Smithers Interior News, February 24, 2016

OTTERS SWIM IN WINNIPEGThe Espersen twins faced tough competition from Western Canada.

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LNG OPPONENTS CALL FOR UNITYFirst Nations leaders from protest camps gather at Hazelton lm screening.

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SMITHERS MUSIC ON SHOW Alex Cuba represents the Northwest at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

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The crowd goes wild after the Smithers Steelheads beat the Terrace River Kings 6-5 in double overtime last Sunday in one of the most tense games of The crowd goes wild after the Smithers Steelheads beat the Terrace River Kings 6-5 in double overtime last Sunday in one of the most tense games of the season. The Steelheads move on to the CIHL nals. Story, A5.the season. The Steelheads move on to the CIHL nals. Story, A5. Xuyun Zeng photo

61 Days To Go

By Alicia BridgesSmithers/Interior News

A Highway of Tears victim prevention program looks set to shut down by the tenth anniversary of the 2006 symposium that led to its establishment.

The Highway of Tears initiative performs advocacy work, victim support, radio advertising and victim prevention programs for communities along Highway 16.

Run by Carrier Sekani Family Services, it was launched in 2006 to implement recommendations of the Highway of Tears Symposium Report.

Those recommendations were based on input and ideas from a

contingent of about 500 people who attended the symposium from March 30-31, 2006.

CSFS child services director Mary Teegee warned in December the initiative would have to shut down if it could not secure more funding.

As the tenth anniversary of the symposium approaches, CSFS child services director Teegee said the project has until the end of March to secure funding.

“We’re still basically doing stuff off the side of our desk and we’ve been able to keep one of the coordinators on so we will at least have her on, but definitely, it’s been difficult,” she said.

End of the road for Highway of Tears prevention initiative

See TEEGEE on A3

B.C. Budget 2016: Children exempt from MSP premiumsBy Tom Fletcher and Chris GareauSmithers/Interior News

Medical Services Plan premiums are being charged only for adults starting in 2017, and the qualifying income for reduced premiums is going up from $30,000 to $42,000 for single people.

The new system creates a break for single parents, who will pay a single adult rate of $78 a month instead of the current rate of $150 charged for a family of three. A single senior or single parent with one child and an income of $45,000 may also be eligible for reduced premiums.

The changes will reduce rates for an additional 335,000 people, and 45,000 more people will be exempted from paying as long as they are registered and qualify. But rates overall continue to rise. With a four per cent increase in personal rates this year and a growing population, the government expects

to collect more MSP each year of its three-year budget plan than with the current system.

B.C. is the only province that charges premiums for health services, and the NDP opposition has called for them to be eliminated as a regressive tax. De Jong argues that MSP covers only 14 per cent of a growing health care budget, and eliminating it would amount to hiding the cost in the general tax system.

Prosperity fund gets seed moneyWith liquefied natural gas export projects

delayed, Premier Christy Clark’s promise of a “B.C. Prosperity Fund” has been launched with $100 million from the current budget surplus.

The fund was touted in the 2013 election as a way to pay off debt starting in 2017, and reduce or even eliminate B.C.’s sales tax with revenues from five LNG plants.

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B.C. prosperity fund a fantasy fund: NDPBut with a glut of oil and gas

internationally, no major project is expected to be under construction by the 2017 election.

Including the fund in his 2016-17 budget, Finance Minister Mike de Jong said most people would agree with “the notion that we would take a modest amount of money out of our chequing account and put it in our savings account.”

The finance ministry expects a surplus of $377 million at the end of the current fiscal year and $264 million in the fiscal year that begins April 1.

The prosperity fund is restricted to a minimum 50 per cent to pay down debt, 25 per cent saved to earn interest and the rest available to spend on health care, transportation and other functions.

Opposition MLAs said the fund is effectively financed by MSP fees.

Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson called the prosperity fund a “fantasy fund.”

“It’s become a taxpayer-funded venture for the Christy Clark government to use as a wish rather than what she announced three or four years ago. It was going to be a great fund that was going to end B.C.’s debt because of LNG revenues.

“So to avoid embarrassment of nothing happening on the revenue front on LNG, she effectively increased everybody’s MSP rates in order to make it appear something’s

happening when it’s not,” said Donaldson.He added that rising costs in Hydro and

ICBC rates showed the Liberal government did not understand the hardships people in the Northwest are facing. The MLA also pointed to administration savings forced on school districts that may force schools like Lake Kathlyn elementary to close.

“The government trying to achieve a balanced budget overall is a worthwhile goal, but when you see that the B.C. Liberals and Premier Clark has actually given a tax break to the top two per cent of the wealthiest in the province last year and this year that amounts to almost $500 million ... and then on other hand they’re raising rates ... then it’s pretty clear the choices they’ve made,” said Donaldson.

Disability benefits up for someIncome assistance payments for

people with disabilities are to increase up to $77 per month effective Sept. 1, but transit passes will no longer be covered.

Bus passes have only been provided for some regions of the province, an unfair situation for those who can’t take advantage of transit, said de Jong.

The B.C. Liberal government has resisted calls for an increase in the general social assistance rate, but has ended the clawback of child support payments to single parents.

Since 2012 the government has moved to encourage income assistance recipients

to work, allowing earnings up to $200 a month without losing benefits. People on disability assistance can retain up to $800 a month, up from $500 in 2012.

Children in care budget upDonaldson, NDP spokesperson for

Children and Family Development, said he was pleased the ministry’s budget is up, but pointed out that it is still 11 per cent less than in 2001.

“If that money means one less child is going to die while in care, or one less child will be abused while in care, or one less family will be torn apart, then I think it’s money well spent,” said Donaldson.

“I was disappointed that the children and youth mental health sector in the ministry ... received no additional funding, especially after the select standing committee on children and youth, which I’m deputy chair of and which is bipartisan, just spent two years documenting gaps in the delivery of services in that area.”

Donaldson was also named the deputy NDP spokesperson on mining last Friday.

The budget extends the B.C. Mining Exploration Tax Credit through to January 2020 at its regular rate of 20 per cent and enhanced rate of 30 per cent for areas affected by the mountain pine beetle. The tax credit had been originally set to expire on Dec. 31. The government also renewed the B.C. Mining Flow-Through Share tax credit, which had expired on Dec. 31, 2015.

From BUDGET on Front

www.interior-news.com A3 The Interior News Wednesday, February 24, 2016

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Woman, 20, accused of stabbing boyfriend

Smithers RCMP has charged a woman, 20, for allegedly stabbing her 27-year-old boyfriend overnight last Tuesday.

At about 8:18 a.m. last Wednesday, a 27-year-old man contacted police saying he had been stabbed some time during the night.

When police reached the man he was conscious and talking but had injuries that were believed to be stab wounds to the lower right of his

back and upper right shoulder areas. He also had cuts and abrasions

on his face and arms. The man was taken by ambulance

to Bulkley Valley District Hospital for treatment and has since been released.

The victim’s girlfriend has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and released on bail to appear at Smithers Provincial Court on March 1.

“March is it, that’s it, I’ve done everything I can do, we’ve extended our budget,” said Teegee.

She said the project would need at least $200,000 to start operating at full capacity again.

That would involve employing a coordinator and two educators, as well as facilitating meetings of the initiative’s advisory board.

Highway of Tears coordinator Brenda Wilson is the only CSFS employee dedicated to the initiative.

She said one of the programs biggest assets was the connection it provided between families and social services.

“The reason why this position was developed in the first place was because the families were not comfortable connecting with the other resources,” she said.

“There’s a long history of either being disrespected, or they did not trust any of the other service providers.

“They are still dealing with a lot of that so we are the middle man just trying to bridge that gap.”

Wilson said that was achieved through personal relationships she had established with victims’ families over the years.

Having lost her own sister Ramona Wilson, who was murdered after disappearing from Highway 16 near Smithers in 1994, she said she was able to offer a unique perspective.

“For myself it’s a little bit different because I am also a family member so there is also understanding of where they are coming from, their feelings and what their needs are,” she said.

“I’ve been in the same boat for the last 21 years.” Wilson will lose her job if the program ends in March.

Along with her mother, Matilda, she plans to continue to advocate for safer transportation and victim prevention measures.

“We will continue on but not at the same capacity,” she said.

“We won’t be able to do a lot of the things we are doing now.

“It will be more personal, on a personal level.” In a written response to questions from The Interior

News, Public Safety Minister Mike Morris did not directly respond to questions about whether the B.C. government would continue funding the project.

“Significant progress and investment has been made since the Highway of Tears report was first released,” he

said. “The Province remains committed to working across

government and with community partners to continue to address risk factors and further enhance the safety of vulnerable women.”

He said measures funded by the B.C. government included aboriginal youth forums focused on supporting personal and community safety in First Nations communities in the Northwest, as well as youth conferences to raise awareness of hitchhiking risks.

Community safety workshops and a community-wide response to sexual exploitation issues had also occurred, he said.

“More broadly, work is underway to improve safety along Highway 16 through government’s response to the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry,” Morris said.

He pointed to the Ministry of Transportation’s $3-million action plan for safer public transit along Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert.

