Houston Today, December 31, 2014

By Tom FletcherBlack Press

As B.C. hunters packed rooms to protest regulations giving guide-out� tters and their out-of-province clients a larger share of big-game permits, the provincial government argues that the shift is

being exaggerated.The latest increase

in the share of guide permits to hunt moose, grizzly bear and other restricted animals in limited-entry hunting areas of B.C. totals 618 “hunting opportunities” across the province per year, says a statement from the Ministry of

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Based on the success rate of hunts for different species, “this model represents a transfer of approximately 186 animals from residents to guides.”

The B.C. Wildlife Federation’s estimate that the wild game

allocation policy could result in 5,000 fewer hunting permits for resident hunters under limited entry hunting rules is “not accurate,” the ministry says.

Forests Minister Steve Thomson said in an interview he made the decision on the latest allocation after a long consultation

where the BCWF and the Guide Out� tters Association of B.C. couldn’t agree. The decision was to provide certainty for guide businesses, but also took away guides’ rights to pool regional game allotments and hunt in vacant guiding territories.

“There are

arguments over the number, depending on which base you use, and I expect those arguments will continue,” Thomson said. “At the end of the day we all want the same thing, which is healthy wildlife populations.”

BCWF hosted hunter meetings in

Kelowna and Langley this week, and spokes-man Jesse Zeman said hunters were lined up out the door in Langley. He said the latest changes are part of a longer-term shift going back more than a decade that has seen a loss of harvest share for resident hunters.

Tax increases coming

Hunters protest regulation shift favouring non-residents

By Jackie LieuwenHouston Today

Houston can expect steady tax hikes over the next ten years.

The District of Houston is developing an asset management plan which will call for more tax revenue to pay for maintenance and replacement of infrastructure and roads.

Council discussed their � ve-year � nancial plan and a 40-year infrastructure outlook at a � nance meeting Dec. 18.

Director of Finance William Wallace says taxes will increase close to three percent every year over the next � ve years as the District recovers from the closure of Houston Forest Products and the $480,000 annual loss in tax revenue.

Then the following � ve years, 2019 to 2024, council will consider tax increases

for in� ation plus at least � ve percent increases a year for asset management.

“I’d be surprised if it’s less than seven percent increases,” Wallace said.

Houston Mayor Shane Brienen says Houston will not be alone.

“Every community in B.C. is talking about this,” he said.

C h i e f A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Of� cer Michael Glavin adds that it’s likely to become mandatory for communities to have an asset management plan.

In Ontario, following the Walkerton tragedy, all local governments are required to have such plans in order to receive provincial or federal grants.

Mayor Brienen says the B.C. government has been signalling that it’s coming to B.C.

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Merry Christmas from all of us at Glacier Toyota. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you in 2015.God bless and safe travels GLACIER TOYOTA

Jackie Lieuwen/Houston TodayFIREFIGHTING GrantThe Houston Fire Department got a $40,000 grant for training and equipment. Houston Fire Chief Jim Daigneault says $35,000 is for turnout gear and breathing apparatuses and $5,000 is for training. The funding is a Public Safety Community Gaming Grant from the Province of B.C. The Houston Department has 30 volunteer firefighters plus Fire Chief Daigneault.

See TAX on Page 2

See HUNT on Page 3

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NEWS2 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, December 31, 2014 Houston Today

Wishing everyone the best of the season

and a most happy New Year!

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Barry and Debi Smith are pleased to present a photo of the marriage

between

Karly Osborne

and

Matt McRae,

taken August 2, 2014 on Vancouver Island where

the happycouple resides.

B.V. Driving School Ltd. is offering an air brakes course in Houston on

Friday (evening) January 16th, Saturday, January 17th &

Sunday, January 18th, 2015.

Spaces are limited so call ASAPEmail: [email protected] • www.bvdrivingschool.ca

AIR BRAKES COURSE

Anyone interested in taking the course or wants more information about the air brakes course, please call

250-845-3288 or Cell 250-845-1112 Toll Free: 1-888-644-3555

The District has invested close

to $60 million in infrastructure and roads since 1958,

and those assets have average lifespans of 50 years, said Wallace.

Over the time since construction, the value of District assets has diminished over fifty percent, or $30 million, Wallace said.

Those values are in historical cost (i.e.

figures from as far back as the 1960s) and do not factor in inflation.

If the cost is in figures from 1958, are we to assume the actual investment now is over double that? asked Councillor Jonathan Van

Barneveld.Wallace said he

would argue that “it may be possible to do it for the same money.”

Maintaining roads and infrastructure costs much less then replacing it, and Wallace suggests that council stretch the lifespan of District assets as long as possible.

He also says council won’t need to replace everything.

Land Use and Transportation Plans show that Houston was built for 6,000 people.

With the current population estimated by BC stats at 3,041, Wallace says the District could downsize on infrastructure and maintain enough to sustain a population of 4,500.

“Hopefully there will be options to downgrade or decommission,” he said.

Wallace suggests the District work through the mill closure until 2019, then start implementing an asset management plan with three ten-year phases.

Houston’s asset management plan is being developed in 2015 and will be included in the 2016 five-year financial plan.

District plans for management of assetsTAX from Page 1

Houston Singh Minhas was born on December 4, weighing seven pounds, seven ounces. His parents Ravi and Sharan Minhas said they named their new son Houston “because it has deep roots for us.” Ravi’s grandparents and parents Tejinder and Bina had their first start in Houston, he and his brother grew up here. “My brother and I were raised there amongst our best friends and close relatives in Houston. We will never forget Houston!” he said.

BABY Houston Photo submitted

NEWSHouston Today Wednesday, December 31, 2014 www.houston-today.com 3

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Charitable Receipts issued!Bill says: “Please note: year end is coming fast - December 31. Anyone who has a taxable incomeon which tax has been deducted, will have an opportunity to get a substantial refund on the

taxes that were deducted.Example: Donations made before December 31st

should qualify for a refund of approximately 43%. ie: Donation: $1,000 = reduction or refund approx. $430.00

Buy a Membership6 Year Membership: $25Life Membership: $100

* Not before May 15th

Donati ons can be mailed to:Houston Reti rement Housing Society

PO Box 27, 3603 11th St.Houston, BC V0J 1Z0

Charitable Receipts issued!Bill says: “Please note: year end is

coming fast - December 31. Anyone who has a taxable income on which tax has been deducted, will have an

opportunity to get a substanti al refund on the taxes that were deducted.Example: Donati ons made before

December 31st should qualify for a refund of approximately 43%.

ie: Donati on: $1,000 = reducti on or refund approx. $430.00

Buy a Membership6 Year Membership: $25Life Membership: $100

HOUSTON & DISTRICT BRANCH 2365 Copeland Ave. P.O. Box 1480, Houston

Ph: 250-845-7117

Community Calendar proudly sponsored by

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

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HoustonCOMMUNITY CALENDARHouston Public Library Events: Guitar lessons taught by Al Trampuh beginning Jan 2015.

