The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 16, 1999 - A a News In Brief Society requires innovative minds This new job could be yours ’ “been the case in the past, the INNOVATIVE AND creative minds are being sought to mma ey to aversee operation of Heritage Park, Ferry Island and maybe the REM. Lee Theatre, ” ’ The Terrace Community Facilities Society is being set up and candidates are now being sought for the board of directors, says city eco- nomic development officer Ken Veldman. Tentative plans are for a nine-member board ~— two from city council, one from the school board, and six citizens appointed by city coun- cil. The deadline for nominations is June 25. Veldman says the city succeeded in attracting . 4 strong board of directors for its airport society ai success with the facilities venture also depends on good people Slepping forward, They're hoping for a mix of people who are business-savvy and others who are passionate about arts, culture and recreation. The group would initially oversee operation of Ferry Island and Heritage Park, and would also likely be part of negotiations to sec if it’s pos- sible to also take over operation of the REM. Lee Theatre. Separating the operations from the city with an Operating society is hoped to open up pos- Mail those cards A PROVINCE-WIDE mail campaign is under way to update voter registration in- formation, provincial Chief Electoral Officer Bob Pat- terson said. Patterson said that in order to cut costs of a door-to- door enumeration, as has provincial government has opted for mailing out voter information packages. Also being provided is a toll-free number and a Web site address peaple can use to update voter information. Patterson hopes that this approach to enumeration will improve the quality and consistericy of the Voters List. Enumeration = packages will be arriving this month and should be returned as soon as possible, kkkknx ; And just because the Voters List is being up dated, it doesn’t necessarily mean a provincial election is on the way. sibilties io fully develop the potential of the facilities. “It’s a quasi Crown corporation,’’ Veldman explains. ‘It’s our little B.C, Hydro." Operations nun by the city tend to be rooted in a utilitarian philosophy, Veldman said, Any- thing that strays too far beyond the basic sewers and roads becomes more open to criticism as unnecessary expenditure of taxpayers dollars. “We want to create facilities that are responsive to their markets,” he said. “And we want it to be driven by community members.”” It’s also beneficial to have such an umbrella group in place in the event more issues pop up as did the RE.M. Lee Theatre when the school district indicated it can no longer afford to make it available for non-school use. A standalone society would have a far better chance at landing aid from government grants and programs than would the city, Veldman added, There are also other financial advantages to that arrangement, Veldman said. Administrative efficiencies should help reduce costs, And running the facilities under a separate society rather than by the city puts them outside How dott ols: When we fall short af your expectation, please tell us. When a newspaper story does aint seem to reflect fairly webat was said, let our editors knau: When we are unable to solve pour compiaint, we encourage you la submit it to the: B.C. Press Counct! 900-1281 WGeorgia St. Vancouver B.C. V6E 3/7 Tel/Fax (604) 683-2571 The 5.C. Press Councdél was created (1 1983 as an independent review bourd ta protect the public frori press inaccuracy or unfairness and to promote quality Journalism. www. be pres neil.com/ink lim barwo! 4 would like to thank those who supported their trip to the national music festival in Toronto where the band received two silver awards: Thornhill Junior Secondary Parents Advisory Council Skeena Parents for Music Society Riverside Auto Wrecking Northern Savings Credit Union Skeena Valley Rotary Club Skeena Sawmills Primerica Financial Services MacKenzie Financial Thornhill Jr. High School Secondary Band ” ce. in HE'S THE BIGGEST, THE STRONGEST, THE BEST... HE'S YOUR DAD! i Wig JOE BOXER : _ for any shape of Dad. SKEENA MALL WAL OCHA Can the jurisdiction of the unions that organize municipal workers, The proposal for the socicty also says it would separate the facilities from the politics of city council. The level of control the socicly has over each operation could be negotiated. It could range from strictly a service contract for the city to a lease to outright ownership. “The idea of this is to have an independent autonomous organization that's run by comumunity-minded people with innovative con- cepts and ideas.’’ The bady will have a big role in the city’s tecreation and cultural development if its model from Kimberly is anything to judge. A similar society there runs several recreation faciltiies from a golf course to a campground, building its annual sales from $7,000 at incep- tion in 1984 to nearly $1.6 million today. Profits from the operations don't leave the society, but are instead re-invested in the opera- tions or used as seed money for new projects. Grants from the City of Kimberley to subsidize its operation Quctuate depending on how much is required. » Maybe now it’s summer ITS BEEN A tough and challenging year for gar- deners of the flower and food variety given the cold and rainy May and first week of June. That's Barb Whiting of the Terrace Anti-Poverty Group Society's |stoprens 635-TIPS community garden project. She's just one of many hoping the remainder of the summer will bring on some relief. The sociaty has two locations at which low-income people can grow fresh food and herbs. "s ¥ MINISTRY cf Environment staff here are safe from a recent round of layoffs that will see 11 jobs eliminated in the Skeena region, ‘No positions in Terrace will be cut,” said John O'Riordan, regional administration manager in Vic- toria, Hardest hit, he said, are five pollution prevention officers in the Smithers area. But the ministry will also cut three administrative positions by sharing recep- tionists with the ministry of forests. Two Forest Renewal B.C. habitat protection officers, one based in the Bulkley Forest District and the other in the Morice Forest District, will also be cut as well as a communications staff member, The ministry is attempting to cut staff while maintaining the current status of operations, said O'Riordan. The ministry has said cuts won’t affect the number of conservation officers it has on staff, He added, the ministry is trying to place staff in com- parable positions throughout the province by Septem- ber ibis year. Some members opted for voluntary retire- ment packages, said O’ Riordan. It’s quiet at Exchamsiks and here’s perhaps why THE NUMBER of campers visiting Exchamsiks Provincial Park are down 85 per cent so far this year, says Campground contractor Greg Mac- Donald. He’s not sure whether it’s duc to the unseasonably cold and wet spring weather or because locals are con- fusing Exchamsiks with the Exstew forest service recreation site, which is closed right now because of bear trouble there. “They both start with ‘Ex’,”? MacDonald notes. ‘A’ lot of peaple seem to think we're closed.” Gun amnesty extended AN AMNESTY for those who have not yet reg- islered illegal restricted firearms has been ex-' tended by six months. The amnesty will now extend to Nov. 30, said federal justice minister Anne McLellan. Guns affected include non-prohibiled handguns,’ certain semi-automatic firearms, and guns that can fire when folded or telescoped down to a length of less than: 660 mm. The rules affect some people in possession of forgot- ten war trophies as well as some businesses like theatres and Legions. “We decided to extend this amnesty to ensure that owners of restricted firearms are fully aware of the op- portunity to legalize the status of these firearms by get- ling:. themselves. properly licenced. and, having the firearms registered,’’ McLellan said. Local jobs safe from ministry cuts to turn in weapons | Chiropractic nee “FACTO re I oi Sets on sale from 222 Chiropractic Queen MATTRESS CENTER| kn rs eghth Mlageas? rye fc DECVERY & SET-UP FREE REMOVAL OF OLD BED 30 DAY COMFORT & PRICE GUARANTEE - See instore for details. Totem’s Countrywide Furniture & Appliances 4501 Lakelse Ave. Terrace 1-800-813-1158 » 638-1158 a Ms atad Pa CHES) Gage)