So long, 2002
Part one of our annual

look back at the year's

top community

Stories\COMMUNITY B1

Niore money

The Northern Health
Authority gives its top
bosses five per cent pay
hikes\NEWS A10

Big year -
“@ The Terrace athletes...
s who made a splash.
in the first half of: =
2002\SPORTS B3..

$4, 00 PLus 7? cst
($1.20 plus 8¢ GST:
outside of the Tenace area)--.--

Hard times hitting home owners

By JEFF NAGEL
THE NUMBER of homeowners failing
to keep up with their mortgage pay-
ments is up, but credit union officials
say it could be much worse.

“We thought if the mill didn’t re-
open this year, and if the situation in
the woods stayed as bleak as it was,
we'd be looking at a significantly
higher rate of foreclosures than are the
case,” says Northern Savings Credit
Union CEO Mike Tarr.

Northern Savings has had four resi-
dential foreclosures in Terrace so far
this year, and Terrace District Credit
Union reports eight.

“That reflects the economy,” Tarr
said. “Some people are giving up,
leaving town, walking away.”

They both report elevated rates of
delinquency - homeowners behind in

their mortgage payments.

About 2.7 per cent of Northern Sav-
ings loan portfolio in Terrace is at
least 30 days in arrears, branch man-
ager Ken Earl said.

And 1.8 per cent of mortgage hol-
ders at Terrace and District Credit
Union are behind in payments, said
branch manager Valerie Gauvin.

Those in the most trouble often vo-
lunteer to turn over the keys to their
homes — foreclosures are rarely initia-
ted by the credit unions.

“This year is a lot busier than last
year in terms of people turning their
keys in,” Gauvin said. “But it does
seem to be slowing down.”.

Economic pain and relationship
stress often combine and build to a
breaking point, Tarr said.

“There have been a disturbing num-

A bit of relief
A northwest credit union is
allowing homeowners to
defer payments, Page A2

ber of marriage breakups, which can
lead to delinquencies and foreclo-
sures,” Tarr said.

“We suspect that has to do with the
economy as well,” he said. “Famities
are becoming unhinged and things are
breaking apart. The additional stress of
losing a job may be enough to put
things over the edge.”

The credit unions pride themselves
on working closely with members in
distress to reschedule payments, and
exercise more flexibility than some

banks.

“It is possible we are somewhat
softer lenders than they are in a down
economy,” Tarr said.

Even in the case of foreclosures,
there are often side agreements to
have the family continue to rent or
live in the home.

“Even if they can’| pay much or
anything, if there’s little chance of
someone buying or renling it, it’s bet-
ter to have somebody occupying the
place than. have it vacant,” Tarr said.
“The last thing you want to do is kick
them out in the street.”

Tarr says Northern Savings is now
forecasting a slow recovery im the
northwest economy will be underway
by mid to late next year.

He said. that would finally end the
flat or contracting economy of the past

four to five years.

Ironically, both credit unions are re-
porting growth in their asset base in
the past couple of years despite — or
perhaps because of — the hard times.

Northern Savings has enjoyed re-
cord-breaking growth for the past few
years, Tarr said. Gauvin also reports
stronger than anticipated growth al
Terrace and District.

Tare said rigid lending policies at
some banks during a recession some-
times tesult in more customers going
to credit unions.

“We've been able to take on some
excellent business that in normal

times we'd have. trouble attracting,”

he said,

Foreclosure figures from the char-
tered banks for this area were not
readily available.

THE DAHMS rink —

y SARAH A, ZIMMERMAN
THE APCOLADES for Terrace’s top teen
curling rink keep coming in.

Team skip Michael Dahms has been
named male athlete of the year by Curl B.C,
the organization that oversees curling in this
province.

He’s being recognized for the role he
played in his team’s winning of the provin-
cial juvenile curling title last year and earn-
ing a berth in the upcoming Canada Winter
Games Feb. 22-Mar. 8, 2003 in Bathurst,
New Brunswick.

“This award is basically the result of my
team because without them, I wouldn’t have
gotten it,” Dahms says.

“It?s nice to be recognized for working

Matt Gyorfi, Kore Melanson, Carl Haugland
and Michael Dahms — won gold at last year’s B.C, Winter
Games. The win means the local teens are 8.C.’s best and

Dahms dominates again —

hard.”

Terrace Curling Club president David D.
Hull says the award is well deserved given
the dedication that Dahms and his team-
mates, Kore Melanson, Cari Haugtand and
Matt Gyorfi have shown.

“They’ve had a tremendous run of
success,” says Hull,

“It seems silly and trite to say it, but it
doesn’t come easy,” Hull says.

The team’s latest accomplishment came
Dec. 7 when they defeated Prince George’s
James Blanchett rink in the junior men’s
inter zone playdowns here.

The win sees them taking part in high
level provincial competition yet again.

In addition to Dahms’ award, the Terrace

they'll represent the province at the 2003 Canada Winter
Games Feb. 22-Mar. 8. Dahnms, far right, was recently named
male athiete of the year for 2002 by Curl B.C, FILE PHOTO

Curling Club has also been named club ‘of
the year for 2002.

The local club was awarded the honour
because of its “wonderful work hosting
events last season,” says’ Curls B.C. exec-
utive director, Linda Moore.

