Houston Today, March 09, 2016

By Xuyun ZengHouston Today

Last year panned out as the best year for Houston Merchant Gift Certi� cates and the Chamber of Commerce would like to see further expan-sion of the program.

According to a re-port made to council,

economic develop-ment of� cer Maureen Czirfusz attracted $90,546 in gift cer-ti� cate purchases. Czirfusz credits the community’s involve-ment for making the program a success.

“With incredible in-volvement of the com-munity, because if it wasn’t for the commu-

nity, we’d never could have done it,” she said. “We had a lot of busi-nesses participating

this year, which was really wonderful and getting the word out.”

Sales for 2013 stood

at $71,000 and $70,000 for 2014. When the Chamber � rst took over the program, they received $15,000 in sales.

Last year’s $20,000 jump in sales can be attributed to more gift certi� cates around.

“We had more companies involved this year. More com-

panies were buying them either as incen-tives, safety programs, Christmas bonuses, or thank-you gifts,” she said.

Currently, 27 com-panies accept the gift certi� cates. The lat-est adopter being the District of Houston.

“It’s a very suc-cessful shop local

program, encourag-ing people to spend money in Houston,” she said. “Our slo-gan at the bottom is, ‘Keeping businesses in town, while keeping your town in business.’ ”

Czirfusz revealed that sales spiked in October 2013 when

Rustad in town

A good year for Houston Merchant gift certificates


Board mem-bers and members of the Chamber of Commerce, and Coun. John Siebenga at-tended a Chamber-organized noon lun-cheon with Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad last Friday.

Rustad highlighted that Houston would bene� t most from three areas in the bud-get this year.

“The rural dividend fund, I think there’s a great opportunity. $75 million that will really help small communi-ties like Houston,” said Rustad, listing the three areas. “I think the road improve-ments, both the capital work and improve-ment for maintenance could be a big thing for the community, and the support we’re putting in place for mining and the re-source sectors to try to see us through these

challenging times.”Rustad said that

communities under 25,000 will be eligible for the dividend, high-lighting that Houston will be eligible, and can apply in April or October.

Rustad responded that the towns will be able to use the rural dividend “in whatever way they want, to be able to help build their

“

““...economic development officer Maureen Czirfusz

attracted $90,546 in gift certificate purchases.”

TODAY TOMORROW TOYOTA

www.glaciertoyota.ca

Smithers, BC1.866.844.6723 *please add $395 Documentation

fee and applicable taxes DL#8879NOWONLY $38,998

2014 Tundra

Offroad

G8946

* NOWONLY $22,998

2009 TacomaTRD Room

y

G8942A

*NOWONLY $7,998

2004 RAV4 AWD

AWD Manual

G4540A

* NOWONLY $33,998

Manual 2013 Tacoma

TRD Canopy

G4729A

* NOWONLY $28,998

2010 Highlander

Family

AWD

G4694A

*

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016 Proudly serving Houston and District - Home of Canada’s Largest Fly Rod www.houston-today.com NO. 10 $1.30 Inc. GST

REMEMBER: Sets yourclocks ahead one hour

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT

COMMUNITY: Art Show

PAGE 8

Robin Vander Heide/Houston TodayART Auction & GalaThe 3rd Annual Art Auction and Gala, hosted by the Houston Hospice Society, took place this past weekend, March 4-5. Over 21 artists participated in the event, which had a wide range of artwork and craftsmanship on display. Pictured above with their beautiful beaded jewelry are Carmen Reduncinte-Austin and Tashina Joseph. To see some of the other artists who participated in this year’s Art Auction and Gala, please see page 8.

Publications Mail Registration#0040028607

See GIFT on Page 2

See RUSTAD on Page 2

$75 million that will really

help small communities

like Houston,”

- John RustadNechako Lakes MLA

NEWS2 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Houston Today

PARCEL TAX ROLLThe District of Houston has established a Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel to receive any complaints regarding parcel frontage taxes for both the water and sanitary sewer systems.The parcel tax rolls for these services may be inspected from March 9, 2016 to March 29, 2016 at the District of Houston Municipal Office at 3367 12th Street, Houston, BC during regular office hours, 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.In order for a complaint to be heard, it must be received in writing by 5:00 pm March 29, 2016. A person who owns a parcel included on the parcel tax roll may submit a written complaint in regard to: a) the names or address of the owners of land b) the taxable frontage of a parcel c) the inclusion or exemption of a parcelIf any complaints are received, the Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel will consider the written complaints received by the deadline.Further information can be obtained by phoning Carolyn Bidwell, Director of Finance and Collector for the District of Houston at 250-845-2238 or by visiting the District of Houston office during regular office hours.DATED AT HOUSTON, B.C. THIS 1ST DAY OF MARCH, 2016

DISTRICT OF HOUSTONwww.houston.ca

Can We Offer a Safe Place?YES, WE CAN!

Please consider making a donation to Houston Christian Reformed Church so that we, as a

community, might privately sponsor 1 family.

Cheques should be made payable to H.C.R.C. with “Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Fund” on the memo

line. Charitable receipts will be issued for any donation of $50 or more. Please provide full name

and mailing address for receipts.

Donations may be mailed to: H.C.R.C., PO Box 6, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0 or call 250-845-8815 and we’ll pick it up!

All money collected will go directly to the refugees.

We appreciateyour business!

If you buy or sell with us you will receive a $500 grocery voucher

for Overwaitea Foods, Burns Lake.

Call today 1-250-694-3719A Fair Deal in Real Estate

Mike and Marika Ramousch

If a realtor’s “For Sale”

sign is on it, we can represent you, and show

you the property!

www.NorthernPropertiesAndHomes.com

Serving the Bulkley Valley and Lakes DistrictUpstairs Houston Mall • Email: [email protected]

Phone: 250-845-2890 • www.houston-today.com

Are you a veteran or are your parents or grandparents war vets?If so drop o� or email a picture with a small write up and we will publish it in our 2016 Remembrance Day special section.

Seeing value in spending money locally

the Houston Forest Products (HFP) mill closure was an-nounced.

“I think people just see value in keeping the money in town and keeping the busi-nesses active when HFP closed,” she said. “And that was our big jump – we went from $39,000 to $70,000.

“I think a lot of it had to do with the mill closure and how to keep our commu-nity vital and people supporting it.”

Czirfusz adds that other commu-nities such as Burns Lake, Fraser Lake and Invermere have adopted similar pro-grams, with more to come.

“I did a confer-ence call last week with [Ministry of] Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training from Vancouver Island and with their chamber managers and some of their economic de-velopment officers be-cause they’re looking at adopting the pro-gram on Vancouver Island,” she said.

GIFT from Page 1

RUSTAD from Page 1

community,” in re-sponse to business-man Tom Euverman’s question to him.

“Personally ... I haven’t’ seen a lot of direct help or chang-es,” said Euverman. “But we still have too many people, when they come here ... they don’t choose to live here. They choose to live in the neighbour-ing communities.”

He also highlighted that Houston will ben-efit from a $36 million increase in road main-tenance.

“There’s also $3 million for transpor-tation options such as bussing or other type of support with-in communities,” he said. “And a signifi-cant capital program so there will be capital investments that will be coming in through-out our corridor. Stay tuned for announce-ments.”

He also pointed to a two-year electricity bill deferral that is in-tended to help mines tide through a slump in mineral prices.

“My understand-ing is, unfortunately, it won’t help directly at least at this stage for Huckleberry,” he said. “They have I’m not

quite sure how many years of resource left, and they’ve made a decision that this was just the best time within their cycle to do this.”

“It’s unfortunate. I think there’s still significant resource there, and there’s a lot more resource in the area. I know there’s others that would like to take advantage of the infrastructure at

Huckleberry.”Rustad also took

questions from par-ticipants, to which Coun. John Siebenga asked about closures of halfway houses in the North.

“They’ve closed 85 homes in the prov-ince that were taking in young people, ju-veniles between the ages of 13 and 18, instead of them go-ing into the prison

system, they were go-ing into homes,” said Siebenga. “And I’m wondering if there’s a rationale for the ones in the North, because we could really use them.”

Rustad does not know the specifics, but pointed to a “dramat-ic” fall in youth in cus-tody over the 5-7 year time period.

Rustad also responded to

Euverman’s question about health care by stating that the biggest barrier to building a 24/7 health centre is doctor recruitment.

“What we needed to figure out is how we can attract more doctors into the com-munity, that then pro-vides us with more flexibility and options around the services we can do in the commu-nity,” said Rustad.

Houston would benefit from the rural dividend fund

Xuyun Zeng/Houston TodayBoard members and members of the Chamber of Commerce, and Coun. John Siebenga attended a Chamber-organized noon luncheon with Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad last Friday.

Invite the whole community to your next brownie meeting, hockey game or gala evening with a couple of clicks. Add your event today.

there’s more online »events

www.vicnews.comwww.houston-today.com

NEWSHouston Today Wednesday, March 9, 2016 www.houston-today.com 3

S

OLDSOLDSOLD

REDUCED!

CALDERWOODREALTY

$149,900

If you are buying or selling,call me today!

I also offer Free Home Market Evaluations and information on the current real estate market.

Dan Hansma250-845-8234

[email protected]

1965 Nadina WayLocation, location!! Large 4/5 bdrm family home situated at the top of a quiet cul-de-sac backing onto the neighbourhood park! Dble attached garage w/ high ceilings & entrance to bsmt. Private fenced yard w/ treated sundeck. Bright LR, large DR, & spacious kitchen. 3 bdrms up, large MB w/ 2 pc ensuite. Laundry rm on main. Large rec room, roughed-in plumbing for bsmt bathrm. Huge workshop/utility area. New HWT, regularly serviced furnace. 10-yr old roof. Appl incl. Close to schools. With a little paint and updating, this could be your dream home!

RUITER HEIGHTSBe Impressed! 98’ custom built executive 5 bed/4 bath home in Ruiter Heights! This beautiful home boasts great curb appeal... nicely landscaped, pave stone drive, dble garage, fenced yard w/huge deck. Spacious foyer features spiral staircase to loft w/2 bdrms & full bath. Bright LR w/vaulted ceilings, spacious kitch w/island, gas � replace, huge dining area, hickory cabinets, & garden doors to sundeck. MB features W/I closet & large ensuite w/jetted tub & separate shower. F/F bsmt w/ huge rec rm, 5th bdrm, full bath, cozy fam rm, & convenient mud rm w/bsmt entry (in-law suite potential).

MLS# R2027182

MLS# R2012006

$369,900

Print & Online SolutionsThe Results are black and white!

Use e-commerce, the solution to get the employees you need./localwork-bc @localworkbc1-855-678-7833

Houston represents the “best of B.C. small town living”

Submitted photoWhile still celebrating our Sledtown win, Houston is named by Flight Network as one of Canada’s top 50 small towns.


Houston has been chosen by FlightNetwork as one of Canada’s top 50 small towns.

This comes just after Houston was selected by SnoRiders magazine as Canada’s best snowmobiling destination. According to the online travel agency, Houston represents “the best of B.C. small town living in Houston.”

“One of this town’s best features is its small size, which means friendly, welcoming

people, intimate a c c o m m o d a t i o n options (including cabins and lake lodges) and restaurants serving up some of B.C.’s best home cooking,” said its website.

FlightNetwork did not reply to a request for clari� cation on how they chose Houston before the deadline.

“I’m really excited, especially because it’s on the heels of SledTown. It’s just a nice little boost for the community,” said Houston Mayor Shane Brienen. “It was

nice to see outsiders’ view, because I think sometimes in Houston, we’re a little hard on ourselves.”

Brienen pointed to three reasons why Houston could have won.

“People at the tourist info centre — very friendly and helpful there — and a friendly community, and of course, the natural beauty of the whole surrounding area.”

E c o n o m i c development of� cer Maureen Czirfusz, who works in the visitors centre, agreed.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for Houston, we’ve always known we’re an amazing place to visit,” said Czirfusz. “Now we have other people saying it.”

“So let’s get the word out and welcome all the visitors that come.”

Coun. Jonathan Van Barneveld announced his pleasure at the news too.

“I’m pleased to see, on heels of SledTown, that we were chosen as one of Canada’s top small towns to visit,” he said.

Council approves extra $4000 spendingBy Xuyun Zeng

Houston Today

The District of Houston will cough up an extra $4,000 plus taxes for consultants to produce a report on the geothermal ground loop’s capacity.

This refers to the pipes that draw heat from deep in the ground, which currently heat the Leisure Centre.

In 2012, the District received $20,100 from two grants to do further studies on how heavily utilized the geothermal ground loop is so that it can decide whether to further invest in its expansion.

In the grant applications, the District promised a report following the collection of data.

However, when the District put the work out for tender, it failed to include a report as a goal for service. As a result, a report would come at extra cost to the District.

The report is important for further grant funding should the District want to expand the employment of

geothermal energy.

Houston will be putting in an application to host Minerals North in 2018.

According to District documents, Houston has submitted three previous proposals to host the conference but did not get picked. Mayor Shane Brienen feels optimistic this time.

“What happens at Minerals North is that they try to move it around from year to year, and I think almost everyone [that has applied] has hosted, except Houston, so we would have a good chance,” said Brienen.

District documents anticipate that more than 400 delegates will come into town.

“We are a little small with hotel space, but a lot of times when small communities host it, some people will take hotels in a neighbouring community, and they’ll run shuttles, so I don’t see that as a big

issue.”“I think we’re quite

able to host the event.”To put that into

perspective, three of the bigger hotels in town — Sunshine Inn, Pleasant Valley Motel and Houston Motor Inn — have a combined 141 rooms.

“It’s just a great chance to showcase your community a little bit, and have a lot of people visit your community, get them to your restaurants and hotels, and learn a bit about your community,” said Mayor Shane Brienen.

“I can’t say for sure,” he said. “Usually what they have is they have a number of towns that apply and they select one. I don’t know if it’s any one thing.”

Coun. Jonathan Van Barneveld announced that the Houston Health, Safety, Community Services and Education (CHESS) committee will host a public workshop March 17 to further discuss the Health & Wellness Charter.

“The consultant

who is putting together the nuts and bolts of the Health & Wellness Charter is hosting a community workshop where public can come in and talk about what health and wellness means to them as well as comment on the rough husk that the community put together,” he said.

According to minutes of the previous CHESS committee meeting, some workshop topics include food security, t r a n s p o r t a t i o n and encouraging walkability, and developing a sense of belonging.

The committee will also be open to hearing new ideas.

“And so there’s some back and forth and some re� nement, from that community engagement piece the Health & Wellness Charter will get developed and go to the committee,” said Van Barneveld.

He encourages anybody that wants to develop the Charter to attend the meeting, scheduled at 7 p.m. next Thursday.

Houston Public Library’s plan to move the Pleasant Valley Community Market to Jimmy Baxter Park from Steelhead Park has received negative feedback, Coun. John Siebenga said.

“They had some concerns about that,” said Siebenga. “Number one is, they said that tourists, they get quite a number of tourist that stop and buy. They also, they said, would miss out on buses if it’s over at the library.”

Library director Toni McKilligan wanted to relocate to Jimmy Baxter Park because it would offer them more space to accommodate vendors.

Currently, zoning restrictions disallow them from hosting the market there, and council has to decide whether they want to either grant them a special licence or change the park’s zoning.

Council will deliberate on this after District staff comes up with recommendation.

Health & wellness

Farmer’s MarketMinerals North

2018 application

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]

SenateTo many northwestern B.C. resi-

dents, reform of the Canadian Senate sits very low, if at all, on

the ‘to do’ lists occupying everyday exis-tence.

If it creeps into consciousness at all the Senate is regarded as an antiquated institution where those most loyal to the party in power are rewarded with a very comfortable salary ($142,400 to start) for a position a Senator must vacate by the age of 75. Nice work if you can get it.

But the new federal Liberal govern-ment wants to change the image and overall purpose of the Senate by making appointments on merit instead of being rewards for political service.

And that’s where northwestern B.C. comes in. At the moment there are 23 Senate vacancies among its 105 seats. One of those vacancies is in B.C. which is entitled to six Senates. Of those � ve seats, one of those is occupied by for-mer provincial Liberal cabinet minis-ter Richard Neufeld from northeastern B.C., one by Nancy Green Raine from the southern interior and three by Lower Mainland residents.

It stands to reason that the one B.C. vacancy could quite rightly be � lled by a northwestern B.C. resident. This is a large region with diverse but also com-mon interests where the job of explain-ing who we are and advocating for its issues now falls to just one Member of Parliament.

Having a second ‘go to’ person in Ottawa to carve through the governmen-tal clutter is more than justi� ed.

Terrace StandardBlack Press

Farm regulator raising fees, adding deadlinesBy Tom Fletcher

Black Press

The Agricultural Land Commission is imposing a steep increase in application fees, with a “money back guarantee” if applications aren’t processed within 90 business days.

A g r i c u l t u r e Minister Norm Letnick and ALC chair Frank Leonard announced the new policy at the B.C. legislature Thursday, to take effect April 1.

For zone one, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan, the application fee goes from $600 to $1,500. In zone two, the remainder of the province, the fee goes from $600 to $900. Letnick said

the majority of farm income is generated in zone one, so farmers can afford to pay more.

The increase still doesn’t cover the estimated $3,000 cost of processing an application, most of which are for non-farm use or an exclusion or subdivision of agricultural land. Letnick said the province is adding an additional $1.1 million to the ALC budget to make up the difference.

