The fifteen minutes for Kevin Federline (aka K-Fed or more likely, Mr. Britney Spears) is about to run out. K-Fed made his TV debut on the weekend on something called the Teen Choice Awards on Fox.
If it were my choice, Mr. Federline would refrain from singing, but as I am not a teen I digress.
Introduced by his gum chomping, over flowing maternity dress wearing gal Brit, Mr. Federline took to the stage to provide his rap stylings to an anxious public apparently just waiting to hear “Lose Control” and these soul searching lyrics… “Don’t hate because I’m a superstar! And I’m married to a superstar! Nothin’ come between us no matter who you are!”
Hey there, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen et al, move over! There’s a new musical poet about to launch.
At any rate the reviews are in and Mr. Federlilne apparently sucks. His performance greeted by derision from the other ganstas, hip-hoppers and such of contemporary muzak these days. He found a large amount of ridicule among the blogosphere. And he no doubt cemented his status as freeloader most likely to make news for 2006.
Owing to the celebrity of his life of late, he will probably go on undaunted. For if one thing is certain, his talent may only have fourteen minutes left on the clock, but the parody and ridicule timepieces will tick on forever!
If he's up to the critiques, here are a few for he and Brits to chew over...
Pigs don't fly, and Kevin Federline does indeed suck!
No street cred for K-Fed
Hip Hop community mocking Kevin Federline's debut
Kevin Federline's TV debut as rapper "a disaster"
Hip Hop community on K-Fed's debut: "He's A Joke"
Hip-Hop, online communities mock Mr.Britney's rap debut
Monday, August 21, 2006
Something new for the Great Canadian Fishing Classic! A little controversy!
The fancy yellow truck has been kept in park, the keys not yet handed over to a lucky winner. In yet another bit of controversy for the fishing derby, the giveaway of the Dodge truck slated for this weekend had to be delayed.
The largest coho caught in the first half of the derby was supposed to win the yellow truck that has been prominently parked at the Atlin Terminal for the last three weeks. But the fish that was supposed to net the truck turns out to have been disqualified, leaving the organizers to delay the awarding of the first half lure.
Bruce Wishart speaking on behalf of those at the Great Canadian Fishing Classic would not say why the fish was disqualified, nor who the lucky and then unlucky winner was to have been. The disqualification also began a domino effect of prize redistribution, probably making for a very busy and confusing weekend for all concerned.
It’s expected that they will announce the next potential truck owner on Tuesday.
The Daily News had the latest in what seems like a daily dose of controversy over the derby in it’s Monday edition.
FISH DERBY’S BIG TRUCK PRIZE STAYS PARKED FOR NOW
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, August 21, 2006
Page One
The largest coho caught in the first half of the Great Northern Salmon Classic Derby, that was expected to land a Dodge truck for a fisherman, has been disqualified, say derby officials.
The winner was expected to be announced at the closing of the weigh-in station on Saturday. They now expect to announce the winner of the 2006 Dodge Dakota tomorrow.
“We haven’t announced the winner yet,” said Bruce Wishart, executive director of Tourism Prince Rupert this morning. “The current leading fish was challenged and under the rules and regulations, the judging committee determined it was not an eligible salmon.”
Wishart couldn’t comment any further as to the reason the fish was disqualified, however because the catch was declared ineligible, other prizes will also be redistributed.
The judging committee is made up of five local citizens and one is always on hand during the weigh-in. According to derby rules, the fisherman must also have a qualified witness aged 16 years or older to sign off on their catch, which has to be delivered to the weigh-in station within 24 hours of being caught.
The fishermen can’t be on a commercial fishing vessel which was engaged in commercial fishing or which had any commercial fishing nets or other gear in the water at the time the salmon was caught, the fish cannot have any snag, foul, hook, gaff or net marks on it and cannot have any sing of having been frozen.
Aug 19 marked the halfway point of the six week derby, with the top prize of $100,000 for the largest eligible coho to be awarded upon the close of the derby Sept. 15.
At the halfway mark, Wishart said they are on target as far the numbers of people expected.
“The people we are seeing are coming from the target area but beyond that as well,” he said. For example, yesterday’s winner of the mystery weight draw was from Texas.
The derby is being held to attract rubber tire traffic in order to help boost the tourism season following the sinking of the Queen of the North ferry off Gil Island March 22.
New ferries will keep status quo, but leave little room to grow!
While everyone on the North Coast are no doubt thankful that the BC Ferry Corporation is finally making the necessary moves to replace the sunken Queen of the North and the aging Queen of Prince Rupert, the new plan for the replacement vessels is not being greeted as a very forward thinking option for long term growth.
The Daily News on Monday had the local reaction to the announcement Friday, of changes soon to come to the Northern Fleet. And some concerns are currently being raised about possible limitations on how they may grow the business in the North over the years.
Of even more interest in the article though, is the story around the replacement vessel for the Queen of the North, which as recently as this morning on the Bill Good program on CKNW (check out the audio vault from 9-10 am Monday, for the background story on the Ferry plans) was still slated to be the Sonia, currently plying the waters of coastal Spain.
If the wording in the Daily News story is correct, then that plan has changed from the one annoucned on Friday. There hasn’t been much said about a procurement of a second north coast vessel from scratch as is suggested in the Monday article. The back up plan that David Hahn put forward on the Bill Good show today, was a plan to charter a vessel to tide the company over until a second ferry would be built. Regardless, he stressed there would be a new ferry on the north coast by early next year.
But as we say, at 10 am this morning the plan to purchase the Sonia was still the preferred model that BC ferries planned to follow. Perhaps the Daily has mis-interpreted Hahn’s remarks and we will see a clarification in the days to come, or maybe something strange happened to a supposedly done deal in the last 10 hours or so.
If that is the case, and we are looking at yet another change to the Northern plan it will result in all sorts of questions about tourism and transportation needs, especially if we have to wait for two ferries to be built from the keel up.
FERRY PLANS TO CAUSE FUTURE GROWING PAINS
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, August 21, 2006
Page One
The replacement for the Queen of Prince Rupert is expected to offer travelers a better experience, but there will be little room for any additional tourists on the new fleet.
On Friday, B. C. Ferries announced it had awarded Flensburger Schiffbau, a German company; the $133 million contract to replace the aging Queen of Prince Rupert and said it expects to announce the contract to build a replacement for the Queen of the North in the next six months.
Steve Smith, chair of the North and Mid Coast Ferries Advisory Committee, said the vessel are being replaced with ferries of similar capacity which doesn’t give tourism along the circle route –from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert and back down through Prince George – a lot of room to grow.
“The only way to grow traffic in the corridor is to increase the frequency or give us lift-off capacity,” said Smith.
Tourism and hospitality operators in the region have been asking for more capacity, or daily ferry service to and from the south coast in the busy summer months, for years.
Additional capacity would allow businesses all along the route to grow, said Smith, and meet the Premier’s challenge of doubling tourism visitors to the province by 2010.
The first new vessel announced will have room for 600 passengers, 130 vehicles and 55 state rooms, only a slight increase from the existing Queen of Prince Rupert.
On the positive side, Smith said the new vessels will enhance the visitor experience and hopefully attract more people in the spring and fall when the ferry has not traditionally been full.
“This will give us a modern ship, with modern amenities and the experience that goes along with it,” he said.
“It should be nicer, with more activities and more comforts like rooms people can rent. Those are important.”
With the aging population, there’s a big demand for comfort he said and if the ferries don’t meet those standards, people may go elsewhere, perhaps not even within B. C.
North Coast MLA Gary Coons said he is also concerned the specifications given to the company won’t meet the future needs of the region.
“I questioned the minister who is responsible for ferries about ensuring any new vessels meet the expanding needs of northern communities. With the port development and tourism growth, they will have to meet the future demands, not just the current demands.”
He’s also disappointed the vessels are not being built in B. C.
“The concern from the Washington Marine Group was the timeline to bid. Although I know we need new vessels as soon as possible, they should have been allowed a feasible amount of time to bid on the vessels instead of shifting our tax dollars to foreign corporations.
“The whole scenario comes back to government. The Northern Service Plan was presented to government in 2004 and no action was taken by the minister until the day the ferry sank.”
The Northern Service Plan outlines the need for replacement vessels and the desire of the communities.
“I hope the vessels will meet the future needs and demands of our region and government steps in revamps the Coastal Ferry Act so the public interest is being looked after.”
Under the Coastal Ferry Act, it is likely at least some of the cost of the new vessels will be passed on to users, he said.
“No one right now is looking after the needs of coastal communities.”
The Daily News on Monday had the local reaction to the announcement Friday, of changes soon to come to the Northern Fleet. And some concerns are currently being raised about possible limitations on how they may grow the business in the North over the years.
Of even more interest in the article though, is the story around the replacement vessel for the Queen of the North, which as recently as this morning on the Bill Good program on CKNW (check out the audio vault from 9-10 am Monday, for the background story on the Ferry plans) was still slated to be the Sonia, currently plying the waters of coastal Spain.
If the wording in the Daily News story is correct, then that plan has changed from the one annoucned on Friday. There hasn’t been much said about a procurement of a second north coast vessel from scratch as is suggested in the Monday article. The back up plan that David Hahn put forward on the Bill Good show today, was a plan to charter a vessel to tide the company over until a second ferry would be built. Regardless, he stressed there would be a new ferry on the north coast by early next year.
But as we say, at 10 am this morning the plan to purchase the Sonia was still the preferred model that BC ferries planned to follow. Perhaps the Daily has mis-interpreted Hahn’s remarks and we will see a clarification in the days to come, or maybe something strange happened to a supposedly done deal in the last 10 hours or so.
If that is the case, and we are looking at yet another change to the Northern plan it will result in all sorts of questions about tourism and transportation needs, especially if we have to wait for two ferries to be built from the keel up.
FERRY PLANS TO CAUSE FUTURE GROWING PAINS
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, August 21, 2006
Page One
The replacement for the Queen of Prince Rupert is expected to offer travelers a better experience, but there will be little room for any additional tourists on the new fleet.
On Friday, B. C. Ferries announced it had awarded Flensburger Schiffbau, a German company; the $133 million contract to replace the aging Queen of Prince Rupert and said it expects to announce the contract to build a replacement for the Queen of the North in the next six months.
Steve Smith, chair of the North and Mid Coast Ferries Advisory Committee, said the vessel are being replaced with ferries of similar capacity which doesn’t give tourism along the circle route –from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert and back down through Prince George – a lot of room to grow.
“The only way to grow traffic in the corridor is to increase the frequency or give us lift-off capacity,” said Smith.
Tourism and hospitality operators in the region have been asking for more capacity, or daily ferry service to and from the south coast in the busy summer months, for years.
Additional capacity would allow businesses all along the route to grow, said Smith, and meet the Premier’s challenge of doubling tourism visitors to the province by 2010.
The first new vessel announced will have room for 600 passengers, 130 vehicles and 55 state rooms, only a slight increase from the existing Queen of Prince Rupert.
On the positive side, Smith said the new vessels will enhance the visitor experience and hopefully attract more people in the spring and fall when the ferry has not traditionally been full.
“This will give us a modern ship, with modern amenities and the experience that goes along with it,” he said.
“It should be nicer, with more activities and more comforts like rooms people can rent. Those are important.”
With the aging population, there’s a big demand for comfort he said and if the ferries don’t meet those standards, people may go elsewhere, perhaps not even within B. C.
North Coast MLA Gary Coons said he is also concerned the specifications given to the company won’t meet the future needs of the region.
“I questioned the minister who is responsible for ferries about ensuring any new vessels meet the expanding needs of northern communities. With the port development and tourism growth, they will have to meet the future demands, not just the current demands.”
He’s also disappointed the vessels are not being built in B. C.
“The concern from the Washington Marine Group was the timeline to bid. Although I know we need new vessels as soon as possible, they should have been allowed a feasible amount of time to bid on the vessels instead of shifting our tax dollars to foreign corporations.
“The whole scenario comes back to government. The Northern Service Plan was presented to government in 2004 and no action was taken by the minister until the day the ferry sank.”
The Northern Service Plan outlines the need for replacement vessels and the desire of the communities.
“I hope the vessels will meet the future needs and demands of our region and government steps in revamps the Coastal Ferry Act so the public interest is being looked after.”
Under the Coastal Ferry Act, it is likely at least some of the cost of the new vessels will be passed on to users, he said.
“No one right now is looking after the needs of coastal communities.”
Pictures of Podunk: Bad Day at Overwaitea
Think you're having a bad day? The driver of this Quick Express transport can top you. The driver didn't make the turn between the Friendship House and the grocery store, having wedged his trailer between an embankment and the wall of Rupert Wood and Steel. Fortunately he just missed knocking out power to the downtown area. The situation which happened on Sunday night, was still being worked on by Monday afternoon.Sunday, August 20, 2006
70,000 plus and counting
For a while it seemed like no one would be able to see some Argo and CFL history get made, a pre game pyrotechnics festival sent a haze of smoke wafting through the Rogers Centre at game time Saturday night.
Like the famous fog bowl game of the sixties, watching the action from the stands and on television was the work of those with very good eyesight and an ability to squint quite a bit.
Perhaps it was so no one would notice that the game was being played on a baseball field, as the Blue Jays return to Toronto for Monday was given a head start by having the bases set up on the football field without the bags of course.
The Argos special field was not to be used as it would take too long to take it out and set up the ball field for the Jaysfor Monday (one assumes that Skydome maintenance doesn't work Sundays). So it was like those days at Exhibition Stadium for the double blue, a rock hard playing surface and a fog bank to boot.
The smoke finally filtered out by second quarter enabling the Rogers crowd to get a glimpse of their quarterback and his attempt to reach closer to pro football immortality. Although Damon Allen didn’t reach his mark without giving his fans and team mates a bit of a scare, knocked out of the game for a bit to clear his head after a crushing tackle by the Alouettes Louis Mackay.
By the third quarter Allen had sufficiently recovered to return to the field and looked none the worse for wear as he took over from the struggling Spurgeon Wynn and resumed a potent Argonaut attack. By the time the night would be finished, Allen would be a step closer to his Moon shot and the Argos had claimed a 31-6 victory.
The moment everyone had been waiting for took place late in the third quarter as Allen tossed a pass to Keith Stokes to pass the career mark of 70,000 yards in the air, bringing the Argonaut quarterback and CFL legend to a mark of 70,112 by games end and closing in on Warren Moons all time pro football record of 70,553 yards in the air.
The Argos also benefited from some uncharacteristic play on the Alouettes side as Anthony Calvillo threw five interceptions, something quite uncommon for the start QB of the Als. The loss was Montreal’s second in a row and brought them back down to the mortals of the CFL after a fast and powerful start out of the gate this season.
But as much as Calvillo was off this night, Allen was definitely on, defying the odds of his elder status in the league and setting the stage for an exciting second half of Argonaut football, with nine games to go before the regular season, it won’t be long before Allen eclipses the Moon record. A moment that will once again write a new chapter in the CFL record books and send notice to the USA that there has been a pretty good QB plying his trade in Canada all these years.
The above posting first appeared on my Twelve Men on the Field blog, a look at the happenings of the Canadian Football league.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
My Boy’s gonna play in the big leagues
But before he (or she) gets there, we’d best fix up the rink a bit.
Back in May, Hockey Canada made some policy decisions about Minor hockey that will change the way the game is played and how your local rink might look. From a change to the way the games are called by officials (much more like the NHL of today) to the actual dimensions of your hometown rink, the game is about to look a lot different than just a year ago.
The Daily News had local reaction to the mandated changes in two stories in yesterday’s paper. Focusing on how changes in the NHL have had an impact on local hockey associations’ right across Canada, including the Prince Rupert Minor Hockey Association.
And with change apparently comes expense. The necessary modification in rink dimensions at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre will cost more than 3,000 dollars, as room on the ice is created behind the net to increase the flow of play, just as the NHL has done. Of course NHL teams and owners probably can afford the modifications a little easier than the small rinks across the nation, but such is the cost of feeding the dreams and ambitions of those looking to make it to the big leagues.
While the city works on changing the dimensions of the rink, coaches will begin the process of changing the mindset of hockey players, suddenly thrown into a whole new way of playing the game. Those changes will provide some challenges for local players, which are explained in the two articles below.
Sing along with Tom, while you catch up on all the changes to the local rink.
CHANGES TO NHL RULES AFFECT ICE ACTION LOCALLY
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Pages One and Six
The new look NHL will now be seen in minor hockey rinks from coast to coast. And in Prince Rupert, the change in rink dimensions is costing the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre more than $3,000.
Canadian Hockey (CHA) shortly after the conclusion of the 2005-06 NHL season , was quick to send out memos to every single hockey rink in Canada, stating that they intended to follow what they considered was a successful module in the NHL.
“There was no certainly no warning,” said Eric Grossman, manager of recreational service for the civic centre. “This is a little more expensive, because we had to do some welding. Fortunately, we were able to do this.”
The dimensions of the hockey rink have changed in this fashion – the goal lines were moved back closer to the boards, while the blue lines were moved outward into the neutral zone, (see diagram here, as it appeared on page six of the story) making the attacking zones larger in an effort to provide more scoring.
And even though the CHA stated that no penalties would be issued if rinks didn’t comply immediately, there is a concern that provincial associations like the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (BCAHA) may not allow individual associations to host provincial or national tournaments in the future if they don’t meet those guidelines, although that hasn’t been made official for the upcoming hockey season.
“It was the recommendation of Hockey Canada that all arenas do make these changes, however, we realize that this isn’t an overnight process,” said Brad Pascall, director of communications for the CHA.
Jerry Kurka, a Prince Rupert minor hockey coach, but also a BCAHA Coaching Committee Director for the Northwest region, said that it is expected that most rinks in B. C. will comply with the guidelines set out by the CHA.
“They’ve gone ahead with it,” he said. “All the minor hockey associations have been given notice to change the lines.”
However, specifically with the Jim Ciccone Arena, the new alignment of the blue lines will force hockey teams to adjust how they make line changes.
“The exit doors with the players’ boxes, one of the doors now happens to be on the inside of the blue line,” said Grossman.
“So players changing lines will now be offside.”
Bruce Tessier, second vice president for Prince Rupert minor hockey and a coach and referee for the association was called in to work alongside Grossman to make the transition more smooth.
“I’ve been working with the civic centre for the past two months,” he said.
“We put the brackets in so we can adjust the blue and goal lines. Our lines have been out of sync for years.”
Tessier pointed out that the alignment of the goal lines in the arena weren’t even in alignment with the previous guidelines, so making the change made sense, even though it was an expense that the Jim Ciccone Arena wasn’t expecting.
“Your attacking zones are another eight feet out,” he said. “It was a job and a half for the civic centre to work with it. This is going to cost a lot of money.”
Grossman added: “A few years ago we had to make some changes. In 1988, we did some reconstruction and the boards were custom-made.”
Grossman also said that Prince Rupert had one advantage over other associations, in that the ice was out, so it was easier to make adjustments to the alignment, but other associations may not have that luxury.
“Some arenas may find it too difficult,” he said. “Most arenas are custom-made.”
The thought-process behind the change is to open up the game, and make it more exciting. The combination of the new dimensions and calling the rules like the NHL does (see related story below) will provide more excitement and scoring, said Pascall.
“Prior to our board passing this, we had three or four meetings with the Canadian Recreation Council (all arena managers in Canada) and discussed the pros and cons to make it happen,” he said. “It was all for the betterment of the game in the eyes of our board.
“We are confident that these changes are for the betterment of the game, and we do not see a change in the upcoming years.”
CANADIAN HOCKEY EMBRACES NEW NHL
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Page Six
It could be a chaotic year for all minor hockey associations all over B. C.
That’s because after receiving notice from Canadian Hockey (CHA) that all levels of hockey will now be expected to enforce the game similarly t how it was called at the NHL level, the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association has endorsed the idea, and coachers, players and officials alike will have to make the proper adjustment.
Jerry Kurka, who has been involved in Prince Rupert minor hockey for years, and who is also a BCAHA coaching director for the Northwest region, is well aware how tough the transition might be.
“The BCAHA is adopting those same rules,” he said. “Most of BCAHA will be talking to all of the coaches.
“The only way this is going to work and not make a travesty of the game is if we teach the kids how to check properly. Players are so used to certain habits, and hockey is repetitive … once you’re used to doing something a certain way, it’s tough to change.”
The main emphasis on the way the rules are called details specifically with obstruction, like hooking and tripping. In the past, only the most serious infractions were called, while players, for the most part, were allowed to get away with it.
But now, any time a player uses his stick or free arm to impede a player’s progress, that player will be assessed a penalty.
While the new rules will give forwards more of an advantage, it’s the defencemen who will endure the most difficult transition. Travis Lorette is entering his second year of midget A hockey, and he isn’t alone in sharing his displeasure about the new rules.
”Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said. “I prefer the old style. I wouldn’t really want to play that way.”
Bruce Tessier, who was an assistant coach with the midget A team last season, but is also a referee for minor hockey, is expecting a very difficult season for everybody, pointing out that at least in the NHL, they do have the luxury of having two referees on the ice who can call penalties, whereas minor hockey only has one.
“I don’t know if we’re going to the bad or the good side,” he said. “It’s going to be tough on officials, and it’s going to be a lot more difficult to call. “It’s gone to European style hockey.”
Tessier is also concerned that the way a hockey game is called will be different in every association. For example, while Rupert officials may be strict in enforcing the rules, it’s quite possible that other Skeena Valley Associations may not.
“Every region’s different,” he said. “and now the players with the midget team, who are used to using a little bit of stick, won’t be able to.
“This is going to be a fun year.”
For their part, the CHA is well aware that the transition period could be difficult, and are already working on a strategy to help coaches, players, and officials alike.
“We have enhanced our printed materials for key officiating and coaching course conductors in Canada,” said Brad Pascall, director of communications for the CHA.
“We will also be posting enhanced information and videos within our website (http://www.canadahockey.ca/), focusing on education of the new rule emphasis.
But the key to succeeding in these initiatives will lie heavily on the shoulders of coaches, said Kurka.
“If the coaches don’t get proactive, it’s not going to work,” he said. “I committed to making it mandatory that myself and the instructors meet with all the coaches.”
That said, the most difficult transition will occur with the players and officials themselves, he said.
“Referees are mandated to call everything,” said Kurka. “Now, they’re taking judgment away from them, You’re going to have some referees who buck the system.”
But Lorette is convinced that the players will have the toughest time adjusting to the new rules.
“It’s going to force the players to be more mobile,” he said. “In front of the net, you can’t do anything about it. There were some good battles in the past.
“Now, you basically can put your body in front, and that’s it. It’s basically keep your hands to yourself.”
Still, the hope is that the new rules will open up the game, and provide more scoring. In addition, players in the past that were considered “too small” by junior hockey standards will now have every opportunity to use their skill.
”It’s all about speed,” said Lorette.
“It definitely will let the forwards skate more. And tit’s definitely going to change my game a bit.
“Defence will have to be more mobile. The size of the D was increasing, but now they might get smaller.”
Back in May, Hockey Canada made some policy decisions about Minor hockey that will change the way the game is played and how your local rink might look. From a change to the way the games are called by officials (much more like the NHL of today) to the actual dimensions of your hometown rink, the game is about to look a lot different than just a year ago.
The Daily News had local reaction to the mandated changes in two stories in yesterday’s paper. Focusing on how changes in the NHL have had an impact on local hockey associations’ right across Canada, including the Prince Rupert Minor Hockey Association.
And with change apparently comes expense. The necessary modification in rink dimensions at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre will cost more than 3,000 dollars, as room on the ice is created behind the net to increase the flow of play, just as the NHL has done. Of course NHL teams and owners probably can afford the modifications a little easier than the small rinks across the nation, but such is the cost of feeding the dreams and ambitions of those looking to make it to the big leagues.
While the city works on changing the dimensions of the rink, coaches will begin the process of changing the mindset of hockey players, suddenly thrown into a whole new way of playing the game. Those changes will provide some challenges for local players, which are explained in the two articles below.
Sing along with Tom, while you catch up on all the changes to the local rink.
CHANGES TO NHL RULES AFFECT ICE ACTION LOCALLY
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Pages One and Six
The new look NHL will now be seen in minor hockey rinks from coast to coast. And in Prince Rupert, the change in rink dimensions is costing the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre more than $3,000.
Canadian Hockey (CHA) shortly after the conclusion of the 2005-06 NHL season , was quick to send out memos to every single hockey rink in Canada, stating that they intended to follow what they considered was a successful module in the NHL.
“There was no certainly no warning,” said Eric Grossman, manager of recreational service for the civic centre. “This is a little more expensive, because we had to do some welding. Fortunately, we were able to do this.”
The dimensions of the hockey rink have changed in this fashion – the goal lines were moved back closer to the boards, while the blue lines were moved outward into the neutral zone, (see diagram here, as it appeared on page six of the story) making the attacking zones larger in an effort to provide more scoring.
And even though the CHA stated that no penalties would be issued if rinks didn’t comply immediately, there is a concern that provincial associations like the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (BCAHA) may not allow individual associations to host provincial or national tournaments in the future if they don’t meet those guidelines, although that hasn’t been made official for the upcoming hockey season.
“It was the recommendation of Hockey Canada that all arenas do make these changes, however, we realize that this isn’t an overnight process,” said Brad Pascall, director of communications for the CHA.
Jerry Kurka, a Prince Rupert minor hockey coach, but also a BCAHA Coaching Committee Director for the Northwest region, said that it is expected that most rinks in B. C. will comply with the guidelines set out by the CHA.
“They’ve gone ahead with it,” he said. “All the minor hockey associations have been given notice to change the lines.”
However, specifically with the Jim Ciccone Arena, the new alignment of the blue lines will force hockey teams to adjust how they make line changes.
“The exit doors with the players’ boxes, one of the doors now happens to be on the inside of the blue line,” said Grossman.
“So players changing lines will now be offside.”
Bruce Tessier, second vice president for Prince Rupert minor hockey and a coach and referee for the association was called in to work alongside Grossman to make the transition more smooth.
“I’ve been working with the civic centre for the past two months,” he said.
“We put the brackets in so we can adjust the blue and goal lines. Our lines have been out of sync for years.”
Tessier pointed out that the alignment of the goal lines in the arena weren’t even in alignment with the previous guidelines, so making the change made sense, even though it was an expense that the Jim Ciccone Arena wasn’t expecting.
“Your attacking zones are another eight feet out,” he said. “It was a job and a half for the civic centre to work with it. This is going to cost a lot of money.”
Grossman added: “A few years ago we had to make some changes. In 1988, we did some reconstruction and the boards were custom-made.”
Grossman also said that Prince Rupert had one advantage over other associations, in that the ice was out, so it was easier to make adjustments to the alignment, but other associations may not have that luxury.
“Some arenas may find it too difficult,” he said. “Most arenas are custom-made.”
The thought-process behind the change is to open up the game, and make it more exciting. The combination of the new dimensions and calling the rules like the NHL does (see related story below) will provide more excitement and scoring, said Pascall.
“Prior to our board passing this, we had three or four meetings with the Canadian Recreation Council (all arena managers in Canada) and discussed the pros and cons to make it happen,” he said. “It was all for the betterment of the game in the eyes of our board.
“We are confident that these changes are for the betterment of the game, and we do not see a change in the upcoming years.”
CANADIAN HOCKEY EMBRACES NEW NHL
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Page Six
It could be a chaotic year for all minor hockey associations all over B. C.
That’s because after receiving notice from Canadian Hockey (CHA) that all levels of hockey will now be expected to enforce the game similarly t how it was called at the NHL level, the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association has endorsed the idea, and coachers, players and officials alike will have to make the proper adjustment.
Jerry Kurka, who has been involved in Prince Rupert minor hockey for years, and who is also a BCAHA coaching director for the Northwest region, is well aware how tough the transition might be.
“The BCAHA is adopting those same rules,” he said. “Most of BCAHA will be talking to all of the coaches.
“The only way this is going to work and not make a travesty of the game is if we teach the kids how to check properly. Players are so used to certain habits, and hockey is repetitive … once you’re used to doing something a certain way, it’s tough to change.”
The main emphasis on the way the rules are called details specifically with obstruction, like hooking and tripping. In the past, only the most serious infractions were called, while players, for the most part, were allowed to get away with it.
But now, any time a player uses his stick or free arm to impede a player’s progress, that player will be assessed a penalty.
While the new rules will give forwards more of an advantage, it’s the defencemen who will endure the most difficult transition. Travis Lorette is entering his second year of midget A hockey, and he isn’t alone in sharing his displeasure about the new rules.
”Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said. “I prefer the old style. I wouldn’t really want to play that way.”
Bruce Tessier, who was an assistant coach with the midget A team last season, but is also a referee for minor hockey, is expecting a very difficult season for everybody, pointing out that at least in the NHL, they do have the luxury of having two referees on the ice who can call penalties, whereas minor hockey only has one.
“I don’t know if we’re going to the bad or the good side,” he said. “It’s going to be tough on officials, and it’s going to be a lot more difficult to call. “It’s gone to European style hockey.”
Tessier is also concerned that the way a hockey game is called will be different in every association. For example, while Rupert officials may be strict in enforcing the rules, it’s quite possible that other Skeena Valley Associations may not.
“Every region’s different,” he said. “and now the players with the midget team, who are used to using a little bit of stick, won’t be able to.
“This is going to be a fun year.”
For their part, the CHA is well aware that the transition period could be difficult, and are already working on a strategy to help coaches, players, and officials alike.
“We have enhanced our printed materials for key officiating and coaching course conductors in Canada,” said Brad Pascall, director of communications for the CHA.
“We will also be posting enhanced information and videos within our website (http://www.canadahockey.ca/), focusing on education of the new rule emphasis.
But the key to succeeding in these initiatives will lie heavily on the shoulders of coaches, said Kurka.
