The news you need. The fun you want. September 2013www.flipsidenews.ca

By Bruce LantzAbout 100 people jammed the

Montney Community Hall Aug. 20 to voice opposition to a recent build-ing bylaw implemented by the Peace River Regional District (PRRD).

The bylaw, which would see per-mits required before homes and other structures can be built in rural areas, was implemented without consulting rural residents. The ensu-ing opposition prompted the PRRD to schedule 19 public meetings throughout the region. Reports are that virtually everyone attending the meetings opposes the bylaw.

“At no time did you ask any of us if we wanted it,” said landowner Dean Anderson. “Asking would have saved yourselves a lot of trou-ble.”

Walter Stewart, who has collect-ed more than 1,300 names on a peti-tion against the bylaw, said people don’t want changes to the bylaw;

they want it rescinded. He also asked “who was really” behind the bylaw.

“You snuck this bylaw in and didn’t even follow your own proce-dures,” Stewart argued. “Who gave you the right to inflict this bylaw on anyone?”

Tempers flared throughout the meeting. The PRRD board was called incompetent, pawns of admin-istration, deceitful, and Communists, and Area B Director Karen Goodings, who chaired the meeting, was told to resign.

“We’re sick of paying high wages to people who don’t know what they’re doing,” said Bill Bickford.

Goodings said the bylaw came from a desire to have “fairness and equity across the region”. But after some prodding she admitted that what she was hearing at the ‘Community Consultations’ had convinced her that the bylaw is inap-propriate – a position also taken by

Area C Director Arthur Hadland, who was in the audience.

“This has to do with indepen-dence and freedom. It’s about trust,” he said.

After the meeting Goodings said the rural directors wanted to listen, and tried, but there was little discus-sion of the actual bylaw. “In 25 years (on the board) I have never purpose-ly done anything even remotely to hurt people,” she said, agreeing that there was little in the way of con-structive suggestions about the future direction the regional district should consider on this issue.

“But we’re getting the message and we have to do something,” said Goodings.

She said once the bylaw is rescinded, as is likely, perhaps peo-ple from the four rural areas in the district could be invited to sit on a committee to come up with other ways to tackle this problem.

Bruce Lantz photosNearly 100 people packed into the Montney Hall to express opposition to a building bylaw implemented by the Peace River Regional District (PRRD). The opposition stemmed mainly from the PRRD’s failure to consult the public before implementing the bylaw, which requires per-mits before homes and other structures can be built in rural areas. A sign affixed to a vehicle outside the meeting called the PRRD “dicta-tors”.

Opposition strong at meeting

2 The Flipside September 2013

EDITORIAL

Correction requiredWhen passions run high,

sometimes good manners disappear. A recent ‘Community Consultation’ held in Montney, as part of a series of public meetings organized by the Peace River Regional District to gauge public response to the implementation of a building bylaw in rural areas, was more attack than consultation.

Nearly 100 people jammed the Montney Community Hall to voice their opposition to the bylaw. If they had left it at that there would be no problem; that was the purpose of the meeting, after all. But it was more than a little disheartening to listen as one after the other slammed the regional district board and particularly Area B director (and long-serving district board chair Karen Goodings, accusing them - and her - of everything from being Communists to toadies of the administration. There even was a call for Goodings to resign because she originally supported the notion of a building bylaw, as did the other rural directors who recommended it to the full board.

It kind of makes you wonder what happened to the ‘gentlemen farmers’ we used to hear about. You know, those folks who would hear you out, agree to disagree, and then go for coffee with you afterward. Some of us who own farmland in Area B can be excused for feeling more than a little embarrassed that personal attacks marred what should have been a public exchange of views in a reasonable and forthright manner.

We know, it’s fashionable these days to denigrate politicians. But when you start from a position

that their motives are suspect and therefore everything they do is suspicious, underhanded and self-serving, then you are doing them and yourselves a disservice. When you criticize without acknowledging the good they have done, it simply isn’t fair.

Like all humans, they make mistakes. This, perhaps, was one. But Goodings and the other regional district directors owned up to the error of not consulting rural landowners before implementing the bylaw and are now trying to make things right. Isn’t that what we should expect from our political representatives, just as we would from our families, friends and neighbours? Or should we demand perfection? In that roomful of nearly 100, how many could say they haven’t made a mistake? Listening to the most virulent voices among them, apparently there were several in that room. Meeting them would be a pleasure, as perfect people are hard to come by.

Karen Goodings has served the people of Area B for 25 years, and has served them well. She did not deserve to be castigated for making a mistake, or saying she would decide on rescinding the bylaw only after hearing the input from all 20 public meetings, or even not knowing off the top of her head how much money had been spent on implementing the bylaw. But she stood throughout the meeting and took the insults with grace few of us would have been able to manage. She, and the other directors, deserve better.

- Bruce Lantz

HONOUREDBob Zimmer, MP for Prince George-Peace River, presents the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal to Robert ‘Bo’ Hedges, on behalf of the Governor General of Canada Aug. 14. Hedges received the medal for his remarkable athletic career in wheel-chair basketball and his significant contributions to Canada and his Fort St. John community. As part of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee celebra-tions, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal honours Her Majesty for her service to our country and recognizes the service of Canadians from all walks of life and backgrounds who have made significant contributions to the country and their communities.Cindy Larmondin photo

By Bruce LantzAn area near Fort St. John with

some of the best views of the Peace River is beginning to look like the park it’s meant to be.

While Peace View Point – gen-erally known as ‘The Lookout’ – has been cleaned up, the derelict vehicles once pushed over the bank to rust are gone, and a chain link safety fence and picnic tables installed, it has a ways to go before being named an official park, said Arthur Hadland, Area C director with the Peace River Regional District. It would require a “major contributor” to even get wash-rooms installed, he said. Nor are there garbage bins, for fear the site might again become a dumping ground that in 1966 led the Toronto Star newspaper to name it “the most scenic dump in North America”.

Hadland agreed that perhaps the next step is to get highway signage directing tourists to the site, just a

few kilometres down a road oppo-site the 100 St. intersection with the Alaska Highway. “It needs more community involvement,” he said, adding he would like to see it designated a provincial park.

Hadland spoke after a ceremo-ny marking the installation of two interpretive sings at the site, a move spearheaded by the North Peace Historical Society. One sign, ‘Highway of the North’, outlines the role of the river when it was a major transportation artery and plied by paddle wheelers and barg-es. The other, simply called ‘The Past’, focuses on the community’s history and development.

“This area is rich in history,” Hadland told the crowd gathered for the unveiling of the signs. “This is a focal point on the river which is so important to all our communi-ties.”

Since the park was cleaned up, Hadland said, 5-10 vehicles can usually be found there.

Bruce Lantz photoLarry Evans of the North Peace Historical Society tells onlookers about the rich history of the Peace River. Also in the photo are Taylor Mayor Fred Jarvis, white shirt, Area C director Arthur Hadland, red cap, regional district chair Karen Goodings, in pink, and historical society president Evelyn Sim, in red.

Bruce Lantz photoEvelyn Sim, left, and Judy Hawthorne unveil one of the new interpretive signs at the Peace View Point.

‘Park’ takes shape

September 2013 The Flipside 3

Bruce Lantz photos

Coulees a concernBy Bruce Lantz

People wishing for a bridge across the treacherous Montney coulees north of Fort St. John are doomed to disappointment. But the Ministry of Transportation and Highways is looking at measures to get big truck traffic off the winding hilly road.

Responding to questions from The FlipSide News, ministry dis-trict manager Scott Maxwell admitted a bridge across the ravine has been discussed and “would be wonderful” but he said such a bridge, 1.5 kilometres long, could cost over $100 million, making it highly unlikely.

“Maybe down the road we can do something like that but right now the Taylor hill is the priority,” Maxwell said. “With limited resources we have to put the money where it does the most good. $100 million or nothing is a tough sell for me.”

He did agree, however, to investigate installing signage that could lead truck traffic on Rose Prairie Road to detour through Montney to avoid the coulees, though he warned the alternate direction would not be labeled as a ‘truck route’ that must be taken by big rigs.

“We want to avoid telling peo-ple what roads to take but trucks would likely appreciate an easier road to travel,” he said, adding he would look at signage and would discuss the suggestion with his operations team.

The coulees have seen almost annual reconstruction work by the ministry, both on the buckling road and the unstable side hills. He said the ministry can fix “a lot of slides and asphalt” for the $100 million a bridge would cost. He also said the same geotechnical issues of ground instability that plague the road now would create problems in bridge construction, requiring that pilings be sunk very deep to avoid problems, which would add to the cost.

Maxwell said his department spends up to $30,000 annually on road surface repairs and they spent about $1 million on the 2011 slide. Every 10 years the entire road is resurfaced, he added.

While he acknowledged there have been accidents and a fatality a few years ago on the coulee road, Maxwell said while his department struggles with such issues on every project proposal, they realize there are risks every time people set out on the prov-ince’s roadways, and accidents

and fatalities are inevitable.Karen Goodings, chair of the

Peace River Regional District and director of Area B, which includes the coulees, agreed something should be done about this danger-ous and costly roadway. She said she has heard that there are 11 dif-ferent unstable slide areas within the coulees. She suggested an “easier crossing” could be man-aged a little farther north than the existing coulees.

“It makes way more sense to examine some alternatives than to keep putting money into it when that doesn’t solve the problem,” she said.

Overview of the heavily-travelled Montney coulees north of Fort St. John.

Close-up of cracks that regularly appear along the roadside and on its surface.

Bruce Lantz photoPASSION FOR LIFE

More than 120 people registered for the Passion for Life Run/Walk that started at Northern Lights College in Fort St. John Aug. 24. The 10-kilometre event was to raise funds for leukemia and lymphoma research through the BC Cancer Society. More than $10,000 was raised from the event.

You, as a citizen, can help reduce crime in our community.

The advantages of crime preven-tion are straightforward and easy to accomplish. Just by practising a few good prevention habits, you can pro-tect your property.

Always lock your doors.Many crimes happen because of

a simple unlocked door. Lock all the doors (and windows) to your resi-dence when you are not home. Lock the doors of your vehicle. When you are using a public facility (the pool, a gym, skating rink, etc.) always store your valuables in a locked unit.

Keep valuable items out of plain site.

In your vehicle, keep your valu-ables in the trunk. In your home or work yard, keep equipment in a locked shed. Close the curtains or blinds in your residence if you are going to be away for any length of time so criminals can’t see electron-ics or other valuables.

Record all serial numbers.To help police identify stolen

items, take photos of your property, keep receipts and make note of serial numbers and other identifiers. Report suspicious activity in your neighbourhood at once. Call 911 if a crime is in progress.

- Cpl. Jodi Shelkie, FSJ RCMP

REDUCING PROPERTY CRIME

4 The FlipSide September 2013Answers

Across 1. Foyer;6. ___ few rounds9. Raccoon relative14. Writer Loos15. Volcano output16. Absolute17. Middle ear bone of amphibi-ans19. “Lovergirl” singer ___ Marie20. Before21. Neighbor of Cambodia22. Mild oaths23. Pouches25. Weaving machines26. Shrimp dish29. Again31. Don’t bother32. Like some corners36. Iridescent gemstone37. Jailbird38. At the apex of40. Rare metallic element

43. Broadway opening45. Home of the Bruins46. Kitchen utensil47. Sun-dried brick50. Actor Pitt51. Harsh52. Very much54. Not emp.57. Part of an act58. Brief article61. Defense covering62. Opposite of post63. Cassette half64. Beastly65. Pathetic66. Goose genus; Down 1. Ornamental fabric2. ___ about (approximately)3. Liver fluid4. Heat meas.5. Thanksgiving tuber

6. Festive occasions7. Scandinavian capital8. Cries of discovery9. Decrease10. Alamogordo’s county11. First-stringers12. Camp sights13. Nest eggs, briefly18. Spanish hero23. Refine metal24. Primate with a short tail or no tail25. Romanian coin26. ___-Cat27. Reproduction28. Med school subj.29. Smell, usually a pleasant one30. The French word for “no”33. Outmoded34. English public school35. Completed37. ___-de-sac39. Apiece41. Elastic42. Bump off43. Main artery44. No. cruncher47. Capital of Ghana48. Considers49. Ready ___50. Made a hole51. Slippery ___ eel52. Computer programs, for short53. Dr. Zhivago’s love54. X-ray units55. Foil alternative56. ___ she blows!59. Govt. property overseer60. Oysters ___ season;

AbetsAchievedAwakenBastedBeingBowledBreezierBurglarCreaksCurdsDarnsEarachesEasesFuriesGearsGrabsHalterInsurersLandslidLankierLoafsMalesMutes

OutedOxidePasswordPastasQuestRelicsRelyingRemoveRentsRopesScanningScoreScytheSiltsSizedSmartsSquealStuntsTildeUdderWaitersWrangles

“We Haven’t Had Any”A store manager overheard a

clerk saying to a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for some weeks now, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.”

Alarmed, the manager rushed over to the customer who was walking out the door and said, “That isn’t true, ma’am. Of course, we’ll have some soon. In fact, we placed an order for it a couple of weeks ago.”

Then the manager drew the clerk aside and growled, “Never, never, never, never say we don’t have something. If we don’t have it, say we ordered it and it’s on its way. Now, what was it she want-ed?” The clerk answered, “Snow.”

I Must Be DeadAn older couple is lying in bed

one morning, having just awakened from a

good night’s sleep. The husband takes her hand

and she responds, “Don’t touch me!”

“Why not?” he asks.She answers back, “Because

I’m dead.”The husband says, “What are

you talking about? We’re both lying here in bed

together talking to one another.”She says. “No, I’m definitely

dead.”He insists, “You’re not dead.

What in the world makes you think you’re dead?”

“NOTHING HURTS”.

September 2013 The Flipside 5

It’s a Wonderful Life! Why do we get so ‘Adult’?

John Kirby

Kirby rolls into Fort St. JohnFormer Fort St John resident

Kirby returned in August for an inti-mate concert at local bookshop Headspace. He was joined by local songstresses Twin Peaks, back from their summer tour that included sev-eral performances at the much-respected Vancouver Island Music Festival.

John Kirby, known to his fans by his last name, rolled into town as part of a summer cross-country tour. His sweet voice won him a solid fol-lowing last year while he was resid-ing in Fort St. John. The crowd sang along as he mixed his own songs with hits from the 50s and 60s and stories of life on the road.

