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The lighter side of news. A little bit for everyone. Positive, fun, light reading! July 2012 By Joyce Lee Manager, Visitor Services Tourism Dawson Creek O nce in a while, Mother Nature conspires against travelers to break down important roads. This is exactly what happened over June 7 th , 8 th , 9 th , 10 th , and 11 th . Heavy rains combined with melting snow packs caused several washouts and mudslides on the Alaska Highway between Watson Lake, YK and Teslin, YK, stranding hundreds of travelers. By the time the highway reopened on the eve- ning of the 11 th , there was a backlog of more than 200 transport trucks and upwards of 1500 passenger vehicles and RVs waiting to get through. The Dawson Creek Visitor Centre saw several hundreds of people who came in asking for the latest news about the highway. Most folk took the news of the closures in stride and either chose to stay in Dawson Creek and explore, or to go farther up the highway to find a beautiful spot to wait. Due to the highway closure, the Visitor Centre had a constant need for updates on road conditions. To make sure the updates were as accu- rate as possible; the Tourism team purchased an iPad for the front coun- ter. This was set up with road reports, weather reports, the Alaska Highway Facebook fanpage, Northern BC travel information, and directions on how to write travel reviews on appli- cations like TripAdvisor. The iPad has also been set up to play hundreds of historic photographs in a continu- ous slideshow. This exciting new addition to the Visitor Centre has been highly useful for staff, and feedback from travelers has been very positive. June was “Be a Tourist in You Own Town” month. Tourism staff mem- bers have created Adventure Kits to hand out to people who want to explore all the attractions and events in the area. These bags are decorated by local schoolchildren from kinder- garten to senior high school and contain all sorts of goodies. These Adventure Kits have been a big hit with residents and travelers alike. On June 15 th , the Visitor Centre hosted “Councillor to Counsellor” day, along with having an open house. Mayor Mike Bernier and sev- eral of the City Councillors dropped by the Centre throughout the day to spend time behind the front counter with the Visitor Information Counsellors, talking to and helping travelers. Coffee and cake was served, the South Peace Historical Society was on hand to give muse- um tours, and the day had a festive atmosphere. CJDC television, Dawson Creek Daily News, and Northeast News were all in atten- dance as well. Looking ahead, the Tourism team is brainstorming ideas for a float in the upcoming Canada Day Parade in Pouce Coupe, as well as ideas for celebrating the 4 th of July with our many visitors from the United States. There’s always something happen- ing at the Visitor Centre, so head down to say hello, plan your next vacation and pick up an Adventure Kit! Swing into Summer with the Dawson Creek Visitor Centre!

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Page 1: The Flipside News July 2012

The lighter side of news. A little bit for everyone. Positive, fun, light reading! July 2012

By Joyce LeeManager, Visitor ServicesTourism Dawson Creek

Once in a while, Mother Nature conspires against travelers to break down

important roads. This is exactly what happened over June 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th. Heavy rains combined with melting snow packs caused several washouts and mudslides on the Alaska Highway between Watson Lake, YK and Teslin, YK, stranding hundreds of travelers. By the time the highway reopened on the eve-ning of the 11th, there was a backlog of more than 200 transport trucks and upwards of 1500 passenger vehicles and RVs waiting to get through.The Dawson Creek Visitor Centre saw several hundreds of people who came in asking for the latest news about the highway. Most folk took the news of the closures in stride and either chose to stay in Dawson Creek and explore, or to go farther up the highway to find a beautiful spot to wait. Due to the highway closure, the Visitor Centre had a constant need for updates on road conditions. To make sure the updates were as accu-rate as possible; the Tourism team purchased an iPad for the front coun-ter. This was set up with road reports, weather reports, the Alaska Highway Facebook fanpage, Northern BC travel information, and directions on how to write travel reviews on appli-cations like TripAdvisor. The iPad has also been set up to play hundreds of historic photographs in a continu-ous slideshow. This exciting new addition to the Visitor Centre has been highly useful for staff, and feedback from travelers has been very positive.June was “Be a Tourist in You Own

Town” month. Tourism staff mem-bers have created Adventure Kits to hand out to people who want to explore all the attractions and events in the area. These bags are decorated by local schoolchildren from kinder-garten to senior high school and contain all sorts of goodies. These Adventure Kits have been a big hit with residents and travelers alike.

