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The news you need. The fun you want. January 2013www.flipsidenews.ca
By Bruce LantzFort St. John joined hundreds of
communities across Canada Dec. 21 as marchers protesting Bill C-45 and other federal legislation made their feelings known.
Idle No More is a grassroots movement protesting bills being passed through the federal govern-ment involving First Nations rights and the environment. Protestors are particularly targeting omnibus Bill C-45, which removes federal protec-tion from thousands of lakes and waterways and facilitates the sale of reserve lands without consultation. Featuring hunger strikes as well as protest marches, Idle No More has become the largest, most unified and potentially most transformative indigenous movement at least since the Oka resistance in 1990.
“The thing that is interesting is how much we are doing for aborigi-nal communities . . . $131 million over the last several years in Attawapiskat alone!” said MP Bob Zimmer, whose Fort St. John office was picketed briefly by about 50 protestors.
“Our government continues to work hard in aboriginal communi-ties. We continue to develop solu-tions that will improve the lives of regular members of these communi-ties so they all can experience the benefits of our resource-based econ-omy. I look forward to ongoing dis-cussions on hearing from local aboriginal groups on how we can work together on these initiatives.”
“He missed the point completely and only puts out facts that shine a favourable light on the Conservative-led government,” said organizer Helen Knott. “It’s this type of mis-understanding that we are trying to clear and be free of.”
“First Nations are leading this
effort because of all of the current and purposed changes the federal government is making that affect First Nations and some that affect every Canadian,” she added. “First Nations have rallied across Canada in major and small cities crying out that they will not be ‘idle’ any lon-ger. This means that we will no lon-ger accept the paternalistic pattern of the federal government, who has always made decisions for our com-munities. We want to have our voic-es heard on legislative matters that affect us and give free, prior and informed consent - a right that is guaranteed to us under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, an agreement Canada ratified in 2007.
“These are our basic rights that we want respected and for our origi-nal agreements (treaties) to be hon-oured. The changes that affect all Canadians are the ones made under Omnibus Bill C45, whereby the fed-
eral government has removed pro-tection from rivers and lakes as well as significantly reduced the time needed to approve major projects (like the Northern Gateway pipeline project). This should be every Canadian’s concern, especially here in the North. We are not against development but it needs to be done respectfully and in such a way it safeguards the land and water for future generations. Anything less than this is unacceptable.”
Knott said those behind Idle No More want the Crown and First Nations relationship to be restored on a “nation-to-nation” basis, for the original covenants to be honoured, and the lands and waters to be pro-tected.
“I personally want a Canada where mutual understanding and respect can also take place between First Nations and larger society. There is so much misunderstanding as is.”
Bruce Lantz photoPlacard-waving picketers besiege Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer’s Fort St. John office Dec. 21, part of the nationwide Idle No More protest. Zimmer was in Ottawa.
Idle No More protest hits FSJ
2 The Flipside January 2013
EDITORIAL
What have we done?As we enter the New Year and
dream of the summer to come (we hope) it is obvious that the latest doomsday prediction, this one by the Mayans, was a bust like all the oth-ers.
So what was the value in all the handwringing and nay saying, the speculation and prophesying prior to Dec. 21, which came and went with nary a hiccup or tremor? Well, for this ink-stained wretch, it did bring some thoughts about our world . . . and whether we deserve it.
Think about this: We agonize (hopefully) over the right way to raise our children. We spend time and effort on managing our family, our home and our property; even our vehicles get serious consideration. We are involved in each and every one of those responsibilities every day of our lives.
But what have we done with the world?
Some millennia ago, we were given responsibility for this planet we call Earth. Whether by cataclys-mic accident, a deity or some inter-stellar ‘big brothers’, we were charged with shepherding this planet through its stages, presumably to some good purpose. Or at least not to destroy it.
So, how have we done? What we have managed to do is to ensure that there will always be wars, torture, poverty, persecution and suffering – not just in lands far away but here at home, too. We’ve managed to wreak havoc on our lands, following the
latest flavour of the day whether it be pro- or anti-development. We’ve made rules, then added more rules, then added rules that contradict the other rules, thus ensuring that no one has a sense of what is the right thing to do in any given circumstance. We’ve abdicated our responsibilities and elected politicians to do the work for us, and then we’ve torn them down at every turn – usually without offering anything like help-ful suggestions.
Perhaps worst of all, we raise our children in a society that worships violence in movies and video games, elevating the most violent fictional characters to demigod status. We treat war and devastation abroad (this started with TV coverage of the Vietnam War and has continued since) as entertainment on the night-ly news, ensuring we’re desensitized to the harm being done, and then we wonder why our children think noth-ing of committing violent acts.
Imagine you were the one(s) who gave us this planet to look after. Would you be happy with our job performance thus far? Or would you want to see us fired? We have sur-vived thus far but perhaps, some day, one of these dire predictions will come true. Perhaps our creator(s) will look at the mess we’ve made and say “Enough. Let’s give some-one else a shot”.
Then we will have no one but ourselves to blame.
- Bruce Lantz
As a productive 2012 comes to an end and we look forward to a new year full of challenges and rewards, I would like to take a moment to look back on this past year.
For me, the event that will always remain a highlight was having the honour of standing up to vote in favour of ending the wasteful, inef-fective long-gun registry. As I stood to have my voted counted, I thought of the hundreds of local law-abiding long-gun owners who have worked for so many years to see that day come to pass.