Leonard, appointed last year after Letnick terminated the contract of long-time chair Richard Bullock, said he found almost no decisions were being made within the 60 working days that is his new benchmark. Most were taking a year or more.

“I met people in their 80s who had been waiting two years for a decision,” he said.

NDP agriculture critic Lana Popham said she’s concerned that the short deadline for commission decisions means the ALC is becoming an “application machine,” drifting away from its mandate to protect farmland.

Leonard said

subdivision and land exclusion applications mean considerable � nancial gain for applicants, so the increased fee isn’t a deterrent for them. Letnick said approved non-farm uses can mean extra income for farmers and are a priority for the government.

The ALC has doubled its compliance and enforcement staff

to four, and Leonard said the additional budget will allow him to add two more this year.

“Our intention is not only to give the ALC more credibility in terms of enforcing legislation and regulations, but with the budget we have we’ll be able to get them around the province,” Leonard said. “So we won’t have six people in Burnaby waiting for the phone to ring.”

The commission is also adding new fees, $150 for reviewing documents, $350 per site inspection and monitoring fees of $500 to $2,000 annually for sites that require ongoing monitoring such as soil � ll and removal or gravel extraction.

4 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Houston Today

““In zone two, the remainder of the province [excluding the Lower Mainland, Vancouver

Island, and the Okanagan], the application fee the fee goes

from $600 to $900.”

Have an Opinion? Write to the Editor!Letters should be brief and to the point, with a maximum of 300 words. We reserve the right to withhold from print any letters which may be libelous, racist or sexist, and may edit for brevity and clar-ity. Letters MUST include the signature of the letter writer, a mailing address and a phone number. Only the name will be reproduced in the newspaper.Send letters to: Houston Today, Box 899, Houston, BC, V0J 1Z0. Fax to 250-845-7893 or email to [email protected]

Black Press Group Ltd.B.C. Owned and Operated

2009

2009 WINNER

Annual Subscriptions: Local (Houston only): $38.00 (includes tax)

Seniors: $28.00 (includes tax) Out of Town: $50.00 (includes tax)

DISTRIBUTED EVERY WEDNESDAY

HOUSTON TODAY published by Black Press “Member, B.C. Press Council” www.bcpresscouncil.org

Reproduction of contents either in part or in whole are not permitted without prior consent Copyright Canada No. 22 Serial No. 132934

BC Press Council - Houston Today is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to B.C. Press Council,PO Box 1356, Ladysmith,B.C. V9G 1A9. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

We acknowledge the � nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

M.A. Ruiter - Sales Manager

Xuyun Zeng - Reporter/Photographer

Robin Vander Heide - Reporter/Photographer

Annamarie Douglas - Production Manager

Laura Blackwell - Sales Representative

New libation rule: Cocktails 24/7 in B.C. hotel rooms

BC Hydro has been granted a court injunction to remove a protest camp set up to block land clearing for the Site C dam project near Fort St. John.

It’s the latest in a series of losses in court for opponents of the dam, a group of landowners and representatives of local First Nations in the Peace River region.

Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the project has gone through an “exhaustive” e n v i r o n m e n t a l and social impact process, and has received federal and provincial permits.

The joint federal-provincial panel

that reviewed Site C found that consultations with First Nations in Alberta and B.C. were “complete and c o m p r e h e n s i v e,” Bennett said.

“We want to build this project on time, on budget, we can’t afford unnecessary delays, and this ruling helps us keep the project moving forward,” Bennett said.

“So far we’ve had no delays caused by court actions or anything else for that matter.

We’ve got more than $3 billion in contracts committed today, and we’re at roughly one third in terms of the total amount

committed.”Protesters led

by Ken and Arlene Boone, whose farm will be � ooded by the third dam on the Peace River, moved two small buildings into the site of Rocky Mountain Fort, one of the earliest fur trading forts in B.C. and have occupied the site since December.

““...you can order alcoholic drinks by room service...”

B.C.Views

Tom Fletcher

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 9, 2016 www.houston-today.com 5

By Tom FletcherBlack Press

The latest liberalization of B.C. libation rules means you can order alcoholic drinks by room service at hotels and resorts, any time food service is also available.

Liquor service was restricted to the hours of the hotel’s licensed bar or restaurant, but that’s gone as the B.C. Liberal government c o n t i n u e s

deregulation to help the tourism industry.

Poma Dhaliwal, president of the Alliance of Beverage

Licensees, called the room service change “re� ective of the common-sense policy changes we have long advocated for.”

Earlier the B.C.

government lifted its ban on “happy hour” drink specials, and removed its restriction on

requiring food with restaurant drinks and families with children during dining hours at neighborhood pubs. Wine in large grocery stores, craft

alcohol sales at farmers’ markets and removing fences from festival beer gardens are o

The B.C. government is working its way through a list of 73 recommendat ions from its popular liquor policy review. Easing room service rules is the 39th of 73 to be implemented, in a high-pro� le that appears ready to extend to the May 2017 provincial election.

Judge orders Site C protest camp removed

Letters are welcomed up to a maximum of 250 words. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, brevity and legality. All letters must include the writer’s name, daytime telephone number and hometown for verification purposes. Anonymous, or pen names will not be permitted. Not all submissions will be published. Letters may be e-mailed to: [email protected], faxed to: 250-847-2995 or mailed to: P.O. Box 899, Houston B.C., V0J 1Z0.

Letters to the Editor

Editor:I enjoyed Tom

Fletcher’s column (B.C. Views/February 24) on MSP premiums and it brought back to

mind some research I conducted when I was at Decima Research in the late ‘80s.

As is true today, there was concern

among some that people were over-using medical care, in part because they did not understand its cost. We tested views about costs of the system and looked in particular at differences between provinces that charged

premiums and those that did not.

The results were surprising. We found that a significant minority of respondents in provinces that had premiums believed that their premiums covered the entire cost of the health

system. Far from making them more cautious about accessing the system, many of those p re m i u m - p ay i n g respondents thought “I’m paying for it, so why shouldn’t I go to the hospital/clinic whenever I want.”

As is the case

today, proponents of premiums argued that it would make people more sensitive to the costs of the services they used; the converse turned out to be true.

The only serious attempt to let people know about medical

costs directly was Alberta’s disastrous (and never repeated) e x p e r i m e n t in informing households about all the medical services consumed by the household in the previous year.

Ian Mckinnon Oak Bay

Re: Time to take MSP off life support

BC Hydro photo Site C dam on the Peace River is budgeted to cost $8.8 billion to construct, and to be in operation by 2024.

File photoThe B.C. government has made a big deal about liberalizing liquor sales, as in this 2014 announcement by Justice Minister Suzanne Anton.

NEWS6 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Houston Today

2016 Festival at a Glance:Tuesday, March 8th - Saturday, March 19th

All sessions at:

Island Gospel Fellowship

Church 810 Hwy 35

(Gerow Island)

The public is welcome! Admission by

donation

Festivalprograms

$6.00 at the door

INFORMATION Monday, March 14th

Speech Arts9:00 AM

Poems for Two VoicesJunior Prose

Story ReadingHumourous Poetry

Choral Speech

1:00 PMMy Favourite Poem

7:00 PMHumourous Poetry

Prose, Dramatic ExcerptStory TellingShakespeare

Own Composition

Tuesday, March 15th

Piano5:00 PM

Concert GroupBaroque Piano SoloClassical Piano SoloRomantic Piano Solo

Post-Romantic Piano Solo

Wednesday, March 16th

Piano9:30 AM

Beginner Piano SoloIntroductory Piano Solo

Popular Piano SoloContemporary Piano Solo

3:00 PMBeginner PianoConcert Group

7:00 PMConcert Group

Classical Piano SoloContemporary Piano

SoloBaroque Piano Solo

Piano Duet

Tuesday, March 8th

Instrumentals10:00 AMViolin Solo

Violin Concert Group

2:00 PMStrings Duet

Violin Solo, Duet, andConcert Group

Drum Solo

6:30 PMFlute SoloDrum Solo

Woodwind DuetMixed Duet

Mixed Ensemble

Friday, March 11th

Vocal10:00 AM

School Groups

3:00 PMModern, Sacred, & Folk

SolosPopular Duet

Popular Concert GroupJazz/Blues

6:00 PMPopular Duet

Concert GroupsAdult Small Group

Adult Choir

Saturday, March 12th

Vocal10:30 AM

Musical Theatre SoloMusical Theatre Concert

Group

3:00 PMSolo

Concert Group, Lieder

Lakes District Festival of the Performing Arts

2016 adjudicators:

APRIL SMITHPianoA skilled pianist, she enjoys hiking

and gardening but her passion is teaching.