From ROAD on Front

‘I’ve done everything I can do’: Teegee

A Highway of Tears victim prevention program will shut down in March if it cannot secure last-minute funding.

Alicia Bridges photo

If you would like your nonprofi t event listed in our Community Calendar, we need to hear from you!

Please drop off your listings at The Interior News, 3764 Broadway Ave.,fax us at 250-847-2995, or email [email protected].

Deadline for submissions is Fridays at noon. Maximum 25 words. Limited space is available.We regret we cannot accept items over the phone.

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SPORTS

By Xuyun ZengSmithers/Interior News

Zone 7’s head coach for cross-country skiing has one tip for our athletes preparing to go to the BC Winter Games: get lots of sleep.

“That’s key, that’s true,” said Sandra Nash.

The athletes are training three to four times a week, and are going to race after

race, with the Winter Games being right in the middle, according to Nash.

“Because they’re skiing quite often, so they need to get their rest to stay fresh,” added assistant coach Adrian de Groot.

The Bulkley Valley Cross Country Ski Club will send Jesse Smids, Zoe Hallman, Rachel Cuell, Mia Recknell, Aiden Murphy and Jacob de Groot to Kelowna

Feb. 25-28 to compete in the Games.

They were chosen after placing top two in their category in the Jan. 2 tryouts at the Bulkley Valley Nordic Centre, and will compete in classic, skate and mixed-gender relay races on different days.

De Groot and Nash believe they will be challenged by Zone 2, where Salmon Arm and Vernon are located.

“The Okanagan has several strong clubs,” said de Groot.

Nash also sees the Games as a social event.

“The kids, they’ve gotten to know some of those athletes in those other Zones already, so they’re familiar faces. They’re competitors but we’re also getting to know them, so becoming friends with them too.”

“I went four years

ago with my son. The towns that put them on, there’s a lot of other events that they do, social things, to get the kids from all the sports together.”

Skiier Mia Recknell agreed.

“I’m really excited about it,” said Mia Recknell. “We get to meet lots of other racers, and there’s time where we get to spend time with them and the race is going to be really fun.”

BC Winter Games Zone 7 cross country ski team poses for a photo at the Nordic Centre.

Xuyun Zeng photo

Cross country skiers preparing for Winter Games

Steelheads beat Kings, advance into nals

Brendan DeVries cheers after the Steelheads score a goal. He even-tually led the team to a 6-5 win in double overtime.

Xuyun Zeng photo


The Steelheads fought a tight, brutal battle against the Terrace River Kings last weekend.

Their future in the Central Interior Hockey League playoffs was on the line last Sunday after both teams won one game each in a best-of-three series.

Everyone gave it their all, and every goal came with unprecedented jubilation.

It paid off as they triumphed 5-2 Saturday, and 6-5 Sunday.

“Yeah, I got a smile I can’t get rid of,” said head coach Tom DeVries. “Because we just won a great game, we beat a good team and it was awesome. It was such a fantastic winning goal too.”

Steelhead Brendan DeVries broke Sunday’s 5-5 tie in the second overtime frame, assisted by right-winger Randall Groot.

However, the game did not start out in the Steelheads’ favour. They finished the first two periods down 2-0 and 4-3.

“2-0 wasn’t so bad,

it was when they went ahead 4-1,” said coach DeVries.

The Kings put the fourth puck in with 12:02 left on the clock in the second frame.

“I went, ‘Oh my!’ ” added the coach.

The Steelheads started making goals after that and then it became a game of leapfrogging in the third period: 4-4, 5-4, then heading into overtime 5-5.

“Overtime is a nervous wreck,” said coach DeVries. “In the dressing room here, you just let go and you’re nervous ... you can’t play,

but anything can happen in overtime.”

Centreman Brendan DeVries would know.

“Playing them is so intense,” he said. “Felt good to beat those guys after losing to them last year ... that was a huge goal, I haven’t been excited like this in a while.”

Next week, the Steelheads will play in Williams Lake.

“We won in their barn before,” said Brendan. “We’re going to bring a better team this time so I think we got a pretty good chance to get one there.”

Saturday, Feb. 20

1 2 3 T

1 3 1 5

1 2 3 OT T

0 3 2 1 6

1 2 3 OT T

2 2 1 0 5

1 2 3 T

0 1 1 2

1st PeriodSSH 13:43 - M. Arnold2nd PeriodTRK 14:23 - L. GordonSSH 4:00 - B. DeVriesSSH 3:29 - M. Arnold

SSH 2:20 - R. Groot

3rd PeriodTRK 11:38 - L. GordonSSH 10:16 - J. Steenhof

1st PeriodTRK 5:32 - D. LeblondTRK 4:27 - F. Montani2nd PeriodSSH 16:07 - R. GrootTRK 12:02 - C. LeblondTRK 8:27 - S. CullisSSH 6:37 - G. Currie

SSH 4:42 - R. Groot3rd PeriodSSH 12:55 - B. DeVriesTRK 8:58 - A. LusierSSH 3:20 - A. DeVriesOvertimeSSH 17:19 - B. DeVries

Saturday, Feb. 20 Sunday, Feb. 21

OPINIONSA6 www.interior-news.com The Interior News

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NEWSInteriorTHE

2010C A N A D I A NCOMMUNITYNEWSPAPERAWARD 2013

C A N A D I A NCOMMUNITYNEWSPAPERAWARD 2014

The recent throne and budget speeches demonstrate a stark lack of understanding of challenges faced by

those living in rural, northern communities like we have in Stikine.

We tend to drive a lot, use electricity to help heat our homes and face difficult access to health services like an MRI.

For this, we get a budget from the Christy Clark government that hikes ICBC insurance costs, continues a steep climb in BC Hydro rates (up 28 per cent under her leadership) and jacks up medical service premiums.

And our rural resource economy is doing poorly under the BC Liberals, so to achieve a balanced budget they are forcing school districts to consider closing schools, like Lake Kathlyn elementary, while choosing to continue a tax cut for the wealthiest 2 per cent in the province worth $236 million a year.

But beware of disagreeing with the Premier’s approach or you’ll be labelled a

‘rag tag’ in her words. More on that later.Remember the much ballyhooed

Prosperity Fund announced by Premier Clark three years ago that was going to end B.C.’s debt and by now be full of LNG-based revenue ($100 billion!)? There are zero LNG revenues in this budget but the Premier didn’t want the embarrassment of the non-existent fund so she seeded it with $100 million, which just so happens to be the amount generated by a January increase in medical service premiums, and you’ll still have to drive to Terrace or Prince George to get that MRI.

Here are some different choices: use MSP increases to fund health care, not a fantasy fund. And instead of providing the $236 million tax cut that the wealthiest in BC didn’t even ask for, use it to support hydro rate relief for low-income households. Or a program helping homeowners with energy-saving renovations to cut power consumption. Or use that revenue so the $95 million in this

budget the BC Liberals scooped out of ICBC can be returned to customers in insurance savings (ICBC rates have increased 30 per cent under Christy Clark’s government).

Some words I agree with in the throne speech: The need for “respectful, civil dialogue” as the springboard for “solutions” and “reconciliation” in this province.

Yet the Premier just labelled Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs who disagree with her about the proposed siting of an LNG plant on Lelu Island at the mouth of Skeena River as “rag tag.” How’s that for reconciliation?

Personal attacks and making life less affordable for most people is no way to run a province.

– Doug Donaldson is the MLA for Stikine, Opposition spokesperson for Children and Family Development, and deputy spokesperson for mining.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Web pollDo you agree with the province’s decision to start its promised prosperity fund with $100 million to be split between paying down debt, earning interest and spending on services before any LNG export projects are built?

No71%

Yes29%

Publisher Grant Harris, Editor Chris GareauPublished by Black Press Ltd. 3764 Broadway Avenue, Smithers BC V0J 2N0

Budget and throne speeches are out of touch with northern realities

VIEW FROM THE LEGISLATURE

MLA Doug Donaldson

www.interior-news.com A7 The Interior News

THE INTERIOR NEWS, P.O. Box 2560, Smithers, B.C. 3764 Broadway Ave. • Phone 847-3266Fax 847-2995 NEWS: [email protected] • ADVERTISING: [email protected] TEAM

Nick BriereSales Representative

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Xuyun ZengReporter

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

THE EDITORTO:

Letters to the editor policyLetters are welcomed up to a maximum of 250 words. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, brevity and legality. All letters must include the writer’s name, daytime telephone number and hometown for verifi cation purposes. Anonymous, or pen names will not be permitted. Not all submissions will be published. Letters may be e-mailed to: [email protected].

LETTERS

Moricetown band and treaty offices need to be audited

Editor:

Moricetown Band councillors and chief, administration and other aboriginal band offices are not up front with their band members on all the band funds that go into band administration for housing, or social assistance funds and health care funds.

Not only the Moricetown Band have these issues. Other aboriginal band offices have the same issues. First of all, our housing and renovation funds are being misused, for paying out other funds, or traveling for band stuff to Vancouver for meetings, and for whenever someone goes to meetings down south, and they have no report of what the meeting was about.

Throw out the holiday seasons like Christmas. Again, funds are being misused by giving the Moricetown administration bonuses.

And at times the Moricetown band staff go away for retreats. If you take 20 or 30 staff members for a retreat, that costs thousands of dollars — again the band funds are misused.

