clearwater times, january 07, 2016

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Thursday, January 7, 2016 ▼ Volume 52 No. 1 ▼ www.clearwatertimes.com ▼ $1.35 Includes GST

LOCAL NEWS: YEAR IN REVIEW, JANUARY - APRIL ▼ A13 & A19T

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ETimes First PlaceGeneral Excellence

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SPORTS:Hockey player saves the day. See page A2 inside.

Times staff

Residential property owners in Clearwater can expect to see their prop-erty assessments change by +5 per cent to -5 per cent when they receive their assess-ment notices in the next few days.

The 2016 assessment roll for Clearwater will go up to $212,000 from $211,000.

Those owning homes in Barriere can expect to see their assessments change by -10 per cent to +5 per cent.

The assessment roll in Barriere for 2016 decreased to $217,000 from $223,000.

Overall in the Thompson area (outside of Kamloops), residential single detached homes are having a typical change of +10 per cent to -10 per cent.

The assessments for residential strata

units (e.g. condominiums), commercial and light industrial properties changed by +5 per cent to -5 per cent.

“The majority of residential home own-ers within the area can expect a modest change in value, compared to last year’s assessment,” said deputy assessor Graham Held.

Overall, the Thompson area’s total assessments increased from $23.59 billion in 2015 to $24.14 billion this year. A total of almost $308 million of the Thompson area’s updated assessments is from new construction, subdivisions and rezoning of properties.

The Thompson portion of BC Assessment’s Thompson Okanagan region includes the City of Kamloops, District of Barriere, District of Clearwater, City of Merritt, Village of Ashcroft, Village

of Cache Creek, Village of Chase, Village of Clinton, Village of Lytton, District of Logan Lake, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality and the rural areas surround-ing these communities.

Of note, BC Assessment has launched a newly-enhanced website at bcassess-ment.ca that includes more details about 2016 assessments, property information and trends such as lists of 2016’s top most valuable residential properties across the province.

The website also provides self-service access to the free online e-valueBC service that allows anyone to search, check and compare 2016 property assessments any-where in the province.

“Property owners can find a lot of information on our website including answers to many assessment-related ques-

tions, but those who feel that their proper-ty assessment does not reflect market value as of July 1, 2015 or see incorrect informa-tion on their notice, should contact BC Assessment as indicated on their notice as soon as possible in January,” said Held.

“If a property owner is still concerned about their assessment after speaking to one of our appraisers, they may sub-mit a Notice of Complaint (Appeal) by February 1, for an independent review by a Property Assessment Review Panel,” added Held.

The Property Assessment Review Panels, independent of BC Assessment, are appointed annually by the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, and typically meet between Feb. 1 and Mar. 15 to hear formal com-plaints.

North Thompson assessments see little change

Aurora borealis

The Northern Lights dance across the sky above a cabin near Trout Creek Road on New Years Eve. Photo by Mike Lahaie

A2 www.clearwatertimes.com Thursday, January 7, 2016 Clearwater Times

Submitted

VANCOUVER.—To help raise aware-ness about the impact on emergency services, E-Comm has released a list of the top calls that shouldn’t have been placed to 9-1-1 in 2015.

“We want to remind people about what’s at risk when 9-1-1 is used as an information line or for other reasons that do not meet the test of a true emergency – a police, fire or medical situation that requires immediate action because someone’s health, safety, or

property is in jeopardy or a crime is in prog-ress,” explains Jody Robertson, E-Comm’s director of corporate communications.

Almost 3,400 9-1-1 calls flow through E-Comm every day. Robertson says while the majority of people use 9-1-1 responsibly, calls like the ones on this year’s top-10 list waste valuable emergency resources by tying up 9-1-1 call-takers’ time.

This year’s top reason not to call 9-1-1? Requesting the number for a local tire dealership.

“My job is to treat

every call as an emer-gency, no matter how illogical it may seem on the surface,” says E-Comm 9-1-1 call-taker Harrison Kwan, recipient of this year’s top nuisance call. “We are trained to ask questions in case a caller is in distress and can’t speak freely. It’s only when I’m completely satisfied that the call is not a real emergency that I can disconnect and go back to answering other 9-1-1 calls. And that takes time.”

2015 top reasons to not call 9-1-1:

1. Requesting the number for a local tire dealership

2. Reporting an issue with a vending machine

3. Asking for the non-emergency line

4. Because a car is parked too close to theirs

5. “My son won’t put his seatbelt on”

6. Coffee shop is refusing to refill coffee

7. Asking if it’s okay to park on the street

8. “My roommate used my toothbrush”

9. Asking for help getting a basketball out of a tree

10. Reporting that their building’s air system is too loud and they can’t sleep.

“We hope that our message that 9-1-1 call-takers can’t answer questions or manage non-emergen-cy situations on 9-1-1 lifelines will encour-age people to learn more about 9-1-1,” adds Robertson.

“There’s lots of information on our web site—ecomm911.ca—about when to use 9-1-1 and when to use non-emergency numbers for police, fire and ambulance, along with easy access to those num-bers and free educa-tion materials avail-able for order, includ-ing learning tools for children.”

2 - 3PA failure, spontaneous anthem rendition makes Hungarian kid a heroMarty Hastings – Kamloops This Week

Laszlo Horvath, not old enough to shave, sung his way into Kamloops folklore and became an overnight hero in Hungary.

Awkward silence washed over the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament (KIBIHT) opening ceremony on Dec. 30 and 1,000 fans squeezed their sticks when the U.S. nation-al anthem failed to play on the broken public-address system.

In the first of two rousing, off-the-cuff acts of human decency, those same predominantly Canadian fans who moments before were mumbling nervously broke into an impassioned rendi-tion of the Star Spangled Banner at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre.

Old Glory had been honoured and joy had replaced anxiousness in the bleachers, but scrambling volunteers still couldn’t get the damn PA system to work — and guest-of-honour Hungary’s anthem was up next.

“One of my directors walked

over to the Hungarian coach and said, ‘Would your team like to sing the Hungarian anthem?’ KIBIHT chairman Ted Kowalsky told KTW.

Cue 15-year-old Horvath.“This kid, No. 12, put up his

hand and said,’Yup, I’ll sing it,’ Kowalsky said. “He skated over to us. The crowd started going nuts.

“He stood beside me. He was so proud. He was not the slight-est bit nervous. Plus, the kid’s got a good voice. He sang this thing and the crowd just erupted.”

The kid just grabbed the mic and let fly.

“It was a spontaneous deci-sion and I was happy that I could sing our anthem,” Horvath said. “I wanted to sing. I learned in music school and I sang in the choir.”

The response in Hungary to Horvath’s rendition of the poetic prayer has been undeniably unique.

Shawn Pooley of Radio NL was watching the event unfold at McArthur and knew immediately something special was happening, so he began filming, praying while

capturing the footage because his iPhone was within a few mega-bytes of running out of memory.

The broadcaster went home, pieced together an edited ver-sion of the video, published it on YouTube and contacted a friend in Kamloops with Hungarian con-nections, Bob Dever, who helped

spread the link on the Internet.“When I went to bed that

night, I figured a few people in Hungary would see it,” Pooley said. “He messaged me the next morning and said it’s at 33,000 views. That’s when I’m l like, ‘Holy gee.’

Pooley might be using curse

words now. By Friday evening, Jan. 1, the video had more than 400,000 views.

There are hundreds of com-ments underneath the video — most of them in Hungarian — and Pooley has been receiving private messages of thanks on Facebook.

The PA system failed. That’s when 15-year-old Laszlo Horvath stepped in to save the day in front of 1,000 people at the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament in Kamloops on Dec. 30. The Hungarian team went on to win the Tier 1 event at the tournament. Photo by Marty Hastings – Kamloops This Week

E-Comm’s 2015 top -10 list of reasons why not to call 9-1-1

In our January 14th edition, the Clearwater TIMES will celebrate

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Clearwater Times Thursday, January 7, 2016 www.clearwatertimes.com A3

Margaret Houben – Barriere Star/Journal

Thesaurus Day is celebrated on Jan. 18, the birthday of the author Peter Mark Roget (Jan. 18, 1779), who wrote the first modern thesaurus which was published in 1852.

This would be a good day to take a moment or two to browse through your synonym finder and learn a few new terms and phrases.

For those unfa-miliar with the word "thesaurus", it is a book that lists words in groups of synonyms and related concepts. For instance, under

the entry for the word thesaurus, one would also find the words: wordfinder, wordbook, synonymy, and syn-onym dictionary.

And under "holi-day" one would find: convivial, festive (and festival), event, celebra-tion, fiesta, vacation, and a whole bunch of other delightful words.

A thesaurus is a very handy tool for a

writer, whether it be a story, a novel, or a poem.

When proofread-ing, if you notice you keep using a particular word many times, dig out the thesaurus and find an alternate word or two.

2 - 3

Voices United donates to hospice program(L-r) Eileen Sedgwick and Eva Gebert from the Clearwater and District Hospice Society accept a $559 cheque from Mary Neathway, treasurer of Trinity Shared Ministry. The yearly fee the singers pay covers the cost of music for the Voices United Community Choir, the church covers all other expenses and everything given at the door by the audience is passed on to a worthy charity. This year, Trinity Shared Ministry was happy to choose the Hospice Society to be the recipient. Photo submitted

GATINEAU, QC/CNW/ - Employment and Social Development Canada recently announced the benefit amounts for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) effec-tive Jan. 1, 2016.

CPP benefits will increase by 1.2 percent for those already receiving CPP benefits. For 2016, the maximum CPP retirement benefit for new recipients age 65 will be $1,092.50 per month, an increase of $330 for the year compared to the 2015 maximum CPP retirement benefit.

The new CPP rates will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2016. CPP benefits are revised once a year, in January, based on changes over the 12-month period (November 2014 to October 2015) in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the cost-of-living measure used by Statistics Canada.

OAS benefits, which consist of the basic OAS pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the Allowances, will increase by 0.1 percent for the first quarter of 2016 (January to March). As of Jan. 1, 2016, the basic OAS pension will increase from $569.95 to $570.52 per month.

OAS benefits are also based on the CPI, but

are reviewed quarterly (in January, April, July and October) and revised as required to reflect increases in the cost of living as measured by the CPI. Although OAS and CPP benefits are not indexed at the same time, they are both adjusted with the cost of living over a given year.

Quick FactsThe Old Age Security (OAS) program and the

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) enhance the quality of life of Canadian seniors by providing a mod-est base upon which to build additional income for retirement.

The OAS program is funded through gen-eral tax revenues and provides a basic monthly income for Canadian seniors. For 2014–15, $44.1 billion in OAS benefits were provided to 5.6 mil-lion individuals.

The CPP (or the Quebec Pension Plan in Quebec) is funded through contributions by Canadian workers, their employers and the self-employed and through investment earnings on the Plan's funds. In addition to retirement ben-efits, the Plan provides disability, death, survivor and children's benefits.

Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefit amounts effective January 1, 2016

Don't forget to celebrate Thesaurus Day January 18

SHOP LOCAL

Got Some News?

SEND US AN EMAIL AT [email protected]


Submitted

VANCOUVER.—To help raise aware-ness about the impact on emergency services, E-Comm has released a list of the top calls that shouldn’t have been placed to 9-1-1 in 2015.

“We want to remind people about what’s at risk when 9-1-1 is used as an information line or for other reasons that do not meet the test of a true emergency – a police, fire or medical situation that requires immediate action because someone’s health, safety, or

property is in jeopardy or a crime is in prog-ress,” explains Jody Robertson, E-Comm’s director of corporate communications.

Almost 3,400 9-1-1 calls flow through E-Comm every day. Robertson says while the majority of people use 9-1-1 responsibly, calls like the ones on this year’s top-10 list waste valuable emergency resources by tying up 9-1-1 call-takers’ time.

This year’s top reason not to call 9-1-1? Requesting the number for a local tire dealership.

“My job is to treat

every call as an emer-gency, no matter how illogical it may seem on the surface,” says E-Comm 9-1-1 call-taker Harrison Kwan, recipient of this year’s top nuisance call. “We are trained to ask questions in case a caller is in distress and can’t speak freely. It’s only when I’m completely satisfied that the call is not a real emergency that I can disconnect and go back to answering other 9-1-1 calls. And that takes time.”

2015 top reasons to not call 9-1-1:

1. Requesting the number for a local tire dealership

2. Reporting an issue with a vending machine

3. Asking for the non-emergency line

4. Because a car is parked too close to theirs

5. “My son won’t put his seatbelt on”

6. Coffee shop is refusing to refill coffee

7. Asking if it’s okay to park on the street

8. “My roommate used my toothbrush”

9. Asking for help getting a basketball out of a tree

10. Reporting that their building’s air system is too loud and they can’t sleep.

“We hope that our message that 9-1-1 call-takers can’t answer questions or manage non-emergen-cy situations on 9-1-1 lifelines will encour-age people to learn more about 9-1-1,” adds Robertson.

“There’s lots of information on our web site—ecomm911.ca—about when to use 9-1-1 and when to use non-emergency numbers for police, fire and ambulance, along with easy access to those num-bers and free educa-tion materials avail-able for order, includ-ing learning tools for children.”

2 - 3PA failure, spontaneous anthem rendition makes Hungarian kid a heroMarty Hastings – Kamloops This Week

Laszlo Horvath, not old enough to shave, sung his way into Kamloops folklore and became an overnight hero in Hungary.

Awkward silence washed over the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament (KIBIHT) opening ceremony on Dec. 30 and 1,000 fans squeezed their sticks when the U.S. nation-al anthem failed to play on the broken public-address system.

In the first of two rousing, off-the-cuff acts of human decency, those same predominantly Canadian fans who moments before were mumbling nervously broke into an impassioned rendi-tion of the Star Spangled Banner at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre.

Old Glory had been honoured and joy had replaced anxiousness in the bleachers, but scrambling volunteers still couldn’t get the damn PA system to work — and guest-of-honour Hungary’s anthem was up next.

“One of my directors walked

over to the Hungarian coach and said, ‘Would your team like to sing the Hungarian anthem?’ KIBIHT chairman Ted Kowalsky told KTW.

Cue 15-year-old Horvath.“This kid, No. 12, put up his

hand and said,’Yup, I’ll sing it,’ Kowalsky said. “He skated over to us. The crowd started going nuts.

“He stood beside me. He was so proud. He was not the slight-est bit nervous. Plus, the kid’s got a good voice. He sang this thing and the crowd just erupted.”

