Smithers Interior News, May 11, 2016

SMITHEREENS FLEE FORT MCMURRAYFormer Smithers residents describe surreal scenes from the blaze evacuation.

NEWS/A2

GARBAGE GETS AN UPGRADEA curbside collection and recycling service is set to begin in New Hazelton.

THREE RIVERS/A23

MUSIC MAKES CUBAN CONNECTION Smithers’ connection to Cuba runs even deeper than the bond formed by Alex Cuba.

A&E/A13

PM 40007014

see last page in A

Resolve Stain Remover Bundle Pack

Friday Only! $499

NEWSNNNEWSEWSNNEWSEWSTHEInterior

109th Year - Week 19 • Wednesday, May 11, 2016 • www.interior-news.com • $1.30 (gst included)

Alicia Bridges photo

The signs of spring are everywhere, with Bulkley Valley bears up and about after their winter hibernation. The Interior News spotted four bears, including this camera-friendly black bear, during a recent drive on Babine Lake Road.

Permits not enough to hunt land: Madii Lii

Coastal GasLink getsall construction permitsBy Chris GareauSmithers/Interior News

TransCanada announced Thursday that it has all the major permits it needs to start construction of its Coastal GasLink pipeline that would bring liquified natural gas from northeast B.C. to Kitimat. It is now waiting for a final investment decision from Shell-led LNG Canada, delayed from late last year to late this year.

TransCanada said in a release that if LNG Canada approved the project, construction on the pipeline would begin in 2017. The route runs south of the Bulkley Valley, passing closest to the Bulkley River south

of Houston as it crosses the Morice River south of Houston.

TransCanada received the last two permits of 10 pipeline and facilities permits needed from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission. Eight permits are related to pipeline construction, with the other two for pipeline-related facilities: a natural gas compressor station and meter station in Groundbirch, and a natural gas metering station in Kitimat.

Some permits for site-specific activities will be needed after construction starts, said TransCanada spokesperson Shela Shapiro.

By Alicia BridgesHazeltons/Interior News

Members of the Madii Lii pipeline protest camp are vowing to block hunters and guide outfitters with government-issued permits from accessing a section of Gitxsan territory without their permission.

Jack and Lloyd Hooper from Babine Guide Outfitters have applied to renew a certificate that gives them exclusive control over who can take paying clients to hunt on a section of land near Hazelton. The area overlaps with the traditional territory of the Luutkudziiwus house group of the Gitxsan Nation.

The certificate would not stop licenced hunters and First Nations from taking animals from the area, but it would stop others, including the

Gitxsan, from guiding on that land for 25 years without buying permission from the Hoopers.

The application is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, with a decision to be made after May 12.

As part of that process, the Ministry wrote to Gordon Sebastian, who claims the title of Chief Luutkudziiwus, leader of the house group whose traditional territory is included in the application.

They gave Sebastian 30 days to provide input on the renewal. He did not respond to this newspaper’s request for comment.

However, the title of Luutkudziiwus is also claimed by Charlie Wright, who is a member of the Madii Lii camp which was built to block road access to Luutkudziiwus traditional territory.

See HUNTERS on A24 See BANDS on A3

NEWS Roi TheaTReI

Captain AmericaWed. & Thurs.: 8 • Fri. & Sat: 7:30 & 10

Sun. - Tues.: 8 • PG

IIRatchet & Clank In 3D

Fri. & Sat: 7 & 9 Sun. - Tues.: 7:30 • PG

TUESDAYS: ALL SEATS $7.00250-847-2440

IIIEye in the Sky

Fri. & Sat: 7:15 & 9:15Sun. - Tues.: 7:45 • PG

A2 www.interior-news.com The Interior NewsWednesday, May 11, 2016

Smithereens � ee Fort McMurray � reBy Alicia BridgesSmithers/Interior News

Former Smithers residents who fled the burning city of Fort McMurray last week have described heart-breaking scenes of burnt-out motels, abandoned cars, blazing forests and ominous plumes of smoke.

On May 1, Leanne Shannon and her family were part of the mass evacuation of more than 80,000 people from Fort McMurray.

In the hours after the city’s residents evacuated in slow-moving traffic jams, along highways bordered by flames, the fire razed some 1,600 structures.

Shannon was working at her rental business in Thickwood as the blaze neared the city last Tuesday.

Hours earlier she had dropped her children off at school under a clear sky, but when the phone call came to pick them up, the situation had changed dramatically.

A plume of smoke filled the sky as she drove from the school in Thickwood to her home in Wood Buffalo, and Shannon noticed people were starting to panic.

“By the time I got home I had seen three accidents on the road, in a matter

of probably a three-four kilometre loop, and we were just on alert” she told The Interior News from an evacuation centre north of the city last week.

When she managed to reach her husband Jamie, who had been sleeping after a nightshift, he started packing the trailer and two cars.

Frightened by the panic around them, her four children were crying as they bundled their most cherished possessions into the car.

“They knew it was bad and the sky was full of smoke and when we got home I had to tell them that you guys need to go and pack what’s really important to you,” said Shannon.

“They went and packed. They were crying and packing their things.”

By the time they had finished packing, about 20 minutes, the evacuation had become mandatory.

Shannon left with three of her children in one vehicle, while her husband stayed behind with one child for about 15 minutes longer to finish packing their trailer, a delay that put him five hours behind her.

At the instruction of authorities, she headed north of the city until she reached the Shell Albian Village workers’ camp, which had been transformed into an evacuation centre.

Her husband was almost separated when the evacuation order changed direction, but he managed to find a way to meet her.

Around the same time Shannon was headed North, former Smithers resident Dale Simpson was driving south towards the city, flying by gridlocked traffic going the other away.

The industrial electrician, who works a week-on, week-off roster out of Fort McMurray, packed emergency supplies and drove south after hearing Highway 63 had been reopened to traffic in that direction.

“When you were driving back towards town there was nobody really on the road,” he said.

“Going north was absolutely crazy, like bumper to bumper.

“That’s when people had started to run out of gas.”

As he travelled through the city, Simpson saw vehicles on the side of the road that had been in accidents or run out of gas. He said some people were walking away from the city, and a bus had become stuck trying to turn around.

Motorists were beginning to drive recklessly, driving too fast down the shoulder of the road to get past other vehicles.

Visit our website at: www.calderwoodrealty.com [email protected]

1175 Main Street, Smithers

Niomi Mio - SalesCell 250-877-9040

Nicole Johnson - SalesCell 250-877-3050

Jesse Butler PREC - SalesCell. 250-877-2471

DJ Mio - SalesCell 250-877-3677

John Butler - Managing Broker Cell 250-877-2141

Dan Hansma - HoustonCell 250-845-8234

Kelly Mattson - HazeltonCell 250-842-8176

Laurel Borrett - SalesCell 250-877-9444

Jeremy Penninga PRECCell. 250-847-0830

David Webster - SalesCell 250-877-3447

CALDERWOOD REALTY250-847-9222

MLS R2061654 $249,500

4220 2nd AvenueSolid, cozy older home with updates. Terri� c views from living room. Private front yard. Updates in 2004 and 2013. An older classic. Don’t delay.

MLS R2062835 $269,500

1712 Telegraph StreetSuper private dead end road location with new � ooring, big rooms and fenced back yard.

MLS R2061738 $224,500

1355 Elm StreetWell maintained home on park like 1 acres in Telkwa. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, with roughed-in ensuite. Cold room, wood stove to back up electric furnace and gas space heater. Large garden.

MLS R2060877 $259,500

#37 – 1205 Montreal StreetAlpine Village Estates #37 is waiting for you – well maintained, 2 bd, garage, deck, facing the soccer � eld & vacant for quick possession.

MLS R2034694 $322,000

17970 Quick East RoadThis 2 storey family home has 5bdrms and is set up for horses or hobby farm. 8.85 acres.

MLS R2064179 $175,000

16 3278 3rd AvenueClean & tidy, 2 bd, 2 bath home with big sundeck, gardens, shed & all in excellent condition.

MLS R2041035 $219,000

3931 1st AvenueSuper cute 2 bdrm, 2 bath starter home! Hardwood � ooring, updated kitchen, new furnace.

MLS C8004322 $350,000

5447 Silver Standard RoadLive and work here at the Hazelton Industrial Centre on 3.38 industrially zoned acres in Two Mile with 21 mini-storages, 4 large heated work bays, RV/Truck wash area, 1-bdrm apt, drilled well, septic, graveled yard, 400 amp power and more! Always have wait list for bays and mini storages!

MLS R20277126 $145,000

12883 Alder RoadFully renovated 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom mobile home on 5 acres. View today!

MLS R2031649 $439,500

1205 Telkwa High RoadStunning views & privacy! 10.5 acres, 31x45 shop, 3250 sq ft, 5 bd, 3 bath, gardens, deck & views, views, views!

MLS R2039999 $219,500

4024 4th Avenue3bdrm, 1 bath home on large lot with tons of upgrades! Perfect starter, rental or retirement home.

MLS R2009518 $377,000

27 Starliter WaySpacious, newer 3 bdrm rancher. Quality appl, beautiful hardwood � oors, fenced bkyd & dbl garage.

NEW

LISTIN

G

NEW

LISTIN

G

NEW

LISTIN

G NEW

LISTIN

G NEW

LISTIN

G

NEW

PRICE NEW

PRICE NEW

PRICE

HAZELTON

See ALBERTA on A16

NEWSwww.interior-news.com A3 The Interior News Wednesday, May 11, 2016

1142 Main Street, Smithers • 847-5318First Impressions CountTracey Turko, RD

SMILE FOR THE WEEK

Practice like you’ve never won, perform like you’ve never lost.

-Unknown

Let us takeyour order

250-847-2828 1314 Main St, Smithers

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11-8 • Fri-Sat 11–8 • Sun 10-8

Seniors Discount

15% OFF Any Sandwich/Salad

Smithers

THE PEOPLE OF FORT McMURRAYNEED OUR HELP.Crowdfunding for family & friends in Fort McMurray?Set-up a personal crowdfunding campaign on BlackPress4Good.comfor someone that has been affected by the fi re in Fort McMurray and we’ll WAIVE THE ADMINISTRATION FEES*

*CREDIT CARD FEES STILL APPLY

blackpress4good.com

“Moments to Remember”“Happy Birthday”

“Happy Anniversary”“Congratulations...”

Ask about prices for adding colour!

or [email protected]

Happy Ads

250-847-3266

3600incl. GST

for a 2x3

or

7200incl. GST

for a 2x6 or 3x4

Congratulations go to all the staff of the Smithers Shoppers Drug Mart who raised the most of all 81 stores in BC topping out at $4,878. This money will help fund portable mam-mography units that will travel to isolated BC communities without mammography service. Thank you to all our customers, staff and sponsors for their fantasticsupport!

Bands sign on as camp blocks access

The Coastal GasLink route (left) from northeast B.C. to Kitimat. The Unist’ot’en camp plans on expanding this spring.Contributed illustration and Unist’ot’en Camp Facebook photo

Shapiro added via email that 11 project agreements with First Nation groups have been announced, and that they are working with 21 groups on long-term benefit agreements. She added that more have been signed but not yet announced.

“The agreements we have finalized so far are a reflection of the balance that can be achieved. Aboriginal communities do not have to choose between the benefits of our project and maintaining a healthy environment and a strong traditional way of life,” wrote Shapiro.

She added that of the over 350,000 hours of field work done on the project so far, over one-third comes from aboriginal participation.

“The input they provided allowed us to incorporate traditional knowledge and traditional land use information into project planning and plan a route that considered this input,” added Shapiro.

The Unist’ot’en camp is led by Wet’suwet’en people and supported by

environmentalists mostly from B.C. and the American Pacific Northwest. It is located near the route south of Houston with the goal of blocking it, and has plans to expand this spring.

In January 2015, the Moricetown Band signed a provincial government benefits agreement on the Coastal Gaslink pipeline, which consists of a combination of employment and environmental funds and legacy payments.

Under that agreement, Moricetown will receive about $6 million in benefits, including 37,000 cubic metres of forested land, from a deal called a Reconciliation Agreement. It will also help fund social programs.

The province will distribute the payments as project milestones are reached. The band received $998,000 when the agreement came into effect, $2.49 million when construction begins and $2.49 million once the pipeline is operating.

The deal also includes the establishment of an environmental and

cultural accord aimed at ensuring the pipeline meets the 43 Environmental Assessment Certificate conditions relating to Wet’suwet’en territory.

Moricetown also received an immediate payment of $1.1 million as the sixteenth and final First Nation to enter into the First Nations Limited Partnership (FNLP) with Chevron Apache for the similarily-routed Pacific Trails Pipeline in January 2015.

Coastal GasLink received an Environmental Assessment Certificate from the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office in October 2014.

“This is a significant regulatory milestone for our project, which is a key component of TransCanada’s growth plan that includes more than $13 billion in proposed natural gas pipeline projects which support the emerging liquefied natural gas industry on the British Columbia Coast,” said TransCanada president and CEO Russ Girling in a release last Thursday.

The Coastal GasLink project was originally announced on June 5, 2012.

From GASLINK on Front


NEWS

All Lures20% OFF

All Trophy XL Rods 20 %OFF

Annual Fishing SaleMay 11-14, 9am-6pm

FISH

ING

SALE

•

FISH

ING

SALE

•

FISH

ING

SALE

•

FISH

ING

SALE

•

FIS

HING

SAL

E •

FIS

HING

SAL

E •

FIS

HING

SAL

E •

FISH

ING

SALE

FI

SHIN

G SA

LE

• FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE

• FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE •

• FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE

FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE • FISHING SALE

We are now fully stocked with Inventory for the 2016 Fishing Season!

