Gateway to the North

2 w w w . p g c i t i z e n . c a | W e d n e s d a y , J u l y 3 1 , 2 0 1 3

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Your community voice for the north!

WEDNESDAYJuly 31, 2013

Trades programBreaks down barrier for women

CAREERS PAGE 38

necessary changes for ValemountNEWS PAGE 3

nORtH clinic a dedicated resource centreTaking care of the heart

NEWS PAGE 8

Fort St. JamesCaledonia DaysCook-Off and Rendezvous Weekend

LIFE PAGE 18

GATEWAYNEWS AND EVENTS FOR PRINCE GEORGE AND CENTRAL INTERIOR

Prince George RCMP will soon be hitting the trails and not-so-beaten paths with a new all-terrain vehicle.

The Canadian-made Can-Am Commander two-seat, side-by-side utility vehicle will allow officers access to areas where regular police vehicles are not an option.

The Prince George RCMP covers a 20,000-square-kilometre territory that includes a significant portion of the Fraser-Fort George Regional District as well as the city.

The vehicle has been clearly marked as an RCMP vehicle and outfitted with policing equipment equipment .

“With increased demands for policing in rural areas, it is necessary to have a means of

transportation to and from remote areas with poor or no road access,” Prince George RCMP said in a press release.

“Up until now, Prince George RCMP have had to rely on our partners when we need to access areas in emergency situations.”

The vehicle will allow for increased patrols of outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and

recreational vehicle use and increase police visibility in more remote areas, “providing added sense of safety and security to residents of the communities we police.”

Ted ClaRke | [email protected]

Prince George RCMP Sgt. Al Steinhauser shows Jake McKay, 3 1/2, the new Utility Terrain Vehicle, unveiled at the Civic Centre Plaza. The Can-Am Commander will be used to police rural areas and increase patrols for outdoor activities. Citizen photo by David Mah

Hittin’ the trails


GATEWAYinside Colleen SPARRow

PUbliSheR

neil GodboUT

MAnAGinG ediToR

5 Valemount shifting focus

8 Heart Clinic - NORTH Centre

10 Mother fights for son

11 Lime quarry and processing plant proposal

14 A need-to-see Southide

16 Fishing derby winner

18 Caledonia Days in Fort St. James

19 Take a walk back in time at Huble Homestead

21 takeonPG features of the month

25 Valemount Summer Festival & Geocache event

26A look at Fraser Lake

28Fashion: Sunglasses

30 Safety tips: Seasonal tips for kids

31 Health & Leisure: Knee pain strategy

31 Grilled Pizza

34Community Calendar

38Careers: Trades break down barriers

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GATEWAYnews

Transition and change can be two of the most frightening words in English vocabulary. But for the

Village of Valemount, they are also two of the most necessary.

Tucked away in the Robson Valley,

surrounded by three mountain ranges, Valemount is used to going it alone. A small community of little more than 1,000 people, the village is part of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, but its isolation has forced it to create a unique identity.

Mayor Andru McCracken said Valemount, like many communities, is guilty of trying to dress itself up as something else.

“There’s sort of an old-school mentality around attraction, retention - attraction of tourists, retention of people who are here - where you try to doll yourself up in a way that you’re really not,” he said. “Valemount’s not Jasper - we don’t have a bunch of easy access trails yet. The realization is, we don’t need it to be that.”

Learning to reject that train of thought

and create a made-in-Valemount solution was key for a village that was left floundering after the Prince George-based Carrier Lumber closed the local mill in 2006. More than 100 jobs were lost after Valemount Forest Products bowed to the pressures of the logging industry and permanently closed its doors.

Cont’d on page 6

Charelle evelyn | [email protected]

downtown Valemount. Citizen staff photo

Shifting focus to tourism

Transition and change necessary for Valemount

Cont’d from page 5

An economic downturn in the 1990s had already illuminated the necessity of a shift in focus to tourism.

A brand new visitors centre, opened in 2007, sits along the Yellowhead Highway and for 10 years the College of New Caledonia’s Northern Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism program trained adventure tourism guides locally until the certificate program was suspended in 2011.

But with the loss of a business which kept nearly 10 per cent of the population in well-paying jobs, more is required.

“The community needed something new to increase population, that’s the bottom line,” said Bruce Wilkinson, head of the Valemount Ski Society.

Put together a little more than two years ago and now boasting more than 200 members, the society is the driving force behind one of the biggest projects on the village’s radar right now - Valemount Glacier Destination resort (VGD).

Currently in the the master plan stage, the project to set up a year-round ski operation on the glaciers of Mount Arthur Meighen has been on the books since 2011.

“We know that tourism is our ace in the hole since forestry had such a downturn, since our mill got closed,” Wilkinson said. “We still have some logging happening, but all the logs are going to Prince George.”

The society began as an ad-hoc

committee and spent a year finding developers and planners interested in taking on bringing a ski hill to the area.

“We’ve got everything that Banff and Jasper have except we’re not recognized as a destination,” said Wilkinson, adding that for years Valemount has been, at most, an overnight stop for tourists on their way to major centres. “A big resort would make us a destination.”

Prepared by Pheidias Project Management Corporation and Oberti Resort Design (who are also behind the similar year-round Jumbo Glacier ski resort near Invermere), VGD proposes to be a 2,000-bed resort next to the world’s longest in-bounds ski run and the largest vertical drop with the additional draw of being North America’s only summer skiing destination.

Despite the fact that big-names like Oberto Oberti are attached to the proposal in its current form, the fact that the project was initiated by village residents is an example of the grassroots, self-sufficient nature that’s become one of the community’s touchstones.

