TERRACE STANDARD

BOB PARK wants a strong downtown and has formed the Terrace Downtown
Independent Merchants Association to advance that goal. JEFF NAGEL PHOTO

Downtown shops
brace for Wal-Mart

Merchants form new group to work together

By JEFF NAGEL
DOWNTOWN merchants
are banding together to en-
hance. and promote their
part of town,

They've formed the
Terrace’ Downtown Inde-
pendent Merchants’ Asso-
ciation, says Bob Park,
owner of All Season
Source For Sports,

The : “group plans to
spruce up, improve and
promote downtown and the
interests of businesses
there, he: said.

It’s:a direct response to
the increasing presence of
big box ‘stores in Terrace
and: the arrival of Wal-
Matti in particular.

- But Park says it’s just
the catalyst for an idea in
the works for years.

“We want lo make sure
people are aware of the
fact there’s still a down-
town core,” he said.

“We're independent
we're unique and we're the
grassroots of our commun-
ity,” he said. “We want to
keep that downtown ident-
ity alive and well.”

So far at least 15 shops
are on board, stretching
from near the legian to
west of city hall.

The new group is urging
city council to find money
in next year’s budget for
some downtown Christmas
decorations. “It would
really improve il,” he said.

Other towns have
everything from giant
candy canes to Christmas
music playing downtown,

he says.

The association also
hopes to aid efforts to
beautify the downlown, in
conjunction with the Ter-
race Beautification Socie-
ty and Terrace Tourism.

Park says they'll also
work on atlracting more
people through downtown
events like the Christmas

‘parade, and the group wilk

explore areas like joint
promotions.

Park sees Wal-Mart's
arrival as inevitable. He
doesn’t exactly embrace
the big box competitor, but
says it will bring more
people to Terrace.

The challenge is ensur-
ing those customers alsa
find the city’s other busi-
nesses.

Hazelton lays out road concerns

HAZELTON has broken
ranks with Terrace and
other northwest towns that
-have given unqualified
support for the proposed
road linking Hwy 37 to the
Kemess mine.

The. town’s council is
urging energy and mines
minister Richard Neufeld
.to take other steps prior to
advancing the project..

Hazelton wants an as-

~ . sessment of the project’s

environmental impacts, in-
cluding those on fish and
wildlife, and a cost/benefit
analysis on the value to
the Hazeltons of resulting
mining activity.

The town also wants
written’ assurances of train-
ing and job opportunities
for local residents and
companies in road-build-
_- ing, road maintenance and
“mine activity.

‘In addition, Hazelton
wants a per-tonnage levy
on ore transported on the
road to go to a northwest
community economic de-
velopment fund to be con-
trolled by a locally-elected

board of directors.

“Too often in the past
the economic spinoffs as-
sociated:ewith, the extra-
ction. of this region's re-
sources haven't benefited
the area,” wrote’ mayor
Alice Maitland on Oct. 27.

The letter was sent in
response to the District of
Stewart's Oct. 7 appeal to

‘northwest towns to put

their support for the project
in writing to provincial de-

cision-makers.

To date, 13 local gov-
ernments, including Smi-
thers, have penned re-
sounding endorsements for
the project.

Road advocates say. the
region will gain from in-
creased mining activity.

Some guides and Gitx-
san chiefs say. it will hurt
wildlife and cultural sites

by opening up previously’

untouched wilderness.

Headed to Rupert

A TERRACE-BASED financial services firm is opening
a part time office in Prince Rupert.

Oracle Financial Services will staff the office one
day a week using its current employees in either ‘Terrace
or Kitimat while it builds up a client base, says Lyle
Harvey, one of Oracie’s three owners.

“Once we are at three days u week, we'll hire an ad~
visor and staff in Prince Rupert,” he said.

Oracle, once known as Sunlife, had an office in
Prince Rupert until five years ago.

“We still have a significant number of clients there
and feel now is the lime to re-establish our presence, We
feel there is potential in Prince Rupert and a market op-

portunity,” said Harvey.

Oracle now employs seven people in Terrace and in

Kitimat.

Parenting - Meeting The Behavioral
Needs Of Young Children

Date:
Time:

Thursday, December 11, 2003
9:00 a.m, - 12 pm. 1:00 p.m. ~ 4:00 pm.

Place: Kermode Friendship Center
Cost: Professionals - $20 .
Parents and other familly members - bring a hon-

perishable food item.

Items on the agenda will include:

¢ Self care for parents

¢ Understanding children’s behavior developmentally”
¢ Children’s communication and learning styles

¢ Diacipline - issues & strategies -

¢ Principles for positive behavior approaches

For more information or to register, contact Marsha
at 635-4906, Childminding will be available If needed.
Door prizes to be won.

Spongored by:
HEAL (Health & Education for Aboriginal Learning)
& Early Childhood Development

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an emergency hotline linked
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or visit www.medicalert.ca

& Medic Alert

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SEARS _

AUTHORIZED DEALER STORE

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - A11

So OE
A0°OFF All Stock #3;

+ [Except magazines, newspopes & special orders}

he Nov, 28" 8 Sat, Nov, "

Thank you for 15 great years.
Your Community Book Store!

(ee) Misty River
we! Books

113-4710 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace
635-4428 © 1-800-861-9716
miaty_river_books@telus.net

Kotte ie

ay, November 28

Until 11 p.m.

Terrace Art Gallery's Annual

CHRISTMAS
ARTS &

CRAFTS SALE

at the Terrace Art Gallery
4610 Park Ave.
Lower Level of the Library
Fri., December 5th - 5 to 9 p.m.
Sat., December éth - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A wonderful showcase of Terrace’s Arts & Crofts.

Admission: Adults $7.00 Seniors & Students .50
Admission helps raise funds for future exhibitions

Check Out What We’re Offering

in Terrace This Winter...

Terrace Courses Web Courses

CALEDONIA FINE ARTS

presents

Meredith Willson’s
THE

R. E. M. Lee Theatre, Terrace

Friday, December 5, 2003 -- 8 p.im.°
Saturday, December 6, 2003 -- 1 p.m.
Saturday, December 6, 20035 -- 8 p.m.

Tickets available from
MISTY RIVER BOOKS
CALEDONIA OFFICE and FINE ARTS STUDENES

Evening shows. $13 Matinee $7, .

Book, Music, and Lyrics by
MEREDITH, WILLSON

Story by MEREDITH WILLSON and
FRANKLIN LACEY

Winter 2004 Semester English 420
English 386 First Nations Literature
19th Century Literature in the US Histo.
ry 200
Thursdays 1pm to 4 pm Historical Methodology
English 480 Political Science 338.
Science Fiction P Parties and Flections.
Tuesdays 12 pm to 3 pm a it ; 3/60 :
‘ ; Se Pe tical Science 40 603 oe
Geography 305 ce woe
Political Geography Ne Social & Health Policy and A Administration
Mondays § pm to 8 pm oo.) es * Soclal Work 605° ©
. . : Come ity We Poles of Chan Ci
History 390° Pos ny Marl m 9
Aboriginal People in Canada
Mondays and Wednesdays
41:30 am to 1 pm
History 491 2 es : :
The History of ‘Anthropology : “course Gfierings subject to change

Mondays 8:30 am to 11:30 am. : ‘s

and suifcfent nt envoliment ”

For more information on these c courses
and how to apply & register, contact:

UNBC's Norihwest Regional Campus, 260-615-5578
nw-info@unbc.ca www.unbc.ca/regaps/nw

U BC UNIVERSITY OF
NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA