houston today, february 03, 2016

By Alicia BridgesBlack Press

A new survey of mineral deposits un-veiled at the 2016 Mineral Exploration Roundup conference in Vancouver last week could lead to a spike in exploration in the Northwest, ac-cording to Smithers

Exploration Group president Rob Maurer.

Non-pro� t orga-nization Geoscience B.C. last year used aer-ial magnetic surveys to detect concentra-tions of minerals in an area between Terrace, Kitimat and Smithers, including sites that had not been surveyed since the 1960s.

Another sur-vey of an area be-tween Smithers and Vanderhoof is planned

for this year.Data from the 2015

survey was made pub-lic at last week’s an-

nual conference held by the Association for Minerals Exploration B.C. (AMEBC).

According to Geoscience B.C., the project was designed to identify mineral re-source potential and to help guide land use decisions.

“The data we have generated here will provide detailed in-sights into the bedrock and focus mineral ex-ploration and invest-

ment in this area,” said Geoscience B.C. minerals and mining vice president Bruce Madu.

Maurer, who at-tended the AMEBC conference in Vancouver last week, said similar surveys in stronger economic times had led to

Health Centre progress on ‘Primary Care Clinic’

Mineral deposit survey could lead to exploration in Northwest

By Xuyun ZengHouston Today

The new doctor slat-ed to serve Houston has moved into town.

Northern Health local regional adminis-trator Cormac Hikisch said that Dr. Onoura Odoh completed the Practice Ready Assessment, a provin-cial program that fast-tracks international doctors to practise in B.C.

He has now ap-plied for a B.C. licence to practise, which remains the last bar-rier to him serving the community.

“He can’t actually practise medicine un-til that comes through, it’s expected to come in by mid-February,” said Hikisch. “[He] has already started to settle in at the Houston Health Centre, so he’s been on-site a few times this week receiv-ing training on the electrical medical re-cord that is in place

now and getting to know the staff.”

“As soon as that li-cence comes through,

he’ll be looking to work.”

Starting this Monday, people can call the Health Centre to get on a waiting list to become Dr. Odoh’s patient.

“Dr. Odoh will make decisions in the future about how pa-tients are added to his panel, but we will be

keeping a list for him in advance of him be-ing able to provide ser-vice,” said Hikisch.

The ultimate plan for the Health Centre would be to have two doctors and one nurse practitioner. Hikisch noted that they are ac-tively trying to hire the latter.

“We have received funding through Northern Health and moved forward with adding a nurse practi-

tioner to that primary clinic,” Hikisch added. “It was something that was recommend-ed to be explored by the Houston Health Services Review, and we’re trying to deter-mine when the right timing would be to look at that based on the need for two physi-cians.”

They will also be adding two support staff, of which one was hired.

The � nal touches to the primary care clinic, which houses two doc-tor’s of� ces and two diagnosis rooms, are underway.

“There’s still sup-plies that need to go onto shelving and cab-inets to go up, but it’s coming together and will be there for Dr. Odoh.

The Health Centre will host an open house in mid-to-late February that will have a tour, but no � nalized date has been pub-lished.

“

““The data we have generated here will provide detailed insights into the bedrock and focus

mineral exploration and investment in this area.”

- Bruce Madu, Geoscience B.C.

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PROFILE: Houston Search & Rescue Feature

PAGE 6

COMMUNITY: Winterfest Schedule

PAGE 7 & 8

Robin Vander Heide/Houston TodaySNOW RemovalDistrict of Houston work crews are hard at work removing the excess snow from roads and sidewalks after a few days of warm weather.

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See MINES on Page 2

“‘As soon as [the] licence comes through, he’ll be

looking to work.’ Starting this Monday, people can

call the Health Centre to get on a waiting list to become

Dr. Odoh’s patient.”- Cormac Hikisch

NEWS2 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Houston Today

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increased explora-tion.

“When it’s been done in the past, when economic times were more plenti-ful, the aerial survey information being released has actu-ally set off some little staking rushes where people are quick to get in there and stake claims in spots they think show promise based on the informa-tion,” said Maurer.

Although explo-ration has slowed with the downturn in the mining industry, Maurer said the new information could still stimulate activity in the Northwest.

He said the data would not speci� -cally identify where to build a mine, but it helped narrow down the search for hidden resources.

Because sites that looked promising could be snapped up quickly, Maurer ex-pected the data would lead to increased ex-

ploration in the sur-vey area.

“To take advan-tage of this informa-tion people do have to stake mineral claims or someone else will

stake claim to that re-source,” he said.

“And to keep those claims people have to do work every year and it’s a matter of, they need to spend an amount of money or do an equivalent amount of work that equates to a number of dollars per hectare per year.”

However, Maurer

Optimistic, but realisticMINES from Page 1

““I wouldn’t want to get people’s hopes up that this survey will become an instant

boom and there’s going to be drillers and camps and jobs for everyone. Even in a

stronger economy and a stronger investor climate, those things still take time.”

- Rob Maurer, Smithers Exploration Group President

emphasized the sur-vey was unlikely to lead to a sudden boom in exploration.

Instead, he said a slow increase might occur, starting with small amounts of sampling, prospect-ing or reclamation

this summer.“I wouldn’t want to

get people’s hopes up that this survey will become an instant boom and there’s going to be drillers and camps and jobs for everyone,” said Maurer.

“Even in a stronger economy and a stron-ger investor climate, those things still take time.”

AMEBC president and chief executive Gavin Dirom pre-dicted the Geoscience B.C. data would be a major stimulant for exploration.

“Whether it’s im-mediately taken up and there’s an imme-diate result we will have to wait and see,” he said.

“But it’s one of these things that if you’re not doing it then you’re not go-ing to be competitive and you won’t have a

chance of attracting investment or some really high qual-ity companies in the area.”

Despite the cur-rent downturn, which has been blamed for the recent round of 100 layoffs at

Huckleberry Mines, Dirom said the con-ference was busy and the mood was opti-mistic.

Although the over-all number of partici-pants was down from about 6,500 to 5,400, the conference trade show and exhibits were sold out.

Dirom said the overall mood among participants was “op-timistic but realistic”.

“When they come together during Roundup it allows them to share and to compare strategies and methods of how to cope with the cur-rent downturn,” he said.

“And that helps to then generate new partnerships, per-haps, and also some pretty smart and in-novative ways to not just survive but then to succeed and pros-per yet again.”

Maurer believes the tough times have made surviving com-panies grow stronger and smarter, having been forced to be-come more ef� cient.

“People [are] being very innovative, us-ing newer technology, newer techniques,” he said.

“One thing I’ve seen here this year and last year is the use of drones ... com-panies are starting to use those to do � yover research and take photos because you can purchase one of those units for com-parable to the same price of a couple days worth of helicopter time,” he said.

Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach was among about 65 peo-ple from the Smithers area who travelled to Vancouver for the AMEBC conference last week.

Based on his con-versations with indus-try members, he said it appeared people in the resources indus-tries were utilizing the lull to prepare for an upswing.

