A lingering personnel dispute at the Northern Savings Credit Union has come to a conclusion, as the Credit Union chose to bring to an end a legal challenge to a court award and ended up paying out more in a court award than they had originally anticipated.
Despite the Credit Union winning on what they call three of four points of law, the defendant in the case, Jacob Keith Brumby, the former employee, won on one point, which it would appear was financially rewarding to his case.
The genesis of the court case came about as part of the Credit Union’s entry into the southern BC real estate, when the Credit Union formed the Mortgage Investment Group (MIG), which securitized residential mortgages, mostly in the super heated southern BC economy.
The Daily News had the details on the case in its Thursday paper.
NORTHERN SAVINGS TOLD TO PAY EX-WORKER
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Pages one and three
The B. C. Supreme Court has awarded a former employee of Northern Savings Credit Union’s Mortgage Investment Group (MIG) an additional $180,000 in bonuses, above and beyond what the credit union anticipated paying him.
Jacob Keith Brumby took Northern Savings to court to try and claim almost a million in bonus payments. He spent two years as the chief investment officer for the Mortgage Investment Group in Victoria and was terminated in August 2005.
Last month the court award Brumby $410,000 for the 2005 year.
“There were four points of law in the case. We won four points of law in the case. We won on three of them and the plaintiff won on one. The one in which we did not win had to do with the amount of profit from that division of the credit union and the bonus owed him was based upon an agreement we had,” said Mike Tarr, chief executive officer of Northern Savings Credit Union.
“In this case, like a lot of these cases, the judges tend to come down somewhere in the middle. The plaintiff had been asking for about a million dollars and we had offered $230,000 and so the award of $410,000 wasn’t terribly surprising but we were a bit disappointed.”
The point on which the credit union lost had to do with an expansion of the types of loan handled by the MIG.
When first started, the MIG’s original business plan was to securitize residential mortgages.
According to the court documents, t his involves granting residential mortgages to the public and then subsequently transferring the income stream to a third party for a profit based on the difference in interest rates.
“During the financial successes of the first year and upon the urging of the plaintiff (Brumby), some lenders and the company’s primary sales person, MIG, commenced to invest more risky loans known as B loans.
These B loans could not be securitized (transferred to a third party,) so MIG was required to keep them on their books. This increased the risk to MIG but also yielded increased profits,” reads the court case.
While Northern Savings argued Brumby’s contract did not include a bonus for the B loans, the judge ruled that Brumby’s bonus should be based on all the profits, including the B loans.
Although Northern Savings was disappointed with the result of the case, Tarr said they won’t be appealing the ruling.
“We’ve spent enough on lawyers. We have decided to accept the ruling and move on,” Tarr said.
“It was a very unusual thing to happen to us. We weren’t really expecting like this to happen but this individual was pretty aggressive and that’s where it went.”
He added the reason the bonus is so large is because 2005 was an incredibly good year for the MIG.
“That’s why the number is so large. Normally, especially at a credit union, you wouldn’t have bonuses like that but it was such an extraordinary year that was what the agreement generated. It was one of those years when everything worked,” said Tarr.
The ruling doesn’t affect Northern Savings 2007 financials.
“We have already put money aside for it form previous years so it will have absolutely no financial impact in 2007,” he said.
The Northern Savings MIG was formed in March 2004, in response to the decline in the Northwestern economy.
Establishing the MIG allowed Northern Savings to benefit from the active Southern B. C. real estate market while continuing to be an active supporter of Northwestern communities.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Changes to rules of the water could bring dangers
The possibility of Transport Canada changing regulations for coastal waters in British Columbia has a number of Maritime groups in the province concerned over the possibility of problems developing as pilots unfamiliar to local waters take over vessels along the coast.
The Daily News featured the story on its front page on Thursday.
CHOPPY WATERS FEARED IF SHIP PILOTS’ RULES CHANGED
Groups fear local knowledge may be sacrificed for profits if Act is altered
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Pages one and three
Transport Canada is looking at changes to regulations that could put strangers at the helm of large tankers being brought into Canadian ports.
However, B. C.’s maritime community, including representation from Prince Rupert, say there is no reason to delve into uncharted waters.
“In light of the increased traffic and capacity we are anticipating on the West Coast over the next couple of years, we are quite concerned they were looking at the use of employee pilots, people who were employed by the companies who would be running as a pilot on their own,” said Des Nobels of the T. Buck Suzuki Foundation.
“With human error being what it is, you can take all the precautions in the world unless you have good people on those vessels you could have a problem,”
Transport Canada has hired consultants to review the Pilotage Act, the federal regulations that mandate how Pilotage Authorities can operate.
They held meetings on the proposed changes in Prince Rupert and in Vancouver in March.
Currently, when a vessel of 350 gross tonnes enters British Columbia waters, its shipping agent contacts the Pacific Pilotage Authority to have a pilot brought out to the boarding station and transferred onto the vessel. In Prince Rupert, that station is on Triple Island. Once the vessel leaves Triple Island, it is under the command of a pilot.
B. C.’s pilots are contracted by the Pacific Pilotage Authority through the B. C. Coastal Pilots Marine Pilots or, in the Lower Mainland, Fraser River Pilots.
However, one of the changes being explored by Transport Canada would mean that the Pilotage Authority would not have to contract either association and it’s members who have experience navigating the complex waters off B. C. coastal waters off B. C. coast, said Jennifer Lash, executive director of the Living Oceans Society. Instead they could use an employee pilot on board the vessel.
“Once you go to market-based decision that allow shipping companies to find a cheaper solution to piloting their ships, they will end up cutting corners,” said Lash.
“That makes us very concerned.”
It’s especially daunting given the number of projects proposed for the North Coast that could increase the number of tanker visits each year by 320, she said.
“Most of the pilots are veterans of the coast, probably more than 20 years sea time in these waters, that’s one of the prerequisites before you get to the exam process,” said Ken Robinson.
Robinson is vice-president of the B.C. Coastal Marine Pilots.
“We are very familiar with the coast and those are the benefits the ships get from using the pilots. We are familiar with the passages, the currents, the traffic, all that kind of stuff.”
In addition to safety concerns, the B. C. Chamber of Shipping said this change could result in labour turmoil between pilot associations and pilotage authorities.
“It could lead to bargaining that wasn’t in good faith because you knew if your contract didn’t work out you could always hire other people, it didn’t make sense to us,’ said Rick Bryant of the B. C. Chamber of Shipping, organization that serves the international shipping community in B. C.
The other three changes being proposed by Transport Canada include eliminating the use of an arbitrator to negotiate final contracts between the pilotage authorities and pilot associations, removing the ability of people to oppose new pilotage tariffs with the Canadian Transportation Agency and eliminating the right of stakeholders to object to changes in areas that require pilots.
Ultimately, there is a consensus that the proposed changes have been put forward to solve labour problems in the St. Lawrence Seaway, said Robinson.
“There’s some perceived problems in an area of the St. Lawrence River, they are struggling somewhat, the authority and the pilots in that area, to settle their negotiations, so the government is looking at ways to force their hand, I’d have to say,” said Robinson. “Nobody on the West Coast thinks it’s a great idea. Most of the people in the transportation industry were quite united in saying that’s not something we want to look at around here.”
The Daily News featured the story on its front page on Thursday.
CHOPPY WATERS FEARED IF SHIP PILOTS’ RULES CHANGED
Groups fear local knowledge may be sacrificed for profits if Act is altered
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Pages one and three
Transport Canada is looking at changes to regulations that could put strangers at the helm of large tankers being brought into Canadian ports.
However, B. C.’s maritime community, including representation from Prince Rupert, say there is no reason to delve into uncharted waters.
“In light of the increased traffic and capacity we are anticipating on the West Coast over the next couple of years, we are quite concerned they were looking at the use of employee pilots, people who were employed by the companies who would be running as a pilot on their own,” said Des Nobels of the T. Buck Suzuki Foundation.
“With human error being what it is, you can take all the precautions in the world unless you have good people on those vessels you could have a problem,”
Transport Canada has hired consultants to review the Pilotage Act, the federal regulations that mandate how Pilotage Authorities can operate.
They held meetings on the proposed changes in Prince Rupert and in Vancouver in March.
Currently, when a vessel of 350 gross tonnes enters British Columbia waters, its shipping agent contacts the Pacific Pilotage Authority to have a pilot brought out to the boarding station and transferred onto the vessel. In Prince Rupert, that station is on Triple Island. Once the vessel leaves Triple Island, it is under the command of a pilot.
