November 17, 2010
Transcription
November 17, 2010
1 November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice Volume 19, Number 22 November 17, 2010 Delivered to every home between Edgewood, Kaslo & South Slocan. Published bi-weekly. “Your independently owned regional community newspaper serving the Arrow Lakes, Slocan & North Kootenay Lake Valleys.” Court prohibits Perry Ridge logging until Sinixt case heard by Jan McMurray The Perry Ridge logging issue has wound up in the courts again, and the BC Supreme Court has issued an order that no road building or logging can happen until the case has been heard. This time around, the Sinixt launched the lawsuit – because the Crown did not consult them before awarding the timber sale. Last time, in 1997, it was Perry Ridge residents who took the Province to court over terrain stability and hydrology issues on the ridge. The Sinixt filed a petition on November 4 in the BC Supreme Court in Vancouver, naming the Ministry of Forests and Sunshine Logging as the respondents. The Sinixt want the judge to declare that the Ministry of Forests has a legally enforceable duty to consult with the Sinixt on the Perry Ridge timber sale. They want the judge to quash the licence that’s been issued to Sunshine Logging, then order the Crown both to consult with the Sinixt and to provide funding so the Sinixt can participate meaningfully in the consultation process. On November 15 in BC Supreme Court in Vancouver, Madame Justice Gerow issued an order prohibiting Sunshine Logging from doing any work on the Perry Ridge timber sale pending the court’s decision on whether or not the Crown has a duty to consult with the Sinixt. The case will be scheduled for a five-day hearing in Vancouver in the new year. Meanwhile, on November 3, Sunshine Logging applied in the Nelson court for an injunction to remove the Sinixt blockade on Perry Ridge Forest Service Road. On November 5, Justice Bowden denied Sunshine Logging’s application on the basis that it would “pre-empt” the November 15 court hearing. The Sinixt petition to the court states that the Crown did not consult with them on the basis that it was “not clear” to the Province that the Sinixt are ‘an aboriginal people of Canada.’ The petition asserts that the Sinixt are indeed an aboriginal people of Canada by the definition in the Canadian Constitution. Further, the Sinixt filed a land claim that includes Perry Ridge in 2008, and the petition states that knowledge of this claim suffices to trigger a duty to consult. “The commencement of work under the Licence / Road Permit in absence of consultation with the Sinixt stands to cause irreparable harm to the constitutional rights of the Sinixt as well as the Sinixt’s aboriginal rights in relation to the significant archaeological, cultural, hydrological, wildlife and plant values on Perry Ridge,” states the petition. A n a ff i d a v i t b y M a r i l y n James, spokesperson for the Sinixt, accompanies the petition. In the affidavit, James explains that Perry Ridge was the location for the Sinixt women’s huckleberry ceremony, as well as being particularly significant “as it represents that last mid/low elevation forest area within our Territory that has not been ecologically undermined by industrial development. Perry Ridge is an island in a landscape that has been compromised by logging and damming of our land and water resources.” She further states: “In the current context of the Sinixt as we stand in relation to our Territory, Perry Ridge is the seat of our responsibility under the wbuplak’n and smum iem [Sinixt law]. It is all that is left. I believe that Perry Ridge embodies so much of what ties my people to the land culturally. Perry Ridge is the last example of that bond; the last holdout; the last place for us to be connected with our cultural responsibility.” James also outlines the consultations that have taken place with the Sinixt. They were the recognized First Nation representatives at the BC Government Commission on Resource and Environment (CORE) Planning Table, Slocan Valley Pilot Project, in the 1990s. They were invited to the Premier’s Summit on Economic Opportunity for the Kootenays in 1998. BC Hydro has consulted them on five different projects in 2009 and 2010. New Denver’s Remembrance Day Parade marches by the Village Office. Cards, original artwork, furniture & maple syrup Deck the Walls 11:30 to 4:30 Tues. to Sat. Nov. 18 to Dec.22. Joyeux Noël 203 - 5th Avenue Nakusp • 250-265-8888 Open 24/7 Car-free shopping Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy lays a wreath at the Slocan City Centotaph during Remembrance Day ceremonies. 2 NEWS The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 RDCK board, November 4: Hydro grants in lieu policy remains largely as is by Jan McMurray • A circular from the Province regarding Regional District financial management of Hydro grants in lieu of taxes prompted a lengthy discussion on this topic. In the end, the board decided to keep things largely as they are. In 2008, the RDCK decided to set up a ‘Community Development Fund’ with hydro grants in lieu of taxes received from BC Hydro and Columbia Power Corporation. Community Development funds are distributed to each electoral area and small municipality in the RDCK. Nelson and Castlegar do not participate because they receive substantial hydro grantsin-lieu directly (over $300,000 each) and have decided not to contribute to the Community Development Fund. In 2010, the grants-in-lieu totalled almost $703,000 and were distributed as follows: the five electoral areas most impacted by the hydro dams (Areas Cedar Mulch - suitable for landscaping $40.00 per pick up load Kiln Dried Shavings -suitable for animal bedding $40.00 per pick up load We will load open pick ups with front end loader, customer responsible for tarping loads for highway travel We can also discuss larger volume purchases 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday to Thursday Cash only • Phone 250-355-2100 D, E, H, J and K) were each allocated over $85,000; the remaining six areas over $24,000 each; municipalities over 1,000 population over $24,000; municipalities under 1,000 population almost $10,000. For 2011, the board amended the Community Development Fund policy slightly. The directors of the five electoral areas most impacted by the dams (D, H, K, E and J) have agreed to transfer $20,000 each of their allocation to Rural Administration, reducing overall taxation in the rural areas by $100,000. The board also decided to charge a 5% administration fee from the total annual amount for processing of the grants. • The Village of Kaslo’s application for its annual allocation of $20,000 from the Community Development Fund was approved. • Silverton Director Carol Bell will be sent to the Invasive Plant Council of BC’s Public Forum being held January 18 and 19 in Richmond, with stipend and expenses to be paid from General Administration. • Director Paul Peterson was recommended by the board to continue as the RDCK’s appointee to the CBT board for a term ending March 21, 2013. • The bylaws authorizing taxation from defined Area H and Area F residents for the library service were adopted. • The chair and secretary were authorized to sign the Service Agreement between the Nelson Municipal Library and the RDCK. • The Geospatial Information Service Establishment Bylaw was adopted. In the Alternative Approval Process (AAP), 301 people registered their disapproval of the bylaw. In order to defeat the AAP, 37,374 people would have had to register their dissent. • In acknowledgement of the successful referendum and the adoption of the Balfour Water Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2142, 2010, the RDCK endorsed the dissolution of the Balfour Improvement District and the transfer of responsibility for its water system to the RDCK. Electoral Area H by Jan McMurray The RDCK has completed a draft plan outlining how it will deal with our garbage over the five-year period from 2012 to 2016. Formerly called the Solid Waste Management Plan, the plan’s name has changed to better reflect the RDCK’s commitment to zero waste and carbon neutrality. The Resource Recovery Plan ensures that waste and resource management in the RDCK continues to move towards a sustainable future, both environmentally and financially. “Environmental sustainability and striving to achieve Zero Waste are important goals for the RDCK; however financial sustainability and ensuring that community resources are used in the most effective and efficient way possible are critical to achieving these goals,” states RDCK Board Chair Gary Wright in his written introductory message in the document. “This Resource Recovery Plan will help us to achieve the balance between these goals and guide the Regional District to refining Resource Recovery Services in this region.” The RDCK currently has four operating landfills. By 2016, it will have two – Ooteschenia and Creston. The landfills in Nakusp and Salmo will be shut down, and two ‘multi-point bins’ will be installed at each site. Residents will dispose of their garbage in the bins, which will be transported to Ooteschenia. The Ooteschenia landfill will take the garbage from all the transfer stations in the Arrow/Slocan and Kootenay Lake areas. All transfer stations in these areas will be converted to the ‘multi-point’ system, which will allow one truck to collect the garbage from up to five transfer stations on a single trip. This will significantly reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Multi-point bins are stationary, and are emptied into a large tractor trailer unit via the tractor’s hydraulic system. The trailer also has a system on board that compacts the garbage. The plan states that alternative sites for the Kaslo transfer station will be evaluated in 2011, and for Marblehead, in 2013. Public consultation processes will occur before any final decisions are made. Although the Nakusp and Salmo landfills will close, the sites will continue to be used for disposal of soil, biosolids, septage and concrete and asphalt. The Nakusp site will get a septage facility upgrade, clean wood receiving and grinding area, and a yard and garden waste compost area. The plan outlines many projects to be completed within the five-year timeframe, including the permanent closure of landfill sites that are no longer active in Slocan, Rosebery, Edgewood, Kaslo, Marblehead, Balfour, Nelson, Crawford Bay and Boswell. Some of the other projects have to do with upgrading organics management infrastructure at RDCK facilities. Organic waste is wood waste, yard and garden waste, food waste, municipal biosolids and domestic septage. Keeping these materials out of landfills has many benefits. The plan states that this is the ‘next frontier’ for waste diversion in the RDCK.” Currently, the RDCK takes products such as tires, batteries, paints and household hazardous waste. These programs will be evaluated, and the RDCK will discontinue hosting the programs that do not allow the RDCK to recover costs. Resource recovery services are funded through taxation and user fees. The RDCK will slowly phase in more of a user pay system over the years. By 2016, the RDCK’s goal is a 20 percent reduction of per capita waste being generated for landfill disposal. This can be achieved “if RDCK residents, businesses, industry, as well as municipalities and the provincial government commit to finding better waste management solutions,” states the plan. The RDCK will work to instil a greater sense of public responsibility through public education and outreach programs. submitted Ktunaxa Nation has called for the government of British Columbia to reject the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort. “The Qat’muk Declaration is a clear expression of Ktunaxa interest in the Jumbo-Toby Creek watershed,” said Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Council Chair. “The Declaration clearly prohibits the development of the Qat’muk area by the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort.” The Qat’muk (GOT MOOK) Declaration is an expression of Ktunaxa sovereignty and stewardship principles. The Declaration was delivered to the provincial legislature after a lengthy journey from Ktunaxa territory and a brief ceremony welcoming the Ktunaxa Nation flag. For more information on the Declaration go to www.beforejumbo. com. Qat’muk is the Ktunaxa name for the area that encompasses the JumboToby Creek watershed. The Qat’muk Declaration has now been released publicly along with a Stewardship Principles document and map of the area. The Declaration is a demonstration of Ktunaxa sovereignty. “The provincial government is about to approve an environmental disaster in southeastern British Columbia,” said Teneese. “The Ktunaxa Nation is calling on all British Columbians to help prevent this jumbo mistake.” The Qat’muk Declaration comes on the heels of the rejected Fish Lake mine proposal as well as the recent ratification of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the government of Canada. “The provincial government process of engagement with the Ktunaxa has not heard our voice,” continued Teneese. “After today, no one can mistake the Ktunaxa position on the proposed Jumbo Glacier resort.” The Ktunaxa Nation has never extinguished their aboriginal title within their territory, and government and proponents have a legal obligation to consult about and accommodate impacts upon Ktunaxa interests. The Ktunaxa Nation has continuously opposed the development of the proposed resort due to its impacts upon Ktunaxa interests. Discretionary grants were approved, as follows; Slocan Valley Early Childhood Community Advisory Council $900; Silverton Community Club $750. Community Development grants were approved as follows: The membership of the New Denver and Area Fire Department $5,000; WE Graham Community Service Society $4,000; Hills Recreation Society $7,000. Electoral Area D Community Development grants were approved as follows: Mosquito Control $12,000. Electoral Area K Community Development grants were approved as follows: Nakusp Karate Society $422.64; Nakusp Public Library $1,500; Inonoaklin Valley Reading Centre $500; Fauquier Reading Club $500; Burton Community Reading Centre $500. Efficiencies gained in garbage disposal in RDCK’s Resource Recovery Plan Ktunaxa deliver Qat’muk (Jumbo) Declaration NEWS November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice 3 Glacier/Howser project loses Electricity Purchase Agreement with BC Hydro by Jan McMurray Purcell Green Power’s Electricity Purchase Agreement (EPA) with BC Hydro for the Glacier/Howser project has been terminated. However, the company has not given up on the independent power project and will continue with the environmental assessment process, reported company spokesperson, Simon Gourdeau. Under the terms of the contract, awarded in 2006, BC Hydro was supposed to start purchasing the electricity generated by the Glacier/ Howser project in November 2010. Gourdeau reported that there were two reasons for the termination of the contract. First, the company was obviously not able to start selling electricity to BC Hydro by the deadline set out in the contract. This was BC Hydro’s concern, he said. Second, the contract was no longer very attractive financially for the company. This was Purcell Green Power’s concern. Gourdeau explained that the price for electricity in the contract was not fully indexed to the cost of inflation. “You would normally want the price quoted in 2006 to increase with the increasing costs of construction, but the prices in the BC Hydro contracts are only going up at half the cost of inflation. So every year of delay chips away a little bit on your revenues,” he explained. Gourdeau said that the termination of the contract “does not change our commitment to the project. Our focus remains on completing the environmental assessment process. Then we will reassess our options as far as a contract with BC Hydro goes. We’ll see what’s on the table with BC Hydro at that time, whether it be a call for power, a Request for Proposals, or whatever form it takes.” Gourdeau pointed out that BC Hydro now prefers to award contracts after the environmental assessment certificate and other permits are in place. “With each call for power, the status of the permitting is becoming more and more important. So this is in line with BC Hydro’s preferred steps for power projects,” he said. Gourdeau also pointed out that without the contract, the company has a bit more flexibility as it re-designs the project. The project capacity in the contract was 90.5 MW. “Now we are not tied to the amount of energy we have to produce, so it gives us more leeway on, for example, scaling back on components of the Glacier Creek by Jan McMurray Everyone in the area who is involved with food – from growing it to eating it – is invited and encouraged to provide input into the Area Agricultural Plan commissioned by the RDCK. An online survey is posted at www. agplan.ca, and meetings are scheduled in communities throughout the region this month (Kaslo, November 22, 7-9 pm at St. Andrew’s United Church; Winlaw, November 24, 7-9 pm, Winlaw Hall; New Denver, November 30, 7-9 pm, Hidden Garden Gallery; Nakusp, December 1, 7-9 pm, Seniors Hall; Nelson, November 23, 7-9 pm, United Church basement hall; Castlegar, November 25, 7-9 pm, CBT meeting room). “One of the requirements of the plan is to get extensive input from across the region – from farmers, growers, people who are involved in distribution, restaurateurs, retailers and eaters – everyone connected to moving food through the system from the ground to the plate,” said Russell Precious of Brynne Consulting, the local team that was awarded the contract to develop the plan. “There have been lots of professional studies done over the years, so there’s a good tabulation of how much agricultural land we have, the different soil types, etc., but the aim of this plan is to come out with practical recommendations that can be carried out on a regional level. It will work to the extent that we can get a lot of public engagement.” Precious said the local consulting team thought the RDCK was “quite astute” to have chosen a local firm to develop the plan. “We are connected with the farming community and we live here, so we really care that the completed plan is very practical and useful.” The final plan, to be completed in May, will make recommendations to help the RDCK in its goal to increase the quantity and quality of agriculture in the region. “There’s no shortage of very practical recommendations that we can make that will help on the ground – that’s our commitment and that’s why the RDCK chose us. We all have our hands in the soil; we are not professional consultants who sit in windowless buildings and make regulations that make it harder and harder for local agriculture,” said Precious. Precious says there are quite a few areas where regional and local governments can have significant influence on agriculture, such as zoning, taxation and waste disposal. He says the team also wants to look at the distribution of local food, the “huge potential” for processing local food and creating value-added products, and marketing the area’s agriculture. “The pendulum of awareness is swinging towards locally grown food so how can we take advantage of that momentum? Why would you do anything else?” he commented. In addition to the town hall meetings throughout the region, the team is holding kitchen table meetings with some of the more serious players. All this consultation will happen before Christmas. A background document synthesizing all the studies that have already been done is scheduled to be drafted by the end of December. “We need to do a historical overview of agriculture in the area, and the evolution – or in this case the devolution – of agriculture in this area, and what’s happening now in the region,” said Precious. This background document will include a number of maps showing what land is in the ALR, what ALR land is being used and not being used for agriculture, and land not in the ALR but that has potential for agriculture. It will also look at the implications of climate change. The final draft plan is expected to be ready early in the new year and will be presented in another round of public meetings. The final plan will be completed in May. RDCK Area Agricultural Plan team seeks public input facility.” Gourdeau says the termination of the contract does not change much for Purcell Green Power (a subsidiary of AXOR). “We’ve been highly focused on the environmental assessment of the project and we will continue this in the coming months. It will be a bigger milestone to finalize the environmental assessment process than to see what can be done with BC Hydro afterwards.” The West Kootenay EcoSociety disagrees. A press release issued by the organizations states: “If AXOR