On June 15th, the Visitor Centre hosted “Councillor to Counsellor” day, along with having an open house. Mayor Mike Bernier and sev-eral of the City Councillors dropped by the Centre throughout the day to spend time behind the front counter with the Visitor Information Counsellors, talking to and helping

travelers. Coffee and cake was served, the South Peace Historical Society was on hand to give muse-um tours, and the day had a festive atmosphere. CJDC television, Dawson Creek Daily News, and Northeast News were all in atten-dance as well.Looking ahead, the Tourism team is brainstorming ideas for a float in the upcoming Canada Day Parade in Pouce Coupe, as well as ideas for celebrating the 4th of July with our many visitors from the United States. There’s always something happen-ing at the Visitor Centre, so head down to say hello, plan your next vacation and pick up an Adventure Kit!

Swing into Summer with theDawson Creek Visitor Centre!

Page 2: The Flipside News July 2012

2 The Flipside July 2012

EditorKim Lowder

ContributorsSandy BakerJoyce Lee (Tourism Dawson Creek)

Ad [email protected] 250-262-9107

Mailing address#4, 1913 - 96 Ave., Dawson Creek, BC V1G 1M2 250-262-9107email: [email protected]/FlipsideNews

Interesting Words

micawber(mik-kaw’-bur) n. one who is poor but lives in optimistic expectation of better fortune.

Scotch woodcock(skoch’ wood’-kok) n. buttered toast spread with anchovy paste with creamy soft-scrambled eggs on top.

paean(pee’-un) n. a joyously exultant song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph.

brobdignagian(brob-dig-nag’-ee-un) adj. (often capitalized) of colossal propor-tions or extraordinary height; gigantic. n. a giant.

woodnote(wood’-noht (wood - rhymes with could, just like you’d expect)) n. verbal expression that is natural and artless.

putative(pyoot’-uh-tive) adj. 1: common-ly accepted or supposed. 2: assumed to exist or to have exist-ed.

jitney(jit’-nee) n. 1: a nickel. 2: a bus, especially one that carries pas-sengers over a regular route according to a flexible schedule (second meaning from the 5¢ fare of such a bus, originally.)

oscitate(oss’-it-tate) v. to yawn or gape from drowsiness.

meed(meed) n. a fitting return or recompense.

(NC) The delicate touch that suc-cessfully removed an egg-shaped tumour from Paige Nickason’s brain got a helping hand from a world-renowned arm, a robotic arm, that is. The technology that went into devel-oping neuroArm – the world’s first robot capable of performing surgery inside magnetic resonance machines, was born from the Canadarm (devel-oped by advanced robotics company MDA for the U.S. Space Shuttle Program), as well as Canadarm2 and Dextre, the Canadian Space Agency’s family of space robots tasked to per-form the heavy-lifting and mainte-nance on board the International Space Station.

The neuroArm development began with the search for a solution to a surgical dilemma: how to make dif-ficult surgeries easier or impossible surgeries possible. MDA worked with a team led by Dr. Garnette Sutherland at the University of Calgary to develop a highly precise robotic arm that works in conjunc-tion with the advanced imaging capabilities of MRI systems. Surgeons needed to be able to per-form surgeries while a patient was inside a magnetic resonance (MRI) machine, which meant designing a robot that was as dexterous as the human hand, but even more precise and tremor-free. Operating inside the MRI also meant it had to be entirely made from non-magnetic materials (for instance, no steel) so that it would not be affected by the magnetic field or adversely affect the MRI’s images. The project team developed novel ways to control the robot’s movements and give the operator a sense of touch, both essential so that the surgeon can pre-cisely control the robot and can feel what is happening during the sur-gery.

Since Paige Nickason’s surgery in 2008, neuroArm has been used to

successfully treat dozens more patients. The technology has since been purchased by IMRIS Inc. a pri-vate publicly traded medical device manufacturer based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. MDA and IMRIS are advancing the design to commercial-ize a two-armed version of the sys-tem to allow surgeons to see detailed three-dimensional images of the brain, as well as surgical tools and hand controllers that allow the sur-geon to feel tissue and apply pres-sure when they operate. A clinical trial led by Dr. Sutherland is cur-rently underway at Calgary’s Foothills hospital using the first gen-eration of the robot on a group of 120 patients. IMRIS anticipates being in a position to seek regulatory approval for the robot as early as 2012.