I also had the proud opportunity on Aug. 1 to commemorate the offi-cial opening of the wheat and barley free market for Western grain farm-ers with some of our own local farm-ers. This is an issue that was of great importance to many farmers in our region and I was pleased, as a mem-ber of the special legislative com-mittee that focused solely on this Bill, to see so many local farmers enjoy the freedom to market their own grain for the first time in 70 years.
This year our government also introduced our plan for Responsible Resource Development. This plan will streamline Canada’s review sys-tem, while ensuring the environment is respected. Here in Northeastern BC we are blessed with an abun-dance of natural resources and with several proposed projects planned in our region, our Responsible Resource Development plan has the potential to add thousands of jobs and have a significant economic impact. I recently sent out a newsletter to resi-dents requesting your thoughts and opinions on this issue, and I am looking forward to hearing your responses.
2012 also marked the Queen’s 60th year on the throne. As part of the celebrations, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal was presented to many recipients throughout Canada. Here in Prince George-Peace River, I have had the honour of presenting medals to the following individuals who have made significant contribu-tions to our communities and our country: Paul Gevatkoff, Connie Patterson, Tim Love, Bill Streeper, Capt. Ben Lippers, Mike King, Neil Evans, Chris Parker, Larry Evans, Ben Klassen, Sheldon Clare, Aaron Marchuk, Susan Scott, Shaely Wilbur, Bruce Sutherland, Joan Patterson, Rose Colledge, Lori Slater, Dr. Charles Helm, Dr. Gail Fondahl, Baljit Sethi, Bruce D. Christensen, Alvin Stedel, John Van
Spronsen and Dale Campbell. All medals have now been allotted although I will be continuing to hand out these medals in the New Year.
To better serve our region, this year I opened a new constituency office in Dawson Creek and it has been very well received and utilized. We had our Grand Opening Nov. 13 and I would like to thank the many friends that came to help us cele-brate! In Ottawa, we have had many friends come to visit our Parliamentary office and I have enjoyed being able to take them on a tour of the historic Parliamentary Buildings.
Please don’t hesitate to call or drop by any of my offices so that my staff and I can assist you with any issues concerning the federal gov-ernment. People usually contact the office regarding Citizenship and Immigration, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Passport Canada, and Canada Revenue Agency. We are here for you!
As I look toward 2013, I am looking forward to continuing to meet with you, local community leaders, stakeholders and individual constituents, listening to your ideas and concerns. If you would like to get in touch with me, please feel free to contact my office in Fort St. John at 250-787-1194, Prince George at 250-561-7982, Dawson Creek at 250-719-6848, or Ottawa at 613-947-4524.
From my family and staff to yours, a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Bob Zimmer is the Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River
MP REPORT
Looking Back on 2012
Benefit from filing your income tax and benefit return on time
(NC)—It’s that time of year again—tax season. You may be thinking that because you have no income to declare, you can avoid the hassle of filing your income tax and benefit return. But did you know that to get credits and benefits, like those on the GST/HST you paid, or for the Canada Child Tax Benefit, you are required to file?
Here’s more information even if you have no income to report:
• GST/HST credit: A tax-free quarterly payment that helps indi-viduals and families with low and modest incomes offset all or part of the GST/HST they pay.
• Canada Child Tax Benefit: The CCTB is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising chil-dren under age 18 (it may include the national child benefit supplement
and the child disability benefit).To avoid interruptions to your
benefit and credit payments, make sure you file by the deadline, which is April 30, 2013, or June 17, 2013 if you or your spouse or common-law partner is self-employed. Make fil-ing your taxes easier by filing online, using the certified software listed on the Canada Revenue Agency web-site at www.netfile.gc.ca/software. Free software options are available. If you need help filing, you may qualify for the Community Volun-teer Income Tax Program, which of-fers tax preparation clinics hosted by volunteers in various community or-ganizations. Find the nearest clinic at www.cra.gc.ca/volunteer.
January 2013 The Flipside 3
By Bruce LantzMore than 150 people gathered
in the Baldonnel Elementary School gym near Fort St. John Dec. 20 to protest plans by Peace Valley OSB to introduce a new chemical into their manufacturing process that some say is dangerous to the pub-lic’s health.
The plant, owned by Lousiana Pacific and Canfor, is awaiting regu-latory approval allowing it to use methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) as a bonding agent in the pro-duction of their oriented strand board. MDI emissions have been linked to respiratory diseases such as asthma. Opponents say the plant’s owner promised not to use the chem-ical when the plant was first pro-posed more than a decade ago, but applied to do so Nov. 28. Approval could come any day now.
“I felt sick,” said organizer Sandra Cushway, a Baldonnel teach-er. “I’m very concerned. I’m con-cerned about the health and safety of my children and family members.”
She was circulating a petition to gain signatures opposing the use of MDI in hopes of submitting it to the
provincial environment ministry before their decision was handed down. By press time a petition with nearly 400 signatures had been sent to the Ministry of Environment, and Cushway said another petition with likely a similar number of names was ready to be forwarded to the ministry.
This isn’t the first time the use of MDI has been the subject of contro-versy in the Peace region. LP’s Dawson Creek plant, and another in Colorado, was the subject of a CBC-TV series when it was found to be using MDI after opening in 1987 and problems with asthma surfaced
among workers and nearby resi-dents.
Peace Valley OSB general man-ager Ian Coote told the crowd the level that of MDI use that is being sought is “within the strictest guide-lines” in North America. He said the chemical currently is used in all of the company’s OSB plants in North America.
Area resident Greg Hammond accused the company of having “complete disregard” for their neigh-bours. “They bullied their way into this community and will continue to do so to get what they want,” he said.