ever wants to progress with this project, they would be required to re-apply for another EPA in a future call for power; a chancy proposition given the strenuous public opposition and ongoing environmental concerns that have dogged the controversial proposal.” In the press release, Raelynn Gibson of the society says: “Losing the EPA could be the rock that sinks the ship. This is a project that has profound public opposition, a project that is environmentally unsound and now it is a project that has lost an extremely lucrative financial agreement with BC Hydro. It looks like a project that is finished.” Dag Sharman of BC Hydro confirmed that the contract had been terminated, but said he was not able to comment further, as this involves a commercial contract. ULRIKE ZOBEL, LAWYER PRACTISE RESTRICTED TO: CRIMINAL & FAMILY LAW BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 208 Broadway St., Nakusp, BC 250-265-4372 • 1-877-265-4372 www.ulrikezobel.com Serving the Arrow and Slocan Lakes OPINION 4 On greenhouses and gardening Being a member of Hummingbird, a group of community gardeners in Nakusp, and having spent the past year and a half establishing four gardens here (for a wonderful visual record of our work to date go to YouTube and search ‘Nakusp gardens’), I have witnessed the willingness of local businesses and other supporters to help, and the enthusiasm and gratitude of those benefiting – most notably the folks at Halcyon House and Rotary Villa. We are currently talking about building a small, easily dismantled greenhouse at the Garden of Eden (behind St. Mark’s Anglican Church) and have the congregation’s wholehearted support. We believe the project will further our mandate to help educate those with little or no food growing experience and provide us with the means to start our own plants, grow specific heat friendly varieties and possibly even extend the growing season to include early spring and winter greens. I have been following the issue of the proposed community greenhouse on the school grounds in New Denver. Upon reading Wanda Palmer’s latest letter my first thought was a question for her and the others opposed: What are you afraid of? Ty Klassen Nakusp under the Canada Health Act (CHA). By law, monies accrued illegally should be returned to the feds through reduced transfer payments. The Canada Health Act provides for universal, equitable access to health care and prohibits user fees. This doesn’t stop our provincial government from charging a monthly fee for health services, or for charging this new fee. Many who need time to regain strength and mobility are seniors; the average convalescent stay is one to oneand-a-half months. That’s $800-900. The waiver form for hardship is complex and difficult to fill out. The alternative is to be discharged and receive home care, which is a free service (currently). Last we checked, home care time was less than adequate, as were the plans given at discharge. Home care cannot provide the same services as the hospital or another care facility. Convalescent care is considered a core service under the CHA, although respite, palliative and long-term residential care are not. According to Ujjal Dosanjh, federal Liberal health critic, “there’s law in this country that says hospital care cannot have any user fees. If a hospital is still in charge of your care, whether it’s in building A or building B, that’s irrelevant.” For more information go to bchealthcoalition.ca. Use the online form to take action or write Minister of Health, Kevin Falcon, PO Box 9050, Station Provincial Government, Victoria, BC V8W 9E2, phone 250-953-03547, fax 250-356-9587, email hlph.health@ gov.bc.ca Kate O’Keefe Argenta Illegal and discriminatory BC government practices, AGAIN Open letter to It now costs you $29.40 per day Premier Gordon for hospital care after illness, surgery or injury – even if your doctor says you Campbell need it. In July of this year, the BC government instituted convalescent care fees, even though such charges are illegal First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition was one of the organizations that took time to respond to the call for input into next year’s budget by the Select EDITORIAL / LETTERS POLICY The Valley Voice welcomes letters to the editor and community news articles from our readers. Letters and articles should be no longer than 500 words and may be edited. We reserve the right to reject any submitted material. Please mark your letter “LETTER TO THE EDITOR.” Include your address and daytime phone number for verification purposes. We will not knowingly publish any letter that is defamatory or libelous. We will not publish anonymous letters or letters signed with pseudonyms, except in extraordinary circumstances. Opinions expressed in published letters are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Valley Voice. The Valley Voice Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. Many of our coalition partner organizations also participated in sharing their ideas and recommendations with the committee. We all participated in this exercise in good faith, trusting that the committee’s report and recommendations, expected on November 15, would reflect our views, among others. Your announcement on October 27, 2010 of an income tax cut costing the 2011 provincial budget $568 million was a slap in the face to the Standing Committee and everyone who made submissions to its deliberations. The consultation document specifically asked British Columbians to share our budget priorities for 2011/12, with the figure of $650 million shown as “Available Revenues.” Our coalition exists to mobilize British Columbians on behalf of children and youth. We regularly encourage our coalition partners and contacts around the province to engage in the democratic process, such as participating in formal consultations by legislative committees, in order to make the case for the importance of allocating resources to properly support children, youth and families. Your action, pre-empting even the appearance of considering the standing committee’s recommendations, has made it harder for people to believe that their time is well spent preparing briefs and recommendations to inform government decision-making. It has increased cynicism about our relationship as citizens with our government. It has made it more difficult to convince young people that public consultations by government have integrity and are worthy of their interest and effort. On behalf of our coalition partners, we would appreciate hearing from you as to why this 2011/12 budget decision was made prior to the submission of the standing committee’s report from its public consultations. We look forward to your reply. Adrienne Montani Provincial Coordinator First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition Confused by theism... I have read and re-read my letter which appeared in the October 20 edition of the Valley Voice under the heading ‘miracles and mining disasters.’ I am hard-pressed to find any evidence of an The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 “attack,” as mentioned by Mr. Lamb of Nelson in your November 3 edition, on the Roman Catholic Bishop of Copiapo, Chile – short, of course, of his statement mentioning God. I am well aware that Christians, Jews and Muslims tend to mention their gods at the drop of a hat, but that is something we non-theists live with. We actually do practice live and let live, unlike some religious people. I confided last week to a Catholic friend in Nakusp that, if I were not an atheist I would be a Roman Catholic. I am a very traditional man and lack any vestige of humility. I was raised in the High Anglican tradition (the AngloCatholic church), but being a bright, intelligent child, I developed an antipathy to belonging to a church that based its values on the family values of Henry VIII. (I was 14 at the time but the word ‘teenager’ had not been invented and we were children until we became adults.) I toyed with the idea of conversion to Catholicism but settled instead on agnosticism and eventually atheism. I have read the Bible three times from Genesis to Revelation and it is that to which I attribute my atheism. I had no taste for the other later manmade, non-conformist religions such as Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Congregationalists, Unitarians and many others, ad nauseam. All of which, I reasoned, were founded by ego-tripping preachers or charlatans with delusions of grandeur. I must also take issue with Mr. Lamb’s description of Judas Iscariot as “a bishop in training,” which is a very Christian concept. Surely Judas would have been – at best – an apprentice rabbi, since the early Christians were merely a Jewish sect who had serious problems with the Sanhedrin (a Jewish high court) because of their perceived blasphemy. Moreover, Judas is said to have hanged himself shortly after betraying Jesus, so he would not have lived to see the dawn of Christianity proper many decades later. John Perkins Nakusp More on capitalism/ socialism…and Afghanistan In the great Newberry-Pratt standoff debate on your letters pages in the summer, the writers did not persuade anyone that socialism or capitalism is the system we all would endorse if we had our optimal choice. No one, not even Pratt, would deny the abuses of capitalism. Concentrations of wealth, in private hands and corporate, and the gross maldistribution of wealth among populations, cannot be approved. Irresponsilble self-interest leads to crimes against people and the environment. But no one disapproves of the small individual capitalist with a passion for his or her business enterprise. Entrepreneurs, and the middle class which is created by a high level of material prosperity, generate democracy and free governments that are measurably more in the control of voters than any system under other economic orders. China’s one-party state is trying to square a circle when it tells its new middle class to “enrich yourselves” – but don’t ask for a government under middle class electoral control. Now, as for socialism, the idea that it can intelligently plan an economy and fairly distribute wealth for more social justice is a grand idea. No one knows how to do it. The institution presumed to do it is government. It would take a government of impossibly ideal people with pure ethics, lacking any ego or what we call “human nature,” to not abuse the power that control of an economy bestows upon such governors. It is very remarkable that today the word favoured to describe an order opposed to capitalism is ‘the anticapitalist movement.’ Not very helpful. It would be good to replace the grand idea of socialism, so well articulated by theorists, both Marxian and opposed to Marxists/Leninists, with some other blueprint. I have not yet come across the word or theory or movement. I know intellectuals like Naomi Klein are working on some such big-picture plan yet we have been stymied since socialism in the Soviet bloc so disastrously crashed. Environmentalism is not a politics. It is not left nor right, it is not ultimately about government as much as how we live. No matter what economic system and social order can succeed capitalism, it is still true that war such as we are fighting in Afghanistan is not going to help this country nor transform that distant and alien Asian nation. I am appalled that we are headed for more involvement there after 2011. Canada is not a policing power like America and we should steer well clear of wars in small, poor states so culturally strange to us. We stayed out of Vietnam and Iraq. Why have we gotten mired in Afghanistan? I feel like we moved backward since 1975. Charles Jeanes Nelson Box 70, New Denver, BC V0G 1S0 Phone: 250-358-7218 Fax: 250-358-7793 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.valleyvoice.ca Publisher - Dan Nicholson • Editor - Jan McMurray • Food Editor - Andrew Rhodes Arts & Culture Editor - Art Joyce • Contributing writers - Kate Guthrie, Michael Dorsey, Dan Spring Published and printed in British Columbia, Canada The Valley Voice is distributed throughout the Slocan and Arrow Lake Valleys from South Slocan/Playmor Junction to Edgewood and Kaslo on Kootenay Lake. Circulation is 7,600 papers, providing the most complete news and advertising coverage of any single newspaper serving this area. SUBSCRIPTIONS: CANADA $58.24, USA $89.60, OVERSEAS $134.40. E-Mail Subscription $22.40 (Prices include HST) Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement #40021191 LETTERS November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice Open letter to The Sinixt stand federal Minister up for sanity on of Justice Perry Ridge Dear Minister Nicholson, I have just received a disturbing account by a young woman from my riding regarding her experience at the G20 Summit in Toronto. Enclosed please find her detailed explanation of her arrest. It is important to state that I am not writing to discuss the Summit itself, but rather feel it is imperative that you see firsthand how a young Canadian woman was treated by the authorities in Toronto. Whether we agree or not with her reason for being there is immaterial, what is important however is the flagrant abuse of her democratic rights as a Canadian citizen. As you read her account I am certain that you will be sickened and appalled at the treatment she received. This is not something that we expect from the authorities of a democratic country such as Canada. This is what happened. As she was reaching to put on her gas mask (having heard that tear gas was being unleashed), she was violently grabbed and her face was smashed into a brick building. Her lip was split open and she started bleeding. Painful zip ties were put on with police swearing and making other derogatory comments. Being charged with “a breach of peace,” she was taken to the temporary detention centre at the Toronto Film Studio. Her pleas to use the toilet were ignored and she was taken to an empty cage and belt removed. When permitted to use the toilet, she had to do so in front of police who mocked her and made sexual insinuations. She was stripped searched and told that her nose ring would be ripped out, and then spent 12 – 13 hours alone in a cage. She was cold, hungry and thirsty and told that if she wanted a drink, she could use the toilet; no blanket was permitted. Further mocking and insulting comments were made by the police officers. When you read her story you will see other details of this humiliating inhumane treatment. In my wildest dreams I never thought that I would see this abuse of human rights take place in Canada. Minister, those responsible must be punished and this type of sadistic treatment must never be allowed to happen again. Many have fought and died so that we can enjoy freedom in a democratic and secure society. It is our collective responsibility as members of the Parliament of Canada to ensure that it respected by our law enforcement officers and all Canadians. Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter. Alex Atamanenko, MP BC Southern Interior In recent weeks the Sinixt First Nation has been keeping a protection camp for Perry Ridge at km 6.5 along the Little Slocan Forestry Service Road. They do not want the four large clearcuts, planned by BC Timber Sales and awarded to Sunshine Logging Co., to happen. I and hundreds, maybe thousands, of non-aboriginal people in the area are in total agreement with this. The mainstream society of Canada accepts the routine cruelty of factory farming as acceptable collateral damage, sees the regular accidents destroying the seas with oil as unfortunate but, hey, we need the stuff, and reckons wild animals should just move over a bit more each time we take out some of their habitat. This attitude embodies a profound disconnect between human life and the natural world that we are in fact part of. There is no respect, just plenty of arrogance and indifference. Our governments, deep in the ideological pathology of believing that letting corporations do what they damn well please is the answer to all our problems, are now very dangerous to the survival of our species and most others. For this reason, I rejoice that an older, wiser culture lives among us and is currently asserting itself against the madness planned for Perry Ridge. The Sinixt believe in living in harmony with nature, a concept that would simply be laughed at by our neo-liberal politicians, if they were honest, but which is the essence of wisdom on this planet. Contrast the Sinixt belief in planning for seven generations ahead with the inability of governments around the world to consider anything much longer than a voting cycle. The latter then looks like what it is – pitiable, profoundly stupid and suicidal when applied to issues like climate change. There are many excellent reasons to protect Perry Ridge from the assault of industrial logging or mining. The ridge has an unusual and fragile ecosystem with several rare and at least one unique species. It is an integral part of the range of larger mammals that also inhabit the Valhalla Provincial Park. It is part of the territory that the Sinixt have always cared for. Please support the Sinixt in their courageous effort to protect Perry Ridge. Look up www.sinixtnation. org for information. Write to our MLA (katrine.conroy.mla@leg. bc.ca); tell BC Timber Sales (Forests. KootenayTimberSalesOffice@gov. bc.ca) that you want them to take Perry Ridge off their list of places to log, permanently; donate to help with the mounting legal fees that the Sinixt are having to pay to uphold sanity and wisdom for all of us. This is our chance to support many of the most important things we believe in. If we really want a gentler world that respects all life, let’s all stand up and do something about it. The time to act is right now. Keith Newberry Slocan Our food supply damaged by logging We’ve all heard the quip that everyone needs toilet paper. How about the fact that, more importantly, we all need food? We all need to find a way to participate and escalate our actions against logging to protect our basic needs for high quality food, air and water. Considered one of the 100 great minds of our time, James Lovelock cites that when the human body loses 70% of its skin, death results. The earth has lost 65% of its (comparative) vegetative protection skin. Our living planet may soon be unable to transpire (sweat) and create the evaporation needed to recycle water we are made of. We r e c e n t l y t o u r e d t o Whitehorse, visiting Lake Lakelse (outside of Terrace), once a lake of abundant fish. It has been monitored by the Department of Fisheries for over 100 years. Each incremental increase in logging decreased fish, so for the last 5 + years there is no “run” left. Another very wet day, as we drove north on Hwy 37 from Kitwanga to the Alaska Highway Junction, we passed over 100 creeks, of which two ran clean, and the huge Stikine River ran black. This, too, is an area of traditional fish abundance. We all know fish cannot handle such flash flushing of creeks and the siltation. Logging of those watersheds parallels this destruction too. Foresters, calling their tree harvest operations a science and assigning profit allowing ‘risk factors’ are not protecting our interests as is expected of a trusted profession. My math says that the ‘risk factors’ in the above horror shows are 98%. The forester’s mandate does not permit wholistic considerations like precautionary principles that can protect whole ecosystems and historic water, air, soil and wildlife qualities. Logging destruction is done under the watchful eyes of politicians, with their short-term election goals the guide. We live in the ‘here and now’ with few people hungry yet. No government politicians have demonstrated conservative forethought, like Jacob in the time of the Pharaohs. Must we remain as lemmings in the rush to the sea cliff, or can we use our knowledge to change? The economy can no longer consider the environment to be only a minor part of government direction: There is no economy without ecology: ECOLOGY must 5 come FIRST! Twice I responded to the foresters’ advertising requesting public feedback in the Valley Voice, with no acknowledgement. Is this the kind of professional institution that we should trust? I think that they have reduced themselves to symbiotic accomplices of industry and government in their incomplete, questionable and damaging economic ‘science.’ I think that it is treasonous to damage our grandchildren’s common needs of high quality food, water, soil, and air. The Sinixt are proceeding legally to protect their heritage in our Slocan ecosystem. That heritage has a spiritual nature, which means to me that they are a ‘lookout’ for all of us. Like most of us, they want consultation with principled participation. The Sinixt need financial support for their legal costs, but more importantly, their leadership can help bring those of us in the Slocan together to network and stop these criminal activities against our commons. Your energies to participate in your own way will help all our grandchildren. Eric Faulks Hills Open letter to Bruce MacDonald, DFO Bruce, I remember you from a meeting at Argenta Hall quite a while ago concerning this same subject. I really appreciate your explanatory light on the subject of the proposed marina at Bulmer’s Pointe in your letter to the editor in the October 20 Valley Voice. I know all of us who negotiated in good faith with the developer, Ryan O’Connor, and his real estate agent, Ross Lake, were as surprised as I am by your information. We now find ourselves with a most undesirable outcome. That is, the proposed marina is to be located immediately adjacent to the small public beach which is used by locals, and is also the only beach access for all the strata members who do not have their own waterfront property. Argenta’s proposal to locate the marina at the S. Bay seemed completely logical as it is centrally located within the subdivision. We knew some kind of breakwater would be necessary; we are very familiar with the winds in our neck of the woods. As well, a nice beach park for the subdivision could have been located there. We also suggested individual docks and moorages to no avail, no explanation. Yet almost from the beginning of our negotiations, Ryan and Ross told us that DFO and MOE said no to the S. Bay location. The reason being that the site was not suitable no matter what breakwater and/ or log booms were suggested. And almost in the same breath they said DFO and MOE insisted that the N. E. part of the N. Bay, the very edge of the development, Lot #1, adjacent to the public access, was acceptable. Then we flooded FrontCounter BC with comments about the abundance of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife because a detached eddy is present in the N. Bay. And, of course, we wrote about potentially unsafe situations that are possible with the proposed marina directly adjacent to the large quantities of swimmers and the continual flotilla of various and sundry non-motorized craft. After that, all seemed quiet and Argenta figured no news is good news. Only now, with your letter, did we learn that DFO did not reject the S. Bay location, but rather the developer did due to costs. We also learn that DFO suggested individual docks, but this was rejected by the developer due to aesthetics. Speaking of this subject, we find the rejection of individual docks surely is a perfect example of “do as I say and not as I do” because as I write, Ryan O’Connor, the developer, has built an elegant home with landscaped yard and a private cement dock at the suggested south bay marina site, all of which were recently listed for over a million dollars. We further learn that “DFO did have concerns about the potential impacts of a marina located in the beach area and required the developer to complete a fish use study of the foreshore at the current proposed location.” So now we know the fish study was being done and that swimmers and marinas are a social issue. We feel bamboozled by Ryan and Ross, and are disappointed that the marina can go ahead when there are grave discrepancies between what they told us in their public consultation process and what we have learned by your letter. Rowena Eloise Argenta JUMBO ACTION ALERT YES Jumbo Wild Forever NO Jumbo Resort Margaret MacDiarmid Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment PO Box 9071 – SPG Victoria, BC V8W 9E2 Margaret.macdiarmid. [email protected] Peter Walters Assistant Deputy Minister for Tourism Development PO Box 9846 – SPG Victoria, BC V8W 9T2 [email protected] Thanks from the West Kootenay Coalition for Jumbo Wild 6 SLOCAN VALLEY The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 New Denver council, November 9: Fuel management project underway by Michael Dorsey • Councillor Bunka reported that there would be a tour of the fuel management project sites in the New Denver area on November 17. Crews have been working in the Carpenter Creek area, and Councillor Murphy stated the site “looked good.” Administrator Gordon reported that as the site was in Area H jurisdiction, the Village would not be able to use the cut wood for campground firewood. • Councillor Murphy reported that campground attendance and revenues were down 5%, and closer to last year’s actual figures. • Councillor Greensword reported attending the YRB stakeholders meeting. New at YRB are a grader and cat; traffic control tendered out of Nakusp; a winter driving safety campaign; a new look to the Drive BC website; a new chemical for sanding roads, replacing magnesium chloride; and confirmation on trucks and drivers for plowing. Greensword also noted that the boundaries of plowing are now variable, allowing trucks from adjacent areas to overlap during snowfalls. Also, Highway 31A will get some signage. Greensword also attended the ferries stakeholder meeting. She reported that some upgrade work will be done to the Needles ferry next year. While the work is being done, a replacement will be used. The work will take five weeks. She noted that vandalism has been reported at Needles, and the cell phone problems at Shelter Bay are being fixed. • Administrator Gordon reminded council of the November 18 OCP public meeting, commenting that the November town hall meeting would follow, with Councillor Campbell as chair. • The new water pump will be started up as soon as the on-order surge protector is installed, and further investigation will be done to solve Get Ready for Winter Sale UNEX BOOSTER CABLES 10GA 150 AMP 10’ reg. $13.96 SALE $9.59 DRIVERS LEATHER GLOVES “PIG GRAIN” “LINED” reg. $12.95 SALE $5.99 FLEECE LINED WINTER GLOVES split grain cowhide Red/Black reg. $6.95 SALE $3.55 DOOR MAT vinyl/rubber backing – 24” x 36” reg. $14.99 SALE $9.29 DOOR MAT seagrass coco – 22” x 36” reg. $18.99 SALE $9.49 TOQUE 3m Thinsulite / White/Mapleleaf…. reg. $18.99 SALE $9.99 KODIAK WOOL BLEND THERMAL SOCKS reg. $7.29 SALE $5.89 CRAFT-TOOL METRIC WRENCH SET 5PC. reg. $7.29 SALE $3.59 FUSION 2-PACK SHAKE LIGHT SET reg. $17.85 SALE $9.99 10” TAPER CANDLES 4/PACK VARIOUS COLOURS reg. $1.89/4 SALE $.89/ 4 VINYL FLOOR 6X9 PRECUT various colours/various styles reg. $44.95 ea ($7.49/sq yd) SALE $35.70 ea ($5.95/sq yd) RUBBERMAID STORAGE CONTAINER 68L BLUE INDOOR/OUTDOOR reg. $18.99 SALE $13.99 problems with the big tank. • Mayor Wright reported meeting with the Hills Recreation Society regarding the 2010 Garlic Festival. The general feeling is that even though the weather was bad, the event went very well. Issues concerning the condition of washrooms and the lack of RCMP to prohibit out-of-grounds peddlers were discussed. Council approved renewal of the lease for the years 2011-2013. • Wright met with the Slocan Lake Garden Society to discuss the Shoreline Project and rehabilitation of the Mori Trail and the beach/shore area at Bellevue Street. A program will be developed and brought to council. SLGS will provide the funding. • In a meeting with Gail Swanson of the Kyowakai Society, Councillor Bunka and Administrator Gordon discussed the Village assuming the administrative role for the Nikkei Centre. Swanson asked Bunka and Gordon to attend the society’s next meeting to speak to this. She also noted that the Japanese Consul General would be visiting the Nikkei Centre in December, date to be announced. • In RDCK news, Mayor Wright informed council that the next election for the chair and vice chair of the board would be in December. He reported that the board voted 18-1 to keep the Community Development program as is. The Community Development Fund is made up of the BC Hydro and Columbia Power Corporation grants in lieu of taxation to the RDCK, amounting to over $700,000 this year. The funds are distributed to the electoral areas and to the smaller municipalities in the district. Nelson and Castlegar receive grants-in-lieu directly, and have decided not to contribute to the Community Development Fund, so they are excluded from the program. • Council amended the Parks and Public Lands Policy. Reservations to use Village parks and lands for events are permitted only by resolution of council, except Kohan Garden. The management of Kohan Garden lies with council, in consultation with the Slocan Lake Garden Society. • Council discussed a letter from Jim Davis of the West Kootenay Model Club regarding extending their weekend model float/fly events at Centennial Park. Council authorized three days for the events next year, noting the public majority feels the club’s events are fine. The noise is minimal, and gasoline engines will operate only during specific short periods. • Council received a letter from Max Hoedeman, Chief Building Official, RDCK, welcoming councillors to contact him directly with questions about “the current initiative to have all participants to the Regional District of Central Kootenay Building Inspection Service operate under one single, same building bylaw.” Hoedeman also sent a copy of the bylaw, amended as per recommendations from New Denver council that were discussed with Hoedeman at the last council meeting. Hoedeman would like to have the bylaw adopted at the December 9 RDCK board meeting. Council questioned the validity of one level of government overriding another level. Administrator Gordon has emailed the ministry with this question, with no response. Mayor Wright commented, “Everybody is looking for answers.” • Administration reported that November 22 was a tentative meeting date to discuss the Statements of Significance for New Denver’s heritage sites and their importance to the community. Corinne Tessier, consultant hired to complete the project, would like to meet with council, the Silvery Slocan Historical Society and the Kyowakai Society. • Council discussed some requests from the Chamber of Commerce. The annual grant-in-aid to the Chamber (80% of all business license fees collected) was authorized, as was the closing of one block of 6th Avenue between Kildare and Josephine for the downtown merchants’ night on Friday, November 26. The Chamber also asked to install two small signs directing people to the Visitor Info Centre – one at the campground info sign and one at the boat launch. The Chamber will provide drawings and assume all costs. Staff will meet with Chamber reps and/or approve designs for the signs. • Accounts Payable of $46,110.80 (General) and $18,907.27 (water) were approved. The expenditures from the water account were mostly for the new pump and motor. submitted Settle in the warmth of the music and be entertained by home-grown talent as Valhalla Community Concert Series presents local violinist Erin Burkholder at the Silverton Memorial Hall, November 19 at 7 pm. This special concert launches the opening of the Valhalla Fine Arts Society’s 2011 season. The audience will enjoy listening to classical pieces by Bach, Saint-Saens and Mendelssohn performed by Burkholder on violin, accompanied by Sandra Fletcher on piano. Sixteen-year-old Burkholder has been playing the violin for 12 years and has studied under the tutelage of her grandmother and Suzuki Method instructor, Daphne Hughes of New Denver and Theresa and Jeff Plotnick of Calgary. Currently a high school student at Lucerne School, Burkholder is also an accomplished pianist and is the accompanist for the local Valhalla Community Choir. She also sings in the Nelson-based Corazon Youth Choir. Although Burkholder has shared her musical talents in front of the community before, this will be her debut solo recital and she is thrilled to perform in front of her hometown crowd. Burkholder’s passion and dedication for her craft shines through when she talks about the future: she hopes to further pursue music by teaching violin, playing in orchestras, and performing in more solo recitals. Stick around after the concert for cake in celebration of the society’s upcoming programs. Admission is by donation. Don’t miss the next concert in January with Juno award-winning singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor performing at the Silverton Memorial Hall Monday, January 31 at 7:30 pm. Tickets ($18) are on sale now and are ideal for gift-giving this holiday season. The Valhalla Community Concert Series was established to thank the community for supporting the Valhalla Fine Arts programs. Besides donations, the concert series is also made possible through the support of Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance and Slocan Lake Recreation Commission #6. For more information call 250-358-7151. by Gary Wright input and review process that’s a major part of updating New Denver’s Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaws. We will be presenting for public comment amendments to both. Some are required by the provincial government. Others have been submitted by our residents. We want to know your thoughts on these matters, and look forward to seeing you there. That meeting will be immediately followed by a ‘town hall’ meeting to be chaired by the inimitable Councillor Katrine Campbell. The style will be informal, with everyone getting an opportunity to ask questions or talk about village business. This is something new for us. It promises to be a little bit rowdy and fun. I also expect that it may be enlightening for us all. We plan to hold more. Local violinist Erin Burkholder featured in concert debut New Denver Mayor’s message On Ken Casley Former Mayor Ken Casley is no longer with us. It was powerfully fitting to learn that he chose to pass away in the arms of his large and loving family. As a mayor, Ken was ‘old school.’ He didn’t enjoy ‘being in politics’ or giving speeches or chairing meetings, even though he was a meticulous reader of every piece of information that crossed his desk. What he really believed in was community service – the idea that we all need to be actively involved in village life. He lived the way he thought, and we’re all the better for it. Thank you, Ken. Everyone is invited It’s ‘double feature’ night at Knox Hall, beginning 7 pm on Thursday, November 18. Chief Administrative Officer Carol Gordon and I will start the public COMMUNITY November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice Slocan council, November 9: New CAO introduced by Jan McMurray • Acting Mayor Jean Patterson introduced Slocan’s new Chief Administrative Officer, Jack Richardson from Rossland. She said he had a lot of experience in municipal government in the area. She also introduced Nicole Laframboise, who will take Michelle Gordon’s position while she is on maternity leave. • Corporal Bryson Hill attended to provide a report on RCMP activities. He explained that he was put in charge of the Nakusp and Slocan Lake (New Denver) detachments as of January 1. Prior to this, there was a corporal in charge of the Nakusp detachment, overseeing three constables, and a corporal in charge of the Slocan Lake detachment, overseeing two constables. Now, Hill oversees three constables in Nakusp and three constables in New Denver. The negative aspect of this change, he said, was that Slocan, Silverton and New Denver don’t see Hill very much. His role is primarily administrative and he is generally in Nakusp. The positive aspect, he said, was that the Slocan Lake area had “one more man on the ground.” Hill said this had made a significant difference; both the number of calls and the number of Criminal Code charges nearly doubled from last year to this year. “This difference can be attributed to road blocks and an increase in drug charges,” he said. He also explained that when they have Criminal Code charges, the officers are not as visible because these charges require so much paperwork. In the Village of Slocan and nearby area, there were 189 calls and 10 Criminal Code charges from October 2009 to October 2010. The three constables working out of the Slocan Lake detachment, which services the area from Hills to Slocan Park as of July 1 this year (formerly servicing Hills to Lemon Creek), include Cst Kent Kryzanowski (18 years of ‘all-round’ experience), Cst Shaun Foley (strong background in drug investigations) and Cst Kelly Barrie (specializing in road blocks). Hill explained that he was recently able to change the way they provide back-up locally. Before, Nakusp and Slocan Lake detachments backed each other up, so it could be a long wait until back-up arrived. Now, there is always an officer on call in Nakusp to provide back-up in Nakusp and an officer on call in New Denver to provide back-up to the Slocan Lake detachment. Hill said this was a huge improvement, and was thankful to have that changed as it is expensive, costing the Province $100,000 per year. Hill said that the big geographical areas they must cover in this area pose a huge challenge for them. One resident said she would like to see a detachment in Slocan City. Hill encouraged her to start lobbying for that now, and indicated that it would take persistence. • A letter with accompanying copy of a historic photo from Nick Verigin states that many people do not want the cenotaph moved from its location on the former main street of Slocan. “Slocan was a vibrant community and bit by bit it has been allowed to virtually disappear because of a lack of interest in maintaining and encouraging the archiving and sharing of our history,” states the letter. by Jan McMurray New Denver area residents will have an opportunity to learn about BC’s Water Act Modernization (WAM) from a Slocan Valley resident who has researched it in-depth. Nelle Maxey will make a presentation at Knox Hall on Sunday, November 28 from 1 to 3 pm. “The basic issue is whether our water will be commodified under the new legislation,” Maxey says. “It is extremely important for the public to understand what is really being placed on the WAM table.” The BC government has held one round of public consultation meetings on this, and has committed to holding another round. “I would like to see people as informed as possible in preparation for the second round of consultation with government,” she said. Maxey was invited to present on WAM at the BC Food Service Network’s annual gathering in Ymir in September, and recently gave a presentation at Slocan Park Hall. She hopes to present in Winlaw, as well. She reports that more than 20 people came out to the Slocan Park presentation, including Area H Director Walter Popoff. “They really appreciated getting the information and they want to be proactive,” she said. Maxey says her PowerPoint presentation is “jammed full of information,” outlining the WAM process as well as getting into “the meat” of the government’s proposed changes to the Act. As part of the presentation, Maxey shares quotes from the ‘Report on Engagement’ compiled by government after the first round of public consultation. The recent cabinet shuffle raises questions about the process as initially set out by government, she says, and she has not received any responses to her email queries about this. She hopes to have some answers before she presents in New Denver. The New Denver presentation is sponsored by the Valhalla Wilderness Society. Water Act Modernization (WAM) info session in New Denver WANTED TO BUY: CEDAR AND PINE POLES Staff was directed to respond, explaining that the Legion is moving the cenotaph, not the Village. The Village is supporting the Legion in this project. The letter will also say that Slocan council appreciates that the town has a rich history and is committed to documenting any change such as this one. Councillor Elliott added that the Legion is considering moving the shrubs around the cenotaph to the new location, as well. • Public Works Foreman Tim Hill’s written report describes measures the crew have taken to save fuel over the last couple of years. He included a spreadsheet, which shows that fuel costs were $12,943.30 in 2006 and $9,324.84 in 2009. CAO Richardson added that they were going to start tracking monthly mileage to get a more accurate picture of fuel costs. The Halloween Hoot was a success again this year. Because hand firing fireworks is no longer allowed, Slocan and Silverton will partner to purchase a control panel so that fireworks can be fired electronically. The unit will cost $3,000; fundraising events will be held throughout the year. The 26 new membranes for the water plant should arrive in midNovember. • At the last meeting, council resolved to transfer $70,000 from the Land Sales Reserve Fund to the Water Capital Reserve Fund in order to purchase 26 new membranes for the water plant. However, neither of these reserve funds has ever been established by bylaw to the best knowledge of Village staff, who have reviewed and organized all Village bylaws. So, council gave three readings to the bylaws establishing the two reserve funds. The Land Sales Reserve Fund has been on the books for many years, so will have $120,976 in it, as outlined in the 2009 financial statement. Added to this will be the $17,733 from the sale of the lane. The bylaw authorizing the transfer of the $70,000 from one reserve to the other, and authorizing the expenditure of $70,000 on water membranes, was read three times. • Councillor Elliott reported that she had been in contact with several JACOB BUTT Certified Electrician Licensed and insured Serving New Denver, Nakusp & the Slocan Valley FREE ESTIMATES people to determine whether or not Slocan would want to be part of the Nelson library service. In the recent referendum on the issue, Slocan was not included. She reported that no taxation will be collected for the Slocan Valley Economic Development Commission in 2011. Taxation for the Slocan Valley Recreation Commission will increase by $1,500 in 2011 because of the two percent wage increase for employees. In early December, a new chair and vice chair of the RDCK board will be elected, as well as a chair for the Rural Affairs Committee. “We are very sad to see Gary Wright stepping down,” she said. • Councillor McGreal reported that the library was able to purchase 70 books at good prices from an itinerant bookseller who comes to the area periodically. He also donated $1,864 worth of books to the library. She said many of the books are for teens. 