Daily News, Front page, headline story
FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWS SUPPORT FOR RUPERT SOLDIERS-- The members of Prince Rupert Fire Rescue, offered up their support to a trio of Canadian Forces members on leave in the city over the holidays. The Daily provides a snapshot of the local members of the Canadian Forces as its front page story for the day.
Details of the upcoming Mammography clinic were outlined in the Wednesday edition, the clinic which takes place on January 16 will run from 9 am to 4 pm at the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital. George T. Baker gleans some information from Judy Warren of the Breast cancer Survivor Support Group, who explains the importance of early detection and how the mammography clinic can be a vital part of health care on the North coast.
The discussion over the prospect of all day kindergarten continues in the city, with parents wondering what any all day kindergarten program will look like in the city and what options parents will have regarding the involvement of their children in it.
The sports section provides a profile of Frank Slubowski, who currently is playing his hockey in the BCHL for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The Daily also provides one more review of the sports scene of the year just past
(Archive for Daily News Articles for January 6, 2010)
The Northern View
UBC doctorate student and specialized equipment coming to search for Prince Rupert time capsule -- They're calling in an expert in the quest for Prince Rupert's wayward time capsule, the Northern View provides some background on what Rob Eso hopes to do in the quest for Prince Rupert's version of the Holy Grail. (see article here)
CFTK TV 7
Cullen denounces proroguation -- With Prime Minister Stephen Harper extending the Christmas break until Spring break, NDP MP Nathan Cullen weighs in with his thoughts on the latest developments on Parliament Hill (see article here)
CFTK TV 7 News
Nisga'a By-Election Date Set -- The election date is set for the required by-election to choose a replacement for the late Nelson Leeson. Nisga'a's will go to the polls on March 25 to select a new leader who will be in place until the next general election of November 2012. (see article here)
CBC News British Columbia, Daybreak North
While they may be back at work in the studios of Daybreak North, no new content has been posted to their website so far in 2010, Daybreak is apparently awaiting new technology to deliver their content, with updates scheduled to return on January 12.
Queen Charlotte Islands Observer
Pages re-elected chair of regional district -- Some background on the recent events at Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District, including the re-election of Masset Mayor Barry Pages to the chair of the regional government body (see article here)
Daily News, front page, headline story
Fire Department shows support for Rupert soldiers
By Monica Lamb-Yorski
The Daily News
Wednesday, January 6, 2009
Over Christmas three young men from Prince Rupert were home on leave from the Canadian Forces.
The Prince Rupert Fire Rescue Department took the opportunity to give them T-shirts as a way to let them know the department supports their efforts.
“The shirts were a small gesture,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Beckwith, “but they will wear them proudly, and will show their friends and coworkers that when they are away from home, they are still remembered and appreciated.”
Gunner Brendan Wolfe, 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, is based in Shiloh, Manitoba.
His father, firefighter Francis Wolfe, said his son first arrived at Shiloh at the beginning of December after finishing basic training.
“He went to St. Jean, Que. in June and then to CFB Gagetown for further training and now may be going to Texas for further training. He wants to learn to parachute,” Wolfe explained.
Brendan, 24, graduated from Charles Hays Secondary School, worked at Zellers and took the Outdoor Adventure Program at Capilano College in North Vancouver.
After spending two summers at a YMCA camp outside of Calgary near Kananaskis as a counsellor, he travelled in South America, and participated in the Canada World Youth program, staying in Uruguay.
He signed up with the Armed Forces when he was 19, trained, but didn’t join at that point.
“He wanted to do this for a long time,” said Wolfe of his son’s ambition, “But he decided at that point he was too young and thought he had other things he needed to do, like travel.”
Wolfe is fine with his son’s choice, yet said his wife is a bit more apprehensive. “We all worry, but you worry about your children no matter how old they are, where they are or what they do. I was back visiting my mom recently and she still worries about me.”
Private Derek Franzen, 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, is stationed in Edmonton.
Only 19 years old, the Prince Rupert Secondary School graduate was called up by the army on Feb. 19 in 2009 - which happens to be his birthday.
He went to boot camp in Montreal and then for further training in Wainwright, Alberta and graduated on December 2.
According to his father, Dan Franzen, the army has been Derek’s goal for a long time.
“He pursued it right out of high school and it was something he decided all on his own,” said Franzen, adding that Derek is hoping to go to Afghanistan and has been told he might be sent there by 2011.
“We had a nice visit with him over the Christmas holidays. He’s really mature. At the graduation we learned how well he did with his grenade launching and artillery,” Franzen noted.
“We’re a hunting family so he’s been around guns all his life.” said Franzen.
He was surprised the day that he accompanied his son to the Fire Department and learned there were two other young men from Prince Rupert that had finished basic training around the same time as Derek.
“I didn’t realize there would be two other guys. One was a week ahead of Derek and the other was the week after.”
Like all parents, Franzen and his wife have their worries, especially in light of the recent deaths of five young Canadian soldiers, but Franzen said that, similar to other parents, they hope everything works out for their son.
The third young man, Ordinary Seaman Ionut (John) Bucioaca, Navy, CFFS (E), Boz’n. is stationed at CFB Esquimalt /Victoria.
John and his brother, Andrei, came to Prince Rupert in July 2002 to join their mom, Simona, who had arrived in Prince Rupert in 1999 from Romania.
The three became Canadian citizens in 2003 and John became very active with local sea cadets and was inspired to join the navy early on.
Over Christmas he was visiting his family and ran into longtime friend Chantal Cornwall.
“He came up to me outside of Eddy’s News and surprised me with a big grin and hug. He told me he is doing training in the navy in Victoria. This is a kid I’ve known since he was eleven and have seen him go from a shy kid to a confident young man,” said Cornwall.
Bucioaca graduated in June 2009 from basic training and was sent to Esquimalt immediately afterward.
“During the first few weeks of training he phoned home a lot and I didn’t think he was going to make it, but after awhile things really worked out,” recalled his mother Simona.
“They are going to send him to the Gulf in September and although there’s lots of worry for me I cannot stop him because he thinks it’s so important. He tells me he’s really happy that he has chosen this career,” Simona said, adding that she’s heard nothing but praise for her son from the people he is working with.
“The guys really love him and all show him their gratitude. And the food, training and where he stays are all excellent, so I cannot complain.”
Two years ago the fire department placed “Support Our Troops” ribbons on the windows of the fire apparatus as a reminder that whatever the cause or situation, there are men and women that have answered the call of duty for Canada.
Beckwith remembers talking with one soldier from Burns Lake that was on leave from his mission in Kandahar and came home to get married.
His family travelled out to Prince Rupert to honeymoon and enjoy the coast before he was sent back to Afghanistan to continue his mission.
“While we were talking, I mentioned to him that we had these ribbons on our trucks, and he was obviously moved. He said that the soldiers don’t often get to see the support from back home, and this small gesture was a highlight that he would bring back to his troopmates,” said Beckwith.
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