Week 32 – Aug. 7
Premiers call truce on resources
B.C. Premier Christy Clark and Alberta Premier Alison Redford reversed gears in the summer of 2013 and collaborated to appoint a resource export market working group.
After butting heads on the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline Project, the premiers established the working group toward a shared goal of expanding resource markets and export opportunities.
They tasked two top energy officials from each province with the challenge to find ways to meet this goal and present their recommendations to the premiers.
Panel hearings press on
The panel hearings for New Prosperity Gold-Cooper Project were warming up in Williams Lake.
Project supporters and South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce representatives Leon Chrétien and Rick Takagi told the panel economic diversification is needed to fill the gap in other local industries.
Meanwhile, Friends of Fish Lake member Patricia Spencer expressed her group’s concerns about impacts on both the environment and area First Nations to the panel.
SAR referendum readied
The Cariboo Regional District geared up with public meetings to provide details on the South Cariboo Search and Rescue (SAR) referendum planned for the fall of 2013.
That referendum would ask if voters approved of the CRD providing up to $30,000 in annual funding to support local SAR services. The funding was requested by SAR to adequately plan for equipment and training to provide stability and ensure it could meet the requirements necessary to fulfill its role.
Week 33 – Aug. 14
Arena seats still at sea
100 Mile House hockey fans and ticket holders heard delayed new arena seats wouldn’t leave them sitting on bare concrete.
After removal of the bleacher boards at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre, concerns arose when the new seats being shipped from China fell two-and-a-half weeks behind on the delivery date.
Canlan Ice Sports general manager Josh Dickerson reassured fans the boards would be reinstalled before the 100 Mile Wranglers Main Camp started Aug. 18 and the wayward seats would be in place before the home opener on Sept. 21.
Otters attack woman in Greeny Lake
A Cloverdale woman was injured in a rare otter attack that occurred in Greeny Lake.
Theresa Weltzin was swimming when she was attacked and bitten nine times by at least one otter, and possibly two. A strong swimmer, Weltzin was able to stay afloat as it repeatedly bit her for about five minutes while she screamed for help. Her relatives went out in small boats and pulled her to shore, and then drove her to hospital for treatment.
Pot bill promoters visit
Sensible BC’s campaign for a marijuana referendum saw promoters roll through 100 Mile House on Aug. 8, 2013 looking for support for its initiative petition.
Sensible BC had attempted a ballot initiative in 2012, but withdrew it and re-filed with Elections BC last year in order to have more time to gain support.
In a public rendezvous at the local A&W, organizer Dana Larsen said 700 canvassers had signed up to help petition voters, but 5,000 were needed to secure enough signatures to go to referendum.
Week 34 – Aug. 21
108 aquifer testing
The Cariboo Regional District’s (CRD) consultant on its monitoring program for well and lake water levels in the 108 Mile Ranch was set to begin a 60-day pump test in August 2013.
CRD Area G Director Al Richmond said an old pilot well at the north aquifer would be tested to prove or disprove a theory that groundwater was passing through and flowing north out of the community.
If the theory was true, pumping at that point would show no effect on the community wells, he explained.
McLeod polls on Canada Post
A public survey on potential changes to Canada Post services was held by Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod.
Of the 500 local constituent responses, 53 per cent favoured moving away from the current door-to-door delivery offered in some urban areas to centralized community mailboxes. It seemed the many rural folks who already get their mail in community boxes found it acceptable for urban residents to have similar delivery services.
Nurse’s union scorns staffing
British Columbia Nurses Union president Debra McPherson visited the South Cariboo on Aug. 15 to follow up with local nurses reporting serious issues in their workplace around staffing and facility layout.
The licensed professional nurse (LPN) staffing was “very low” in local long-term care facilities, she explained, with usually only one LPN working each shift, in addition to the care aids.
This left security issues surrounding the numerous patients who are prone to violence, McPherson said.
Week 35 – Aug. 28
Shuswap Gathering great success
Canim Lake Band (CLB) hosted the 2013 Secwepemc (Shuswap) Gathering at the Green Lake/Watch Lake Gymkhana Grounds from Aug. 17-19.
Elders, families and youth from all 17 bands attended, including most of the chiefs.
CLB Chief Mike Archie noted Green Lake has been a significant gathering place in Secwepemc history for a very, very long time. Other local government heads helped prepare a huge communal meal, and he noted this ongoing community support is appreciated and reflects well for visiting First Nations.
Recycling rules hit small businesses
South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Appleby echoed the B.C. Chamber of Commerce position that new recycling rules be delayed to address a host of issues they create for B.C.’s small businesses.
The costs and scope of the regulations were also of concern. As of May 2014, anyone who routinely produces paper and/or plastic packaging in their business practices will need to pay Multi Material BC, based on volume, to recycle it.
Teachers’ jobs solidified
School District #27 (SD27) superintendent Mark Thiessen said he was pleased with the outcome of an agreement for the relocation of teachers displaced by school closures.
It was signed by the Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers’ Association, the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, the B.C. Public School Employer’s Association and SD27.
In the South End, he noted all full-time teachers had secured full-time jobs for 2013/14, and all other teachers (except those retiring) would continue to hold permanent positions.