7 • Joyce Johnson reported during public time that she would like to start the Slocan and Valley Historical Society. • Slocan Gardening Concepts will discontinue use of vacant Village property on Harold St. and offered to donate a faucet they installed on the property to the Village. Council accepted, and asked staff to ensure that the faucet is in good working order. • Council adopted the schedule for regular meetings in 2011. They will take place on the second Monday of each month, with the exception of February (15), October (17) and December (5). Smokey Creek Salvage 24 HR TOWING New & Used Auto Parts, Back Hoe Work, Certified Welding & Repairs, Vehicle Removal WE BUY CARS & TRUCKS 359-7815 ; 1-877-376-6539 3453 YEATMAN RD, SOUTH SLOCAN VILLAGE OF NEW DENVER INVITATION TO OCP & ZONING REVIEW & TOWN HALL MEETING The Village of New Denver is preparing to review and amend Bylaw 611, 2007 (Official Community Plan) and Bylaw 621, 2007 (Zoning Bylaw), copies of which are available for inspection at the Village Office, weekdays between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. In accordance with Section 879 of the Community Charter, residents of the Village of New Denver are invited to attend a public meeting on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Knox Hall to provide public input regarding issues that residents or property owners would like to see addressed in the Official Community Plan or Zoning Bylaw. Council will also be advising residents of the required changes that will be made to the Village of New Denver’s Official Community Plan as a result of the Climate Action Charter. Please contact: Gorman Brothers Lumber Ltd. Following the OCP and Zoning Review, Council invites members of the public to participate in a Town Hall Meeting, which will provide Council and residents an opportunity to discuss issues and concerns in the village that they would like to see addressed. 250-547-9296 John Shantz • 250-308-7941 (cell) office: (250) 358-2479 mobile: (250) 505-6182 Carol Gordon, CMC Administrator 8 NAKUSP & THE ARROW LAKES The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 Ideas to support local forestry generated at Nakusp Economic Summit meeting by Jan McMurray What can the Arrow Lakes community do to support the local forestry industry? This was the key question posed at Nakusp’s second Economic Summit session on November 3. By the end of the evening, several answers to this key question had been put forward: establish a co-generation plant, identify land for industrial development, find a shorter route for the Galena/Shelter Bay ferry, and form a community group to advocate for the industry. During the discussion with Nakusp, BC 250-265-3681 • LUMBER • SIDING • INSULATION • ROOFING • DRYWALL • FLOORING • HARDWARE • GENERAL PAINT • PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL • WOOD STOVES • WINDOWS/DOORS • SCAFFOLDING • ENGINEERED FLOORS • ROOF TRUSSES • TOOL RENTALS • AGRICULTURAL FEEDS • GARDENING SUPPLIES • GREENHOUSE a panel consisting of Geoff Bekker (Interfor), Jesper Nielsen (NACFOR), Dan Wiebe (Box Lake Lumber), Cam Leitch (Village councillor, with lots of experience in forestry) and Jim Guido (Ministry of Forests), the challenges facing the industry both locally and provincially were outlined. There was general agreement that forestry will probably never return to its heyday again. One of the challenges faced locally is that operating costs in this area are very high because of the rocky, mountainous, steep terrain and the long distances to markets. Leitch said that BC has the highest operating costs in the country, and this area has the highest operating costs in BC. Wiebe said that Box Lake Lumber pays $1,000 more per day on transportation than the mills he competes with. Because the ferries cannot handle all the truck traffic, drivers have to be paid for waiting in ferry line-ups. Wiebe said it would be very helpful if a shorter route could be found for the Galena/ Shelter Bay ferry, allowing a higher volume of truck traffic. He added that he did not feel it was feasible to replace the ferry with a bridge. Another problem for Box Lake Lumber is getting rid of the wood waste (kiln-dried sawdust) they produce. Wiebe said the solution would be a wood-fired co-generation plant, which would generate both heat and electricity using the wood waste produced by Box Lake and Springer Creek Forest Products in Slocan. BC Hydro would have to be convinced to purchase the electricity from the plant. He said Box Lake Lumber produces two loads of wood waste per day, and Springer Creek produces five loads per day, which could be transported to Nakusp in an empty chip truck. “It’s really important that the community is behind it. We will never get it off the ground if it’s a business – the community has to do it.” A co-gen plant would also make Nakusp more attractive for other companies with wood waste issues, said Wiebe, like a pole yard company, for example. He said Nakusp would be more attractive if it had land for industrial use, which is being worked on, a better ferry service, and a co-generation plant. Bekker said that the land base had shrunk due to management of mountain caribou, old growth forest and visuals. Large licencees such as Interfor are clearly affected by this, but Wiebe also pointed out that this affects the Box Lake Lumber wood supply. Box Lake uses cedar only, and the local Interfor woodlands operation cannot supply it “because most of it is tied up in caribou,” Wiebe said. Box Lake gets its wood from Revelstoke and Nelson. Bekker pointed out that Revelstoke did not lose as much of their land base to mountain caribou because “they are better organized for political wrangling.” Leitch suggested forming a grassroots advocacy group in support of industry. “Communities have more pull at the ministry level than industry does,” he said. “With an advocacy group, we can better deal with people with a cause, as well, by making sure there is a real reason and not just a cause.” Nielsen indicated that today’s markets were the biggest challenge for the community forest. “Do you log your AAC when the markets are poor? Are you prepared to lose money in order to keep people working through tough times? It’s tough working with the markets today, and I don’t see things getting better anytime soon.” The community forest’s annual allowable cut is 20,000 cubic metres – they cut only 2,400 last year and will probably cut 8,000 this year. Leitch described how the poor markets are affecting the industry province-wide when he said, “We’re cutting about half our AAC in the province and the mills are colluding to not flood the market.” Bekker explained that most mills, including Interfor’s mill in Castlegar, were running only one shift. If they all ran two shifts, they would flood the market, he said. Bekker, Wiebe and Nielsen gave an idea of how much economic activity is created directly by forestry in Nakusp. Interfor has five staff in Nakusp, and employs 50 logging contractors. Interfor’s mill in Castlegar employs 80 people and processes about 37 logging truck loads per day. Markets are Canada, US and China. Box Lake Lumber employs 33 people, produces cedar bark mulch, shake blocks and split rail fencing, and sells it mostly to the US. NACFOR employs one manager, and would employ roughly six people for six months if it cut its entire 20,000 cubic metres of AAC. by Jan McMurray A group of mushroom pickers attended a Nakusp Community Forest (NACFOR) board meeting on November 8 to present their concerns about NACFOR’s logging plans in the mushroom-rich Fosthall area. No resolution was reached, but the two groups agreed to meet again. NACFOR would like to submit the cutting permit application by February 1. Jesper Nielsen of NACFOR said he felt the meeting was productive. “I got a better idea not just of their concerns but also of their passion for it and the value they attach to that particular area,” he said. “We had an opportunity to enlighten them on our plans – often, these things are just a matter of seeing it from the other side’s perspective – and I think we had good opportunity to do that.” Lisa Bjarnason, mushroom picker, said the group hoped they could stop the logging altogether, but if they can’t, they are looking for a compromise. She said she and three other mushroom pickers from the Nakusp area, and Tyson Ehlers, biologist from Winlaw, attended the meeting with NACFOR. Ehlers has done long-term studies on mushrooms. “I have to give NACFOR credit,” said Bjarnason. “They looked at Tyson’s studies and they fully intended to protect the mushrooms. But I feel their research and solutions are inadequate, and Tyson agrees.” Nielsen says the next step is to sit down with Ehlers and have a look at the maps. “I’m looking at the plans as we speak,” he said. “It really comes down to prioritization. It’s not just between timber values and mushroom values – there are many factors that come into play. Something has to take priority over something else. For example, if mushrooms are given a higher priority, then the long-term regeneration of stands may have to be compromised. The bottom line is there is no perfect solution – which is not unique to this situation.” Bjarnason says the group’s presentation to the board looked at the value of mushrooms and the positive impacts of the industry on the local economy, tourism, recreation, culture, socioeconomics, plus the scientific and educational importance of mushrooms. “And at the core of it all is the Fosthall area. Fosthall is a real gem of a mushroom area.” Bjarnason pointed out that the message at the recent forestry meeting as part of Nakusp’s Economic Summit was that the forestry industry will never again rise up to what it once was. She said the mushroom industry had contributed to the economy for 35 years and should not be dismissed. The group has collected about 200 signatures so far on a petition in opposition to NACFOR’s logging plans at Fosthall. NACFOR’s plans include some road building, which was completed this fall. The logging would take place in spring at the earliest, said Nielsen, depending on markets. The area includes six cutblocks in a total cutting permit area of 618 hectares. The biggest block is 46.7 hectares. Five of the blocks have a ‘strip selection’ prescription, where less than half of the trees in the block are cut in 30-metre strips. One of the blocks is a 2.6-hectare clearcut. submitted It can be a natural if unfortunate response to feel uncomfortable around people with developmental disabilities. But the failure to interact with them can leave them feeling excluded. ‘Start with Hi’ is a program whose approach provides a simple solution to both problems. Community Living BC (CLBC) works with regional and community councils of volunteers to deliver the program. If there’s enough interest, the local council would like to have an information meeting in Nakusp. CLBC is a Crown agency that provides support and services to over 12,700 eligible adults and their families through a network of 3,200 contracted service providers across the province. CLBC’s vision is one of full citizenship where people with developmental disabilities lead good lives, have rich relationships with friends and family, financial security, choices in how they live their lives, employment opportunities, and are accepted and valued as citizens. Start with Hi, a CLBC public awareness campaign, supports this commitment by encouraging all British Columbians to say “Hi” to a person they see regularly who has a developmental disability. CLBC is inviting organizations from across the province to join in the Start with Hi campaign, and help create inclusive communities for all British Columbians. The website features videos of six people with developmental disabilities who share their different experiences and stories bout inclusion. The campaign also encourages sharing stories of inclusion and acknowledgement on the site or on Facebook, Twitter or Flickr. Community councils work with CLBC to raise awareness about Start with Hi and the issues that are most important to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Councils around the province are comprised of self advocates, family and community members who volunteer their time. The East and West Kootenay Community Council would like to reach parents of individuals with developmental disabilities and help them to feel supported, connected, heard, and informed. For more information visit www. startwithhi.ca or contact Janet Royko, your area council representative, at 250-265-4588. Mushroom pickers meet with Nakusp Community Forest board OPEN 7 am - 5:30 Weekdays 9 am - 5:00 Saturday The Best Lumberyard in the Kootenays We deliver! BURTON WOODWORKS – NOW SERVING THE WEST KOOTENAYS – SELLING, INSTALLING & SERVICING WINDOWS – VINYL, ALUM CLAD & WOOD DOORS – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR METAL, FIBREGLASS & WOOD OVERHEAD DOORS & OPERATORS 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVICE ORIENTED CONTACT DON TILDEN @ 250-265-3799 Still not too late to have windows and doors upgraded before the winter sets in Thanks to the valleys for choosing us as your hot springs getaway! Bronze Award – Best of Business, Kootenay Business Magazine Start with Hi program aims to help developmentally disabled BILL MOODY OCT. 20 1955 - NOV. 22 2005 Always in our hearts November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice COMMUNITY Adventurers Colin and Julie Angus to speak in Nakusp by Art Joyce It’s not every day you get to meet a world class adventurer with a vision for sustainability – a 21st century Thor Heyerdahl. Husband and wife team Colin and Julie Angus will be coming to Nakusp to tell the stories of their latest adventures crossing the globe using only human power for transport. The twohour presentation includes a one-hour talk combined with stunning imagery, followed by a screening of the awardwinning documentary, Beyond the Horizon. They will be appearing at the Nakusp Secondary School gymnasium November 27; doors at 7 pm, show at 7:30 pm. Door prizes from Little Mountain Equipment will be offered. Colin is the first person to circumnavigate the globe by human power, a 43,000-kilometre journey across three continents and two oceans by foot, bicycle, ski and rowboat. He has sailed the South Pacific Ocean and rowed and paddled thousands of kilometres in waterways around the world. He will relate his experience rowing across the Atlantic and North Pacific as well as his most recent adventure, an expedition with Julie from Scotland to Syria. This latest journey was a way of learning more about the lands their families both hail from Angus’s family is from northern Scotland and his wife Julie’s family originates in Germany and Syria. Surprisingly, neither came from a particularly athletic family, and it’s the expeditions that keep the couple motivated to stay in shape. Julie came from a more scholastic background. A move from Ontario to BC heightened her awareness and interest in outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, kayaking, skiing and snowboarding. Colin grew up fishing and virtually living in the woods when he wasn’t in school. He decided when he was 12 that he wanted to own a sailboat and sail the oceans. It was a dream he was able to realize at age 19 when he made his first major ocean journey, which took five years to complete. “It was a lifestyle, living on the boat as your home. The preparation for that was quite tough. A lot of people were saying, you shouldn’t be doing this, it’s too tough.” Colin had little money for training but was able to learn the necessary skills from reading library books. Dan Audet, a high school buddy, decided to join him. It took scrimping and saving to pool together $15,000 to buy a sailboat, working at odd jobs. At one point they ran out of money in French Polynesia and ended up working on a luxury yacht for nine months to earn enough to continue the journey. Audet decided he’d had enough and Colin bought him out. A lot has happened in the 20 years since. After that first trip, Colin thought it was time to go home and study science at UBC. But after a year the wanderlust struck again when he was inspired by a book called Running the Amazon, about the first team to navigate the entire Amazon River. He and two friends began learning whitewater rafting in Canmore, Alberta. The successful completion of their Amazon journey led to the publishing of a book that was later made into a documentary, aired on National Geographic and other television channels. They traversed the entire South American continent, covering some 7,000 kilometres. “It was then I realized this could become a career.” That prompted Colin to organize a similar expedition on the Yenisey River. The fifth longest river on the planet, it begins in Mongolia, makes its way into Siberia and from there to the Arctic Ocean. In total, the trip was over 5,000 kilometres. Colin met Julie while planning his global circumnavigation, a process that took two years to organize. They realized it would mean up to two more years apart, so Julie decided to take 9 time off work to join the expedition in Moscow, and completed the final half of the journey with Colin from there to BC. “It was pretty daunting, in terms of the magnitude of the journey. Nobody had actually ever done that before. People had cycled or jogged or walked but crossed the oceans in conventional ways.” The most recent expedition involved travelling via the British coastline, man-made canals and rivers from north Scotland to Syria, revealing a side of Europe seldom seen in conventional travel. The couple works with schools getting the message across that a healthy lifestyle involves more physical exercise. Today’s digital lifestyle makes that a challenge compared to a generation ago, and childhood obesity rates have soared as a result. “A lot of people come up to us after and say they’ve changed their travel plans. Most of our journeys have been zero or low emissions. In this day and age it’s so important from an environmental as well as a personal fitness perspective.” Tickets are $8 advance at Advantage Travel World, 412 Broadway Street; Little Mountain Outdoor Gear, 308 Broadway Street; or $10 at the door; students are free. For more information visit www.angusadventures.com. Adventurer Colin Angus and his wife Julie will appear in Nakusp November 27 to relate the story of rowing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and other human-powered adventures across the globe. 