houston today, march 02, 2016
DESCRIPTION
March 02, 2016 edition of the Houston TodayTRANSCRIPT
By Xuyun ZengHouston Today
SnoRiders maga-zine’s SledTown ShowDown tro-phy has found its home at North Star Performance.
Houston received the trophy after being crowned co-champion with Yorkton, Sask. as
Western Canada’s best sledding destination.
“I feel pretty good. It’s pretty ex-citing to win,” said Shea Long, presi-dent of the Houston Snowmobile Club. “I thought it would be a good chance for a small town for us to get together and show the rest of B.C. and
Western Canada what kind of town we are and how tight knit we are.”
Long decided to en-
ter Houston into the competition last year. This is the � rst time Houston has gone into the competition.
Long is also es-pecially pleased at how the town has ral-lied around the win. Long said he counted around 70 snowmo-bilers at the Jan. 16 barbecue at Dungate Meadows.
“I’m actually sur-prised that we did win that because it’s a right across Canada sort of
thing, and it feels good to be able to say that we have a good spot here, and people are going to know about it,” said North Star Performance owner-manager Pete Bodnar.
The long-term ben-e� ts to this award re-mains unknown.
“We haven’t seen a bunch of changes,”
said Long. “I know there are lot of peo-ple that thought we are going to have way more riders and a lot more people coming out.”
Bodnar believes that this might present a good business op-portunity.
“It will give the
Forest Industry ‘dynamic’
Sledtown trophy comes home to Houston
By Flavio NienowBlack Press
The global com-modity slowdown has affected several indus-tries in Canada and has led to the closure of mines in Northern B.C.
The Endako Mine, which is located near Fraser Lake, was placed on tempo-rary suspension in December 2014. Since then, over 300 employ-ees have lost their jobs.
The Huckleberry Mine, which is located 88 km from Houston, has recently told its employees that it plans on shutting down all operations by Aug. 31, 2016.
What about the forest industry? Could Canada’s forest sector be struggling as well?
According to Susan Murray, a Spokesperson with the Forest Products Association of Canada, the answer is
no. “It [the forest indus-
try] may not be at the peak situation it was at one time, when it was the largest industry in Canada; however, right now, the indus-try has been growing, exports are increasing and the sector is hiring again,” she said.
The Forest Products Association of Canada set the goal of hiring 60,000 peo-ple between 2010 and 2020. In the � rst four years of that period, 16,000 people were hired.
“Some of these [workers] are replacing retiring baby boomers, some are new hires,” explained Murray. “If anything we are hav-ing trouble � nding workers.”
Dana Collins, Executive Director for the Canadian Institute of Forestry, agrees that the Canadian forest in-dustry is on the uprise again after years of a
““I feel pretty good. It’s pretty exciting to win,”
- Shea Long
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Xuyun Zeng/Houston TodaySLEDTOWN TrophyHouston Sledtown Showdown Trophy is home in Houston at North Star Performance. Houston is co-champion with Yorktown, Sask. as Western Canada’s best sledding destination. With the trophy are l-r: Houston Snowmobile Club president Shea Long; Club treasurer Tanya Reitsma and Pete Bodnar, owner-manager of North Star Performance.
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See SLEDTOWN on Page 2
See FORESTRY on Page 2
NEWS2 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today
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at Pleasant Valley Plaza 2350 Butler Ave • 250-845-3400
will beclosed February 15th
and will reopenTuesday, March 8th, 2016We apologize for any inconvenience
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Upstairs Houston Mall • Email: [email protected]: 250-845-2890 • www.houston-today.com
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town some life in it so they can get some business out of it. I think it will be better for everybody,” said Bodnar.
Both Bodnar and Long agree that the best part about snow-mobiling in Houston lies in its proximity to
great sledding areas.“Probably within
half-an-hour, you can be on any one of the places like Telkwa Range or Meadows, and if you want to go to the Onion in Smithers that’s prob-ably three-quarters of an hour away.”
Long has not de-
cided if he will put Houston in for the next round of SledTown ShowDown.
“I don’t know if we’ll put it in again,” he said. “We set out to do what we wanted to do, and won. Our place is on the map now. Maybe we’ll try again next year.”
FORESTRY from Page 1
SLEDTOWN from Page 1
hard downturn.Between 2005 and
2009, the forest indus-try’s contribution to Canada’s gross do-mestic product (GDP) declined sharply year-over-year as a result of a consumer shift to electronic media and the U.S. housing crisis.
According to The Globe and Mail, in September 2004, 308,664 Canadians earned a living from logging, paper mak-ing and wood products manufacturing. A de-cade later, the industry employed just 190,651 people.
Since its sharp re-bound in 2010, the forest industry has consistently accounted for approximately 1.2 per cent of the total Canadian GDP, with wood product manu-facturing offsetting de-
clines in pulp and paper manufacturing.
Unlike the energy, mining and many other industries, the forest products industry has been growing in size.
According to the feder-al government, in 2014, the value of Canada’s forest product exports increased by 9.8 per cent over 2013, rising to $30.8 billion from $28.4 billion.
In addition, forest product exports have done well with the low Canadian dollar, with sales to the U.S. return-ing to historic levels af-ter the collapse of the U.S. housing market in 2008.
Collins says the for-est sector is now consid-ered Canada’s “sunrise industry.”
She said the forest industry overcame its challenges by adapting and innovating, and is no longer narrowly de-fined by pulp and paper.
“It’s now a diverse, dynamic, innovative, green, and sustainable sector that supports sci-ence, research and de-velopment.”
The industry’s tradi-tional products - pulp, paper and lumber - are being used to create new products such as renewable bio-fuels, green bio-plastics, bio-pharmaceuticals, bulletproof vests, car parts and even airplane
wings.Collins explained
that the emergence of new products also in-cludes the application of nanotechnology - the engineering of func-tional systems at the molecular scale.
“The application of nanotechnology cre-ates a product that’s as strong as steel, but lighter,” she said. “We can replace steel in cars, for example, using for-est products.”
“We’re also seeing bylaws to support this [technology], for exam-ple, changes to building codes to allow for wood construction in high or midrise buildings,” she added.
Since the industry has become more inno-vative, diverse and tech-nically advanced, there is also a growing need for new types of skilled workers. The long list of workers that the in-dustry now requires in-cludes biologists, mill-wrights, electricians, engineers, sales staff, truck drivers, foresters, chemists, economist and risk analysts and IT specialists.
In the story ‘Millennials, these ca-
reer sectors are worth considering’ published in The Globe and Mail on Aug. 24, 2015, the forest products indus-try was selected as one of the most promising industries for young Canadian profession-als.
Collins said this in-novative path of the industry has also at-tracted a more diverse workforce, encompass-ing more women and Aboriginal people.
When asked what we should expect of the forest sector in the next five years, Collins said the industry will con-tinue to see an empha-sis on innovation.
“We’ll see new prod-uct development, in-novation in long-lived, durable forest products, and hopefully more of a social acceptance and understanding of the environmental ben-efits of using wood to replace heavy carbon-emitting materials such as concrete or steel.”
Collins added that forest jobs are now popping up all over the country and that this trend is expected to continue for the next five years and beyond.
Recognition for Houston
Forest industry on the uprise
Black Press file photoUnlike the energy, mining and many other industries, the forest products industry has been growing in size. Since its sharp rebound in 2010, the forest industry has consistently accounted for approximately 1.2 per cent of the total Canadian GDP, with wood product manufacturing offsetting declines in pulp and paper manufacturing.
NEWSHouston Today Wednesday, March 2, 2016 www.houston-today.com 3
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(Champix) or bupropion (Zyban).
Stop by and see us for more information.
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QUITSMOKING!
Tuesday, March 8th at the Houston Senior Centre. All ladies of Every Age Invited!
Doors @ 5:30 pm Dinner @ 6:00 pm Guest Speaker @ 7:00 pm
‘Most Honorable Women of the Year’ Award to follow.
Guest Speaker:
Carol Huynh
Olympic Wrestler - Gold Medal Winner, from Hazelton, BC
Door PrizesDoor PrizesDoor Prizes Silent AuctionSilent AuctionSilent Auction
Complimentary Dinner Complimentary Dinner Complimentary Dinner
Donations Welcome.