The kid just grabbed the mic and let fly.

“It was a spontaneous deci-sion and I was happy that I could sing our anthem,” Horvath said. “I wanted to sing. I learned in music school and I sang in the choir.”

The response in Hungary to Horvath’s rendition of the poetic prayer has been undeniably unique.

Shawn Pooley of Radio NL was watching the event unfold at McArthur and knew immediately something special was happening, so he began filming, praying while

capturing the footage because his iPhone was within a few mega-bytes of running out of memory.

The broadcaster went home, pieced together an edited ver-sion of the video, published it on YouTube and contacted a friend in Kamloops with Hungarian con-nections, Bob Dever, who helped

spread the link on the Internet.“When I went to bed that

night, I figured a few people in Hungary would see it,” Pooley said. “He messaged me the next morning and said it’s at 33,000 views. That’s when I’m l like, ‘Holy gee.’

Pooley might be using curse

words now. By Friday evening, Jan. 1, the video had more than 400,000 views.

There are hundreds of com-ments underneath the video — most of them in Hungarian — and Pooley has been receiving private messages of thanks on Facebook.

The PA system failed. That’s when 15-year-old Laszlo Horvath stepped in to save the day in front of 1,000 people at the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament in Kamloops on Dec. 30. The Hungarian team went on to win the Tier 1 event at the tournament. Photo by Marty Hastings – Kamloops This Week

E-Comm’s 2015 top -10 list of reasons why not to call 9-1-1

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Principled supporters of electoral reform should concede the obvious and call for a referendum

editorial by Aaron Wudrick

Opinion “ People who boast about their IQ are losers.” - Stephen Hawking, physicist

BC Press CouncilThe 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, PO Box 1356, Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1A9For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

Letters

Happy New Year from the Rodeo Rednecks 4-H Club

Even before Justin Trudeau was sworn in as prime minister, political watchers were hard at work dissecting the Liberal platform and the 171 promises contained therein.

Among them: a pledge that the 2015 election would be “the last federal election held under the first-past-the-post voting system.”

Less than two months into his new govern-ment’s term, electoral reform is already a major point of controversy — and not just because of strong opinions about different electoral systems. Rather, the electoral reform debate has become almost entirely fixated on one thing: whether any reform proposal can be legitimately implemented without a nationwide referendum being held to seek the approval of Canadians.

So far, this debate has largely polarized into two camps: those who prefer the status quo and want a referendum on the presumption that any change can be defeated; and those who prefer some alternative system and fear a referendum would scuttle any chance for change. Both sides are more interested in getting the outcome they want and are merely using the question of a referendum as camouflage for predictable self-interest.

Yet a more principled view on electoral reform should separate the preference for a desired outcome with a respect for the proper process, in the same way that voters all have a vested interest in free and fair elections, even if most have a preference about which party wins.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, for example, endorsed the single transferable vote proposal in the 2005 and 2009 British Columbia referenda. But we would never have endorsed such a change without a referendum, which reflects our belief that such a fundamental

change requires the direct approval of the voting public.

Historical precedent weighs heavily in favour of a referendum, as no government in modern Canadian history has attempted to implement it without one — and electoral reform referenda in Prince Edward Island (2005), British Columbia (2005 and 2009) and Ontario (2007) were all defeated.

But not all electoral reform referenda pan out this way. In New Zealand, for example, a 1992 referendum on electoral reform not only won, but won big, with the pro-reform side winning 84 per cent of the vote. Accordingly, reform advocates should not view a referendum as a death sentence for their cause, but as an opportunity to win new converts to the pro-reform side.

There is also the matter of the sheer vague-ness of the Liberal promise. Even if we were to accept the argument that a vote for a political party is a clear endorsement of every single one of its policies, the 2015 Liberal promise on elec-toral reform is, to be charitable, quite unspecific.

Pro-reformers who refuse to endorse the need for a referendum are left to confront a few awk-ward questions, such as: how is it that 39 per cent of the vote (for the Liberal party) in a sup-posedly unfair system can equal a clear mandate for such a fundamental change?

The Trudeau government has a mandate to explore electoral reform. It does not have a mandate to impose anything it draws up with-out asking Canadians first. Principled reformers should concede the obvious, and make calls for a referendum on electoral reform unanimous.

– Aaron Wudrick is federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

74 young Road, Unit 14 Brookfi eld Mall, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N2Phone: 250-674-3343 Fax: 250-674-3410Email: [email protected]

Publisher: Al KirkwoodEditor: Keith McNeillOffi ce manager: Yevonne Cline

www.clearwatertimes.com

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4 - 5

Editor, The Times:Our club would

like to thank everyone in the community who has supported us throughout this past year! Without your kindness and support we wouldn't be where we are today!

For those who are unsure what 4-H is all about, the 4-H program provides young people with an opportunity to learn how to become pro-ductive, self-assured adults who can make their community and country a good place in which to live. This is fostered through project and program work, experiences with their 4-H club mem-bers and leaders and their participation in

district, regional and even provincial pro-grams.

The goal of the 4-H program is youth development. The objectives of our 4-H clubs is knowledge, leadership, citizenship and personal develop-ment.

4-H is an organi-zation dedicated to young people. The purpose of the 4-H program is to prepare girls and boys for their future as adult citizens. 4-H stands for head, heart, hands and health. The 4-H pledge describes the significance of the four H's:

I pledge:My HEAD to

clearer thinking; my HEART to greater

loyalty; my HANDS to larger service; my HEALTH to better living. For my club, my community and my country.

We will be holding our annual general meeting on Jan. 15 at the Wells Gray Inn – Monroe Room at 5:30. We welcome all youth ages six to 21. Please feel free to join us if you are interested in the program, as it will be an informational/registration meeting.

For any further information, please feel free to contact club leader Dani Noble. You can call or text 250-674-8591 or email [email protected].

Rodeo Rednecks 4-H Team

Editor, The Times:I spent 50 years in the news-

paper business as a reporter, editor, and publisher at week-lies and dailies in all four west-ern provinces.

Throughout my career I wit-nessed up close the disconnect between aboriginal people and the non-native society.

Becoming familiar with aboriginal history, culture and traditions will surely go a long way in helping to bridge the disconnect.

There has been mistrust, anger, suspicion, frustra-tion and fear from both sides toward the other. Positive steps

are being taken to narrow the gap but much more needs to be done.

For too long the aboriginal community has been stereo-typed by negative stories car-ried in newspapers, TV, and social media. The stories often focus on protests, confronta-tions, alcohol and drug abuse, financial scandals, fires, gun violence, murders, thefts, assaults, and missing persons on First Nations' reserves.

Other disturbing stories include poverty, unemploy-ment, poor drinking water, dilapidated housing, terrible roads, lack of educational

opportunities, truancy, child runaways, etc.

But it hasn't all been nega-tive. There are many aboriginal success stories. Among them: pow wows, rodeo cowboys, accomplished athletes, entre-preneurs, business ventures, artists, lawyers, judges, journal-ists, musicians, craft makers, politicians, etc.

To improve the relationship between aboriginal people and non-natives, attitudes need to change.

Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, called in June 2015Continued on page A5

We need to improve the relationship between aboriginal people and non-natives


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 cir-cumstances.

4 - 5

Continued from page A4 for people to, “... make room in your hearts and minds and your spirits. Rid yourself of those racial stereo-types of Indians and indigenous people being dumb and lazy and drunk on welfare. Rid yourself of those things, so new things

can come in.”Chief Bellegarde

made the statement in response to the final report and recommen-dations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The challenge is ours to take

Clay StaceyKelowna, B.C.

Union helps food bank(L-r) Clearwater and District Food Bank representatives Harry James and Sherry Joubert accept a tableful of donations from Angela Stamper of the newly formed women's committee at Steelworkers Local 1-417. The women's committee's three main goals are to represent the women from their plants to help them solve any issues that may arise from working in mostly male-dominated work places, to focus on initiatives that bring awareness to, and help end, violence against women, both at work and in the home, and to get involved in local charities that can make a difference.Photo submitted

Call out teachers on absenteeismEditor, The Times:

Re: Kamloops-Thompson Teachers’ Association president David Komljenovic’s letter of Dec. 10 (‘B.C.’s latest educa-tion boondoggle’):

I would like to ask Komljenovic what other duties he has as KTTA president, other than openly complain-ing about most new developments in the Ministry of Education.

I would enjoy hear-ing just one positive thing, in his opinion, the government has done correctly on behalf of all involved in the education sys-tem, including stu-dents.

I can think of a few positive things.

First, having a new contract with our teachers and, second, the B.C. government’s

aim to better manage sick leave via its atten-dance-management program recently man-dated to be supported by school districts.

Basically, it comes down to the B.C. Public School Employer’s Association aiming to better manage exces-sive staff absences (which result in high teacher on-call costs) and thus being able to take action in the form of a meeting with the staff member.

The B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) states it has programs in place to support teachers who do not show up for work a lot and argues its members have no requirement to meet with administration on matters of their work attendance.

The BCTF is spe-cifically advising its members not to attend any meeting requested by administration staff on the topic of absen-teeism from work without a union repre-sentative present.

I have met many terrific professional teachers who are dedi-cated and invested in their job.

Is it not the job of government and the union to ensure all employees are fulfilling their work obligations and not misusing the system, thereby driving education costs unnec-essarily higher?

Absenteeism that becomes excessive, or the misuse of sick leave, needs to be addressed — and who better to take that first step than administra-tion staff?

It is unfair to the dedicated teachers if absenteeism of co-workers is not addressed.

Our children are negatively affected by prolonged and repeat-ed teacher absentee-ism. It is challenging for students to adapt to both a new teach-ing style and changes in curriculum delivery and there is a loss of teaching time as chil-dren get used to a new teacher.

It is reasonable that the government has tools in place to manage and discipline unfair use of very generous employee benefits/supports.

Education is some-thing for which we all pay.

T. HaslerKamloops, B.C.

Editor, The Times:Tom Fletcher’s Dec. 4 column (‘Inconvenient

truths’) was highly selective in its choice of so-called climate alarmist examples.

Yes contrarian examples exist and can be used to make a point.

For example, some glaciers are growing — seven per cent compared to 70 per cent that are shrinking.

A columnist should at least acknowledge the 70 per cent, even if he mainly talks to the seven per cent.

One who would sympathize with some of Fletcher’s comments is the famous independent scientist James Lovelock, annoyed with some “environmentalists who emotionalize the argu-ments.”

But, Lovelock, the father of the Gaia Theory, directs his focus not to these people but, more importantly, to the climate scientists, the results of their work and the stark options facing civili-zation.

In his latest book, A Rough Ride to the Future, Lovelock notes the fact there has not been as much warming to date as most models have predicted has contributed to the denier per-spective.

Lovelock sees early computer models as simu-lating the atmosphere well, whereas only now are models simulating the interaction between the oceans and the atmosphere, something much more complex to model.

That there has been significant warming directly linked to the burning of fossil fuels is clear.

Increasing ppm of CO2 and other warming gases is documented, as is ocean acidification.

Worrisome is the built-up inertia in the earth system, given this data may be a dramatic tip-ping point from which it could be too late to take meaningful action.

The nature of this issue means we cannot be 100 per cent certain; however, the precautionary principle would urge action on 80 per cent con-fidence when the realization of a risk would be catastrophic.

Columns that denigrate vocal activists and selectively choose data lower the quality of dis-cussion, contribute to polarized discussion and raise doubt as to whether any action is needed — just what climate change denial interests want.

Kevin TylerKamloops, B.C.

Fletcher’s ‘Inconvenient truths’ column conveniently omitted salient facts

Better relations www.clearwatertimes.com


Principled supporters of electoral reform should concede the obvious and call for a referendum

editorial by Aaron Wudrick

Opinion “ People who boast about their IQ are losers.” - Stephen Hawking, physicist

BC Press CouncilThe 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, PO Box 1356, Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1A9For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

Letters

Happy New Year from the Rodeo Rednecks 4-H Club

Even before Justin Trudeau was sworn in as prime minister, political watchers were hard at work dissecting the Liberal platform and the 171 promises contained therein.

Among them: a pledge that the 2015 election would be “the last federal election held under the first-past-the-post voting system.”

Less than two months into his new govern-ment’s term, electoral reform is already a major point of controversy — and not just because of strong opinions about different electoral systems. Rather, the electoral reform debate has become almost entirely fixated on one thing: whether any reform proposal can be legitimately implemented without a nationwide referendum being held to seek the approval of Canadians.

So far, this debate has largely polarized into two camps: those who prefer the status quo and want a referendum on the presumption that any change can be defeated; and those who prefer some alternative system and fear a referendum would scuttle any chance for change. Both sides are more interested in getting the outcome they want and are merely using the question of a referendum as camouflage for predictable self-interest.

Yet a more principled view on electoral reform should separate the preference for a desired outcome with a respect for the proper process, in the same way that voters all have a vested interest in free and fair elections, even if most have a preference about which party wins.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, for example, endorsed the single transferable vote proposal in the 2005 and 2009 British Columbia referenda. But we would never have endorsed such a change without a referendum, which reflects our belief that such a fundamental

change requires the direct approval of the voting public.

Historical precedent weighs heavily in favour of a referendum, as no government in modern Canadian history has attempted to implement it without one — and electoral reform referenda in Prince Edward Island (2005), British Columbia (2005 and 2009) and Ontario (2007) were all defeated.

But not all electoral reform referenda pan out this way. In New Zealand, for example, a 1992 referendum on electoral reform not only won, but won big, with the pro-reform side winning 84 per cent of the vote. Accordingly, reform advocates should not view a referendum as a death sentence for their cause, but as an opportunity to win new converts to the pro-reform side.

There is also the matter of the sheer vague-ness of the Liberal promise. Even if we were to accept the argument that a vote for a political party is a clear endorsement of every single one of its policies, the 2015 Liberal promise on elec-toral reform is, to be charitable, quite unspecific.

Pro-reformers who refuse to endorse the need for a referendum are left to confront a few awk-ward questions, such as: how is it that 39 per cent of the vote (for the Liberal party) in a sup-posedly unfair system can equal a clear mandate for such a fundamental change?

The Trudeau government has a mandate to explore electoral reform. It does not have a mandate to impose anything it draws up with-out asking Canadians first. Principled reformers should concede the obvious, and make calls for a referendum on electoral reform unanimous.

– Aaron Wudrick is federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

74 young Road, Unit 14 Brookfi eld Mall, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N2Phone: 250-674-3343 Fax: 250-674-3410Email: [email protected]

Publisher: Al KirkwoodEditor: Keith McNeillOffi ce manager: Yevonne Cline


Established September 23, 1964Member, BC Press Council

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Subscribe to the TimesIn Town / Out of Town Rates1 year $57.75; 2 years $110.25Prices include GST

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4 - 5

Editor, The Times:Our club would

like to thank everyone in the community who has supported us throughout this past year! Without your kindness and support we wouldn't be where we are today!

For those who are unsure what 4-H is all about, the 4-H program provides young people with an opportunity to learn how to become pro-ductive, self-assured adults who can make their community and country a good place in which to live. This is fostered through project and program work, experiences with their 4-H club mem-bers and leaders and their participation in

district, regional and even provincial pro-grams.

The goal of the 4-H program is youth development. The objectives of our 4-H clubs is knowledge, leadership, citizenship and personal develop-ment.

4-H is an organi-zation dedicated to young people. The purpose of the 4-H program is to prepare girls and boys for their future as adult citizens. 4-H stands for head, heart, hands and health. The 4-H pledge describes the significance of the four H's:

I pledge:My HEAD to

clearer thinking; my HEART to greater

loyalty; my HANDS to larger service; my HEALTH to better living. For my club, my community and my country.

We will be holding our annual general meeting on Jan. 15 at the Wells Gray Inn – Monroe Room at 5:30. We welcome all youth ages six to 21. Please feel free to join us if you are interested in the program, as it will be an informational/registration meeting.

For any further information, please feel free to contact club leader Dani Noble. You can call or text 250-674-8591 or email [email protected].

Rodeo Rednecks 4-H Team

Editor, The Times:I spent 50 years in the news-

paper business as a reporter, editor, and publisher at week-lies and dailies in all four west-ern provinces.

Throughout my career I wit-nessed up close the disconnect between aboriginal people and the non-native society.

Becoming familiar with aboriginal history, culture and traditions will surely go a long way in helping to bridge the disconnect.

There has been mistrust, anger, suspicion, frustra-tion and fear from both sides toward the other. Positive steps

are being taken to narrow the gap but much more needs to be done.

For too long the aboriginal community has been stereo-typed by negative stories car-ried in newspapers, TV, and social media. The stories often focus on protests, confronta-tions, alcohol and drug abuse, financial scandals, fires, gun violence, murders, thefts, assaults, and missing persons on First Nations' reserves.

Other disturbing stories include poverty, unemploy-ment, poor drinking water, dilapidated housing, terrible roads, lack of educational

opportunities, truancy, child runaways, etc.

But it hasn't all been nega-tive. There are many aboriginal success stories. Among them: pow wows, rodeo cowboys, accomplished athletes, entre-preneurs, business ventures, artists, lawyers, judges, journal-ists, musicians, craft makers, politicians, etc.

To improve the relationship between aboriginal people and non-natives, attitudes need to change.

Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, called in June 2015Continued on page A5

We need to improve the relationship between aboriginal people and non-natives

Email: [email protected]: 250-374-6887Web: www.kcc.ca

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If you smoke while pregnant, think of this. Nicotine narrows the blood vessels in the placenta and this may affect the structure and function of the baby’s brain. This can result in a greater chance of more negative behaviour in young children, so the “terrible two’s” might be even more terrible.

According to the Canadian Kidney Foundation, you are never too old to be an organ donor. Many seniors have very healthy organs. The oldest Canadian donor was 102 but many are well into their 70’s and beyond. Have you registered as an organ donor yet?

Just a reminder if you are traveling this winter ... carry all your medications in your carry-on luggage and bring enough to last a few days beyond the trip’s duration. If you have diabetes or epilepsy, carry an identification card with this information. A MedicAlert card or bracelet is good insurance. Call 1-800-668-1507 for more information about MedicAlert.

As we age, our ability to get a good night’s sleep seem to diminish. Non-prescription sleep aids often contain a drug that has side effects that mimic those symptoms in the aged like confusion, dry mouth, constipation and dizziness. Prescription sleeping pills can be a problem with increased risk of falls when going to the bathroom during the night.

There are many ways to help people sleep better. Talk to our pharmacists for advice. It’s important to have a good night’s sleep every night.


50 YEARS AGO:A fire early

Christmas morn-ing destroyed one of the Birch Island Lumber bunkhouses at Vavenby. The bunk-house's occupant was able to get out safely, but the building and its contents burned to the ground.

Clearwater Cardinals, the hard luck team in the pre-vious year's softball league, blossomed forth as stars in a newly formed hockey league, defeating the Clearwater Luckies in two weekend games. Drew Cleaveley and Ray Donnelly were in goal for the

Cardinals, and Wayne Capostinsky for the Luckies. With the stringing of lights around the rink, night games could be sched-uled.

Slopes for a pro-posed ski area on Raft Mountain were excel-lent, the director of the Todd Mountain ski school said. Jim McConkey had climbed the mountain with others just before Christmas.

Oke Lestander, Ted Moilliet, Mrs. M. DeVooght and Bob Gledhill provided the music for Vavenby Community Club's New Year's dance. Attendance was very good.

45 YEARS AGO:Clearwater's only

physician, Dr. R. Regehr, announced that he was closing his office permanently and leaving for Alberta. He commented, "Until adequate facilities are provided for a doctor to work in, it will be dif-ficult to keep a doctor." The B.C. government had recently rejected building a hospital with

in-patient care beds.About 40 young peo-

ple from all over B.C. attended a youth rally at the Evangelical Free Church Bible Camp in Clearwater. Len Roberts and Pastor Isaac were responsible for the plan-ning.

40 YEARS AGO:A Christmas

morning fire totally destroyed the home of Maurice Zakall of Star Lake. All 11 peo-ple in the house at the time escaped. Zakall received an injury to his right hand.

Racers commented that Clearwater Sno-Drifters had the best track in B.C. after fire-men assisted snowmo-bile club members in preparing their track for races. About 100 competitors took part.

35 YEARS AGO:Six square miles of

prime land were dam-aged by an ice jam near Birch Island. The water had gone, but the jam had grown to 30 feet in height and was approximately two miles long.

30 YEARS AGO:Parks Minister Tony

Brummet announced construction of a 3,000 sq. ft. information cen-ter on the route to Wells Gray Park. Local MLA and Tourism Minister Claude Richmond said, "The $175,000 facility will provide year-round information, commenc-ing in the 1986 tour-ist season, in time for Expo."

25 YEARS AGO:Close to 80 employ-

ees worked their last shift as Weyerhaeuser-Vavenby's sawmill went from two shifts to one. Approximately 100 were to continue at the operation, according to division manager Grant Gunn. Slocan tempo-rarily shut down its Vavenby manufacturing and logging operations in mid-December. The planer mill was to start up on Jan. 7, and the sawmill one week later.

The North Thompson ended 1990 with a cold snap. The temperature at Wildwood Motel dropped to -39.5 C, according to owner Albert Siemens, the coldest he had seen in the 10 years he had recorded the weather there.

20 YEARS AGO:Pre-Christmas fires

destroyed the Pennock home of Clearwater and the Bellows home in Vavenby. Both families lost all their belongings in the early morning blazes.

The TNRD announced that it would not accept any more sludge from septic tanks. Local septage haulers were given one more year to find alter-nate means of disposing of their loads.

School District 26 eliminated the position of director of instruc-tion when it made an early retirement agreement with super-intendent Terry Rogers and replaced him with Nancy Nelson, the for-mer director of instruc-tion.

15 YEARS AGO:Logging on private

land near Avola that damaged fish habitat cost Niho Land and Cattle Company of New Westminster a $1,000 fine plus $14,000 to be used for habitat development in the area. Clearwater federal Fisheries staff involved in the investigation were Tim Panko, Art Demsky and Doug Cowan.

The correctional center at Rayleigh was to close the next spring, but the change should have negligible impact on Bear Creek Correctional Center, said superintendent Ray Negrin. "As far as I know, we're still in business," he said.

Sid Norfolk of Langley restored a 1946 GMC tow-truck simi-lar to the one driven by his father when he operated Clearwater Esso Service (located where Greffards Saw Shop and Greenscapes Art and Craft are now). The truck was complete with a sign on the door reading "Clearwater Esso Service."

Bruce Grant was back at his Blackpool home. He had lost his job as a part-time on-call sawmill worker when he left for Toronto to take a job as Santa Claus in a shopping mall. The story made national news, includ-ing a report on CTV's Canada A.M.

10 YEARS AGO:The British

Columbia Building Corporation (BCBC) sold its property located at the base of Trophy Mountain, for-merly the Bear Creek Correctional Centre. Rex Investments Ltd., a company based out of Vancouver pur-chased the property for $510,000, well below the listed price. The Bear Creek facility was one of eight minimum and medium security prisons closed when

the B.C. Liberal gov-ernment announced its cutbacks in 2001.

A 26-hour road check saw RCMP traf-fic officers from around the region traveling to Clearwater along with their provincial government enforce-ment partners from the Workers' Compensation Board, Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Transportation and Highways Commercial Vehicle Prevention Enforcements units. Over the 26-hour period some 1,900 commercial vehicles and 2,560 pri-vate vehicles and their occupants went through the road check.

5 YEARS AGO:Forests, Mines and

Lands Minister Pat Bell predicted a stronger and more diverse B.C. for-est sector in 2011. More than 20 sawmills in B.C. had re-opened in the previous year.

Chelsea and Breanne Fischer of the Little Fort song group Sugar Rush were among the performers at the annual coffee house organized by Clearwater Festival and Events Society (CFES). About 200 people attended the event, with proceeds going to Clearwater Food Bank.

1 YEAR AGO:United Way was

accepting applications for its North Thompson Community Fund and its Youth Initiative Grants.

A water leak was challenging Vavenby water users. The leak was located on private property and was unre-lated to the publicly-owned water infrastruc-ture.

The first graduat-ing class in B.C. for the new construction craft worker (CCW) Red Seal program was in Clearwater at the Thompson Rivers University Satellite Centre on Dec. 19.

HISTORICAL Perspect i ve

BACK IN TIME

6 - 7

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Barriere Star/Journal

Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd (GSFP) celebrated its annual Christmas party on Saturday, Dec. 5, along with its anniversary of 60 years in business.

The event held at the Lions Hall was attended by over 130 present and past employees as well as their spouses.

Everyone enjoyed an amazing turkey dinner that was pre-pared by the Barriere Legion Ladies.

Attendees were entertained by stories and photos of the “old days,” and gifted a $60 gift certificate to be redeemed at one of the local mer-chants.

The company also had its annual Movember contest in support of prostate cancer research, had a safety draw, and announced the years of service awards with two employees this year hitting a milestone of 40 years. Congratulations were given to Glen Stanley and Dan McMartin for all their hard work.

“As an anniver-sary arrives, you find yourself looking back to the begin-ning, remembering every change made along the way, any challenges faced, and work up to how things are today,” stated GSFP general manager Greg Smith.

“Historically, Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd started in the pole industry and then converted to sawmill-ing. Gilbert Smith came to the North Thompson Valley with his family in

1906. In 1955 Gilbert and his sons, Carman and Ted, established Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd. Gilbert retired in 1957 leav-ing his sons to run the company.

“In 1967 Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd pur-chased a used por-table mill and set it up on site, and by May of 1968 lum-ber was produced. Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd extend-ed its capabilities by adding the planer in 1970, followed by the Resaw and then added a Bin Sorter in 1989.

“After surviving the McLure Fire in 2003 with the sup-

port of our crew, contractors and a little luck, we then in 2004 added a Hewsaw small log line which more effectively processes small logs with improved recovery.

“The package press was added in 2011 to enable packaging to ser-vice National Home Center business and overseas export mar-kets, enhancing the reputation of the company abroad and increasing sales dur-ing one of the tough-est market downturns ever experienced.

“There has also been numerous improvements to the sawmill over this past

year to modernize the headrig and small edger along with more improvements planned for 2016.”

Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd takes pride in being a third generation family run operation.

The business origi-nally started with one man who quickly added his sons and it grew to include a crew that now fea-tures many family connections of their own: brothers work-ing together, fathers

and sons, mothers and sons and a hus-band and wife.

“We all share in the success of this business,” said Smith, “And we all celebrate this milestone and many more years to come.”

6 - 7

Cedar mill celebrates 60 years

Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd. planer burner mill in January of 1969 GSFP photos

Gilbert Smith pictured in the pole yard of the mill. Smith came to the North Thomp-son Valley with his family in 1906. He established Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd. in Barriere in 1955 with his sons Carman and Ted.

GSFP years of service awards were handed out with two employees this year hitting a milestone of 40 years. Congratulations were given by GSFP general manager Greg Smith to Glen Stanley (l) and Dan McMartin (r) for all their years of hard work in the business.


50 YEARS AGO:A fire early

Christmas morn-ing destroyed one of the Birch Island Lumber bunkhouses at Vavenby. The bunk-house's occupant was able to get out safely, but the building and its contents burned to the ground.

Clearwater Cardinals, the hard luck team in the pre-vious year's softball league, blossomed forth as stars in a newly formed hockey league, defeating the Clearwater Luckies in two weekend games. Drew Cleaveley and Ray Donnelly were in goal for the

Cardinals, and Wayne Capostinsky for the Luckies. With the stringing of lights around the rink, night games could be sched-uled.

Slopes for a pro-posed ski area on Raft Mountain were excel-lent, the director of the Todd Mountain ski school said. Jim McConkey had climbed the mountain with others just before Christmas.

Oke Lestander, Ted Moilliet, Mrs. M. DeVooght and Bob Gledhill provided the music for Vavenby Community Club's New Year's dance. Attendance was very good.

45 YEARS AGO:Clearwater's only

physician, Dr. R. Regehr, announced that he was closing his office permanently and leaving for Alberta. He commented, "Until adequate facilities are provided for a doctor to work in, it will be dif-ficult to keep a doctor." The B.C. government had recently rejected building a hospital with

in-patient care beds.About 40 young peo-

ple from all over B.C. attended a youth rally at the Evangelical Free Church Bible Camp in Clearwater. Len Roberts and Pastor Isaac were responsible for the plan-ning.

40 YEARS AGO:A Christmas

morning fire totally destroyed the home of Maurice Zakall of Star Lake. All 11 peo-ple in the house at the time escaped. Zakall received an injury to his right hand.

Racers commented that Clearwater Sno-Drifters had the best track in B.C. after fire-men assisted snowmo-bile club members in preparing their track for races. About 100 competitors took part.