MDA is also continuing to apply its space technologies and know-how to medical solutions for life on Earth. The company has partnered with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto to collaborate on the design and development of an advanced tech-nology solution for paediatric sur-gery. Dubbed KidsArm, the sophisti-cated tele-operated surgical system is being specifically designed for operating on small children and babies. KidsArm is intended to be used by surgeons, in conjunction with a high precision real-time imag-ing technology, to reconnect delicate vessels such as veins, arteries, or intestines.

In collaboration with The Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation in Hamilton, Ontario, MDA is also developing an advanced platform for use in early detection and treatment of breast cancer. The image-guided autonomous robot will provide increased access, precision and dex-terity, resulting in more accurate and less invasive procedures.

Robotic arms lend a healing touch

Some people are too tired to give you a smile,

so give them one of yours as no one needs a smile as much as the one who has no more to give.

Page 3: The Flipside News July 2012

July 2012 The Flipside 3

“I'm never too busy for your referrals"

RE/MAXACTIONREALTY

Charlotte Kimmie

101, 9711 - 100th AveFort St John

250-785-5520

[email protected]

250-262-4481

Story and photos submitted by Bryan Bates of the FSJDRA

The tire smoke, the sound, the speed and the intense compe-tition are what make drag

racing in Fort St. John so exciting. For 14 years now, Northern Lights Raceway has entertained thousands and provided top tier drag racing excitement for the Peace Region, and this season is no different.

The biggest news so far this year is that Northern Lights Raceway has become sanctioned with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) as their 100th member track. This agreement recognizes we have a great facility and run top-notch races, so now we have access to additional benefits such as new race series and the ability to draw more and faster race cars to our track. It’s a real privilege to be part of the IHRA family and this brings extra prestige and recognition to Peace region drag racing.

This year is also one for expansion and upgrading of the track. To meet the demands of safety and to draw in faster cars, we are expanding the concrete portions of the track. This stable surface allows race cars to really “hook up” for fast race action.To do this expansion, we have a huge fundraising campaign under-way to raise $150,000. Sponsors can

choose levels they can contribute:

$250 for Bronze$500+ for Silver$1000+ for Gold$1500+ for Platinum

All sponsors get recognition on a commemorative sign at the track, as well as mention during the race pro-grams. Gold and Platinum sponsors will get extra recognition on the website and other media too. We’ve already had great response to our expansion campaign and expect to kick off concrete work just after the final race of the season.Speaking of races, they’re coming again soon! The next one is a big one: The IHRA Ironman Classic pre-sented by DRM and sponsored by Fountain Tire on July 14th and 15th. This is our biggest race of the season and will draw tough competition from all over BC and Alberta. We will follow that up with races on August 25th and 26th and we will car-ryover our rained out June race to September 8th and 9th. Tons of racing action left in the season.Check out our webpage at www.northernlightsraceway.ca for track and race information. We are located on the west side of the Fort St. John Airport property. If you’ve never been to the track before, here are some quick directions:From south of Fort St. John: take the

Alaska Highway to Swanson Lumber Road and turn right. Take Swanson Lumber Road 3.2km north and turn right on 242 Road, which is just before the traffic circle. Go straight east on 242 Road to the track gate.From north of Fort St. John: take the Alaska Highway to 100 Ave and turn left into town. Take 100 Ave 6.4km east through Fort St. John to the traf-fic circle. Take the first right off the traffic circle on to Swanson Lumber Road. Then, immediately turn left on to 242 Road. Take 242 Road straight east to the track gate.

See you at the races soon!

Drag Racing Season In Top Gear at Northern Lights Raceway

Northway Industrial Contracting LtdFort St. John BC

phone 250 781 3657fax 250 781 [email protected]

V0C 1G0Box 57, Cecil Lake BC

Q. Why is someone who is feel-ing great ‘on cloud nine’?A. Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they attain, with nine being the highest cloud If someone is said to be on cloud nine, that person is floating well above worldly cares.