The housing and renovation funds are misused by the band administration staff not keeping a proper report of where the funds are being used. Band social assistance funds are being misused by pay out on other projects here.

We as the Moricetown community members,

are fighting against the LNG pipeline, and the chief and council are making deals on LNG without the Moricetown community members’ involvement. All industry, corporations, and government do create problems with our aboriginal communities throughout British Columbia.

It’s the government, going through industry, and corporations that lead our elected leaders to corruption. It’s the government way of conquer and divide. It’s always government’s point of view to take control of aboriginal lands.

Now back to housing and health care funding. Our elected chief and councillors are always saying, “oh, we are taking care of our elders.” I, Herb Nikal, say no to our elected leaders in the administration position, you are not taking care of our elders. Why? Because I know that not only one or two elders are living in poverty. One elder has been living without power for four years, and another elder is living in a condemned trailer with bacteria and fungi growing in the bedroom, and in the living room mould is growing around the window. And this elder is sick with diabetes.

Now you tell me if the elected chief, councillors and the health clinic are taking care of our elders in Moricetown. It’s not only in Moricetown, it’s happening in other aboriginal communities throughout B.C. It’s sad that the government is getting at our treaty offices too by corruptibility. That too is not only in the Wet’suwet’en Nation, but all over B.C.

I know that truth hurts. Now if I am right, this will continue and all aboriginal communities will be controlled by the government, industry and corporation, and our traditional territory will be destroyed all because of the almighty dollar — the root of evil.

Moricetown Band administration and our treaty offices need to be audited every year, and the information should be public to the aboriginal communities throughout B.C. That’s being up front with the aboriginal community members on every aboriginal reserve. I’m just being honest about all the aboriginal band administration activities.

Kneekap H. NikalSmithers

Finance Minister Michael de Jong pulled out some bright red lipstick and smeared it all

over the Medical Services Premium (MSP) tax pig in the 2016-17 B.C. budget this week.

This was a marketing gimmick, torn from the playbook of family restaurants everywhere.

Sure, the lipstick looks good in a headline: “Children now MSP free!” And that theme will no doubt dominate BC Liberal MLAs’ Twitter streams leading into the May 2017 election. But the numbers don’t lie: the taxman will collect $124 million more in MSP taxes next year, with tax hikes for people making far less than the average provincial income.

Married with kids? You may think from those budget headlines and MLA tweets that you’ll see a break on your MSP tax next year. Not true. If your household brought in more than $51,000 last year — and remember, the average provincial income is $74,150 — you’ll actually pay more. Another $72 over the year, bringing your monthly MSP bill to $156.

A theme you won’t see in those re-election tweets: “Kids eat free, but we’ve jacked up adult meal prices for the 15th straight year. You’re welcome.”

Senior couples making more than $51,000 a year will feel an even harder pinch: their monthly tax will jump from $136 to $156 — a tax hike of $240 next year. Couples without children, making $45,000 per year, will see the same jump.

Even if you make less than $51,000 and pay less MSP next year, this reprieve is a temporary one: the BC Liberals show no sign of straying from their plan to raise this tax every single year.

This double down on the unfair MSP tax is all the more frustrating from a government that claims they want to make life more affordable in B.C. and were dropping pre-budget hints at changes that would help everyone. Instead, the middle class took a direct hit.

“[MSP] should be distributed fairly, equitably, and in a way that makes sense,” de Jong said in his budget speech. “I know that some people have advocated eliminating separate MSP premiums altogether. But burying the MSP into instruments of general taxation doesn’t make them go away. It merely hides them and may create for some the illusion that health care is free, which it certainly isn’t.”

Hands up, readers: how many of you, when paying the smorgasbord of taxes, levies and fees, think health care is free? Do British Columbians really have a better handle on the costs of health care than the average Albertan or Manitoban? This statement lets slip how little politicians think of our intelligence.

The reason to roll MSP into the income tax system is efficiency. Why spend a couple hundred million dollars every year to collect a tax when we already have a system that works? A system that is tied to income levels and has clear collection mechanisms? Roll it into income tax and give everyone a break by passing along the collection savings.

The decision to keep the separate, unfair MSP tax system is a political one. Keeping the MSP system makes it tougher to do an apple-to-apple income tax comparison with other provinces.

Premier Christy Clark and de Jong want to move into the next election with headlines about low income taxes and free MSP for kids.

If there is a small glimmer of hope for taxpayers, it’s this: the BC Liberals are finally admitting that there is a problem with MSP taxes. The changes to help single parent families and the kids-are-MSP-free gimmick show that.

This means they are sensitive to the public pressure on this. Forget the lipstick, taxpayers need to continue to push their MLAs to kill the MSP pig altogether.

– Jordan Bateman is B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

MSP changes a gimmick FROM SAKHALIN TO SMITHERS

Russian conservationist Dmitry Lisitsyn presents his observations on how the con-struction of an LNG plant impacted wild salmon populations at Sakhalin Island in Rus-sia. He spoke in front of a full house at the Old Church in Smithers last Monday and in Hazelton Feb. 13.


GUEST VIEWJordan Bateman

SPORTSA8 www.interior-news.com The Interior News Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Drive Safely and Bring all your Friends!

Go Cheer your Champions !

Admission:Adults $10.00

Seniors & Children $8.00 at the Door.

Smithers Steelheads

vs Williams Lake Stampeders

Sat., Feb. 27Williams Lake

ArenaGame Time 7:30 pm

A family fun event supporting the Canadian Cancer Society

Rocky Point Park, Port MoodySunday, April 24, 2016

Register today at cancer.ca/daffodildash

#DaffodilDash

15_REV_101_DaffDashFA_colour_5K.indd 1 2015-12-22 10:35 AM

CHALLENGESunday

April 24th 1pm - 4pm

Curling Rink • Heritage Park Sign up NOW!

• yourself • families •• teams •

facebook.com/DaffodilDash/or

www. cancer.ca/daffodil dash

Watch for upcoming details!

Monday – Friday 9 am – 9 pm Saturday 9 am – 6 pm • Sunday & Holidays 10 am – 5 pmSeniors’ Day every day • 10% off (some exclusions may apply)

3752 4th Avenue • Smithers

Bulkley Village Shopping Centre

250-847-4474

Bring this ad in you will receive 15% off of Lorna Vanderhaeghe

Brand products.

Add your event to our Community Calendar at www.interior-news.com or by emailing

[email protected] win in minor hockey


Smithers’ Bantam and Midget Tier 3 teams won their zone championships Feb. 12-14 and last weekend respectively.

Bantam-division Hoskins Ford Storm won against four teams from the Northwest to become the Zone champions at the Terrace Sportsplex.

In sequence, they won 11-1 against Houston, 5-2 against Kitimat, 6-0 against Terrace, and 4-3 against Vanderhoof.

“We basically look at it as one step closer to provincials

and winning that is a huge confidence boost to the players,” said coach Ed Groot. “We’re very excited, especially the last game, it was a very intense game, and [we] came out on top.”

Groot also commended the good goalkeeping.

“Our goalie kind of held us in there a couple of games,” he said. “Vanderhoof was the closest game, but Terrace was a tough game, but the goaltender definitely kept us in that game, even though it was a 6-0 win.”

The Smokescreen Midget Storm won against Terrace and Kitimat. They pulled through

against Terrace 6-3 Sunday morning.

“We have a great rivalry with Terrace. Our team came ready to play and knew what was at stake,” said Midget coach Don Pederson. “The players work hard and were consistent.”

“I think our veteran players were the key and all played very well in the final match-up, and with some key saves made in the third we came out on top.”

Smithers will host the 2015-2016 BC Hockey Bantam Championships March 13-18, while the Midgets will head down to Gibsons for provincials.

The Storm, after winning zones. They fought a close match against Vanderhoof.

Contributed photo

Smithers’ Midget team celebrate their Zone Champions banner at the Civic Arena.

Contributed photo

SPORTSwww.interior-news.com A9The Interior News Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Community Calendar

To list your nonprofit coming events please drop off your listing at The Interior News, 3764 Broadway Ave., fax us at 250-847-2995, or email [email protected]. More information is available through our Online Community Calendar at www.interior-news.com. Deadline for submissions is Fridays at noon. Maximum 25 words. Limited space is available. We regret we cannot accept items over the phone.

