EExpressO M I N E C A$1.30 Inc. GSTVol. 39 No. 01

Serving Vanderhoof Fort Fraser Fraser Lake & Areawww.ominecaexpress.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016

NADLEH WHUTEN AGREEMENT P. 2EDITORIAL P. 6

Inside POLICE UPDATE P. 3A LOOK BACK P. 12

Publications Mail Contract # 40007840

Published by Black Press Ltd., 150 West Columbia Street, Vanderhoof, BC

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Vanderhoof biathlon shot gold at BC Winter GamesVivian Chui

Omineca Express

First-time BC Games par-ticipant Linnea Moutray from Vanderhoof snatched three medals over the four-day event in Penticton last weekend.

Placing fi rst in the Super Sprint Girls Junior event for biathlon, Moutray also won bronze medals in the individ-ual and sprint races for junior girls.

Overall, biathlon athletes from the northwest zone claimed 10 of 13 medals for the zone at this years BC Win-ter Games.

Four speed skaters from Vanderhoof also participated in the games: Connor Ebert, Nicole McBride, Alexis Seely, and Logan Sewell.

Supported by coaches Ni-cole Ebert and Vince Sewell, as well as adult supervisor Jessica Seely, they are joined by Fort St. James Austin McKersie, who competed in a relay race as a team with the four young-er members of the group.

Taking place from Feb. 25 to 28, this years Winter Games features athletes with an aver-age age of 14 competing in 17 different sports.

Bill Bidlake, president of the Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games, thanked the effort of over 1,800 volunteers.

There is a saying: if you want to go fast, you go alone; but if you want to go far, you go together, said Bidlake. This weekend shows how far Penticton will go together in showcasing its passion for sport, community and youth.

SUBMITTED photo

Vanderhoofs Linnea Moutray (centre) won gold in the Super Sprint Girls Junior event for biathlon at the Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games last weekend. Moutray also won bronze medals in the individual and sprint races for junior girls.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Omineca ExpressA2 www.ominecaexpress.com

NEWSExpress

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Vivian ChuiOmineca Express

Nadleh Whuten First Nation has signed a project agreement with Trans-Canada for its natural gas pipeline project, joining 10 other aboriginal communities along its route across northern B.C.

At a celebratory dinner for the com-munity on Feb. 17, Nadleh Whuten Chief Martin Louie and President Rick Gateman of the companys Coastal GasLink pipe-line project announced the agreement to close to 80 community members at the Nadleh Whuten hall.

We have ties to our animalsto the rivers; as First Nations, everything has a spirit, Louie said. Today, values of our ancestors have changedtheres a price for taking trees down, theres a price for everything.

Those are the changes weve grown to accept over the years, and at the same time, we still need to protect our land and animals, so that our younger ones that are following us can enjoy the same things we have.

Opening with traditional First Nation songs from singers and drummers led by Louie, the event was also attended by Mayor Dwayne Lindstrom and CAO Rod-ney Holland from Fraser Lake, Mayor Gerry Thiessen from Vanderhoof, repre-sentatives of the Fraser Lake RCMP, as well as councillors of Nadleh Whuten.

The negotiations we have done is a long-lasting agreement that will benefi t

every member of our community, Louie said. Because the more we keep fi ghting the systemright now we need to start moving on down a certain path, and we need to involve everybody around us.

Its time to start working together as neighbours: Fraser Lake, Fort Fraser, Van-derhoof, Prince George.

Passing 25 kilometres away from Nadleh Whuten, the proposed 670-ki-lometre pipeline that starts near Dawson Creek in northeast B.C. and ends in Kiti-mat on the coast would employ over 2,500 people during its three- to four-year con-struction period, Gateman said.

One of the key things in the agreement with Nadleh Whuten, and other First Na-tions along the way, is that we dont just want to share the economic benefi ts of the project, he said. We want to create ca-pacity in the community through training and contract jobs to get this pipeline built.

It is in our best interest as employers to employ local people fi rst.

Involving potential work camps in Le-jac and by Vanderhoofs airport, the proj-ects start date is contingent on the com-panys Asian customers, who would make a fi nal investment decision later this year, Gateman explained.

Its a legacy for the future, he said. Weve structured this agreement so that First Nations along the way truly become our partners throughout time.

As long as gas fl ows through this pipe-line, there will be annual payments that benefi ts this community.

To commemorate the signed agree-ment, TransCanada presented to Nadleh Whuten a wooden sculpture carved by George Hemeon, the companys aborigi-nal and local contracting manager, that depicts a First Nation creation story of a raven stealing light to be brought to earth.

Its about transformation, Hemeon said. I know were at the early stages of our relationship, but we all recognize a need for industry to change the way theyve done business in the past.

Theres a reciprocal part to this rela-tionship that is both based on the interests and expectations of the community, but also those interests and business needs of our company as well.

The carv-ings black and red colour-ing represents the male and female in the c o m m u n i t y, Hemeon ex-plained.

The idea is that the ra-ven is watch-ing over the c o m m u n i t y and also the r e l a t ionsh ip that we have together at this point.

Nadleh Whuten First Nation signs agreement with

TransCanada gas pipeline project

Fraser Lake Mayor Dwayne Lindstrom (from left), Chief Martin Louie of Nadleh Whuten First Nation, President Rick Gateman of TransCanadas Coastal GasLink pipeline proj-ect, and Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen attended the community dinner, where a com-memorative carving from TransCanada was presented to Nadleh Whuten.

VIVIAN CHUI photos

www.ominecaexpress.com A3Omineca Express Wednesday, March 2, 2016

NEWSExpressINSIDENEWStheVanderhoofs RCMP detachment lodged 64

fi les last week.

DECEASED MAN FOUNDOn Feb. 26 at 10:30 a.m., a deceased First

Nation man was reported to the police by two wit-nesses behind Chevron gas station on Highway 16.

The BC Coroners Service is engaged, and the death is determined to be non-suspicious, though the specifi c cause remains under investigation.

The mans name is not released by press time on Monday, pending family and Coroners Service approval.

There is no danger implicated for the commu-nity, said Sgt. Svend Nielsen.

DOWNTOWN LIQUOR STORE BREAK-IN #2Alerted by a commercial alarm, Vanderhoofs

police responded to a break-and-enter at the Reid Liquor Store at 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 19.

According to a surveillance video, a smaller female, wearing a hoodie with a unique front-fac-ing logo, climbed into the store and stole several items.

She was accompanied by a man who remained outside the building.

Its the second time that the downtown liquor store was broken into this month. In the early morning of Feb. 8, two males allegedly broke through storefront windows to grab several bottles. One suspect was located, with the help of a wit-ness, and is scheduled to appear in Vanderhoofs courthouse in April.

The police does not believe the incidents to be linked, and will be working with the owner to improve the stores security profi le, Nielsen said.

PINK SHIRT DAYUnderneath bullet-proof vests on Feb. 24,

RCMP members in downtown Vanderhoof at noon were sporting pink shirts with the rest of the com-munity, for the 600-student strong fl ash mob for Pink Shirt Day, the nation-wide campaign against bullying.

In Vanderhoof, theres a huge energy when it comes to events like that, said Nielsen, noting the attendance of other agencies, such as Nechako Valley Community Services, who were unidenti-fi ed at the event. Its great to see different parts of the community together.

- with fi les from Sgt. Svend Nielsen, Vanderhoof RCMP

Police Update

To be eligible for the B.C. Training and Education Savings grant, children must have been born in 2007 or later, and they must be resident in B.C., along with a parent or guardian. Families have three years to submit an application for the grant when their child becomes eligible.

As well, through Budget 2016, govern-ment is investing $39 million to extend the BCTESG to eligible children born in 2006. The families of these 40,000 additional eligible children will be able to apply for the grant later this year.

Vivian ChuiOmineca Express

A new culturally-based program to prevent do-mestic violence by men is coming to 10 aboriginal communities in the region.

Earlier this month, the provincial government announced $70,000 of funding to Carrier Sekani Family Services in Vanderhoof for its Family Wellness Warriors Initiative.

