant is as much as five years overdue. It is also preventing town council, or other groups associated with the town, from tapping into present and future government grants. The paperwork involves a $843,332 grant under the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund program. CAMRIF was a federal-provincial-local grant program with each partner sharing costs for projects one-third each. CAMRIF says they will not accept any new grant applications until the $843,332 grant paperwork is completed. The situation sur- faced when High Prairie and District Sports Complex Society wanted to apply for a grant to build the skateboard park. They were told no money would be forthcoming until reporting on the old grant was complete. “This is horrible,” said High Prairie mayor Linda Cox after discussion at the Jan. 23 council meeting. “I agree,” said Councillor Brian Holmberg. Town CAO Keli Tamklo said he met with the sports complex society on Jan. 11 and was told that five years ago there was a “handshake agreement” between former society members and the town indicating the town would complete the CAMRIF accounting. “The town or society did not account for the grant,” said Tamaklo in his report to council. “This has prevented the skateboard park from receiving funding from the province.” After learning of the boondoggle, council debated what to do. Councillor Wayne Forrester spoke to the issue. “The audit needs to be filed,” he said, adding no more grants would be released until it was completed. “Money can be forwarded from reserves,” to pay for an audit, he said. Cost of the audit is Cont. on page 3 CONTRACT OR HOURLY MACHINE RENTALS AVAILABLE The Valley Echo Invermere, BC South Peace News High Prairie, AB General Excellence Class 1012 - circulation 1250 to 1999 Judge: Keith McNeill Best Editorial Page first place 4 • OPINION Second place THE MACLEOD GAZETTE Wednesday, November 20, 2013 A6 www.invermerevalleyecho.com Something to say? email editor@invermerevalleyecho.com Slippery slope Future of parade is in our hands Double-whammy of inspiration Last night, I got the chance to spend a couple hours with a group of people that filled me with inspiration. These people are incredibly hardworking, dedicated and proud. They are leaders in their field and speak with such passion about their work. It was one of the best two hours I’ve spent in a while. I came home feeling energized, which is not a good thing at bed time. I spent the night awake, going over our conversation, thinking about the enthusiasm this group brings to their jobs. Our conversation made me reflect on myself and the way that a good team with strong people can accomplish magnificent things. I’ve been blessed to be part of such teams, starting with my first job at McDonald’s, to my second teaching job, to my participation on the nonprofit boards I’ve worked with over the last eight years here in Macleod. You cannot beat the feeling of creating something together with a group of people that have a common goal. When you’ve got great leadership thrown in there, with dynamic and strong people on board? Magic. It’s not just in work that this is important. I saw this type of thing just this morning when I attended G.R. Davis school’s Excellence in Sports Leadership Day. The presenters spoke SLICE about Steven OF LIFE C o v e y ’s Seven Habits. I don’t know much about that program, but I can tell you that it’s something I want my children Trish Hoskin immersed in. Our kids are being taught the value of integrity, personal responsibility and what it means for the whole when we, as individuals, step up. These ideals translate into all kinds of nooks and crannies in a person’s life. It’s about how a person wants to be in the world and who they want to be. It’s about drive and focus, but with the whole community in mind. I just can’t believe how fitting this all is at this point in my life. Positive behaviour, self-reliance and responsibility, teamwork; this is what I saw last night, and this is what I saw my children being taught today. When I see these things at work, it makes me want to be part of it all. The point is that inspiration can come from anywhere. I was certainly not expecting it from either of the experiences I had in the last 24 hours, but I got hit with a double-whammy. This is the stuff that brings tears to my eyes, much like when the choir sings at church. It’s just something that’s so much bigger than me and there’s nothing to do but ride the wave. It’s an intangible, unquantifiable thing, but it packs a punch like Rocky. My plan is to have a better sleep tonight, but I know that I’m going to be thinking about what I learned in the last 24 hours for a while. (Trish Hoskin is a Fort Macleod teacher, writer and artist.) Finding their passion in life pays off for these people Last week I had the pleasure of chatting with Denise Calderwood about her latest film. This one is a documentary about cowboy poet Doris Daley and in it Denise pursues an answer to the question of where Doris’s remarkable talent comes from, whether it’s in her very DNA. In search of the answer, Denise, Doris and a crew headed to Ireland and the ancestral home of the Daley family. No need for a spoiler alert because Denise wants us to see the documentary this Saturday at the Empress. My question of Denise was why she makes documentary films, of which I Found My Tribe is her 10th. I was curious why Denise would put the time and effort into such an elaborate project with no real promise of huge financial reward. Wednesday, January 30, 2013 The Valley Echo Opinion GAZETTE OPINION Everyone loves a parade, especially the Fort Macleod Santa Claus Parade. The Santa Claus Parade over the past 31 years has proven to be the premiere event in Fort Macleod, attracting thousands of people to our community for our Christmas festival. The parade is the centerpiece of the festival, which has developed into two days of activities that provide fun and enjoyment to the people of the town and southern Alberta. Carolling, a community Christmas tree, arts and crafts sales, Rotary’s fund-raising auction, pictures with Santa and a family dance stir the spirit of the season and our community every year. As the festival has grown, so too has the parade in both magnitude and reputation. Each year the parade lasts close to an hour, making its way through the downtown core. In addition to the floats and vehicles entered by Fort Macleod and area residents, the parade boasts a big collection of bands that provide a soundtrack that simply can’t be matched by any other small town parade. The Fort Macleod Santa Claus Parade doesn’t happen by accident. It takes months of planning by co-ordinator Sue Risser and her dedicated volunteer committee. They put in countless hours making sure that every detail of the parade is attended to, from inviting and registering participants, to fund-raising, to marshalling the entries and sending them on their way — to the delight of an adoring audience. If a parade the size of Fort Macleod’s takes planning, so too does it take money. The Santa Claus Parade committee operates on a budget of about $35,000. The bulk of that money goes into paying the costs to bus the marching bands — the ones that really set the Fort Macleod Santa Claus Parade apart from the growing number of imitators — to our community. The bands get a small honorarium of just $250, and a free lunch. The rest of the more than $23,000 spent on bands is just for transportation. Bands are what people want, and bands are what people get in Fort Macleod. This year the committee is in a financial crisis. So far donations total just over $17,000, less than half the $35,000 it will cost to stage the 2013 Santa Claus Parade. Unless the community comes forward in the next week with cash donations, the financial picture — as well as the future of the parade — looks bleak. Unless support is forthcoming the Santa Claus Parade committee will be in a deficit position. And after scrambling to find the money to pay for this year’s parade, will be in the sad position of deciding what to cut from the 2014 parade. Because cuts will have to be made if the parade’s financial position does not immediately improve. It is in the hands of Fort Macleod residents, businesses and organizations to determine the parade’s future. We must each decide how valuable the parade is to us as individuals and to the community at large, and donate accordingly. The Santa Claus Parade is in our hands. Third place I loved Denise’s answer, that she “wants to tell a few good stories.” There it is, the desire that drives MACLEOD each of us to pursue NOTEBOOK the passion in our lives. For Denise it is storytelling, in this case a story about another storyteller. In the case of young Jesse Smith, his passion was figure skating. Jesse figured out early his Frank McTighe passion was for that sport, and he pursued it relentlessly in a drive for perfection. As Chris Scout noted 310 Col. Macleod Blvd. (Main Street) P.O. Box 720, Fort Macleod, Alta., T0L 0Z0 Phone: 403-553-3391 Fax: 403-553-2961 We acknowledge financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Subscription Rates: Local $37.80 Out of Town: $42.00 in the brilliant eulogy he gave Wednesday for Jesse, where others saw beauty and grace in Jesse’s performances, Jesse saw mistakes and room for improvement. That drive for perfection took the young skater, whose life ended far too soon, to the heights of his sport. Ashley Steacy spent some time on Friday talking to students from Fort Macleod and other communities about her passion for rugby. After being talked into giving the sport a try, Ashley fell in love with rugby and made it her passion, earning a spot on the national women’s team. I liked what Ashley had to say about using Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People in her life as an athlete. She has some physical gifts as an athlete, but it is Ashley’s mindset and her Frank McTighe PUBLISHER Emily McTighe ADVERTISING willingness to choose to train hard that has put her at the top of her chosen game. I have some friends who are writers of books. They have a passion for storytelling and for the written word, and they spend countless hours in the solitary pursuit of writing those stories, choosing to put in the work to be good at their craft. I interviewed a sculptor years ago who told me he had finally decided to pursue his art and would let nothing get in his way, including the naysayers who told him to get a “real” job. Too many folks drift through life, unwilling or unable to find their passion and pursue it. The ones who find their passion and pursue it are to be admired. Now I’m wondering if that passion and the pursuit of excellence is also in their DNA. Sharon Monical Theresa Miller PRODUCTION CIRCULATION The Macleod Gazette Fort Macleod, AB It's such a tragedy when a young person loses his or her life, whether it's to illness, an accident or natural causes. But when the cause is suicide, the grief is particularly heartbreaking. Those left behind wonder how it could have been prevented, if it could have been. But the mindset of someone who is suicidal is not something that develops overnight. It's the outcome of a prolonged period of inner pain and suffering, a sense of isolation that may not be apparent to even close friends and family, and a despair so profound that a positive outcome to life's hardships seems impossible. That Cheyenne Michelle Mason-Lalonde felt she had no other choice but to end her life will have an impact on her community for some time to come. There needs to be more public education around suicide, so more people can learn about the warning signals and how to help if someone they know is exhibiting suicidal behaviour. And a smaller community, with its tightly-knit groups and cozy familiarity, should have better odds identifying someone who is headed down this path. Teachers, employers, co-workers, family members, friends, neighbours... all are in a position to notice whether or not something is wrong and take action. There is likely speculation that Mason-Lalonde, in having been arrested and charged with arson in relation to the fire at Columbia Eagle Resort in Fairmont Hot Springs this past December, succumbed to the stress of an impending conviction and the resulting impact this may have had on her future, in terms of travel, being accepted into schools, being considered for jobs, etc. A looming criminal record may have proved to be too much for a young woman caught in a chain reaction of poor decisions, which unfortunately led her to make the poorest decision of all. Mason-Lalonde will be mourned by those who loved her. And according to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort chief operating officer Dean Prentic who is managing grief counselling services for MasonLalonde's former co-workers, the circle of those affected by her death continues to grow. Despite her problems, it appears she was an individual who touched the lives of many people while she was alive. And she will continue to touch the lives of many more people as long as her unforunate death creates more awareness and public support for troubled youth, ultimately helping others avoid the slippery slope she found herself on. Something on your mind? The Valley Echo welcomes all letters to the editor and submissions from community and sports groups, as well as special community columns. Please keep your signed, legible submissions under 500 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity, taste, legal reasons and brevity. Each submission must contain a daytime phone number and place of residence. Send email submissions to editor@invermerevalleyecho.com. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Aggravated by errors Dear Editor, I have several pet peeves frequently seen in newspapers, or heard on radio or television: I wonder if any other people in the valley have similar misuse of words that they find irritating? 1. “To continue on” – the “on” is not needed. 2. Something being “different to” or “different than” – correct use being “different from”. 3. Using “me” or “I” incorrectly when writing or talking about yourself with another person. 4. Use of “iconic” – now almost an epidemic use – should only apply to something of unique religious status. Shirley Campbell Invermere Dialysis unit needed Dear Editor, I have been a resident of Invermere for 24 years. Due to a genetic illness, Polycystic Kidney Disease, my kidneys failed and I started dialysis in September 2011. When I started, there were also two other patients receiving this essential service in this long-established unit. When the nurse went off on medical leave in June 2012, Interior Health didn’t have proper resources to address the service gap and patients were directed to travel to Cranbrook for treatments (three times per week at four hours per treatment run plus travel time). Note that this isn’t like cancer treatment — there is no cure short of a transplant. Then after seven months and currently down to just one patient — me — Interior Health announces they are permanently closing the Invermere Dialysis Unit. I would like to share my story and concerns for other Invermere area citizens. Kirt Sellers Invermere Dialysis decision disputed Dear Editor, I am responding to your article concerning the closing of the dialysis unit at the Invermere & District Hospital. It is interesting that Interior Health Authority (IHA) says they are closing it due to lack of staff. I know of two nurses who were interested in work- VALLEY ECHO T he The NEWSpaper in the Columbia Valley 530 13th Street • P.O. Box 70 Invermere, B.C., Canada V0A 1K0 Phone: 250-342-9216 Rose-Marie invermerevalleyecho.com Regitnig PUBLISHER publisher@invermere valleyecho.com Nicole Trigg EDITOR editor@invermere valleyecho.com Dan Walton Angela Krebs REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER Advertising reporter@invermere valleyecho.com advertising@invermerevalleyecho.com Dean Midyette Jessica de Groot Advertising PRODUCTION dean@cv-pioneer. com production@invermerevalleyecho.com Renice Oaks OFFICE ADMINSTRATOR Sheila Tutty PUBLISHER customerservice@inver- In Absentia merevalleyecho.com ing in the unit, at least one of whom applied for the posted position. There are three satellite dialysis units in the East Kootenay and their patient numbers vary from time to time so being down to one patient is not finite but merely a temporary situation. The unit in Invermere is also used by non-residents who come on vacation and this actually adds to the viability as the money they pay does not come from B.C.’s health system. I have talked to nurses in the dialysis units around the East Kootenays and they agree with me that a pool of nurses who would be willing to do some travelling around the region would allow for increased patient numbers and the flexibility to provide quality health care to patients who require dialysis. I think it’s about time that IHA began looking outside the box to try to provide services like dialysis instead of just closing programs and denying access to the taxpayers of rural B.C. communities. Patt Shuttleworth, RN MA East Kootenay Regional Chair BC Nurses Union Cranbrook Notice of copyright: Reproduction of any or all editorial and advertising materials in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the publisher. It is agreed by the advertiser requesting space that the liability of The Valley Echo, owned by Black Press Ltd. in the event of failure to publish an advertisement or in the event of an error appearing in the advertisement as published, shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for only the one incorrect insertion for the portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect or omitted items only and that there shall be no liability in any event greater than the amount paid for such advertising. Bc press couNcil – The Valley Echo is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby Street, Nanaimo, B.C., V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org CMCA AUDITED verifiedcirculation.ca 2009 2009 WINNER We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Valley Echo Invermere, BC The Labradorian Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL General Excellence Class 1012 - circulation 1250 to 1999 Judge: Keith McNeill Best Front Page first place Second place Third place The Columbia Valley’s Newspaper Since 1956 From Canal Flats to Spillimacheen VALLEY ECHO T he NEWS Love at first sight? Students at Prairie River Junior High School stage a play. - Page 3 NEWS FORT MACLEOD WAS FOUNDED IN 1874 WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE Volume 131 • Number 34 FORT MACLEOD, ALBERTA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2013 www.fortmacleodgazette.com NEWS • VAUDEVILLE VOICE CD release Tim Hus will hold a CD release party at the Empress Theatre. Page 5 NEWS White Sox Jack Altman returned to Granum, where he was once a pitcher for the White Sox. Page 14 REGIONAL Connecting Susan Simpson and Kids First are getting things set for Back to School Connect. Second section, P7 Single Copy - $1 ftmgazet@telusplanet.net Photo by Frank McTighe Juno Award nominee John Wort Hannam performed Friday at the Empress Theatre as part of the Fairy Tale Vaudeville show. The Fort Macleod singer-songwriter sang some of his established songs as well as a new one he wrote earlier in the week. Photos, Page 10. EMS veteran raises concerns with ambulance ROB VOGT GAZETTE CONTRIBUTOR A long-time emergency medical services worker has come forward with concerns about the inability of ambulances to respond to emergencies in rural Alberta because they are busy transporting patients in non-critical situations. George Porter, who has been working in ambulance service 40 years, appeared as a delegation at the Aug. 14 MD of Willow Creek council meeting. Porter opened by joking that day could be his last working for Alberta Health Services because he had been directed not to talk to elected officials — so he spoke with the local MLA and Coun. Neil Wilson. “I’ve had some very serious concerns about EMS since Alberta Health Services took over,” Porter said, adding he has not been quiet about it. “For almost two years I got not a single response.” Porter admitted he does not have all the answers, but he recognizes the problem and it is not hard to fix. At times there have been no ambulances available in Claresholm or Calgary as examples, because every one is doing an inter-facility transfer. That means transferring patients from one medical facility to another. “It’s leaving huge areas and sometimes this whole section of the province without an ambulance to respond,” Porter said. Porter noted there are a lot of managers but still a problem. “We have no vision, we have no leadership.” Porter was asked to do a deployment review. He agreed, but he wanted a 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO LT WAS MINUS MINUS 0% FINANCING ENDS SEPT. 3! MINUS $45,370 $10,000 CASH COMBINED CREDITS $ 2,670 SCOUGALL’S CLEAROUT $32,700 YOUR TRADE plan of action in place to deal with his findings. Porter submitted that report in February and there has been no change. Porter has waited, and decided to talk to MD of Willow Creek council. When Porter advised Alberta Health Services officials, he was sent an e-mail not to talk to council. “I don’t know what else to do,” Porter said. “We’ve had people die.” Porter cited an example of the closest ambulance being an hour away when a patient’s chest collapsed. “There have been several instances where patients have been compromised,” Porter said, adding he is not sure if some patients would have survived with an ambulance responding sooner. Porter warned there will be a high-profile incident where an ambulance is too far to respond. “In my opinion they (Alberta Health Services) are in an undefendable position,” Porter said. Porter then cited an example of an ambulance in Vulcan used to take someone to the hospital to have the insoles of their shoes fixed. It left the area with no ambulance for six hours, because there was no back-up. Porter also reported he talked to an Alberta Health Services official who admitted 60 per cent of the calls coming from High River don’t need an ambulance. That number climbs closer to 80 per cent in communities such as Claresholm and Black Diamond. “Why are we taxiing people around?” Porter asked. Continued on Page 2 STOCK #132031 $YOU PAY . . . WE WILL FINANCE YOU TOO! The Macleod Gazette Fort Macleod, AB PHONE 403-553-3311 www.scougallmotors.com Sucker Creek business donates to youth council. - Page 5 The senior high drama class at St. Andrew’s School presented A Midsemester’s Afternoon Daydream on Jan. 22 throughout the day for the school and public. The play was a spoof based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Terry Hogan, left, and Kenneth Halcrow, show emotion while playing their roles as Emmy and Brittney respectively. Hogan was filling in for an absent actor. Please see more photos and a story in next week’s South Peace News. Wednesday, October 2012 Wednesday, August31, 21, 2013 invermerevalleyecho.com Vol. 57 Vol. 56 Issue Issue 40 34 1 $ 05 INCLUDES GST PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856 BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont Power of nature at Edgewater Elementary Pg A10 Dine 'n' dance with No Island at Strand's Pg A10 MaxWell Realty Invermere TSN takes a shine to Heart of the Rockies NEWS Joussard students are learning to ski the right way. - Page 11 Council left to clean up the mess Chris Clegg South Peace News SPORTS Regals eliminated from NPHL playoff contention. - Page 18 NICOLE TRIGG/ECHO PHOTO At the Kraft Celebration Tour event on Monday, August 19th, Heart of the Rockies Triathlon organizer Bruce Stroud was profiled by TSN during the live SportsCentre broadcast that took place at Kinsmen Beach in Invermere, which attracted at least 1,000 enthusiastic people waving signs and cheering loudly for the cameras. 2013 marked the 30th anniversary of the triathlon, which Mr. Stroud started, and he is still competing at the age of 69, making him a likely candidate for the TV feature. Tremendous online support for the Rotary Club of Invermere's Kinsmen Beach Splash Park proposal landed Invermere a spot on the coveted tour, as well as a $25,000 donation towards the project. For full coverage of the Kraft Celebration Tour event, see Friday's Columbia Valley Pioneer. Shoddy accounting for a grant to help build the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre might cost High Prairie taxpayers as much as $10,000. Paperwork for the grant is as much as five years overdue. It is also preventing town council, or other groups associated with the town, from tapping into present and future government grants. The paperwork involves a $843,332 grant under the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund program. CAMRIF was a federal-provincial-local grant program with each partner sharing costs for projects one-third each. CAMRIF says they will not accept any new grant applications until the $843,332 grant paperwork is completed. The situation sur- faced when High Prairie and District Sports Complex Society wanted to apply for a grant to build the skateboard park. They were told no money would be forthcoming until reporting on the old grant was complete. “This is horrible,” said High Prairie mayor Linda Cox after discussion at the Jan. 23 council meeting. “I agree,” said Councillor Brian Holmberg. Town CAO Keli Tamklo said he met with the sports complex society on Jan. 11 and was told that five years ago there was a “handshake agreement” between former society members and the town indicating the town would complete the CAMRIF accounting. “The town or society did not account for the grant,” said Tamaklo in his report to council. “This has prevented the skateboard park from receiving funding from the province.” After learning of the boondoggle, council debated what to do. Councillor Wayne Forrester spoke to the issue. “The audit needs to be filed,” he said, adding no more grants would be released until it was completed. “Money can be forwarded from reserves,” to pay for an audit, he said. Cost of the audit is Cont. on page 3 VJ (Butch) Bishop Owner/Operator 4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 • Excavators • Mini-Excavators • Bobcats • Dump Trucks • Water Trucks • Compaction Equipment • Snow Plow • Sanding Equipment • Crane Truck • Mobile Pressure Washing & Steam Cleaning • Underground Services • Site Prep & Demolition • Road Building • Land Clearing • Controlled Burning • Rock Walls • Rip Rap • Top Soil • Sand & Gravel CONTRACT OR HOURLY MACHINE RENTALS AVAILABLE South Peace News High Prairie, AB The Valley Echo Invermere, BC General Excellence Class 1012 - circulation 1250 to 1999 Blue Ribbons South Peace News, High Prairie, AB The Labradorian, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL The Macleod Gazette, Fort Macleod, AB The Valley Echo, Invermere, BC Judge: Keith McNeill JUDGE’S COMMENTS Class 1012 – Best All Round Newspaper First – The Macleod Gazette This is just a solid, solid newspaper. It is obviously a work of love; the people involved love the work they do and the community they live in. Plenty of letters to the editor indicate that love is returned by the readers. One criticism might be (at least in the two issues provided), that there is too much emphasis on council news. However, the features in the regional supplement included more than made up for that. Second – The Valley Echo The Echo is a youthful, playful sort of newspaper that appears targeted towards the younger, outdoorsy crowd living in the East Kootenays. The front pages of both issues both had strong photos, but fell down on details. The Jan. 30 showed a family that apparently was ice-fishing, but showed no ice. They could have been anywhere. It also gave no names. The page 1 picture with the Aug. 21 issue has a rambling cutline that might refer to the person in the picture. The opinion page of the Jan. 30 issue has three letters to the editor, all local, but they are flown together. This makes them hard to read and gives the impression the editor didn’t think it worth his while to lay them out properly On pages 10 and 11 of the same issue is a nice montage of photos of winter activities, but no names or cutlines. The same can be said of pond hockey photos on the following two pages. Third – South Peace News A colorful newspaper with a wide variety of well-presented local news and features and a strong front page. Criticisms might include perhaps too much yellow on the front page. There doesn’t seem to be a list of staff anywhere (who is the editor?) and there is an almost total absence of photo credits. There is a one-word widow near the middle of page one in the Jan. 30 issue. The cutline for the page one photo in the Aug. 7 issue is printed over a dark portion of the picture, making it hard to read. General Excellence Class 1013 - circulation 2000 to 2999 General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1013 - circulation 2000 to 2999 Judge: Julie Carl Best All-Round Newspaper first place Second place Third place the ry fre e del ive aa! yee eha August 15, 2013 JASPER’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER 780-852-5511 LIKE LIKE US US ON ON 1.25+HST Serving Windsor and Hants County Since 1867 • www.NovaNewsNow.com 2 4 Vol. 146, No. 30 INDEX 12 630 630 CONNAUGHT CONNAUGHT DR DR Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 www.fitzhugh.ca | Thursday, August 1, 2013 | FREE Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PM40064924 R10842 Regional . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Health Hantsport water woes may soon be addressed News Firefighters battle Sunday afternoon garage fire Sports Television Guide . . . . . . 16 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Wrestling match coming to Windsor Aug. 23 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Residents warned of door-to-door sales tactics Concern expressed over medical alert system for seniors By Ashley Thompson THE HANTS JOURNAL NovaNewsNow.com Some contracts signed with a company that sold medical alarm systems in Hantsport and the surrounding areas may be void. The Windsor District RCMP, Better Business Bureau and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations have all received complaints about Seniors Connect, a privately-owned business that sent a sales representative to the homes of some seniors in the area, pitching its medical alert technology. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, the consumer advocacy organization received three complaints about the Middle Sackville-based Seniors Connect between February and May of this year. Two of the complaints lodged with the BBB reported problems with the product and service, while one involved advertising and sales issues. Two of the complaints have been resolved but one, citing problems with the product or service, remains outstanding. Continued on Page 5 UNDER THE RAINBOW While the grown ups learned to cook using organic produce, kids at the Meadows to Menu event at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, made themselves at home under a colourful parachute. For more coverage of the event, see next week’s Fitzhugh. N. VEERMAN PHOTO The Fitzhugh Jasper, AB This Upper Burlington home was fully ablaze when firefighters arrived on scene Aug. 8, making battling the fire all the more difficult. Carole Morris-Underhill photo Upper Burlington home destroyed by fire By Carole Morris-Underhill THE HANTS JOURNAL NovaNewsNow.com The charred remnants of an Upper Burlington home were all that remained following a mid-morning fire Aug. 8. Brooklyn Fire Chief Mark Dearman said when he arrived on scene, the home was fully involved, with flames coming out both ends of the building, as well as through the roof. “There was a lot of heat involved. I tried to take a walk around the house to see what hazards we had and (I) couldn’t walk around the house; the heat was so unbearable on the backside,” said Dearman. Hants Journal Windsor, NS Continued on Page 3 Kivalliq News Nunavut, NU General Excellence Class 1013 - circulation 2000 to 2999 Judge: Julie Carl Best Editorial Page first place Second place Third place 4 PAGE A4 THE PILOT, LEWISPORTE, NL, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013 In the past, Parks Canada has been criticized in this space for engaging the public for the sole purpose of crossing public consultation off its decision-making to-do list. But that can’t be said of the agency’s latest decision. Last week, with the release of the decision on the delayed winter access areas, Parks showed that not only can it listen to feedback, it can also take it into account and make an informed decision that placates everyone. Parks sat down with “the brown baggers of the park”— as Loni Klettl referred to herself and other backcountry users—and listened to their input and it also listened to tourism agencies, the municipality, and environmentalists. And then it created a new proposal that could be agreed upon by everyone. Of course, the agency didn’t give in to every desire, but it did allow for boundary changes that will allow recreationalists to continue using the areas they so love, without impeding critical caribou habitat, and it also promised to create more recreational areas at Decoigne and Pyramid Lake. This decision, which will see the Brazeau and A La Peche caribou ranges closed until Feb. 28, is somewhat surprising, if you consider the state of the debate last winter. At that time, any opposition to the proposal was viewed as opposition to the conservation of caribou—an argument few people voiced. If you looked at comment threads on stories written by provincial or national media sources, it made Jasper’s recreationalists sound like pitchfork wielding caribou killers. But here we are with a decision that resulted in positive words from the superintendent of Jasper National Park, the executive director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s Northern Alberta chapter, the interim CEO of Tourism Jasper, the executive director of the Association for Mountain Parks Protection and Enjoyment and local outdoor enthusiasts. The chances of such a wide acceptance for a decision that had caribou conservation pitted against backcountry users, seemed unlikely a few months ago, but Parks somehow found a cozy middle ground for everyone. For that, the agency, and the working group who spent countless hours on this decision, deserve credit. We hope that Parks will take the lessons it learned during its latest public consultation process into its next one, when it discusses Maligne Tours’ proposal to develop overnight accommodation at Maligne Lake. It would be nice to again see a decision that clearly reflects the community’s input, as this latest decision has. — Karen Wells editor@pilotnl.ca Questioning Simms article Dear Editor, The story “Get it done” in January 9th’s issue of the Pilot has a very ironic title. If “get it done” is MP Scott Simms’ motto, he might start by taking his own advice. In 2012-2013 our province got 34 per cent more federal health care funding than it got when Simms and fellow Liberals were last in charge of “getting it done.” Education and social transfers last year also were 19 per cent higher. Scott Simms voted against the budgets that made these increases a reality – a full $632 million for our hospitals, schools, and other critical services. So much for getting it done where it counts most... Municipalities received more federal investment in infrastructure in recent years than ever before. In your story, Simms selectively ignores important progress – from Lewisporte highway improvements to the Gander fire hall to the upcoming replacement of the Robert Bond Bridge. For someone whose riding has mining and exploration industries, Simms surprisingly still chose to fight against reforms designed to eliminate duplication, delay and needless red tape. Apparently attracting resource investment isn’t his priority. It gets better. Our MP spent dozens of hours slowing-down passage of the final part of the 2012 Action Plan legislation, repeating ad nauseam that he was “protecting” waterways. Omitted from his litany, be it due to disgraceful dishonesty or embarrassing ignorance, was the fact that no less than nine federal statutes (including the Environmental Assessment Act) continue to protect every waterway he mentioned. In other words, Simms wasted our dollars and everybody’s time. So much for representing us. . Still, I must give credit where it is due – it takes a special kind of person to complain about inaction while jamming so many sticks into so many spokes. Helen O’Brien Buchans The secret is out DS, PS3, Xbox, Wii — don’t worry this isn’t some kind of secret code. These are popular video games that children and adults like playing — I will go so far as to say some are addicted to playing. Video games have evolved from the classic Pong to a character named Mario battling mushrooms and turtles to save a princess, to all out war games where the player is the solider trying to save the world. The games have graphics and sounds so realistic players feel they are actually in the game. While video games have made tremendous strides towards realism to keep players interested, they are facing some new obstacles. iPods, iPads and tablets ranked very high on Christmas lists this past year. Games can be purchased directly from the App store for as low as .99 cents and downloaded directly to the iPod. The App store is what the arcade was 30 years ago, give the game your money and you get instant play. Kids now think they have to have the latest video game or iPod in order to have fun. I’m not judging, my kids (ages nine and seven) love, no adore, their games. I enjoy games and apps as well sometimes, but they feel like they have to take them wherever christy boyd sit down for a spell we go or “they won’t make it” as my son Cody tells me on a regular basis. I respond to him, “Cody, your brain is going to turn to mush if you keep playing that. You do have an imagination.” He says nothing. Are we keeping a secret from our children that we treasured as children ourselves? Imagination, pretending and make believe — remember those days? We would eat our breakfast and go outside to play, eat lunch, play and only when our stomachs rumbled was it was time for supper. Where did all these ideas come from? Books — they are our window to another time and place, they enrich our lives and allow us to feed our imaginations. Just like a seed must be planted and watered, children need to be read to in order to grow and develop their own love of reading. January 27 is Family Literacy Day this year’s theme is “15 Minutes of Fun.” ABC Life Literacy Canada is encouraging people to take 15 minutes out of their day to learn and have fun together. This is a perfect opportunity to show children that reading and learning go hand in hand. Fun can be found not only in a video game or at an app store, but in picking up a comic strip or playing a board game instead. Books are much more fun read in silly voices or under the blankets with a flashlight. If you would like more information about Family Literacy Day visit www.abclifeliteracy.ca and check out 15 fun literacy activities you can do with your family. Children can also visit their local library to get their own library card and borrow books for free. The Lewisporte Memorial Public Library will also be celebrating Family Literacy Day. They are looking for young authors to write a one-page (or less) story, with or without artwork, and bring it to the library by Jan. 25. All the stories received will be made into a book and displayed at the library. Please include you name, grade and age along with your story. Don’t forget to put on your thinking caps and use your imagination. Published every Wednesday Tel: 709-535-6910 Fax: 709-535-8640 E-mail: editor@pilotnl.ca praise, damnation and any other form of response to what you read in our newspaper. Diverse and varied opinions are welcome. Letters can be submitted by email, fax, snail mail or in person to our offices at 626 Connaught Drive. The Fitzhugh reserves the right to accept or refuse any or all material submitted for publication and maintains the right to exercise discretion in these matters. The Fitzhugh reserves the right to edit all submissions for libel, length, content and style. Please limit letters to 400 words. Letters must include your name and phone number or email, for verification purposes. WE DO NOT PUBLISH ANONYMOUS LETTERS NOR DO WE PUBLISH LETTERS OF THANKS, GRATITUDE OR CONGRATULATIONS TO INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS AS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Thomas Ricketts, one of the only two Newfoundlanders to have earned the Victoria Cross (VC) — the British Empire’s supreme award for gallantry — is rightly regarded as one of the pre-eminent heroes of the Great War of 1914-18. The other Newfoundlander, John Bernard Croak from Little Bay, in Notre Dame Bay, also won a VC; on Aug. 8, 1918, while serving with the Canadian army. He died of his wounds later that day. Ricketts was only 17 on Oct. 14 1918, the morning that he demonstrated “the most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty” for which he won the British Empire’s highest decoration. France, Britain’s ally, awarded him the Croix de Guerre with Gold Star, to honour his courage further. Several of his comrades were also commended for their gallantry that morning. Matthew Brazil, Thomas Corbin, Samuel Greenslade and Arthur Whalen won the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), second only to the Victoria Cross. Lt. Albert Newman was awarded the Military Cross (MC), while Richard Power received the Military Medal (MM). Power had won a DCM only 11 days earlier. Their actions still stand as proof of the finest traditions of our regiment. But, it takes nothing away from their gallantry and courage to recall that Ricketts and his comrades were not the regiment’s only heroes. These other soldiers exemplify the finest traditions of the regiment, and they, too, deserve to be remembered. Ricketts is the only member of the regiment to have won the Victoria Cross, but he was not the regiment’s most decorated soldier. That honour belongs to Bertram Butler. A Blue Puttee (he was No. 146), Butler was commissioned as a lieutenant on Oct. 4, 1914, the day he and his comrades sailed for England. He fought at Gallipoli, and accompanied his comrades to France. By now a captain, he was appointed the battalion’s intelligence officer. On June 26, 1916, he led a raid on the German trenches at Beaumont Hamel, seeking prisoners and any other information that could help to prepare for the planned attack — the July Drive. His mission was to destroy the barbed-wire fields in front of the German trenches. The limited success of the raid led to a second one, on June 27. Again, Capt. Butler led the raiding party. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in acknowledgment of his gallantry. Butler served throughout the war, and fought in the engagements at Gueudecourt, Sailly-Saillisel, and Cambrai. He earned a Bar to his MC — a second award — at Gueudecourt, in October 1916. A year later, at Masnières during the Battle of Cambrai, he won the Distinguished Service Order (second only to the VC, and equivalent to the DCM awarded to the rank-and-file soldiers) for leading an attack in which he and his comrades captured a machine gun. And he was Mentioned in Dispatches — an official commendation by the High Command — in Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kerry Hann Office/Sales Manager................ Joanne Chaffey Circulation Manager . . . . . . . . . . Marilyn Puddicombe Sales Representative ................. Barb Hutchings Associate Managing Editor . . Barbara Dean-Simmons Administrative Assistant ................... Kim Snow Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karen Wells Layout Supervisor ...................... Dan Helmbold Reporter/Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . Christy Boyd Please see Page A5 Letters Policy: Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers. All letters must be accompanied by the writer’s name, address and telephone number and, if published, will appear with the writer’s real name. The editor reserves the right to edit letters. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. Writers should be as brief as possible, and letters should not exceed 500 words. We cannot guarantee the return of any letters not published. Copyright and/or property rights subsist in all advertising and in other materials appearing in this edition of The Pilot. Permission to reproduce wholly or in any form whatsoever, particularly by photographic or offset process in a publication, must be obtained in writing from the publisher. The Pilot Lewisporte, NL Charles Stacey . . . . . . .Group Publisher Transcontinental Newfoundland and Labrador Media Group G.P. Subscription rates: Canada - $99 plus tax Foreign - $199.00 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Testing fire fighting equipment near the government garage in Jasper. [ca. 1943] History at a Glance is brought to you by the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum & Archives. Online: www.jaspermuseum.org / Twitter: @jaspermuseum Weedy first impression Dear Editor, I would like to voice my disappointment and frustration at the appearance of the boulevard along Connaught Drive. We consider ourselves a world-class destination. Is Connaught Drive the first impression we want to give our visitors? The first thing they see as they enter town on our “main” street is a weedy landscape mess. The large rocks and ever-growing weeds are causing sight line problems on an already congested roadway. At one time, the boulevard was landscaped with underground sprinkler systems and grass. As expensive as that landscape option may have been, it presented a neat and tidy appearance. I don’t believe paying multiple people to weed the boulevard all summer is going to be any cheaper. The amount of area that needs constant weeding, makes hand weeding an almost impossible task. If workers could get the entire street weeded, they would literally be going back and starting all over again. I don’t know the solution. One remedy may be to remove all the rocks and weeds, leave the trees, replace the sprinkler system and replace the grass. It would cost yet more money to correct the unfortunate choice that has been made, but the alternative is to live with it as it overgrows for years to come. As residents and businesses alike strive to enhance their properties, it’s disheartening to see the state our main street is in. Barbara Feniak Jasper, Alta. Inspired and inspiring group of Friends Dear Editor, Congratulations to the Friends of Jasper on the occasion of their 30th anniversary. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a few Friends groups over the years and can confidently say that the Friends of Jasper are by far the most successful, inspiring and inspired of the lot. It likely has a lot to do with the quality of its key staff people, the volunteer spirit that runs so strong in the Jasper community, and the love of Jasper National Park shared by so many members. Here’s hoping for many more decades of success to a great bunch of people in one of the world’s great places. Kevin Van Tighem Canmore, Alta. 1 PUBLISHER: Jeremy Derksen publisher@fitzhugh.ca EDITOR: Nicole Veerman editor@fitzhugh.ca JASPER’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER REPORTER: Sarah Makowsky reporter@fitzhugh.ca VOLUME 8, ISSUE 39 christy.boyd@pilotnl.ca Kevin Hiscock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .General Manager, Newfoundland and Labrador weeklies P.O. Box 1210, Lewisporte, Newfoundland A0G 3A0 OUR LETTERS POLICY: The Fitzhugh welcomes complaints, Newfoundland’s heroes in the Great War Editor’s note: TC Media and The Compass would like to thank Edward Roberts for his contributions to our publication. We have published just under 50 Past Imperfect columns on a bi-weekly basis over the past two years, and each offered some valuable insight into this province’s colourful and sometimes contentious history. This marks the final instalment of Past Imperfect, at least for now, as Mr. Roberts works on other literary projects. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 Public consultation done right www.lportepilot.ca ‘Exam’ ining the options There isn’t an issue that impacts people more than health care — quality health care. Health care is something that impacts each and every person living in a community. Whatever your age or gender, we all require the services of a physician at some point in our lives and some of us more than others. Since arriving at the Pilot almost 10 years ago there has been an ongoing stream of health-related issues to cover including the lobby effort for an under-one-roof health care complex, the retention of laboratory and x-ray services and nurse staffing models. One that has been a constant throughout that time is the need for better recruitment and retention of physicians. Related to that is the concern over the condition of the current private medical clinic in Lewisporte. As is noted in the article on page 1A, the Concerned Citizens Committee has been working diligently since 2011 on seeing change to the current medical environment. They want to see a second privately operated clinic located in Lewisporte. People might question if a second clinic is required, but the committee can see the merit in such a facility. Not only does Lewisporte have a large senior population, there are also a number of young families. Access to quality health care is a priority for both areas of the population. It can be a determining factor in deciding if Lewisporte or one of the surrounding communities is a place to retire or settle down. While it is not known how many doctors the developer of a second clinic would be looking at having on staff, with 12,000-13,000 patient files at the Lewisporte Family Medical Clinic and normally five physicians on staff, it’s pretty safe to say that there is enough to go around in terms of a thriving practice with an attractive income. The benefits of a second clinic seem obvious. Just as obvious is what would happen if we were to turn around tomorrow and the current situation of the clinic condition and lack of doctors resulted in its closure. The committee members point to a domino effect that would likely ensue in this instance. Without a clinic there would not be a need for a laboratory and xray facility. The After Hours Clinic would likely cease to exist without doctors to staff it. Residents of North Haven Manor would have to rely on either a physician visiting them to attend to their medical needs, or having to make the out of town trip to Grand Falls-Windsor or Gander to see a doctor. Bring a second clinic into Lewisporte and you are bound to see related residential and business growth not just in Lewisporte, but throughout the region. While a second clinic could bring growth to the community/region, not having a clinic at all could have devastating consequences on the attractiveness of the area for people who might consider calling it home, or those who already live her might not be willing to live without this level of health care. As one committee member said, we will all be waving at each other from the highway as we travel back and forth to medical appointments. The committee members don’t want people to take for granted or be complacent about the importance of a medical clinic and the associated services. They know they have the support of people in their efforts of seeing a second medical clinic established in Lewisporte, but it doesn’t happen overnight and it hasn’t been an easy process so far. Whatever support residents can show them would go a long way in this process. As they and the newly formed Mayor’s Committee led by Lewisporte Mayor Brian Sceviour also address physician recruitment and retention issues, the support of those directly impacted will also be key. the fitzhugh, JASPER, AB CONTACT US: PO Box 428, 626 Connaught Drive, Jasper, Alberta T0E 1E0 PHONE: 1.780.852.4888; FAX: 1.780.852.4858 PRODUCTION MANAGER: Mishelle Menzies production@fitzhugh.ca Jasperʼs independent newspaper is published every Thursday by the Aberdeen Publishing Limited Partnership. The content is protected by copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited except with the permission of the publisher. Powell River Peak Powell River, BC ONTR CORRECTIONS: All stories are checked for accuracy, but a newspaper is a human endeavour and although we strive for perfection, we make no claim to it. Any error will be corrected in the next edition of the paper. ADVERTISING SALES: Matt Figueira advertising@fitzhugh.ca The Fitzhugh Jasper, AB 2961 General Excellence Class 1013 - circulation 2000 to 2999 Judge: Julie Carl Best Front Page first place Second place Third place the ry fre e del ive aa! yee eha JASPER’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER 780-852-5511 LIKE LIKE US US ON ON August 15, 2013 1.25+HST Serving Windsor and Hants County Since 1867 • www.NovaNewsNow.com 2 630 630 CONNAUGHT CONNAUGHT DR DR 4 Vol. 146, No. 30 INDEX 12 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 www.fitzhugh.ca | Thursday, August 1, 2013 | FREE Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PM40064924 R10842 Regional . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Health Hantsport water woes may soon be addressed News Firefighters battle Sunday afternoon garage fire Sports Television Guide . . . . . . 16 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Wrestling match coming to Windsor Aug. 23 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Residents warned of door-to-door sales tactics Concern expressed over medical alert system for seniors By Ashley Thompson THE HANTS JOURNAL NovaNewsNow.com Some contracts signed with a company that sold medical alarm systems in Hantsport and the surrounding areas may be void. The Windsor District RCMP, Better Business Bureau and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations have all received complaints about Seniors Connect, a privately-owned business that sent a sales representative to the homes of some seniors in the area, pitching its medical alert technology. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, the consumer advocacy organization received three complaints about the Middle Sackville-based Seniors Connect between February and May of this year. Two of the complaints lodged with the BBB reported problems with the product and service, while one involved advertising and sales issues. Two of the complaints have been resolved but one, citing problems with the product or service, remains outstanding. Continued on Page 5 UNDER THE RAINBOW While the grown ups learned to cook using organic produce, kids at the Meadows to Menu event at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, made themselves at home under a colourful parachute. For more coverage of the event, see next week’s Fitzhugh. N. VEERMAN PHOTO The Fitzhugh Jasper, AB This Upper Burlington home was fully ablaze when firefighters arrived on scene Aug. 8, making battling the fire all the more difficult. Carole Morris-Underhill photo Upper Burlington home destroyed by fire By Carole Morris-Underhill THE HANTS JOURNAL NovaNewsNow.com The charred remnants of an Upper Burlington home were all that remained following a mid-morning fire Aug. 8. Brooklyn Fire Chief Mark Dearman said when he arrived on scene, the home was fully involved, with flames coming out both ends of the building, as well as through the roof. “There was a lot of heat involved. I tried to take a walk around the house to see what hazards we had and (I) couldn’t walk around the house; the heat was so unbearable on the backside,” said Dearman. Hants Journal Windsor, NS Continued on Page 3 Kivalliq News Nunavut, NU General Excellence Class 1013 - circulation 2000 to 2999 Judge: Julie Carl Blue Ribbons Almaguin News, Burks Falls, ON Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson, NT Hants Journal, Windsor, NS Kivalliq News, Nunavut, NU Meaford Express, Meaford, ON New Hamburg Independent, New Hamburg, ON Powell River Peak, Powell River, BC The Chief, Squamish, BC The Fitzhugh, Jasper, AB The Kincardine Independent, Kincardine, ON The Pilot, Lewisporte, NL JUDGE’S COMMENTS Class 1013 – Best All Round Newspaper First – The Fitzhugh Amazing photography well played on both fronts. (Bit disconcerting that Aug. 1 pointed to next week’s paper, front elements should draw the reader into this week’s paper.) I love the weekender wrap on the August paper. Never seen that anywhere. I like the history photo on editorial page. Nice solution to keeping it local with no local cartoonist. Avoid backing into sentences, especially with ledes. Straightforward sentences make for clarity of writing. Second – Hants Journal Photography is outstanding. A fire shot with actual flames! And an editor not afraid to run with the breaking news story. Lots of news here, something for every reader. I like the photos in the sky boxes. Generally, the writing is colourful, but always keep an eye out for the dull, too long lede. Third – Kivaliq News I love the use of the two languages. What a sign the paper is inclusive of all its readers. And bonus: the type of the second language is so beautiful. Big bold photos, nicely played. I like the quote of the day. Writing is not as strong as photography. Watch length of leads and extraneous detail. General Excellence Class 1014 - circulation 3000 to 3999 General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1014 - circulation 3000 to 3999 Judge: Grant Harris Best All-Round Newspaper first place Second place Third place SERVING THE WEST COUNTRY SINCE 1923 CCNA JDR Insurance Athabasca Ltd. (780) 675-2175 Unit 10, 2nd Floor, 4810 - 50 Street ~ 1-877-675-2175 Bonnyville old-fashioned service ~ modern solutions BALMY: Everyone was heading outdoors during recent warm spell. A9 : Vol. 91, No. 2 | Tuesday, January 8, 2013 Rocky Mountain House, Alberta Canada Post agreement 40069240 2009 WINNER $1.35 GST Included www.rock-e.ca | $1.25 (inc. GST) Reeve looks ahead to new year MIKE PICKFORD Nouvelle Staff Photo by Brandon MacLeod Kids are making use of the Big Book Station and other new additions to the Bonnyville Library, as part of its yearlong Literacy Enhanced Program upgrades, which were made possible by a $4,000 grant from Telus last year. Pictured (from left to right) are Tyler and Sydney Syverson from High River and Aletta and Skylar Dechaine from Bonnyville. For more on the library, see page 9. BY SARAH MAETCHE STAFF REPORTER Dog sled team raring to go for gruelling races Jillian, Steve and Carol Taylor have been running dog sled teams for many years. In 2013, Jillian will be racing a 12 dog team in some very demanding events. Her next race is the 200 mile Eagle Cap Extreme in the Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon KIRK VERNER | THE MOUNTAINEER on January 23. Read more on B1. County, Town consider partnership for waste water treatment Reeve says they are looking at many sites for facility BY SARAH MAETCHE STAFF REPORTER “It’s being looked at by the town and the county,” said Clearwater County Reeve Pat Alexander to the Mountaineer on January 4. “We are establishing our short term need and our long term needs and there’s also everchanging regulations to discharge the highest quality of water that you can. We are looking at the technology that’s available.” ‘It’s an expensive venture and it has to be looked at from a community perspective to provide the best for everyone in the area in the future.’ Pat Alexander Clearwater County Reeve HOW TO REACH US PHONE: 403-845-3334 FAX: 403-845-5570 E-MAIL: production@mountaineer.bz OFFICE: 4814 - 49th St. Rocky Mountain House Alberta T4T 1S8 6 9 Alexander mentioned that both the town and county are accessing their future needs in regards to waste water facilities and hopes both parties can work together in meeting the needs. 26570 60090 It’s back to the drawing board for Clearwater County regarding the proposed waste water facility. Clearwater County will now be possibly working together with the Town of Rocky Mountain House on a facility. In 2011, a problem arose when waste water haulers from the county were closed out of the Town of Rocky Mountain House lagoon. At that time a report was given to town councillors indicating their waste water lagoon Pat was not complying Alexander with provincial regulations. To be in volume compliance, the town chose to close the lagoon to out of town traffic. County haulers were then forced to other locations including the Leslieville lagoon. To meet its needs, the county has examined the possibility of a new facility which will cost approximately $6 million. “It’s an expensive venture and it has to be looked at from a community perspective to provide the best for everyone in the area in the future,” he said. As for a location, which is yet to be determined, Alexander said there is a whole list of possibilities. “If the town is part of it, it needs to be in a position, a place where they can take advantage of it,” he said. Alexander also mentioned that due to technological advancements, it is possible the facility will be located inside a building. “I think if you look at the system we have and in 10 years from now it doesn’t meet the need because the regulatory keeps changing, everybody looks at us upstream as a source of the North Saskatchewan source water,” he said. Alexander stated that currently the water leaving Clearwater County borders is rated good to excellent and he plans to ensure that it will remain that way. Expenses regarding the proposed waste water facility will be visible in the 2015 budget. INSIDE THIS WEEK AGRICULTURE CAROLINE CLARION CLASSIFIEDS DINING|ENTERTAINMENT OPINION SPORTS ROCKY LIFE B6 B7 D2 C4 A6 B1 C1 ‘This is one large community and we as municipal leaders have to nd ways of working together.’ THE WILL TO SURVIVE: In 1927, a lost hunter was assumed dead after he was missing for four days alone in the frigid west country. D1 The Mountaineer Rocky Mountain House, AB Vol. 49 No. 30 Tuesday, August 27, 2013 $1.35 (GST incl.) www.bonnyvillenouvelle.ca AHS postpones cuts to pathology services Clearwater County 2013 budget in the works Clearwater County’s 2013 budget has not yet been approved but all signs point to a similar budget to that of last year. “It’s a service budget,” Clearwater County Reeve Pat Alexander told The Mountaineer January 4. “We’ve seen an increased demand for some increased level of service on gravel roads and things like that, so we’ve addressed some of those issues,” he said of the budget, which may be approved at council’s upcoming meeting on January 8. In response to a question whether taxes will be going up in the county, Alexander said it’s early yet to determine whether there will be an increase. “The difference between an urban and rural budget is, a huge amount of our revenues come from non-residential, which is industrial, and we don’t get those assessments until March,” he said. “When we get our assessment, we will see if there is or isn’t an increase and it can be determined at that time.” One of the biggest Pat Alexander expenses the Reeve Clearwater County Reeve predicts for 2013 is the Public Works paving program. “We always tender our paving program in the fall for the next year, so we tendered 2013 paving in November,” said Alexander. “When we saw the kind of pricing we were getting for 2013, council then decided ‘Well, let’s take our 2014 paving program and tender it and see what kind of pricing we will get if we put the two together.’ We then decided we would take the money from the program reserves and do our 2014 program also in 2013 because of the pricing we got on the paving was exceptionally good.” Alexander also mentioned that the county plans to work on five local bridges that will be re-habbed in 2013, among other previously budgeted expenses. When looking back, Alexander says 2012 was a successful year for the county. “Certainly it had some challenges at the start of the year,” he said. “We got most of our work plan complete. The only one we didn’t get complete was the Angle Road and that was because our tenders came in way over budget. But we were able to re-tender that this past fall and they came in considerably under, so that will go forward in 2013.” Alexander says the county will always have challenges. “I think we need to do more communication with our citizenry on the reasons we do things — some that’s regulatory and legislated, some it’s by choice of council based on information that we have,” he said. “We want to try and increase our level of communication and try to answer questions citizens have. “We have an extremely good relationship with the Town of Rocky Mountain House and the Village of Caroline and that will continue. We are looking at structuring it a little bit more so that when we potentially look at a regional service, then we have a better structure of working through it. “This is one large community and we as municipal leaders have to find ways of working together.” When asked if he will run in the 2013 municipal election, Alexander said it is a possibility. “It depends on what happens during the year,” he said. “I just wish everyone in the county a happy New Year and all the best,” said Alexander. “I am looking forward to working with them over the next year.” nouvelle Representing: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 Volume 31, Number 46 Canada Post Agreement: 40069240 www.athabascaadvocate.com SERVING ATHABASCA, BOYLE AND AREA n SPORTS Dynamo capture provincial gold Page 18 n COMMUNITY Lacrosse special section, see inside Page 15-17 n NEWS RCMP release sketch wanted man Page 3 2012 Insurance Insurance Athabasca Ltd. BROMLEY CHAMBERLAIN/AA PAINTING A STARRY, STARRY NIGHT WITH LIGHT Robert Holmberg paints with light on trees the AU for Athabasca University during the 2013 Rotary Youth Academy program “Photography and the Night Sky”. This section of the program took place at the Athabasca University Geophysical Observatories southwest of Athabasca. Each student learned how to photograph the stars. For more photos and the story, see pages 22A and 23A. Three men saved by strangers after boat capsizes BROMLEY CHAMBERLAIN ADVOCATE STAFF The August long weekend started out the same as any other day for Ron Piasetzki and Mackenzie Ryan at their cabin on Calling Lake. “It was a perfect morning. The water was absolutely crystal clear, calm,” Ryan recalled about the morning of Aug. 2. Since the two had had no luck fishing in front of the cabins recently, they decided to head out into the lake towards the ranger station. “Normally, because I was only going out for a short time, I just would have fished right in front of the cabins,” Piasetzki said. “I asked Mac where he wanted to go, and he wanted to try somewhere else.” At 9 a.m. they headed out onto the lake. After shutting off the big motor, Piasetzki fired up the trolling motor, and they start- ed to fish. For half an hour they trolled along, catching only one fish. Piasetzki and Ryan then heard something peculiar. A faint voice yelled out. “In the distance we heard, ‘Hey,’ which was kind of odd that there was not a cry for help,” Ryan said. Piasetzki added, “We looked in the direction of the voice, and it looked like there might be someone in the water.” The shape in the water was quite a distance from the boat, but Piasetzki and Ryan decided it looked like someone in trouble. “We raced over to take a look,” Piasetzki said. “When we got there, we found a man in the water. He was hanging onto what appeared to be a blow-up toy and wasn’t wearing a lifejacket.” Ryan said, “Ron yelled out to ask if he needed a hand, and he said yes. I grabbed him and pulled him into the boat.” Ryan noticed the man was out of breath and was freezing cold. The man had been in the water for several hours after his boat capsized. The man then told Ryan and Piasetzki they had to save his friends. “I just felt sick instantly. There was no one around,” Piasetzki recalled. However, the man pointed, and they could make out something in the water in the distance. “We couldn’t make out what it was. It was white, and it looked like something sticking out of the water,” Piasetzki said. Ryan added, “It was a long way … and as we got closer and closer, you could see the boat was nosed out of the water.” See STRENGTH, page 4A Storseth sees proroguing of parliament as a ‘kind of reset’ JANICE HUSER Nouvelle Contributor Last week Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his intentions to ask the governor general to prorogue parliament this fall. According to Westlock-St. Paul MP Brian Storseth, proroguing parliament is fairly routine and offers the government a “kind of reset.” The last session of parliament, he says, was pretty long and a lot of “key issues” were addressed. Issues that were addressed since the last throne speech include items such as the long gun registry being repealed, the ending of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly, along with a number of economic items. Storseth adds that Harper had alluded to the proroguing of parliament last year, saying there would be another throne speech. As for new priorities that will be included in the upcoming throne speech, Storseth says that right now MPs are spending the summer talking to Canadians. MPs will then submit ideas to the prime minister’s office. “I can assure you that there will be jobs growth and long-term prosperity” addressed in the throne speech, says Storseth. Economic development will continue to be a priority moving forward, along with focusing on trade and trying to ensure some of the proposed pipelines are built in Canada. “People are still very much concerned about the economy,” says Storseth. But, he added, people are also optimistic in this area, with a good growing season and good crops being seen so far. Ensuring there is enough labour in Alberta is also something Storseth says Canadians feel is important to keep moving the economy forward. PELICAN NARROWS LAKEFRONT $599,900 $69,900 • 1712 sq.ft. bungalow fully developed • 5 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms • Granite, hardwood, tile, fireplace $259,900 Wood Creek Resort 1.6 Acres MAIL TO: With the proroguing of parliament MPs will most likely not sit until sometime in October, rather than mid-September. Storseth says that sitting for fewer days this fall doesn’t necessarily mean the government will sit for fewer days overall. The proroguing of parliament does have an affect on certain bills that haven’t received royal assent, as some can be set back to zero. “They’re all affected differently,” says Storseth, adding, the government sat extended hours during the last session to pass legislation. Looking to the next session, Storseth says his priorities will be pushing for a response to the Cold Lake Oil Sands Area CRISP report, and also helping with provincial issues such as improving the conditions of Highway 28 and bringing money into the province to address rural health care issues. Following further discussions between Alberta Health Services and staff at the Bonnyville Health Centre on Aug. 5, the province has decided to postpone any decision to make changes to the pathology program at the hospital pending further investigation and discussions. With Dr. Bob Davey having announced his intent to retire earlier this year, AHS had planned to close the pathology department at the health centre and revert all local pathology services to Edmonton. Dr. Leonard de Freitas, president of Bonnyville’s medical staff, has been against these planned changes since they were announced earlier this summer, and he said he was happy to see AHS responding to pleas from both the staff at the hospital and the public following a meeting with AHS representatives Aug. 5. “I got a phone call a week after our meeting from AHS North Zone Medical Director Dr. Kevin Worry, and he told me after collaboration with his bosses, AHS had decided to put the whole process (of closing the pathology department) on hold pending further investigation,” de Freitas said. “I think the general conclusion is they need to go back to the drawing board again and present us with some answers on a number of concerns we have. They’ve acknowledged the way they went about implementing the changes wasn’t right and have decided they need to take our concerns into consideration and come up with a viable plan. “That being said, they haven’t promised they’re not going to move forward with their plans, they’re just putting them on hold for the time being and taking a look at the whole issue.” Worry said he was encouraged by the meetings in Bonnyville and was happy to see local physicians step up to the plate and provide AHS with all the relevant information needed to make a final decision. “Certainly both AHS and Covenant Health appreciates the time and effort Bonnyville physicians are making when it comes to ensuring we have all the information and take everything into account so we are able to make the right decision concerning quality of patient care moving forward,” Worry said. - See AHS Page 3 2.99 Acres • Furnished 2 bedroom Park Model • On a deeded serviced RV lot • On Moose Lake NORTH SHORE HEIGHTS • Unique Lakefront Home • 4 Bedrooms • Many New Upgrades • Beautifully Landscaped, Private Setting • Garage with Workshop • 5 Bedrooms, 3 Baths • 29x26 Double Heated Garage with 26x12 Storage Garage Attached • New Shingles • 1/2 Acre Lot $549,900 $419,900 Dennis Germain Sharlene Hoenderop REALTOR® Cell: 780-826-0724 Off: 780-826-2880 REALTOR® Northern Lights Realty Cell: 780-545-3678 Off: 780-826-2880 In Your Community! www.kochfordathabasca.com The Athabasca Advocate Athabasca, AB Bonnyville Nouvelle Bonnyville, AB General Excellence Class 1014 - circulation 3000 to 3999 Judge: Grant Harris Best Editorial Page first place Second place Opinion ‘The rst problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.’ Thursday, January 31, 2013 The Beacon . Crossroads of the World . www.ganderbeacon.ca PAGE A6 Preserving history P Sanction Mizkat, premier of Canada’s Rich and Poor province sighed deeply as she closed the front door of her house against the wind-driven snow outside. She tossed her keys into the basket on the table in the entryway, shrugged out of her coat and hung it up in the closet. Sitting down heavily on a bench, she pulled off her snow boots. Mizkat leaned her head back against the wall, closed her eyes and sighed again. She was tired and bone-weary after yet another long day. Tired, but satisfied. The job had been done. The great project had been launched at last, and although there still remains a long list of hurdles to get over, for the moment there was a chance to catch NEITHER HERE her breath. Padding along the hall in her slippers, she NOR THERE headed for the kitchen. BY PETER PICKERSGILL She paused by the door to the living room and glanced in. Nalcor, her little pet muskrat was asleep in his special place. On a tiny rug under the coffee table he was curled up, dead to the world. Nalcor is tired too, she thought. He has been sleeping a lot since he re-appeared as if by magic several weeks ago. What a surprise to see him spiralling down out of the sky, towed by a team of Greater Yellow Legs who deposited him gently on the lawn before lifting off and vanishing into the southern sky. She had been so very glad to see him after his mysterious disappearance and a long absence she feared might last forever. In the kitchen, Mizkat opened the refrigerator and took out the halffull glass she had left there last night. If the opposition were here now, she thought, they would claim the glass was half empty, but it’s a moot point. In minutes it will be entirely empty and I will be feeling a whole lot better. Mizkat tip-toed across the living room to turn on her computer. Under the coffee table, unseen by her, the little muskrat opened one eye, closed it again, and trembled ever so slightly. As the computer screen slowly lit up, Mizkat was surprised to see the word SANCTION appear. “What’s that about?” she thought. “I turned this machine off last night. I’d say somebody has been playing with my computer, but that’s impossible. There’s been no one here all day but Nalcor. Maybe I didn’t turn the machine off properly last night.” As Mizkat watched the screen, under the word SANCTION a list began to appear. She stared. As was her habit, whenever a thought entered her mind, Mizkat spoke it aloud. Thinking the little muskrat under the coffee table was sound asleep and didn’t understand human language anyway, what harm could come from talking to herself? See SANCTION Page A10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Knock down barriers Dear editor, Remember the days where it seemed everywhere we’d go people were lighting up? At restaurants, on airplanes, in hospital rooms ... cigarette smoking was widespread, and accepted. In recent years, things have changed. Awareness campaigns touting the ills of smoking and widespread bans have encouraged a number of people to drop the habit. But, for 87,000 people (20 per cent) in Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s still an addiction that won’t quit. Despite all efforts, there has not been a significant decline in the smoking rate over the past 10 years. Smoking is an addiction and a serious, chronic condition. So, how can we help smokers quit? Increasing access to anti-smoking medications and therapies is an important next step. In a news conference hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association in November, physicians and other concerned groups, including the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador, called on the province to include tobacco cessation medications and nicotine replacement therapies as a benefit under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program for low-income smokers. Evidence shows that the highest proportion of smokers in our province are those with the lowest incomes and the cost of quitting is expensive. Registered nurses support access to therapies and services that will help smokers who are ready to quit and lead healthier lives. The association of registered nurses believes that helping remove financial barriers limiting smokers from accessing medications and therapies that are proven to help them quit should matter to all of us. Tobacco-related hospital visits and admissions directly impact wait times and bed availability for you and your family. Join registered nurses, physicians, and others, in calling on the provincial government to fund anti-smoking therapies for low-income residents. We can all be part of the solution to help smokers access proven methods for quitting. We will all benefit from a lower smoking rate. Tell your MHA that you support this cause. Let’s work together to help smokers quit. Cathy Stratton, President, Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador case in Alberta and Ontario) competing alongside the mediocre public education system that we currently have in this province. A concurrent model of education, where parents have choices and options, is the only viable and realistic means of educational improvement. In that same CBC interview, Ms. Adler, who had to make her testing simpler, waves a red flag: “They should not be confusing Antarctica and the Arctic, and they should know that they live on the Atlantic Ocean ... and they should be able to know where North America is.” Our province is relying on this next generation to build our local economy of the future. These university students are supposed to be the cream of the crop. If they do not know where North America is and that they live along the Atlantic Ocean, then that bodes very poorly indeed for our provincial hopes and aspirations. Accordingly, when ExxonMobil decides to construct its infrastructure outside of Newfoundland and Labrador (and is willing to pay double to get out of its obligation), is there really any wonder why? Consider St. Bonaventure’s College. I have every confidence that its students are geographically literate. Recommendation: the establishment of a fully-funded Roman Catholic public education system in Newfoundland and Labrador. Jerry Lewis St. John’s LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor at The Beacon require the writer’s full name for publication, signature, address and telephone number. Addresses, signatures and telephone numbers will not be published and only used for verification and clarification purposes, when necessary. While e-mail letters to the editor are still encouraged, they must be followed by a signature via fax or mail, prior to regular sub- mission deadlines, on a hard copy of the letter. Handwritten letters must also be reasonably legible. The Beacon reserves the right to edit, condense or reject letters for brevity, accuracy, legal and other reasons. Editorial deadline for all submissions to be considered is 9:30 a.m. Friday. Kevin Hiscock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .General Manager, Newfoundland and Labrador weeklies Associate Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Dean-Simmons Customer Service/Circulation Representative .............................................. Lori Anstey 61 Elizabeth Dr., P.O. Box 420 Gander, Newfoundland, A1V 1W8 Tel: 709-256-4371 • Fax: 709-256-3826 E-mail: info@ganderbeacon.ca Publisher Glen Mazza Editor Lana Vrbanic Member CCNA Sales Manager Dianne McLaren - Bonnyville Nouvelle, Tuesday, August 27, 2013 www.rock-e.ca nouvelleviewpoint Tuesday, August 13, 2013 LOOKING BACK | from the files of The Mountaineer Collusion keeps prices up 5 YEARS AGO Clearwater County Rural Beautification awards went to Carl and Mary-Ellen Wilson, active farm; Helda Oastrom, retired farm; Bruce and Colleen Stangl, acreage over 15 years. 