Page 4: The Flipside News July 2012

4 The FlipSide July 2012

June Answers

Across1. Misinterpret5. “Thy word is -__ unto my feet”10. Loses luster14. Unshut, perhaps15. Bill who hosts HBO’s ‘Real Time’16. Prefix with lateral and distant17. Engendered19. Vital thing20. Solzhenitsyn, in the ‘70s21. Milk, facetiously23. Hippie’s “Understood, man”26. Former justice Abe27. “What Kind of Fool Am I” singer32. Baseball hit just beyond the infield33. Chair man Charles34. Hops kilns38. Gallup specialty

40. French assembly42. Style43. In one fell___45. Clog kin47. Day after Thu.48. Put through the ringer51. Horses’ home54. “____ we forget...”55. Question after a spill58. “___ forget anyone...”62. Horse-racing track63. ‘60s musical phenomenon66. Main character in the musical “Xanadu”67. Newsman Roger68. Hagar’s daughter69. “Jezebel” actress on TV: 1950’s70. Nobelist Sachs

71. Has the rights to

Down1. Minimum ___ (low pay rate)2. He rescued Achilles’ body3. Jazz saxophonist Coltrane4. Early game in a tournament5. Bon ___ (Comet rival)6. Before Vegas7. Affected cough to gain attention.8. ‘Take ___ your leader’9. Test prints10. Objection on the groundsof scruples11. Phrase of resignation12. Fly in the sky13. Locations18. Change back to brunette22. Skater Starbuck24. Mrs. William McKinley andothers25. Most spunky27. Soaks up28. Say openly29. Venus de___30. Open to a bribe31. Juan Peron’s third wife35. Flaccid36. Raced (through)37. Slide on ice39. Argue in favour of41. Small carry-on44. ___ Alto, California46. Rock group49. Germanic tribesman50. Chest: prefix51. Paige, informally52. Really53. Home on high56. Without: Ger.57. Nautical spine59. Reduce the speed of60. Volunteers’ home: Abbr.61. Oxfords’s river64. Cartoonist Keane whodraws “The Family Circus”65. TV Tarzan, Ron

TV Trivia

Do you remember this weekly sitcom?If you are stumped on this we’ll tell you in the next issue.Last Issue: Mork & Mindy

Music Trivia1. Who did Bruce Springsteen pull

up on stage in his “Dancing in the Dark” Video?

2. Who sang backup vocals on Boz Scagg’s “Love Look What You’ve Done to Me”?

3. In the movie “Back to the Future”, Marty’s band tries for an audition in the school talent show with the song “The Power of Love”, but is rejected by the teacher who says they are too loud. Who plays the teacher?

4. Who played the solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat it”?

1. The not yet famous Courtney Cox of “Friends”.

2. The Eagles Don Henley and Glenn Frye.

3. Huey Lewis plays the teacher.4. Eddie Van Halen.

Music Trivia Answers

Funny SignsOutside a Hotel: “Help! We need inn-experienced people.”Music Store: “Bach in a minuet.”Maternity Clothes Shop: “We are open on labor day.”At the Electric Company: “We would be de-lighted if you send in your bill. However, if you don’t, you will be.”In a Restaurant window: “Don’t stand there and be hungry, come on in and get fed up.”In a counselor’s office: “Growing old is mandatory, growing wise is optional.Podiatrist’s Window: “Time wounds all heels.”Computer Store: “Back in 10 minutes - out for a quick byte.”

If you walk under a ladder, and it falls down on you it probably means bad luck.

Page 5: The Flipside News July 2012

July 2012 The Flipside 5

In Fort St. JohnA & W Angelic Light B & M Glass Burgers & Brews (Northgate Inn)BMO Cecil Lake Store Credit Union Esquires Coffee House Fort St. John Hospital Waiting AreasFort St. John Medical Clinic WaitingFort City Chrysler Forty Niner Humpty’s Family RestaurantLone Wolf (Taylor) Mondos Mama Panda Restaurant Mile 54 Cafe Masterpiece Framing Northern Grand Northern Star On the Rocks PubOn the Rocks LiquorRazors EdgeRedwood Esso (Taylor) Rogers Trucking Royal Bank Rudy’s Car & Truck Wash Systems Secure Stonebridge Hotel TD BankThe Shed (Taylor) Tim Hortons (North & South) Quiznos Urban Thredz Whole Wheat & Honey