Naomi Shore and Lindsay Pratt, known to a growing audience across the country as Twin Peaks, opened for their friend Kirby, filling the store with their beautiful harmonies

and catchy songs. The next show at Headspace will

be Tuesday, Sept. 24 with Toronto’s Ariana Gillis. Gillis shared the stage with Twin Peaks at Music Fest. She is appearing as part of the Home Routes House Concerts series orga-nized by the same folks that bring you the Winnipeg Folk Festival. The series includes six concerts from September through April. Home Routes brings some of Canada’s best musicians into living rooms and small venues for unique performanc-es. Attendees can meet and talk with the performers.

Tickets are $20. Season passes are available prior to the first show for $100, a $20 saving for the series. More information is available at Headspace. - Contributed

By Chelsea ToewsLadies, pass this article on to

your man after you are done reading it. There is no reason a spa should be for ladies only. Our men should be just as interested in keeping up their appearances as we are.

It is becoming more and more socially acceptable for a man to enter a salon and indulge in pedi-cures or manicures, facials or mas-sages, etc. Big cities even have spas for men only! We all know a pedi-cure is not only beneficial for the look of our feet but also is relaxing, calming and enjoyable. Why can’t our men enjoy it, too? They usually have rough, tough feet that, let’s face it, could use a pumice once in a

while. A MANicure . . . there is nothing wrong with a man having clean fingernails and nice cuticles!

While some people may laugh or snicker when seeing a man enter a salon, I think we should be seeing more of it. More men would proba-bly book appointments for them-selves if they knew that it wasn’t a ‘faux pas’ these days. Their skin needs just as much care and atten-tion as ours does. They wrinkle the same, they have stress just like we do, and as much as we enjoy the quiet serene environment of a spa, they actually might as well.

So, what can we do to help clear the path for our men to feel okay with getting groomed a little? My fiancé loves manicures and he works

in the oilpatch where his fingernails stay black pretty much his whole shift. So when he soaks his hands in warm water and gets all the dirt and grime out from under his nails and on his skin, he feels like a million bucks afterwards.

This isn’t a foreign territory any-more and we, as ladies, could help show these guys that it is culturally and socially acceptable now and most enjoyable. Maybe we need a ‘Men’s Day’ at the salons one day to get the ball rolling. Or try a couples spa day together. It will benefit not only your man but you get to enjoy it as well!

Chelsea Toews is the owner of Diamond Cherry Beauty Bar.

It’s not called a MANicure for nothing

By Sue Stark“We are all born children . . . the

trick is how to remain one.” Picasso said that, and, wow, I love it. I have a passion for working with kids – and one thing I know for sure is Picasso nailed it. When I first started speaking to kids about 15 years ago, I had one message: Be 12! No matter if you are 13, 14 or 18 . . . be 12. My boys will tell you I said that all the time: “Be 12 . . . go do something you love to do!”

Remember when you were 12? Think of all the things you loved to do and how many of those things do you still do. Now, I can hear a lot of you saying, ‘Yeah, if I could ride my bike all day and someone would do my job, I would!’ But here is the real question: Do you ride your bike at all? Do you even own a bike? More importantly, it might have nothing to do with the bike but where did that bike take you? Down to the river where you sat for hours? Doing nothing, day dreaming? Maybe that was what you loved - sitting by the water. Fishing? Reading, singing at

the top of your lungs? Or dreaming of all the things you wanted to do . . . how calm and peaceful was that? Do you do any of that anymore? Probably not for hours or for even 10 minutes.

I am very grateful that I discov-ered the relationship between what I did when I was 12 and what I do now, and how picking it up again has really fueled all areas of my life!

I tell kids the story of when I was 12 and we were drawing a self por-trait at school, and when the teacher left the room how my picture was held up by a classmate and I was made fun of and laughed at by the whole class. It’s a long story but pretty classic peer pressure stuff, where we stop doing what we love because of someone else’s opinion. As for my drawing . . . though I loved it at 12 it was put aside. It wasn’t until I was in my 30s I really started creating - drawing and paint-ing again. And I was reminded, I still loved it but then challenged myself, as an adult with so many other important things to do - Do I have

time for this? Julie Cameron said, “Why do we get so damn adult? If we would stop trying to improve ourselves and start trying to delight in ourselves we get further . . . If we lean into what we love instead of soldiering towards what we ‘should’ our pace quickens, our energy rises, optimism sets in. What we love is nutritious to us.”

That quote was a life changer for me. I am not a full time artist or try-ing to be paid for my art (though I have been). My creativity fuels other areas of my life. My point is, I now know and understand that I also am inspired by other things Things that all have their root in - being 12. Yes, I am painting and creating again. And what has happened? My pace quickens, my energy rises and opti-mism sets in . . . in all areas of my life.

This month, as kids all over are settling back into school, think about being 12. The things that delighted you then could inspire you to finally _____________! You fill in the blank.