“If the coaches don’t get proactive, it’s not going to work,” he said. “I committed to making it mandatory that myself and the instructors meet with all the coaches.”
That said, the most difficult transition will occur with the players and officials themselves, he said.
“Referees are mandated to call everything,” said Kurka. “Now, they’re taking judgment away from them, You’re going to have some referees who buck the system.”
But Lorette is convinced that the players will have the toughest time adjusting to the new rules.
“It’s going to force the players to be more mobile,” he said. “In front of the net, you can’t do anything about it. There were some good battles in the past.
“Now, you basically can put your body in front, and that’s it. It’s basically keep your hands to yourself.”
Still, the hope is that the new rules will open up the game, and provide more scoring. In addition, players in the past that were considered “too small” by junior hockey standards will now have every opportunity to use their skill.
”It’s all about speed,” said Lorette.
“It definitely will let the forwards skate more. And tit’s definitely going to change my game a bit.
“Defence will have to be more mobile. The size of the D was increasing, but now they might get smaller.”
BC Ferries goes to Germany for new vessel
The Queen of Prince Rupert is still traveling the waters of the north coast, but her last voyage should be sometime in the spring of 2009, when Flensburger-Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipbuilders of Germany deliver the newest ferry for the BC Ferry fleet.
The BC Ferry Corporation signed a deal with that German shipbuilder on Friday to build a 133 million dollar ship to carry 600 passengers and 130 vehicles. FSG is also the company that has been contracted to build the three Super C class ferries for the southern fleet, so they most likely are aware of the Ferry Corporations requirements and there is no doubt a comfort factor in dealing with them.
FSG has been building ships since 1872 and build everything it seems from Navy vessels to container ships, besides their work in the world of ferry transportation.
According to David Hahn President of BC Ferries, no Canadian ship yard could meet the accelerated timeline to bid for the project, sending the Ferry Corporation overseas. Those comments and other past issues has raised the ire of shipbuilders in BC, who see a troubling pattern in recent BC Ferry fleet procurement decisions.
The decision to purchase new from a German ship builder suggests at least three more years of life for the Queen of Prince Rupert, leaving the only outstanding issue for the North at the moment the replacement for the Queen of the North which sunk in March of this year. At the moment the Ferry Corporation is in negotiations to purchase a ship from Spain called the Sonia, it’s hoped that the vessel will be available for transit along the north coast in early 2007.
A search of the net found this bit of information (complete with numerous pictures)on the replacement vessel for the Queen of the North, a ship that is certainly coming with a bit of colourful history in its background. Already the jibes have started and the thing isn't even officially bought yet, such is the fate of anything that the Ferry Corporation does!
As for the news of the day, The Daily News had all the particulars about the long awaited announcement in the Friday edition.
BC FERRIES TO BUILD REPLACEMENT SHIP
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Pages One and Two
B. C. Ferries announced today that it will be building a new vessel to replace the 40 year old Queen of Prince Rupert, which has been the sole ferry running along the Inside Passage since the sinking of the Queen of the North on March 22.
The $133 million ship will be in service by the spring of 2009, said B. C. Ferries President David Hahn.
“The new vessel is of comparable size, we’re talking 55 modern state rooms, 130 vehicles and 600 passengers,” said Hahn.
“It’s very similar to the Queen of Prince Rupert.
“I think it’s a heck of a lot better in the way that it burns fuel, passenger amenities, safety equipment … I mean you can go on and on. It’s much, much better.”
B. C. Ferries has selected the German ship-building company Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG), to build the new vessel.
This is the same shipyard that will be supplying three new “Super C class” vessels for the provinces southern ferry routes.
B. C. Ferries went with FSG because no Canadian ship yards entered a bid for the ship building contract.
Replacing the Queen of Prince Rupert is just one step in the process to upgrade the entire Northern ferry system.
“The contract from Flensburger is to replace the Queen of Prince Rupert, we are separately and independent from that pursuing a replacement vessel (for the Queen of the North) that wouldn’t be a new build,” said Hahn.
“It had to be a used vessel to replace the Queen of the North because we need it for next summer.
“So we’re in the final stages of negotiations to acquire a ship known as the Sonja (from Spain) … but if we’re not successful with that, for whatever reason, we’ve actually arranged for the charter of another vessel that would gut us by the next three years and then we would look at other alternatives, but the plan is to get a vessel up there under all scenarios next summer to replace the Queen of the North.”
He said the ship replacing the Queen of Prince Rupert will have a wide range of the latest safety equipment.
“The safety equipment will be state-of-the-art … the whole life saving evacuation systems, the way fire suppression is handled, the stability of the vessel is probably the biggest thing that will be better,” said Hahn
“It’s not much different than if you owned a car from 1964 and bought a car in 2006, you could start with air bags and work your way through I don’t know how many safety features – it’s the same type of thing with the new ferry – substantially upgraded.”
The new ferry will operate between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert on the Inside Passage route.
Key highlights of the contract with FSG include
* FSG takes all design, construction and delivery risk:
* guarantees are in place for vessel completion date:
* favourable payment terms with 80 per cent payment upon vessel completion:
* fixed-price contracts with potential savings for steel price decreases:
* vessel performance guarantees related to speed, carrying capacity maneuverability and fuel consumption:
* warranties above industry standard and penalties for late delivery.
***Other news resources on this story***
Vancouver Sun, August 19, 2006
Globe and Mail, August 18, 2006
CBC News August, 18, 2006
CBC News August 21, 2006
The BC Ferry Corporation signed a deal with that German shipbuilder on Friday to build a 133 million dollar ship to carry 600 passengers and 130 vehicles. FSG is also the company that has been contracted to build the three Super C class ferries for the southern fleet, so they most likely are aware of the Ferry Corporations requirements and there is no doubt a comfort factor in dealing with them.
FSG has been building ships since 1872 and build everything it seems from Navy vessels to container ships, besides their work in the world of ferry transportation.
According to David Hahn President of BC Ferries, no Canadian ship yard could meet the accelerated timeline to bid for the project, sending the Ferry Corporation overseas. Those comments and other past issues has raised the ire of shipbuilders in BC, who see a troubling pattern in recent BC Ferry fleet procurement decisions.
The decision to purchase new from a German ship builder suggests at least three more years of life for the Queen of Prince Rupert, leaving the only outstanding issue for the North at the moment the replacement for the Queen of the North which sunk in March of this year. At the moment the Ferry Corporation is in negotiations to purchase a ship from Spain called the Sonia, it’s hoped that the vessel will be available for transit along the north coast in early 2007.
A search of the net found this bit of information (complete with numerous pictures)on the replacement vessel for the Queen of the North, a ship that is certainly coming with a bit of colourful history in its background. Already the jibes have started and the thing isn't even officially bought yet, such is the fate of anything that the Ferry Corporation does!
As for the news of the day, The Daily News had all the particulars about the long awaited announcement in the Friday edition.
BC FERRIES TO BUILD REPLACEMENT SHIP
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Pages One and Two
B. C. Ferries announced today that it will be building a new vessel to replace the 40 year old Queen of Prince Rupert, which has been the sole ferry running along the Inside Passage since the sinking of the Queen of the North on March 22.
The $133 million ship will be in service by the spring of 2009, said B. C. Ferries President David Hahn.
“The new vessel is of comparable size, we’re talking 55 modern state rooms, 130 vehicles and 600 passengers,” said Hahn.
“It’s very similar to the Queen of Prince Rupert.
“I think it’s a heck of a lot better in the way that it burns fuel, passenger amenities, safety equipment … I mean you can go on and on. It’s much, much better.”
B. C. Ferries has selected the German ship-building company Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG), to build the new vessel.
This is the same shipyard that will be supplying three new “Super C class” vessels for the provinces southern ferry routes.
B. C. Ferries went with FSG because no Canadian ship yards entered a bid for the ship building contract.
Replacing the Queen of Prince Rupert is just one step in the process to upgrade the entire Northern ferry system.
“The contract from Flensburger is to replace the Queen of Prince Rupert, we are separately and independent from that pursuing a replacement vessel (for the Queen of the North) that wouldn’t be a new build,” said Hahn.
“It had to be a used vessel to replace the Queen of the North because we need it for next summer.
“So we’re in the final stages of negotiations to acquire a ship known as the Sonja (from Spain) … but if we’re not successful with that, for whatever reason, we’ve actually arranged for the charter of another vessel that would gut us by the next three years and then we would look at other alternatives, but the plan is to get a vessel up there under all scenarios next summer to replace the Queen of the North.”
He said the ship replacing the Queen of Prince Rupert will have a wide range of the latest safety equipment.
“The safety equipment will be state-of-the-art … the whole life saving evacuation systems, the way fire suppression is handled, the stability of the vessel is probably the biggest thing that will be better,” said Hahn
“It’s not much different than if you owned a car from 1964 and bought a car in 2006, you could start with air bags and work your way through I don’t know how many safety features – it’s the same type of thing with the new ferry – substantially upgraded.”
The new ferry will operate between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert on the Inside Passage route.
Key highlights of the contract with FSG include
* FSG takes all design, construction and delivery risk:
* guarantees are in place for vessel completion date:
* favourable payment terms with 80 per cent payment upon vessel completion:
* fixed-price contracts with potential savings for steel price decreases:
* vessel performance guarantees related to speed, carrying capacity maneuverability and fuel consumption:
* warranties above industry standard and penalties for late delivery.
***Other news resources on this story***
Vancouver Sun, August 19, 2006
Globe and Mail, August 18, 2006
CBC News August, 18, 2006
CBC News August 21, 2006
Our pot boils over
The controversy over the SPCA's fundraising plans with boiled crab has crossed the country, we'll keep track of the various contributions as they beccme available.
To start our day off, the view from the Globe and Mail.
Consider it shell-ved
Globe and Mail
Saturday, August 19, 2006.
Seeing it in the cold light of day, after protesters had been appeased and trails of scurrilous e-mail deleted, organizers perhaps realized it had not been a brilliant idea. The Prince Rupert, B.C., division of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had planned to hold a fundraiser by encouraging supporters to boil live crabs alive before eating them. Since the crab was at last count an animal, and since boiling a creature alive might be counted as cruel even if there was some dispute over how much pain it felt, it was not what public-relations practitioners would call a great fit.
Of course, the SPCA could have taken a different tack: We will boil this crab alive unless you donate $20. But you couldn't be sure as the day wore on that basic instincts wouldn't kick in. "Um, how about I keep the $20 in my pocket and give it to the cause after we've had a nice dinner with, say, butter or pesto and lemon juice."
The crab boil has been called off. Whether the person who dreamed up the scheme will be in hot water is not known.
To start our day off, the view from the Globe and Mail.
Consider it shell-ved
Globe and Mail
Saturday, August 19, 2006.
Seeing it in the cold light of day, after protesters had been appeased and trails of scurrilous e-mail deleted, organizers perhaps realized it had not been a brilliant idea. The Prince Rupert, B.C., division of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had planned to hold a fundraiser by encouraging supporters to boil live crabs alive before eating them. Since the crab was at last count an animal, and since boiling a creature alive might be counted as cruel even if there was some dispute over how much pain it felt, it was not what public-relations practitioners would call a great fit.
Of course, the SPCA could have taken a different tack: We will boil this crab alive unless you donate $20. But you couldn't be sure as the day wore on that basic instincts wouldn't kick in. "Um, how about I keep the $20 in my pocket and give it to the cause after we've had a nice dinner with, say, butter or pesto and lemon juice."
The crab boil has been called off. Whether the person who dreamed up the scheme will be in hot water is not known.
Boil and Bubble, lots of trouble
There’s been quite the reaction to Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Society stepping into the plans of the local SPCA to raise funds with a crab boil in late August. Ever since the e mail campaign began and the eventual cancellation of the event was announced on Thursday, local residents have been amazed and perhaps even a little shocked at the some of the extreme reactions of those opposed to the fund raising plans.
From the editorial page of the Daily News, to the bulletin board of the web portal hackingthemainframe, today’s development has become the main topic around town.
Watson’s original e mail led to a flood of e mails to the Prince Rupert offices of the SPCA and even resulted in a phone call suggesting that if the Crab boil went ahead, the SPCA building itself could be subject to a bombing.
Those against the plan suggested that it was hypocritical of the society dedicated to protecting animals from cruelty to subject sea creatures to a boiling process. Though one wonders what was going through the head of the would be bomber, who would have no doubt killed dozens if not hundreds of animals of all kinds (not to mention a human or two as well) had he or she followed through on their insane protest.
Regardless, one assumes that the Folks at the Sea Shepherd society got what they desired, a load of attention and the end of the fundraising project. However, as you will notice by checking out the topic board at htmf, their side of the argument hasn’t particularly won many converts in the local community. In fact, it’s safe to say that a good number of people acquaint Watson and his society more with terrorism, rather than activism.
It’s of interest to note that Watson himself, feels that he played no role in the threats that the SPCA received, a handy bit of deflection, since it was his “call to action” that began the slow boil of emotions that quickly roiled up and swamped the local office of the SPCA
It’s almost the kind of thing you might expect to see on David Letterman or Jay Leno, such is the rather extreme reaction to a seemingly innocent bit of local fundraising. Though we suspect that Lettermen or Leno would probably have their fun with the SPCA boiling a crab, there is some potential comedic (warped we admit) material in such a thing.
However, as Earl Gale points out in his editorial today, boiling is how one prepares a crab for eating, something that has been done through the ages and something that is as common as it gets in the Northwest. If the folks at the Sea Shepherd Society have a better way of doing things, then perhaps they should share it with the rest of us, providing they live to tell the tale.
The Daily News had the local angle of the story in its Friday edition, including an editorial page entry from Earle Gale, the Managing Editor of the paper.
ACTIVISTS STIR THE POT OVER SPCA CRAB FEAST
Shell-shocked local organizers are forced to cancel fundraiser after international protests
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Pages One and Three
International animal rights activist Paul Watson’s call of protest over the Prince Rupert SPCA’s fundraising Crab Feast sparked protest letters and a possible bomb threat aimed at the Prince Rupert animal shelter.
According to the Prince Rupert RCMP, the event triggered unexpected controversy that led to the SPCA receiving a number of protests, including one phone call suggesting that their facility would be blown up if the event was allowed to take place August 27.
The SPCA officially cancelled their fundraiser yesterday.
Watson said that he emailed his “international network of 18,000 people” asking them to email and telephone both the local shelter and the B. C. SPCA headquarters in Vancouver to express their outrage that the society would choose to boil live crabs for a fundraising event.
“It’s the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, so it’s somewhat hypocritical to raise funds to prevent cruelty, while inflicting cruelty on crabs; I think that’s pretty straightforward,” said Watson.
“That’s why I used the network to put pressure on them … which is a world-wide network … I mean, they were overwhelmed by emails.”
Lorie Chortyk, spokesperson for the B. C. SPCA said that it was due to this public protest that the Prince Rupert chapter of the society decided to cancel the fundraiser.