HSS 2013-2014 Yearbooks: All graduated students from last year & present students please pick up. If you didn’t prepay, yearbooks are $50.

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

Seniors Bingo is every Tuesday at 7:00pm at Cottonwood Manor. Entry is $1. Come out & enjoy a fun prize filled evening. Lots of prizes!

Coffee Break - an Interactive Women’s Bible Study meet every Wed. 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.

The Houston Legion Branch 249: Meeting: 2nd Monday of the month is Executive, 4th Monday is

General Meeting.

Houston’s “Love by the Bowl” Soup Kitchen serving healthy homemade soups in two different seatings, 11:00 -12:00 and 12:00 -1:00 on Wed.

Activities for Seniors in Houston at the Seniors Centre: Carpet Bowling Tues. & Fri. 1:00 PM • Floor Curling Mon. 1:00 PM • Pool any afternoon to schedule call; Adrian-250-845-2338 • Breakfasts- first Sat. of the month, community invited. • Soup and Sandwich luncheon- third Thurs. of the month. Community invited. At Pleasant Valley Village, 3603 11th St.: Senior Exercise, Mon. & Fri 10:00 AM • Cards Mon. & Thurs. 7:00 PM. At the Bowling Alley: Seniors bowling Wed. 1:30 PM. At the Houston Swimming Pool: Aquafit, Mon., Wed. & Fri. 9-10 AM. At the Legion: Seniors darts and light lunch Thursdays 11a.m. - 2 p.m.

TopleyStructural Firefighting/

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).

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

GranisleGranisle and District Seniors meeting every 2nd Sunday of the month at 7:00pm at the Seniors Centre.

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

Granisle Church of the Way services are Sunday, 11:00am.

Proud supporters of Ringette in Houston.

DISTRICT OF HOUSTONwww.houston.ca

2015 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE

In accordance with section 127 of the Community Charter Council must make available to the public the date, time and place of Regular Council Meetings. The 2015 Regular Council Meetings will be held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month in Council Chambers, at 3367 – 12th Street, Houston, B.C. commencing at 7:00 pm as follows:

January 6, 2015 January 20, 2015 February 3, 2015 February 17, 2015 March 3, 2015 March 17, 2015 April 7, 2015 April 21, 2015 May 5, 2015 May 19, 2015 June 2, 2015 June 16, 2015 July 7, 2015 July 21, 2015 August 4, 2015 August 18, 2015 September 1, 2015 September 15, 2015 October 6, 2015 October 20, 2015 November 3, 2015 November 17, 2015 December 1, 2015 December 15, 2015

The dates and the location of Regular Council Meetings are subject to change.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME.

Upon request, a schedule of the Regular Council Meetings is available at the Municipal Office during regular office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (except on statutory holidays) by phoning 250-845-2238. The schedule is also available on the District of Houston website at www.houston.ca.

Linda Poznikoff, Interim Corporate Services Officer


Houston council adopted the new Labour Market Strategy Nov. 18.

The plan was developed by consultants Andrea Newell and Pat H u f n a g e l - S m i t h between March 3 and November 30.

I n f o r m a t i o n for the plan was

collected from key employers in the area, workers finishing at Houston Forest Products, employers and workers at the Houston Job Fair in April and local service providers.

To view the plan go to www.houston.ca/siteengine/ActivePage.asp?NewsID=0 and click News Release - Labour Market Partnership.

Labour Market Consultants Andrea Newell and Pat Hufnagel-Smith.

District adopts plan for assets

B.C. hunters are concerned that the share reserved for guide-outfitters is now higher than anywhere else in North America. Under the latest pol-icy, that share is 20 per cent for elk, 20 or 25 per cent for moose depending on the re-stricted region, 35 per cent for mountain goat, and 40 per cent for grizzly bears.

Open season areas for moose and other animals remain in the southern Interior and northeast, where anyone can buy a li-cense and tag to hunt. Abundant species such

as mule deer, whitetail deer and black bear have no hunting quo-tas in any part of B.C.

Zeman said for prized species such as Roosevelt elk on Vancouver Island, winning a resident tag in the lottery is rare enough to be a once-in-a-lifetime op-portunity. As hunter numbers rebound, they increasingly face the choice to aim for another species, drive long distances to an unrestricted region, or hire a guide.

The latest changes include returning Kootenay bighorn sheep to a general

open season for guided hunting. The restriction that only full-curl rams can be hunted remains in place.

Thomson said the population will be closely watched, and harvest limits returned if necessary. Zeman said the BCWF is concerned that this iconic Rocky Mountain trophy could once again be over-hunted.

The popularity of hunting in B.C. continues to increase, from about 81,000 licences issued in 2003 to more than 100,000 last year, which means

more resident hunters are losers in regional hunting lotteries.

BCWF compiled statistics for moose, the most popular big-game target. Moose populations have de-clined in some areas while both applica-tions from resident hunters and the share reserved for guides has risen.

In 2005 there were 56,000 applications for moose, with only one out of five successful. By 2013, there were nearly 67,000 would-be resident moose hunters, 54,000 of whom were refused a moose tag.

Reserves for guides highest anywhereHUNT from Page 1

Jackie Lieuwen/Houston Today

In our opinion: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]

Climate adaptationIt’s time to look beyond the protests and political

battles around climate change that dominated 2014, and look at the year and the decade ahead.

From the California drought to shifting forest patterns across B.C., there is evidence that our climate is changing more rapidly. Public debate consists mainly of squabbling about the signi� cance of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, rather than what can be done to prepare.

A draft discussion paper from the B.C. forests ministry on wild� re control was released in December after an access to information request. “Climate Change Adaptation and Action Plan For Wild� re Management, 2014-2024” describes the progress made in the province’s community forest � re prevention plan, and its goal to create “wild� re resilient ecosystems and wild� re adapted communities” over the next 10 years.

The � nal discussion paper is to be released early in 2015, but the key research is in. It estimates that by 2017 there will be 788 million cubic metres of dead pine in B.C. forests. Fires in these areas spread 2.6 times faster than in healthy green stands, up to 66 metres per minute.

The report calls for fuel management beyond community boundaries to stop “mega-� res” by creating landscape-level fuel breaks, with targeted harvesting, prescribed burning and new silviculture practices.

It notes that bark beetle infestations and bigger, hotter � res are being seen across North America, with costs rising along with urban development. For example, the 2011 Slave Lake � re in northern Alberta generated the second largest insurance charge in Canadian history.

The costs of preparing are huge. The costs of not preparing could be catastrophic.

Also in 2014, the B.C. government appointed an advisory committee to prepare for the renewal of the Columbia River Treaty with the United States.

While this 1964 the treaty has no end date, its � ood control mandate expires in 2024. I spoke with Deborah Harford and Jon O’Riordan, members of the Simon Fraser University Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT), who, along with ACT senior policy author Robert Sandford, have written a provocative book on the treaty. They hope it will help lead to a renewed agreement that will be a model for a changing world.

“If you’re looking ahead 60 years from 2024, there’s a lot of climate change projected in that period, for British Columbia and the U.S.,” Harford said. “For the B.C. side, we’re looking at heavy precipitation and potential increase in snowmelt runoff, while in the States, you’re getting the opposite, much less snow.

“There will probably be no snowpack left down there, and they’re looking at the prospect of quite drastically lower � ows in the summer.”

The treaty, sparked by devastating � oods in 1948, led to construction of three dams on the B.C. side and one at Libby, Washington that backed up Kookanusa Lake into B.C. Between that reservoir and the Arrow Lakes, 110,000 hectares of B.C. land was � ooded, including orchards, dairy farms and the homes of 2,000 people.

Those dams hold back spring � ood water and provide for irrigation that has allowed Washington to expand its agriculture to a $5 billion-a-year industry. The treaty shares the value of hydroelectric power generated by the many downstream U.S. dams such as the Grand Coulee, but it pays B.C. nothing for agricultural bene� ts that were achieved at the cost of B.C. farms and aboriginal territories.

- Tom Fletcher, Black Press

Focus directs our futureIt’s that time of

year again when I start talking about making a list of New Year’s resolutions and my husband starts de-claring his disdain for them.

“The majority of people making them fail,” he’ll say. “So why bother?”

I did some internet research and study af-ter study con� rmed he was right. That still didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for them though.

As far as I can tell, one of the biggest rea-sons most of us don’t succeed with our reso-lutions is because we have an all-or-nothing mentality, and we tend to view our � rst set-back as absolute fail-ure, rather than a mere obstacle to overcome.

For example, if one of my goals is to get in better physical shape,

I can’t give up just because I consumed an entire box of Oreo cookies in one sitting. I have to acknowledge I didn’t make the wis-est decision in getting closer to reaching that particular goal, and prepare to make better choices going forward.

A well-developed plan that allows for these occasional mis-steps can make the dif-ference. We shouldn’t be so hard on our-selves by expecting to be perfect. Instead we should aim to be per-sistent.

I’ve looked at some of my lists from years past and I can see that the more thought I put into each goal, the better my results have been.

From experience I now know that “write a book” is too broad and vague as is - it needs a detailed strate-

gy. To accomplish this objective I must tackle it in more manageable bite-sized chunks.

Author E.L. Doctorow once said: “Writing is like driv-ing at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” This analogy doesn’t just apply to best sell-ing historical novels, but to any lofty goal.

Breaking down our big ambitions into smaller, more achiev-able tasks can keep us from getting over-whelmed and feeling stuck.

Another important element to realizing our dreams is our will-ingness to seriously fo-cus on them – not just when we create our lists, but when our mo-tivation dwindles and we lose our way. That’s when we need to take

some time to re-focus and re-commit.

In the past year, I found myself needing to do that often. Life can get messy and be-coming distracted can easily blur our vision and take our eyes off the prize.

For that reason I’m a sucker for fresh starts.

The � rst of a new year is my favourite, but a new month, new week or even a new day is also a great op-portunity to re-ener-gize. And just thinking about what I want to accomplish is never enough. I need to per-sonally document my intentions to solidify and prioritize their level of importance.

New Year’s resolu-tions, to me, are sim-ply a written list of attainable goals that I plan on achieving in the following year.

Imperfection will in-evitably play a part, as will persistence and a constant re-focusing as I go along.

But to avoid work-ing for the future rather than living in the present – a mistake I’ve made before – I will be sure to include the following as one of the most impor-tant goals on my list: “Enjoy the process.”

Life is too short to do it any other way.

4 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, December 31, 2014 Houston Today

On a brighter note

Lori Welbourne

On a brighter note

Lori Welbourne

On a brighter On a brighter

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John Siebenga Houston Councillor

“I’m still not familiar with all the issues that affect the District, but my three priori-ties are people, environment and business.

My decisions will be based first on what will assist, support and help the members of this community. Second, on what will preserve, enhance and protect the natural beauty of the area. Third, on what will encourage,

equip and sustain businesses in this town. I look forward to working on council and

beginning to implement my vision for mak-ing Houston a good choice based on those

priorities.”

Tim AndersonHouston Councillor

“I’ve got to get familiar with what the previous council has started, and

tie up loose ends. Then, I will get some training to better understand

Houston finances and projects. Then we’ll sit down as council and

go over our individual goals and develop a plan as a whole council about a direction for Houston.”

Dawn PotvinHouston Councillor

“In light of everything, we had a strong and progressive 2014. My hopes for our community in 2015 is to continue to show our strength and to move forward in enhancing health care services and attracting secondary industry. We are defi-

nitely moving in the right direction and I’m excited for what’s in store.”

Shane BrienenHouston Mayor

“Improving health care for residents is my number one goal. Second is to move forward with the economic development plan for Houston. With the closure of Houston Forest Products,

we want to help support local businesses as much as we can.”

Clark on climate, clawbacks, credit cards

What are your goals

for Houston in 2015?

On theStreet...

By Jackie Lieuwen

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, December 31, 2014 www.houston-today.com 5

By Tom FletcherBlack Press

TF: Are you still con� dent that we’re going to see a major LNG project approved by the end of 2014?

PCC: We’re still in negotiations with Petronas and Shell, so I don’t know if it will be by the end of 2014, but I’m hoping in the next few months.

[Days after this interview, Petronas announced a delay in their investment decision until 2015.]

TF: I talked to a couple of SFU climate

mitigation specialists, and they agreed that it’s unlikely to the point of impossible to have a major LNG industry and still meet Gordon Campbell’s ambitious greenhouse gas target of a 33 per cent reduction by 2020. What do you think?

PCC: I think that we may prove them wrong. Many of these facilities, not all of them, will be partly or fully electrically powered up, so that reduces those impacts, and there’s going to be a real incentive to invest in new technology to

minimize that as well.I think the bigger

picture is what really matters, which is that in shipping 82 million tonnes of lique� ed natural gas to Asia, we help them get off coal and other dirtier sources of oil, and that is the biggest contribution that we’ve ever made to reducing climate change.

TF: Ontario and Quebec have taken a page from your book. They have seven conditions for an oil pipeline, Energy East, which involves conversion of gas

pipelines and taking Alberta oil to the East Coast. What do you think?

