i Slurpee heaven ELECTRICIAN Jim Faber puts the finishing touches on one of the gas pumps at the new 7 Eleven store on Lakelse, Faber says the store hopefully will be having its grand opening today, so get your Slur- pees while they're cold. Gold exploration plunges Price dive, Bre-X fallout hammers region’s prospects By KAREN KWAN SMITHERS — Gun-shy investors and the lowest gold prices in more than a decade have forced some junior mining companies to abort explora- tion projects in the northwest. Of 200 applications submitted for gold exploration in the region so far this year, 40 per cent of the projects haven’t been completed, says Bruce Graff, district manager with the Min- istry of Employment and Investment, Energy and Minerals Division. About 15 per cent of those haven’t ‘gotten under way at all, while 25 per " cent of the projects were halted before completion, Graff said. “We were expecting a fairly active drilling season but a lol of programs got cancelled.”? However, there’s always the pos- sibility the projects will restart before the one-year permit nuns out, he adds. Last year 255 exploration permits were granted and 80 per cent of the projects were completed. About 10 per cent commenced work before being discontinued, while another 10 per cent didn’t reach field-work stage. Depressed -gald prices, which fluc- tuate in the mid-$320 US per ounce range afler falling from the mid-$380 US mark around this time last year, is only one reason for the decreased gold exploration, Graff says. The after-shock of the Bre-X Minerals scandal, in which drill samples from one of the Calgary- based company’s Indonesian gold mines proved phony, is still being felt throughout the gold mining industry. “The whole Bre-X scandal brought it on,’* Graff says. Junior mining companies, which derive most of their venture capital in the stock market, are struggling to raise funds because wary investors are loading their portfolios with blue chip slocks instead, “People are saying it’s too risky to invest in those junior mining com- panies.” Graff says many junior exploration companies’ stocks fell as much as 75 per cent after the Bre-X fiasco in March and still haven't recovered. Even if enough capital is raised to conduct initial exploration, sich as sampling to determine the best drill locations, junior companies often run out of money to conduct the actual diamond drilling, Graff says. But more established mining com- panies operating in the region, such as Prime Resources Group Inc, and Im- perial Metals, haven't been affected by the downturn in the market. Most of the 200 mining applications made this year were from junior ¢x- ploration companies. Some local drilling companies have also felt the effects of the bear market Tom Britton, co-owner of Smithers- based Britton Bros Diamond Drilling, one of the most active drilling com- panies for gold exploration in the Northwest, says he’s noticed 4 definite slide in exploration among junior companies. In northern B.C., Britton says his company has had two contracts for gold exploration cancelled because the mining firms couldn't raise enough venture capital, But Britton says the company is more than making up the loss with contracts from the major gold companies and other mineral exploration projects. Are You Ready For School? NEC is with their New Ready Desktop series from Ikon Office Solutions | Designed for family, entertainment and home office use, Ready Multimedia PCs are fully configured systems that are ready to use right out of the box, Ready systems feature the latest hardware and software for a rich multimedia audio and video with SAS surround sound, built-in stereo amplifier, a sophisticated sofware bundle, Windows 95 and Pentium® processors wilh MMX™ technology. 4552 Lakelse Ave Ph: 638-8585 |, Mexican Fiesta § Weekend! Friday, September 12 Saturday, September 13 Wear Your Sombrero z and join in the fun! NORTHWEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE EXTENSION SERVICES The Northwest's Public Training Institute Keeping The Community Informed - UPCOMING COURSES: FIRST AID AND SAFETY OFA Level Luo ccesese cence Sept. 12.0... $70 OFA Level 3 (Occupational). Sept. 15-26 ........., $595 Hazard Recognition Control. Sept, 29..........6 $99 Advanced Wilderness First Aid. Oct. 14 - 24......3649 All First Aid and Safety courses include all books, supplies, and exam fee. EVENING CLASSES. — American Sign Language......Sept. 30 - Oct. 8... $89 Signed English ....cccuseeees Oct, 15 - Nov. 19..