“We were just inundated with protests from the public, real concerns about the event, so in the end our view was if the public felt that strongly, holding that fundraiser wouldn’t be helpful for the Prince Rupert branch,” she said.
“I mean they were getting people calling up, threatening to blow their shelter and it just became a very emotional and almost dangerous situation, so we felt that really we needed to take this seriously.”
Watson, who co-founded Green Peace and who now works with the activist group Sea Shepard, based out of Washington State, feels that he played no role in the threats the SPCA received.
“I can’t control what people do,” he said.
“It has nothing to do with me.
“How would I be responsible for people making criminal allegations that’s ridiculous?
“The network goes out to 18,000 people; you’re not responsible for the actions of any of those people.”
Watson won’t call himself the network’s leader.
“Certainly I put out an email initially but I certainly didn’t call out for a bomb threat to the SPCA, that’s absolutely nuts. I said that people should protest,” said Watson.
Watson believes that crabs feel a tremendous amount of pain when they are thrown into a pot of boiling water to cook.
“You put an animal into boiling water – it’s cruel,” he said.
“Crabs have nervous systems, the scientific evidence is certainly clear on that.
“You know, you throw a crab into a pot of boiling water, it’s going to struggle and thrash and try to get out of it and you have to have some sort of pain receptors in order to have that kind of reaction.
To anybody who challenges him as to whether or not crabs feel pain when boiled, Watson says: “As a man I understand that child birth is painful, I have no reason to believe that, other than that’s the evidence that’s been presented to me. I can’t experience that pain and know it to be true.”
He has the same faith about the crab’s pain.
Chortyk, meanwhile says the incident has caused the SPCA to consider new issues.
“We don’t’ usually deal with crustaceans, it’s not something that comes up, but certainly we have had people call up and say they don’t like seeing live lobsters in their grocery store … we’ve actually been trying to do more and more of our own research trying to get some facts on the issue,” said Chortyk.
“I think that now the jury’s out on this and we just wanted to make sure we erred on the side of not doing anything that might harm animals, that’s why we cancelled the fundraiser.
As much as we do respect the rights of people who would protest things like this, it’s helpful if we can also have alternative support, because we don’t want other animals to suffer because we’ve cancelled fundraisers.
“It’s probably the same people that were so adamant about the crabs that would support the animals that do need help from local fundraising. But we did feel that if there was an issue here we had to err on the side of doing what was in the best interest of all animals,” said Chortyk.
EDITORIAL
People with a beef with the SPCA should fill the void
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Page 4
A group of well-meaning but misguided protestors have cost the Prince Rupert SPCA many hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in unrealized fundraising and if anyone ends up hurt after the spat that broke out over the crab feast fundraiser, it will be the shelter animals.
The protestors who complained about the SPCA’s proposed crab cook-up meant well when they said it was cruel and not the sort of thing an anti-cruelty organization should be doing.
The trouble is, they are wrong.
True, the concept of boiling crabs in order to raise money so that other animals can be spared from cruelty is easy to criticize. However, the practice of boiling crabs alive before you eat them is the normal way to prepare the crustacean.
Presumably, those complaining about the fundraiser would have preferred it if the crabs were sedated first, or maybe blindfolded and player some soothing music.
The fact is, though, that not how crabs are made ready for the table.
By demanding that the SPCA commits to higher standards than the societal norm, the protesters are being unfair.
Basically, we humans accept that boiling crabs alive is the way to prepare them and therefore the acceptable, normal, way of killing them is not cruel, cruelty comes when the acceptable, normal way of doing something is exceeded.
Are the protesters saying that different rules should apply to the SPCA, or are they saying that no one should be boiling crabs alive? If that’s the case, then the standard of living in Prince Rupert could be in for a sharp fall if the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society gets its own way because there will be no crabbing industry.
By essentially shaming the SPCA into cancelling the event, the protesters from countries including New Zealand, South Africa and Britain have denied the Prince Rupert SPCA some much-need income, indeed, the crab feast fundraiser showed every sign of being the organization’s major annual fundraising event before the rug was pulled from under it.
The stupid thing in all this is that no crabs will be spared the pot. They will just be eaten in another place at another time, it’s not like they will be released back into the wild or put out to pasture in some crab retirement home.
It is now important for the Sea Shepherd organization to acknowledge the SPCA has done as it asked – no matter how unreasonable – and for those many thousands of protestors around the world who inundated the SPCA with emails of complaint, it’s time to put their hands in their pockets and sent he shelter money to reimburse the loss. After all, the SPCA wasn’t holding the crab feast because it wanted to boil crabs alive, it was doing it because it desperately needs the money. Without some help it’s difficult to imagine how the local shelter will be able to assist all those domestic animals in our community that are suffering real cruelty, let alone save the ones that humans have for millennia harvested for the table.
-Earle Gale, The Daily News
From the editorial page of the Daily News, to the bulletin board of the web portal hackingthemainframe, today’s development has become the main topic around town.
Watson’s original e mail led to a flood of e mails to the Prince Rupert offices of the SPCA and even resulted in a phone call suggesting that if the Crab boil went ahead, the SPCA building itself could be subject to a bombing.
Those against the plan suggested that it was hypocritical of the society dedicated to protecting animals from cruelty to subject sea creatures to a boiling process. Though one wonders what was going through the head of the would be bomber, who would have no doubt killed dozens if not hundreds of animals of all kinds (not to mention a human or two as well) had he or she followed through on their insane protest.
Regardless, one assumes that the Folks at the Sea Shepherd society got what they desired, a load of attention and the end of the fundraising project. However, as you will notice by checking out the topic board at htmf, their side of the argument hasn’t particularly won many converts in the local community. In fact, it’s safe to say that a good number of people acquaint Watson and his society more with terrorism, rather than activism.
It’s of interest to note that Watson himself, feels that he played no role in the threats that the SPCA received, a handy bit of deflection, since it was his “call to action” that began the slow boil of emotions that quickly roiled up and swamped the local office of the SPCA
It’s almost the kind of thing you might expect to see on David Letterman or Jay Leno, such is the rather extreme reaction to a seemingly innocent bit of local fundraising. Though we suspect that Lettermen or Leno would probably have their fun with the SPCA boiling a crab, there is some potential comedic (warped we admit) material in such a thing.
However, as Earl Gale points out in his editorial today, boiling is how one prepares a crab for eating, something that has been done through the ages and something that is as common as it gets in the Northwest. If the folks at the Sea Shepherd Society have a better way of doing things, then perhaps they should share it with the rest of us, providing they live to tell the tale.
The Daily News had the local angle of the story in its Friday edition, including an editorial page entry from Earle Gale, the Managing Editor of the paper.
ACTIVISTS STIR THE POT OVER SPCA CRAB FEAST
Shell-shocked local organizers are forced to cancel fundraiser after international protests
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Pages One and Three
International animal rights activist Paul Watson’s call of protest over the Prince Rupert SPCA’s fundraising Crab Feast sparked protest letters and a possible bomb threat aimed at the Prince Rupert animal shelter.
According to the Prince Rupert RCMP, the event triggered unexpected controversy that led to the SPCA receiving a number of protests, including one phone call suggesting that their facility would be blown up if the event was allowed to take place August 27.
The SPCA officially cancelled their fundraiser yesterday.
Watson said that he emailed his “international network of 18,000 people” asking them to email and telephone both the local shelter and the B. C. SPCA headquarters in Vancouver to express their outrage that the society would choose to boil live crabs for a fundraising event.
“It’s the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, so it’s somewhat hypocritical to raise funds to prevent cruelty, while inflicting cruelty on crabs; I think that’s pretty straightforward,” said Watson.
“That’s why I used the network to put pressure on them … which is a world-wide network … I mean, they were overwhelmed by emails.”
Lorie Chortyk, spokesperson for the B. C. SPCA said that it was due to this public protest that the Prince Rupert chapter of the society decided to cancel the fundraiser.
“We were just inundated with protests from the public, real concerns about the event, so in the end our view was if the public felt that strongly, holding that fundraiser wouldn’t be helpful for the Prince Rupert branch,” she said.
“I mean they were getting people calling up, threatening to blow their shelter and it just became a very emotional and almost dangerous situation, so we felt that really we needed to take this seriously.”
Watson, who co-founded Green Peace and who now works with the activist group Sea Shepard, based out of Washington State, feels that he played no role in the threats the SPCA received.
“I can’t control what people do,” he said.
“It has nothing to do with me.
“How would I be responsible for people making criminal allegations that’s ridiculous?
“The network goes out to 18,000 people; you’re not responsible for the actions of any of those people.”
Watson won’t call himself the network’s leader.
“Certainly I put out an email initially but I certainly didn’t call out for a bomb threat to the SPCA, that’s absolutely nuts. I said that people should protest,” said Watson.
Watson believes that crabs feel a tremendous amount of pain when they are thrown into a pot of boiling water to cook.
“You put an animal into boiling water – it’s cruel,” he said.
“Crabs have nervous systems, the scientific evidence is certainly clear on that.
“You know, you throw a crab into a pot of boiling water, it’s going to struggle and thrash and try to get out of it and you have to have some sort of pain receptors in order to have that kind of reaction.
To anybody who challenges him as to whether or not crabs feel pain when boiled, Watson says: “As a man I understand that child birth is painful, I have no reason to believe that, other than that’s the evidence that’s been presented to me. I can’t experience that pain and know it to be true.”
He has the same faith about the crab’s pain.
Chortyk, meanwhile says the incident has caused the SPCA to consider new issues.
“We don’t’ usually deal with crustaceans, it’s not something that comes up, but certainly we have had people call up and say they don’t like seeing live lobsters in their grocery store … we’ve actually been trying to do more and more of our own research trying to get some facts on the issue,” said Chortyk.
“I think that now the jury’s out on this and we just wanted to make sure we erred on the side of not doing anything that might harm animals, that’s why we cancelled the fundraiser.
As much as we do respect the rights of people who would protest things like this, it’s helpful if we can also have alternative support, because we don’t want other animals to suffer because we’ve cancelled fundraisers.
“It’s probably the same people that were so adamant about the crabs that would support the animals that do need help from local fundraising. But we did feel that if there was an issue here we had to err on the side of doing what was in the best interest of all animals,” said Chortyk.
EDITORIAL
People with a beef with the SPCA should fill the void
The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Page 4
A group of well-meaning but misguided protestors have cost the Prince Rupert SPCA many hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in unrealized fundraising and if anyone ends up hurt after the spat that broke out over the crab feast fundraiser, it will be the shelter animals.
The protestors who complained about the SPCA’s proposed crab cook-up meant well when they said it was cruel and not the sort of thing an anti-cruelty organization should be doing.
The trouble is, they are wrong.
True, the concept of boiling crabs in order to raise money so that other animals can be spared from cruelty is easy to criticize. However, the practice of boiling crabs alive before you eat them is the normal way to prepare the crustacean.
Presumably, those complaining about the fundraiser would have preferred it if the crabs were sedated first, or maybe blindfolded and player some soothing music.
The fact is, though, that not how crabs are made ready for the table.
By demanding that the SPCA commits to higher standards than the societal norm, the protesters are being unfair.
Basically, we humans accept that boiling crabs alive is the way to prepare them and therefore the acceptable, normal, way of killing them is not cruel, cruelty comes when the acceptable, normal way of doing something is exceeded.
Are the protesters saying that different rules should apply to the SPCA, or are they saying that no one should be boiling crabs alive? If that’s the case, then the standard of living in Prince Rupert could be in for a sharp fall if the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society gets its own way because there will be no crabbing industry.
By essentially shaming the SPCA into cancelling the event, the protesters from countries including New Zealand, South Africa and Britain have denied the Prince Rupert SPCA some much-need income, indeed, the crab feast fundraiser showed every sign of being the organization’s major annual fundraising event before the rug was pulled from under it.
The stupid thing in all this is that no crabs will be spared the pot. They will just be eaten in another place at another time, it’s not like they will be released back into the wild or put out to pasture in some crab retirement home.
It is now important for the Sea Shepherd organization to acknowledge the SPCA has done as it asked – no matter how unreasonable – and for those many thousands of protestors around the world who inundated the SPCA with emails of complaint, it’s time to put their hands in their pockets and sent he shelter money to reimburse the loss. After all, the SPCA wasn’t holding the crab feast because it wanted to boil crabs alive, it was doing it because it desperately needs the money. Without some help it’s difficult to imagine how the local shelter will be able to assist all those domestic animals in our community that are suffering real cruelty, let alone save the ones that humans have for millennia harvested for the table.
-Earle Gale, The Daily News
Friday, August 18, 2006
Everybody has an opinion on the Fishing Derby
The Great Northern Fishing Classic find itself once again the savior of the newspaper business, it seems that not a day goes by that the north coast fishing derby doesn’t make some kind of headline somewhere in the north.
Thursday found it the topic of conversation in two separate stories in the Daily News; from the first nations to the business class the derby is proving to be the topic on everyone’s mind.
Anger at the way the derby was created and the lack of input with local stakeholders seems to be boiling up as the derby moves along towards its mid September ending. Tourism Prince Rupert’s Bruce Wishart once again finds himself the guy with the target on his back over the impression that the derby is making across the northwest.
There certainly seems to be a lack of communication between the organizers of the fishing derby and pretty well anyone else that seems to have an interest in either fishing or tourism, as the following two stories in Thursday’s Daily News show.
NATIVE FISHERMEN SAY DERBY TALKS MISSING
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Page One
Some First Nations representatives in the Prince Rupert area are wondering why they weren’t consulted prior to the start of the fishing derby that got underway Aug. 1, and runs until Sept. 15.
They are also concerned about the future impacts on coho, the chosen fish for the top prize of $100,000.
“We weren’t happy with it,” said Gary Reece, chief councilor for Lax Kw’alaams. “We had absolutely no talks about it.”
Most of the fishing is taking place within Tsimshian territory, specifically areas three and four. Currently, Lax Kw’alaams is involved in a fisheries rights case regarding those two areas, with court dates expected to get underway in October.
“It’s the way things have been going,” said Reece. “The fishing is going on, especially in our traditional territory, and we weren’t consulted.”
The Northern Native Fishing Corporation is also wondering why this fishing derby is being allowed to take place, when their fishermen have been impacted during the past few years following concerns about conservation – especially of coho stocks.
“We’re as mall vessel-fleet (boats smaller than 35 feet),” said Mabel Mazurek, general manager of the Northern Native Fishing Corporation. “And we’ve made sacrifices. (We) were unable to fish last year too.”
“Our fishermen have put a lot of money in for coho conservation. Our fishermen depend on this for their livelihoods. They’re sort of feeling defeated.”
Even though the derby is being policed for proper procedure, Mazurek is concerned about the future impact, not just on coho stocks, but fisheries in general.
“It’s going to have long-term effects,” she said. “Future coho stocks translate into lost opportunities for our fishermen.
“Our fisheries have been done these strict measures for years, to build up these stocks, only to see this happen.”
First Nations representatives are also wondering why the strict rules that have been in place during recent years suddenly appear to be being ignored during the ongoing fishing derby.
“They have survival watches in boats, and now they have this? I’m surprised DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) let it happen,” said Reece.