“Talking to people down here at the con-ference, a lot of peo-ple also see opportu-nity in it,” he said.

“It’s a chance to make some strategic moves and get in po-sition for the recov-ery.”

Bachrach said there were also posi-tive developments in the Northwest, citing Pretivm’s Brucejack Gold Project north of Stewart and the Imperial Metals-owned Red Chris copper-gold mine near Iskut village.

COMMUNITYHouston Today Wednesday, February 3, 2016 www.houston-today.com 3

Hired Equipment Registration

The Bulkley Stikine District of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is creating its list of registered Equipment for Hire for the 2016/2017 fiscal year, which begins April 1, 2016.

All individuals or companies registered this past year through the District Office in Smithers will receive invitations to re‑register their equipment for the coming fiscal year by mail.

Any individuals who were not registered in 2015, but wish to have their equipment listed, are hereby invited to contact the District Office to obtain the appropriate registration forms.

Note that while you do not need to have Commercial (Comprehensive) General Liability Insurance or up‑to‑date WorkSafe BC coverage to register, you will have to meet these requirements prior to working on any ministry projects.

Only owned or lease‑to‑own equipment is eligible for registration. Full details of equipment, including serial numbers and proof of ownership, are required for registration. Equipment may only be registered in one area in any given year. Seniority is not transferable from area to area.

The deadline for new registrations is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2016. Late registrations will be accepted, but will be put at the bottom of the open list. Note that there is no charge for registering new equipment or for changing or deleting equipment information already listed.

To have equipment registration forms mailed, faxed or e-mailed to you,please contact the local District Office in Smithers by mail at

Bag 5000, 3726 Alfred Avenue, Smithers, British Columbia, V0J 2N0, by phone at 250 847-7403 or by fax at 250 847-7219.

You can also register online at www.bcbid.ca

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Smithers Interior News January 27 and February 3

Houston TodayJanuary 27 and February 3

Burns Lake District NewsJanuary 27 and February 3

5.8125” X 6.428”

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Bulkley Stikine District

The U16 Houston Ringette team is headed to Kelowna on February 5-7 to compete in the Sweetheart Tournament. Five players from the U12 Houston Ringette team will also be heading to the Sweetheart tournament. They will being joining players from Quesnel. Good luck to all of the Houston Ringette players who are participating!

Submitted photo

Saturday, January 30, new residents began to move into the newest complex at Pleasant Valley Village. Volunteers were still busy installing washers and dryers into several of the units. And pictured above, Vic and Bertie Siemens, were hard at work installing the curtain rods.

FINAL Touches Robin Vander Heide/Houston Today

From Jan. 21 to Jan. 28, police received 38 calls for service, of which four were aban-doned 911 calls, two were bylaw complaints and six were traf� c and one was a false alarm.

Police would like to emphasize to drivers that they need to stop for school buses that is displaying a stop sign with red lights � ashing.

Police received a complaint on Jan. 26 at 9:30 a.m. of drivers not stopping for school buses.

“We received the report of ongoing con-cerns that vehicles are not stopping for school buses when they are re-quired to do so,” said Cpl. Steven Thackeray.

Thackeray added that this applies both on highways and on municipal roads.

“This is essential for the safety of the kids that are getting on and off the bus, to ensure they are safe,” he added.

The next morning, police followed a school bus in a cruiser from Topley to Houston to ensure drivers were complying. No one was caught that day.

“Drivers are obligat-ed to stop when those stop signs are out, and that’s traf� c travelling

in the same direction as the bus and the op-posite direction of the bus, when those stop signs are out they have to stop.”

Thackeray added that they will be step-ping up their vigilance on this offence.

Under the Motor Vehicle Act, drivers found contravening this will receive points and a $167 set � ne, Thackeray added.

***Police received a re-

port at approximately midnight on Jan. 24 of an argument that oc-curred at a residence on Nadina Way. The report stated that a family member had as-saulted another family member. Police attend-ed, noting that both parties were under the in� uence of alcohol, but no serious injuries had occurred. The vic-tim did not cooperate with police when ques-tioned. The aggressor was provided transpor-tation to another family member’s house for the night.

***At approximately

10:30 p.m. on Jan. 25, police patrolled in Granisle when they ob-served a vehicle with a burned-out headlight. Police tried to stop the

vehicle but it sped up and lost control, and pulled over. Upon stop-ping the vehicle, police determined the driver was impaired by al-cohol. The individual was arrested, and the vehicle was impound-ed. That person was brought back to the detachment for sample of breath, and that per-son is currently under further investigation.

Police are recommend-ing federal Criminal Code charges for im-paired operation of a motor vehicle.

***Police would like to

encourage the public to attend the Guns & Hoses Charity Hockey Game this Family Day

at the Claude Parish Memorial Arena start-ing at 3:30 p.m. The RCMP will challenge the � re department.

“We had a really good turnout last year, and police have won the last two years, so we want to keep our streak intact,” said Thackeray.

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HOUSTON Ringette

In our opinion:

OpinionPublished by Black Press Ltd. 3232 Hwy 16 W,Upstairs Houston MallP.O. Box 899, Houston, B.C. V0J 1Z0

Phone: 250 845-2890 • Fax 250 845-7893News: [email protected]

or: [email protected]: [email protected]

B.C. briefs: MLAsWinners of two Lower Mainland by-

elections will join 83 other MLAs when the B.C. legislature begins its

spring sitting Feb. 9 with a Speech from the Throne.Finance Minister Mike de Jong will present his

2016-17 budget Feb. 16. The government has sig-nalled that among the measures will be a 50 per cent reduction to Medical Services Plan premiums for single parents who earn more than $30,000 a year and pay the family rate of $150 a year.

Byelections set for Feb. 2 were triggered last summer when Coquitlam-Burke Mountain B.C. Liberal MLA Doug Horne and Vancouver-Mount Pleasant NDP MLA Jenny Kwan resigned to run in the October 2015 federal election.

The latest review of B.C. electoral boundaries has resulted in creation of two more seats in time for the next election in May 2017. The new seats are Surrey South and Richmond-Queensborough, taking in part of New Westminster and re� ecting large population growth.

Lost hard drive prompts changes.Information and Privacy Commissioner

Elizabeth Denham has made nine recommenda-tions to the B.C. government to prevent incident like the loss of a portable hard drive containing 3.4 million education ministry student � les.

Policies for protecting personal information were not followed, staff training was not ad-equate and compliance with rules was not moni-tored, Denham said in a report released this week. Recommendations include mandatory encryption of personal data and an audit system to make sure security procedures are followed.

The portable hard drive was made as a backup and reported missing in September 2015 after an extensive search of a secure government ware-house in the Victoria area.

The hard drive has not been located. It con-tained student names, date of birth and personal education numbers which in some cases could be linked to lists of cancer survivors, children in care and special needs students.

Emergency crews get overdose kits.Fire� ghters in Surrey and Vancouver will be the

� rst to carry kits to administer naloxone to people suffering from opioid drug overdoses.