PCC: I think they took our � ve conditions and elaborated on them. So you’ve got British Columbia, Alberta, now Ontario and Quebec, all signed on to some version of the � ve conditions. And of course Enbridge and Kinder Morgan as well.

TF: What about the conditions they have added?

PCC: One of the things they say they want to protect against is a shortage of natural

gas coming to Ontario and Quebec. These are the same two provinces that have put a moratorium on extracting natural gas. They want to make sure that we do it here, good enough for us to do, and send it to them, but they won’t do that themselves. I look at their last two conditions, and I roll my eyes a little bit.

TF: All the way to New Brunswick, they’ve basically bought the anti-hydraulic fracturing myth?

PCC: Yes.

Somehow they all watched an American mockumentary or whatever you call it, and believed it. Here in British Columbia we do fracking better than anywhere in the world. It is the gold standard.

TF: Finance Minister Mike de Jong says we have a surplus estimated at more than $400 million for this � scal year, and he suggested that much of that would have to go to pay off de� cits from previous years. Of course the opposition is interested in welfare rates and in particular

ending child support clawbacks. What’s your view?

PCC: Like any family that’s been through tough times, the � rst thing you need to do when you get back to � nding a job and making an income again, is to pay off your credit cards. And that’s what we’re going to do.

We are going to see if we can � nd ways to improve some of the programs over time, but can’t do that until we can afford it. It’s typical, the NDP want us to spend the money before we have it.

Tom StringfellowHouston Councillor

“I hope to make gains towards 24/7 health care, and bring new ideas to achieve that. Obviously what we’re doing isn’t working

and I think ideas will come out of the Northern Health Review of Houston’s health services. I’d like to see new development in Houston in 2015. It could be an exciting year with all the talk on development in the north. Hopefully we can attract new

business. I think the Houston Labour Market Strategy gives a clear view of how to proceed.

We will also be moving forward with projects started by the previous council.”

Rick LundriganHouston Councillor

“My goal is to work with council in moving Houston forward, while being

cognizant of our budget shortfalls. Hopefully we’ll prioritize our current

infrastructure and facility needs. Before moving forward on new

projects, we need to ensure a need, and sustainability in our current and

future budgets.”

Jonathan Van BarneveldHouston Councillor

“My priorities are to finish the projects we started, like branding and tourism, and get the town moving in a positive

direction in terms of HFP recovery. The focus is attracting new residents

and promoting our assets.”


Featuring the spirit of the local people

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllddddddddddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssssssssssss

CourageousBattles

HumanInterest

AthletesPioneers

Achieving

Serving the communities of...

Houston

Brought to you by your MLA John Rustad

John Rustad, MLANechako Lakes

Box 421183 First Street, VanderhoofTel: 250-567-6820Fax: 250-567-6822

Toll Free: 1-877-964-5650Email: [email protected]

Website: www.johnrustadmla.bc.ca


The $7.3 million renovations on Babine school in Granisle are set to be done early-February 2015.

Started in March 2013, the massive project involved demolishing 40,000 square feet and completely renovating of the rest of the building.

The Ministry of Education paid $5.3 million for the modular classrooms and some renovations, and School District 91 paid the other $2 million, said Tim Bancroft, Manager of Facilities for School District 91.

The project completion has been set back from the original goal of September 2014, and Mike McMillin, Site Superintendent, says the biggest challenge is the location.

The cost and time of getting equipment and materials shipped in is one challenge, he said.

But the biggest is � nding contractors who have time and are willing to work in Granisle, which is 78 kilometres from Houston and 98 kilometres from Burns Lake.

The project is managed by Unitech Construction Management Ltd., who � nished demolishing the extra classrooms in early-November.

Now they’re doing the � nishing work, such as putting up kitchen cabinets and counters and doing drywall and � ooring.

Babine Elementary-Secondary School has downsized from 65,000 square feet to 25,000, matching the drop in student enrolment, which was 425 students in the 1990s.

The school now enrols 29 students, 90 percent from the Tachet reserve near Granisle, said Senior Teacher Michael Gaal.

The three teachers and � ve aids are running classes in the � ve new modular classrooms.

Gaal says running school in a section just beside the renovations has “actually been really good.”

“The kids are really understanding of it, and they’re excited about the new school,” he said.

They’ve had to be � exible, going to the Seniors Centre for lunch and holding gym classes outside during the fall and now in classrooms using cardio equipment, doing weight lifting and exercise videos.

“The kids are really good at being � exible here,” Gaal said, adding that noise hasn’t been too big an issue.

“On the whole it’s been pretty good,” he said.

Facilities Manager Bancroft says they are looking forward to � nishing the school and moving the kids in.

“Although they’ve got � ve classrooms, they’re a bit cramped where they are. They’re looking forward to having more open space.

“It’s going to look really nice and modern, with stain glass windows and a nice open learning space with lots of windows and lots of light.”

Bancroft says the new school design will facilitate less traditional classroom work, and more collaborative learning.

“We’re excited,” he said.

$7.3 million renovations downsize Granisle school

Jackie Lieuwen photos/Houston Today

Site Superintendent Mike McMillin stands in the newly renovated common area, with lots of windows and good space for collaborative learning.

Renovations on Babine Elementary-Secondary School are nearly complete. On the left is where Unitech is finishing renovations, on the right are the five modular classrooms where classes are being held.


Community BuilderFeaturing the stories and spirit of the local people


Houston Search and Rescue (SAR) is

ordering a new $144,000 primary response vehicle.

The club landed $89,000 in grants from the Province of B.C., with $64,500 announced last Tuesday and $24,500 redirected from 2013.

They also received over $51,000 from businesses and community organizations to cover most of the cost.

SAR Director Andy Muma says he is blown away by the community support.

With the recent closure of Houston Forest Products, they weren’t sure about asking for community donations.

But they were shocked at the large donations made by

the community, Muma said.“We just got blown away

by the donations. It was incredible.”

Funders include TransCanada, Chris Markoff Foundation, Bulkley Valley Credit Union, Lakes District Maintenance, Dungate Community Forests, Canfor, Monster Industries, Finning, Vanderhoof & District Co-op, Huckleberry Mine,

Houston Peterbilt, Andy Meints Contracting, Mt. Davis Logging, and Wilson Bros. Enterprises.

The local funding helped secure the Public Safety Community Gaming Grants from the Province.

SAR President Frank McDonald says up until now SAR volunteers have been using personal vehicles and equipment in searches and storing their gear in a District of Houston shed.

The new vehicle, custom-designed for the north, uniquely combines a command vehicle, patient transport and equipment

storage into one. “It’s the fi rst vehicle of

this style in the province,” said Muma.

It “will help us respond to emergencies and searches without delay and without concerns that we are missing critical equipment.”

Muma says they can now be up and running within four minutes of a call.