For McCracken, one of the village’s defining moments was the effort put into the construction of a replacement Valemount Secondary School. Rejecting a prefabricated solution, residents pushed for a full-sized gymnasium for their provincially competitive basketball team and an auditorium.

The community put up nearly $250,000 for the extra 120 square metres of space and amenities.

Cont’d on page 7


GATEWAYnews


Cont’d from page 6“The ownership over that building is

absolutely incredible,” said McCracken of the new school that opened in 2005. “And that’s what makes a really great structural investment last the test of time, because everybody believes in it.”

There are other examples of that community drive in and around the village, from the development of Valemount Community Television - one of only

a handful of communities in English-speaking Canada to have a license to broadcast community TV picked up by antenna - to the plan for a destination mountain bike park on McKirdy Mountain spearheaded by the Yellowhead Outdoor Recreation Association.

“People are good workers and developers,” said Wilkinson. “That’s what we have here, is go-getters. If something’s a good idea, they’ll work on it.”

GATEWAYnews


GATEWAYnews

The post-heart attack learning curve can be steep, but education and ongoing care programs make the

transition easier.The new Network of Rural to Tertiary

Healthcare (NORTH) clinic gives people living with heart failure a dedicated resource centre staffed by nurses specially trained in cardiac rehabilitation and five heart specialists who are able to help patients optimize their medication.

Northern Health’s heart function medical lead Dr. Colleen Hennessy said one of the big benefits of NORTH is that staff can dedicate a lot of time to patients to fully explain the dietary, exercise and other life changes which are required to reduce the risk of another heart attack and improve their quality of life.

“It takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of reinforcement,” she said. “So in a busy general practitioner’s office or the hard-to-get-into specialist’s office, the time to spend with the patient is not there.”

At NORTH, patients seeking the education component of heart care receive an hour-long introductory visit plus follow-up visits which can focus on different aspects of post-heart attack care. There are also group sessions available either in-

person in Prince George or via video-link around the region.

“You’re repeating things a lot, because you really want to ingrain it,” Dr. Hennessy said.

Between 2009 and 2012 there were 1,600 hospital admissions for heart failure across Northern Health. Even more patients were admitted with another condition and a heart condition was considered a secondary cause. Meanwhile, half a million Canadians live with heart failure issues, with another 50,000 being diagnosed each year.

Since officially opening in February, NORTH clinicians have seen more than 120 patients and that number will grow as more communities in Northern Health sign on. By providing in-depth education and support, NORTH aims to both reduce the number of hospital admissions, which will save the healthcare system money, while at the same time improving the quality of life of patients.

“We know that for these types of conditions, these are not going to be cured,” Dr. Hennessy said. “There has to be everyone engaged in the caring of this individual. Not only the person caring for the individual, but their GP, the referring physicians, the attending physicians,

everyone has to be in the loop.”As its name suggests, NORTH is a network

that connects the specialists based in Prince George with patients around Northern Health. Video conference technology allows patients to access specialist care without leaving their home community and electronic stethoscopes even allow the cardiologists to monitor heart rates remotely.

Nurses are trained in most communities that are part of the network to deliver the educational components face-to-face.

“If there is a nurse in that area that wants to have a clinic, then that nurse gets utilized,” Northern Health regional co-ordinator for cardiac and cerebrovascular services Barbara Hennessy said. “If there isn’t a nurse [patients] still have an opportunity to get education in their local area because they can do it through video conference.”

Prince Rupert, Terrace and Kitimat were the first to connect into the system, with Valemount expected to come online shortly. Vanderhoof is next on the list, with staff training planned for later this summer and four other communities have expressed interest in joining the network.

Dr. Colleen Hennessy hopes many more communities will join the network in the coming months and years, but it’s dependent on staff and infrastructure resources available in those locations. She cautioned that growth needs to happen in a manageable way to ensure high-quality care standards are upheld.

“Each one of them requires an individual assessment because it’s entirely dependent on what resources they currently have at their site,” Dr. Hennessy said.

In addition to providing care to heart attack survivors, the clinic also treats other heart failure conditions, including those caused by viruses or by rhythm problems.

Patients are often referred by their family physicians, who can ask the staff at NORTH to provide a variety of care options, from education to helping patients get on the ideal medication. The length of time someone is assigned to the clinic varies from a few months to much longer, depending on the complexity of the case.

“Adjusting the medications, if the family doctors want us to do it, that’s something we can do,” Dr. Hennessy said. “If they’re comfortable with it, they can carry on with it.”

dr. colleen hennessy and nurse barbara hennessy at the heart clinic in the Victoria Medical building with telehealth equipment. Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

taking care of the heart


A mother of an autistic teenager said she had to battle staff at hospitals in Quesnel and Prince George last weekend to get appropriate care for her son.

It took more than 24 hours and a hospital transfer for 13-year-old Colten Roy to get his appendix removed after doctors determined the routine surgery couldn’t be done in his home community of Quesnel. Roy’s mother, Michelle Fisher, said she had to consistently advocate on her son’s behalf to even get him admitted to hospital in Quesnel and to get bumped up the surgical queue in Prince George.

Fisher said she believes a lack of funding is at the root of the problem, which saw her son spend hours in waiting rooms and hallways, all the while in excruciating pain from the inflamed appendix.

The ordeal began last Saturday evening when Fisher took Roy to G.R. Baker

Memorial Hospital in Quesnel with the teenager complaining of abdominal pain. Fisher said despite being able to see three open beds in the emergency room, it took hours for her son to be seen by a physician and eventually admitted.

“He was on the floor, crying, uncomfortable and upset,” Fisher said of her son’s condition during the wait to see a doctor.

Although appendicitis was suspected, the diagnosis was not immediately confirmed due to a lack of ultrasound technicians on site. Fisher said she was told some of the medical imaging staff don’t work weekends and are rarely called in. Roy eventually had the ultrasound on Sunday morning.