Ambulance paramedics have long been equipped with the drug, but the program is being expanded to � re� ghters after an increase in over-doses to opioid drugs such as heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl.

Fire departments across the province can join the program by signing an agreement with B.C. Emergency Health Services to provide physician oversight, after regulations were changed to allow � re rescue � rst responders to administer naxalone.

B.C.’s health ministry funds services including needle distribution, opioid substitution treatment, two supervised injection sites in Vancouver and a “take home naxalone” program with kits available at 120 B.C. sites. The ministry estimates that 370 opioid drug overdoses have been reversed by the treatment.

-Tom Fletcher, Black Press

Forest industry waits for Pacific trade dealBy Tom Fletcher

Black Press

Wood products producers are encour-aged by the Trudeau government’s deci-sion to sign the Trans-Paci� c Partnership, the � rst step to ratify-ing a sweeping agree-ment with Japan, Australia and other Asian countries.

International Trade Minister Christia Freeland said this week she will take the next “technical step,” allowing the TPP to be debated in the House of Commons. It’s the � rst signal the Liberals will contin-ue the work started by the Conservative government, which warned against being left out as the U.S. and Mexico go ahead with the TPP.

“All in all we think this is a pretty good

agreement,” said Paul Lansbergen, acting president of the Forest Products Association of Canada, in an inter-view from Vancouver.

“A lot of our indus-try is in rural Canada, and I think it’s im-portant for the gov-ernment to recognize the importance of the well-paying jobs that

we provide,” he said. “And when our econ-omy is having some rough times, particu-larly oil and gas, re-ally the government should be thinking about how our econo-my is diversi� ed.”

Lansbergen said the deal not only phases out tariffs against Canadian for-

est products, it has clear provisions to set-tle disputes, and rules around blocking im-ports due to concerns about insects or other contaminants.

Some of the TPP partners currently have few forest prod-uct imports from Canada because of “prohibitive” tariffs,

he said. Vietnam ap-plies tariffs of up to 31 per cent, Malaysia up to 40 per cent and Brunei up to 20 per cent, which would be phased out under TPP.

Japan, a long-time customer for B.C. lumber, has tariffs of up to 10 per cent on forestry and value-added products such as oriented strand-board and engineered wood.

Forest product ex-ports have done well with the low Canadian dollar, with sales to the U.S. returning to historic levels after a collapse of the U.S. housing market in 2008.

Canada’s softwood lumber agreement with the U.S. expired last fall, but bilateral wood products trade is exempt from the TPP as it was left out of NAFTA.

4 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Houston Today

““The deal not only phases out tariffs against Canadian forest products, it has clear provisions to settle disputes and rules around blocking imports due to

concerns about insects or other contaminants.

-Paul Lansbergen, President Forest Products Association of Canada

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Tyler Wardrop

“It’s a little sad. I worked here a few times when it first reopened. I watched some good movies here

and I feel pretty bad that it’s going to shut down.”

Trevor Sowers

“Ticked off. I love the theatre. I used it and sad

to see it go.”

Troy Reitsma

“I’m disappointed that it’s closing. I think it

was a real benefit to our community.”

Tim Anderson

“Disappointing, it is — that a business could not make it in town. Hopefully they give it another shot at some

point.”

Help offered to struggling mining industry

By Tom FletcherBlack Press

With unlicensed marijuana dispensaries popping up in urban areas and thousands of unregulated medical licences for home grow-ing still in legal limbo, the Trudeau govern-ment is starting work on its promise to legal-ize recreational use.

Marijuana was a me-dia darling in the recent election, but meeting in Vancouver with pro-vincial ministers last week, federal Health Minister Jane Philpott found herself preoccu-pied with issues deemed more urgent.

These include shift-

ing our post-war acute hospital model to com-munity primary care, tackling aboriginal health care needs, pool-ing pharmaceutical purchases to slow rising costs, and meeting an urgent Supreme Court of Canada directive to legalize assisted dying.

At the closing news conference in Vancouver, Philpott was asked how recreational marijuana should be sold. Licensed medi-cal growers want ex-clusive rights do it by mail as permitted by the Harper government, another measure forced by our high court. That would shut out the rash of supposedly medical

storefronts, which city halls in Vancouver and elsewhere imagine they can regulate.

Philpott said the question is “premature” and federal-provincial justice ministers were dealing with it at their meeting. Ottawa will have a “task force” too.

Vancouver descend-ed into a pot store free-for-all due to benign ne-glect from council and police, and Victoria isn’t far behind. Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang, a rare voice of reason in the Big Smoke, has protested dispensaries using street hawkers to attract young buyers, and pot stores setting up near schools.

Other communities, more aware of their limitations, have re-sisted issuing business licences. One recent proposal in the Victoria suburb of View Royal came from a fellow who insisted marijuana extract had cured his cancer. This is typical of claims that prolifer-ate on the Internet, and is one of many warn-ing signs about dispen-saries that put up red cross signs to sell pot products with exotic names.

B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake was more forthcoming a few days earlier, responding to a Vancouver reporter who judged marijuana

more interesting than his just-announced plan to hire 1,600 more nurses by the end of March.

Lake noted that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is keen to sell marijuana through the province’s monopoly liquor stores. B.C.’s government li-quor store union has also endorsed this idea, forming an unlikely al-liance with non-union private stores to get in on the action.

“There are public health of� cials that I’ve talked to who say that the co-location of marijuana and liquor sales is not advisable from a public health

perspective,” Lake said. “I think whatever we do it has to be highly regu-lated, quality control has to be excellent and above all we must pro-tect young people.”

Yes, liquor stores check ID. But the no-tion that marijuana might be sold next to beer and vodka in gov-ernment stores deserves sober second thought, and serious scienti� c work of the kind that has shown damage to developing brains from teenage marijuana use.

Of course all of this urban hand-wringing over pot stores ignores the de facto legalization that has existed across B.C. for decades.

The Nelson Star had a funny story last week about a local woman’s discovery on Google Earth. Zooming in on area mountains, one � nds not only the Purcell landmark Loki Peak, but also Weed Peak, Grow Op Peak, Cannabis Peak and Hydroponic Peak.

Whatever the source of this cyber-prank, it could also be applied to other regions of B.C.

For the record, I’ll restate my long-standing position that legalization is the only logical answer. I’ll say the same about other drugs that drive most B.C. crime, but that’s a subject for another day.

How do you feel about the Pleasant

Valley Plaza’s movie theatre closing down?

On theStreet...

OpinionHOUSTON TODAY “Member, B.C. Press Council”Published by Black Press Upstairs Houston MallP.O. Box 899, Houston, B.C. V0J 1Z0

Phone: 250 845-2890 • Fax 250 845-7893News: [email protected]

or: [email protected]: [email protected]

Houston Today Wednesday, February 3, 2016 www.houston-today.com 5

By Tom FletcherBlack Press

The B.C. govern-ment has released the � rst phase of its aerial survey of mineral de-posits in a largely unex-plored region of north-west B.C.