Residents protest OSBchemical use
Bruce Lantz photoOrganizer Sandra Cushway with a petition containing nearly 400 names objecting to plans by Peace Valley OSB to introduce a chemical reportedly causing asthma into the plant’s manufacturing process.
By Bruce LantzThe North Peace Cultural Centre
is readying to celebrate its 20th anni-versary this June.
Bettyanne Hampton, executive director of Fort St. John’s iconic arts and entertainment centre, said work is already underway to ensure that the ’20 Days in June’ celebration is jam-packed with events and activi-ties to mark the anniversary.
“It’s a really big deal for us and for the community,” she explained, adding that the festivities will culmi-nate in a gala June 21. “It’s not a North Peace Cultural Centre project, it’s a community project.”
Hampton said she wants to enlist all the community’s arts organiza-tions – performing arts, dance, visu-al arts, literary arts, culinary arts (“foodies”) and more - to participate in whatever way suits them, as well as those who participated in the original opening of the centre two decades ago – includes those now living elsewhere. “We’ll be bringing people back to town for the Gala.”
Celebration events will include a Printathon, with participants donat-
ing a print to the annual art auction, studio tours, an Art Walk, taking art out into the community with pieces hanging in stores and businesses – all with anniversary branding, and others such as the potential for local dance studios to put on workshops to introduce the community to dance.
“We want to Include: as many disciplines as possible and make sure the variety of cultures now in town are also represented,” Hampton explained.
There also exists an opportunity to create a Community Ticket Centre as a legacy project. Such a centre will benefit the entire community for years to come, attaching tourism and economic goals, and with the capac-ity to increase sustainability and strengthen our community depen-dency going forward.
Components would include a box office outlet with the ability to han-dle online, credit card, phone and walk-up sales, and disseminate information; an outside marquee to provide external visibility for each event the box office is selling tickets for; a print publication to support
both the box office, the marquee and create adver-tising opportunities for sponsors; and a website with the capacity to meet today’s online social media and marketing needs.
Currently, the centre’s box office serves as a tick-et outlet only for events happening inside the facil-ity. But the demand is there for a centralized, accessible and profes-sionally run box office that can be utilized by the growing number of organizations, groups, businesses, events and schools. A Community Box Office would meet this demand, providing the necessary tools and services to help clients sell their tickets, establish a patron base and broaden their market reach - all of which are important for the success of their events.
Another legacy Hampton hopes to see is an expansion of their volun-teer base. She said the centre already has “amazing” volunteers, “just not enough” of them.
“I’m excited,” she said. “This brings a centralization and a broader sense of community.”
It also signals a coming-of-age for the Cultural Centre, which was mired in controversy at the outset. “We’re no longer in the ‘terrible two’ stage or ‘teenagerhood’. We’re more mature and responsible, fis-cally responsible, and relevant. The change isn’t so much in the bricks and mortar but in the growth, the evolution of the community.
“In my short time here I’ve seen good, exciting and risky change. There nothing about the arts that isn’t risky but this community embraces risk.”
Cultural Centre celebrating 20th
4 The FlipSide January 2013
The Doctor & The Lawyer
Answers
Across1. Hwy. safety org.5. Breakfast roll10. Trick-taking game with 32 cards14. Italian town15. Shout for Sills16. Roman wrap17. Church Lady player19. Dutch city with a cheese market20. Dreaded virus21. Make feeble23. Penguin hunter26. Stunk27. Lion, by tradition32. Honshu bay33. Chocolatiers’ needs34. Armstrong, informally38. “CSI” samples40. Honeymoon quarters
42. Dental photo43. Carolina rails45. Heat, as milk47. “If ___ told you once...”48. Hot spot regular51. Early shrink Coriat54. “Twin Peaks” actor MacLachlan55. Spanish city where the bulls run58. Pop’s Khan62. Mimi’s “mine”63. Affluent66. Word processing command67. One-third of CCI68. Farm-related: Prefix69. Recites70. Runs through71. “____ Tread on Me”Down1. Earned, as money
2. Run ___: pay after the last drink3. 007’s film debut4. Talk-show talk5. Mgr.’s college degree6. Opposite of “Dep.” on aflight board7. Was philanthropic8. Equal9. Cake features10. 1982 N.L. Rookie of the Year11. It might help you get the picture12. Kind of marble13. Subdued18. Bounce (off)22. Softens by soaking24. Corporate money manag-ers: Abbr.25. Reddened27. Teases28. “But there ___ joy in Mudville ...”29. In the area30. Ukase, e.g.31. Swear on — of Bibles35. Chicago paper, familiarly, with “the”36. Cro-Magnon’s home37. “Jezebel” actress on TV: 1950’s39. Excavation sites41. __ May Clampett44. A great clan, in Ireland.46. Sweet, to Ovid49. Signs of hunger50. Use the guillotine51. “By me”52. Mead research site53. Social historian Cleveland56. Succeeding57. The “A” of Thomas A.Edison59. Pain: Comb. form60. Jerome who composed “Show Boat”61. Access.64. Conservative’s foe: Abbr.65. What the “H” of H.M.S. may be
APPETIZERS BABIES BALLOONS BANNERS BUFFET CELEBRATE CHAMPAGNE CONFETTI
DANCE DAY ONE DECORATIONS END OF DECEMBER EVENTS FAMILY FATHER TIME FEAST FESTIVITIES
FIREWORKS FIRST OF JANUARY FRIENDS HATS HOLIDAY HORNS KISS MIDNIGHT MUSIC NEW YEARS DAY NEW YEARS EVE NOISEMAKERS OCCASION PARADES PARTY PUNCH RESOLUTIONS SINGING STREAMERS THIRTY FIRST TIARAS WINE YEAR IN REVIEW
At a party of professionals, a Doc-tor was having difficulty socializ-ing. Everyone wanted to describe their symptoms, and get an opin-ion about diagnosis. The Doctor turned to a Lawyer acquaintance, and asked, “How do you handle people who want advice outside of the office?”“Simple,” answered the Lawyer, “I send them a bill. That stops it.”The next day, the Doctor, still feel-ing a bit reserved about what he had just finished doing, opened his mailbox to send the bills; there sat a bill from the Lawyer.