Please register for this event by calling NWCC at 250 845 7266 no later than Monday, March 7th.
Come enjoy the learning, fellowship and food.
Come Celebrate with Us! International Women’s Day, March 8th
Steelhead Multi-Cultural Society
By Xuyun ZengHouston Today
From Feb. 19 to Feb. 24, police re-ceived 27 calls for ser-vice. Five were traf� c related and three were abandoned 911 calls.
***On Feb. 20 at 11
p.m., police received a report of a breach of probation after an individual refused to return home despite being bound by a cur-few. Efforts to locate the individual are on-going and police have requested an arrest warrant.
***On Feb. 21 at
7:30 a.m., police re-ceived a report of a motor vehicle colli-sion at Buck Flats Road. A vehicle hit a moose. The moose was killed, however the driver was not in-jured. Damage to the vehicle was moderate. The driver was issued a violation ticket for driving without a li-cence.
***
On Feb. 23 at 5:15 a.m., police received a request to assist the � re department with a semi that was on � re at Highway 16 near
Gushwa Road. Police attended and noted the trailer had caught on � re. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.
Weekly police report
Houston RCMP say a semi trailer caught fire at 5:15 a.m. on Feb. 23rd near Gushwa Road, when the brakes overheated. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.
SEMI FireSubmitted photo
Xuyun Zeng/Houston Today
In our opinion:
OpinionPublished by Black Press Ltd. 3232 Hwy 16 W,Upstairs Houston MallP.O. Box 899, Houston, B.C. V0J 1Z0
Phone: 250 845-2890 • Fax 250 845-7893News: [email protected]
or: [email protected]: [email protected]
Growing potA federal court judge ruled this week
that medical marijuana users can grow a few plants for their own use. It
was the right decision.Most of the people who were � ghting for this
grow it as a medication for themselves.Most of our medications cannot be grown or
made at home. They require ingredients and ex-pertise that the average person does not possess. So we have to buy them.
The cost of medications can also mount up re-ally, really quickly. Just ask anyone with a health condition who’s taking conventional drugs.
So for those who rely on medical marijuana, to be able to plant a few seeds and eliminate the lion’s share of the cost of their drug, this is huge.
It can cost hundreds of dollars every month to buy it processed, and for some, that’s just not a viable long-term option.
Now that we as a country are moving towards legalization, we cannot see any good reason for people not to be able to grow a few plants for their own use, as they can already make their own beer or wine at home for personal consump-tion — and the fun of it.
It will be key, of course, to make sure that people are only growing a small amount for themselves.
A few plants pose no more danger than grow-ing any other herb or vegetable.
But when people start turning their properties into big grow ops, that’s when the real problems start with ventilation and mould and such.
Just like with anything else, a commercial op-eration must live by different rules, because it’s a different beast. Just as a winery or brewery selling a commercial product is not the same as creating a few bottles to share with friends over dinner.
And as with beer and wine, we doubt that al-lowing people to grow a few plants is going to put commercial marijuana operations out of business.
There will always be plenty of people who don’t want to go to the trouble of growing their own and are perfectly happy to have somebody else deal with that part, along with the process-ing.
People have the ability to grow a lot of their own food, after all, yet supermarkets and pro-duce stands are still doing a booming business anyway.
And we certainly agree that legalization is the right move for a number of reasons.
It can � nally help us put a big dent in the il-legal drug trade, which is often paired with orga-nized crime. Marijuana is already big business, just not the kind that bene� ts the mainstream economy.
We really don’t see a downside here.
-Cowichen Valley CitizenBlack Press
Court backs home marijuana growersBy Tom Fletcher
Black Press
The Federal Court of Canada has struck down regulations re-quiring licensed medi-cal marijuana users to buy from Ottawa-approved growers, giv-ing people the green light to continue grow-ing at home.
The ruling is sus-pended for six months, but the four B.C. resi-dents who launched the court challenge had their growing licences protected under an ear-lier interim order.
Thousands of peo-ple in B.C. and across Canada received li-cences to either grow pot themselves or des-ignate someone else to do it, before the Conservative govern-ment attempted to restrict production to
large commercial grow-ers who sent it by mail.
With the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intent on le-galizing recreational marijuana use, Kirk Tousaw, a lawyer for the four, says the lat-est ruling should “once and for all end the stig-matization and crimi-nalization” for medical users and their provid-ers.
“And in addition, all pending criminal cases against medical cannabis producers,
patients, growers and dispensaries should be immediately terminat-ed,” Tousaw told CTV Wednesday. “There is absolutely no reason in this day and age to continue to prosecute people for helping peo-ple improve their qual-ity of life with medical cannabis.”
Federal Court Judge Michael Phelan ruled that preventing people from growing mari-juana for medical pur-poses violates section seven of the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees “the right to life, liberty and security of the person.”
The court challenge was brought by:
• Neil Allard, 61, of Nanaimo, a former counsellor for Veterans Affairs Canada until he was granted medi-cal retirement in 1999 due to “chronic fatigue syndrome.” He started growing his own mari-juana after � nding he was “sensitive to pharmaceutical medi-cation,” according to
court documents.• Tanya Beemish
and David Hebert, a couple from Surrey aged 29 and 34. Beemish suffers from type one diabetes and gastroparesis, and smokes or vaporizes two to 10 grams of marijuana a day to re-lieve nausea, pain, lack of appetite and insom-nia. Hebert received a Health Canada license to be her designated grower.
• Shawn Davey of Abbotsford, 39, suf-fered a brain injury in a motor vehicle ac-cident and receives a federal disability pen-sion. He held licences to grow for himself and as a designated grower for others, authoriz-ing him to produce 122 plants indoors and store 5,490 grams at the site of production.
4 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today
““There is absolutely no reason in this day and age to continue to prosecute people
for helping people improve their quality of life with medical cannabis.”
- Kirk Tousaw
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Xuyun Zeng - Reporter/Photographer
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Kathy Ismond
“I was pleased with the response of the community
regarding the refugees.”
BC Hydro applies to raise rates by four per cent
The B.C. government is adding administrative � nes and strengthening permit requirements for new mines in response to investigations into the Mount Polley tailings dam failure.
Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the new � nes will be available to provincial of� cials to compel compliance with safety orders, even when inspectors � nd conditions that are not of� cially permit violations.
The size of the new � nes will not be determined until
amendments to the Mines Act pass in the B.C. legislature, but Bennett said they will be in the range of what is available in forestry and oil and gas regulations.
A d m i n i s t rat ive penalties for high-risk conditions in oil and gas operations range from $2,000 to $500,000.
Bennett said such penalties wouldn’t have prevented the August 2014 dam failure, which was caused by a weak glacial layer under the dam that was not detected when the mine was built.
But they would have allowed inspectors to require establishment of “beaches” to protect the dam from erosion by water held inside the tailings, or to lower the water level even if it was within permitted limits.
L e g i s l a t i o n introduced Thursday also gives the E n v i r o n m e n t a l Assessment Of� ce authority to require different designs for tailings storage at new mines, then to specify which option it will accept for each proposed site.
Bennett said the
existing Mines Act gives inspectors only three options
to regulate a mine: order it shut down, revoke a permit or prosecute the company.
The changes also increase maximum penalties for
prosecution, with maximum � nes increased from
$100,000 to $1 million and possible jail sentences increased from one year to three years.
Mount Polley’s owner has spent $170 million so far
to restore Hazeltine Creek, which was washed out as a torrent of water and mine tailings poured down into Quesnel Lake.
Water monitoring continues at the lake, with water continuing to test within regulations for � sh habitat and human consumption.
Two engineering reviews of the dam failure have been completed, with no permit violations discovered.
The B.C. Conservation Of� cer Service is expected to report later this year,
and may recommend charges related to damaging � sh habitat.
““
“Administrative penalties for high-risk conditions in oil and gas operations
range from $2,000 to $500,000.”
The utility said that would mean an extra four dollars a month for the average
residential customer.
B.C.Views
Tom Fletcher
How do you feel the “Get to know
Syria Night”went?
On theStreet...
OpinionHOUSTON TODAY “Member, B.C. Press Council”Published by Black Press Upstairs Houston MallP.O. Box 899, Houston, B.C. V0J 1Z0
Phone: 250 845-2890 • Fax 250 845-7893News: [email protected]
or: [email protected]: [email protected]
Houston Today Wednesday, March 2, 2016 www.houston-today.com 5
By Tom FletcherBlack Press
BC Hydro applied Friday for an electricity rate increase of four per cent, starting April 1.