GeoscienceBC, a non-pro� t established by the province a de-cade ago to stimulate mining activity in areas affected by the moun-tain pine beetle epidem-ic, released data from an area from Smithers south to Kitimat and

east to Houston. Maps of geological forma-tions are constructed from magnetic surveys done by helicopter.

The results were re-leased Tuesday at the Association for Mineral Exploration B.C. Roundup conference in Vancouver. Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the project is assembling the larg-est geoscience database in B.C. history, with much more precision than an earlier survey in the 1960s.

The next phase

will be be to the east, from Houston to the Vanderhoof area. The region has had little surface prospecting be-cause it is covered with glacial deposits from the last ice age.

“There are Highland Valley copper depos-its out there,” Bennett said. “There are Brucejack gold depos-its out there. There are huge zinc, silver, lead deposits out there. They’ve been found be-fore in B.C.”

With mining in-vestment stalled by

low commodity prices and some existing op-erations shut down, Premier Christy Clark opened the conference by announcing a plan to let mining compa-nies defer their BC Hydro bills to keep op-erating. The bills would have to be paid later with interest, when metal and coal prices recover.

The association re-leased its own study before the conference, detailing that more than half of the prov-ince is either off limits

to mineral exploration or restricted. Some of that is from parks or protected areas, while other areas are subject to land use plans the association described as “overlapping and sometimes ambigu-ous.”

Bennett said he ap-preciates the reminder about land restrictions, which he described as dif� cult to change even when wildlife habitat or other circumstances have changed since restrictions were im-posed.

The industry also has to accept that pub-lic and First Nations expectations have

changed greatly in re-cent years, and mining has to adapt to that re-ality, he said.

B.C. views: This is your province on weed

By Xuyun ZengBy Xuyun ZengBy Xuyun ZengBy Xuyun Zeng

GeoScienceBCThe helicopter maps mineral potential in remote areas using magnetic imaging.


By Xuyun ZengHouston Today

Houston Search and Rescue re� ected upon last year and discussed their plans for this year at a Jan. 13 annual general meeting.

Members heard from president Frank McDonald who reported that 2015 “was our busiest year ever with 13 call-outs.”

“It’s been quite taxing on the group, because of the demand on our time. We are volunteers. We aren’t paid,” said McDonald.

Five call-outs were mushroom picker related, four were water incidents, two were urban walk-aways, and there was one case of a missing hitchhiker and another of a stranded snowshoer.

McDonald noted that missing mushroom pickers pose an annual problem for HSAR because of their secrecy.

“They typically don’t want to tell anybody where they’re going; where their secret patch is,” he said. “Three of the cases were right in Houston and we had two others that were [in the] Kispiox-Hazelton area.”

McDonald would not give names but said that the most challenging call-out last year happened in Hazelton.

“It was the largest search, and it was also a repeat offender. There was a search for him the previous year,” he said. “So we ended up working with Bulkley Valley Search and Rescue, RCMP, we even had some from Nechako Valley and we had one SAR specialist come up from the Lower Mainland to assist on that.”

The meeting also talked about future training.

“We always wanted to certify more people in the basic ground search and rescue and then from there ... I’d like to

have more team leaders get certi� ed,” said McDonald. “So they’ll be responsible for taking out a crew and interacting with the search manager.”

McDonald wanted to see more rope and avalanche specialists. He would also like to see more swift water rescue specialists in HSAR, as they currently have to depend on Smithers’ or Vanderhoof’s teams for water rescue.

“It’s unfortunate because as you can see, four of our searches were water related this year,” he said. “But this is going to be a very dif� cult area because the Emergency Management BC and BCSAR is reluctant to start new teams because of the hazards involved, and in one [case] particularly,

there was a fatality a couple of years ago in Nelson’s swift water team, so they’re reviewing all the standards for safety.”

HSAR received $19,500 from gaming grants that will be used to fund training and equipment.

“Funding is always an up-in-the-air kind of thing,” he said. “We don’t have a reliable source of funding so we’re asking various companies or various grant providers to provide us with funds.”

McDonald hopes that a new funding model championed by the BCSAR Association will get passed in the provincial legislature, which would provide HSAR with stable funding from the province, rather than “hoping” for money from

lottery grants.“It would be approximately $30,000 for

a team of our capabilities and that would go a long way for us to get a building,” he said.

Elections for HSAR of� cers also happened.

“Last year and for a couple of years, Greg McLeod was our secretary-treasurer, and he stepped down,” McDonald said. “We knew he wanted to step down, and we split the role. Jocelyn Bell is now the treasurer and Pam Sjoden is now the secretary.”

Vice president Wendell Ewald will stay on in his role, as will directors Andy Muma and Robert Onderwater.

Community BuilderFeaturing the stories and spirit of the local people

Bulkley ValleyCREDIT UNION

Bulkley ValleyINSURANCE SERVICES

Bulkley ValleyFINANCIAL SERVICES

Bulkley ValleyFINANCIAL SERVICES

Bulkley ValleyINSURANCE SERVICES


Bulkley Valley Credit Union July 2007EPS Logos to be supplied to Newspapers

Pantone colours: Pantone 287 Blue Pantone 356 Green Pantone 139 Harvest

Black/Grey Logo file Colour Logo File

www.bvcu.com

Bulkley Valley Credit Union has been building a solid financial institution that members from Burns Lake to the Hazeltons’ have grown to rely on. People-helping-people is how we began and we strive to remain people-oriented, both in our financial services and through direct involvement with our communities. We are dedicated to local decision making and local control, key factors in providing the kinds of services that meet the financial needs of individuals and business members alike.

Maintaining a healthy and strong financial institution is only one part of our mission. Our strong financial results have allowed us to build a very strong capital base.

We continue to make improvements in our products and services. We value the relationships we have established with our members and will continue to build more innovative remote banking access to allow those who may move away or simply require access to all products and services anytime, anywhere.

Come see us today to experience the Credit Union difference.

This section brought to you by:

“Houston SAR recounts past and looks ahead

Xuyun Zeng photo

“Missing mushroom pickers pose an

annual problem for HSAR because of

their secrecy.” - Frank McDonald

Some of the current Houston Search and Rescue organization members pictured from l-r are: Andy Muma, Pam Sjoden, Robert Onderwater, Jocelyn Bell, Wendall Ewald and Frank McDonald.


For information on any WinterFest events, please contactDawn Potvin at (250) 845-1291 or Sally Sullivan (250) 845-9321

The weekend will be FILLED with fun activities... something for EVERYONE!

Houston ACT (Acti on Changes Things) Committ eeHouston ACT INVITES YOU TO...

Houston’s 3rd Annual

WINTERFESTFebruary 5th-8th, 2016

NEW!

NEW!

NEW EVENTS

THIS YEAR!

NEW!

NEW!

NEW!

FRIDAY, February 5:6 – 8 pm Houston WinterFest 2016 Kick-Off Hill behind HSS Sledding party – free crazy carpets, hot dogs, hot chocolate and FUN!

Geocaching Poker Run will begin from here – ask us for details!