“We can just imagine how many coho are going to be killed. Guys are going for the biggest fish, so they let the (smaller ones) go free, but they still (can) die. We’re quite concerned with that.”
Mazurek said the entire process just isn’t fair.
“Why does one sector in the fishing community have to release the coho, while another can catch and retain it?” she said.
Even though the understanding is that this fishing derby is just a one-time event, with the hopes of rejuvenating tourism in the region after the area has been impacted from the March sinking of the Queen of the North, the First Nation’s representatives say are hopeful that in the future, all parties will be properly consulted.
“That needs to happen,” said Reece.
CHAMBER LAMENTS LACK OF TIME TO PEREPARE FOR DERBY
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Pages One and Five
The Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce is upset that it did not get to play a greater role in the lead up to the Great Northern Salmon Classic fishing derby that is bringing tourists into Prince Rupert.
Roberta Bowman, managing director of the Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber was consulted for an initial report that Tourism Prince Rupert put together because of the fact that the sinking of the Queen of the North ferry did have an impact on the chamber’s business members, but that was as far as they were involved in the consultation process before the derby started.
“That’s as far as the chamber’s involvement went and I did that solely for the benefit of the membership to see if we could come up with something, but in terms of the derby, the Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce had absolutely nothing to do with it,” said Bowman.
The lack of involvement annoys Bowman because she believes her members did not have time to advertise or merchandize before the derby started.
She said they were told it was happening and that was it, something that is a sore point with her members. She said even the Visitor’s Information Centre (a member of the chamber) in Atlin Terminal isn’t involved in the running of the Derby.
“We are selling the T-shirts for them, that’s all we are doing,” said Bowman. “We are not allowed to promote it, they don’t want us talking about it to anybody. If people come into the Visitor’s Centre, they have asked them to direct those people right through to Bruce Wishart (Executive Director of Tourism Prince Rupert) himself.”
“We’re missing out on merchandising opportunities; we’re missing out on advertising, opportunities because we had not time to prepare.
“We were told three weeks ago that we would he having a fishing derby,”
“The businesses have had no time to prepare and get their names out there and show those who are coming to town what we have to offer.
“For example, the fishermen that are going out, they’re coming to town with their wives and their children and they don’t know what they can do here, they don’t know what’s offered to them.”
According to Bowman, if the fishing derby tickets had been sold through the Visitor’s Info Centre, statistics could have been kept on how many tourists were brought into Prince Rupert and those numbers could have been added to the total numbers of people that inquire at the Visitor’s Centre every year.
This is important, Bowman states because funding for the Visitor’s Centre is based on how many people it serves and they report those numbers directly to the Ministry of Tourism for funding.
What it comes down to, Bowman says is: “I really felt that we weren’t consulted and I’m being told by Tourism Prince Rupert that the Chamber is really not a tourism issue but because we are in the summer a tourism initiated city and my businesses thrive off the tourism, then yes, it does involve me and it does involve my businesses.
***Correction*** From the Daily News, Friday August 18, 2006.
Yesterday in a story headlined: Chamber laments lack of time to prepare for derby we referred to tourism statistics being reported directly to the Ministry of Tourism. Actually, those statistics are being reported to Tourism B. C. We regret any confusion caused.
Thursday found it the topic of conversation in two separate stories in the Daily News; from the first nations to the business class the derby is proving to be the topic on everyone’s mind.
Anger at the way the derby was created and the lack of input with local stakeholders seems to be boiling up as the derby moves along towards its mid September ending. Tourism Prince Rupert’s Bruce Wishart once again finds himself the guy with the target on his back over the impression that the derby is making across the northwest.
There certainly seems to be a lack of communication between the organizers of the fishing derby and pretty well anyone else that seems to have an interest in either fishing or tourism, as the following two stories in Thursday’s Daily News show.
NATIVE FISHERMEN SAY DERBY TALKS MISSING
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Page One
Some First Nations representatives in the Prince Rupert area are wondering why they weren’t consulted prior to the start of the fishing derby that got underway Aug. 1, and runs until Sept. 15.
They are also concerned about the future impacts on coho, the chosen fish for the top prize of $100,000.
“We weren’t happy with it,” said Gary Reece, chief councilor for Lax Kw’alaams. “We had absolutely no talks about it.”
Most of the fishing is taking place within Tsimshian territory, specifically areas three and four. Currently, Lax Kw’alaams is involved in a fisheries rights case regarding those two areas, with court dates expected to get underway in October.
“It’s the way things have been going,” said Reece. “The fishing is going on, especially in our traditional territory, and we weren’t consulted.”
The Northern Native Fishing Corporation is also wondering why this fishing derby is being allowed to take place, when their fishermen have been impacted during the past few years following concerns about conservation – especially of coho stocks.
“We’re as mall vessel-fleet (boats smaller than 35 feet),” said Mabel Mazurek, general manager of the Northern Native Fishing Corporation. “And we’ve made sacrifices. (We) were unable to fish last year too.”
“Our fishermen have put a lot of money in for coho conservation. Our fishermen depend on this for their livelihoods. They’re sort of feeling defeated.”
Even though the derby is being policed for proper procedure, Mazurek is concerned about the future impact, not just on coho stocks, but fisheries in general.
“It’s going to have long-term effects,” she said. “Future coho stocks translate into lost opportunities for our fishermen.
“Our fisheries have been done these strict measures for years, to build up these stocks, only to see this happen.”
First Nations representatives are also wondering why the strict rules that have been in place during recent years suddenly appear to be being ignored during the ongoing fishing derby.
“They have survival watches in boats, and now they have this? I’m surprised DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) let it happen,” said Reece.
“We can just imagine how many coho are going to be killed. Guys are going for the biggest fish, so they let the (smaller ones) go free, but they still (can) die. We’re quite concerned with that.”
Mazurek said the entire process just isn’t fair.
“Why does one sector in the fishing community have to release the coho, while another can catch and retain it?” she said.
Even though the understanding is that this fishing derby is just a one-time event, with the hopes of rejuvenating tourism in the region after the area has been impacted from the March sinking of the Queen of the North, the First Nation’s representatives say are hopeful that in the future, all parties will be properly consulted.
“That needs to happen,” said Reece.
CHAMBER LAMENTS LACK OF TIME TO PEREPARE FOR DERBY
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Pages One and Five
The Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce is upset that it did not get to play a greater role in the lead up to the Great Northern Salmon Classic fishing derby that is bringing tourists into Prince Rupert.
Roberta Bowman, managing director of the Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber was consulted for an initial report that Tourism Prince Rupert put together because of the fact that the sinking of the Queen of the North ferry did have an impact on the chamber’s business members, but that was as far as they were involved in the consultation process before the derby started.
“That’s as far as the chamber’s involvement went and I did that solely for the benefit of the membership to see if we could come up with something, but in terms of the derby, the Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce had absolutely nothing to do with it,” said Bowman.
The lack of involvement annoys Bowman because she believes her members did not have time to advertise or merchandize before the derby started.
She said they were told it was happening and that was it, something that is a sore point with her members. She said even the Visitor’s Information Centre (a member of the chamber) in Atlin Terminal isn’t involved in the running of the Derby.
“We are selling the T-shirts for them, that’s all we are doing,” said Bowman. “We are not allowed to promote it, they don’t want us talking about it to anybody. If people come into the Visitor’s Centre, they have asked them to direct those people right through to Bruce Wishart (Executive Director of Tourism Prince Rupert) himself.”
“We’re missing out on merchandising opportunities; we’re missing out on advertising, opportunities because we had not time to prepare.
“We were told three weeks ago that we would he having a fishing derby,”
“The businesses have had no time to prepare and get their names out there and show those who are coming to town what we have to offer.
“For example, the fishermen that are going out, they’re coming to town with their wives and their children and they don’t know what they can do here, they don’t know what’s offered to them.”
According to Bowman, if the fishing derby tickets had been sold through the Visitor’s Info Centre, statistics could have been kept on how many tourists were brought into Prince Rupert and those numbers could have been added to the total numbers of people that inquire at the Visitor’s Centre every year.
This is important, Bowman states because funding for the Visitor’s Centre is based on how many people it serves and they report those numbers directly to the Ministry of Tourism for funding.
What it comes down to, Bowman says is: “I really felt that we weren’t consulted and I’m being told by Tourism Prince Rupert that the Chamber is really not a tourism issue but because we are in the summer a tourism initiated city and my businesses thrive off the tourism, then yes, it does involve me and it does involve my businesses.
***Correction*** From the Daily News, Friday August 18, 2006.
Yesterday in a story headlined: Chamber laments lack of time to prepare for derby we referred to tourism statistics being reported directly to the Ministry of Tourism. Actually, those statistics are being reported to Tourism B. C. We regret any confusion caused.
City shakes some more cushions to put extra cash away
The acting Chief Financial Officer of the city of Prince Rupert has outlined his plans for the city’s accounting reserves, which if all goes according to plan should give the city a bit more breathing room when times get tougher.
Squirreling away money here and there will apparently help us out in the long run.
The Daily News had the financial blue print for us in its Wednesday edition.
CITY FINALLY GETS FINANCE NEWS IT CAN CHEER ABOUT
Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Page Three
Prince Rupert councilors happily endorsed a report Monday night at city council, where the Acting Chief Financial Officer outlined various accounting reserves that will help the city’s finances in the future.
Coun. Ken Cote summed up everyone’s feeling on the subject, when he said: “I’m just ecstatic that we’re actually talking about being able to use reserves. I’m very happy about that.”
Acting Chief Financial Officer Jim Bruce outlined to council how the accounting reserves will work.
“The reason behind hits … you don’t have to raise your tax-base to cover an influx, “he said.
“There’s much more flexibility.
“If you have a shortfall, you can access the reserve to cover it.”
Funding the reserves will be done from operating surpluses, he said.
Those accounting reserves include: Election Reserve, Employment Cost Reserve, Snow Removal Reserve, Assessment Appeal Reserve, Insurance Reserve, Computer Equipment Reserve and the Rushbrook Floats Development Reserve.
These accounting reserves, in the future, will give the city more options to cover unexpected shortfalls, as opposed to trying to access the statutory reserve, which in past yeas the only reserve available, said Bruce.
“You would have to have a bylaw in place to get that money back,” he said.
“The requirements for spending that reserve are much more difficult.”
Coun. Joy Thorkelson agreed that having the reserves in place makes sense, but she inquired about the process council must go through to access those reserves.
“I sort of have an accounting reserve in my own personal life,” she said. “Like if something happens, I can move money from my holiday’s reserve, and there’s no penalty.
“But is there a penalty to pay if we had something terrible happen to our income?
“I can see the upside; we’ve got money squirreled away when it’s there, but the downside … what if we didn’t have enough money to cover?”
Coun. Tony Briglio also pointed out that a $60,000 commitment has been made by the city for when Prince Rupert hosts the Northern B. C. Winter Games in 2010, and he wondered if a special accounting reserve should be set up for that fund.
“I would like to see an accounting reserve include that,” he said.
Bruce agreed that setting up that reserve was a good idea.
“It would be in the best interest of council to set it up as an accounting reserve,” he said. “It will be there, and council will be able to see it.”
Briglio added: “Council has delivered what may be needed to be used by a different council in the future.”
Squirreling away money here and there will apparently help us out in the long run.
The Daily News had the financial blue print for us in its Wednesday edition.
CITY FINALLY GETS FINANCE NEWS IT CAN CHEER ABOUT
Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Page Three
Prince Rupert councilors happily endorsed a report Monday night at city council, where the Acting Chief Financial Officer outlined various accounting reserves that will help the city’s finances in the future.
Coun. Ken Cote summed up everyone’s feeling on the subject, when he said: “I’m just ecstatic that we’re actually talking about being able to use reserves. I’m very happy about that.”
Acting Chief Financial Officer Jim Bruce outlined to council how the accounting reserves will work.
“The reason behind hits … you don’t have to raise your tax-base to cover an influx, “he said.
“There’s much more flexibility.
“If you have a shortfall, you can access the reserve to cover it.”
Funding the reserves will be done from operating surpluses, he said.
Those accounting reserves include: Election Reserve, Employment Cost Reserve, Snow Removal Reserve, Assessment Appeal Reserve, Insurance Reserve, Computer Equipment Reserve and the Rushbrook Floats Development Reserve.
These accounting reserves, in the future, will give the city more options to cover unexpected shortfalls, as opposed to trying to access the statutory reserve, which in past yeas the only reserve available, said Bruce.
“You would have to have a bylaw in place to get that money back,” he said.
“The requirements for spending that reserve are much more difficult.”
Coun. Joy Thorkelson agreed that having the reserves in place makes sense, but she inquired about the process council must go through to access those reserves.
“I sort of have an accounting reserve in my own personal life,” she said. “Like if something happens, I can move money from my holiday’s reserve, and there’s no penalty.
“But is there a penalty to pay if we had something terrible happen to our income?
“I can see the upside; we’ve got money squirreled away when it’s there, but the downside … what if we didn’t have enough money to cover?”
Coun. Tony Briglio also pointed out that a $60,000 commitment has been made by the city for when Prince Rupert hosts the Northern B. C. Winter Games in 2010, and he wondered if a special accounting reserve should be set up for that fund.
“I would like to see an accounting reserve include that,” he said.
Bruce agreed that setting up that reserve was a good idea.
“It would be in the best interest of council to set it up as an accounting reserve,” he said. “It will be there, and council will be able to see it.”
Briglio added: “Council has delivered what may be needed to be used by a different council in the future.”
SPCA finds itself in hot, some say boiling water!
Ooops, from the good idea gone bad department. The Prince Rupert SPCA finds itself the topic of conversation with word that it's plan to have a crab boil has resulted in a boiling mad bit of opposition.
Spurred on by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society the backlash even went so far as to include a bomb threat and enough e mails to crash the computer mail system at the SPCA.
With that much opposition to the idea, the Crab boil has been called off.
First reported in the Vancouver Sun (sub required), the story has now crossed the rockies into Alberta.
Full details on the simmering dispute can be found below.
Protests cause cancellation of crab feast
Grande Prarie Herald Tribune
Friday, August 18, 2006
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. (CP) - The Prince Rupert SPCA has called off a crab boil to raise money after encountering overwhelming opposition.
Spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk said some people were very vehement in their opposition to the feast.
An animal-rights protester on Thursday threatened to bomb the SPCA's Prince Rupert shelter.
A day earlier, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society launched an international protest campaign.
The crab boil was scheduled for Aug. 27 at Mariner's Park in Prince Rupert. The Crabbers Association of Prince Rupert had offered live crabs - at $10 each - to be boiled alive and eaten.
Chortyk received so many protest e-mails that her computer crashed.
She said most of the e-mails reasonably expressed why people were opposed to boiling crustaceans alive. But some were ''vitriolic and vicious.''
Chortyk said she did some research on crustaceans and whether they felt pain.
''There was enough of a doubt that they didn't feel pain for us to ask the Prince Rupert volunteers not to hold the event,'' she said.