The utility said that would mean an extra four dollars a month for the
average residential customer.
CEO Jessica McDonald said staff applied to the B.C. Utilities Commission to hike the rate for the next fiscal year because they need more time to update their forecasts in light of “recent events in the
mining and LNG sectors.”
BC Hydro had planned to make a three-year rate application using g o v e r n m e n t -mandated rate caps of four per cent this year, 3.5 per cent next year and three per cent in the following year.
McDonald said the next two years will still be within the government-directed caps, part of a 10-year rate plan that will turn the setting of rates back to the BCUC by 2020.
Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett recently announced a
deferral program for mines, allowing them to put off paying their electricity bills to keep operating with low prices for metals and coal.
BC Hydro said it expects to continue to see an overall increase in demand for the next couple of decades.
Penalties coming to B.C. mine regulations
By Xuyun ZengBy Xuyun ZengBy Xuyun ZengBy Xuyun Zeng
Bobby Seinen
“I was really pleased with the turnout. Four days beforehand,
we had only sold 61 tickets. Approximately 80-plus people
came to the supper and that was a lot for us, and the room filled to capacity.
People seemed to really enjoy it, great cross section of our community. It was
heartwarming.”
Marnie MacLeod
“I was happy to see the support of the community towards the idea of helping
some refugees. Akram Khalil and his family provided a
tasty sampling of Syrian food. I am proud of the people of our community who have shown a generous heart for those in
need.”
COMMUNITY6 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today
blackpress.ca
Andrew Franklin, Director of Digital Development
is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura
Baziuk as B.C. Digital Editor.
Laura graduated from Carleton University’s journalism
program in 2007. She worked in various newsrooms,
including the Peace Arch News, the Province, the
Canadian Press, and most recently, CKNW Radio. She
spent four and a half years there, as a reporter and
anchor, and was sent to Tofi no to cover the whale-
watching boat capsizing in 2015.
Laura grew up in south Surrey and lives in Vancouver.
She enjoys reading crime novels, baking and
eating cookies!
Please join us in congratulating
Laura on her appointment as
B.C. Digital Editor.
Laura Baziuk
Black Press Digital
Appointment
Syrian refugee sponsorship group has collected $11,500
Staff photo/Houston TodayThe Houston Group to Sponsor Syrian Refugees (HGSSR) hosted a “Get to know Syria Night” last Saturday, February 20 at the Houston Seniors’ Activity Centre. More than 80 community members attended and enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Akram Khalil and his family and had the chance learned more about Syria, while given the chance to ask questions about the group’s work and donate to the sponsorship fund.
By Xuyun ZengHouston Today
The Houston Group to Sponsor Syrian Refugees (HGSSR) has made steps towards its goal of bringing in a Syrian refugee.
Co-chair Bobby Seinen said they have collected $11,500 from private donors that will go towards the estimated $ 3 4 , 0 0 0 - $ 3 5 , 0 0 0 needed to support a family of five — an estimate based on 2014 World Renew’s literature. They are now trying to find further avenues for fundraising.
“We’re going out to research different fundraising activities,” said Seinen. “We’re going to contact a couple of community associations to see if they would be willing to support a raffle on behalf of [HGSSR].
We are looking at perhaps a sports
events; we’re looking at going into the schools and making presentations.”
The HGSSR wants to bring in a family of four or five. They are estimating that they might be able to access the federal child tax benefit.
The group will go through World Renew, a Christian Reformed Church organization, which Seinen said would provide charitable tax receipts and put 100 per cent of the funds raised towards the refugees.
She further added that the Mennonite Central Committee, which they wanted to go with initially, would not provide charitable tax receipts since the HGSSR wanted to pick their refugee. Furthermore, they would charge a 5 per cent administrative fee.
“For somebody who believes in
charity, they give a lot during the course of the year, so it’s in their benefit to get a tax receipt,” she said.
At their Feb. 23 meeting, members raised the challenge of getting the word out.
So far, the HGSSR advertises in newspapers and posts signs on businesses. They do some outreach on social media too, and they are considering creating their own Facebook page.
The group also has to manage the challenges of the refugee’s life in the first year.
“I think it would be really unlikely that a refugee adult actively seek a job in the first year,” she said. “Because their certifications aren’t transferable to Canada.”
Seinen added that while there is no guarantee that the refugee Houston received would be skilled, even unskilled workers would find it hard because of the language barrier.
To solve them, the HGSSR will get
volunteers to help in teaching English.
“I think the fear that some people
have shared with me that they’re going to compete for local jobs is misplaced,”
she said. “We’re prepared to support them financially for one year.
Submitted graphicAs of February 26th, the Houston Group to Sponsor Syrian Refugees has raised around $11,500. They need to raise $34,000-35,000 in order to support a family of four or five. The Group is working under World Renew, a Christian Reformed Church organization, which will provide charitable tax receipts to donors and 100 per cent of funds will go to the sponsorship of the refugees.
Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Fund
Goal
Total to Feb 26
Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Fund
Goal
Total to Feb 26
NEWSHouston Today Wednesday, March 2, 2016 www.houston-today.com 7
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RECREATION SITES AND TRAILS BCNotice to all Contractors-Request for Expression of Interest
Recreation Sites and Trails BC, Nadina-Skeena District is seeking qualified contractors for the upcoming season.
Submissions will form a select invite list. From this list, quotes will be requested on various projects that come up throughout the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Projects may include but are not limited to:
• Site/trail maintenance in remote areas (Kispiox and Morice areas)-installation of outhouses, signs and tables; carpentry services; painting; garbage removal; cleaning; brushing
• GPS’ing trails, creating maps (GIS)• Site/Trail planning, layout, design• Structure design and installation (bridges, platforms, boardwalks, kiosks etc)• Danger tree assessment and abatement• Equipment rental
Applicant contractors should have a 4x4 vehicle to access work sites and provide all tools and equipment necessary to carry out works. Some projects may require transporting of large heavy structures such as large kiosks. A means to load, transport and unload these items is not provided, so applicants must be ready to use adequate improvisations to carry out the work and not damage structures. Standards will be provided and must be followed for each project. All contractors must have WCB coverage and carry adequate liability insurance.
Interested contractors must submit details of their company, including hourly rates. A list of equipment/tools and skills would be appreciated. Please highlight qualifications and experience, especially previous experience with recreation or Parks projects. From the list above please specify what project types you have experience with.
The Nadina-Skeena District manages public recreation on Crown Land from Burns Lake north and south, to the Morice-south of Houston and including Granisle and Babine Lake, Smithers region then west to the Hazeltons and Kispiox areas.
Please send or drop off your expression of interest and company information no later than March 4, 2016 to: Joanne Williams, Recreation Sites and Trails BC,
Bag 6000, 3333 Tatlow Road, Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0Phone 250-847-6360
Houston Search and Rescue to the rescue again
By Xuyun ZengHouston Today
Two missing snowmobilers forced the Houston Search and Rescue out and about at night on Feb. 13.
President Frank McDonald said they got a call from the RCMP asking for their assistance at 8 p.m. that Saturday.
Two snowmobilers had gone missing and they responded by deploying three expert snowmobilers: Roger Poirier, Brent Long and Shea Long.
“I believe there were seven in the group,” said McDonald. “They went onto the east side of the mountain, down towards the upper ski cabin from the cross-country ski club; so that’s an area that they’re not supposed to be in,” said McDonald.
The problem came when the snowmobilers tried to double back by heading towards the mountain.
While � ve of them managed to scale the incline, one snowmobiler could not.
A n o t h e r snowmobiler tried to get out by going down the cross country ski trails,
but instead got stuck because of the hills there.
McDonald believes it could be the result of snow conditions or an underpowered snowmobile.
“They had no communications and no survival gear and they didn’t show up, so when the group of � ve that had gone out went around
to the cross country ski trails expecting to � nd them, they didn’t show up,” said McDonald.
“So nobody knew where they were, so Search and Rescue got called.”
The � ve-hour operation ended at 1 a.m. and resulted in the three HSAR snowmobilers � nding the two missing snowmobilers taking refuge at the ski club’s alpine cabin.