308 Broadway St, Nakusp, BC V0G 1R0 • 250-265-2226 Is proud to present COLIN ANGUS November 27 – 7:30 pm (door 7:00 pm) At the Nakusp Secondary School Gymnasium $8 advance $10 door KIDS & STUDENTS FREE Winner, Adventurer of the Year – National Geographic “One serious hardcore trip” - George Stroumboulopoulos From circling the world by human power to rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, Julie and Colin’s human-powered adventures highlight environmental issues and what we can do to make a difference. Don’t miss this amazing presentation for the whole family. Come see us for your Christmas Shopping We have small items as low as $15 and up Offering Gift Certificates and Layaway Plans IO/BIO merino wool underwear promo – buy one piece, get a one day ski pass for Red Mountain Ski Resort FREE Ask in store for details. COMMUNITY 10 Local girls travel to United Nations biodiversity conference in Japan by Art Joyce It seems that when it comes to the environment these days, it’s the children who are leading. Two local girls, Annie Collins of Hills and Leah Holden of Nakusp, recently travelled to Japan to attend the United Nations Environment Program’s BARRETT HONDA Ph: 250-367-6216 Toll Free: 1-888-989-1615 • 1470 Hwy 3B, Fruitvale • [email protected] DL#5996 The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 (UNEP) Children’s Conference on Biodiversity. Collins has been on the junior board for UNEP for the past two years and helped organize the conference. “Biodiversity is a global issue that’s affecting everyone,” she says. Held in Nagoya, Japan, October 20-26, the conference brought together over 220 children and chaperones from some 40 countries and took place simultaneously with the UN conference on the protection of biodiversity. It was hosted by UNEP in conjunction with the Convention on Biological Diversity, established by the UN in 1993. The Convention has three main goals: the conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of the components of biodiversity; and sharing the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. Kids were selected as delegates based partly on the projects they’re doing in their own communities. Leah Holden from Nakusp was selected based on her ‘greening’ project for the grounds at Nakusp Elementary School. Support for travel costs was raised by local businesses and community. UNEP also provided subsidies for kids travelling from poorer countries. The children participated in workshops and viewed presentations to prepare them for drafting their own declaration on biodiversity. Presentations were made by children doing projects in their countries either to preserve biodiversity or raise awareness of it. In Malaysia a campaign is being held to save the tigers, using a kids’ theatre troupe to get the message across. In Mexico a project is being done to reintroduce native plants and other species. A pond at the convention educated the kids about invasive species and their impact on native ecosystems. “It was really interesting to learn about the problems they’re having with biodiversity in Japan,” says Annie. “There are major things affecting people all over the world, but definitely some that were more affecting certain countries. In Africa there was a big focus on poverty and the impacts that has on climate change.” After some days of discussion a consensus was reached and the declaration gradually reached a final draft. In her capacity as chair of the children’s conference, Annie presented the declaration with other youth representatives. As children their action plan will be to plant trees, become more familiar with nature in order to realize its importance and endeavour not to litter. They declared that in order to sustainably support biological resources, they would use food wisely, recycle daily and use paper resourcefully. In response to this adults were asked to make a more significant commitment to the enforcement of laws which limit the amount of fishing and protect the environment from pollution by creating more protected areas. Adults were asked to set the rules with strict penalties for nations or people who fail to observe these laws. Annie then presented Japanese Environment Minister Ryu Matsumoto with a copy of the declaration. Among the documents that laid the foundation for the Convention on Biological Diversity was the Brundtland Commission of 1987, which concluded that, “Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sadly, little progress has been made. According to Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary for the Convention, during the past eight years most nations have failed to meet agreements for preserving biodiversity. Meanwhile species have been disappearing at 50100 times the natural rate and extinction rates are accelerating. Thankfully the children are pointing the way forward. submitted The Arrow Lakes Arts Council is presenting Mirror Theatre’s production of All’s Well on Saturday, November 20, at 7:30 pm at the Bonnington Arts Centre. Then on Saturday, November 27, accordionist Alexander Sevastian will perform at the Bonnington at 7:30 pm. The presentation of All’s Well is the only performance in this season’s concert series that features local talent. This pantomime (or ‘panto’) is a ‘Tale of Three Ducks’ that contains all the traditional characters but with a modern twist. All is not well in the sleepy village of All’s Well. A greedy property developer threatens the tranquility of the ancient wells and it seems like there’s nothing anyone can do. The ‘panto’ is a type of British farce that was originally silent, and now is anything but. Pantos are usually based on a fairy tale, and the lead character, ‘the dame,’ is performed by a man. The ‘dame’ is a highly coveted role – men train for it and have a marvelous time ‘going over the top’ in the part. These productions use actors of all ages and a lot of well-known tunes to help tell the story. The character of the Dame is being portrayed by Troy Watson, our own Overwaitea employee. The three ducks are Sarah Aspeslet, Bailey Henschke, and Chelsea Pike. The Baron is our local ‘bus driver’Alan Niquidet, and the Spirit is portrayed by Leah Holden. Alexander Sevastian takes the audience on an extraordinary musical adventure that combines classical music with impeccable arrangements and a good dose of humour. Born in Minsk Belarus, Sevastian is a three-time prize winner of the International Accordion Competition. In November 2009 he was crowned the third Roland V-Accordion National Finals Grand Prize Winner in Toronto. Sevastian is also a member of the renowned Quartetto Gelato. He is a true musical virtuoso. Tickets are available at the Broadway Deli until 2 pm Saturday or at the door the evening of the concert. The prices for All’s Well are adults $10, seniors $7.50 and students $5. The family rate is (2+2) $20. Tickets for the Sevastian concert are adults $20, seniors $15 and students $10. Doors open at 7 pm. Arrow Lakes Arts Concert Series offers pantomime, concert Kaslo Branch Kootenay Savings Credit Union presented their 2010 Care Wear proceeds of $832.00 to Dr. Janneme Frouws of the Helping Hands Trust. The group provides financial help to adult residents of Kaslo and Area D who need to leave the area for medical testing or treatment. COMMUNITY November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice Controversial new MS treatment gives hope to locals by Art Joyce For New Denver resident Linda Mennie, the world is looking a lot brighter lately. Mennie, an MS patient, recently travelled to Poland to undergo a controversial new surgical procedure that has given hope to thousands of people suffering from the disease. Preliminary studies indicate that a phenomenon called Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), a reported abnormality in blood drainage from the brain and spinal cord, may contribute to nervous system damage in MS. This hypothesis was developed by Dr. Paolo Zamboni from the University of Ferrara in Italy, who published his initial findings in June 2009 from a study of approximately 65 patients. There have been additional studies published since then, some of which show results that conflict with the original findings. “We had decided to go and so we just went,” says Mennie. “We weren’t following the online debates over the treatment.” Nor has it stopped MS patients around the world from flocking to clinics in Bulgaria, Poland, Mexico, India, Kuwait, and Italy, where it was pioneered by Dr. Zamboni. Initially Mennie travelled to the west coast to get an MRI of her neck and discovered that her jugular veins were blocked by 90 and 75 percent. She decided on the Ameds Centrum clinic in Warsaw, Poland and travelled there in October with her husband Richard. “People have been really supportive. Poland was wonderful. And Dr. Burkholder has been so supportive.” The operation makes use of a medical team skilled in angioplasty. A mild sedative is administered while an angioplasty probe is put into a vein in the groin area and fed up to the jugular veins. Very much like cardiac angioplasty, the probe uses a balloon to unblock the veins leading to the brain. For most patients it’s mere day surgery – all over in an hour and a half, not counting MRI scans and basic MS testing. At the Warsaw clinic another scan was done on Mennie and the blockages were assessed at 80/80 percent. Some MS patients also need to have the central (azygus) vein done. Previously Mennie did the David Wheldon treatment for a year, and says that too led to a great improvement. Wheldon is an Engish author with medical training who uses a regime of antibiotics and vitamins. It helped her go from three or four hours per day of functionality to 12. The traditional pharmaceutical approach to MS never appealed to Mennie, who only uses pain medication. Often MS drugs create a long list of side effects. This approach is also very expensive; even with medicare picking up 85 percent of drug costs, it can cost patients $1,800 a month. Dr. Zamboni’s procedure isn’t cheap either. The cost was between $15,000$20,000, including the west coast trip for the initial scans, plane fare to Poland, accommodations and of course the operation itself. Another MS patient who traveled to the Polish clinic for the treatment is Peter Welkerling, a Nakusp resident who has had the disease for 14 years. He was first treated in July but after a brief improvement in his condition the old symptoms returned, probably due to stenosis or a collapse of the veins. Welkerling returned to the clinic in September and discovered that the right jugular vein had collapsed and was 80 percent blocked. This time a stent was put in to keep it open; although the clinic tries to avoid this, there is a percentage of patients who will require this. Welkerling has been confined to crutches or wheelchair but is now finding he’s able to do more with his physiotherapy exercises. He’s also noticing far less fatigue and heat sensitivity. “These things are huge for us because for years we’re going downhill, so any improvement is quite something for us,” he says. The treatment has yet to be approved for coverage under Canadian medicare plans. Mennie – who heads up a local MS support group – says in Canada alone there are 85,000 people with the disease. The Quebec College of Physicians and Surgeons said scientists don’t know whether the blocked veins cause the disease or are a symptom of it, and are warning MS patients not to get the procedure until more research is done. Welkerling has been frustrated by Canada’s reluctance to approve the procedure, saying he’s written to his MP and the MS Society but basically has been ignored. He notes that the pharmaceutical industry is on the verge of releasing MS drugs in pill form for the first time and expects to double its profits from these drugs to $15 billion over the next five years. “It’s a safe procedure and if a vascular problem is part of MS, then that needs to be fixed,” he says. “They can still research solutions for the other 11 symptoms – it’s crazy to try to stop this treatment.” Mennie says she’s experiencing much greater clarity of mind and sharper hearing since the operation. Her speech is clearer and she’s been able to make a circuit of her yard without her cane for the first time in years. “It’s not the be-all and end-all for MS, it’s one of many things you can do. But I highly recommend it. I’ve had 15 years of going downhill, and I do still have MS. But I’ve got my thinking back and my walking back. I have something to work with now.” Kootenay Lake Computers & Electronics 404 Front Street, Kaslo BC, PO Box 1028, V0G 1M0 250-353-2880 • www.klcomputers.ca 1-888-301-2880 12 COMMUNITY The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 Artists Natasha Smith and Rachel Yoder show at Touchstones Nelson submitted Touchstones Nelson will feature the exhibition ‘Complementary by Contrast,’ the work of Natasha Smith and Rachel Yoder, opening November 19 at 7 pm. Touchstones has divided its large ‘Gallery A’ space to accommodate these fine artists. The show will run until January 16. Smith lives in Passmore and Yoder is a Salmo resident. The artists are friends and are at similar points in their art careers, but the two exhibits in many ways could not be more different in concept, style and technique. One artist creates purely abstract paintings that investigate colour relationships and structure in a controlled way, while the other artist creates expressively, using symbols and building tactile surfaces on alternative supports. A common technique that they both incorporate in their work is layering, one creating a consistent clean even surface while the other creates heavily textured surfaces using various materials. “We are excited to be sharing the gallery space and to be teaming up for our artist talk,” says Smith; “although visually our work is very different, Rachel and I share the same passion for creating and communicating visually and look forward to sharing the last part of our creative process together.” Natasha Smith’s work explores archetypal mark-making in a visual dialogue between mother and child. The exhibition features a series of runes or hieroglyphs (inspired by the drawings of her son, Dylan), which form a visual language between mother and child that the artist calls ‘Joining Worlds.’ By collaging and building layers of paint, and acrylic medium on seven unusual doors, a visual story is created, with each door being opened by the imagination of the viewer. Rachel Yoder, in creating her new body of paintings, ‘Consanguinity,’ placed severe restrictions on herself. Each painting would be a 24” x 24” panel with two colours placed side by side with an overlapping band. Her carpentry experience using small pieces of material to create structure and her preoccupation with colour combine to explore the nature and mutability of colour perception. Stripped of all but colour and line, the vibrant abstract panels are displayed to create dynamic structures that allow us to observe shifting relationships and expand our visual and intellectual perception of colour. Join the artists for their opening November 19 from 7-9 pm and their talk on November 30. For more information call 250-352-9813. submitted by Penelope Stuart The fourth annual Christmas by the Lake promises to be even bigger and better this year. Up to 22 vendors, from as far away as Rossland, Ymir and Creston, are coming to offer their quality, handcrafted products at the Christmas Village in Silverton on December 3-5. There will be a free shuttle service from both Nakusp and Nelson on Saturday. Join us for this delightful weekend event full of all the enchantment and magical ambiance of a European Christmas faire. The quaint Christmas Village is a wonder and delight for young and old as they wander by the assortment of charming wooden huts adorned with Yuletide decorations and sparkling lights. Here you can savour the traditional Christmas delights of roasted chestnuts, potato pancakes, German cookies, hot chocolate, Gluehwein and much more. Enjoy the experience of cooking bannock over an open fire as you watch demonstrations of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing and glassblowing. Once again, the world-renowned sculptors, Peter Vogelaar and David Ducharme, with Luc Vreys, will be creating their wonderful ice slide – much loved by all the children – and beautifully crafted angels of ice. Again this year, the children will have an opportunity to be photographed with Santa, who is coming to join us at our Christmas Village. Word is out that the Gingerbread Man and Grinch will also be there! On Saturday and Sunday there will be Christmas card creation workshops for the children while all those from the age of 6-16 can take part in the competition to win a digital camera. There will be live entertainment all weekend with the Nelson and Slocan Community Bands, local choirs and an array of fine musicians. The fun begins on Friday, December 3 at 4 pm. The New Denver Royalty will launch Christmas by the Lake at 5 pm with the lighting of the Christmas tree and the tolling of the bell, and with a welcome to all the visitors. The event continues on Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm. Santa will be coming to town between 1 and 3 pm on Saturday, followed by storytelling until 3:30 pm. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience the wonder and magic of a time-honoured Christmas celebration, as seen in Europe. For you and your family, memories of Christmas by the Lake will last a lifetime. For more information, visit www.christmasbythelake.ca. Celebrating our fourth Christmas by the Lake in Silverton Join the fun at Silverton’s fourth annual Christmas by the Lake, December 3-5. Here, the kids wait for roasted chestnuts, one of the traditional goodies offered. COMMUNITY November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice Deck the Walls exhibit at Studio Connexion in Nakusp by Art Joyce This Christmas season the place to be in Nakusp for art is Studio Connexion, where the Deck the Walls exhibit will feature a wide range of local artists, Nov. 18 to Dec. 22. There will be sculpture, pottery, fabric art and painting in a variety of styles. “It’s Christmas time and so I wanted to encourage people to shop in Nakusp instead of going elsewhere. It’s also a way for people to be environmentally friendly by not driving so far to shop,” said Studio Connexion owner Anne Beliveau. Glass artist Kathleen Jones will feature stained glass works with a Christmas theme. Elly Scheepens will bring sculptural work from the Goddess Quest exhibition. Gillian Redwood will have gift packs of her signed greeting cards, including two polar bear images – one from a commissioned painting and the other a special design for a canvas mat. Jan Burks will present her fibre art, combining quilting techniques with dyeing, stamping, painting and embellishing to create one-of-a-kind items. Linda Dixon offers natural fibre art using a hand-dyed process to create images inspired by nature, resulting in highly original pillows, quilts, wall hangings, scarves and bags. Ed Kemp, father of Nakusp artist Barbara Maye, will have his wildlife paintings available. Kemp has placed as a finalist with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Contest and a top five finalist with Ducks Unlimited. His work has sold to collections around the world. Paul Kelly, a local sculptor who works with wood, metal and found objects to create folk art and masks, will also be featured. His masks are made from red cedar cut to a similar thickness as musical instruments so that they resonate when people speak through them. A beautiful heron Kelly made from wood and covered with copper, brass and tin will also be exhibited. Susan Janzen will show examples of her pottery. Janzen has been producing unique hand-thrown pottery for over 20 years. She has worked with many styles over the years and is now focusing by Jan McMurray Lucerne and Nakusp Secondary Schools are gearing up to take in some international students in September 2011, opening up opportunities for families in the New Denver and Nakusp areas to host students. The local Arrow Lakes School District No. 10 is partnering with Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 to deliver the international program. Duncan MacLeod, international program coordinator from Kimberley, was in the area in early November to provide information about the program, particularly the homestay component. “The kids are in school for six hours a day and in the homes for 18 hours, so the homestay families are key to the success of the students,” he said. Families are paid $600 per month and are required to provide students with three meals a day and a separate bedroom. Typically, students stay for either five months or one year. “We have all different kinds of host families – young families with kids, retired couples, single parents. We have families who host more than one student,” said MacLeod. However, two kids who speak the same language or who are from the same country are never placed together in the same home. This is because they are here to have a Canadian experience and improve their English. Students come from Germany, Austria, Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan. “Our greatest assets are teachers who love having international students and homes who love having them,” commented MacLeod. MacLeod said having international students often inspires local youth to have a similar experience. He said one kid in Kimberley got involved and took the Teaching English as a Second Language course, and then went to Japan on a working holiday visa. “It indelibly impacts the school and community in a positive way. At least 10 kids came back to Kimberley last year to see their host families and go skiing.” Currently, Niko Gallas, a German boy, is attending Lucerne School through the program. “It’s a great experience to be part of a small community,” he said. Lucerne principal Natasha Miles pointed out that the camping trip he went on during the Fall Into Learning week was unique for him – he would never have an experience like that in Frankfurt. MacLeod said most of the kids come from big cities and want to check out small town living. “I think there is great potential to have kids come here,” he said. Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 has one of the oldest international programs in BC, operating out of Kimberley since 1981. Recently, they have had more demand for the program than they can meet. Arrow Lakes School District No. 10 is happy to partner with them to help meet the demand. For more information, visit www.sd6.bc.ca/ international.php. In New Denver, contact Katrina Sumrall at Lucerne School. Homestay families wanted for international students in New Denver and Nakusp on the production of unique, oneof-a-kind, pit-fired pottery art. Bryn Stevenson, a self-taught artist raised in the Slocan Valley, will feature his stunningly realistic paintings of the region’s mountain peaks. He works mostly with a knife like an instrument to create the natural patterns and thick, rough textures of mountains. And there will much more at Deck the Walls besides what’s described here. “There’s a pretty good variety of art in Nakusp,” says Beliveau. “We have plenty of talent here.” The gallery attracted 450 visitors this year, split between roughly 60 percent tourists and 40 percent locals. Not bad for a small gallery two blocks off the main street. Studio owner Anne Beliveau will also have available for sale maple 13 syrup from her home town St. d’Aston Léonard, Quebec, from an artisan-scale family farm business. Studio Connexion will be open Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 am to 4:30 pm during the Christmas season. WOOD PRESERVERS LTD. BUYERS OF CEDAR & PINE POLES Mike Casey cell 344-8477 Offering planning, management and sales for Woodlot Licences and Private Land Owners. P.O. Box 4, Brisco, B.C. V0A 1B0 Phone (250) 346-3315 Fax (250) 346-3218 TOLL FREE 1-866-346-3315 B. C. Composers: the Full Meal Deal! Arne Sahlén, piano and Dylan Matheson, guitar Sat. Nov 27, 1:30 pm at Silverton Memorial Gallery Admission by donation Stepping Stones Children’s Centre would like to extend a very big Thankyou to everyone who has given us such a fantastic start to our fundraising this year.Our children are so lucky to live in this amazing community which receives such incredible support from everyone. 80’s night at Three Lions Pub was extremely well attended, along with the children’s halloween party hosted in part by The Royal Canadian Legion. A huge thank-you to all of our generous sponsors: Arrow Lakes Redi-Mix Arrow Lakes Theatre Beautiful Image Naturally by Patti Bon Marché/ Dollar Dollar B-Rad Cycles & Gear Broadway Deli Bistro Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Carson’s Corner Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy Columbia Basin Trust Councillor Hughes Crescent Bay Construction Cutrite Meats & Deli Dogsense Boutique Esthetics by Kristy Evolution Boutique General Store Grooming By Til Gutter Getter Done H&R Block Halcyon Hot Springs Home Hardware Hook it up Tackle and Sport Hub Barton Insurance Igloo Loma Kal Tire Kootenay Savings Credit Union Kuskanax Lodge Leland Hotel Lester’s Hobbies Linda Snyder Little Mountain Outdoor Gear Making Memories Marvin’s Small Motor Repairs Merixtell Books Naksup Veterinary Clinic Nakusp Centennial Golf Course Nakusp Glass Nakusp Music Fest Nick’s Place North Nakusp Automotive O’Briens Service & Repair Overwaitea Foods Paddyshack/Rice Paddy Party Lite Candles People’s Pharmacy Prima Materia Royal Canadian Legion Br#20 Selkirk College Shaggys Hair Care Sharon Jones- Avon Representative Spiritwood Studio in Balance Summit Lake Ski Hill Three Lions Pub Touch of Fashion Treasure Trove Village of Nakusp KASLO & DISTRICT 14 The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 Kaslo council, November 9: Council supports increase in taxation for library by Jan McMurray • Minutes of a special budget meeting held November 3 were adopted. At that meeting, the chair of the library board attended to ask the Village to support the library’s request for an increase in 2011 taxation for the library to 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Reasons for the increase are fair wages for staff, increased administration time, additional programming, increased book budget and creation of a capital budget. The Village will write a letter in support of the increase to the RDCK. Water rates will be increased by 10% in 2011, and discounts will be decreased from 15% to 10%. • Council received an email from Berdine Jonker of the Provincial Heritage Branch, following up on council’s meeting at the UBCM Conference. She suggests that Kaslo may want to develop a heritage register, review its tourism plan to see how heritage conservation plays a role, apply for Towns for Tomorrow funding for the City Hall, and contact the Heritage Tourism Alliance of BC to inquire about promoting Kaslo’s heritage on their website. Council added the development of a community heritage registry to the Short Real Estate in Kaslo and North Kootenay Lake www.century21kaslo.com [email protected] 250-505-4722 Century21 Mountainview Realty Ltd. Kemar’s Middle East Interiors • Persian & Tribal 100% wool rugs • Home décor • Jewellery • Gifts In Kaslo, across from the Mohawk 250-353-7847 Thank you Valley Voice The only newspaper that tells us what is going on in the Kaslo area. The only newspaper that gives us a chance to say what we think about it, free of charge, in Voices from the Valleys. Paid advertisement by Jane Lynch in support of the Valley Voice Term Action Chart. Councillor Hewat will bring up the tourism plan issue with the Kaslo Chamber of Commerce. Staff will inquire if Kaslo can apply for this second round of Towns for Tomorrow funding for the City Hall, when there is an ongoing geothermal project at the City Hall which was funded by the first round of Towns for Tomorrow grants. • Lynda Lafleur of CBT sent the first cheque ($37,500) for the City Hall project to restore the original courtroom to be a public space. The Village’s interim report on this project is due by April 30, 2012. • A letter from Parks Canada acknowledges receipt of the Village’s application for funding for the City Hall project under the National Historic Sites Cost Sharing Program. • A letter from the Kaslo Trailblazers Society regarding the Water Street project asks the Village for payment of $10,436.28 “in accordance with our agreement.” The letter is accompanied by the final report to Western Economic Diversification, which provided funding towards the project. Deputy Clerk Carol Hughes prepared an analysis of the project budget and funding. All this was referred to the Municipal Services Committee for recommendation to council. • The following appointments were made to the Water Street Planning Committee: Robert Abbey, John Eckland, Tyler Dobie, Haijo Meier, Henry Van Mill, Gillian Froese. • Councillor Leathwood reported on the campground washroom project. The committee working on this would like the campground washroom to be hooked up to the sewer system, and the Liquid Waste Management Committee would like more information. Council directed staff to get the required information to the committee. Leathwood also said that they are looking at a cement building. In response to a query from Councillor Cormie, Leathwood said the location of the washroom building would depend on the sewer issue, and that whatever the location, it would not affect the road in any way. • A letter from the Periwinkle Children’s Centre asks for council approval on an expenditure of $4,000, which remains in the budget allocated Come see our unique collection of gifts for the Christmas season. Great variety and price, with the quality you’ve come to expect. We are now open Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays). for the maintenance of the Villageowned building. The Periwinkle board has initiated a renovation/addition project on the west side of the building with a grant from CBT. During the course of the reno project, they discovered that the old roof is badly in need of replacement. This was a surprise and was not figured into the reno/ addition project funded by the CBT grant. They would like the $4,000 from the Village for the replacement of the old roof. Council agreed to reimburse up to $4,000 once the roof project was complete and receipts provided. During public time, a board member from Periwinkle suggested that council consider setting up a system to have Village-owned buildings assessed on a regular basis. • Based on a report from the Public Works Foreman regarding his meeting with Sanitherm, the company that installed the sewer treatment plant in Kaslo, the Village will apply to Ministry of Environment for a nine percent increase in its wastewater discharge permit. • A camping policy, to deter people from camping in undesignated campsites, was adopted. • The CAO provided an analysis of the RDCK’s draft Resource Recovery Plan to council. The draft plan includes $886,500 in expenditures in Kaslo, mostly in 2013 and 2014, for: a yard and garden waste compost pile; evaluation of alternative sites for the transfer station in 2011; landfill site permanent closure; a clean wood receiving and grinding area. The draft plan encourages home composting. The CAO’s report states that council may want to voice concerns about this, given the local record with human/bear conflict. Councillor Cormie asked the mayor where the RDCK was in the process of studying alternative sites for Kaslo’s transfer station. Mayor Lay replied that the study done some time ago looking at three options for the transfer station – to stay where it is, to be moved to the YRB yard, or moved to Rick Jones’ property – had been found to be negligent, so it was now in the hands of another consultant. Council referred the matter of the future of the RDCK’s Kaslo transfer station to the Development Services Committee for recommendation to council. • Information from the RDCK regarding proposed building bylaw changes, and a summary by the CAO of differences between Kaslo’s building bylaw and the proposed bylaw were received and referred to the Municipal Services Committee for recommendation to council. • The Chamber of Commerce was given permission to close Front Street on December 3 from 5 to 8 pm for Light Up. • As requested in a letter from the Community Fund of North Kootenay Lake, November 15 was proclaimed Philanthropy Day. Mayor Lay will participate in a photo opportunity and a banner will be placed on Front Street, subject to agreement by private property owners to anchor the banner. • Bylaw 1100, Street & Traffic Bylaw, was adopted. • Council approved the 2009 Statement of Financial Information. It will be submitted to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development for its records. • The 2010 fire inspection reports on Village-owned buildings were received and outstanding items were referred to the Development Services Committee for action. • Accounts payable of $99,837.79 were approved. submitted FLIKS and the Langham Theatre are teaming up for a second great year of top-notch Indie films in Kaslo. Screening Friday, November 26 at 7:30 pm will be the Crestonmade Lovers in a Dangerous Time – a huge hit in Nelson. This will be followed by the first film in the monthly Friday night Film Series with the hilarious Winnebago Man on January 21. Now just hitting the Toronto International Film Festival circuit, Lovers in a Dangerous Time is a tale of small-town Canadian romance, following a pair of childhood friends reunited at their high school reunion. Ten years after graduation, Todd remains a local could-have-been, while Allison illustrates children’s books and wonders what might have been. Fueled by hope, longing, and nostalgia, they embark on a romantic, if illusory, adventure to recapture lost love and happiness. If the wet weather has you down, the wonderful scenes of Creston’s apple orchards in full bloom, and boating on Kootenay Lake will have you longing for summer. Winnebago Man is a laughout-loud look at an unlikely viral video celebrity – the foulmouthed, frustrated Winnegabo salesman Jack Rebney. Rebney filmed a disastrous Winnebago industrial film in the early 90s. Somehow the profane, angry outtakes surfaced on YouTube in 2005, thrusting the now reclusive and aging salesman into the limelight. Director Ben Steinbauer tries to track Jack down to see if he really is “the angriest man on earth.” Screening February 18 is the award winning David Suzuki biopic Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Story, voted most popular documentary at the Toronto festival. There are many Kootenay connections – he spent his youth in a Japanese internment camp in the Slocan Valley. The film shows how the past of one of our ‘Top 10 Canadians’ has contributed to shaping the man he is today. Masquerades will screen on March 11. This wonderful Algerian comedy follows the story of small town resident Mounir, who tries to raise his social status by concocting a story that his narcoleptic sister is going to marry a rich foreigner. However, despite her condition and her sex, she wears the pants in the family and unbeknownst to Mounir, she is in love with his best friend. As the town gets behind the planning of this imaginary wedding – finally elevating Mounir to big-shot status – his private life spirals downward. April 8 is the final film in 2011 series and the title will be announced later in the series. Advance single tickets to Lovers in a Dangerous Time or any of the 2011 Film Series films can be bought for $10 at the Langham Theatre between Thursday and Sunday from 1-4 pm. Series passes can also be purchased at $30 for Langham members and $34 for non-members. All films are rated PG except Winnebago Man, rated 14A for swearing. For more information visit www. FLIKS.ca or www.TheLangham.ca . FLIKS film series continues second year with Langham Front St, Kaslo • 250-353-2566 Toll-free 1-866-706-2566 • Fresh Meat Cut Daily • Fresh & Frozen Seafood • Freezer Packs • Deli Sandwiches to go • Awesome Cheese Selection • Fresh & Smoked Sausage • Smoked Salmon • Awesome Beef Jerky • Custom Cutting • Weekly Instore Specials Open Mon - Thurs 6:30 am to 3:00 pm Fri, Sat, Sun 6:30 am to 8:00 pm Licensed Located at the Heart of Front Street • 353-2955 “Best Eggs Benedict Ever” “Mexican, Salads, Dinners, Wraps & Stir-Fry A group of 16 exchange students from Bordeaux, France spent 10 days in the Kootenays during late October and early November. They visited Kaslo’s SS Moyie and Ainsworth Hot Springs and soaked up the local culture. COMMUNITY November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice 15 Nakusp council, November 9: Council discusses RDCK building bylaw by Art Joyce • The Regional District’s new draft building bylaw caused considerable discussion around the council table. Mayor Hamling said the idea is worthwhile – to cut down on errors by having a single code for all the municipalities in the district. However, she is concerned that councils could lose the power to make their own amendments or lose authority over local bylaws. Councillor Mueller said she examined the new bylaw in detail and felt it “goes over and above the BC Building Code.” Her objection was to a clause under the definition of ‘standard’ buildings which could require builders to have an engineer sign off on the foundation. “That could end up taking in every shed, garage, house, or outbuilding, requiring an engineered foundation for all of them.” This could add thousands of dollars in costs and many more weeks in time. She noted that a subsequent clause allows the building inspector to waive this requirement, but felt that it places too much authority in one person’s hands. “It should say, if footings don’t comply, then you could call for an engineering report,” she concluded. Councillor Hughes agreed, stating, “It’s within the ability of local architects and certified carpenters to do the job properly. That’s what the BC Building Code does, we don’t need to go above that. This would be such an obstacle on every job site. It would discourage people from building in this area.” Council voted to write a letter to the Regional District objecting to this clause and to copy the letter to New Denver and Silverton councils. • Council approved a request from the Chamber of Commerce to close off Broadway Street on December 4 from 4 pm for its Winter Carnival. Permission from Bruce Lintott of the provincial highways department has already been obtained. • In response to an earlier letter from Ione Kendall requesting that council consider having a fall arbour day, Mayor Hamling reported that the cost to the Village Public Works department would be about $10,000. Council voted to refer the item to budget discussions. • Mayor Hamling reported on a ferry advisory committee meeting. There are plans for a new, bigger ferry at Galena Bay, similar in capacity to the Kootenay Lake ferry, Osprey (80-85 vehicles). The schedule would likely remain the same. Arrow Park and Needles ferries will also need replacement but no news on that yet. Arrow Park will be getting dock work in 2012; Needles in 2013. • The mayor also noted that plans are progressing for the Targa auto racing group to have a race in Nakusp next year, possibly spring. Originating in Tasmania, the race is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2011. There is one other Targa race held in North America in Newfoundland. In March this year, West Kelowna council rejected sponsorship of the race due to community concerns over noise and safety. Mayor Hamling has written a letter of support and will set up a meeting with Targa. • CAO Lafleur reported that 60 loads of fill have been brought to the emergency services building site and tamped down but landscaping will begin next spring. The mayor was hoping to get painting started soon with volunteers but light fixtures haven’t been installed yet. • Council discussed a request from Fire Chief Warren for the use of a Villageowned vehicle as a backup command vehicle for the Deputy Fire Chief and fire department officers. Fire Chief Warren cited the history of fires in the Brouse/ Glenbank/ Crescent Bay areas and the potential to speed up response time. Councillor Mueller said she understood by Art Joyce It’s not a sport that immediately springs to mind when you think of teenagers. Bryan Hardy, a 17-year-old archery competitor from Burton, is trying out for the right to compete at the Canadian Winter Games at Halifax in February 2011. There will be three young archers from BC competing to qualify for the games. Hardy is shooting a recurve or traditional bow (the only category recognized by the Olympics), with the others competing in compound style bows. Hardy has been at qualifying competitions at Cranbrook on September 11 and Port Coquitlam October 10, and will be competing in Quesnel November 14. He was at the BC Winter Games in Terrace last February and came in fifth in the youth category for shooters of recurve bows. Both of his parents are archers. His father David Hardy has been an avid archer for 25 years. According to Bryan’s mother Teresa, the family “rediscovered” 3D shooting when he was eight years old. This sport uses three-dimensional life-size models of animals made from high-density foam for target practice. Competitors earn points based on the accuracy of their shooting. This led Bryan to specialize in target shooting, using Federation of International Target Archery (FITA) standardized targets. This ensures that he is training according to international standards. Most of the competitions are now done indoors. Bryan has never taken formal lessons but shoots with Kevin Evans, a world competitor in the Paralympics who lost an arm to an industrial accident. Evans’ coach Vladimir Kopecki, who coached the Korean Olympic archery team, has also worked with Bryan. “Sadly there aren’t any archery coaches here,” says Teresa Hardy. “Most of the shooters around here are compound shooters.” Bryan has had his bow upgraded to a Hoyt competition model that includes stabilizers, sights and other elements. Yet even without this sophisticated equipment he was able to place fifth in Terrace. “You’re basically as good as your equipment. Even if he doesn’t make it this time, he has until he’s 22 to compete at this level,” explains Teresa. She says archery is a less recognized sport than hockey for kids nowadays, something she hopes will change. “I’m a big believer in individual sports, because the only way you can improve is to compete with yourself. It’s really helped Bryan be more confident in himself. It’s also been a great way to keep the family together.” Arrow Lakes teen to compete for archery title in Winter Games from last year’s budget discussions that there was to be only one fire department vehicle, not two. Councillor Hughes said the vehicle in question would be costly to repair. Councillor Leitch said he “doesn’t know of another town our size that has a command vehicle.” Mayor Hamling suggested that there is a need for council to develop a policy on the matter. Council voted not to approve the request. • Councillor Leitch reported that the community forest met with mushroom pickers regarding the Fosthall Creek cutblock. He said “100 percent agreement” is unlikely but discussions are ongoing. The NADB now has Laurie Page as its new president. • The mayor also reported that the Arrow Lakes Historical Society is moving forward on its addition to the arena. They have received $70,000 from Halcyon Home foundation and are applying for funding from Canada Cultural Spaces. • Council voted to write Telus again requesting cell phone service at Galena Bay, citing safety and medical concerns. ALEXANDER SEVASTIAN First prize winner of the International Accordion Competition for three years performing at the Bonnington Arts Centre Saturday, November 27th, 7:30 pm Presented by the Arrow Lakes Arts Council Tickets: Adults: $20 Seniors: $15 Students: $10 Available at Broadway Deli Doors open at 7:00 pm 24th Annual Community Carol Sing Wednesday, December 8, 7:00 pm Nakusp Senior Secondary Gym Free Admission sponsored by the Nakusp Rotary Club Arrow Lakes archer Bryan Hardy will compete in the youth category at Quesnel, BC this month in hopes of qualifying for the Canadian Winter Games at Halifax in February 2011. ALL’S WELL Produced by Mirror Theatre A Panto about A Tale of Three Ducks 7:30 pm BONNINGTON ARTS CENTRE Presented by the Arrow Lakes Arts Council Tickets : Adults: $10 Seniors: $7.50 Students: $5 Family Rate: (2+2) $20 Available at Broadway Deli Doors open at 7:00 pm 16 Announcements CHRISTMAS BAKING INGREDIENTS don’t have to be expensive. Come to Sappho’s Bakery in New Denver for your mixed peel (the real thing, not sugared turnips!), glace cherries and pineapple, and marzipan. Don’t bake? We do! 309 Kildare, rear entrance. Winter hours: Thursday 10 am – 6 pm, Friday/Saturday 10 am – 8 pm. 358-2119. (PS: Don’t forget we build the best pizza in the area!) BED NEED A MAKEOVER? Bamboo, wool, silk, down. Luxury and style for less at Willow Home Gallery. It’s Worth The Drive To Kaslo! 