SATURDAY, February 6:10 am – 1 pm Houston Link to Learning Family Literacy Brunch Houston Community Hall

Continue with Geocaching Poker Run all weekend!

12 – 3 pm Free Bowling – Pleasant Valley Plaza

1 – 3 pm Beginner Snowshoeing Workshop 4 Seasons Park - Free Rentals **shuttle service provided!

9 – 11 pm Adult Drop In Curling & Social - no minors Houston Curling Rink

SUNDAY, February 7:10 am – 12 pm Jam Pail Curling for Kids Houston Curling Rink Please bring clean shoes, helmets and gloves!

1 – 3 pm Intermediate Snowshoeing Workshop Free snowshoe rentals! Morice River Trails **shuttle service provided!!

3 – 5 pm Salmon in the Snow! Walking tour of Streamkeepers Salmon Project Houston Leisure Facility

3 – 5 pm Free Public Swim - Houston Leisure Facility

MONDAY, February 8:10 am – 4 pm Family Ski Day! Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Trails **shuttle service provided! Warm chalet, hot chocolate and goodies, free trail use, rentals available, races, lessons and tons of fun!

11 am – 1 pm 9th Street Hockey Shinney Game 9th Street SafeGrad 2016 will be selling hamburgers and hot dogs! Sponsored by Finning

3:30 – 5:30 pm Free Public Skating Sponsored by Canfor, Finning and Bulkley Valley Credit Union Claude Parish Memorial Arena

1:30 – 3:30 pm Guns & Hoses Charity Hockey Game RCMP vs Fire Department Claude Parish Memorial Arena

SHUTTLE BUS

SERVICE

...for any participants that need a ride!!!

For events like the Literacy Brunch,

Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing.

Shuttle Bus Service will begin Saturday with the following

route leaving every half hour:

• NWCC • Telus Bldg • Chamber Info Centre

•Community Hall

Shuttle Bus runs daily thru the weekend: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Note: Must provide own child’s car seat/booster seat

SPECTATORS

WELCOME!

SPORTS8 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Houston Today

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK PRESS COMMUNITY NEWS MEDIA

Take your first step to the international stage!Applications now being accepted for Miss Teen BC, Miss BC & Mrs BC!

To apply visit your community newspaper website and click on contests.

Managing Your Money Is it better to contribute to investments held within an RRSP or a TFSA?

You have funds to invest and you’re wondering whether it’s better to put them in your Regis-tered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or in a Tax-free Savings Plan (TFSA). That depends on two main factors:

1. How frequently the funds will be removed from and re-contributed to either investments within an RRSP or TFSA in the years leading up to your retirement.

If you are going to need the funds prior to retirement and intend to re-contribute them at a later date, a TFSA may be the better option because you can make withdrawals at any time and the contribution room is restored in the following year; but when you make RRSP withdrawals, you lose that contribution room.

2. What your marginal tax rate is today and what your marginal tax rate will be when you finally remove the funds.

Generally, if your marginal tax rate is lower at the time the funds are removed from your regis-tered plan at retirement, the RRSP option will produce a better result – but that is only true if your marginal tax rate actually is lower.

Your marginal tax rate can be influenced by income-tested benefits including the Age Credit, Old Age Security (OAS), the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the GST/HST Credit. Because they are income-tested benefits, they are reduced or clawed-back as your income increases, ultimately disappearing entirely at an upper threshold that is different for each of the benefits. If the funds you remove from your RRSP after age 65 increase your taxable income and result in the loss of some or all of your income-tested benefits, you will have effectively – and perhaps substantially – reduced your income and increased the tax you pay. And you would have cancelled out some of the value of your RRSP withdrawal.

There is no doubt that RRSPs and TFSAs play key roles in financial and retirement planning and there are strategies – like income-splitting – that you can use to reduce your taxable income and avoid claw backs. Your professional advisor can help you decide what’s best for your situation.

*Investors Group is a registered trademark owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations.

This column, written and published by Investors Group Financial Services Inc. (in Québec – a Financial Services Firm), presents general information only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any investments. Contact your own advi-sor for specific advice about your circumstanc-es. For more information on this topic please contact your Investors Group Consultant.

Phone: (250)847-9620Toll Free: (866)847-96203860 AlFred Ave, SmiTherS, v0J 2n0

Carl Eddy Consultant

KElly JonEs, CFP ClUsenior Financial Consultant

shaUna PEtErson, CFP FMa division director

shaUn MartIn, Consultant

LOCATION,

LOCATION!

CALDERWOODREALTY

$159,900

If you are buying or selling,call me today!

I also offer Free Home Market Evaluations and information on the current real estate market.

Dan Hansma250-845-8234

[email protected]

1965 Nadina WayLarge 4/5 bdrm family home situated at the top of a quiet cul-de-sac backing onto the neighbourhood park! Dble attached garage w/ high ceilings & entrance to bsmt. Private fenced yard w/ treated sundeck. Bright LR, large DR, & spacious kitchen. 3 bdrms up, large MB w/ 2 pc ensuite. Laundry rm on main. Large rec room, roughed-in plumbing for bsmt bathrm. Huge workshop/utility area. New HWT, regularly serviced furnace. 10-yr old roof. Appl incl. Close to schools. With a little paint and updating, this could be your dream home!

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MLS# R2028565

MLS# R2012006

4451 Gun Range RoadExtensively updated 1995 executive 5 bdrm home on 15.5 acres! Private property w/ Mountain views minutes from town. Lots of updates the last 2 years incl dream kitchen, updated vinyl windows, newer high-eff furnace, HRV, updated � oors, bath, & more! Nice open layout w/bright dining nook, den on main, sunken LR, hardwood � oors, 3 beds up, MB w/WI closet & ensuite. Beautifully FF bsmt w/huge rec room, media rm, 2 bdrms, spacious laundry rm, 3 pc bath & bsmt entry from dble garage. Composite decks in front & back w/ gas BBQ, 40x26 concrete parking area, wired shop/storage, drilled well.

15.5 ACRES!!

By Xuyun Zeng Houston Today

This year’s WinterFest will not have fireworks nor a fishing derby, but or-ganizers are working hard to finalize plans for a shuttle bus.

Cost, permits, time constraints and lack of sponsorship pre-cluded the possibility of a fireworks display and fishing derby.

“It wasn’t or-ganized in enough time,” said organizer Dawn Potvin. “That is a huge event unto itself, so no organizer stepped up to take care of that piece, so we had to let it go, hope to have it next year is somebody would like to orga-nize it.”

The shuttle ser-vice will leave half-hourly daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the Northwest Community College and stop at the Telus Building, Chamber of Commerce and Community Hall.

“There’s going to be a free shuttle service,” she added. “There are many events throughout the weekend, some of them are out of town, some of them are in town, but a lot of families find it hard to get from here to there. So there will

be a cyclical shuttle running.”

The shuttle bus will also take people to out-of-town events such as the Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Club trails, and Four Seasons Park for snowshoeing.

Potvin estimates that three or four

Class 4 drivers have stepped up to drive the 15-passenger vans on loan from the Houston Senior Citizens’ Association and the Houston Christian School.