For further information please check our Online Community Calendar at www.interior-news.comHike for Hunger. Wed, Feb 24, 6-8 pm. Girl Guides of Canada, Smithers District will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items. Please leave the outdoor light on and be generous for the Salvation Army Food Bank.Leader Training: Chronic Pain Self-Management. Tue, Feb 23-26, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Healthy Living Centre. Co-lead the CPSMP, a volunteer-led patient education program for people living with chronic pain. John Murphy, [email protected], 1-866-902-3767, www.selfmanagementbc.ca.ElderCollege, Self-Hypnosis. Wed, Feb. 24 to Mar. 9, 9:30-11 a.m., NWCC. Learn from Registered Hypnotherapist Barri Blix how to use self-hypnosis to make positive changes in your life. 250-847-4461, [email protected] Coffeehouse. Fri, Feb. 26, 7 pm, Smithers Art Gallery. Music by Andrea and Robbie, Edi Young and Friends. Open Mic.Smithers Lions 49th Annual Jam Pail Curling Sun,

Feb. 28, 10 am, Smithers Curling Club. Children 5-8 & 9-12 in teams of 2. $1 entry.ElderCollege, You & the Power of Community Radio. Mon, Feb 1-29, 11 am to 12:30 pm, NWCC. Learn basic radio programming with CICK 93.9 FM, Smithers Community Radio. 250-847-4461. [email protected] Are Here by Matt Simmons. Feb 2 to Mar 5, 12-4 pm, Smithers Art Gallery. This multi-media exhibit attempts to artistically translate the idea of being present in the here and now. [email protected], www.smithersart.org, 250-847-3898.Chronic Pain Self-Management Workshop. Wed, Mar 2 to Apr 5, 1-3:30 pm, Healthy Living Centre. CPSMP is a six-session workshop that helps people living with chronic pain and their caregivers. [email protected], 1-866-902-3767, www.selfmanagementbc.ca.Northern Saddle Club Bingo. Thu, Mar. 3, 7 pm, The Old Church. Fundraiser for repairs and maintenance of facilities.

Services

Dynamic Cleaning

Commercial/Residential Floor Specialist

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Serving Smithers and Surrounding Area 250-847-9992 • 250-847-0756

3423 Fulton Ave.

and Supplies

FIGURE SKATING JAMBOREEOver Valentine’s Day weekend, the Smithers Figure Skating Club hosted 70 skaters from the Northwest in a Jamboree gure skating competition. Featuring classic songs from the 50s to current hits, skaters had to create an improvisational program to the music.

Contributed photo

Otters bag wins in WinnipegAs he waited in the ready

room before the final of the 200 metre breaststroke at the Western Canadian Swimming Championships, local swimmer Bailey Espersen, 17, was thinking, “Holy cow! These guys have been to meets all over the world for Canada! And I’m going to race them!”

And race he did. During the race, held at

the Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg last weekend, he called on all the skills and training he has developed over 12 years to come up with a surprising sixth place finish in that race to go with third in the B Final of the 100 metre and eighth in the B Final for the 50m of the same stroke.

In addition to the breaststroke events, Espersen raced in the consolation final of the 200m individual medley for a sixth place finish.

At least four university coaches at the meet approached him about attending their institution next fall when he

goes off to begin his post- secondary studies.

Twin brother Tanner Espersen, recently signed to swim for King’s University in Tennessee, was no slouch as he advanced in the B Final in all three of his specialty races, the 50, 100 and 200m backstroke.

All three set club and regional records for long course pools.

Tanner also posted a personal best for the 50m breaststroke swim, which did not advance the final session.

Following his 100m backstroke final session performance, Tanner said it was the most fun he ever had racing.

“Here I am in the biggest meet I’ve ever been in, going up against the fastest competition I’ve ever faced, and I wasn’t thinking about how nervous I might be, I was thinking how much fun it was. I couldn’t do anything but my best,” he said.

Head coach Tom Best was more than pleased with the

performance of his athletes. “We had 100 per cent best

times and we set eight club records. I can’t complain with that,” he said.

This weekend, the team will host its annual Spring Sprint Invitational.

Around 100 swimmers from northwest B.C. are expected to attend Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning at the Bulkley Valley Regional Pool.

“We are pretty excited about the meet,” he said. “Our little swimmers will have a chance to race as well as our more experienced swimmers,”

A new event this year will be the Eliminator series which will see swimmers race for prizes. The top eight swimmers from the 200m individual medley event will square off at the end of each session, with women on Saturday and men on Sunday

Swimmers will be eliminated at the end of a set of races until only two remain.

– contributed by Bulkley Valley Otters Swim Club


SPORTS

Books & Beyond

There’s always something happening at the library...

Get in the groove with the 1985 film Kerouac: King of the Beats, Wed., Mar. 23 @ 7 p.m. at The Old Church

Free admission & Refreshments

Sponsored by The Bulkley Valley Museum, Four Di-mension Computer Cen-tre, & IndieFlix

Book Lovers’ Night Out

Tuesday, March 1 @ The Alpenhorn 7 p.m.

Share your opinion of The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg and other reads over appies. Drop-ins welcome.

Supported by Wetzin’Kwa Community Forest Cor-poration

Friday Nights are for Teens & ‘Tweens @ the

Library

Dungeons & Dragons: Feb. 26 & Mar. 11, 6-8:45

Minecraft: Mar. 4, 6:30-8:30

Magic: The Gathering: March 18, 6:30-8:30

Generously sponsored by the United Way of North-ern BC

‘Tween Writing Workshop

with local author Emily Bulmer. Friday, March 11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Do you like to write? Join Emily for a playful explora-tion of the written word!

New Schedule…

Smithers Tabletop Gaming meets Sundays 1-6

Magic: The Gathering meets every Wednesday except the third of the month, from 6-9:30 p.m.

Did you know that the library has a 3-D scanner for community use?

Book a free appointment with our computer tutor to try this amazing technology donated by Seabridge Gold.

Celebrate National Free-dom To Read Week Feb. 21-27 by reading a banned or challenged book. Book-lists at the library.

3817 Alfred Ave. (250) 847-3043 smithers.bc.libraries.coop [email protected]

sponsored By:

3424 Highway 16 E Smithers, BC V0J 2N0

Phone: 250-847-2263 www.all-westglass.com

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Smithers Bantam Player of the Week

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Let us knowCurlers training to rock in PentictonBy Xuyun ZengSmithers/Interior News

Since October, five Smithereen teens have been working hard to prepare for the BC Winter Games in Penticton.

The team consists of skip Sean Turney, third Matthew Steventon, second Evan Doyle, lead Oliver Kildaw and fifth Spencer Walton.

“We’ve been working since October on curling and playing games,” said head coach Laurence Turney, speaking at the Smithers Curling Centre.

“They’re in the men’s league so they prep through that and we practise two to three times a week, at least an hour per practice, an hour-and-a-half on the weekends.”

Turney and assistant coach Gina LaHaye will also accompany the boys down to Penticton Feb. 25-28. They are currently focusing on perfecting the boys’ skills.

“One of the things we want to try to do is to get routines put together, so they don’t have to worry about

that sort of stuff in the games,” he said. “In order to be a good curler, you have to be very consistent, so they work on getting that routine of how they put the rock in play together, so there’s a set way we would like to see them curl and throw the rock.”

As part of their training, the boys play in the Curling Club’s mens’ league, where the boys have to up their game.

In doing so, they learn to play the game strategically.

“The strategies are around how you place the rocks, how you set up the end,” he explained. “Knowing how you are going to play each end, so when you have the hammer, you do a certain strategy, you try and score two points in an end.”

“When the opposite team has the hammer, you’re trying to hold them to one or hopefully no points even. If possible, stealing.”

Other aspects of training include mental preparation.

“As we get closer to the games, we do more mental practice, that’s sort of thinking about how to play better and

how to make the game work for themselves,” he said.

Their biggest competition would come from down south.

Turney believes that those zones have the advantage of picking the cream of a bigger crop.

“There’s a lot of competition in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, the Okanagan as well,”

said Turney. “So they tend to

have more players to choose from, they have a lot more teams to choose from. They actually have to work harder to get to the games.”

The team will fly out this Wednesday

and will have their competitions Friday and Saturday.

They will go through orientation Thursday and practise while other teams trickle in.

Zone 7’s female curling team will come from Fraser Lake.

Zone 7’s curling team consists of skip Sean Turney, third Matthew Steventon, second Evan Doyle, lead Oliver Kildaw and fth Spencer Walton.

Contributed photo


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COMMUNITYCool lessons at winter camp

Grade 8 and 9 students from the Bulkley Valley Christian School show the strength of one of the “quinzhees” they made at their winter camp.

Contributed photo


A group of Smithers students were the architects of their own icy accommodation when they used shovels, sticks and giant piles of snow to build shelters at a recent winter camp.

Every year, the Bulkley Valley Christian School (BVCS) runs a wilderness camp aimed at teaching students winter survival skills.

This year’s Grade 8 and 9 students were required to build their own ice shelters, known as “quinzhees”, where they slept for the two nights of the camp.

They also built their own campfires, cooked their own food and split their own wood for the fire.

BVCS teacher Thea Ewald said the students spent about seven hours building their shelters on the first day of the camp.

“It’s basically a pile of snow and it’s a lot of work to make this pile, depending on how

much snow is available, but this year was harder because there wasn’t a lot of snow,” she said.

The process involves making a pile of snow about six feet high, compacting it down along the way, which took the students about four hours.

After letting the snow sit for one to two hours, an entrance is made to dig out the snow inside of the mound.

Sticks about ten inches long are then pushed into the outside of the mound to indicate when to stop digging.

The completed quinzhees were given names such as The Pyramid, Phillip, The Quinz and The Ice Hotel.

The students were initially wary about the strength of the shelters, however every quinzhee held fast for the duration of the camp.

The huts, which house between two and four people, were so structurally sound that the students had trouble knocking them down on the last day of the camp.

“They couldn’t wait to collapse their quinzhees but

to collapse them was actually a lot harder than you might think,” said Ewald.

