a aac ee ee ‘Mystery bird ‘came here ‘from Japan ‘A PIGEON that flew into ‘ the shop at the Carnaby mill “would have quite a°tale to ‘tell, if it could speak. u The bird tumed up at the ‘mill near Hazelton one day «ju April, and when it was still there the next day, John ; Pelsma, an employee, went over and picked it up. " Tt was easy to catch — the ‘bird ‘was very weak, ': The pigeon is a soft pear] gray, with some darker ‘color on the wings and back, sand glints of pink and green ‘on the breast feathers. At- ‘tached to ils leg was a tag. ‘, Pelsma took it home and ‘with his wife Sharon looked sat the information on the tbird’s leg tags. There was a ‘phone number, so Sharon ‘gave a call, ‘ “Tt was shorl —- there was ‘not much point in the con- ‘versation,”’ she laughs, ‘saying the person at the ‘other end only spoke Japa- ‘nese, and the Pelsma’s ‘don't. \_ Another worker at the mill contacted Skeena Cell's Vancouver business office, and someone tracked down ail interpreter to call Japan. With the language prob- lem solved, a second call to the bird owner was success- ful. It turns out the bird is a: homing racing pigeon. It was on an 800-kilometer race from Haikkdo in north- em Japan to Tokyo. Ob- viously, the bird somehow got very, very far off course. In any event, il’s the end of the Japanese racing career for the pigeon. The bird is a registered racer, and the owner is willing to send the papers along to Canada. ‘He doesn’t want it back,” said Pelsma. “It’s a loser.’” Off-course racing pigeon finds a home THIS PIGEON somehow found its way from a race in Japan across the ocean and up the Skeena River to Hazelton. Ray Greenall has adopted the bird. The owner also belicves the bird would die if left on its own. While the Pelsmas would have liked to keep the bird, Sharon said they also have a cat which would probably like to eat it. A co-worker and his wife, Pat and Marilyn Lachapel- lel, were willing to give the bird a new home for a - while. Pat built the bird a good- - sized cage on their enclosed porch in South Hazelton, Still nameless, the pigeon perked up after getting lots of food and water, Meanwhile, Pelsma called his friend Ray Greenall, who raises and races pigeons al his home just outside Smithers. Before long, the Japanese pigeon moved house again, and took up residence’ in Greenall’s loft. He was soon paired up with a beautiful Canadian female mate. “He’s getling his Cana- FIRST NATIONS AWARDS dian citizenship,’ joked Greenall. (The couple fer- vently deny theirs is a mar- riage of convenience). Greenall said he’s not par- ticularly surprised by the ” bird’s voyages. **This is the third pigeon in this area (from Japan),"’ he said. Racing pigeons frequently get lost, or chased off course by a hawk, then get tired and settle down on a boat for a rest, he said, If that boat ends up in Canada, so does the bird. But how it got from the ocean up the Skeena is an- other mystery. In any event, the pigeon’s racing career is over. Greenall said the bird may be allowed outside to fly around in a couple of years, when he’s less likely to take off on another trip. For the meantime, the still unnamed bird will pass its time in peaceful retirement in Smithers, with his new Canadian mate. ue Grads honoured at feast HUNDREDS OF family members, friends and others gathered Saturday at the Kitsum- kalum community hall as the second annual First Nations Achievement Awards were held. Just under 150 students from kindergarten to grads going to school in Terrace and in recognized for Thombill were achievements. Included in that number were 24 students graduating from Grade 12. Afternoon events included feast and grand entry of the graduates, Kiltsumkalum elder Very Henry gave an opening address and there were keynote remarks made by Tsimshian land claims negotiator Gerald Wesley Bergsma, retiring this year as assistant su- ’ Was your campfire My completely out? , Report wildfires 1-300-663-S555 Ministry of Forests = Goin. When we fall short of your expectation, please teil ws, ' When a newspaper story does nal seem to reflect fairly wisat was said, let our editors know When we are undble lo solve your coniplaint, we encourage yon fo submit it to the: B.C Press Counch 900 - 1281 Wi Georgia St. Vancouver B.C. VGE 3)7 Tel/Fax (604) 683-2571 The B.C Press Council was created in 1983 asan independent review board to protect the public from press inaccuracy or unfairness and to bromote quattty Journalise. District, perintendent of Coast Mountains School The achievement awards were organized by the First Nations Education Centre, which is part of the school district. their The following is a list of Grade 12 stu- dents honoured at the ceremony: Jericho Bevan, Lori Bonner, Carolyn Brown, Crystal Brown; Crystal Caine, Jef- don; a traditional Jefferson, and Skip fery Cooley, Thomas Derrick, Hayley Gor- Robert Halladay, Adam Hazard, Barry Danielle McKay, Cory Morrison, Darius Mould, Matthew Ridler; Tammy Roberts, Andrea Sam, Norman Stephens, Keane Stewari- Tait; Lisa Wesley, Roberta Wilson, Jolene Wesley, Shaun Daniels. Leighton; Kristy The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 10, 1998 - B5 Images by Karlene is celebrating their 8th anniversary. Karleen and staff would like to say thanks to all our clients for the great support, we look forward to serving you in the future. CANADIAN WASTE S ER VI C-E-S NEW BUSINESS! Proud To Be Serving The Terrace & Thornhill Area > Guided By Integrity » Driven By Quality Focused On Performance We offer a clean front load service with various sizes of containers for all your commercial & _ Industrial Solid Waste Removal needs. Coming this fall we will be offering a recycling program CANADIAN WASTE SERVICES INC. Rolf Thomsen & Sean Millins Manager of Operations Sales Representative Terrace Residents Phone: (250) 635-9091 NOTICE orl” Columbia. The new Occupational Health and Safety Regulation took effect on April 15, 1998, with a one year graduated compliance period, The standards under the Regulation will provide a solid foundation for achieving safer, healthier workplaces and further reducing the number of workers injured or killed on the job in British The new Regulation contains legal requirements for employers on, the protection of workers from occupational injury and disease. It applies to all work sites around the province and primarily reflects changes in industry, technology and work practices. The WCB will be hosting free general and industry specific information sessions to provide an overview of the Regulation. - — mad Small business owners and operators, and employers in high-risk : industries are invited to learn why new health and safety standards are required, New key sections of the Regulation will also be reviewed, along with changes to existing requirements, both of which will impact business and industry. All participants will receive a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, along with an easy-to-read guide highlighting key sections, changes and new additions. TERRACE INFORMATION SESSICM BEANS — General Business Wed., June 17 Terrace [nn 2:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. ORKE Sh COMPENSATION. For more information or to register for a session, please call Linda Carson at (250) 615-6605. Sale Starts Ji June 6 - 13 39°... A. Sy 2 Dott The Petland Mission We are dedicated to matching the right pet with the right customer and mecting the needs of both. 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