“It’s turn key. You get a call, turn the key and go,” he said.

Houston SAR is still accepting donations. If interested contact Andy at 250-877-3622 or Frank at 250-845-7030.

Search and Rescue lands grantsfor new response vehicle

“Dungate Community Forest Directors Jerry Veillette and Russell Tiljoe present a $5,000 cheque to Houston SAR Directors. The grant is to help Houston SAR purchase a new primary response vehicle.







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

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

Black/Grey Logo file Colour Logo File

2365 Copeland Ave., Houston, B.C.

Phone: 250-845-7117email: [email protected]

www.bvcu.com

Since May 1941, Bulkley Valley Credit Union has been building a solid financial institution that members fromBurns 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.Personal service and members’ needs will always be our prime priorities.

It “will help us respond to

emergencies and searches without

delay ....” - Andy Muma SAR Director

Jackie Lieuwen photos/Houston Today

SAR Directors present Grant Writer Val Anderson with her choice of a new quilt in thanks for the hours she spent helping them secure the Community Gaming Grant from the Province of B.C. The quilts were given to Houston SAR in 2013 as thanks from the mother of the late Warren Sills from Ohio. Sills was the subject of an over 10-day search in Kitwanga, which Houston and 11 other SAR teams participated in Nov. 2012.

NEWS8 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, December 31, 2014 Houston Today

Burns Lake

165 Francois Lake Dr.Phone: 1-250-692-7725

Starland Your Heating

Destination

$189/ton

Electric Heaters1500 watt Ceramic Heater – $29.991500 watt Ceramic Oscillating Heater – $38.991500 watt Infrared Heater – $149.99

Every Day Low Prices

• Check with our heating specialists to help you with your next insulated chimney package!

Need a new chimney?

1777 3rd Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2L 3G7Phone (250) 563-7771 • Fax (250) 563-0274 • Toll Free: 1-800-565-3642

Steelworkers Local 1-424commits itself to the establishment and maintenance of fully sustainable forestry. Forestry that leaves to future generations of Canadians a rich endowment of � sh and wildlife, soils capable of supporting varied ecosystems,

and commercial forests managed so as to provide many more jobs and the wide range of forest recreations that

Canada values.

Happy New Year

We wish you and yours health andhappiness this holiday season!

HOPE

Sponsored by Riverside Gardens

The Spirit of Christ“Wishing you the blessings of the season”, “Have a

wonderful holiday season”, “May the spirit of Christmas be with you throughout the holiday season”, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”, “Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a world of peace and beauty”. These are all Christmas sayings and comments we have all heard or spoken. I have noticed that many people are more positive and outgoing during this time of the year. Why is this? Maybe it’s the beautiful presents that are coming, or maybe it’s the music of peace and love. There is a de� nite general change in attitude this time of year, but what about the rest of the year? How will we feel when the bills come in at the end of January?

The apostle Paul wrote “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other; loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be sel� sh; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ had. ‘Though he was God, he did not think that equality with God was something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave, and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.’”

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

Philippians 2:1-8,13 NLTThe “spirit of Christmas” may only last for a few days or

weeks but the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ; that lives in every true Christian, is with us throughout every day of the year.

My prayer is that our hearts will be � lled with faith in Jesus Christ, that the Spirit of Christ will lead us into a life � lled with love, joy and peace throughout the coming year and for all eternity.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

Submitted by Ken Penner

forToday

Lakes District Maintenance and the Bulkley Valley Credit Union were among the fifteen funders who helped Search and Rescue buy a new primary response vehicle. The vehicle combines patient transport, a command vehicle and storage into one and will help SAR respond better and faster to emergencies.

Above L-R: SAR President Frank McDonald, SAR Director Rob Onderwater, LDM Planning and QA Manager Cori Funk and LDM Operations Manager Steve Gailing. Below L-R: BVCU staff Rhea Super, Sjoukje Warren, Theresa Niven and SAR President Frank McDonald.

SAR Support


By Jeff NagelBlack Press

BC’s latest liquor reform will make it easier for wine stores to relocate into grocery stores – provided they offer only B.C. wines. There’s no sign the government is rethinking its change to wholesale wine pricing that will sharply drive up the price of more expensive bottles.

The announcement by Justice Minister

Suzanne Anton in Langley is being hailed by B.C. wineries because some supermarkets that can begin selling wine come April will be barred from stocking foreign wines.

Under the change, existing VQA and independent wine stores can relocate or transfer their licence to an eligible grocery store as long as 100 per cent B.C. wine is sold. Those licence transfers

won’t be limited by a rule that disallows new outlets if there’s an existing one within one kilometre.

Liquor policy reform leader John Yap called it a “winning combination” to allow grocery shoppers to also buy B.C. wine and support the local industry.

“The B.C. wine industry is entering into a new era of winemaking,” added Chaberton co-owner

Eugene Kwan.The new model

is different from the store-within-a-store model in that it allows B.C. wine to be on regular grocery store shelves and shoppers would pay for it at designated registers staffed by trained employees who are at least 19.

Anton said a limited number of new licences – she would not specify how many – will be made available to sell just B.C. wine in grocery stores.

The extra licences will mean more competition for private wine stores that have already been critical of some of the province’s liquor reforms.

Vancouver lawyer Mark Hicken, who acts for wine industry clients, predicts there will be “no takers” on wine stores relocating under the new B.C.-only model because they would lose most of their international product lines.

Hicken said the B.C.-only rule may violate Canada’s international trade agreements.

B.C. wines to come to grocery stores


SAWMILL SUPERVISORSoda Creek Division, Williams Lake, B.C.Do you thrive in a dynamic and challenging environment with opportunities for continuous growth and development?

At Tolko people are our most valuable resource and our success is dependent on innovative individuals who are aligned with our organizational values.

Our tradition of excellence is built on strong company values, a challenging work environment and continuous development. Tolko’s value for safety, the environment, and sustainable business practices are key to being an industry leader in the world market of today.

We are currently seeking a Sawmill Supervisor to join our teams in the Soda Creek Division, in Williams Lake, BC.

If you are interested in exploring this opportunity and being part of our community, please apply via our website www.tolko.com by January 11, 2015.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

POSITION OVERVIEW The Soda Creek Sawmill Supervisor will be responsible for exceeding targets in quality, cost control and employee engagement with an uncompromising focus on safety standards. This key position reports to the Sawmill Superintendent and works closely with maintenance and other staff to ensure safety, production and overall plant efficiency. The successful incumbent will require superior leadership skills to deliver on World Class results and possesses a comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing operations, OH&S and industrial relations.