“You would think that if somebody jumped on the roof it would fall in.

“At least one quinzhee I think we tried to put all 20 of us on it and, you know what, it held us up.”

In addition to building the huts, the students completed other activities designed to teach them how to survive the winter in an emergency.

Wearing snowshoes, they used a GPS to find a box of hidden candy in an activity known as geocaching.

The students also used transceivers to find and dig out a dummy in a simulated avalanche rescue.

Many of the students said the skills they learned made them feel more confident going skiing or snowmobiling in remote locations.

“One of the most important things I learned is how to adapt to your surroundings and how to use the materials and resources around you,” said student Joseph Kindrat.

Kimberley Allan Mulla shows her confectionery products to Overwaitea Foods representatives.


Visiting stockists sample local vendors By Alicia BridgesSmithers/Interior News

Local gourmet food vendors hoping to get their products stocked on supermarket shelves across the Northwest gathered at Bulkley Valley Wholesale last week to promote their products to Overwaitea Foods.

Representatives from Overwaitea Foods, including the manager of the Burns Lake store and the regional manager, were in Smithers on Wednesday to attend a meet and greet with local businesses.

Gourmet food vendors from Smithers, Hazelton, Telkwa and Prince Rupert brought samples of their products to offer Overwaitea representatives at the Bulkley Valley Wholesale store.

All of the vendors involved currently have products on the shelves at the local store.

Kimberley’s Kitchen owner Kimberley Allan Mulla hopes to expand her Telkwa-based confectionery business by securing more stockists.

“We’ve been growing over the last year since we built our commercial kitchen so we have been supplying independent retailers across Canada but this is a great opportunity for us to grow our business in northern B.C.,” she said.

MUHEIM MAKES SMILESThis Friday, Muheim Elementary’s Grade 3/4 French Immersion class is sponsoring a bake sale for their peers. All proceeds from the bake sale and cash donations made by students and community members will go to Operation SMILE! This Canadian organization of medical professionals and volunteers help provide life-changing surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates. Driftwood Dental will match any money raised by March 12.

Chris Gareau photo


Recipient of Pharmasave’s prestigious “PharmaStar Store of the Year” award, recognizing excellence in store performance, customer service,

community involvement, and charity support. Many thanks to the community in the Smithers area for your part in helping

us achieve this recognition. We look forward to continuing to provide care and support to our community, and above all, to help you Live Well.

CongratulationsPharmasave Smithers Main Street

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COMMUNITY

49th Annual

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Registration: 10 amCurling begins at 11 am

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Insurance products and services distributed through I.G. Insurance Services Inc. Insurance license sponsored by The Great-West Life Assurance Company. Trademarks, including Investors Group, are owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations. MP1685 (02/2014)

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Advertising space donated by The Interior News

New To You Thrift Store Winter Clothing 1/2 price!

Proceeds will go to the Smithers Hospital for needed equipment.

3688 Broadway Street, Smithers10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Monday to Saturday

SHOPLOCALLYWe encourage you

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MEETING SCHEDULE 2016

Meetings tentatively commence at 10:30 a.m. Please call (250) 692-3195/1-800-320-3339 for further information

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February 25, 2016 .......RDBN Board Meeting/ SNRHD Meeting

March 10, 2016 ............RDBN Committee MeetingsMarch 24, 2016 ............RDBN Board Meeting/

SNRHD MeetingApril 14, 2016 ...............RDBN Committee Meetings

The RDBN Board of Directors will be discussing the draft 2016 to 2020 Financial Plan at its Committee

of the Whole Meeting on March 10, 2016. The Financial Plan will be on the agenda for adoption

at the March 24, 2016 Board Meeting.

Left to right: Councillors Ray Sturney (New Hazelton), Bill Goodacre (Smithers), Janet Willson (New Hazelton), Buddy Smith (Hazelton), Braunwyn Henwood (New Hazelton, Mayor Gail Lowry (New Hazelton), Councillors Frank Wray (Smithers), Phil Brienesse (Smithers), Mayor Taylor Bachrach (Smithers), Coun. Nick Marshall (Hazelton), Mayor Alice Maitland (Hazelton), Councillors Shirley Muldon (Hazelton), Greg Brown (Smithers), and Gladys Atrill (Smithers). Contributed photo

Smithers meets the HazeltonsBy Chris GareauSmithers/Interior News

Smithers, Hazelton and New Hazelton councils had their first tête à tête — à tête — last Wednesday.

This was the second of first meetings between councils for Smithers, which met with Houston representatives in January.

“I talked about Smithers downtown, and working to support local business in the face of a global economy,” said Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach.

“And we talked about the airport, and the need to safeguard our airport as a regional amenity. It was great to hear from both the other councils that they really see the value of our airport.”

He said future Bulkley Valley inter-council meetings will be scheduled.

www.interior-news.com A13The Interior News Wednesday, February 24, 2016

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Optimists make the best dinner guests

VIEW FROM THE PORCH

Lorraine Doiron

World Day of Prayer on March 4, 7

p.m. will be celebrated at the Smithers United Church of Canada. This is an ecumenical celebration of informed prayer and prayerful action. Come for a prayer service honoring the women of Cuba and hear their stories.

The Two Old Ladies at the Kitchen Table have a bus trip to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Edmonton June 7–15. They plan to see Hey Pretty Women in Edmonton and stop at several B.C. and Alberta attractions. Total cost is $1,400. Last I heard there were only two seats left. Contact Alice Oomen 250-847-3139 or Nancy Devries 250-847-2724.

Domestic Violence in the Workplace webinar presented by Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, Western University is on March 10 at 7 a.m. A bit early but worth it. Learn how sexual harassment is connected to a greater social context and consider strategies on how to prevent this. More information: vawlearningnetwork.ca.

Optimists are more likely to focus on the sunshine rather than the clouds. They have significant advantages over the cynics in the world. They are great people to hang with at mealtimes as they tend to underestimate their own weight and are unlikely to judge if you have a second dessert. Optimists worry less and expect that good things are going to happen. When you train yourself to look for the good in people, it’s much easier to find.

Feb. 29, according to Irish legend, is when women can propose to men, turning the tables. Interesting to see if anyone takes advantage of this.

Two men are building

tiny homes through their company Hummingbird Micro Homes of Fernie. One owned property in Terrace and they are

preparing to launch Bluegrass Meadows Micro Village. It could be the first micro home village in Canada.

Closing with: “Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is

produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm.” – Charles Caleb Colton

BV Home Centre

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Expose the issue of bullying and join us in wearing a pink shirt.

Canadian Tire Smithers

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLYING ON FEBRUARY 24

Before social media became so prevalent, instances of bullying were somewhat easy to recognize. However, with a good majority of children now engaged in digital networking and social media, bullying may not end with the ringing of the school bell, and evidence of bully-ing may not be so readily apparent.According to Cyberbullying statistics from the i-SAFE foundation, more than half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyberbully-ing. More than 80 percent of teens use a mobile phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for repeated cyberbullying.Cyberbullying takes place through electronic technology and differs from traditional forms of bullying. Cyberbullying can occur via text mes-saging, blogging, updates to social media sites and/or phone conversations. What makes cy-berbullying more difficult to detect and remedy than traditional bullying is that sometimes this

type of bullying is veiled in secrecy.Those who engage in cyberbullying can create aliases and accounts under false names, allow-ing them to covertly engage in bullying behav-ior. As a result, tracking down bullies can be challenging.Although cyberbullying is on the rise, there are some things that parents and children can do to help put a stop to such unfortunate instances.• Parents who feel their child is not emotion-

ally ready for the responsibility of a digital device can hold back on purchasing a smartphone or choose one with very limited features. Some schools set strict limits on phone usage at school, and children who go only from school to home and vice versa may not have the need for an "emergency phone" that can open up a window for trouble.

• Adolescents and teens should feel comfort-able talking with their parents without the fear of reprimand. Otherwise, they may hide instances of cyberbullying or not know how to broach sensitive topics like bullying. Par-ents can engage in conversation with their children often and stress that the doors of communication are always open.

Pink Shirt Day is Wednesday Feb 24th

• Teens should be made aware that cyberbul-lying is a very real occurrence and is not just other kids "having fun" or "joking." If behavior is repetitive and hurtful, it should be made public and addressed.

• Parents can monitor and limit their children's personal accounts. Some smartphone and tablet applications can be mirrored on the main ac-count, enabling parents to see incoming text or video messages.

• A laptop or desktop computer should be placed in a shared space so that usage can be moni-tored. Parents can restrict tablet or smartphone usage to public areas.

• When online, children should be advised not to share personal information. Social media sites may be used by bullies to gather sensitive information about a person that can be used against them at a later time. Children should be urged to keep passwords secret and to never give information such as birthdays, phone num-bers and addresses to people who aren't close friends. Friend lists should be restricted to only those people students interact with frequently to minimize the chance for bullying or other inap-propriate behavior.• Teens who have been bullied can keep evidence of the bullying and may benefit from talking with a counselor. Cyberbullying is a growing concern for educa-tors and parents and has far-reaching implica-tions. Getting smart about this phenomenon can help staunch new cases of online bullying.