B. C.’s pilots are contracted by the Pacific Pilotage Authority through the B. C. Coastal Pilots Marine Pilots or, in the Lower Mainland, Fraser River Pilots.
However, one of the changes being explored by Transport Canada would mean that the Pilotage Authority would not have to contract either association and it’s members who have experience navigating the complex waters off B. C. coastal waters off B. C. coast, said Jennifer Lash, executive director of the Living Oceans Society. Instead they could use an employee pilot on board the vessel.
“Once you go to market-based decision that allow shipping companies to find a cheaper solution to piloting their ships, they will end up cutting corners,” said Lash.
“That makes us very concerned.”
It’s especially daunting given the number of projects proposed for the North Coast that could increase the number of tanker visits each year by 320, she said.
“Most of the pilots are veterans of the coast, probably more than 20 years sea time in these waters, that’s one of the prerequisites before you get to the exam process,” said Ken Robinson.
Robinson is vice-president of the B.C. Coastal Marine Pilots.
“We are very familiar with the coast and those are the benefits the ships get from using the pilots. We are familiar with the passages, the currents, the traffic, all that kind of stuff.”
In addition to safety concerns, the B. C. Chamber of Shipping said this change could result in labour turmoil between pilot associations and pilotage authorities.
“It could lead to bargaining that wasn’t in good faith because you knew if your contract didn’t work out you could always hire other people, it didn’t make sense to us,’ said Rick Bryant of the B. C. Chamber of Shipping, organization that serves the international shipping community in B. C.
The other three changes being proposed by Transport Canada include eliminating the use of an arbitrator to negotiate final contracts between the pilotage authorities and pilot associations, removing the ability of people to oppose new pilotage tariffs with the Canadian Transportation Agency and eliminating the right of stakeholders to object to changes in areas that require pilots.
Ultimately, there is a consensus that the proposed changes have been put forward to solve labour problems in the St. Lawrence Seaway, said Robinson.
“There’s some perceived problems in an area of the St. Lawrence River, they are struggling somewhat, the authority and the pilots in that area, to settle their negotiations, so the government is looking at ways to force their hand, I’d have to say,” said Robinson. “Nobody on the West Coast thinks it’s a great idea. Most of the people in the transportation industry were quite united in saying that’s not something we want to look at around here.”
Friday, April 13, 2007
Two Nations united in defence of pepperoni
The RCMP in Alberta are giving credit to the US Department of Homeland Security in assisting in the tracking down of the pilfering perpetrators of premium pepperoni from Seven persons.
Mounties responded to a call of a break and enter at the Premium plant, where a pair of pepperoni enthusiasts removed a large supply of product and headed for the woods in a van full of beef jerky, sausages and pepperoni.
Perhaps they had planned a rendez vous with the Beef Jerkey Bandits, or with a notorious group of cheese swindlers and the ever dangerous Pizza Dough Boys, known for their masterful liberation of pizza dough ingredients.
With the assistance of a plane from the US agency, a pair of teenage latter day finished product cattle rustlers are in custody, leaving the province's supply of fine meat products safe once again.
Mounties responded to a call of a break and enter at the Premium plant, where a pair of pepperoni enthusiasts removed a large supply of product and headed for the woods in a van full of beef jerky, sausages and pepperoni.
Perhaps they had planned a rendez vous with the Beef Jerkey Bandits, or with a notorious group of cheese swindlers and the ever dangerous Pizza Dough Boys, known for their masterful liberation of pizza dough ingredients.
With the assistance of a plane from the US agency, a pair of teenage latter day finished product cattle rustlers are in custody, leaving the province's supply of fine meat products safe once again.
Fraser institute issues its alert
It's like an early warning system for the locals, leery of the research methods of the right wing think tank the Fraser Institute.
The Institute issued a press release on Friday, advising one and all that their rather controversial secondary school rankings will be released on Saturday.
In the Friday release, a second press release was promised for bright and early Saturday morning, 6 am to be exact, which will offer more details on the Fraser Institutes rankings of the 291 public and private secondary schools in BC and the Yukon.
All the mystery seems a bit overindulgent, but then the Fraser Institutes rankings of secondary schools in the Province always seem to polarize the province like few things can.
Last year's results didn't sit particularly well with the local populace, many of whom suggest that the Institute ignores a number of socio-economic factors that impact on local education.
The results are designed to provide to spark conversation, which they certainly do, even if some of it is rather heated and seemingly counter productive at times.
In the end, the rankings don't really account for much, despite the rhetoric that comes from the Institutes own public relations releases. The release of the rankings does manage to get people excited and angry in some cases, but we're not sure that they provide for much in the long run that changes the education system to any great degree.
They will however make for supper time reading in the Saturday and Sunday papers from the lower mainland, which print the scorecard with the same diligence as a Canuck's score sheet.
For those not willing to wait for the Vancouver papers to arrive, the Institute promises to publish the results to their web page on Saturday.
Let the sides form up, let the rhetoric begin!
The Institute issued a press release on Friday, advising one and all that their rather controversial secondary school rankings will be released on Saturday.
In the Friday release, a second press release was promised for bright and early Saturday morning, 6 am to be exact, which will offer more details on the Fraser Institutes rankings of the 291 public and private secondary schools in BC and the Yukon.
All the mystery seems a bit overindulgent, but then the Fraser Institutes rankings of secondary schools in the Province always seem to polarize the province like few things can.
Last year's results didn't sit particularly well with the local populace, many of whom suggest that the Institute ignores a number of socio-economic factors that impact on local education.
The results are designed to provide to spark conversation, which they certainly do, even if some of it is rather heated and seemingly counter productive at times.
In the end, the rankings don't really account for much, despite the rhetoric that comes from the Institutes own public relations releases. The release of the rankings does manage to get people excited and angry in some cases, but we're not sure that they provide for much in the long run that changes the education system to any great degree.
They will however make for supper time reading in the Saturday and Sunday papers from the lower mainland, which print the scorecard with the same diligence as a Canuck's score sheet.
For those not willing to wait for the Vancouver papers to arrive, the Institute promises to publish the results to their web page on Saturday.
Let the sides form up, let the rhetoric begin!
Highway 16 troubles multiply
Yesterday it was one washout near Slim Creek, about 110 kilometres east of Prince George.
Today, the highway is suffering a number of problems, another wash out shutting travel to one lane near McBride and one westbound near Houston, where traffic is reduced to one lane.
In addition to that, there is water pooling around the Houston area as well, to make the weekend driving just a bit more challenging.
The opinion 250 website had a number of pictures and details on the problems and you can check out the drive bc website for up to date information.
Today, the highway is suffering a number of problems, another wash out shutting travel to one lane near McBride and one westbound near Houston, where traffic is reduced to one lane.
In addition to that, there is water pooling around the Houston area as well, to make the weekend driving just a bit more challenging.
The opinion 250 website had a number of pictures and details on the problems and you can check out the drive bc website for up to date information.
We'll be right back after this short commercial message, April 12
And nary a stuffed toilet, nor malfunctioning fire extinguisher in sight!
We are sailing, we are sailing...
We are sailing, we are sailing...
Thursday, April 12, 2007
City honours Coast Guard members for 2004 rescue
The city recognized valour on Monday night, as Prince Rupert city council awarded the William Booth medal to four members of the Canadian Coast Guard, recognition for their part in the rescue operation for the F/V Larissa.
The members of the Point Henry crew, are only the second recipients of the city's award for valour, crew member Les Palmer was awarded the Order of Canada last year for his part in the rescue of the fishermen.
He requested that the city also honour his co workers for their part in the operation.
The Daily News provided full details of the ceremony and the background behind the story.
CITY SAYS THANKS TO CREW OF THE POINT HENRY
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Page One
Crew members of the Canadian Coast Guard vessel the Point Henry were honoured for their role in the rescue of two fishermen during a ceremony at city hall last night.
The CCG Point Henry’s First Officer Les Palmer, Captain Don Lee, Leading Seaman Lawrence Brown, Seaman William Robb and Chief Engineer Mark Brown were presented with the William Booth Award for valour for their roles in the icy rescue.
“As everybody is well aware, Les Palmer and the crew of the Point Henry did this community proud.
“Council wanted to do a fitting recognition, some way to recognize this but we had no organized program,” said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
Since the incident back in 2004, the city has put in place the William Booth Award, so it can appropriately recognize members of the community for acts of valour.