FABIANA KATZ,VocalThis gifted mezzo soprano is highly

in demand as a teacher, and has presented choral workshops all over BC.

CHRISTINA ROGERSSpeech ArtsA background in voice, dance,

speech, and drama lend a well-rounded focus to her adjudications.

59th Annual Lakes District Festival of the Performing Arts

Thursday, March 17th

Piano9:00 AM

Contemporary Piano SoloCanadian Piano Solo

Piano DuetPiano Trio

1:00 PMBeginner Piano SoloPopular Piano Solo

Saturday, March 19th

GALA HONOURS CONCERT

7:00 PMDoors open at 6:30 PM

ADMISSION:Adults: $10.00Children: $5.004 & Under: FreeFamily: $25.00

Refreshments on sale at intermission

LAURA HOLS-WIMBUSHInstrumentalsThis busy mother of three is a

passionate advocate for music education for all ages.

Call Jean MarrInvestors Group

to book your appointment today.

Investors Group Financial Services Inc.

Serving the Burns Lake & Houston areas

Jean MarrInvestors Group, ConsultantCell: (250) 691-1641Fax: (250) [email protected] - 3rd Ave., Burns Lake2430 Butler Ave. Houston

I ��

�� • M�� • F�� P��

• D��

SPRING FORWARD!

Don’t forget to set your clocks AHEAD ONE HOUR

on the evening ofSaturday, March 12th

With a couple of clicks, add your event today.

there’s more online »eventswww.vicnews.comwww.houston-today.com

CityWest’s CEO brings Rupert up to speedBlack Press

It’s the classic ‘David vs. Goliath’ story, except David has gone on to thrive for 106 years after taking down his more gigantic competitors.

Playing the role of David is CityWest, the municipally-owned Internet, cable and communications company, led by CEO Don Holkestad.

Holkestad has been toppling giants for the over 30 years that he’s spent with the company, and it’s mainly because of one reason: innovation.

“You can’t be over 100 years old ... with-out being innovative,” said Holkestad in his address to the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce in February at the organization’s luncheon.

“I think that’s what we are all the time and it’s one of the things we always want to be going forward.”

Taking the mic for his presentation and sharing multiple updates on the City of Prince Rupert-owned business, Holkestad outlined CityWest’s strengths as a smaller (but growing) communications company.

Having expanded from just Prince Rupert at one point, into territories like Terrace, Kitimat, Port Edward, Smithers, Telkwa, Houston, Metlakatla, Kispiox and Hazelton, CityWest is embracing new lands, new ideas, new technologies and new services – all in the name of their custom-ers.

Netflix, for example, has become an increasing presence on data usage for CityWest’s customers, going from below 10 per cent of customers’ usage when it was first introduced years ago, to now ac-

counting for approximately 55 per cent of CityWest’s customers’ Internet usage.

Of course, the online TV and movie streaming company represents competition to the cable packages that CityWest itself sells, but Holkestad was very emphatic that he and his company deliver what CityWest’s customers want all across the north.

“Why do I do it? Because you (the cus-tomer) want it. Being a local company, we understand that, so we’re giving you what you want, not what I want to sell you. So, we’re always looking at the customers’ needs. It’s a huge change,” said the CEO.

Another huge change is the sheer amount of Internet usage that the average Prince Rupert or northwest household con-sumes. What was once a single-sourced di-al-up connection in a home, now may have as many as a dozen or more wireless devices connecting to the Internet.

“We’ve taken those customers and given them higher speeds. You need more band-width today, because you’re using more bandwidth ... It’s a huge crunch on data that’s morphing all the time,” he said.

“To keep up to it, that’s a huge challenge for us, and we [perform upgrades] from 2 a.m. - 6 a.m. so we don’t interrupt your ser-vice.”

While introducing fiber-optic communi-cation (replacing copper wire connections for faster, direct speeds) and direct fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) set-ups in other places in the northwest due to funding from grants, the technology will come to Prince Rupert in the near future, starting with new subdi-visions, Holkestad explained.

“When we do get it, people will get the newest ones, because there’s new technolo-

gies,” he said.CityWest has built a fiber-optic system

all the way to Prince George and have even built a system that reaches Vancouver and Seattle.

“Why do we do that? So, once we get into Seattle, Washington, Google and Facebook and all those other huge companies are in the same room, so I’ll connect directly to them. It means faster service for you and less latency. The fact that we own and oper-ate a system there is an amazing thing. For a small company and our technicians and employees, for them to make that happen is amazing. Our technicians have fixed Shaw’s problems for Shaw. We have great employ-ees,” said Holkestad.

CityWest comprises 80-plus employees and does not receive any money from the City to operate. It’s given back a $400,000 distribution payment to the City of Prince Rupert, its sole shareholder for each of the past two years.

The CEO is also proud of the flexibility and adaptability of the company.

For LNG companies looking to settle in the Prince Rupert area, Holkestad ex-plained that they are always quite surprised that the company can be able to deliver any-thing they could ask for.

“When you get very big, you become very pigeonholed – ‘This is what I have. Take it or leave it’. We are very much a ‘What do you want? We’ll build it for you’. It’s one of our powers and we can do it faster.

Attending the #BCTECH summit in Vancouver, Holkestad saw first-hand the holo-lens and 3D technology that will soon be capable in everyday homes and he was excited for the possibilities.


What has been one of the more promising planned liquefied natu-ral gas (LNG) projects in the northwest has been shelved.

AltaGas of Calgary, the lead Canadian partner in the Douglas Channel LNG project planned for Kitimat, announced Feb. 25 that it and its partners could not find any-one willing to buy the product.

“Globally, there is reduced demand for LNG and with a surplus of LNG in the market, and the consortium members were unable to secure offtake agreements,” AltaGas said in a cor-porate statement.

Prices now for LNG are around one-quarter of what they were just two years ago when LNG develop-

ment fervour was at a peak in the region.

Although among the smaller of LNG projects at a projected 2.4 billion cubic me-tres of natural gas per year to be exported, Douglas Channel LNG was regarded as one of the more fea-sible.

It was not only lessexpensive, at a pro-

jected $500 million, incomparison to the

larger planned projects worth more than $10 billion, it would not have required the con-struction of a natural gas pipeline because it would have been fed by the existing Pacific Northern Gas line.

The project would have seen natural gas super-cooled and liq-uefied for export on an Asian-built floating platform moored near Kitimat and connected to facilities on land owned by the Haisla Nation and leased to the project.

AltaGas had first formed a joint venture with Idemitsu, a lead-ing Japanese energy company, and then added partners EDF Trading, an energy provider, and Exmar NV, an international shipper of petroleum and other products, in developing Douglas Channel LNG.

Its projected market had been Japanese cus-tomers.

The entry point forAltaGas into B.C.’s

potential LNG in-dustry began with its purchase of Pacific Northern Gas in late 2011 which provided it with an existing natu-ral gas pipeline.

It then took part in buying a first concept for a floating LNG platform near Kitimat out of bankruptcy nearly two years ago, using that as a base to revive the Douglas Channel LNG project.

Project economics aside, the project ran into a roadblock last fall when federal cus-toms officials decided the imported LNG floating platform was a ship and tacked on an import duty which would have added $100 million to the project cost.

AltaGas then ap-pealed the decision

and learned in early February it was suc-cessful.

But that was not enough to salvage the project, said AltaGas in a statement.

“While this decision is positive, and bodes well for deployment of a similar floating liquefaction facilities in the future, the con-sortium had assumed a 0 percent duty when it began developing the project,” the statement indicated.

The company did express satisfaction with what had been achieved, despite the decision to shelve the project.

“The milestones achieved by the con-sortium, including the permits and duty re-lief, help prove out the feasibility of develop-ing a floating liquefac-tion facility in British Columbia,” it said.

“Individual con-sortium members can work with other stakeholders if they so choose to determine whether a similar proj-ect can be developed.

AltaGas is very in-terested in working to-gether or individually with Haisla and others to develop an LNG project.”

To date, AltaGas spent $24 million on the project.

Skeena NDP MLA Robin Austin ex-pressed disappoint-ment at the news.

“There was an ex-pectation in Kitimat,

now that Rio Tinto Alcan has finished its smelter, that this would go ahead,” he said.

Austin added that AltaGas and its part-ners may not have had the kind of deep pock-ets needed for a long-term investment.

“In all fairness to AltaGas, it is not one of the largest of the [energy] companies and just may not have had the capability to look at an investment which is 25, 30 or 40 years down the road,” he said.

“They just may have not been in a position to make such an invest-ment.”

Austin was more confident that Shell, the leading partner in the much larger LNG Canada project planned at Kitimat, has the kind of capital base required.

“Shell may have postponed its [final investment] decision but it is still spending money,” said Austin of site preparation and other work underway for LNG Canada.