$89 Spanish - Level 1... ee Oct. 14-3000. $89 HeartSmart Cooking............. Oct, 20 - Nov. 3....969 oP RBAVARE | a STOPPERS 635-TIPS| OF THE MONTH Ted Hicks, Sales Manager, is pleased to announce that STEVE BUTLER, through his customer salislaction and sales achievements, has been named SALESMAN OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST. We know that his many friends and loyal customers join us in extending congratulations. Well done STEVE! Steve Butler ~~ enrolling together. SAVE MONEY: We offer 10% discount for 2 week advance “) pegistration and 5% discount for 3 or more?” — ee vita Qt la teow ROldsmehile ems sm. PONTAS Chevrolet SSS SaleS OT OF TOWN CUSTOMERS. Enrollment is limited so register now, to avoid disappointment. vw Register at the College or Phone 635-6511 McEwan & PLEASE GALL COULECT Leasing TERRACE 635-4941 Terrace KITIMAT 632-4941 NOTICE Annual General Meeting Sept. 14, 1997 @ 7 p.m. at the Terrace Curling Club 3210 School St., Terrace THE B.C. HUMAN RIGHTS WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU COMMISSION tion time. Purpose of meeting: Election of officers and improvements over summer. Wig, “Get Swept up in the Fun” wily, The British Columbia Human Rights Commission will hold.a series of public consultations on proposed amendments to the B.C. Human Rights Code, The amendments will be based pon the discussion paper - Human Rights for the Next Millennium. You may present ideas in written and/or oral submission at one of the following public forums: " Tresday, Sept 16 Wednesday, Sept 17 Thursday, Sept 18 Consultation hours will be ffom 7:00.p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at each venue. If you wish to make an oral presentation please contact the Commission to schedule a presenta- For information, a copy of the discussion paper, to request an ASL interpreter and/or to schedule your preferred presentation tile, please contact: B.C. Human Rights Commission 7 306 - 815 Hornby Street, Vancouver, B.C. Vez 256 Telephone: Vancouver Arca; 604-660-0692 Toll free elsewhere in B,C, 1-800-663-0876 TTD: 604-660-2252 (Vancouver) Facsimtle: 604-660-0195 (Vancouver) Email: bo human._tights_commission@ag.gov.be.ca Note: Deadline for cubmissions is October 3, 1997 British Columbia ra Human Rights BF Commission FORT ST. JOHN North Peace Cultural Covire 10015 100th Auenite- PRINGE GEORGE . Prince George Civic Centre 835 Dominion Street TERRACE Chast lun of the West 4620 Lakele Avenue oS Ber, ATTENTION: © ms of Flooding — British Columbia’s Disaster Financial Assistance Program provides assistance to victims of natural disaster. Direct financial support may be available for uninsurable losses to help you recover from the damage caused by the May 1 to June 27, 1997 flooding in the following regional districts: * Central Kootenay ~""s East Kootenay Loses * Kitimat — Stikine * Bulkley — Nechako * Squamish - Lillooet * Fraser,- Fort George * Cariboo — * Greater Vancouver * Fraser Valley * Kootenay Boundary ‘The Disaster Financial Assistance Program is administered by the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP). It provides funds to replace or restore items essential to a home, livelihood, or community service. There is a $1,000 deductible with 80% of the balance — to a maximum of $100,000 — payable to the ckaimant. Home owners/renters, small businesses, farm operations and charitable organizations are all cligible for assistance. Disaster Financial Assistance does not cover lost or | damaged property for which insurance is available, Claims will only he considered for uninsurable losses. If recent flooding caused damage to essenti:l items, and you feel you might qualify for assistance, please pick up an Intent to Claim form from your regional district/municipalvillage office, or a Government Agent’s Office. Please submit the completed form as soon as possible, Gui no tater than October 15, 1997 to: Provincial Emergency Program P.O. Box 9201, Stu Prov Govt, Victoria, B.C., VBW 9J1 Phone; (250) 387-5956 Fax: (250) 952-4888 as BRITISH 2) COLUMBIA Provinelal Emergency Program