The award is named after Sgt. William Booth, who in 1921, gave his own life while trying to stop a runaway wagon and save the lives of two local children.
“While all of the limelight has been focused on the effort of Mr. Palmer, and rightly so, Mr. Palmer said there was a whole crew out there making this happen,” said Pond.
Palmer requested that if the city honour him, it honours the entire crew.
“I think that’s quite appropriate,” said Pond.
The conditions that night were extreme, with the weather minus-30 on the water and winds blowing from 80 to 100 knots.
The F/V Larissa had began taking on ice as it entered Grenville Channel. A huge wind had rocked the vessel and it began taking on water forcing two fishermen aboard to head for shore.
The crew headed out into the storm, with the Point Henry collecting ice as she made her way out to the site.
Palmer was dropped off by the Point Henry in a rubber boat to rescue the two men. He made three half-mile hikes in hip-deep snow, icy rocky terrain and in the face of storm-force northeasterlies between the stranding site and the location where he was able to land his equipment. He then offered medical care to two hypothermic survivors for several hours before the Coast Guard ship John P. Tully arrived.
The men were each presented with a plaque by the city and their names will be inscribed on the plaque that sits in city hall.
Last October, Palmer was awarded Canada’s highest award for bravery; the Cross of Valour for his efforts.
The is only the second time the city has presented its bravery award.
Prince Rupert’s Rob Brewer was also given the Sgt. William Booth Award for valour by the city for pulling his neighbour from a burning trailer.
The members of the Point Henry crew, are only the second recipients of the city's award for valour, crew member Les Palmer was awarded the Order of Canada last year for his part in the rescue of the fishermen.
He requested that the city also honour his co workers for their part in the operation.
The Daily News provided full details of the ceremony and the background behind the story.
CITY SAYS THANKS TO CREW OF THE POINT HENRY
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Page One
Crew members of the Canadian Coast Guard vessel the Point Henry were honoured for their role in the rescue of two fishermen during a ceremony at city hall last night.
The CCG Point Henry’s First Officer Les Palmer, Captain Don Lee, Leading Seaman Lawrence Brown, Seaman William Robb and Chief Engineer Mark Brown were presented with the William Booth Award for valour for their roles in the icy rescue.
“As everybody is well aware, Les Palmer and the crew of the Point Henry did this community proud.
“Council wanted to do a fitting recognition, some way to recognize this but we had no organized program,” said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
Since the incident back in 2004, the city has put in place the William Booth Award, so it can appropriately recognize members of the community for acts of valour.
The award is named after Sgt. William Booth, who in 1921, gave his own life while trying to stop a runaway wagon and save the lives of two local children.
“While all of the limelight has been focused on the effort of Mr. Palmer, and rightly so, Mr. Palmer said there was a whole crew out there making this happen,” said Pond.
Palmer requested that if the city honour him, it honours the entire crew.
“I think that’s quite appropriate,” said Pond.
The conditions that night were extreme, with the weather minus-30 on the water and winds blowing from 80 to 100 knots.
The F/V Larissa had began taking on ice as it entered Grenville Channel. A huge wind had rocked the vessel and it began taking on water forcing two fishermen aboard to head for shore.
The crew headed out into the storm, with the Point Henry collecting ice as she made her way out to the site.
Palmer was dropped off by the Point Henry in a rubber boat to rescue the two men. He made three half-mile hikes in hip-deep snow, icy rocky terrain and in the face of storm-force northeasterlies between the stranding site and the location where he was able to land his equipment. He then offered medical care to two hypothermic survivors for several hours before the Coast Guard ship John P. Tully arrived.
The men were each presented with a plaque by the city and their names will be inscribed on the plaque that sits in city hall.
Last October, Palmer was awarded Canada’s highest award for bravery; the Cross of Valour for his efforts.
The is only the second time the city has presented its bravery award.
Prince Rupert’s Rob Brewer was also given the Sgt. William Booth Award for valour by the city for pulling his neighbour from a burning trailer.
Calls for Queen of North clean up become louder
With the Queen of the North laying at the bottom of the ocean near Hartley Bay, concerns over leaking fuel and the impact it will have on the ecosystem in that area are becoming more frequent and expressed with more conviction.
The leaking fuel is said to be contaminating key shellfish areas in Wright Sound and important part of the traditions and economy of the residents of Hartley Bay and the area.
It's an issue that has been raised prominently by the local MLA Gary Coons who is asking for immediate action on the problem. His call and further details on the situation were found in Wednesday's Daily News.
CLEAN UP SUNKEN FERRY'S FUEL LEAK RIGHT NOW: MLA
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Page one
An internal B.C. government document says hydrocarbons were found in food sources near Hartley Bay as early as a week after the Queen of the North sank.
Yet nothing has been done to remove the fuel from the sunken vessel, which continues to leak into the surrounding environment.
The briefing note obtained by The Canadian Press under the Freedom of Information Act was prepared for Environment Minister Barry Penner.
It says hydrocarbons were found in shellfish at five of 13 sensitive locations affected by the fuel leaking out of the sunken B.C. ferry in Wright Sound.
The residents of nearby Hartley Bay say fuel continues to bubble up and they have not harvested in the area for a year.
They are angry that nothing has yet been done about the situation, despite the authorities’ awareness of the water’s contamination.
North Coast MLA Gary Coons said immediate action needs to be taken.
“Waiting over a year is unacceptable,” said Coons. “There have been no concrete actions taken by the minister responsible.”
The leaking fuel is spreading into the area of traditional harvest by members of the Gitga’at First Nation, who live in the community of Hartley Bay.
Coons noted that if nothing is done, there will be young people who are denied the opportunity to experience their traditional culture and foods.
He related a story written by the young grand daughter of the spouse of a hereditary chief from that village.
“Today, my teacher asked us how many of us had tasted abalone. I know that abalone was an animal that lived on the rocks in the water and that the shells were a beautiful rainbow colour. But I’ve never tasted one,” she said.
“My grandmother told me that long ago they used to be able to get abalone by the sackful, and they were delicious. But I’ve never tasted one. She said they were good raw, but if you’re going to fry them that you had to pound them and then fry them and eat them with rice. But I’ve never tasted one.”
“I don’t know what happened to them all. I just know there aren’t any anymore, and I’ve never tasted one,” said the young woman.
The student then wondered what will happen in 2010 if her teacher asks her how many of the students have tasted clams?
“I wonder what I will say. I hope that it won’t be that I have never tasted one,” she said.
Coons noted that while immediate action needs to be taken, he was informed in a letter from the Canadian Coast Guard that they are “monitoring” the situation and have found it stable.
“Once their ‘technical review’ is completed they will discuss the options with B.C. Ferries and enter into ‘consultations with First Nations,” said Coons.
It’s no wonder the residents feel that all levels of government are stalling, he noted.
“We must ensure a timely response for those who put their lives at risk on that fateful night last March,” he said.
With files from Canadian Press
The leaking fuel is said to be contaminating key shellfish areas in Wright Sound and important part of the traditions and economy of the residents of Hartley Bay and the area.
It's an issue that has been raised prominently by the local MLA Gary Coons who is asking for immediate action on the problem. His call and further details on the situation were found in Wednesday's Daily News.
CLEAN UP SUNKEN FERRY'S FUEL LEAK RIGHT NOW: MLA
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Page one
An internal B.C. government document says hydrocarbons were found in food sources near Hartley Bay as early as a week after the Queen of the North sank.
Yet nothing has been done to remove the fuel from the sunken vessel, which continues to leak into the surrounding environment.
The briefing note obtained by The Canadian Press under the Freedom of Information Act was prepared for Environment Minister Barry Penner.
It says hydrocarbons were found in shellfish at five of 13 sensitive locations affected by the fuel leaking out of the sunken B.C. ferry in Wright Sound.
The residents of nearby Hartley Bay say fuel continues to bubble up and they have not harvested in the area for a year.
They are angry that nothing has yet been done about the situation, despite the authorities’ awareness of the water’s contamination.
North Coast MLA Gary Coons said immediate action needs to be taken.
“Waiting over a year is unacceptable,” said Coons. “There have been no concrete actions taken by the minister responsible.”
The leaking fuel is spreading into the area of traditional harvest by members of the Gitga’at First Nation, who live in the community of Hartley Bay.
Coons noted that if nothing is done, there will be young people who are denied the opportunity to experience their traditional culture and foods.
He related a story written by the young grand daughter of the spouse of a hereditary chief from that village.
