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Festival fever 7
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VOL. 17 NO. 1

w lerracestal dard:com

Wednesday Apri 14, 2004 ' .

| More. Terrace sc ools face closure

By JENNIFER LANG |
A.LONG-WHISPERED. rumour got ‘a
step closer to becoming a reality last ~
week, when. staff ‘and. students at’
Thornhill Junior ‘Secondary learned :
~ their school could: close” next ‘year...

Thornhill Jr. -is one of four schools,
Coast Mountains | school: trustees“ put

on notice of.closure last week, along:
district’
chigher.:

with: Parkside: Secondary,.: ‘which’ has’
. been: home to Tertace’s: alternate: high:
school programs: for just two. -yéars,and: ”
Kitimat’s Kidala Flementary and Kite we
mat City High.’ ye :

The development comes just as, 5 the: vel

“district revealed ‘how. much, ‘money..a"”
shorter. school ‘week is saving’~:more
than:$1. miflion so far; as of March Bh
_ Officials: hoped moving. ‘ta:a oii.
day week would reduce. operating ex-.

pensés by 20° ‘per cent, of 3 4 million: .

New boat
launch. -
pondered _

A BOAT. LAUNCH? on-
Ferry Island is an idea that; ©
will be explored by the _
city this s0mmer via a sur- |:
vey of island users and the _
boating community, Shek
-City -couricillor . David.
Hull ‘said city. staff. have ~
concluded it‘is possible: to
build a Jaunch,: likely into”
the slower waters. on the ..
_ west side of-the island.
It would.-give a ‘néw.
much-needed. Upstream - en- |
try point: to the: river, Te-
lieving pressure on the ex- . “
isting two. launches- at: the
Kalum River. ae :
Hull: said a. survey. will am:
be used to. try..to. ensure. a
Jaunch, if it’s built; doesn’t: BRM
conflict with. other island ai
users,” -
Anglers ‘congiegate™ ‘on.
the north, point of the is- ~
land, and trail users” ‘TOVE, .
_ the southern shores. °
“Ares. we , going - to
cheese off current ustrs of .
Ferry Island?" che: ‘asked, -
“Right: now- it’s. not: filled -
with boats and noise.” :
There : had’: been - ‘con:
cems. a launch on Ferry Is-°
~-Jand wouldn’t be possible.
» because of the relatively:
low water.on ‘the. side
channel’ facing Wal-Mart.
But it’s now: ‘believed to”
be usable,.-at least ‘in, the §
- popular months’ of, the year ‘f
- for fishing. ° i:
~ Hull ‘said, ‘there’ sno.
chance of building: a boat.
Jaunch on-Ferry Island ‘this ”
year in any.case. ~ _
- Any such: “activity. in ‘the
tiver.that could dislodge”
sediment ‘and affect ‘fish-.
~ habitat has - to. ‘be done ‘at
‘low water in late: winter.
. He ‘said: the city:-will--
“also: ask Kitselas band, of-° |.
ficials where they-think a
launch would work best..  -
It’s hard. to find a calm

spot. on the Skeena for a | | great heig

We are ‘on “budget right now,” =
school . board: chair’ ‘Larrie- Gowen: said,
*, painting: out: there ‘are still’ two «more

~ four-day - “school. week’ ‘next: year,” ‘it
“wouldn’t: have: to- close, more’ ‘schools.

A return to the five- -day week would come
ata a price, school poard chair warns _

The resulting. drop. i in: revenue Pare
S mean. the- district. will ‘still haye to lay:
months. left ‘of ‘school, ‘suggesting: the. she added.
Savings. could likely: élimb a

‘Primary, Kiti KK’ ‘Shan Primary, and
"Uplands Elementary, -bécause each are
potentially: affected: by. proposals: for
whe. OE Se opening. Mountainview: Elementary...
“Gowen: Said if the district keeps: the my Gowen said. after: ‘looking: ‘ata came:

"This: certainly shows" people that.

the: four-day ° week. ‘does work,” "" she

though. ‘the ‘district expects. to. lose “would have to clase schoals if. the dis:

“off: approximately 14. more. teachers, :

‘Three: ‘Jocal. schools: are: already. on
“notice: of possible ‘closure: E.T. Kenney *-

“ patison. ‘of: operating, costs between this’. seriously,”
year's: four-day” school. week. and. the |

‘due? ‘to budget : “constraints © =: “even: year ‘before, | trustees - realized they .

“T think ¥ we would. certainly have to
lock at it,”,Gowen said. “1 think. we’ re LS
“erring on the side of caution.” °

Trustees had hoped’ to: release. two

‘draft’ School ‘calendars ‘for ‘the’ coming: a
year. at‘ ‘last ‘week’ s- board meeting in ;
“Hazelton... wt a
Instead,. two: -draft ‘calendars ‘and two
: separate: budget ° scenarios ‘will .be re".
‘leased. tonight, ‘kicking -off a, 30-day :
public consultation: period’ on whether: =?
“to feturn to. the: five: ~day. week or keep
: the four-day week... 2
“ "Dm hoping the: community” will
-+ look at.the’ two: calendars.-and.. the.
budgets. that. go along with-it really: :
“Even the’ =

‘Gowen: said::
ones. that don't like. the: five day will

“Took: and Say, ‘The ramifications: of the .