Spurred on by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society the backlash even went so far as to include a bomb threat and enough e mails to crash the computer mail system at the SPCA.
With that much opposition to the idea, the Crab boil has been called off.
First reported in the Vancouver Sun (sub required), the story has now crossed the rockies into Alberta.
Full details on the simmering dispute can be found below.
Protests cause cancellation of crab feast
Grande Prarie Herald Tribune
Friday, August 18, 2006
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. (CP) - The Prince Rupert SPCA has called off a crab boil to raise money after encountering overwhelming opposition.
Spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk said some people were very vehement in their opposition to the feast.
An animal-rights protester on Thursday threatened to bomb the SPCA's Prince Rupert shelter.
A day earlier, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society launched an international protest campaign.
The crab boil was scheduled for Aug. 27 at Mariner's Park in Prince Rupert. The Crabbers Association of Prince Rupert had offered live crabs - at $10 each - to be boiled alive and eaten.
Chortyk received so many protest e-mails that her computer crashed.
She said most of the e-mails reasonably expressed why people were opposed to boiling crustaceans alive. But some were ''vitriolic and vicious.''
Chortyk said she did some research on crustaceans and whether they felt pain.
''There was enough of a doubt that they didn't feel pain for us to ask the Prince Rupert volunteers not to hold the event,'' she said.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
The two sides of the Alcan debate
Bill Good of CKNW took on the challenge of trying to put both sides of the current Alcan debate in Kitimat before the public today. Wondering aloud if the expansion will be a boom or a bust for the Aluminum city, Good brought a number of guests on to the show to make their points for or against the prospect of an expansion of the smelter, tied to power sales debate.
The discussion was featured on the Bill Good show, in the 9-10 am hour Thursday morning; Good had Trafford Hall municipal manager of the City of Kitimat and Robin Austin, the MLA for Skeena on in the first half hour. They used their block of time to explain why they think the recent announcement of a 2 billion dollar revitalization program for Kitimat Works, with its power sales rider included, isn’t quite the bonanza for the public that Alcan would have everyone believe.
Taking pains to make sure that the concept of economic expansion was not something they were against, they focused much of their discussion on the power sales aspect of the plan put forward by Alcan. Which they say will see surplus power sold to the province, which they don’t use to produce aluminum. They say this means that in their opinion, public power is being sold off to private interests.
Good followed up that discussion with those in favour of the 2 billion dollar expansion in the second half hour, who made their case for economic development and continued employment in the northwest.
Roger Harris the former MLA for Skeena and currently of the Kitimat Port Authority and the Ralph Sultan MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano took the pro development side of the argument. Suggesting that for Kitimat it was much much better to have 1,000 jobs for the next 35 to 40 years than a declining smelter with little hope of extending is life.
Harris took issue with the argument that the power generation prospects will actually increase with the new smelter in place, in fact he says that at times the amount of power required by the smelter will result in less power being sent to the B C Hydro grid.
The impression of Sultan and Harris is that it’s just another indication of the NDP making mischief in the province, trying to take us back to the days of no development, threatening to turn the province into a very small vision kind of place. This is telling in how the debate is being shaped along political lines not only in the northwest, but across the province.
Good also brought Paul Hemming of Alcan into the mix to bring forward the aluminum giants perspective on the roiling controversy. He said that the new smelter will only be able to produce the maximum amount of aluminum that its current generating availabilities will allow.
When they aren’t producing the maximum amount of aluminum then the power sales to the grid will kick in. He too stressed the belief that actually the result will be less power sold to the province than is currently in place.
His impression of the controversy is that the debate over the power aspect has not been fully explained, as in his opinion there isn’t as much power out there as the other side seems to believe there is. The mantra seems to be aluminum first judging by the timbre of the words of those in support of the new smelter.
Hemming feels that perceptions on the issue are not being explained properly and the two sides need to get together to try to deal with the facts of the debate and not the myths or emotions.
The fact both sides were featured in separate blocks of time tells you a lot about the current state of debate in Kitimat. Had all guests been featured at the same time, it’s doubtful that much in the way of information might have gotten out, but we imagine that the debate would have been rather lively; such is the state of their positions.
The one hour program didn’t solve the controversy over Alcan’s plans by any means, but it certainly crystallizes the two differing opinions. Giving the listener a better understanding as to what all the noise is about coming from Kitimat these days.
An item of interest for Prince Rupert was something that Roger Harris tossed into the mix as almost a throwaway comment during the conversation. Harris took advantage of his time on the show to boost the prospects of the Port of Kitimat, a group that he’s currently involved with. Harris suggested that the Port there could be a booming shipping centre in the very near future. That might be something that our local politicians and port officials might like to keep an eye on.
It would be interesting to know if the suddenly resurgent plans for the Port of Kitimat might have any impact on the future plans for the Port of Prince Rupert and possible employment for our city. Perhaps that might be a topic for another day.
For now you can follow up the Alcan debate for yourself by checking out the CKNW Audio Vault and selecting Thursday, August 17 and listening in at the 9 to 10 am block of time.
The discussion was featured on the Bill Good show, in the 9-10 am hour Thursday morning; Good had Trafford Hall municipal manager of the City of Kitimat and Robin Austin, the MLA for Skeena on in the first half hour. They used their block of time to explain why they think the recent announcement of a 2 billion dollar revitalization program for Kitimat Works, with its power sales rider included, isn’t quite the bonanza for the public that Alcan would have everyone believe.
Taking pains to make sure that the concept of economic expansion was not something they were against, they focused much of their discussion on the power sales aspect of the plan put forward by Alcan. Which they say will see surplus power sold to the province, which they don’t use to produce aluminum. They say this means that in their opinion, public power is being sold off to private interests.
Good followed up that discussion with those in favour of the 2 billion dollar expansion in the second half hour, who made their case for economic development and continued employment in the northwest.
Roger Harris the former MLA for Skeena and currently of the Kitimat Port Authority and the Ralph Sultan MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano took the pro development side of the argument. Suggesting that for Kitimat it was much much better to have 1,000 jobs for the next 35 to 40 years than a declining smelter with little hope of extending is life.
Harris took issue with the argument that the power generation prospects will actually increase with the new smelter in place, in fact he says that at times the amount of power required by the smelter will result in less power being sent to the B C Hydro grid.
The impression of Sultan and Harris is that it’s just another indication of the NDP making mischief in the province, trying to take us back to the days of no development, threatening to turn the province into a very small vision kind of place. This is telling in how the debate is being shaped along political lines not only in the northwest, but across the province.
Good also brought Paul Hemming of Alcan into the mix to bring forward the aluminum giants perspective on the roiling controversy. He said that the new smelter will only be able to produce the maximum amount of aluminum that its current generating availabilities will allow.
When they aren’t producing the maximum amount of aluminum then the power sales to the grid will kick in. He too stressed the belief that actually the result will be less power sold to the province than is currently in place.
His impression of the controversy is that the debate over the power aspect has not been fully explained, as in his opinion there isn’t as much power out there as the other side seems to believe there is. The mantra seems to be aluminum first judging by the timbre of the words of those in support of the new smelter.
Hemming feels that perceptions on the issue are not being explained properly and the two sides need to get together to try to deal with the facts of the debate and not the myths or emotions.
The fact both sides were featured in separate blocks of time tells you a lot about the current state of debate in Kitimat. Had all guests been featured at the same time, it’s doubtful that much in the way of information might have gotten out, but we imagine that the debate would have been rather lively; such is the state of their positions.
The one hour program didn’t solve the controversy over Alcan’s plans by any means, but it certainly crystallizes the two differing opinions. Giving the listener a better understanding as to what all the noise is about coming from Kitimat these days.
An item of interest for Prince Rupert was something that Roger Harris tossed into the mix as almost a throwaway comment during the conversation. Harris took advantage of his time on the show to boost the prospects of the Port of Kitimat, a group that he’s currently involved with. Harris suggested that the Port there could be a booming shipping centre in the very near future. That might be something that our local politicians and port officials might like to keep an eye on.
It would be interesting to know if the suddenly resurgent plans for the Port of Kitimat might have any impact on the future plans for the Port of Prince Rupert and possible employment for our city. Perhaps that might be a topic for another day.
For now you can follow up the Alcan debate for yourself by checking out the CKNW Audio Vault and selecting Thursday, August 17 and listening in at the 9 to 10 am block of time.
Derby organizers counter negative impressions with observations of their own
With the Great Northern Salmon Classic taking a bit of a whooping of late from a number of directions, Tourism Prince Rupert provided some anecdotal observations to show that their plan for tackling the tourism crisis of this year is showing some hopeful signs.
Sounding a bit like a person tired of taking all the shots coming his way of late, Bruce Wishart of Tourism Prince Rupert suggested that those looking to see if the derby is bringing tourists to town, should only head for Rushbrook Floats to see the amount of boats taking to the waters around Prince Rupert.
Of course considering how contentious the derby seems to be of late, that might be an idea that causes more problems than it solves. One thing is certain, no amount of positive spinning is probably going to change the minds of those folks inland in Terrace, Kitimat and beyond who are feeling a tad left out of it all.
As for the local community, the Daily News did a survey of some of the businesses around town that have been impacted by the hits that the tourist season has taken thus far. They provided their findings as part of a page one story in Wednesday’s paper, you can hop along from business to business in the story below.
Difficult summer has had some bright spots
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Pages One, Three and Seven
Like the tides of Chatham Sound, tourism business in Prince Rupert has gone in and out through the spring and summer months.
Two main events have had a significant impact on tourism business in the city: the sinking of the Queen of the North ferry and the subsequent loss of bus tours and vehicle traffic, and the beginning of the Great Northern Salmon Classic fishing derby. which is starting to bring people along Highway 16 into the city.
Bruce Wishart from Tourism Prince Rupert estimates that following the sinking of the Queen of the North, the city sustained between a 50 and 75 per cent loss in business.
“What we’ve faced is the loss of the independent travelers who are coming along the highway on the circle tour, heading to and from Prince Rupert for the Queen of the North,” said Wishart.
“But with the derby only two weeks in, we have seen the beginnings of an impact which is very encouraging to see.
“The booking agencies for charter fishing are saying that the bookings are higher for August than they have been in previous years, which is very good news and the hotels are essentially overall telling us that they are beginning to see bookings that they attribute to the derby … it is looking good right now.
Wishart said that anybody wanting to see the impact the fishing derby is having on the city should go down to Rushbrook Floats where boats, trucks and trailers are lined up leading to the launch facility. He also said he’s noticed more Albertan licence plates than is usual for this time of year.
“We’re just feeling very confident that the derby is going to achieve it’s hoped for result of bringing people down Highway 16,” said Wishart.
Debbie Davis at Adventure Tours (a Grizzly bear and whale watching tour business) said that they have not been impacted at all either by the sinking of the ferry or the beginning of the fishing derby.
She says that the loss of tour buses off the ferry has had no impact on their business at all.
“To tell you the truth, we have not had a decline in our passengers,” she said “We’re in our 10th year of business and bus tours have not been a big thing for us.”
Mike Taylor who runs Seashore Charters, another tour business in Prince Rupert, said that they definitely took a dip in business after the ferry sank.
He says that according to Info-Centre statistics, business was down by 45 per cent in June and 33 per cent in July.
Even so, he has noticed an increase in business during the beginning of August and he attributes this increase to the traffic in town for the fishing derby.
“We’ve noticed a slight increase in our charter bookings and we’ve also noticed as mall increase in our tour bookings as well,” said Taylor.
“We’ve had some wives that have come up with their husbands for this derby and then they don’t want to go fishing and so they decide they are going to do a tour so we’ve got a little bit from that as well. Hopefully that will continue to increase as the weeks go on through August,” he said.
David Smook of Homework, a furniture, gifts and home furnishings store in the tourist area of Cow Bay has said that he lost some international tourist traffic that used to frequent his store and that the fishing derby hasn’t made much of a difference because he believes that kind of clientele may not be into buying the things in his store.
“Business is down but it’s not down in a way that is going to cripple me,’ said Smook.
Hotels in Prince Rupert have stood to loose the most in business because not as many tour busses are able to get here on the smaller replacement ferry sailing from Port Hardy.
“We’re the same as everybody else, we lost some tours and the reason we lose tours is because the ferries don’t join up, they don’t want to get stuck over on the island for a day (on the bus tours), they just want to go over and come back … that’s about it, everything else is about the same,” said Don Martin of the Highliner Plaza.
“We definitely feel it for sure, we’ve still got our rubber traffic and that sort of thing – just the regular tourists.
“It’s just missing the tours that are hurting us.”
The Crest Hotel was significantly hurt by the loss of tour busses after the sinking of the ferry but business has picked up somewhat since the beginning of the fishing derby on Aug 1.
“The tour part of our business was significantly affected,” said Scott Farwell, operations manager of the Crest Hotel.
“We’re not talking four or five buses, we’re talking into the 20, 30, 40 buses that have cancelled out or have had to make changes to their itinerary that don’t include Prince Rupert.
“I think there has been some general improvement… I don’t think the fishing derby is going to hurt us, that’s for sure, we’ve definitely seen some people come to town because of it.
“It’s still early, it’s only two weeks into it and as the word gets out, I think we’ll see it grow even larger.
“I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
Sounding a bit like a person tired of taking all the shots coming his way of late, Bruce Wishart of Tourism Prince Rupert suggested that those looking to see if the derby is bringing tourists to town, should only head for Rushbrook Floats to see the amount of boats taking to the waters around Prince Rupert.
Of course considering how contentious the derby seems to be of late, that might be an idea that causes more problems than it solves. One thing is certain, no amount of positive spinning is probably going to change the minds of those folks inland in Terrace, Kitimat and beyond who are feeling a tad left out of it all.
As for the local community, the Daily News did a survey of some of the businesses around town that have been impacted by the hits that the tourist season has taken thus far. They provided their findings as part of a page one story in Wednesday’s paper, you can hop along from business to business in the story below.
Difficult summer has had some bright spots
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Pages One, Three and Seven
Like the tides of Chatham Sound, tourism business in Prince Rupert has gone in and out through the spring and summer months.
Two main events have had a significant impact on tourism business in the city: the sinking of the Queen of the North ferry and the subsequent loss of bus tours and vehicle traffic, and the beginning of the Great Northern Salmon Classic fishing derby. which is starting to bring people along Highway 16 into the city.
Bruce Wishart from Tourism Prince Rupert estimates that following the sinking of the Queen of the North, the city sustained between a 50 and 75 per cent loss in business.
“What we’ve faced is the loss of the independent travelers who are coming along the highway on the circle tour, heading to and from Prince Rupert for the Queen of the North,” said Wishart.
“But with the derby only two weeks in, we have seen the beginnings of an impact which is very encouraging to see.
“The booking agencies for charter fishing are saying that the bookings are higher for August than they have been in previous years, which is very good news and the hotels are essentially overall telling us that they are beginning to see bookings that they attribute to the derby … it is looking good right now.