After a lady’s car had leaked motor oil on her cement drive-way, she bought a large bag of cat litter to soak it up. It worked so well, that she went back to the store to get another bag to finish the job. The clerk remembered her. Looking thoughtfully at her purchase, he said, “Lady, if that were my cat, I’d put him outside!”
Kitty Litter
A man was checking into a hotel when he saw a golden retriever sit-ting on a rug near the hotel eleva-tor. Talking to the man behind the desk, he asked, “Does your dog bite?” The attendant said, “No, he doesn’t.” But as the man let his hand down to pat the dog, it bit his hand and held on so tightly that the man had to throw him across the room.Returning to the desk, the man said, “I thought you said that your dog didn’t bite.” He directed the attendant’s attention to the dog, who now had returned to the rug. The attendant simply answered, “My friend that is NOT my dog.”
The Golden Retriever
January 2013 The Flipside 5
In Fort St. JohnA & W Angelic Light B&M GlassBurgers & BrewsBank of MontrealCecil Lake StoreCredit UnionEsquires Coffee HouseFort St. John Hospital Waiting Fort St. John Medical ClinicFort City ChryslerHumpty’s Family RestaurantJD FitzgeraldsLone Wolf (Taylor)MondosMama Panda RestaurantMile 54 CafeMasterpiece FramingMile 36 Cafe (Taylor)Northern GrandNorthern StarOn the Rocks PubOn the Rocks LiquorRazors EdgeRedwood Esso (Taylor)Rogers TruckingRoyal BankRudy’s Car & Truck WashSystems SecureStonebridge HotelTD BankThe Shed (Taylor)Tim Hortons (North & South) QuiznosUrban ThredzWhole Wheat & Honey
In Dawson CreekAurora InnCIBCDawson Creek Visitor CenterDays Inn Lobby Dr. Fletcher’s OfficeEljen ClinicFarmington Store George Dawson LobbyGeorge Dawson CaféHospital MainHospital Dr. FletcherHuskyLees RestaurantRockwells Stuie’s DinerSubwayThe LodgeTD Bank White SpotTubby’s Car Wash
Places to findThe Flipside
It’s a Wonderful Life! A must read for 2013: Your own Book of Awesome!By Sue Stark
A couple of years ago I got an awesome book from my son at Christmas called The Book of Awesome. At the time I received it I thought to myself, “What an awe-some idea this Neil had. Good on him!”
That book actually sparked an idea for me as I was reading the sto-ries in it between Christmas and New Year’s that year, and I thought . . . You know what? I am going to write my own book of awesome this year. I am going to plan for a lot of awesomeness in my life this year.
How many times have we noticed others – what they have done and said, just like I said about Neil - who
wrote that book that is awesome? The thing about noticing others’ suc-cesses and joys is hopefully it is a reminder to you that yes, that is awe-some but anything, anyone, can be awesome. It doesn’t have to be hap-pening to others. It can be happening to me – and our chance to write a page in our own book of awesome is gifted to us each and every day.
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chap-ter is New Year’s Day. ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Do you like that? That is my favourite New Years quote. I know, for me, it is a wonderful reminder of
the control I have over this year to come. And on the top of my goal list every year is my reminder to write this year the way I want it and to always remember, I am the one with the pen – I am the one with the power – I am the one that can choose – I am the one who will decide how it is going to be.
In the midst of writing goals and resolutions, let’s stop a moment and remember this. Very simply, it isn’t hard. It doesn’t have to be. Don’t choose that, you have the pen. We have opened the book. The pages are blank. This is Chapter One of your book. What are you going to put down for yourself? Make it wonder-ful or, at the very least, awesome!!Happy New Year!! Love Sue xo Sue Stark is the owner of Sue Stark Consulting.
Bruce Lantz photoOPEN FOR BUSINESSHenry See and Joy Larstone welcomed one and all to the grand opening of Headspace Artefacts Dec. 21. The store, located at 10116-100 St. in Fort St. John, across from Good 2 Go Shoes, offers a variety of unique books, clothing and other relics of a bygone era. The opening of the store (which could have been its closing as well if the Mayan calendar predictions had proved true) drew a wide spectrum of people from the community who turned up to enjoy snacks and beverages and the music of Twin Peaks plus others who showcased their music at an open mic session.
By Clarice EckfordEvery city wants to be friendly
and healthy, assuring that all its resi-dents have the tools and resources to be safe. But often, service pro-viders create programs to address these issues without much help from the community-at-large. While top-down models work well, it’s rare to see a grassroots initiative that asks local residents to take a meaningful role in each phase of project plan-ning and delivery.
The Peace Project is a three-year initiative aimed at reducing violence against women and girls in Fort St. John. The project is community-driv-en, meaning that everyone’s input is valued. By engaging in the project’s
activities, participants envision a fu-ture without violence and collective-ly ensure the health and wellness of all Fort St. John residents.
In the first phase, project coordi-nators held a series of focus groups to gather information about the atti-tudes and behaviours that perpetuate violence against women and girls. As well, the needs of community members who currently experience violence were also explored.
In February, this information will be shared with the community-at-large who will create a plan to ad-dress the needs and barriers explored in the focus groups and an online survey, which is still open to partici-pants until the end of January. Parts
of this plan will then be implement-ed over a two-year period, working towards a friendly, healthy and safe Fort St. John. By taking the online survey, participants can enter to win one of three $50 gift certificates.
To find out more, visit the proj-ect’s website at thepeaceprojectfsj.com or contact the project coordina-tor at 250-262-4294.
Envisioning a community without violence
Writers’ workshops resuming in Jan
Calling all writers and poets! The popular Poets & Writers Open Mic will resume at Headspace on 100 Street in Fort St. John, across from Good 2 Go Shoes, on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Headspace owner Henry See, who started the popular event at Retro Relics in 2009, said the event will be held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Fiction and non-fiction writers as well as poets can give readings of their work and participate in discussions designed to provide helpful critiques. The public is also welcome to attend these free events.
“We get all ages, from high school students to retirees,” See said, “from people just finding their voice to people who’ve been writing their whole lives. The critiques are constructive and it’s a great atmosphere.”
See said the number attending the workshops varies but there’s usually a “solid core” of 8-10 participants.
Thus far, two anthologies of local writing have been published from the workshops – DiVerCities I and DiVerCities II. See hopes another will come from the new slate of workshops.
“The anthologies help motivate peo-ple because there’s something tangible at the end,” he said.
6 The FlipSide January 2013
In partnership with the Fort St. John Association for Community Living, The FlipSide News presents this series showcasing successes in which people with disabilities bring their talents to the workforce.
Tammy McLeod lives in Fort St John, where she was born and raised. When she was younger she was hit by a car and suffered a serious head injury. She currently resides with her parents, who mean the world to her.
Typically, three days a week, she either takes the handyDART or her mother drives her to her place of employment. Tammy has worked for Li-Car Management for four years. She started this position as a volun-teer in the office, shredding docu-ments and assisting with coffee room tasks, however, soon after she became a paid employee. “I love my job,” she says. “And I like getting
paid.”Tammy uses her money to go to
bingo and buys DVDs, and she enjoys going out to local restaurants to eat dinner with her family. Tammy has evolved significantly since start-ing her employment. She has grown confidence and enjoys her co-work-ers who admire her sense of humour.
Tammy started as a volunteer at Li-Car in June 2008. While Tammy received support from the Fort St. John Association for Community Living finding the job, she learned most of her skills from supportive co-workers. She now works three days a week as an office assistant. Tammy shreds documents and will wash dishes in the coffee room as needed. She knows her job well and steadily works without stopping, unless it is to change tasks or the shredder bag needs to be emptied.
Li-Car owner Lita Powell says,
“Tammy is a tremendous asset to our company. She brings a great work ethic, dedication, humour and is a welcome member of our staff.”
A co-worker says, “We are very pleased with Tammy. She is a joy to have in the office.”
Tammy is social and has a good relationship with her co-workers. Tammy loves her job so much that at the end of her shifts it is difficult to get her to stop working. Just as Tammy values her job, her employer values Tammy’s contribution to the workplace.
On her birthday she is treated with cards and cake from co-work-ers and her work never goes unno-ticed.
“I’m happy with my job and I’m good at it,” says Tammy. “I like the people I work with.”
If you are an employer who
would like more information about including someone with a disability in your business, please call Sheri Ashdown, Job Coach at 250-787-9262 ext 231 or via email: [email protected]
Contributed photoTammy McLeod enjoys her work at Li-Car Management and they value her contributions.
“I’m happy with my job and I’m good at it” – Tammy’s employment story
By Chelsea ToewsAnother year is over, which
means another year older! What are you doing to prevent those unfortu-nate wrinkles? Are we supposed to believe all the facts about wrinkle creams? Botox?
There are so many choices out there for pre-aging women to get sucked into believing . . . but which one actually works? Is it genetics or can we prevent those frown lines from getting worse or those crows feet around our eyes from deepen-ing? So many people have a nega-tive opinion on botox so I decided to compare a bit between botox and wrinkle creams. You can believe what you like, of course, but here is some information just in case some of you were curious! (This is taken directly from the webside, Webmd.)
“The Surprising Benefits of Botox
ShareAA WebMD, the Magazine - Feature by Lisa Zamosky
Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are all used to counter wrinkles. They’re a purified form of botulinum toxin A, meaning there’s no botulism risk
when used properly. They work by blocking the nerves that contract muscles, softening the appearance of wrinkles.
Benefits and Side EffectsBotox is most effective on wrin-
kles that haven’t quite set – ‘dynam-ic’ wrinkles that appear while you’re moving your face, such as when you frown. “If you don’t move the muscle too much, you won’t form the wrin-kle,” says Columbia University der-matologist Monica Halem, MD. She considers Botox ‘preventive’.”
So that is one side of it and to me it makes sense. You freeze the mus-cles so, if you can’t make the frown motions, the frown lines shouldn’t form. Seems logical to me! As far as wrinkle creams go, I personally don’t believe the hype about them. I think they are marketed towards women and made to sound like a must-have, but what does it actually do for you?