“Today, my teacher asked us how many of us had tasted abalone. I know that abalone was an animal that lived on the rocks in the water and that the shells were a beautiful rainbow colour. But I’ve never tasted one,” she said.
“My grandmother told me that long ago they used to be able to get abalone by the sackful, and they were delicious. But I’ve never tasted one. She said they were good raw, but if you’re going to fry them that you had to pound them and then fry them and eat them with rice. But I’ve never tasted one.”
“I don’t know what happened to them all. I just know there aren’t any anymore, and I’ve never tasted one,” said the young woman.
The student then wondered what will happen in 2010 if her teacher asks her how many of the students have tasted clams?
“I wonder what I will say. I hope that it won’t be that I have never tasted one,” she said.
Coons noted that while immediate action needs to be taken, he was informed in a letter from the Canadian Coast Guard that they are “monitoring” the situation and have found it stable.
“Once their ‘technical review’ is completed they will discuss the options with B.C. Ferries and enter into ‘consultations with First Nations,” said Coons.
It’s no wonder the residents feel that all levels of government are stalling, he noted.
“We must ensure a timely response for those who put their lives at risk on that fateful night last March,” he said.
With files from Canadian Press
Do it yourselfers, doing it badly!
Don't try this at home, should perhaps be the warning on each and every box.
A US study has found that do it yourself home handyman are hurting themselves more and more often, as they test out the powerful construction tools that once were the domain of the actual trained construction worker.
And far and away the most dangerous tool in your Tool Time workshop is the nail gun, an apparent monster of a machine that if in the wrong hands can cause more than a few bent nails.
37,000 people sought treatment in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2005 after getting shot or shooting themselves in the hands, arms, legs, head or eyes with nail-guns. 40 per cent (14,800) of those treated were consumers, while the remainder were professional carpenters or other construction workers.
About 95 per cent were men.
We can see the women of Podunk right now nodding in agreement and proclaiming that they're not surprised!
Nail-gun injuries spike
Canadian Press
Globe and Mail
April 12, 2006
TORONTO — The number of nail-gun injuries among consumers has spiked dramatically as more and more do-it-yourselfers arm themselves with the powerful tools for home renovation projects, a U.S. study has found.
A report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that about 37,000 people sought treatment in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2005 after getting shot or shooting themselves in the hands, arms, legs, head or eyes with nail-guns.
About 40 per cent (14,800) of those treated were consumers, while the remainder were professional carpenters or other construction workers.
About 95 per cent were men.
Principal author Hester Lipscomb, an epidemiologist at Duke University, said the number of nail-gun injuries among DIY home renovators has more than tripled in the last 15 years.
“Since 1991, the estimate among consumers was in the range of 4,000 injuries a year — and now we're looking at about 14,000,” Ms. Lipscomb said from Durham, N.C.
“And it's probably related to the fact that these tools are easy to purchase, they're not expensive and they're available in home supply stores.”
“The tools were developed to increase productivity in work, and they've become so easily available that we now have an issue with consumer safety as well.”
While the hospital database lists only the number of injuries and not exactly how they occurred, Lipscomb said her work with the Carpenters Union of North America shows nail-guns, even among professionals, need to be used with care.
Carpenters given no training before using the rapid-firing devices were twice as likely to be injured as workers given training, she said, noting that consumers may have no access to such education before picking up the tool.
“It's like any other gun, you would treat it with respect,” she said. “You don't point at yourself or someone else. You always assume that it's loaded. You learn how to use it safely. You use the right fasteners for it. You keep trigger locks in place.”
The study showed that injuries to upper extremities, primarily the hands and fingers, were the most common, accounting for 75 per cent of nailings for consumers and 66 per cent for professional workers.
About six per cent of the ER patients were admitted for their injuries, which included nails embedded in their trunk, head, joints or bones; fractures from penetrated nails; and infections from untreated punctures.
No Canadian statistics on nail-gun injuries are available, but Dr. Fred Brenneman of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre said physicians there do see nail-gun injuries on occasion.
But the chief of trauma said he hasn't noticed the numbers rising at the Toronto hospital.
“It's not a huge incidence, I have to say,” said Dr. Brenneman, but noted that the injuries can in some cases be nasty.
Sunnybrook trauma doctors have successfully treated patients who had nails driven into their heads, and one man who had a nail that punctured his heart, he said.
“These are pretty powerful weapons, well they're not weapons, but these pneumatic air-guns are pretty powerful.”
Miki Fendt of Home Depot Canada said she has had reports about the safety feature on nailers being used improperly and jamming, causing unwanted nails to shoot out.
“And people keep their hands a little too close, they get too saucy with their tool and shoot through their fingers,” Mr. Fendt, a contractor services associate at a Home Depot in north Toronto, said of professionals.
“I find generally that homeowners have a lot more respect for those kinds of tools. They wouldn't touch them if they didn't go through intensive training on them. They truly have respect for the tools.”
She advises that consumers read all the safety instructions before using a nailer and to wear protective goggles.
Ms. Lipscomb said that besides increased attention to safety, a change in how nail-gun triggers are engineered could also prevent many injuries.
Many pneumatic nail-drivers have a “contact-trip trigger,” which fires a nail any time the trigger is depressed and the nose of the gun is depressed, she said. Workers use this kind of trigger to walk along nailing as they move forward, in what's known as “bounce” or “bump” nailing, allowing them to fire the fasteners rapidly.
The problem with that contact-trip trigger is that there is less control, and recoiling of the gun can allow high-speed nails to hit the same spot twice, resulting in a ricochet, Ms. Lipscomb said. “And that's dangerous.”
A much better system is the “sequential trigger,” which requires that the gun's nose be in contact with the nailing surface before the trigger can be pulled.
As part of the study, Ms. Lipscomb wants to drive home the message that consumers should investigate the trigger type and choose the safer mechanism when renting or buying a nail-gun.
“As the carpenters I work with will say: ‘You know, they're not called a gun for nothing.'”
Northern Adventure leaves a few wanting a much better travel experience
The folks at BC Ferries will need a bit more than polish for the shiny new ferry, to try and deflect one journalists account of a recent trip on the newly installed Northern Adventure.
Heather Ramsey, writing for the tyee website, was aboard a rather troubled journey from Skidegate to Rupert over the Easter Weekend. Her account of extensive travel delays, alarming ship alarms during the night, frustrated ferry workers and less than edible food from the galley, is not something we'll be finding in a travel brochure we are sure.
Heather Ramsey, writing for the tyee website, was aboard a rather troubled journey from Skidegate to Rupert over the Easter Weekend. Her account of extensive travel delays, alarming ship alarms during the night, frustrated ferry workers and less than edible food from the galley, is not something we'll be finding in a travel brochure we are sure.
Having arrived on the north coast with a colourful history from her days as the Sonia X, spanning the seas from the Caribbean to Spain, the Northern Adventure may be preparing to add to her legacy by providing the locals to share tales of their own.
From self discharging fire extinguishers, to a giant sucking sound in the middle of the night, her journey sounds like possibly the worst travel experience that BC Ferries might wish to offer and something that local tourism operators might wish to keep an eye on.
After all, when you've spent millions of dollars to purchase, refit and re brand your newest addition, to have it become known as the VOMIT COMET, is probably not part of the company plan.
Every new venture will take time to work out the bugs we guess, but somehow we suspect that the Northern Adventure had best fast track the shakedown phase of operations, lest a few more
"Comet" stories make their way to the mainstream.
"Comet" stories make their way to the mainstream.
Highway 16 reduced to one lane east of Prince George
A land slide east of Prince George has reduced the Northern version of the Trans Canada highway to but one lane for east west travel.
Opinion 250 provided a dramatic picture of the slide area which took place 117 kilometres east of the city and the situation on the highway continues to be monitored for further erosion.
It is in the same area where a slide 15 years ago closed the highway until repairs could be completed.
Opinion 250 provided a dramatic picture of the slide area which took place 117 kilometres east of the city and the situation on the highway continues to be monitored for further erosion.
It is in the same area where a slide 15 years ago closed the highway until repairs could be completed.
Pictures of Podunk: Ferry Terminal at Fairview
When the vessel Northern Adventure isn't being checked over for "glitches", passengers gather at the Prince Rupert Ferry terminal to begin their journey. The terminal also serves as the western terminus of Via Rails cross Canada northern line service.Northern mayors join the call for BC Ferries to step up the delivery of its information services
It was an issue that first came to light from residents of the Queen Charlotte Islands, a centralized reservation and information centre based in the south would leave many local residents wondering where there vessel was and when it might come in.