Have a wonderful week and stop being so damn adult. Go “Be 12.” Love Sue xO

Sue Stark is the owner of Sue Stark Consulting.

6 The FlipSide September 2013

And . . . pull!To mark the kickoff to the 2013

United Way Campaign, the ultimate tug of war and great team building event is back.

In the third annual Fort St John ‘Fire Truck Pull & Pancake Breakfast’ teams will play ‘tug of war’ against a 30,000-pound fire truck, competing for awards and bragging rights.

The event is being held Sept. 21 at the Pomeroy Sports Centre, start-ing with a 10:30 am Shell Canada-sponsored pancake breakfast (by donation) and registration, with the event starting at 11 am. Awards will be handed out at noon.

A $250 team registration fee is required in order to compete in this event (feel free to fundraise beyond the registration amount). Online reg-istration at http://bit.ly/1cZfehG will close at noon Sept. 13.

So give it a try. Gather a team of 10 and join the fun! Teams can be mixed and are open to anyone over the age of 18 who would like to ‘pull’. The pull distance is 50 feet.

For additional information email Niki at nikih@unitedwaynbc. ca or call 250.263.9266.

Funds raised at this event are invested in programs and services that help people move from ‘Poverty to Possibility’, develop ‘Healthy people, strong communities’ and children into ‘All that kids can be’.

We would like to introduce you to Calvin Boyd.

Calvin just finished high school last year and joined the Fort St. John Association for Community Living’s Community Connections Program this summer. He quickly found a position with the Green Team Recycling Program. The Green Team gathers recycling throughout the community at various local busi-nesses and then takes the paper to the Eco Depot to be recycled.

This is a paid position for Calvin and he receives a paycheque every two weeks.

Although a little sceptical at first about having his first job, Calvin is now excited about his new employ-ment opportunity. When asked if he likes his job he gave it the thumbs up and stated, “I am good at my job”. Calvin’s supervisor Sharryn says he fits right in with the other team

members, learned the job quickly and has become a real asset to the team.

Many times, employees of the Green Team use this job position as training preparing them to eventually find a job within the general community.

Equal Opportunity in the Workplace is important not only to the people we support but to the businesses that hire them. If you are interested in hiring someone with a disabil-ity or just have questions, please call the Fort St John Association for Community Living’s Employment Coordi-nator, Sheri Ashdown at 250-787-9262, ext 234 or email her at sheri.ashdown@fsjacl.com.

We look forward to hearing from you. - Contributed

Contributed photoCalvin Boyd

Young man fits into recycling job

By Lori SlaterThis month I am feeling

compelled to share with you a subject I heard about on Global News and in the Vancouver Sun. It has ruffled my feathers, to say the least, but I can see both sides of the controversy.

The subject is that BC municipalities are seeking to regulate, train and license motorized wheelchair and scooter users! The Vancouver Sun says a resolution to be presented to the Union of BC Municipalities later in September says that “without regulation, the safety of all motorists, businesses and pedestrians are at risk”.

I don’t feel this is a fair comment on most users of scooters and motorized chairs. Most of us are very safe when we are using our equipment, as it is our safety that is important to us. A Vancouver resident

who requires a motorized chair to get around said it would be “blatantly unfair” to regulate them; it is a piece of medical equipment that is essential. “Nobody’s using them for joyrides”.

As with anything there are always the select few who are careless with their equipment and do not take other people’s safety into consideration. These are the people who need to stop and think before they use their equipment. But to lump all together is not fair.

I use a scooter to get around and be able to go places that my manual wheelchair is unable to take me. The freedom I feel when I can get out on the many trails in our community and walk my dog is hard to explain.

In our community there are a limited number of motorized wheelchairs and scooter users. There

are a number of people who use them for medical reasons as well as the number of seniors who use them, but I don’t think there are the same concerns as some of the other communities in the province are having.

I would like to ask all users of motorized wheelchairs and scooters in our community to be courteous of pedestrians and others. Remember we want to share the road/sidewalks and not be a safety risk.

I would also like to ask our City Council to consider carefully this resolution at UBCM and how it will affect our community as a whole.

Lori Slater is an Accessibility and Inclusion Advocate in Fort St. John. If you have any comments, questions or concerns you can contact her through the ‘The FlipSide’ or slaterl@shaw.ca

Regulation of motorized equipment a concern

Bruce Lantz photosFALL FAIR FUN

The 66th North Peace Fall Fair in August was again a success as thousands of people from around the Peace region turned out to visit the multitude of exhibits and enjoy the entertainment and skills presented. Named as Pioneers – the top award given out - at this year’s fair were Lloyd and Eleanor Blanchette and Vic and Peggy Blanchette, above left. The Volunteers of the Year were a family affair, with Ron and Melody Blanchette and their children Emily and Caleb receiving the award, above right. At right, Tara Brulé shows son Kietron, 11, some of the fantastic knitted sweat-ers on display at the Fall Fair. Was Kietron bored with it all? Not a bit. He said he already knows how to knit and found the displays very interesting.