“After they could not make it out by attempting to go down the ski trails because
there is a hill there as well, they went back and went into the cabin to get warm and dry,” said McDonald.
At that point of time, McDonald said there was no avalanche risk.
McDonald added that there are currently no charges against the snowmobilers for trespassing boundaries.
“In theory … this
fellow could have gotten stuck anywhere but he just happened to get stuck somewhere where he’s not supposed to be.”
These boundaries were set up in 1987 in an agreement with the British Columbia Forest Service. The east side of the mountain was reserved for the ski club. It was further reinforced in Land Resource Management Plan in 2007.
HSAR has a policy of not releasing names of people they rescue publicly.
Submitted photoHouston Search and Rescue were called on Saturday, February 13 to find two snowmobilers who had gone missing. The two snowmobilers had gotten separated from their group when their machines could not make it up an incline. They took shelter at the Morice Mountain Ski Club’s alpine cabin, which is where three expert snowmobilers from HSAR found them. The picture above is from another instance when Houston Search and Rescue were called to aid two young people out snowshoeing in the same area.
““They had no communications and no survival gear and they
didn’t show up...” - Frank McDonald
HSAR President
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SPORTS PHOTO FEATURE8 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today
The Fireman’s Charity Bonspiel was held last weekend February 26-27.
Houston Ringette Association held a Bunny/Novice/Petite tournament in Houston last weekend, February 27-28. Pictured left and above are the Houston girls (U12) team playing against the Prince George Red team.
Right: The Houston girls team of Zone 7, joined by 5 players from Terrace, were at the BC Winter Games in Penticton from February 25-28. The weekend was fun and they enjoyed the whole experience.
Weekend Sports in Houston
Robin Vander Heide photos/Houston Today
Photo Submitted
COMMUNITY PHOTO FEATURECOMMUNITY PHOTO FEATURE
GEMS Community Soup Fest
On the evening of Thursday, February 18th, the girls and leaders from the Houston GEMS hosted a Community Soup Fest.
Funds raised ($3500) will be divided between the Houston Food Bank, Love by the Bowl-Soup Kitchen, GEMS home and GEMS Esthers School in Zambia, Rough Acres and Rock Nest Bible Camps and the Houston Group to Sponsor Syrian Refugees.
Approximately 300 community members attended the event and had the opportunity to choose from 24 different varieties of soup served by the GEMS. Kids also had the opportunity to play a variety of games, win prizes, and get their faces painted.
Yvette Stoelwinder photos/Houston Today
Houston Today Wednesday, March 2, 2016 www.houston-today.com 9
NEWS10 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today
Sponsored by
Riverside Gardens3707 East Valley Road, Houston • 250 845-7707
HOPE forHOPE forHOPE forforTodayTodayThe Bond
Plywood is an amazing invention. A number of thin fragile layers of wood glued together to make one
strong cohesive sheet. It has amazing strength because the layers are glued together. The glue is the bond that gives it strength.
One time I was riding with a fellow who was carrying a sheet of plywood over the top of the cab of his pickup. A gust of wind caught it and broke it in half. The glue gave way, the wood shattered, rendering it a mess, mostly useless.
This reminds me of marriage. God instituted marriage between one man and one woman at creation, two united in marriage for a lifetime. When a man and woman are married, the Bible teaches, God is the One who bonds them together as one. “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Genesis 1:24 NLT
My wife and I recently celebrated our 40th anniversary. What a privilege to be one with her for all these years. Is it because we worked at our marriage, or somehow had the right chemistry, or loved each other a lot, that we made it for 40 years? I believe all of these have a part, but the ultimate and overriding power in sustained wholesome marriage is God. He is the One who gave us life in the � rst place. He is the One who had the wonderful idea of making us male and female. “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NLT Marriage and family was his idea from the beginning. He is the One who empowers us, as we trust in him, by giving us his Holy Spirit to live out marriage in a way that would honour him.
This is not a time for us to boast in ourselves. But we boast in our creator God, with thanksgiving we worship and praise him, giving him all the honor and glory. We look to him who is the bond that keeps us together, in plenty and in need, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, as long as we both shall live.
Let us proclaim with Jesus, “Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” Matthew 19:6 NLT
Submitted by Ken Penner
Members of the public are being asked to submit bobcat and lynx photos
UBC researchers needs the public’s help with new study
By Flavio NienowBlack Press
A bobcat/lynx study, which is using photos of bobcats and lynx submitted by the public to map the cur-rent distribution of both species in B.C., needs the public’s help.
Researchers are seeking photos of bob-cats and lynx captured by trail cameras, or conventional cameras, from all corners of the province and from all time periods to help determine the current provincial distribution of each species.
The study will at-
tempt to determine if their distribution has changed in response to climate change.
“We think that bob-cats are moving north-wards and into higher elevations,” explained graduate student TJ Gooliaff.
Historically, bob-cats and lynx have been typically separat-ed by snow depth.
Lynx have extreme-ly long legs and large snowshoe-like paws, making them well adapted for traveling across deep snow. They are found in the boreal forests across Canada and Alaska, as well as
the mountain ranges extending south into Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
In contrast, bobcats are heavier, have small feet, and sink into the snow. They are found throughout the des-erts and grasslands of the contiguous United States, as well as Southern Canada.
However, climate change has led to ear-lier springs and lower snow levels in Western North America. As a
result, suitable bobcat habitat may now be present in new areas of B.C.
Gooliaff said peo-
ple don’t need great photography skills to submit their photos.
“They just have to show a bobcat or a lynx, or even just a part of one,” he said. “Photos can be blurry or dark and don’t even have to clearly show which cat species is present.”
When sending your photos, make sure to
include both the date and location of each photo. The location should be as speci� c as possible - most preferred is universal transverse mercator or latitude/longitude coordinates. If that in-formation is not avail-able, researches ask that you provide the name of the nearest road or landmark (in-cluding distance and
direction from road or landmark), near-est town (including distance and direction from town) or water-shed.
Photos will not be published or shared with anyone without permission, and pho-tographers will retain ownership of their photos.
For more infor-mation, or to submit
your photos, con-tact TJ Gooliaff at [email protected]
The study is cur-rently under way at the Okanagan cam-pus of the University of British Columbia in partnership with the B.C. Ministry of Environment. The results of this study will be shared with all those who are inter-ested.
30 Day Job BoardLet us bear the workload for you!
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Morice Mountain Ski Club photos Researchers are seeking photos of bobcats and lynx captured by trail cameras, or conventional cameras, from all corners of the province.These lynx were regulars on the Morice Mountain ski trails a couple years ago.
““Photos can be blurry or dark and don’t even have to clearly show which cat
species is present.”- TJ Gooliaff
“NEWSHouston Today Wednesday, March 2, 2016 www.houston-today.com 11
MORICE MOUNTAIN MARKSMEN ASSOCIATION
will be having their
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, March 16th at 7:00 pm
at the Idylwild Motor Inn
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
For more info call Terry at 250-845-8027
...will be holding it’s
Annual General Meetingon March 5, 2016
at 6:30pm at the Pleasant Valley Restaurant
We would like to invite anyone who might be
interested to come out and see what we are all about.
Houston Flying Club
Topley Community Club
Annual General Meeting
March 4 at 1:00pm at the Topley Community Hall
Everyone Welcome
Province needs public’s assistance in monitoring winter
tick infestations on mooseBy Flavio Nienow
Black Press
Members of the public are once again being asked to help document moose winter tick infesta-tions by completing and submitting an online moose winter tick survey before April 30, 2016.
The extent of hair loss on a moose is a rough indicator of how many ticks are present and can be observed eas-ily from a distance. Tick infestations can sometimes result in severe behavioural and physiological changes and directly impact the survival rates of moose - es-pecially young ani-mals.
The survey will help B.C.’s wildlife health staff monitor the number of moose affected with these ticks and the extent to which they affect moose around the province.
Survey partici-pants are asked to observe the amount of hair loss, if any, occurring on moose and check the sur-vey box which most describes the ani-mal - ranging from “no loss” to “ghost” which means hair loss over most of the body or 80 per cent of winter hair.
Winter tick infes-tations are generally observed on moose from February through April.