Northern Health spokeswoman Eryn Collins said although there are not full-time staff for ultrasounds on weekends in Quesnel, there is a system in place to call staff in.

“Weekend ultrasound services at G.R. Baker are available on a voluntary call basis,”

she said, noting two procedures were done last weekend. “That’s a process that’s worked for many years. It’s the exception rather than the rule that a tech wouldn’t be available.”

Once the ultrasound was complete, Roy had to wait again, this time to have a physician interpret the results and Fisher was flabbergasted as to the reason why.

“They said the doctor is not coming in until they’re done church,” Fisher recalled.

She asked why the emergency room doctor couldn’t be called up in the interim, but was told that wasn’t possible.

Eventually the diagnosis was confirmed, but Fisher was told they couldn’t do her son’s surgery in Quesnel and that he would have to be transferred to Prince George.

Collins, who was unable to speak to the specific case, said Quesnel is equipped for some pediatric surgeries, but there are instances when patients have to moved

“Quesnel does do routine pediatric surgery procedures,” she said. “For example they do a lot of dental procedures; and ear, nose and throat procedures are done on a regular basis. A routine appendectomy would or could be done in Quesnel, unless the patient were considered a high-risk by the anesthetist or their physician.”

By the time the transfer occurred it was mid-afternoon on Sunday and after arriving at UHNBC, Roy spent several hours in a bed in a hallway because no room was available.

“The emergency department was literally packed and overflowing,” Fisher said. “At one point there was someone sleeping on the ground between the two doors [at the entrance] because there were no seats in the waiting room or the hallway or anywhere else.”

Collins acknowledged that the Prince George hospital has experienced high patient volume and said although it’s not ideal to have patients wait in hallways, their care is not compromised. She said even in the case of a transfer, it’s not automatic that a patient will be moved into a room immediately upon arriving.

Roy was eventually brought into a room, where Fisher said she was told numerous times that they were going to prep him for surgery, only to find out shortly thereafter that another case had bumped them down

the list.By that point it had been 18 hours since

Roy last ate or drank anything and no one had been able to get in a IV to help replenish his fluids.

“They were unable to get an IV in here in Quesnel, the nurses aren’t used to giving children IVs,” Fisher explained. “They did try once here in Quesnel and that was it. So he had no fluids, he wasn’t allowed to take any drinks by mouth.”

Finally, shortly after 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, Roy was taken to the operating room waiting area, with the surgery completed about 2 1/2 hours later. The procedure was successful, but the saga continued Monday during the recovery stage when Roy wasn’t provided with important medication he takes due to his autism and other mental ailments.

“He needs to take it in the morning and at night,” Fisher said, noting she had put the medication on forms and told staff verbally about its importance. “It had been overlooked by the doctor, supposedly, who didn’t put it on a piece of paper for him to have his medication.”

Because it wasn’t on his chart, Fisher said, staff weren’t able to administer the drug. Eventually late Monday afternoon, that situation too was resolved - but not without significant wrangling.

Collins said procedures are in place to ensure patients are on the right medicine when they’re in hospital.

“Medications are ordered by the admitting physician based on the histories that have been taken and information that has been provided as someone is being admitted and medications are provided during inpatient stays,” she said. “Without being able to speak to the circumstances of a particular case, there are often medical reasons why giving a medication in certain circumstances isn’t appropriate depending on the person’s condition.”

Fisher said at every step of the way she had to demand the intervention of supervisors to get anything done. Eventually she said it took a threat to go public with her story to get her son’s case expedited.

“It’s not until say you’re contacting media that they do something,” Fisher said.


GATEWAYnews

neil GOdBOuT, ManaGinG ediTOR

Mother fights hospitals for appropriate care for son


GATEWAYnews

Concerns were raised at public meetings held this week in Giscome, Willow River and Prince George over plans by Graymont Ltd., the international limestone giant, to open a lime quarry and processing plant.

The proposal has been in the works for years. They were at the point of public consultations in 2007 when the company suddenly halted plans to establish the Giscome operation. Favourable market conditions turned Graymont’s interest back on.

Many concerns were raised but Graymont’s environmental health and safety officer Rob Beleutz said the focus was getting answers to questions, not opposition.

Beleutz explained at the outset that the company purchased a lot of the adjacent lands to create a buffer zone between their operations and the community at large. The quarry itself was on Crown land and “as mines go, it will be quite small.”

There will also be little road traffic caused

by their activities other than ferrying the rock the six kilometres from the quarry to the kiln where the rocks will be cooked at high temperatures to render it into the lime products Graymont sells. The bulk of the transportation would be done by rail since the facilities are located beside a CN Rail spur line.

Most of the lime products would be used for industrial applications. For example, Beleutz said, Prince George’s pulp mills already use so much of their lime in the paper-making process that their company has had a storage depot here for many years. Now, the shipping of the product would be greatly reduced.

Residents had questions about particulate pollution caused by the quarrying (a lot of dust in the air from breaking rock and clearing land). There were also questions about potential pollution from the industrial-grade oven the limestone will be baked in.

Cont’d on page 12

concerns raised over proposal of lime quarry and processing plant



“I’m really concerned about dust and traffic at this point. The location is certainly close to us,” said prospective neighbour Catharine Kendall. “I’m still doing research about what all it entails. I want to know about blasting, crushing, the kilns they plan to install. I need to have an educated opinion and I don’t have those questions answered.”

“I’ve been to a lot of mine sites and the dust goes a long way, and I wonder about the prevailing winds, the potential for acid rain,” said neighbour Dave Zukewich. “They’re also going to be affecting the wildlife, blocking off big tracts of land that the rest of us use right now because it’s Crown land but there’ll be no trespassing on their operations and that’s a big chunk of land.”