Recognizing cyberbullying

Signs your child is being bulliedParents can recognize certain signs that their child is being bullied at school. Bullied children frequently make excuses to avoid going to school. While the desire to stay home is something many children may express, those who are bullied may do so much more frequently. Bullied children tend to avoid certain places and may be sad, angry, withdrawn, or de-pressed. They may have trouble sleeping or experi-ence changes in appetite, and bullied youngsters’ academic performance may suffer. Also, parents may notice that children return from school missing some of their belongings.

Signs your child is the bullyParents may not want to imagine their children bul-lying other students, but bullies do exist. Children who bully other kids have strong needs for power and negative dominance. They may find satisfaction in causing suffering to others. Some signs that your child may be a bully include:

• easily becoming violent with others• having friends who bully others• blaming others quickly• comes home with belongings that do not belong

to him or her• getting in trouble with teachers or administrators• picking on siblings• not accepting responsibility for actions

There are ways parents can teach their children to act properly when faced with a bully. First, parents should explain that bullying is not the child’s fault and he or she does not deserve to be picked on. Next, parents can let children know that being assertive but not violent with bullies may diffuse the situation, as some bullies thrive on the fear of their victims. If the bullying behaviour continues, the student should speak to an adult or authority figure.Parents of bullies may need to be especially mindful of their children’s behaviour. Counselling could be necessary to determine what is compelling kids to bully other students.

Pink Shirt Day is Wednesday Feb 24th

Celebrate diversity -- reject

intolerance.diversity -- reject

Web: www.dougdonaldson.caEmail: [email protected]: 1175 Main St. (250) 847-8841Hazelton: 4345 Field St. (250) 842-6338

A14 www.interior-news.com The Interior News Wednesday, February 24, 2016 www.interior-news.com A15The Interior News Wednesday, February 24, 2016


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“From Smithers B.C., in northern British Columbia, we are making good music.”

For Alex Cuba, that’s the biggest takeaway from the experience of being nominated for a Grammy Award.

The Smithers musician was in Los Angeles last Monday as a contender for one of the world’s biggest music industry awards.

Cuba, whose real name is Alex Puentes, was nominated in the Best Latin Pop Album category for his record Healer, which he launched in Smithers last March.

He said his heart was pounding when the winner was announced.

“I always say a prayer at the

moment, I say for example, ‘If I deserve this, please give it to me’, you know?” said Cuba.

“But I also prepare on the other side to be strong and look into the advantages of being nominated already.

“I am always prepared to not win, I am aware that already reaching a nomination is huge.”

In the end, the award went to long-time global pop star Ricky Martin, who Cuba said was a deserving winner.

He and Martin met backstage at the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.

“He’s very spiritual, he’s conscious of a lot of things that are happening in the world,” he said.

“When you meet him and you talk to him, you have the impression that you are meeting

somebody with a really old soul.” Despite missing out on the

Grammy, Cuba said he was proud of the nomination, and that he had achieved it without the support of a major label.

He and his wife Sarah Goodacre-Puentes stayed to watch the rest of the awards ceremony with friends, including Healer’s co-producer Leo Sidran and Joby Baker, who mixed the album.

“We had a lot of fun just being there, they are people that I really like and people that I really appreciate having around me,” he said.

After a fleeting return to Smithers the artist is now in Cuba, where he is hosting a documentary called The Cuban Bus profiling talented unknown musicians.

Cuba takes Smithers music to Grammys

Smithers musician Alex Cuba nds music everywhere at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles last Monday.

Contributed photo

Midsummer music performers revealed

A blues duo from Toronto and a post-punk band from Victoria are among the headlining acts for this year’s Midsummer Music Festival.

Jennis, Freak Heat Waves, Fountain and Wooden Horsemen are the first four major acts announced to perform at the 33rd annual Smithers music festival.

Jennis is the Toronto pairing of folk and blues performer Dennis Gaumand and multi-instrumentalist Jen Gillmor.

Freak Heat Waves and Fountain will bring the sound of Victoria’s underground music scene

to the stage in Smithers, while Vancouver’s Wooden Horsemen will perform a mix of folk, rock and blues.

This year’s event will take place from July 1-3, with a Canada Day launch to kick off the festival.

Organizers are offering discounts for early bird tickets, which will be available starting March 1.

Bulkley Valley Folk Music Society, which runs the festival, is also seeking volunteers to join the Midsummer team.

For more information visit the Smithers Midsummer Music Festival Facebook page.

A RARE ENCOUNTER

Martens are elusive, athletic and energetic but Smithers resident Kim Gruijs managed to snap this photo of the animal in a rare moment of stillness. “An elusive animal that often leaves evidence behind but rarely shows itself,” Gruijs said of the marten.

The Interior News will publish one of the entries to our My Valley Winter photo contest every week until the competition ends on April 6. For information about how to enter visit interior-news.com/contests.

Kim Gruijs photo


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FINALWEEK!

Old Time Dance

with Rocky’s dj serviceSaturday, February 27th

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members and guests welcome sorry, no minors

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Scoreone forsolutions!

Are you 13 to 18 years old and want to see Dan Hamhuis and the Vancouver Canucks in action? Submit a 500-word essay or a poem on a solution you found, or are currently trying to implement, to an issue that you find most pressing in your life or in the life of your friends.

Two Tickets to the March 19 Canucks vs. Blues game (young person and parent/guardian); plus two return Central Mountain Air tickets; and two nights accommodation (double occupancy)

How to Enter Mail: Doug Donaldson, MLA for Stikine, Box 895 Smithers BC V0J2N0 or Box 227 Hazelton BC V0J1Y0. Fax: 250-847-8846 or 250-842-6349. Email: [email protected] In person delivery at the MLA oce in Smithers (1175 Main Street) or Hazelton (4345 Field Street)

Deadline: 2016

Questions? Call 250-847-8841 or 250-842-6338

MLA DOUG DONALDSON and DAN HAMHUIS present:

N EW STHEI nterior SMITHERS, B.C.

Festival of Voices retreatSing Smithers is excited to announce

its fifth biennial Festival of Voices — a springtime retreat April 22-24 at Glenwood Hall that will bring singers of all levels together for a weekend of fun and learning in a beautiful rural setting just outside Smithers.

Five wonderful instructors from across North America will present 11 diverse workshops throughout the weekend and all participants can take part in mass choir instruction, a Sunday gospel workshop, and enjoy fine food, fine company and fine music together.

Sing Smithers welcomes back, Karla Mundy, a vibrant vocalist, arranger and choir leader who conducts three adult community choirs in Vancouver. She’ll be teaching harmony and rhythm workshops.

“There will be very little theory, lots of listening to each other and lots of singing,” she promises.

Vancouver-born Jennifer Scott, a vocalist and pianist specializing in jazz, blues and world music, is one of the most important jazz artists working in Canada and the United States today. She’ll be taking folks through some Latin grooves and deep into the blues.

David Hatfield specializes in improvisational singing and has led improvisational a cappella workshops nationally and internationally since 1997. His music experience ranges from street performing to off-Broadway, from fully choreographed to fully improvised. In his workshops, he says, “We are the instruments in a

musical journey of spontaneous self-expression and collaboration with others.”

Coming all the way from the eastern U.S., Patty Cuyler and Mollie Stone direct the Brooklyn World Music Chorus, and recently created a series of teaching DVDs (Raising the Bar) to help choirs improve their ability to learn and perform music from other cultures. To put that into practice, Patty will be teaching Corsican and Georgian harmonic traditions and Mollie, who has travelled extensively in South Africa to learn the oral traditions in South African choral music, will be bringing some of those traditions to Smithers. She’ll also do a workshop on Renaissance vocal traditions.

Early Bird registration by March 15 is $225. Regular registration by April 15 is $255. Ten youth spots at $125 are available, with four free scholarships offered.

More information and registration is available at SingSmithers.com.

– Submitted by Sing Smithers.