° five day. are juét.too much." :

The two. calendars: will: be: ciel :

; ed among employee and parent groups.
Public meetings are also being. schéed-.
a wuled. at schools throughout the district.

- Officials aré still waiting’to see the

results: of ‘a recent survey of. students:
and parents on thé four-day week,

- A monitoring committee planned to
20. over the: results: today ‘and tomor-
“TOW: “After that, “the results: will be >
‘lurned oVer to the: public. an
. Gowen- also:-wants ‘to look’ at how ”
ibsentecism: and student grades. have ;

: been. affected. :

: to avoid ‘having. to issue massive layoff

* tiate -transfers to teachers, : a: ‘topic ~

School,”

~She'said the district # is taking “steps. we

motices to teachers: Rather than. bump- ~ ;
ing: by. seniority; the ‘board’ would ini-’

that’s.on “the agenda’ at- tonight’ s meet-— a
ing, on ‘the | future of: “Mountainview: feuds

another 350. students next year.

: Egg-xactly

GRADE ONE student Sarah Venus holds tip her precious oth a the egg dio
held April 8 at Kili K’Shan schcol..The abject was to place an unboiled egg inside -|"
a milk carton and package it-so it would not break despite being dropped. from a
nt. by a feline: onaladder, --. 0 =.

; _ trict reverts to. a fi ive- ferday \ week.

I Softwood r

land campground ahd the. Kitselas band’s
are among more.than-80.projecis gelting

fund.

dustry Conimunity Economic. Adjustment
Initiative. It provides: aid: to. communities,

the U.S.

the canyon,

up and down: thé: ‘Skeena.”

Glenn Bennett,

-by June 2005, Bennett: added, .

‘thern with electricily:-.

complete as eatly. as August, a
oS Werre trying 10. gel: going: o
away,” he said;

will bring: more tourists to: Terrace, :

the grant. effectively gives Terrace ‘a half.
‘price: discount on: the ‘Project... wo

launch, Hull “said.

Gov’t moves to

By. JEFF NAGEL’ Ps
A QUARTER: ofa million cubié me-
tres of timber will go ‘up:for sale here .
over the next two and.a: half: months ‘to.
help bridge the wood supply. gap.creat:
ed by Victoria’s. timber takeback,. for--
estry- operations. minister Roger Harris. :
says.
"He said‘ 150,000. cubic metrés will b
flow from B.C, Timber Sales’. existing”
stands in about 10 different’ sales be: ,
fore the end of. June.“
Harris said’ it's an aceelération he

A

- moje. than: replenished by. timber, being.
taken back from-major licensees, +...
_ 2 “We can advance: ‘them: today. bes.
cause. we're: going to. have. other wood

later on;” he-said. :

-He ‘also. hopes® the court: will. ap:

prove: ‘New Skeena: Forest: Products’

“plans to self: an: ‘additional: 100, 000 cue oa

bic ‘metres

mills: + suchas Terrace: Precut. ‘here.

<0 “Hattis called the: additional 250,000
; cubid: metres’ in sales a substantial | An-

fuels” regional
tourism. projects

' TERRACE’s. expansion ‘of the Ferry Is-.:
tourism development’ in Ritselas. Canyon’
grants from the federal softwood relief

“The Ferry Isldnd. project. will act

~ $216,000'in the latest $23 ‘million’ worth,
of grants’ released ‘under the Softwood In-

“hit by- the softwood lumber cHispute with

~The Kitselas. Canyon: National Historie
Site will get-$415,900:towards the ‘total .-
project cost of néarly $1.1: million: to re-

- establish a traditional Kitselas village’ in -

“We hope to capture the rich: history in
- the canyon and:be able'to showcase it'to: =~:
the .public,” said. Kitselas: chief, councillor a
~~ Opportunities in, the ‘Hazeltons, including:
He ‘said ‘the. grant: ‘will: ‘Bo ‘toward tore: : opportunities from the 2010. Olympics. .
trails. and trail ;upgrades, construction of ..:
~ three longhouseé,- and” the. completion: of:
an information. centre, picnic: shelter’and ©
- washrooms. that have: already. been start-"
~ ed, The ‘work is to. be: substantially : ‘coms
~ plete and the historic: site open to. tourists:
: -base for: Aourism-focussed businesses;- Ee
We The Museum: of ‘Northern British
Columbia. in: Prince: Rupert. ‘gets’ $67,000 -
‘to design an expansion: to

Work js’ also to” begin: very: soon. on the.
Ferry Island’. ‘campground : ‘expansion, n
which will add 40° new. camp sites, Alf: of

: “+ longhouse building. : - as

City. parks. and” facilities’ ‘matiager ll Port-Edward Harbour Authority gels. ae

Wade Loukes said: the | project could be ns _

~ “there,”

_ *. There. will also be: upprades io thé ‘iil
system, a “green: pace, : children’ 5 play-"
|) ground, “and a ‘washroom’ and’ shower.’
” facility, for campers. City’ officials hope: it”

‘boost timber sales -

Other projects: “get = us
ting money: ‘tn: the.