Here is the Wikipedia definition of anti-aging cream. (Next month I will go more in depth on brands and which ones work and which ones don’t!) “Anti-aging creams are pre-
dominantly moisturizer-based cos-meceutical skin care products marketed with the promise of making the consumer look younger by reducing visible wrinkles, expres-sion lines, blemishes, pigmentation changes, discolourations and other environmentally (especially from the sun) related conditions of the skin. A comprehensive grading scale for anti-aging of the skin has been validated and categorizes skin aging as: laxity (sagging), rhytids (wrin-kles), and the various categories of photoaging, including erythema (redness), dyspigmentation (brown discolourations), solar elastosis (yel-lowing), keratoses (abnormal growths), and poor texture. Despite great demand, many such products and treatments have not been proven to give lasting or major positive effects. One study found that the best performing creams reduced wrinkles by less than 10 per cent over 12 weeks, which is not notice-able to the human eye. Another study found that cheap moisturizers were as effective as high-priced anti-wrinkle creams. However, recent
studies at Manchester University showed that some ingre-dients have an effect. Traditionally, anti-aging creams have been mar-keted towards women, but products specifically targeting men are increasingly common.”
So there is something to think about . . . botox or anti-aging creams? Which method do you prefer?
Chelsea Toews is the owner of the Diamond Cherry Beauty Bar.
What to do about those pesky wrinkles?
Alex Neve is the secretary gen-eral for Amnesty International Canada and in this column he of-fers readers information on the pro-tection of human rights.By Alex Neve
(NC) With the arrival of 2013,
the possibilities for improved human rights are tremendously exciting. The threats, however, are equally immense.
Nothing highlights this more than the situation across North Africa and the Middle East, where people in Tu-nisia, Libya and Egypt grapple with the potential of historic change; but the people of Syria, Iran and other countries face intensified repression and violence.
In 2013 it’s important for Canada to stand with the people of North Africa and the MiddleEast in their struggles. This includes doing every-thing we can in Egypt to help shore up human rights protection amidst reforms and transformation; and in Syria, to intensify the pressure and break the international gridlock to
bring the atrocities to an end.As well, there are wider global
human rights concerns for Canada to focus on. High priorities should be such hotspots as the border region
between Sudan and South Sudan; the volatile areas of Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa; and in Colombia, where the country’s indigenous peoples face a devastating human rights cri-sis in which their very survival is at stake.
Canada has shown leadership in the past in the drive to strengthen in-ternational justice, including through the establishment of an International Criminal Court. In 2013, let’s work harder to make sure those laws and institutions are able to do their work.
More information about human rights work internationally and in Canada is available online at am-nesty.ca, or by writing to: Amnesty International, 312 Laurier Avenue East, Suite #501, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 1H9.
Time for Canada to shine as an international example for human rights
Alex Neve of Amnesty International Canada meeting a student of Kimy Per-nia School in Colombia. The school is named after a highly respected Colom-bian Indigenous leader who was abduct-ed in 2001 and never seen again.
Alex Neve (2nd from left) and Kathy Price (4th from left) of Amnesty In-ternational Canada meeting students and teachers of Kimy Pernia School in Colombia. The school is named after a highly respected Colombian Indigenous leader who was abducted in 2001 and never seen again.
January 2013 The Flipside 7
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NOTICES
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
&OPEN HOUSE
of theNorthern Lights Recovery Centre
SocietyJan. 31
Public Open House – 6 pmAGM – 7 pm
The public is welcome to attend the Open House to learn about
the project’s progress. Directors and members will conduct the Annual General
Meeting.
By Rick Koechl & Mike KroecherWithin the past few months,
Premier Christy Clark has given new status to natural gas: It is now to be considered as a ‘clean energy source’ similar to other renewables - if its purpose is to produce electricity for Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) production.
It is now time to propose another option: a sober re-examination of the financial case behind the Site C project in the Peace River country. Consider the following option and opportunity unfolding. The City of Calgary is presently building a natural gas operated generator for electricity, called the Shepard Energy Centre. It is two years away from completion. The Site C and Shepard projects can be compared on a number of fronts: financial, productivity and environmental.Construction time: Shepard Centre: 3 yearsSite C: 7-10 years periodEnergy Production (gigawatt hours per year):Shepard: 6500 Gwh/yearSite C: 5100 Gwh/yearPower Output:Shepard: 834 MW (megawatts) maximum outputSite C: 1100 MW maximum outputEnergy Efficiency (based on total energy output):Shepard: 92%Site C: 52%Capitol Cost for Construction:Shepard: $1.3 billionSite C: $7.9 billionFoot Print Required for Land Usage:Shepard: 60 Acres Site C: 23,000-25,000 AcresLoss of Productive, Arable Lands:Shepard: up to 50 acresSite C: approx. 13,000 acresLocation:Shepard: anywhere power/energy is requiredSite C: limited to location of reservoir, in the lower Peace Valley
Doing the math, it is clear that a megawatt hour from Site C will cost the BC taxpayer approximately six times that of a similar Shepard facility from a capital cost perspective alone. Also, BC Hydro is looking to amortize the capital costs over a very long period of time, likely 75-100 years in order to ‘reduce’ the cost to the ratepayers. BC Hydro claims to have a competitive value of somewhere between $87-$95 per Mwh cost to customers. This could only work if the capital costs are amortized over excessively long periods of time, as pointed out.
Comparing the two systems over a 30-year amortization period is a more reasonable way of comparing costs. Hydro will need to borrow the funds regardless of the system being constructed. A reasonable solution might be the sale of bonds, at a five per cent interest rate. On $7.9 billion (Site C), the taxpayers would be paying about $400 million per year in interest alone. On a Shepard-type system, the annual interest on the same bond would be $45 million - a considerable difference. Over the course of 30 years, however, Site C will burden the taxpayer to the tune of $19.5 billion (interest + principle). The Shepard option would be in the order of $3.5 billion with a significant difference of $16.5 billion. If Hydro amortizes over 75 or 100 years as it intends to, now we have a financial crises. Also, Hydro could only be paying the interest, not the principal, if it intends to keep the $87-$95 per megawatt rate as mentioned above.