To prevent men from perpetuating domestic violence, the program will use holistic, traditional, and local knowledge in order to guide men back to their roles as dignifi ed warriors, role models and protectors of women, families and community, states Marilyn Janzen, CSFSs health and wellness program manager.

The objective of the program is to help men to reinstate the traditional roles they once held in the community, and reduce their use of violence, Janzen said. Participants will learn to consciously

make moral and ethical decisions, based on spiri-tual and cultural traditions and teachings.

Delivered through CSFSs Integrated Health and Wellness Program, the new initiative will be carried out by current mental health and addictions recovery staff.

Through the sharing of individual stories coupled with cultural teachings and experiential learning, men will have the opportunity to learn ways to replace violence with true strength, which is based on their traditional roles and values, Janzen explained.

The program also aims to open the conversation on domestic violence within the communities.

Violence is perpetuated by community silence, she said. Through participation in the program, men will work to eliminate the shame and guilt experienced by themselves and their victims.

To be delivered within Wetsuweten First Na-tion, Burns Lake Band, Cheslatta Carrier Nation,

Stellaten First Nation, Nadleh Whuten, Saikuz First Nation, Takla Lake First Nation, Nee Tahi Buhn Band, Skin Tyee First Nation and Yekooche First Nation, the program is currently in its plan-ning stage, with more details and dates to come through CSFSs website and social media page.

The new program is one of 24 culture-based anti-domestic violence initiatives that benefi ted from provincial government funding this month for its Aboriginal Domestic Violence Funding Project for a total of $1.5 million.

Aboriginal women are three times more likely to experience violence and be assaulted by their partner than non-Aboriginal women, according to provincial government information. Many of these programs incorporate Aboriginal culture and traditional practices which will help ensure the content resonates with the participants and have a meaningful impact in the lives of Aboriginal fami-lies throughout B.C., said John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

New anti-domestic violence program for aboriginal men focuses on traditional values

Farmers donation tax creditThe Farmers Food Donation Tax credit is

available to individuals and corporations that carry on the business of farming and donate a qualifying agricultural product to a registered charity.

The agricultural product may include meat products, eggs or dairy products, fi sh, seafood, fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, herbs, honey, maple syrup, mushrooms, nuts or other produce

that has been grown, raised or harvested on a farm in B.C.

The credit, available for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 tax years, is worth 25% of the fair market value of the qualifying agricultural product and must be claimed in the same year that a charitable donation tax credit or deduction is claimed for the donation.

Education, B.C. grant

Seedy Saturday

The 38th annual Festival of the Perform-ing Arts kicks off on March 7 at the NVSS Integris Community Theatre.March 7, Speech ArtsMarch 11, StringsMarch 14 to 16, Piano

March 14, 7:30 p.m.Interactive choral workshopfor all by Dr. Stephen Smith

March 15, 7:30 p.m. Breaking Bach, Pia-no workshop about his Preludes and Fugues for all by Dr. Stephen Smith

March 20, 2:30 p.m. Spring Arts Gala Concert

Upcoming local arts festival

A community seed swap and informational speakers will take place on March 5 at the Van-derhoof Public Library.11 a.m. to noon:Christine Adolph, local gardener speaks on saving seeds12:30 to 1:30 p.m.:Seed swap and seed catalogues (divide seeds into packets and label)1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.:Janice Atkins from Atkins Greenhouse speaks on starting and transplanting seeds

Incoming anti-bullying fl ash mob on Pink Shirt Day

VIVIAN CHUI photo

Dressed in pink for PInk Shirt Day, the annual nation-wide campaign against anti-bullying, Vanderhoofs RCMP blocks off Burrard Avenue through downtown Vanderhoof at noon for the incoming 600-student strong fl ash mob on Feb. 24.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Omineca ExpressA4 www.ominecaexpress.com

NEWSExpress

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Magdalena Saito Holistic Health Practitioner

250-524-0333 -- www.HalcyonHolistic.comYoung Living Essential Oils Distributor & Re exologist

We are not talking about choking on steak or food poisoning (though those are very real dangers, cook your food and chew it well)Who doesnt like a tender cut of meat? Tender cuts are so popular that many restaurants and stores tenderize meat before its sold or served. Great right? actually not really.Mechanical tenderization is a modern practice that facilities use to tenderize their steaks, though it is not used for every cut, or in every facility, it is nearly impossible to tell whether a steak has been tenderized or not unless its labelled. Tenderization is fast, easy, and makes a great cut of beef, what could possibly be wrong with that?Meat is muscle that is self encasing, though bacteria can get all over the outside, it cannot penetrate the inside, that makes it easy to enjoy a medium rare steak and not have to worry about parasites or other baddies. The process of mechanical tenderization consists of many fi ne needles poking through the meat on a conveyer belt. What do you think happens when those needles pierce through that muscle wrapped in its own shell? It breaks through the shell of course and that means bacteria can now get inside your steak or worse they actually get forced into the meat (how does that medium rare steak sound now?) If the inside is not cooked through you are risking your health, and the people most at risk? Elderly folks, children if you are immunocompromised or if you are at risk of a severe illness. Not just food poisoning we are talking kidney failure, intestinal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc. . . Does anyone remember that massive beef recall in Alberta?Not a laughing matter. Local foods tends to be more controlled and its easier to fi nd out how the meat is being processed (another reason to eat local) but if you are buying from a large retailer, or in a restaurant. Your best bet is to eat either a well done piece of meat, or get something with a bone in, as those cuts wont make it through the tenderizer.Want to fi nd out more? Here is a great website: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/06/has-your-steak-been-mechanically-tenderized/index.htmBe Healthy, Be Happy, Eat Well!

Steak can kill you!

Tom FletcherBlack Press

Newly built homes worth up to $750,000 are exempt from B.C.s property transfer tax under changes in the provincial budget that take effect immediately.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong expects to make up most of the lost revenue by increasing the tax rate from two to three per cent on the value of homes in excess of $2 million.

For resold homes, property purchase tax continues to apply at one per cent on the fi rst $200,000 of value and two per cent on value between $200,000 and $2 million.

The tax has produced a wind-fall for the province and pushed home purchase costs even higher in the hot market for homes in some urban areas. The govern-ment expects to collect about $200 million more than it bud-geted for the current year, due to soaring prices and a high number of sales.

De Jong said the break is aimed at new construction to stimulate new housing construction, adding to supply in response to demand that is driving prices up.

The exemption is only avail-able to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and the government is resuming tracking nationality of buyers, a practice stopped in 1998.

The upper limit to qualify for the homeowner grant is also in-creased from $1.1 million to $1.2 million for the 2016 property tax year.

DISABILITY BENEFITS INCREASING

A $77 increase in monthly in-come assistance for disabled peo-ple will make the system fairer for rural B.C. residents who dont have access to transit service, So-cial Development Minister Mi-chelle Stilwell says.

The increase, the fi rst in nine years, has been the target of pro-tests because the cost of monthly transit passes is deducted from it for those who were using the pass. Their increase is only $25 a month plus the continued transit pass.

There were 40,000 individu-als in this province who werent eligible for the bus pass program because of the location where they live, because it wasnt a service that was provided, Stilwell said. So what weve done is levelled the playing fi eld for people with disabilities, and provided those individuals with a choice on how they want to spend their money.

The increase is to take effect Sept. 1, at an annual cost of $170 million to the provincial treasury.

REGULATIONS COMING FOR PET BREEDERS

The B.C. government is adopt-ing new regulations to require dog and cat breeders to meet national standards for their care.

Regulations are expected to take effect in 2017, based on the Canadian Veterinary Medical As-sociations code of practice, along with a breeder licensing or regis-tration system. They will require

daily cleaning of pens, minimum space for each animal depending on its size, and veterinary care for dogs and cats that are sick, injured or in pain.

A registration system would allow animal inspectors to in-spect premises, rather than wait for public complaints about poor conditions that currently result in about 200 investigations per year.

Craig Daniell, CEO of the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the re-cent seizure of 66 neglected dogs from a Langley breeder has out-raged B.C. residents.

These events have really re-inforced the publics desire for the licensing and inspection of dog and cat breeders, to prevent the kind of suffering we have witnessed in the last few weeks, Daniell said.