Trapper Richard Tallman shares a couple of trap lines with his son and a neighbour. The quarry would encroach into their territory, he said, and although this caused him initial concerns, he wasn’t outright opposing the company.

“I think we can work around it,” he said. “It will create a few jobs and that’s a good thing, and the company looks like it has its environmental ducks in a row. They seem willing to work with us, so it sounds like a good thing overall, so far anyway.”

“We connected with a number of trappers and guides in 2007 in our first planing stage, and part of our reevaluation now is to look at those stakeholders again, to make sure we have all the people involved in the consultation process,” said Beleutz.

He added that the Ministry of Environment has standards for air pollution that they will not exceed, and although industrial activity does create pollution like greenhouse gases at the front end, this new plant would make one of the smallest environmental footprints in the limestone industry.

“We will be fuel-flexible for our kilns,” he said, meaning it could burn any combination of coal (available easily by rail), natural gas and woody biomass (anything from sticks and bark to processed pellets). Not only would the emissions be within ministry specifications, it would be state of the art, thanks to large advances in kiln technology in recent years, Beleutz added.

The process of passing government environmental tests is not yet underway, and Graymont is only partially into the conversation with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation on whose territory the quarry proposal is located.

Should all approvals be granted, Graymont estimates the project will cost about $80 million in construction and set-up costs, a great deal of which would be spent locally. The employment estimate is 40 jobs during the construction phase and about a dozen ongoing jobs for its operations, again emphasizing local investment. That does not include the local suppliers, service providers and other goods that will be purchased as needed as the mine operates.

The quarry and processing plant is estimated by Graymont to have a 50-year life expectancy. The hope, said the company, would be to start construction in 2015 and be producing lime sometime in 2016.

GATEWAYnews



GATEWAYlife

Southside is a need-to-see spot for summer travellers, with endless options of; camping, out-door activities, vast numbers of lakes and creeks, and of course, friendly faces, it’s the place to go. Go for a short ride on the free 15 minute ferry across Francois Lake, to Southside, on Friday, July 19 with your kids to enjoy the Francois-Ootsa Sportsman’s Association Youth Campout. A weekend full of fun for the kids, with some of the activities including archery lessons, bow construction, trapping and wildlife education. It is a great way to teach your kids about the great outdoors, so make sure to phone Joe Obarianyk at 250-694-3737 and ask for details.

If you’re looking for a more festive time, come to the Southside for July 26, 27 and 28 to enjoy the Grassy Plains Summer Festival. With folk and bluegrass music, concession, camping, and much more available, it’s a definite way to a little hop in your step and tap in your toes.

August comes with hot weather, warmer water and a Farmer’s Market at the SEDA Centre on August 10. Showcasing some local talents and skills, it’s a way to take home the experience along with some good baking and trinkets. From 10a.m. to 2 p.m., with a beach and picnic area right next door, it can be a good, relaxing day. Also on August 10 and 11, there is the Grassy Plains Penning and Sorting series held at the grounds just 19 km south of SEDA. Watch as locals show off their moves as traditions are passed down and skills shown off. Sorting is a timeless skill used in handling cattle on ranches in the area and many others. There are timed competitions and skill tests, with much to see.

Southside is a very vast area and covers a lot of different interests, and that leaves more to offer to our guests. We would be pleased to share this beautiful land with you, just come out and see it for yourself. Or come to the SEDA Centre 50 meters east of the ferry, and let us help you get on your way with the local information and bro-chures. SEDA 250.694.3219

Southside...a need-to-see spot



GATEWAYlife

The 16TH Annual Stuart Lake Fishing Derby was held on the July long weekend, June 28 – July 1, Fort St. James, B.C. hosted by the Fort St. James Chamber of Commerce.

The first prize winner of the “Famous Rainbow Fishing Derby” was John Nikic with a fish weighing in at 9lbs 8.2 oz.

Winner of the Famous Rainbow Fishing Derby



GATEWAYlife

Enjoy the Fort St. James National Historic Site

Caledonia Days Cook-Off and Rendezvous

Weekend August 3 to 5

Saturday - Salmon day Cook-offLocal teams from Fort St James and region compete for the best salmon in New Caledonia title

Sunday - heritage day Rendezvous & Trapper FestivalTrappers, black powder experts and re-enactors from across the central interior of B.C. are available all weekend for demonstra-tions.

Monday - best bannock Cook offLocal teams are invited to make the best bannock in New Caledonia over the fire at Fort St. James.


GATEWAYlife

The warm days of the beautiful north-ern summer are the perfect time to get outside and take a walk back in time. Huble Homestead Historic Site is open daily until Sept. 2, so grab the family or a friend and head north to explore some of Prince George’s pioneer history. Browse the General Store and enjoy lunch and a slice of pie any day of the week, or join us for one of our exciting public events, which run from 10a.m. to 4p.m.

Kids’ Carnival is a favourite among families, because there’s something for

everyone. On Sunday, July 21, Huble will be filled with carnival games, music, storytelling, crafts, demonstrations, and more. The Shire of Coldkeep, the Prince George branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, will be back with more heavy-fighting and archery dem-onstrations, and hourly magic shows will keep everyone guessing. Family admission is just $10, and though carni-val games cost $0.25 per play, every try gets a prize and the rest of the activities are FREE!

Cont’d on page 20

Take a walk back in time


GATEWAYlifeCont’d from page 18August is a great time to step back into

history. Start on the B.C. day long weekend with Homestead Days on August 4 & 5. Learn all about Prince George pioneers with hands on heritage demonstrations like ice cream and butter making, and join in on old-fashioned games, relays, and contests.