35 YEARS AGO:Six square miles of

prime land were dam-aged by an ice jam near Birch Island. The water had gone, but the jam had grown to 30 feet in height and was approximately two miles long.

30 YEARS AGO:Parks Minister Tony

Brummet announced construction of a 3,000 sq. ft. information cen-ter on the route to Wells Gray Park. Local MLA and Tourism Minister Claude Richmond said, "The $175,000 facility will provide year-round information, commenc-ing in the 1986 tour-ist season, in time for Expo."

25 YEARS AGO:Close to 80 employ-

ees worked their last shift as Weyerhaeuser-Vavenby's sawmill went from two shifts to one. Approximately 100 were to continue at the operation, according to division manager Grant Gunn. Slocan tempo-rarily shut down its Vavenby manufacturing and logging operations in mid-December. The planer mill was to start up on Jan. 7, and the sawmill one week later.

The North Thompson ended 1990 with a cold snap. The temperature at Wildwood Motel dropped to -39.5 C, according to owner Albert Siemens, the coldest he had seen in the 10 years he had recorded the weather there.

20 YEARS AGO:Pre-Christmas fires

destroyed the Pennock home of Clearwater and the Bellows home in Vavenby. Both families lost all their belongings in the early morning blazes.

The TNRD announced that it would not accept any more sludge from septic tanks. Local septage haulers were given one more year to find alter-nate means of disposing of their loads.

School District 26 eliminated the position of director of instruc-tion when it made an early retirement agreement with super-intendent Terry Rogers and replaced him with Nancy Nelson, the for-mer director of instruc-tion.

15 YEARS AGO:Logging on private

land near Avola that damaged fish habitat cost Niho Land and Cattle Company of New Westminster a $1,000 fine plus $14,000 to be used for habitat development in the area. Clearwater federal Fisheries staff involved in the investigation were Tim Panko, Art Demsky and Doug Cowan.

The correctional center at Rayleigh was to close the next spring, but the change should have negligible impact on Bear Creek Correctional Center, said superintendent Ray Negrin. "As far as I know, we're still in business," he said.

Sid Norfolk of Langley restored a 1946 GMC tow-truck simi-lar to the one driven by his father when he operated Clearwater Esso Service (located where Greffards Saw Shop and Greenscapes Art and Craft are now). The truck was complete with a sign on the door reading "Clearwater Esso Service."

Bruce Grant was back at his Blackpool home. He had lost his job as a part-time on-call sawmill worker when he left for Toronto to take a job as Santa Claus in a shopping mall. The story made national news, includ-ing a report on CTV's Canada A.M.

10 YEARS AGO:The British

Columbia Building Corporation (BCBC) sold its property located at the base of Trophy Mountain, for-merly the Bear Creek Correctional Centre. Rex Investments Ltd., a company based out of Vancouver pur-chased the property for $510,000, well below the listed price. The Bear Creek facility was one of eight minimum and medium security prisons closed when

the B.C. Liberal gov-ernment announced its cutbacks in 2001.

A 26-hour road check saw RCMP traf-fic officers from around the region traveling to Clearwater along with their provincial government enforce-ment partners from the Workers' Compensation Board, Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Transportation and Highways Commercial Vehicle Prevention Enforcements units. Over the 26-hour period some 1,900 commercial vehicles and 2,560 pri-vate vehicles and their occupants went through the road check.

5 YEARS AGO:Forests, Mines and

Lands Minister Pat Bell predicted a stronger and more diverse B.C. for-est sector in 2011. More than 20 sawmills in B.C. had re-opened in the previous year.

Chelsea and Breanne Fischer of the Little Fort song group Sugar Rush were among the performers at the annual coffee house organized by Clearwater Festival and Events Society (CFES). About 200 people attended the event, with proceeds going to Clearwater Food Bank.

1 YEAR AGO:United Way was

accepting applications for its North Thompson Community Fund and its Youth Initiative Grants.

A water leak was challenging Vavenby water users. The leak was located on private property and was unre-lated to the publicly-owned water infrastruc-ture.

The first graduat-ing class in B.C. for the new construction craft worker (CCW) Red Seal program was in Clearwater at the Thompson Rivers University Satellite Centre on Dec. 19.

HISTORICAL Perspect i ve

BACK IN TIME

6 - 7

We have fl yer packs available at the

Times offi ceBrookfi eld Mall

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By Elli KohnertNorth Thompson Star/Journal

The small settle-ment of Vavenby is home to Ecki Manthei, a gifted artist who‘s artwork grows out of his connection to nature, and his drive to follow every new idea with a passion that moves him to create what is in his imagina-tion, without delay.

Ecki’s home stands out from all others in the Vavenby trailer park where it cannot be missed. Two large life-like eagles formed from wood, seem to be guarding his prop-erty. Varieties of crea-tures also made from wood, line the path to the house; and the ambiance of this place leaves no doubt that an artist lives here.

Ecki, and his life partner, Marilyn, arrived in the North Thompson Valley about five years ago. When they saw the trailer court in Vavenby, they “liked it right away and bought it”; a comfort-able, quiet place that allows his creativity to flourish.

Ecki says he emi-grated with his parents from Austria when he was a very young boy in 1945. He has lived and worked in various northern locations in

Canada, and eventu-ally came to live in Cloverdale, B.C. It is there that he began his artistic career.

Seashells were his medium then, tells Ecki as he explains how they lend them-selves to be made into clocks for instance, or be used as a canvas for his paintings.

When the couple eventually settled in the community of Vavenby, it is here that Ecki took on art as his life work.

Ecki has trans-formed one room of their home into an art gallery, where he now displays the numer-ous ‘Art By Ecki’ cre-ations.

The variety of his work is remarkable; it ranges from usable art, like wooden spoons and clocks, to wildlife and nature paintings. Ecki uses antlers for many of his carvings that depict wildlife, especially wolves, in their habitat.

“When I am walking in the forest, or along a stream, I often see something that gives me an idea for a proj-ect,” says the artist, “I may pick up a rock that would be just right to paint something on, or maybe I am lucky to find a moose or deer antler, and I know right away what I want to

carve on it!” He notes that near-

ly all the materials he uses in his creations are natural; giving the artwork its special character.

Sometimes a per-son may come into the gallery to view Ecki’s work, and they may purchase a special item of art for their own home. Most of the time though, Ecki and Marilyn market the art work by taking part in craft fairs.

“At some I do well, with others I do not,” commented the art-

ist on selling his work through craft fairs.

The couple say they have a few tentative ideas in mind for mar-keting; such as going on the road to sell their creations. But right now, they have no immediate plans that they want to follow.

“We like it here in Vavenby,” says Ecki, “We feel comfortable around here, and we do enjoy to be with the friends we have made in the area. For now, ‘Ecki’s Art’ will have its home in the North Thompson Valley .”

Nature plays a large part in Art by Ecki

(Above) Ecki Manthei of Vavenby shows one of the many ant-lers he has carved that are displayed in his home gallery.

(Top left) Ecki’s life partner, Marilyn, looks on on as he passionately describes his art creations to the Star/Journal reporter.

(Bottom left) Some of the beautiful creations that Ecki offers for sale to the public from his Vavenby gallery or at craft fairs.

STAR/JOURNAL photos: Elli Kohnert

Celebration of Art in Barriere June 23, 24By Jill HaywardNorth Thompson Star/Journal

Everything is in place for the June 23, and 24, Barriere Celebration of The Arts. The venue will be similar to last year’s event and will once again be hosted on property beside Highway 5 in Barriere, now the home of Sam’s Pizza and Rib House.

The two day Celebration of Art event is an extravaganza of art and culture, featuring the amazing talent of the North Thompson Valley and British Columbia.

Put on by the North Thomspon Arts Council, and the Yellowhead Artists Cooperative, the venue

continues to be admission free to the public, and encourages youth to attend and participate in the 12 years and under Art Activity Area.

Those involved say they expect a strong turnout of ven-dors this year and that they are looking forward to presenting such a broad range of top qual-ity art for exhibition and/or for sale.

Organizers say booth space is being filled fast by artists and artisans, and they encourage those who have not yet registered to do so now and avoid being disappointed. Service groups and organizations are also wel-come to participate to promote their programs in a booth at the site. Vendors are reminded they

must supply their own canopy or tent, and that power is not available.

If you would like more infor-mation or would like to book a space, or volunteer, please call Jessie at 250-672-9772.

“We figure that all the rain will be done with by then,” said one positive thinker, “It will be a great weekend, and the vendor tents will be to provide shade from the sun, not keep the rain off. We are expecting lots of art-ists, and a steady stream of visi-tors to our presentation. Come on down and see the extremely good works being produced from people within our art com-munity. You’ll be impressed – I guarantee it!”

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North Thompson Star/Journal Thursday, January 07, 2016 www.starjournal.net A13

VALLEY VOICESVALLEY VOICESGilbertson has been ‘Walking’ since 2007

By North Thompson Star/Journal

Barriere resident Liz Gilbertson says she is no stranger to Alzheimer’s disease.

She tells that both her maternal grand-mother and her mother had the disease.

Her mom was diag-nosed with Alzheimer’s in 2000, but she notes that family members had noticed that some-thing was wrong with her mother two years previous.

Liz says she was liv-ing in Kamloops at the time, and she wanted to � nd out more about the disease in order to help her mother. This path of learning even-tually brought her to being involved with her � rst “Walk”, the Inves-tor Group Walk For Memories in Kamloops in January of 2007.

Later that same year, in August, Liz and her husband Jim made the move to Barriere.

“Right away I decid-ed to organize a ‘Walk’ for Barriere,” tells Liz, who seems to be a natu-ral at organizing events and getting people in-volved in worthwhile projects. She reached out to friends and in January of 2008, Liz hosted the � rst Barriere Investor’s Group Walk For Memories. Just two walkers showed up and a total of $60 was raised.

Since then Liz has organized seven more ‘Walks’, and she is now in the process of orga-nizing the 9th annual ‘Walk’ in Barriere.

She has gone from

a small group of walk-ers to over 100 in 2015, from raising $60 the � rst year to over $11,000 in 2015.

In totalling the funds raised from each ‘Walk’ that Liz has organized the amount comes out to over $38,000.

Liz says she encour-aged Margaret Houben to come on board as co-chair of the Barri-ere ‘Walk’ in 2015, and Margaret will again be participating this year, which provides Liz with some back up that is much appreciated.

While her mom passed away in 2011, Liz still has to deal with the threat of Alzheimer’s, as she explains that her husband Jim has been showing signs of de-mentia, “although he has yet to be of� cially diagnosed with the dis-ease”.

Alzheimer’s has been a factor in Liz’s family for a long time, but it doesn’t keep this energetic and positive thinking woman from moving forward to help � nd a cure for the dis-ease. Liz notes that it is fundraising events such as the annual ‘Walk’ that really make a differ-ence when thousands of Canadians join together who want to see a world without Alzheimer’s dis-ease.

Walk for Alzheimer’s is Canada’s biggest fun-draiser for Alzheimer’s disease and other de-mentias. Monies raised support programs and services in local commu-nities that improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their families, and

support other activities like education and pub-lic awareness.

‘Walks’ take place every year in 150 com-munities across Canada. In 2014, 24,000 walk-ers participated, raising $4.5 million.

Nationally, the Al-zheimer’s Society has worked to get every province holding their ‘Walks’ at the same time. To this end, during 2015, the individual pro-vincial Alzheimer’s So-cieties got together and chose the � rst Sunday in May (this year it lands on May 1) to be the new date for future ‘Walks’, starting this year.

“This year we will no longer be called the Investor’s Group Walk for Memories,” said Liz, “Due to everyone now walking on the � rst Sun-day in May, the ‘Walk’ will be called the Inves-tor’s Group Walk For Alzheimer’s.”

Liz commented that the community of Clearwater participated in the Barriere ‘Walk’ last year and that she ex-pects they will be joining together again in 2016.

“We welcome any-one and any commu-nity to join us in the ‘Walk’,” says Liz, “We are all there for the same cause, to � nd a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. It really doesn’t matter where you are from – just come on out and ‘Walk’.”

For more information about volunteering at the 2016 Barriere Investor’s Group Walk For Alzheim-er’s, or about making a do-nation, please contact ei-ther Liz at 250-672-9337 or Margaret at 250-672-9330.

North Thompson woman advocates “walking” in support of the Alzheimer’s Society of BC

Star/Journal � le photo:

(Above) Liz Gilbertson greeting participants in the January 2015 Investors Group Walk For Memories in Bar-riere. Gilbertson has organized ‘Walks’ in Barriere for every year since 2008, raising over $38,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. Also in the photo is MC Ward Stamer.

(Right) Walkers in the 2015 Investor’s Group

Walk For Memories move out from the

Barriere Senior’s Hall.

Barriere resident Liz

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8 - 9Province settles with fired drug researchersBy Tom Fletcher, Black Press

The B.C. government has reached the last two out-of-court settlements with drug researchers fired in 2012 over alleged mishandling of patient treatment data.

Researchers William and Rebecca Warburton, a married couple, have been invited to reapply for access to B.C. government health data as part of the settlement of their lawsuits against the government, deputy attorney general Richard Fyfe said Tuesday.

"Dr. Rebecca Warburton and Dr. William Warburton acknowledge that they did breach some rules and procedures," Fyfe said. "The province recognizes that such breaches were motivated by their intention to further the research goals of the Ministry of Health, and not for their personal gain."

Eight researchers lost their contracts or jobs after allegations about use of confidential patient data in the evaluation of drugs for eligi-bility under B.C.'s Pharmacare program. Former MLA Margaret Macdiarmid, newly appointed health minister at the time, accused the research-ers of misusing data and having conflicts of interest, citing a police investigation that the ministry requested but never followed through with.

William Warburton, a health economist on contract, dropped his lawsuit against the min-istry in May 2015, but continued a defamation action against Macdiarmid until this week's settlement. Rebecca Warburton was a director of research for the health ministry, fired in October 2012.

Justice Minister Suzanne Anton said the government is continuing to work with Ombudsperson Jay Chalke to determine how

the wrongful suspensions and terminations came about. Chalke was appointed last spring, and in July the government changed legislation to give him the extra authority he requested to investigate the situation. Chalke had made it a condition of taking the case that his office be exempted from confidentiality agreements that had been reached with some researchers.

Five researchers were earlier paid undisclosed settlements and reinstated. Roderick MacIsaac, a graduate student, committed suicide several months after his research contract was termi-nated.