September 2013 The Flipside 7

DAWSON CREEK ELECTIONMayoral candidates speak out

The FlipSide News gave election candidates for Mayor of Dawson Creek the opportunity to answer a few questions to give readers a chance to analyze their positions. They were asked to answer three questions in 100 words or less. Their answers appear below - in the order in which they were received.

1. What about you and/or your background makes you the best

choice for Mayor?I have lived in Dawson Creek for

over 40 years, My wife was born and raised here. I have owned business-es in Dawson Creek since 1975 and still do. I served on City council for three terms from 1999 to 2008. I have always had a deep concern for the residents and businesses of Dawson Creek. My business experi-ence has taught me what can happen when extravagant or irrational spending takes place in an organiza-tion, and my council experience leaves me to believe I can remedy this situation without simply raising fees (in this case, taxes)!

2. What is the greatest problem facing Dawson Creek and what do

you think can be done about it?We need to choose more wisely,

involve more public and worker ideas into how to make Dawson Creek better without just spending more money. Fair Share funding should be used for upgrading infra-structure and not for operational costs. We should be setting money aside so that we can fund special projects without mortgaging our off-spring. Dawson Creek should be run more like a business, with the tax-payer as the shareholder and the customer of the business. If the City cannot provide the goods and ser-vices to the taxpayer at a rate they can afford, they simply will not be here.

3. If elected, what will be your first priority?

I will first want to meet individu-ally with each Councilor to develop a tone of respect for the relationship between Mayor and Council. I would expect an atmosphere of mutual respect and offer to listen and try to understand all positions held by other Councilors. I do not believe that I have all the answers and would rely on my past experience to work with very diverse individuals and ideas. I believe we need to change the procedure that is currently used for Council by bringing back portfo-lios and assigning Councilors cer-tain areas of responsibility within the City.

ALVIN STEDEL

1. What about you and/or your background makes you the best choice for Mayor?

The city has got itself into a defi-cit and could go bankrupt. I don’t know how I could do worse. The way local governments are spending these days they could bankrupt BC.

2. What is the greatest problem facing Dawson Creek and what do you think can be done about it?

I’m told we have senior citizens

living in the hospital because they have no place to stay. It’s not right that the people who founded this town should be dealt this way. The school that closed by the Arena would make a great seniors’ home. Also, we have problems with water and snow removal, and why don’t we have an industrial airportJ

3. If elected, what will be your first priority?

My first priority will be to make sure we have enough money for quick snow removal. We’re almost in winter and there’s no money set aside for it. I would also tell the Premier we need more money. We’re the Mile 0 City and should be treated as such. The needs of people are more important and the dollars aren’t being spent right. Someone has to get the ball rolling.

1. What about you and/or your background makes you the best choice for Mayor?

My past experience both in my career as an executive of a large cor-poration and serving on numerous boards, both locally and on provin-cial boards, has provided me with exceptional leadership skills. I understand Board Governance and I also feel my reputation in the com-munity will bring trust and integrity to the role of Mayor in our city. The role of Mayor is critical in develop-ing the confidence the residents and business community have in the administration of the business of the City. I also feel I have strong com-munication skills that are critical as

the City spokesperson.2. What is the greatest problem

facing Dawson Creek and what do you think can be done about it?

The first ‘opportunity’ the City is facing is the financial or budget allo-cations. Approximately 75-85 per cent of the Fair Share allocation is going into the City’s operating bud-get. This allocation, from a funding source which has an end date from the provincial government, needs to be changed and have Fair Share funding reallocated into capital proj-ects. I would allocate some Fair Share funding into the operating budget and set a target of 90 per cent of the $11 million. The Fair Share money could then be planned for

major capital projects identified as priorities by the community and Council.

3. If elected, what will be your first priority?

My first priority will be to ensure that I completely understand the City’s financial plan and budget. The services and infrastructure are tied entirely to the City’s financial posi-tion and the Mayor’s role is to be the link between Administration and Council and the residents. It is imperative that I am fully conversant with the City’s financial situation if I am going to lead the transition on behalf of the Mayor and Council to the residents of the city.

RON GLOSLEE

1. What about you and/or your background makes you the best choice for Mayor?

My 12 years on Council (1999-2011), most also spent at the Regional District table as Member or Alternate; my business experi-ence in Dawson Creek as owner/publisher of The Mirror; my leader-ship ability gained over 35 years with Mobil Oil moving from cat skinner in the Yukon to Head of Operations in Abu Dhabi, UAE responsible for producing 700,000 bbls of oil per day with a work force of more than 600 people. Working in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi), Europe (Netherlands) and Asia (Indonesia) demanded I have not only leadership ability but could also effectively build consensus amongst people from many different cultures.

2. What is the greatest problem

facing Dawson Creek and what do you think can be done about it?