Go Fish & Enjoy the Outdoors(250)-847-3377

1222 Main St. Smithers B.CBox 550 V0J 2N0

• Shimano Sedona + Nexave Reels 20% off• Gibbs Highliner Flashers $8.99• Sea King Fold. Prawn Trap $59.99• Gibbs Bamboo Trout Net $19.99• Dragon� y Trout Fly Rod & Reel $89.99• Gibbs Boat Net $39.99• Sea King Deluxe Crab Trap $29.99• South Bend Proton Spinning Combo $19.97

Lots of in Store Table & Door Crasher Specials

Simms, Patagonia, Loomis, Sage, Howler Sports wear

15%OFF

We are now fully stocked with

Lots of in Store, Table & Door Crasher Specials

Visit our web site for � shing news info & reports:

www.oscarssports.com

Your

invites female graduates ofSSS, BVCS and Ebenezer

that are pursuing post-secondaryeducation in a business � eld

to apply for one of two$30000 Bursaries.

Ask your school counsellor forinformation and or drop by our

o� ces on Broadway for anapplication. Apply by June 10.

Wha

t is y

our d

ream

for y

our f

utur

e?

NEWSNNNEWSEWSNNEWSEWSNNEWSEWSInterior SMITHERS, B.C.

Important changes suggested by small business task forceBy Chris GareauSmithers/Interior News

The small business task force last Monday presented Smithers council with its recommendations to boost commercial success in town.

They cover parking, tax breaks, sidewalks, and back lanes.

Smithers District Chamber of Commerce director and task force member Brian Atherton explained that the recommendations were a culmination of four meetings held over the last two months.

“We all need to appreciate [that] we need a healthy business environment,” said Atherton.

“A business has to make money so it can put back into its business, deliver services and goods to our community, and of course contribute to the overall economic health through jobs.”

He also pointed to local businesses owners giving back to the community through donations and events.

“They can only do that if their business is healthy,” said Atherton.

The business representatives asked council to consider not forcing businesses renovating or building in the downtown area to pave lanes.

They also asked that downtown businesses be exempt from off-street parking requirements to save costs and “focus on developing a compact, walkable downtown.” Residential lots would not be exempt.

“For somebody who’s trying to finance a small business, the bank’s not interested in financing parking; they’re interested in financing business,” said Atherton.

To help shoppers and employees who need parking, the task force also suggested allocating parking reserve funds to develop the Town-owned parking lot on Second Avenue.

“The Town has nearly a quarter-million dollars in the parking reserve fund, so the Town has the opportunity to improve parking that we have access to ... and/or to purchase more land to provide parking,” said Atherton.

A bit of help with sidewalk costs was also asked for, with the task force asking a portion of the capital budget go to sharing costs on required red brick sidewalk construction in commercial zones.

“We’re very fortunate we have a wonderful looking community, but again it’s an expense to business to pay for something that they don’t actually own,” said Atherton.

He said the revitalization tax exemption needed to be explored further, since taxes are based more on a business’s value than the building it’s in.

“What we don’t hope to see

is there’s a yes or no thing, in other words council just goes ‘no, we can’t do that,’ ” said Atherton.

“Even if they can’t accommodate exactly

what we’ve recommended, then it’s how can they tweak it.”

Smithers council is expected to discuss the recommendations at its May 24 meeting.

www.interior-news.com A5 The Interior News Wednesday, May 11, 2016

SPORTS

Community Calendar

To list your nonprofit events, please drop off your listing at The Interior News, 3764 Broadway Ave., fax 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 Friday 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.comChronic Pain Self-Management Workshop. Wed, Apr 20-May 24, 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.Fabric as Art Exhibition at the Smithers Art Gallery, showcasing the creativity of local quilt makers and other fabric artists. Apr 12 - May 14. Opening reception Fri, Apr 15, 7-9 pm. [email protected]. 250-847-3898.Seniors Coffee Break at the MLA Office. Drop-in to Doug Donaldson’s office, MLA Stikine in Smithers. First Wed. of each month, starting May 4, 10 am - 12 pm. All seniors welcome to attend for tea, coffee, goodies & stimulating conversation about issues important to seniors.Roy Henry Vickers, Smithers Public Library, Wed, May 11 @ 7 pm. Renowned author, artist & storyteller will chat about his work and tell stories in a relaxed, informal setting. All ages. Refreshments served.National Life Jacket Day. Thu, May 19, BV Regional Pool. $2 entry to the pool all day if you arrive wearing your

life jacket. Help us prevent drowning this summer in our community.“Book a Trip” Magic Show with Leif David. Smithers Public Library, Fri, May 27 @ 1:45 pm. Join us as we launch into Summer Reading Club season with a magic show featuring Leif David. Free event...bring your sense of adventure!BV Genealogical Society Plant Sale & Raffle. Sat, May 28. At the Goat Statue Park, Main St. & Hwy 16, Smithers. Viewing 8:30-9 am, Sale 9 am to noon. Raffle draw at park at noon.Quick Women’s Institute 80th Anniversary Rhubarb Rumble Old Fashioned Afternoon Tea. Sat, May 28, 1-4 PM, Round Lake Hall. $2 adults, $1 children 7-12, children 6 & under freeTri-it Triathlon Early Bird Deadline. Mon, May 30, BV Regional Pool. 6 years to adult fun triathlon. Swim, bike, run. Event June 12, 8 am to noon.BV Toastmasters Club Meetings. Every second & fourth Mon, 7-8:55 pm, NWCC, Room 109. [email protected]. Sep to Jun. Note: the May 23 meeting has been changed to May 30.

MNPdebt.ca

LIFE-CHANGING DEBT SOLUTIONS

Leah Drewcock, LIT

FREE CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION#6-1188 MAIN STREET SMITHERS

RESIDENT OFFICE: 400-550 VICTORIA STREET, PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.

“Debt-free. We can do this together”

Bankruptcy and proposal to creditors

Consolidate your debts into one interest free monthly payment

Stop harassing phone calls

Repair your credit rating

Licensed Insolvency Trustees • Trustees in Bankruptcy

250-877-0400

Smithers Secondary students get tips from Pan American Games gold medallist Amanda Chudoba-Obrigewitch last Friday. Chris Gareau photo

Babine Mtn half marathon seeks volunteersBy Xuyun ZengSmithers/Interior News

This year’s Hah Nic Na’ Aah Babine Mountain Run will only feature a half marathon.

Organizer Richard Joseph justified the scaling back of the run as a means of streamlining the run.

“Previous two years, when we included the full marathon, we’ve had maybe 10 per cent of the runners participate in the full,” said Joseph. “For that much volunteers to pull off a full marathon, took too much strategizing, organizing.

“To do the full, you’d have to have the volunteers to be out there twice as long as the half, so it just makes the day a lot longer.”

The fastest full marathoner last year came in at 4:43:27, whereas the fastest h a l f - m a r a t h o n e r came in at 1:57:00. Nine participated in last year’s full marathon, out of 57.

“We’re going to have everybody back, hopefully, at the barbecue and the awards and the prizes and stuff at a reasonable time,” he said.

This year’s route would be the reverse of last year’s.

Runners would run up the Babine Mountains Provincial Park’s Lyon Creek Trail and come down the McCabe Trail. This route is 200 metres longer than the official half-marathon distance.

Joseph is also seeking volunteers, specializing in first aid, sweeping for runners, start and finish line volunteers and hosting water stations a few kilometres into the trails.

Interested mara-thoners can register at babinemountainrun.com. There are three tiers of pricing — ear-ly, regular and late — that change depend-ing on when someone registers.

People interested in volunteering can email [email protected].

Pan Am gold medalist shares trap shooting tips in SmithersBy Chris GareauSmithers/Interior News

Pan American Games gold medallist Amanda Chudoba-Obrigewitch hopes her visit to Smithers inspires more youth, especially young women, to join her sport of trap shooting.

“It’s just not readily heard of, women shooting. Even women hunting. Personally, that I know of, there’s very few women in my social circle that actually go out and hunt with their husbands,” said Chudoba-Obrigewitch.

“That’s another thing I’d like to change.”

She was in town with her husband Jason and three-month-old boy Tylan for the Paci� c International Trapshooting Association annual trap shoot at the Bulkley Valley Rod and Gun Club last weekend. There were 31 competitors at the trap shoot, a 10-year record.

“It’s a big deal for the club, and it’s very exciting to have the high schools coming out and participating,” said Rod and Gun Club president Brian Atherton.

The national champion — she is going for her seventh straight Canadian title in Winnipeg this July — gave shooting tips to Smithers Secondary and Bulkley Valley Christian School students last Friday.

Chudoba-Obrigewitch said it was important to teach young shooters the fundamentals to help get them into the sport and to remove some of the stigma associated with � rearms.

“I know some people have a stigma [against] guns, obviously not in Smithers that I’ve noticed, everybody’s pretty gun-friendly here in Smithers, but across Canada there’s a big stigma against guns,” said Chudoba-Obrigewitch, who added that she does not get the same nervous

looks in Europe during her travels for competitions when she tells people she is carrying a gun in her case.

“Once you’re trained properly, it’s not bad at all.”

Her comfort around guns comes from growing up with them. The 26-year-old started shooting as a 12-year-old after making a deal with her dad to get out of working at gun competitions her dad and great uncle travelled to.

“He told me ‘you can work all day and practise at night when we’re all done shooting. Once you can break a 20 out of 25, I’ll let you shoot.’

“I think I did it in less than a month. It was two practice weekends and I was able to shoot competitively, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” said Chudoba-Obrigewitch, who calls northern Alberta home.

In fact, her sixth consecutive national championship came when she was six-months pregnant with Tylan.

“I always said to my husband, once we have a baby we’ll slow down our life ... and it’s gotten even busier.”

Amanda Chudoba-Obrigewitch with her Pan Am gold medal at the Bulkley Valley Rod and Gun Club.

Chris Gareau photo

OPINIONSA6 www.interior-news.com The Interior News

MEMBER:B.C. and Yukon Community Newspaper Association

Canadian Community Newspapers AssociationInternational Newspaper Promotion Association

B.C. Press CouncilTHE INTERIOR NEWS IS A POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY BLACK PRESS GROUP LTD.

• ESTABLISHED APRIL 13, 1907 • MEMBER OF THE B.C. PRESS COUNCIL

SUBSCRIPTION RATES including GST:

Local – $40.50 per yearSeniors – $30.00 per yearOut of Area – $55.00 per year

USA – $230.62 per year

Serving Smithers, the Bulkley Valley, the Hazeltons and District, Houston and District, and published on Wednesday of each week at 3764 Broadway Avenue, Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0

Copyright number 321634.Stories, photographs, illustrations, designs and type styles in The Interior News are the property of the copyright holders, its illustrations repo services and advertising agencies. Reproduction in whole or in part, without written permission, is speci� cally prohibited.

Authorized as second-class mail by the Post Of� ce Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash. PM40007014

The Interior News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the

B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to B.C. Press Council, PO Box 1356, Ladysmith,B.C. V9G 1A9. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

We acknowledge the � nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

NEWSInteriorTHE

2010C A N A D I A NCOMMUNITYNEWSPAPERAWARD 2013

C A N A D I A NCOMMUNITYNEWSPAPERAWARD 2014

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Web pollDo you agree with NDP leader John Horgan’s call for Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett’s resignation after Auditor General Carol Bellringer said compliance and enforcement is lacking in B.C.’s mining sector?

Yes14%

No86%

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

Disagreements persist on the extent of humanity’s role in

the current changes to B.C.’s climate, and our ability to influence it, as many readers have told me in the past week.

But almost everyone seems to agree that growing more and healthier forests is a good strategy. I would add that harvesting and building with wood preserves its captured carbon, a fact not much discussed in emotional appeals against logging.

The B.C. government is finally spending some money on community fuel load removal projects this year, after an initial flurry following the Kelowna fires of 2003 faded in hard times. But the effects of decades of fire suppression in a fire-dependent forest system remain, as northern B.C. and Alberta are showing us again.

There is some positive news here. A Victoria-based government research team has published a study that calculates B.C.’s pine beetle-damaged forests are regenerating more quickly than expected.

Warmer temperatures, increased precipitation and the

“fertilizer effect” of more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are factors.

“By 2020, the enhanced growth due to climate change and increased CO2 more than compensates for the carbon loss from dead, rotting trees,” said lead researcher Vivek Arora of the Canadian Centre for Modeling and Analysis.

This recovery even overcomes the projected increase in forest fire loss that comes with gradually increasing temperatures and drier periods.

The federal government is still working on its plan to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets agreed to in Paris last year. But the forest industry has stepped up with its own goal.

I spoke last week with Derek Nighbor, president of the Forest Products Association of Canada, after he announced his industry’s “30 by 30 Climate Change Challenge.”

That’s a goal to reduce the industry’s net carbon emissions by 30 megatonnes a year by 2030. That would be 13 per cent of the Canadian government emission target.

One of the main strategies is salvage harvesting and developing more products that use wood.

“It’s basically trying to use every part of the tree,” Nighbor said. “In forest operations right now, this is where we see a big part of the opportunity. Instead of the residual branches and whatnot just being left aside and slashing and burning, bring more of that out and turn it into something.”

That something might be a console in a luxury car constructed with wood fibre, or an 18-storey wood student

residence building planned for the University of B.C.The other is improving forest growth. Logging operations

have long been required to replant areas they cut, not just in B.C. but across Canada.

Another way to improve forest carbon capture is with more productive species, with genetic techniques that increase resiliency as well as wood mass.

A background paper from the B.C. forests ministry responds to common misconceptions about forest carbon, including the idea that logging should be stopped to maximize storage.

“Maximizing carbon storage in the ecosystem would make sense only if society stopped building new homes, acquiring new furniture and consuming in general,” it says.

“If the flow of forest products stops, society will turn to other products with higher greenhouse gas footprints, e.g. plastics, metal or concrete. In addition, if harvesting stopped and we continued to suppress natural disturbances, there is increased potential for larger catastrophic disturbances in the future.”

If Canada wants to make a bigger contribution to reducing greenhouse gases, forests are a good area to focus on. At 348 million hectares from the B.C. coast to Newfoundland, they represent nine per cent of the world’s forests.

– Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. [email protected] Twitter: @tomfletcherbc

Growing trees to slow climate change

GUEST VIEWTom Fletcher

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

Jill BolandProduction

Diane NikolicOffice Assistant

Chris GareauEditor

Grant HarrisPublisher

Alicia BridgesReporter

Xuyun ZengReporter

Wednesday, May 11, 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].

LETTERSA golf challenge for Fort McMurray

Editor:

During the afternoon of Thursday, May 5, the Windermere Valley Men’s Club held its weekly competition. Our thoughts were not on golf, but rather on the families displaced by the fires raging in northern Alberta.

At the conclusion of the event, our membership decided to donate the prize money that would normally have gone to the afternoon’s winners to the disaster relief efforts currently being undertaken.

Al Wittke, a longstanding member of our club, also donated $2,000 to the Salvation Army. Al lived in Fort McMurray in the Beacon Hill subdivision. His former residence has burned to the ground.

The Windermere Valley Men’s Club is challenging men’s and women’s golf clubs across B.C. and Alberta to do the same. Take the prize money from one

afternoon of golf to assist our friends and neighbours in the Fort McMurray area.

Dean MidyettePresident, Windermere Valley Men’s Club

Windermere, BC

Thanks for making Daffodil Month a success

Editor:

Another incredibly successful Daffodil Month is behind us and we are able to continue making a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer because of communities like Smithers.

Thank you to the volunteers who distributed fresh cut daffodils and daffodil pins and arranged for pin donation boxes to be present in businesses around town.

Thank you to the countless community members who generously gave money, proudly and compassionately wore their daffodil pins, and helped spread the word of Daffodil Month to their friends and family. You ensured that during the month of April, cancer patients knew they were not alone.

Thank you to the businesses who encouraged their employees to get involved, displayed our daffodil pin donation boxes, or donated their own dollars to help us.

Because of all of you, the Canadian Cancer Society is able to help support local cancer patients and their families living with more than 200 different types of cancer.

So, thank you. You have made a real, lasting difference.

It’s not too late to show your support for Daffodil Month and the Canadian Cancer Society. Please visit cancer.ca/daffodil.

Margaret Jones-BrickerCanadian Cancer Society regional director

Prince George

B.C. resists call for outside mine oversight

Tailings storage facility construction for Red Chris mine in northwestern B.C.Black Press � le photo

By Tom FletcherBlack Press

The B.C. government’s oversight of mining has too few resources and inspections and a lack of enforcement, increasing risk of another Mount Polley-type failure that damages the environment, B.C. Auditor General Carol Bellringer says in a new report.

Bellringer said having mine permitting and mine inspections in the same ministry creates an “irreconcilable conflict” between promoting expansion of mining and regulating it. She recommends moving the compliance and enforcement function outside the ministry to an independent body.

Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett stopped short of rejecting that idea, but said he has found no other jurisdiction in Canada that does that, and there are important reasons for keeping it within the ministry.

His position was backed by two senior officials, Chief Inspector of Mines Al Hoffman and George Warnock, director of geotechnical engineering for the B.C. government.

Hoffman said it’s important that the technical experts who set permit conditions and then do compliance and enforcement be in the same group so they know how to follow up.

Warnock used the example of the KSM mine, recently permitted for construction in northwest B.C. with 178 conditions.

“We know exactly what we’re looking for in those permit conditions when we go to that mine, and I don’t know how a body outside the ministry would,” Warnock said.

NDP mining critic Norm Macdonald said the 2014 collapse of the tailings dam at Mount Polley copper mine near Williams Lake shows the auditor is correct

that there is not a “culture of enforcement” in B.C. mining.

An undetected weak layer under the Mount Polley dam was the ultimate cause of the failure, but risk was compounded by high water, the lack of “beach” construction to ease pressure on the dam and a steeper slope than what was called for in the original plans, Macdonald said.

Bennett acknowledged that the ministry had too few geotechnical inspectors in 2009-10. He said the

ministry accepts the other 17 recommendations in Bellringer’s report, and is on its way to implementing them.

The government has changed the Mines Act to allow for administrative penalties to be assessed if mine operators don’t comply with inspection orders.

Macdonald said there have been no penalties assessed to the company operating the Mount Polley mine, and no penalties have ever been assessed under the Mines Act under the B.C. Liberal government.


ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20A restless spirit is the catalyst for a new project, Aries. This week you dive right into something that will take up all of your mental energy. Try to avoid slack-ing off in other areas.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21Taurus, thanks to your hectic sched-ule, achieving lofty goals this week may be a stretch, so aim for some-thing a little more manageable and celebrate the achievement.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21Gemini, though you may be content to remain out of the spotlight most of the time, when you engage with oth-ers, you really can show just how com-pelling you are.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22You may be expected to step up and care for people all of the time, but this week you’re the one who needs some special attention, Cancer. All you have to do is reach out for assistance.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23Leo, you have many good reasons to throw caution to the wind this week, but you may have to reign in your ad-venturous spirit just a little bit. You’re an example to others.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22Listen carefully to your intuition this week, Virgo. Most of the time you can trust that little voice more than out-side in� uences. Focus on your dreams for a bit.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23Libra, when things become compli-cated, you’re the person people often seek to iron out the situation. You have a way of quickly getting to the root of a problem.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22Scorpio, even though you normally think cooly and collectedly, this week you may be at the end of your rope. Book some time for a little R&R to re-charge your batteries.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21Sagittarius, positive encounters, in-cluding an unexpected meeting with an old friend, could make for an inter-esting week. Your social life is boom-ing.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20Capricorn, you have a measured and methodical approach to your goals. This week, though, your sense of fun may take over and steer you off course.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18Consider your words before sharing your perspective, Aquarius. You do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings, even if what you have to say is the truth. Word things carefully.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20Your self-esteem soars this week when you go out of your way to put others’ needs before your own. Act from your heart, Pisces.

brings you your Horoscope for the 2nd week of May

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

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

Pashmina Celtic scarves, beautiful jewellery and more

to gladden moms spirit.

ABERROMETERACCOMMODATIONACETATEALLERGYAMBLYOPIAAPHAKIAAQUEAOUSASTIGMATISMBIFOCALSCATARACTCONJUNCTIVA

CONVERGENCECORNEADILATEDDIOPTEREXTRACTIONEYELIDSFLOATERSFUNDUSGLAUCOMAHEALTHYHYPEROPIA

HYPHEMAKERATOCONUSLASERLAZY EYELOWMACULANERVEOPHTHALMOLO-GISTOPTICIANPERIPHERAL

PUPILRETINALVALUEVISION

Solutions on pageA21

Sponsored by:1139 Main Street PO Box 2380, Smithers, Ph: 250-847-2405

HEALTHY VISION WORD SEARCH

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

$100 gift card for the Smithers Merchants

Name & Phone Number: Like Us ~ www.facebook.com/SmithersInteriorNews ~

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

SPORTS

MUM RUNA record number on foot and bike take off from the starting line at the 2016 McBike Mother’s Day Run last Sunday. Proceeds from the run go to the Smithers Diabetes Group.

Contributed photo

www.interior-news.com A11 The Interior News Wednesday, May 11, 2016

SPORTS

If you ask me how old I was when I rode a bike for the first time, I would be tempted to brag about the fact that I was actually born on a bike. My mother, who happened to give birth to me, would argue about chronological details. And my father who probably ran behind me, holding the saddle of my first bike while I was trying to move forward and keep my balance, would probably feel a bit neglected for the mentoring educative role he played in my riding career. OK, I was not exactly born on a bike but still from an early age I rode my bike anywhere. I went to school with my bike. I went to college, to university and to work on my bicycle. I climbed mountain roads and traveled away from home weeks at the time and would return with my bike.So, it came a bit as a surprise when I was in my twen-ties to realize you could be an adult and not being able to ride a bicycle. But how was it possible?I helped an adult friend, older than me, to learn how to ride a bike. She had grown up in a small village in Northern Africa with no paved roads and mostly with no access to a bike. I realized how challenging it could be to learn to ride a bicycle for a grownup who had never traveled on two wheels before.Recently another friend reminded me I had also attempted to teach her while we were neighbours in Vancouver. She too had grown up in Africa and in her Ethiopian village riding a bike was not second nature. She still doesn’t know how to ride a bike and it made be even more aware teaching that skill is as challeng-ing as learning it as an adult.

Now, hold on and keep your balance, it is not the end of the story!A couple of years ago a friend from Smithers told me that his father had just learned to ride his bike. You see, more than eighty years ago, bicycles were not as widely available…and later on, life by Ootsa lake didn’t provide too many riding opportunities either.I was intrigued how my friend managed to teach his octogenarian father how to ride a bike. It is enough of a scary experience to let go of your child while running behind him or her trying to prevent the inevitable crash. So imagine teaching one of your own parents! Falling is part of the bike riding learning process. Well, maybe not if you are over eighty though!?“He learned by himself ”: my friend told me. Yes, Ted, a smiley 86 years old man, taught himself to ride a bicycle in the streets of Smithers. Now if that is not inspiration…Thank you Ted! The world needs more cyclists…like you! If you pass Ted on his bike, pay respect to this explorer/adventurer. At his age, he most likely doesn’t ride to work…but rather taking a good ride on life.\To get involved and participate in Bike to Work Week Smithers please visit www.biketowork.ca/smithers. written by Paco Velo

86 on two wheels

May 30 - June 5

www.biketowork.ca/smithers

Monday – Friday 9 am – 9 pm • Saturday 9 am – 6 pm • •Sunday & Holidays 10 am – 5 pm • Seniors’ Day every day • 10% OFF 3752 4th Avenue • Smithers •250.847.4474 (some exclusions may apply)

Spring Photo Contest

Spring & Sprout!Submit your photos of things that spring and

sprout including � owers, plants, bugs, and babies of all kinds

Drop off a 8x10 print at the Photo lab until May 30th

• 1st Prize: Olympus Stylus 1010 Digital Camera, photo frames, equipment bag, light stand case, 4 GB memory card

• 2nd Prize: 100 FREE 4x6 prints, 6 window photo frame• 3rd Prize: 1 300 Photo Album, $10 Pharmasave gift card

Doug DonaldsonYour MLA for Stikine

Community offices:4345 Field Street, Hazelton, BC. Tel: 250-842-63381175 Main Street, Smithers, BC. Tel: 250-847-8841

[email protected]/doug.donaldson.stikine

Working communities, responsible development

Advertising space donated by The Interior News

All Clothes & ShoesMay 12,13 &14

New To YouThrift Store

3688 Broadway Street10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday to Saturday

Proceeds go to the Smithers Hospital for needed equipment

Smithers’ Shane Doodson, who owns the local McDonald’s, sponsors his brother Chris’s racecar.Contributed photo

Brother’s burgers help racecar driver

Smithers resident Shane Doodson helps keep brother Chris Doodson of Coquitlam, B.C. racing at the Mission Raceway Park road course with sponsorship from his Smithers McDonald’s

Two years ago with Shane’s help, Chris was able to qualify and compete at the Sports Car Club of America’s national championship race at the world famous Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey. California.

After two first-place finishes at the first races of the 2016 Sports Car Club of B.C. championship, Chris

leads the GTL (Grand Touring Lite) championship standings in his number 73 Honda CRX.

This was the first race of the year for Chris, who took the whole of last year off to build a brand new race car from the ground up. He is using the 2016 season to fine tune the new car, then he and brother Shane hope to take another run in 2017 at the SCCA National Championship. Chris says without his brother’s help and sponsorship, it would be really tough to compete at such a high level.

– Submitted by Brent Martin.


SPORTS

CarnivalFriday, May 13th 6:30–8:30St. Joseph’s School Gym

Great games & prizes, silent auction, cake walk, food and LOTS of FUN for the family!

Come check it out!Sprin

g

Spa

ce D

onat

ed b

y Th

e In

terio

r New

s

Financial planning services and investment advice are provided by Royal Mutual Funds Inc., a member company under RBC Wealth Management. Royal Mutual Funds Inc., RBC Asset Management Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Trust Corporation of Canada, The Royal Trust Company, and Phillips, Hager & North InvestmentManagement Ltd. are separate corporate entities, which are affiliated. Royal Mutual Funds Inc. is licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec. All personal lending products and residential mortgages are offered by Royal Bank of Canada and are subject to its standard lending criteria. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. VPS91015 109460 (03/2015)

Don’t miss out! Register today at rbc.com/bcevents

The event is free. The advice is invaluable.

ntsTM

Join us and learn more about:

Understanding Your Pension Options

Contact: [email protected] ph: 250-960-4561

RBC Terrace: 4640 Lakelse Avenue, Wednesday May 18th 6:00pm – 7:30pm

RBC Smithers: 1106 Main Street, Thursday May 26th 6:00pm – 7:30pm

RBC Prince George, Main Branch: 550 Victoria St, Wednesday May 25th 6:00pm – 7:30pm

RBC Quesnel: 201 St Laurent Ave, Thursday May 26th 6:00pm- 7:30pm

RBC Prince George, Pine Centre: 3185 Massey Dr, Saturday May 28th 9:00am – 10:30am

Is your employer making changes to your pension? Are you voluntarily leaving your employer and faced with a pension decision? Are you involuntarily leaving your employer (termination, severance)? If so, please join us at one of our upcoming Advice Events.