CHILDREN EXEMPTED FROM MSP PREMIUMSMedical Services Plan pre-

miums are being charged only for adults starting in 2017, and the qualifying income for re-duced premiums is going up from $30,000 to $42,000 for single people.

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

The changes will reduce rates for an additional 335,000 people,

Budget 2016: Property transfer tax trimmedand 45,000 more people will be exempted from paying as long as they are registered and qualify. But rates overall continue to rise. With a four per cent increase in personal rate this year and growing population, the government expects to collect more MSP each year of its three-year budget plan than with the current system.

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

www.ominecaexpress.com A5Omineca Express Wednesday, March 2, 2016

NEWSExpress

The pet of the week this week is Gary! Gary is a 5 year old, domestic short hair, chocolate point cat! He will be neutered next week and is looking for his forever home! Gary was on some medication for an injury on his toes on his front right paw,

BC SPCA your fi rst adoption option!

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but is all done with the medication now. He is very shy at fi rst but enjoys being scratched under his chin and being talked to. Gary also likes to take naps underneath blankets and comforters! Come visit Gary here at the shelter!

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An equivalent to spousetax credit may be claimed for a dependent relative... Part 1An individual may claim, under certain circumstances, the amount for an eligible dependant (equivalent to spouse) tax credit for a dependent child, or other dependent relatives, on line 305 of the tax return. The amount of this federal non-refundable tax credit is $11,327 for 2015, the same as the spousal amount tax credit. See the tables of non-refundable tax credits for the provincial amounts and tax rates of this tax credit.

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is reduced by income earned by the dependant can be claimed by only one person for the dependant

This tax credit cannot be claimed if

you are claiming the spousal amount tax credit (line 303). the claim is for a child for whom you were required to make support payments during the year.

To see if you qualify contact your tax preparer.

To be continued..

UPDATE ON PROPOSED BYLAW FOR LIMITING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SPEED

Limiting vehicles over 13,700 kg to travel at 30 kilome-tres per hour on Burrard Avenue between the bridge and its intersection with Highway 16, the proposed new bylaw will be considered for adoption at its fi nal reading during the next council meeting on March 7.

The district council received two formal responses from residents, and public sentiment from social media was also considered in the discussion.

Concerns included potential problems created by dual speed limits, as well as the streets width that may not allow 2-lane traffi c at times due to parking or snow.

The new bylaw originated from the RCMP and resi-dents concerns on heavy vehicles ability to stop or slow down in the downtown core, while travelling at 50 kilome-tres per hour.

PROGRAM FOR SUBSIDIZED SENIOR TRANSPOR-TATION TO PRINCE GEORGE CONTINUES

The district council is continuing its contract, on a year-by-year basis, with the District of Fort St. James Seniors Helping Seniors Transportation Service.

In a four-month trial period from last September to De-

cember, Vanderhoofs seniors, coordinated bythe local Se-niors Connected program, accessed the subsidized service 11 times for their medical appointments in Prince George.

A concern raised by a Seniors Connected representative at the Feb. 22 council meeting is the need for an additional round trip to be arranged between the seniors home and pickup point, which is located at the A&W restaurant on the corner of Highway 16 and Burrard Avenue.

The district council is also looking at reducing the cost per trip for the contract renewal, as well as exploring provincial initiatives that are under development regarding Highway 16 transportation, Clement said.

The program currently costs the district $60 per trip, as well as $100 of administrative costs for each week the service was accessed.

AQUATIC CENTRE DESIGN COMMITTEEThree councillors and three members of the public will

be appointed by the district council for the Aquatic Centre Design Committee.

For the next six months, the committee will provide input to a contracted architect, through monthly or bi-monthly meetings, to produce a fi nal tender-ready design for

Vanderhoofs pool.

MEETING WITH SAIKUZ COUNCIL TO COUNCILVanderhoofs mayor and district council will host a

meeting with their Saikuz First Nation counterparts in early March.

With no fi xed agenda, the meeting is an opportunity for councils from the two communities to chat on mutu-ally benefi cial issues in an informal setting, said CAO Tom Clement.

Last meeting took place two years ago, though the coun-cils are looking into the possibility of biannual meetings, where each community plays hosts in turn.

90 TREES FOR 90 YEARSTo commemorate Vanderhoofs 90th birthday, the

Nechako Waste Reduction Initiative is looking to plant 90 trees around the district of Vanderhoof. More information to come.

- with fi les from the District of Vanderhoof

Council notes: speed limit bylaw up for approvalMayor

Gerry ThiessenCouncillor

Darren CarpenterCouncillor

Brian FrenkelCouncillor

John MurphyCouncillorKen Young

CouncillorKevin Moutray

CouncillorSteve Little

Paul Collard,Director of NVSA

On Saturday the 20th of February, six members of the Vanderhoof Council accepted an invitation from the Nechako Nordics to experience biath-lon. As most organizations are not very familiar with the sport, which is a major TV player in Europe, this initiative was to develop some knowl-edge and appreciation of the sport, and the level of ability in our local vicinity.

Each Councillor was paired with an athlete, who fi rst instructed them on the safety aspects of handling a rifl e. After that the participants shot a paper targets so that they could see the results of their efforts.

A race was then organized where the athletes did the skiing, and the councillors did the shoot-ing. A small penalty loop was used for missed shots.

District experiences biathlonEveryone had a great time, and was surprised

at how diffi cult it is to hit the actual prone target, as it is only the size of a toonie, at 50 metres!As it was such a successful event, the club is thinking of expanding this opportunity to businesses and other governing groups.

ADULT BADMINTON...Thursdays at 8:30pm. Bring your own racket, and wear

indoor runners. More info call 250-567-9908.

150 W. Columbia St.Box 1007Vanderhoof, B.C.V0J 3A0

Phone: 250-567-9258Fax: 250-567-2070

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Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Omineca ExpressA6 www.ominecaexpress.com

OPINIONExpress

We acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund

of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Published by Black Press Ltd at 150 West Columbia Street, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0

Laura JonesExecutive Vice President of the

Canadian Federation of Independent Business

Gordon Campbells political miscalculation in 2009 to impose a harmo-nized sales tax on an unsuspecting public, shortly after an election where promises to the contrary had been made, continues to haunt the province. Whatever one might think of the miscalculation, the provincial sales tax is a seriously out-dated tax that needs to be modernized a task that todays politicians are understandably wary of.

The B.C. public might have accepted the need to modernize taxes by moving from the PST to the HST if Campbells government had consulted properly, and proposed a lower tax rate to go along with the change. But no politician in their right mind would risk reigniting public fury by suggesting that path now.

With that in mind, last weeks budget announcement that the government will strike a tax competitiveness commission to consult with British Colum-bians and make recommendations, while making it very clear that HST is not an option, strikes a reasonable and politically courageous compromise.

A tax competitiveness panel with a similar mandate, of which I was a member, made recommendations to the government in the fall of 2012. Although I strongly suspect that the main recommendation will be similar, given the sensitivity of the subject, it makes sense to consult again and get a current read on the situation.

One of the PSTs major fl aws is that it is not just levied on fi nal goods but on everything in between, meaning that consumers and businesses pay sales tax more than once on the same goods. If you buy a chair, for example, the manufacturer pays PST on the wood, nails, upholstery and stuffi ng that go into making it. Some of these tax costs get passed on to consumers. Con-sumers then pay PST again when they buy the chair. Taxes get paid on the inputs and the fi nal product, with businesses and consumers each absorbing some of those costs.

The PST creates a disincentive to business investment as it is paid on computers, machinery and equipment. This is particularly problematic as it is such investments that help businesses grow, which in turn allows them to create jobs, train employees and increase wages. The tax competitiveness panel found that the return of the PST created a situation where B.C. busi-nesses face the highest effective tax rate on new business investments of all the provinces. It recommended that the province remove the PST on these critical investments, as a good place to start in its tax reform.