Wishart said that anybody wanting to see the impact the fishing derby is having on the city should go down to Rushbrook Floats where boats, trucks and trailers are lined up leading to the launch facility. He also said he’s noticed more Albertan licence plates than is usual for this time of year.
“We’re just feeling very confident that the derby is going to achieve it’s hoped for result of bringing people down Highway 16,” said Wishart.
Debbie Davis at Adventure Tours (a Grizzly bear and whale watching tour business) said that they have not been impacted at all either by the sinking of the ferry or the beginning of the fishing derby.
She says that the loss of tour buses off the ferry has had no impact on their business at all.
“To tell you the truth, we have not had a decline in our passengers,” she said “We’re in our 10th year of business and bus tours have not been a big thing for us.”
Mike Taylor who runs Seashore Charters, another tour business in Prince Rupert, said that they definitely took a dip in business after the ferry sank.
He says that according to Info-Centre statistics, business was down by 45 per cent in June and 33 per cent in July.
Even so, he has noticed an increase in business during the beginning of August and he attributes this increase to the traffic in town for the fishing derby.
“We’ve noticed a slight increase in our charter bookings and we’ve also noticed as mall increase in our tour bookings as well,” said Taylor.
“We’ve had some wives that have come up with their husbands for this derby and then they don’t want to go fishing and so they decide they are going to do a tour so we’ve got a little bit from that as well. Hopefully that will continue to increase as the weeks go on through August,” he said.
David Smook of Homework, a furniture, gifts and home furnishings store in the tourist area of Cow Bay has said that he lost some international tourist traffic that used to frequent his store and that the fishing derby hasn’t made much of a difference because he believes that kind of clientele may not be into buying the things in his store.
“Business is down but it’s not down in a way that is going to cripple me,’ said Smook.
Hotels in Prince Rupert have stood to loose the most in business because not as many tour busses are able to get here on the smaller replacement ferry sailing from Port Hardy.
“We’re the same as everybody else, we lost some tours and the reason we lose tours is because the ferries don’t join up, they don’t want to get stuck over on the island for a day (on the bus tours), they just want to go over and come back … that’s about it, everything else is about the same,” said Don Martin of the Highliner Plaza.
“We definitely feel it for sure, we’ve still got our rubber traffic and that sort of thing – just the regular tourists.
“It’s just missing the tours that are hurting us.”
The Crest Hotel was significantly hurt by the loss of tour busses after the sinking of the ferry but business has picked up somewhat since the beginning of the fishing derby on Aug 1.
“The tour part of our business was significantly affected,” said Scott Farwell, operations manager of the Crest Hotel.
“We’re not talking four or five buses, we’re talking into the 20, 30, 40 buses that have cancelled out or have had to make changes to their itinerary that don’t include Prince Rupert.
“I think there has been some general improvement… I don’t think the fishing derby is going to hurt us, that’s for sure, we’ve definitely seen some people come to town because of it.
“It’s still early, it’s only two weeks into it and as the word gets out, I think we’ll see it grow even larger.
“I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
When it comes to coffee, moderation is not your best approach
If a recent study is any indication, coffee drinkers are better off guzzling the brewed beans by the gallon, rather than drinking a mere cup or two a day.
According to a study in the September issue of Epidemiology, people who drink only an occasional cup of coffee may be at a higher risk of of hearth attack than heavy drinkers.
The statistics are rather startling and should either scare a number of us off the ground beverage for good, or send us off into a caffeine binge for our own safety.
Risk of heart attack rose 60 per cent in moderate coffee drinkers, defined as those who typically drink two or three cups a day.
The risk quadrupled for light coffee drinkers, who drink one cup or less than a cup per day.
The latest survey is just the latest in conflicting reports about the merits or lack there of for the main sustenance of many a Canadian.
Just remember that it’s good to the last drop as long as you’ve consumed many drops!
Geez, I wonder if the same principle holds for that other Canadian vice, smoking?
According to a study in the September issue of Epidemiology, people who drink only an occasional cup of coffee may be at a higher risk of of hearth attack than heavy drinkers.
The statistics are rather startling and should either scare a number of us off the ground beverage for good, or send us off into a caffeine binge for our own safety.
Risk of heart attack rose 60 per cent in moderate coffee drinkers, defined as those who typically drink two or three cups a day.
The risk quadrupled for light coffee drinkers, who drink one cup or less than a cup per day.
The latest survey is just the latest in conflicting reports about the merits or lack there of for the main sustenance of many a Canadian.
Just remember that it’s good to the last drop as long as you’ve consumed many drops!
Geez, I wonder if the same principle holds for that other Canadian vice, smoking?
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Just don’t call them the Space Cadets of Cape Breton
To boldly go where no man has gone before, and we're not talking about Baddeck or Sydney Mines. That could soon be the mantra down east, if some investors from away have their way in Cape Breton.
Cape Breton is set to join the space race, with word today that the province of Nova Scotia will provide 120 hectares of land to PlanetSpace to build a massive orbital launch facility.
With dreams of rivaling NASA n the world of Space exploration, PlanetSpace is hoping to start their days of space transportation by shuttling cargo to the International Space Station on something called the Canadian Arrow.
They expect to join in the quest for space by 2009 with a launch facility set up near Sydney, a town previously known for its mines and steel plants. Designs are in the works for a 200 million dollar project, that when completed will give Canada the capability to launch its own manned space program if it wishes.
The folks behind PlanetSpace also point out to the tourism potential of such a massive undertaking. When completed they figure it could become one of the major tourist attractions on the East Coast. They use the example of the Kennedy Space Centre; which they claim out draws the land of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse in Florida.
The east coast has seen its share of rather ambitious propositions over the years, flashy sports cars, before its time oil refineries, humongous Greenhouses growing giant cucumbers and now a jump into space.
You have to admit, they think big there. You just have to hope that the latest dream fares a little better than many of those that have gone before it. It's certainly an idea that as they say, is a little out there!
Cape Breton is set to join the space race, with word today that the province of Nova Scotia will provide 120 hectares of land to PlanetSpace to build a massive orbital launch facility.
With dreams of rivaling NASA n the world of Space exploration, PlanetSpace is hoping to start their days of space transportation by shuttling cargo to the International Space Station on something called the Canadian Arrow.
They expect to join in the quest for space by 2009 with a launch facility set up near Sydney, a town previously known for its mines and steel plants. Designs are in the works for a 200 million dollar project, that when completed will give Canada the capability to launch its own manned space program if it wishes.
The folks behind PlanetSpace also point out to the tourism potential of such a massive undertaking. When completed they figure it could become one of the major tourist attractions on the East Coast. They use the example of the Kennedy Space Centre; which they claim out draws the land of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse in Florida.
The east coast has seen its share of rather ambitious propositions over the years, flashy sports cars, before its time oil refineries, humongous Greenhouses growing giant cucumbers and now a jump into space.
You have to admit, they think big there. You just have to hope that the latest dream fares a little better than many of those that have gone before it. It's certainly an idea that as they say, is a little out there!
You have to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them!
There is a bit of a controversy brewing in Israel with the news that the chief of the nation's Army unloaded his stock portfolio, just before he sent his army into war in Lebanon.
Shortly after Army chief Dan Halutz cashed in his stocks the Israeli stock market began a two day tumble that didn't stop until 8.3 per cent of the index value was depreciated.
He points out that he actually lost money, 5,400 dollars in all with his stock transactions, but it's been generally ignored by his critics. Halutz says that he didn't think that the country would be at war when sold his shares, but not many seem to find much believability in that explanation.
More are concerned that at a time of hostilities, their Army's leader seemed more concerned about his personal financial situation than of the plans for a war. Reports have made the rounds that the Israeli Army had not been prepared properly for what was to come and in some instances didn't even have the proper equipment to head into battle.
Many are calling for the Government to replace their Army's head man, suggesting that he may not have his mind fully on the job at hand.
Shortly after Army chief Dan Halutz cashed in his stocks the Israeli stock market began a two day tumble that didn't stop until 8.3 per cent of the index value was depreciated.
He points out that he actually lost money, 5,400 dollars in all with his stock transactions, but it's been generally ignored by his critics. Halutz says that he didn't think that the country would be at war when sold his shares, but not many seem to find much believability in that explanation.
More are concerned that at a time of hostilities, their Army's leader seemed more concerned about his personal financial situation than of the plans for a war. Reports have made the rounds that the Israeli Army had not been prepared properly for what was to come and in some instances didn't even have the proper equipment to head into battle.
Many are calling for the Government to replace their Army's head man, suggesting that he may not have his mind fully on the job at hand.
Fishing Statistics Point To a Poor Season
While the sports fishers take in the festivities (and occasional hostilities) of the Great Northern Fishing Classic, the commercial sector is looking to a rather poor finish to a poor salmon season.
Shoreworkers are coming up short in employable hours to satisfy Employment Insurance officials, fishermen are not getting the kind of prices they believe they deserve for their labours and city officials are wondering what lies ahead for the winter and a possible spike in Welfare claims in the near future.
All of the factors coming together point to a perfect storm of unhappiness for those in the fishery this fall.
During the course of the discussion at City council this week the issue of jobs in the community came up. The Mayor pledged to jump on the issue of E. I. problems immediately, yet this is hardly a new issue for the northwest, perhaps getting ahead of this curve might have been more beneficial.
Coun. Tony Briglio, made a declaration that “this council is all about jobs for Prince Rupert”, which is the thing of motherhood around here. But, so far it’s been a case of a lot of talk about jobs, but not a lot of creation. Now it seems were faced with the prospect of further job reductions in a struggling industry that has had warning signs flashing for a number of years.
Might be a good time for the council to get busy on what they say they are all about.
The Daily news had a complete story on the developments in the fishery in its Wednesday edition.
POOR FISHING SEASON HAS MANY STRUGGLING
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Pages One and Three
Prince Rupert councilors are worried about the prospect of seeing a long welfare line-up come winter, especially considering the poor state of the current fishing season.
Coun. Joy Thorkelson updated council on the fishing season at this week’s council meeting, and there wasn’t a lot of good news to be spread.
“Our sockeye run has been better than what we expected,” she said. “But that’s it. We’ve had a pink failure here (on the North Coast), and to top it off, the Alaska fisheries has also had a pink failure.
“That has again pushed our fishing industry … the shoreworkers have only worked 300 hours so far, and 595 is required for those workers to collect (Employment Insurance).”
Thorkelson pointed out how those numbers are unfair to Northwest workers, because E. I. hours are calculated based on averages across a huge region that includes the entire northern area of B. C., and the Yukon – which comprises economic hotspots such as the Northeast where there is a lot of work available.
With the oil and gas fields in the Northeast – which include Fort St. John and Dawson Creek – included in those calculations, the hours needed to qualify max out at595, and it could even go up in future years, she said.
“It was 420 in the past,” she said. “It’s going to put our most senior fishermen, those who have worked for 35 years, on welfare.”
Thorkelson then asked whether council could do anything to lobby the federal government to provide some relief for those workers.
“I’m asking that council be involved in asking the federal government that they change the E. I. regulations,” she said. “And we would hope council could invite fish and shoreworkes (to a future meeting) to discuss how to bring winter work to these sectors.
“The community would benefit in the long run. We’re quite concerned… herring was a failure, and now pink.”
Mayor Herb Pond said the mayor’s office would jump on those suggestions immediately.
“The E. I. issue is real,” he said. “The method that is set up … the area is huge. But an area like ours that has been so hard-hit, it needs to be red circled.
”I don’t think council can create work programs, but we can certainly write letters to pursue that.”
Coun. Sheila Gordon-Payne pointed out that a fisheries committee had been set up at the last meeting, but Thorkelson wasn’t convinced it would be able to help the current situation.
“For example, we have 51 new machines that were supposed to make a difference this year.” said Thorkelson. “But those machines aren’t being used.”
“This community should have a concern these machines might be moved out of here. We may be losing an opportunity for work in the summer, as well as the winter,” said Thorkelson. “We were expecting three million fish, and we’re down to 300,000. It’s an absolutely disastrous situation.
Coun. Tony Briglio agreed that something has to be done.
“We have citizens here in Rupert that will be standing in a welfare line,” he said. “That needs to dealt with immediately. I fully agree that this council is all about jobs for Prince Rupert, and we need to bring these people to the table.”
Pond said that the mayor’s office will move on these issues, and try to get some answers in time for the next council meeting.
Shoreworkers are coming up short in employable hours to satisfy Employment Insurance officials, fishermen are not getting the kind of prices they believe they deserve for their labours and city officials are wondering what lies ahead for the winter and a possible spike in Welfare claims in the near future.
All of the factors coming together point to a perfect storm of unhappiness for those in the fishery this fall.
During the course of the discussion at City council this week the issue of jobs in the community came up. The Mayor pledged to jump on the issue of E. I. problems immediately, yet this is hardly a new issue for the northwest, perhaps getting ahead of this curve might have been more beneficial.
Coun. Tony Briglio, made a declaration that “this council is all about jobs for Prince Rupert”, which is the thing of motherhood around here. But, so far it’s been a case of a lot of talk about jobs, but not a lot of creation. Now it seems were faced with the prospect of further job reductions in a struggling industry that has had warning signs flashing for a number of years.
Might be a good time for the council to get busy on what they say they are all about.
The Daily news had a complete story on the developments in the fishery in its Wednesday edition.
POOR FISHING SEASON HAS MANY STRUGGLING
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Pages One and Three
Prince Rupert councilors are worried about the prospect of seeing a long welfare line-up come winter, especially considering the poor state of the current fishing season.
Coun. Joy Thorkelson updated council on the fishing season at this week’s council meeting, and there wasn’t a lot of good news to be spread.
“Our sockeye run has been better than what we expected,” she said. “But that’s it. We’ve had a pink failure here (on the North Coast), and to top it off, the Alaska fisheries has also had a pink failure.
“That has again pushed our fishing industry … the shoreworkers have only worked 300 hours so far, and 595 is required for those workers to collect (Employment Insurance).”
Thorkelson pointed out how those numbers are unfair to Northwest workers, because E. I. hours are calculated based on averages across a huge region that includes the entire northern area of B. C., and the Yukon – which comprises economic hotspots such as the Northeast where there is a lot of work available.
With the oil and gas fields in the Northeast – which include Fort St. John and Dawson Creek – included in those calculations, the hours needed to qualify max out at595, and it could even go up in future years, she said.
“It was 420 in the past,” she said. “It’s going to put our most senior fishermen, those who have worked for 35 years, on welfare.”
Thorkelson then asked whether council could do anything to lobby the federal government to provide some relief for those workers.
“I’m asking that council be involved in asking the federal government that they change the E. I. regulations,” she said. “And we would hope council could invite fish and shoreworkes (to a future meeting) to discuss how to bring winter work to these sectors.
“The community would benefit in the long run. We’re quite concerned… herring was a failure, and now pink.”
Mayor Herb Pond said the mayor’s office would jump on those suggestions immediately.
“The E. I. issue is real,” he said. “The method that is set up … the area is huge. But an area like ours that has been so hard-hit, it needs to be red circled.
”I don’t think council can create work programs, but we can certainly write letters to pursue that.”