The days of phoning the local terminal for information are gone, as all calls are routed to the central service centre, leaving Victoria based agents to try and explain the status of service on the unpredictable North Coast.
It’s a business model that a good number of northern residents find unacceptable and would like to see revisited.
The Daily News featured the controversy as part of the front page of Tuesday’s paper.
‘B.C. FERRIES CHANGE MEANS NORTH IS MISSING THE BOAT’
Mayors fear ferry advice, information is not as good as it should be
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Pages one and three
Residents of the Queen Charlotte Islands and the North Coast no longer know when their ship will come in because of a B. C. Ferries’ decision to centralize its reservation system in Victoria, say directors of the Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District.
“You used to be able to call the ferry terminal and find out the status of the ferry,” said Ian Hetmen, director for Rural Graham Island. “The young lady that was looking after that became ill and the person who filled in for a few days didn’t do a very good job and it carried on from there.”
In order to rectify the problem, Hetman said the company decided to change its reservation system so that when people call the local terminals, they get redirected to Victoria.
This decision covers the Prince Rupert, Skidegate and Port Hardy Terminals.
However, the information being provided about the status of the ship has not always been accurate, leaving people waiting for hours at the terminal.
Corey Delves, the mayor of Port Clements, noted he has tried calling the terminal in Skidegate this winter only to get transferred to Victoria and told to show up four hours before the ship actually left.
“We are all facing these challenges,” said Carole Kulehsa, mayor of the Queen Charlotte Village.
The reservation system in the North is particularly problematic during the busy summer season and no one is quite sure how centralized booking will affect the existing challenges.
Kulesha said she had met people from Europe who drove the mainland and thought they could just hop on a ferry to the Islands in August.
“Well, you can’t get one. People book months in advance,” she said. But these people were given the wrong information. Whether it was local or central booking, there was a variety of information they were given.
She said the ferry advisory committee has been told that under the centralized system everyone will have the same information.
“In theory it might work, in practice a big hole is the fact that we can’t call and find out if the ferry is on time,” she said.
In an earlier interview, B. C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall said people wanting to speak with someone at a local terminal can go down there personally.
She said the company made the shift because it will make service better, allowing staff at local terminals to focus on walk-in clientele. And there will be no decrease in the staffing level.
“There is no impact on our ticket agents, what it does is give better customer service to their face-to-face customers,” she said. “Right now, they are dealing with the phone as well as customers who are there in person.”
Currently, 75 per cent of reservations for the Northern Routes are handled out of Victoria.
The days of phoning the local terminal for information are gone, as all calls are routed to the central service centre, leaving Victoria based agents to try and explain the status of service on the unpredictable North Coast.
It’s a business model that a good number of northern residents find unacceptable and would like to see revisited.
The Daily News featured the controversy as part of the front page of Tuesday’s paper.
‘B.C. FERRIES CHANGE MEANS NORTH IS MISSING THE BOAT’
Mayors fear ferry advice, information is not as good as it should be
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Pages one and three
Residents of the Queen Charlotte Islands and the North Coast no longer know when their ship will come in because of a B. C. Ferries’ decision to centralize its reservation system in Victoria, say directors of the Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District.
“You used to be able to call the ferry terminal and find out the status of the ferry,” said Ian Hetmen, director for Rural Graham Island. “The young lady that was looking after that became ill and the person who filled in for a few days didn’t do a very good job and it carried on from there.”
In order to rectify the problem, Hetman said the company decided to change its reservation system so that when people call the local terminals, they get redirected to Victoria.
This decision covers the Prince Rupert, Skidegate and Port Hardy Terminals.
However, the information being provided about the status of the ship has not always been accurate, leaving people waiting for hours at the terminal.
Corey Delves, the mayor of Port Clements, noted he has tried calling the terminal in Skidegate this winter only to get transferred to Victoria and told to show up four hours before the ship actually left.
“We are all facing these challenges,” said Carole Kulehsa, mayor of the Queen Charlotte Village.
The reservation system in the North is particularly problematic during the busy summer season and no one is quite sure how centralized booking will affect the existing challenges.
Kulesha said she had met people from Europe who drove the mainland and thought they could just hop on a ferry to the Islands in August.
“Well, you can’t get one. People book months in advance,” she said. But these people were given the wrong information. Whether it was local or central booking, there was a variety of information they were given.
She said the ferry advisory committee has been told that under the centralized system everyone will have the same information.
“In theory it might work, in practice a big hole is the fact that we can’t call and find out if the ferry is on time,” she said.
In an earlier interview, B. C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall said people wanting to speak with someone at a local terminal can go down there personally.
She said the company made the shift because it will make service better, allowing staff at local terminals to focus on walk-in clientele. And there will be no decrease in the staffing level.
“There is no impact on our ticket agents, what it does is give better customer service to their face-to-face customers,” she said. “Right now, they are dealing with the phone as well as customers who are there in person.”
Currently, 75 per cent of reservations for the Northern Routes are handled out of Victoria.
Taliban bombings take more Canadian lives
While six of their comrades were being flown home for their final journey, a number of other Canadian soldiers travelled the roads west of Kandahar on their regular patrols, trying to do the job they have been sent far away to do.
By the end of the day Wednesday, Canadians would learn of two more names that would be listed among the Canadian fallen of Afghanistan, more Canadian troops would be injured and a string of Taliban attacks would gain prominent attention back in Canada.
Many Canadians still to this day aren't fully informed about our mission there, the dangers that come with it and the sacrifices of the troops and the families back home.
Last night on KCTS the Seattle based PBS channel, Frontline/World featured a segment focusing on the Canadian mission in the scrub lands outside of Kandahar where Canadian forces operate, it was an interesting look at what Canadians hoped to achieve while there and the frustrations that they suffer when things don't quite work out according to plan.
For every step forward with the local population that we make, something always seems to come along to cause events to move backwards. A cycle that tends to result in a status quo situation, rather than a progressive winning over of the population. The documentary provided a window into that world, one where villages sometimes are abandoned back to the Taliban which could account for some of the hesitancy of the local community to become more involved.
As fascinating as it was however, it still doesn't prepare you for the carnage and sadness that seems to have been a part of our daily newscasts these last few days.
The Globe and Mail has a number of resources in Afghanistan and provided a detailed examination of the latest tragic events to be suffered by Canadian forces in the Afghanistan countryside. We provide links to their coverage and some of the other media reports on the latest developments.
Globe and Mail-Two soldiers die in wave of Taliban bombings
Canada.com-Two more Canadians killed in Afghan blasts as 6 fallen comrades return home
CBC.ca-http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/04/11/afghan-deaths.html
CTV.ca-Roadside bomb kills 2 soldiers in Afghanistan
Toronto Star-Two soldiers die, three hurt in Afghan blasts
Global National-Attacks on Canadian convoys kill two soldiers
By the end of the day Wednesday, Canadians would learn of two more names that would be listed among the Canadian fallen of Afghanistan, more Canadian troops would be injured and a string of Taliban attacks would gain prominent attention back in Canada.
Many Canadians still to this day aren't fully informed about our mission there, the dangers that come with it and the sacrifices of the troops and the families back home.
Last night on KCTS the Seattle based PBS channel, Frontline/World featured a segment focusing on the Canadian mission in the scrub lands outside of Kandahar where Canadian forces operate, it was an interesting look at what Canadians hoped to achieve while there and the frustrations that they suffer when things don't quite work out according to plan.
For every step forward with the local population that we make, something always seems to come along to cause events to move backwards. A cycle that tends to result in a status quo situation, rather than a progressive winning over of the population. The documentary provided a window into that world, one where villages sometimes are abandoned back to the Taliban which could account for some of the hesitancy of the local community to become more involved.
As fascinating as it was however, it still doesn't prepare you for the carnage and sadness that seems to have been a part of our daily newscasts these last few days.
The Globe and Mail has a number of resources in Afghanistan and provided a detailed examination of the latest tragic events to be suffered by Canadian forces in the Afghanistan countryside. We provide links to their coverage and some of the other media reports on the latest developments.
Globe and Mail-Two soldiers die in wave of Taliban bombings
Canada.com-Two more Canadians killed in Afghan blasts as 6 fallen comrades return home
CBC.ca-http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/04/11/afghan-deaths.html
CTV.ca-Roadside bomb kills 2 soldiers in Afghanistan
Toronto Star-Two soldiers die, three hurt in Afghan blasts
Global National-Attacks on Canadian convoys kill two soldiers
For a greener, environmentally friendly hamster cage
Here's something the world is screaming out for, an environmentally freindly, self sufficient shredding hamster cage. Hammy, can not only help you eliminate unwanted paper around the house, but he can power the shredder and line his own nest at the same time.