QUALIFICATIONS: 3-5 years related supervisory experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment

Post-secondary education in forestry, business, engineering or related field

Self-motivated individual with organizational, time management and analytical skills

Proven ability to work in a team environment

Superior computer application skills

Technical knowledge of sawmill equipment and log and lumber scanning systems

School District No. 54 (Bulkley Valley) is accepting applications for the position of Commercial Transport mechanic in Smithers. The successful applicant will be responsible for repairs, inspections and maintenance of the School District fleet. Candidates must meet the following qualifications:• Completion of Grade 12 ( Dogwood Certificate) • Valid BC Trade Certification as a Commercial

Transport Mechanic• Valid BC Driver’s Licence - Class II Drivers

Licence with an exemplary driving record as demonstrated by a current drivers’ abstract.

• Understanding of the Motor Vehicle Act and the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Standards

• WHMIS Certificate and familiarity with WCB safety procedures

• Experience as a Mechanic with specific background in light, medium and heavy duty vehicles and school buses

• Physical capability to perform the job duties including working inclement weather conditions

ONLY THOSE APPLICANTS CHOSEN FOR INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONTACTED.Please send resumes in confidence to:Ms. Bobbie KingsmillHuman Resources Administrator Box 758, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0Email : [email protected]

3 FULL TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE:HOUSTON FOOD MARKET

3428 - 9th Street, Houston • email: [email protected]

• Customer service - making subs, pitas, pizzas.• Kitchen work as required.• Must be able to work weekends and nights as required.• Must be able to work split shifts as required.• Part time also accepted but must work weekends & nights.• Full time is 40 hours per week.

Rate: $10.25 - $11.50 per hour

APPLY WITH RESUME

As one of Northern BC’s largest Integrated Forest Management Companies with almost 40 years of harvesting, hauling, and forest licence management experience, KDL Group offers an impressive array of opportunities. We are a fast-paced, growing company looking for talented people to join us and expand our Maintenance Team in Mackenzie BC.

We are accepting applications for a Certified Journeyman Heavy Duty Mechanic. Interested candidates must be dedicated, energetic with an aptitude to learn. Experience with Madill and Tigercat equipment will be considered an asset. Candidates must possess a valid BC driver’s license and have resource road driving experience. We offer competitive wages and an extensive benefit plan.

Interested individuals may send resumes via fax to 250-996-8742 or email [email protected] Attn: Human Resources, Subject:

Mackenzie Maintenance Application.

www.kdlgroup.net www.district.mackenzie.bc.ca

CERTIFIED HEAVY DUTY MECHANIC

Career Opportunities



Employment Employment

Help Wanted

Announcements

Place of Worship

HOUSTON & AREA CHURCH

DIRECTORYHouston

Fellowship Baptist Church3790 C.R. Matthews Rd.

Pastor: Larry BallantyneSunday 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 VanDam [email protected]

ce Phone: 250-845- 441~ Everyone Welcome ~

3797 Omineca Way, Box 36, Houston, BC

Houston ChristianReformed Church

1959 Goold St., Box 6,Houston 250-845-7578

Pastor MartinVellekoop

~ 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 pm

Sunday School:During the Service

Everyone Welcome

Anglican Churchof St. Clement

2324 Butler Ave., Box 599, Houston, BC

Phone: 250-845-4940

Services are:10:30 a.m. Sundays

Guru Nanak Sikh

Temple AssociationSantokh Singh

Manhas 250-845-2705

Houston, B.C. V0J lZ0

Announcements

InformationAL-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

PersonalsMEET SINGLES right now! No paid operators, just real peo-ple like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and con-nect live. Try it free. Call now: 1-800-712-9851

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

TravelRV LOT Rentals $8.95 a day. 362 days of sunshine, pets, events, classes, entertain-ment. Reserve by 11/01/2014. Visit: www.hemetrvresort.com. Call: 1-800-926-5593

Employment

Business Opportunities

THE DISABILITY Tax Credit. $1,500 yearly tax cred-it.$15,000 lump sum refund (on avg). covers: Hip/knee re-placements, arthritic joints, COPD. For help applying 1-844-453-5372.


MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION is an in-demand career in Canada! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get the online train-ing you need from an employ-er-trusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-888-528-0809 to start training for your work-at-home career to-day!

Employment

Drivers/Courier/Trucking

Lakes District Maintenance Ltd. has openings for

PLOW TRUCK OPERATORS

Positions are available in Bob Quinn Lake and Jade City. Both are camp locations with bunkhouses available for suc-cessful candidates. Positions are for this winter season.Wages start at $21.18/hr plus isolation, bunkhouse & other allowances. Experience is an asset, but not required. Class 3 BC Drivers licence with air required. Apply with resume and current drivers abstract:

In person:881 – Hwy 16W

Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0Fax: 250-692-3930

Email: [email protected]

More career opportunities at ldmltd.ca/careers/

Education/Trade Schools

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIP-MENT OPERATOR SCHOOL.NO Simulators. In-the-seat training. Real world tasks.Weekly start dates. Job board! Funding options.SignUp online! iheschool.com 1-866-399-3853

Trades, Technical

Help Wanted

Trades, Technical

Your community. Your classifi eds.

250.845.2890

fax 250.845.7893 email [email protected]

The Houston Mall, Box 899, Houston, B.C. V0J 1Z0 Phone: (250) 845-2890

Fax: (250) 845-7893 email:

[email protected] Every Wednesday

TO REACH THE MARKETFirst advertise in the Houston Today! ALL WORD ADS go on the Internet for the whole world to see! www.bcclassified.com

REACHING USCall 250-845-2890 or come by our office. Hours are 9:00 - 11:00 am & 1:00 - 3:00 pm Mon. & Wed. thru Fri. (closed Tuesdays). Fax in your ad to 250-845-7893 or email: [email protected]

HOW TO PAYCome to our office in the Houston Mall, or you may pay with Visa or Mastercard over the phone. All ads must be prepaid. No refunds.

CLASSIFIED AD RATESREGULAR WORD ADS 3 lines (one week) .............$9.95

LEGAL ADS $12.60 per col. inch

HWY 16 REGIONAL ADS 3 lines - No changes - ad runs in: Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Prince George, Houston, Smithers, Ft. St. James, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat, Northern Connector (1 week) ............................... $78.88

BC BEST BUY ADS 25 words- No changes - ad runs one week, all papers covering: Lower Mainland .............$102.28 BC’s Interior ..................$124.95 Vancouver Island ...........$119.00 All of the Above .............$299.00 Extra charge for additional words

HAPPY ADS 2 col. x 2” or 1 col. x 4” To announce birthdays, weddings, births etc ............................$20.00Please call if you need more information on

any of our classified packages.