The problems dont stop there. Administering the PST has become a nightmare for business and government alike. One of the more comical examples that a previous minister used to cite was that red raincoats were tax exempt while yellow ones werent. Another example, cloth and tailor services are tax exempt unless combined to make tailored suits, in which case they are taxable. At the CFIB, we spend months helping businesses untangle quandaries such as whether to charge PST on pet food containing medication because pet food is exempt but pet medication is not. If you

CFIB: How to get past the PST

Tom FletcherBlack Press

The B.C. Liberal government made a big show of selectively easing Medical Services Plan fees in its bud-get for the coming election year.

In what is becoming a pattern for Premier Christy Clark, the biggest benefi ciaries are single parents. The new MSP is calculated for adults only, so a single parent with two children saves as much as $1,200 a year.

Premium assistance is expanded, with discounts for single people mak-ing up to $42,000, rather than $30,000. But for singles, couples and seniors who dont qualify for discounts, the rate is going up another four per cent effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Indeed, with population growth, the fi nance ministry expects its take from MSP premiums to rise every year, reaching $2.5 billion in the com-ing years.

MSP revenue covers about 17 per cent of B.C.s health budget, and Clark and Finance Minister Mike de Jong insist that Canadas only direct health care charge is a vital signal to people that health care isnt free.

This argument has failed.One seldom-discussed fact is that

for half of the people charged MSP, its paid by their employers. In pri-vate sector terms its a hefty payroll tax, creating one more obstacle for businesses to hire full-time staff with benefi ts.

So most full-time em-ployees dont receive this supposedly vital signal, unless they get laid off because their employer is losing money.

Also note that politi-cians and public sector employees have never paid MSP premiums. Their employers, taxpay-ers, pick up the tab for them.

People who have to pay out of pocket are what the bureaucracy calls pay direct accounts. Jordan Bate-man of the Canadian Taxpayers Fed-eration recently revealed that nearly 400,000 of these accounts are cur-rently in arrears by more than 30 days, owing a grand total of $457 million.

Of course this is Canada, so even if you havent paid or even registered for MSP, you still get treatment at the hospital. Another potential signal lost in the noise.

For people who lose their jobs, MSP is like being kicked when they are down. Their employer stops pay-ing, and the slow-moving bureaucracy charges them based on their income from the previous year.

There was a fuss in 2004 after the B.C. Liberals contracted out MSP ad-ministration to a Virginia-based back-offi ce specialist, delightfully named Maximus Corporation.

Now Maximus goes after delin-quent MSP accounts with collection

agency tactics, and at-tempts to keep up with the comings and goings from other provinces and countries.

Opposition parties decry the continued ineq-uity of the MSP premium system, which charges the same for a single per-son making $45,000 or $450,000 a year.

NDP leader John Horgan rails about inequality and ac-cuses Clark of using MSP revenues to establish her prosperity slush fund, but he stops short of calling for the elimination of MSP premiums.

One would expect the NDP to lead another axe the tax campaign, as they did with the carbon tax and the HST, but they arent. Perhaps this is because workers for this unnecessary Maximus machine remain members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union.

Green Party leader Andrew Weav-er has it right. He staged a popular pe-tition drive to roll MSP premiums into income tax. If the government wants to send a message, it can interrupt its continuous Jobs Plan advertising.

Scrapping MSP and raising in-come tax rates on higher brackets to compensate would fi x the private sec-tor payroll deterrent, make salaried employees (including me) pay their share, and end a tax break for the wealthy. Dont hold your breath.

Time to take MSP off life support

have any remaining doubts that the rules are a complicated mess, pretend you run a small business and try read-ing the tax bulletin on Personal Tan-gible Property. I dare you.

Unfortunately, budget surpluses are too small for the province to fi x the worst problems with the PST today. A tax commission to make recom-mendations that can be implemented

quickly when surpluses are healthier still makes sense. It would benefi t all British Columbians if province could put its sales tax ghosts to rest.

www.ominecaexpress.com A7Omineca Express Wednesday, March 2, 2016

NEWSExpress

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Vivian ChuiOmineca Express

With renovations fi nished and caution tape cut, Vander-hoofs search and rescue team offi cially moved into its new home last week.

On Feb. 24, over 30 community leaders and support-ers including Maurie Hurst, northwest regional manager of Emergency Management BC, and Sgt. Svend Nielsen of Vanderhoofs RCMP attended the Nechako Valley Search and Rescues ribbon cutting ceremony for its new facility on Burrard Avenue.

Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society, repre-sented by its chairperson Wayne Salewski and director Ray Klingspohn at the event, presented a cheque of $61,768 to NVSAR for its renovation project.

We are very pleased to be involved in projects such as this, Salewski said. This serves really well with what NKDF is about.

Jeff Smedley and Trent Blair from Prince George Search and Rescue also presented a commemorative plaque to the team for its new home.

Formerly a governmental offi ce for forestry, the new facility underwent modernization upgrades including full-building insulation, on-demand hot water, wheelchair accessible bathrooms with water-saving functions, replace-ment of a 35-per-cent effi cient propane furnace with a 97-per-cent effi cient natural gas device, as well as safety

features such as all-weather exterior stairs and covered en-trances, explained NVSAR president Chris Mushumanski.

At a total cost of $150,000, the renovation project was also supported by $20,000 from the District of Vander-hoof, contributions from the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako gas tax fund, as well as $5,000 from New Golds Blackwater mining project.

Its an exciting day for Vanderhoof and area, said Vanderhoofs mayor Gerry Thiessen, who attended the cer-emony with Councillor Ken Young. It means so much for the community to have the resources to take care of search and rescue in the region.

NVSAR had been without a home for several years, with offi ces and equipment scattered in various locations around town.

Even though you get shuffl ed around to different places, you make it work, said RDBNs Jerry Petersen.

NEXT STEPS: NEW ONE-TIME FUNDING FROM B.C.

Earlier this year, the provincial govern-ment announced $10 million of one-time funding to B.C.s 80 SAR groups.

A committee of seven from the BC Search and Rescue Association is current-ly working on a plan to allocate the funds, slated to arrive by the end of March, to meet the various groups goals, explained

Mushumanski, who is also the associations Bulkley Nechako regional director.

The intention lies in training, replacing equipment, off-setting administrative costs, search and rescue prevention, he said, adding that the funding model will include how to determine the different amounts allocated to different groups according to their capabilities.

For example, the NVSAR currently has 26 active and 26 associate members, and is capable of search and rescue situations involving rope, on fl at ice, in swift water, and on the ground.

The goal is to maximize the value of the one-time fund-ing, potentially using the amount over two years or imple-menting a longer term prevention program and training, Mushumanski added.

Last fall, the association submitted to the provincial government three proposals of an alternative support model that would provide stable funding for B.C. SAR groups.

VIVIAN CHUI photos

From left: NKDFs Wayne Salewski and Ray Klingspohn, regional dis-tricts Jerry Petersen, Mayor Gerry Thiessen of Vanderhoof, and Presi-dent Chris Mushumanski from Nechako Valley Search and Rescue.

Vanderhoof search and rescue house-warming

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Omineca ExpressA8 www.ominecaexpress.com

NEWSExpress

New Golds Blackwater Gold Project is a proposed open pit gold and silver mine with a seventeen-year mine life, located approximately 110 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof.

The mine will support local communities with increased job and community economic development opportunities.

The Blackwater Gold Project is currently undergoing a coordinated provincial and federal Environmental Assessment. Recently, the public was invited to comment on the ongoing Environmental Assessment and New Gold representatives spent time in several communities answering questions about the Project. New Gold is committed to working closely with local communities in the planning, development, and operation of the Project and wants to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

What kind of job opportunities will the Project provide? A wide-variety of trade, administrative, management and operational jobs will be available. New Gold has developed a Blackwater Careers Booklet which provides projections on the number and types of jobs that may be available at the Blackwater Gold Project during operations. The booklet is available in the Vanderhoof Project offi ce.

New Gold expects to hire between 1,200 and 1,500 workers during construction and up to 500 full-time workers to operate the mine during its 17-year mine life. New Gold is committed to local hiring and contracting wherever possible. The Project will also create indirect economic benefi ts for support industries in the region.

Will the Blackwater Gold Project affect local water quality?The Blackwater Gold Project has been designed to meet high environmental standards and regulatory requirements. The

protection of water quality throughout the life of the Blackwater Gold Project is a priority.