Not only do you gain the ability to shred those confidential papers, but your pet can make sure that nobody, and we mean nobody will dare try to piece them back together again.
Not only do you gain the ability to shred those confidential papers, but your pet can make sure that nobody, and we mean nobody will dare try to piece them back together again.
Discovered through the wonderfully weird portal of boing boing, this should help Canadians gain those green credits that will help us lead the world to better and hamster friendly future.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
We'll be right back after this short commercial message, April 10
Gas mileage and attitude, makes this a vehicle for your every need.
King of the road and environs beyond!
King of the road and environs beyond!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
CN Agreement goes off the rails
It may be back to the picket lines for members of the UTU, the union representing thousands of workers at Canadian National Railways.
The results of the vote on the labour agreement tentatively reached in February between CN and the UTU were released on Tuesday night with wide discrepancies in the vote total. Opinion 250 out of Prince George stated that it was rejected by close to 80%, while earlier reports from the mainstream media had the rejection vote total pegged at 67%.
Regardless it would seem that the terms of agreement did not meet with the membership's approval and we wait for the next shoe to drop in the dispute.
Late Tuesday night it was decided that rotating picket lines would be set up at selected locations across Canada by Wednesday morning.
Job action in February brought grain shipments from Prince Rupert's Grain Terminal to a standstill and caused a great degree of difficulty and concern not only in Canada's farm land, but in the industrial base of Ontario, where auto plants, chemical plants and other industrial users found supplies dry up and delivery schedules left in ruin.
At that time the Federal Government was poised to declare the strike not in the country's interest and went so far as to prepare to legislate the workers back to the job. Should there be a replay of the troubled days of that strike, it's expected that the government will be dusting off it's legislation and bringing it up in front of Parliament as soon as possible.
CN offered up its interpretation of the events on its website, while the UTU did much the same from their portal.
The major news sites all had stories on the decision and it's potential impact on the economy.
CTV News/Globe and Mail
CBC News
Canada.com
The results of the vote on the labour agreement tentatively reached in February between CN and the UTU were released on Tuesday night with wide discrepancies in the vote total. Opinion 250 out of Prince George stated that it was rejected by close to 80%, while earlier reports from the mainstream media had the rejection vote total pegged at 67%.
Regardless it would seem that the terms of agreement did not meet with the membership's approval and we wait for the next shoe to drop in the dispute.
Late Tuesday night it was decided that rotating picket lines would be set up at selected locations across Canada by Wednesday morning.
Job action in February brought grain shipments from Prince Rupert's Grain Terminal to a standstill and caused a great degree of difficulty and concern not only in Canada's farm land, but in the industrial base of Ontario, where auto plants, chemical plants and other industrial users found supplies dry up and delivery schedules left in ruin.
At that time the Federal Government was poised to declare the strike not in the country's interest and went so far as to prepare to legislate the workers back to the job. Should there be a replay of the troubled days of that strike, it's expected that the government will be dusting off it's legislation and bringing it up in front of Parliament as soon as possible.
CN offered up its interpretation of the events on its website, while the UTU did much the same from their portal.
The major news sites all had stories on the decision and it's potential impact on the economy.
CTV News/Globe and Mail
CBC News
Canada.com
Airport to benefit from increased links
The recent agreement to work with Edmonton and Prince George on issues of economic interest is apparently already paying dividends at the Prince Rupert Airport.
The Daily News explained in Monday’s paper how the new three city agreement has resulted in the Edmonton airport providing planning assistance to the folks at Prince Rupert.
The article also examined some of the ideas that Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond has about our transportation gateway.
DEAL LIKELY TO TAKE THE AIRPORT UP TO NEW HEIGHTS
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, April 9, 2007
Page one
Prince Rupert’s agreement to work with Edmonton and Prince George is already taking off, with staff at the airport of Edmonton helping Prince Rupert develop an airport strategy.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the three cities was signed two weeks ago in Edmonton.
William MacNeil, airport manager, said staff at the airport in Edmonton have offered to help Prince Rupert come up with a strategic plan that will address such things as the increased use expected to come with the development of the Fairview Container Terminal.
The two parties will be sitting down to discuss the plan in May.
“They offered their assistance in any way possible at no cost to us. That was quite a generous gesture,” said MacNeil.
“We’ve a date set to get together and try to look at our plan in terms of the demands that will come in the future and how we will package the airport in order to meet what is coming in the future.”
While Prince Rupert’s deep water port and rail lines have been upgraded to handle traffic from the new Fairview Container Terminal, B. C. Ferries has brought new resources on line to handle growth in the tourism sector and the community has a new cruise ship terminal to attract international travelers, the airport has not been upgraded to meet demands that could result from these developments.
“One of the interesting things that is happening in Edmonton is there is more coming at them than they can handle in terms of manufacturing opportunities and other opportunities,” said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
“They also want to grow their airport as an international airport and see this corridor as being very critical to that. If people could take a train from Edmonton out to Prince Rupert and grab a cruise ship for example there is all the more reason they might fly to Edmonton.”
When it comes to the airport, Pond noted there are some obvious things the airport society could be thinking about in the short term and some obvious things that need to be done in the long run.
“The question is, in what order do you do what,” he said. The strategic plan will address issues, although Pond already has a few ideas.
“This is a gateway, this is how many, many business people from all over the world are experiencing Prince Rupert for the first time. They get off an airplane and they still haven’t got clear direction on what it is that is about to take place and there aren’t very many amenities for them when they arrive. There are some changes we can make, subtle, small but as simple as having coffee available.”
The Daily News explained in Monday’s paper how the new three city agreement has resulted in the Edmonton airport providing planning assistance to the folks at Prince Rupert.
The article also examined some of the ideas that Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond has about our transportation gateway.
DEAL LIKELY TO TAKE THE AIRPORT UP TO NEW HEIGHTS
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, April 9, 2007
Page one
Prince Rupert’s agreement to work with Edmonton and Prince George is already taking off, with staff at the airport of Edmonton helping Prince Rupert develop an airport strategy.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the three cities was signed two weeks ago in Edmonton.
William MacNeil, airport manager, said staff at the airport in Edmonton have offered to help Prince Rupert come up with a strategic plan that will address such things as the increased use expected to come with the development of the Fairview Container Terminal.
The two parties will be sitting down to discuss the plan in May.
“They offered their assistance in any way possible at no cost to us. That was quite a generous gesture,” said MacNeil.
“We’ve a date set to get together and try to look at our plan in terms of the demands that will come in the future and how we will package the airport in order to meet what is coming in the future.”
While Prince Rupert’s deep water port and rail lines have been upgraded to handle traffic from the new Fairview Container Terminal, B. C. Ferries has brought new resources on line to handle growth in the tourism sector and the community has a new cruise ship terminal to attract international travelers, the airport has not been upgraded to meet demands that could result from these developments.
“One of the interesting things that is happening in Edmonton is there is more coming at them than they can handle in terms of manufacturing opportunities and other opportunities,” said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
“They also want to grow their airport as an international airport and see this corridor as being very critical to that. If people could take a train from Edmonton out to Prince Rupert and grab a cruise ship for example there is all the more reason they might fly to Edmonton.”
When it comes to the airport, Pond noted there are some obvious things the airport society could be thinking about in the short term and some obvious things that need to be done in the long run.
“The question is, in what order do you do what,” he said. The strategic plan will address issues, although Pond already has a few ideas.
“This is a gateway, this is how many, many business people from all over the world are experiencing Prince Rupert for the first time. They get off an airplane and they still haven’t got clear direction on what it is that is about to take place and there aren’t very many amenities for them when they arrive. There are some changes we can make, subtle, small but as simple as having coffee available.”
Bark once to sell, Bark twice to hold!
Already suffering a horrible Public Relations disaster with the recall of many of its product due to pet related illnesses and deaths, the pet food maker Menu Foods finds itself back on the front pages again.This time due to what has been described as a "horrible coincidence", which saw its Chief Financial Officer, Mark Wiens sell off almost half of his stock in the company a few weeks before the first reports of animal deaths were made public and the subsequent recall of much of the company's product.