Bulkley Senior CitizenSHouSing SoCiety

AnnuAl generAl MeetingWedneSdAy MAy 25tH

At 6:00 p.M.unit #2 reCreAtion rooM,

3985 pioneer plACe, SMitHerS

B.V. Driving School Ltd. is offering an air brakes course in Houston on

Friday (evening) May 27th: 6-10pm, Saturday, May 28th: 9am-6pm &

Sunday, May 29th: 9am.

Spaces are limited so call ASAPEmail: [email protected] • www.bvdrivingschool.ca

AIR BRAKES COURSE

Anyone interested in taking the course or wants more information about the air brakes course, please call

250-845-3288 or Cell 250-845-1112 Toll Free: 1-888-644-3555

$4050for 52 weeks local area

Online, Senior and Out of Area rates available

Bringing the NEWS home!

$Subscribe today!

250-847-3266

including GST

Slackers � nd balance with new slacklining sport at Ranger ParkBy Xuyun ZengSmithers/Interior News

Daniel Yewell is bringing another niche sport to Ranger Park.

The park, which hosts the Northwest’s only disc golf course, has become Yewell’s choice park to do slacklining since last fall. The sport requires people to walk on one-inch webbing without falling, requiring both balance and clarity of mind.

“There is a period of training in order to get your muscles used to the line, but once your muscles know the movements of the line a little bit, it’s more of a mental game,” said Yewell.

Yewell estimates that on a beginner slackline, about 10 metres long and rigged less than a metre off the ground, it takes an hour of practice to walk a few steps.

“If you’re ambitious like I was on the first day, you might be able to cross it on the first day,” said Yewell. “I like its simplicity. You’re just walking on a line and I think it’s a good sport to bring friends together.”

Yewell also said slacklining exercises every muscle, especially the core muscles.

“In combination with the muscles, you also have to have a clear head when you’re walking the line, because if you have busy thoughts racing through your head, soon enough you’re going to lose your balance.”

Yewell said the best way to mitigate injuries comes from progressive practice.

“I think it’s dangerous for sure,” he said. “But it’s like anything, if you have the proper training and the proper techniques, it’s no more dangerous than driving a car.”

He chose Ranger Park because it has a sturdy trees that do not flex and also open areas between two trees for his 100-metre slackline. He currently can do about 20 metres before losing his balance, and practises a few times a week.

“You wouldn’t do it, really, in a dense forest because you wouldn’t be able to find enough space in between the trees to rig a line without bushes and stuff slapping you in the face,” he said.

Yewell’s next big ambition lies in crossing the Tatlow Falls with a harness.

Yewell suggests that anyone interested in trying slacklining to pop into Ranger Park once in a while or find Slackline Smithers on Facebook.

Smithers’ Chris Doodson leads the pack (story page A11).Contributed photo

By Alicia BridgesSmithers/Interior News

Musician Alex Cuba is widely recognized as the Bulkley Valley’s biggest connection to Cuba, but dozens of young people in Smithers know the bond between the two places goes much deeper.

In 2011, Smithers Secondary School music teacher Mike Doogan-Smith met Alex Cuba’s father, music teacher Valentin Puentes, who was visiting his son in the Bulkley Valley.

Three years earlier, Doogan-Smith had taken SSS music students on a performance tour of Cuba, which he said was a life-altering experience for the Grades 10, 11 and 12 students who were there.

When Doogan-Smith mentioned to Puentes that he was starting to plan for the next Cuba trip in 2011, they started discussions to make sure it included Puentes’s hometown of Artemisa.

Now, in 2016, the school is preparing its third cultural exchange and joint concert in Artemisa as part of the wider Cuba trip.

More than 150 individual SSS students and about 20 parents have visited Artemisa so far.

Doogan-Smith said the trip had become a “cornerstone” of the music program, and a course highlight for the students.

“It’s something that is a tradition, so many students who have had siblings that have gone to Cuba,” he said.

“We have a family of four girls

— all three girls have gone and the fourth girl is going to Cuba next year because their siblings have passed on the information that it is an absolutely incredible experience.”

Doogan-Smith said he originally chose Cuba as a place for the students to tour because music was so central to the culture there.

He said the connection with Puentes and Alex’s mother

Maria del Carmen had made the experience even more rewarding for students.

“We have a connection between Smithers and Cuba, six hours away by plane, there’s a geographical connection, there’s a personal connection,” he said.

“I think it just shrinks the world, it keeps it small, that we are all together in this. It makes it really special.”

Puentes and del Carmen have also hosted Doogan-Smith and his wife in Artemisa.

They were reunited again in Smithers last month when they returned to the Bulkley Valley to visit Alex, his wife Sarah Goodacre-Puentes, and their children.

Puentes is also a highly accomplished and well-known musician who passed down his love of music to his Latin Grammy

Award-winning son. While the alpine theme and

snow-capped peaks of Smithers don’t appear to have much in common with the palm-lined streets of Artemisa, Puentes sees one major similarity between the two places.

He told The Interior News, with Alex translating, that the two towns were connected through music.

“He says Artemis is a town of about 80,000 people that has always had a lot of musicians, but even though Smithers is 5,000, he says applying relativity to it, here is pretty similar to the amount of musicians that we have in Artemisa,” he said.

Doogan-Smith hopes the two places can one day become official sister cities.

“We’ve started something special, that the two cities would have a connection more than just our students going to Cuba,” he said.

“That would be a really cool thing.”

Alex added that he hoped Cuban students would be able to take the reverse trip to Smithers now that travel restrictions out of Cuba had been relaxed.

“I really hope that some of my dad’s students could come and visit Smithers, the exchange from both sides,” said Alex.

Earlier this year, Alex spent several weeks travelling around Cuba as the host of a documentary about the lesser-known aspects of the country’s music scene. Visit The Cuban Bus Facebook page to see the trailer.

www.interior-news.com A13The Interior News Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Have you booked your spot in our

Bike Month feature page?

Single spots are $57 + tax

Booking deadline is May19th

Contact [email protected] NEWSNNNEWSEWSNNEWSEWSEWSEWS

THEInterior

A & E

Acclaimed Smithers musician Alex Cuba, his father Valentin Puentes and Smithers Secondary School music teacher Mike Doogan-Smith have formed a Cuban-Canadian connection that is giving local students a unique musical learning experience.


Music the key to Smithers’ Cuban connection


A & E

Smithers Exploration Groupinvites you to visit

free admission

For more information contact:[email protected]

The Minerals North Tradeshowis open to the public between 12:30-2:30 on Thursday May 19th.

MINERALSROCKMINERALSROCK

May 19, 12 5May 20, 9 12

at the Curling Club during Minerals NorthFun Displays and Activities

•great rocks and minerals •see how mining matters in daily life•discover exploration projectsFRIDAY

MAY 27Doors @ 5:00pm

Show @ 6:00pm

DELLA HERMAN THEATRESmithers, BC

ENTER TO WIN TWO TICKETS AT THE SMITHERS INTERIOR NEWS

all tickets are available online at mytixx.ca or at the mountain eagle books 2nd show added!

What are the barriers and future needs to assist members of our community as they age? The Town of Smithers is seeking a qualified consultant to complete a locally appropriate Age-Friendly Assessment & Action Plan to be completed by October 31st, 2016. Using Canada’s Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities Guide as a framework, the Age-Friendly Assessment & Action Plan will focus on existing and future needs to support adults 55+ as they age. The Age-Friendly Assessment & Action Plan Terms of Reference can be found on the Town’s website (www.smithers.ca) or picked up at the Town Office. Proposals will be received up until 2:00 pm on Tuesday, May 31st, 2016. Please submit two (2) copies of your proposal, in a sealed envelope marked “Proposal for Smithers Age-Friendly Assessment & Action Plan”, addressed to:Alison Watson, MCIP, RPPPlanner, Town of SmithersPO Box 879, 1027 Aldous StreetSmithers, BC V0J 2N0Emailed or faxed submissions will NOT be accepted.The Town reserves the right to waive informalities in or reject any or all proposals, or to accept the proposal deemed most favourable in the interest of the Town. The lowest fee, or any proposal, may not necessarily be accepted.

Request for ProposalsAGE-FRIENDLY ASSESSMENT &

ACTION PLAN

Display Ad Deadline3:00 Thursday

BOOK LAUNCH ON THE BULKLEY

A � otilla of words stream down the Bulkley River last Saturday as part of local author Sheila Peters’ book launch for her col-lection of poems The Bathymetry of Lax Kwal.

Contributed photo

BVCS FRAMES THE MUSIC MAN’S STORYBulkley Valley Christian School’s production of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man continues this Thursday to Saturday at the Della Herman Theatre.

Chris Gareau photo


OUR TOWN

Oh he

y, you

’re lo

oking

for th

e lega

l, righ

t? Tak

e a lo

ok, h

ere it

is: Take

a look,

here it

is: Vehic

le(s) m

ay be sh

own wit

h option

al equi

pment

. Dealer

may se

ll or lea

se for l

ess. Lim

ited tim

e offers

. Offers

only va

lid at pa

rticipa

ting

dealers

. Retail

offers

may be

cancell

ed or ch

anged a

t any tim

e witho

ut notic

e. Deale

r order

or tran

sfer ma

y be req

uired as

invent

ory ma

y vary b

y dealer

. See yo

ur Ford

Dealer f

or com

plete de

tails or

call th

e Ford C

ustome

r Relati

onship

Centre

at 1-80

0-565-

3673. Fo

r factor

y order

s, a

custom

er may e

ither ta

ke adva

ntage o

f eligib

le rainch

eckabl

e Ford r

etail cu

stomer p

romotio

nal inc

entives

/offers

availab

le at th

e time of

vehicle

factory

order o

r time of

vehicle

deliver

y, but n

ot both

or com

binatio

ns ther

eof. Ret

ail offer

s not co

mbina

ble wit

h any CP

A/GPC o

r Daily

Rental

incentiv

es, the

Comme

rcial Up

fi t Prog

ram or t

he Com

mercia

l Fleet I

ncentiv

e Progr

am (CF

IP).*Un

til May 3

1, 2016,

lease a

new 201

6 F-150

XLT Sup

erCrew

4x4 5.0

L V8 300

A with

53A Tra

iler Tow

packag

e and ge

t as low

as 0.99

% leas

e annua

l percen

tage ra

te (APR

) fi nanc

ing

for up

to 36 m

onths o

n appro

ved cre

dit (OA

C) from

Ford Cr

edit. No

t all bu

yers wil

l qualif

y for th

e lowes

t APR p

ayment

. Lease

this ve

hicle w

ith a va

lue of $

38,406

(a� er $

2,895 do

wn pay

ment,

Manufa

cturer

Rebate

s of $3,

750 and

includ

ing fre

ight an

d air ta

x charg

es of $1

,800)

at 0.99%

APR fo

r up to

36 mont

hs with

an optio

nal buy

out of $

23,801,

month

ly paym

ent is $

431 (th

e sum o

f twelve

(12) m

onthly

payme

nts div

ided by

26 perio

ds gives

payee a

bi-wee

kly pay

ment o

f $198.9

2), and

total le

ase obl

igation

is $18,4

11. Taxe

s payab

le on fu

ll amo

unt

of leas

e fi nanc

ing pri

ce a� er

Manuf

acturer

Rebate

deducte

d. Addi

tional p

ayment

s requi

red for

PPSA, r

egistrat

ion, sec

urity de

posit, N

SF fees

(wher

e applic

able),

excess w

ear and

tear, an

d late f

ees. Le

ase off

er exclu

des var

iable c

harges

of licen

se, fuel

fi ll cha

rge, ins

urance

, dealer

PDI

(if app

licable)

, registr

ation, P

PSA, ad

ministr

ation fe

es and

charges

, any en

vironm

ental c

harges

or fees

, and al

l applic

able ta

xes. Som

e condi

tions an

d milea

ge restr

iction of

60,000

km for

36 mo

nths ap

plies. E

xcess ki

lometra

ge char

ges are

16¢ per

km, plu

s applic

able ta

xes.

Excess k

ilometra

ge char

ges sub

ject to c

hange (

except i

n Queb

ec), see

your loc

al deale

r for de

tails. A

ll price

s are ba

sed on

Manufa

cturer’

s Sugge

sted Ret

ail Price

. ¥Offer

valid b

etween

May 3,

2016 an

d June 3

0, 2016

(the “O

ffer Per

iod”) t

o Canad

ian res

idents. R

eceive $

750 tow

ards th

e pur

chase o

r lease o

f a new

2015 M

ustang (

excludi

ng Shel

by GT35

0),Taur

us, Edg

e, Trans

it Conne

ct, Tran

sit, F-1

50 (excl

uding R

egular

Cab XL

4x2 Val

ue Lead

er); 201

6 Fusion

, Mustan

g (exclu

ding Sh

elby GT3

50), Ta

urus, E

dge, Fle

x, Explo

rer, Esca

pe, Exp

edition

, Transit

Connec

t, E-Seri

es Cut

away, Tr

ansit, F

-150 (ex

cluding

Regula

r Cab XL

4x2 Val

ue Lead

er), F-2

50 to F-

550; 20

17 Fusio

n, Musta

ng (excl

uding S

helby G

T350),

Explore

r, Escap

e, Expe

dition (

each an

“Eligib

le Vehic

le”). On

ly one (

1) bonu

s offer

may be

applied

toward

s the pu

rchase o

r leas

e of one

(1) Elig

ible Veh

icle. Ta

xes pay

able be

fore off

er amo

unt is d

educted

. Offer

is not r

ainche

ckable.