The mine has been designed to avoid discharge to surface water during operations. Water will only be discharged during closure.

Is the Blackwater Gold Project tailings dam safe?New Gold safely operates four mines with Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) around the world. The same care and commitment to safety will be applied to the Blackwater Gold Project TSF. Following the Mt. Polley incident, New Gold completed a comprehensive Tailings Alternatives Assessment. The Assessment included a transparent consultation process with the Environmental Assessment working group consisting of representatives from First Nations, local governments, health authorities and provincial employees from various ministries. Careful water management has been cited as a key factor in tailings safety. The Blackwater Gold Project is designed using best available technology and best available practices to water management. The water management system is robust and will allow for fl exibility in water management even in the event of extreme wet or dry conditions.

Has the transmission line alignment changed since it was originally proposed?Early in the process of fi nalizing the transmission line route, New Gold consulted with land owners and tenure holders along the transmission line corridor to identify potential issues and confl icts. New Gold modifi ed the route based on feedback to mitigate potential impacts to land owners and tenure holders. New Gold has to the extent practicable, designed the alignment of the transmission line to follow existing roads and clearcuts to minimize new disturbance. The transmission line will be removed and the corridor reclaimed as part of

mine closure.

Will the proposed project impact fi sh or moose? The Blackwater Gold Project is being designed and located to protect sensitive environmental values related to fi sh and fi sh habitat. The Project is located outside the Blackwater River watershed and will not cross major rivers or lakes. Blackwater will not impact salmon and salmon habitat and rare or threatened fi sh species have not been identifi ed in the mine site or along the proposed access road.

New Gold is implementing measures to avoid unwanted effects to moose such as: locating the transmission line away from wetland areas where possible, limiting noise and light disturbances near the mine area and airstrip and reducing predator access and effi ciency by using vegetation as visual barriers. The company will reclaim the mine site and transmission line corridor at the end of mining. To reduce animal mortality, New Gold will ensure speed limits are enforced on mine roads, limit access, restrict hunting and limit wildlife attractants near the site. A Wildlife Management Plan will be developed to ensure suffi cient mitigation measures are in place.

For answers to additional questions or for more information about the Blackwater Gold Project, our Vanderhoof offi ce is open weekdays from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Visit us at 139-1st Street East or online at www.newgold.com/blackwater. You can also call us at (250) 567-3276 or email your question to offi ce.blackwater@newgold.com. This is the second article in a series of three.

Check back next month for a review of the economic and social benefi ts the Blackwater Gold Project will offer to the region

New Gold Answers Community Questions Regarding the Proposed Blackwater Gold Project

Vivian ChuiOmineca Express

On Feb. 23, nearly 100 teachers of all grades from Vanderhoof gathered at Nechako Valley Sec-ondary for the second and last school district-wide workshop on the new B.C. school curriculum.

B.C.s Ministry of Education announced last fall a new curriculum for the provinces schools to pre-pare students for todays changing world of tech-nology and innovation.

Including the fi rst workshop that took place on Jan. 12, the two days for guided exploration of the new curriculum were facilitated by six teachers of from various grades and disciplines: Evelyn Dick-son Elementarys Roberta Toth and Becki Larsen teach grades 4/5 and Grade 3 respectively, Nechako Valley Secondarys Jo Johns and Lisa Thiessen teach Grade 7 and English for grades 9 to 12 re-spectively, EBUS Academys Sarah Barr teaches Grade 8 through distance learning, and Michelle Miller-Gauthier is School District No. 91s literacy support worker, as well as involving with special education at W. L. McLeod Elementary.

The new teacher-created curriculum focuses on the process students take to reach their end goal, Barr said.

Its who they want to be when they fi nish, she said. Can they problem solve, can they communi-cate, can they learn to learn.

Employers want to know if they are a self-starter.

The core of the new curriculum is its three core competencies, to bring students to fruition: com-munication, thinking, as well as personal and so-cial, Toth explained.

It really focuses on their strengths, so students can take risks, she said. Students are more intrin-sically learning because they own the learning.

Whether in applying for jobs or post-secondary schools, projects are becoming more important than transcripts.

People are looking more of that portfolio, rather than grades, Toth said. What does a grade mean?

Concentrating more on students than subjects, assessment strategies are changing to focus less on content, Johns said.

For me, students are not just doing the work, she said. My role is providing some structure in what they need to do, not giving them a lot to re-member.

For example, when learning about static elec-tricity, some student wrote a letter, while others created a comic strip, Johns explained.

Its not about a test after a unit, but showing what you know, she said.

Though some teachers for students from Kin-dergarten to Grade 9 started trial running the new curriculum this year, full implementation will take place next fall, phasing in senior grades in 2017.

Teachers can continue to provide feedback to the curriculum draft refl ecting the rapidly changing world as well as the change in peoples understand-ing of the act of learning, Johns said.

Referring to a discussion with other teachers, the changing approach to learning can be compared with the change in driving examinations, she ex-plained.

There were no Novice or Learning stages, she said. Now theres feedback, theres practice.

Jo Johns, one of six teacher leaders for the guided explo-ration of the new school curriculum, spoke to nearly 100 teachers of all grades from Vanderhoof at Nechako Val-ley Second-arys Integris Community Theatre on Feb. 23.

VIVIAN CHUI

photo

Exploring new student-focus school curriculum

www.ominecaexpress.com A9Omineca Express Wednesday, March 2, 2016

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Submitted by Wanda NemethyNechako Nordics Ski Club

The Nechako Nordics Ski Club hosted the fi nal race of the Teck Northern Cup series this past Sat-urday, February 27th, at the NVSA grounds just west of Vanderhoof.

Under sunny skies and fast snow conditions 62 skiers aged 4 to over 50 registered for this event. They took to the trails of the NVSA grounds to test themselves against the clock in an interval start skate technique race. Racers that participated and completed their respective courses also earned points for their clubs, and additional points could be earned by placing in the top 5 in their cat-egory. Throughout the season aggregate points are tabulated for each participating club as they work toward claiming the regional banner. Caledonia Ski Club (Prince George) captured the banner this year, while Bulkley Valley Nordic Club (Smithers) was 2nd , and Omineca Ski Club fi nished in 3rd.

The Northern region includes clubs from 100 Mile House to Terrace and Kitimat.

For many young skiers this event is an intro-duction to racing, and for others it represents an opportunity to stay sharp for provincial level races. Results can be obtained on zone4.ca by following the links. The next race is the BC Cup Champion-ships taking place in Whistler (Callaghan Valley) from March 4th 6th.

This event could not be possible without the support of local businesses and volunteers. A big thank you to the Co-op, Woodys Bakery (for the coveted cookie medals), Earthenware, Tim Hortons and Stride and Glide of Prince George. Teck Resources Ltd. is the title sponsor of Cross Country BCs Skier Development Program and regional cup races, thereby supporting excellence in sport and providing youth with experiences that will help them prepare for the future. For more in-formation on Cross Country BC, please visit www.crosscountrybc.ca .

Teck Northern Cup cross-country fi nal ski race held in Vanderhoof Nolan McCleary from Nechako Nordics Ski Club

SUBMITTED photo

Vivian ChuiOmineca Express

Skiing, swimming, or running skating was cancelled due to warm weather four Vanderhoof teams placed top three within their division in the 29th Annual Prince George Iceman on Feb. 14.

Team Ice Cream comprised of (left to right) Charlie Borek, Hans Erasmus, Morgon Bennison, Matthew Ebert, and Sara McBride won gold out of 50 teams in the relay open mixed division and sixth in the entire event, out of 115 teams.

Team Icecraft with Logan Sewell, Connor Ebert, Kieran Hanson, Zach Whitecotton, (missing in photo) El-liot Tone, and Jack Hanson placed second in the junior boys really division and was fi fth overall.

Team Force of Fire placed fi rst in the junior girls relay division and team Jet Lagged placed third in the relay open women division.

Its the fi rst time for team Ice Cream to compete together, though Hans Erasmus coaches his teammates in

cross-country skiing and biathlon, said Erasmus, who skied in the event.