B.C. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke

Interior Health Authority

The New Year marks a new beginning for Syrian refugees arriving in the Interior region. Refugees will face many challenges as they adjust to new homes, new lives and a new health-care system. Interior Health and its community partners have been working hard over the past several weeks to help ease that transition and be prepared to meet the health-care needs of the new residents, who began arriving in the region earlier this month.

Over the next three months, the Interior region is expecting up to 400 Syrian refugees. The Interior region typically sees an average of 1000 refugees arrive in the area each year.

“This is certainly a higher number than we are used to in a very short time period. It

has provided us with an opportunity to focus on ensuring high quality, evidence-based health care for refugees and for all newcomers to our region,” said Dr. Trevor Corneil, Chief Medical Health Officer and Vice President of Population Health.

Interior Health’s Population Health department has been working with primary care centres, physicians and other health-care providers, commu-nity agencies and local municipalities to develop a response plan to meet the health-care needs of refugees. The team has been working closely with staff from the Bridge Clinic in Vancouver - a preven-tive and primary care clinic for refugees in the Greater Vancouver area. Together, they have developed proto-cols, tools and training for health-care provid-ers in the region.

“Although basic

health screening takes place prior to refugees’ arrival in Canada, at the local level we have to be prepared to deliver health-care ser-vices once they arrive in our region. Immediate health-care needs will range from immuni-zations to access to medications and mental health supports,” said Leslie Bryant MacLean, Program Manager, Population Health. "We have been working to ensure providers have access to the informa-tion they need to pro-vide care in a culturally sensitive manner, while also addressing chal-lenges such as language barriers.”

The Interior region receives approximately 11,000 newcomers to the area each year – this includes refugees, immi-grants, and temporary workers. The new care protocols and pathways are expected to improve care for all newcomers to the region.

IH prepares for health-care needs of refugees

B.C. makes quitting smoking easierBlack Press

The B.C. govern-ment's quit-smoking assistance program is now available to people who drop by a pharmacy to qual-ify for free nicotine replacement prod-ucts.

As of Jan. 1, 2016, participants no longer have to register by calling 8-1-1 to reach the HealthLinkBC medi-cal advice service. The program has also expanded its offerings to include nicotine inhalers and lozenges as well as gum and patches.

Health Minister

Terry Lake said the changes are to make it easier for smok-ers to quit, or to try again if they have relapsed after using the program before. It supplies 12 weeks' worth of nicotine replacement products in each calendar year

to B.C. residents.To qualify, people

must have active Medical Services Plan coverage and be a tobacco smoker or chewer.

The program began in 2011 and the province has spent $38 million on

it so far. A survey of 3,000 users in 2015 found that about one in four reported quitting smoking for some period, with half of those mak-ing it a month or more smoke free. Three quarters of survey participants reported smoking less after using nicotine replacement.

The program also covers 12 weeks of prescription drugs Zyban or Champix, with cost depending on coverage under the Pharmacare program. Details are available at www.gov.bc.ca/bcsmokingcessation or from your doctor.

Smokers can get free nicotine replacement products for 12 weeks, once a year. Black Press photo

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10-11

A warm glow at sunset

Above: A photo taken on Jan. 2 from the Clearwater Valley Road just north of Helmcken Falls Lodgeshows a gorgeous view of the Trophies

Left: Sunset over Dutch Lake

Photos by Lisa-Marie Morgan


10-11TV documentary explores hidden meaning in stone carvings

Halifax, Nova Scotia – We all know the expres-sion “Written in Stone” but some stories literally are. Rock art and carvings are an important part of Nova Scotia’s history and story telling legacy. They're an enduring record of who came before us, yet their sig-nificance often remains shrouded in mystery.

Today, archaeologists, historians, and adventurers continue to decipher the meaning of these stories left behind in stone.

Stories in Stone is a half hour documentary that explores the mysterious artwork and stone structures created by the diverse cultures that represent Nova Scotia’s history. The film explores hundreds of ancient Mi’kmaq petroglyphs, unexplained monuments build by African settlers in Birchtown in the late 1700's, and a mysterious rune stone in Southwest Nova Scotia that may have been carved by Vikings centuries before other Europeans settlers arrived.

The documentary was written & directed by Rachel Bower and created & produced by Edward Peill from award-winning Halifax-based Tell Tale Productions Inc.

"We're very fortunate here in Nova Scotia to have such a rich heritage of Mi’kmaq petroglyphs, stone carvings, and monuments" says producer Edward Peill. "Many of these petroglyphs pre-date the arrival of Europeans so they provide a rare insight into Mi’kmaq daily life hundreds of years ago. The origins of other stones is more mysterious and clues to their meaning continue to be revealed to this day".

Stories in Stone had its world broadcast premiere on CBC Television’s Land & Sea on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. Following the broadcast, the documentary can be watched on the CBC TV website at www.cbc.ca/lan-dandsea. Land & Sea is CBC’s second longest running TV series and can be followed on Twitter: @cbclan-dandsea

Stories in Stone was produced in association with CBC TV with funding from Provincial and Federal tax credits.

There's no doubt the mysterious mounds at Birchtown were the work of the Black Loyalist settlers that arrived between 1783 and 1785. Archeologists aren't sure what their purpose was, but some believe they may be related to African religious practices.

Animals are an important part of traditional Mi'kmaq life, and their images are abundant in the petroglyphs found at Kejimkujik and other Nova Scotia sites.

The 13-character inscription on the Runic (or Yar-mouth) Stone has been the subject of controversy ever since it was first discovered in 1812. Many believe it is the work of Viking visitors.

One of over 500 Mi'kmaq petroglyphs that can be found at Kejimkujik National Historic Site, one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in eastern North America.

Olivia, Ethan top B.C.'s baby namesBlack Press

The province issued its annual list of top baby names chosen in 2014.

Olivia is the most popular name for baby girls born in B.C. for the third straight year.

Ethan was the top name

for boys, edging out Liam, the previous year's top choice.

It's been a long run of pop-ularity for Ethan, which has been number one or two every year since 2002.

Emma, Sophia, Emily and Chloe rounded out the top five names for girls in 2014, while

the other top boys' names were Liam, Lucas, Oliver and Mason.

"Not surprisingly Terry was not the most popular boys' name in British Columbia in 2014," said Health Minister Terry Lake.

Final statistics for 2015's

names won't be available until later in 2016, but so far Olivia appears to be extending her streak, while Oliver was edg-ing ahead of Liam and Ethan for top choice on boys' names.The Vital Statistics Agency reported 44,500 babies born in B.C. in 2014.

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Wells Gray Outdoors Club held its second annual Sno-cial at the Candle Creek Ski Trails on Sunday, Jan. 3.

The brilliant blue sky was enjoyed by approximately 65 members and non-members who ven-tured out to ski on the newly groomed tracks.

Later in the after-noon everyone gath-ered inside the nicely decorated ski lodge to enjoy some hot drinks and appies, listen to Gerda Faber entertain us with her guitar and socialize with friends and neighbours.

Dave Poole, presi-dent of WGOC, used this opportunity to mention those who have helped the club with our projects during the past year. Richard Christenson,

president of the Wells Gray Community Forest Society and Paul Streadwick, member of the Wells Gray Community Forest Board were on hand to accept the club’s grateful appre-ciation for the funding supplied to purchase and erect the new snow cat shed as well as a planned solar power system for the buildings.

Others mentioned for their contribu-tions towards the shed and construc-tion of the mountain bike trails were: John

White, Bob Dhillon, Daniel Boudreau, Cal Traub; MacDonald Lowbed; Elaine Gillette (Ministry of Lands, Recreation and Trails), Wadlegger Logging; Borrows; Ray Jackson; District of Clearwater; TNRD, Tourism Wells Gray; Keith McNeill and the Clearwater Times; Dale and Kim Miller; and many oth-ers, including club members who have volunteered over 500 hours during the past year to groom trails, teach ski lessons, brush trails, work on

the mountain bike trail system, etc.

A big vote of appreciation to every-one who brought food and participated in any way.

Upcoming club events include Rabbit Ski Lessons for chil-dren (starting on Jan. 9), the Birchleg on Feb. 6 (time to start getting that Viking costume together) and perhaps another set of ski lessons for adults.

Check us out at: wellsgrayoutdoorsclub.ca for up-to-date information and trail reports.

12 - 13

SportsCross-country skiers have fun at Sno-cial

Bantams batter Logan LakeClearwater Bantam Rec #10 Keylan Chernoff takes the puck up the ice during a game against Logan Lake on Saturday at the Sportsplex. The local squad won the game 11 – 2 and presently is in fourth place out of six in its league. Valemount is coming for two exhibition games on Jan. 17. The Bantams play their last league game plus an exhibition game against Lillooet on Jan. 23. Photo by Keith McNeill

(l-r) Katrina Link and Kris Olson talk with Jean Nelson (facing away from the camera) during Wells Gray Outdoor Club's second annual Sno-cial on Sunday.Photo by Jen Belle

Jasper Belle skate-skis up the Candle Creek Trails to the WGOC cabin during the club's second annual Sno-cial on Sunday.Photo by Jen Belle

Coming EventsJan. 16 Love Where You Live Bonspiel

Jan. 18 – 24 Clearwater Hockey Days

Jan. 30/31 Novice Hockey Tournament

Feb. 5/6/7 Clearwater Winter Festival

Feb. 19,20,21 Provincial Forestry Tournament

Feb. 26,27,28 Oldtimers Hockey Tournament Ladies Bonspiel

Adult HockeyMens Drop In Hockey Fridays @ 7:45pm

Oldtimers Hockey will be Sundays @ 7pm & Wednesdays @ 8:35pm

Ladies Drop In HockeySunday @ 5:45pm

Family SkatingFriday @ 4:45PM & Sunday @ 4:15PM

Jan. 8 & 10 sponsored by Clearwater Towing

NORTH THOMPSON SPORTSPLEX

Hockey Lives Here!

For more information about the Sportsplex or any programs call 250 674 2143

Clearwater Minor Hockey

Become part of a winning team. Join Minor Hockey and learn to play Canada’s Game. Open to Boys & Girls.

www.cdmha.info/Register @ 250 674 2594 or [email protected]

Wells Gray Curling Club

call 250.674.3768

Love Where You Live Bonspiel

Jan. 16 / 17 • To register call 250-674-8009


JanuaryTNRD staff and

contractors used a “leak detector” - a sen-sitive listening device – to find the location of leaks in Vavenby's water system. The water reser-voir had nearly emptied in just four hours.

The first graduat-ing class in B.C. in the new construction craft worker Red Seal pro-gram was in Clearwater at the TRU Satellite Centre. The program trained workers to assist skilled tradespeo-ple. Ron Plamondon was course instructor.

“Most homeown-ers in the North Thompson will see changes in the -5 per cent to +10 per cent range,” said Graham Held, deputy assessor for the Thompson-Caribou as the 2015 assessment notices went out in the mail. Clearwater's assessment roll increased from $334 million to $341 million.

The newly formed Upstream Community and Heritage Society arranged with the TNRD to open the Avola schoolhouse every Tuesday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. for one year.

Clearwater ski hill opened for the season on Saturday, Jan. 10. Favourable snow condi-tions and new prices brought out nearly 300 people over the week-end.

The Midget Ice Hawks placed third in their home tournament in the Sportsplex. West Kelowna won the event.

The first baby from our area for 2015 was Emma Marie Olson, born Jan. 2 in Kamloops. Proud par-ents were Dakota Olson and Patty Merriman.

Having a Global Geopark nearby has noticeably helped the tourism indus-try of Saint John, New Brunswick and could do the same for Clearwater, according to Tom Dickinson. The dean of science at TRU had recently returned from a con-ference in Saint John that centred around the

Stonehammer Geopark.Clearwater Medical

Clinic announced that it had five doctors working after a period when Dr. Soles was the only regular physician. The new doctors were Dr. Broadbent, Dr. Gwyn, Dr. Liciu and Dr. Walton.

Players from all age categories took part in games at the Sportsplex during Hockey Days.

A guest editorial by Tom Fletcher argued that a wolf kill was the last hope for saving the mountain caribou. A column on another page from Valhalla Wilderness Watch said that the govern-ment's caribou recovery program, including shooting wolves from

helicopters, was failing disastrously.

FebruaryClearwater and area

should have a museum, longtime local resident Chuck Emery told town council. Councillor Dennis Greffard cau-tioned that a museum needs to meet a wide variety of parameters, including proper tem-peratures and humidity. “It's not impossible but it's a huge undertak-ing,” Greffard said.

Representatives from all North Thompson communities, including Simpcw First Nation and TNRD, met in a community-to-commu-nity forum at Dutch Lake Community Centre. Simpcw chief Rita Matthew noted that the First Nation band and the other resi-dents of the valley have a history of working together.

Yellowhead Mining announced that the BC Environmental Assessment Office had initiated an 180-day review of its application for its Harper Creek project – an open pit copper mine that would be located southwest of Vavenby.

More than 30 people attended a meeting in the Upper Clearwater Hall to discuss the

future of the hall with Carol Schaffer, TNRD director for Wells Gray Country (Area A). She gave out surveys to determine what the area's property owners wanted done with the $5,000 grant-in-aid the hall receives each year.

The daughter of a woman who had taught in Clearwater 70 years earlier was disappointed that there was no museum in the community to hold her mother's photos. Edith Bowles (later Benwell) had taught at what was likely the only school in the community in

1944/45. She had 36 students of mixed ages and abilities. She also taught at a nearby pris-oner-of-war camp.

Clearwater-based filmmaker Ken Matheson won the volunteer of the year award from BC Parks for his work in developing videos for Bowron Lake and Khutzeymateen pro-vincial parks.

Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing launched a cross-country ski trail net-work in Blue River. A longtime guest, Neil McGillivary, donated a track-setter and snowmobile. Other partners included Blue River Bruderschaft, TNRD, BC Parks, and Recreational Sites and Trails BC.

Mayor John Harwood held a work-shop with Clearwater's Junior Council to explain how the municipality's bud-get worked. Student Leevon Levasseur could not believe that District of Clearwater spends 40 per cent of its budget on roads. “Are you sure?” he asked.

First baby boy of the year was Caydon Gary O'Quinn, born Jan. 18. His twin sister, Tyia Patricia

Karry O'Quinn, was born soon afterwards. Parents were Amber and Jeff.

District of Clearwater's new public works superintendent, Bruce Forsyth, started work in mid-February. He had 20 years of experience working for municipal and regional district governments.