Hydro has stated that Site C will have “lower operational costs” because gas will be an additional cost and water is “free”. Bear in mind that Hydro has been funneling water through the spillway for many weeks this past summer (2012) due to over-capacity in the reservoirs. In lieu of this, they have been paying IPPs (independent power producers) around $50 per Mwh. Water clearly is costing us indirectly, with or without the cost of gas. Another option would be for the BC government to adopt a “royalty-in-
kind” program that the Alberta government presently uses. In lieu of taking in money from natural gas producers, the government would take the “gas” instead. It can now be used as a “hedge” in the event the price goes up. The gas could then be sourced as a stable, long-term fuel for a Shepard-type facility here in BC. This would help guarantee stability in an electricity pricing regime.
Neither water nor natural gas is free. Both resources are owned by the people of BC. Everything ultimately will have a cost attached.
Calling Site C a “clean energy project” is misleading at best. It lost its “green” status a while back. It will take up to 10 years of heavy construction, requiring thousands of fossil fuel consuming vehicles, of all shapes and sizes, 24/7. Also, 1.5 million cubic metres of debris will be burned. About 3.2 million cubic metres of CO2-producing concrete must be used. Infrastructure will be built to cope with the dam building. Each level of construction adds additional GHGs (greenhouse gases). Decomposition and rotting vegetation from the reservoir will add huge amounts of GHGs. At present, Hydro had no plans for mitigating GHGs during the construction phase, nor is it required by law.
The natural gas “footprint” is already here in the Northeast. The industry is required by law to deal with a variety of mitigation issues, such as fugitive emissions, flaring, carbon offsets, etc. It isn’t perfect but at least the law requires the natural gas industry to comply.
One final thought: Whether natural gas is consumed here in BC or transported as LNG and used in China, we ultimately breathe the same air. “Clean” is a relative term.
We need a public discussion regarding our choices. Gas is not the final option, nor should it be. What is missing is accountability. Equally appalling is that, in the 11th hour, this discussion has barely begun.
The Financia l Case Against S i te C
(NC) Like many Canadians this past holiday season, you may have found it hard to skip the egg-nog and abundance of fine food at your fingertips. From the office party to mom’s dinner table, it has been all too easy to overindulge in your favourite holiday dishes.
Now that the New Year is here, your waistline may not be as trim as you hoped and eliminat-ing those pesky holiday pounds is likely one of your top priorities. With this in mind, here are some tips to help you lose those extra holiday pounds:
Exercise: Did the gym see lit-tle of you over the holidays? The New Year is a great opportunity to get back into the swing of things! Why not challenge yourself and add 15 minutes to your daily workout routine?
Indulge moderately: Did you know the average glass of alcohol contains 150-200 calories? Limit your alcohol intake to 1-2 drinks per day or try a lower in calorie alternative like skinnygrape. This choice by Roundpetal Wines a division of Andrew Peller Ltd. is available in chardonnay and pinot grigio and at only 80 calories per 142ml serving, skinnygrape lets you indulge lightly.
Treat your taste buds wisely: Getting in shape doesn’t mean one’s appetite should suffer. There are a variety of recipes to try that are both delicious and nutritious. The following recipe is for a de-licious light snack. Pair it with skinnygrape chardonnay and you won’t mind going in for seconds.Almond Pesto-Crusted Chicken Fingers
Ingredients: 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup store-bought pesto, 1 cup almond slivers, 3/4 cup breadcrumbs, 4 chicken breast cutlets, 3 tbsp ex-tra-virgin olive oil, lemon wedges, for servingMethod: In a medium sized bowl, beat the eggs. Add the pesto to a second medium sized bowl. In a third bowl, mix the almond sliv-ers and breadcrumbs. Add the chicken cutlets to the pesto, turn-ing to coat. Working with one at a time, dip the cutlets into the al-mond mixture, then the eggs, then the almond mixture again to coat. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the cutlets, lower the heat to low and cook, turning once, until golden-brown, 5 to 6 minutes on each side; serve with the lemon wedges.Yield: 4 Servings
Quick tips to shed those holiday pounds OFFICE SERVICES
Do you have an overflow of office work you need help catching up on? Invoicing, receivables, speadsheets, emails, return calls, scheduling, data entry. All office related duties. Call 250-262-9107
LOSTFemale long haired grey cat, Tubby’s RV area in Dawson Creek. If found please call 250-782-2584
8 The Flipside January 2013
Local News Briefs Coming EventsJan. 5 – Fort St. John Christmas tree pickup. Place your trees on the curb by 9 am or drop off your tree at the City Snow Removal Dump Site at 79 Avenue and 93 Street, beside DGS Astro Paving. For more infor-mation contact the City of Fort St John at [email protected] or call 3-1-1. Remember to remove all dec-orations and tinsel.Jan 12 – FSJ Arts Market 10 am-2 pm at the Pomeroy Sport Centre in Fort St. John. Come and see the local art work and much, much more. For more information contact: Nina Cazes (Volunteer Director) 250-793-6599 or email [email protected]. 12-March 2 - Try a Sport! This 8-week long program on Saturdays is designed to give children the opportunity to test-drive different sports or activities without having to commit to a full season. Phone Community Services for more infor-mation at 250-784-3604. Ages: 9-12 years. Cost: $40.Jan. 15 – Walk & Swim the Trans-Canada Trail - This extraordinary trail is the world’s longest network of trails, developed and promoted by a non-profit registered charity. It stretches over 23,000 kilometres from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Oceans, linking 1000 com-munities and all Canadians. The walking component will take place on the Northern Vac Track at the Pomeroy Sport Centre in Fort St. John and will be free. If you need more of a challenge, the trail also includes water routes, which adds up to 4,600 kms. This component will take place at the North Peace Leisure Pool (regular admission applies). This challenge starts Jan. 15 and ends March 15. For information contact the Recreation Programmer at 250-794-3262.Jan 19 - Bridal Fair & Trade Show at the North Peace Cultural Centre in Fort St. John.Jan 26 - Speed Skating Long Track Championship 10 am – 9 pm at the