It was warm outthe trails were great, nice, hard packed, fast, he said. Great team environment, great team building.

It was his second Iceman race, though he last participated in the event in 2000.

The kids asked if I would ski, and I say yes, Erasmus said. I got to com-pete with them and that was really cool.

For Sarah McBride, who participated in two Iceman races in the past, its the fi rst time that the athlete raced in the event as a swimmer.

I enjoyed the whole team part, McBride said. I like the atmosphere of doing an individual sport but doing it as a team, cheering each other on.

For Zach Whitecotton in team Ice-craft, who participated in the event last year with some of same team members, the conditions were icy and hectic, with more attention in ice reading, he said.

Our team pulled together really good this year, Whitecotton said. Ev-eryone did their hardest.

Also placing second in the division

last year, he learned to recover faster when he was pushed off track by other competitors during a mass start.

Tried to get out in front as soon as you can, so you dont need to worry about that many people, he said.

Speed skating coach Vince Terstap-pen was the sole solo participant from Vanderhoof this year, and it was the fi rst race of his Iceman career as well.

It was a goal set last fall for exercis-ing during the winter season, including a training calendar that stares from the fridge, he said.

I really like multi-sport events, said Terstappen, who participated in triathlons in the past. Physical activity is easier when theres an end result in mind.

With skating, his forte, cancelled this year, Terstappen will compete in Iceman again, he said. In preparation, he learned to cross-country ski this season.

I felt very well supported by the community when they heard that Ill be participating, he said. People who lend me equipment and cheering me on, encouraging in training. I think its uniquely a really Vanderhoof thing.

Vanderhoof ice people get gold and silver

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Omineca ExpressA10 www.ominecaexpress.com

NEWSExpress

blackpress.ca

Andrew Franklin, Director of Digital Development

is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura

Baziuk as B.C. Digital Editor.

Laura graduated from Carleton Universitys journalism

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spent four and a half years there, as a reporter and

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Laura grew up in south Surrey and lives in Vancouver.

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Laura on her appointment as

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Laura Baziuk

Black Press Digital

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Vivian ChuiOmineca Express

Medical specialists in larger centres are now a mere phone call away, rather than hours of driving or weeks of waiting, for Vanderhoofs patients and doctors.

This season, the Health and Wellness Innovator of the Year Award in Prince George was presented to Dr. Haidar Hadi and Dr. Dan Horvat for their Northern RACE Line project.

With RACE standing for Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise, the northern B.C. project provides family doctors with a direct phone line, through an automated system, to specialists for quick advice on their patients.

Northern B.C. is large and travelling is sometimes diffi cult, said Horvat, an assistant professor for the Northern Medical Program at the University of Northern British Columbia. It just makes it easier for family doctors to get advice they need in relatively real-time.

It improves patient care and decreases the need for travel by patients.

Developed as part of the Doctors of BC and the provincial governments Northern Partners in Care initiative, the RACE Line can also help with doctor recruitment and retention in rural parts of the province, Horvat

explained.Family physicians

in smaller communities can feel isolated and its not always easy to get the support they need, he said. If theyve got questions and concerns, its easier for them to have somebody to turn to.

Accessed through a 1-800 hotline where doctors can speak directly or leave a message, the project involved specialists based in Prince George, whenever possible, Horvat explained.

Our intent is to build on the services we have in the north, he said. Because if it turns out that somebody needs to be seen, its better that theyre speaking to somebody in the north already.

Specialists in the region are also more in touch with issues that residents of northern B.C. face, he added.

People in the north know what we do and dont have in the north, and they understand the travel issues and what its like to practise in smaller communities, Horvat

said. Plus, we want to build the relationships between the GPs and the specialistsanother thing that supports the rural GPs (general physicians).

If they know the specialists a bit better, they can contact them.

Since the projects inception three years ago, the number of specialties accessible through the RACE Line increased from 1 to 13, with calls growing from eight to 37 per month.

In Vanderhoof, Dr. Nicole Ebert from the Omineca Medical Clinic used the RACE Line and found it useful.

It gives us quick access to somebody who we can ask, Ebert said. Often, we dont need to send the patient into Prince George.

We just need to add a couple of questions to ask what our next steps would be, or whether they do need to be seen.

The phone line saves travel and waiting time, as well as stress, for patients, she said.

You can have a quick answer to your question, and not have

to be worrying or to wait a month before [the patients] are seen and getting a letter back, Ebert explained. It really speeds up the process of patient care.

For example, a doctor may be looking for advice, in terms of further tests or medications, regarding a patient admitted for heart failure.

Reaching a cardiologist through the phone line, the local physician may receive suggestions on medication dosage, and book an appointment for the patient with the specialist in a few months.

As opposed to them going in for that, and going back in again [for the appointment,] Ebert explained.

However, the phone

line may be limited by the regions lack of certain specialties.

There are a few services we dont have in Prince George that wed love to be able to call somebody about, she said. So well have to call Vancouver, but they dont always know

our circumstances. C o m m u n i c a t i n g

patient information through the phone may also be a diffi culty that can be eventually overcome by technology.

Talking on the phone is sometimes challenging because

youre trying to relay a lot of information over the telephone, Ebert said. Trying to use the electronic record system making information transfer easier than trying to tell it on the telephone is something I know theyre looking at.

New hotline helps northern B.C. patient care

Dr. Haidar Hadi and Dr. Dan Horvat wins Health and Wellness Innovator of the Year award for their North-ern RACE Line project. SUBMITTED photo

www.ominecaexpress.com A11Omineca Express Wednesday, March 2, 2016

COMMUNITYExpress

Nechako Lakes District Science Fair results: Vander-hoof edition

Mapes Elementary: GOLD AWARD Hannah Klassen (gr 6) Ayva Lewis (gr 5) Mackenzie Martens (gr 4) SILVER AWARD Corbet Kelemen (gr 6) Kyla Hindmarch (gr 6) Tanner Rempel (gr 5)

Janelle Hindmarch (gr 5) Evan Warkentin (gr 5) Mackenzie Martens

placed 1st in the Gr. 4 cat-egory.

In the District Science Fair in Burns Lake on Feb-ruary 17th.

She goes on to compete at the Regional Science Fair in Prince George on March 5th.

Sinkutview ElementaryThe following students

received Gold certifi cates for the Sinkutview Science Fair Feb. 12, 2016:

Aspen CraigIsabella CranmerJaxson CurrieKamryn GoldKayli McKee The following students

received First Place in the

Non-Experimental Cat-egory (Grade 4 Division) at the District Science Fair in Burns Lake:

Callie GiesbrechtAbby Koehmstedt

McLeod ElementaryEryck Dyck received

Honourable Mention at the District Science Fair in Burns Lake. He will be travelling to Prince George

to compete in the Regional Science Fair on March 5th! Congratulations Eryck!

We are sorry we missed you in our newsletter this week!

Best of luck to the fol-lowing students who will be participating in the Regional Science Fair in PG on March 5th: Ronan Blattner, Nikki MacKinlay, Jaylen Peder-son, Jemma Blattner, Eric

Anderson and Dominic LeP-oidevin. At the District Sci-ence Fair in Burns Lake they placed: 1st Ronan Blattner, Nikki MacKinlay and Jay-len Pederson, 2nd: Jemma Blattner and Honourable Mention: Eric Anderson and Dominic LePoidevin. As well, congratulations to Kora Manwaring who placed 1st with her research project.

Nechako Lakes school district science fair

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Omineca ExpressA12 www.ominecaexpress.com

Vanderhoof celebrating 90 yearsFort St. James celebrating 210 years

The Nechako Chronicle wrote an article on pioneer George Ogston.

In 1914 George Ogston a Scottish im-migrant fresh from serving his apprentice-ship with the Hudsons Bay Company decid-ed to go it alone and hung out his shingle as a real estate and insurance agent and business councillor. Backed with the vigor and perseverance characteristic of the ear-ly pioneer the business forged ahead under the guidance of its founder and today is the oldest business in the district being oper-ated by its originator.

Also reported was how Ogston was keeping a table from founder Herbert Van-derhoof in his offi ce.