Places to findThe Flipside

In Dawson CreekAurora InnCIBCDawson Creek Visitor CenterDays Inn Lobby Dr. Fletcher’s OfficeEljen ClinicFarmington Store George Dawson LobbyGeorge Dawson CaféHospital MainHuskyLees RestaurantRockwells Stuie’s DinerSubwayThe LodgeTD Bank White SpotTubby’s Car Wash

AmericaBalloonsBarbecueBaseballCarnivalCelebrationDemocracyFireworksFlagFreedom

Great BritainHistoryHolidayIndependenceNational anthemParadePatriotismPicnicRed White BlueStreamers

Service Station: Eat Here and Get Gas.Office: Toilet out of order. Please use floor below.Used Cars Lot: Why go elsewhere to be cheated? Come here first!Auto Repair Shop: Free pickup and delivery. Try us once, you’ll never go anywhere again.Department Store: Semiannual After-Christmas Sale.Service Station: Diesel Fried Chicken.Restaurant: Customers who find our staff rude should see the manager.

Bad Signs

“Every now and then bite off more than you can chew.”

-H.Jackson Brown Jr.

A mall manager has three spaces to rent, all in a row. A prospective lessee shows up and says he wants to rent the space on the left for a men’s wear shop.“That’s fine,” the mall manager says. “You get free signage; what do you want on the sign?” “Men’s Wear,” says the man.A second guy comes along and asks to rent the right hand space for hisgentleman’s formal wear business. When asked he says he wants “Men’s Wear” on his sign. The mall manager tells him that the left hand shop will have the same sign. “No problem,” says the man.

Finally a third man comes along to rent the middle space. The manager is some-what concerned because this guy also has a men’s wear shop. Warily the man-ager asks the third man what he wants on his sign. The guy replies: “Entrance.”

My daughter was four years old, and was having a hard time grasping the concept of marriage. Thinking visual images would help, I got out my wed-ding album. Going page by page I ex-plained the entire service to her. Once finished, I asked if she had any ques-tions. “Ummm,” she said, “is that when Mommy came to work for us, Daddy?”

Kids On Relationships“Marriage is when you get to keep your girl and don’t have to give herback to her parents” -Eric, AGE 6“You flip a nickel, and heads means you stay with him and tails meansyou try the next one.” -Kelly, AGE 9“My mother says to look for a man who is kind. That’s what I’ll do; I’llfind somebody who’s kinda tall and handsome.” -Carolyn, AGE 8“Once I’m done with kindergarten, I’m going to find me a wife” -Bert,AGE 5“On the first date, they just tell each oth-er lies, and that usually gets them inter-ested enough to go for a second date.” -Martin, AGE 10“You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her aring and her own VCR, ‘cause she’ll want to have videos of the wedding.” -Allan, AGE 10“Never kiss in front of other people. It’s a big embarrassing thing ifanybody sees you.... If nobody sees you, I might be willing to try itwith a handsome boy, but just for a few hours.” -Kally, AGE 9“It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need somebodyto clean up after them” -Anita, AGE 9

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, keep moving.”

Martin Luther King

Page 6: The Flipside News July 2012

6 The FlipSide July 2012

Perfect for breakfast or brunch, this delectable dish will quickly become a family favourite. The pairing of sweet and savoury flavours, created by Marjolaine Lambert of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec for the D’Italiano Cook-Off Challenge, is a lovely way to start any day. More tasty recipes can be found online at www.ditaliano.ca.

Apple Croûte à la Mont-Saint-Hilaire

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 slices D’Italiano Thick Slice 100% Whole Wheat Bread

4 slices cooked smoked ham (or capico-la or prosciutto), cut into strips

1/4 cup (50 mL) butter

2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

4 tbsp (60 mL) apple juice, white wine or cider

1/4 cup (50 mL) mushrooms, diced

1 green onion, finely chopped

2 eggs, whites and yolks separated

1/4 cup (50 mL) shredded cheese (Emmenthal, cheddar, Sbrinz or other)

1/4 tsp (1 mL) Espelette chilli or papri-ka

Directions:

The bread can be prepared 2 different ways:

1. Family version: Toast each slice of D’Italiano bread lightly, then place on a baking sheet.

2. Feast version: For each slice of bread, remove the crust, cut into a circle, then roll flat using a rolling pin. Line a but-tered muffin pan with the slices, then put in the oven at 375°F (190°C) until lightly browned. Unmould and place on a baking sheet.