In 2015, the prov-ince received 361 re-ports between Jan. 10 and April 30. Most of the reports were from the Skeena, Omineca and Peace regions.
According to Greig Bethel, a Spokesperson with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, in 2015
infestations appeared to be most severe in the Omineca region, where 63 per cent of moose observed ex-hibited some degree of hair loss. In the Skeena region, 49 per cent of moose observed had some degree of hair loss. Bethel said these numbers are con-sistent with historic data.
Anyone interest-ed in contributing to the surveillance program can obtain a copy of the sur-vey by contacting Dustin Walsh at [email protected], 250 617-0725, or by linking to http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/public-consultation/moose-winter-tick/
Submitted photosThe extent of hair loss on a moose is a rough indicator of how many ticks are present and can be observed easily from a distance. The survey will help B.C.’s wildlife health staff monitor the extent to which these ticks affect moose around the province.
In the Skeena region,
49 per cent of moose
observed had some degree of hair loss. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010 Proudly serving Houston and District - Home of Canada’s Largest Fly Rod www.houston-today.com NO. 49 $1.35 Inc. HST
NEWS: Two from the U.S. speak
on their pipeline experience
PAGE 3
NEWS: The Houston dike
brushing project is underway
PAGE 11
By Rikki Schierer
Houston Today
Yesterday the house
was voting on a federal
motion, brought for-
ward by MP Nathan
Cullen, that would for-
mally ban tankers on
the west coast.
Cullen put forth
the bill to the NDP
last Tuesday, and they
approved it for discus-
sion with the House
last Thursday. There
have been bills before
this that tried to do
the same thing, Cullen
said, but this is the fi rst
defi nitive bill with a
yes or no vote.
“Hopefully the ma-
jority of MP’s across
the country will say
no to supertankers off
the west coast,” Cullen
said. Currently, there is a
voluntary supertanker
ban on the west coast
that has been in place
for the past 20 years,
Cullen said, but it only
runs from the North to
the South, not East to
West.“In the same envi-
ronment, in the same
waters, with the same
dangers,” Cullen said.
“I think a tanker
running aground, it
doesn’t care whether
it was running east
to west or north to
south.”It was great, Cullen
said, to see the House
discuss the west coast
for a day, about green
energy, alternatives
to oil, and how they
shouldn’t allow activi-
ties that would jeop-
ardize our water, our
fi sh, and our culture,
Cullen said.
This ban is more
broader than the
proposed Enbridge
Northern Gateway
Project, he added.
While the Enbridge
project was the red fl ag
that raised the concern,
once that corridor is
in, there is more of a
push for others to go
there as well, he said.
“If tankers start,
then drilling happen
and if drilling happens
then the spills happen,
and now we’re looking
at the Gulf Coast, say-
ing how could we let
this happen?” Cullen
said. “Well, we’re not
going to let it hap-
pen.”From these dis-
cussions, Cullen has
heard that both the
Liberals and the Bloc
Québécois would sup-
port this motion.
“If everybody shows
up, we should do well,
we should win,” Cullen
said.
Erika was one of many children who visited Santa Saturday in the Houston Mall.
Study critiques municipality overspending in B.C.Increases not supported by inflation
Cullen introduces motion to ban supertankers on west coast
By Rikki Schierer
Houston Today
Spending by many
B.C. municipalities,
Houston included, is
unsustainable, warns the
Canadian Federation of
Independent Business
(CFIB) in a report re-
leased last Thursday.
“CFIB was trying to
get a handle of whether
growth and municipal
spending is sustainable
and reasonable over
time,” Laura Jones,
CFIB Vice President for
Western Canada said.
“It’s also for getting
more exposure, and vis-
ibility.”What they were look-
ing at was comparing
population and infl ation
growth in a community
compared to their op-
erating spending from
2000 to 2008, the latest
year data was available.
The study doesn’t take
into consideration capi-
tal expenditures for a
municipality.
What it found was
that, with the excep-
tion of 1.2 per cent of
municipalities, the rest
were spending more
than what their popula-
tion and infl ation rates
should refl ect. Ideally,
the rate of infl ation
should equal increases,
or decreases, in opera-
tional costs, Jones said.
For Houston, popu-
lation and infl ation
have decreased in that
time frame by -9.44 per
cent. With a decreas-
ing population, Jones
said it would be rea-
sonable to see a con-
traction in taxation as
they have fewer people
that they’re servicing.
Instead, Houston saw
an increase in operating
expenditure growth of
39.61 per cent.
““Taxpayers
are maxed
out, they don’t
want to see
increases...”
- Laura Jones
WaterWeb Photography photo
With the largest Toyota Truck inventory in the North.
See CFIB on Page 2
ston-today.com HST
NO. 49 $1.35 Inc. H
w they
w activi-d jeop-
ater, our
culture,
is more
an the
Enbridge
Gateway
e added.
Enbridge
the red flag fl
that raised the concern,
once that corridor is
in, there is more of a
push for others to go
there as well, he said.
“If tankers start,
then drilling happen
and if drilling happens
then the spills happen,
and now we’re looking
at the Gulf Coast, say-
ing how could we let
this happen?” Cullen
said. “Well, we’re not
going to let it hap-
pen.”From these dis-
cussions, Cullen has
heard that both the
Liberals and the Bloc
Québécois would sup-
port this motion.
“If everybody shows
up, we should do well,
we should win,” Cullen
said.
nding in B.C.nding in Bcreases not supported by inflation
ankers on west coast
By Rikki Schierer
Houston Today
Spending by many
.C. municipalities,
Houston included, is
unsustainable, warns the
Canadian Federation of
Independent Business
(CFIB) in a report re-
leased last Thursday.
“CFIB was trying to
get a handle of whether
growth and municipal
spending is sustainable
and reasonable over
time,” Laura Jones,
CFIB Vice President for
Western Canada said.
“It’s also for getting
more exposure, and vis-
ibility.”What they were look-
ing at was comparing
population and inflation fl
growth in a community
compared to their op-
erating spending from
2000 to 2008, the latest
year data was available.
The study doesn’t take
into consideration capi-
tal expenditures for a
municipality.
What it found was
that, with the excep-
tion of 1.2 per cent of
municipalities, the rest
were spending more
than what their popula-
tion and inflation rates fl
should refl ect. Ideally, fl
the rate of inflation fl
should equal increases,
or decreases, in opera-
tional costs, Jones said.
For Houston, popu-
lation and inflation fl
have decreased in that
time frame by -9.44 per
cent. With a decreas-
ing population, Jones
said it would be rea-
sonable to see a con-
traction in taxation as
they have fewer people
that they’re servicing.
Instead, Houston saw
an increase in operating
expenditure growth of
39.61 per cent.
oout, they don’t
want to see ant t s
increases...”
- Laura Jones
photo See CFIB on Page 2
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• It is a beginning. It is the end.• It’s a birth announcement.• It’s an obituary.• It’s everything between commencement and
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challenging.• It’s a thought stimulant, a thought leader.• It’s helpful, charitable, a community
supporter.• It’s informative, educational, entertaining.• It brings buyers and sellers together.• It takes the marketplace into the home.• It is print. It endures.• It is life.
Send us your News tips today!
12 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today
Phone: 250 845-2890Upstairs Houston Mall • Email: [email protected] • www.houston-today.com
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LOOKING TO BUY A HOUSE WITH THE UP-GRADES DONE, READY TO MOVE IN WELL WE HAVE THE HOUSE FOR YOU...