The fi rst tenant of what is now the Ogs-ton Building was the Royal Bank of Cana-da. Then it was billiards, the RCMP, an An-glican Church and a Government Liquor Store.

In 1926 The Vanderhoof Board of Trade and George Ogston led the movement for Vanderhoof to become self-governing. As a result the Corporation of the Village of Vanderhoof came into being.

Memories from George Ogston: The year 1916 saw the building of the

bridge across the Nechako River at Vander-hoof. Prior to this time, the only means of crossing was a ferry under the command of an old-timer named Dick Stuart. The old Abbie V, was a stout ship and did its duty very well until the growing traffi c, and especially the increasing importance of

the road north, made a bridge imperative. During 1914-15-16, there was a slight re-vival of interest in the Manson Creek gold properties and several parties were working there during those years.

During 1918 Vanderhoof had the Men-nonite invasion. Many of these people came in with their families, and after a stay in Vanderhoof moved our north west and settled in the Braeside country. It was not a successful attempt at colonization, because they did not stay in the district very long. It is doubtful if they intended to stay in any case. As a sect, they are opposed to war and especially conscription, and were no doubt subjected to a certain amount of harass-ment during the war, and in all probability decided to move into the interior of British Columbia where they could more or less drop out of sight. The conclusion of hos-tilities and the rapid return to normal con-ditions soon afterwards undoubtedly has-tened their return to the place from where they had come It is a somewhat noteworthy fact that afterwards a number of them set-tled in Mexico.

There is a saying which has a local cur-rency that he who has drunk the waters of the Nechako must perforce return and drink again. There is a great deal of truth in the saying. Many a wanderer has left the Nechako, tried out other places, which has seemed good at the time, and has returned to stay. The name Vanderhoof has always given rise to a good deal of discussion. Some people are under the impression it is

German, and the centre of a German set-tlement and that the English tongue is not spoken much in the district. Dr. Morrison admits that he had something of that im-pression while in Ottawa. He further admits that when he got a telegram from me, he decided that I was the only Scandinavian among the bunch of Germans.

As it so happens, Vanderhoof has a greater preponderance of Anglo Saxon stock than almost any other place in the Central Interior. The name Vanderhoof was adopted from the name of one of the fi rst owners of the townsite Herbert Vander-hoof of Chicago. The Vanderhoof family have been settled in the United States for about as long as the Vanderbilts, and like the name of Vanderbilt, the name of Van-derhoof is pure Dutch, and meaning of the farm rather an appropriate name for a locality where farming is still the main means of industry. An agitation will arise to change the name, but it usually dies away, and we worry along somehow without any change begin made. The favorite choice of those wishing for a change is Nechako an Indian word meaning simply big wa-ter.

When I fi rst looked back over the very wide fi eld I had to cover, I realized that much of the story would have to remain un-told. The story of the gradual growth of the district is to me at least, very fascinating and I hope that some many gifted chroni-cler may come along and put the material in permanent form before many incidents

Memories of a pioneer by the late George Ogston1886-1970

Nechako Chronicle March 3, 1966

A hep group of Vanderhoof teen-agers are making their mark in the entertainment fi eld around town.

The Tremolones, four high school students have become a very popular part of the local teenage group.

Gord Keith, 18 on the rhythm guitar and Dave Snell, 16 on bass guitar are producing very catchy music and are much in demand at teenage dances.

Three of the group have been playing together since December and they have been joined recently by Dave Snell.

None of these boys have been trained to read music but have picked up the tunes by ear.

A major problem is in purchas-ing equipment, since they have not charged to date for their services. At present they have jointly invested $1,500 on instruments, amplifi ers and mikes.

Two of the boys, Gord Keith and Wayne Deorksen, who both work part time at the Philips 66 service station have invested their wages in their equipment.

They play a variety of types of music including country and west-ern, rock and roll, rhythm and blues.

are forgotten. In conclusion, may I ask what the message of

the past brings to us. Will the faith of the early pioneers be fully justifi ed? I think it will. We are just coming through the most critical period of our existence here and have weathered the storm just as well as any other district in Canada. Down underneath the grumbling and discontent one hears, the early faith and confi dence must be there.

Th e Termolones

They would like to fi nd a suitable place to practice. At present they meet noon hours in the

home room of their sponsor, Miss Geri Simpson, but would like to put more time into practicing.

www.ominecaexpress.com A13Omineca Express Wednesday, March 2, 2016

PICTURE THIS....Your activity could be featured in Picture This. Snap a photo at your groupsfundraiser. It could be anything from a car wash to cleaning up our streets. It could even includeschool activities. Basically people making a difference in our community. Send us your photoby e-mail (advertising@ominecaexpress.com) or drop it off at the Omineca Express (150 W. Columbia Street). Please provide a brief description accompanied with the photo.This weeks submission....

for volunteers. Help needed with outings, Serving meals, entertainment and visits for the residents. Please contact Marnie at 250 567 6290 for more information.

***VOLUNTEERS NEEDED....Would you like to become part of a team working together to improve the quality of life for stroke survivors? The Vanderhoof Stroke Recovery Group is looking for volunteers to join their team. Vanderhoof Stroke Recoverys goal is to encourage stroke survivors to improve their lives through education, exercise, work groups, crafts, outings, etc. No special skills required; training and orientation are provided. Patience and caring understanding a necessity. Volunteers share responsibilities: assisting with activities, exercises, education, crafts, outings, fund raising. Time commitment: 3 hour meeting each Monday morning (excluding stat holidays), from September through mid-June.

Please contact Penny (250) 567-3966

vanderhoofstrokerecovery@gmail.com

***SENIORS CONNECTED... is looking for Seniors in need of Outreach & Transportation. We are also taking applications for Volunteers wanting to take part in the VSC Program. Vanderhoof Seniors Connected is a program dedicated to improving the quality of life for Seniors/Elders in our community through Companionship and Transportation Assistance. Phone 250-567-8587.For more information contact email at vanderhoofseniors@hotmail.com

***CALLING ALL SENIORS... come and join us for carpet bowling, pool or snooker - Monday and Thursday afternoons at the Friendship Centre. We also have cards or bingo on Wednesday evenings. Music nights are also popular and these are the last Friday night of the month. Come and have some fun! Everybody welcome young or golden agers. Call Erling Clemmensen for more info: 250-567-9927.

***AL-ANON...Has your life been affected by someone elses drinking? The Al-Anon is for you! Meetings held on Mondays at 7pm in Community Room at Omineca Safe Home Society. For more information contact Gail at 567-4318.

***THE NORTHSIDE WOMENS INSTITUTE...meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Newcomers always welcome. For more information call Brenda, 250 567-9705.

***VHOOF HOSPICE SOCIETY... Do you have a few hours a month to give? Are you sensitive to the special needs of those persons at the end stages of life? Want to be part of a great organization that makes a difference in our community, then we are looking for you. The Vhoof Hospice Society is a not-for profi t charity looking for new volunteer members. Our Society has a desire to help others. We are sensitive to the special needs of the dying patient and their families. We do not have personal agendas or missions to our Hospice work. Our main fundraising come in the form of donations to our Tree of Life. We are looking for new members to continue this great service. For more info call Valerie Pagdin at 250-567-6218 (weekdays), 250-567-3889 (evenings/weekends) or vanderhoofhospice@gmail.com

***THE FOOD BANK... is in serious need of food donations. Specifi cally the following is needed: Chunky soups and stews and canned milk.

***BADMINTON AT FLESS GYM... Every

Thursday at 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. come out and have some fun!

***ENDAKO HALL SOCIETY... meets every THIRD Wednesday of the month in the hall at 7:30pm.

***THE YELLOWHEAD DRAFT HORSE ASSOCIATION...is an organization for those interested in light and heavy horse driving. Monthly meetings every second Tuesday of the month. For more info contact: Jon 250-567-8484.

***NECHAKO QUILTERS GUILD... meets the third Tuesday of the month 9:30 am (Sept. - May) at Nechako View Seniors Common Room. Fran Sheeley 567-5254.

***THE FRASER QUILTERS GUILD... meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10am at the Fort Fraser Community Hall. Newcomers welcome.