250-353-2257. FERN’S FLOWERS – When you need something special! Flowers, plants, crystals, toys, chocolates, books, gifts. Delivery throughout the area. 250-353-7474. SLOCAN CURLING CLUB Registration now open for the 2010/11 season. No experience necessary, new members welcome. Info: 250-355-2221 or [email protected]. ALL MUSICIAN AND ART SUPPLIES, in-stock and ordered from catalogues, are 10% off from now until Christmas at Indelible Ink. 202 Lake Ave Silverton, Phone: 250-358-7121, Winter hours: 10-2 Wed-Sat. Automotive 95 FORD EXPLORER Limited Edition, 257K kms, white, leather, air, power everything, sunroof, CD player, a well maintained, very clean rig in top shape with good rubber and unmounted snows. $3995 OBO. Business Opportunities UNEMPLOYED and thinking of starting your own business? Community Futures offers the Self Employment grant, business loans, counselling and training in the Arrow & Slocan Lakes area. For more info leave a message at 265-3674 ext. 201 or email [email protected]. Card of Thanks T H E B U RT O N C O M M U N I T Y READING CENTRE volunteer members wish to publicly express their thanks to the Managers of the Burton Historical Park and Campground. For the second consecutive year, they have donated to the Reading Centre in the same amount as that garnered by proceeds from discarded books and magazines at the campground during the summer. We greatly appreciate their cooperation and assistance in fundhungry times. - submitted by PA Wind, Chairperson, BCRC, on behalf of all Burton Community Reading Centre Volunteers CLASSIFIED ADS WHOLE SCHOOL THANK YOU! We would like to sincerely thank all who donated goods to our Halloween Benefit: Oso Negro, Safeway, Save On Foods, Frog Peak Cafe, Nomads Hempwear, Ainsworth Hotsprings, Whitewater Ski Resort, Sat Kaur, Christina Smith, Ghisto and The Faires Pyjamas. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Whole School. Coming Events SLOCAN CITY CHRISTMAS IN THE VALLEY CRAFT FAIRE: Sun., Nov. 21, 10 am-3 pm in the Legion Hall. VENDORS BOOK NOW! Phone 250-355-2672 or email [email protected] for application. Everyone welcome! HELLO BABY II: THE BABY STRIKES BACK! By LUCAS MYERS. All Dates November! 6-Silverton, 12-Vallican Whole, 13-Gray Creek, 19 & 20-Kaslo, 26-Argenta, 27-Ymir. Visit pilotcopilot.com for details. C O M E T O T H E S I LV E RT O N GALLERY COFFEEHOUSE for an evening of music and story Saturday, November 20, 7:30 pm. Dominique Fraissard will launch his two new CDs and special guest Art Joyce will read an excerpt from his new novel Signs & Wonders with a cast of actors. Refreshments served. Admission by sliding scale $5-10. KOOTENAY DANCEBEAT SOCIETY dance November 20 at the Junction Church 7:30-10:15 pm $5 members and $8 non members. Everyone welcome. No alcohol please. Check out www.dancingbeat.org for details. TEXAS HOLD ’EM TOURNAMENT Saturday November 27, 2010 at the Slocan Legion Hall, 502 Harold St., Slocan starting at 6:30 pm. $30 Buy-in. Advance Tickets must be purchased at Mountain Valley Station in Slocan or phone 250-355-2672 to reserve. Tickets will not be available at the door. BC Gaming rules will apply. COME ON OUT to St. Anthony’s 37th Christmas Flea Market, November 27, 10-2 at Bosun Hall, New Denver. There will be new and used items, crafts, home baking, walnuts, cosmetics, essential oils, gift baskets, jewellery, etc. For a table phone Leslie 358-7173 or Gail 358-2397. DINNER AT THE CUP - Seafood Lasagna, salad and lemon yoghurt cake for dessert. $20 per person. December 11. Reservations please 5:30 & 7:00. 358-2475. LEARN INFANT MASSAGE - West Kootenay Infant Development and New Denver StrongStart are offering an Infant Massage course to families/caregivers with infants birth to 12 months of age. Date: November 30 and December 7; Time: The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 2:30 - 4:30 pm; Location: New Denver StrongStart Centre; Registration: Contact Charlene @ 250-358-7768. Cost: FREE! HOLIDAY SALE, local artists Christmas market. Ceramics, clothing, jewellery, pillows, stationery, accessories and more. December 3-5, at Bijou Hair Salon. 564 Ward Street, Nelson. EXQUISITE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY by Jim Lawrence will adorn the foyer of Nelson’s Capitol Theatre this festive season. An ethical photographer and environmentalist, Jim strives to present images that instill understanding of our fragile environment, and inspire respect for life in endangered ecosystems. Great gift idea! www.kootenayreflections.com. TURKEY BINGO Slocan Legion Hall, 502 Harold St., Slocan. 1:00 pm Sunday, December 5. $2 per card. Everyone Welcome. SLOCAN CITY’S BIGGEST BOOK SALE EVER! At the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual Craft Fair on Sunday Nov 21. Over 1,000 books for sale. Get your winter reading supply here. 3 works of fiction for 99 cents. 10 am to 3 pm at 502 Harold St. Slocan City. Proceeds to the Slocan Community Library. Personal Classifieds start at $8.00 Call 250-358-7218 for details BUSINESS DIRECTORY CONSTRUCTION • HOME • GARDEN COMPLETE SALES SERVICE AND INSTALLATION YOUR VALLEY COMFORT AND BLAZE KING DEALER SPECIALIZING IN WOOD/ELECTRIC, WOOD/OIL AND WOOD/GAS COMBINATION FURNACES Certified • Insured Crescent Bay Construction Ltd. Eric Waterfield — Septic Planning/Installation Nakusp, BC • Ph. 250 265-3747 • Fx. 250 265-3431 • Email [email protected] Peter’s New & Used Windows & More Sales & Installations Slocan City, BC • (250) 355-0088 website: www.kootenayfurnace.com email: [email protected] • Energy Efficient Vinyl & Wood Windows • • Residential Installations & Renovations/Upgrades • • Wooden & Metal Doors • Peter Demoskoff • Cell: 250-608-0505 Tel: 250-399-4836 • Fax: 250-399-4831 HALL LUMBER & BUILDING SUPPLIES • Registered Septic System designer and installer • • Ready Mix Concrete • • Lock Blocks • Drain Rock • • Road Crush • Sand & Gravel • • Dump Trucks • Excavator • • Crusher • Coloured Concrete • • Site Preparation • Box 1001, Nakusp, BC, V0G 1R0 Ph. 265-4615 • [email protected] JEMS Propane Ltd. KF PowerVac Installation and maintenance Open Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat 10 am to 5 pm PHONE 250-269-0043 Find us at 280 Lower Inonoaklin Rd. Edgewood, BC Castlegar 250-304-2911 • general contractor • new homes & renovations • design/build HPO licensed/Home Warranty Fully insured. 30 yrs.+ exp./ cert. carpenters/ foundation to finish/ custom trim/heritage work. Call Drew 250- 353-2450. Duct Cleaning & Duct Sanitizing Local: 355-2485 • Toll-free: 1-888-652-0088 email: [email protected] 0850743 B.C. Ltd. dba Vista Custom Builders Hardwood Floors Only Canadian Flooring at Wholesale Pref. Antique. R Oak or Maple 3 1/4 x 3/4 – $4.39/sf pallet – Bamboo from $3.99 sf – Cork from $4.39/sf at call Jim Berrill (250) 359-5922 Jim Pownall & Co. LOG & TIMBER FRAME HOMES New Denver • BC 250-358-2566 [email protected] This space could be yours for $10.00 + GST per issue. Call 358-7218 or email: [email protected] for details Bergevin Electrical Inc. Please call 250-358-2479 or 250-505-6182 and leave a message Free Estimates. Certified, Licenced, And Insured Serving New Denver, Nakusp and the Slocan Valley Tradesman Electric - Repairs Palmer - Upgrades Computer - Consulting Microsoft Certified Services Systems Engineer Phone: 355-2235 [email protected] Nakusp Redi-Mix serving the Kootenays since 1973 Design & Installation Even little ads get noticed in the Valley Voice COMPUTER 250-399-6377 Now booking landscape projects for the 2011 season! Serving Nakusp & Area - Lawn Mowing & Trimming - Yard Maintenance/cleanup Contact Barry @ (250) 265-9086 [email protected] 1503 Hwy 3A Thrums • Mon - Sat 8:30-5 pm Uncommon Ground Farm & Landscape EARTHWORM YARD CARE 1730 Hwy 3, Selkirk Spring Building JUAN’S FLOORING commercial • residential new construction • renovations Reliable friendly service Free Estimates Call Steve 226-7163 cell: 250-354-8661 • uncommonground@ columbiawireless.ca Indoor Garden Supplies FOR ALL YOUR PROPANE NEEDS 365-9958 1-800-471-5630 Your local bulk dealer & service centre DAVID WEATHERHEAD Box 83, 848 Hwy 6, Nakusp 250-265-4311 (ph) 250-265-3468 (fax) J.C. Roofing Company CONSTRUCTION For all your roofing needs Serving the Arrow and Slocan Lakes FOUNDATIONS • FRAMING ROOFING • RENOVATIONS Experienced Professionals 16 years of professional installations WCB • All work fully guaranteed We also install Soffit and Vinyl Siding H. & L. MANCIA CONSTRUCTION • PO BOX 97 • NAKUSP, BC • V0G 1R0 • PHONE: 250-265-4525 For your free estimate, Call Curtis Roe at 250-265-9087 Support the Valley Voice with a voluntary subscription Only $10-$30 per year For rent 2 BDR + DEN HOUSE, Burton, Fully Renovated, $595, No smoking/pets, 604946-1972, available NOW, $650 furnished, [email protected]. SLOCAN VALLEY NEAR WINLAW. Newer cottage, 2 beds, loft, quiet valley views. Suitable two people. $775. 250226-0034. SUITE FOR RENT – One mile from Nakusp. On acreage. 3 bdr. Appliances. Available. $750/month. 250-860-0736. HOUSE FOR RENT IN NEW DENVER - 2+ bedr. wood/electrical heat, w/d carport. Available December 1. Call 250-358-2689. FOR RENT IN NEW DENVER – Single wide 3 bedroom trailer. Addition with woodstove, carport. F/S. $700/month plus hydro and heat. 250-426-7814 or 250919-7814. Health YOGA AT THE DOMES - Restore your body, mind and spirit. Monday & Saturday mornings 9-10:30 am Flow; Thursday afternoons - 3:30-5:00 pm Restorative Flow. Help Wanted TRAFFIC CONTROL PEOPLE NEEDED for Kaslo, New Denver, Silverton, Nakusp, Edgewood areas. Must have valid traffic control ticket, driver’s licence and own vehicle. Contact Kim at 250-265-3850. 17 CLASSIFIED ADS November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice Notices FOR INFORMATION ON AA OR ALANON MEETINGS contact in New Denver: 358-7904 or 358-7158; Nakusp 265-4924; Kaslo 353-2658; Slocan 3552805; South Slocan 226-7705. Services RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL SEPTIC TANK CLEANING: “Serving the Valley” 7 days/wk, 24-hr. All-Around Septic Services, Don Brown (250) 3543644, emergency 352-5676. ROGAN ELECTRIC Residential, commercial, industrial wiring. Local references available. All work guaranteed. “We get the job done.” 353-9638. Wanted WANTED – SOMEONE WHO CAN DUB 11 cassette tapes onto new cassette tapes. I have new blank tapes. Call Eric Renk, 250-358-2794. Must have clean heads. Next Valley Voice Deadline: Nov 26, 2010 Slocan Valley Christmas Tea for seniors submitted On Saturday, December 4, seniors from around the area are invited to kick off the holiday season at the Slocan Valley Recreation Commission’s annual Christmas Tea for Seniors. This relaxing fun-filled afternoon event runs from 1 to 3 pm at the Slocan Park Hall and is offered at no cost. During the afternoon there will be refreshments, entertainment, draw prizes, and the company of friends past and present. Entertainment this year includes Alf & John, Mike & Mabel and a Bellydance demonstration with Shauna Robertson. Of course, the Rec Guy will have another batch of incredibly funny jokes to help get everyone in the holiday spirit. Seniors throughout the region are welcome to attend this popular event. It is being made possible with the support of many area businesses and lots of happy volunteers. To make getting there a little easier, the Handi-Dart will be coming from the Castlegar area and seniors are invited to take advantage of this service, compliments of the Slocan Valley Recreation Commission. There’s limited space on the bus so seniors should phone 365-3100 as soon as possible to reserve a space. Slocan Park Hall is located about eight kilometres north of the junction on Highway 6. For more information on this year’s tea, contact the Rec Office at 226-0008. Slocan Valley Recreation CORRECTION SLOCAN SENIORS CHRISTMAS TEA - Saturday, December 4. 1:00-3:00 pm, Slocan Park Hall. HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES - With Lorraine Robinson Carlstrom. Tuesday, December 7 at the Vallican Whole. BASKETBALL - Tuesdays at Brent Kennedy & Thursdays at Winlaw School. VOLLEYBALL - Happens Tuesdays & Thursdays at Mt. Sentinel School. CROSSFIT - A fitness class with attitude! Every Monday evening at Brent Kennedy School. TOTS PLUS PLAYGROUP - Every Thursday morning at the Slocan Park Hall. SWIM BUS THANKS - To all the many helpers who are helping make our lessons so successful. We couldn’t do them without you. In the article ‘Silverton Gallery coffeehouse to feature Fraissard, Joyce’ in our November 3 issue, Dr. Duncan Grady was described as a “Métis counsellor.” He is in fact a member of the Siksika/Sauk Blackfeet nation and shares Scottish ancestry. Dr. Grady will not be able to attend the coffeehouse. 226-0008 BUSINESS DIRECTORY RESTAURANT/WINE & BEER ’s Nicklace P Lemon Creek Lodge & Campground Year-round facility Licensed Restaurant Open Thurs - Sun 5 PM - 8 PM Reservations: 1-877-970-8090 SUMMER HOURS 7 am - 10 PM Seven Days a Week! QUALITY PIZZA anytime! 265-4880 Air Conditioned Non-Smoking 93-5th Ave. Nakusp Meat Cutting Legendary Meats Custom Cutting & Sausage Making, Curing & Smoking of Bacons & Hams Mobile BBQ Services & Hog Roaster Rentals • Christmas Tree Sales • www.legendarymeats.ca Phone/Fax: 250-226-7803 2826 Hwy 6 • Slocan Park Even little ads get noticed in the Valley Voice The Cup and Saucer Café Silverton, BC Monday - Saturday 8:00-4:00 Soup, Stews, Meat Pies, Treats and Great Coffee 358-2267 Apple Tree Sandwich Shop The Soup, Sandwiches & Desserts 358-2691 Mon. - Fri. 7 A.M. - 4 P.M. Sat. 11 A.M. - 4 P.M. This space could be yours for $10.00 + GST per issue. Call 358-7218 or email: [email protected] for details PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THINKING OF BUYING OR STARTING A BUSINESS? • Free Business Planning Workshops • Self Employment Grant • Business Counseling • Business Loans Colour/B&W Laser Printing/Copying • Digital Photography Word processing • Scanning • Faxing • Binding • Laminating CUSTOM CARDS • BROCHURES • CALENDARS • NEWSLETTERS The best selection of photo cards of local views anywhere 1007 Josephine St. (Box 298), New Denver Ph. 358-2435 [email protected] Fax 358-2607 250-265-3674 loc 201 Your ad could be here for only $10.00 + HST per edition Contact us at valleyvoice@ netidea.com for details, or call 250-358-7218 CLOTHING PAULA CONRAD HOME: (250) 358-2707 Selkirk Realty 265-3635 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.royallepage.ca/selkirkrealty Men’s & Ladies Clothing Free Consultation The Clothes Hanger 441 Front St • Kaslo • 250-353-9688 OFFICE SUPPLIES Passmore Laboratory Ltd. Water Testing • Flow Measurements CAEAL certified to test drinking water We’re in the Valley at: 1-250-226-7339 Jennifer & Tony Yeow [email protected] Groceries, fresh produce, fresh meat, Agency Liquor, organic foods, in-store deli, in-store bakery. Open 7 days/week, 9 am - 8 pm Slocan, BC • ph:355-2211 • fax: 355-2216 Ann’s Natural Foods Ann Bunka - 358-2552 805 Kildare St., New Denver Re-Awakening Health Centre • Health Products, healing sessions • New Age cards & books • Sensual products¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ 320 Broadway St. Nakusp 265-3188 Your Local Grocer New Denver 358-2443 Silverton 358-7292 Paul Merrifield • Book-keeper • 250-358-6806 work 778-867-2447 cell [email protected] RECREATION Office, Art, Musician, Supplies & Service indelible ink THE RIDE SAYS IT ALL wed - sat from 10 - 2:00, earlier or later by telephone request 202 Lake Ave. (Hwy 6) Silverton Ph: 359-7111 Fax: 359-7587 www.playmorpower.com phone: 250.358.7121, email: [email protected] online catalogues: http://indelible-ink.spaces.live.com GROCERY • HEALTH FOOD Slocan Village Market For all your insurance needs HUB INTERNATIONAL Barton 265-3631 INSURANCE 1-800-665-6010 BROKERS Playmor Junction Hwy 6 & 3A 1043 Playmor Natural Food Store 422 Front Street • Kaslo, BC 1-250-353-2594 This space could be yours for $10.00 + GST per issue. Call 358-7218 or email: [email protected] for details HALLS MEMORIAL HALL Weddings, Parties, Reunions, Concerts, Funerals, Meetings To book call Sue: 250-358-2711 www.jonesboysboats.com Ainsworth, British Columbia 4080 Hwy 31 N Call: 1-877-552-6287 (250) 353-2550 Fax (250) 353-2911 HARBERCRAFT 18 COMMUNITY The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 Area Reading Centres recognized by Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy all of the Reading Centres located in the Arrow and Slocan Lake area with the 2010 Community Literacy PHOTO CREDIT: Shayla Marshall. submitted The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) has recognized Members of the Burton, Fauquier, Inonoaklin, and New Denver Reading Centres, the Nakusp Public Library, and CBAL’s Community Literacy Advisory Committee gather on the event of their award. Award, presented Monday, October 25. Members of the Burton Reading Centre, Fauquier Reading Centre, Inonoaklin Reading Centre, and New Denver Reading Centre were on hand to accept the award for their long-standing contribution to literacy. Reading Centres have a long history of providing quality reading material in small rural communities where there is no local access to a public library. Each Reading Centre is supported by a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers. Without the volunteers, the Reading Centre simply would not exist. Volunteers provide an array of services, including maintaining the collection, assisting patrons and fundraising. T h e p u r p o s e o f C B A L’s Community Literacy Award is to acknowledge and recognize individuals, service groups, businesses or organizations that make a significant contribution to literacy in their community. by Art Joyce Your local one-stop shop for personal care services, Spectrum Domestic, just got better. The name has been changed to Spectrum Home & Family Care to better reflect the broad range of services they offer. The range of services offered includes personal home care; homemaking services that includes everything but personal care; respite services that allow primary caregivers to get a break or vacation; light duty house and business cleaning; laundry and grocery shopping services; home and yard maintenance services; and a downsizing service for those dealing with bereavement or late life issues. Life skills training for those who have been hospitalized or otherwise incapacitated is another feature of the service. “The name change is appropriate, because ‘domestic’ makes people think of just housecleaning and we do so much more than that,” says co-owner Barbara Maye. The company also assists veterans with home care issues, or just