Four bedroom 2 bathroom house located close to elementary and high school. Numerous upgrades include kitchen, bathrooms, windows, and vinyl
siding over two inches of blue Styrofoam insulation. Open � oor plan and good room sizes, attached garage. Back yard has plenty of play room. Large
outside shed to store your toys in. Must be viewed to be appreciated.For appointment to view
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• 1200 square feet• 3 bedrooms upstairs• 1 bedroom down• Large rec room• 1 ½ bathrooms
• All appliances updated• New � ooring & paint main � oor & basement• Chain link fence• Front & rear decks
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HOUSE FOR SALE2930 Nadina Way, Houston BC
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Houston Today Wednesday, March 2, 2016 www.houston-today.com 1314 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today
HOUSTON & AREA CHURCH
DIRECTORY
Houston Fellowship Baptist Church
3790 C.R. Matthews Rd.Pastor: Larry Ballantyne
Sunday School: 9:45am
Church Service: 11:00am
Everyone Welcome!Phone: 250-845-7810
Houston Canadian
Reformed ChurchSUNDAY SERVICES: 10:00 AM & 2:30 PM
Pastor Carl [email protected]
Offi ce Phone: 250-845-3441~ Everyone Welcome ~
3797 Omineca Way, Box 36, Houston, BC
Houston ChristianReformed Church1959 Goold St., Box 6,Houston 250-845-7578
~ Everyone Welcome! ~
Services: 10:00 am & 3:00 pm
HOUSTON PENTECOSTAL
CHURCH2024 Riverbank Drive,
Box 597, HoustonPhone: 250-845-2678
Pastor: Mike McIntyre
Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 amSunday Prayer Meeting: 7:00 pmSunday School: During the Service
Everyone Welcome
Anglican Churchof St. Clement
2324 Butler Ave., Box 599, Houston, BC
Rev. Jacob WorleyPhone: 250-845-4940
Services at:2:00pm Sundays
Houston United Church2106 Butler Ave
SERVICES: Sundays at 11a.m.(Kids Sunday Schoolduring the service)
To contact the churchor for pastoral care:
Morgan Ryder (250-698-7612 -H) or 250-692-9576 -C) or
Marianne Dekker 250-845-2282
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church
2001 Riverbank DriveHouston, B.C. V0J 1Z2Phone: 250-845-2841
Sunday Service: 11:30 AMParish Priest:
Fr. Pier Pandolfo
Gerald “Jake” Lyle Helsdon
March 28, 1956 - January 30, 2016
It is with ineffable sadness we announce the passing of Gerald “Jake” Lyle Helsdon, on January 30th, 2016 at the age of 59 years, after a long and courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.Jake was born on March 28th, 1956 in Brantford, Ontario to Lyle and Rosie Helsdon. At the age of one, Jake moved with his parents and siblings from Ontario to B.C. Once there, they lived in Camp A and later at Woss Lake, logging camps on Vancouver Island, where he spent most of his childhood and adolescence. At the age of 19, Jake travelled to Prince George, BC where he met Merle Collier. After a short tenure back in Ontario, he returned to Prince George and reconnected with Merle, they were married on May 26th, 1977. They had two children: Tyler in 1978 and Dylan in 1981. They lived for many years in Topley, where the boys were raised. Jake worked at Decker Lake Forest Products, Bell Pole and Houston Forest Products. He enjoyed hunting and fi shing, especial-ly with his best friend Gordie Smith.Jake later moved on to Sechelt, Cherryville, Surrey, Kitimat, Medeira Park, Lumby and Vernon. Shortly after his diagnosis with MS, he met his second wife, Mary Ellen “Sue” Hareuther, and they settled down in Lumby, BC.Inevitably, his fi ght became overwhelming and he was moved to assisted living, fi rst at Heritage Square and fi nally at Heron Grove, both in Vernon, BC where he lost his battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Jake is survived by his loving mother Rosie Stolk. Children: Tyler (Marci) and Dylan, their mother Merle Dyck, Siblings: Bonnie (Gary) Zylstra, Howard “Butch” Helsdon, Cindy (Erwin) Evans and Charlie “Chuck” (Candy) Helsdon. His girlfriend Dayna Lynn Holland. Grandchildren: Julian Helsdon, Damien Helsdon, Lexi Deschutter, and Anayah Helsdon. Nephews: Brandon (Sandra) Smythe, Jordan (Crystal) Smythe, Brent Helsdon, Lyle (Kelly) Helsdon. Nieces: Kayla (Brian) Soles, Kristi (Mark) Weibe, and Carli Evans. He is also survived by numerous Aunts, Uncles, Great Nieces, Great Nephews and cousins who loved him dearly.Jake was predeceased by his father Lyle, his second wife Sue and his nephew Christopher.A service will be held at a later date in Ontario.
“The ties of blood that bond us form an unconditional love. One of which cannot be corrupted through actions,
nor can it be severed through time, distance or death.”The family would like to thank Mr. Andretta and staff at Pleasant Valley Funeral Home, Vernon, BC for their unwavering assistance and compas-sion. Also the Care Aids at Heron Grove for their emotional sacrifi ces and empathy they bequeath to give our loved ones a dignifi ed crossing over.
In lieu of fl owers please donate to your local MS society.
Thank you
! Thank you
! Thank you
!
HOUSTON LINK to LEARNING...would like to thank the following community members and service providers for their help
and support to make this year’s Family Literacy Brunch a success.
• Pretium Resources: Smithers offi ce• Houston Volunteer Firefi ghters• Bulkley Valley Credit Union• Northwest Community College• Houston Public Library• Bulkley Valley Child Development Centre• Thomas Robertson Consulting, Supported Child Development Program
• Jumpstart,• Strongstart• Houston Community Services,• Lisa Makuk• Debbie Domes• Tricia Shane• Jennifer Bruns• Hannah Ells• Emilee McLearn• Isabelle Mclearn• ACT Committee
We could not host this event without you“Thank you”
THANK YOU
Thank youThe Houston Legion would like to thank the
following for supporting our Superbowl 50:
1st Choice FashionsHome HardwareAll West Glass
Sullivan MotorsMonster Industries
Traction TireNadina TruckingPacific TruckingD&M IndustriesA&W Restaurant
Brian Timms
NAPAAurora
Motion CanadaFood Market
FinningDonna Marshall
BudweiserKal Tire
Mikes AudioJoanne Woodbeck
The ee e e e
e e h
supporters of the SRCA AGM.
THANK YOU!
PNL Consulting is looking to hire a Senior Accountant on behalf of a client. Reporting directly to ownership, the Senior Accountant will oversee the accounting and administration of a diversified and growing forest-based company. This is a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to build their career close to home while working flexible hours for a competitive salary.
Desired Skills and Experience:
• A CPA (CA, CMA, CGA) designation is preferred, but not required. Candidates currently working through the CPA program, or with significant high-level accounting experience, will be considered;
• 5+ years of experience in a senior accounting role;• Supervisory experience;• Confidence in financial reporting abilities; and
Key Responsibility Areas:• Forecasting and budgeting;• Preparation of financial statements;• Ensuring the general ledger accounts are reconciled
and maintained, including the preparation of monthly working papers;
• Preparation of GST reports and other filings;
Please forward resumes & cover letters to [email protected]
Senior AccountantHouston, B.C.
Northern EngineeredWood Products (2007) Inc.Is hiring for the following positions:
• Sander • Loader Operator • Press Operator • Forklift Operator • Millwright • Clean-up Crew
Please e-mail resumes to [email protected] fax to 250-847-9687
Is hiring for the following positions:• Sander • Loader Operator • Press Operator • Forklift Operator• Millwright • Clean-up Crew
Operator
Is hiring for the following positions:• Supervisors • Sander Operator • Loader Operator • Press Operator • Forklift Operator • Millwright • Clean-up Crew
Career Opportunities
Career Opportunities
AL-ANON Are you affected by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon meetings are Monday, 7pm at the Houston United Church. Contact number: (250) 845-7774.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUSMeetings are at the Houston United Church, Monday and Thursday at 7:00pm. Contact number is:1-877-644-2266 CANADA BENEFIT Group -
Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada-benefi t.ca/free-assessment
HIP OR knee replacement? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in Walking/Dress-ing? Disability Tax Credit $2,000 Tax Credit $20,000 Refund. Apply Today For As-sistance: 1-844-453-5372.
Obituaries Obituaries
Denied Long-TermDisability Benefi ts or
other insurance?If YES, call or email for
FREE initial legal consultation and protect
your right to compensation.778-588-7049
Travel
TimeshareCANCEL YOUR timeshare. No risk program stop mort-gage & maintenance pay-ments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consul-tation. Call us now. We can help! 1-888-356-5248.