Pomeroy Sport Centre in Fort St. John. The best age class skaters from across Canada compete to be declared Canadian Champion. Admission is free. For more infor-mation please contact 250-785-4592. Stay tuned for scheduleJan 29-31 - Cola Cup Hockey Tournament, 8 am - 5 pm at the Pomeroy Sport Centre in Fort St. John.Feb 1 - XploresportZ Pro D-Day Camps at the Pomeroy Sport Centre in Fort St. John. Children will “test drive” two sports each day. Under direction of experienced coaches, children ages 6-12 will have fun while participating in a variety of sports relevant to the season, in a motivating and supportive environ-ment. Cost: $40 per day. For more information contact: Jennifer Gibson 250-794-3308 [email protected]. 2 - Visions of Change Annual Gala, 6.30 pm at the Pomeroy Hotel in Fort St. John. Cocktails at 6:30 pm, dinner at 7 pm. Live and silent auction to follow as well as a dance. Tickets:$65 per person. All proceeds go directly to the Royal Seed Orphanage in Ghana, Africa. This event is put on by the students of North Peace Secondary who are traveling to Ghana this year to help build classrooms for the orphanage. Company tables are also available for purchase and they provide a great advertising opportunity. Come out for a great evening of food and live music entertainment while sup-porting a great cause! Tickets are available by calling 250-785-1076 or emailing [email protected]. 8 - Valentine’s Day Dance: Pre-teen: 8-11 years, 5:30 – 7:30 pm Teen: 12-16 years, 8–10 pm. Tickets: $4 in advance, $5 at door. Location: O’Brien School Gymnasium (10500-13 St.)We want to help you publicize your non-profit organization’s events. Send your events to [email protected].
Elderly woman injured Dawson Creek RCMP is looking
for a suspect in a hit and run which sent an elderly woman to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The woman was getting out of the passenger side of a blue Ford car to enter the CIBC bank when she was struck recently. She received treatment for non-life threatening injuries to her lower legs.
The driver of the second helped her back into the vehicle but did not meet her at the hospital to exchange information so the incident is being treated as a hit and run.
The second vehicle is described as a light-coloured SUV, which may have a Saskatchewan licence plate. It may have blue paint on its rear bumper. The driver is asked to call the RCMP at 250-784-3700 or 9-1-1. If anyone else has information, please contact the RCMP.
Smart meters delayedBC Hydro has another year to
install its smart meters. The province has given Hydro until Dec. 31, 2013 to install the remaining seven per cent of meters.
The province cites shortages of qualified labour, equipment and spe-cialized meters, plus customer con-cerns, as the reason.
Hydro reportedly only has 140,000 of the 1.87 million meters left to install.
Kruk Centre decision comingDawson Creek residents will
soon decide if they’re willing to pay necessary budget increases to com-plete the Calvin Kruk Centre of the Arts.
Recently, city council decided to include the funding needed to finish the arts centre’s basement in the 2013 capital budget. In their annual budget town hall meetings, residents will have the chance to give their feedback to council about the proj-ect. The city will start seeing num-bers for estimates to finish the base-ment within the next month, which will be presented to the community next spring. The estimated range is $1 million to $1.6 million for the work.
The estimated $9.4 million-proj-ect is expected to come in over bud-get. The first completion date of September 2011 was pushed back to September 2013. Problems that caused the completion to be delayed
included: asbestos, lead paint, water damage, and inadequate perimeter drainage.
College signs mining MOUThe coal-mining firm involved in
a controversy over hiring temporary foreign workers has signed a memo-randum of understanding (MOU) with Northern Lights College to train Canadian workers.
The company will help the col-lege develop a curriculum for train-ing people in the long-wall under-ground mining technique to be used at the Murray River mine near Tumbler Ridge.
The mine will employ about 600 when it reaches full capacity in the fall of 2015. Several unions have sought a judicial review of the tem-porary work permits, claiming the miners have been brought in for lower wages.
Chevron buying into LNGChevron Canada is acquiring a
50 per cent stake in a proposed liq-uefied natural gas (LNG) terminal near Kitimat. They’re buying out the stakes held by Encana and a subsid-iary of EOG Resources, which each hold 30 per cent.
Apache Corporation, which holds the remaining 40 per cent, will increase its ownership of the plant and pipeline to 50 per cent. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Kitimat LNG project is in the engineering and design phase. Current plans call for two liquefac-tion trains, each with an expected capacity of five million tons of LNG annually. The National Energy Board has granted Kitimat LNG a 20-year licence to export to interna-tional markets.
Bernier gets Liberal nodDAWSON CREEK - Mayor
Mike Bernier was officially acclaimed as the provincial Liberal candidate for Peace River South at a candidate selection meeting Dec. 11.
Members voted unanimously for Bernier, who is expected to be opposed in the spring provincial election by Kurt Peats of the BC Conservative Party.
Current MLA for Peace River South Blair Lekstrom, and former Conservative MP for Prince George-Peace River Jay Hill, have endorsed Bernier.