Financial security is the greatest problem facing Dawson Creek and every municipality in Canada. Municipalities only receive eight per cent of all taxes collected yet are responsible for 60 per cent of all public infrastructure. This is the main cause of the fiscal gap. We must analyze our revenue streams and relate this to expenditures. Then we must come up with a strategic plan to combat the problem and con-sult with our citizens to get a con-sensus to move forward. Water secu-rity is regarded as very important; the means of solving this problem will be decided by our financial abil-ity.

3. If elected, what will be your first priority?

My first priority would be to get a signed agreement with the Province to extend the life of the existing Fair Share Agreement for 10 years taking it to 2030, as promised by Christy Clark in her election campaign last May. While negotiating this amend-ment to the existing agreement, I would work at convincing the Provincial Government that Fair Share should be in perpetuity. I believe with their focus on LNG as their economic saviour, and the major effect this will have on the Peace region, this will be the oppor-tune time to get a permanent agree-ment on Fair Share.

BUD POWELL

DALE BUMSTEAD

NoPhoto

Available

5 & COUNTINGBruce Lantz photos

A full house crammed into the Whole Wheat & Honey Café last month to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the popular Fort St. John eat-ery. Left, owner Marie Mallis enjoys a chance to relax with friends instead of working while, right, guitar wizard Sean Ashby returns to enthrall the crowd, who held him to sev-eral encores.

8 The Flipside September 2013

Local News Briefs Coming Events

NEAT puts building plans on holdBy Bruce Lantz

It was to be a landmark building showcasing the green technologies they espoused to a region that had yet to embrace them.

But, perhaps a victim of their own success, the Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT) has scrapped plans to build their much-vaunted ‘Green Building’ on 110 Avenue in Fort St. John. That decision was made in 2011.

“It was a very ambitious proj-ect,” said NEAT executive director Dezengo Mzengeza from the cramped space they rent near the intersection of 100 St. and 100 Ave. “The new board and I looked at it and decided that as a non-profit organization it was too big. We couldn’t really afford it.”

The 4,643-square feet two-storey

building was estimated to cost $4.5 million when the project was devised in 2005 but building costs have more than doubled since that time. Meanwhile, developers have embraced the notion of building with the environment in mind and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings such as this one would have been are commonplace now.

NEAT will hold onto the land, which was purchased in 2009, and is considering building a “much sim-pler” structure on it, Mzengeza said. “We’re talking with the bank about different options regarding the type of building and how to finance it. It will still be green but not so elabo-rate.

“We have to be realistic about what we can afford.”

He said the design for the new

building has not been deter-mined, nor has the date when construction might start. First, he sug-gested, the board must look at what they’re now paying in overhead and e x t r a p o l a t e from that to d e t e r m i n e what they can afford. Then they would have to mount a major fundraising campaign for a building fund, he said.

NEAT typically gets its money

from grants, donations and project fees, and has been focusing its fund-raising efforts on growing its pro-grams, he said.

Bruce Lantz photoThe lot originally designed to hold NEAT’s ‘Green Building’ remains empty while the organization discusses construct-ing something more in their price range.

Free ESL at collegeNorthern Lights College is offer-

ing free English as a Second Language classes at its Fort St. John campus.

The classes are running from 9 am-3 pm, Monday to Friday. Tuition is free for Canadians, Permanent Residents of Canada, and people who are in Canada with a Live-In Caregiver Work Permit. All students must provide proof of status and will have to pay for their application, student fee and books.

For more information email Michelle Giblak at mgiblak@nlc.bc.ca or call 250-785-6981.Visitor Centre moving

The Fort St. John Visitor Centre is moving – to inside the Pomeroy Sport Centre.

A $140,000 grant from the Northern Development Initiative Trust will go toward moving the aging visitor centre from its current location on 100 St. to the sports cen-tre.

The move could take place by the end of the summer.What’s in a name?

Our federal electoral district is getting a new name.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for British Columbia’s final report, tabled in the House of Commons recently, agreed with local MP Bob Zimmer’s recommen-dation that the name of the electoral district currently called Prince George-Peace River be changed to Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies.

The Chief Electoral Officer will use this report when drafting the representation order, expected to be proclaimed in the fall. The new name would then come into force on the day Parliament is dissolved for the first general election taking place seven months after the representa-tion order is proclaimed. Jail n’ Bail set

The Fort St. John RCMP advise the public that on Sept. 4, starting at 9 a.m., the 9th Annual Cops for Cancer Jail N’ Bail will be held at the Totem Mall.

This event is organized annually by Fort St. John RCMP members participating in the Cops for Cancer-

Tour de North bike ride. Anyone wishing to nominate someone can contact Cst. Brad VanDine at 787-8140, fax your request to 250-787-8133 or email fsj.cops4cancer@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. If there is a specific time you would like your friend to be arrested, indicate it on your request.