The CTV news website quotes Wiens as saying that he sold his shares for financial planning purposes, and was prohibited from selling them until February 16 due to an implemented black out period. Once that period expired, he sold 45% of his holdings on February 26 and 27, collecting $102,900. If that same amount of stock were to be sold today, his earnings would be significantly lower, bringing in only $62,440.
The stock development came to light as Insider trading reports were made public, adding an inconvenient bit of information at a most crucial time for the company in the glare of a media spotlight.
Company spokesman Sam Bornstein said on Tuesday "there was no link whatsoever" over the timing of the trades and the pet food recall. Just a case of a horrible coincidence, at a horrible time.
Bornstein provided the following quote to the media to show support for the CFO at this troubled time:
"This is a guy who conducts himself to the highest ethical and moral standards and he wouldn't do anything to imperil the high governance standards that he demands of himself and the company," said Bornstein.
"In fact, to do so would compromise his ability to make a living."
It's a challenge at times like these to keep a company's integrity intact and the brand relevant for future investment and consumer confidence and respect.
Whatever Menu Foods is paying their PR department, they are truly earning every penny of it.
If anybody is earning their keep at the company, it's the men and women who have to deliver these most interesting developments with the best possible light!
We'll be right back after this short commercial message, April 9
The best defence for a Canadian stereotype is the tried and true response!
Remember the steps of a good hockey fight!
Remember the steps of a good hockey fight!
Home sales on the rise again!
Last weeks statistics tell a tale of increasing prices and a burgeoning sellers market in Prince Rupert, a reversal of fortunes of only a few short years ago and a reprise of the speculative market that developed shortly after the Container Port development was announced.
With a number of homes in the Rupert area asking for and receiving unheard of prices of late, the real estate market locally seems to be heating up as the spring viewing season arrives.
Sellers are buoyed by the price of housing increasing by over 23 per cent from last year, making for a competitive bidding market for those looking to sell. And for the most part they can sell their houses in less time than last year; the average turn around time in selling a home in Rupert now stands at 39 days.
Compared across the region, the average cost of a house in Rupert is still holding the middle of the list, with Terrace still registering the most expensive average, while Kitimat offers up the least expensive housing options of the three cities examined.
AVERAGE PRICING AS OF MARCH 2007
TERRACE $162,425
PRINCE RUPERT $152,336
KITIMAT $126,273
The Daily News tweaks some of the numbers from last week and examines the local real estate market in a front page story in Monday’s paper.
HOMES IN BOOMING RUPERT ARE BEING SNAPPED UP AGAIN
Many more homes selling this year in comparison to same period last year
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, April 9, 2007
Pages one and three
The usual rise in real estate activity during the spring months came early this year for Prince Rupert home sellers.
According to the Northern B. C. Real Estate Board, 60 properties worth $12.5 million have already sold in the first three months of the year, compared to 47 properties worth $4.7 million by the end of March last year. The average price for the homes sold this year was $152,336, up 23.4 per cent compared to the same time last year.
Yet in neighbouring communities like Terrace, housing sales are down.
Greg Hllling, president of the B. C. Northern Real Estate Board, attributed the difference between the communities to each town having its “own unique set of circumstances.”
“Oil and Gas exploration in the North has slowed, mining activity in the Williams Lake and Smithers area has increased, and some areas are experiencing growth thanks to construction of the container port in Prince Rupert,” said Holling.
At month end, there were 126 properties of all types for sale in the Prince Rupert area, compared to 142 on March 31 last year.
In Terrace, 62 properties of all types worth $7.6 million have sold so far this year. Last year, in the same period 73 properties with a total value of $9.3 million sold.
The average home price in Terrace was $162,425, up 24.3 per cent compared to last year.
And the number of days the Rupert homes took to sell dropped from an average of 60 days last year to 39 days this year.
In Kitimat, 26 properties worth $3.2 million have sold since Jan.1, compared to 37 properties (of all classification) worth $3.3 million last year. At month end, there were 74 properties of all types available for purchase, compared to 60 last year.
The average selling price for a Kitimat home was $126,273, up 15 per cent from last year.
Overall, the board reported that sales in the North reached a record of $243,983,487 for the total value of all properties sold in the first three months of the year. This is up 35 per cent from last year and almost double the $125.8 million of 2005.
“Most areas are experiencing a shortage of good, available properties and we are seeing inventory levels dropping as low as two, two and a half month supply of listings,” said Holling.
“This, together with low residential building starts in some areas along with steady demand will likely have the effect of causing further price increases.
“Mortgage rates continue to be reasonable and all pundits call for a continuation of these historically low rates. We are cautiously optimistic that all our markets will do as well as last year or better.”
With a number of homes in the Rupert area asking for and receiving unheard of prices of late, the real estate market locally seems to be heating up as the spring viewing season arrives.
Sellers are buoyed by the price of housing increasing by over 23 per cent from last year, making for a competitive bidding market for those looking to sell. And for the most part they can sell their houses in less time than last year; the average turn around time in selling a home in Rupert now stands at 39 days.
Compared across the region, the average cost of a house in Rupert is still holding the middle of the list, with Terrace still registering the most expensive average, while Kitimat offers up the least expensive housing options of the three cities examined.
AVERAGE PRICING AS OF MARCH 2007
TERRACE $162,425
PRINCE RUPERT $152,336
KITIMAT $126,273
The Daily News tweaks some of the numbers from last week and examines the local real estate market in a front page story in Monday’s paper.
HOMES IN BOOMING RUPERT ARE BEING SNAPPED UP AGAIN
Many more homes selling this year in comparison to same period last year
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, April 9, 2007
Pages one and three
The usual rise in real estate activity during the spring months came early this year for Prince Rupert home sellers.
According to the Northern B. C. Real Estate Board, 60 properties worth $12.5 million have already sold in the first three months of the year, compared to 47 properties worth $4.7 million by the end of March last year. The average price for the homes sold this year was $152,336, up 23.4 per cent compared to the same time last year.
Yet in neighbouring communities like Terrace, housing sales are down.
Greg Hllling, president of the B. C. Northern Real Estate Board, attributed the difference between the communities to each town having its “own unique set of circumstances.”
“Oil and Gas exploration in the North has slowed, mining activity in the Williams Lake and Smithers area has increased, and some areas are experiencing growth thanks to construction of the container port in Prince Rupert,” said Holling.
At month end, there were 126 properties of all types for sale in the Prince Rupert area, compared to 142 on March 31 last year.
In Terrace, 62 properties of all types worth $7.6 million have sold so far this year. Last year, in the same period 73 properties with a total value of $9.3 million sold.
The average home price in Terrace was $162,425, up 24.3 per cent compared to last year.
And the number of days the Rupert homes took to sell dropped from an average of 60 days last year to 39 days this year.
In Kitimat, 26 properties worth $3.2 million have sold since Jan.1, compared to 37 properties (of all classification) worth $3.3 million last year. At month end, there were 74 properties of all types available for purchase, compared to 60 last year.
The average selling price for a Kitimat home was $126,273, up 15 per cent from last year.
Overall, the board reported that sales in the North reached a record of $243,983,487 for the total value of all properties sold in the first three months of the year. This is up 35 per cent from last year and almost double the $125.8 million of 2005.
“Most areas are experiencing a shortage of good, available properties and we are seeing inventory levels dropping as low as two, two and a half month supply of listings,” said Holling.
“This, together with low residential building starts in some areas along with steady demand will likely have the effect of causing further price increases.
“Mortgage rates continue to be reasonable and all pundits call for a continuation of these historically low rates. We are cautiously optimistic that all our markets will do as well as last year or better.”
Monday, April 09, 2007
Don’t Drink, don't gamble and take care of your folks!
The edict has come down from high in Changyuan County, in Henan province China.
Government officials must do more than perform well on the job, now those promotions will hinge on how their character is judged.
Of particular concern to government officials are incidences of gambling, drinking and a disregard for your parents. With China becoming a more modern society, a once family oriented society is starting to become a little too "me oriented". In one province they're trying to stem the flood of disregard.
Special investigators in Changyuan County will grill relatives, friends and colleagues on each official's behaviour, including their family values and whether they have any drinking or gambling habits.
Only those with a perfect record will be promoted.
Those that misbehave we assume will be sent to their rooms without dinner.
Government officials must do more than perform well on the job, now those promotions will hinge on how their character is judged.
Of particular concern to government officials are incidences of gambling, drinking and a disregard for your parents. With China becoming a more modern society, a once family oriented society is starting to become a little too "me oriented". In one province they're trying to stem the flood of disregard.