Like Austin, Skeena NDP MP Nathan Cullen was also disap-pointed.

“I know we had lob-bied hard for customs relief from the CBSA (the Canadian Border

Services Agency) and had hoped that would help,” he said.

“We had really hoped one of these smaller projects would go ahead but with the markets the way they are, when there is go-ing to be a turnaround is anybody’s guess,” Cullen said.

The Haisla Nation would be have been a direct beneficiary of Douglas Channel LNG and its chief councillor Ellis Ross was not surprised giv-en current market con-ditions.

“We will continue to work closely with oth-er project proponents

such as LNG Canada as they continue to-wards making their own final investment decision,” said

Ross of the larg-er Shelllead project planned for Kitimat.

“Despite this par-ticular setback, the Haisla Nation still believes in the ben-efits for the economy and for our people in liquefied natural gas projects, and will con-tinue to encourage the British Columbia and Canadian govern-ments to move quickly to capture this oppor-tunity for the region.”

The shelving of Douglas Channel LNG also affects a sec-ond floating platform project envisioned by Alta- Gas and its part-ners.

The project is called Triton LNG and it would also have been placed in the Kitimat area.

It would have been fed by a 24-inch pipe-line to be built by PNG and commonly called the “looping project” or “twinning project” because its intended route from outside of Prince George to Kitimat would have closely paralleled the route of PNG’s exist-ing 10-inch line.

“Triton was a phase two of Douglas Channel LNG. This project is on hold to be re-evaluated,” said AltaGas.

LNG project put on the shelf

Submitted photoFloating platform was key to Douglas Channel LNG project near Kitimat. It’s now been scrubbed.

Robin Austin

Nathan Cullen

Ellis Ross

While the cancellation of the Douglas Channel LNG project will have an economic impact on its partners and on the overall prospect of a B.C. energy industry, northwest natural gas consumers will take the biggest hit, says Skeena NDP MLA Robin Austin.

That is because there is now no relief in sight to the high prices being charged to deliver the commodity to businesses and homes.

Those delivery prices would have come down once Douglas Channel LNG began opera-tions as it would have used all of the large surplus capacity of the Pacific Northern Gas (PNG) natural gas pipeline which serves the region.

Douglas Channel LNG’s payments to PNG would have then reduced the prices that the

natural gas utility now charges its current business and resi-dential customers to maintain its pipeline.

“We now pay very, very, very high prices for natural gas relative to anywhere else,” said Austin.

“That really began when Methanex pulled out [of Kitimat],” Austin said of the company which produced methanol at a plant in Kitimat until 2006 using natural gas delivered by PNG.

“When I tell people down here in Victoria what we pay for gas, for the delivery, they just can’t believe it.”

The MLA added that he can see no solution to high natural gas prices simply be-cause PNG must pass along its maintenance and other costs to its business and residential

customers.PNG’s natural gas north-

western delivery rates in this region are more than three times higher than anywhere else.

The most current residen-tial delivery rate here is $12.91 a gigajoule while it is $3.921 a gigajoule in Fort St. John, which is also served by PNG.

On the lower mainland, Fortis, that region’s natural gas utility, charges residents $4.939 a gigajoule for delivery, storage and transport.

Natural gas utilities in B.C. are regulated by the B.C. Utilities Commission which reviews prices and costs quar-terly as well as approves rate applications made annually.

Utilities cannot add on any-thing to the cost of natural gas itself.

Gas consumers to take hit

COMMUNITY PHOTO FEATURE8 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Houston Today

Art Exhibit at the Houston Community Hall

Robin Vander Heide photos/Houston Today

The Houston Hospice Society hosted the 3rd Annual Art Auction and Gala “Ties & Tiaras” last weekend, March 4-5. Pictured here are some of the many beautiful works of art and craftmanship displayed at the Art Exhibit on Friday afternoon.

Top: (left) Dawn Hall with her beautiful fabric sculptures and (right) Tom Schneider’s colourful stained-glass biplanes.

Middle: Sarah Opdendries displaying her unique acrylic, water colour, and drawn artwork.

Bottom: (left) Betty Siebenga displays her beautiful hook work, while diligently working away and (right) Frank Gerei with his one-of-a-kind wood creations.


SLE MODEL SHOWN

SLE-1 AWD MODEL SHOWN

TRAILERING EQUIPMENT REMOTE VEHICLE STARTER SYSTEM

DUAL-ZONE CLIMATE CONTROL

SLE-1 AWD MODEL SHOWN

$0BASED ON PURCHASEPRICE OF $31,346¥.INCLUDES $500 LEASE CASH AND $750 LOYALTY CASH††.

$184FOR 48 MONTHS

0.9%LEASE RATE

BI-WEEKLY LEASE OFFER

DOWNPAYMENT@

$0BASED ON PURCHASEPRICE OF $40,578¥.INCLUDES $1,000 LEASE CASH AND $750 LOYALTY CASH††.

$209FOR 48 MONTHS

0.49%LEASE RATE


DOWNPAYMENT@

ON NOW AT YOUR BC GMC DEALERS. BCGMCDEALERS.CA 1-800-GM-DRIVE. GMC is a brand of General Motors of Canada. Offers apply to the purchase of a 2016 Sierra 1500 Kodiak Edition, and lease of a 2016 Sierra 1500 Double Cab 4WD (1SA), Terrain SLE-1 AWD (3SA), Acadia SLE-1 AWD(3SA). License, insurance, registration, administration fees, dealer fees, PPSA and taxes not included. Dealers are free to set individual prices. Limited time offers which may not be combined with other offers, and are subject to change without notice. Offers apply to qualified retail customers in BC GMC Dealer Marketing Association area only. Dealer order or trade may be required. * Offer valid to eligible retail lessees in Canada who have entered into a lease agreement with GM Financial and accept delivery between March 1 and March 31, 2016 of a new or demonstrator 2016 model-year GMC model, excluding GMC Canyon 2SA, Sierra and Sierra HD. General Motors of Canada will pay one month’s lease payment or two bi-weekly lease payments as defined on the lease agreement (inclusive of taxes). After the first month, lessee will be required to make all remaining scheduled payments over the remaining term of the lease agreement. PPSA/RDPRM is not due. Consumer may be required to pay dealer fees. Insurance, licence and applicable taxes not included. Additional conditions and limitations apply. GM reserves the right to modify or terminate this offer at any time without prior notice. See dealer for details. ** $10,000 is a combined total credit consisting of a $3,000 manufacturer-to-dealer delivery credit (tax exclusive), $3,845 Cash Credit (tax exclusive), $1,000 Loyalty Cash (tax inclusive) and a $2,155 manufacturer-to-dealer Kodiak Package Discount Credit (tax exclusive) for 2016 Sierra 1500 Kodiak Edition, which is available for cash purchases only and cannot be combined with special lease and finance rates. By selecting lease or finance offers, consumers are forgoing this $3,845 credit, which will result in higher effective interest rates. Discounts vary by model. ¥ Lease based on a purchase price of $34,344/$31,346/$40,578, including $893/$670/$670 Loyalty Cash (tax exclusive), $0/$500/$1,000 lease cash, $3,000/$0/$0 manufacturer-to-dealer delivery credit and a $1,000/$0/$0 bonus credit for a new eligible 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab 4WD (1SA)/Terrain SLE-1 AWD (3SA)/Acadia SLE-1 AWD (3SA). Bi-weekly payment is $159/$184/$209 for 24/48/48 months at 0%/0.9%/0.49% APR, on approved credit to qualified retail customers by GM Financial. Annual kilometre limit of 20,000 km, $0.16 per excess kilometre. $1,050/$0/$0 down payment is required. Payment may vary depending on down payment or trade. Total obligation is $9,306/$19,104/$21,696, plus applicable taxes. Option to purchase at lease end is $25,039/$13,036/$19,467. Price and total obligation exclude license, insurance, registration, taxes and optional equipment. Other lease options are available. Dealers are free to set individual prices. Limited-time offer, which may not be combined with other offers. See your dealer for conditions and details. General Motors of Canada Company reserves the right to amend or terminate this offer, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice. †† Offer applies to eligible current owners or lessees of any model year 1999 or newer car that has been registered and insured in Canada in the customer’s name for the previous consecutive six (6) months. Credit valid towards the retail purchase or lease of one eligible 2016 model year GMC SUV, crossover and pickups models delivered in Canada between March 1 and March 31, 2016. Credit is a manufacturer to consumer incentive (tax inclusive) and credit value depends on model purchased: $750 credit available on eligible GMC vehicles (except Canyon 2SA, Sierra 1500 and HD); $1,000 credit available on all 2016 GMC Sierra models. Offer is transferable to a family member living within the same household (proof of address required). As part of the transaction, dealer may request documentation and contact General Motors of Canada Company to verify eligibility. This offer may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. Certain limitations or conditions apply. Void where prohibited. See your GM Canada dealer for details. GM Canada reserves the right to amend or terminate offers for any reason in whole or in part at any time without prior notice. ‡ Vehicle user interfaces are products of Apple® and Google® and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible smartphone. Data plan rates apply. ̂ ^ The 2-Year Scheduled LOF Maintenance Program provides eligible customers in Canada who have purchased, leased or financed a new eligible 2016 GMC vehicle with an ACDelco oil and filter change, in accordance with the Oil Life Monitoring System and the Owner’s Manual, for 2 years or 48,000km, whichever occurs first, with a limit of four lube-oil-filter services in total, performed at participating GM dealers. Fluid top-offs, inspections, tire rotations, wheel alignments and balancing, etc., are not covered. This offer may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives available on GM vehicles. General Motors of Canada Company reserves the right to amend or terminate this offer, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice. Additional conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details.