M@ The Nisga'a vile: Cy
‘lage of- -Gingolx .
gets” $395,000 to”
gional. cultural’
onghouse .
carving shed. Total
i project’ cost. .is:) °.-;
| $592,500. It's to.” °
ereate™a’. destina--
tion tourism, altrac-" -
tion ‘fealiring ‘cul-, *

_ Glenn Bennett
tural: re- s-enactinents and traditional cere: on

Lo > "monies,
_ It's to be a centre for toui's to. ewe. pe be
troglyphs ‘and other evidence of the. his-":
loric use. of the canyon..aréa, . where: the
Kitselas once-controlled., the flow of. trade F

n. "Moricetown gets $163, 500. for’ a

Toentre: for: artisans, ecotours: and aborigi- -

nal interpreters. © : oo,
a The Gitwangak band pets. $200 000 - te

a ‘be tourism: ‘and. culture: altraction,:

~MGitxsan Treaty Society’ gels ‘$6 00
to-éxarnine’: Joint. yenture.and partnership |

M The: Gitaninaax: bandin* Hazelton ©
gets: $71,000 10 improve the-'Ksan’ camp- a
ground to“include-an artitts’. kiosk: re
a ‘Kispiox band council gets: §247, 900 a

‘to build. a longhouse/activity centre, dock «
“and boat launch’ and washrooms: to’ form, a.

its. existing. oo

nearly: $300; 000- to improve, the" ‘harbour

a "Skidepate pets i more. ‘than $1. 1 “nike |

ion | lo cover half the-cosis.of building the. ~ -
“Bill ‘Reid: Teaching: Centre: ‘and Perfor- wo
“mance: Space: co

B the ‘Masset ‘area ‘gels: $500, 000: for a ,

“new “wharf i as well‘as $150,000 for'a long. ~~
Lye vo Shouse. ‘for. aboriginal. tourism businesses .

The. city will spend. $217,000 -of | its: .

own on the project. ‘Matching money: from, ”,

dnd, attractions. ee

» Some businesses. around: B: c got tion
‘oy to develop timber ‘processing. plants,

but. none, were approved ih the. northwest.

northwest incltide: °°

“help “build a-.re-

centre featuring a:
cand...

: And he sald: there:a ate sales ‘plarited «
“in theTerrace. and. ‘Hazeltons: ‘areas |
“that can- Only be bid-on- by value-added

he: said.:

crease from. what has been seen here
in recént™ years.
“We: quite: ‘potentially, will: see a.
‘ shortage of. labour,”
: grease of harvest-of that magnitude in-:
the summer = there's probably. not the
Workforce here: todd it eos. q
"This: action™ “should bend. a “very
7 positive ‘message ‘tothe - industry. nd.
the: community,” he added, . oe
Harris announced: the gales after an
- chamber. of-commierte. luncheon. April:
7, where he: was; pressed “to. explain: oc.
“what is happening | to pat. people. here
an back to work quickly. ;

‘ “Gontroversial
amounts’ of timber - far more than the: . -
“An in-:

“The takeback has been particularly |
large.

hete - bécause.

“20 per. cent average per licenseé — is
being: taken ftom West’ Fraset and i:

terfor holdings i in-this:area,.

There. are also. fears that: there inay...
be. a ‘gap ‘or-“black hole”. beiween tim-
“ber being taken’back and it. being, real-
" located ‘and put back to. work.

“Harris said’ he remains , focused” 0
1a ng: sire, that: doesn't happen.
“He 'said ‘the: wood ’sales‘ now ‘are j

“the prelude: to a broader northwest for-*
. estry: ple an that will be: taid out in June. ,

‘One potential option being nai:

‘some smieasures being. ised in the fight
against. mountain. ‘pine’ ‘beetlés ‘here.
That might be to invite wood: users: to
. make. ‘proposals; and: then-B,C.. Timber
_ Sales could, then: specifically, tailor bid -
a packages for those users.-
“We're really:going to- oper ihe box
Son this thing: so people cari come to us. |
with: théir solutions,” he told chamber.
“members, “We're. rying to-unleash the:

: our ir town.”

“Cont'd Page. Aa

ered for that plan, he. said, is.to apply“. ~

‘fibre busket 3 tin a way: that ‘gill work for " . 7