1. Place the ham on the 4 pieces of toasted bread.

2. In a skillet, melt half the butter and stir fry the apples for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, then layer on top of the ham and sprinkle with juice, wine or cider (about 1 tbsp (15 mL) for each slice).

3. In the same skillet, add the remaining butter and fry the mushrooms until golden brown. Add the green onion, stir and set aside.

4. In a mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks with the cheese, then add mush-rooms and green onion.

5. Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form, and stir into the cheese and mush-room mixture. Spread mixture on top of the ham and apples.

6. Bake in preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tops are well browned. Remove from oven, sprinkle with Espelette chilli or paprika and serve with fresh apple slic-es.

Tip: Recipe can be prepared a day ahead and reheated a few minutes before serv-ing.

www.newscanada.com

Start your day with this tasty combination of sweet and savoury

From sleek high-definition televi-sions to the newest smartphone-enhanced kitchen appliances,

technology is rapidly transforming the way Canadians live.Even home decoration is going high-tech: an exciting range of digital design tools has hit the market, allowing com-puter-savvy creative types to take a hands-on approach to adorning their living spaces. With the click of a mouse, consumers can create customized home accents that bring their personal design vision to life.According to Shelli Gardner, CEO and co-founder of crafting and design com-pany Stampin’ Up!, digital home décor is an exciting new way to decorate. “Thanks to advances in technology, home décor is entering a new era,” she said. “The pleasure designers enjoy with their hands can now be enjoyed when creating on a computer. Web-based resources such as step-by-step tutorials, designer templates and easily

accessible advice from design experts make it easy for everyone, even those who aren’t tech-savvy, to create beauti-ful customized home décor.”Noteworthy software-based design pro-grams include My Digital Studio, which features exclusive artwork, colours, and designer templates. Originally con-ceived as an online scrapbooking tool, the program is growing in popularity for its home décor possibilities, with options for the bedroom, living room, kitchen, and playroom.In addition to the design software, the My Digital Studio Web site (MyDigitalStudio.net) also includes a number of resources that facilitate the user experience, including images of sample projects, videos featuring begin-ner and intermediate techniques, blogs from design experts and more. Beginners can take advantage of a no-commitment free trial by visiting stampinup.com/store.

Getting started

When using a tech-based design pro-gram for the first time, Gardner sug-gests starting with a beginner-level project, which can still pack a stylish punch.Popular project ideas for first-timers include personalized family photos. Start by scanning a favourite family photo onto your computer. Then, using design software, try layering the scanned photo onto a colourful or patterned background, creating the look of a tri-ple-matted picture without going to the trouble of finding and cutting the mats. Photos in black and white can look especially elegant. For a finishing touch, add a caption accent to the top or bot-tom corner of the photo, such as the last name of a family. For a baby photo, choose a patterned pink or blue back-ground, and add a corner caption with the child’s name.Another easy project idea involves cre-ating and framing a phrase using a design program’s library of fonts and symbols. Plan the colours and patterns according to the colour scheme of the room being decorated. For example, try creating a unique statement piece by printing and framing a brightly-coloured ampersand. Display the framed amper-sand surrounded family photos for a unique, modern look.Whatever the project, when it comes to digital design, the possibilities are end-less.

www.newscanada.com

Digital design for the home

A diner was agitated that the waiter had brought him no spoon with his coffee. “This coffee,” he said loud enough for most of the other patrons to hear, “is going to be pretty hot to stir with my fingers.”

The waiter reddened, made a hasty retreat to the kitchen and returned shortly with another cup of coffee.

Page 7: The Flipside News July 2012

July 2012 The Flipside 7

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished!

(NC)—According to Desjardins Financial Security’s last retirement sur-vey, 17 per cent of self-employed Canadians are carrying debt loads of $50,000 and up. While this is substan-tially lower than the 83 per cent of respondents who self-identified as either employees or business owners carrying the same amount of debt, it’s still a concern because the self-employed have more to lose. This is especially true if they ever became sick or dis-abled. For example, among those self-employed who participated in the sur-vey, 64 per cent owned life insurance, 60 per cent contributed to an RRSP, but only 24 per cent owned disability insur-ance.