DRIVE AWAY WITHOUT PAYINGON 2016 CROSSOVER AND SUV LEASES*

$0DOWN

PAYMENT

$0FIRST TWO

BI-WEEKLY PAYMENTS

$0SECURITYDEPOSIT

$0DUE ON

DELIVERY

PRECISION TRUCK MONTH

2016 GMC TERRAIN SLE-1ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

2016 GMC ACADIA SLE-1ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

BCGMCDEALERS.CAENDS MARCH 31ST

YEARS/48,000 KMCOMPLIMENTARY O I L C H A N G E S^^2

SIERRA KODIAK EDITION$10,000UP TO IN TOTAL

VALUE**

WITH PRECISION FEATURES THAT INCLUDE:

$159 0%LEASE RATE


@ 24MONTHS

FOR

$1,050 DOWN PAYMENT. BASED ON PURCHASE PRICE OF $34,344¥. INCLUDES $3,000 DELIVERY CREDIT, $1,000 BONUS CREDIT AND $1,000 LOYALTY CASH††.

2016 GMC SIERRA 1500DOUBLE CAB 4WD• 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH TOW/HAUL MODE• AVAILABLE APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO‡

Call Sullivan Motor Products at 250-845-2244, or visit us at 2760 Yellowhead Highway, Houston. [License #5631]

Police report: Police urge public to report suspicious behaviourBy News Staff

Houston Today

From Feb. 24 to March 2, police received 43 calls for service. Four were abandoned 911 calls, two were bylaw complaints and two were traffic complaints. One was a false alarm.

***On Feb. 25 at 5

p.m., police received a report of an assault at a residence on Pearson

Road. Police attended and subsequently arrested a man who was held in police custody and later released on conditions subject to appear in Houston Provincial Court on March 21 to face allegations of mischief and assault.

***On Feb. 26 shortly

after 11 p.m., police received a report of suspicious men looking into vehicles around Hungerford

and Jewel Roads. Police attended but were unable to locate the suspects. Police would like to remind the public if they observe suspicious behaviour to contact police and provide detailed descriptions so that police can identify the suspects.

***On Feb. 27 at

2:30 a.m., police stopped a vehicle on Kanata Avenue. Upon interacting

with the driver, police made a breathlyser test demand, and the driver failed. The driver was issued a 90-day roadside driving suspension and received a 30-day vehicle impoundment.

***On Feb. 27

at 9 p.m., police stopped a vehicle on Elliot Crescent. The vehicle had no headlights. Police made a breathlyser test demand which

the driver failed. The driver received a 90-day roadside driving suspension and received a 30-day vehicle impoundment.

***On Feb. 29 at 11:30

p.m., police arrested a man who was wanted on warrants from Houston and Prince George for breaching court-order conditions. Police held the man in custody and he appeared in court in Smithers.

***On Feb. 29 at 7

p.m., police came across a vehicle in the ditch at Highway 16 and Highway Crescent. The vehicle was attempting to turn from the highway onto the frontage road, missed and went into the ditch. The driver was issued a ticket for improper turn at an intersection.

***On March 2 at 7:30

a.m., police received multiple reports of a disturbance at a residence on Hagman Crescent. Police attended, but the subject of the complaints had departed before police arrived. Police received further complaints at 8:30 a.m. and returned to the area, arresting a female for causing a disturbance. She was later released without charges once sober.

SPORTS10 www.houston-today.com Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Houston Today

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

HOPE forHOPE forHOPE forTodayTodayBoxes

While waiting at a railway crossing, it is interesting to see hundreds of stacked container boxes pass by. The container box was invented to mitigate theft, prevent

damage and increase ef� ciency for cargo on the way to its destination. With the products sealed inside, they provide safe and orderly transit of goods from one place to another.

Sometimes, to help us understand God better, we put our understanding of him in mental or theological boxes. These boxes can show up on lists or statements describing God, what he is like, how we relate to him or how he relates to us. These boxes of understanding, if based on God’s word, can help us to cope with the immensity of Almighty God. They are needful to keep us on the rails, as it were and for us to begin, in a very limited way, to comprehend the eternal, all knowing, all powerful, awe-inspiring God. A problem arises when we limit him to the con� nes of our boxes, thus limiting him to our own understanding. Then our faith in him is also restricted to the size of our box. Though the box may accurately represent him to an extent, he is so much larger than any box that we con� ne him to. “Not even the highest heavens can contain him.” 2 Chronicles 2:6 NLT

Just as the boxes on the railcar are not designed to permanently con� ne the goods inside them, neither are our god boxes intended to fully describe God. He is the truth. How vast is the truth? Is there any end to it? He is eternal, no beginning, no end, we cannot begin to comprehend eternity. He is all powerful and nothing, absolutely nothing can stop him. He is all knowing, nothing escapes his notice, not even a hair falling from our head (Matthew 10:30). When confronted with him, we are compelled to bow down and worship him. Thank God for the boxes through which he has chosen to reveal himself to us, but may we never limit him to our little boxes.

We can be thankful that God chose to become part of the human race to reveal himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. When we know Jesus we know God and can have a personal relationship with the awesome, eternal, all powerful, all knowing God. Some day we will see him not only through our boxes but face to face.

“All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

Submitted by Ken Penner

Sponsored by Riverside Gardens3707 East Valley Road, Houston • Phone: 250 845-7707

Lakeview Dental CentreDr. J.R. Boss

(250) 692-7791 • 1 (888) 629-3996 744 Centre Street (beside the health clinic) Burns Lake

Accepting new patientsGive us a call for your smile makeover needs

We have 2 Registered Hygienists -Marilyn Timmerman & Joyce Gies please call our office to book your next appointment.

General & CosmeticDentistry Services

Give your smilethe TLC it deserves.

for a healthy mouth and beautiful,bright teeth.

Off ering Bracesfor childrenand adults

Stay in touch with your hometown news!

Subscribe today!

www.houston-today.comPh: 250-845-2890

Pictured above: Bailey Spooner (#35) from Houston representing Zone 7 during ringette action at the Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games Saturday.

Kelly Dickinson photo

The Houston “crease lightning” team is off to provincials March 11-15. Thank you to the following restaurants for kindly donating the gift certificates for our raffle of dinner for a week... PV Restaurant, Elements, Pizza Factory, Tea Gallery, Brewstir’s, Lee’s Garden and Houston Food Market. Thanks for all your support. The winner of our draw was Teresa Niven.

HOUSTON Ringette Stars

SPORTSHouston Today Wednesday, March 9, 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

CONGRATULATIONS!

See photos, videos, and results at BCGAMES.ORG

Thank you to the coaches, officials, volunteers, and families who support these growing champions.

59 athletes from the North West competed at the 2016 BC Winter Games bringing home 13 medals.

HOUSTON SOCCER

MEETINGWednesday, March 9th @ 7pm

@ the HSS library.Very important meeting for all coaches,

volunteers and parents of players to start the season off. Registration forms will be available.

www.bvsoccer.ca

Robin Vander Heide/Houston Today2nd Annual Fireman’s Curling Bonspiel raised $900 for the First Responders Program.

2nd Annual Fireman’s

Curling BonspielSubmitted

The 2nd Annual Firemen’s Curling Bonspiel was a success!

We had 12 teams in the bonspiel and we had 2 teams accumulate $315.00 each at the end of their 4 games.

The players on team one were Ken Halvorson, Haley Halvorson, Alonzo Slaney, Andria Slaney

The players of team two were Steve Standbridge, Chad Manahan, Adam

Ashton, Rhianna Willson

On behalf of the Houston District Curling Club & Houston Volunteer Fire Department we’d like to thank everyone that participated in the bonspiel. All the volunteers that helped run the bonspiel. And the generous businesses in Houston that donated to make this event successful.

With everyone’s help we were able to raise $900.00 towards our First Responders Program.

Houston Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Fund

Goal

Total to March 4

For information on how

you can contribute please

call Bobby @ 845-3411 or

Robin@ 845-2463


Goal

Total to March 4




Robin@ 845-2463


Goal

Total to March 4




Robin@ 845-2463


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!

Dan [email protected]

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 inINDUSTRIAL 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

MM

PARTS • REPAIRS & EQUIPMENT

DEALERSHIP FOR THE NORTH WEST

(PRINCE GEORGE TO PRINCE RUPERT)

Come and check out our many

att achments and implements in

stock. Full line available...

Hay Forks, Pallet Forks,

Snow Blades,

Quick Att ach Units, etc.

PARTS • REPAIRS & EQUIPMENT

Come and check out our many

att achments and implements in

Hay Forks, Pallet Forks,

Quick Att ach Units, etc.

Bill and Patsy Miller, Owners

29850 Hwy 16 West • PO Box 450 • Burns Lake

Ph 250-696-3211 • Cell: 250-692-9940

email: [email protected]

www.pbagrimech.ca

Give us a call for any of your att achment needs.

This week’s featured business is...


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

THANK YOU!

CountryWide Printing & Stationery Ltd.Motion Inc.Lee’s GardenPacifi c TruckEmberson PlumbingWilson Bros. Nadina TruckDr. Kim Dental Offi ce

FinningFirst Choice FashionsCountrywide SportsSullivan Motor ProductsBV Credit UnionPharmasaveMonster IndustriesPleasant Valley Restaurant

B. Hodge ContractingTurcotte Bros.CanforA&W7-ElevenEBK MechanicalLinda BodnarLorna OfnerShirley Martin

The Houston Ringette Association hosted their U8/U10/U12 tournament last weekend. We would like to thank all volunteers for their time and hard work. Thank you to all friends and family, who came to watch and cheer on our young athletes.Thank you to our sponsors for supporting our teams in the sport they love.

DISTRICT OF HOUSTON

The District of Houston is looking for a motivated and innovative individual to assume the role of

Manager of Leisure ServicesReporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the position will be responsible for providing leadership in achieving the District’s goals related to leisure services.

The position involves a wide variety of senior management roles, including: coordinating recreation plans and budgets; human resource management in a union environment; public relations; providing recommendations and advice to Council, advisory boards and local organizations; marketing recreation programs and services; and various other duties.

The position will also be responsible for developing, seeking approval for and implementing recreation master plans. Such plans will be developed for the long term and take a holistic view of what the District can offer in terms of recreation services.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, EDUCATION, & TRAINING• Comprehensive knowledge of recreation business management. • Exceptional computer, written and verbal communication skills.• Ability to communicate tactfully, efficiently and effectively with government,

municipal, business and other officials as well as the general public. • Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the department and to develop and implement

strategic and tactical plans to ensure the department’s effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS• Degree or Diploma in Recreation Administration• Municipal management experience in recreation administration• Management experience with operations of various recreation facilities (including pools) • Experience in human resource management and leadership skills in a union environment

A complete job description can be requested by email from the District Office.

If you possess the required qualifications plus a minimum of 10 years’ increasingly responsible management and administrative experience within a municipal or regional government setting, or an equivalent combination of experience and training in leisure services,.

Please forward your resume outlining qualifications and experience marked ‘Confidential’ by 4:00 pm local time, Thursday, March 31, 2016 to:

Michael D. Glavin, CAODistrict of Houston, PO Box 370, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0

[email protected]

Looking for an exciting career ?

Glacier Toyota is HIRING! We are looking for a highly motivated

Financial Services Manager who excels in sales & customer satisfaction.

Are you a successful banker, sales professional or customer service representative that excels in

high volume sales & customer service?For the ideal candidate, we offer an amazing

pay & employee benefit package & vehicle allowance.

Join our team. Contact Scott Olesiuk

[email protected]



Glacier TOYOTA

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

HAVE YOU been denied Canada Pension Plan disability benefi ts? The Disability Claims Advocacy Clinic can help you appeal. Call 1-877-793-3222 or visit www.dcac.ca [email protected]

HIP OR knee replacement? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in walking/dress-ing? Disability tax credit $2,000 tax credit $20,000 re-fund. Apply today for assis-tance: 1-844-453-5372.

Career Opportunities


CANCEL 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.

TravelSAVE 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

Place of Worship Information Timeshare Cards of Thanks Cards of Thanks Cards of Thanks

Announcements Announcements Travel Announcements Announcements Announcements




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

AGREEMENTIt is agreed by any display or Classified Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement.

Used.ca cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for the following edition.

Used.ca reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the Used.ca Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.

DISCRIMINATORYLEGISLATIONAdvertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, color, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, or age, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for the work involved.

COPYRIGHTCopyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of Used.ca. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

ON THE WEB:

INDEX IN BRIEFFAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRAVEL

EMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS SERVICES

PETS & LIVESTOCK

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

RENTALS

AUTOMOTIVE

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

LEGAL NOTICES

HUNTING GUIDE OPPORTUNITYSkeena Air Guides seeks professional, experienced, mountain hunting guide for remote fly-in camp in Smithers, BC. Must have minimum 2 yrs guiding exp, horse riding/handling and mountain goat experience a must. Must exhibit good communication skills, experience with international clients/languages an asset. Duties include: guiding, packing, wrangling, field prep of trophies/meat, & general camp/trail maintenance duties.

Seasonal position from mid-July to mid-Oct, $175+/day. Benefits: accommodations and meals, WCB, vacation pay, and

return air transportation into hunting camp from Smithers.Please apply to [email protected]

or fax 250.847.2909

Smithers, BC

Adopt a Shelter Cat!The BC SPCA cares for thousands oforphaned and abandoned cats each year.If you can give a homeless cat a secondchance at happiness, please visit yourlocal shelter today.

www.spca.bc.ca


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

THANK YOU!

CountryWide Printing & Stationery Ltd.Motion Inc.Lee’s GardenPacifi c TruckEmberson PlumbingWilson Bros. Nadina TruckDr. Kim Dental Offi ce

FinningFirst Choice FashionsCountrywide SportsSullivan Motor ProductsBV Credit UnionPharmasaveMonster IndustriesPleasant Valley Restaurant

B. Hodge ContractingTurcotte Bros.CanforA&W7-ElevenEBK MechanicalLinda BodnarLorna OfnerShirley Martin

The Houston Ringette Association hosted their U8/U10/U12 tournament last weekend. We would like to thank all volunteers for their time and hard work. Thank you to all friends and family, who came to watch and cheer on our young athletes.Thank you to our sponsors for supporting our teams in the sport they love.

DISTRICT OF HOUSTON

The District of Houston is looking for a motivated and innovative individual to assume the role of

Manager of Leisure ServicesReporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the position will be responsible for providing leadership in achieving the District’s goals related to leisure services.

The position involves a wide variety of senior management roles, including: coordinating recreation plans and budgets; human resource management in a union environment; public relations; providing recommendations and advice to Council, advisory boards and local organizations; marketing recreation programs and services; and various other duties.

The position will also be responsible for developing, seeking approval for and implementing recreation master plans. Such plans will be developed for the long term and take a holistic view of what the District can offer in terms of recreation services.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, EDUCATION, & TRAINING• Comprehensive knowledge of recreation business management. • Exceptional computer, written and verbal communication skills.• Ability to communicate tactfully, efficiently and effectively with government,

municipal, business and other officials as well as the general public. • Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the department and to develop and implement

strategic and tactical plans to ensure the department’s effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS• Degree or Diploma in Recreation Administration• Municipal management experience in recreation administration• Management experience with operations of various recreation facilities (including pools) • Experience in human resource management and leadership skills in a union environment

A complete job description can be requested by email from the District Office.

If you possess the required qualifications plus a minimum of 10 years’ increasingly responsible management and administrative experience within a municipal or regional government setting, or an equivalent combination of experience and training in leisure services,.

Please forward your resume outlining qualifications and experience marked ‘Confidential’ by 4:00 pm local time, Thursday, March 31, 2016 to:

Michael D. Glavin, CAODistrict of Houston, PO Box 370, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0

[email protected]

Looking for an exciting career ?

Glacier Toyota is HIRING! We are looking for a highly motivated

Financial Services Manager who excels in sales & customer satisfaction.

Are you a successful banker, sales professional or customer service representative that excels in

high volume sales & customer service?For the ideal candidate, we offer an amazing

pay & employee benefit package & vehicle allowance.

Join our team. Contact Scott Olesiuk

[email protected]



Glacier TOYOTA

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

HAVE YOU been denied Canada Pension Plan disability benefi ts? The Disability Claims Advocacy Clinic can help you appeal. Call 1-877-793-3222 or visit www.dcac.ca [email protected]

HIP OR knee replacement? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in walking/dress-ing? Disability tax credit $2,000 tax credit $20,000 re-fund. Apply today for assis-tance: 1-844-453-5372.