^Based

on resu

lts from

the 201

5 Vince

ntric m

odel lev

el anal

ysis of t

he Cana

dian co

nsume

r mark

et for t

he Full-

Size 1/2

-Ton Pic

kup seg

ment.‡

F-Series

is th

e best-s

elling l

ine of p

ickup tr

ucks in

Canada

for 50

years in

a row b

ased on

Canadi

an Vehic

le Manu

facture

rs’ Assoc

iation s

tatistic

al sales

report

up to 20

15 year

end.†W

hen pro

perly e

quippe

d. Max.

payloa

ds of 3,2

40 lbs/

3,270 lb

s with

availab

le 3.5L

V6 Eco

Boost 4

x2 / 5.0

L Ti-VCT

V8 eng

ine con

fi gurati

ons. Cla

ss is Ful

l-Size Pi

ckups u

nder 8,5

00 lbs G

VWR ba

sed on

Ford seg

menta

tion.††C

lass is F

ull-Size

Pickup

s under

8,500 l

bs. GVW

R. vs. 20

15 com

petitor

s. Some

driver

input r

equired

. Driver

-assist f

eature

s are

supplem

ental a

nd do no

t repla

ce the d

river’s a

ttention

, judgm

ent and

need to

control

the veh

icle.‡‡G

overnm

ent 5-S

tar Saf

ety Rat

ings ar

e part o

f the Na

tional H

ighway

Tra± c

Safety

Adminis

tration

’s (NHTS

A’S) New

Car Ass

essment

Progra

m (ww

w.Safe

rCar.

gov). ©

2016 Si

rius Can

ada Inc

. “Siriu

sXM”, th

e Sirius

XM log

o, chan

nel nam

es and l

ogos ar

e trade

marks

of Siriu

sXM Rad

io Inc. a

nd are u

sed und

er licen

ce.©201

6 Ford M

otor Co

mpany

of Cana

da, Lim

ited. All

rights re

served.

Available in most new Ford vehicles with 6-month

pre-paid subscription.

‡

FOR UNDISPUTED VALUE, VISIT FINDYOURFORD.CA OR DROP BY YOUR BC FORD STORE TODAY.

‡‡

• MILITARY-GRADE ALUMINUMALLOY BODY & BED

• CLASS-EXCLUSIVE†† PRO TRAILERBACKUP ASSISTTM

$199* $2,8950.99% 36APR MONTHS DOWNEVERY 2 WEEKS

F-150 XLT SUPERCREW 4X4 5.0LWITH TRAILER TOW PACKAGE INCLUDED

LEASE THE 2016

PLUS

OFFER INCLUDES: $3,750 MANUFACTURER’S REBATE AND $1,800 FREIGHT AND AIR TAX.

BONUS CASH

$750¥

GET AN ADDITIONAL

ON MOST NEW F-SERIES

By Xuyun ZengSmithers/Interior News

Gord Beerda drives the fanciest school bus Bulkley Valley School District 54 has.

The Freightliner he drives has an automatic transmission, cruise control, a CB radio, a locking differential and automatic tire chains. Beerda gets the best because he drives one of the more challenging routes.

“Soon as you get snow or ice, then your bus only has so much traction,” said Beerda. “Billabong is supposed to be out clearing the highways — the bus roads also get a priority — so they’re supposed to be out there as soon as possible, but sometimes that’s not early enough for us. We’re out there already.”

He points to a harrowing section on Woodmere Road near Quick, where he has to contend with both a sharp curve and a steep hill.

“If you have just a little bit of speed sometimes, you can make it,” he said. “If it’s really bad, I might just radio in and say I can’t do the run.”

Beerda drives the longest route among bus drivers.

He starts out at 6:20 a.m., before heading for his first passenger at the end of Walcott Road near Hungry Hill, reaching it just after 7 a.m. to pick up his first passenger, Silvea Bryshun.

The Smithers Secondary School student wakes up at 6 a.m. to prepare and has to be at the bus stop by 7:09 a.m.

“It can be very long,” she said of the bus ride.

“From here, we go all the way around Woodmere and then finally to Smithers Secondary. It takes a while.”

For Aiden Murphy, he passes the time by sleeping, listening to music and talking to his friends on the bus.

He admits that he feels “a little” jealous that people who live nearer to Smithers get to wake up later and get home earlier.

Beerda thoroughly enjoys bus driving because he feels a connection with his passengers.

“It’s probably not nice to say, but there are some kids that come from broken homes and we’ve been told that some of the kids spend more time talking to the bus driver than to their actual parents,” said Beerda. “I’ve had kids on my bus, they graduated, they still come see me on

the street — run up and say hi.”Beerda has faced passengers that

behave poorly.“I got tired of hollering at them, so I

basically stopped the bus and sat there,” said Beerda.

Beerda knows that he cannot kick students off the bus, so he employed peer pressure instead.

“Pretty soon the other kids are saying, ‘Hey, so-and-so, if you don’t behave the driver is not going to go.’ ”

Coming into Smithers around 8 a.m.,

Beerda drops off his first passengers at Walnut Park Elementary School, before stopping at other schools in a counter-clockwise route, to the Third Avenue bus depot near Chandler Park.

Beerda started out driving buses part-time 10 years ago and soon got deeper into it. He gets paid five hours daily for two runs.

School bus driving is a seasonal job. Besides driving school buses, Beerda runs a fabric store, and fixes vacuums and sewing machine.

Driving education in the Bulkley Valley

Bulkley Valley School District bus driver Gord Beerda says some kids going through tough times feel most comfortable talking to drivers. He gets on the road at 6:20 a.m. every school day.

Xuyun Zeng photo


COMMUNITY

• T h e H a z e l t o n s • S m i t h e r s • H o u s t o n & D i s t r i c t • L a k e s D i s t r i c t •

Imagine your trip � a lif� ime! See us today.

Kindness amidst chaos after Alberta � resHe said it was surreal to see a Super

8 motel in flames with no firefighters in sight.

“It’s a big structure, it’s a hotel, and so we had to drive right by that, fully on flames, roof caved-in, walls still burning,” he said.

“It’s a massive fire, it’s a hotel fire, that’s when it really clicked, because there was not a person of authority, there wasn’t a firefighter with a hose on it, there wasn’t anybody standing there with a hose making sure that people aren’t going around there.”

It took Simpson 13 hours to finish the five-hour drive from his mine site to Edmonton. He is now back in Smithers, where he will wait to hear if he still has a job.

Simpson believes the condo where he lives was unharmed by the fire, but he cannot be sure. He said he needed two hands to count the number of his friends and colleagues who lost their homes or belongings.

He wanted the public to know that Fort McMurray was not a fly-in, fly-out city for camp workers, but a family community that he knew would rebuild.

“There’s such a misconception about what Fort McMurray is,” said Simpson.

“Anywhere you go, I’ve heard people saying in the last couple of years that Fort McMurray is just a camp town.

“People don’t understand that it’s a city the size of Prince George.

“The mines are there and it’s really dependent on them but there is a massive amount of community that is there.”

Shannon and her family have also returned to Smithers, where they plan to enrol the children in local schools until they can return and assess the damage.

Their home appears to be OK, but their neighbours two doors down and two houses behind were not as fortunate.

She also believes the premises of her business is OK, but they suspect there may be smoke damage to their home.

Shannon and her family were part of the second convoy of vehicles that were piloted past what remains of the city on Thursday.

Grass on the side of the road was still burning in some places, buildings were smoking and cars were abandoned on the side of the road.

Shannon’s daughter counted 28 abandoned vehicles on the northern side of the city, and that was just a small

number compared to the south side. Shannon said it was the most

emotional day since the fire. “Going through the city and seeing

everything and seeing the burnt areas and seeing what other people had gone through,” she said.

“How terrifying it must have been to have to drive when you are driving south and you run out of gas with your family and have to get in with a total stranger.”

She said strangers on the journey home to Smithers had revived their spirits with acts of kindness. One stranger stepped in and bought their dinner, and now Bulkley Valley residents were offering to donate items.

Shannon urged local people who wanted to help her family to donate to the Red Cross instead.

From FIRE on A2

MAKING MUSIC FOR MENTAL HEALTHSmithers brother and sister duo Say-ez and Simbayez Wlson represented local youth when they played at the Smithers Community Wellness Local Action Team meet and greet event in Smithers last week. The teens kicked off an evening of presentations by local service providers to promote mental health among young people in the Bulkley Valley.



COMMUNITY

Register today at mineralsnorth.ca

Outdoor opening reception at Bovill

Square, featuring speakers, food trucks, live music and more

Thursday night banquet, with evening

entertainment by Grammy-nominated

Alex Cuba

Keynote presentation by marketing guru and broadcaster

Terry O’Reilly (Age of Persuasion, Under

the Influence)

Interactive gold panningdemonstrations

PLUS, DON’T MISS:TRADE SHOW • PANEL PRESENTATIONS • CORE TENT • HUCKLEBERRY MINE TOUR • AND MORE!

PRESENTS

excellence through innovationSmithers & Telkwamineralsnorth

2016

Northern B.C.’s signature exploration and mining conferenceMAY 18-20, 2016 | SMITHERS & TELKWA, B.C.

Happy

Birthday

Danny Palumbo is 90 on May 10th!Join us in wishing him a very

Happy Birthday!!

From his loving family

Born in Roseto

Valfortore

Province of

Foggia Italy

Moved to Canada

February 1951

Start date: OpenExperienced Excavator Operator required for high-quality camp. We offer excellent Pay Rate. Location in northern BC, working 12 hour days on a 15 day in rotation and a 14 day off. Your return transportation to camp will be provided from Hazelton, Kitwanga, Smithers, or Terrace.We’re looking for an experienced Excavator Operator The nature of camp work requires that this person have excellent interpersonal skills, handle stress well, and be able to live and work as a member of a team.

Minimum requirements:- 2 years experience in Excavator - Experience in other areas of Heavy Equipment would be an asset - Excellent communication skills, able to follow directions and provide assistance as needed - Self-motivated and able to work independently while maintaining high standards of service

Please Email your applications to Human Resources [email protected] • Fax: 250 842 5651

Advertisement for Excavator Operator

GENERATIONS OF FRIENDSHIP

Chris Gareau photo

Raise the Roof in Evelyn Saturday

VIEW FROM

THE PORCHLorraine Doiron

Roy Henry Vickers at the Smithers Public

Library, an event to come early for: an evening of stories and a chat with Mr. Vickers about his work. This presentation is free, suitable for all ages and with refreshments tonight at 7 p.m.

Also at the library on May 27 at 1:45 p.m., Book A Trip magic show with Leif David. Also free, just bring

your sense of adventure!May 30 at 7 p.m.

is Philosophers’ Café: Alienation and Belonging. Come to the library and explore questions like, “where do you belong?” Wade Wilson, local teacher and facilitator, will lead the group. All viewpoints are welcome.

Raise the Roof auction fundraiser at the Paul Lychak Evelyn Community Hall this Saturday, doors open at 10 a.m. Lunch will be available. Help put a new roof on this community hall. To donate items that can be auctioned, call Kelly (250-847-3627), Sherry (250-847-9703) or Charlie (250-877-1770).

Closing with: “It is never safe to look into the future with eyes of fear.”

– Edward Henry Harriman.

Leny Boonstra with kids from The Ark Playday Centre amongst the tulips at the Telkwa Bloom Celebration last Tuesday. Telkwa was one of 140 communities in Canada to receive 700 red and white tulips for the 70th anniversary of the Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Gardens, a thank-you from the Netherlands for Canada’s role liberating it and providing shelter to its royal family. Boonstra was eight when she saw Canadians roll into her country. She moved to Canada when she was 21.


NEW FINANCE OFFERS

PRECISION TRUCK MONTH

GMCCanada.caENDS MAY 31ST

YEARS/48,000 KMCOMPLIMENTARY O I L C H A N G E S^^2

ON N

OW A

T YO

UR B

C GM

C DE

ALER

S. G

MCC

anad

a.ca

1-8

00-G

M-D

RIVE

. GM

C is

a b

rand

of G

ener

al M

otor

s of

Can

ada.

Offe

rs a

pply

to th

e pu

rcha

se o

f a 2

016

Sier

ra 1

500

Kodi

ak E

ditio

n, le

ase

of a

201

6 Si

erra

150

0 Do

uble

Cab

4W

D (1

SA S

XL),

and

finan

ce o

f a 2

016

Terra

in, A

cadi

a. L

icens

e, in

sura

nce,

regi

stra

tion,

adm

inist

ratio

n fe

es, d

eale

r fee

s, PP

SA a

nd ta

xes

not i

nclu

ded.

Dea

lers

are

free

to s

et in

divid

ual p

rices

. Lim

ited

time

offe

rs w

hich

may

not

be

com

bine

d w

ith o

ther

offe

rs, a

nd a

re s

ubje

ct to

cha

nge

with

out n

otice

. Offe

rs a

pply

to q

ualif

ied

reta

il cu

stom

ers

in B

C GM

C De

aler

Mar

ketin

g As

socia

tion

area

onl

y. De

aler

ord

er o

r tra

de m

ay b

e re

quire

d. *

$10

,000

is a

com

bine

d to

tal c

redi

t con

sistin

g of

a $

3,00

0 m

anuf

actu

rer-

to-d

eale

r del

ivery

cre

dit (

tax

exclu

sive)

for 2

016

Sier

ra L

ight

Dut

y Do

uble

Cab

, $1,

000

GM C

ard

Appl

icatio

n Bo

nus,

offe

r app

lies

to in

divid

uals

who

app

ly fo

r a S

cotia

bank

GM

Visa

Car

d (G

M C

ard)

or c

urre

nt G

M C

ard

card

hold

ers

(tax

inclu

sive)

, a $

2,15

5 m

anuf

actu

rer t

o de

aler

Kod

iak

pack

age

Cred

it (ta

x ex

clusiv

e) fo

r 201

6 GM

C Si

erra

Lig

ht D

uty

Doub

le C

ab S

LE e

quip

ped

with

a K

odia

k Ed

ition

and

a $

3,84

5 m

anuf

actu

rer t

o de

aler

cas

h cr

edit

(tax

exclu

sive)

on

GMC

Sier

ra L

ight

Dut

y Do

uble

Cab

SLE

2W

D w

hich

is a

vaila

ble

for c

ash

purc

hase

s on

ly an

d ca

nnot

be

com

bine

d w

ith s

pecia

l lea

se a

nd fi

nanc

e ra

tes.