Clearwater Sno-Drifters' groomer created excitement as it arrived for the first time at the club's East Raft Cabin on Feb. 8. “Some snowmobil-ers have been waiting years for this,” said one person.

Stu Seib, the former sergeant-in-charge of Clearwater RCMP, was learning a new perspective on life by raising alpacas. Seib had resigned after admitting to stealing drugs from an evidence locker.

A total of 15 teams took part in the Ladies Bonspiel at the Sportsplex. The Larissa Hadley rink won the A event.

Clearwater Black Hawks won the 35+ division at the Old Timers Tournament in the Sportsplex, while 100 Mile House Old Sports won the 45+ division. Continued on page A19

12 - 13

Barb Coates uses a hockey stick to dig her vehicle out after getting stuck on the connector between the log-ging bridge across the Clearwater River at Brookfield Creek and Old North Thompson Highway on Friday, Jan. 9. “You can't get more Canadian than this!” said Merlin Blackwell as he snapped the picture and then helped to get her out. They and other bystanders then helped free a second vehicle that also got stuck.Photo by Merlin Blackwell

Cara Elliot carries baby Amy Elliot during the Wells Gray Birchleg. The annual event commemo-rates an incident in 13th Century Norway. Times file photo

2015 YEAR INreview

St James Catholic Church

Sunday Service Mass

11am - 12pm

324 Clearwater Village Road

1-250-372-2581

Clearwater Seventh-Day

Adventist Church

Pastor John MasiganSaturday Service - 10amClearwater Christian ChurchPh. 250-674-3468

Clearwater Living Streams Christian

FellowshipMeeting at

New Life Assemblyevery Sunday 4:00pm

Contact Dave Meehan 250-674-3217email: [email protected]

Clearwater Community Churchopen to everyone - all denominations

CLEARWATER NEW LIFE ASSEMBLYDan Daase - Pastor

Sunday Morning Worship 10:30am

(Kids church during service)Wednesdays Am - Ladies Bible Study

Phone: 250-674-2345308 W Old N Thompson Hwy

ChurchDirectory

Your places of worship

VAVENBY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

3083 Capostinsky Rd. • Service 11 a.m.

Sunday Morning Celebration

ServicesIan Moilliet Pastor -

250-676-9574Non Denominational

Clearwater Christian ChurchNon-denominational congregation in fellowship with

the broader Christian community in the area.Meeting at: 11 Lodge Drive

Wayne Richardson (Pastor)

Sunday Worship Service

10 amOn the Web: www.clchch.com

For information 250.674.7073 or 250.674.2912

Pastor Doug Spinney 250.674.3624www.ccbaptist.ca

CLEARWATERCOMMUNITY

BAPTIST24E Old North Thompson Hwy

Worship Service 10:30

TRINITYSHARED MINISTRY

Anglican, Lutheran & UnitedMeeting at

St. James Catholic ChurchWorship Sunday 9am

Rev. Brian KrushelOffice: 250-672-5653 • [email protected]

www.norththompsonpc.ca


Business & Service DirectoryACCOUNTANT

STONE & COMPANYChartered Professional Accountants

Jason O’Driscoll, CPA, CA - Bob Lawrie, CPA, CGA

Rison Realty • 32 E Old N. Thompson Hwy.Feb. 1st to Apr. 30th - Every ThursdayMay 1st to Jan. 31st - By AppointmentHours: 9:30 am to Noon, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Phone: 250-674-2532 • Kamloops: 250-554-2533 • Fax: 250-554-2536Providing Assurance and Accounting, Tax and Advisory Services

Accountant Appliance Repair

CARPENTRY

Hazel’s HousingQUALITY WORK

• NEW CONSTRUCTION • RENOVATIONS • ROOFING

CLEARWATER, B.C.

250-674-4083Hazel Dowds

Journeyman Carpenter

Carpentry

Advertise Hardware

For AllYour

AdvertisingNeedsCall

THE TIMESAl Kirkwood

674-3343

A DVERTISING

Electric Contractors

Licenced & BondedReg. NO: 99142

BOTTLE DEPOT

JAGER GARBAGEResidential & Commercial

Garbage Collection. Residential includes Blue Bag Recycling

Containers available for construction sites, yard clean-up, industrial sites etc.

Phone Jager Garbage 250-674-3798Serving from Vavenby to Blackpool area

GARBAGE COLLECTIONGarbage CollectionConstructionConstruction &

Renovations from Foundations

to Roof

Rob Kerslake

Steve Noble

REFRIGERATION - SALES - HOT TUB PARTSAPPLIANCE PARTS - FURNACE PARTS

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

DOUG

No� h RiverAPPLIANCE REPAIR

Quality Service

250.674.0079

Four Star Service

MOTOR LICENCE OFFICE

ICBC AgentDistrict of Clearwater

Phone: 250-674-2257 • Fax: 250-674-2173 Box 157, 209 Dutch Lake Road, Clearwater, V0E 1N0Of� ce Hours: Monday to Friday - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Open through the Noon hour

Motor Licence OfficePlumbing & Drains

NORTH THOMPSON

NTPDPLUMBING AND DRAINSGot Leaks? Plugged Drain? New Installs

Fully Insured • 100% Guaranteed • 250-674-8151

Wells & Pumps ≈ Yearly Maintenance ≈ Frozen pipesWe are right around the corner

Construction

Construction and Home Renovation

MARSHALL MCRAERed Seal Carpenter

[email protected]

250-674-1182

On the Level Enterprises

Automotive Repair

649 Kennedy Road • www.wellsgrayservicecenter.ca

PRO-FORM Feeds

Your number one stop for all your garden, building and farm supplies

Complete Farm & Garden Centre • Customer Service at its BestWinter Hours • 8:30am - 5:00pm • Monday to Saturday

250-674-3386 - 213 W. Old N. Thompson Hwy.

• Paint Supplies • Plumbing & Electrical • Hardware • Plywoods • Lumber • Fencing Materials • Vinyl Sidings • Roo� ngs • Specialty Items

• Treated Timber • Farm Gates • Interior & Exterior Doors

Building Supplies

Heating & A/C

Chain SharpeningCHAIN SHARPENINGProfessional Ground or Hand File

CHAIN SHARPENING30 Years of Experience Guaranteed Sharp NO Burnt TeethSpecializing in Ripping Chains

Stu Cahoon • Cell 250.674.1783 Home 250.677.4299Leave message for appointment

BOTTLE DEPOT

Depot

4365 Borthwick Ave. Barriere - BC

Bag Lady Enterprises

WINTER HOURS10am - 4pm Mon. - Sat.

Closed Sunday

Holiday HoursClosed December 24 - 27, 31, & January 1 - 3. We will be Open Dec. 28 - 30

TAXI SERVICE

WELLS GRAY

TAXIAVAILABLE 24 HOURS • 7 DAYS A WEEK

250-674-2214 • 250-674-1542

Taxi Service

HEATING & A/C

Your local provider for home comfortInspection & Cleaning of all

Makes & Models of Central A/Cs,Furnaces, Heat Pumps, Boilers,

Hot Water Tanks, HRVs, Etc.Hot Water Tanks, HRVs, Etc.

250.672.0251

SERVICING THE NORTH THOMPSON

Authorized Dealer

Rebates on equipment now

in eff ect

Certi� ed Partner

Heating & A/C

250-319-2306www.bjchvacltd.com

[email protected], BC

We Service, Maintain and Install Residential | Commercial | InstitutionalHeavy Equipment, Heating, A/C, Refrigeration, Heat Pump, Geothermal, Boilers, Rooftop Units, Oil & Propane Furnaces &Commercial Kitchen Equipment

BJC HVAC Ltd.PROUDLY SERVING THE NORTH THOMPSON

Building Contractor

Building Contractor40+ years experienceBuilding Contractor

HANS OUNPUU

Renovations • Additions • New Construction Kitchens, Bathrooms, Basements

Home Repairs • HAFI Jobs • Proje Management

250-674-3875 [email protected]


14 -15

Seeking local support for Third CrossingAdam Williams – Kamloops This Week

Might Kamloops be the terminus for a new route to the Sunshine Coast?

That’s what Gary Fribance and the Third Crossing Society are hoping for after a government-issued request for proposals (RFP) has renewed talk of another route linking the Lower Mainland and Interior with the province’s coast.

The RFP, issued on Nov. 26, is seek-ing a consultant to lead the process of examining possible routes to the Sunshine Coast, soliciting and processing feedback from communities and interested parties while examining the business case of the project.

Kamloops-South Thompson MLA and Minister of Transportation Todd Stone said the prov-

ince is in the early stages of what would be a “multi-billion-dollar project.

“What we do know is there’s a tremendous amount of untapped potential on the Sunshine Coast from an economic perspec-tive that, if it were more convenient and more efficient to get to and from the Sunshine Coast, that economic potential could be unleashed,” he told KTW.

The RFP closed on Dec. 21 and had a budget of $250,000.

It lists four previ-ously identified routes, including a Powell River to Highway 99 road link, a Port Mellon and Squamish road link, a Port Mellon and Highway 99 bridge link and an Earls Cove to Saltery Bay bridge.

Once a consulting firm is selected, it will have until late sum-mer to submit the first draft of its report,

with the final version following three to four months later.

It’s the link between Powell River and Highway 99 that Fribance, president of the Third Crossing Society, favours.

“Our proposed

road would access us to both the Interior and the Lower Mainland,” he said.

The link would connect to Highway 99 south of Whistler and would allow trav-ellers to access the Interior via Whistler,

Pemberton, Lillooet, Cache Creek and, eventually, Kamloops.

“Transportation has always been a key to expanding economies,” Fribance said, citing the boon in Kamloops following the enhance-ment of the Fraser

Canyon and construc-tion of the Coquihalla Highway.

“I think our area and the north and cen-tral part of Vancouver Island have suffered with the demise of the forestry industry,” he said. “So have the

Cariboo logging com-munities and so on.

“We’ve got an opportunity for signifi-cant economic growth by improving the transportation issues.”

The economic con-cerns aren’t exclusive to Powell River.

Map shows suggested proposed route for Third Crossing linking the Lower Mainland and Interior. KTW graphic

Business & Service DirectoryBusiness & Service

Directory

Contracting

On allService Centre

250.674.0145 | [email protected] Yellowhead Hwy S. Clearwater, BC V0E 1N1

O� ering Heavy Duty mechanical and Inspections

Mon. - Fri. • 8am – [email protected] • 851 Yellowhead Hwy S.

• PLUMBING• PORTABLE TOILET RENTALS

• SEPTIC INSTALLATIONS• SEPTIC PUMPING

• WATER COMPACTION• WELL INSTALLATION

• DUST CONTROL• WATER HAULING

• REGISTERED ON-SITE WASTEWATER PRACTITIONER

• HEAVY DUTY TOWING• CERTIFIED TRAFFIC CONTROL

• WRECKMASTER CERTIFIED• EXCAVATION & SKIDD STEER SERVICE

• BOB CAT SERVICES• FIRE SUPPRESSION

• PUMP TRUCK • READY MIX CONCRETE

She Is Looking for Home Improvement Help. Will She Find Your Business?

Advertise your business for as low as $16/weekCall for more information or come in to the Times #14-74 Young Road

250-674-3343

Auto Repair & Towing

HindleMotors

Automotive Repair • Used Auto Parts • Mobile Repairs Designated Vehicle Inspection • C.V.I. Inspections

Commercial Truck & EQ Repair Fully Licensed Technicians

CLEARWATER TOWING LTD.24 Hour ServiceFree Scrap Car Removal516 Swanson RoadUsed Auto Parts

OFFICE: 250-674-3123or CELL: 250-674-1427

••NOW DOING COMMERCIAL TRUCK REPAIR••

NELS HINDLE


Thought of the week

Hope smiles from

the threshold of

the year to come,

whispering, ‘It

will be happier.’

~ Alfred Lord

Tennyson

Wells Gray Country

TO ADD YOUR COMMUNITY EVENT OR ORGANIZATION CALL THE TIMES AT 250-674-3343

Jan. 15: Rodeo Rednecks 4-H Club AGM, 5:30 Wells Gray Inn

Jan. 16-17: Love Where You Live Bonspiel, games start at 6 pm both nights, 4 end games, entry fee is 4 prizes = to a total of $80/per team. To register your business or group call Melody at 250-674-8009 or email [email protected]

Jan. 18-24: Clearwater Hockey Days

Feb. 6: Birchleg Ski Festival, WGOC, [email protected]

Feb. 26-28: Ladies Bonspiel, Wells Gray Curling Club, to register your team call Gwen 250-674-3768 or email [email protected]

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT• Indoor Market: Every Saturday May – Oct, 9 am – 12 noon, Elks

Hall.• Tuesday Morning Coffee (TMC): Meets 10am – 11:30 @

Clearwater Community Baptist Church. All women and children welcome. (9:30-10 am Bible Study). Info 250-674-3624

• Women in Business Luncheon: Last Wed. of the mth at Wells Gray Inn, 12–2 pm. Preregister at 250-674-2700

• Crafts & Conversations with Cheryl. Tuesdays 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the North Thompson Aboriginal Sharing Center. Phone 250-674-3703 for more info.

• Clearwater Farmers’ Market May – Oct. Saturdays 9am– Noon. For more info please call Anne at 250-674-3444.

• M&M (Mrs. & Ms.) Social. Last Sun of the mth Wells Gray Inn. 1pm: 250-587-6503

• Blackpool Community Hall Coffee House; Local musicians – 2nd Fri. of the mth. 6:30pm. Concession, $3 or 2 for $5.

• Clearwater Elks Bingo - 2nd & 4th Wed. Elks Hall 5pm, Info call Phyllis 250-674-3535

• Cribbage Wed. at the Royal Canadian Legion. 12:30 pm.• Fun Darts Fri. at the Royal Canadian Legion. 6 pm.• Upstream Community and Heritage Society open house

Tuesdays: 9am-9pm @ Avola School House, various activities. Info ph Fay 250-678-5302.

• Thompson Valley Quilters. Meet 2nd Wed. and 3rd Mon. of the mth at NTAC in the DLCC, 9 am - 4 pm. Info Linda 250-674-3437 or Dorothy 250-676-9270

• Vavenby Needle Arts Group. Meet every Tues. 11am - 4pm at Vavenby Community Center. Info Dorothy 250-676-9270

CHILDREN & FAMILIES• Racoon StrongStart - Raft River Elem school days Mon, Tues,

Thurs & Fri 8:45-11:45am• Racoon StrongStart - Vavenby Elm school days Wed 8:50-

11:50am• Clearwater Breastfeeding Group: 3rd Wed. of every month

7:30pm @ YCS• Mother Goose - Monday mornings, reg. Kerry 250-674-3530HEALTH & HEALING• Hospice Grief Support: 2nd Thur of every mth, NT Funeral

Home 1-3 pm, info 250-674-2400• Shambhala Meditation Group: meets every Tuesday at Forest

House 6:30-8:00 pm. Info: 250-674-3233.• Connections Healing Rooms - Wed. 1-3pm (except stat.

holidays). 86 Young Rd. No charge. Sponsored by Living Streams Christian Church. www.healingrooms.com.

• Healthy Choices – Tues 9am Clearwater Christian Church bsmnt (behind Fields). $2/wk drop-in free. Kim 250-674-0224

• Clearwater & District Hospice 3rd Mon. Sept-Jun 10am Legion 778-208-0137.

RECREATION• Drop-in soccer: May-Sept. Tuesdays & Thursday at 7pm at CSS

� eld. Everyone welcome!• Bowling: Mon. 10–12pm & 1-3pm; Thurs., 1-3pm. Seniors

Centre at Evergreen Acres. 250-674-3675• Clearwater Sno-Drifters: 1st Thurs every mth. 250-676-9414• CNT Rod & Gun Club: 3rd Tues. of the mth. Blackpool Hall 7pm

Nov., Jan., & Mar. AGM in May• Volleyball: Winter, dates TBA, at Clearwater Secondary School

Gym, $2 drop in. Info: 250-674-1878.• Youth Group: ages 12-18, Fri. 7-10 pm Dutch Lake Community

Center, arts & crafts, gymnastics, games & special events, info 250-674-2600

• Yoga Tree – Call or email Annie 250-674-2468 [email protected]

• Core Strength Fitness. Tuesdays. 10-11am 250-674-0001• Badminton: Mon & Wed, Oct – Mar, CSS gym, 7:30-9:30 pm,

$3 drop-in fee, info 250-674-2518• Drop in Basketball: Winter, dates TBA, $2 drop in at Clearwater

Secondary School Gym. Info: 250-674-1878• Slo-Pitch: Clearwater mixed Slo-Pitch league May – July. Contact

Carmen Archibald 778-208-1773, 250-674-2632• Drop in Soccer: June -Sept, tues and Thurs, 6:30-8:00 PM, CSS

� eld, $2 drop in, grade 8 to adultSENIORS• BUNCO: 3rd Tue of every mth, Dutch Lake Seniors Drop-in

Centre, 1:30 – 3 pm, info 250-674-2400• Wells Gray Country Senior’s Society 3rd Sun Social Meet at

the Wells Gray Hotel at 12:30pm for lunch or dessert, & chat• Wells Gray Country Senior’s Society Book Club Last Thursday

of the mth 2pm at the library. All seniors welcome.• WGCSS Writers Circle: Meets 1st & 3rd Thur. @ Library

UPCOMING EVENTS

ONGOING EVENTS

REGISTER TODAYTEL: 250.674.3530 IN PERSON: 209 Dutch Lake Rd. EMAIL: [email protected] • www.tru.ca/regional_centres/clearwater

Business Fundamentals – January 18 – March 6, 2016 The Business Fundamentals Certifi cate prepares students for employment in a variety of offi ce positions such as receptionist, bookkeeper, website administrator or personal assistant. Provides the basic offi ce skills needed to secure some entry-level offi ce administration positions & is ideal for those students who can only spend a short time in school.Welder Foundation program – February 1, 2016 - ONE seat available Introductory program that prepares learners for entry level positions as ap-prentice welders in most sectors of the economy including manufacturing, construction, transportation, resource extraction, & resource development. Students engage in a variety of classroom & shop activities. In the class-room, they learn theoretical principals of welding. Health Care Assistant Certifi cate program - March 2016 This 27 week program is designed to prepare the graduate to function, under supervi-sion, as a Health Care Assistant. Learned skills will be applied in the com-munity utilizing care facilities, assisted living facilities & private homes. The focus will be on training the health care worker to assist the older adult in meeting his/her basic physical, emotional, environmental & social needs. Gymnastics – Winter 2016 Please note: New times for age classes. There are 10 spaces available for each class. It is recommended that you register your child early to avoid disappointment.

5 and 6 —Girls Tues Jan 5 – Mar 8 2:45 - 3:45 pm $805 and 6 — Boys Tues Jan 5 – Mar 8 4:00 – 5:00 pm $807 to 9 – Co-ed Tues Jan 5 – Mar 8 5:15 – 6:15 pm $905 and 6 — Girls Wed Jan 6 – Mar 9 2:45 - 3:45 pm $757 to 9—Girls Wed Jan 6 – Mar 9 4:00 – 5:00 pm $9010 +—Co-Ed Wed Jan 6 – Mar 9 6:00 - 7:30 pm $1253 year olds Mixed Thurs Jan 7 – Mar 10 12:00-12:45 pm $654 year olds Mixed Thurs Jan 7 – Mar 10 1:00-2:00 pm $75

Upcoming CoursesOFA Level 3 Jan 18 - 29 $825OFA Level 1 Jan 23, Feb 16 $105Transportation Endorsement Feb 17 $110

250-674-2674

Bayley’s BistroBayley’s Bistroin the Brookfield Shopping Centre in Clearwater

Eat in or Take out Fried Chicken

250-674-2674

this ad is sponsored by


Xaxli’p

XAXLI’P ADMINISTRATOR

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Xaxli’p is a St’at’imc community located in the beautiful Fountain Valley, 15km east of Lillooet with great community and economic development potential. The successful candidate requires a post-secondary education in Business, Administration, or Commerce. The successful candidate must have senior management experience with general program and services of an Aboriginal Organization, and will be responsible for the following:

Reporting to and receiving direction from Chief and CouncilHas a minimum of 3 to 5 years administrative experience with an aboriginal organizationHave excellent knowledge and implementation of AANDC, FNHA, and other agencies, programs, and servicesFacilitate the development and implementation of plans to include strategic, capital, financial, program, and economic developmentProvide effective leadership and teambuilding through employee supervision and developmentDevelop and/or assist in proposals for fundingIdentify and provide for the needs of the community and membership

An excellent benefit package is offered that includes medical, dental and pension plan, as well as an opportunity to contribute to the success and growth of a great community.

Please mail, hand deliver, fax, or e-mail current resume with cover letter and references to the following address:

Xaxli’pAttention: Chief Darrell Bob Sr.

PO Box: 1330 Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0E-mail: [email protected]

Fax: 250-256-7892

Resumes will be received until 3:00pm January 22, 2016

Box 67, 100 Mile House B.C. V0K 2E0

BEFORE YOU SELL:• ASPEN • BIRCH • COTTONWOOD• PINE • SPRUCE • FIR PULP LOGS

Please call KATHERINE LEPPALA(250) 395-6218 (direct line) • (250) 395-0584 (cell)

(250) 395-6201 (fax)

••• Thank you •••

On behalf of the Hanna family

our most sincere gratitude to friends and

business associates for your support

in our time of sorrow.

Information

CANADA BENEFIT Group - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada benefi t.ca/free-assessment

Clearwater Alcoholics Anonymous

Sunshine Group meets every Tuesday, 8 pm, Elks Hall

72 Taren Dr.Open to Everyone

For info contact Wendy 250-587-0026

Do you need help with reading, writing or math?

FREE confi dential adult tutoring available.• Clearwater Literacy

250-674-3530• Barriere Literacy

250-672-9773

Safe Home Response Providing a safe place to

escape for women and their children.

Volunteers always needed. Clearwater 250-674-2135,Barriere 250-672-6444, or

North Thompson Valley 1-855-674-2135

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY THRIFT SHOP

Located across the railway tracks in Vavenby, B.C.

Wednesday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Great deals - low prices

Travel

TimeshareCANCEL YOUR Timeshare. No risk program stop mort-gage & maintenance pay-ments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consul-tation. Call us now. We can help! 1-888-356-5248

Employment

Business Opportunities

HIP OR Knee replacement? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in Walking/Dress-ing? Disability Tax Credit $2,000 Tax Credit $20,000 Refund. Apply Today For As-sistance: 1-844-453-5372.

Education/Trade Schools

HEALTHCARE DOCUMEN-TATION Specialists in huge demand. Employers prefer CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Con-tact us now to start your train-ing day. www.canscribe.com. 1-800-466-1535. [email protected]

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT SCHOOL. Hands-On Tasks. Start Weekly. GPS Training!

Funding & Housing Avail! Job Aid! Already a HEO?

Get certifi cation proof.Call 1-866-399-3853 or go to:

iheschool.com

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

START A new career in Graphic Arts, Healthcare, Business, Education or Infor-mation Tech. If you have a GED, call: 855-670-9765

TRAIN TO be an apart-ment/condo manager. Many jobs registered with us. Good wages and benefi ts. Govern-ment Certifi ed online course. 35 Years of success!www.RMTI.ca/enq

Janitorial

CLEANING PERSONRequired part-time 4 days per week, 4 hours per day. Wage: $13-$15 per hr based on experience.

Apply to:[email protected]

Fax 250.372.9138 or Call: 250.374.9933

LARGE FUNDBorrowers Wanted

Start saving hundreds of dollars today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mortgage money is available right now. Rates start at Prime. Equity counts. We don’t rely on credit, age or income.

Call Anytime1-800-639-2274 or

604-430-1498. Apply online www.capitaldirect.ca

Photography / VideoPHOTOS

by Keith McNeillDigital and fi lm photographs.

Phone 250-674-3252 or email:[email protected]

Moving & Storage• Indoor Storage Units • Offi ce space with equipment storage available. Hwy access for convenience & [email protected] Yellowhead Hwy 5

PlumbingFULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, re-liable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1-800-573-2928

Merchandise for Sale

Estate Sales1200 sq. ft. house. 3 bdrm, 2 bath, .79 acre w/fruit trees, garden area, 600 sq ft shop, & 300 sq ft woodshed. Located on Peavine Rd. $120,000. obo. Ph 1-250-318-7235

Career Opportunities



A-CHEAP, LOWEST PRICES STEEL SHIPPING Dry Storage Containers Used 20’40’45’53’ and insulated con-tainers all sizes in stock. 40’ containers as low as $2,200DMG. Huge freezers. Experienced wood carvers needed, full time. Ph Toll free 24 hours 1-866-528-7108 or 1-778-298-3192 8am-5pm. De-livery BC and AB www.rtccon-tainer.com

Misc. for SaleSAWMILLS FROM only $4,397 - make money and save money with your own bandmill - cut lumber any di-mension. In stock ready to ship. Free info and DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.

Misc. WantedCoin Collector Looking to BuyCollections, Olympic Gold &Silver Coins, Loose, Sets, etcChad: 1-778-281-0030 Local

FIREARMS. ALL types want-ed, estates, collections, single items, military. We handle all paperwork and transportation. Licensed Dealer. 1-86-960-0045. www.dollars4guns.com

Real Estate

Business for SaleOne Chair Hair Salon in Clear-water Legion Mini Mall. All fur-nishings, equip, & supplies incl. Ph. 250-674-3354 for info.

For Sale By OwnerFor Sale or Rent: 225 Murtle Cres, 3 bdrm, 3.5 bath, dbl heated garage w/toilet & shower, rent $1,150/mo + util. For Sale: 208 Dutch Lk. Rd, 3 bdrm, 1/2 duplex, 2 full bath, $125,000.00. Offers. Pls lvg msg at 250-674-3668

Commercial space avail for rent in the Interior Whitewater Bldg. starting Jan. 1/2016. Spacious, bright, clean, like new. Close to amenities. 675 sqft, $500/mo. 73 Old North Thompson Hwy, Clearwater. Ph 250-674-3727

Duplex / 4 PlexClearwater: 2 bdrm & 1 bdrm in tri-plex. Own entrance, Close to amenities. 2bdrm $600/mo; 1 bdrm $500/mo + DD. Call Julie 250-674-0188

Clearwater: 3 bdrm duplex in Miller sub. F/S. Avail Jan. 1 Call Julie 250-674-0188

Mobile Homes & Pads

Vavenby: 2 bdrm covered mo-bile w/addition on priv lot. W/d, f/s. Ref req. $675/mo + dd. Pets neg. Call 250-676-9210

Misc. WantedMisc. Wanted

Announcements Employment Services Merchandise for Sale Rentals Rentals

Cards of Thanks Education/Trade Schools

Financial Services Heavy Duty Machinery

Commercial/Industrial

Homes for RentClearwater: 5bdrm 2500 sq ft hm w/ 2, 3 & 4 piece bath in Weyerhaeuser sub. Cost neg depending on tenants. If you are horse people, I have 8 acres of land that could be incl. House and land are in 2 different locations. Call Randy at 250-674-8288

Rooms for RentClearwater: Room for rent in Weyerhaeuser sub. Wi-Fi, Sat TV. Nice clean place. NS, NP. $500/mo, incl laundry and util. Call 250-674-1768

Suites, LowerBarriere: 2 bdrm basementsuite, all util, all appl. NS/NP, no parties. Separate entrance /parking. $750/mo. 250-672-5643

To advertise in print:Call: 250-674-3343 Email: [email protected]

Self-serve: blackpressused.ca Career ads: localworkbc.ca

Browse more at:

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18 -19Trekking Tale #240 – The last one

Adventuring has been part of my life since childhood. However, other than letters, writing about those unending expe-riences was almost non-existent. Old Journals and Trip Books stop after a few days; obviously too much fun stuff was happening, leav-ing too little time to describe the events.

All this changed when my husband John and I moved to Clearwater and met Pat Sabiston. How she both persuaded and inspired me to send my pen scurry-ing across the pages beginning in late 2007 was described in Trekking Tale #100. The computer count-ed the words: “Five hundred is enough, Kay,” I was initially told. Then, “Well, I guess 600 is okay.” Thank goodness for the extra space; even so, that limit spared you, my faithful read-ers, from many so-called witticisms that had to be cut out.

My only other instruction was: “When you see a Trekking Tale published in the Clearwater Times, submit another.” Until recently I always had a few ready to go – sometimes still in my head, some in handwritten notes, and more on the com-puter waiting for me to press “Send”.

While I loved describing all my local finds and outings, I was also encouraged/allowed to share nar-ratives of the far-flung travels John and I, with various friends and family members, have had over the past eight years. Since we haven’t quite finished gadding yet, perhaps I’ll submit the odd something from here on. Time will tell. But I don’t want to start repeating myself.