Coun. Sheila Gordon-Payne pointed out that a fisheries committee had been set up at the last meeting, but Thorkelson wasn’t convinced it would be able to help the current situation.
“For example, we have 51 new machines that were supposed to make a difference this year.” said Thorkelson. “But those machines aren’t being used.”
“This community should have a concern these machines might be moved out of here. We may be losing an opportunity for work in the summer, as well as the winter,” said Thorkelson. “We were expecting three million fish, and we’re down to 300,000. It’s an absolutely disastrous situation.
Coun. Tony Briglio agreed that something has to be done.
“We have citizens here in Rupert that will be standing in a welfare line,” he said. “That needs to dealt with immediately. I fully agree that this council is all about jobs for Prince Rupert, and we need to bring these people to the table.”
Pond said that the mayor’s office will move on these issues, and try to get some answers in time for the next council meeting.
я увольнение
Evgeni Malkin says he’s not coming home, as he sends his regrets and resignation to Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Super League.
The Russian phenom is expected to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins and begin his NHL career. Russian law apparently allows you to leave your employer within two weeks of written notice, so with Malkin having sent his regards by fax, somewhere within the next fourteen days one assumes the young Russian will surface.
In something akin to a Le Carre novel, the young hockey player disappeared from his Russian team’s training camp in Finland and hasn’t bee seen since.
Somewhat similar to those wild days of the Stastny’s cloak and dagger defections, Malkin has been rumoured to be anywhere from Eastern Canada to the Pittsburgh suburbs.
Malkin is not the only Russian player to say farewell by fax or letter this summer, draft picks Alexei Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) and Andrei Taratukhin (Calgary Flames) also sent such letters to the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team of the Russian Super League this summer in order to join their NHL teams.
A situation which is stirring some serious feelings of distrust between the Russian hockey federation and the NHL. Perhaps leading to a new cold war in relations between the two sides.
The Canoe website had this report from Associated Press on all the intrigue, while the Toronto Star provided this look into the situation.
Malkin files resignation
Bykov: We live in a free country
By ALAN ROBINSON
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Evgeni Malkin has filed a letter of resignation with his Russian Super League team, a procedural move necessary for the star forward to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins and begin his NHL career.
Malkin remained hidden Wednesday, four days after abruptly leaving the Metallurg Magnitogorsk team on Saturday after it arrived for training camp in Helsinki, Finland.
The 20-year-old Malkin, arguably the top player in the world not currently in the NHL, is believed to have flown to Canada and remained there since, with no indication he has arrived in Pittsburgh for the start of the Penguins' training camp in three weeks.
Metallurg coach Dave King, the former Columbus Blue Jackets coach, told a Toronto all-sports radio station the team had received a fax from Malkin resigning. Russian law permits an employee - even an athlete under contract - to leave his job by giving two weeks' written notice.
Described by Metallurg's general director as a "Russian treasure," Malkin has stayed out of sight since leaving the team. But his North American agents, J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson of CAA Sports, said he was safe, though they would not say where he is.
"J.P. and I have been in constant touch with Evgeni, as we would do with any player, but especially with Evgeni," Brisson said Wednesday.
He would not speculate when Malkin might emerge.
Malkin, who starred for Russia's Olympic team in the Turin Olympics in February, recently agreed to stay with Metallurg for one more season. His previous contract was through 2008.
Malkin's acquaintances have suggested he was under considerable pressure and duress to agree to the deal, and it was reported in Russia the renegotiated contract wasn't completed until a 3 a.m. bargaining session.
The NHL has not publicly stated its support for Malkin and his desire to play in the league, but deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league believes any player should have the right to choose where he wants to play as long as he is legally free to do so.
Malkin isn't the only Russian player invoking the letter of resignation as a way to leave a team and play in the NHL. Draft picks Alexei Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) and Andrei Taratukhin (Calgary Flames) also sent such letters to the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team of the Russian Super League this summer in order to join their NHL teams.
Metallurg general director Gennady Velichkin has rebuked Malkin for leaving and is threatening to sue the Penguins if they sign him. His hardline stance is not shared by Russian national team coach Slava Bykov, who said Malkin was welcome to join the national team at any time.
"I think you can't blame him until you know what exactly happened when he was signing the contract," Bykov told Moscow's Sport-Express Daily newspaper. "There is only one thing I can't understand with this story with Malkin. We live in a free and democratic country, and anybody could leave it at any moment."
Malkin must agree to a contract with Pittsburgh before training camp, but the deal likely will be concluded with minimal negotiating. The NHL labour agreement established an entry-level salary of $984,200 US, and Malkin will sign a contract identical to that signed by Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin was the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft, and Malkin was No. 2.
Ovechkin's three-year deal included $850,000 in Schedule A bonuses and $2 million in Schedule B bonuses. The bonuses include those for games played, finishing in the top 10 in goals, assists and points and winning a major award such the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. Ovechkin won that award last season.
***Translation please*** for those dedicated to finishing their articles, я увольнение is basically I quit in Russian, thanks for playing along!
The above post first appeared on my HockeyNation blog, for more items about hockey check it out.
The Russian phenom is expected to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins and begin his NHL career. Russian law apparently allows you to leave your employer within two weeks of written notice, so with Malkin having sent his regards by fax, somewhere within the next fourteen days one assumes the young Russian will surface.
In something akin to a Le Carre novel, the young hockey player disappeared from his Russian team’s training camp in Finland and hasn’t bee seen since.
Somewhat similar to those wild days of the Stastny’s cloak and dagger defections, Malkin has been rumoured to be anywhere from Eastern Canada to the Pittsburgh suburbs.
Malkin is not the only Russian player to say farewell by fax or letter this summer, draft picks Alexei Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) and Andrei Taratukhin (Calgary Flames) also sent such letters to the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team of the Russian Super League this summer in order to join their NHL teams.
A situation which is stirring some serious feelings of distrust between the Russian hockey federation and the NHL. Perhaps leading to a new cold war in relations between the two sides.
The Canoe website had this report from Associated Press on all the intrigue, while the Toronto Star provided this look into the situation.
Malkin files resignation
Bykov: We live in a free country
By ALAN ROBINSON
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Evgeni Malkin has filed a letter of resignation with his Russian Super League team, a procedural move necessary for the star forward to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins and begin his NHL career.
Malkin remained hidden Wednesday, four days after abruptly leaving the Metallurg Magnitogorsk team on Saturday after it arrived for training camp in Helsinki, Finland.
The 20-year-old Malkin, arguably the top player in the world not currently in the NHL, is believed to have flown to Canada and remained there since, with no indication he has arrived in Pittsburgh for the start of the Penguins' training camp in three weeks.
Metallurg coach Dave King, the former Columbus Blue Jackets coach, told a Toronto all-sports radio station the team had received a fax from Malkin resigning. Russian law permits an employee - even an athlete under contract - to leave his job by giving two weeks' written notice.
Described by Metallurg's general director as a "Russian treasure," Malkin has stayed out of sight since leaving the team. But his North American agents, J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson of CAA Sports, said he was safe, though they would not say where he is.
"J.P. and I have been in constant touch with Evgeni, as we would do with any player, but especially with Evgeni," Brisson said Wednesday.
He would not speculate when Malkin might emerge.
Malkin, who starred for Russia's Olympic team in the Turin Olympics in February, recently agreed to stay with Metallurg for one more season. His previous contract was through 2008.
Malkin's acquaintances have suggested he was under considerable pressure and duress to agree to the deal, and it was reported in Russia the renegotiated contract wasn't completed until a 3 a.m. bargaining session.
The NHL has not publicly stated its support for Malkin and his desire to play in the league, but deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league believes any player should have the right to choose where he wants to play as long as he is legally free to do so.
Malkin isn't the only Russian player invoking the letter of resignation as a way to leave a team and play in the NHL. Draft picks Alexei Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) and Andrei Taratukhin (Calgary Flames) also sent such letters to the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team of the Russian Super League this summer in order to join their NHL teams.
Metallurg general director Gennady Velichkin has rebuked Malkin for leaving and is threatening to sue the Penguins if they sign him. His hardline stance is not shared by Russian national team coach Slava Bykov, who said Malkin was welcome to join the national team at any time.
"I think you can't blame him until you know what exactly happened when he was signing the contract," Bykov told Moscow's Sport-Express Daily newspaper. "There is only one thing I can't understand with this story with Malkin. We live in a free and democratic country, and anybody could leave it at any moment."
Malkin must agree to a contract with Pittsburgh before training camp, but the deal likely will be concluded with minimal negotiating. The NHL labour agreement established an entry-level salary of $984,200 US, and Malkin will sign a contract identical to that signed by Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin was the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft, and Malkin was No. 2.
Ovechkin's three-year deal included $850,000 in Schedule A bonuses and $2 million in Schedule B bonuses. The bonuses include those for games played, finishing in the top 10 in goals, assists and points and winning a major award such the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. Ovechkin won that award last season.
***Translation please*** for those dedicated to finishing their articles, я увольнение is basically I quit in Russian, thanks for playing along!
The above post first appeared on my HockeyNation blog, for more items about hockey check it out.
Fishing Derby under attack from all directions.
And the hits just keep on coming; the Great Northern Fishing Classic is certainly the main topic of conversation across the Northwest. Ever since it was announced that the Derby was on there has been no shortage of those that are suggesting that it may not have been the best of ideas ever thought up.
From city council conversations in both Prince Rupert and Port Edward to rather heated comments from the inland communities, the Derby is quickly becoming the lightning rod for all of the northwest.
Today’s on line edition of the Terrace Standard features an article which suggests that some hard feelings still linger further up Highway 16. With terms such as “hogging” and “short changed” to say that the reaction has been a tad negative would be an understatement. The Standard has been kind of leading the charge of late in reflecting (some might say creating) the backlash against the derby from the interior communities. Seemingly striving to stoke those inter community rivalries that seem to pop up around here from time to time.
To keep you up to speed on the latest amplification of rhetoric on the Derby we provide the entire article below.
Rupert fish derby draws fire for impact on area tourism
By SARAH ARTIS
Terrace Standard
Aug 16 2006
ORGANIZERS OF a major Prince Rupert salmon fishing derby are under fire for creating what critics call an unsustainable event that is competing with local derbies and hogging government money intended for the entire region.
"My personal feelings are that we got short-changed," said Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce president Glenn Kelly.
Called the Great Northern Salmon Classic, Prince Rupert's fishing derby runs from Aug. 1 until Sept. 15. It is the largest non-invitational fishing derby in western Canada and has prizes of up to $100,000.
The derby was made possible with $250,000 from the Northern Fund Management Committee, a group organized this summer to manage almost half a million dollars the province invested in regional tourism promotion.
The committee was set up to cover losses in tourism dollars due to the Queen of the North ferry sinking this past spring.
"Prince Rupert will benefit," Kelly said. "What did Terrace get?"
"And the derby is not what it should be either," he added. "The department of fisheries and oceans won't let commercial fishers fish for Coho and now every man, woman and child can go out there and kill Coho. That's crazy."
Kitimat city councillor Joanne Monaghan has similar feelings.
"We are supposed to be working together in the northwest and that one community is being greedy about it all. Why give to one community and not to others?" she said.
Monaghan and Pauline Maitland, who has helped organized the Kitimat fishing derby for the past four years, think a regional fishing derby would have been more fair.
"We can't compete with something like that," Maitland said of the Prince Rupert derby. "We don't have a zillion dollars worth of prizes."
Kitimat's 19th annual fishing derby runs Sept. 2-3, with top prizes valued at about $3,000.
But Bruce Wishart, executive director of Prince Rupert Tourism, that city's tourism agency, says the city's fishing derby was meant to benefit the region, not just the city.
"We are trying to replace the independent tourists that would be travelling to and from Rupert to catch the ferries," he said. "One type of traveller that goes up the highway and back is the fishers."
Each community along Highway 16 should benefit, because tourists are "doing the same thing - stopping for meals, fueling up, staying at hotels," Wishart said.
As for a regional derby, the logistics of managing a large-scale event would have been too difficult, he added.
With the high stakes up for grabs, it was important to localize the event for better control, he said.
Wishart said organizers have been and will continue to work closely with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to monitor fish stock numbers.
From city council conversations in both Prince Rupert and Port Edward to rather heated comments from the inland communities, the Derby is quickly becoming the lightning rod for all of the northwest.
Today’s on line edition of the Terrace Standard features an article which suggests that some hard feelings still linger further up Highway 16. With terms such as “hogging” and “short changed” to say that the reaction has been a tad negative would be an understatement. The Standard has been kind of leading the charge of late in reflecting (some might say creating) the backlash against the derby from the interior communities. Seemingly striving to stoke those inter community rivalries that seem to pop up around here from time to time.
To keep you up to speed on the latest amplification of rhetoric on the Derby we provide the entire article below.
Rupert fish derby draws fire for impact on area tourism
By SARAH ARTIS
Terrace Standard
Aug 16 2006
ORGANIZERS OF a major Prince Rupert salmon fishing derby are under fire for creating what critics call an unsustainable event that is competing with local derbies and hogging government money intended for the entire region.
"My personal feelings are that we got short-changed," said Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce president Glenn Kelly.
Called the Great Northern Salmon Classic, Prince Rupert's fishing derby runs from Aug. 1 until Sept. 15. It is the largest non-invitational fishing derby in western Canada and has prizes of up to $100,000.
The derby was made possible with $250,000 from the Northern Fund Management Committee, a group organized this summer to manage almost half a million dollars the province invested in regional tourism promotion.
The committee was set up to cover losses in tourism dollars due to the Queen of the North ferry sinking this past spring.
"Prince Rupert will benefit," Kelly said. "What did Terrace get?"
"And the derby is not what it should be either," he added. "The department of fisheries and oceans won't let commercial fishers fish for Coho and now every man, woman and child can go out there and kill Coho. That's crazy."
Kitimat city councillor Joanne Monaghan has similar feelings.
"We are supposed to be working together in the northwest and that one community is being greedy about it all. Why give to one community and not to others?" she said.
Monaghan and Pauline Maitland, who has helped organized the Kitimat fishing derby for the past four years, think a regional fishing derby would have been more fair.
"We can't compete with something like that," Maitland said of the Prince Rupert derby. "We don't have a zillion dollars worth of prizes."
Kitimat's 19th annual fishing derby runs Sept. 2-3, with top prizes valued at about $3,000.
But Bruce Wishart, executive director of Prince Rupert Tourism, that city's tourism agency, says the city's fishing derby was meant to benefit the region, not just the city.
"We are trying to replace the independent tourists that would be travelling to and from Rupert to catch the ferries," he said. "One type of traveller that goes up the highway and back is the fishers."
Each community along Highway 16 should benefit, because tourists are "doing the same thing - stopping for meals, fueling up, staying at hotels," Wishart said.
As for a regional derby, the logistics of managing a large-scale event would have been too difficult, he added.
With the high stakes up for grabs, it was important to localize the event for better control, he said.
Wishart said organizers have been and will continue to work closely with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to monitor fish stock numbers.
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