helping them fill out forms to get benefits. Spectrum employees are licensed and bonded. “We recognize that trust is a big issue for people letting someone into their home. We have very trusted and respected people working for us,” adds Maye. For more information call 250-2653842 or [email protected]. Spectrum Domestic changes name, expands services BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUTOMOTIVE • SMALL MOTORS • MACHINE SHOP SALES & SERVICE 98 - 1st Street, Nakusp • 265-4911 OPEN TUES - SAT CHAINSAWS TRIMMERS • Stihl • Stihl • Husqvarna • Husqvarna MOWERS SMALL ENGINES • Husqvarna • Tecumseh • Toro • Snapper • Honda • Lawnboy • Briggs & Stratton • welding repairs • full service & repair • licenced technician • radiator repairs & service • mobile service available • fast, friendly and BCAA Towing 24 hour towing 1007 hwy 23, nakusp ph: 265-4577 Nakusp 265-4406 NAKUSP GLASS 201 Broadway 265-3252 Sappho’s Bakery The clear choice for all your glass needs! Rear, 309 Kildare St. New Denver Open Tues-Sat. Closed Sun-Mon. Pizza, Fresh Bread Daily 358-2119 111 Mcdonald Drive, Nelson, BC ph 250-352-3191 [email protected] • www.mainjet.ca JEWELRY Jo’s Jewelry Custom Work and Repair in Silver and Gold, by Appointment 358-2134 New Denver, Goldsmith Jo-Anne Barclay Slocan Auto & Truck Repairs 24 hour towing BCAA, Slocan, BC 355-2632 RECYCLING MOUNTAIN VALLEY STATION BOTTLE DEPOT Slocan City • 355-2245 Open MON - SAT 9-5 Your “Bottle Drive” Specialists INDUSTRIES Your Friendly neighbourhood Mechanic •Automotive Electrical Specialist •BC Certified Mechanic • Certified Vehicle Inspector •Small Engine Certified (250) 353-2800 • 8845 Hwy 31 • Kaslo EQUIPMENT RENTAL COLES RENTALS HEATERS (PROPANE & ELECTRIC) PLATE TAMPERS, JUMPING JACKS, REBAR BENDER JACKHAMMERS, HAMMER DRILLS, CONCRETE MIXERS, CONCRETE SAWS, TILECUTTERS, BLOCKCUTTERS, SCAFFOLDING, FLOOR SANDERS, NAILERS - ALL TYPES, LM ROTARY LAZER TRANSIT, GENERATORS, WATER PUMPS, COMPRESSORS, INSULATED TARPS, PRESSURE WASHERS, ROTO TILLER, LAWN COMBER, AERATOR, PROPERTY PIN LOCATOR, CHIPPER/SHREDDER, GAS POST HOLE DIGGER, WOODSPLITTER, CONCRETE FLOOR GRINDER ...AND MUCH MORE! PHONE 358-2632 1-888-358-2632 HEALTH • WELL BEING • FITNESS • ENVIRONMENT FULL SPECTRUM HEALTH • Deep Tissue Massage • Nutritional Consultation • Reiki Sliding Scale - Mobile Service Daniel Thorpe 250-358-6808 MASSAGE THERAPIES Myofascial, Swedish, Lymphatic, Joint Play, Craniosacral, Visceral, Somatoemotion, Chakras, Nutrition etc. MTA rates (Low income consideration) also MSP, WCB, ICBC & care plans Garth R. Hunter, R.M.T. Slocan Health Clinic - Thursdays 250-358-2364 • Mobile & Office 24 Hr Towing and Recovery Auto Repairs & Tires Auto Parts 5549 Frontage Road Burton, BC BAKERY Your ad could be here for only $10.00 + HST per edition Contact us at valleyvoice@ netidea.com for details, or call 250-358-7218 Caribou Service (250) 265-3191 Wholistic Midwife Lana Knoll Stone Massage • Deep Tissue Salt Glows • Mud Wraps & More 250-353-2213 [email protected] Honouring natural childbirth through nourishing body, mind and spirit, and by embracing family and community. Hand & Soul Wellness Centre Larry Zaleski, D.C. Chiropractor Mondays & Fridays - Silverton • Every other Wednesday in Winlaw or Nakusp Sue Mistretta, M.A., CCC Counsellor/Expressive Arts 358-2177 www.handandsoul.ca DAY SPA myofascial release • deep tissue massage • relaxation massage Susan L. Yurychuk • 250-358-6804 By Appointment Only • New Denver Nakusp Taxi 250-265-8222 Pick up and Delivery Let us get it for you • Auto parts • Groceries • Pharmacy • Cigarettes • Take out food Just let your local business know your needs and we will deliver them to you. Alcoholic beverages until 11:00 pm HAIR Ava’ s Hair Studio OPEN ALL WINTER 358-7769 Far right entrance of the Wild Rose Restaurant in Rosebery BREWING Winlaw Brew-Op Wine & Beer Making Kits to satisfy all budgets! Take-Home Kits, or Brew it with Us! Open 11:00 to 6:00 Tues. to Sat. 5972 Cedar Creek Road, Winlaw • 226-7328 Spectrum Home & Family Care Helping you maintain YOUR lifesyle! Free consultations in the West Kootenay! 250-265-3842 [email protected] Specialty Coffees, Teas, U-Brews and Kits for Home • Open Every Day Nakusp 265-4701 COMMUNITY November 17, 2010 The Valley Voice K&S trail gets much needed upgrade to preserve historic route submitted Thanks to a $2,000 grant from the Kootenay Savings Community Foundation and considerable support from the Ministry of Tourism, local volunteers and a private donor, the Valhalla Wilderness Society has been able to upgrade much of the historic Kaslo-Slocan (K&S) Rail Trail between Sandon and Three Forks. During the summer, Valhalla volunteers were also able to put in a new kiosk at the showcase Retallack Cedar Grove Trail and reinstall the black bear den interpretive sign. The vision for the popular K&S hiking trail along with its historic interpretive signage was conceived about 20 years ago by the Valhalla Society in consultation with local history buff, the late Nancy Anderson, and well known historian and author John Norris. The idea was not only to provide the public with a hike along the old railroad bed through wild mountain scenery, but also to connect people to the rich mining history of the area. Through a grant from the federal government and the provincial Heritage Branch, the society was able to turn the overgrown railroad bed and rawhide trail between Payne Bluffs and Three Forks into a interpretive trail, complete with historic signage, a trail guide, and publication of the famous Payne Bluffs K&S train photo by RH Trueman. John Norris was pivotal in carrying out the painstaking but rewarding research for this historical project, including digging up famous quotes from the early newspapers by Colonel Lowery such as: “Pumpkins, turnips and townsites are easily grown.” Unfortunately, over time, the interpretive sign at Three Forks had to be taken down when the highway was redesigned. The Kootenay Savings grant provided for a much-needed sign upgrade. The Ministry of Tourism provided the materials for the new kiosk at Three Forks, as well as a new bridge at the Sandon end that was built by VWS director Craig Pettitt and volunteers from the local mountain bike club. The recent opening of the new kiosk and sign at Three Forks was in honour of John Norris, in recognition of his wonderful contribution to preserving so much of our rich and colourful local history. Over the winter, the Valhalla Society will be refurbishing the interpretive sign at Sandon and hopes to have the whole Sandon to Three Forks trail project fully spruced up for early summer. This fascinating but short-lived narrow gauge K&S railroad was blasted out of the steep Selkirk mountainsides from Kaslo to Sandon in 1895 in order to compete with the CPR to move the rich silver ore to markets in the south. Colourful, cigar-smoking newspaper editor Lowery, never too far from a submitted Nakusp and Arrow Lakes Economic Summit’s next two meetings are ‘Tourism: Challenges and Opportunities’ on Wednesday November 24, 7 pm and ‘Land Development and Construction’ on Thursday December 2, 7 pm. Both meetings are at Nakusp Seniors Hall. Many believe that tourism will become one of the main sources of income for businesses in the Arrow Lakes Valley. Nakusp and the Arrow Lakes have already made a good effort to understand this important industry and support new tourism initiatives. However, more work needs to be done to ensure that development in the tourism sector creates good jobs and supports our values and way of life. Guest speaker Graham Edwards, Executive Director of the Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism Association, has a wealth of experience pulling communities together to develop and market their destination in a way that represents their values. He will be joined by a panel of local tourism operators with different experiences and perspectives. Land development and construction make a significant contribution to our economy. As with tourism, we must consider what plans and tools we need to take advantage of new land development opportunities. How will we manage development to help build a vibrant, diversified local economy while preserving the rural, ‘mountain living’ feel of our valley? Guest speaker John Guenther, Director of Planning for the City of Revelstoke, will be joining the panel. He will share some ideas for better planning and consultation based on his successful work in Revelstoke and other smaller communities. Ron Ozust, director with the Columbia Basin Trust and developer from Golden will tell us how that community has promoted and controlled development and how we can learn from their experiences. Several local land development proponents will join John and Ron to discuss opportunities and challenges. Everyone is welcome to these meetings – bring your questions and your ideas. The economic summit is organized by Nakusp and District Chamber of Commerce and funded by Nakusp and Area Development Board and Columbia Basin Trust. bottle of whiskey, wrote that not only should the US president be invited to the inaugural K&S train run but also, “the royalty of the whole world should be invited.” Lowery went so far as to recommend the K&S inauguration have such sports as horseshoes and a “fight between a rival editor and an alligator” although he indicated that it might be better to substitute a big grizzly for an alligator. However, it was not a big grizzly but the CPR that caused the next newsworthy event. After pushing its rail tracks into Sandon on a separate grade only several weeks behind the K&S, the CPR hooked a cable from its steam 19 engine around the K&S depot and pulled it over. The little K&S railroad struggled bravely against incessant avalanches and mudslides, with one paying passenger writing an eloquent but sarcastic poem about being an unwilling volunteer for the snow shovel brigade to help clear the track of avalanches. The big forest fire of 1910 burned the K&S trestles and many sections of tracks. This was the last straw for the little mountain railroad. Today, more than a century later, the hard work of the old-timers left us the makings of a wonderful scenic and historic hiking trail and the Valhalla Society invites you to enjoy it. Economic Summit to focus on tourism and land development Lucerne and Co-op Radio to produce show on local culture submitted Don’t touch that dial! Kootenay CoOp Radio (KCR) and Lucerne School are teaming up to produce ‘Getting to Know New Denver,’ a show featuring local students and musicians. A second event sponsored by KCR, ‘Local Motion,’ will feature local bands performing at the Silverton Memorial Hall Friday, November 26 at 6:30 pm. Local teacher Terry Taylor is co-producing ‘Getting to Know New Denver,’ an entertaining show with students from grades 11 and 12. The two-hour performance will feature live music from students as well as local musicians, spoken word performances including poetry and historical storytelling, as well as some remarkable surprise guests. The public is welcome to come to the school to watch the performance on November 23, 1-3 pm, when KCR will be recording the show. It will be broadcast on KCR (107.5 FM) on Sunday, November 28 from 8-10 am. The second event presented by KCR is ‘Local Motion,’ an evening of stellar local music at the Silverton Memorial Hall. This evening features a wide array of musical styles: old time jazz and swing with Tangerine; energetic and adventurous sounds from Esque; toe-tappin’ and finger pickin’ tunes from Kootenay Grass Co.; original heavy rock with local favourites Shades of Loud and to cap off the night, the world-class DJ from the Slocan Valley, Adham Shaikh. ‘Local Motion’ is an all ages show and a fundraiser for KCR. Tickets are available at the door: $12 adults, $5 teens, and kids 12 and under free. Light snacks and refreshments will be available. KCR volunteers will be on site to answer questions and offer ways you can become a direct supporter or programmer at the community radio station. Kootenay Co-Op Radio has been broadcasting at 107.5 FM in the Slocan Lake region for over two years in partnership with the Area H North TV Society, and is very excited to be a part of such a beautiful and culturally rich area. Check out cjly.net. Wayne McCrory, John Norris and Daniel Sherrod pose with the recently refurbished trail sign for the K&S historic rail trail at Three Forks. Local Economic Development Meetings focus on Tourism, and Land Development Tourism: Challenges and Opportunities Wednesday November 24, 7 pm Nakusp Seniors Hall Guest speaker Graham Edwards, Executive Director of the Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism Association, will be joined by a panel of local tourism operators with different experiences and perspectives. Kootenay Co-op Radio presents LOCAL MOTION – an evening of stellar local music Friday November 26 6:30 pm Silverton Memorial Hall • TANGERINE • ESQUE • KOOTENAY GRASS CO. • DJ Adham Shaikh This an all ages show Tickets are available at the door $12 Adults $5 Teens Kids 12 & under – free LOCAL MOTION is a fundraiser for KCR and we would like to thank the musicians for donating their talent and time for our regional community radio station. Land Development and Construction Thursday December 2, 7 pm Nakusp Seniors Hall Guest speaker John Guenther, Director of Planning for the City of Revelstoke and Ron Oszust, director with the Columbia Basin Trust and developer from Golden will be joining our panel of local land development proponents to discuss opportunities and challenges. Everyone is welcome to these meetings! Please join us to learn more about Tourism and Land Development. Bring your questions and your ideas! Nakusp and Arrow Lakes Economic Summit meetings are organized by Nakusp and District Chamber of Commerce, and funded by Nakusp and Area Development Board and Columbia Basin Trust. 20 COMMUNITY The Valley Voice November 17, 2010 Arrow Lakes Historical Society proceeds with addition submitted The Arrow Lakes Historical Society is going ahead with the construction of the two-storey addition to the Centennial building this spring, thanks to the grant recently received from the Halcyon Home Foundation, support from the CBT, and in-kind donations offered. Ulli Mueller drew up the initial plans for the two-storey addition and advised the historical society’s building committee. She recommended companies who can do the preliminary electrical and mechanical engineering work. When final plans are complete and permits are obtained, excavation will begin at the site, hopefully in the spring. The historical society continues to look for more funding for the project. They have applied for a federal grant under the Canada Cultural Spaces program, which provides help for heritage and cultural groups with construction, renovations and upgrades. The society hopes to provide a Cultural Learning Centre at the Centennial building, where the library, museum and archives can work together on projects in the future. This space would also provide a safe environment for the extensive archives and books that the Arrow Lakes Historical Society has in its collection. submitted Paul Peterson, RDCK Director of Area K, has kicked off the Nakusp Public Library’s Annual Collection Fund Drive with a Community Development Grant of $1,500. The library’s budget allows for expenditure of $11,000 each year for the collection, which includes books, magazines, audio books, and movies. In order to satisfy demand, the library spends approximately $14,000 annually on the collection. Therefore, each year the library holds a collection fund drive. Many businesses donate subscriptions to magazines, and individuals are very generous to the library. Last year, the library raised approximately $4,500 during the drive. Donations of $10 or more are eligible for a tax receipt, and the donor’s name is put up on the Wall of Books sign in the foyer of the library. If you’re looking for a perfect gift for a special person, there are attractive Christmas Gift Certificates available which read, “A gift has been given in your name to the Nakusp Public Library’s Collection Fund. Your name is on the library’s Wall of Books. Check it out! Thank you from Nakusp Public Library!” The library’s mission is to serve the community with excellent service. Most suggestions and requests for additions to the collection are purchased. And Nakusp makes good use of its library. Province-wide libraries circulate an average of nine items per capita; Nakusp Public Library circulates 13.9 or nearly 14 items per capita. The library aims to please and the support of the community is vital to its service. Paula Rogers, chair of the Nakusp Public Library Association, gratefully accepts a cheque from Paul Peterson, RDCK Director of Area K, to kick off the annual Collection Fund Drive. submitted The Nakusp Rotary Club is celebrating its 60th anniversary on November 20. The club will be having a barn dance on Saturday, November 20 at the Nakusp arena to celebrate and thank the community, Rotary District 5080, and Rotary International for their support over the past 60 years. The club was chartered on November 20, 1950. The newspaper announcement read: “The newly organized Rotary Club of Nakusp has been granted a charter by the Board of Directors of Rotary International, it was announced November 22 at Rotary’s headquarters in Chicago. The Nakusp Club is now a member of the vast Rotary Nakusp Public Library kicks off annual fundraising drive NAKUSP & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTS… THE 1 ANNUAL WINTER CARNIVAL & PARADE st WHEN: SATURDAY DECEMBER 4, 2010 WHERE: MAIN STREET FROM 4:00 – 6:30 pm (Main Street will begin closing at 3:00 pm between 5th & 3rd Ave) NAKUSP DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION PRESENTS…. THE 1ST ANNUAL DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY SALES BLAST (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MOONLIGHT MADNESS) SATURDAY DEC 4, 2010, (ONE DAY ONLY) - 9:30 am – 6:00 pm — Check individual stores for their promotions — COME JOIN THE FUN EVENTS & ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY SANTA ARRIVES AT 4:00 pm KRAZY CARPET RACES Race’s begin @ 4:30 (Kids races - Ages 10 & under with parent or grandparent, followed by 10 years and over) DUCT TAPE TURKEY TOSS & KIDS BEAN BAG TOSS 1st toss begins @ 4:00pm HOLE IN ONE GOLF Thru out the evening 6:30 pm CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT UP 50/50 DRAW CHRISTMAS CAROLS STUFF THE BUS WITH NON PARISHABLE FOOD ITEM AND CHARITY BBQ Rotary dance to celebrate Nakusp club’s anniversary Global Gift Discoveries Inspiring Arts & Crafts Textiles / Objects / Artwork / Clothing Your “Boho Chic” destination store in the Kootenays! 3 1 8 B ro a d w a y S t . Nakusp, BC 265-3288 organization which has 7,186 clubs with a membership of 342,000 business and professional executive in 33 countries and geographical regions.” Today, Rotary has 31,560 clubs, and a worldwide membership of 1.227 million in 166 countries. In 1950 the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Nakusp were Victor W. Smith, charter president; Sidney Millard, vice-president; Walker E. Addison, secretary/treasurer; WGM Hakeman; Dr. P.B. Maxfield; Kenneth Highland; Fredrick Field; I.F. Morehouse; and Donald H. Pye as Sergeant of Arms. The Rotary Club of Nelson sponsored the formation of the Nakusp Club in 1950. The Nakusp community has provided tremendous support to the club and this has enabled the club to carry out hundreds of community projects and donations which directly benefit the community and its youth. For more information visit www. rotary.org. Lady it’s Time to Party! (again) l a u n n A h t 4 CHILDREN’S USED, CLEAN WINTER CLOTHING DROP OFF IN FRONT OF THE GENERAL STORE DOOR PRIZES, PALS MASCOTS BEST HOUSE LIGHT UP, BEST FLOAT & WINDOW DECORATING CONTEST DINNER & DRINK SPECIALS AT YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS PARADE BEGINS @ 7:00 pm Road Closure from The Cenotaph to The Hut at 6:30 pm for the parade If you would like to participate in the carnival or parade please contact the Nakusp Chamber Office 265 – 4234 or meet our Parade Marshals Dawn & Randy at the arena at 6:30 pm THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION The Downtown Merchants Association, Community Services, Overwaitea, Advantage Travel, Three Lions, Halcyon Hot Springs, PALS, Nakusp Music Fest, 107.1 Community Radio, Selkirk College, Kal Tire, Box Lake Lumber, Crescent Bay Construction, Barton Insurance, Arrow Lakes News, Valley Voice, NADB, Village of Nakusp, Public Works, BC Hydro, BC Transport & Highways, RCMP, Nakusp Search & Rescue, Cupe Local 2450, To all the Volunteers and our Parade Marshals Dawn & Randy Wednesday, November 24th 6-9 pm Come and enjoy seasonal treats, free draws, specials, and unlimited socializing!
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