Locally, I haven’t been everywhere and done everything, but

there are limitations to my excursions nowadays. Rainbows, rivers and lakes, birds, animals by the road-side, tracks, trees, hikes, skis, snowshoes, flights and boat rides – all these and much more have been fea-tured.

Because each place, Helmcken Falls being the perfect example, is different each time, it’s tempting to write about them constantly, but there’s a limit.

I am not going to stop writing. For as long as I’ve been pro-ducing Trekking Tales, I’ve been working on a memoir, also started with Pat’s prodding.

“I want to publish it before I’m 75,” I told one friend when I still had a couple of years to go. Well, that birth-day is long gone. It’s time to focus on that. I also belong to three writers’ groups includ-ing the local Writers’ Circle. I’ve had stories, mainly of my experi-ences, and doggerel (?) poetry published in several volumes of Collected Works pro-duced by each of the above.

But this is my final Trekking Tale.

I truly appreciate all who have encouraged me in every way. I am eternally gratefully to Pat who got me started, but I am especially touched that the local paper, Clearwater’s North Thompson Times, and its friendly staff, gave me space, and room to grow as a writer. Thank you...

TrekkingTales

By Kay Knox


FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY

February 19– March 20

January 20– February 18

December 22– January 19

May 21– June 21

April 20– May 20

August 23– September 22

July 23– August 22

November 22– December 21

October 23– November 21

March 21– April 19

June 22– July 22

September 23– October 22

A p r i l 2 3 - 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

This week is all about give and take, Capricorn. Do for others, and they will do for you. A special event calls for some extra-special gifts.

Some habits are hard to break, Aquarius. Look to a mentor to help and you will succeed. A fitness goal is easily achieved with a new piece of equipment.

The odds may be stacked against you, Pisces, but that doesn’t mean you won’t come out on top with a little ingenuity. A weekend endeavor requires a leap of faith.

Speak up, Aries, and the problem will be solved. A little miracle at home makes for an interesting weekend. Travel plans come together.

Cast aside all doubt, Taurus. The offer is genuine and will bring you many rewards. A test of faith begins— be strong. Money woes ease.

Feeling blessed these days, Gemini? Pay it forward. A compromise at home raises everyone’s spirits and fun ensues all weekend long!

A business relationship blossoms with an addition. A larger-than- life personality drops by with an offer you can’t refuse. Oh boy, oh boy, Cancer.

Oops, Leo. You fall behind on a project, raising some eyebrows. Not to worry. You will get back on track sooner than you think, thanks to an innovation.

Spend less, save more and you’ll definitely get more, Virgo. More in your bottom line and more peace of mind. Flowers provide a great pick-me-up.

Lady Luck smiles on you, Libra, and there is nothing beyond your reach. A treasured heirloom resurfaces, bringing back many fond memories.

The tiniest of changes make a vast improvement in a project. A rejection is a blessing in disguise. Be grateful for what you’re given, Scorpio.

News from afar gets the creative juices flowing, and you accomplish more than you have in some time, Sagittarius. A game of wits at the office proves challenging.

Jan. 7, - Jan. 13, 2016

Aries, practicality is a big part of your personality, but sometimes thinking through the reasons to do something over and over can be tedious. Let loose a little bit this week.

Cancer, you will get to your destination soon enough, but the trip may be a bit of a headache. Patience is essential this week; other-wise, you may give up prematurely.

Libra, this is a good week to catch up on paperwork, filing or tedious tasks you have let fall by the wayside. Make use of the slow week to recharge.

Capricorn, this may turn out to be a strange week, as you can’t seem to fully focus on anything. You may get frustrated at your inability to concen-trate, but that focus will return soon.

Aquarius, if you become too wrapped up in business or personal obligations, take a step back and reevaluate your priorities. Some things need to be rearranged.

Taurus, expect to feel pulled in two directions this week. It’s a pivotal time at work, but in the same measure, you have much going on at home. Think things over carefully.

Misinformation is spreading, so research everything to make informed decisions this week, Leo. It may help you avoid an expensive mistake down the line.

Scorpio, you will be missed as much as you miss another person this week. Wait out this sepa-ration a little while longer, keeping in mind that your re-union is on its way.

Pisces, you are on a quest this week to find the perfect gift for a friend. This person will appreci-ate your efforts, and your bond will only grow stronger.

Gemini, you may find your energy levels unusually low this week, and your productivity may suffer as a result. Maybe someone else can energize you a bit and lend a help-ing hand.

Virgo, you may have a wonderful time with family or friends this week, even if you are crunched for time. Savor the small mo-ments as they come your way.

Do whatever you need to do to rejuvenate your spirit, Sagittarius. Spend some more time with friends and avoid prolonged solo activities. Soon your motivation will return.

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18 -19

MARCHDistrict of

Clearwater would receive $390,000 if the project to double the Trans Mountain pipeline went ahead, according to a memo-randum of under-standing with Kinder Morgan Canada. Blue River and Avola (Area B) would get $350,000, and another $175,000 would go to Vavenby, Birch Island, Blackpool and area (Area A).

After Hours Theatre presented “Collected Obsessions”, a produc-tion of seven short plays about people with fixations.

Clearwater town council instructed staff to prepare an applica-tion for $1.1 million in federal funding to build a third well. The new well was needed to pro-vide a more consistent and secure source of water.

Employees at Jim’s Family Market in Little Fort spent part of their breaks balancing eggs - a tradition for Chinese New Year. That after-noon there was a fine Chinese dinner at Little Fort Hall.

Five workshops held in communities from Sun Peaks to McBride explored a proposal to have Wells Gray Park’s volcanoes and other sites in the area declared a Global Geopark. The pro-posal was seen as less expensive and more achievable than get-ting UNESCO World Heritage status.

Bird numbers were up from the previous year but the number of species was down as Clearwater and area residents participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count. The most frequently spotted species was the black-capped chickadee (on 107 checklists).

Upper Clearwater artist Doris Laner put on a retrospective show of works she had done before she came to this area. Portraits dominat-ed her earlier works.

A slim majority of Upper Clearwater prop-erty owners opted to

continue a grant-in-aid for Upper Clearwater Hall for one more year. However, they were divided in what should happen after that, with 48 per cent indicating the grant should con-tinue, 35 per cent saying the money for the grant should not be collected but the grant-in-aid service should remain in place, and 29 per cent saying the service should end.

A letter to the editor from Wendy Bentley of Kamloops told about her meeting in Fiji Ray Chandra, a Fijian who taught at Birch Island for four years in the late 1960s. He later got his Ph.D. and returned to Fiji.

CSS students Jacob Madden won a gold medal in carpentry in a regional Skills Canada competition in Kamloops, while Larson Wadlegger won gold in welding and fabricating.

Teams from Creston, Chetwynd, Burns Lake, Kelowna, White Rock and Clearwater took part in the Tier 4 Midget provincial championships in the Sportsplex. The Ice

Hawks placed fifth in the six-team tourna-ment.

Garnet Peak (located near the junc-tion of Clearwater and Azure lakes) was displaced as the high-est mountain in Wells Gray Park. Climbers from the Alpine Club of Canada had found one higher in the north end of the park, said Roland Neave, author of “Exploring Wells Gray Park.”

Former Vavenby fire chief Leo Vermette received gifts of appre-ciation for his years of service. He had been a member of the fire department for 22 years, fire chief for 18, and a member of the board for 29.

Former Clearwater resident “Fast Eddy” Dostaler ran through the North Thompson Valley near the begin-ning of his proposed trip across Canada and back to benefit the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Rotary Richard went for a swim in Dutch Lake on Mar. 22. The official time was 4:01

a.m. Money raised through the sale of guesses is used to fund Rotary initiatives such as student exchanges.

APRILClearwater needs a

new cenotaph, Legion Branch #259 represen-tative Joe Short told town council. The Boy Scouts under Rich Willan made the pres-ent structure in Reg Small Park in the late

1990s but it needed repair plus was not in a good location, he felt.

CSS student William Ellis called on town council to enact a handicapped park-ing bylaw. “Before my dad became disabled I didn’t care as much,” he said. “Now I realize how much difference a few steps can make.”

Times editor Keith McNeill announced he planned to cycle from Toronto to Ottawa to promote a petition calling for carbon fee-and-dividend in Canada as a way to control global warm-ing. The big question was whether he would be able to keep up with his cycling partner, Jean Nelson.

Jon Kreke, owner of Dutch Lake Resort and Painted Turtle Restaurant, was cho-sen to be the new pres-

ident of Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce. He took over from Jeff Lamond of Rooted by the River Nursery.

Fire totally destroyed the McLure Restaurant south of Barriere. McLure Fire Department received help from Barriere Fire Department, even though there is no mutual aid agreement between the two.

Clearwater town council voted to change the name of Clearwater Canoe Regatta to Clearwater Fall Festival. “Let’s have a festival (in September) in Rotary Sports Park and move the canoe events to Canada Day, when the water is warmer and there are more tour-ists,” said councilor Barry Banford.

North Thompson Community Chorus put on “Broadway Revue,” a concert of songs from Broadway musicals. Wes Morden played the role of Tevye from “Fiddler on the Roof” when he sang “If I Were a Rich Man.”

Yellowhead Mining must submit a report on alternatives for wet tailings storage at its proposed Harper Creek copper mine, the BC Environmental

Assessment Office said. The panel that had investigated the Mt. Polley tailings dam breach had pointed to filtered or dry-stack tailings as best prac-tice.

Members of Upper Clearwater Farmers Institute posted “No Trespassing” signs around the Upper Clearwater Hall. The Institute said they were to prevent people

from camping over-night by the hall while critics said they were to discourage people from attending the Institute’s annual gen-eral meeting.

Longtime local resi-dent Murray Stockton asked for more flexibil-ity from authorities for seniors in rural areas after his driver’s license was taken away.

Randy Hedlund sang a song he had written, “An Ode to Angila Wilson” during a candlelight vigil held in Weyerhaeuser Park on the first anniver-sary of Wilson's death. Domestic violence is not just a problem for women but for all of society, said Stop the Violence counsellor Ava Perraton.

Upper Clearwater Farmers Institute needs to update its constitu-tion and bylaws, presi-dent Andrew Nelson told the organization's annual general meet-ing. A new set of bylaws, imposed in 1984, had replaced the original bylaws from the 1930s but were inadequate, he said.

A new program, Seniors Networking with Seniors and the Community, began with a complimentary luncheon at the Elks Hall. Lynne Frizzle was introduced as the senior coordinator.

Cindy Wilgosh of the North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Jack Keough, executive director of Yellowhead Community Services, received their B.C. Community Achievement Awards during a ceremony at Government House in Victoria.

Representatives from Wells Gray Community Forest toured Clearwater Secondary School to see some of the items purchased with help from the community forest. These included spotlights for the stage, a CNC router, and rugby jerseys. WGCF has distributed about $1.2 million since its inception.

Members of the cast of “Collected Obsessions” pose for a photograph. Pictured are (back, l-r) Indigo Johnson, Gretchen Reveille, Chance Breckenridge, Di Traut-man, Tom Cuthbert, (middle, l-r) Joanna Hurst, Jaime Lovgren, Alex Arduini, Lynda Ludbrook, Charlotte Smith, Neal Broswick, and (front) Steve Raschke. The produc-tion consisted of seven short plays about people with fixations on such things as numbers, the rapture, spiders and an extinct bird. Four shows were presented in the Pit at Clearwater Secondary School on Thursday, Friday and Saturday by After Hours Theatre. Photo submitted

Dr. John Soles is no longer the only medical doctor practicing permanently in Clear-water. In fact, he now has four other physicians to help him out. Pictured are (l-r) Dr. Mark Walton, Dr. Soles, Dr. Alice Gwyn, Dr. Cristina Liciu, and Dr. Steven Broadbent. Some people still think the new doctors are temporary locums but that is not the case, Soles says. Having a regular family doctor to go to can be a lifesaver and he encourages everyone to get to know the new members of the medical staff. Photo by Keith McNeill

2015 YEAR INreview


18 -19Trekking Tale #240 – The last one

Adventuring has been part of my life since childhood. However, other than letters, writing about those unending expe-riences was almost non-existent. Old Journals and Trip Books stop after a few days; obviously too much fun stuff was happening, leav-ing too little time to describe the events.

All this changed when my husband John and I moved to Clearwater and met Pat Sabiston. How she both persuaded and inspired me to send my pen scurry-ing across the pages beginning in late 2007 was described in Trekking Tale #100. The computer count-ed the words: “Five hundred is enough, Kay,” I was initially told. Then, “Well, I guess 600 is okay.” Thank goodness for the extra space; even so, that limit spared you, my faithful read-ers, from many so-called witticisms that had to be cut out.

My only other instruction was: “When you see a Trekking Tale published in the Clearwater Times, submit another.” Until recently I always had a few ready to go – sometimes still in my head, some in handwritten notes, and more on the com-puter waiting for me to press “Send”.

While I loved describing all my local finds and outings, I was also encouraged/allowed to share nar-ratives of the far-flung travels John and I, with various friends and family members, have had over the past eight years. Since we haven’t quite finished gadding yet, perhaps I’ll submit the odd something from here on. Time will tell. But I don’t want to start repeating myself.

Locally, I haven’t been everywhere and done everything, but

there are limitations to my excursions nowadays. Rainbows, rivers and lakes, birds, animals by the road-side, tracks, trees, hikes, skis, snowshoes, flights and boat rides – all these and much more have been fea-tured.

Because each place, Helmcken Falls being the perfect example, is different each time, it’s tempting to write about them constantly, but there’s a limit.

I am not going to stop writing. For as long as I’ve been pro-ducing Trekking Tales, I’ve been working on a memoir, also started with Pat’s prodding.

“I want to publish it before I’m 75,” I told one friend when I still had a couple of years to go. Well, that birth-day is long gone. It’s time to focus on that. I also belong to three writers’ groups includ-ing the local Writers’ Circle. I’ve had stories, mainly of my experi-ences, and doggerel (?) poetry published in several volumes of Collected Works pro-duced by each of the above.

But this is my final Trekking Tale.

I truly appreciate all who have encouraged me in every way. I am eternally gratefully to Pat who got me started, but I am especially touched that the local paper, Clearwater’s North Thompson Times, and its friendly staff, gave me space, and room to grow as a writer. Thank you...

TrekkingTales

By Kay Knox


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