Karla Mundy is back.chara berk photography


ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20Excitement surrounds any get-togeth-er you are involved in this week, Ari-es. This puts you in a good mood for some time, and the positive energy can bring about change.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21Taurus, this week you may nd your-self in the right mood to organize your home or of ce. If high-tech equip-ment will be part of the project, enlist a friend to help out.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21Gemini, if you’re feeling particularly amorous this week, schedule a few date nights or even cuddle time with that special someone. A new person may come into your life as well.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22Plenty of projects around the house need your attention this week, Can-cer. Take advantage of some slower days to devote time to repairs and other tasks on your to-do list.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23Leo, important new information may come your way this week. This could be the catalyst for new professional ventures or even provide new ways to network.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22Virgo, a job you have put a lot of ef-fort and time into is completed suc-cessfully this week. You now can enjoy the fruits of your labor and the praise coming your way.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23Communication improvements with your romantic partner have you feel-ing optimistic about the future, Libra. Don’t make any de nitive plans, but start thinking ahead.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22Scorpio, an unexpected raise has you spreading the wealth to others. You tend to be good about sharing your good fortune, and that is why so many people look up to you.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21A sense of adventure may nd you booking a vacation, Sagittarius. Oth-erwise, you may be looking to dive into an exciting new relationship. Be impulsive because you deserve it.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20Capricorn, you may be drawn to ashy colors and high energy this week. Plan a fun and energetic date or take in a movie with a lot of special effects.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18Aquarius, you’ve adopted the attitude that life is an adventure and you’re ready to face any challenge that comes your way with an open mind. This may prove to be a busy week.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20Do not be surprised if big changes lie in store for you this week, Pisces. You may end up with a new job or begin thinking about relocation.

brings you your Horoscope for the 4th week of February

Driftwood Plaza Next to Louise’s Kitchen Main St. Smithers

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

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Solutions on pageA23

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Drop this completed puzzle off at Bulkley Valley Insurance to be entered to win a

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Name & Phone Number:

CLUES ACROSS 1. UN Sec-Gen Hammarskjold 4. Sum up 7. Shame & disgrace 12. Favorite Dr. Seuss 15. About earth 16. Lockjaw 18. 14th Greek letter 19. Durham school 20. Sodium 21. Ancient Olympic Site 24. Used to be United __ 27. Audio sound network 30. Girls actress Dunham 31. 1000 calories 33. Mekong people 34. Floor covering 35. Moroccan capital 37. Curtsy

39. Cheer 41. Database mgmt. system 42. Enough (archaic) 44. Release for a price 47. Similar 48. Not frequently experienced 49. Doctor 50. __ King Cole, musician 52. Lady Spencer 53. Nauseated 56. More 61. Stevenson classic 63. Uncontrolled 64. Homesick 65. Law

CLUES DOWN 1. A continuous tube 2. Wet nurse 3. Rural France vacation retreat 4. Greek capital 5. Synthetic hormone 6. Qatar capital 7. Of she 8. Maya __ of Vietnam Veterans Memorial 9. Not out 10. Tip of Aleutian Islands 11. __ Ling, Chinese mountain range 12. NW Netherlands resort island 13. One who acclaims 14. Adjust for functioning 17. U.S. Revolutionary Adams 22. Bury 23. Adventure stories 24. Swedish krona 25. Several carangid shes 26. Spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation 28. Cavalry-sword 29. Mahogany family genus 32. In a way, goes away 36. Thyrotropin 38. Axe killer Lizzie 40. Solomon Islands capital 43. Eerie 44. Root mean square (abbr.) 45. A nearly horizontal entrance to a mine 46. Assembled 51. Racketeer 54. Grand __, vintage 55. Cognizances 56. Hair product 57. Iranian monetary unit 58. This (Spanish) 59. Jeopardy’s Trebek 60. Small amount 62. Atomic #44

OUR TOWN

Like Us ~ www.facebook.com/SmithersInteriorNews ~

Get up-to-date news, event info, classifi eds & more!

BarkPark Society organizes community dog walkBy Xuyun ZengSmithers/Interior News

In what seemed like a preview of things to come, around 20 dog owners gathered in Heritage Park last Saturday for a group walk.

The southeast corner of Heritage Park, where the group gathered, is also the site where the fenced off-leash dog park will go.

“We’re having a dog walk and pet fair day, so we all met here at 11 o’clock and went on a community dog

walk with all of our leashed dogs to raise awareness for the dog park,” said organizer Rebecca Warner.

The walk took the group on Highway 16 from Heritage Park, into Main Street and back.

Back at Heritage Park, several booths such as a kissing booth, dog grooming and a booth selling raffle tickets were set up.

“All the money raised today will go to create the off-leash dog park,” said Warner.

Society members expressed their excitement

at the high likelihood of the BarkPark opening this summer.

“The progress is going pretty good,” said Marit Johnson. “We’ve raised $4,800 so far and we’re hoping today to hopefully raise close to $1,000 to be able to build the fence this summer.”

She added that the society has raised enough money to buy the fence, and they are currently looking for installation quotes.

The off-leash park promises exercise and socializing opportunities for

dogs.For Society member

Tracy Turcotte, the dog park presents a chance for her dogs to do vigorous exercise

“Some people can’t run,” she said. “I can’t take my dogs on my bike, things like that, and they need to run.”

“They need to be able to go full tilt, so it’s really important for any community to have a dog park.”

Turcotte feels “very excited,” especially so because she anticipated that the BarkPark would take five years to come to fruition, but it only took four.

BarkPark Society members Tracy Turcotte and Jessy Taggart take part in a group dog walk.

Xuyun Zeng photo

Northern EngineeredWood Products (2007) Inc.Is hiring for the following positions:

• Sander • Loader Operator • Press Operator • Forklift Operator • Millwright • Clean-up Crew

Please e-mail resumes to [email protected] fax to 250-847-9687







Career Oppotunities

Career Oppotunities


NOW SELLING SHOW SUITE OPEN FOR VIEWING

Adult Living 1 and 2 bedroom suitesLimited rentals available

To book your personal tour or receive aninformation package, please contact :

Peter Lund: 250.877.2441 RE/MAX Bulkley Valley : 250.847.5999


COMMUNITY

3839 Eighth Avenue• Solid older home, great lot• 912 sf main, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom• 864 sf bsmnt, 2 bedroom, workshop• Central location, 99x122 lot

Charlie McClary mls r2035647

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20887 Highway 16 W, Smithers• 46.6 acres, 4 bedroom home• 3 pastures, fenced for horses• Toboggan Creek frontage• Spruce forest, many trails

Donna Grudgfield mls r2012828

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4750 Manton Road• Updated open plan 4 bedrooms• In town,by golf course, rural setting• Paved drive, 24x24 workshop• www.smithershomes.com

Ron Lapadat mls n246385

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1677 First Street, Telkwa• 4 bedrooms + den, 3 bathrooms• ½ acre lot, treed & private• Many updates and well kept• 3 car garage

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7060 Cedar Road• Great family home on 5 acres• 4 bdrm, 3 bath, office, large rec room• Double garage, large sundeck, osbe• Beautiful view of Hudson Bay Mtn

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1677 2nd Street• 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom home on• 4 lots in central Telkwa location• Separate basement entry providing• Suite potential

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Sandra Hinchliffe mls n231055

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Sandra Hinchliffe mls r2031602

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2035 Aveling Coalmine Road• 4 bdrm home, quiet area• 4.94 acres, nicely landscaped• Lots of upgrades, recreational area• www.realestatesmithers.com


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Ron Lapadat

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14424 Round Lake Road• 4 bdrm, 2 bathroom, 2030 s.f. home• 5.25 acres, Round Lake views• Updates to kitchen, flooring, bsmnt• OSBE, double garage, fruit trees

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Kiesha Matthews mls n245198

Peter LundRes. 847-3435

Leo LubbersCell. 847-1292

Ron LapadatCell. 847-0335

Sandra HinchliffeCell. 847-0725

Charlie McClaryCell. 877-1770

Karen BensonCell. 847-0548

Donna Grudgfi eldCell. 847-1228

Kiesha MatthewsCell. 876-8420

Jantina MeintsCell. 847-3144

Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate

250-847-5999Bulkley Valley Real Estate Email: [email protected]

Located in the Log Office at 3568 Hwy. 16Each Office Independently Owned & Operated

Pick up your FREE copy of our Real Estate Flyer and our map of the Bulkley Valley. View more of our listings online at www.remaxsmithersbc.ca or on Facebook.

NEWPRICE


You qualify for FREE gifts and coupons if you’ve moved

to the area or had a baby within the last year.

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Call Us!For news items or advertising

The Interior News • 250-847-3266Side-effects of so many drug ads

SPICE OF LIFE

Brenda Mallory

I know we have discussed this topic before, but I

just have to go with it again. I ask you this question: wouldn’t you think when you see so many drugs and other products advertised that we would all be the picture of health?

We would not have diabetic issues, no acid reflux or sore knees. For sure no hair would cover the wrong place. Blackheads and pimples would give way to skin as smooth as a babies bottom. At least that is what we are told.

Most of the time when I hear about another drug on the market to make things right, I almost forget what the commercial is talking about since I am listening to all the serious side effects. I could get constipated or not. Maybe have watery eyes. There could be high blood pressure, or low. Bruise easily, dizzy spells or worse. Rashes or back pain or both. After all is said and done, I wonder who it is that would go ahead and insist that the drug will put them on the path to good health? Not to worry if any of the indicated symptoms rise to the surface, just call your doctor.

What you could do is go to the doctor and ask for a drug that might solve one of the side-effects. Of course, a new list of side-effects have to be understood.

I was surprised how many deaths there are per year from prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. It is in the thousands. I will leave the number to those who have more time to research. What I am trying to say is be sure about the drugs you take for whatever it is you have. Most I am sure will help you. A good plan would be to ask your pharmacist to give you a print-out about the drugs you are taking.

Beside drugs, there is a full range of things you can rub here and there to ease pain. No smell apparently. Now there is a big push for those who require catheters to order a big box of those. Some handsome delivery man will arrive at your door wearing shorts. The shorts have nothing to do with the catheter, of course. A variety are delivered.

One will lubricate itself in your purse. Another, in your pocket. If it is all the same to the catheter folks, I’ll pass on that idea.

I don’t mean to be flippant. I take a few pills myself. A bit for the old ticker and some over the counter drugs for pain. I do feel sorry for all who need relief from one thing and another. I just wish we were only

burdened with one problem at a time.

I write this just to remind that all drugs react with other drugs. Follow the instructions and talk to your health care provider and pharmacist.

Thanks to the Hazelton reader who called 250-846-5095 to ask me to mention this topic. You can email [email protected].


THREE RIVERS REPORT

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LNG opponents call for solidarity

Upgrade means more specialists

LNG opponents, including representatives from the Madii Lii and Lelu Island protest camps, at a fundraiser at the Tri-Town Theatre in Hazelton last Wednesday.


By Alicia BridgesHazeltons/Interior News

Patients in the Hazeltons will have more opportunities to see specialists after the telehealth area at Wrinch Memorial Hospital was refitted as an examination room.

The existing telehealth room was redesigned and stocked with medical equipment to become a dual purpose room which can be used for exams.

It can now be used by visiting specialists to see patients, as well for its original purpose as a space where patients can connect with specialists remotely.

Wrinch Memorial Hospital practice coach Julia Sundell said the hospital had been running out of exam rooms.

“We have more specialists visiting us and not enough rooms to house them,” said Sundell.

“So we thought if we took this room and made it a dual purpose room, rather than turn the specialists away and say

that we don’t have space to house them, we would have the space.”

She said the upgrade would increase the number of specialist visits and reduce the need for patients to travel.

Funding for the structural redesign was provided by the hospital’s co-administrator United Church Health Services Society, which is handing over management of the hospital to Northern Health on March 31.

Hospital maintenance staff completed the upgrades, which included replacing the flooring, painting the walls, plumbing in a wash basin and moving an access door to a washroom.

A further $8,600 was provided by the Wrinch Memorial Hospital Auxiliary to purchase new medical equipment to make the room suitable for specialists seeing patients.

It now has a vital sign monitor and stand, a wall mounted vital sign monitor, an exam light, a desk and chair, a doctor’s stool, a step stool, a pediatric spot check and an oxygen transducer.

By Alicia BridgesHazeltons/Interior News

A call for solidarity between First Nations to fight pipelines together was a key message from representatives of LNG protest camps who gathered at a fundraiser in Hazelton last week.

Members of the Gitxsan, Nisga’a, Wet’suwet’en and Lax Kw’alaams First Nations were among the crowd at the screening of A Last Stand for Lelu at the Tri-Town Theatre last Wednesday.

The documentary highlights the efforts of Lax Kw’alaams pipeline opponents to stop Petronas from building its proposed Pacific Northwest LNG processing plant at Lelu Island, near Prince Rupert.

Produced by Vancouver company VoVo Productions and environmental activist group Beyond Boarding, the film unfolds from the perspective of the Lax Kw’alaams opponents, who say it is their legal right to prohibit project workers in their territory.

Members of the protest group believe the processing plant is a risk to wild salmon populations and, in turn, the Lax Kw’alaams’ culture, food stocks and livelihood.

In an effort to thwart the development, protestors have built a cabin at Lelu Island, which is being used as a base from which to block project workers from accessing the area on land and

water. The Lax Kw’alaams at Lelu Island are one of three First

Nations groups who have built permanent camps to prevent access to LNG project sites.

The Madii Lii camp near New Hazelton is run by hereditary chiefs from the Luutkudziiwus house group of the Gitxsan Nation. It blocks an access road to part of TransCanada’s proposed Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project pipeline route, which would carry gas to the Petronas plant at Lelu Island.

Closer to Houston, the Unist’ot’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation has built a cabin in the path of Chevron’s proposed Pacific Trails Pipeline.

Last week’s documentary screening was a fundraiser for the three camps.

Madii Lii spokesperson Richard Wright said the camps were helping each other by sharing advice and manpower, as well as fundraising collaboratively.

“Big development is not dividing us, it’s actually bringing us all together to start looking at some of these mega projects and working collaboratively on common goals and interests with respect to our land resources and rights,” he said.

Wrinch Memorial Hospital Auxiliary members and clinic staff in the re tted telehealth room.

Contributed photo See CAMPS on A27


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THREE RIVERS REPORT

nathancullen.com [email protected]

Federal Infrastructure Town Halls

Member of Parliament // Skeena - Bulkley Valley

What are your priorities for promised federal funds for community projects?

Please share your thoughts as local governments and I co-host conversations across the Northwest. Together we can plan wise investments.

Feb 28 - 7pm Burns Lake, Lakes Dist. Sec., Library

Feb 29 - 7pm Ft. St. James, Seniors Rec Centre

Mar 1 - 7pm Fraser Lk., Royal Canadian Legion

Mar 2 - 7pm Hazelton, Anglican Church Hall

Further events to be announced

Call 1-888-622-0212 for information

New permits for downtown developmentBy Alicia BridgesHazeltons/Interior News

The Village of Hazelton’s revised zoning bylaw includes new provisions to standardize building and renovating in the downtown area.

With the help of a consultant, the village has updated Zoning Bylaw 478 for the first time since 1997.

The draft, which is expected to be adopted at the March council meeting, introduces the “Historic Downtown”

and the “Floodplain” as two new zones where development guidelines apply.

Permits issued under the new guidelines will be needed to develop land in the new zones.

Guidelines relating to the floodplain permit area, which consists of land around the river shoreline downtown, include requirements that developers provide reports outlining potential flooding hazards.

In the historic downtown zone, developers will need to consider the

appearance of buildings and signs so they align with the new guidelines.

“Basically it was just time to have a look at it and make sure it was consistent with the way the community wants to develop now,” said Hesse.

She said the bylaw had also been simplified to reduce the number of zones by about half.

The bylaw and guidelines were created with the help of a consultant.

Hesse said about three people attended a public hearing held in Hazelton last Tuesday.


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My Valley Winter Photo ContestShare your pics & win great prizes!

See this weeks winner on page A17

Share your pics & win great prizes!

We know that you have amazing photos of life in the beautiful North stored on your cameras and smartphones. Now is the time to share them!

Send us pictures of winter living in the Bulkley Valley, and we will print them in The Interior News every week until the contest ends on April 6. Local professionals will then choose the contest winners, which will beannounced on April 13. Great prizes are up for grabs!

Enter by emailing your images to [email protected]. Or, you can enter by clicking “Contests” at the top of the Smithers Interior News Facebook page, or by following the “Contests” link on our website at www.interior-news.com/contests.

All entries must include your full name, the title of the photograph, a short caption and a contact number. Pictures must be at least 1MB in size, be submitted by the owner, and be allowed to be printed and shared by The Interior News during and after the competition. Any image created principally on computer software or manipulated on com-puter software beyond generally acceptable adjustments for proper repro-duction (such as cropping, sharpening, adjusting brightness and colour) is not acceptable. Adding or subtracting elements to or from an image, or combining multiple images into a single image, are not permitted.

NEWSNNNEWSEWSNNEWSEWSEWSEWSTHEInterior

THREE RIVERS REPORT

1214 Main St., Smithers • 250-847-2136

Jenna Veenstra has been working hard at the Smithers Saltos Gym-nastics studio and as the only person from Smithers that is going to the BC Winter Games in the next few days, she deserves a hand.

After only training for three years, the 13-year-old will represent Zone 7 at the Winter Games.

She said she is “excited to have fun” there. Her coach Lori Saffel has been by her side since day one.

“That takes a lot of muscles and different levels of strength and fl exi-bility” said Saffel.

Veenstra comes from a family of sports enthusiasts and she’s an up-and-coming star.

FeaturedAthlete

JENNA VEENSTRA

Dan’s Source for Sportscongratulates Jenna, please come and see us for

your $25 Gift Certifi cate.Proud to support local and aspiring athletes

in the Bulkley Valley.

Camps combine forcesThe camp is currently raising

money to launch a legal case against the B.C. government for issuing permits to pipeline companies without Luutkudziiwus approval.

“We’ve had a few hold-ups on filing it to date but we are slowly getting there, but hopefully within the next six weeks we will file a judicial review,” Wright told supporters at the screening.

The protest camps have drawn criticism from some First Nations leaders who are more open to pipeline developments.

Ken Lawson from the Lelu Island camp told the Hazelton crowd that although some Lax Kw’alaams members had spoken out against the camp in the past, collaboration between First Nations was growing.

“For the longest time we’ve been asking for support from anybody and everybody, and people have come from everywhere, supporters come from around the globe,” he said.

“We had the Nisga’a come out

there, we had the Haida, we had the Gitxsan, we had the Wet’suwet’en.

“Support just came from everywhere, it was incredible how many people came.”

Gitxsan hereditary chief Yvonne Lattie, who was the last to speak at the screening, said the First Nations would need to work together if they wanted to stop the pipeline projects.

“Please let us stand together and let us continue working with one another ... because united we’ll stand but divided we shall fall,” said Lattie.

On Feb. 10, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency released its report into the possible environmental impacts of the Pacific Northwest LNG processing facility.

It concluded greenhouse gas emissions and potential impacts on harbour porpoise as its main areas of concern. The CEAA determined the project would not have any significant impacts on Flora Bank, an area of juvenile salmon habitat which has been at the centre of arguments against the project, as long as mitigation occurred.

From LNG on A25


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Smithers Interior News, February 24, 2016

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Transcript of Smithers Interior News, February 24, 2016