ALL ABOVE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE GST

DEADLINESThursday: 5:00pm

OUR POLICYHouston Today reserves the right to edit, revise, classify or reject any classified ad not meeting our standards. No refunds on Classifieds Ads.AGREEMENT - It is agreed by the advertiser requesting space that the liability of the Houston Today (Black Press Group Limited) in the event of failure to publish an advertisement in or the event of an error appearing in the advertisement as published shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for only one incorrect insertion or the portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect or omitted item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event greater than the amount paid for such advertising. All claims of errors in advertising must be received by the publisher within 2 days after the first publication.All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher.The Houston Today reminds advertisers that under Provincial legislation, no person shall use or circulate any form of application for employment, publish or cause to be published an advertisement in connection with employment or prospective employment, or make any written or verbal inquiry of an applicant that (a) expresses, either directly or indirectly any limitation, specification or preference as to race, religion, colour, sex, martial status, age, ancestry, or place of origin or a person; or (b) requires an applicant to furnish any information concerning race, religion, colour, ancestry, place of origin or political belief. In order to be credited for any mistakes the Houston Today is responsible for, corrections must be made before the second insertion.

INDEX IN BRIEFFamily Announcements .......... 001-007Community Announcements ... 008-076Children ................................ 080-098Employment .......................... 102-165Services ............................... 170-387Pets/Livestock ...................... 453-483Items for Sale/Wanted .......... 503-595Real Estate ........................... 603-696Rentals ................................ 700-757Transportation ....................... 804-860Marine.................................. 903-920Legals ....................................... Legal

1-250-762-94471-250-762-9447


Re/Max Houston 2436 Poulton Ave., Houston, BC

e-mail: [email protected]

Lia Long250-845-1147

Call 250-845-7325www.realtor.ca

The Hometown Experts with a World of Experience®

www.remaxhouston.ca

Locally owned and operated

$229,900

$154,900

$69,900

$45,000

MILLION DOLLAR VIEW!

WELCOME HOME

A BARGAIN FOR DO-IT YOURSELF BUYERS!

• Spacious, custom built home with some unique features: 9ft ceilings, skylights, tonnes of windows & a sunken living room with a gas fi replace.• Oak cabinets in kitchen, garden door off the dining room to a deck and a patio. Great mountain views. Laundry on the main. • Huge master bedroom with a huge walk in closet and an en-suite. • Basement features a cozy family room, 3rd bath, lots of storage and a big entrance with a wood stove. 18 x 20 garage, storage and wood shed.

NEW LISTING!

• Extensively renovated 4 bdrm, 2 bath home in a great neighbourhood!! • Really must be seen to be appreciated!! • Oak hardwood in kitchen/dining/living and hallway. • New countertops in kitchen and main bath. Laminate in bedrooms. • Some new windows. Full fi nished basement features huge rec-room, den and offi ce as well as a spacious laundry room and 3 piece bath! • And... outside features include a patio wired for a hot tub, detached 13x30 garage/workshop, and a really neat insulated & wired playhouse!• Fenced yard, ample parking. All appliances included. • Quick possession available!

• Affordable 3 bedroom home on a huge lot in Topley.• Many reno’s include vinyl siding, huge entrance, laminate fl oors• Bathroom updated. Full basement partially fi nished with a spacious family room, lots of shelving and a pellet stove.• Lots of parking. Low taxes!

• 4 bedroom rancher on a large lot in Topley. New metal roof.• Home is in need of repairs. 10x10 storage shed, greenhouse.• Open fl oor plan. Drilled well. All appliances included.• Woodstove does not meet EPA standards.• Could be a great rental or affordable fi rst home!

GET THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY!

FOR RENTMountain View Motel

Monthly & WeeklyBachelor & 1Bedroom Suites

(Furnished Or Unfurn.)Incl. All Util. Cable, Internet & Phone

(Resp. Peop, .N/P, N/S) Ref. Req.E-Mail - [email protected]

Call Terry 778-210-1703 Or 250-847-9009

PRIVATE SALE - BY OWNER - GREAT INVESTMENT!!LARGE 3 Bedroom Home with Garage

& Workshop BONUS-

MORTGAGE HELPER!!

Newly finished large 2 bedroom suite with

separate entrance.

4951 - 4th Ave, Smithers

All appliances included. Basement suite (900 sq.ft.) Large landscaped lot, garden area, patios. 2 minute walk to

Smithers Golf & Country Club. Very safe neighbourhood.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call Ryan 250-877-0657 or Terry 778-210-1703 email: [email protected]

For Sale By Owner

Rooms for Rent

For Sale By Owner

Rooms for Rent

Services

Financial ServicesARE YOU $10K or more in debt? DebtGo can help reduce a signifi cant portion of your debt load. Call now and see if you qualify. 1-800-351-1783

Services

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

Pets & Livestock

Feed & Hay

GRAINSCREENING

PELLETSDelivery available Houston to Williams Lake.

Call 250.567.8780

Merchandise for Sale

FirearmsFIREARMS: ALL types want-ed, estates, collections, single items, military. We handle all paperwork and transportation. Licensed dealer 1-866-960-0045. www.dollars4guns.com.

Merchandise for Sale

Misc. for SaleHOT TUB (SPA) COVERS. Best price. Best quality. All shapes & colours available. 1-866-652-6837 www.thecoverguy.com/newspaper?

STEEL BUILDINGS/metalbuildings 60% off! 20x28, 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, 50x120, 60x150, 80x100 sell for bal-ance owed! Call 1-800-457-2206 or visit us online at: www.crownsteelbuildings.ca.

1-250-762-9447

Phone: 250 845-2890Upstairs Houston Mall • Email: [email protected] • www.houston-today.com

Houston Today offers aReal Estate Showcase section

for local houses and businesses for sale.You get a 2 column x 2” display ad (includes photo)

for only

Samples:

Get results - place your ad today!

$99 + GST

RUNS 10 WEEKS!!

Selling your homeor business?

Advertise here!

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 fl 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

SAMPLE

• 1200 square feet• 3 bedrooms upstairs• 1 bedroom down• Large rec room• 1 ½ bathrooms

• All appliances updated• New fl ooring & paint main fl oor & basement• Chain link fence• Front & rear decks

• Paved driveway• Vinyl siding• & more

Phone evenings

HOUSE FOR SALE2930 Nadina Way, Houston BC

Selling priceSAMPLE

3x5 Chamber light up

Sending best wishes your way for a happy

and prosperousnew year.

Thank you for your patronage in 2014,we look forward to serving your Real

Estate needs in 2015.From Lia & Jo-Anne

Re/Max Houston 2436 Poulton Ave., Houston, BC

e-mail: [email protected]

Call 250-845-7325www.realtor.ca

www.remaxhouston.ca

Locally owned and operated

$147,500

$215,800

GET THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY!!!!