10 YEARS AGO Clearwater County Rural Beautification Award winners were Chuck and Patricia Poteet, Don and Kim Chevallier and Ken and Joanne Kendze. 15 YEARS AGO A new multi-purpose administration and wellness building opened at O’Chiese First Nation. 20 YEARS AGO Equestrians Candace Dahms and Amber Caine and canoeist Jeremy Peacock won medals at the Alberta Summer Games in Wetaskiwin. 25 YEARS AGO The Chamber of Commerce launched a “We Love Our Customers” promotion with a new car as featured prize. Dr. S. S. Hein retired after 35 years in medical practice in Rocky. Over 200 spectators enjoyed Leslieville Antique Days. 30 YEARS AGO A Christian Family Fair was a huge success. The Rocky Native Friendship Centre purchased the building they now occupy. 40 YEARS AGO For the first time in its history, events at the annual David Thompson Cavalcade were cancelled because of rain. Council held its first meeting in This week in 1968, the David Thompson Highway was officially opened, deemed the “highway of happiness.” Pictured is Min. of Highways, Gordon Taylor; Regional Engineer for Kamloops area, J.M. Nelson; and Liberal M.P. for Rocky Mountain House, FILE PHOTO Allen Sulatycky; at the annual Kootenay Plains Cavalcade. the new Council chambers. The Department of Municipal Affairs approved a development permit to Aquitaine for a sulphur loading dock in the Cow Creek area. George Stewart, one of the original pioneers in the Bingley district, passed away at the age of 97. 50 YEARS AGO Cyclone-force winds struck the district, doing considerable damage in the Crimson Lake area. 70 YEARS AGO To honour A.J. Hooke, local member, for his elevation to the cabinet and provincial secretary, the Board of Trade were hosts at a banquet. Guests were here from Nordegg, Saunders, Alexo, Red Deer and points east and south. A bad hailstorm did a lot of damage at Arbutus. 80 YEARS AGO Harry Leggett of HMCS Armentiers of Esquimalt was home on leave. A forest fire southeast of Nordegg was so bad that citizens had their belongings ready to move out. The fire was burning on a ten mile front. The Scoular Dairy sold out to the Boles Bros. and Mr. and Mrs. Scoular moved to Red Deer. Parents are cool I t’s usually when you’re an awkward preteen in high school that your parents seem to become nothing but a big embarrassment in your life. That’s how it was for me anyways. Going anywhere with my parents in public became a challenge to make sure I didn’t see anyone I knew, because it would most likely be extremely lame to be seen out in public with the people who raised me. Now that I consider myself an adult (mostly), I can’t believe the way some teenagers can be so embarrassed by every move their parents make, because quite honestly, parents are usually awesome. When I was in my awkward teenage years, I’m sure I had an easy enough time embarrassing myself without my parents’ help anyways. I was lanky like a string bean, had a blue retainer and only wore one brand of clothing. Whenever I’d bring friends over my parents would get all excited and start engaging in conversation with them. To me, this was t equivalent of the t them ruining my l life. All I and my f friends wanted t do was watch to b television bad a gossip about and t cutest boy in the t school, not the CHELSEA’S socialize with my CHESTERS parents. I noticed this CHELSEA with most of GRAINGER my friends too. Parents were automatically uninvited to acknowledge us as normal human beings even though they’re the ones who gave us the gift of life. Culture also generally depicts teenagers as being embarrassed by their parents. Tons of times on sitcoms or in movies, the teenage character has asked their parents to drop them off a few blocks from school to avoid embarrassment. These days, I’ve learned to appreciate my parents a whole lot more than I used to. Parents are not embarrassing; they’re probably the coolest people anyone can have in their life and I wish more kids would realize this. Of course they may do a few old-timey things that make you roll your eyes and turn a mild shade of red, but when it comes down to it, they only want the best for you and there’s nothing better than that. A lot of times now, I find myself spending Saturday nights at home with my mom and dad. I’ve reached that age where I enjoy spending time with them without feeling like a loser and I can’t believe there was ever a time where it was any different. Plus, my parents have put up with everything from being a toddler stuffing my face with dirt to deciding to move away for university and everything in between, and for that, I’m proud of them. CHELSEA GRAINGER is a staff reporter at The Mountaineer and can be reached at Chelsea@mountaineer.bz. Making history in Rocky S ince coming to Rocky Mountain House, my life has been a crash course in learning new things. Even after three months, I’m still a city girl, but I’m also loving living in a town. For instance, this summer I caught my first fish, ran in my first charity race, and attended my first powwow. I was taught to identify and even convinced to try a number of local, edible, wild plants – not exactly gourmet, but not bad either. I’ve been welcomed at every community event the town has to offer, which made taking photographs much, much easier. The best part of Rocky Mountain House though has been learning about its history. A few trips out to the bustling National Historic Site informed me that history is not only valued by residents, it’s a pillar of the culture. I started at The Mountaineer just in time to witness the intensive research that went into “History from the Headlines.” Published every Tuesday at Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, by The Mountaineer Publishing Co. Ltd. 4814 - 49 Street, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, T4T 1S8 Phone (403) 845-3334 Fax (403) 845-5570 publish@mountaineer.bz The final produ was not only a uct f funny and engagi read, but also ing a great introduct tion to the area. Rocky Mount tain House is a h of Aborigihub SARAH’S nal, Métis, settler, SLANT agricultural, oil and gas, and SARAH ANN environmentalist COLLINS cultures that have been interacting for over 100 years. I was a little surprised to find that the history of the Canadian Forces in the area is not only quite rich, it is also very well documented and interesting. Bill Dickson, coordinator of the Paratrooper D-Day celebrations at Siffleur Falls on June 6 was kind enough to send me many pages describing the day and its importance, all which I read in under an hour. The heroic actions of Canadian paratroopers who trained just two hours away from Rocky were a Publications Mail Registration No. 07648 If Undelivered Return to: 4814 - 49 Street Rocky Mountain House, Alberta T4T 1S8 Advertising deadline - 5:00 p.m. Fridays more interesting read than most novels. I’m very grateful that there are people out there keeping these memories alive and that for the summer, I get to be one of them. Working for a paper that is 90 years old, not only am I writing and taking photos for residents of Rocky this week, I am also working to preserve history as it’s being made. That’s a pretty humbling feeling that I think residents here can appreciate. The movie night and pancake breakfast at the centennial celebrations this year were fun, but the time capsule that residents helped create was the icing on the cake. It’s a great idea to get the community involved in history-preserving initiatives like the time capsule so that the next generation can appreciate the good, the bad, the weird and the awesome things that happen here. SARAH ANN Collins is a staff reporter at The Mountaineer and can be reached for comment at collins@mountaineer.bz. SUBSCRIPTION RATES In Canada: $37.14 Per Year + $1.86 GST = $39.00 Seniors (Local): $31.43 Per Year + $1.57 GST = $33.00 Non-Local (outside 60 km radius): $41.90 + $2.10 GST = $44.00 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Alberta’s energy watchdog, the Market Surveillance Administrator (MSA), has indicated electricity providers in the province are “signaling” each other to keep prices up. Surprise, surprise. Electricity prices in Alberta have been on the rise since the PC party created a system based on markets and competition, which included the MSA as an overseer to ensure “Alberta’s electricity markets are fair, efficient and competitive.” However, it now appears the body entrusted with ensuring competitiveness is claiming the very companies created to compete with each other and keep prices reasonable are colluding to ensure prices keep rising, using the Historical Trading Report (HTR). According to the MSA’s report, available to the public on Albertamsa.ca, “The (HTR) is a spreadsheet published by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) 5‐10 minutes after the end of the settlement interval (every hour of the day). It discloses all market participants’ offer prices...includes the volume offered at each price. It does not identify the assets associated with the offers. However, in practical terms, sophisticated market participants can decode the report with a high degree of certainty and therefore know the price and volume their counterparts were prepared to sell at, effectively their competitive intentions, and this is repeated 24 times each day, seven days a week.” The report goes on to call Alberta’s electricity market an oligopoly - a market form in which a market or industry is dominated by a small number of sellers. Oligopolies can result from various forms of collusion, which reduce competition and lead to higher costs for consumers. The PC party started restructuring the public market in 1996, which up until then prescribed prices based on regulation. The goal of deregulation was to sell off the public utilities and diversify Alberta’s power market. Evidence suggests the system has diversified, adding wind power to its mostly coal-fired power grid. There are also steam generators used in oilsands extraction that produce more power than the companies using them require. The excess is then sold back to the power grid. There has also been significant spending on new infrastructure and upgrades to older items. Certainly, building and upgrading electrical infrastructure requires initial investment from the power provider, but once the construction is complete, the cost are passed on to the consumer indefinitely, while the company completely recoups its investment and in turn increases profit. Albertans require power to survive this climate. However, the current system is clearly gaming the consumers and that is not right. The government stepped in nearly two decades ago to change what it deemed a flawed system. Will it step in again, this time to protect the people, or will corporate interests continue to run the province’s power grid? Syrian atrocity must be dealt with Well, it has to be said, the fighting in Syria, as sick and disgusting as it is, seems to be unavoidable without intervention by outside forces. It’s been almost two and a half years since rebel forces rose up against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in March 2011, and very rarely do you see such grievances as these settled swiftly or peacefully. With the death toll now in excess of 100,000, it’s easy to see that this civil war between Assad’s controlling government and coalition forces, now officially known as the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, has been a blood bath. But over the past few months, all indications seem to point to Assad following in his father’s footsteps – accused of the mic check MIKE PICKFORD mpickford@bonnyville.greatwest.ca several human rights violations. Since those disgusting, bone-chilling reports surfaced on Wednesday confirming that between 322 and 1,300 people, including over 100 children, were killed by alleged chemical weapons attacks on the eastern suburbs of Damascus, the entire western world has blown up, with both the public and the media demanding the UN take action against those responsible. With UN officials currently on the ground in Syria to investigate claims President Assad launched several warheads containing nerve gas at the suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar, collectively known as eastern Ghouta, last week, many are expecting to hear news sooner rather than later that could leave high-profile world leaders with a decision to make. Reports on Monday suggested the UN team were being fired at by several snipers in the ‘buffer zone area’ as they made their way to the site of the alleged attack, so it seems somebody doesn’t want the world knowing what really happened on that fateful day. Nobody was hurt in the attack, and the convoy is expecting to head back to the area in the coming days. As has been seen in the past during confrontations between Israel and Palestine, the first two years of this Syrian civil war, and the uprisings in northern African countries over the past two years, the UN and its ‘leaders’, the likes of the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Canada are more than happy to sit back and watch, allowing opposing and warring parties to fight it out. But there comes a time when they need to step in, and in light of these chemical weapons attacks, that time is now. - See Syria Page 7 Bonnyville Nouvelle Online Poll This week’s question: Last week’s question: Should there be a military intervention in Syria? l Yes. Military is the right response to chemical weapons l No. A military response is not appropriate. l Civil wars should not be intervened in. And the winner is... Are in favour of Ernie Isley’s intention to run for mayor of Bonnyville again? l Yes. l No. l I hope it creates more interest in the position. Yes. Yes. No. Awaiting. 46 per cent 36 per cent 18 per cent Cast your vote at www.bonnyvillenouvelle.ca Bonnyville nouvelle 5304 - 50 Avenue, Bonnyville, AB T9N 1Y4 Phone 780-826-3876 FAX 780-826-7062 HOURS: Monday to Friday 8:30 - 5:00 E-mail advertising: production@bonnyville.greatwest.ca E-mail news: nouvelle@bonnyville.greatwest.ca E-mail commercial print: production@bonnyville.greatwest.ca www.bonnyvillenouvelle.ca SUBSCRIPTIONS 1 YEAR - $42.00 inc. GST Senior Citizens Discount 10% Clare Gauvreau Publisher Brandon MacLeod Editor Mike Pickford Reporter Photographer Andrew Mendler Reporter Photographer Amber Cook Sales Manager Breanna Ernst Sales Associate The Bonnyville Nouvelle welcomes feedback from readers in the form of letters to the editor or guest columns. The Nouvelle reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar, length and slanderous content. Submissions must include the author’s name and daytime phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be considered for publication. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Time for alternatives in public education Dear editor, “The Atlantic Ocean is labelled as the Mediterranean Sea; Africa is circled and labelled as Europe, with Spain and Italy being put in the middle of Africa,” states Memorial University geography professor Judith Adler, as reported by the CBC on Jan. 15, concerning her university students’ lack of geographical knowledge. I have written to former minister of education Joan Shea in the past and have indicated that Newfoundland and Labrador students are performing dreadfully on international and national testing. I have, as remedy, recommended the establishment of fully-funded Roman Catholic public education (as is the Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kerry Hann Published every Thursday ublic education is key to addressing domestic violence. However, this doesn’t only concern potential victims, but also potential perpetrators and bystanders. A report recently published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives called The Gap in Gender Gap: Violence Against Women in Canada asks for a coherent, coordinated, well-resourced national action plan to address violence against women. Although not all domestic violence is perpetrated against women, it makes up an overwhelming majority of cases that are worth considering. For example, when Oscar Pistorius killed his partner Reeva Steenkamp, it put a spotlight on South Africa where rates of violence against women were the highest ever reported in research across the world. However, the World Health Organization also estimates that one in four women in Canada will experience intimate partner violence or sexual assault in their lifetime. Further to that, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives wrote in its report that more than 7 per cent of the population of Alberta has experienced intimate partner violence in the past five years. On any given day, more than 200 Albertan women will seek protection from a shelter or transition home. The report finds that there are 50 shelters in total in Alberta, with 1,304 spaces available to women fleeing abuse and their children. The rate of women residing in shelters or transition homes has nearly doubled over the past decade. According to the report, “violence impacts women’s health, women’s ability to access higher education, women’s economic security, and women’s ability to participate in public life.” The 2012 Justice Canada report: An Estimation of the Economic Impact of Spousal Violence in Canada identifies the total cost of intimate partner violence in Canada as $7.4 billion per year. The report includes estimates for pain and suffering as well as direct costs such as medical care costs and lost productivity. The direct costs of intimate partner violence in Canada total $1.9 billion per year. Most recently, there has been a shift away from a framework in which victims are held responsible for the crime committed against them, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report. “For example, the response to the problem of drunk driving is not to educate the population about how not to be hit by a drunk driver. Current public education campaigns are beginning to address themselves to potential perpetrators and bystanders—encouraging bystanders to intervene if they see the potential for violence,” states the report. One such campaign is Walk a Mile in Her Shoes which aims to raise awareness about causes, effects and remedies for sexual assault and domestic violence. The Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association is holding its second annual event Sept. 21 at noon in Rocky Mountain House. Cindy Easton, executive director of the women’s shelter, encourages residents not to think of domestic violence as only a women’s issue, but also as a men’s issue. One of the things people can do is not to remain silent, according to a list of 10 things men can do to prevent gender violence distributed in the shelter. “If a brother, friend, classmate or teammate is abusing his female partner – or is disrespectful or abusive to girls and women in general – don’t look the other way,” one message states. Another strategy is also to mentor and teach young boys about how to be men in ways that don’t involve degrading or abusing girls and women. Understanding domestic violence is also important. According to a booklet distributed by the women’s shelter: “Domestic violence occurs when one person does whatever is necessary to have power and control over his or her partner.” A partner may exert control in the way you act, the way you look, where you go and what you do. Types of abuse can range from using coercion and threats to intimidation or social isolation. Getting out of a domestic violence situation can be a complex and long process because of the many things that tie partners such as money, living arrangements and children. However, preventing domestic violence situations can be as easy as looking at your own triggers and just walking away so that a bad situation doesn’t escalate. Asking for help in resolving conflict situations when things have settled might lead to resolutions and strengthening of relationships. Finally, instead of playing for power, in a healthy relationship partners should empower each other. Providing support in time of need is crucial and a sign of true class, caring and character. Educating the public is a crucial step in addressing the issue Gander’s town council is considering putting some money, and some effort, towards the refurbishing of the old town site. The area, adjacent to what is now the Gander International Airport, has gone from a bustling community in the 1940s and 1950s to a place where residents go for walks, take family photos, and revisit the past. Many of the streets are still there, although most are overgrown with grass and brush. There are still some building foundations that remain, not quite lost amid the flora and fauna. Several years ago, a chunk of cash was spent to revitalize the place. Signage was erected, streets were made passable, and it became a destination for both residents and tourists to visit. In recent years, however, the area has been somewhat neglected. As Coun. Dave Blundon said, “To let it go would be a crime.” He’s right. This area of our town is a significant part of our history. For many people who call Gander home, the old town site is where their parents grew up, or their grandparents lived. For some people who now live in other parts of town, it’s the first Gander they called home. People moved to the site around the time of the Second World War. The airport was a major international transportation hub, and it was from there thousands of airplanes were flown overseas to be used in combat. Hundreds of families lived in homes and apartment buildings there. Children went to school, and were taken to church by their parents. There were stores and gathering places, just like you’d find in any town at that time. But eventually, as the airport began to find its footing at the Crossroads of the World, and commercial airline travel made Gander a much-used stopover point for planes travelling between North America and Europe, more people began to move to Gander, and soon the town began to be developed west of the airport. The buildings and roads that once teemed with men, women and children at the old town site began to disappear, but the memory of them is still very strong in the minds of so many people who have called Gander home. It’s a part of the history of this town that must be preserved, and protected. If council decides to spend some money, or seek some funding, to ensure it’s taken care of, that would be a good thing. Gander is all about history. Let’s not let this part fade away. tsaunders@ganderbeacon.ca Twitter: @Beacon1Reporter It’s time to speak out about domestic violence 6 Gloria Steinem (b. Mar. 25, 1934) American feminist, journalist, and activist A4 | The Mountaineer | Rocky Mountain House, AB EDITORIAL | Third place Provincial Circulation Manager/Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . Sports Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Molloy Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terri Saunders Senior Account Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joanne Chaffey Marilyn Puddicombe Account Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jackie Penton Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Higgins Layout Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dan Helmbold Charles Stacey . . . . . . Group Publisher Transcontinental Newfoundland and Labrador Media Group G.P. Subscription rates: Canada - $99 plus taxes Foreign - $199.00 Letters Policy: Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers. All letters must be accompanied by the writer’s name, address and telephone number and, if published, will appear with the writer’s real name. The editor reserves the right to edit letters. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. Writers should be as brief as possible, and letters should not exceed 500 words. We cannot guarantee the return of any letters not published. Copyright and/or property rights subsist in all advertising and in other materials appearing in this edition of The Beacon. Permission to reproduce wholly or in any form whatsoever, particularly by photographic or offset process in a publication, must be obtained in writing from the publisher. The Beacon Gander, NL Members: Canadian Community Newspaper Association Atlantic Community Newspaper Association We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Mountaineer Rocky Mountain House, AB Bonnyville Nouvelle Bonnyville, AB General Excellence Class 1014 - circulation 3000 to 3999 Judge: Grant Harris Best Front Page first place Second place Third place SERVING THE WEST COUNTRY SINCE 1923 Monday, August 5, 2013 • Volume 129 Number 50 • Moosomin, Saskatchewan BRADLEY’S GM What do Maryfield and Argentina have in common? See page 21 2012 Silverado LTZ 2500HD Insurance UÊÈ°äÊÊ>ÃÊ UÊÌ`É `Êi>Ì iÀÊ UÊ,i>ÀÊ >iÀ>Ê Insurance Athabasca Ltd. UÊ >Û}>Ì UÊÓx]äääÊà UÊ ÀiÜÊ >L CALL DEALERSHIP 1(800) 209-4628 FOR DETAILS UNIVERSE SATELLITE SALES 1998 Yamaha Golf Cart $ 2,50000 BALMY: Everyone was heading outdoors during recent warm spell. A9 : TAX PAID Vol. 91, No. 2 | Tuesday, January 8, 2013 CHECK OUT WWW.UNIVERSESATELLITE.COMÊU 1-306-645-2669 Rocky Mountain House, Alberta SHARE OUR PASSION (780) 675-2175 Unit 10, 2nd Floor, 4810 - 50 Street ~ 1-877-675-2175 old-fashioned service ~ modern solutions www.athabascaadvocate.com SERVING ATHABASCA, BOYLE AND AREA Canada Post agreement 40069240 2009 WINNER Representing: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 Volume 31, Number 46 $1.35 GST Included Publications Mail Agreement 40011909 Saskatchewan’s first community newspaper • Published weekly since 1884 Larger than first planned: Clearwater County 2013 budget in the works TransCanada proceeding with Energy East BY SARAH MAETCHE STAFF REPORTER rel per day capacity, TransCanada already has binding long-term contracts for 900,000 barrels a day through its “open season” process of attracting bids. There would be two onramps to the Energy East pipeline—one at Hardisty, Alta., and one in the Moosomin area to handle oil from the Bakken formation in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and North Dakota. The development in this area would include a terminal, and a new pipeline connecting the Moosomin compressor station with Cromer, Manitoba. There would also be a tank farm to store crude oil destined for the pipeline. Continued on page 3 + Dog sled team raring to go for gruelling races Jillian, Steve and Carol Taylor have been running dog sled teams for many years. In 2013, Jillian will be racing a 12 dog team in some very demanding events. Her next race is the 200 mile Eagle Cap Extreme in the Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon KIRK VERNER | THE MOUNTAINEER on January 23. Read more on B1. County, Town consider partnership for waste water treatment Lot auction this Thursday Reeve says they are looking at many sites for facility BY SARAH MAETCHE STAFF REPORTER Emily Weedmark photo A wind turbine just west of Moosomin. Turn to pages 10-11 for more aerial photos. WE’RE YOUR HAIL REPAIR SPECIALISTS Bring your hail claims to Celebration Ford! We offer… sFREE loaner vehicles s(AILDAMAGEREPAIRONALLMAKESOFVEHICLES s7INDSHIELDREPAIRREPLACEMENTS sSGI/MPI Accredited PAINTING A STARRY, STARRY NIGHT WITH LIGHT Robert Holmberg paints with light on trees the AU for Athabasca University during the 2013 Rotary Youth Academy program “Photography and the Night Sky”. This section of the program took place at the Athabasca University Geophysical Observatories southwest of Athabasca. Each student learned how to photograph the stars. For more photos and the story, see pages 22A and 23A. Find us on Find us on Facebook Facebook CHECK OUT CELEBRATIONFORD.COM • 1-800-880-4533 • (306) 435-3313 “It’s being looked at by the town and the county,” said Clearwater County Reeve Pat Alexander to the Mountaineer on January 4. “We are establishing our short term need and our long term needs and there’s also everchanging regulations to discharge the highest quality of water that you can. We are looking at the technology that’s available.” ‘It’s an expensive venture and it has to be looked at from a community perspective to provide the best for everyone in the area in the future.’ Pat Alexander Clearwater County Reeve Alexander mentioned that both the town and county are accessing their future needs in regards to waste water facilities and hopes both parties can work together in meeting the needs. HOW TO REACH US PHONE: 403-845-3334 FAX: 403-845-5570 E-MAIL: production@mountaineer.bz OFFICE: 4814 - 49th St. Rocky Mountain House Alberta T4T 1S8 6 BROMLEY CHAMBERLAIN/AA It’s back to the drawing board for Clearwater County regarding the proposed waste water facility. Clearwater County will now be possibly working together with the Town of Rocky Mountain House on a facility. In 2011, a problem arose when waste water haulers from the county were closed out of the Town of Rocky Mountain House lagoon. At that time a report was given to town councillors indicating their waste water lagoon Pat was not complying Alexander with provincial regulations. To be in volume compliance, the town chose to close the lagoon to out of town traffic. County haulers were then forced to other locations including the Leslieville lagoon. To meet its needs, the county has examined the possibility of a new facility which will cost approximately $6 million. 9 Kevin WeedmarK It will be evident soon how much interest there is in residential lots in Moosomin. The town of Moosomin’s auction of lots at the former Moosomin Union Hospital site is slated for this Thursday evening at the Conexus Centre. The town office has had a few inquiries about the auction, including one potential bidder who plans to come from Vancouver for the auction. The town has been short of residential lots for the last few years, and has developed a series of new lots at the former site of Moosomin Union Hospital. Continued on page 2 + by 26570 60090 by Kevin WeedmarK TransCanada is not proceeding with Energy East as originally planned—a pipeline to move 500,000 to 850,000 barrels a day of oil from Western Canadian oilfields to eastern markets. Instead TransCanada is seeking regulatory approval for an even bigger plan—it now plans to move 1.1 million barrels a day through the pipeline. That’s more than enough to replace the 700,000 barrels a day that eastern refineries import, so the plan now includes export facilities at St. John, New Brunswick so landlocked Western Canadian production can be exported around the world. Of the 1.1 million bar- www.rock-e.ca | $1.25 (inc. GST) Reeve looks ahead to new year JDR Insurance Athabasca Ltd. “It’s an expensive venture and it has to be looked at from a community perspective to provide the best for everyone in the area in the future,” he said. As for a location, which is yet to be determined, Alexander said there is a whole list of possibilities. “If the town is part of it, it needs to be in a position, a place where they can take advantage of it,” he said. Alexander also mentioned that due to technological advancements, it is possible the facility will be located inside a building. “I think if you look at the system we have and in 10 years from now it doesn’t meet the need because the regulatory keeps changing, everybody looks at us upstream as a source of the North Saskatchewan source water,” he said. Alexander stated that currently the water leaving Clearwater County borders is rated good to excellent and he plans to ensure that it will remain that way. Expenses regarding the proposed waste water facility will be visible in the 2015 budget. INSIDE THIS WEEK AGRICULTURE CAROLINE CLARION CLASSIFIEDS DINING|ENTERTAINMENT OPINION SPORTS ROCKY LIFE B6 B7 D2 C4 A6 B1 C1 Clearwater County’s 2013 budget has not yet been approved but all signs point to a similar budget to that of last year. “It’s a service budget,” Clearwater County Reeve Pat Alexander told The Mountaineer January 4. “We’ve seen an increased demand for some increased level of service on gravel roads and things like that, so we’ve addressed some of those issues,” he said of the budget, which may be approved at council’s upcoming meeting on January 8. In response to a question whether taxes will be going up in the county, Alexander said it’s early yet to determine whether there will be an increase. “The difference between an urban and rural budget is, a huge amount of our revenues come from non-residential, which is industrial, and we don’t get those assessments until March,” he said. “When we get our assessment, we will see if there is or isn’t an increase and it can be determined at that time.” One of the biggest Pat Alexander expenses the Reeve Clearwater County Reeve predicts for 2013 is the Public Works paving program. “We always tender our paving program in the fall for the next year, so we tendered 2013 paving in November,” said Alexander. “When we saw the kind of pricing we were getting for 2013, council then decided ‘Well, let’s take our 2014 paving program and tender it and see what kind of pricing we will get if we put the two together.’ We then decided we would take the money from the program reserves and do our 2014 program also in 2013 because of the pricing we got on the paving was exceptionally good.” Alexander also mentioned that the county plans to work on five local bridges that will be re-habbed in 2013, among other previously budgeted expenses. When looking back, Alexander says 2012 was a successful year for the county. “Certainly it had some challenges at the start of the year,” he said. “We got most of our work plan complete. The only one we didn’t get complete was the Angle Road and that was because our tenders came in way over budget. But we were able to re-tender that this past fall and they came in considerably under, so that will go forward in 2013.” Alexander says the county will always have challenges. “I think we need to do more communication with our citizenry on the reasons we do things — some that’s regulatory and legislated, some it’s by choice of council based on information that we have,” he said. “We want to try and increase our level of communication and try to answer questions citizens have. “We have an extremely good relationship with the Town of Rocky Mountain House and the Village of Caroline and that will continue. We are looking at structuring it a little bit more so that when we potentially look at a regional service, then we have a better structure of working through it. “This is one large community and we as municipal leaders have to find ways of working together.” When asked if he will run in the 2013 municipal election, Alexander said it is a possibility. “It depends on what happens during the year,” he said. “I just wish everyone in the county a happy New Year and all the best,” said Alexander. “I am looking forward to working with them over the next year.” ‘This is one large community and we as municipal leaders have to nd ways of working together.’ THE WILL TO SURVIVE: In 1927, a lost hunter was assumed dead after he was missing for four days alone in the frigid west country. D1 Three men saved by strangers after boat capsizes BROMLEY CHAMBERLAIN ADVOCATE STAFF The August long weekend started out the same as any other day for Ron Piasetzki and Mackenzie Ryan at their cabin on Calling Lake. “It was a perfect morning. The water was absolutely crystal clear, calm,” Ryan recalled about the morning of Aug. 2. Since the two had had no luck fishing in front of the cabins recently, they decided to head out into the lake towards the ranger station. “Normally, because I was only going out for a short time, I just would have fished right in front of the cabins,” Piasetzki said. “I asked Mac where he wanted to go, and he wanted to try somewhere else.” At 9 a.m. they headed out onto the lake. After shutting off the big motor, Piasetzki fired up the trolling motor, and they start- ed to fish. For half an hour they trolled along, catching only one fish. Piasetzki and Ryan then heard something peculiar. A faint voice yelled out. “In the distance we heard, ‘Hey,’ which was kind of odd that there was not a cry for help,” Ryan said. Piasetzki added, “We looked in the direction of the voice, and it looked like there might be someone in the water.” The shape in the water was quite a distance from the boat, but Piasetzki and Ryan decided it looked like someone in trouble. “We raced over to take a look,” Piasetzki said. “When we got there, we found a man in the water. He was hanging onto what appeared to be a blow-up toy and wasn’t wearing a lifejacket.” Ryan said, “Ron yelled out to ask if he needed a hand, and he said yes. I grabbed him and pulled him into the boat.” Ryan noticed the man was out of breath and was freezing cold. The man had been in the water for several hours after his boat capsized. The man then told Ryan and Piasetzki they had to save his friends. “I just felt sick instantly. There was no one around,” Piasetzki recalled. However, the man pointed, and they could make out something in the water in the distance. “We couldn’t make out what it was. It was white, and it looked like something sticking out of the water,” Piasetzki said. Ryan added, “It was a long way … and as we got closer and closer, you could see the boat was nosed out of the water.” See STRENGTH, page 4A MAIL TO: In Your Community! www.kochfordathabasca.com The Athabasca Advocate Athabasca, AB World-Spectator Moosomin, SK The Mountaineer Rocky Mountain House, AB General Excellence Class 1014 - circulation 3000 to 3999 Judge: Grant Harris Blue Ribbons Bonnyville Nouvelle, Bonnyville, AB Carstairs Courier, Carstairs, AB Gulf Islands Driftwood, Salt Spring Island, BC Kings County Advertiser, Kentville, NS Kings County Record, Sussex, NB Temiskaming Speaker, New Liskeard, ON The Athabasca Advocate, Athabasca, AB The Beacon, Gander, NL The Casket, Antigonish, NS JUDGE’S COMMENTS Class 1014 – Best All Round Newspaper First – The Mountaineer Good use of Social Media to drive traffic to your website. Excellent coverage of local and regional issues, descent Editorials. GREAT January front page photo, August front page could have used larger photo of races, with closer point of view. January page A7, B&W photo with descriptive cut-line mentioning colours... better that you ran something else on a B&W page that what would have been a great colour shot. I prefer Editors to sign their opinion pieces. Also better to criticize Non-Profits looking for free space one to one rather than in public (January Editorial “the logic behind no thank you”) . January Page A-10 Similar shot of the same RC plane, should have been other models to picture. Despite the notes above your coverage of the area makes me want to move there. Second – The Athabasca Advocate Good use of Facebook or Twitter to drive traffic to your website. I feel that Editorials should be signed. Excellent range of coverage of local and provincial issues and events. Photos well done. photo essays excellent. The Compass, Carbonear, NL The Mountaineer, Rocky Mountain House, AB The Southern Gazette, Marystown, NL The St. Paul Journal, St. Paul, AB The Westlock News, Westlock, AB Vanguard, Yarmouth, NS World-Spectator, Moosomin, SK Third – Bonnyville Nouvelle Good use of Facebook or Twitter to drive traffic to your website. Great use of Social Media for Website traffic. Would have placed a larger photo of Trudeau on the front. Good editorial opinion, like to see that the editor signs their name to it. Sports photos on pg.13 January 13, no full on faces. Good use of colour. Good community coverage. Nice clean looking ad pg.20 August issue. When Announcements section is on a colour page the announcements themselves should be in colour too; you’re already running a colour plate. General Excellence Class 1015 - circulation 4000 to 6499 General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1015 - circulation 4000 to 6499 Judge: Natalie Turvey Best All-Round Newspaper first place Second place Graphic THE BENEFITS OF BUTTING OUT Car Wash with Oil Change Purchase FREE Third place ... page 13 41 Hwy #12 N, Steinbach 204-326 -4997 1C Agriculture 14BArts & Culture 1B Classified 7B Faith 10AObituaries 9B Sports VOL. 50, NO. 31 • Wednesday, January 16, 2013 AUGUST 5 www.thecarillon.com Steinbach, Manitoba, Thursday, August 1, 2013 Agreement No. 0040010296 by Ian Froese S TEINBACH may be seen as a humble place but organizers behind this year’s Pioneer Days parade hope the city will change their ways and brag about their accomplishments—at least this once. The parade theme this Friday is “Celebrating our Champions,” a suitable motto for an annual procession drawing over 110 parade entries and thousands more onlookers to the city’s streets. From there, the festivities become a four-day celebration of Steinbach’s heritage at the Mennonite Heritage Museum. Parade marshal Kyla Murray said recognizing the city’s accomplishments stemmed from conversations with Steinbach Chamber of Commerce board members about the Steinbach Pistons improbable run to a Manitoba Junior Hockey League title this spring. The feeling was this would be sort of like a victory parade for the Pistons but discussions pro- VOLUME 68 NUMBER 31 gressed from there. “As we got brainstorming around the table, we realized that we have a lot of champions coming out of our city and the surrounding area,” said Murray. “Time to celebrate them all.” To that end, the Chamber’s business of the year, Penn-Lite Electrical and Mechanical, will lead the parade, with members of the champion Steinbach Pistons behind them. All entrants are encouraged, 119 and counting as of Wednesday, to acknowledge their champions, from business awards to employee accomplishments and gifted youngsters. Murray said Friday’s parade is on track to eclipse last summer’s record of 124 entries. You can salute the city’s gifted beginning at 10 a.m. As usual, the parade will proceed west along Main Street starting at the fire hall. Turn north onto Brandt Street and continue until Stone Bridge Crossing. See “Donations” on page 5A Provencher lauds retired MP Toews Hospital renovations nearing completion having left the premises. There are some mechanical aspects inside that must be attended to before the hospital can open its additional wing. In total, it’s 16,000 sq-ft. of new real estate; up substantially from the 19-20,000-sq-ft the hospital was formerly sized at. Jo-Anne Marion is the new director of health services for Ste Anne Hospital. She did not want to estimate an opening date for the $14 million facility, but said they are excited. See “Ste Anne” on page 2A by Ian Froese V IC Toews admits he has had a tough persona in the public eye. He did not smile much on TV reports, dealing with serious matters that did not always endear him to a national audience. On Tuesday night, in front of scores of supporters at A.D. Penner Park in Steinbach, the retired Provencher MP said he did not need to be the tough guy anymore. He warned that he would pull on one of his ears if he was going to cry, a technique he learned through his travels. It was foreshadowing to a moment only a minute into his address. “In my line of work, there isn’t much to smile about,” Toews said. “I want people to understand very clearly that I’m serious of the obligations I undertook on behalf of the people of Canada, so it’s with great pleasure that I’m up here, in Manitoba, in my riding. The riding that,” as Toews trailed off, pulling on one of his ears, “I’ve loved very much.” More than 12 years after he was vaulted into Provencher to claim the Canadian Alliance nomination, Toews’ adopted riding showed one last time that the affection is mutual. About 700 supporters enjoyed a free hot dog barbecue put on by the Conservative riding association. The line-up for food was long, but there was no rush where the hot dogs were. Toews stood in line beforehand, shaking hands with his former constituents, some of which he spoke with for several minutes at a time. A who’s who of Manitoban politicians was in attendance, including MLAs Kelvin Goertzen, Dennis Smook, Cliff Graydon and Ron Schuler. Senator Don Plett as well as MPs James Bezan, Lawrence Toet, Merv Tweed, Robert Sopuck and former MP Lloyd Axworthy all showed their support. See “Toews” on page 2A You won’t find genetically modified meat on everyone’s dinner table. Some like it or don’t care while others say “no thanks.’’ See page 6 by Grant Burr S Park Road wreckage GRANT BURR • THECARILLON A two-vehicle accident took another two drivers to hospital shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday afternoon after a white Ford Edge and black Ford Escape collided on Park Road near Penner Building Centre. Both drivers, each the sole occupants of their vehicles, were attended to by paramedics and taken to hospital for observation. RCMP said the accident remains under investigation and it is too early to determine who may have been at fault in the crash. Earlier in the afternoon two drivers were taken to hospital for observation after a crash on road 32E northeast of Mitchell. OD is laid, light posts are up, lines have been painted, marking the completion of the parking lot improvements at the Steinbach Aquatic Centre. The work to pave, add overhead lights and improve overall traffic flow in the parking lot took about seven weeks. A general drop-off and pickup area has been created to improve safety and an additional entrance was created off of Park Road to improve traffic flow. Handicap parking stalls and designated staff parking has been established as well. The city says the final project cost is expected to be under the $600,000 budget. Face off Action in the 23rd Annual Montague Norsemen Memorial Hockey Tournament starts Thursday. Thirtythree teams will vie for championships at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre, Northumberland Arena and Three Rivers Sportsplex in Georgetown See page B-10 Happy Birthday Three Grade 5 classes from Montague Consolidated sang Happy Birthday to Sir John A MacDonald in Charlottetown where they attended a party set to an 1860s theme. See page 14 Twelve teams, and 48 kids participated in the George's Deck & Recovery Under 13 Funspiel at the Montague Curling Club Saturday. The event, which was started to encourage younger curlers to enjoy the sport, is now in its ninth year. It was the first ever competition for many who took part. Teams from across the province including Crapaud, Summerside, Cornwall and Montague attended. Trophies were awarded to the top three teams, and the overall winner will have their names engraved on the George's truck trophy. The tournament was all about having fun. Nicole Feriancek photo into, Montague resident By Jonathan Charlton Karen Peardon worries the jonathan@peicanada.com perpetrators may become Kings District RCMP are brazen enough to break investigating a spree of into people’s homes. Ms Peardon, who lives on almost 20 break and enters around the Town of Mon- Robert Clements Drive, tague over the past two and spoke to Montague Council Monday night. a half weeks. “Citizens are concerned,” After her shed was broken $1.17 + GST ent. ltd. 204-326-3431 C90T 12,500 C50 CLEARANCE PRICE 8,995 $ M90 CLEARANCE PRICE 10,500 $ RMZ 450 CLEARANCE PRICE 7,995 $ RMZ 250 CLEARANCE PRICE 7,295 $ GZ 250 CLEARANCE PRICE 3,250 $ GSXR600 CLEARANCE PRICE 9,999 $ WWW.CRIKSIDE.COM WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL 6 26959 00000 9 she told council. On January 2 around 4:45am, Russell, her springer spaniel, started barking and woke her up. The person who had broken into her shed used a crowbar and then fled on a dirt bike. Nothing was taken. See page 2 By Nicole Feriancek nicole@peicanada.com Last week Dorothy Burhoe of Annandale woke up to a sight she won’t soon forget. There were fresh coyote tracks in the snow leading up to the door, too close to paw prints made by her cat Cindy. “He took her, she’s gone,” Mrs Burhoe, who lives in a rural area with her husband said. “We’re heartbroken,” the 90-year old said. “We’re two old people, and we’re so sad. We got so attached to this animal.” She said Cindy has been in their lives for more than five years. She followed them everywhere and kept them company. The feline loved the outdoors. The coyotes are becoming a problem, Mrs Burhoe said, adding she’s heard about 16 cats have gone missing in her area this year. Gerald MacDougall, section manager of the Fish and Wildlife Section of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, hasn’t heard about any coyote problems David Dixon of Montague faces a hefty clean up bill after his certified but uninsured oil tank in Annandale. leaked 100 litres of oil around his Locust Street property. Jonathan Charlton photo “Cats go missing often and we typically don’t encourage people to report missing cats. But if people encounter a coyote showing any kind of aggressive behaviour, then we would like to hear about it.” Montague man faces big bill in Locust Street oil spill jonathan@peicanada.com CRIKSIDE 350921 RD 38 N, STEINBACH, MB $ even the federal government’s to take. “It’s not tax money. It’s actual money the employer and employees put in. They (the federal government) have been given the right to manage this program, but it’s not money raised out of tax dolSee page 2 lars.” Lots of smiles at George’s Deck & Recovery Funspiel By Jonathan Charlton 2013 SUZUKI Clearance Sale CLEARANCE PRICE and I should be able to keep it.” Mrs Bernard understands the federal government is trying to save money, but she thinks the move is,“cutting places where it’s the lower paid people that are suffering.” She’s also curious if employment insurance is Sudden spike in break & enters Beloved cat Cindy worries Montague resident lost to coyote attack Pool parking lot now open ALL INVENTORY MUST GO! “I’ve worked really hard at keeping my job. I’ve taken all the training I could possibly take to improve my skills,” she said. Mrs Bernard earned her Grade 12 equivalency five years ago, she’s trained as a campground attendant and has taken tourism courses.“It’s a good job. The job is only seasonal, Word on the street In Ste Anne by Ian Froese By Heather Jordan Ross in provincial parks for 16 years and she fears she’ll hjross@peicanada.com have to take a job with up to There are many reasons 30 per cent less pay. “It would be hard. I’m a seasonal employee AnnMarie Bernard of Sturgeon cancer survivor and I take isn’t happy with new medication. I’m a diabetic Employment Insurance and our house isn’t paid off.” Mrs Bernard said she’s changes. Mrs Bernard has worked well trained, but her job is seasonal. See page 3 IAN FROESE • THECARILLON EARS in the making, the long-awaited enhancement of Ste Anne Hospital’s surgical services is prepared to open early this fall. First promised in spring 2007 by then-Premier Gary Doer during a re-election campaign, the two new operating theatres, endoscopy suite, recovery rooms and an equipment sterilization area are nearly ready for use. The project is structurally completed, with construction crews Medical mix-ups A total of 122 medication errors were made at Souris Hospital and Kings County Memorial Hospital in Montague. Patients sometimes got the wrong medication, too much medication or none at all. Former Provencher MP Vic Toews chats with visitors as they waited in line for hot dogs at his retirement barbecue Tuesday night in Steinbach. Montague resident David Dixon is staying at a neighbour’s place after an oil spill forced him out of his home. He discovered the spill at 7am Monday when he noticed the smell of oil, which still lingers around the Locust Street property. About 100 litres of oil seeped into the soil through a pinky finger-sized hole but about 270 litres of oil were saved. A contractor dug a six foot deep hole beside the house where the tank was, and more will have to be excavated. Mr Dixon doesn’t know what the final cost of the work will be and the tank wasn’t insured. He said there were a few instances of aggressive reports this fall, but none so far this winter. The department sends trappers to remove coyotes if they are deemed aggressive. The population has stabilized at about 2,000 animals Mr MacDougall said. About 500 are killed every year by the Island’s 130 trappers. Coyotes were first spotted on PEI in the early 80s and they still have a healthy fear of humans, unlike in some other provinces, Mr MacDougall said. “People need to have a healthy fear of wildlife nearly any wild animal will bite you, even squirrels. We want to keep coyotes wild, keep them fearful of humans and living the way they’re meant to.” Mrs Burhoe fears coyotes on her property are bold enough to go right up to her door. She said they don’t plan to get another cat. “There’s no use, the coyotes would just get it.” Dr Dave Lister, owner of the Montague Veterinary Clinic said coyotes eating cats is nothing new. “We hear about people missing cats all the time. We also hear about missing dogs, or injured dogs.” He said the only way to prevent attacks from coyotes, owls, or other animals is to keep pets indoors. “It’s just a headache a fellow didn’t really need,” he said. The 14-year old tank was, however, certified until 2014, which upsets him. “The homeowner thinks it’s good.” Mr Dixon said he would have rather paid for a new tank when it was last inspected instead of paying for cleanup now. www.derksenprinters.com The Carillon Steinbach, MB Nunavut News/North Nunavut, NU www.peicanada.com Long-time parks worker fears EI changes INSIDE will force people to apply for welfare What’s Pioneer Days parade to celebrate champions www.thecarillon.com ... Section B T HE L IVELY O NE INDEX Y MINOR HOCKEY & RINGETTE 2013 THE EASTERN Hours of Operation: M-F 8-8 & Sat. 8-6 The Eastern Graphic Montague, PE General Excellence Class 1015 - circulation 4000 to 6499 Judge: Natalie Turvey Best Editorial Page first place Second place Third place 6A – The Carillon, Thursday, August 1, 2013 8 YELLOWKNIFER, Friday, January 18, 2013 Editorial & Opinions Published Wednesdays and Fridays Wednesday, August 28, 2013 For business or editorial offices, please phone (807) 274-5373 or 1-800-465-8508 FAX (807) 274-7286 www.fortfrances.com info@fortfrances.com 116 First St. East, Fort Frances, ON. Canada P9A 1K2. A weekly newspaper devoted to the interests of the Town of Fort Frances and the District of Rainy River. Subscriptions payable in advance: Local (40-mile radius) $55; Regional (Mine Centre to Rainy River) $55; Balance of Canada $65; United States $160; Overseas $340. All prices include HST except U.S. subscriptions. 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Bryant • Chris Puglia Tim Edwards • Glenn Werkman • Daron Letts Sections Sports: James McCarthy– sports@nnsl.com Business: Lyndsay Herman – business@nnsl.com Arts: Nicole Garbutt – entertainment@nnsl.com Senior reporter: Katherine Hudson Reporters: Simon Whitehouse • Laura Busch Danielle Sachs • Thandiwe Vela Editorial board: Bruce Valpy • Mike W. Bryant • Derek Neary Chris Puglia • Tim Edwards • Daron Letts Glenn Werkman Advertising Production B.V. Logsdon • Diana Mathisen • Joyce Cole Andrea Pellerin • Jennifer Reyes Customer service: Ruthcil Leonardis Internet sales: Dwayne Simmons Features co-ordinator: Beau Stobbs CIRCULATION: circulation@nnsl.com Jody Miller • Samvel Balasanyan • David Hovey Subscriptions: One year mail $90 • Two year mail $125 Online (entire content) $50/year Individual subscriptions, multiple user rates on request NNSL file photo There were a number of courageous individuals who rushed to help those involved in an Arctic Sunwest Twin Otter plane crash on Sept. 22, 2011. They deserve to be recognized for their selfless actions. Local heroes Shouldering daily risk and showing courage under fire should carry greater weight than official assignment of blame in Twin Otter crash Northern News Services NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated Publishers of: Deh Cho Drum • Inuvik Drum Kivalliq News • Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North Member of: Canadian Community Newspapers Association Ontario Community Newspapers Association Manitoba Community Newspapers Association Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Contents copyright – printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited Member of the Alberta Press Council, an independent, voluntary body that serves to protect the public's right to full, fair and accurate news reporting. As a non-judicial, non-government review board, the Press Council considers complaints from the public about the conduct and performances of weekly and daily newspapers in Alberta and the NWT. The press council encourages the highest ethical and professional standards of journalism. It serves to preserve the freedom of the press and provide a forum for greater understanding. Complaints should go to: Alberta Press Council, P.O. Box 21067, Edmonton, AB., T6R 2V4 E-mail: abpress@telus.net Fax: 1-780-435-0441 www.albertapresscouncil.ca SEND US YOUR COMMENTS You can e-mail us at editorial@nnsl.com; mail to Box 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at our office at 5108-50th Street. All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number so that we can confirm it came from you. Not all letters will necessarily be published. Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern. We particularly encourage new contributors as we attempt to publish a cross-section of public opinion. Letters of more than 200 words, open letters and those published elsewhere are seldom used. We reserve the right to edit for length or taste and to eliminate inaccurate or libelous statements. We may also choose to use a letter as the basis for a story. Pilot error. Those two words carry so much weight for so many people when used to make a judgment on an aviation accident. Airplane manufacturers breathe a sigh of relief that their airplane wasn't blamed, considering all the legal implications and potential damage to their business reputation. The owner of a downed aircraft can get some comfort their practices and maintenance were not called into question. It's left to the pilot or pilots to bear the full weight of those words. If they were lucky enough to live through the ordeal, they may do so with the death or injuries of their passengers on their conscience and a gigantic black mark on their record for the rest of their career, if they still have a career. If they weren't lucky enough to survive, their families have the judgment of others added to their loss and grief. Considering the heavy implications of the term "pilot error," it's important its meaning be put into proper perspective. It was not business as usual in the instance of the Arctic Sunwest Twin Otter charter that came down on an Old Town street on Sept. 22, 2011. There were 30-knot winds sweeping THE ISSUE: AVIATION SAFETY WE SAY: RECORD HARD TO BEAT across the southern shore of Great Slave Lake, coming straight up the barrel of Yellowknife Bay, whipping the water up into a chaotic chop. The Twin Otter's floats bounced off waves twice. Chief pilot Capt. Trevor Jonasson took over from first officer Nicole Stacey, aborting the landing to attempt another. In 10 seconds of roaring engines, high winds, powerlines, rock faces, two and three-storey homes and businesses and stressful flying, it was all over. No one knows what the pilots were facing in the cockpit in those 10 seconds, not even the experts who had a year to dissect the moments in time and determine what should have happened in a perfect world. Whatever happened, the pilots paid the ultimate price. That says a lot about the risks pilots accept when they climb into the cockpit day after day while flying thousands of feet in the air and when bringing the aircraft back to Earth. Last year, there were 42,445 take- Yellowknifer Yellowknife, NT So proud Fort Frances Times and Rainy Lake Herald, Est. 1895 COMMENTS AND VIEWS FROM YELLOWKNIFER AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR P.O. Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1 Office: 5108 50th Street, Yellowknife Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507 E-mail: nnsl@nnsl.com Website: www.nnsl.com ADVERTISING advertising@nnsl.com Advertising manager: Petra Ehrke Representatives: Orlene Williams • Ed Kaminski Terry Dobbin • Dawn Janz • Richard Jordas Tina Carmody • Jeanine Boychuk • Sara Wilson Andrea McMullen • Alex Mackenzie • Ben Zenco A4 Opinion offs and landings at the Yellowknife airport. That there were no deaths or injuries in 42,444 is a glowing testament not only to the pilots but the aviation mechanics, administrators, and safety inspectors. Jonasson's father Ray says his family wants to remember his son as a hero. If the definition of a hero is one who accepts the risk of death or injury to serve others and losing his life doing so, then his son and Stacey are indeed heroes. Other heroes stood up to be counted that day. We don't know all their names, but there were Yellowknifers at the scene of the crash who ignored clear threats to their personal safety and charged in to the gas-soaked wreckage to help whoever they could get to safety. They fit a different definition of hero and we hope they are acknowledged publicly, in some fashion, for their acts of courage. Without such heroes in the skies and on the ground, our world simply wouldn't function as well as it does. Even more than before, the high rocks at Pilot's Monument, towering over the very spot the Twin Otter came down so fatally hard, should serve as a fitting reminder of that enduring truth. Letters policy All newspapers encourage letters to the editor and intend to print the opinions of their readers with as few restrictions as possible. The Fort Frances Times is no exception. Rules governing letters to the editor in the Fort Frances Times are: 1. All letters must be signed, and the name of the writer will be printed with all letters published. 2. The writer must submit his/ her letter in person and satisfactorily identify themselves, or submit a telephone number to be used to verify that the letter was actually written by the person whose name is included on it, delaying publication if necessary to make the verification. 3. Letters will not be accepted from people outside the local coverage area unless the letters are written on a topic of primarily local interest. 4. If a letter attacks another individual or group, the Times will allow a response in the same edition. 5. Letters should not exceed 300 words and may be edited for length and content. James R. Cumming, Publisher, Michael Behan, Managing Editor, Debbie Ballard, Advertising Manager, Don Cumming, Production Manager Linda Plumridge, Office Manager Fort Frances was urged last week to “rock this house”— and did we ever! Our enthusiasm, spirit, and hospitality was front and centre when the “Kraft Celebration Tour” came to town— culminating with the throng of people who turned out Sunday at the Sorting Gap Marina for the community barbecue and live broadcast of TSN’s “SportsCentre.” Despite the scorching heat, with humidex values hitting at least 40 C, the crowd never let up—cheering wildly while waving signs and flags from the moment the show began until co-anchors Darren Dutchyshen and Jennifer Hedger signed off an hour later. And by all accounts from those who watched the broadcast on TV at home, that passion and excitement really came through. As the final stop on this year’s 10-town “Kraft Celebration Tour” across Canada, we certainly delivered a great send-off. While TSN obviously will tell every community what a wonderful time they had, to hear one producer say Fort Frances “raised the bar” is a real feather in our collective hats and a testament to the great job the organizing committee did. It first had only three weeks to co-ordinate the online voting campaign needed to defeat Dryden, then had barely a month to organize a weekend of events to showcase our community from coast to coast. Their efforts were truly inspiring—and a real lesson on the right way to stage an event. Fort Frances starred in our moment in the spotlight and everyone should be so proud. Fun being the sidewalk super Since the first week of July, I’ve been a sidewalk superintendent. I began learning to be a sidewalk superintendent watching homes being built on Third Street when I was four. There were no sidewalks on that street back then. My wife likes to kid me that I have outgrown “Tonka” toys but that my enjoyment of big machines remains fast. I watched as Makkinga Contracting ripped up Second Street East from Central Avenue to Mowat, and then Mowat from Second to Third Street East. John Makkinga began the company in 1989 and today he and his five children operate it. The job in Fort Frances had them replacing a deep sewer line on Second Street. It was that year that John bought the big orange 3500 Insley excavator that dug deep to the sewers. And back in 1989, it was the largest excavator in Northwestern Ontario. It is a loud machine but John operated the digging with a surgeon’s skill and could scrape a half-inch of soil along the sewer bed to lay a section of pipe. He kept three trucks revolving in the long 12-hour days. Fresh soil was dug from the section that was going to receive the new piece of sewer pipe and was trucked around to the hole where the last piece of pipe had gone in. There his son, David, operating another backhoe, took the dirt and back-filled the hole. The Makkinga crews were replacing the Second Street water line simultaneously. There was never a slack moment in the day as the crew worked tirelessly, often in extreme heat. They ran into problems. The first was discovering a thick layer of concrete that was the old road bed on Second Street. The second was the Bell cement conduit that ran along the side of the road and crossed over at Mowat Avenue. Both were unexpected setbacks. John told me that Makkinga Contracting has 40 excavators, and four were in Fort Frances for the project. Dave Makkinga, who is heading up the project, also brought in John’s lovingly-restored 1975 Dodge “Big Horn” dump truck. With good weather, the crews jumped ahead of schedule and were available when the sewer collapsed on the 400 block of Second Street East. The Town of Fort Frances asked them to come in and do the repairs. It was a messy job. With the collapse of the pipe, the sewage had no place to move. Beginning at the manhole at the centre of the Victoria and Second intersection, the crew from Tuesday afternoon through late Wednesday night were able to replace almost a half-block of sewer, connecting homes on both sides of the street with new sewer pipe and those homes on the south side with new water connections. As one of the crew said, “We like to dig,” and they are really good at sewer and water replacement. Shortly after 9:30 on Thursday night, the 400 block of Second Street was reopened to traffic. Makkinga had used three backhoes, a vibrating compacting roller, a bulldozer, and grader to quickly bring the street back to function. Their work on the 400 block of Second street filled my noon and evening time. I watched in fascination as the 100 block of Second Street was torn up—the crews scrambling to set the sewer pipes at proper grades and the replacement of water lines. The work went quickly. Once the sewer and water were replaced, everything slowed as grades were set for curb work and paving. A specialized concrete crew came in and in a short week, the curb and sidewalks were replaced. This week they are getting the final road bed grades in place. Paving is not far behind and I will get to watch a different crew put the black top down. I was asked on Monday, “When we finish here, what are you going to do?” I had no answer. Letters to the Editor Many thanks Dear Mike: Thanks to my fellow “lead riders” (Bob Gordon from Kenora and Doug Hutton of Dryden), this year’s “Ride For Memories” from Fort Frances into Dryden on Saturday was a huge success. The ladies at the Fort Frances Legion started us off with a great lunch, then we were escorted through the TSN/Kraft Celebration Tour festivities at the Sorting Gap Marina with a “bagpipe salute” from the Fort Frances Highlanders. A bear crossing Highway 502 near the monument pullover brought our mile-long caravan down to a crawl/stop but only for a few minutes (being our version of the Highway 401 rush-hour traffic in Toronto). In Dryden, the Legion greeted us with their Sgt.-at-Arms and army cadets as traffic/parking security, followed by a delicious barbecued steak dinner, so we were well-fed. Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall was gracious in welcoming us to his hospitable city and should know his fellow citizen, Doug Hutton, did a marvelous prizegathering job from his many generous local businesses. Congratulations goes to Lawrence Lunam from Kenora for winning the best poker hand with an ace high flush. A special thanks goes to the police from Kenora, Fort Frances, and Dryden for their traffic escorts and ensuring everyone’s safety, and, in particular, the OPP for their motorcycle escort for the entire ride. It also was pleasing to see so many couples amongst the riders this year—it’s always nice to see ladies in leather. Another special thank you goes to Kevin Kennedy from Stratton for raising the most money amongst the riders– and to all the riders (and all their donors) from Fort Frances, Dryden, Kenora, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay (and points in between, including Bemidji, Mn.) who raised funds for such a worthy cause as our local Alzheimer’s Society. We look forward to next year’s event, to be hosted by Kenora. Until then, keep your feet on your pegs and the wind at your back. (Signed), Bill Naturkach Fort Frances, Ont. You rock! Dear Mike: As part of the “Kraft Celebration Tour” local organizing committee, I’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Fort Frances, International Falls, Rainy River District, and Koochiching County for making this event a huge success! Both TSN and Kraft were incredibly impressed with Fort Frances. The producers, co-anchors Jennifer and Darren, and the production crew all were blown away by the size of the crowd and the community spirit that was evident throughout the weekend. Many of the TSN crew made a point of mentioning to us how well they were treated everywhere they went in Fort Frances, and they were very happy to end the “Tour” with such a fantastic event. Every member of their team– not just the celebrities–received first-class treatment all over town. The positive comments about our community were constant throughout the weekend. Not only did we garner the most votes in Canada this year, the crowd at the Sorting Gap Marina was one of the biggest and loudest that they’ve had since the “Tour” started five years ago. While we were standing on stage during the cheque presentation, we couldn’t see where the crowd ended. Not only were we able to put on a great event for Fort Frances, we managed to give Jennifer, Darren, and everyone else on the crew an experience they will remember for a long time. When we learned that we won the online vote, we knew we had a lot of work ahead of us. But the community really came through and made organizing this event as easy as it could have possibly been. Everywhere we turned, we found people asking us what they could do to help. Not only did we have a ton of volunteers, but the local business community really stepped up to help us out, as well, and our media partners were instrumental in our success. We could not have accomplished this without the support of our entire community on both sides of the border. In particular, thank you to our wonderful volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the past few months, and especially on Saturday and Sunday for hours in the extreme heat, to make this event a reality. We could not have done this without you. Fort Frances, you rock! Thank you for showing TSN, Kraft, and all of Canada what a fantastic community this is! Sincerely, Charles Fisher Fort Frances, Ont. Bravo! Dear editor: As I saw the community spirit, in both winning the “Kraft Celebration Tour” and the resounding success of the event here Sunday, I must say I was incredibly proud of our town. But upon seeing the “Rainbow” flag proudly flying in the background during the TSN broadcast of the event, my heart swelled again. The country saw that flag— saw that we are a community which can show openness and tolerance. To the person who brought it and proudly flew it . . . bravo! (Signed), Hank Calder A proud resident of Fort Frances HAVE YOUR SAY How would you rate the “Kraft Celebration Tour?” To take part in our online poll, visit the Times’ Web site at: www.fftimes.com Last week’s question--How do you feel about going back to school?