“People who start their own companies often think like an employee with a ben-efits package, where most of the risk is covered by the company. They don’t tend to ask themselves ‘If I wasn’t able to work and earn an income, would I

still be able to afford my mortgage and other loan payments?’” said Nathalie Tremblay, Health Products Manager, Individual Insurance, at Desjardins Financial Security. “Unfortunately, the answer is no as 50 per cent of bankrupt-cies and mortgage foreclosures are related to disability.”

Loan insurance gives peace of mind

Tremblay suggests that the self-employed consider loan insurance cov-erage because it repays the individual’s loans in case they were ever forced to stop working due to an accident or ill-ness. There isn’t a clause for pre-exist-ing medical conditions, as is generally the case for this type of insurance. The benefit is non-taxable and covers loans like mortgages, line of credit, RRSP loans, renovation loan, personal loan, car/vehicle loan or long-term leasing, student loan, credit card, all other fixed-term loans with regular payments.

“This insurance is flexible because it takes into account that your loans may vary over time. This means that between the time you apply for the insurance and when a claim is submitted, as one debt commitment is repaid it may be replaced by others. For example, if you pay off your mortgage and you take out a long-term lease for a motor home or a reno-vation loan, at the time of the claim, your loans will be fully covered, up to your amount of insurance,” said Tremblay. “The most important part about this type of insurance is that it allows you to concentrate on getting better instead of worrying about your obligations.”

For more information about loan insur-ance designed for the self-employed, speak to your insurance provider. Or for more immediate answers, visit Desjardins Financial Security at www.desjardinslifeinsurance.com.

Loan insurance a safe bet for self-employed

(NC)—British Columbians will soon have more options when it comes to recycling their old or broken electronics and electrical products.

Starting July 1st, the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA), the Canadian Electrical Stewardship Association (CESA) and BC’s LightRecycle program will recycle new items such as flashlights, GPS devices, power tools and sewing machines.

“Expanding our current recycling pro-grams is an important milestone for BC,” says Darrell Clarke, president, CESA. “Offering more options further reinforces British Columbia’s reputa-tion as a leader in responsible recy-cling.”

A new program to recycle electrical outdoor power equipment will also be introduced July 1st, joining 13 other recycling programs designed to manage everything from electronics and paint, to tires and small appliances.

Industry-managed recycling programs have been proven to improve recycling rates, save energy and help municipali-ties reduce the costs of managing waste. Experts estimate that the level of green-house gas reductions from these pro-grams is equivalent to removing approx-imately 73,000 passenger cars from BC’s roads annually.

As with other non-profit recycling pro-grams in BC, these new and expanded programs will be funded by a fee on the

sale of new products to pay for program costs such as collection, transportation and processing of recyclables. This fee may be included in a product’s price or displayed as a separate charge at check-out.

“Funding these programs provides British Columbians with the additional recycling programs they want and more environmentally-friendly alternatives for the products they use,” adds Clarke.

Accepted products can be dropped off at more than a hundred recycling depots across BC. A full list of depot locations is available online at www.rcbc.bc.ca.

New recycling options increase BC’s environmental leadership

Page 8: The Flipside News July 2012

8 The Flipside July 2012

Canada Day ParadeJuly 1, 2012 10amPouce Coupe Regional ParkOne of the largest running regional events; parade followed by a tradi-tional pit barbecue, entertainment & fireworks.

Thunder RunJuly 1, 2012 11:30 am Dawson Creek & Fort St. John AreaThe group leaves Dawson Creek at 11:30am, heading to Fort St. John.the round trip takes just a couple of hours. This event is a major fund-raiser for the Canadian Army Veterans.

Canada Day PartyJuly 2, 2012 6pm - 7pmKenn Borek Aquatic CentreCome join us in celebrating Canada Day at the Kenn Borek Aquatic Centre!

Mile 0 Cruisers Summer Cruise Show & ShineJuly 6th, 7th, 8th 2012 10am - pmDowntown Dawson CreekThe Mile 0 Summer Cruise is an annual classic car event with activi-ties for the whole family.

Kenn Borek Olympic 2012 CelebrationsJuly 23rd, 24th,25th, 26th 2012 12pm - 1pmContact: 250-782-7946 Join us for a week of fun events every day at noon!

