yee A12- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 15, 2002 Buy local products, urges union chief BUSINESSES AND public sector bodies should be supporting other businesses in their own towns, says the head of one of B.C.’s largest unions. It’s one way of ensuring smaller, rural communities survive and thrive, said Barry O’Neill, president of the B.C. divi- sion of the Canadian Union of Public Em- ployees (CUPE), who was on a tour of the northwest recently. “Town councils need to talk about buying their’ new trucks locally, for instance,” he said. “School districts should buy locally as well.” “Although Howe St. and Davie St. think they are the centre, the real engine [ef the economy] is in rural B.C.,” said O'Neill. “Rural B.C..does have a significant amount of power if it ever harnesses it and understands if can have control.” O’Neill’s CUPE is part of a campaign called “Strong. Communities” and: the idea is promote smaller communities. O'Neill and others, including econom- ists and demographers, now point to the existence of two British Columbia’s — a thriving Lower Mainland and lower Van- couver Island compared to a struggling north and interior. “We have the richest resource pro- vince in the country and we're talking about ghost towns,” said O’Neill, “It's happening right here, right now, if we don’t do something.” O'Neill added that it is important to have a strong public sector in smaller towns as employees can then support small businesses. Bed closures GITXSAN OFFICIALS say they strongly oppose the Northern Health Authority’s decision to cut all but three of Hazeltan’s 28 acute care beds. The six-bed increase in nearby Smi- thers hospital will not compensate for the cuts to Hazelton’s Wrinch Memorial Hos- pital, says Catherine Blackstock, exec- utive director of the Gitxsan treaty office. “Smithers is too far away and the re- sponse time will mean the death of some of our people,” said Blackstone. The travel time can double in the win- ter months because of road conditions, she said. Blackstone maintains the decision will cause financial hardship for family mem- It’s also im- =] portant for small com- munities to demand more of their MLAS, O'Neill con- tinued. “MLAs have to become 7 more countable. Even though they may be scared to go to a meeting because there might be a demon- stration, that’s too bad. That’s their job. That’s what they’re getting paid for,” he said. Barry O'Neill CUPE represents nearly 1,000 people’ in the northwest. Its locals taken in muni- cipalities, school boards, social service agencies, airports, college campuses and nalive agencies. As is the case with other public sector employees, CUPE members face layoffs, said O’Neill. “I don’t think we've felt the full im- pact yet,” said O’ Neill. “Right now there is a more direct im- pact on direct services such as govern- ment and health care.” Pending school closures and other cuts in education programs are expected to hit CUPE members particularly hard in Ter- race and other northwest locations. opposed bers who must travel to Smithers to be with their loved ones. “We realize that every community is suffering from the detrimental cuts to health care but it does not make sense to increase one hospital’s capacity from a community that is so far away from it,” said Blackstone. “Why not leave those beds at the closest hospital?” The three remaining beds in Wrinch Memorial Hospital will service a popula- tion of 10,000 from the communities of the Kispiox, Gitanmaax, Glen Vowell, Hagwilget, Gitwangak, Gitsegukia, Gita- nyow, Cedarvale, New Hazelton, South Hazelton, Hazelton, Two Mile, Kitwanga . Valley and Kispiox Valley. ac- The Terrace "6 Is an THE KERMODE FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY WILL BE HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY, JUNE 1ST KERMODE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE FROM NOON UNTIL 2 P.M. REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED, www. Onin com Chock out aur site or call 699-7203 for advartiaiog Information University ¢ Credit Courses Math 101 (Calculus) MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY AND May 21 - June 14 * lpm - dom « Monday - Friday MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE Instructor Dy, Eric Turner ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. Geography 110 (Environmental Studies) May 21 - June 10 * 9am - noon « Monday - Friday Instructor Dr Norma Kerby English 209 (Creative Writing) June 24 - June 29 » Full Days * Monday - Saturday Instructor Jacqueline Hoekstra FENG BAG AG ivy’ Earn six university credits in six weeks by taking two of the above courses. Terrace Art Association’s Spring Arts e Crafts Show Saturday, May 25, 2002 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Terrace Art Gallery Lower Level of the Library ORTHWEST || ‘COMMUNITY COLLEGE Ta @acloser look, To apply; call (250) 635-6511 ext 5202, For course information, speak to the Instr Photographer, Brian Jo Hes IS BACK! Don’t miss out! Book your appointment today! For more info. PHOTO POTTERY 8 OR a BBB AG AGB AB call 638-8884 Vert and approve your portraits on a colar moniter 8 rt ~cie i i ih ~ is ~ i ~t,. a ** Onder omy the poses you want ** Chie sesiou fee per fanilyfrer appeintment ; — _ — Bring your ft props und acess Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine , ; #300-4545 Lazelle Avenue Terrace, BC eek tacKuipe mn $25.00 NOTICE OF MEETING 1-84.10 Regular Board Meeting will be held as follows: 2-547 May 24, 2002 B-nalel size 7:00 p.m. Regional District Offices Pursuant to Section 329 of the Local Government Act, the follawing reports will be presented and considered at the meeting. 1.Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Audited Financial Statements for the year-end, December 31, 2001. 2.Board Directors Remuneration and Expenses Annual Report for the year 2001. 3. 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