Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Podunk Below the Masthead (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)

A new youth centre for Skidegate, a local teacher plans to raise awareness of education concerns and  the School District's school closure consultations continue with a session at Roosevelt school, some of the items of interest from Tuesday's news files.

Daily News, front page, headline story
A NEW YOUTH CENTRE STARTED FOR THE COMMUNITY OF SKIDEGATE -- Ground breaking took place on Saturday for the new Skidegate youth centre, set for an opening during Skidegate Days in July, the centre will feature computer and media rooms, pool tables and other recreational activities.

Funding concerns have leftsome students of Northwest Community college wondering what their next step will be in their pursuit of further education. Tuesday's paper outlines how  the decision of the Skeena Native Development society to cut off  funding to its students taking intern-ships at NWCC after a funding audit by HRDC  identified some potential items that warranted further review.

Tuesday's paper outlines the current legal developments over the construction of the Quickload Terminal on Ridley Island, JDG Construction Management Ltd., has filed a claim in Vancouver BC Supreme Court seeking a judgement in the sum of $493,246, the amount that the company believes it is still owed for work on the Quickload facility. Last August a local contractor began its own legal proceedings over unpaid work on the site, settling out of court in  December.

A local Prince Rupert teacher is setting in motion what she hopes is a groundswell of support across the province, that will bring home the needs of students in British Columbia's schools. Starting on Canada Day, Tulani Ackerman is planning to bike and walk from Prince Rupert to Victoria, with stops planned along the way during the journey, she is hopeful that community after community will provide input as to their concerns on education in BC. When she arrives in Victoria  on August 12, she will take those messages to the Premier from her Steps for Students campaign.

The sports section continues along with its review of the past history of basketball in Prince Rupert with a biographical piece of former Rainbird Luanne Krawetz, who will be inducted into the Baketball BC hall of fame in May.

(Archive for Daily News Articles for March 2, 2010 )

The Northern View
Prince Rupert School District continues closure consultations at Roosevelt -- The Northern View provided a look at Tuesday night's School District 52 consultation session at Roosevelt School, area residents and staff members of the school offered up their thoughts on why their school should be spared from the route of closure currently under discussion by the School District (see article here)

The Northern View
Proponents detail their North Coast tidal energy proposal -- Port Edward council was the location for a recent discussion session on the plans of Mavi Innovations Inc. and their hopes to create a tidal power energy project in local area waters (see article here)

The Northern View
Civic Centre packed for two day Hobiyee celebrations-- A look back at this past weekends Hobiyee celebrations in Prince Rupert (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Roosevelt Park Elementary Public Consultation -- TV 7 provided a look at Tuesday's consultation sessions at Roosevelt Park school (see article here)

CBC News Northern British Columbia, Daybreak North
Tax Hike -- Kitimat residents will have to come up with an extra twenty percent on their municipal tax bill as the District of Kitimat makes a number of cuts and seeks ways to consolidate its finances in the wake of West Fraser's closure of Eurocan (listen to interview here)

The full list of current Daybreak North Interviews can be found here

Daily News, front page headline story
A new youth centre started for the community of Skidegate
By Monica Lamb-Yorski
The Daily News
Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Under sunny skies the community of Skidegate held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for a new youth centre.

Interim band manager, Barbara (Babs) Stevens said it was a great day.

“We’ve had little spaces that we’ve rented for youth centres that were teeny little boxes. This will be great for our youth.”

The new building, slated for completion in time for Skidegate Days July 14 – 17, will be 2073 sq. feet. It will have computer and media rooms, pool tables and other recreational activities. A few steps away from the community’s recreation centre, it will be a wonderful addition.

“Our community needed a place for youth to gather. If they’ve wanted to meet with other youth they’ve been hitchhiking into Queen Charlotte City,” Stevens added.

Stevens credits former band councillor Walker Brown for creating the vision of a youth centre four years ago.
From there, former councillor Rose Russ turned the vision into reality.

“Rose brought it to fruition. She lobbied funding agencies and consultant Mel Wooley donated his time to draw up blue prints and funding requirements. We’ve received funding from Gwaii Trust, the Skidegate Band Council has added funding, and Indian and Northern Affairs has promised money at the end of this fiscal year or next,” Stevens noted.

Pouring of the foundation for the centre will begin in the next few weeks and, because it is located on the edge of the existing George Brown ballfield, the field will have to be extended out toward the
highway.

Of the community’s 1,100 people, there are 200 youths in Skidegate and on Saturday they were at front and centre of the groundbreaking ceremony.

Doreeal Piercey said the opening prayer in Haida and Cohen Isberg sang a Haida song.

President of the Youth Council, Desi Collinson, a council created under the leadership of former councillor Robert Williams, was one of the official groundbreakers, as was Williams.

“Chief Councillor Willard Wilson, Councillor Rose Russ and Vanessa Whiteknife, also representing the youth helped too,” said Stevens.

The new centre in its location at the edge of a hall will have a view of the ocean. “It’s going to be beautiful,” she added.

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