By s

elec

ting

leas

e or

fina

nce

offe

rs, c

onsu

mer

s ar

e fo

rego

ing

this

$3,8

45 c

redi

t whi

ch, w

ill re

sult

in h

ighe

r effe

ctive

inte

rest

rate

s. ¥

Lea

se b

ased

on

a pu

rcha

se p

rice

of $

38,0

32, i

nclu

ding

$1,

000

GM C

ard

Appl

icatio

n Bo

nus,

offe

r app

lies

to in

divid

uals

who

app

ly fo

r a S

cotia

bank

GM

Visa

Car

d (G

M C

ard)

or c

urre

nt G

M C

ard

card

hold

ers

(tax

inclu

sive)

, $3,

000

man

ufac

ture

r-to-

deal

er d

elive

ry c

redi

t and

a $

1,00

0 bo

nus

cred

it fo

r a n

ew e

ligib

le 2

016

GMC

Sier

ra 1

500

Doub

le C

ab 4

WD

(1SA

). Bi

-wee

kly

paym

ent i

s $1

69 fo

r 24

mon

ths

at 0

% A

PR, o

n ap

prov

ed c

redi

t to

qual

ified

reta

il cu

stom

ers

by G

M F

inan

cial.

Annu

al k

ilom

etre

lim

it of

20,

000

km, $

0.16

per

exc

ess

kilo

met

re. $

3,20

0 do

wn

paym

ent i

s re

quire

d. P

aym

ent m

ay v

ary

depe

ndin

g on

dow

n pa

ymen

t or t

rade

. Tot

al o

blig

atio

n is

$11,

984,

plu

s ap

plica

ble

taxe

s. Op

tion

to p

urch

ase

at le

ase

end

is $2

6,05

1. P

rice

and

tota

l obl

igat

ion

exclu

de li

cens

e, in

sura

nce,

regi

stra

tion,

taxe

s an

d op

tiona

l equ

ipm

ent.

Othe

r lea

se o

ptio

ns a

re a

vaila

ble.

Dea

lers

are

free

to s

et in

divid

ual p

rices

. Lim

ited-

time

offe

r, w

hich

may

not

be

com

bine

d w

ith o

ther

offe

rs. S

ee y

our d

eale

r for

con

ditio

ns a

nd d

etai

ls. G

ener

al M

otor

s of

Can

ada

Com

pany

rese

rves

the

right

to a

men

d or

term

inat

e th

is of

fer,

in w

hole

or

in p

art,

at a

ny ti

me

with

out p

rior n

otice

. ††

Offe

r app

lies

to in

divid

uals

who

app

ly fo

r a S

cotia

bank

® G

M V

isa®

Car

d (G

M C

ard)

or c

urre

nt S

cotia

bank

GM

Visa

Car

dhol

ders

. Cre

dit v

alid

tow

ard

the

reta

il pu

rcha

se o

r lea

se o

f one

elig

ible

201

6 m

odel

-yea

r GM

C de

liver

ed in

Can

ada

betw

een

May

3 a

nd M

ay 3

1, 2

016.

Cre

dit i

s a

man

ufac

ture

r-to-

cons

umer

ince

ntive

(tax

in

clusiv

e) a

nd c

redi

t val

ue d

epen

ds o

n m

odel

pur

chas

ed: $

750

cred

it av

aila

ble

on: G

MC

Terra

in, A

cadi

a Ca

nyon

(exc

ept 2

SA),

Yuko

n an

d Yu

kon

XL. $

1,00

0 cr

edit

avai

labl

e on

: GM

C Si

erra

LD,

Sie

rra H

D. O

ffer

is tra

nsfe

rabl

e to

a fa

mily

mem

ber

livin

g w

ithin

the

sam

e ho

useh

old

(pro

of o

f add

ress

req

uire

d). A

s pa

rt of

the

trans

actio

n, d

eale

r m

ay r

eque

st d

ocum

enta

tion

and

cont

act G

ener

al M

otor

s of

Can

ada

Com

pany

(GM

Can

ada)

to v

erify

elig

ibilit

y. Th

is of

fer

may

not

be

rede

emed

for

cash

and

may

not

be

com

bine

d w

ith c

erta

in o

ther

con

sum

er in

cent

ives.

Certa

in li

mita

tions

or

cond

ition

s ap

ply.

Void

whe

re p

rohi

bite

d. S

ee y

our

GM C

anad

a de

aler

for

deta

ils. G

M C

anad

a re

serv

es th

e rig

ht to

am

end

or te

rmin

ate

offe

rs fo

r an

y re

ason

, in

who

le o

r in

part,

at a

ny ti

me

with

out p

rior n

otice

. † 0

% p

urch

ase

finan

cing

offe

red

by G

M C

anad

a fo

r 84

mon

ths

on a

ll 20

16 G

MC

Terra

in a

nd a

ll 20

16 A

cadi

a m

odel

s. O.

A.C

by R

BC R

oyal

Ban

k/TD

Aut

o Fin

ance

Ser

vices

/Sco

tiaba

nk. R

ates

from

oth

er le

nder

s w

ill va

ry. E

xam

ple:

$10

,000

at 0

% A

PR, m

onth

ly pa

ymen

t is

$119

.05

for 8

4 m

onth

s. Co

st o

f bor

row

ing

is $0

, to

tal o

blig

atio

n is

$10,

000.

Dow

n pa

ymen

t and

/or

trade

may

be

requ

ired.

Mon

thly/

Bi-w

eekl

y pa

ymen

t and

cos

t of b

orro

win

g w

ill va

ry d

epen

ding

on

amou

nt b

orro

wed

and

dow

n pa

ymen

t/tra

de. D

iscou

nts

vary

by

mod

el. ‡

Veh

icle

user

inte

rface

s ar

e pr

oduc

ts o

f App

le®

and

Goo

gle®

and

thei

r te

rms

and

priva

cy s

tate

men

ts a

pply.

Req

uire

s co

mpa

tible

sm

artp

hone

. Dat

a pl

an r

ates

app

ly. ~

Vi

sit o

nsta

r.ca

for

cove

rage

map

s, de

tails

and

sys

tem

lim

itatio

ns. S

ervic

es v

ary

by m

odel

, con

ditio

ns a

nd g

eogr

aphi

cal a

nd te

chni

cal r

estri

ctio

ns. O

nSta

r w

ith 4

G LT

E co

nnec

tivity

is a

vaila

ble

on s

elec

t veh

icle

mod

els

and

in s

elec

t mar

kets

. Ava

ilabl

e W

i-Fi®

hot

spot

req

uire

s a

data

pla

n. C

usto

mer

s w

ill be

abl

e to

acc

ess

OnSt

ar s

ervic

es o

nly

if th

ey

acce

pt th

e On

Star

Use

r Ter

ms,

Priva

cy S

tate

men

t and

Sof

twar

e Te

rms.

OnSt

ar a

cts

as a

link

to e

xistin

g em

erge

ncy

serv

ice p

rovid

ers.

Not a

ll ve

hicle

s m

ay tr

ansm

it al

l cra

sh d

ata.

Afte

r the

tria

l per

iod

(if a

pplic

able

), an

act

ive O

nSta

r ser

vice

plan

is re

quire

d. ^

^ Th

e 2-

Year

Sch

edul

ed L

OF M

aint

enan

ce P

rogr

am p

rovid

es e

ligib

le c

usto

mer

s in

Can

ada

who

hav

e pu

rcha

sed,

le

ased

or f

inan

ced

a ne

w e

ligib

le 2

016

GMC

vehi

cle w

ith a

n AC

Delco

oil

and

filte

r cha

nge,

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith th

e Oi

l Life

Mon

itorin

g Sy

stem

and

the

Owne

r’s M

anua

l, fo

r 2 y

ears

or 4

8,00

0km

, whi

chev

er o

ccur

s fir

st, w

ith a

lim

it of

four

lube

-oil-

filte

r ser

vices

in to

tal,

perfo

rmed

at p

artic

ipat

ing

GM d

eale

rs. F

luid

top-

offs

, ins

pect

ions

, tire

rota

tions

, whe

el a

lignm

ents

and

ba

lanc

ing,

etc

., ar

e no

t cov

ered

. Thi

s of

fer m

ay n

ot b

e re

deem

ed fo

r cas

h an

d m

ay n

ot b

e co

mbi

ned

with

cer

tain

oth

er c

onsu

mer

ince

ntive

s av

aila

ble

on G

M v

ehicl

es. G

ener

al M

otor

s of

Can

ada

Com

pany

rese

rves

the

right

to a

men

d or

term

inat

e th

is of

fer,

in w

hole

or i

n pa

rt, a

t any

tim

e w

ithou

t prio

r not

ice. A

dditi

onal

con

ditio

ns a

nd li

mita

tions

app

ly. S

ee d

eale

r for

det

ails.

2016 GMC TERRAIN SLE-1 AWD SHOWN 2016 GMC ACADIA SLE-1 AWD SHOWN

84 MONTHS ON ALL MODELS

FORUP TO0%

PURCHASE FINANCING†

84 MONTHS ON ALL MODELS

FORUP TO0%

PURCHASE FINANCING†

2016 GMC ACADIA2016 GMC TERRAIN

2016 GMC SIERRA 1500ELEVATION EDITION• APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO CAPABILITY‡

• ONSTAR WITH 4G LTE WI-FI~

• PREMIUM FRONT LED ACCENT LIGHTING

• BLACK-PAINTED 20” WHEELS

2016 GMC SIERRA 1500 ELEVATION EDITION SHOWN

$3,200 DOWN PAYMENT. BASED ON PURCHASE PRICE OF $38,032¥. INCLUDES FREIGHT, PDI, $3,000 DELIVERY CREDIT, $1,000 BONUS CREDIT AND $1,000 GM CARD APPLICATION BONUS††.

$169 0%LEASE RATE

BI-WEEKLY LEASE

@ 24MONTHS

FOR

WITH PRECISION FEATURES THAT INCLUDE:

TRAILERING EQUIPMENT REMOTE VEHICLE STARTER SYSTEM

DUAL-ZONE CLIMATE CONTROL

SIERRA KODIAK EDITIONUP TO $10,000 IN TOTAL VALUE*INCLUDES $1,000 GM CARD APPLICATION BONUS††

Call Coast Mountain Chevrolet Buick GMC at 250-847-2214, or visit us at 4038 Yellowhead Highway 16 West, Smithers. [License #10041]

COMMUNITY

Advertising space donated by The Interior News

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

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

Laura 250-846-5742

It’s absolutely FREE!

Bringing Local Community information & gifts

*Covering Smithers & Area

New Baby?New to Town?

For story ideas or advertisingThe Interior News • 250-847-32664-H JUDGES

HORSING AROUNDGuest and peer judges in a wide variety of 4-H categories were at the Bulkley Valley Exhibition grounds Saturday. There were over 130 competitors who came from Vanderhoof to Haida Gwaii.

Grant Harris photo


1261 Toronto Street• 2 bedroom, 1 level home• Vinyl siding, metal roof• Completely renovated throughout• Fenced yard, RV parking

Donna Grudgfield mls r2064773

$62,500

Lots 1-3 Trail Ave, Telkwa• 3 premium building lots• Approximately half an acre each• Cleared, flat, easy to develop• Water and sewer at lot line

Sandra Hinchliffe

$194,900

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

Kiesha Matthews mls r2035301

$588,000

$194,900

15058 Kitseguecla Lake Road• 40 acre country estate• Hay land, pasture, 20 min to town• 5700 sq ft, 6 bedroom, 3½ bathroom• Picturesque setting, great views

Ron Lapadat mls r2007019

1328 Coalmine Road• Affordable 4 bedroom, 2 bath home• Full basement, large rec room• Fenced yard, sundeck, gas fireplace• Hobby room, suite potential

Karen Benson mls r2058822

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

22011 Kitseguecla Loop Road• 39.5 acres of open & treed property• Huge pond, nice views• 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms• 17 years old, well kept

Donna Grudgfield mls 2063931

7520 Horlings Road• 4 bedroom home on 5 acres• Updated windows & appliances• Large wrap around sundeck• New 30x30 heated workshop

Sandra Hinchliffe mls r2064960

516 Kispiox Westside Road• 166 acres in the Kispiox Valley• Partially cleared/fenced• Date Creek on property, 528sf cabin• Close to world class fishing


$219,500 $194,500

$379,000

$545,000

$369,500

$229,000

3632 Alfred Avenue• Well kept side by side duplex• Positive cash flow with 20% down• 3 bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms per side• www.smithershomes.com

Ron Lapadat mls r2057421

Highway 16, Smithers• 28,800 sf with 240’ of Hwy frontage• Great location• Near high school and KFC• C-3 commercial zone

Sandra Hinchliffe mls n4507490

4245 Mountainview Crescent• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms• Cul-de-sac location, fenced yard• Open design, large rooms• Detached storage shed, carport


