Aé - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 10, 1998 BUSINESS REVIEW Out & About Student job subsidy requests pouring in GRANTS ARE still available but applications have been plentiful at the provincial student employment subsidy program, The office has received around 300 applications for, grants from potential summer employers accross the Northwest, compared to just over 200 last year. So far 211 grants have been given. ‘Our target is 233, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we'll stop there,’’ says Sandy Bullock, the program’s director. Many of the requests are for positions that have never existed before, especially in the Smithers arca, Positions range from career-related jobs, such as forestry positions for natural resources students to jabs al tourist altractions, coffee houscs and in construction. It’s gym dandy A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN wants to capitalize ona growing recreational pursuit — indoor climbing. Chris Parfitt, formerly a partner in the Valhalla Pure store here, has started a company called Top Ropes Rock Climbing Gym and wants to build a 22 foot by 60 foot structure in Thornhill. ‘We want to be open by mid-September. We'll have a35-foot tall wall — the next tallest wall is 44 feet and thal’s in Vancouver,” said Parfitt last week. He’ll offer various climbing experiences from using ropes to ascending upward using only hands and feet. Parfitt describes the sport as a way to get in shape, slay in shape and to gain experience for those who wish to climb outdoors. He expects his busiest time of the year will be from late fal] to early spring when the weather may not be the best for the outdoor variety. Layoffs in Rupert AT LEAST 70 layoffs are expected at Prince Rupert Grain because of a shortage of grain for export from the prairics. The terminal will stop receiving grain during the weck of June 22. Although grain exports through the port had been higher so far this year than last year, estimates for farm-held rain stili waiting for export are about 45 per cent Jess than last year, Construction still slow STATS SHOW construction remains slow with the City of Terrace issuing $1.28 million worth of build- ing permits in May. That’s better than April’s tally of just $833,000 but it’s still way below normal constriction levels, In all, $3.2 million worth of construction has been started in Terrace to the end of May. The city is usually at around $13 million by this point Value-added ideas get a boost A UNIVERSITY of B.C. forestry program that focusses on value-added manufacturing may offer the first year to students at Northwest Community Col- ’ lege here. Dr. David Barrett said he’s looking at that pos- sibility, which would let stu- dents start the three-year bachelor of science wood products processing pro- gram here at home and then transfer to UBC, Barrett, who spoke at a luncheon orgamized by the Northwest Communities Coalition last week, said the - ¢O-Op program is proving popular with students be- cause it gives them direct work experience in the field of value-added manufactur- ing. In fact, he said, one of the program’s top studeats right now — AJ. Mackenzie — is from Kitimat. Mackenzie has just won a $2,000 scholarship from a U.S. in- dustry group and is now helping design a factory in North Bay, Ontario. The first graduates of the three-year program com- plete it and enter the work- force next spring, he added. Scholarships of $500 to $5,000 are available. And the co-op program means students get paid work experience, combined with a virtual guarantee of a job at the end of it. “We're searching for highly qualified, motivated students,”’ he added, There are about 80 stu- dents now in the program, and he said that could dou- ble within two or three years, meaning there’d be room for more than 50 new students each year. Barrett also had advice for local entrepreneurs thinking about entering the value- added market. AN > Air Conditioning Special Recharge your air conditioning system. cc’ Offer Expires Convert your old freon air conditioning system to the | new environmentally friendly unit. See us today! Free Estimates Available! ay 4 AUTOPRO MECHANICAL UBC prof wants to bring new program here He said there’s plenty of advice and expertise avail- able in helping those people assess opportunitics, find markeis, and get other ad- Vice on setling up. Those types of mills or operations can range from the veneer plant started here a year ago to finger-jcinting and laminated wood ;lants, to mills that would p:>duce fence posts or landscaping ties, David Barrett The prevalence of cedar in this region also means the potential of a wide range of cedar products down to kin- dling produced from the leftovers from cedar shake mills. And major commercial thinning operations in the future are expected to un- leash a large Bow of smaller (BEAT THE ODDS | ON LUNG DISEASE » Arm yourself with ci) the latest lung Bear from Ges ePeey. forts a a ~ the B.C. tung Association, BRITISH COLUMBIA LUNG ASSOCIATION * Box 34009, Station D Vancouver, B.C. VaJ 4M2 peapareabmaned hshis p sized trees ideal for some types of value-added opera- tions, But one of the big barriers to value-added is the per- ception thal because little has happened here, it’s nol feasible, “In some parts of the pro- vince there still is a lot of skepticism,” admits Barrett. ‘But in other areas of the province there’s been major successes.” Northwest Loggers Asso- ciation president Ken Houlden said there are some reasons for oplimism now, particularly because larger companies that have the finances and resources to help put together a valuc- added mill are now also in- terested in partnering with smaller entrepreneurs on such projects. And Houlden said he was surprised by how much in- formalion and resources can be had through peaple like Barrett ard other ‘agencies aimed to assist new value- added businesses. ‘There has been a failure of the training institutions and the government to dis- perse the information that’s available,’’ Houlden said. “We quile honestly didn’t know there was this much information available.” B.C. branches. Cc Protecting Your World Today Securing Your Future Tomorrow As Chubb approaches its one-year anniversary in Terrace, we thought we'd share some interesting facts about our local branch: * Chubb Security Systems employs five full time security professionals in Terrace. These people make up part of the seventeen dedicated employees working in Chubb’s northern « Chubb’s Terrace Security Centre contributes over $1/2 million annually to Terrace’s local economy. - All of Chubb’s Terrace technicians are fully trades qualified security technicians. They are correctly licensed, bonded, insured and trained to provide you with the professional service you would expect of an industry leader. * Chubb’s recent merger with Tolsec Alarms reinforces our testament to longevity as an organization. Our combined total 175 years of service between the two companies only serves as proof that we're here for the long term, Our commitment to you is continuing to provide local service, superior quality, and professional service today and in the future. We thank you for your continued support. Chubb Security Systems 4448 Keith Avenue Terrace, B.C, V8G 107 Telephone: (250) 638-8321 Fascimile: (250) 638-1338 - Drinking Driving Counterfttack. Anytime. Anywhere... ait 7% Sense (BGs drive to save lives. : & Britis © COLUMBIA