There will be music, blacksmithing dem-onstrations, and crafts, so it’s a pioneer weekend you won’t want to miss! You’ll

get a second chance when you visit the BC Northern Exhibition August 8-11, and check out the Heritage Lane display. See replicas of the Huble house and the Seebach & Huble General Store, and buy all of your favourite treats without leaving town.

Visit hublehomestead.ca for a full sched-ule of events. Huble Homestead Historic Site is located 40km north of Prince George, just off Highway 97 on Mitchell Road. Admission is by donation.


GATEWAYlife

watch time fly byThe Civic Plaza outside of the Prince George Civic Centre is a great place to let your mind wander. In the summer splash around in the fountain, and in the winter skate on the out-door rink. The grand clock tower will make sure you don’t lose track of time while you’re relaxing!

Show your national prideJoin in on the exciting Canada Day festivities at Fort George Park! Every year vendors set up booths showcasing diverse food options, artisan goods and more. Grab a plate of Chinese food and get a good seat near the bandshell to enjoy the multicultural performances that happen throughout the day.

Cont’d on page 22

takeonpg features of the month



Play golf with a twistThis isn’t your average golf game! Using a flying disc, hit the baskets on the free course at Rainbow Park. Find rules online and get a disc at any sporting goods store.

Chip your way through 18Alder Hills is a par 3 golf course with all of the sophistication of a larger course. Built in 2003, Alder Hills is nestled in a beautifully wooded area that is home to wildlife and chal-lenging natural obstacles. You’ll have a blast with your irons, as long as you avoid the gully!

See where city and nature merge Feel yourself instantly unwind as you turn off the highway and pull into the quiet hideaway that is LC Gunn Park. Walk or bike the trails that are suitable for most fitness levels and get a bird’s eye view of the city across the river.

Cool off with a peachy potionOrder a frosty bellini at Moxie’s Grill and Bar to quench your thirst. This signature drink is perfect to sip on the patio on a hot day or in the lounge.

Try the feature of the month Forgo your favourite Blizzard this time—there’s a reason it’s featured! When you’re in the mood for something cold and sweet, get a creamy Blizzard blended up on the spot at Dairy Queen.

Ride around the city in style Have a special date to celebrate or just want to splurge for a fancy night out? Hire a plush stretch limo driven by Sweet Dreams Limousine for any occasion.

GATEWAYlife




Valemount Summer Festival & Geocaching Event See details on page 35

GATEWAYlife


a look at Fraser Lake

Fraser Lake is a beautiful lakeshore com-munity overflowing with recreational opportunities. We enjoy world class out-door recreation year round, but we excel at summertime activities.• Fishing• Camping – Cabins, Tents or RVs• Water sports• Canoeing and kayaking• Hiking & sightseeing• ATVing• Horseback riding• World famous fly fishing• Organized Recreation Activities

Check out special events on the lake and in the village at www.fraserlake.ca or find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fraserlake or Twitter @FraserLakeBC.

Fraser Lake is the your recreation destina-tion. Our area boasts lakes, rivers, moun-tains, trails and parks.• Fraser Lake• Francois Lake• Nautley River• Nechako River• Stellaquo River• Fraser Mountain Trail • Mouse Mountain Trail• Table Top Mountain – Red Rock • Volcano• Black Point Trail• Cabin Creek Falls Trail• Cheslatta Falls Trail• Ormond Creek or Lake Trails• White Swan Park• Beaumont Park• Peterson’s Beach

Fraser Lake is northern B.C.’s Recreation Destination!

GATEWAYsnapshot



NEW YORK - Is seeing life through rose-colored sunglasses right for you? It might be if you’re a fan of early-morning bike rides, if you’re a commuter at dusk or you happen to live in a largely overcast climate.

Choosing new summer shades is more than an issue of flattering frames. There are decisions to be made about the lenses, too, and there will only be more in the future.

Things to think about: Are your sunglasses more for performance or fashion? (You don’t necessarily need to choose.) Are you concerned about glare or definition? Do you want a curved lens that provides maximum coverage or a flatter one that allows more peripheral vision?

Cont’d on page 29

GATEWAYfashion

Beyond frame and fit Sunglass choices largely colored by the rainbow of available lenses


Cont’d from page 28Will grey, green or rose be a better match

for your lifestyle? Each is best suited to handle particular conditions and activities.

“Lenses can affect - and can enhance - performance. Sports performance is the biggest category for shopping by lens colour and treatments, and most fashion lenses are still browns and greys,” says Dr. Justin Bazan, a Brooklyn optometrist and medical adviser for The Vision Council, a trade group for the optical industry. “I can imagine it happening, though, that the tint options that have exploded in sports will soon come to fashion purchases.”

Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of Safilo Group, parent company to sunglass brands Carrera, Smith Optics and Polaroid, and the licensing partner for designer labels Gucci, Dior and Marc Jacobs, agrees that it’s on the cusp.

Customers, he says, are becoming more educated about ultraviolet light - largely because of great strides in sunscreen use, and they are aware that the technology exists to improve sunglass lenses. People are very aware overall about protecting

themselves from the sun.“Educated consumers help us,” adds

Vedovotto. “People who care about the lenses, they need - they want - perfect vision.”

That probably explains why athletes are the most demanding, says Bazan. “For those people who are very competitive, they’ll look for anything that gains an advantage.”

That means knowing when polarized lenses, which act as blinders to horizontal rays, make sense, and when they might not.

Enthusiasts of water sports, including surfing and sailing, are Hobie Polarized’s most discerning shoppers. And when it comes to lenses, they want anti-reflective coatings, another coating to shed water and the evenness - almost flatness - of polarization, says Dustin Mora, senior product line manager. Polarization makes sense for many runners, beach-goers and drivers because it will reduce the glare of light coming from the water, road or sand, he explains. They’re good for fishermen who need to see beneath the surface.

A skier, however, who needs to see the

shine and shadows of the snow and ice, might want a non-polarized lens.

Sammy Bryant, retail business developer for Adidas Eyewear, says golfers also steer away from polarization because peripheral vision is important on the greens, and a lens with that treatment will have a more noticeable difference between what you see through the glasses and the corner of your eye.

The curve of a lens is going to matter, too, Bryant says. It’s measured on a scale of one to 10, he explains, common for reading glasses - which are pretty much straight from end to end - at a five, and ski goggles at a nine. Higher numbers give better protection and cover a wider range of view, but curve can add some distortion.

Colour is also a factor, according to Nick Gomez, senior product manager of Under Armour Performance Eyewear. While green lenses might be good for the ball field - there’s better balance of background and the target object - brown ones are good for hiking or mountain biking because they offer improved depth perception, he says.

Generally, grey lenses, maybe with a hint of green, block the brightest rays, and brown are almost as effective but have a slightly warmer effect. Gomez says brown might be the most versatile.

Rose helps brighten overcast days, and can be particularly helpful in the early morning or near sundown. Yellow lenses have a similar effect. Blue and green lenses provide a view that is truer to natural colour, but they might not curb bright light the way a grey lens would.

Mirrored lenses, which are, of course, only mirrored on the outside, can be an additional layer of glare perception, notes Bazan. They are less likely to change colour perception, he says.

“Personal preference is what’s going to drive this. You have to try them on,” says Bazan. “There definitely is a performance factor, and there’s word of mouth and people are paying attention to what top-level athletes are using, and fashion purchases are largely driven by designer names, but you have to put them on and look outside.”

GATEWAYfashion


GATEWAYsafetytips

seasonal safety tips

for kidsThe summer and fall are great for having outdoor

fun with your kids, nieces and nephews or grandkids; but outdoor activities can also pose

safety risks.According to Sherry Torkos, pharmacist and author of

The Canadian Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, there are a few preventative tips to make this season a safe and fun one for the kids:

Avoiding food poisoning:Food-borne illnesses peak during this

time of year. This is because the hot, humid weather allows bacteria to thrive and outdoor refrigeration, cooking and washing facilities during picnics and cookouts, may not be ideal. Food-borne illness can resemble the flu: stomach pains, nausea, diarrhea and fever. Avoid food poisoning by following some simple guidelines:

• Be sure food items that contain milk, eggs and meat aren’t kept at room temperature for more than an hour

• If you’re traveling with food, pack raw meat separately from other foods to avoid contamination

• Raw fruits and vegetables can cause problems if not properly washed and stored

• Carry hand sanitizer to clean your hands before preparing food.

Avoiding heat related

illness:Prolonged exposure to high temperatures,

direct sun and high humidity -- without sufficient rest and fluids-- can increase the likelihood of heat illness. Children are at a greater risk of heat-related illnesses

compared adults. They also lose a lot of water through sweat. Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include: feeling thirsty, fatigue, dry lips and tongue and cramps. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke. Symptoms of heatstroke include: nausea and vomiting, seizures, disorientation, lack of sweating, shortness of breath and unconsciousness.

To avoid heat illness, it is paramount that children drink water and stay hydrated when in the hot sun and doing outdoor activities. Carrying a 330 mL bottle of Nestlé Pure Life around throughout the day will prompt kids to drink up and help prevent dehydration.

Avoiding sunburns:It is important that all children, regardless

of skin type, wear sunscreen when outdoors. Apply a water-resistant sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays; don’t forget to apply to the lips, ears and back of neck. Re-apply sunscreen after swimming and activities every few hours. Protect kids’ skin and eyes with wide brim hats, sunglasses and sun protective clothing.

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Pain strategies to please the knees

T’is the season to get outside and enjoy the sunshine with friends and family. But for the 10 per cent of

Canadians that The Arthritis Society says are living with osteoarthritis (OA), enjoying the warm weather isn’t always easy. Activities such as biking, golfing and gardening, for example, may be a challenge if they are suffering with chronic knee pain.

“The pain of knee OA can not only impact one’s lifestyle, it can also have negative effects on productivity at home and at work, and on emotional health,” says Dr. Philip Baer, Rheumatologist. “Working with a doctor to develop an individualized treatment plan can help patients with knee OA better manage their pain, so they can reconnect with their lives.”

While there are a number of medications

available to reduce the pain and discomfort associated with OA of the knee, it’s important to ensure that pain is managed in the safest way possible. Following these tips can help:

Know the risks There are risks associated with some pain relievers. Opioids, for example, may be highly addictive, while gastrointestinal bleeding has been reported with use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and high doses of acetaminophen can lead to liver toxicity. There are other treatments, however, that can provide effective pain relief, are non-addictive and well-tolerated.

Don’t mixThe effect of some medications can

sometimes be increased or decreased when administered in combination with other

GATEWAYhealth&leisuremedication, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and even food. A healthcare professional can advise on any potential interactions between medications.

Don’t overdo itAs specified by a healthcare professional,

when taking prescription and OTC medications, including acetaminophen or ibuprofen, do not exceed the maximum daily recommended limit.

Read and follow the labelAlways follow the instructions for use of any prescription and OTC medications. It is also a good idea to address outstanding questions or concerns with a healthcare professional.