Summer Sports Camp- Extreme Sports CampJuly 30th, 31st, August 1st, 2nd, 3rd 2012 at 9amContact: Dawson Creek City Hall For kids ages 8-12. Kids do a differ-ent activity every day, including skateboarding, BMX biking, archery, climbing and swimming!

Dawson Creek Events in JulyCanada Day CelebrationsSunday, Jul 1, 2012 Centennial Park Categories: Festival , Parade, Food , Children & Family, Youth, Community, Celebration, Music, Sports & FitnessCheck out Fort St John’s Annual Canada Day Celebrations on Sunday, July 1st. Start the festivities with the FREE pancake breakfast and inter-faith church service in Centennial Park. Then join us for the Canada Day Parade and make your way back to Centennial Park to enjoy live entertainment, inflatable bouncy toys, children’s activities and story time, artist show & sale, and the Farmers’ Market! Complete your day with an amazing fireworks dis-play at dusk.Roller DerbySaturday, Jul 7, 2012 6pmPomeroy Sport Centre Categories: Youth, Community, Sports & Fitness, Children & FamilyThe Energetic City Roller Derby

Association vs the Grande Prairie Rage N Fyre! Doors open at 6pmBout at 7pm Tickets: $6.00 - presale (from any Derby Girl) or $8.00 at the door. Kids 5 and under - FreePlease bring a Non-Perishable for the food bank!Capture Your Community - 9th Annual Photo Scavenger HuntJul 21, 2012 - Aug 12, 2012 Visitor Centre Categories: Community, Celebration, Art & Culture, Children & Family, Youth. The City of Fort St. John Visitor Centre proudly announces our 9th Annual Photo Scavenger Hunt. This year’s event has been named “Capture You Community!” Sign up begins July 7th at the Visitor Centre!Bonus points will be awarded if you sign up by Saturday, July 14.Scavenger Hunt Lists will be available for pick up at the Visitor Centre starting on July 21. Contact: City of Fort St. John Visitor Centre 250-785-3033, ext 1

Fort St. John Events in July

(NC)—With the hot, humid, and dry summer months ahead, we can finally look forward to being outdoors and enjoying all the fun activities summer has to offer. However, summer is also a time where mosquitoes and deer ticks like to roam and make our lives miser-able and uncomfortable.

Here are some tips and recommenda-tions to make sure you make it through mosquito season:

• Wear light-coloured, loose clothes and avoid scented products when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn, which is the peak feeding time for mosquitoes.

• Remove areas of standing water near your house as they can be breeding

areas for mosquitoes.

• Clean Gutters: Gutters clogged with debris allow stagnant water to form per-fect landing zones for mosquito eggs.

• Wear closed shoes and a hat to avoid ticks. Tuck pants into socks.

• Inspect your clothing and body after exploring wooded or grassy areas.

The best way to reduce bites is to use an insect repellent when spending time outdoors in mosquito-infested areas. Unfortunately not everyone takes these precautions. According to a survey con-ducted by Harvard University for the Harvard School of Public Health Project on the Public and Biological Security, 40 percent of adults in the United States

did not take precautions to prevent mos-quito bites.

Some theorize that it’s because some older repellents with DEET are greasy and have an unpleasant odour, so people don’t like to use them. Many people don’t realize there are new odourless and non-greasy products on the market today that make taking precautions against bug bites much easier.

In fact, Avon, the creators of the iconic Skin So Soft product line, has launched a new bug repellent in Canada – Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Icaridin - that provides strong and dependable repel-lency against mosquitoes for up to five hours and deer ticks for up to seven hours.

Its key repelling agent, Icaridin, is an effective alternative ingredient to DEET. Unlike DEET, it has a pleasant scent, is non-greasy, non-irritating, has a light, clean feel when applied.

Icaridin has been used worldwide since 1998, and is one of the best selling active ingredients contained in insect repellent products in Europe. In the U.S., Icardian is known as Picardian. The Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Picardian has offered protection in the U.S. for those wanting to enjoy outdoor activities without the nuisance and con-cerns of bug bites since 2006. It is now available in Canada through Avon Independent Sales Representatives and more information can be found on www.avon.ca.

How to survive mosquito seasonSome tips to protect skin and prevent bites