SAVE 30% on our Heart of the Arctic adventure. Visit Inuit communities in Greenland and Nunavut aboard the com-fortable 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour. Call for details! 1-800-363-7566 or visit online www.adventurecanada.com (TICO#04001400)
Employment
Business Opportunities
NEW EXCITING mini VLT’S. Produce buckets of cash monthly. Attracts customers like money magnets. Loca-tions provided. Ground fl oor opportunity. Full details call now 1-866-668-6629. Website www.tcvend.com
Cards of Thanks Cards of Thanks
HEALTHCARE DOCUMEN-TATION Specialists are in huge demand. Employers want CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Train with Canada’s best-rated program. Enroll today. www.canscribe.com. 1-800-466-1535 [email protected]
Announcements Announcements Announcements Announcements Travel Employment Employment
Place of Worship Information Information Information Travel Career Opportunities
Education/Trade Schools
START A new career inGraphic Arts, Healthcare, Business, Education or Infor-mation Tech. If you have a GED, call: 855-670-9765
Accounting/Bookkeeping
Accounting/Bookkeeping
To advertise in print:Call: 250-845-2890 Email: [email protected]
Self-serve: blackpressused.ca Career ads: localworkbc.ca
Browse more at:
A division of
www.spca.bc.ca
TRY A CLASSIFIED
Remembering Our Loved Ones
Reach A Larger Audience
Thank youThank you for all the love, support,
assistance and care during our troubled times with Irene.
(Thanks again, Michael)
Houston Today 250-845-2890
14 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today Houston Today Wednesday, March 2, 2016 www.houston-today.com 15
RE/MAX HOUSTON Locally owned and operated
Lia Long 250-845-11472436 Poulton Ave., Houston, BC • e-mail: [email protected] • www.realtor.ca
Call 250-845-7325 www.remaxhouston.ca
Whether you are buying or selling, Lia offers prompt, friendly and professional service with over 20 years of real estate experience and a lifetime in the Houston area.
CHERISHED TRADITIONS & SIMPLE PLEASURES... OF ELEGANT COUNTRY LIFE Gorgeous 5 year old home on a beautiful 5 acre lot! Vaulted ceilings, very open floor plan. Cherry cabinets with tile backsplash in the huge kitchen. Patio doors off dining. Den with wood stove, 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms. Spacious master features its own “retreat room” and en-suite with a corner jetted tub and walk in closet. Wood shed, storage shed and chicken house. Wrap around driveway. All appliances and window coverings included. Call Lia to view 250-845-1147.
IN A CLASS BY ITSELF! Unique custom built executive home on just under 8 acres with a spectacular view! Gorgeous updated kitchen with solid wood cabinets and granite countertops with top of the line appliances. Hard wood/ tile floor throughout. 2 completely renovated bathrooms. En-suite features claw tub, tile and custom cabinetry. Garden doors off master to a huge deck. Floor to ceiling windows in sunken living room with vaulted ceilings and beautiful rock fireplace. Bar/entertainment area with doors to the deck, heated floors and fireplace. New 28 x 40 shop/RV storage. Cozy log cabin with a loft and covered porch for company or rental. Also a 24 x 24 foot building currently operating as a gift shop. Extremely well kept. All appliances, window coverings and bar & stools included. Call Lia for more information 250-845-1147.$209,900
Community Calendar proudly sponsored by
Bulkley ValleyCREDIT UNION
www.bvcu.com
Since May 1941, Bulkley Valley Credit Union has been building a solid financial institution that members from Burns Lake to the Hazeltons have grown to rely on. People helping people is how we began and we strive to remain people-oriented, both in our financial services and through direct involvement with our communities. We are dedicated to local decision-making and local control, key factors in providing the kinds of services that meet the financial needs of individuals and business members alike.
HOUSTON & DISTRICT BRANCH 2365 Copeland Ave.
P.O. Box 1480, Houston Phone: 250-845-7117
HOUSTON COMMUNITY CALENDARWednesdays.
Super Valu tapes may be donated to the Legion Ladies Auxiliary at drop off boxes at A&W; Shear Delight; Razor’s Edge and Terri-Lynn Hair Creations. The tapes are used as a fund-raiser for the L.A. to the Houston Legion.
Activities for Seniors in Houston at the Seniors Centre: New Horizons FREE swim for Seniors (60+) every Tuesday 9 AM to 10 AM until February 23. All Seniors invited. Reason: Expanding opportunities for Seniors to become active.
TOPS 1901 meets every Tues.: 8-9:30 a.m. at the Houston United Church. Come join other women who are Taking Off Pounds Sensibly and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
Coffee Break - an Interactive Women’s Bible Study meet every Tuesday morning from 9:30-11:00 at the Houston Christian Reformed Church, 1959 Goold Road. Childcare is provided. For more info call Margaret: 845-2348, Darlene 845-7438, Evelyn 696-3229.
TOPLEYTopley Fire Protection Society meetings every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm.
Topley Fire Protection Society Annual
General Meeting at 2:00pm on March 13, 2016. This meeting is open to the public and we encourage all residents to attend.
Structural Firefi ghting/Hwy Rescue. Interested? Topley Volunteer Fire Dept. is accepting applications. No experience necessary please contact Byron - F/C 250-696-3348 or come to a Fire Practice Thurs @ 19:00 hrs (7pm).
GRANISLEThe Granisle and District Senior Citizens meet every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Seniors Centre.
Granisle Volunteer Fire Department meetings & fi re practices every Tues., 7:00pm at the Fire Hall.
Granisle Church of the Way services are Sundays at 11:00am.
Please keep your announcements as brief as possible. Deadline (faxed or mailed or delivered) is 4 p.m. Thursday. Items are printed or alternated as space permits. Items will be accepted via fax, email or dropped at the offi ce. No phone calls please. More calendar items are listed online and can be submitted or viewed at www.houston-today.com
International Women’s Dinner event is planned in Houston for Tuesday, March 8. More details to follow.
Houston Public Library Events: Games for Grownups: No minors. Thurs, March 10 @ 7p.m. • Lego Club – for kids ages 7 & up. Wed, March 23 & 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. • Book Club – Thurs, March 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. • Raven’s Next Chronicles podcast submissions will be accepted until March 11. Send in your stories, poems or stories. Authors/creators of the works that are chosen for the podcasts will be invited to read/perform them. Podcast recording will begin the week of March 15. For more info on above events please contact the library @250-845-2256.
Buck Flats Community Development Society meets every 3rd Sat. evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Morice Mountain Cross Country Ski Trails lodge. All Buck Flats residents are welcome to attend as we discuss issues concerning the Buck Flats area. For more info call Chris Newell at 250-845-3564.
The Houston Legion - Regular Meetings: 2nd Monday of the month is Executive, 4th Monday is a General Meeting.
Houston’s “Love by the Bowl” Soup Kitchen serving healthy homemade soups in two different seatings, 11-12 and 12 -1 on
Continuous Aluminum Gutters
Bulkley Valley Eavestroughing
o t a ia nstallation
Financial ServicesGET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB.
1-877-987-1420 www.pioneerwest.com
LARGE FUNDBorrowers Wanted
Start saving hundreds of dollars today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mortgage money is available right now. Rates start at Prime. Equity counts. We don’t rely on credit, age or income.
Call Anytime1-800-639-2274 or
604-430-1498. Apply online www.capitaldirect.ca
Home ImprovementsFULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, re-liable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1-800-573-2928.
Misc ServicesSOSBUYER.CA is buying es-tate jewelry,coin collections, gold nuggets.We come to you, cash paid. Call Vanessa @250-852-3056 or visit our website
Merchandise for Sale
Misc. for SalePOLE BARNS, Shops, steel buildings metal clad or fabric clad. Complete supply and in-stallation. Call John at 403-998-7907; Email to: jcameron @advancebuildings.com
REFORESTATION Nursery seedlings of hardy trees, shrubs, & berries for shelter-belts or landscaping. Spruce & Pine from $0.99/tree. Free Shipping. Replacement guar-antee. 1-866-873-3846 or www.treetime.ca
EavestroughEavestrough
Misc. for SaleSAWMILLS FROM only $4,397 - Make money & save money with your own bandmill - Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & DVD: www.NorwoodSaw-mills.com/400OT 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.
Rentals
Apt/Condo for RentFOR RENT
Starting At $775/Mo.Bachelor & 1 Bdrm Suites Full Kitchen Facilities Too! Wi-fi , Ph, Cable & Util. Incl.