***HOSPICE TREE OF LIFE... is to honour the living as well as to remember and honour those who have passed on. For more info call Valerie Pagdin at 250-567-6218 (weekdays), 250-567-3889 (evenings/weekends) or vanderhoofhospice@gmail.com

***THE FRASER LAKE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP... meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 12 noon in Autumn Services. For further information call Judy at 250-699-7763.

***VANDERHOOF 899 AIR CADET SQUADRON...Cadets will meet every TUESDAY night 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the 480 Connaught St. at the Gospel Chapel. Anyone age 12 to 18 interested in the Cadet Program is welcome to attend. Any adult interested in assisting in anyway, please contact the offi cers at the 480 Connaught St. at the Gospel Chapel Tuesday night. For more information call: Capt. John Callaghan - 250-640-0218, Yvonne Melo - 250-690-7496 Evenings.

***AA MEETING... Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. United Church Hall. 567-8087 or 567-4588

***FRASER LAKE AA MEETINGS... Tues & Thurs 8:00 p.m. at St. Wilfreds Church just across from the Village Hall.

***ST. JOHN HOSPITAL AUXILIARY SOCIETY... meets second Tuesday of the month (with the exception of July & August) at 7:00 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria. For further info contact Edna 567-9759 - New members welcome.

***VANDERHOOF

LIBRARY HOURSTuesday 10:00am to 5:00pm

Wednesday 10:00am to 5:00pm & 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Thursday 10:00am to 5:00pmFriday 10:00 am to 6:00pm

Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm***

FRASER LAKE LIBRARY HOURS

Sunday & Monday ClosedTuesday 10am - 4pm

Wednesday & Thursday12pm - 8pm

Friday 10am - 4pmSaturday 10am - 2pm

***NVSS BOTTLE DEPOT HOURS

Open Mon, Tues, Friday 11am-5pm

Saturday 10am-5 p.m.

COMING EVENTS....Will appear, as space is available, free of charge in this section. Coming events are available to non-profi t organizations only. This area is not intended for thank you submissions or selling products. It is simply a place for non-profi t organizations a place to announce upcoming free activities. You can e-mail your item to advertising@ominecaexpress.com or by fax (567-2070). Your organizations announcement can also be dropped off at our offi ce located at 155 W. Columbia. Decision of the publisher is fi nal.

***We are looking forward to the 38TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS!...Dates are March 7- 20, 2016 and will be held at Nechako Valley Secondary School. Monday March 7, Speech Arts. Friday March 11, Strings. Monday March 14- Thursday March 17, Piano. Please check the website at www.musicfestivalweb.com/nechako for program details

***DIVORCECARE... Find help and healing for the hurt of separation and divorce DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of lifes most diffi cult experiences. Dont go through separation or divorce alone.DivorceCare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. Youll gain access to valuable DivorceCare resources to help you deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life. You can get additional information from www.divorcecare.org.DivorceCare Group - Thursdays at 7 pm, Feb-April. 780 Loop Road in Vanderhoof (White House across from Nechako Christian Fellowship). Open to anyone who is experiencing the pain of separation or divorce. You can join the group at any time.For more information and to register, call or text Bob Clark 250.570.9203, June Clark 250.570.9338 or Dave Robinson 778.344.2292

***THE VANDERHOOF CHESS CLUB... Exercise your brain! All ages, from beginner to master, feel free to join the Vanderhoof Chess Club every Monday through the school year (except Statutory holidays) 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the NVSS library. Its FREE. Play chess with friends and meet new people. Use our boards or bring your own. Our goals are to have fun playing chess and to host an Annual Vanderhoof Chess Tournament. For details please contact Jeff Obayashi at jobayashi@hotmail.com or Jeremy Hara at NVSS to sign up for the chess club and/or tournament.

***ADULT BADMINTON...Thursdays at 8:30 pm. Bring your own racket, and wear indoor runners. More info call 250-567-9908.

***MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE... advocating for better services in our communities, such as: housing, counseling, education and job opportunities. Meetings held on the second Thursday of each month via video conferencing from the communities of; Burns Lake, Fraser Lake, Granisle, Ft. St. James, Southside and Vanderhoof. 1:30 3:00. In Vanderhoof meetings are held in the boardroom at the hospital. Clients, family members and community partners are invited to attend. Your voice is IMPORTANT. For more info on the committee and its works contact: Heather @ 250-692-7500. Or your Mental Health Service Provider

***GIRL GUIDES...

Sparks meets 5-6pm Mondays @ United Church.

Brownies meets 6-7:30pmm Mondays @ United Church.

Girl Guides meets 6-7:30pm, Mondays at St. Josephs Gym.

Pathfi nders meets 6-7:30pm Mondays @ Lutheran Church.

For info on any of these please call Laura Freeman 250-567-6997.

***VANDERHOOF PAIN SELF-MANAGEMENT GROUP...Do you struggle with persistent pain? Do you feel like your pain is holding your life hostage? Find it diffi cult to talk about your pain? Join us for an evening of education and understanding at the Vanderhoof Peer-Led Pain Self-Management Group can help you find answers to your questions. Meetings are held the last Tuesday of the month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. at the Vanderhoof Public Library - Multipurpose Room, 230 Stewart St E, Vanderhoof. Sharing the struggles and the solutions with other people who truly understand, in a safe environment, will help you reduce isolation, grieve the losses and gain an understanding of persistent pain and how you can take back control of your life. For more information please check out our website: www.pipain.com

***VANDERHOOF AIR CADETS... Meetings - Tues 6:30-9:30 at the Gospel Chapel For more information call: 250-640-0218 or 250-570-7496

***STUART NECHAKO MANOR...looking

Nechako NotesNechako Notes

Nechako Valley Secondarys senior girls basketball team at theCentral Zone Championship on Feb. 20 in Vanderhoof.

VANDERHOOFS FAITHVANDERHOOFS FAITH

For more information or to join Vanderhoofs

Faith Church DirectoryCall Pam at 250-567-9258

Church Directory

Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship

The Church on the CornerGiving you a Purpose to live for

and People to live with

The Gospel Chapel

448 Connaught Street

For more information call567-3107

www.thegospelchapel.ca

Our MissionGlorifying God by helping all people move closer to

Jesus Christ one step at a time.

11:00 a.m. Worship Service

(Affi liated with the Evangelical Free Church of Canada)

For more information visit our website: www.vcfemc.com

Holy Trinity Anglican Church

Burrard Street, Vanderhoof

St. Wilfreds Anglican Church

Carrier Cresc., Fraser Lake

Sunday Worship & Sunday School10:30 am

Wednesday Morning Worship7:30 am

Sunday Worship 10:00 am

A house of prayer for all people

Worship Service: 11:00 amSunday School: 9:45 am

Small Groups meeting together regularly:

We have a place for you to belong!For more information call

567-9198 263 Vanderview Drive

1393 Highway 16 East250-567-4960

Join us Sundays @ 9:30 amEveryone Welcome!

Visit our website:nechakocommunitychurch.com

Nechako Christian Fellowship

WELCOMES YOU!11:00 am Worship Service

767 Loop RoadEmail: NechCS@live.com

...holding forth the Word of life... Phil 2:16

Christ - CenteredBible - Based

Missions - MindedNon-Denominational

Raising banner against cyber-bullying

VIVIAN CHUI photo

Principal Brian Naka (left) of EBUS Academy and fellow distance learn-ing staff raise awareness against cyber bullying on Feb. 24.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Omineca ExpressA14 www.ominecaexpress.com

RAMSEY, ATTALA (Attie) MAESeptember 24, 1938 - February 7, 2016

Attie was born at St. Ignatius, Montana, USA, to Charles Ervin and Marian Howard. She was raised in Montana, but moved to Idaho where she married Jack Ramsey in 1958. Three of their children were born before their move to Engen, BC Canada in 1964 and their farm on Bearhead Road. Another son was born in Vanderhoof. She was well known in the community, and was involved in managing the Log Cabin Cafe at Engen in the early 70s. After her marriage ended, she moved to Sooke, on Vancouver Island in 1982 where she met the love of her life, Ray Vowles