$299,500

3755 Eleventh Avenue• Spacious 3+ bedroom family home• Close to shopping and downtown• Large lot, garden and sundeck• Detached heated 30x20 shop

Peter Lund mls r2043061

$352,000

5933 Raceway Road• Country living on 5.1 acres• 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, fireplace• View, sundeck, double carport, shop• www.realestatesmithers.com

Leo Lubbers mls r2051790

$169,500

$229,500

223 Poplar Park Road• Kispiox valley house on 10 acres• Home offers 1466 sf of living space• Shop could convert into 2nd home• Park like, walk to river and fishing

Charlie & Ron mls n243329

16135 Babine Lake Road• Cozy log cabin on park like 10 acres• Wired 44x28 shop, wood shed• Screened porch, newer appliances• 15 min from town on paved road

Jantina Meints mls r2062099

NEW LISTING $59,500$289,500

Trail Avenue, Telkwa• 5 lots, hillside, ridge, view• Building site cleared• Lots of trees for privacy• Serviced with sewer & water


$319,900

6105 Husky Road, Smithers• 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 13+ acres• Creek, view, very private• Covered patio, outbuildings• www.realestatesmithers.com


$238,500

25611 Highway 16 West• 8 acres, 15 min West of Smithers• 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, large entry• Bulkley River frontage• www.realestatesmithers.com


$299,900

$209,000

Chandler Park Estates• Phase 1, quick possession available• Luxury 2 bed, 2 bath adult complex• 1260 sf, wheelchair accessible• www.smithershomes.com

Ron Lapadat

17771 Highway 16, Smithers• 900 sq ft well-built and clean home• 2.23 acres, 8 minutes from town• 2 bedrooms, full basement• www.liveinsmithers.com


NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING $299,500

4487 Elm Drive• Well kept home, backs onto creek• Many upgrades, basement entry• Carport, shed, 10x20 sundeck• www.realestatesmithers.com


$269,000

5716 Morris Road, Telkwa• 10.68 acres, fenced/x-fenced• Updated mobile with addition• Drilled well, new appliances• Gardens, greenhouse, shop


$315,000

1404 Columbia Drive• One owner, full bsmt bungalow• Good location, osbe, shop• Vaulted ceilings, fireplace• www.realestatesmithers.com

Leo Lubbers

$424,000

$190,000

1995 Dominion Street• Large well maintained family home• 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, rec room• Shop, 2 car garage, concrete drive• Nicely landscaped, fenced yard

Sandra Hinchliffe mls r2051292

1618 Third Street, Telkwa• Renovated 3 bedroom home• Quiet lot with fire pit, lilac bushes• Newly constructed storage shed• www.liveinsmithers.com


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

NEWPRICE

NEWPRICE

NEWPRICE

NEWPRICE

NEW LISTING

COMMUNITY

MEETING SCHEDULE 2016

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

PUBLIC IS WELCOME

“A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIESWITHIN OUR REGION”37, 3RD Avenue,

PO Box 820,Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0

www.rdbn.bc.ca

PH: 250-692-3195TF: 800-320-3339FX: 250-692-3305

E-MAIL:[email protected]

May 12, 2016 ...............RDBN Committee Meetings(May 12 Meetings will be held in Vanderhoof at the Integris Credit Union Boardroom – 201 West Stewart Street)

May 26, 2016 ...............RDBN Board Meeting/SNRHD Meeting

Back to Earth with hair of the dog

SPICE

OF LIFEBrenda Mallory

Let’s get down to Earth! So many of you

have told me about the birds in your area. No real surprise, I guess. It does seem to me for those of us who like to watch our birds every year, it is a new event.

Let me share a few of the birds who are living here now: Siskins, mountain chickadees, black-capped chickadees. Juncos, nuthatch, brown creeper, flickers, sapsuckers, pileated, downy and hairy woodpeckers. Crows, warblers, h u m m i n g b i r d s and a common snipe making that winnowing sound. Today I had a few purple finches at a feeder.

Now, talking about feeders, I have been asked if this is the time to stop feeding the birds. I know some who have stopped. I still feed just so I can see who is new on the scene.

I have put out a bit of dog hair, and I see that the chickadees are taking it away. Crows are nesting, sapsuckers are doing the same. Tree swallows are taking pieces of straw to their nests.

I had hoped to get some wood cut with my trusty chainsaw. I will of course wait until the nesting process is over. I mention my handy Stihl lithium ion powered saw just in case there is a person out there who could use such a good tool. The battery can be used on a weed eater or a lawn mower.

Where can you get one? Try Evergreen Industrial Supplies in Smithers. You can get things like that at other stores but for my money I quite like that if I need help I can drop in to Evergreen.

There has been a discussion at our coffee group about the use of Roundup

and other poisons for your garden. You can get a chemical to kill all manner of bugs and weeds. I don’t use any chemicals. If for some reason you feel the urge to eliminate something living, take the time to find out all you can. It’s probably worth it.

Talking about

gardens, remember adding coffee grounds to the soil is a good thing. Crushed eggshell adds some great nutrients as well. Worried about aphids? A banana peel buried under the soil works, I am told. I am going to try that with my roses.

Before I leave you today, I would like to

thank all of you who take the time to call or send an email. A special thanks for the gift goes out to Joel Potts in Ontario. He is a former resident of this area. What a nice thing to do!

Those calls come to 250-846-5095 and the email notes come to [email protected].

THREE RIVERS REPORTwww.interior-news.com A23The Interior News Wednesday, May 11, 2016

SMITHERS CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH

Sunday Worship Service at 10 a.m.4035 Walnut Dr.

Sunday School for ages 3-6 during the morning worship service.

Pastor Ken Vander Horst

[email protected] 250-847-2333

“Groundwork”on The Peak at 9:30 am Sundays

Come worship with us at

FAITH REFORMED CHURCH OF TELKWA

Pastor James Folkerts(URC-NA)

1170 Hwy 16, Telkwa

Services at 10 am & 2:30 pm

Listen to Abounding Grace Radio Program”

Sundays at 7:00 pm on CJFW 105.5 FM

FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

on the corner of Queen St. and 7th Ave.

Morning Worship 10:45 am with Junior

Church and Nursery

Pastor Warren Trenholmwww.smithersbaptist.ca

250-847-3725

Saturday Service• Everyone Welcome •

Seventh Day AdventistContact 250-847-5983

3696 4th AvenueWeekend Mass Times: Saturday 5 p.m. & Sunday 9 a.m.

St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Parish

4023 1st Avenue Ph: 250-847-2012 • website: http://stjosephsmithers.com

SMITHERS UNITED CHURCH

250-847-3333

Sunday 10:00 AMWorship &

Children’s Program

At the corner of Queen St. & [email protected]

Main St. Christian

FellowshipSunday mornings 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Rick Apperson

1065 Main St., SmithersPhone:

250-847-1059

CANADIANREFORMED CHURCH

Pastor James Slaa2788 Viewmount Rd. South

All welcome to attend!Contact number 250-847-5879

www.smitherscanrc.org

Sunday WorshipServices

10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Af� liated with the PAOC

Welcomes You!Sunday School – 9:45 a.m.

Classes for all agesSunday Morning Worship – 11:00 a.m.

Corner of Viewmount Rd South & Hwy 16250-847-2466

www.mvachurch.com

Welcomes You!

FAITH REFORMED CHURCH OF TELKWA

“Abounding Grace Radio Program”

BAPTIST CHURCHBAPTIST CHURCH

Christian FellowshipSunday mornings 10:30 a.m.

1065 Main St., Smithers

Join us for Services. Renew your FAITH! We welcome visitorsand new members.

Faith Alive

Upper � oor Fitness Northwest Centre, Broadway Ave.

10-12 noon SundaysYouth meeting Fridays at 7 pm

Rev. Don Mott,Phone 250-847-3864

Christian Fellowship

ST. JAMESANGLICAN CHURCH

Rev. Jacob WorleySunday10:00 am - Service and Sunday School

4th Sunday2:00 pm service at St. John the Divine, Quick250-847-6155 • Quick250-847-9881 • Smithers

1636 Princess StreetWelcomes you to worship with us 10 am & 2:30 pm every Sunday

3115 Gould Place

Smithers

Pastor Lou Slagter

250-847-2080

Bethel Reformed

Church

Meeting in the Historic St. Stephen’s Church

1620 Highway 16 in Telkwa

Sunday Morning Worship 10 am

For information

PO Box 874, Smithers, B.C.

Mount ZionLutheran Church

Rev. Dwayne GoertzenPastor Trevor Brawdy

250-847-2929Email: [email protected]

Website: www.smithersefc.orgServices at 9 & 11:15 a.m.Sunday School 10:15 a.m.

1838 Main St.

EVANGELICAL FREE

CHURCH

By Alicia BridgesHazeltons/Interior News

The District of New Hazelton is preparing to introduce curbside garbage collection and recycling this summer.

A mandatory, biweekly service for residential properties will start in July if the District council passes a draft bylaw at its June 6 meeting.

The town’s population of about 650 currently has to take its rubbish to a landfill about five kilometres from the town centre, or pay a private contractor to remove it.

District corporate officer Robyn Carle said the new service was being established to accommodate a new landfill being built adjacent to the existing one by the District of Kitimat-Stikine.

“Typically speaking when they put new landfills in place they

really restrict what they take in, in terms of recyclables,” she said.

“So we wanted to get ahead of the game and basically get a recycling program in place to get people recycling now.”

Owners of residential properties with up to four units will be charged $264 per dwelling, while buildings with between five and ten units will pay $249.

The service will not be available to commercial properties. Carle said reactions to the mandatory residential fee had been mixed.

“We’ve had some people that are really positive and then some people that prefer to take their own garbage and do their own recycling,” she said.

A service route and schedule is currently being developed by Hazelton company Trollzone Enterprises, which has been contracted to deliver the service.

Curbside garbage service starts July

GREASE BRINGS SUMMER FUN The Pink Ladies will brighten the stage during Hazelton Secondary School’s production of Grease this week. Details, page 27.

Yet Klare photoSee DISTRICT on A27


THREE RIVERS REPORT

Environmental Assessment of the Proposed

Kemess Underground Project

Invitation to Comment

AuRico Metals Inc. (Proponent) is proposing to develop and operate the Kemess Underground Project (proposed Project), an underground copper-gold mine, located approximately 250 kilometres north of Smithers in north-central British Columbia. The proposed Project would process approximately 24,650 tonnes of ore per day over a 13-year mine life. The proposed Project is subject to review under the BC Environmental Assessment Act (2002) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (2012). BC’s Environmental Assessment process will be substituted for the federal process, meeting both federal and provincial requirements for environmental assessment. Provincial and Federal ministers will each make their own decision on whether or not to approve the project. More information on Substitution is available at: http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/substitution.html The Proponent has now submitted its application (Application) to obtain an environmental assessment certificate which is required before any work can be undertaken on the proposed Project. In order to receive comments from the public, the Environmental Assessment Office of British Columbia (EAO) invites the public to submit comments on the Application.

There are 30 days for the submission of comments by the public in relation to the Application. The comment period will begin on May 18, 2016 and end on June 17, 2016.

All comments received during this comment period in relation to the Application will be considered. The intention of seeking public comments is to ensure that all potential effects – environmental, economic, social, heritage and health – that might result from the proposed Project are identified for consideration as part of the assessment process. EAO accepts public comments in the following ways: By Online Form at:

http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/pcp/index.html By Mail:

Fern Stockman, Project Assessment Manager Environmental Assessment Office PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9V1

By Fax: Fax: 250-387-2208

An electronic copy of the Application and information regarding the environmental assessment process are available at www.eao.gov.bc.ca. Digital copies of the Application are also available for viewing at these locations:

• Mackenzie Public Library (400 Skeena Dr) • Smithers Public Library (3817 Alfred Ave) • Terrace Public Library (4610 Park Ave) • Prince George Public Library (888 Canada Games

Way)

NOTE: All submissions received by EAO during the comment period in relation to the proposed Project are considered public and will be posted to EAO website.

At Kimberley’s Kitchen, every ingre-dient matters. Kim-berley Anne Mulla takes great pride and care in every gourmet food item she makes. She hand-picks all of her fruits and vegetables and many items come directly from local farms and farmers. Kimber-ley’s Kitchen choc-olate products are made with fair trade chocolate produced

from ethically-grown and harvested co-coa beans and has a richer, deeper flavour. Foodies will find a delectable selection of sweet treats, in-cluding candy, con-fections and baked goods created with care and baked in small batches to en-sure high quality and consistency in every product.

Committed to our ar-ea’s overall well-being by offering Kimberly Kitchen treats, local produce, meats, baked goods, seafood & more.

Homemade treats to tempt

St. Joseph’s School Pre-Kindergarten Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fri., May 27th

Doors open at 8am• Children must be 4 years of age by

December 31, 2016 to enroll in this program.

• Please bring your child’s Care Card and immunization record.

• The first month’s fee is payable at time of registration.

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning class - $170.00 per month

• Tuesday & Thursday morning class - $115.00 / month.

Class times are from 8:30 - 11:30 am.

For more info call the school office at 250-847-9414

Madii Lii to turn away huntersThe camp blocks access to a section of the Suskwa

Forest Service Road with a gate at the Suskwa River. It was originally built to stop pipeline crews from

accessing the land without permission from the Luutkudziiwus house group, but Madii Lii members say they will also refuse entry to hunters and guides whose permits were issued without consultation.

Madii Lii spokesperson Richard Wright was copied in to the Ministry’s letter to Sebastian, but Wright says the Ministry should have consulted Charlie Wright directly.

“As a result of you engaging Gordon Sebastian on behalf of our House, the Simgigyet and members of our House will not recognize this government issued certificate,” Wright wrote in an email to Ministry First Nations relations advisor William Elliott.