‘Last year the club hosted a variety of
zone playdowns, bonspiels and the senior la-
dies provincial finals Jan. 7-12, 2002.

At the time of the provincial finals, visit-
ing teams from around the province had high
praise for the Terrace event.

“We're quite honoured and pleased to say
the least,” says Hull. “A lot of the credit
goes to the committee of mostly women who
hosted the senior ladies provincials last year
- that was a lot of work.”

.or collective agreements.

jected savings,” Greenwood

Prisoner budget battle looms

THE CITY will fight a provincial move ta
make it pay a much larger share of the costs of
holding sonie types of prisoners at the RCMP
lockup.

The government’s decision to rewrite the
formula for in-transit and other types of priso-
fers means towns and cities who help pay for
RCMP detachments with jaits now get half the
subsidy they used to.

The move — which has already taken effect
— means a $50,000 shortfall this year, city
chief administrative officer Ron Poole said.
And it will be even worse next year.

“We're looking at an up to $150,000 short-
fall next year,” Poole said. ;

The situation is exacerbated here by the
shut down this past spring of the provincially-
rua community correctional centre. Prisoners
appearing in court or awaiting transfer after
sentencing who used to be housed at the pro-

vincial correctional centre now spend time in
RCMP cells. Their presence drives up the
number of prisoner days, and theoretically the
money the province should contribute.

“At some point they’re just going to nickel
and dime us into the poorhouse,” David Hull
said. “We have to draw the line somewhere in
the sand.”

One option is for city council to tell Victor-
ia prisoners it’s responsible for won’t be
housed al the RCMP lockup.

Poole said that could force the province to
consider giving Terrace more money or else
open some other jail or holding facility else-
where in town, likely at great cost.

But he said doing so likely won't mean any

significant reduction in city expenses, because ..:
it will still ‘have to pay for guards at the: lockup .

handling « other. types of prisoners.
“And the ‘city would risk losing the: remain-

ing $75,000 subsidy it still gets from Victoria.

Still some councillors felt the measure
might prompt the province to re-examine the
issue.

“We'll see what their plan B is,” Hull said.

“There are several nice hotels in town,”
added councillor Marylin Davies.

Poole said Terrace and Clearwater are. the
only two towns in the province facing this si-
tuation where a correctional cenlre has been
closed and there’s no other secondary facility
nearby for prisoners to go.

He said Terrace has also been made a-

“collection depot” for prisoners: from Kitimat,
Prince Rupert and elsewhere befare being sent
on to the correctional centre in Prince George.

That has led to a: dramatic. increase in -pri-
sone being kept at the lockup,

want people to give informed feedback, *
‘in contrast to:

. the, drop in the number of actua ‘crimina
fences i in Tetrace so far this year.

ncople feel;” he said.

School district
‘lays out cost |
cutting options

By JENNIFER LANG -
FACED WITH a deficit of at least $4. million, Schoo!
District 82 is asking for public help in-how to make. cuts

i to services, make money or to iritroduce new fees.

* School ~district’ officials ‘haveslaid: out 50=potential
cost items that could be cut and will go over them at:a
series of public meetings throughout January.

“Very clearly, the public would like to know what. the
board is considering,” acting assistant superintendent
Rob Greenwood said.

The range of cuts, new fees ¢ or money- generating
ideas, once decided, will take hold the start: of the 2003-.
04 schoo! year in September.

Suggestions ranged from moving to a four-day work
week and year-round schooling to charging students for
naon-hour supervision, corporate sponsorship and selling
off the school district's two theatres in Kitimat: and in
Terrace.

The ideas are being stu-
died by various ad hoc and
sub committees that will re-
port back the reconfigura-
tion committee in February.

Each suggestion will be
assessed. to determine their
impact on the community
and if they conflict with ex-
isting school act regulations

Financial implications
will be Jooked at in depth —
and based on concrete data.

“We want detailed pro-

said. “We want them to re-
ference the source of their
costs. If they say, “This will
save $2 million’, the board
will want to know where they came up with that figure.”

The reconfiguration committee will compile all the
findings in a final report to be submitted to school
trustees Feb. 5. _—

The school board has not yet discussed any of the
ideas in a formal setting. Trustees will discuss the re-
port's findings in depth at a special board meeting plan-
ned for the last week in February.

Meanwhile, four working committee meetings are
planned for consecutive Thursday nights at Thornhill Ju-
nicr Secondary, starting Jan. 9. A list of room locations
according to topic will be posted in the school’s foyer,

“We want the committee to consider, for example,
OK- if we put in a four-day week, what’s the wider im-
pact on the community?” said Greenwood, who chairs
the reconfiguration committee.

Greenwood said the sub committees investigating the
ideas will also be expected to outline haw they would be
accomplished and when.

Open meetings hosted by members of the configura-
tion committee are also planned for Stewart, Hazelton,
Kitwanga and Kitimat.

Information packages on four subject groups will be
available from the school board office between Jan. 10
and 30.

Those four categorics are: charging for noon-hour
supervision and having students going home for lunch;
busing; .the lease rental or sale of school board property,
including closing theatres, and an energy efficiency pro-
gram,

‘Ultimately, trustees will decide which cost-saving

Rob Greenwood

- Measures will. be put into. place.

“They'll weigh the Information. It’s their decision, We

“We ridged facts, but the board also teed to. know. hove |