Parents with chil-dren needing booster seats must provide their own.

The Action Changes Things (ACT) commit-tee expects a higher turnout because of a warmer weather.

“I’m hoping for a higher participa-tion level based on the past two years, it’s just growing,” said Potvin. “I think weather has to do with that a lot, and past experiences and word-of-mouth. So I think we will be growing each year.”

She noted that two years ago, many peo-ple decided against attending WinterFest because it was full-blown, -25 C, winter.

However, warmer weather also threat-ens the weekend’s snowshoeing and to-bogganing activities.

“We can’t do anything about the weather … all we can hope it’s not ice,” said Potvin. “I’m not even hoping for snow at this point, I just want it to not get anymore spring-like.”

Ninth Street will be barricaded on Family Day for the 9th Street Hockey Shinney Game.

“It’s a [statutory holiday], no busi-nesses will be open besides Mr. Sub, but they don’t close that part off, so you can still park, go to Mr. Sub,” said Potvin.

All events will be free except the Guns & Hoses Charity Hockey Game.

Xuyun Zeng/Houston Today

ACT committee finalizes plan for Family Day long weekend WinterFest

The ACT (Action Changes Things) committee meeting last week to discuss final plans for upcoming Winterfest weekend. See page 7 for the full weekend schedule.


BUSINESSES & SERVICES around Houston & the Bulkley Valley...

Call Laura at 250-692-7526 or 250-845-2890 or email: [email protected] your business for only $5/week (with 1 year commitment)

GST not included

RED ROCKET SERVICESSeptic Removal, Portable Toilet Rentals

Expediting and Hotshots

Les Willson250-845-3761Cell: [email protected]

Now a dealer for BIO-CLEANA septic enzyme and tank cleaner

Cell: [email protected]

A septic enzyme and tank cleaner

BURNS LAKEBill and Patsy Miller, Owners

29850 Hwy 16 West • PO Box 450 • Burns LakePh 250-696-3211 • Cell: 250-692-9940

email: [email protected]

www.pbagrimech.ca

• HAY FORKS• PALLET FORKS• SNOW BLADES• QUICK ATTACH UNITS• REPAIRS & EQUIPMENT

YourDealer

Give us a call for any of your att achment needs.

HOUSTON BARBERSHOP

ANGEL’S FLOWERS & GIFTS

Phyllis250.845.2329

Janet250.845.2329

� eresa250.844.1118

� eresaMETAMORPH JEWELRY, GEMS

& NAILS

Open six days a week

Open six days a week

2216 Nadina Ave. North, Houston Phone: 250-845-2700

Tire Shop hourS: Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm - Sat. 8am - noon

Car WaSh hourS: Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm - Sat. 8am - 4pm

Come see us for all

your tire needs!

Dan [email protected]

CALDERWOODREALTY

CALDERWOOD

If you are buying or sellingcall me today: 250-845-8234

I also offer Free Home MarketEvaluations and information on the

current real estate market.

Pleasant Valley Cleaners

3356 10th Street, Box 68, Houston • Phone: 250-845-7000

So much more than your local commercial laundry serviceOpen: Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm

Sat: 10am - 4pmServing the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District

WALK-OFF MATS SERVICE • LAUNDRY FACILITIES • COMPLETE LINEN SERVICESHOP SUPPLIES • DROP OFF LAUNDRY SERVICE • SEWING SERVICES - REPAIRS ETC.

Full Coverall Service: • Sales - New & Used• Rentals • Repairs• Cleaning• 3M Re� ective Striping available & installed

Serving the Bulkley Valley and Lakes DistrictFULL LINE OF WORK WEAR!

Jeans • Jackets • Duck Coats

& Overalls • Work BootsShirts & Safety Clothing

Highway 16, Houston1-888-408-2839D5631

See our inventory at: www.smprv.ca

The best

RV DEALSare in Houston BC!

Our lot is full oflightweight, a� ordable,

quality-built travel trailers,� fth wheels and campers.

are in

INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & WELDING SHOP

D&M

250-845-3334

Steel Sales • GATES Hydraulic Hoses & Fittings • Wire Rope Black Pipe • Fittings • Safety Equipment Fasteners • Oil Spill Kits • Tools

2870 - 5th St., Houston Industrial Park Hours: Mon-Thurs 8-6pm • Fri 8-5pm • Sat 9-3pm

ALL HUSQVARNA POWER EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIESEQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

2815 - 5th Street, Houston Industrial Site, Houston

Small Engine Equipment & Repairs

Phone: (250) 845-3255

ALL HUSQVARNA POWEREQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Phone: 250-845-2498

LIMITED

• Trucking• Loading• Excavating• Grading• Track Skidsteer• Sand• Aggregates

• Site Prep• Demolition Cleanup• Landscaping• Gravel• Screened Top Soil• White Landscape Rock

DREAM WORKSHome Renovations

Helping You Bring

Your Ideas to Life

Call 250-845-0707

Andy Hors� eld

Seawest HardwoodFloor Re� nishing

FREE SHARK STEAM MOP

with re� nishing jobs of 500 square feet and over

✔ Dustless containment system✔ Over 7 years in the business

✔ State of the art equipment✔ Re� nishing & staining

O� ce: 250 847 1433 • Cell: 250 299 [email protected]

Your local Specialist - Senior’s Discounts Offered

www.facebook.com/SeawestHardwoodFloor Re� nishing

SALES • PARTS • SERVICE • FINANCING West Highway 16, Houston 250-845-2213 • www.finning.ca

NOW

PERF

ORMI

NG Cat Truck Engine and Truck Repairs

3429 10th St., Steelhead Building 250.845.2329

NORTHERN LASER offering... • Permanent hair removal • Tattoo removal • Acne treatments

Houston Barbershop

Free Consultations

D5631Sullivan Motors @smphouston

When your car, truck or SUV is in need of service, trust the factory-trained

technicians at Sullivan Motor Products.OPEN MON. TO SAT. 8AM - 5:30PM

Highway 16, HoustonTF: 1-800-665-3151

Call SMP at 250-845-2244

...Northwest’s Largest Volume Dealer for a Reason!!

www.sullivangm.com

Advertise your Business or Service here for $500/week*

Call Laura at 250-692-7526or 250-845-2890 or

email: [email protected]*Based on a 1-year commitment • GST not included

NorthStar is not your average store. We are like a recreation emporium... we carry

parts and units for all small engines, saws, snowmobiles, ATVs and motorcycles.

For the winter we have Columbia and Cub Cadet snow blowers and snow blade

attachments and accessories for all models of power products and snowmobiles. For

your yard in the summer we have garden tractors, tillers, sweepers,

mowers, trimmers & power saws. We also have stuff for

watersports, � shing and paintball.

Stop by today and see Pete,

John or Linda and check it

all out!all out!

2815 - 5th Street, Houston Industrial Site, HoustonPhone: (250) 845-3255

NORTHSTAR PerformanceThis week’s featured business is...


Fraser River Chevrolet, Quesnel BC is currently looking to fill the following full time position:

Certified GM Journeyman Technician

Fraser River GM offers a full benefit package including;

• Medical • Dental • Life Insurance • RRSP Plans• Competitive Wage and Compensation Packages

Please apply with resume to Shane Thon by email [email protected] – please include

references and a drivers abstract.

Kyahwood Forest Products is a Finger Joint mill located in Moricetown, 30 km West of Smithers BC. This entity is wholly owned by the Moricetown Band.

We currently have an opening for Millwright at our facility.

The ideal candidate will hold an Interprovincial Red Seal ticket and have two years of experience. Knowledge in the operation of an optimizer and finger jointing machine is an asset. Apprentices in the latter stages of their apprenticeship are also encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will bring good trouble- shooting and problem solving skills to ensure the continuous operation and efficiency of the machinery, good communication and interpersonal skills as well as a working knowledge of digital and computer systems. Welding, machining and electrical experience would also be an asset.This position will be compensated with a competitive

wage and benefit package that includes medical, dental and pension plan.

Apply in confidence:Fax – 250-847-2763

Email: [email protected] for applications: February 15, 2016

No phone calls please!

MillwrightSmithers BC

Fraser River Chevrolet is looking for an experienced, career minded

Automotive Sales Consultantto set and meet sales goals and to consistently deliver results in

accordance with our high company standards.

The Automotive Sales Consultant will sell our products and services through the achievement of opportunity-based sales quotas. This individual will also develop ongoing relationships with customers and continually maintain their respective client

portfolios.

Integrity, passion, and presentational skills are essential for this role. Fraser River Chevrolet Offers An Industry Leading Compensation Package, An Incredible Work Environment &

Career Advancement Opportunities.

Qualified applicants should email resume and cover letter with “Sales Consultant” in subject line to

Shane Thon: [email protected]

Continuous Aluminum Gutters

Bulkley Valley Eavestroughing

[email protected]

o t a ia nstallation

HOUSTON & AREA CHURCH

DIRECTORY

Houston Fellowship Baptist Church

3790 C.R. Matthews Rd.Pastor: Larry Ballantyne

Sunday School: 9:45am

Church Service: 11:00am

Everyone Welcome!Phone: 250-845-7810

Houston Canadian

Reformed ChurchSUNDAY SERVICES: 10:00 AM & 2:30 PM

Pastor Carl [email protected]

Offi ce Phone: 250-845-3441~ Everyone Welcome ~

3797 Omineca Way, Box 36, Houston, BC

Houston ChristianReformed Church1959 Goold St., Box 6,Houston 250-845-7578

~ Everyone Welcome! ~

Services: 10:00 am & 3:00 pm

HOUSTON PENTECOSTAL

CHURCH2024 Riverbank Drive,

Box 597, HoustonPhone: 250-845-2678

Pastor: Mike McIntyre

Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 amSunday Prayer Meeting: 7:00 pmSunday School: During the Service

Everyone Welcome

Anglican Churchof St. Clement

2324 Butler Ave., Box 599, Houston, BC

Rev. Jacob WorleyPhone: 250-845-4940

Services at:2:00pm Sundays

Houston United Church2106 Butler Ave

SERVICES: Sundays at 11a.m.(Kids Sunday Schoolduring the service)

To contact the churchor for pastoral care:

Morgan Ryder (250-698-7612 -H) or 250-692-9576 -C) or

Marianne Dekker 250-845-2282

St. Anthony’s Catholic Church

2001 Riverbank DriveHouston, B.C. V0J 1Z2Phone: 250-845-2841

Sunday Service: 11:30 AMParish Priest:

Fr. Pier Pandolfo

AL-ANON Are you affected by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon meetings are Monday, 7pm at the Houston United Church. Contact number: (250) 845-7774.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUSMeetings are at the Houston United Church, Monday and Thursday at 7:00pm. Contact number is:1-877-644-2266

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

Denied Long-TermDisability Benefi ts or

other insurance?If YES, call or email for

FREE initial legal consultation and protect

your right to compensation.778-588-7049

[email protected]

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

Travel

TimeshareCANCEL YOUR timeshare. No risk program. Stop mort-gage and maintenance pay-ments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consul-tation. Call us now, we can help! 1-888-356-5248.

TravelSEE POLAR Bears, Walrus and Whales on our Arctic Ex-plorer Voyage next summer. Save 15% with our winter sale for a limited time. Call toll-free: 1-800-363-7566 or visit:www.adventurecanada.com (TICO#04001400)

Employment

Career Opportunities

OWNER OPERATORSFlatdeck Division

· Must be willing to run Western USA, BC and Alberta· Must currently hold a FAST card, or obtain one within 3 weeks of receiving a position.Benefi ts & Hiring Bonus!

Call Bob 604-888-2928 or email: [email protected]

Education/Trade Schools

HEALTHCARE DOCUMEN-TATION Specialists are in huge demand. Employers want CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Train with Canada’s best-rated program. Enroll today.www.canscribe.com 1-800-466-1535. [email protected].

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

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

Help Wanted

• Teachers• Special Ed Teachers

• Education AssistantsPart-time opportunity to start supporting our Northern BC home educated students. Caseload to increase in the fall once training & profi ciency is established.

Detailed job description& online application can

be found at:www.onlineschool.ca Click About Us, then

scroll to Careers at HCOS

GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB.

1-877-987-1420 www.pioneerwest.com

LARGE FUNDBorrowers Wanted

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

Call Anytime1-800-639-2274 or

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

Accounting/Tax/Bookkeeping

PETER NJENGA Chartered Professional Accountant - Ac-cepting new clients. 604-593-5447. [email protected]



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

Merchandise for Sale

Misc. for SaleREFORESTATION NURSERY seedlings of hardy trees, shrubs and berries for shelter-belts or landscaping. Spruce and Pine from $.99/tree. Free shipping. Replacement guar-antee. 1-866-873-3846 or www.treetime.ca

Announcements Announcements Employment Services Services Merchandise for Sale

Place of Worship Information Education/Trade Schools

Financial Services Plumbing Misc. for SaleSAWMILLS FROM only $4,397. Make money & save money with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free Info & DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.

Real Estate

Business for SaleM&M Meat Shops Franchise for sale in Cranbrook, BC.Owners retiring. Busy mainstreet location. Call KathyHosseini @ 1-519-895-2580ext. 448 [email protected]

Sales Sales

Eavestrough Eavestrough

To advertise in print:Call: 250-845-2890 Email: [email protected]

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

Browse more at:

A division of

AGREEMENTIt is agreed by any display or Classified Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement.

Used.ca cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for the following edition.

Used.ca reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the Used.ca Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.

DISCRIMINATORYLEGISLATIONAdvertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, color, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, or age, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for the work involved.

COPYRIGHTCopyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of Used.ca. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

ON THE WEB:

INDEX IN BRIEFFAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRAVEL

EMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS SERVICES

PETS & LIVESTOCK

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

RENTALS

AUTOMOTIVE

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

LEGAL NOTICES

MAKE ANANNOUNCEMENT

All they need is Love

Give the Gift of a Permanent Home

www.spca.bc.ca

blackpress.ca ◆ bclocalnews.com

SPORTS REPORTERHouston Today Newspaper is accepting applications for part-time casual and on-call position of Sports Reporter.

We are looking for an individual who has a passion for sports. Quali� ed individuals will have pro� ciency in photography.

Quali� cations include:

• Variety of sports knowledge and/or experience.

• Prior newspaper or writing experience an asset.

We expect all applicants to have a valid driver’s licence and own a reliable vehicle. This position requires weekend and evening work.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to:

Attention: Publisher Houston Today Newspaper P.O. Box 899, Houston, B.C. V0J 1Z0

or email to: [email protected]


RE/MAX HOUSTON Locally owned and operated

Lia Long 250-845-11472436 Poulton Ave., Houston, BC • e-mail: [email protected] • www.realtor.ca

Call 250-845-7325 www.remaxhouston.ca

Whether you are buying or selling, Lia offers prompt, friendly and professional service with over 20 years of real estate experience and a lifetime in the Houston area.

$229,000

FINE ADDRESS TO COME HOME TO!4 bedroom home (2up, 2down) on a cul de sac close to schools. Gorgeous updated kitchen features new cabinets, countertops, flooring and trim. Island in kitchen with an eating bar. Patio doors off kitchen to sun deck in private fenced back yard. Another deck with a hot tub too! Laminate floors in kitchen, living and hall. Newer High Efficiency furnace. Fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave, window coverings and hot tub included. $143,900

MULTI SEASON RETREAT!Spectacular views from this spacious country home located on just over 8 acres approximately 20 minutes south of Houston on the Buck Flats Road. 3 bedrooms on the main, 2 in the basement. High vaulted ceilings in the very open living room/kitchen and dining. 2 bay windows. Enjoy the views from your large sundeck. Basement is partly finished. Double carport, greenhouse, storage shed, garden area. All appliances included. Call Lia to view. 250-845-1147.

Community Calendar proudly sponsored by


www.bvcu.com

Since May 1941, Bulkley Valley Credit Union has been building a solid financial institution that members from Burns Lake to the Hazeltons have grown to rely on. People helping people is how we began and we strive to remain people-oriented, both in our financial services and through direct involvement with our communities. We are dedicated to local decision-making and local control, key factors in providing the kinds of services that meet the financial needs of individuals and business members alike.

HOUSTON & DISTRICT BRANCH 2365 Copeland Ave.

P.O. Box 1480, Houston Phone: 250-845-7117

HOUSTON COMMUNITY CALENDARswim for Seniors (60+) every Tuesday 9 AM to 10 AM until February 23. All Seniors invited. Reason: Expanding opportunities for Seniors to become active.

TOPS 1901 meets every Tues.: 8-9:30 a.m. at the Houston United Church. Come join other women who are Taking Off Pounds Sensibly and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

Coffee Break - an Interactive Women’s Bible Study meet every Tuesday morning from 9:30-11:00 at the Houston Christian Reformed Church, 1959 Goold Road. Childcare is provided. For more info call Margaret: 845-2348, Darlene 845-7438, Evelyn 696-3229.

Buck Flats Community Development Society, meets every 3rd Sat. evening at 6pm at Andy Pollack’s house (17642) on Buck Flats Rd. All Buck Flats residents are welcome to attend, we discuss issues concerning the Buck fl ats area. Please call Chris Newell at 250-845-3564 for more info.

Houston’s “Love by the Bowl” Soup Kitchen serving healthy homemade soups in two different seatings, 11-12 and 12 -1 on Wednesdays.

TOPLEYTopley Fire Protection Society meetings every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm.

Structural Firefi ghting/Hwy Rescue. Interested? Topley Volunteer Fire Dept. is accepting applications. No experience necessary please contact Byron - F/C 250-696-3348 or come to a Fire Practice Thurs @ 19:00 hrs (7pm).

GRANISLEThe Granisle and District Senior Citizens meet every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Seniors Centre.

Granisle Volunteer Fire Department meetings & fi re practices every Tues., 7:00pm at the Fire Hall.

Granisle Church of the Way services are Sundays at 11:00am.

The Houston Legion - Regular Meetings: 2nd Monday of the month is Executive, 4th Monday is a General Meeting.

Houston Public Library Events: NID Lego Club - Fri, Feb. 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. for kids ages 7 and up. • Game Night for Grownups! - Thurs, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation. Adults are welcome to drop in and play board games, cards games and RPGs. Junk food is included. • Book Club - Thurs, Feb. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. • Mark Zagwyn Photography - Fri, Feb. 26 from 11:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Mark will be on hand to take passport photos. Prints of his photography will also be on display. For more info on above events please contact the library @250-845-2256.

International Women’s Dinner event is planned in Houston for Tuesday, March 8. More details to follow.

Super Valu tapes may be donated to the Legion Ladies Auxiliary at drop off boxes at A&W; Shear Delight; Razor’s Edge and Terri-Lynn Hair Creations. The tapes are used as a fund-raiser for the L.A. to the Houston Legion.

Activities for Seniors in Houston at the Seniors Centre: New Horizons FREE

Please keep your announcements as brief as possible. Deadline (faxed or mailed or delivered) is 4 p.m. Thursday. Items are printed or alternated as space permits. Items will be accepted via fax, email or dropped at the offi ce. No phone calls please. More calendar items are listed online and can be submitted or viewed at www.houston-today.com

www.habitat.ca

More than 1.5 million Canadian

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Riverside Gardens3707 East Valley Road, Houston • 250 845-7707

HOPE forHOPE forHOPE forforTodayTodayTransaction

When we bought our � rst house it was a learning experience. I remember securing a mortgage,

making a down payment and going to the lawyer to sign the papers. It was not until this transaction was made that we could really call this home ours. We had to take ownership of it by agreeing to the terms of the transaction. Before this we imagined what we would do to make the place our home. Landscaping, furniture, � nishing the basement, and painting the rooms were plans we made before we even had possession of it. Once we took ownership we moved in, it was now our home.

Before I received Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I thought about what it would be like to be a Christian. I observed others who were Christians. I went to church and even read the Bible to learn more about Jesus and what it meant to be a follower of his. To be totally honest, sometimes I pretended to be a Christian when I knew I was not.

I remember back in Slocan BC, Jan 13 1973, when I took ownership of what Jesus had done for me. I realized I was a hopeless sinner and only he could save me from my sins. God convicted me, he was my only hope, I could resist no more and there was nothing I could do but surrender to him. I got down on my knees, repented of my sins and cried out to him for mercy. True to his word, he heard me and saved me, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 NLT. A transaction was made that day and Jesus made me part of his family. That was over 43 years ago, every day I praise God for his mercy and grace and the new life he has given.

Jesus said “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” John 12:32 NLT. God’s word also says “He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 NLT

Have you received him? Is he your Lord and Saviour? He has a new life waiting for all who will come to him. “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 NLT

Submitted by Ken Penner

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houston today, february 03, 2016

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