--saw 189 responses: -43 % voted “A+” -30 % voted “F” -17 % voted “B” -10 % voted “C-” Fort Frances Times Fort Frances, ON Steinbach, Man. www.thecarillon.com Editorial The 2013 CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013 CCNA BLUE RIBBON The Carillon, published every Thursday by Derksen Printers, 377 Main Street, Steinbach, Manitoba R5G 1A5. Honourary Publisher Rick Derksen, Publisher Glenn Buffie, Editor G. Burr Authorized as Second Class Matter and for the payment of postage in cash by Canada Post Corporation, Ottawa. Parade theme misses mark i n recent years the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce, through its connection to Eastman immigrant Services, has done well to make one of the major highlights on the Pioneer Days parade a celebration of cultural diversity in the Southeast, a focus that was engaging and appealing to a diverse audience. This year’s main parade theme makes an attempt at that same engagement but, in the end, falls short and serves as an example of trying to wring too much from a good idea. The plan to celebrate champions emerged from discussions about honoring the Steinbach Pistons Manitoba Junior Hockey League championship title. The Pistons didn’t get much of a send-off or recognition after their big win, possibly due to the hope that the team would garner bigger prizes at the Western Canadian championship and beyond. The Chamber likely started off with the best of intentions but that seems to have become muddled as discussions continued towards celebrating, not just the Pistons, but all community champions. For the Chamber that meant recognizing Penn-Lite Electrical & Mechanical, a company with deep roots here and over three decades of service to the community, who garnered the Chamber’s annual business of the year award late last year. So, it was obviously a no-brainer as to who should lead the parade this year. Yes, rally around a celebration of that local company who battled hard and won top honors last November. The Pistons? Oh, they’ll still be there as runners-up, a silver medal to go with the silver chalice they brought home to the community. it is perhaps the price the city pays for having the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce organize its annual parade but, really, a bit of perspective seems to have been lost when a local business is chosen as a focal point, instead of a team that electrified the community with its playoff run. it is wonderful that the Chamber takes it upon itself to organize and coordinate the annual affair. if not for them it would fall on someone else to handle the event. it is an argument the Chamber has made in the past as it has pressed city council to maintain the over $100,000 in funding it receives annually through the city’s business tax. The Chamber has touted its organizational efforts in managing the parade as one of valuable reasons for the city to continue funding chamber activities. Maybe at the end of the day perhaps a theme isn’t all that necessary. A parade can simply be a parade too. it can be a great chance for people to decorate floats and for kids to grab some candy. Maybe it is just a case of the Chamber trying too hard, a case of trying to appeal to too many and in the end missing the mark. Sometimes the brightest idea is to keep things simple. -G.B. Some perspective on crime and curfews S TATiSTiCS Canada released its annual crime statistics update on cities over 100,000. Overall crime index and violent crime severity index are the two columns most reports in the media focus on. Winnipeg is still statistically violent, but less so. Overall crime is down in Manitoba’s capital – that is good – but youth crime is up – that is bad. Simple stories with simple numbers (if one is not concerned about what index is) comfort frazzled reports looking for something that can almost write itself. So how did Steinbach do? There have been rumblings that with the increase in population has come an increase in vandalism. A possible solution thrown out has been a curfew for people under 18. Canadian cities over 10,000 have their policereported crime statistics from 2011 on the Statistics Canada website. Out of 239 communities across the country, Steinbach is 85th worst in overall crime. The city is 112th in violent crime, and 75th in nonviolent crime. Not good statistics, but not disastrous either. in comparison, Thompson was the most violent community over 10,000 in all of Canada and second in overall crime. Selkirk was 29th and 15th respectively; Portage la Prairie eighth and fourth. Winkler is a relative city of angels at 208th and 175th. But what does that all mean? Thompson most definitely has social issues that have decimated many residents’ quality of life. A Winnipeg Free Press report on Saturday cited a study that showed 80 percent of Thompson students in Grades 7-12 have someone in their family battling addiction to drugs or alcohol. Steinbach is not Thompson. Most crimes that come through Steinbach court involve drugs and alcohol in some way. More resources are needed to fight addictions (many addicts seek a non-religious alternative that is not found here and emergency shelters and programs are stretched to capacity), and for policing (Steinbach has less than half the officers Portage does and fewer than statistically safer and smaller Winkler). But a curfew is preposterous. The fact is the kids are all right. On a busy day in court, the docket will have one page for youth offenders and dozens of pages for adults. There is a misconception that all vandalism or mischief is caused by kids with nothing better to do. Adults who forget or never experienced the joy of being a teen and going to dinner and a movie in the city have suggested that any kids not out working ought to be behind locked doors are being both naïve and unfair. A 17-year-old high school student can make you a burger but not go for one him or herself? The city is growing and experiencing growing pains. Let the kids hanging out at Youth for Christ, working at McDonalds, or just going for an evening stroll grow up too – outside somewhere that they do not have to suffer for the crimes of others. -C.G. Photo by Alma Barkman As the twig is bent, the tree inclines. Let working dogs do their work Dear Sir: Think of it this way; not only service dog Mocha’s vest her working jacket, but it is also a cloak of invisibility. A Grade 2 student that practices her reading with Mocha and i was a great role model for how to behave around a service dog. Mocha and i met this student outside the school. Not only did she not interact with Mocha, she had already informed her mother about the rules. i was able to greet them and have a nice conversation without anyone paying any atten- tion to Mocha at all. All dogs, whether they be guide dogs or service dogs such as search and rescue dogs, are protected. in 2009 the Manitoba government put into law The Service Animals Protection Act which makes it a criminal offense to interfere with service animals and for other animals to do so without consent. Manitoba was the first province in Canada to pass this legislation against interference with a service animal. Many people ask why they cannot pet the dog? Let me highlight a few Rethinking Lifestyle When Weeds Aren’t Weeds by Ernie Klassen ter used to be a nuisance - not any more. Even dandelions are looked upon kindly. Why? Because it turns out that the “weeds” are as good or better for you than the veggies that your mother insisted that you eat (or at least try!) The weeds taste great if you pick them while they’re young and sweet. And as we all know, there is no shortage of young weeds in the garden, pretty well all the time. They just keep coming. What passes for a salad on our table, when inspected closely, contains not only the usual lettuce, spinach, cucumbers and green onions, but also dandelion, pigweed and lambs quarter leaves and succulent portulaca. Add in various exotic greens that we actually sowed in rows, and the tomatoes (in a couple of weeks), and we need to get out the industrial size salad bowls. What a great time of year this is. You don’t have to hold your nose when you take in these greens either; the wild salad additions are every bit as tasty as the domestic. Check the nutrition charts and be amazed by how superior the vitamin, iron and calcium content is compared to many of the conventional components. That scientific data, and my wife’s persuasive powers, got me to open my mouth and Letters to the Editor M Rethinking Lifestyle PST hike hurts pensioners Letters to the Editor Dear Sir: Some of the unseen victims of the NDP’s decision to increase the PST one point are those in poverty or on fixed pension incomes. The real impact of the PST increase to eight percent means people are paying 14 percent more tax on goods and services they need. it has the greatest effect on those least able to pay. it reduces the disposable income available to purchase the necessities of life. The NDP pushes Manitobans impacted by poverty further behind as any increase in income assistance or pension barely keeps up with inflation. it does not keep up with NDPimposed increases to taxes like the PST, particularly as tax increases have pushed inflation above average in Manitoba. At the end of the day, the PST increase means there are fewer dollars for those that can least afford to have this happen. Providing government services that we all need and enjoy should not come at a disproportionate cost to those who can least afford to pay. ian Wishart MLA for Portage la Prairie Letters to Love of the game lagging the Editor Dear Sir: i am a baseball fan and enjoy watching the Carillon Sultans. However, this year i am disappointed in their games. All the players sign up because they love baseball and like to play but in this year’s games extra players were rarely in the lineup. Why do the extra players not get to play a few innings especially if their team is a few runs ahead? They paid the fees that were required. These extra players may choose not to play next year. This would be the right decision. H. Schmidt Mitchell, MB News that matters to people in southeastern Manitoba Publishers Derksen Printers, a division of FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership Publisher: Glenn Buffie Editor – Grant Burr News Staff: Terry Frey, Chris Gareau, Judy Peters Publisher: Glenn Buffie gbuffie@thecarillon.com Editor: Grant Burr gburr@thecarillon.com Sports Editor: Terry Frey tfrey@thecarillon.com News Reporter: Chris Gareau cgareau@thecarillon.com News Reporter: Judy Peters jpeters@thecarillon.com Circulation Manager: Kelsey Wynn other reasons: Two hours of work or errands could easily take twice the time if we accommodated each request to talk about Mocha, to answer personal questions asked to me, or to pet Mocha; having people interact with them everywhere starts to negate the many hours of public access work training; many service dogs are constantly monitoring their partner’s health. They have the right to do their best work without being constantly disturbed. Kimberly Marinelli Sprague, MB Y wife loves to garden. i like to garden. We spend a lot of time in the vegetable garden. She does almost all the brain work and a lot of the brawn work. i put in the odd request for a particular vegetable when the garden is being planned. After that, i mainly weed. My idea of a garden is straight rows of veggies - carrots, corn, peas, etc. and my idea of weeding is to pull out any plant that my wife tells me to. Janet’s idea of a vegetable garden may or may not have straight rows. We’ve had beds and groupings of one sort or another, curvy lines and what not, and she likes to explore the fringe flora - like arugula. i’m a linear thinker and she’s imaginative and experimental. Occasionally we clash, but i lose because she’s the garden boss. So, my latest capitulation involves weeds. in the last few years, weeding in our garden has changed dramatically. i still do quite a bit of it, but the approach is completely different. it’s taken a bit of time and persuasion on Janet’s part, but i’m mostly reoriented and retrained. No longer is portulaca Enemy #1. Pigweed is now my friend. Lamb’s quar- Rethinking Lifestyle my mind to the new possibilities. After that, the “weeds” sold themselves. Forget what you learned in your youth - those endless hours in the garden with a hoe or on your knees. Portulaca is not the devil’s own plant. Pigweed isn’t just for pigs, if it ever was. Dandelions are more than a pretty face. Nature provides these and other plants in abundance. We simply haven’t recognized the gift. Check out a website or gardening book to make sure you recognize what you’re after. Pick the leaves while they’re young and tender. Enjoy the taste, the goodness and the feeling of revenge against your garden “enemy”, or if you like, the satisfaction of making peace with them. And if you really do enjoy weeding, as i do, don’t worry; there’ll still be lots of them to hoe and pull when you’ve eaten your fill. (This column is prepared by the South Eastman Transition Initiative. Go to www.setimanitoba.org.) The Carillon invites opinions from readers but publishes only signed correspondence. All letters are subject to editing for length, general interest and good taste. 377 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1A5 Phone (204) 326-3421 Fax (204) 326-4860 Manitoba Toll Free 1-800-442-0463 website: www.thecarillon.com email: info@thecarillon.com Subscription rates: One Year Manitoba: $37.94 plus $1.90 GST, plus $3.03 PST = $42.87 Out of Province: $50.19 plus GST, PST or HST U.S. and foreign: $165.40 Internet subscription: $39.99 taxes included kwynn@thecarillon.com RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESS TO: THE CARILLON 377 MAIN STREET STEINBACH, MB R5G 1A5 "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage." Advertising: Advertising: Brenda Bjornson Janet Kehler jkehler@thecarillon.com bbjornson@thecarillon.com All contents protected by copyright. This newspaper printed Recycle this with vegetable based ink newspaper The Carillon Steinbach, MB General Excellence Class 1015 - circulation 4000 to 6499 Judge: Natalie Turvey Best Front Page first place Second place MONDAY, JANuArY 21, 2013 Car Wash with Oil Change Purchase FREE ¥∂fl±´Çî ă¿Çéflî ¥ÒöˆêÄ∏∂Ê∏≥≤Í≠î Volume 67 Issue 39 Third place Hours of Operation: M-F 8-8 & Sat. 8-6 41 Hwy #12 N, Steinbach 204-326 -4997 INDEX 1C Agriculture 14BArts & Culture 1B Classified 7B Faith 10AObituaries 9B Sports AUGUST 5 www.thecarillon.com Steinbach, Manitoba, Thursday, August 1, 2013 Agreement No. 0040010296 VOLUME 68 NUMBER 31 Pioneer Days parade to celebrate champions by Ian Froese S TEINBACH may be seen as a humble place but organizers behind this year’s Pioneer Days parade hope the city will change their ways and brag about their accomplishments—at least this once. The parade theme this Friday is “Celebrating our Champions,” a suitable motto for an annual procession drawing over 110 parade entries and thousands more onlookers to the city’s streets. From there, the festivities become a four-day celebration of Steinbach’s heritage at the Mennonite Heritage Museum. Parade marshal Kyla Murray said recognizing the city’s accomplishments stemmed from conversations with Steinbach Chamber of Commerce board members about the Steinbach Pistons improbable run to a Manitoba Junior Hockey League title this spring. The feeling was this would be sort of like a victory parade for the Pistons but discussions pro- $.95 (plus GST) gressed from there. “As we got brainstorming around the table, we realized that we have a lot of champions coming out of our city and the surrounding area,” said Murray. “Time to celebrate them all.” To that end, the Chamber’s business of the year, Penn-Lite Electrical and Mechanical, will lead the parade, with members of the champion Steinbach Pistons behind them. All entrants are encouraged, 119 and counting as of Wednesday, to acknowledge their champions, from business awards to employee accomplishments and gifted youngsters. Murray said Friday’s parade is on track to eclipse last summer’s record of 124 entries. You can salute the city’s gifted beginning at 10 a.m. As usual, the parade will proceed west along Main Street starting at the fire hall. Turn north onto Brandt Street and continue until Stone Bridge Crossing. See “Donations” on page 5A IAN FROESE • THECARILLON Former Provencher MP Vic Toews chats with visitors as they waited in line for hot dogs at his retirement barbecue Tuesday night in Steinbach. Provencher lauds retired MP Toews In Ste Anne New Northern hockey championship Hospital renovations nearing completion by Ian Froese Y EARS in the making, the long-awaited enhancement of Ste Anne Hospital’s surgical services is prepared to open early this fall. First promised in spring 2007 by then-Premier Gary Doer during a re-election campaign, the two new operating theatres, endoscopy suite, recovery rooms and an equipment sterilization area are nearly ready for use. The project is structurally completed, with construction crews having left the premises. There are some mechanical aspects inside that must be attended to before the hospital can open its additional wing. In total, it’s 16,000 sq-ft. of new real estate; up substantially from the 19-20,000-sq-ft the hospital was formerly sized at. Jo-Anne Marion is the new director of health services for Ste Anne Hospital. She did not want to estimate an opening date for the $14 million facility, but said they are excited. See “Ste Anne” on page 2A by Ian Froese V IC Toews admits he has had a tough persona in the public eye. He did not smile much on TV reports, dealing with serious matters that did not always endear him to a national audience. On Tuesday night, in front of scores of supporters at A.D. Penner Park in Steinbach, the retired Provencher MP said he did not need to be the tough guy anymore. He warned that he would pull on one of his ears if he was going to cry, a technique he learned Mary River iron ore project downsizes through his travels. It was foreshadowing to a moment only a minute into his address. “In my line of work, there isn’t much to smile about,” Toews said. “I want people to understand very clearly that I’m serious of the obligations I undertook on behalf of the people of Canada, so it’s with great pleasure that I’m up here, in Manitoba, in my riding. The riding that,” as Toews trailed off, pulling on one of his ears, “I’ve loved very much.” More than 12 years after he was vaulted into Provencher to claim the Canadian Alliance nomination, Toews’ adopted riding showed one last time that the affection is mutual. About 700 supporters enjoyed a free hot dog barbecue put on by the Conservative riding association. The line-up for food was long, but there was no rush where the hot dogs were. Toews stood in line beforehand, shaking hands with his former constituents, some of which he spoke with for several minutes at a time. A who’s who of Manitoban politicians was in attendance, including MLAs Kelvin Goertzen, Dennis Smook, Cliff Graydon and Ron Schuler. Senator Don Plett as well as MPs James Bezan, Lawrence Toet, Merv Tweed, Robert Sopuck and former MP Lloyd Axworthy all showed their support. See “Toews” on page 2A Pool parking lot now open The Jerry Cans release album by Grant Burr S Park Road wreckage GRANT BURR • THECARILLON A two-vehicle accident took another two drivers to hospital shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday afternoon after a white Ford Edge and black Ford Escape collided on Park Road near Penner Building Centre. Both drivers, each the sole occupants of their vehicles, were attended to by paramedics and taken to hospital for observation. RCMP said the accident remains under investigation and it is too early to determine who may have been at fault in the crash. Earlier in the afternoon two drivers were taken to hospital for observation after a crash on road 32E northeast of Mitchell. OD is laid, light posts are up, lines have been painted, marking the completion of the parking lot improvements at the Steinbach Aquatic Centre. The work to pave, add overhead lights and improve overall traffic flow in the parking lot took about seven weeks. A general drop-off and pickup area has been created to improve safety and an additional entrance was created off of Park Road to improve traffic flow. Handicap parking stalls and designated staff parking has been established as well. The city says the final project cost is expected to be under the $600,000 budget. 2013 SUZUKI Clearance Sale CRIKSIDE ent. ltd. 350921 RD 38 N, STEINBACH, MB 204-326-3431 ALL INVENTORY MUST GO! www.thecarillon.com Idle No More comes to Iqaluit streets Yellowknifer Yellowknife, NT Rankin Inlet curlers make nationals Peter Worden/NNSL photo Publication mail Contract #40012157 7 71605 00200 2 QUOTE: "I get so upset with bureaucracy; it just blows me away." – Jim Little, who runs a compost program in Iqaluit, on trying to get government on board with the program, page 7. Nunavut News/North Nunavut, NU C90T CLEARANCE PRICE 12,500 $ C50 CLEARANCE PRICE 8,995 $ M90 CLEARANCE PRICE 10,500 $ RMZ 450 CLEARANCE PRICE 7,995 $ RMZ 250 CLEARANCE PRICE 7,295 $ GZ 250 CLEARANCE PRICE $ 3,250 GSXR600 WWW.CRIKSIDE.COM CLEARANCE PRICE $ WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL 9,999 www.derksenprinters.com The Carillon Steinbach, MB General Excellence Class 1015 - circulation 4000 to 6499 Judge: Natalie Turvey Blue Ribbons Brock Citizen, Brock, ON Fort Frances Times, Fort Frances, ON La Liberté, St-Boniface, MB JUDGE’S COMMENTS Class 1015 – Best All Round Newspaper First – Nunavut News/North Excellent coverage of local news and events, opinions, arts, business and politics. Distinct branding and esthetic. Strong design elements and creative photos and ad placement to attract readers. Compelling photojournalism that enhanced stories. A pleasure to read. Northern Journal, Fort Smith/Fort Chipewyan, NT Nunavut News/North, Nunavut, NU The Carillon, Steinbach, MB The Eastern Graphic, Montague, PE Yellowknifer, Yellowknife, NT Second – The Carillon Strong balance of hard news, editorial and opinions with community highlights. Creative packaging of advertising and photo placement. Engaging stories of local residents and initiatives. Captivating photography. A pleasure to read. Third – The Eastern Graphic Nice layout. Clean and easy to follow. Strong opinion/editorial pages. Evidence of robust reader engagement with letters, ‘Word on the Street’ and ‘Website visitors respond’. Nice balance of hard news and community coverage. Engaging photos to complement stories and attract readers. Would have liked to see more colour photos and colour pages in the paper. General Excellence Class 1016 - circulation 6500 to 12499 General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1016 - circulation 6500 to 12499 Judge: John Morash Best All-Round Newspaper first place Second place Third place NICK KYPREOS Winner of Calder Cup Winner of Stanley Cup Hockey Analyst Sportsnet Muskoka Kia Optima Driver MUSKOKA 705-645-6575 1-877-278-9970 www.muskokakia.ca Email: sales@muskokakia.ca 21 Robert Dollar Dr. Bracebridge, ON P1L 1P9 cottagecountrynow.ca BracebridgeEXAMINER VOL. 37, NO. 40 Cleared for takeoff Grabbing a bounce A Yukon pilot will release his first solo fiddle CD next week. A new airbag gives freestyle skiers a chance to practise big jumps safely. Page 28 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013 Pub. 40017902 LEVEE. Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith makes a donation to the food bank at his New Year’s fete at the Bracebridge Sportsplex on Jan. 5. (Photo by Louis Tam) BY LOUIS TAM It cost the Town of Bracebridge over $158,000 in legal costs to make amends with bylaw officer Ted Lowcock after he was fired two years ago. The number was revealed to this newspaper by Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith on Thursday, Jan. 3, a few weeks after Lowcock’s official reinstatement date. The 21-year town employee was fired in December 2010 after a number of people alleged he addressed his boss with homophobic slurs, harassed a fellow colleague, slacked off during work hours and that he ordered student employees not to outshine him. Smith said it cost about $158,000 to cover associated legal fees in handling Lowcock’s case. The additional cost of hiring labour arbitrator Louisa M. Davie to resolve matters was pegged at about $32,000. “This has been over a couple of years, so I think generally all those costs have been dealt with,” Smith said of the legal costs. “There may be some minor impacts in 2013, but those costs have been absorbed as we’ve gone along through this process.” Bracebridge CAO John Sisson said in an email that the cost of hiring Davie was spread out over two years. Sisson said although legal costs exceeded the town’s 2012 legal budget, “other favourable variances during this past year will offset the legal over-expenditure in whole or in part.” “There is no budgetary impact expected in the draft 2013 municipal budget related to this arbitration matter, which is now concluded,” he said. Page 38 Your CommunitY ConneCtion $1.25 (inc. tax) Bylaw officer’s firing cost town over $160k FridaY, JanuarY 4, 2013 CONTINUED ON PAGE A6 � Sportsplex won’t turn profit, but pennies need pinching: mayor BY LOUIS TAM Extracurricular school activities stay off table BY LOUIS TAM Wednesday • Friday There is still no end in sight to the hiatus on extracurricular activities for students at Muskoka’s high schools. Speaking to this newspaper a week after Education Minister Laurel Broten announced plans to impose contracts on teachers, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation Trillium Lakelands president Peter Carroll said teachers will be continuing to withhold sports and afterschool activities for the foreseeable future. Though Broten withdrew Bill 115, its terms were nonetheless imposed upon teachers and school support staff. Education workers have criticized the province’s actions as a power grab that takes away their right to collective bargaining. “We believe that the government’s actions are certainly going to discourage our members from resuming voluntary activities,” said Carroll. “The government has given them absolutely no reason to be spending hours and hours of their personal time delivering voluntary services to the school community.” 1 including gst $ established 1960 Whistle Bend clash continues PAGE 2 Carroll said the hiatus will likely continue at least until the provincial Liberals find a replacement for premier Dalton McGuinty. “I can’t see an end to it right at the moment, we would hope that at some point the government might decide to change its policy – we do know there is going to be a new premier,” he said. “Hopefully that person is going to review the situation and come up with a more reasonable approach to the situation.” Last winter, Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School students staged a walkout in protest of the province’s actions. But they also expressed concerns that the hiatus on extracurricular activities like sports puts their future at risk, as some students are counting on being scouted for athletic scholarships at universities and colleges. Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario Trillium Lakelands vice-president Kevin Adam said the local is working on its next steps, but otherwise remained tight-lipped. He said the union is expected to comment sometime later this week. � Bracebridge can’t realistically expect the Sportsplex to be profitable, but losing a large chunk of its customer base may necessitate a new approach to its finances, Mayor Graydon Smith says. Smith said the town needs to look towards “right sizing” the Clearbrook Trail facility’s business model to fit its customer base, which drastically shrank in 2012 with the opening of the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre and new competition in the private sector. Over the past year, the culture and recreation department’s target market has dropped from 27,000 to about 16,000. Historically, the first four months of the year have been the bread and butter of the facility’s annual membership earnings, with 40 per cent of membership fees for the year rolling in between January and the end of March. What worried council and staff in 2012, however, was that membership revenues in that time period fell short by $85,000 this past year. By comparison, the membership revenue shortfall at the end of 2010 amounted to about $22,000, and about $8,000 in 2009. In 2008, the membership revenue shortfall was around $19,000, and about $32,000 in 2007. “It was clear early in the year that we weren’t going to meet those projections,” said Smith. “If we’re going to be $85,000 short on a projection we’ll need to take some corrective meas� CONTINUED ON PAGE A8 Mystery surrounds old Germania newspaper BY JENNIFER BOWMAN The facts are not clear surrounding an old German newspaper which appears to be a home and farm authority for Germania. The newspaper was found in an old collapsed house in Germania, full of holes, ripped, and with bits of plaster still stuck to it. It was stuck between two scorched, whitewashed beams and is believed to have been used as insulation, a common practice for many houses at the time. The paper, Der Haus und Bauernfreuud, is written in German script with an English sub heading, indicating the paper was “The Germania Agriculture … The Home and Farm Company” and that it was established in 1873. The owner of the newspaper said a German friend read the paper and said it spoke about the Civil War. “Some of these articles I would believe my great-grandparents probably read,” she said. Initially the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous to avoid any looters on the property, thought there may have been a newspaper in Germania at some point. But history is at odds with the idea. � CONTINUED ON PAGE A6 CONTINUED ON PAGE A6 Borbely murder trial to begin next week An Orillia man accused of killing a Bracebridge woman six years ago is headed to trial. Staff at the Bracebridge courthouse have confirmed that the trial for Ian Charles Borbely is expected to begin sometime next week. Currently, the court is still in the process of selecting jurors. Borbely, 35, is facing a second-degree murder charge and an indignity to human remains charge after the remains of 29-year-old Samantha Collins were found at a Wood Lake property in 2010. Borbely has remained in custody since his arrest in 2011. At the time, police told this newspaper that Borbely and Collins were in a relationship at some point. Since 2011, the details of Borbely’s preliminary hearing have been under a publication ban. Go Auto Bracebridge Bracebridge 440 Ecclestone Drive,Unit 10 RIGHT BEHIND THE ESSO CALL 705-645-6575 Huntsville Forester Huntsville, ON Mike Thomas/Yukon News Diego Smarch braves the hill at Shipyards Park on Thursday. Meet the new Mae Bachur boss PAGE 5 Prioritize your fears. VOLUME 53 • NUMBER 01 www.yukon-news.com The Yukon News Whitehorse/Yukon Territory, YT GERMANIA NEWSPAPER. This newspaper was found in a collapsed Germania home and is believed to have come from “the old country.” Initially the owner speculated there was a newspaper in Germania at the time the house was built, but history doesn’t support that idea. (Photo by Jennifer Bowman) INTRODUCING PERMANON YOUR 6 MONTH CAR WASH • REPELS DIRT, DUST, INSECTS, BRAKE DUST • ONE APPLICATION LASTS 6 MONTHS • ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY Ask for Service Bracebridge Examiner Bracebridge, ON General Excellence Class 1016 - circulation 6500 to 12499 Judge: John Morash Best Editorial Page first place Second place 8 Yukon news opinion Friday, august 23, 2013 Bring it on! w w w. e m b a s s y m a g . c a 69 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A5 (613) 232-5952 Fax (613) 232-9055 INSIGHT LETTERS EMBASSY: Issue number 435 is published every Wednesday by Publisher Anne Marie Creskey acreskey@embassynews.ca Editorial Senior Editors Jim Creskey jcreskey@embassynews.ca Ross Dickson Another inconvenient truth Associate Editors Carl Meyer cmeyer@embassynews.ca @ottawacarl Kristen Shane kshane@embassynews.ca @kristenshane1 Staff Writers Sneh Duggal sduggal@embassynews.ca @snehduggal Ally Foster afoster@embassynews.ca @allyfoster1 ‘This wouldn’t be nearly so upsetting if the Yukon Party ministers were actually upfront with their intentions.‘ aybe the Yukon Party government is trying to score points for consistency in its handling of the creation of a land-use plan for the Peel watershed. Having bungled the process from the start, the territory seems determined to continue in a similar style right to the bitter, drawn-out end. The latest mini-scandal, as we first reported in Wednesday’s edition, involves how the government stripped useful numbers from the report it prepared from the final consultation process. Why it did so seems pretty obvious. The results show an overwhelming majority of respondents supporting the final recommended plan to protect four-fifths of the vast swath of wilderness in the territory’s northeast. The Yukon Party, meanwhile, has made it no secret that it intends to push ahead with its own plan, which would see far more of the region open to mining. But if you want to sum up what’s really wrong with the government’s approach to the Peel, look no further than Environment Minister Currie Dixon’s explanation as to why the government made those inconvenient figures disappear from the final consultation report. “The numbers don’t matter,” he explained. Well, the author of the report apparently begged to differ when he initially included them. While acknow- ledging that the consultation wasn’t a statistically valid poll, he concluded that including the numbers was “one of the few effective ways of distilling tens of thousands of words into a few pages of meaningful data.” If Dixon were being honest, he would have answered, “The numbers didn’t reflect what we wanted to see, so we took them out.” Or perhaps: “We just can’t resist the urge to meddle in this stuff.” Various revisions of the consultation report tell a story of their own. As later drafts were produced, the number of respondents who oppose the final recommended plan drift upward. You can almost hear the government officials issuing orders to their consultant to massage the data to better match the government’s views. Yet these numbers still remained stubbornly short compared to the number of expressions of support for the recommended plan. So the figures were axed. This behaviour fits a pattern. Recall how the previous premier, Dennis Fentie, suppressed a report prepared by the Environment Department that described the benefits of protecting the watershed. In both cases, it seems clear that the government was expected by other participants in the process to serve as a facilitator of valuable information for all the parties involved. Instead, it stooped to its own narrow, partisan interests by clawing back data that didn’t suit its fancy. It’s doubtful that the signatories of the Umbrella Final Publisher Stephen Robertson MONDAY UÊWEDNESDAY UÊFRIDAY Published by Media North Limited 2010 WINNER Yukon News, 211 Wood Street Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2E4 (867) 667-6285 Fax: (867) 668-3755 Internet: www.yukon-news.com Classifieds: wordads@yukon-news.com CMCA AUDITED Published Every Week Since April 28, 2004 AUDITED CIRCULATION EDITORIAL M Editorial Page EMBASSY EDITORIAL Wednesday & Friday ISSN 0318-1952 Second Class Registration #0586277 Photographer Sam Garcia Columnists Gwynne Dyer Luke Eric Peterson Scott Taylor Sales Director of Advertising Don Turner dturner@embassynews.ca Advertising Coordinator Amanda Keenan akeenan@embassynews.ca Corporate Account Executives Craig Caldbick ccaldbick@embassynews.ca Martin Reaume mreaume@embassynews.ca Steve MacDonald smacdonald@embassynews.ca Chris Eldridge celdridge@embassynews.ca Circulation/Subscriptions Circulation Heather Marie Connors heathermarie@embassynews.ca Art & Production Production Manager Benoit Deneault Design and Layout Joey Sabourin Web Designer Agreement envisioned this kind of card-stacking would be part of the deal. This wouldn’t be nearly so upsetting if the Yukon Party ministers were actually upfront with their intentions. But that’s rarely been the case. As has become typical, Dixon topped things off by claiming, hilariously: “We have been nothing but forthcoming and open with this information.” The young minister qualified this by noting how the government had published all individual responses online, along with the data that didn’t prove to be a nuisance. For example, the territory didn’t mind providing detailed information about where correspondences had sent their responses from, because that allowed them to declaim how some people had – quelle horreur! – written from Outside. Why the hometowns of respondents is more relevant than what respondents said has yet to be clearly explained by the government, presumably because this position is too silly to properly explain. Instead, the government takes refuge in the tried-andReporters Jacqueline Ronson jronson@yukon-news.com mgillmore@yukon-news.com johnt@yukon-news.com Erling Friis-Baastad friis@yukon-news.com Photo Editor Mike Thomas mthomas@yukon-news.com Photographer Ian Stewart istewart@yukon-news.com A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has struck down part of Canada’s anti-human smuggling legislation, saying it casts a net so wide it could capture people like humanitarian workers. Justice Arne Silverman’s ruling has thrown into question two high-profile trials. One, involving four men accused of smuggling 76 Sri Lankan Tamils aboard the MV Ocean Lady in the fall of 2009, was cancelled before it even got off the ground. The next in line, involving six people accused in connection with smuggling 492 Tamil migrants on the MV Sun Sea in 2010, is also on the rocks. The government had promoted the cases as reasons why Canada needed stronger laws against migrant smuggling. It brought in Bill C-31, which passed last summer, to slap harsher sentences on smugglers. But with Justice Silverman striking down section 117 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the four accused in the Ocean Lady case may continue their lives in Ontario, where they’ve been living on bail. It may be a long time before they are judged, if at all. The government is reviewing the decision. The Crown is expected to appeal the ruling. The section at issue states: “No person shall knowingly organize, induce, aid, or abet” someone coming to Canada who doesn’t have a visa, passport, or other required documentation. The judge agreed with the defence lawyers who argued that the provision could ensnare well-meaning humanitarian workers or family members helping asylum claimants flee persecution. Mr. Silverman called it “unnecessarily broad,” and so it violates section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees life, liberty, and security of the person. “They [refugee claimants] almost all come without the proper paperwork and they’re almost all helped by somebody [who] could theoretically be guilty of smuggling them,” said lawyer Phil Rankin, who represents one of the accused in the Ocean Lady case. It’s a very important point. Human smuggling must be defined in the most airtight way, leaving no vagueness and room for interpretation. The government had been trying to get C-31 and its various previous versions passed for years. To be sure, Bill C-31 didn’t create the problem Justice Silverman pointed out in his ruling. The “organize, induce, aid, or abet” clause was set in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act even before the Conservatives took office in 2006. But there has long been strong evidence that the definition of human smuggling needed refining, and Harper government must have known it when it was drafting C-31. Three former attorneys general and three former immigration ministers were among those who protested charges against an American refugee aid worker, Janet Hinshaw-Thomas, who went along with 12 asylum-seeking Haitians to the Quebec border in 2007. The former Cabinet ministers argued there’s an important difference between criminal profit-seeking smugglers and groups helping people flee persecution and torture. The charges were dropped following the uproar. The Harper government tinkered with all sorts of parts of Canada’s immigration laws and didn’t narrow the human smuggling provision’s scope when it had the chance. That was a mistake. It’s time to rectify that oversight and fix the law. Ryan O’Neill subscriptions@hilltimes.com John Thompson Copy Editor FIX THE HUMAN SMUGGLING LAW Director of Reader Sales and Service stever@yukon-news.com Editor Meagan Gillmore Jesse Winter jessew@yukon-news.com Krystle Alarcon krystle@yukon-news.com Sports Reporter Tom Patrick tomp@yukon-news.com EDITORIAL A4 • Wednesday, January 9, 2013 EMBASSY, Wednesday, January 16, 2013—6 8 Third place true tactics of the propagandist. Say something with enough confidence and repeat it often enough, and people will believe you, or so the theory holds. This sometimes works, but it’s worn pretty thin throughout the seven years of the Peel planning process. It doesn’t matter how often the government claims it will produce a plan that will magically make all parties involved happy. Adults in the room realize that the Peel is an issue in which painful trade-offs are inevitable. Miners, outfitters, wilderness paddlers and First Nation people with ancient ties to the area have divergent, conflicting interests. It doesn’t matter how often the government claims it’s followed the Umbrella Final Agreement. The courts have ruled that following the letter of the law isn’t good enough when it comes to the government’s dealings with First Nations. Instead, it must also live up to the spirit of signed treaties. It’s pretty clear the territory didn’t meet that standard when it declined to offer much concrete criticism of the recommended plan while it was being produced. Instead, it preferred to wait until the planning commission’s job was done before unveiling an entirely different plan it intended to use. Maybe this seemed to be a convenient way to duck controversy at the time, but now that negotiations with First Nations over the Peel seem inevitably headed for a stalemate and long-running court challenge, it all seems awfully shortsighted. (JT) Quote of the Day “We’ve been at this for a long time. We know how things work. We will not roll over for any department.” John Ward, a spokesperson for the Taku River Tlingit, while criticizing the Yukon government for insufficient consultation prior to announcing a new campground on Atlin Lake. Page 5 Circulation Sheila Sellars sheilas@yukon-news.com Administration Barbara McLeod barbaram@yukon-news.com Reception/Classified Ads Stephanie Newsome wordads@yukon-news.com Design/Composition Louise Stewart Marce Nowatzki Jolie Patterson Heidi Neufeld D’Arcy Holt Advertising Sandy Olynyk sandyo@yukon-news.com Creed Swan creeds@yukon-news.com Rebecca Nelken rebeccan@yukon-news.com Zvonko Jovanovic zvonkoj@yukon-news.com Production Rob Goulet Justin Tremblay SUBSCRIPTIONS YUKON ADDRESS £ÉÜiiÊf£äÎÊUÊÓÉÜiiÊf£ CANADIAN ADDRESS £ÉÜiiÊf£££ÊUÊÓÉÜiiÊfÓ£{ U.S.A. £ÉÜiiÊf£Ç{ÊUÊÓÉÜiiÊfÎ{ä INTERNATIONAL & AIR MAIL RATES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST Canadian subscriptions please add 5% GST. MasterCard Sorry, balances under $50.00 non-refundable AUDITED BY The Yukon News Whitehorse/Yukon Territory, YT Hao Guo Web Developer Peter Du Administration General Manager, CFO Andrew Morrow Reception Alia Kellock Heward Finance/Administration Tracey Brydges LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are welcomed by email at letters@embassynews.ca, by fax at 613-232-9055, and by post to 69 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Canada, K1P 5A5. All letters will be edited for length and content Canadian Publications Mail agreement No. 40068926. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Dept. 69 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5A5, Email: circulation@embassynews.ca Quote Week of the YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN “Ironic but not unexpected” —How International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino saw Liberal MP John McKay’s argument that the government was breaking the law in trying to link aid and trade. Mali: The next Afghanistan or Libya? that Gaddafi’s mercenary troops were about to overrun Benghazi and massacre the rebels. NATO served as the rebel air force, but no Western troops fought on the ground. And it worked. With Mali, once again it was decided in a couple of days, and once again France has taken the lead. Once again Britain is sending some help as well (transport aircraft, but ast Friday, France sent a squadno troops or combat aircraft), and ron of fighter-bombers to the the United States is providing disWest African country of Mali to creet logistical support. (US Air Force stop the Islamist insurgents who tankers refuelled the French fighthave seized the northern half of ers on their way to Mali.) But that’s Mali from taking the capital. where the similarities end. “We are making air raids the The West is supporting the govwhole time,” said French Defence ernment, not the rebels, in Mali. Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. “They That government, behind a flimsy are going on now. They will go on civilian facade, is controlled by tonight. They will go on tomorrow.” the same thugs in uniform whose Some 550 French combat troops are military coup last March, just one on the ground already, with up to month before the scheduled demo2,500 more to follow. Contingents cratic election, created the chaos of soldiers from the neighbouring that let the Islamist rebels conquer countries of Nigeria, Benin, Burkina the northern half of the country. Faso, Niger, and Togo are scheduled The young officers who now run to arrive as early as next week. It the country are ignorant and viohas turned into a real war. lent, and having them on your side It has also turned into a is not an asset. Western-run war in a Muslim counThe Islamist rebels are fanatical, try, despite the discouraging precintolerant, and violent, but they are edents of Afghanistan and Iraq. well armed (a lot of advanced infanThe government of Mali has asked try weapons for French came on the help, and market when on Monday It has...turned into a Gaddafi’s the United regime colNations Western-run war in a lapsed) and Security appear Council Muslim country, despite the they to be well unanimoustrained. They ly supportdiscouraging precedents have almost ed France’s no popular military of Afghanistan and Iraq. support in intervenMali, which tion. The is 90 per cent army of Mali, such as it is, will theoretically Muslim (its version of Islam is much be in charge of the war—but every- more moderate), but they have terrified the population of the north into body knows that the Malian army submission or flight. is useless. Until recently the rebels seemed In fact, the presence of Mali’s to be confined to Mali’s desert north, army at the front is usually but last week they began to advance counter-productive, as it is brutal, into southern Mali, where nine-tenths militarily incompetent, and prone of the country’s 14 million people to panic flight. The other African live. The Malian army collapsed, and armies are of variable quality, but Western intelligence sources estimatit is obviously French troops, and ed that the Islamists would capture especially French air power, that the capital, Bamako, within two days. will decide the outcome of the war. That would effectively give them conSo has France bitten off more than it can chew? Is this going to end up trol of the entire country. Mali has long, unguarded borlike Afghanistan and Iraq? ders with seven other African The supporters of the war precountries, and it is only 3,000 fer to compare it with last year’s kilometres from France. So French Western military intervention in President François Hollande Libya, another French initiative ordered immediate military that was decided over one weekintervention to stop the Islamist end. They like that analogy better advance, and we’ll all worry about because the Libyan intervention the long-term consequences later. ended tolerably well, with the The next Western war against overthrow of the dictator, a demoIslamist extremists has already cratically elected government, and started, and the question is whethno Western casualties. But the difer it will end up like Afghanistan. ferences between Libya and Mali Nobody would like to know are greater than the similarities. the answer to that more than the In Libya the rebels were trying French. Except, of course, the to rid the country of Muammar Malians. Gaddafi—a loony, friendless dicGwynne Dyer is an independent tator—and create a democratic journalist who writes a weekly colfuture. The decision to intervene umn for Embassy. was made in Paris in only two editor@embassynews.ca hectic days, when it appeared GWYNNE DYER L “ Embassy Ottawa, ON ” Winter is here to stay, so we might as well embrace it for our physical health as much as our mental well-being. That means we should stop hiding under the covers buried in comfort food while hoping for a prompt end to the season. As much as complaining about the weather is the favourite Canadian past time, the fact that our obesity rates continue to grow — especially among young people — is alarming. According to the feds, over the past 25 years obesity rates among Canadian children and youth have tripled. Canadian teens overweight now, will likely continue to be overweight into adulthood. It’s not the physical appearance alone that’s at issue; it’s the health problems associated with being overweight that are of concern. Those include reduced balance, bone and joint problems, hypertension and high blood pressure as well as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and other types of breathing problems, not to mention low self-esteem. As taxpayers, we demand that municipalities take into consideration the health of their citizens. That means maintaining outdoor skating rinks and winter trails for their taxpayers. Provincial parks are already doing that, but they’re not always located close enough to certain residents. The private sector may provide such opportunities, but the cost can be prohibitive for large families. Municipalities ought to calculate the distances and ensure, depending on their size, that there is at least one public trail and skating rink available to its residents and families. Far too frequently the public as well as the private sector has discontinued programs or the availability of a trail due to legal fears. We do live in a litigious world, but common sense should and does prevail, which means the possibility of litigation should not be used as an excuse not to be a good corporate citizen or service the interest of your taxpayers. An active population is a healthy population that will rely less on costly social and health-care services and, consequently, take up less tax dollars. So, while we’re not making any new year’s resolutions, this is as good a time as any to grab your family, friends and maybe even a neighbour and head for a trail to snowshoe, cross-country ski or skate. Start making up for that Christmas merry making and get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of this area in the winter, like the thrill of making the first tracks on fresh snow or walking under a canopy of snow-covered pines. Go for a simple walk and do it often! More oxygen as well as light to combat the darkness of winter will improve both our physical and mental states, especially for those suffering from the winter blues. So, as you start putting on the layers, don’t be afraid to shout to Old Man Winter: “Bring it on!” T.d.V. Cottage Country... is Just a click away. FOR ALL YOUR NEWS LOG ON TO www.cottagecountrynow.ca For Web Advertising call your Sales Representative BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER LETTERS – OPINION Bracebridge needs to be more accessible Re: Accessibility recommendation floated for town hall, Bracebridge Examiner, Jan.2, 2013. I wish to comment on the recent article in the Bracebridge Examiner regarding accessibility issues at the town offices. Unfortunately, the town hall is but one of many places in this town which are inaccessible to those in wheelchairs, those with walkers or strollers, or simply those of us who have difficulty navigating steps. Until one is actually faced with a mobility issue, it is impossible to understand just how many barriers there are right here in town. An article in the Toronto Star on Jan. 3, 2013 describes a project called StopGap which makes shops and restaurants accessible using wooden ramps which are provided free of charge by the community fund of some 15 Home Depot associates across Canada. Where to send your letters The Bracebridge Examiner welcomes your opinions. Unfortunately, not all letters received can be published in the space available. Clarity, brevity and originality are particularly valued in letters to the editor. Send letters to the Bracebridge Examiner, 34 E.P. Lee Drive, Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 1V2 or via email to psteel@metrolandnorthmedia.com. Please sign and include your home address and telephone number for verification. No anonymous letters or pseudonyms can be used. Letters and guest columns become the property of the Bracebridge Examiner and cannot be returned. They may be edited, and may be republished in all media. The downtown merchants association in Bracebridge encourages people to shop downtown, but this is an impossible exercise for those who cannot navigate steps. Seventeen shops in the town of Stouffville are now accessible as are 43 stores and restaurants along one street alone in Toronto. I encourage you to view the information on the stopgap.ca website. Some solutions are much simpler than one might think and require little in the way of feasibility studies! Another plus ... because the ramps are portable, no permits are required. This could also be a great community project for high school wood-working students. Let’s stop talking about accessibility issues and do something about them! Dinny McCraney Bracebridge Consolidate and streamline government, reader Re: Accessibility recommendations floated for town hall, Bracebridge Examiner, Jan.2, 2013 Consultant Heather Elston makes some very valid points in her wheelchair accessibility study but I would advise the “powers to be” to think twice before investing hundreds of thousands of dollars at the town offices. The Muskoka One recommendations to consolidate and streamline our local governance was the best news that I’ve heard in my seven-year residency. If that happens (hopefully), the regional offices would be far more accessible at minimum expense. Great reporting Louis. J.R. Prendergast Bracebridge YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED Senior boomers continue to change the world This year seems to be staring off with the needs of seniors having more importance than we have previously seen. We appear to be experiencing a shift in our society. A shift of public resources to enhance the lives of seniors should not be coming as a great surprise. The baby boomers are now reaching their senior years. This is the group who has by the sheer force of their numbers forced important changes in society to meet their requirements. Changes that were needed were met because we recognize that public money should be for the greatest needs of our society. To this end we, the public, have supported spending and have met the demands of the times. There have recently been a variety of reports indicating the need for seniors housing, health care etc. It is to be expected that as the requirements of society change so will the apportioning of public funds. The change in our population needs may be contributing to one of the current difficulties we see in Ontario. While there were growing needs in areas such as education we were supportive of directing the funds to meet those needs .Government funds were available to meet the important FROM THE POINT... by adele fairfield challenges and therefore establishing priorities was not as difficult. The recent past and the future predictions indicate a change in the availability of government funds. These circumstances require accommodating to the changes we are experiencing. This shifting of priorities will no doubt continue to cause concern in many areas as we make this major shift. This may be why the public support for the current education confrontation here in Ontario does not appear to be strong The pressures on us now are to improve and enhance quality of life for seniors. Fortunately there are groups working to overcome the shortages in housing and health care. Those of us who are in this age group have found it difficult to see the stresses that many of our friends and acquaintances have been facing and the lack of resources to assist them. The needs of our elderly will be priority as it has become evident that these concerns must be our priority in Muskoka. This has been apparent in the recent reporting on housing needs and health-care delivery in our area. This is where government funds, with local support are desperately needed Those of us who are and have been living in this senior society also see the need to explore the larger lifestyle picture of ageing. There are avenues that can be explored by families and communities to enhance and improve lifestyle. Our personal experience when an ipad was introduced to our lives a few years ago brought improvements that we never could have imagined. There was the obvious, enhancement for communication, and access to such things as worldwide newspapers and magazines. All the information and information sources that became available at a fingertip. All of these were anticipated and appreciated. What was a surprise was finding the other lifestyle improvements. Hearing impairment had made communication through the phone impossible. The uses of face time and texting have been wonderful life-changing solutions. That of course is the whole purpose behind taking advantage of the current advances in technology Being a senior, being confined to home, having limitations on lifestyle, need no longer be a total isolating experience. There are so many opportunities as we look around. Libraries have added ereaders to their collections. How wonderful. Those who have difficulty getting out for whatever reasons are now being served by this public facility. Technology is providing ways to keep seniors an active contributing segment of society. Seniors, thanks to the boomers, are a significant segment of our society and will change our views on ageing. There is full recognition that the public purse is not as full as it once was but our desire to be a strong society is still there. There are so many ways that exist today to enhance and improve lifestyle when unexpected limitations due to age occur. We all have responsibility to see that the important needs of our society are met. Bracebridge Examiner Bracebridge, ON General Excellence Class 1016 - circulation 6500 to 12499 Judge: John Morash Best Front Page first place Second place Cleared for takeoff Grabbing a bounce A Yukon pilot will release his first solo fiddle CD next week. A new airbag gives freestyle skiers a chance to practise big jumps safely. Page 28 Page 38 Your CommunitY ConneCtion Wednesday • Friday Third place FridaY, JanuarY 4, 2013 $ established 1960 1 including gst Whistle Bend clash continues PAGE 2 Mike Thomas/Yukon News Diego Smarch braves the hill at Shipyards Park on Thursday. Meet the new Mae Bachur boss PAGE 5 Prioritize your fears. VOLUME 53 • NUMBER 01 www.yukon-news.com The Yukon News Whitehorse/Yukon Territory, YT Port Perry Star Port Perry, ON Hill Times Ottawa, ON General Excellence Class 1016 - circulation 6500 to 12499 Blue Ribbons Bracebridge Examiner, Bracebridge, ON Embassy, Ottawa, ON Huntsville Forester, Huntsville, ON NWT News/North, Northwest Territories, NT Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore/Kananaskis/Banff/Lake Louise, AB The Yukon News, Whitehorse/Yukon Territory, YT Judge: John Morash JUDGE’S COMMENTS General Excellence Class 1017 - circulation 12500 to 24999 General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1017 - circulation 12500 to 24999 Judge: John Kendle Best All-Round Newspaper first place Second place Third place THURSDAY ELMIRA THEATRE COMPANY All performances are held at 76 Howard Ave., Elmira August 29, 2013 Vol. 28 • No. 70 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T. Presents duction and Winner for Best New Com edy iere Pro Prem February 8 - 17, 2013 Tickets call: Centre in the Square Box Office 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977 Written and Directed by Michael Grant, Produced by Rita Huschka THIS PUBLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE AT comoxvalley record.com 01 | 26 | 2013 VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 04 COMOX VALLEY Enter to Win! SMALL DEEDS CAN BE A BIG HELP IN HAITI comoxvalleyrecord.com/contests ARTS SPORTS Comox Valley pianist Sarah Hagen is recording, touring and Indiegogoing. page B1 Don’t be surprised if Keenan Milburn asks how to say ‘pick and roll’ in German in the coming weeks. page B9 RECORD COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE CONTROL OF STAFFING COSTS Winter's first real blast comes as a shock to residents A GOOD TIME FOR THOSE WHO LOVE WINTER So, cold enough for you? There was only one topic of conversation for anyone who stepped outside this week. If you found the plummeting temperatures and biting wind came as a shock to the system, you’re not alone. Environment Canada’s Dave Phillips says the cold can be rather shocking after last year’s non-winter and thawing temperatures we experienced through most of January. “It really is cold. Normally we should see high of minus-4 in the afternoon and minus-12 in the morning. Yesterday morning it was minus-21,” he said on Thursday. “We were seduced into thinking we wouldn’t have any cold air again. Last year was one of the warmest [winters] on record. Winter cancelled last year: you had just barely half of your normal snowfall.” But the cold start to the week is hardly breaking any records. On Jan. 23, 1948 temperatures plummeted to minus-26.7. On the same day in 1976 the thermometer hit an icy The need great for affordable housing WINTRY | 2 www.OBSERVERXTRA.com Worry about legal fees sees Woolwich defer planning budget STEVE KANNON Not everyone is afraid of the frigid cold. Brandon Gerling, 6, and sister Taylor, 9, welcome Wednesday afternoon’s frost with some skating on the rink in the back yard of their Elmira home. [ELENA MAYSTRUK / THE OBSERVER] It was a case of once bitten, twice shy as Woolwich councillors turned down an engineering and planning budget with too little money set aside for legal expenses. With legal costs having been well over budget last year, councillors are not prepared to take any chances this time around. Driven largely by gravel pit battles at the Ontario Municipal Board, Woolwich spent more than $361,000 on legal fees in 2012, far more than the $25,000 in the engineering and planning services budget. While the extra expenses were covered from supplementary revenue, including unexpected money from Waterloo North, last week’s budget discussion was an “I told you so” mo- ment for Coun. Mark Bauman, who last year warned the money set aside for legal fees was inadequate. In this year’s budget, that line item was bumped to $110,000, with staff admitting that number, too, is likely just a placeholder. “That placeholder fell well short,” said Bauman of last year’s budget, noting the township had to rely on unanticipated revenue to cover the difference. “Our windfall went to lawyers,” he lamented. Bauman pushed for a doubling of the $110,000 – “the placeholder ... is not a fair picture of where we’re going in the next year” – saying he couldn’t support the department budget in the form presented. “I want to see a realistic number there.” Director of engineering BUDGET | 2 Sat. 9-5pm & Sun. 12-5pm | www.furniturehouse.ca Scott Stanfield ❝ A PLANE SLID off the Courtenay Airpark runway Tuesday morning, but the pilot walked away uninjured as his plane landed up in blackberry bushes. PHOTO BY TONY HRYKO Plane pilot avoids injury in mishap Erin Haluschak Record Staff A Courtenay pilot’s flight came to an abrupt end Tuesday morning as his plane landed off the runway at the Courtenay Airpark, but he walked away without injury. Courtenay Fire Chief Don Bardonnex said upon landing, the private plane hydroplaned across the runway, slid over a patch of grass and into some blackberry bushes. He confirmed the pilot did Erin Haluschak Record Staff Although recent late August weather might feel more like a preview of fall than summer, a weather outlook for September to November predicts slightly above-normal temperatures and normal rainfall for the region. According to The Weather Network’s 2013 Fall Outlook, part of the province from the tip of Haida Gwaii down the central and south coasts (including Vancouver Island) is predicted to be slightly warmer than normal. For the rest of B.C., they are photos@ocmoxvalleyrecord.com predicting near-normal temperatures. As for B.C. precipitation, the Outlook predicts near-normal rainfall, with the exception near Chetwynd south and east through the Rockies and Columbia mountains, where precipitation could ... see WEATHER ■ A2 BRIAN C 30 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo ~ 519-746-0060 M LEAN Observer Elmira-Woolwich, ON Toyota cmyk Courtenay ❞ 2013 MODEL 0% CLEARANCE / COUNTDOWN is on…until September 3 SEE PAGE B24 FOR DETAILS CHEVROLET • BUICK • GMC 2145 Cliffe Avenue St. Albert Gazette St. Albert, AB not suffer any injuries. “There was not even much damage to the plane. Everything held together and the props are in good condition.” The plane was towed away shortly after the incident. Pleasant autumn in store for us? DL8379 New orders only. See store for details has indicated there will be an open and transparent process,” Davis said. “There is a desperate The Lilli House shelter has need for affordable housing of all reached capacity more frequently kinds here. It’s not going to be over the last year than in the past. easy to determine priorities.” Financing for constructing the The reason, says Comox Valley Transition Society program co- project still needs to be addressed. ordinator Anne Davis, is because The City will investigate funding women who have sought shelter opportunities from all levels of and are ready to move on have government and seek partnernowhere to go in terms of finding ships with community organizations. an affordable place to rent. The CVTS, which has operated “And that has an obvious impact on other women who are about 25 years, owns Lilli House outright. It has needing to come funds set aside in in urgent sitThere is a desperate for housing. uations,” Davis “We’re in a said. “We’re need for affordable housvery good posiseeing a huge ing of all kinds here. It’s tion to move need for affordforward,” Davis able housing not going to be easy to said. “But what for women and determine priorities. we need is propchildren leaving Anne Davis erty. This is a abusive situapossible opportions.” The society welcomed last tunity.” The Cliffe Avenue site was week’s announcement by the City of Courtenay, which purchased a lauded by front-line workers but property at 810 Braidwood Rd. criticized by area businesses as on the east side of the Courtenay a possible shelter location. Last River where it intends to estab- year, Jangula forwarded a resolish affordable, supportive hous- lution to direct staff to initiate ing. The $264,500 purchase was a zoning amendment to ensure made with $355,000 in proceeds homeless shelters are not perfrom selling a trio of lots at Cliffe mitted within a specified area of Avenue. The regional district pur- the downtown core. The CVRD chased the latter for $470,000 in then transferred ownership of the 2010 for emergency shelter/sup- Cliffe Avenue properties to the City along with $100,000 from portive housing purposes. Mayor Larry Jangula says the the Vancouver Island Health City wants any housing construc- Authority. The funds and proceeds from tion to be an asset to the neighbourhood and to the entire Valley. the property sale would be used He promises an open and inclu- “for the development of an emersive process when seeking input gency shelter and/or supportfrom the community and service ive housing elsewhere,” a news providers as to how to move for- release states. However, Jangula feels taxpayward. “We’re pleased that the City ... see SHELTERS ■ A2 Record Staff HURRY IN! NO TAX ON EVERYTHING! Excludes Flyer Items 349 B 5 th Street, Phone: 334 Courtenay -2043 www.comoxvalleyrecord.com Some councillors push for “more realistic” figures given upcoming OMB battles over gravel pits ELENA MAYSTRUK PAIR FREE EVERYD AY! Your community. Your newspaper. A division of LIVING HERE PAGE 24 COMMENT PAGE 08 SECOND 250-334-2425 w w w. b r i a n m c l e a n . c a Comox Valley Record Courtenay/Comox Valley, BC General Excellence Class 1017 - circulation 12500 to 24999 Judge: John Kendle Best Editorial Page CCNA The News The Dundas Star News (since 1883) and the Ancaster News, are published every Friday at 333 Arvin Avenue, Stoney Creek, Ontario, L8E 2M6, by Hamilton Community News, a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd, a subsidiary of Torstar Corp. The News welComes your leTTers. Please see guideliNes aT boTTom of This Page, or Call deb dowNey aT 905-523-5800 exT. 330 Boycott destroys teens’ shots at achievement Re: Trustees eye options to ‘mitigate’ teacher extracurricular boycott, Jan. 17. Chantal Mancini, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation of Hamilton-Wentworth, claims boycotting voluntary activities is “all we have left.” Students across the province in their final years of high school, the ones who have truly worked as hard as they can to get those scholarships, are losing everything because of this boycott. Educators of Ontario argue they’ve lost their collective bargaining rights, while students around the province grieve as they may lose the valuable scholarships they’ve worked so hard to get. his is the outcome of teachers boycotting extracurricular activities so they can earn their right to bank unused sick days. As a student in the community, I believe futures lay at the feet of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School board in hopes trustees will find a way to pursue extracurricular activities. If the teachers want to protest and set a negative example for young students across this province, let them. Respectively, there are properly educated bodies fresh out of teachers college willing to immediately take their place for half the pay. Is boycotting extracurricular activities really worth possibly destroying the chance for a youth to achieve success through a scholarship? At least the trustees are trying to do something right. Landon Tulk Dundas Check out our website www.Hamiltonews.com daily for the latest news from your community. Unprofessionalism may lead public to consider privatization of schools As a professional engineer, I am proud of my profession and the fact that we consider ourselves true professionals. We have our own code of conduct and code of ethics, aimed at conducting ourselves in a manner that must always have the public’s well-being and safety in mind. We would never compromise those ethics or allow those codes of conduct to be superseded by any outside influences or union directives. Our association only educates and reminds our professional engineers to conduct themselves in a competent and morally responsible manner to ensure the public’s well-being is served. That is the mark of a profession. As for teaching being referred to as a profession, my concern is the recent behavior of teacher’s union spokespersons and hopefully a vocal minority among their union membership leads me to think otherwise. It’s sad to say, but if things continue this way, such unprofessionalism may lead the public to consider privatization of schools as a better option. At least with privatization, teachers have to compete for limited jobs and have to maintain a certain performance level to retain their job at that particular school. No job will be guaranteed for life and public complaints to that private school regarding the quality of teaching will be taken seriously and responded to. Perhaps in this scenario, that professionalism may return. Craig Hagopian Hamilton Ban sales of assault rifles in U.S. No doubt every parent is looking at their children wondering what if this were their school. The school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut sorrowed us all. And yet the National Rifle Association vice-president Wayne LaPierre stated they need armed guards in schools. If that is the answer, armed guards are required in movie theatres, shopping malls, bars, restaurants, community centres, churches, hotels, busy streets and during fire alarms to protect firefighters. Apparently, the NRA wants to revive the Wild West. No one hunts deer with a machine gun. Assault weapons were designed to kill people. They belong to their intended customer – the armed forces. Banning the sale of assault rifles is a must. The next step is to outlaw ownership of these weapons. Anyone with one must turn them in. The NRA and gun-huggers have a creed: guns don’t kill people, people kill people. If that is the case, then the problem of guns in society is solved... don’t give people guns. John vesprini Stoney Creek Students earn honours from Legion In November 2012 the Royal Canadian Legion Valley City Branch 36 held its Annual Remembrance Poster and Literacy Contest. Students in area schools were invited to participate and we had an exciting response. Entries were received from four local schools and a home-schooled group. There were 23 literary (poetry and essay) entries and 44 poster entries (colour and black and white). Following rigorous judging, we awarded 13 first place, six second place and two third place winners with a total of $530 in prize money. These winners were notified earlier this week. Congratulations to all our participants. These students assisted the Legion with one of its primary goals — fostering the tradition of remembrance among Canadians. All first-place entries have moved on to compete at the zone level and we wish them luck. John Murphy, president, Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 36 Only developers win in casino lotto If I remember correctly, the OLG changed its accounting procedures a little while back and the City of Hamilton received less than it was originally rewarded. This certainly doesn't leave one with the feeling casinos will provide an economic boom for the city. The only people who will receive any type of remuneration are the developers and the OLG hierarchy; the population itself will be the dupes. Also, the original intent was to have at least five per cent taken off the top, leaving a 95-per-cent chance for the patrons. Lo and behold, that was, in my estimation, rather quickly altered and has been consistent ever since. Again, it’s just a layman's opinion; not nearly as astute as the people behind this endeavour. G.A. Soehner Hamilton Catholic teachers teach kids, not subjects As a teacher for 32 years in the Hamilton Catholic school system, I can say inherent in the Catholic system of education is a culture of total care. In order to assist in the delivery of total care, the teachers make it their job to develop an awareness of each student’s learning style, strengths, needs, issues and concerns, then take advantage as necessary of teachable moments, both in and out of the classroom, to deal with any particular issues at hand in a one-to-one, group or classroom situation. Students feel comfortable with this environment and realize that they can present and discuss any problem, situation, issue or concern, in private or in public, to one of their caring teachers. Place to learn A student in the Catholic school system of Ontario views school not only as a place to learn content about subjects, but primarily as a place where teachers teach them as a person. Bob Stachyra Hamilton Submitting your letter to The News Hamilton Community News welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters must contain the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. Addresses and telephone numbers will be used only for verification purposes and will not be published. Names will not be withheld. Submissions should be no longer than 400 words. This newspaper reserves the right to edit, condense or reject any contribution for brevity or legal purposes. Copyright in letters and other materials submitted to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. 