CANCEL 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.

TravelSAVE 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

Place of Worship Information Timeshare Cards of Thanks Cards of Thanks Cards of Thanks

Announcements Announcements Travel Announcements Announcements Announcements




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

AGREEMENTIt is agreed by any display or Classified Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement.

Used.ca cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for the following edition.

Used.ca reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the Used.ca Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.

DISCRIMINATORYLEGISLATIONAdvertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, color, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, or age, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for the work involved.

COPYRIGHTCopyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of Used.ca. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

ON THE WEB:

INDEX IN BRIEFFAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRAVEL

EMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS SERVICES

PETS & LIVESTOCK

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

RENTALS

AUTOMOTIVE

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

LEGAL NOTICES

HUNTING GUIDE OPPORTUNITYSkeena Air Guides seeks professional, experienced, mountain hunting guide for remote fly-in camp in Smithers, BC. Must have minimum 2 yrs guiding exp, horse riding/handling and mountain goat experience a must. Must exhibit good communication skills, experience with international clients/languages an asset. Duties include: guiding, packing, wrangling, field prep of trophies/meat, & general camp/trail maintenance duties.

Seasonal position from mid-July to mid-Oct, $175+/day. Benefits: accommodations and meals, WCB, vacation pay, and

return air transportation into hunting camp from Smithers.Please apply to [email protected]

or fax 250.847.2909

Smithers, BC

Adopt a Shelter Cat!The BC SPCA cares for thousands oforphaned and abandoned cats each year.If you can give a homeless cat a secondchance at happiness, please visit yourlocal shelter today.

www.spca.bc.ca

Obituaries Obituaries Obituaries

Marlene Kehler (Storey, Kenny) 79 years of age, entered heaven’s gates January 22, 2016. Marlene was born in Saskatoon Sask. July 28th, 1936. A long time resident of Mission, Quesnel and Houston B.C. Marlene was a woman with a strong spirit; never to complain of the challenges in her life; living each day at as it came. She worked hard, enjoyed her children, church, animals, crafting and dancing. Marlene loved going to Church and wor-shiping her Lord Jesus... in her last couple of years you would often hear her say, “I want to go HOME!” Marlene will be remembered by many family and friends for her special shoulder dance, beautiful smile, laughter and peaceful spirit. She is survived by daughter, Marla McIntyre (Mike), sons Don Storey (Lori), Charles Storey, David Storey, sister Jeanette Bell (Wilfred), brothers, Jerry Giesbrecht and Michael Kenny, seven grandchildren, thirteen great grand children. Marlene was predeceased by husband Henry, brother Jack, and grandson Matthew. A memorial service will be held for Marlene on May 12, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.@ New Life Church, 2244 Ash Ave. Quesnel, B.C. Internment will be in Mission @ Hatzic Cemetery sometime in the spring where her remains will be laid to rest beside Henry Kehler.

Marlene KehlerJuly 28, 1936 - January 22, 2016


Worth talking about, just one of many the reasons to follow us on Twitter,like us on facebook or visit us at:

WWWWWoorr

@localworkbc /localwork-bc

Quality BC Jobs

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.

PEACEFUL COUNTRY! Gorgeous 4. 97 acre lot with an older 1248 square foot modular home and a 28 x 30 detached workshop located minutes from Sunset Lake! Great mountain views as well. Fenced yard, and fenced for horses. Double wide features many updates including vinyl windows, laminate flooring & tile and shower in the en-suite. Spacious kitchen, 3 bedrooms, new flooring in the mudroom, metal roof and a drilled well. Fridge, stove, dishwasher, window coverings and pellet stove included. Priced to sell! Call Lia to view. 250-845-1147. $139,000 $169,900

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK!Extensively renovated 3 bedroom home backing onto a greenbelt! Updated windows, roof, flooring and paint. Spacious, bright kitchen is all updated. Mature landscaping in the private fenced backyard. Property features a greenhouse, storage and woodshed. Covered front walk-way, carport. All appliances included. Woodstove in the basement.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION!In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program. Visit: Care-erStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

Education/Trade Schools

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]

START A new career in graphic arts, healthcare, busi-ness, education or information tech. If you have a GED, call: 855-670-9765.



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 CALENDARKitchen serving healthy homemade soups in two different seatings, 11-12 and 12 -1 on Wednesdays.

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 2nd 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

Houston Soccer meeting – Wed., Mar. 9th @ 7pm @ the HSS library. Very important meeting for all coaches, volunteers and parents of players to start the season off. Registration forms will be available. www.bvsoccer.ca

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


Farm WorkersTREE To Me: Farm Manager (Or-ganic) Tree To Me is a new organic farm operation located in Kereme-os, BC that has a farm market, cof-fee shop, bakery and bed and breakfast. The company requires a full time Farm Manager. This is a career position with the opportunity for equity ownership in the busi-ness. The current farm operation in-cludes tree fruits, perennial vegeta-bles and berries, annual vegetables and a greenhouse operation. Along with increasing production in these areas, additional farming activities will be added in the future. The suc-cessful candidate will have both academic and practical farm experi-ence, an aptitude for equipment and building maintenance and be capable of functioning within a man-agement team. An attractive remu-neration package will be offered. Reply by email to [email protected]. www.TreeToMe.ca

If you see a wildfi re, report it to

1-800-663-5555 or *5555

on most cellular networks.

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


Continuous Aluminum Gutters

Bulkley Valley Eavestroughing

[email protected]

o t a ia nstallation

Services

GET 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

TAX FREE MONEYis available, if you are a homeowner, today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mort-gage 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.

Pets & Livestock

Feed & HayGOOD QUALITY early cut grass/alfalfa mix hay. $200/ton. Also some barley, oats, and pea silage bales. $55 each. 250-846-5728.

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; or email: 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

Merchandise for Sale

Financial Services 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.

Real EstateTIRED OF the snow and cold? Instead, relocate to sun-ny Sunshine Coast, just an hour away from Vancouver. Enjoy a serene family home-stead, consisting of 14.88 acres of lush forest, meadows, your own private waterfall, an enormous 3374 sq.ft. work-shop, a great family home and a carriage suite above a triple garage and a beautiful in-ground pool. For more infor-mation call Susanne Jorgen-sen, Remax Oceanview 604-885-1398.

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.

Make An Announcement

a t t A a e A

n a ne career!

t a baby girl!

Buy a ne ome!

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 � 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 � ooring & paint main � oor & basement• Chain link fence• Front & rear decks

• Paved driveway• Vinyl siding• & more

Phone evenings

HOUSE FOR SALE2930 Nadina Way, Houston BC

Selling priceSAMPLE

#UsedHelps

New name, same old stuff The #1 Canadian-owned classifi eds, UsedEverywhere.com, has made it easier to buy and sell in your community starting with a new, shorter name: Used.ca.


MEAT

Callebault Baking Chocolates3 Varieties, 485 g

899

Your Pantry Fill Specialists

NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED!

Robin Hood Original Flour Limit 2 per Family Purchase! 10 kg

999 Nestle Pure LifeWater 35x500 ml

599Plus Deposit, Plus Eco-Fee

Ocean SprayCraisins1.8 kg

998

Highliner Pan Sear FilletsAssorted Varieties, 540 g

999General Mills Multigrain Cheerios1.18 kg

799

Western FamilyPancake Mixor Syrup 750 ml, 905 g

2 for 598

Hershey’s ChipitsAssorted Varieties225-300 g

2 for 698

Sezme SesameSnaps4 Varieties, 16x3 pack

499

Western Family Graham Crumbs400 g

2 for 500

Sunlight Laundry Powder40 load, 1.47 kg

299

Bounce FabricSheets260s

399

Old Spice Bodywashor Deodorants

399

Folger’s ClassicRoast Coffee920 g

897

Western FamilyStirred Yogurt2 Varieties, 12x100 g

499Minute Maid Orange Juice6x295 ml

899

E.D. Smith Pie FillingsAssorted Varieties540 ml

399

Crisco Shortening454 g

288

Western Family Sweetened Condensed Milk300 ml

299

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

Freybe Fresh Pepperonior Ham Sticks

659

Eat Smart Kale Salad794 g

699

Large Navel Oranges4 lb

399

Green Beans

299/lb

Old El Paso ProductsAssorted Varieties & Sizes

399

March 9-15, 2016

Split Chicken BreastsSuperpack, 7.03/kg

319/lb

Mark Crest Tart Shells 3”2 Varieties, 24’s

399

Handi Foil Products

20%OFF

Coca-ColaFridgemates 12x355ml

2 for 888Plus Deposit, Plus Eco-Fee

Pork Back Ribs8.80/kg

399/lb

Documents

Houston Today, March 09, 2016