Talk to a doctorPeople with chronic pain should always consult their physician before beginning a new medication, whether it’s prescription or OTC.

www.newscanada.com


GATEWAYgrill

grilled pizza with Mozzarellissima, grapes and pine nutsServings: 4Preparation: 15 minutesCooking: 15 minutes

Ingredients:2 lb (1 kg) store-bought pizza dougholive oil, to taste1 cup (250 ml) seedless white grapes, halved1 cup (250 ml) seedless red grapes, halved3 sprigs rosemary, removing leaves from stems3 tbsp (45 ml) pine nuts, chopped1 1/3 cups (300 g) Mozzarellissima cheese, shredded2 oz (50 g) goat cheese (or blue cheese)fleur de sel, to taste

Directions:1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough and top with a drizzle of olive oil.2. in a bowl, combine grapes, rosemary leaves, pine nuts and a drizzle of olive oil. set aside.3. slide the pizza dough on the BBQ and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until slightly golden brown.4. Remove dough from BBQ and top with half of the Mozza-rellissima, then all of the goat cheese and the grape mixture. Cover with the remaining Mozzarellissima.5. Place back on the BBQ, close cover and cook on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted. Remove from BBQ, lightly season with fleur de sel and serve.Tip: depending on the intensity of your BBQ, watch the dough and cook over direct medium heat.

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The delightful pairing of sweet grapes and salty cheese will make this gourmet pizza a hit with friends and family. Try using blue cheese or gorgonzola instead of goat cheese for a stronger flavour, and for great crunch and flavour, choose firm grapes and fresh pine nuts. More great recipes can be found online at www.saputoalacarte.ca.

Bring sweet and savoury flavours together with this grilled pizza



GATEWAYcommunity calendarGRANISLEAugust 10 – Granisle will be holding their Annual Granisle day Granisle Day was set by Council to be the second weekend in August. This day is fast approaching. There is a Parade to start from the Visitor Centre at 11a.m. followed by, the Show and Shine at the entrance to Copperview Park. There is also a Picnic in the Park planned. Granisle is located on the shores of beautiful Babine Lake.

HouStoNPleasant Valley Community Market opens for another seasonThe Pleasant Valley Community Market will be every Friday for the summer season between the hours of 10a.m. to 3p.m. located in the lovely Steelhead Park in Houston. Opportuni-ties and space are still available for vendors and local musi-cians. Stop by for lunch and enjoy Smokies and hot coffee while checking out local home baked goods, crafts & wood work, fresh local produce and eggs there is also a 50/50 draw. For more information please contact Amelia Mattson, Market Manager at [email protected] or call 250-845-7788. Check them out on facebook www.facebook.com/PleasantValleyCommunityMarket

Up, Up, and Away...The houston Public library is hosting the bC Summer Reading Club 2013: Up, Up, and Away! This summer kids across the province will take to the skies, travel alongside superheroes, and follow authors to other worlds. The Houston Public Library invites kids from ages 3 to 12 to join the fun by joining this year’s BC Summer Reading Club. Sign-up is free. For more information please contact the Houston Library at 250-845-2256.Houston & District Chamber of CommerceVisit our website: www.houstonchamber.ca

PRINCE GEoRGEAugust 4- homestead days at huble homestead historic SiteTake a step back in history this BC Day long weekend, and celebrate Prince George’s pioneers at Homestead Days, Huble’s premier pioneer event. It is two days full of fun, including heritage demonstrations, old fashioned contests, relays, and games for children and adults alike, entertain-ment, prizes, and more! Huble Homestead website www.hublehomestead.ca

August 4 - Free SwimCool down on a hot summer day with a free swim at the Four Seasons Leisure Pool from 3- 4p.m.

August 8 to 11 – bC northern exhibition (bCne)Midway, tractor pulls, livestock competitions, local entertain-ment, vendors, food court, exhibits and events. Family fun for everyone. Check out the website for more information www.bcne.ca

August11 - Pancake breakfast @ bCneSunday Morning from 8a.m. to 11a.m. The Pancake Breakfast will be held in Heritage Lane, plates just $5.00 per person including tax, gate admission is extra. Between 8a.m. and 10a.m. parking is free, admission is only a $2

PG Farmers’ MarketThe Indoor market is located at 1074 6th Avenue, behind the Keg Restaurant. There are two outdoor locations, one on 1074 6th Avenue and one at the corner of George Street and Third Avenue. Saturday’s from 8:30a.m. to 2p.m.

The little Prince-Steam TrainBack for a new season of railroad fun at Fort George Park. The 24-inch gauge train runs along a half mile loop next door to the Exploration Place Museum. 12 - 4p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $2 per person.


GATEWAYcommunity calendarSmItHERS August 2 to 10 – the town of Smithers will be holding a weekend centennial celebration! The weekend will be packed full of fun and infor-mational events. Come check out the nightly enter-tainment at the Fall Fair grounds throughout the Centennial Homecoming.

August 2 – Dedication Ceremony for legacy Project Homecoming reception open daily at the LegionAugust 3 – Homecoming openingAugust 3 & 4 – Hudson Bay Mountain Hikes – Chair lift RidesAugust 6 – Strawberry TeaAugust 7 – Centennial golf tournament – open to allAugust 9 – Smithers Celebrity Charity Golf tourna-mentAugust 10 – Smithers celebrity charity softball TournamentAugust 10 – Closing ceremonyAugust 10 & 11 – Hudson Bay Mountain Hikes – Chair lift Rides

VALEmouNtAugust 9–11– Valemount Summer Festival & Geocaching eventWe will be releasing 50 new geocaches for our very first Geocaching Event! Each registrant will receive a Valemount, B.C. Geocoin (limit 2 per family).

Friday, August 9Welcome Reception with band TBA 6–9 p.m. Valemount Visitor Centre. Cost: FreeIf you are coming in the night before please join us at the Welcome Reception. Complimentary appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks will be available. Magician Clinton W Gray and Gold Country Geo Tourism will be in attendance as well! Musical entertainment: 7 –9 p.m. Saturday, August 10Event Registration and Kick-Off 9a.m.–10:30a.m. Valemount Visitor Centre. Cost: FreeThe official event will get started at 9a.m. sharp at the Valemount Visitor Centre. There will be an hour and a half for registration and the event will kick off at 10:30 a.m.