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YOUR REPRESENTATIvES CITY OF HAMILTON Mayor Bob Bratina, 905-546-4200 bbratina@hamilton.ca Councillor Ward 12 Lloyd Ferguson, 905-546-2704 lferguson@hamilton.ca Councillor Ward 13 Russ Powers, 905-546-2714 rpowers@hamilton.ca Councillor Ward 1 Brian McHattie, 905-546-2416 bmchattie@hamilton.ca ONTARIO MPP Ted McMeekin 905-690-6552 Queen’s Park office 416-325-1105 tmcmeekin.mpp@liberal.ola.org Premier Dalton McGuinty 416-325-7155 Dalton.McGuinty@premier.gov.on.ca CANADA MP David Sweet 905-627-9169 david@davidsweet.ca Prime Minister Stephen Harper 613-992-4211 Audited circulation Dundas/Westdale - 18,105 Ancaster- 12,817 The News is a recyclable product. Please use your blue box. 9 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013 • THE NEWS • WWW.HAMILTONNEWS.COM CommuNiTy VoiCes 2012 Second place Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, The Georgina Advocate, Page 6 first place O OPINION EDITORIAL Editor in Chief Debora Kelly dkelly@yrmg.com Business Director Robert Lazurko Director Real Estate/Classified Debra Weller Director Marketing/sales development Gord Paolucci Editor Tracy Kibble tkibble@yrmg.com Production Director Jackie Smart jsmart@yrmg.com Advertising Publication/Sales Manager Dave Williams dwilliams@yrmg.com Director Circulation, Distribution Tanya Pacheco tpacheco@yrmg.com ADVOCATE G EORG I NA York Region Media Group community newspapers The Advocate, published every, Thursday and Sunday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. LETTERS POLICY All submissions must be less than 400 words and include a daytime telephone number, name and address. The Advocate reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space. E-mail tkibble@yrmg.com Ontario Press Council Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Fire talks need to focus on what’s best for residents S ISSUE: It’s time to slow down rhetoric and posturing in discussions of fire service delivery. parks are flying over whether a regional fire department will amount to better public service and a bigger bang for your tax dollar. If improved firefighter and public safety — as well as millions of dollars in cost savings — are realized through amalgamation as the unions contend, then what’s the harm in the region updating its 1996 and 2001 studies to look at the numbers? Compare costs in York now to see if the region would be on a similar $30+ million hook similar to the Ottawa example, to bring individual departments on the same page. Find out how much eliminating eight chiefs and about 15 deputies to run in a similar fashion as York Reginal Police would save taxpayers. Determine what effect the move would have on composite departments that rely on career and volunteer firefighters to provide service. Georgina’s council has yet to make a decision to ask the region to do a feasibility study. But there’s been plenty of debate over whether those discussions should include eliminating the fire service from medical calls. This component is repeatedly called for by Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi, who doesn’t believe it’s necessary to send million-dollar apparatus with full-time firefighters, instead of ambulances, to most, if not all, medical calls. It isn’t a view shared by Georgina’s fire chief or a majority of councillors if last week’s council meeting is any indication. Dispatch protocols send high-end priority calls, such as heart attacks, strokes and serious motor vehicle collisions, to fire stations and there is a need for the fire service to be at those calls, according to Fire Chief Steve Richardson. Bottom line, is the local debate, so far, seems to be more focused on vested interest rather than if the move will translate into better public service and safety. Ability to pay references seem more like pushing an Association of Municipalities of Ontario agenda rather than a legitimate concern over Georgina’s force, which has never gone to arbitration before this past agreement over contract talks. On the other hand, the fact amalgamation is being pushed by the unions this time around leads some to fear the move is self-serving, with a larger union and more bargaining power at its root. It’s time to slow down the rhetoric and posturing. It’s time for actual numbers, not only in terms of response and dispatch times, but also how much Georgina taxpayers would be on the hook to standardize equipment, training and procedures under a regional model. And what benefits, in terms of service and cost savings, will be passed on. Examine whether pilot projects on automatic aid, such as the one being suggested by Vaughan council, would work or are simply Band-Aid solutions preventing an inevitable regionalization of the last of three emergency services under a regional umbrella. The focus should be on if a vital service is being provided to residents in the best and most cost-efficient manner. It shouldn’t be on turf wars and municipalities protecting their ability to set service levels or larger areas carving out empires they don’t want to redistribute under a regional model. That ensures the best possible service for residents is driving the truck, so to speak. When in doubt, go public. Maybe it’s time the public weigh in on the issue. Hard numbers will help them do that. BOTTOM LINE: Focus should be on if vital service is being provided in best, most cost-effective manner. Third place ADVOCATE G EORG I NA Publisher Ian Proudfoot General manager John Willems 184 Simcoe Ave., Unit 2, Keswick, ON L4P 2H7 905-476-7753 www.yorkregion.com 8 | COMMENT THE OBSERVER | SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013 JOE MERLIHAN PUBLISHER STEVE KANNON EDITOR COMMENT DONNA RUDY PRODUCTION MANAGER REPORTER GRAPHIC DESIGN WILL SLOAN LEANNE BORON REPORTER PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NUMBER 1004840 | ISSN 12039578 OUR VIEW / EDITORIAL People don’t vote because it’s forced down their throats I can’t help but comment on the York Region Media Group’s pleas to get people out voting and to get the younger generation involved. The writing is on the wall as to the reasons why people don’t vote: it’s forced down our throats. We hear nothing else than the $580 billion it takes for the provincial gas plant cancellations. We hear Toronto wants a subway built to the tune of $2.8 billion despite the fact the province has no money, yet it will invest $1.4 billion without thinking about from where it will come. In Georgina, we have that monstrosity of an apartment building being constructed at The Queensway and Church Street, on order by York Region. Mayor Rob Grossi and council can’t or won’t do anything about it. Some of our roads in Georgina need repaving badly, but nobody does anything about that. If the town or the province needs money, we just up the taxes and bleed the taxpayer. You don’t think the younger people who can vote are not aware of this? The term of office for mayor is four years. A lot of harm can come during this time and PAT MERLIHAN SALES MANAGER ELENA MAYSTRUK LETTER OF THE WEEK THE VIEW FROM HERE Time for council to take wage issue into its own hands HAVING BROACHED THE ISSUE of evergrowing staff costs, Woolwich council should be encouraged to go beyond wage freezes – a given – to assessing staff levels and over-inflated salaries. he or she can’t be ousted until then. No wonder voter turnout is roughly 36 per cent, at best, and will be lower in future. Joe Vanderloo KeswicK Editor’s note: Did you vote? We are compiling your opinions for our ongoing Big 5-0 Project (which you can read online under Hot Topics at yorkregion.com) to engage you in municipal government and encourage you to vote in the 2014 municipal election. Send your letter to tkibble@yrmg.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Small businesses can’t afford to pay higher minimum wages Booze in corner stores would cause too many problems Re: Groups rally for minimum wage hike, thetopic.ca Small businesses are already suffering while paying minimum wages. Raise those wages and many will fold, but most will need to raise their prices accordingly, so everyone suffers from higher prices. Also consider the hard worker who, after so many years of dedicated service, finally gets a raise to what will soon be the new minimum wage. Only the government looks at this scenario as being normal because it is not its money being spent. Don’t like minimum wages? Work even harder and/or smarter. The last generation overcame minimum wage by working maximum hours; working 80 hours, which doubles a 40-hour weekly paycheque. Simple math. No increase in expenses to the business, so no need to raise prices for everyone. Re: Do you want booze sold in your corner store? We asked you what you thought about this issue last week. Here’s what you told us: I have concerns on alcohol being sold in corner stores. It will make it too easy for young, underaged people to get. There will be more motor vehicle crashes and could lead to more violence in our area. There could also be more street-level outbursts from people who have consumed too much alcohol. More robberies could occur as more corner stores will have more cash in them. All in all, I don’t think this is the kind of thing we want for our young adults. Don’t put more on their plate with all they have to endure now in this world. Mori Goldlist GeoRGina Richmond hill Georgina Advocate Keswick, ON diane Kirton Staff will resist, of course, but they’re clearly in a conflict position and any comments contrary to the necessary direction should be disregarded. In that light, it’s no surprise chief administrative officer David Brenneman was none too eager to embrace wage freezes and cuts to salaries and benefits as a way of bringing Woolwich’s budget under control when the subject was raised at last week’s budget meeting. Bureaucracies always look for more even when it’s not needed or contrary to the public interest. Councillors are on the right track, however, and should push ahead with those kinds of cuts, even if the Mayor and bureaucrats argue otherwise. The first step is to separate wage agreements for unionized and non-unionized workers. There’s a clear conflict when senior staff receives the same increases they negotiate with the unionized workers. Councillors’ pay should again be a separate matter. Each should be debated in the open, making the spending of public money truly transparent no matter how uncomfortable that makes public employees. This is the way the process should work. However, we’ve seen a disturbing trend in some municipalities toward automatic annual increases, sometimes tied to increases negotiated with municipal staffers. Throw in a propensity for closed meetings and residents are not seeing any accountability for what is surely the most conflictridden part of a councillor’s duties. Each of the municipal employee groups – unionized workers, staff and council – should be handled separately in negotiations about compensation. While negotiations with the union are typically confidential, it falls to council to set the tone early and in public. In this case, given recessionary times and the growing gap between over-inflated public sector wages and the incomes of those in the real, productive part of the economy, freezes are appropriate. A line must be drawn, and council cannot depend on management to do that. Last year’s budget is an indication of what happens if staff leads the process. Directed by council to find five per cent in efficiencies – i.e. cuts – staff came back with a few token spending reductions and a raft of fee increases. To its discredit, council went along with that. Likewise, when wage freezes and rollbacks are discussed, staff’s default assumption is that services will be cut, rather than doing away with unneeded managerial positions. Front line services are what residents are overtaxed to pay. Bureaucratic bloat is what management encourages to make its life easier and to pad the payroll. When it comes to choosing between the two, councillors have an easy decision. The idea is to identify the most essential of services offered to residents, then to begin trimming away at everything else. As with governments of all stripes, program bloat and internal entitlements become entrenched. In budget deliberations, there is a rationale for every spending request. Taken in isolation, each may make sense, but it’s the role of elected officials to see the big picture, and to nip in the bud empire-building and incremental growth. Like kids left to their own devices, some groups would make decisions that aren't in the best interest of anyone, including those paying the bills. WORLD VIEW / GWYNNE DYER Little Englanders win big in Cameron's EU speech WORLD AFFAIRS The real problem is continental drift: Brussels, the capital of the European Union, is getting further and further away from England. Or at least that is British Prime Minister David Cameron’s line. Cameron made his longawaited speech promising a referendum on continued British membership in the European Union on January 23, and he placed the blame squarely on plate tectonics: “People are increasingly frustrated that decisions taken further and further away from them mean their living standards are slashed through enforced austerity or their taxes are used to bail out governments on the other side of the continent.” The “frustrated” people in question are English, of course. Hostility to the European Union is mainly an English thing, but that matters a lot in the United Kingdom, where 55 million of the kingdom’s 65 million people live in England. The Scottish nationalists seeking separation from England in their own referendum take the opposite tack. They promise the Scottish electorate that leaving the UK would not mean leaving the European Union (although in fact Scotland would probably have to re-apply for membership). Scottish politicians have to promise to stay in the EU, because otherwise very few Scottish voters would say “yes” to independence. But England is different. The “Little Englander” glories in the notion of England being unencumbered by foreign ties and commitments. It’s the kind of nationalism that Americans call “isolationism,” and the phrase is now used to describe strongly nationalist, even xenophobic people on the right of English politics. Those people, always present in significant numbers within Cameron’s Conservative Party, have now won the internal party debate. Every Conservative leader has had to deal with these people. They al- ways managed to contain them in the past, because the European Union is Britain’s biggest trading partner, and it is obviously in Britain’s interest to belong to the organization that makes the rules for Europe’s “single market.” What has changed is that the long recession and relatively high immigration of recent years have increased the popularity of the extreme right in England. That doesn’t mean that populist demagogues and neo-fascists are about to win power in the United Kingdom. Far from it: they’d be lucky to get 10 per cent of the vote. But it does mean that the Conservatives are losing their more right-wing supporters to the anti-EU, anti-immigration United Kingdom Independence Party. UKIP could never win an election in Britain, but it could easily steal enough votes from the Conservatives to make them lose the next election. So there has been mounting panic in the Conservative Party, and not just among its instinctively anti-EU members. Cameron’s promise of a referendum on EU membership is first and foremost an attempt to steal UKIP’s thunder and win back the defecting Conservative voters. He doesn’t really want to leave the EU, but he really does want to win the election that is due in 2015. His reluctance to be the man who took Britain out of the EU was evident in the way he hedged around his referendum promise. The referendum would not take place until after the next election, and only if the Conservative Party won enough seats in 2015 to form a government on its own. (Its current coalition partner, the Liberal Democratic Party, opposes the whole idea). Cameron says he will spend the next two years renegotiating the terms of Britain’s EU membership to “repatriate” many powers from Brussels to London, and to make various changes in the way the EU is run. Then, if he is satisfied with the outcome, he will support EU membership in the election and in the subsequent referen- Observer Elmira-Woolwich, ON DYER | 10 General Excellence Class 1017 - circulation 12500 to 24999 Judge: John Kendle Best Front Page first place ELMIRA THEATRE COMPANY All performances are held at 76 Howard Ave., Elmira Second place Third place St. Albert Gazette St. Albert, AB Fast Forward Weekly Calgary, AB Presents duction and Winner for Best New Com edy iere Pro Prem February 8 - 17, 2013 Tickets call: Centre in the Square Box Office 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977 Written and Directed by Michael Grant, Produced by Rita Huschka 01 | 26 | 2013 VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 04 SMALL DEEDS CAN BE A BIG HELP IN HAITI LIVING HERE PAGE 24 COMMENT PAGE 08 COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE CONTROL OF STAFFING COSTS Winter's first real blast comes as a shock to residents A GOOD TIME FOR THOSE WHO LOVE WINTER WINTRY | 2 Worry about legal fees sees Woolwich defer planning budget Some councillors push for “more realistic” figures given upcoming OMB battles over gravel pits ELENA MAYSTRUK So, cold enough for you? There was only one topic of conversation for anyone who stepped outside this week. If you found the plummeting temperatures and biting wind came as a shock to the system, you’re not alone. Environment Canada’s Dave Phillips says the cold can be rather shocking after last year’s non-winter and thawing temperatures we experienced through most of January. “It really is cold. Normally we should see high of minus-4 in the afternoon and minus-12 in the morning. Yesterday morning it was minus-21,” he said on Thursday. “We were seduced into thinking we wouldn’t have any cold air again. Last year was one of the warmest [winters] on record. Winter cancelled last year: you had just barely half of your normal snowfall.” But the cold start to the week is hardly breaking any records. On Jan. 23, 1948 temperatures plummeted to minus-26.7. On the same day in 1976 the thermometer hit an icy www.OBSERVERXTRA.com STEVE KANNON Not everyone is afraid of the frigid cold. Brandon Gerling, 6, and sister Taylor, 9, welcome Wednesday afternoon’s frost with some skating on the rink in the back yard of their Elmira home. [ELENA MAYSTRUK / THE OBSERVER] It was a case of once bitten, twice shy as Woolwich councillors turned down an engineering and planning budget with too little money set aside for legal expenses. With legal costs having been well over budget last year, councillors are not prepared to take any chances this time around. Driven largely by gravel pit battles at the Ontario Municipal Board, Woolwich spent more than $361,000 on legal fees in 2012, far more than the $25,000 in the engineering and planning services budget. While the extra expenses were covered from supplementary revenue, including unexpected money from Waterloo North, last week’s budget discussion was an “I told you so” mo- ment for Coun. Mark Bauman, who last year warned the money set aside for legal fees was inadequate. In this year’s budget, that line item was bumped to $110,000, with staff admitting that number, too, is likely just a placeholder. “That placeholder fell well short,” said Bauman of last year’s budget, noting the township had to rely on unanticipated revenue to cover the difference. “Our windfall went to lawyers,” he lamented. Bauman pushed for a doubling of the $110,000 – “the placeholder ... is not a fair picture of where we’re going in the next year” – saying he couldn’t support the department budget in the form presented. “I want to see a realistic number there.” Director of engineering BUDGET | 2 Sat. 9-5pm & Sun. 12-5pm | www.furniturehouse.ca HURRY IN! NO TAX ON EVERYTHING! Excludes Flyer Items New orders only. See store for details 30 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo ~ 519-746-0060 Observer Elmira-Woolwich, ON General Excellence Class 1017 - circulation 12500 to 24999 Judge: John Kendle Blue Ribbons Comox Valley Record, Courtenay/Comox Valley, BC Dundas Star News, Dundas, ON Fast Forward Weekly, Calgary, AB JUDGE’S COMMENTS Class 1017 – Best All Round Newspaper First – St. Albert Gazette Perennially excellent and there’s a reason. You do a great job. I have a minor design quibble regarding the heft of your main headline font but everything else is excellent and the Poundmaker photo spread was over the top great. Northumberland News, Cobourg/Port Hope/Colborne, ON Observer, Elmira-Woolwich, ON Peninsula News Review, Sidney, BC Prairie Post, Swift Current, SK St. Albert Gazette, St. Albert, AB Second – Observer Wow. What a beautiful package and great-looking papers. These look like beautiful magazines. I wanted to be sure there was substance to the style and there is I’m impressed. (I also wish I was at the 30th Hillside, based on the photos you ran.) Third – Comox Valley Record This is a good and good-looking paper. Content is well-organized with a decent news hole, excellent mix of local reporting and expert/community columnists. I like the tradtional editorial section (with letters!) and loved the arts section and Hot Dates wrap in the August issue. A small quibble: you may want to simplify the palette for your headline fonts, I noted at least three, if not four, variations. Try to keep it to two. General Excellence Class 1018 - circulation 25000 and over General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Class 1018 - circulation 25000 and over Judge: Kelly Clemmer Best All-Round Newspaper first place Second place EXPERIENCING LIMBERLOST HE’S GOT GAME Sven Donaldson gives it his all during the men’s 55-69 shot-put finals at Hillside Stadium during the BC Seniors Games. For more on the largest sporting event to hit Kamloops, turn to Sports on page A23, turn to Community on page B1 and go online to kamloopsthisweek.com. Allen Douglas/KTW DINE & WIN: Top 10 page 13 Page 26 FREE whatsupmuskoka.com WEEKLY PRIZES – SEE PAGE 10 FOR DETAILS WATER JET Page 2 Photograph: Corey Wilkinson Muskokans may soon be able to purchase a parking spot and assigned docking slip in a condominium-type arrangement from a Lake Muskoka marina. S ETTER S By COREY WILKINSON F lying on powerful jets of water, the Flyboard is the latest wild water toy. Full Story – Page 24 OR JEEP WITH GREAT INCENTIVES REAT 2013 3 INCENTI IVES TUESDAY EB CE L 1988 TY PRIDE KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK 2013 LAKE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANOTHER ‘EA 101’ By Andrea Klassen STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com Now that he’s in charge of health rather than the environment, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake no longer has to remain neutral on the proposed Ajax copper and gold mine. But, that’s not changing his position on the project. “There are people who have legitimate concerns and I understand those concerns,” Lake said. “I still own a home in Aberdeen and I totally understand those concerns. I have some very close friends that have those concerns. But, I think to know whether to be concerned, I need to know the information and we’re still not there.” Lake said more of his constituents in the North Kamloops area tend to contact him about how they approve of the mine, but he has not taken a side. “I still take the position that, until we have all the information, it’s difficult to take the position.” With KGHM’s application for environmental assessment unlikely to be filed before next year, there is one area where he thinks the province can take action in the interim. Lake would like to see the Environmental Assessment Office do another “EA 101” seminar in Kamloops, explaining how the process works and giving the public a chance to ask questions. “It may not be a bad idea to do another one and then these kind of concerns could be addressed,” Lake said, noting he would also like to see the session address other permits the mine will need to operate. “It almost becomes a full-time job trying to follow the process, so I understand how people could get a bit exasperated by it,” Lake said. “I think doing that public information session would be helpful for people to understand.” Kamloops This Week Kamloops, BC SELLS FOR LESS 450 Memorial Ave, Orillia 705-325-1331 1-877-813-8295 www.maclangorillia.com Dan FERGUSON/Langley Times A Langley City fire rescue crew brings out a 12-year-old girl who fell down a ravine near 204 Street and 43 Avenue Monday afternoon. She was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital after suffering a severe fracture and possible pelvis fracture. She was also being checked for possible internal injuries. Three suspects fingered in Aldergrove home invasion MONIQUE TAMMINGA Times Reporter Two 17-year-old Langley boys and a 22-year-old Abbotsford man will answer to numerous charges involving a violent home invasion in Aldergrove, which saw them take a baseball bat to a young mom’s head, while punching her mother in front of a five-year-old boy. Police are saying the July 29 robbery at a townhouse in the 2800 block of 273 Street was targeted and related to a prior drug dealing relationship. On that day, around 8:40 p.m. police were called to the Aldergrove townhouse when several neighbours observed three males wearing hoodies and masks kick in the door of a nearby unit. Once the suspects entered the townhouse, a female was heard yelling for someone to call the police. The 26-year-old female victim was home with her mother and five-year-old son at the time of the invasion and recognized her attackers, said Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks. Witnesses said two of the suspects had baseball bats while the third carried a handgun. One of the suspects struck the 26-year-old in the head with a baseball bat. The victim’s mother, 51, was punched in the face and threatened with a handgun. The five-year- old was uninjured, said Marks. The three assailants fled in an biggarysvacuums.com vincial Court on Aug. 28. He can’t be named because he is a youth. A warrant has been issued for the second youth who is charged with break and enter, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, disguising his face with intent to commit an offence, possession of a weapon and uttering threats. Police have recommended charges against the Abbotsford man but Crown hasn’t approved those yet. Super Summer 50% off Sale ITI ON D ED LIM ITE YEAR WARRANTY S5 Cat & Dog Vacuum Built For Serious Pet Owners. Limited Availability. Limitless Power. older grey vehicle. Police arrived in less than five minutes to find the victim bleeding from a cut above her eye. She and her mother were taken to the hospital for treatment. A 17-year-old Langley youth and 22-year-old arrested and a warrant for the arrest of the third suspect, also 17. The first youth has been charged with break and enter and assault causing bodily harm. He has been released from custody and will next appear in Surrey Pro- Langley: #1 - 19638 Fraser Hwy. 604-530-7501 White Rock: #600 - 15355 - 24 Ave. 604-531-7614 Willowbrook Will Wi l ow wbrook r k Sho Sh Shopping hoppi pin ing CCentre entr #313 19705 Fraser Hwy. 604-533-9200 SELLS FOR LESS 78 Main Street, Sundridge IT'S A HUGE PRE-CLEARANCE EVENT 705-384-5352 1-800-268-5264 www.maclang.ca 5 YEARS O G2 FC IN O AT I UN M Tuesday, August 27, 2013 X Volume 26 No. 68 www.kamloopsthisweek.com X 30 cents at Newsstands Girl rescued after falling down steep ravine M THIS WEEK R MAC LANG MAC LANG 2013 ONLINE ALL THE TIME: BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES AT KAMLOOPSTHISWEEK.COM page 39 www. l a n g l e y t i m e s . com A 12-year-old girl was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital after being rescued from the bottom of a steep ravine in Brookswood on Monday. Langley City fire crews got a call about the girl falling near 204 Street and 43 Avenue, around 3:40 p.m. “We located the young lady about 60 feet down a steep embankment,” said Peter Methot, assistant City fire chief. “We don’t know how or why she fell. But luckily, the crew we had are proficient in rope rescue.” Methot said 20 City firefighters, several paramedics and several Township firefighters helped in the rescue, which involved climbing gear and using ropes attached to the large cedar trees to pull the girl up. She was put in a basket stretcher instead of a regular stretcher to make the rescue possible, he said. Once the girl was safely brought to higher ground, she was airlifted to hospital by a helicopter that had landed in the nearby cemetery at 208 Street and 44 Avenue. She was conscious the whole time, but suffered several injuries including a severe fracture and possible pelvis fracture. She was being checked for possible internal injuries. Methot didn’t have an update on how the girl is doing. He said this was the first time City firefighters trained in rope rescue got to use their skills. “We are very happy with how well the rope rescue went,” said Methot. TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO GET A NEW 2013 DODGE, RAM, CHRYSLER SATURDAY August 17 Gold standard 2 0 1 3 MONIQUE TAMMINGA Harper does Muskoka Condo docks on the block 1 5 , Times Reporter Pages 6 & 15 Page 3 A u g u s t Rope rescue required after 12-year-old tumbles down 60-foot embankment NOMINATION DEADLINE FRIDAY Page 2 T h u r s d a y , August 14, 2013 MUSKOKA AWARDS At least one Muskoka town will have a new mayor in 2015. What’s Up Muskoka asks area mayors their plans for the 2014 election. Times The Langley Artists of the Limberlost prepare to host annual show MUSKOKA Mayors mull next election K A M L O O P S Third place What’s Up Muskoka Muskoka, ON The Langley Times Langley, BC General Excellence Class 1018 - circulation 25000 and over Judge: Kelly Clemmer Best Editorial Page first place January 30, 2013 www.whatsupmuskoka.com 8 EDITORIAL Second place A8 TUESDAY, January 22, 2013 Costly lesson For Muskoka Lakes councillors, there is little left to salvage from the Bala Falls debacle but there is a lesson to be learned – there is a time to fight and a time for compromise. While many of the township councillors were elected with a mandate to oppose the Bala Falls project, they were also elected to do what’s in the best interests of their community. In the latter respect, they have failed miserably. For years, misconceptions have been circulating about the project at Bala Falls from the extent of the road closures to the size of potential government subsidies. During that entire time, members of council haven’t done enough to get the facts, dispel the rumours and present the public with a clear understanding of the project This debate has been going on for nearly seven years and there has essentially been no doubt about the outcome since the first environmental assessment was completed in 2009. Swift River, the developers of this project, have tried in every conceivable manner to meet the Township halfway. Swift River was stymied at every turn and now an opportunity to build a more aesthetically pleasing option has been all but lost. The years have seen countless staff reports, studies and meetings, all of which eat up staff time and much taxpayer money; not to mention legal and other professional fees. It will be interesting to learn if taxpayers are ever provided with a full accounting. After all, Mayor Alice Murphy is an accountant and it might be expected she’d want to know the final tally expensed to her taxpayers. Today, councillors have nothing to show for their time-consuming and expensive effort except a divided community and the worst of two sites for the project. Should there be a next time, perhaps they will take a step back, look at the facts and help their community find a compromise. Mayor doesn’t listen Dear Editor: At the Township of Lake of Bays council meeting on Jan. 15, 2013, I was astonished when the proposed Rogers communication tower was discussed. The protest against this tower has been immense; it has been made clear the majority of residents are against its construction. However, Mayor Young, who by his own admission was instrumental in wanting this tower, has refused to listen to his residents. His self-serving and arrogant attitude at the meeting was both shocking and disappointing. Mayor Young was rude to delegates and ignored his own rules of order. Mayor Young refuses to follow Lake of Bays written protocol regarding the towers proximity to residential housing. If the majority of residents do not want or need this infrastructure, I fail to understand why he is adamant in proceeding with the project. I am sure I woke up in Canada today, the greatest county and democracy in the world. Perhaps Mayor Young woke up somewhere else. Randy Gill Huntsville/Lake of Bays THIS WEEK PUBLISHER Donald Smith ext. 203 Publisher – Print & Digital Sandy Lockhart ext. 205 Matt Driscoll ext. 210 Assistant Editor ADVERTISING Manager: Jack Bell Manager: Anne-Marie John Serena Platzer Multimedia Sales Marc Bonitatibus ext. 206 Production Manager Addie Collins ext. 207 Matthew Walker ext. 207 Design Department What’s Up Muskoka Muskoka, ON Dale Bass, Dave Eagles, Tim Petruk, Marty Hastings, Andrea Klassen Corey Wilkinson ext. 217 Donna Ansley ext. 209 Shannon Donnelly ext. 216 Lisa Edlington ext. 212 Martha Gillan ext. 204 Laurie Johle ext. 214 Connie Zator ext. 208 See more letters to the Editor on page 10 EDITORIAL Ray Jolicoeur, Linda Bolton, Don Levasseur, Randy Schroeder, Ed Erickson, Brittany Bailey, Kimberley McCart Photographer should be. It is high time that the silent majority stood up and demanded an end to guns in society. We don’t need guns for protection – that’s why we pay our police. We don’t need them for food – that’s why we have a food industry. We don’t need them for sport – shooting wild animals with guns is not sport, it is unskilled slaughter. If you want to make a sport out of it – use a bow and arrow. But, why slaughter our wildlife anyway when most of us would prefer to see them alive. Nature is quite able to deal with excess populations herself and pest control services are there to deal with nuisance wildlife. Maybe guns are nature’s way of dealing with excess human population – I would prefer birth control and gender planning. As far as the specious argument that people kill people, not guns, then explain why, when you make guns illegal, you go from 60 deaths per year for every two million people to just one? Alan Dean Clark Bracebridge EDITOR Christopher Foulds Chris Occhiuzzi ext. 218 Multimedia Journalist Dear Editor: Stupid, stupid, stupid. Yes, stupid, guns are the problem. “Stupid is as stupid does” - Forrest Gump. It is absolutely appalling that in the aftermath of the latest completely senseless mass shooting of children and teachers, that Don Crossland (Jan 16. What’s Up Muskoka) would subject us to the lunatic ravings of gun culture minutiae. How we have come to permit instruments of death to be allowed in a modern society is beyond comprehension. The only conclusion I can come to is that the lack of a culture of acceptance and treatment for victims of mental health trauma has left the primary and high school bullies, the ones that go on to beat their wives and children, harass their employers or fellow workers, no place to take out their aggression but by slaughtering our wildlife, our women, our children and themselves. Any guns are anaethma to a sane, modern society. Britain outlawed them years ago and has been reaping the rewards ever since. Even police don’t carry guns in Britain and that is the way it www.kamloopsthisweek.com Publisher: Kelly Hall publisher@kamloopsthisweek.com Editor: Christopher Foulds editor@kamloopsthisweek.com Kelly Hall Editor – Print & Digital Guns are the problem VIEWPOINT KAMLOOPS WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA CIRCULATION FRONT OFFICE Manager: Cindi Hamoline Nancy Graham, Lorraine Dickinson, Angela Wilson PRODUCTION Manager: Thomas Sandhoff Fernanda Fisher, Nancy Wahn, Mike Eng, Patricia Hort, Sean Graham, Lee Malbeuf CONTACT US Switchboard 250-374-7467 Classifieds 250-371-4949 Classifieds Fax 250-374-1033 e-mailclassifieds@ kamloopsthisweek.com Circulation 250-374-0462 Kamloops This Week is owned by Thompson River Publications Partnership Limited Angy Gliddon ext. 213 Ken Northey ext. 201 Susan Smith ext. 201 Reader Sales and Service What’s Up Muskoka is published by Cottage Country Communications, a division of: Copyright© 2013, Sun Media Corp. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material published in What’s Up Muskoka is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Printed in Canada. Published weekly. Subscription Rates: Within Canada, outside of Muskoka One year $55.00 plus applicable taxes. Two years $95.00 plus applicable taxes. Canada Post Publication Sales Product Agreement Number 40025080 Address changes should be sent to the address below. How to contact us: Mail: P.O. Box 180, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T6 Street Address: 12 – 440 Ecclestone Drive, Bracebridge Phone: (705) 646-1314 Fax: (705) 645-6424 E-mail: mm.info@sunmedia.ca Website: www.whatsupmuskoka.com FOLLOW US ON Kamloops This Week is a politically independent newspaper, published Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1365B Dalhousie Dr. Kamloops, B.C. V2C 5P6 Ph: 250-374-7467 Fax: 250-374-1033 e-mail: editor@kamloopsthisweek.com All material contained in this publication is protected by copyright. Reproduction is expressly prohibited by the rightsholder. Yes, it’s true — Ajax mine process has been impressive S COTT BAILEY OFFERED an open pit of valuable information, yet took some unnecessary blasts from those in attendance whose rigid opinions cannot be changed even with the most powerful excavators. Bailey is executive project director with the province’s Environmental Assessment Office. As such, he is the guy co-ordinating the process through which the proposed Ajax copper and gold mine application journeys. He spoke to a decidedly anti-Ajax crowd during an event last week at Thompson Rivers University sponsored by the TRU Faculty Association and TRU Human Rights Committee. Bailey was invited to give a presentation on how the environmentalassessment process works in general and where the Ajax application stands in particular. Aided by environmental-assessment officer Lindsay McDonough, Bailey gave a thorough presentation, one that answered many questions and filled in many blanks for those wishing to know more about the process a project — be it a mine, a pipeline or ski-hill application — must navigate to become a reality or be rejected. The problem with such forums related to Ajax, however, is the fact attendance is dominated by those who are opposed to the project — always and forever. To be opposed, and intransigently so, is a democratic right, but to be opposed and attend a meeting intended to explain the process, then lob questions and statements at Bailey that have nothing to do with his jurisdiction is plain silly. At one point, after an audience member delivered yet another comment completely irrelevant to the topic at hand (something about alleged lies told by an Ajax proponent and the pending mass exodus of people from Kamloops due to CHRISTOPHER FOULDS Newsroom MUSINGS certain air-quality deterioration), Bailey reminded the crowd of his role. When he said he didn’t care whether the Ajax mine proceeded or not, there were some gasps of indignation. But, Bailey is correct. As project manager, he is responsible for ensuring all technical analysis is completed, for ensuring all reports are finalized, for ensuring all problems have mitigation proposals and for ensuring the final report delivered to the provincial ministers of environment and mines and federal minister of environment is detailed, complete and ready for a decision. Bailey does not care whether Ajax proceeds because Bailey cannot care. Objectivity is the crucial aspect of his job, something many at last week’s forum failed to note as they lobbed questions and made statements that have nothing to do with Bailey’s role or his purpose in presenting his lecture. (Objectivity is also part of the deal for Terry Lake, the Kamloops-North Thompson Liberal MLA and B.C.’s environment minister. He will be part of the decision-making process; therefore, it is incumbent upon him to stay out of the fray until the report is delivered, despite some ridiculous calls along the way that he get involved and “protect” Kamloops). To be fair, there were some solid questions asked at the TRU event, some of which led to answers that enlightened me on the process. Nothing, however, was made more clear than the fact the Ajax proposal is alone among all previous environmentassessment proposals in the magnitude of attention given the process. No other project has seen Bailey’s office hire its own socio-economic consultant; no other project (save for one, possibly, decades ago) has seen the creation of a community advisory group; few other projects receive three (rather than one as required) public-consultation periods; few other projects are afforded the maximum 75-day public-commenting period; and few other projects require the proponent to hold community-consultation meetings. And, as Bailey said, it is not often he engages in such an information session as the one at TRU last week. “Yes, we are blazing new trails,” he said. “Under certain circumstances, we throw our whole toolbox at a project. This is one of those projects.” All we as a community can ask is that the environmental-assessment process, with its stack of documents fivefeet deep, is as thorough and objective and fair as possible. Under the existing legislation (no, it is not perfect. For example, it requires consultation with affected First Nations, but not with affected municipalities and regional districts), it would appear Bailey and his crew are being as thorough and objective and fair as possible. A decision on Ajax is likely at least a year away, based on the timeline of the process. There is plenty of time for more opposition, more meetings, more information — and more rhetoric. editor@kamloopsthisweek.com twitter.com/ChrisJFoulds Third place 8 •• The The Langley Langley Times Times •• Tuesday, Tuesday, January January 29, 29, 2013 2013 opinion The Do owners, players, truly care about the fans? The NHL is back in business. After five months of sportscasts that sounded more like business reports as owners and players argued their cases for the protracted labour dispute that kept arenas dark, teams returned to the ice to prepare for a truncated season that began this past weekend. Some teams are trying to make amends, to salve the wounds that three difficult lockouts in 19 years have wrought on ticket-buying fans. The Vancouver Canucks are cutting prices at their concessions and gave away the jerseys their players wore in their home opener. The Edmonton Oilers held their first practice on a frozen pond, using Twitter and Facebook to alert fans. Canadians generally, and hockey fans in particular, are pretty forgiving. The arenas in the NHL’s six Canadian cities have been just as full and noisy had the season been at its proper midway point. Those who can’t get a ticket, or afford one, will be tuned in to Hockey Night in Canada, a Saturday night TV tradition for more than 60 years, and Sportsnet and TSN during the week. By the time the race for the Stanley Cup playoffs heats up in earnest, in a few weeks, most fans will probably have forgotten there was a lockout in the first place. It’s hard for the average working person to relate to a labour dispute between billionaire owners and employees who earn millions of dollars. There were never any picket lines set up outside those glittering arenas, many of them built with help from taxpayer money. Locked-out players never huddled around fire barrels to stay warm, worrying about how their strike pay would cover the rent. Perhaps both sides should pause and think about that the next time they threaten to put hockey on hold. OUR VIEW Kamloops This Week Kamloops, BC T Published Tuesday and Thursday at 20258 Fraser Highway, Langley, B.C., V3A 4E6 by Black Press Ltd. Langley Times Sales agreement No. 3298280. Contents copyright of Black Press we say they say A place to start A penny saved? Nope he BC Liberal government unveiled an ambitious plan on Thursday, to try and take some of the dissension out of bargaining between boards of education and the B.C. Teachers Federation. It is an excellent starting point for future discussions, but has almost no chance of being adopted in its entirety – particularly as we are now entering a provincial election campaign, an election that, thus far, the BC Liberals seem likely to lose. Premier Christy Clark has stated on many occasions that she would like to see labour peace in the school system for at least 10 years. This is an admirable goal. Labour disruptions do not help students get a better education. In the last school year, teachers were basically on a work-to-rule campaign for the entire year, and it was not helpful to students or parents – particularly the lack of report cards and lack of dialogue between parents and teachers. The provincial proposal calls for teachers, through the BCTF, to have more of a voice in education policy decisions. It also calls for teachers’ wages over the next 10 years to be based on an indexing of other major B.C. public sector wage settlements, which would ensure that they do not fall behind. It also would let the BCTF, at some point in time, regain the right to strike. In addition, the province is ready to put $100 million into a Priority Education Investment Fund. In the third year of the agreement, it would be available to address education priorities – and teachers would be among those with a say on what those priorities would be. The province also wants a more transparent bargaining process and clear timelines of when bargaining takes place and contracts are agreed to. There is no question that the bargaining with the BCTF has been seriously flawed for many years. Agreements have been few and far between, and even when one side or the other makes concessions, controversy seems inevitable. Part of this is due to the feeling by the BCTF that it deserves a voice in setting policy. While it has every right to discuss policy with the province, in fact, under NDP, Liberal and Social Credit governments, this has rarely gone smoothly. This proposal actually sets up a formal avenue for the BCTF to be involved in policy discussions and it needs to be careful not to reject something it has long wanted. S Up the ante at Cascades Expansion of Langley City casino makes most sense T he casino issue has become Mayor Lois Jackson says residents one for much speculation, spoke out strongly against a so I might as well take a casino when one was proposed From shot at it. about eight years ago. That was Surrey council has turned in South Delta. A North Delta the Editor down a casino proposal for South frankbucholtz casino might make more sense, Surrey. The proposed casino, but would be located quite hotel and convention centre would have been close to the existing Starlight Casino in the built in a rural area adjacent to Highway Queensborough area of New Westminster. 99, and would be some distance from other I believe that the Lower Mainland is wellcommercial facilities and transit. served by casinos, considering how few of Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman, them there were when the BC Liberals took minister responsible for gaming, weighed in office in 2001. Keep in mind, one of the after the vote, saying that Surrey should get no planks in Gordon Campbell’s campaign was consideration from B.C. Lottery Corporation in that there would be no expansion of gaming. the future. It later developed that he phoned The Liberals are now addicted to the at least two members of Surrey council in revenue (over $1 billion) that comes their between the two nights the public hearing way through gambling, and it is not going took place. Some are saying he crossed the to be reduced in scope. There seems to be line by doing so. enough business to keep the current casinos Meanwhile, BCLC is suggesting that the busy and profitable, but gamblers don’t just casino could go in Delta or Langley. Langley gamble here. Many gamble online. Others like City’s casino could be expanded, and that to make trips to places like Las Vegas, which seems the most logical if BCLC wants to add offers entertainment opportunities that are more gambling facilities south of the Fraser. impossible here. Langley Township is suggesting it would Others like to go to Washington state to like a casino on the Gibbs nursery property it gamble. Many gamblers like variety, and that just purchased, adjacent to the Langley Events won’t change. Centre where, incidentally, Coleman has his It seems to me that the best option for BCLC constituency office. would be to talk to Langley City council and I can’t see two casinos in Langley making see what expansions to the existing Cascades much sense. There aren’t that many gamblers Casino would meet with its approval. If the around this area. I’d be surprised if Gateway casino can be expanded in such a way as to wanted to build a new one in the Township, include a theatre which was significantly larger which would seriously affect its existing casino than the present one, and open to all members in the City. of the community, not just those over 19, it Delta seems unlikely to want a new casino. could be a significant benefit to Langley. ay goodbye to the penny. It is being taken out of circulation next month, a victim of inflation. Whether you feel sad in a sentimental way to see the coin go, or happy that you won’t have to carry round that dead weight that just ends up cluttering your dresser, the truth is, the penny has no monetary value anymore. The penny was introduced in 1858 and was designed to serve as a unit of measurement for Canadian traders and merchants – one penny was exactly one-inch wide, and 100 coins equaled one pound in weight. Its modern, slimmed-down version was introduced in 1920, after the price of copper sharply rose. It was also designed to mimic the size and shape of the penny in the U.S., Canada’s increasingly important economic partner at the time. Only about 4.5 per cent of recently issued pennies are actually copper, the rest steel. The decision to get rid of the penny, of course, came down to production costs. A penny costs about 1.6 cents to make, and its elimination will save the government more than $11 million a year. Canada joins a number of countries that have eliminated their one-cent coin including Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. Penny boosters say the loss of the coin could lead to inflation, saying retailers will be inclined to mark up by five cents, instead of just one. But the experience in those other countries that have dropped low-denomination coins suggests that rounding will be fair. The disappearing penny will likely have little economic impact, but it may require some cultural adjustments. Penny candy? A relic of the past. And some old adages will likely fade away, too. What are people going to pinch? Will thoughts now cost a nickel? See a penny? Leave it. Penny-wise? Just foolish. A penny saved is ... not much. —Fernie Free Press The Langley Times is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www. bcpresscouncil.org www. l a n g l e y t i m e s . com Contact us Main line ........................................... 604-533-4157 Classifieds.......................................... 604-575-5555 “On your doorstep at your event in your community...” fax 604-575-2073 Dwayne Weidendorf publisher Kelly Myers assistant ad manager Frank Bucholtz Circulation manager ..................... Roxane Tizard Paper Delivery .................................. 604-514-6770 email circulation@langleytimes.com editor The Langley Times Langley, BC General Excellence Class 1018 - circulation 25000 and over Judge: Kelly Clemmer Best Front Page first place Second place Times Third place FREE JAN. 17- 23, 2013 READ MORE ONLINE AT WEVancouver.com HE’S GOT GAME The Langley Top 10 page 13 T h u r s d a y , A u g u s t 1 5 , 2 0 1 3 Sven Donaldson gives it his all during the men’s 55-69 shot-put finals at Hillside Stadium during the BC Seniors Games. For more on the largest sporting event to hit Kamloops, turn to Sports on page A23, turn to Community on page B1 and go online to kamloopsthisweek.com. Allen Douglas/KTW Gold standard page 39 www. l a n g l e y t i m e s . com Girl rescued after falling down steep ravine ALSO: Be Brave 4 Dive into beauty 6 Steamworks 7 Rope rescue required after 12-year-old tumbles down 60-foot embankment Gluten-free baking 8 Burlesque birthday 11 MONIQUE TAMMINGA Times Reporter revolution Move over .com — here comes .gay, .Vancouver and .whateveryouwant 5 Times Reporter Two 17-year-old Langley boys and a 22-year-old Abbotsford man will answer to numerous charges involving a violent home invasion in Aldergrove, which saw them take a baseball bat to a young mom’s head, while punching her mother in front of a five-year-old boy. Police are saying the July 29 robbery at a townhouse in the 2800 block of 273 Street was biggarysvacuums.com older grey vehicle. Police arrived in less than five minutes to find the victim bleeding from a cut above her eye. She and her mother were taken to the hospital for treatment. A 17-year-old Langley youth and 22-year-old arrested and a warrant for the arrest of the third suspect, also 17. The first youth has been charged with break and enter and assault causing bodily harm. He has been released from custody and will next appear in Surrey Pro- vincial Court on Aug. 28. He can’t be named because he is a youth. A warrant has been issued for the second youth who is charged with break and enter, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, disguising his face with intent to commit an offence, possession of a weapon and uttering threats. Police have recommended charges against the Abbotsford man but Crown hasn’t approved those yet. Super Summer 50% off Sale N D IT IO ED E L IM IT YEAR WARRANTY S5 Cat & Dog Vacuum Built For Serious Pet Owners. Limited Availability. Limitless Power. TUESDAY By Andrea Klassen STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com Now that he’s in charge of health rather than the environment, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake no longer has to remain neutral on the proposed Ajax copper and gold mine. But, that’s not changing his position on the project. “There are people who have legitimate concerns and I understand those concerns,” Lake said. “I still own a home in Aberdeen and I totally understand those concerns. I have some very close friends that have those concerns. But, I think to know whether to be concerned, I need to know the information and we’re still not there.” Lake said more of his constituents in the North Kamloops area tend to contact him about how they approve of the mine, but he has not taken a side. “I still take the position that, until we have all the information, it’s difficult to take the position.” With KGHM’s application for environmental assessment unlikely to be filed before next year, there is one area where he thinks the province can take action in the interim. Langley: #1 - 19638 Fraser Hwy. 604-530-7501 White Rock: #600 - 15355 - 24 Ave. 604-531-7614 Willowbrook Will Wi l ow wbrook r k Sho Sh Shopping hoppi pin ing CCentre entr #313 19705 Fraser Hwy. 604-533-9200 The Langley Times Langley, BC WE/WestEnder Vancouver, BC EB O 2013 CE L Lake would like to see the Environmental Assessment Office do another “EA 101” seminar in Kamloops, explaining how the process works and giving the public a chance to ask questions. “It may not be a bad idea to do another one and then these kind of concerns could be addressed,” Lake said, noting he would also like to see the session address other permits the mine will need to operate. “It almost becomes a full-time job trying to follow the process, so I understand how people could get a bit exasperated by it,” Lake said. “I think doing that public information session would be helpful for people to understand.” A Langley City fire rescue crew brings out a 12-year-old girl who fell down a ravine near 204 Street and 43 Avenue Monday afternoon. She was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital after suffering a severe fracture and possible pelvis fracture. She was also being checked for possible internal injuries. five-year-old son at the time of the invasion and recognized her attackers, said Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks. Witnesses said two of the suspects had baseball bats while the third carried a handgun. One of the suspects struck the 26-year-old in the head with a baseball bat. The victim’s mother, 51, was punched in the face and threatened with a handgun. The five-year- old was uninjured, said Marks. The three assailants fled in an 5 YEARS O FC LAKE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANOTHER ‘EA 101’ Photo of Cybele Negris by Rob Newell targeted and related to a prior drug dealing relationship. On that day, around 8:40 p.m. police were called to the Aldergrove townhouse when several neighbours observed three males wearing hoodies and masks kick in the door of a nearby unit. Once the suspects entered the townhouse, a female was heard yelling for someone to call the police. The 26-year-old female victim was home with her mother and G2 IN AT 1988 Dan FERGUSON/Langley Times Three suspects fingered in Aldergrove home invasion MONIQUE TAMMINGA Tuesday, August 27, 2013 X Volume 26 No. 68 www.kamloopsthisweek.com X 30 cents at Newsstands R KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK R ITY P IDE .name THIS WEEK ONLINE ALL THE TIME: BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES AT KAMLOOPSTHISWEEK.COM UN M The K A M L O O P S M A 12-year-old girl was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital after being rescued from the bottom of a steep ravine in Brookswood on Monday. Langley City fire crews got a call about the girl falling near 204 Street and 43 Avenue, around 3:40 p.m. “We located the young lady about 60 feet down a steep embankment,” said Peter Methot, assistant City fire chief. “We don’t know how or why she fell. But luckily, the crew we had are proficient in rope rescue.” Methot said 20 City firefighters, several paramedics and several Township firefighters helped in the rescue, which involved climbing gear and using ropes attached to the large cedar trees to pull the girl up. She was put in a basket stretcher instead of a regular stretcher to make the rescue possible, he said. Once the girl was safely brought to higher ground, she was airlifted to hospital by a helicopter that had landed in the nearby cemetery at 208 Street and 44 Avenue. She was conscious the whole time, but suffered several injuries including a severe fracture and possible pelvis fracture. She was being checked for possible internal injuries. Methot didn’t have an update on how the girl is doing. He said this was the first time City firefighters trained in rope rescue got to use their skills. “We are very happy with how well the rope rescue went,” said Methot. Kamloops This Week Kamloops, BC General Excellence Class 1018 - circulation 25000 and over Blue Ribbons Capital News, Kelowna, BC Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Duncan, BC Kamloops This Week, Kamloops, BC The Langley Times, Langley, BC The Times-Herald, Moose Jaw, SK Judge: Kelly Clemmer JUDGE’S COMMENTS Class 1018 – Best All Round Newspaper First – Kamloops This Week Really good paper, very good photography, and layout is very clean and fresh. Obviously one of the best papers in the category. Second – What’s Up Muskoka Nice paper, good all around. Liked the innovative layout and the one issue in bright white gloss was nice too. Editorial page was very nice looking and good local content. One of the best in the class. What’s Up Muskoka, Muskoka, ON Third – The Langley Times Great front page story on Andy Bhatti. Good headline writing as well. Overall, an excellent paper with very good layout, photography and writing. Obviously one of the best of the class. Keep it up. General Excellence Scores General Excellence 2014 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1011 Clearwater (BC) The North Thompson Times 10.00 5.00 9.00 14.00 13.00 33.00 9.00 5.00 10.00 108.00 1011 Stephenville (NL) The Georgian 12.00 3.00 6.00 12.00 12.00 34.00 9.50 5.00 8.00 101.50 1011 Lake Cowichan (BC) The Lake Cowichan Gazette 13.00 4.00 8.00 11.00 10.00 30.00 8.00 5.00 9.00 98.00 1011 Sooke (BC) Sooke News Mirror 13.00 4.00 7.50 11.00 10.00 27.00 7.00 3.00 6.00 88.50 1011 Sicamous (BC) Eagle Valley News 11.00 3.00 7.00 10.00 10.00 28.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 86.00 1011 Valemount/McBride (BC) The Rocky Mountain Goat News 9.00 3.00 6.00 12.00 10.00 30.00 7.00 2.00 7.00 86.00 1011 Barriere (BC) North Thompson Star/Journal 10.00 4.00 6.00 9.00 9.00 28.00 8.50 4.00 7.00 85.50 1011 Whitewood (SK) Whitewood Herald 9.00 4.00 5.00 10.00 11.00 26.00 6.00 4.00 7.00 82.00 1011 Tofino/Ucluelet (BC) Tofino - Ucluelet Westerly News 12.00 4.00 5.00 10.00 8.00 26.00 6.00 3.00 7.00 81.00 1011 Kitimat (BC) Northern Sentinel 14.00 3.00 7.00 7.00 10.00 25.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 81.00 1011 Elk Point (AB) Elk Point Review 10.00 3.00 5.00 10.00 10.00 25.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 80.00 1011 Stayner (ON) Stayner Sun 10.00 3.00 5.00 10.00 10.00 23.00 5.00 4.00 8.00 78.00 1011 Fort St. James (BC) Fort St. James Caledonia Courier 10.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 8.00 25.00 6.00 5.00 6.00 78.00 1011 Vanderhoof (BC) Omineca Express 10.00 4.00 3.00 10.00 5.00 24.00 5.00 4.00 8.00 73.00 1011 Rainy River (ON) Rainy River Record 8.00 3.00 0.00 8.00 2.00 15.00 4.00 4.00 6.00 50.00 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1012 Fort Macleod (AB) The Macleod Gazette 12.00 5.00 9.00 12.00 13.00 32.00 9.00 4.00 8.00 104.00 1012 Invermere (BC) The Valley Echo 14.00 5.00 8.75 11.00 10.00 28.00 8.00 5.00 9.00 98.75 1012 High Prairie (AB) South Peace News 11.00 4.00 6.00 13.00 12.00 30.00 8.50 5.00 8.00 97.50 1012 Happy Valley-Goose Bay (NL) The Labradorian 10.00 4.00 8.50 13.00 11.00 27.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 91.50 1012 Kahnawake (QC) The Eastern Door 11.00 4.00 8.00 8.00 11.00 29.00 5.00 5.00 7.00 88.00 1012 Port Hardy (BC) North Island Gazette 13.00 5.00 8.00 10.00 9.00 25.00 6.00 4.00 7.00 87.00 1012 Pictou (NS) Hub Now 11.00 4.00 4.00 11.00 10.00 26.00 6.00 4.00 8.00 84.00 1012 Sundre (AB) Sundre Round Up 10.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 8.00 25.00 7.00 3.00 6.00 82.00 1012 Roblin (MB) The Roblin Review 9.00 3.00 7.00 10.00 9.00 28.00 6.00 3.00 5.00 80.00 1012 Blue Mountains (ON) The Blue Mountains Courier-Herald 12.00 4.00 5.00 8.00 8.00 25.00 5.00 3.00 7.00 77.00 1012 Ladysmith/Chemainus (BC) The Chronicle 10.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 9.00 26.00 5.00 3.00 6.00 77.00 1012 Gull Lake (SK) The Advance 9.00 3.00 5.00 12.00 8.00 25.00 5.00 4.00 5.00 76.00 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1013 Jasper (AB) The Fitzhugh 14.00 5.00 8.50 14.00 15.00 34.00 9.75 5.00 9.00 114.25 1013 Windsor (NS) Hants Journal 14.00 5.00 8.00 15.00 14.00 33.00 9.50 5.00 9.00 112.50 1013 Nunavut (NU) Kivalliq News 14.00 5.00 8.00 15.00 13.00 33.00 9.25 4.00 10.00 111.25 1013 Squamish (BC) The Chief 13.00 5.00 8.00 15.00 14.00 33.00 8.00 5.00 9.00 110.00 1013 Fort Simpson (NT) Deh Cho Drum 15.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 13.00 32.00 8.00 5.00 8.00 105.00 1013 New Hamburg (ON) New Hamburg Independent 12.00 5.00 8.00 13.00 14.00 34.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 104.00 1013 Kincardine (ON) The Kincardine Independent 14.00 5.00 8.00 12.00 9.00 33.00 8.00 5.00 10.00 104.00 1013 Powell River (BC) Powell River Peak 12.00 5.00 8.75 13.00 10.00 33.00 8.00 5.00 9.00 103.75 1013 Burks Falls (ON) Almaguin News 13.00 4.00 8.00 14.00 12.00 31.00 7.00 4.00 9.00 102.00 1013 Lewisporte (NL) The Pilot 12.00 5.00 9.00 12.00 11.00 32.00 9.00 4.00 8.00 102.00 1013 Meaford (ON) Meaford Express 12.00 5.00 7.00 15.00 12.00 32.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 101.00 1013 Inuvik (NT) Inuvik Drum 12.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 13.00 32.00 7.00 3.00 8.00 99.00 1013 Creston (BC) Creston Valley Advance 12.00 5.00 7.00 12.00 11.00 32.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 98.00 1013 Salmon Arm (BC) Salmon Arm Observer 12.00 5.00 7.00 11.00 12.00 32.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 98.00 1013 Pictou (NS) The Advocate 11.00 4.00 8.00 11.00 11.00 32.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 95.00 1013 Taber (AB) Taber Times 12.00 5.00 8.00 12.00 10.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 95.00 1013 Exeter (ON) Times-Advocate 12.00 5.00 5.00 12.00 10.00 32.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 94.00 1013 Shelburne/Barrington (NS) Coast Guard 12.00 5.00 6.00 11.00 11.00 31.00 5.00 4.00 7.00 92.00 1013 Wingham (ON) Wingham Advance Times 11.00 4.00 8.00 10.00 10.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 6.00 90.00 1013 Williams Lake (BC) The Williams Lake Tribune 10.00 4.00 7.00 9.00 10.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 88.00 1013 Elmira (ON) Elmira Independent-Express 12.00 5.00 6.00 10.00 10.00 27.00 6.00 3.00 8.00 87.00 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1014 Rocky Mountain House (AB) The Mountaineer 14.00 5.00 9.75 15.00 11.00 31.00 9.50 5.00 10.00 110.25 1014 Athabasca (AB) The Athabasca Advocate 11.00 5.00 8.00 15.00 12.00 31.00 10.00 5.00 8.00 105.00 1014 Bonnyville (AB) Bonnyville Nouvelle 13.00 5.00 9.50 15.00 13.00 25.00 7.00 5.00 7.00 99.50 1014 Yarmouth (NS) Vanguard 10.00 5.00 9.00 11.00 15.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 6.00 98.00 1014 Carbonear (NL) The Compass 11.00 4.00 8.00 10.00 10.00 31.00 9.00 3.00 8.00 94.00 1014 Salt Spring Island (BC) Gulf Islands Driftwood 8.00 4.00 9.25 12.00 13.00 25.00 9.00 5.00 8.00 93.25 1014 Bonnyville (AB) Bonnyville Nouvelle 10.00 5.00 8.00 13.00 10.00 30.00 7.00 5.00 5.00 93.00 1014 St. Paul (AB) The St. Paul Journal 11.00 2.00 8.00 12.00 13.00 27.00 8.00 5.00 5.00 91.00 1014 Antigonish (NS) The Casket 11.00 4.00 9.00 14.00 10.00 23.00 7.00 5.00 8.00 91.00 1014 Marystown (NL) The Southern Gazette 8.00 5.00 9.25 9.00 13.00 30.00 7.00 3.00 6.00 90.25 1014 Sussex (NB) Kings County Record 15.00 4.00 7.00 13.00 10.00 20.00 8.00 5.00 8.00 90.00 1014 Gander (NL) The Beacon 10.00 5.00 10.00 12.00 13.00 20.00 8.00 2.00 8.00 88.00 1014 New Liskeard (ON) Temiskaming Speaker 9.00 2.00 9.25 8.00 9.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 4.00 82.25 1014 Kentville (NS) Kings County Advertiser 8.00 4.00 7.00 10.00 12.00 20.00 8.00 5.00 8.00 82.00 1014 Moosomin (SK) World-Spectator 8.00 5.00 7.00 15.00 9.00 20.00 9.75 2.00 6.00 81.75 1014 Westlock (AB) The Westlock News 8.00 2.00 8.00 15.00 9.00 24.00 6.00 4.00 5.00 81.00 1014 Carstairs (AB) Carstairs Courier 9.00 5.00 6.00 12.00 8.00 20.00 9.00 5.00 6.00 80.00 1014 Kentville (NS) Kings County Register 10.00 5.00 7.00 10.00 8.00 20.00 7.00 5.00 7.00 79.00 1014 Clarenville (NL) The Packet 6.00 3.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 26.00 8.00 2.00 4.00 76.00 1014 St. Stephen (NB) The Saint Croix Courier 8.00 2.00 8.00 10.00 10.00 20.00 8.00 4.00 5.00 75.00 1014 Parry Sound (ON) North Star 9.00 4.00 6.00 10.00 12.00 15.00 6.00 5.00 7.00 74.00 1014 Didsbury (AB) Didsbury Review 3.00 2.00 6.00 12.00 9.00 18.00 9.00 3.00 6.00 68.00 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1015 Nunavut (NU) Nunavut News/North 12.00 4.00 7.00 13.00 13.00 31.00 9.00 4.00 8.00 101.00 1015 Steinbach (MB) The Carillon 12.00 4.00 8.10 12.00 12.00 30.00 8.25 4.00 7.00 97.35 1015 Montague (PE) The Eastern Graphic 12.00 3.00 8.00 13.00 13.00 29.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 96.00 1015 Yellowknife (NT) Yellowknifer 11.00 3.00 8.30 12.00 13.00 28.00 8.50 4.00 8.00 95.80 1015 Fort Smith/Fort Chipewyan (NT) Northern Journal 12.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 12.00 28.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 95.00 1015 Brock (ON) Brock Citizen 12.00 4.00 7.00 13.00 12.00 28.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 95.00 1015 Fort Frances (ON) Fort Frances Times 11.00 4.00 8.20 12.00 11.00 28.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 92.20 1015 St-Boniface (MB) La Liberté 11.00 3.00 7.00 11.00 11.00 30.00 6.00 4.00 7.00 90.00 1015 Alberton (PE) West Prince Graphic 11.00 3.00 8.00 12.00 10.00 28.00 7.00 4.00 6.00 89.00 1015 Dauphin (MB) Dauphin Herald 15.00 3.00 7.00 10.00 11.00 27.00 6.00 3.00 6.00 88.00 1015 Gravenhurst (ON) Gravenhurst Banner 11.00 3.00 8.00 10.00 11.00 28.00 6.00 3.00 6.00 86.00 1015 Invermere (BC) Columbia Valley Pioneer 10.00 4.00 6.00 9.00 10.00 28.00 6.00 4.00 6.00 83.00 1015 Oak Bay (BC) Oak Bay News 10.00 3.00 6.00 9.00 9.00 26.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 80.00 1015 Ponoka (AB) Ponoka News 9.00 3.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 25.00 8.00 3.00 7.00 79.00 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1016 Whitehorse/Yukon Territory (YT) The Yukon News 14.00 3.00 10.00 14.00 13.00 32.00 9.50 5.00 9.00 109.50 1016 Huntsville (ON) Huntsville Forester 14.00 5.00 9.25 13.00 14.00 32.00 8.50 4.00 8.00 107.75 1016 Bracebridge (ON) Bracebridge Examiner 14.00 5.00 9.50 12.00 13.00 34.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 107.50 1016 Ottawa (ON) Embassy 12.00 4.00 9.75 13.00 14.00 30.00 9.00 5.00 9.00 105.75 1016 Canmore/Kananaskis/Banff/Lake Louise (AB) Rocky Mountain Outlook 14.00 5.00 9.00 12.00 12.00 32.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 103.00 1016 Uxbridge (ON) Uxbridge Times-Journal 11.00 4.00 9.00 13.00 12.00 32.00 9.00 5.00 7.00 102.00 1016 Nelson (BC) Nelson Star 12.00 4.00 9.00 12.00 12.00 31.00 9.00 4.00 8.00 101.00 1016 Sechelt/Gibsons (BC) Coast Reporter 13.00 5.00 8.00 12.00 13.00 31.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 101.00 1016 Whistler (BC) Question 13.00 5.00 7.00 12.00 11.00 30.00 8.00 5.00 9.00 100.00 1016 Wasaga (ON) Wasaga Sun 12.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 11.00 32.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 99.00 1016 Ottawa (ON) Hill Times 13.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 13.00 26.00 9.25 4.00 8.00 97.25 1016 Mission (BC) Mission Record 12.00 4.00 8.00 11.00 13.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 97.00 1016 Stittsville (ON) Stittsville News 13.00 5.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 31.00 8.00 3.00 7.00 97.00 1016 Innisfail (AB) Innisfail Province 12.00 4.00 9.00 10.00 12.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 96.00 1016 Port Perry (ON) Port Perry Star 11.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 12.00 28.00 10.00 4.00 7.00 96.00 1016 Olds (AB) Olds Albertan 13.00 5.00 9.00 11.00 12.00 25.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 94.00 1016 Lunenburg County (NS) The Lunenburg County Progress Bulletin 11.00 4.00 8.00 13.00 11.00 28.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 94.00 1016 Castlegar (BC) Castlegar News 12.00 4.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 30.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 93.00 1016 Almonte/Carleton Place (ON) Carleton Place-Almonte Canadian Gazette 11.00 4.00 7.00 9.00 12.00 31.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 92.00 1016 Parry Sound (ON) Beacon Star 11.00 3.00 8.00 12.00 10.00 28.00 9.00 3.00 8.00 92.00 1016 Strathmore (AB) Strathmore Times 0.00 5.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 86.00 1016 Northwest Territories (NT) NWT News/North 10.00 4.00 3.00 10.00 10.00 30.00 7.00 3.00 6.00 83.00 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1017 St. Albert (AB) St. Albert Gazette 14.00 4.00 6.00 14.00 13.00 34.00 9.00 4.00 8.00 106.00 1017 Elmira-Woolwich (ON) Observer 14.00 5.00 7.00 14.00 12.00 31.00 9.50 4.00 9.00 105.50 1017 Courtenay/Comox Valley (BC) Comox Valley Record 12.00 4.00 6.00 13.00 13.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 97.00 1017 Sidney (BC) Peninsula News Review 12.00 4.00 6.00 12.00 13.00 32.00 8.00 4.00 4.00 95.00 1017 Dundas (ON) Dundas Star News 10.00 3.00 9.00 12.00 13.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 95.00 1017 Cobourg/Port Hope/Colborne (ON) Northumberland News 12.00 4.00 6.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 95.00 1017 Swift Current (SK) Prairie Post 12.00 4.00 6.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 3.00 7.00 94.00 1017 Calgary (AB) Fast Forward Weekly 12.00 4.00 6.00 11.00 12.00 28.00 8.50 4.00 7.00 92.50 1017 Ancaster (ON) Ancaster News 10.00 4.00 6.00 12.00 13.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 6.00 92.00 1017 Alliston (ON) Alliston Herald 10.00 4.00 6.00 12.00 11.00 28.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 91.00 1017 Campbell River (BC) Campbell River Mirror 12.00 4.00 6.00 12.00 13.00 25.00 6.00 4.00 8.00 90.00 1017 Keswick (ON) Georgina Advocate 10.00 3.00 8.00 12.00 11.00 28.00 7.00 4.00 6.00 89.00 1017 Victoria (BC) Goldstream News Gazette 11.00 4.00 6.00 11.00 11.00 28.00 6.00 4.00 6.00 87.00 1017 Port Perry (ON) Scugog Standard 10.00 3.00 6.00 11.00 11.00 28.00 6.00 4.00 6.00 85.00 1017 Renfrew (ON) Renfrew Mercury 10.00 4.00 6.00 9.00 11.00 28.00 7.00 4.00 6.00 85.00 1017 Cloverdale (BC) Cloverdale Reporter 12.00 4.00 6.00 7.00 9.00 20.00 7.00 5.00 8.00 78.00 1017 Stouffville (ON) Sun/Tribune 10.00 3.00 5.00 9.00 10.00 25.00 5.00 3.00 6.00 76.00 1017 Waterdown (ON) Flamborough Review 10.00 3.00 6.00 11.00 0.00 27.00 6.00 4.00 6.00 73.00 1017 Caledon (ON) Caledon Enterprise 8.00 4.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 3.00 6.00 52.00 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1018 Kamloops (BC) Kamloops This Week 15.00 4.00 9.50 13.00 13.00 31.00 9.25 4.00 10.00 108.75 1018 Muskoka (ON) What’s Up Muskoka 13.00 4.00 10.00 14.00 13.00 31.00 8.00 5.00 9.00 107.00 1018 Langley (BC) The Langley Times 12.00 4.00 9.25 13.00 14.00 32.00 10.00 4.00 8.00 106.25 1018 Kelowna (BC) Capital News 13.00 4.00 8.00 13.00 13.00 32.00 9.00 4.00 7.00 103.00 1018 Duncan (BC) Cowichan News Leader Pictorial 13.00 3.00 7.00 14.00 13.00 30.00 9.00 4.00 8.00 101.00 1018 New Westminster (BC) The Record 13.00 4.00 7.00 14.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 100.00 1018 Mississauga (ON) Mississauga News 15.00 5.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 9.00 4.00 6.00 100.00 1018 Burlington (ON) Burlington Post 12.00 4.00 8.00 14.00 13.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 100.00 1018 Vancouver (BC) The Vancouver Courier - Downtown 13.00 4.00 9.00 12.00 13.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 100.00 1018 Burnaby (BC) Burnaby Now 13.00 4.00 8.00 13.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 99.00 1018 Saanich (BC) Saanich News 12.00 4.00 8.00 13.00 13.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 99.00 1018 Abbotsford (BC) The Abbotsford News 14.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 9.00 4.00 7.00 99.00 1018 Coquitlam/Pt. Coquitlam/Pt. Moody (BC) The Tri-Cities NOW 13.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 13.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 99.00 1018 Nanaimo (BC) Nanaimo Daily News 12.00 4.00 7.00 13.00 13.00 30.00 8.00 3.00 9.00 99.00 1018 Barrie (ON) Barrie Advance 14.00 4.00 7.00 13.00 13.00 30.00 8.00 3.00 7.00 99.00 1018 Victoria (BC) Victoria News 12.00 4.00 8.00 13.00 13.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 8.00 99.00 1018 Duncan (BC) Cowichan Valley Citizen 12.00 5.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 9.00 99.00 1018 Surrey/North Delta (BC) The Leader 12.00 4.00 8.00 13.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 3.00 8.00 98.00 1018 Chilliwack (BC) Chilliwack Times 12.00 4.00 8.00 13.00 12.00 29.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 98.00 1018 Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows (BC) Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Times 12.00 3.00 9.00 13.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 98.00 1018 Surrey/North Delta/White Rock (BC) The Now 13.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 97.00 1018 Milton (ON) Canadian Champion 14.00 4.00 6.00 13.00 12.00 29.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 97.00 1018 Chilliwack (BC) The Chilliwack Progress 12.00 4.00 7.00 13.00 13.00 30.00 8.00 3.00 7.00 97.00 1018 Oakville (ON) Beaver 12.00 3.00 7.00 13.00 12.00 29.00 9.00 4.00 8.00 97.00 1018 Brantford (ON) Brant News 12.00 5.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 8.00 3.00 8.00 96.00 1018 Richmond Hill/Thornhill (ON) The Liberal 12.00 5.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 96.00 1018 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows (BC) The News 12.00 3.00 7.00 13.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 96.00 1018 Newmarket/Aurora (ON) Era-Banner 12.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 96.00 1018 Nanaimo (BC) Nanaimo News Bulletin 12.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 96.00 1018 Vancouver (BC) WE/WestEnder 14.00 5.00 0.00 13.00 12.00 28.00 9.50 5.00 9.00 95.50 1018 North Vancouver/West Vancouver (BC) North Shore News 12.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 95.00 1018 Penticton (BC) Penticton Western News 12.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 95.00 1018 North Bay (ON) Nipissing News 12.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 11.00 30.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 94.00 1018 Montreal (QC) The Suburban, City Edition 12.00 3.00 8.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 94.00 1018 Langley (BC) Langley Advance 11.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 8.00 4.00 7.00 94.00 1018 Coquitlam/Pt. Coquitlam/Pt. Moody (BC) Tri-City News 11.00 4.00 6.00 11.00 11.00 30.00 9.00 4.00 8.00 94.00 General Excellence Scores Advertising and Layout: Ad Design and Copy Editing (15) Advertising and Layout: Layout and Effective Use of Colour (5) Editorial Page: (10) Editorial: Photography (15) Editorial: Quality of Writing (15) Editorial: Range of Coverage and Editorial Design (35) Front Page: (10) Typography: Print Quality (5) Typography: Typography and Design (10) TOTAL (120) CLASS NEWSPAPER 1018 Prince George (BC) Prince George Free Press 12.00 3.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 3.00 7.00 94.00 1018 Cambridge (ON) Cambridge Times 12.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 94.00 1018 Kitchener (ON) Kitchener Post 12.00 4.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 28.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 93.00 1018 Hamilton (ON) Mountain News 11.00 5.00 7.00 10.00 12.00 30.00 6.00 4.00 7.00 92.00 1018 Surrey (BC) Peace Arch News 10.00 4.00 7.00 11.00 12.00 28.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 92.00 1018 Stoney Creek (ON) Stoney Creek News 11.00 3.00 7.00 11.00 12.00 29.00 7.00 4.00 6.00 90.00 1018 Parksville/Qualicum Beach (BC) The News 13.00 4.00 9.00 13.00 7.00 25.00 7.00 5.00 7.00 90.00 1018 Nanaimo (BC) Harbour City Star 11.00 3.00 0.00 14.00 12.00 30.00 8.00 4.00 8.00 90.00 1018 Port Alberni (BC) Alberni Valley Times 10.00 3.00 7.00 13.00 12.00 25.00 9.00 4.00 7.00 90.00 1018 Guelph (ON) Guelph Tribune 10.00 3.00 7.00 12.00 12.00 29.00 7.00 3.00 6.00 89.00 1018 Kawartha Lakes (ON) Kawartha Lakes This Week 10.00 3.00 6.00 11.00 15.00 29.00 6.00 4.00 5.00 89.00 1018 Prince George (BC) The Prince George Citizen 10.00 4.00 8.00 11.00 12.00 24.00 8.00 3.00 8.00 88.00 1018 Peterborough (ON) Peterborough This Week 10.00 3.00 6.00 10.00 12.00 28.00 7.00 4.00 7.00 87.00 1018 Ajax/Pickering (ON) News Advertiser 10.00 3.00 6.00 10.00 15.00 26.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 87.00 1018 Whitby (ON) Whitby This Week 10.00 3.00 7.00 11.00 11.00 27.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 86.00 1018 Oshawa (ON) Oshawa This Week 11.00 3.00 7.00 11.00 11.00 26.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 86.00 1018 Clarington (ON) Clarington This Week 10.00 3.00 7.00 11.00 11.00 26.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 85.00 1018 Waterloo (ON) Waterloo Chronicle 10.00 3.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 25.00 7.00 3.00 7.00 85.00 1018 North Vancouver (BC) Outlook North Vancouver 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00