Ref. Req.,Terry 778-210-1703 [email protected]
Legal
Legal Notices
NOTICE TO REMOVE PRIVATE LAND
FROM WOODLOT LICENCE 1754
Please be advised that Westbound Holdings Ltd. is proposing to remove 103.5 ha of private land from Woodlot License W1754 located in the vicinity of Mt. Harry Davis. Only written inquiries received by March 24, 2016. Information about this proposal and comments can be answered by contacting Susan L. Jones, RPF of Tutshi Ventures Corp. at 1985 Pineridge Rd. Houston BC, V0J 1Z1. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 250-845-9400.
WHERE DO YOU TURN
YOUR NEWSPAPER:The link to your community
TO LEARNWHAT’S
ON SALE?
in theclassifieds!
Find Your Dream Home
Houston Today Wednesday, March 2, 2016 www.houston-today.com 15
BUSINESSES & SERVICES around Houston & the Bulkley Valley...
Call Laura at 250-692-7526 or 250-845-2890 or email: [email protected] your business for only $5/week (with 1 year commitment)
GST not included
RED ROCKET SERVICESSeptic Removal, Portable Toilet Rentals
Expediting and Hotshots
Les Willson250-845-3761Cell: [email protected]
Now a dealer for BIO-CLEANA septic enzyme and tank cleaner
Cell: [email protected]
A septic enzyme and tank cleaner
BURNS LAKEBill and Patsy Miller, Owners
29850 Hwy 16 West • PO Box 450 • Burns LakePh 250-696-3211 • Cell: 250-692-9940
email: [email protected]
www.pbagrimech.ca
• HAY FORKS• PALLET FORKS• SNOW BLADES• QUICK ATTACH UNITS• REPAIRS & EQUIPMENT
YourDealer
Give us a call for any of your att achment needs.
HOUSTON BARBERSHOP
ANGEL’S FLOWERS & GIFTS
Phyllis250.845.2329
Janet250.845.2329
� eresa250.844.1118
� eresaMETAMORPH JEWELRY, GEMS
& NAILS
Open six days a week
Open six days a week
2216 Nadina Ave. North, Houston Phone: 250-845-2700
Tire Shop hourS: Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm - Sat. 8am - noon
Car WaSh hourS: Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm - Sat. 8am - 4pm
Come see us for all
your tire needs!
CALDERWOODREALTY
CALDERWOOD
If you are buying or sellingcall me today: 250-845-8234
I also offer Free Home MarketEvaluations and information on the
current real estate market.
Pleasant Valley Cleaners
3356 10th Street, Box 68, Houston • Phone: 250-845-7000
So much more than your local commercial laundry serviceOpen: Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm
Sat: 10am - 4pmServing the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District
WALK-OFF MATS SERVICE • LAUNDRY FACILITIES • COMPLETE LINEN SERVICESHOP SUPPLIES • DROP OFF LAUNDRY SERVICE • SEWING SERVICES - REPAIRS ETC.
Full Coverall Service: • Sales - New & Used• Rentals • Repairs• Cleaning• 3M Re� ective Striping available & installed
Serving the Bulkley Valley and Lakes DistrictFULL LINE OF WORK WEAR!
Jeans • Jackets • Duck Coats
& Overalls • Work BootsShirts & Safety Clothing
Highway 16, Houston1-888-408-2839D5631
See our inventory at: www.smprv.ca
The best
RV DEALSare in Houston BC!
Our lot is full oflightweight, a� ordable,
quality-built travel trailers,� fth wheels and campers.
are in
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & WELDING SHOP
D&M
250-845-3334
Steel Sales • GATES Hydraulic Hoses & Fittings • Wire Rope Black Pipe • Fittings • Safety Equipment Fasteners • Oil Spill Kits • Tools
2870 - 5th St., Houston Industrial Park Hours: Mon-Thurs 8-6pm • Fri 8-5pm • Sat 9-3pm
ALL HUSQVARNA POWER EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIESEQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
2815 - 5th Street, Houston Industrial Site, Houston
Small Engine Equipment & Repairs
Phone: (250) 845-3255
ALL HUSQVARNA POWEREQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
Phone: 250-845-2498
LIMITED
• Trucking• Loading• Excavating• Grading• Track Skidsteer• Sand• Aggregates
• Site Prep• Demolition Cleanup• Landscaping• Gravel• Screened Top Soil• White Landscape Rock
DREAM WORKSHome Renovations
Helping You Bring
Your Ideas to Life
Call 250-845-0707
Andy Hors� eld
Seawest HardwoodFloor Re� nishing
FREE SHARK STEAM MOP
with re� nishing jobs of 500 square feet and over
✔ Dustless containment system✔ Over 7 years in the business
✔ State of the art equipment✔ Re� nishing & staining
O� ce: 250 847 1433 • Cell: 250 299 [email protected]
Your local Specialist - Senior’s Discounts Offered
www.facebook.com/SeawestHardwoodFloor Re� nishing
SALES • PARTS • SERVICE • FINANCING West Highway 16, Houston 250-845-2213 • www.finning.ca
NOW
PERF
ORMI
NG Cat Truck Engine and Truck Repairs
3429 10th St., Steelhead Building 250.845.2329
NORTHERN LASER offering... • Permanent hair removal • Tattoo removal • Acne treatments
Houston Barbershop
Free Consultations
D5631Sullivan Motors @smphouston
When your car, truck or SUV is in need of service, trust the factory-trained
technicians at Sullivan Motor Products.OPEN MON. TO SAT. 8AM - 5:30PM
Highway 16, HoustonTF: 1-800-665-3151
Call SMP at 250-845-2244
...Northwest’s Largest Volume Dealer for a Reason!!
www.sullivangm.com
Advertise your Business or Service here for $500/week*
Call Laura at 250-692-7526or 250-845-2890 or
email: [email protected]*Based on a 1-year commitment • GST not included
SALES • PARTS • SERVICE • FINANCING
West Highway 16, Houston 250-845-2213 • www.� nning.ca
To learn more about the HUGE TRADE REBATES OR LOW RATE FINANCING AVAILABLE WHEN YOU PURCHASE YOUR
NEXT CAT® COMPACT MACHINE, contact your Finning sales rep or drop by and see us today. Offer available until June 30th.
This week’s featured business is...
16 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Houston Today
MEAT
Western FamilyPickles2 Varieties, 2 litre
399
Your Pantry Fill Specialists
NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED!
Nabob Tradition Coffee930 g
1299
Armstrong CheeseAssorted Varieties, 1.35 kg
1499
Mr. Noodles Flat Pack NoodlesAssorted Varieties 24x85 g
699
Hellmann’s Mayonnaise1.8 litre
688
Aylmer TomatoesAssorted Varieties, 8x796 ml
899Western Family MushroomsPieces and Stems12x284 ml
899Western Family Vegetables2 kg
499
Campbell’s SoupsAssorted Varieties12x284 ml
699
Value Priced Soft Margarine3.18 kg
899Scottowels Paper Towel6 roll
599
Cascade Dishwasher Tablets115 count
1799
TresemmeShampoo2x1.7 litre
799
Prego OriginalPasta Sauce1.75 litre
399
Catelli Spaghetti4.2 kg
899
Western Family Tuna2 Varieties12x170 g
1199
Kraft Peanut ButterAssorted Varieties, 2 kg
899Chapman’s Ice CreamAssorted Varieties4 litre
699
Kraft Cheez Whiz900 g
699
PRODUCE FEATURED
GREAT BARGAINS
Mon. to Thurs. 8 am - 7 pm • Fri. 8 am - 8 pm • Sat. 8 am - 7 pm • Sun. 9 am - 6 pm3302 Highway 16 Smithers, BC • (250) 847-3313 • 1 (800) 579-3313 • bulkleyvalleywholesale.com
Boneless Pork Sirloin Roast5.93/kg
269/lb
Boneless, Skinless4 kg
2899
Romaine Lettuce
129ea.
Long English Cucumbers
2 for 300
Fresh Mushrooms
229/lb
Coca-Cola ProductsPlus Deposit, Plus Eco-Fee12x355 ml
2 for 888
March 2-8, 2016
Eye of Round Roast Canadian AAA, 9.90/kg
449/lb
Farkay SteamFried Noodlesor Chinese Style, 1 kg
499
Western FamilyDog Food2 Varieties, 16 kg
2299
Sun Rype Apple Juice 12x1 L
1188Plus Deposit, Plus Eco-Fee