Cont’d on page 36


GATEWAYcommunity calendarCont’d from page 35

At the event, you will have the opportunity to sign the log book, view or share trackables, meet & greet with other cachers. There will also be a prize draw so be sure to enter the draw during registration. All prizes have been donated by local businesses.We will be releasing the caches the day of the event. Volunteers will be on-site to upload coordinates onto participates GPS. Group ATV RideThe location is yet to be determined. It will be approx. a 2–3 hour ride. You will have to pro-vide your own ATV’s and transportation to the starting point. A free hot dog lunch will be provided at the end of the ride.For more information and to register con-tact VARDA at 250.566.4817.

Vendors at the Visitor Centre 4–7p.m. Valemount Visitor CentreCome out and enjoy some local products from artisans, crafters, home-based busi-nesses, food vendors and more!

Kid’s Quarters 4–7p.m. Valemount Visitor Centre. Cost: FreeMany activities and crafts have been planned for the kids, including face painting, coloring activities, and more!

bbQ at the Visitor Centre 5-7 p.m. Valemount Visitor CentreCost: By donationThe BBQ is by donation; all proceeds will go to The Spay and Neuter Society.

Music at the Visitor Centre 4–7p.m. Location: Valemount Visitor Centre Cost: FreeListen to the musical talents of Birgit Kuit and Joan & Joss!

Gold Country Geo Tourism 4–7p.m. Location: Valemount Visitor Centre Cost: FreeGold Country GeoTourism staff is thrilled to attend Valemount’s geocaching event to represent geocaching in Gold Country and to answer any questions that beginners may have about getting started with geocaching.



GATEWAYcommunity calendarCont’d from page 36

Magician Clayton w. Gray 4–7p.m. Valemount Visitor Centre Cost: Free Come out and watch one of Clinton’s mini magic shows!

Geocaching event & Summer Festival wrap-Up :6–7p.m. Valemount Visitor Centre. Cost: FreeDraw prizes will be given away and you must be in attendance to receive prizes.

Columbia basin Culture Tour 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Valemount & Area Museum Cost: FreeOn August 10 & 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., this year’s culture tour includes many of your returning favourites as well as a number of exciting new locations to explore.Self-directed and free of charge, the culture tour is a great opportunity to meet people behind the scenes at galleries and museums, visit studios not normally open, shop for orig-inal art or fine crafts and experience special events planned only for this weekend.

For 2013 artist/venue profiles, check back in June! See you on the tour!

Sunday, August 11Mile 53 Ghost Town hike 10a.m. Location: Valemount Visitor Centre Cost: FreeMeet at 10a.m. at the Valemount Visitor Centre and we will carpool to Tete Jaune Cache. Art Carson will take you on an inter-esting hike to explore the ruins of this short-lived railway construction town.

Culture Tour 10a.m.–5 p.m. Location: Valemount & Area Museum. Cost: FreeFrom 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., this year’s culture tour includes many of your returning favourites as well as a number of exciting new locations to explore.Self-directed and free of charge, the culture tour is a great opportunity to meet people behind the scenes at galleries and museums, visit studios not normally open, shop for orig-inal art or fine crafts and experience special events planned only for this weekend.See you on the tour!


GATEWAYcareers

Heavy equipment operator Shelley McIntyre says one of the largest obstacles to push aside is the male-skewed stereotype preventing

some women from entering into the trades.However, Industry Training Authority’s (ITA’s)

Women in Trades Training initiative is helping women overcome these stereotypes and barriers. WITT provides training, financial assistance and support

Trades program breaks down

barriersfor women

for eligible women who might be thinking about a career in the trades, but are unemployed or employed and low-skilled. It is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA) and is overseen by the Industry Training Authority (ITA).

Taking the first step in a largely male-dominated field can be daunting. “Having no prior experience it was a personal challenge to put myself out there and get my foot in the door,” she says.

Women in Trades Training participants may include: women who are looking for higher paying or more challenging careers; single parents who need to increase their income to support their family; or women who are returning to work after a long stay at home.

For McIntyre, it took a car accident for her to switch gears and become a heavy equipment operator. An outdoors type who loved both motorcycling and biking, she chose to move on up to bigger machines.

“I like being outside. I like driving the equipment and being

part of the team and seeing what I accomplish every day,” says the Nanaimo resident.

WITT addresses the barriers some women face in entering the trades, including: lack of awareness of skilled trades, training and career opportunities; inability to access childcare; low essential skills; and lack of role models in a largely male-dominated field.

The support of both ITA’s initiative and her employer, Island Aggregates, made her the competent operator she is today, says McIntyre.

“There still are stereotypes. It does get frustrating. However, the help of great instructors and classes, along with a very female friendly workplace, made the learning a lot easier, she adds.

It’s estimated that more than one million job opportunities will open up in the province between now and 2020 -- and 42% of these will need trades and technical training, according to WorkBC’s BC Labour Market Outlook 2010-2020. For ITA, targeting an under-represented demographic that makes up half the population of B.C. is a good place to start addressing that gap.

In total, more than 2,000 women have benefitted since the initiative was first introduced in 2008. There are now approximately 3,500 registered women apprentices in B.C., representing 10% of all registered apprentices. This number includes many of the 2,000 women who have participated in Women in Trades Training programs

The transition to trades has empowered McIntyre, who is now focused on finishing her apprenticeship and getting her Red Seal certification. She has some simple advice for women mulling a career switch, “Look into it, do it and follow your heart.”

www.newscanada.com



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