“The applicants, Jack and Lloyd Hooper, will not

be granted access to our land. “Further, they will be kicked off our land if found trespassing.”

Wright said Madii Lii would also be blocking individual hunters with permits from accessing the land due to concerns about long-term impacts on wildlife numbers.

He said the Ministry should be informing hunters that Madii Lii planned to refuse them access.

“They kind of pit us against industry and they pit us against hunters,” he said.

“You can walk into their office and you can pick up a hunting bear tag right now and it will be for our area and they already know there’s a situation here and they are not coming to the table to try to resolve it.”

Babine Guide Outfitters co-owner Lloyd Hooper said his business had held a certificate for the area that overlaps Luutkudziiwus since 1998.

From HUNT on Front

See BABINE on A26


THREE RIVERS REPORT

We invite everyone to celebrate our Cadet’s accomplishments by attending this important event.

invites you to attend our

Annual Ceremonial ReviewMay 14th at 1:45pm

Smithers Secondary School Gym

204 Babine Royal Canadian Sea Cadets

50th Anniversary!Followed by refreshments at Cadet Hall

Open House at sailing camp atSmithers Landing, Sun. May 15th

Pharmacy Hours to meet your needs.

Our pharmacy is open:Monday - Friday 9am - 9pm

Saturday - 9am - 6pm Sunday - 10am - 5pm

Come see what we have to offer at the Pharmacy!Going traveling? We have you covered:• All pharmacist certifi ed to

administer vaccines• Customized individual or

group travel consultations by appointment

• Travel vaccines provided, no need for a prescription

No charge services:• Medication reviews• Compliance packaging• Compounding• Diabetes educator on site

for all your diabetes needs • Refi ll reminders• Compression garment fi tting• Brace fi tting

Ask us if you prescription qualifi es for renewal by our pharmacist!

1235 MAIN ST.250.847.2288

shoppersdrugmart.ca

Locally owner & operated. Open late to serve you on Main St Smithers.

Competitive Rates for any size business.

• Seasonal Contracting • • Carpets • Floors • Windows •

• General Cleaning •

“For all your cleaning needs”

Serving Smithers and Surrounding Area

Looking for donations of new/used medical supplies/equipment.

[email protected]

Growing mental health More than 300 people gathered

under a bright blue sky to promote mental health in the Hazeltons last week.

A free barbecue and garden planting were among the activities at a Mental Health Week event hosted by Hazelton Community Wellness Local Action Team last Wednesday.

Held at the Senden Sustainable

Agriculture Resource Centre, the gathering also encouraged attendees to decorate their own sunflower pot in line with the theme of “what I need to grow.”

Members of the crowd also painted their “vision for wellness” as part of a community art project.

According to organizers, about half of the 300 people who attended were youth.

Young people learn to stay safe on the water, and youth decorate sun� ower pots at a Mental Health Week event in Hazelton last week.

Contributed photos


THREE RIVERS REPORT

June 4th & 5th, 2016At the Kispiox ValleyRodeo Grounds 26 kms North of Hazelton

Rodeo Starts 1 p.m. both days

Friday Night Dance, 10 pmAdvance Only Tickets $20 plus gate admissionat BV Credit Union, New Hazelton& Kispiox Gas Bar (No Minors)

Saturday Night DanceFree to Rodeo Spectators9:00 pm (No Alcohol )

Phone Rodeo Entries to: 250-842-6287 May 16 4 -8 pm

EVERYONE MUST PAY TO ENTER THE GROUNDSNO GLASS ON GROUNDS – NO DOGS OFF LEASH OR IN BLEACHERS!!

No Late Vendors, No Early Birds, No Fireworks

Rodeo Admission: Adults $20 / day or $35 / weekendSeniors / Students $15 / dayor $25 / weekendChildren 5 & under freeCamping $30/Unit Weekend (no reservations)or $50/Early Bird Campers

The Biggest Little Rodeo in the West!

GREAT FUN

For Information Phone:Brenda @ 250-842-6350 oror 842-6287 or [email protected]

Sanctioned by the British Columbia Rodeo AssociationStock Contractor C-Plus Rodeo Company-Williams Lake, B.C.

Stock Contractor: C-Plus Rodeo Company, Williams Lake, B.C.$2000 Team Roping, Barrel Racing, Steer Wrestling$1000 Tie Down & Breakaway Roping, Bareback, Saddle Bronc, BullRiding $2000 Wild Horse Race$1000 Jr. Breakaway, Jr. Steer Riding, Jr. Barrels$500 Novice Roughstock$200 Pee Wee Barrels$400 Cowhide Race$100 Rescue Race, Ride & Lead$200 Wild Cow Milking$300 Open Pole Bending$100 Calf ScrambleTrophy Stickhorse RaceTrophy Kids Mutton Bustin’Popsicles Kids Boot Race$100 Musical Ride$50 Last Minute Foot Races 10 & Under -11 to 16 - 17 to 30 -31 to 50 -Over 50• Jim Olson Silver Trophy Buckles• 3 x World Champion Keith Dinwoodie – Announcer• Dance Music by ‘Axes of Ego’• Beer Gardens, Pancake Breakfast Saturday &

Sunday, Beef Bar-B-Q, Log Cabin Concession, Kispiox Valley Drill Team

• Best Western Business Awards• Many Concessions & Vendors• Rodeo T-Shirts Designed by Roy Henry Vickers• Great Canadian Cowboys/Cowgirls• Bid on the right to name a bucking horse at the

Sunday auction

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

69th ANNUAL

Great Fun for the Whole Family & Aiming to Keep it That Way!!!

NO HARD CORE PARTYERSSAVE YOUR MONEY & STAY HOME!

“Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day”Sunday, June 5th

For Information Phone:

The Bulkley Valley Community Foundation provides schol-arships and bursaries for 2016 graduating students who attend high school in Smithers, Houston and Hazelton.

Applications are accepted from April 1 to May 15, 2016. Scholarships and bursaries are awarded to qualifying

students in each of these communities.

The information package, bursary and scholarship criteria and application form is available on the Foundation website

www.bvcf.ca under the grants and scholarships icon.

For further information contact:

Ms. Geri Britton, Executive Director BV Community Foundation

Box 4584, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0PH: 250-847-3310 Email: [email protected]

Like Us ~ www.facebook.com/SmithersInteriorNews ~

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

Ministry should do more: Babine guide

His guides have started avoiding the Madii Lii area after trying to access it with mixed results. Hooper said his business had not been strongly impacted because he held certificates for large swathes of land, but he would need to use it in 2016 due to changes to quotas in other areas.

“This year it’s going to affect us huge if we can’t get in there, just because we’ve got a lot more clients this year and ... our quotas are limited to the area that that access is for,” he said.

He plans to meet with Richard Wright in the near future, but he believes the government needs to do more to bring an end to the dispute.

“Whether they have to go and take care of it either forcefully or whatever, or they’ve got to compensate the permit-holders that have access to that land,” said Hooper.

Hooper said the pending certificate requires anyone who wants to guide on the land to purchase access from Babine Guide Outfitters, something he would be willing to consider.

Richard Wright said Madii Lii wanted to know how the permit would benefit their house group.

“A 25-year, non-competing, guided outfitters hunting licence is really significant to us and it would be a loss of economic opportunities to our house group and we are the ones who inherited the responsibility to manage the resources and our land out there,” he said.

He said Madii Lii has existing partnerships with other companies, who helped with land-clearing and construction in exchange for access to their land.

The Ministry said in an email that it was in discussions to address the concerns raised by Madii Lii members. It said it would not advise hunters about the camp because licences were not issued for specific areas, except for “limited entry hunts” that were allocated through a draw. Some areas of a zone for mountain goat hunting are only accessible through the Suskwa Forest Service Road, but the Ministry said the rest of the Madii Lii area has a general open season for all species.

“As long as an area is open to hunting, the ministry does not direct hunters where/where not to hunt,” said the Ministry in its email. “When blockades affect hunters, the Ministry has placed advisories on its website to notify hunters and will consider doing so for the Madii Lii area.”

The Ministry said it was not aware of “any specific issues with guided hunting in the area.”

It said it was aware of the dispute over the “Luutkudziiwus” title and had agreed to share information about government activities with both Gordon Sebastian and Charlie Wright.

However, it said it recognized Sebastian, and not Wright, as the hereditary chief for that territory.

“The ministry’s approach to consultation has been guided by historic agreements with the Gitxsan hereditary chiefs, which identify Gordon Sebastian as the chief,” it said.

From MADII on A24


THREE RIVERS REPORT

INNOVATION

Continuous improvement is at the heart of Canada’s pipeline industry. Continuous improvement is at the heart of Canada’s pipeline industry. Smart Pipeline Inspection Gauges, or Smart PIGs, are just one powerful Smart Pipeline Inspection Gauges, or Smart PIGs, are just one powerful technology that allows companies to detect problems and prevent incidents. technology that allows companies to detect problems and prevent incidents. Thanks to these innovative technologies, regular inspections and vigilant Thanks to these innovative technologies, regular inspections and vigilant Thanks to these innovative technologies, regular inspections and vigilant Thanks to these innovative technologies, regular inspections and vigilant Thanks to these innovative technologies, regular inspections and vigilant Thanks to these innovative technologies, regular inspections and vigilant 24/7 monitoring, Canadian pipelines are built and maintained to last 24/7 monitoring, Canadian pipelines are built and maintained to last for for decades of safe operation.decades of safe operation.

Learn more about our preparedness measures at:Learn more about our preparedness measures at:aboutpipelines.comaboutpipelines.com

Delivering Canada’s energy. Every day.Delivering Canada’s energy. Every day.

Have a Story?

250-847-3266Email [email protected]

Find us on Facebook atSmithers Interior News

Let us know

Follow Us@SmithersNews

Choose your own garbage container

The District plans to distribute flyers with information about which items are recyclable.

Residents who use the service will need to separate their paper and cardboard items into a clear plastic bag, but other recyclables will not need to be sorted.

The District will not be providing garbage cans so residents will be free to package their items in their own containers.

Carle said the District was not expecting the trash to attract wildlife because there were restrictions on how long people could leave their garbage at the curb.

“At this point we’re not requiring a specialized bin that is bear-proof,” she said.

“That’s probably something that we will see how it goes and go from there.

“Most people around here are familiar with [the idea] that you shouldn’t leave your garbage out.”

Residents will not be allowed to take their rubbish out before 10 p.m. the day prior to pick-up, and it will have to be removed by 10 p.m. on the collection day.

Anyone who breaches the bylaw could be fined between $100 and $1,000 for a first offence, and between $200 and $2,000 for violating it a second time.

The service limits garbage to two containers, but there is no limit on the amount of recyclables.

From JULY on A23

Hazelton Secondary School’s “T-Birds”.Yet Klare photo

Grease arrivesThe Pink Ladies and

the T-Birds will meet this week when the Hazelton Secondary School (HSS) presents Grease, the musical.

Directed by HSS graduate Max Beertema, the production will be performed at HSS from May 12-15.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. before the show starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for youth and $15 for adults from the cast and crew, the HSS office, BVCU Hazelton, Mercedes Beans, Point One 8 Clothing and Silver Birch Floral and Gifts.

MEAT

Hawkins Cheezies640 g

597

Your Pantry Fill Specialists

NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED!

Sun Rype Juice Boxes Apple or Orange, 8x5x200 ml

1099

Christie CookiesAssorted Varieties, 300 g

2 for 598

Old Dutch Potato Chipsor Arribas, Tortillas or Kettle230-300 g

4 for 1000

Nabob Tradition Coffee930 g

1399Bull’s Eye Barbecue Sauce Assorted Varieties 425 ml

2 for 500

Chapman’s Ice CreamAssorted Varieties, 2 litre

2 for 698

Deli World Sesame Hamburger Buns12’s

399

Kraft Miracle Whip2 Varieties, 890 ml

449

Crayola JumboColouring Pack

1499

Softsoap VarietyBody Wash4x532 ml

899

Windex GlassCleanerRe� ll, 5 litre

1298

Bick’s Squeeze Relish500 ml

299

Culinary TreasuresAioli SauceChipotle, 2x750 ml

799Philadelphia Chip DipsAssorted Varieties ,227 g

299

Nature Valley Granola Bars Variety PackCrunchy or Sweet andSalty, 1.26-1.53 kg

999

Deep Woods Off3 Pack

1699Kellogg’s Mega Jumbo Mini Wheatsor Vector, 1.13-1.6 kg

699

PRODUCE FEATURED

GREAT BARGAINS

Mon. to Thurs. 8 am - 7 pm • Fri. 8 am - 8 pm • Sat. 8 am - 7 pm • Sun. 9 am - 6 pm3302 Highway 16 Smithers, BC • (250) 847-3313 • 1 (800) 579-3313 • bulkleyvalleywholesale.com

Western Family 1/4 Pounder Burgers 2.25kg

1879ea.

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Superpack, 12.54/kg

569/lb

Fresh Mushrooms

249/lb

Red Seedless Grapes

299/lb

Nugget Potatoes 908 g

369ea.

Kraft Salad DressingsAssorted Varieties, 475 ml

2 for 500

May 11-17, 2016

Freybe SmokiesBavarian EuropeanFrankfurters, 500g/600g

659ea.

Golden Boy Sierra Trail Mix1 kg

899

Value PricedPaper Towel6 roll

499

Coca-Cola Products12x355ml

2 for 888Plus Deposit, Plus Eco-Fee

Monster Energy Drinks 444-473 ml

4 for 888Plus Deposit, Plus Eco-Fee


Smithers Interior News, May 11, 2016

Documents

Transcript of Smithers Interior News, May 11, 2016