The 2013 Cops for Cancer-Tour de North takes place Sept. 13-19, from Dawson Creek to Williams Lake.Wal-Mart expanding

Work will start this fall to expand the Fort St. John Wal-Mart into a Wal-Mart Supercentre.

The work will expand the store, now in its 11th year, to 116,000 square feet – an increase of 30,000 square feet, adding a deli section, more dairy and produce.

The store will remain open dur-ing construction, which is expected to end in mid-2014.2 elected in TR

Tumbler Ridge has two new councillors.

Bev Litster topped the polls with 122 votes and Chris Leggett came second with 102. They will serve until the general election in the fall of 2014. The by-election was called to fill the seats vacated by Aleen Torraville and Sherri-Lynn Hewitt.

Jerrilyn Schembri received 95 votes and Brenda Holmlund 83 in an election in which only about 10 per cent of the voters turned out.Mine expanded

Anglo American has officially opened the Roman Mine, an expan-sion of its Trend operation, just weeks after Teck announced it was shelving the Quintette mine for now.

Anglo is putting about $50 mil-lion of the estimated $200-million total cost into the first phase of development. They estimate the mine could be viable for several decades.

The current Trend operation would run out of coal in four years, but the expansion will allow the company to keep mining in the area for 20 years and keeping 450 people employed. The expansion should be complete by the first quarter of 2014.

Sept. 5 - Community Registration Day in Dawson Creek. All clubs and organizations are invited to take reg-istrations, solicit membership and supply information. 5-8 pm at the Kenn Borek Aquatic Centre. Call 250-784-3604 to book a table.

Sept. 7 – Grand opening of the Paddy Carroll Peck Cabin and BC Police Barracks from 1-4 pm. The ribbon cutting will be at 1 pm with presentations about the buildings to follow. Many other activities and fun throughout the afternoon. For info contact Heather at the North Peace Museum at 250-787-0430, or email fsjnpmuseum@fsjmail.com.

Sept. 7 – The 4th annual Dawson Creek Walk for ALS starts at the Walter Wright Pioneer Village to raise money for ALS research and services to support those living with ALS and their families. In 2012 the walk generated over $3.2 million. Our fundraising goal for 2013 is $600,000. Registration begins at 10 am with the Walk starting at 11 am.

Sept. 7 – One Stop Registration. Fort St. John residents interested in getting involved in community pro-grams can sign up for a variety of activities such as sports, health and wellness, music, dance, and literacy, to name a few. The event is not only designed for children, but for people of all ages looking to fill their sched-ules during the fall and winter sea-son. 10 am-2 pm at Totem Mall. For more information: www.fortstjohn.ca

Sept. 8 - Paws for a Cause is a BCSPCA fundraiser. Individuals/teams can register at spca.bc.ca/walk. Those raising $20 or more will receive lunch, a pet scarf and t-shirts until they are gone. Prizes include a helicopter ride for 4 and a ½-day riverboat tour. Prizes for top indi-vidual fundraiser, top team fund-raiser, best animal trick, best pet costume, smallest dog, largest dog. At Centennial Park in Fort St. John. Registration at noon, walk at 1 pm. Vendors, cupcakes for sale, demon-strations.

Sept. 12 - Join us for a fun eve-

ning to support the riders of Cops for Cancer! Dinner, silent auction and entertainment at the Encana Event Centre in Dawson Creek. Doors open at 6 pm, with dinner at 6:30 pm. All proceeds to Cops for Cancer.

Sept. 13 – Sport Celebration project unveiling at the Pomeroy Sport Centre. This project honours the athletes, coaches and sport build-ers that have represented Fort St. John on the world stage. 5:30 pm at the Pomeroy Sport Centre.

Sept. 14 – Fort St. John Zombie Walk from 4-7 pm. Dress like a zombie and raise non-perishables for the Salvation Army Food Bank. Meet at Centennial Park at 4 pm. Non-perishable food donations will be collected. The walk ends at the Aurora Cinema Theatre for zombie movies (approximately 5 pm). A PG and rated R option. Admission is free with non-perishable donations (there will be a drop box at the the-atre for those just attending the movie and not the walk. Walk par-ticipants receive a ticket for admis-sion). Seating may be limited. For info contact fsjzombiewalk@gmail.com.

Sept. 18-22 - The Fort St. John Visitor Centre is holding the annual Fall Harvest Taste of the Town. This event features local restaurants pre-paring a dish or a full-course meal that is made of local ingredients. Stay tuned for more details and par-ticipating restaurants.

Sept. 22 - Join the Kidney Walk from 10 am-2 pm. The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch is holding its annual Kidney Walk to raise funds and awareness of organ donation that will help support the work of The Kidney Foundation. Join in, sponsor a walker, volunteer and/or register to be an organ donor.

Sept. 27 - Much Music Dance at the O’Brien Gymnasium. Fee is $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Pre-teens (ages 8-11) are from 5:30-7:30 pm and teens (ages 12-16) are from 8-10pm.