A10 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 12, 2003 TERRACE STANDARD Hundreds line up for Wal-Mart jobs MASSIVE numbers of people [rom Terrace and around (he northwest are applying for jobs at Wal-Mart. Recruiters for the big box store, which opens here in the new year, said they had processed more than 1,200 applicants by last weekend. It was their first week of pre-screening prospective employees al their hiring centre at the Best Western Terrace Inn. That screening continues this week and possibly into a third week after that. Selected applicants will then be called back: for more detailed interviews before managers select the up to 250 full- and part-time employees for the new Terrace slore. Northwesterners coming in to apply included people from Kitimat, the Nass Valley and Kitwanga. The recruiting group includes eight Wal-Mart em- ployees from the chain's Whitehorse store and six more from Prince George. Each group of prospective workers got an orientation on Wal-Mart and its philosophy that culminated in a rendition of the Wal-Mart cheer. Out & About Hawk adds Sandspit HAWKAIR Aviation will soon start flying into Sand- spit on the Queen Char- lotte Islands. Daily flights from Van- - couver are planned except Saturdays, with more pas- sible for the busier summer season. “Serving Sandspit with our Prince Rupert-based aircraft fits well into our existing schedule,” said chief operating officer Rod Hayward, adding the air- line wants to be set for in- creased economic activity on the north coast. Learn about tax credits BUSINESS owners here will get a chance to learn about a federal-provincial program that provides tax credits based on develop- ment expenditures. Businesses that spend time or money. creating new products, processes or improving competitiveness may be eligible for a 35 per cent federal .tax credit, plus another 10 per cent from the province, Mansur Suleman of the Canada Customs and Re-| venue Agency will explain more on Thursday Nov, 13 at a chamber of commerce juncheon. The program provides federal tax credits of more than $1.4 billion. More, than 11,000 companies use the credits each year, but only one Terrace business has applied so far in 2003. Call Betty Barton at 635-6244 or the chamber office for more info, Bottle depot opens THE OWNERS of the Prince Rupert bottle depnt have expanded into Ter- race with the Terrace Re- turn-it Centre. As is the case with their Prince Rupert operation, the one in Terrace is an authorized Encorp return centre. Encorp is a group of beverage companies which have joined their re- cycling efforts. “If you can open it and drink it, other than milk, then we take it,” explains depot owner Ida Verzyl. She and her husband have had the Rupert bottle depot in Prince Rupert for six and a half years, em- ploying up to Four people. There will be two full lime and one part time person at the depot here. ’ It’s at 2905 Kenney, kitty corer to the New Skeena sawmill and right beside the Esso card lock. IAN HALL, who will be the store manager of Terrace’s Wal-Mart, gives an or- ientation to a new group of prospective store employees. JEFF NAGEL PHOTO Terrace mid-range in business tax hit TERRACE its marginally lighten- ing ils property tax load on local businesses, although a watchdog group says there's still_ much room for improvement. The Canadian Federation of Inde- pendent Business each year com- pares the property tax rates busines- ses pay versus residential taxpayers across the province. Terrace businesses pay 2.48 times more tax than the equivalent value residential property. Thal’s a reduction of 0.09 over the previous year, the federation said. Vancouver, where businesses pay 4.34 times more than homeowners, is near the top of the scale. At the bot- tom end are Gold River and Tahsis, where businesses and residential tax tates nre nearly equal. _ Prince George, with a business rate 1.65 times higher than residen- tial, is the lowest larger city in B.C. Mayor Jack Talstra said Terrace is always in the top half of such rankings. “They always cream us,” he said, noting the city’s shortage of major industrial taxpayers leaves council forced to rely on business more hea- vily than it would like. Council has laid off staff and made signficant budget cuts in re- cent years to keep property taxes re- latively stable. The federation’s stats show Prince Rupert and Smithers have slightly higher business-to-residential tax ra- tios than Terrace. Kitimat has a ‘much’ higher ratio, with business , there paying 3.63 times the residen- tial rate. TERRAG TERRACE TERA ERS info @terraceautomall.com $a STANDARD advertising @terracestandard.com newsroom @terraceslandard. com Who: NWCC Anthropology 203 and Geography 111 students and faculty, the Na na kila Institute, and Elder Cecil Paul are hosting this Fund Raising Event, Fund Raising Event will include the World Premier Tour of the National Film Board's video, "Totem: _ The Return of the G'psgolox Pale", In 1929, the _ Haisla people returned from a fishing trip to find the G'psgolox Pole severed at its base and gone. This beautiful and provocative documentary traces the journey of the Haisla to reclaim the mortuary pole, Where: The Kiva - located at Northwest Community College, Waap Amgam Building, 3331 McConnell Avenue, Terrace When: Tuesday, November 18/2003 @ 7:30pm Why: The Na na kila Institute, a non-profit charitable society working for the Haisla Nation, is raising money to bring home the G'psgolox Pole, one of its most culturally significant treasures, from a miseum in Sweden. Admission is free, T-shirts and other items for sale. What: How: “Northwest ‘Community College and The Terrace Standard: ’ ford.ca . With our winter Gold package, your vehicle will be more than ready to face our rough winters! e Oil change up to 5 litres of _ Motorcraft® 5W30 engine oil . te Motorcraft oil filter To Up; - - Power steering fluid = Brake fluid | - Transmission: fluid. : Windshield washer. fluid engine. coolant: . e Lubricate chassis/hinges/locks . * Tires checked and inflated (if required) ; Battery test and report | Brake inspection | ‘Exhaust inspection : ire rotation .. With FORD Fast Lane there is no appointment necessary. For fast service and great quality, you can count on FORD Fast Lane. So drop by anytime until November 30" and we'll help you W dnecttnx - TIRE AND AUTO CENTRE *At participating Fast Lanes ank, Please see your Fast Lane Manager for details, Additional charge may soy fc for Motorcraft 5W20 and all premium grace oils., Motarcraft ail filter installed based on availability for your make and model of vehicle, Environmentat charges may apply. Taxes not included. Offer applies to most cars and light trucks, Olfer expires Navember 30, 2003. : The Skeena Series is an ‘occasional Jecture. series sponsored. by ;