• 5 bedroom tastefully decorated, 2 bath home located minutes from the schools! • Many updates including paint, � ooring, bathrooms, countertops & stainless appliances. • Outside basement entry, sundeck, carport, private treed, fenced yard.• All appliances included. Call Lia to view 250-845-1147

• Unique 3 bedroom home on 5.22 acres just minutes from town. • Spacious open kitchen-dinning with an island and kitchen built-ins and stainless appliances. Tonnes of windows with great mountain view! • Vaulted ceilings in the living and family rooms. Floor to ceiling windows. • Huge main bath with jetted tub. Large foyer and laundry on the main. • 3 spacious bedrooms upstairs. Double garage, some fencing & outbuildings. • Metal roof, drilled well, wood/electric furnace. • The potential is endless in this home, do a little work and you have your dream home! Appliances included

The Hometown Experts with a World of Experience®

Lia Long250-845-1147

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES!

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1. Browse & ShopBrowse the mobile app

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2. Upload Receipt Take a photo of your receipt and submit it

through the app

3. Get Cash Back! Once you reach just $5, the money you save will be transferred into your

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SAVEANYWHERE.







them at any store


through the app


PayPal wallet

In partnership withSAVEANYWHERE.







them at any store


through the app


PayPal wallet

In partnership with

SAVEANYWHERE.







them at any store


through the app


PayPal wallet

In partnership with

Houston & District Chamber of Commerce3289 Highway 16 West, P.O. Box 396, Houston, B.C. V0J 1Z0Fax: (250) 845-3682 • Tel: (250) 845-7640Email: [email protected]

Happy New Year!

Light-Up Winners...West Side of Houston1st: Don Woodbeck - 1980 Sullivan WayHonorable Mention: Perry Slaney - 2775 Middleton Road

Eastside of Houston1st: Derrick Cox - 3252 3rd StreetHonorable Mention: Barb Perepelecta & Emma Larson - 3380 13th Street

Tree Contest1st: Houston Public LibraryHonorable Mention: Sullivan Motor Products

Wreath Contest1st : Countrywide SportsHonorable Mention: Remax

Make cashnot trash!#ShouldaUsedHouston

NEWS PHOTO FEATUREHouston Today Wednesday, December 31, 2014 www.houston-today.com 11

2014

YEAR IN

REVIEW

Above: Houston Forest Products shipped out their last load July 3. The closure affected 271 employees and the District of Houston is still recovering from the $480,000 annual loss in tax revenue.Below: November saw Regional District Directors elected for a four-year term. Bill Miller was re-elected by acclamation for Electoral Area B. The new director for Area E is Eileen Benedict. Jerry Petersen is the new director for Electoral Area F, and Rob Newell is the new director for Electoral Area G.

Houston elected a new mayor and council in November. L-R are Councillors Jonathan Van Barneveld and Rick Lundrigan, RCMP Sgt. Rose, Councillors Tom Stringfellow and Tim Anderson. Front L-R are Councillor John Siebenga, Mayor Shane Brienen and Councillor Dawn Potvin.

Above: Granisle elected a new council in November. Mayor Linda McGuire was re-elected and councillors are Thomas Liversidge, Zarna A. Dilley, James O’Farrell and Karen Barber.

The China Nose wildfire last August burned 3,450 hectares. At it’s peak, 182 firefighters, over 50 support staff, 15 helicopters and 43 pieces of heavy equipment battled the blaze. In addition, 120 homes were ordered to evacuate and 574 homes were on evacuation alert


Photos submitted


Houston Merchants Giftsfor the � rst baby of 2015...

555555 555555111 111

$50 GIFT CERTIFICATEFOR THE FAMILY FROM

$100DEPOSIT TO

Phone: 250-845-7117www.bvcu.com

A R.E.S.P. AT

$25GIFT CARD

FROM

$20 GIFT CERTIFICATE

FROM

Cappuccino Bar & Light Meals Daily

121 - 3429 10TH AVE, HOUSTON Phone: 250-845-2022

Brewsti r’s Café

LUNCH FOR TWOLUNCH FOR TWO

Call 250-845-2232Great Home-Cooked Meals!

UP TO $25 VALUE FROM $25 VALUE FROM

2-14” PIZZASWITH 3 TOPPINGS

9th Street in Downtown Houston Open 7 days a week ~ Eat in or take out

Phone: 250-845-2413

HoustonFood Market

GIFT BASKET$25 VALUE

3232 Highway 16 West


toward a

Registered EducationSavings Plan

Call us for more detailsFROM

HOUSTON MALL

Reitsma’sHome Hardware3462 - 9th Street, Houston Phone: 250-845-2419

FROM


250-845-2296Beer & Wine & Spirits Store

Pub & Lounge • Motel

IDYLWILDMOTOR INN


2350 Butler Ave.

250-845-3400

Smorgasbord every Friday& Saturday

A&WROOTBEAR

HoustonPhone: 250-845-7555

FOR BABYFROM

HAPPYJACK’SPUB

250-845-3010Cold Beer, Wine & Liquor Store

THEATRE PUNCH PASS

ONE PUNCH PASS

REGISTER FOR BOWLING LEAGUES

(BUY 7 TICKETS ANDGET ONE FREE)

FROM

FROM FROM

Open: Monday to Saturday: 10:00a.m.-10:00p.m.

Phone: 250-845-2298

BOUQUETFOR MOM

HAIR CUT FOR MOM OR DAD

HAIR CUTFOR MOM

1 YEAR GIFTSUBSCRIPTION

Located in the Steelhead BuildingPhone: 250-845-2329

ngellowers

& ifts

AFG

LUNCH FOR TWO

3488 Yellowhead Hwy. 16Phone: 250-845-2910

Smorgasbord everyFriday & Saturday

The ElementsRestaurant

$30 VALUE FROM

$60 VALUE FROM

Bulkley ValleyHome Centre Ltd.Phone: 250-845-76062920 Highway 16, Houston

HOUSTON PHARMASAVEStore Hours: Monday to Saturday

9:00 am to 6:00 pmClosed Sunday and Holidays

3429 - 10th St., Steelhead Centre, Houston

250-845-3700

$25GIFT CARD

FROM FROM FROM FROM

AUTHENTIC CHINESE FOOD & WESTERN CUISINE

Luncheon & Daily Specials

2430 Butler Ave. Houston Phone: 250-845-7118

The RazorsEdge

TO HOUSTON TODAY$35 VALUE FROM

HOUSTON MALL250-845-2890

www.houston-today.com

Proudly serving Houston and District

Shear Delight

(Hair Place in the Mall)

250-845-2536

Pleasant Valley PlazaMOVIE

THEATRE

2350 Butler AvenuePhone: 250-845-2298

Pleasant Valley PlazaBowling Centre

Pleasant Valley Properties Ltd.Thank-you for your business!

Documents

Houston Today, December 31, 2014