Special investigators in Changyuan County will grill relatives, friends and colleagues on each official's behaviour, including their family values and whether they have any drinking or gambling habits.
Only those with a perfect record will be promoted.
Those that misbehave we assume will be sent to their rooms without dinner.
iPod Rotation for April 2007
The songs on the Podunkian iPod for the month of March.
April 23-Arcade Fire-Intervention
April 20-Alan Jackson- A house with no curtains
April 12-Tom Cochrane-Big League
April 9-Gretchen Wilson-Here for the party
April 23-Arcade Fire-Intervention
April 20-Alan Jackson- A house with no curtains
April 12-Tom Cochrane-Big League
April 9-Gretchen Wilson-Here for the party
It's Showtime: April 2007
Since we suddenly felt in an expansive mood on television this month, we'll resuscitate our monthly archive of our thoughts on entertainment, last seen on these pages in January.
Perhaps this will increase the chances of more production for April, then again since it's the month of hockey playoffs maybe not! Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
April 6-Television-The Sopranos
Perhaps this will increase the chances of more production for April, then again since it's the month of hockey playoffs maybe not! Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
April 6-Television-The Sopranos
From the pages of Business week
A couple of interesting tid bits from the world of business today, a few quick note articles which proclaim that the price of oil is dropping.
One which suggested that it has dropped three dollars a barrel, the other only a mere two dollars, either way however, the price isn't going up, it's apparently going down!
From the digital pages of the Business Week website, Monday's glad tidings of declining prices, which came out on the same day that Petro Can raised the price of gas three cents a litre at the local station to 111.9. They were the only local station on Monday that did.
Not sure if they stock the magazine on the magazine racks at Hays Cove. But if not, can somebody get Petro Can a subscription, Quick!
NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street ended an erratic session essentially flat Monday as investors grew anxious about upcoming first-quarter earnings and the possibility that interest rates won't be declining anytime soon. A $2 drop in oil prices lent support to the major indexes.
One which suggested that it has dropped three dollars a barrel, the other only a mere two dollars, either way however, the price isn't going up, it's apparently going down!
From the digital pages of the Business Week website, Monday's glad tidings of declining prices, which came out on the same day that Petro Can raised the price of gas three cents a litre at the local station to 111.9. They were the only local station on Monday that did.
Not sure if they stock the magazine on the magazine racks at Hays Cove. But if not, can somebody get Petro Can a subscription, Quick!
NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street ended an erratic session essentially flat Monday as investors grew anxious about upcoming first-quarter earnings and the possibility that interest rates won't be declining anytime soon. A $2 drop in oil prices lent support to the major indexes.
With the market closed for Good Friday, traders had their first opportunity to react to Labor Department data that showed stronger-than-expected job growth in March. The numbers indicated the economy might be in better shape than previously thought and helped offset concerns about a continued slowdown in the housing market.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The price of crude oil fell nearly $3 and settled below $62 a barrel Monday on a supply glut at a key North American delivery point as geopolitical tensions loomed.
An oversupply at the storage hub in Cushing, Okla., while localized, had a disproportionate effect on prices, said Citigroup Global Markets energy analyst Tim Evans.
Because the hub serves as a delivery point for oil, the facility is the "Achilles heel" for the petroleum market, he said. As it nears capacity, dealers have no place to store more oil should they want to take advantage of low prices on the May futures contract, which expires April 20, Evans said.
Light, sweet crude for May delivery fell $2.77 to settle at $61.51 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Brent crude for May fell $1.65 to settle at $66.59 a barrel in electronic trading on London's ICE Futures Exchange.
However, Iran's claim Monday that it has begun enriching uranium on an industrial scale did spark some selling, said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago.
Podunkian Music Club: April 2007
We've put away the shamrocks and Guinness for another year, and now return to seeking out new and interesting material for our Music Club selections. Below find our offerings for the month of April.
April 28-THE WHITE STRIPES-Seven Nation Army
April 21-APRIL WINE-Sign of the Gypsy Queen
April 14-RUSH-Spirit of the Radio
April 7--Alanis Morrisette-My Humps
April 28-THE WHITE STRIPES-Seven Nation Army
April 21-APRIL WINE-Sign of the Gypsy Queen
April 14-RUSH-Spirit of the Radio
April 7--Alanis Morrisette-My Humps
A Big Bully Blue Jay?
In an era of violent video games and movies, a baseball commercial has attracted the attention of The Television Bureau of Canada, the watchdog of the private television industry.
They have ruled that a recent commercial (seen above) featuring newest Blue Jay Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas, is just a wee bit too violent for the tender eyes of Canada's television public.
At least too violent for those that don’t watch the CBC, in an interesting switch of affairs, the CBC will show the commercial un-edited apparently unconcerned over the issue.
Who knew that Don Cherry had been promoted!
In what seems like a rather bad case of political correctness, the watchdog ordered the Jays to make changes to their commercial destined for the private networks of the nation.
The CBC provided the following story on the issue and the fall out from it.
Jays' pillow slug fest too violent for TV: Advertising watchdog
Last Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 1:24 PM ET
CBC News
A controversial commercial featuring Blue Jays slugger Frank Thomas forcefully snapping a pillow against a young boy is spurring serious debate among fans and critics alike.
The Television Bureau of Canada, the watchdog governing ads on private networks, deemed the commercial, in which the boy is sent flying, to be too violent to air. A revised version of the ad, which cuts before the child is knocked down, has been approved for broadcast.
The unedited version will air only on the CBC, which has its own standards review as a public broadcaster. The network says it is comfortable with the content of the commercial and has not fielded any complaints.
'He hit him a little bit too hard."
—Caroline Linton, Blue Jays fan but for some, the commercial, which aims to draw in more fans, goes a bit too far.
Toronto fan Jonathan Phillips said, "It might be a little too violent because the big guy is taking advantage of the little boy. In that case, it may be giving the wrong message."
Similarly, spectator Caroline Linton said the commercial pushed the boundary.
"He hit him a little bit too hard," she said of the five time all-star. "But other than that it shouldn't have caused all that commotion. Just a little bit too hard — like a micro — but other than that it would have been absolutely fine."
'It took a kid getting hit by a pillow to knock the Leafs off the front page.'
—Paul Godfrey, Blue Jays President.
An unedited version of the commercial can be seen on the online video sharing website YouTube. The bulk of the comments left on the site were supportive.
Laurel Lindsay, the Blue Jays' vice-president of marketing, also noted the commercial, which was intended to be lighthearted, has been debated on talk radio stations.
Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said he's surprised the pillow fight commercial, produced by Publicis Toronto, has received so much attention.
"It took a kid getting hit by a pillow to knock the Leafs off the front page," he said.
The Television Bureau of Canada says it approves 45,000 commercials each year for private media and only asks for revisions in rare instances.
"Sadly today has been a difficult day in Afghanistan,"
Even before official confirmation was given, you had that feeling in the pit of your stomach with the news of a number of NATO troops killed in Afghanistan on Sunday.
For whatever the reason, it seems that whenever you hear a news story or read an article about NATO announcing an incident in Afghanistan that doesn’t immediately mention a nation; you can stand by for bad news.
Once again today, Canadians received an unwanted briefing from a Canadian officer, describing how we have lost more of our best, how another tough day had been delivered, how fellow comrades are grieving but prepared to continue with the task ahead.
Sunday brought six more names to the list of those who have been killed since Canada’s involvement in Task Force Afghanistan began in 2002. The news brought word of the single worst day for Canada since Korean War and since the first Canadians arrived in Afghanistan five years ago.
For whatever the reason, it seems that whenever you hear a news story or read an article about NATO announcing an incident in Afghanistan that doesn’t immediately mention a nation; you can stand by for bad news.
Once again today, Canadians received an unwanted briefing from a Canadian officer, describing how we have lost more of our best, how another tough day had been delivered, how fellow comrades are grieving but prepared to continue with the task ahead.
Sunday brought six more names to the list of those who have been killed since Canada’s involvement in Task Force Afghanistan began in 2002. The news brought word of the single worst day for Canada since Korean War and since the first Canadians arrived in Afghanistan five years ago.
It made for a tragic Easter Sunday for Canadians which saw six of our soldiers killed, with two others injured, as a roadside bomb took its aim on a Canadian LAV III transport vehicle.
The six deaths on Sunday, the first in over four months, bring Canada’s total of dead in Afghanistan to 51 military personnel, plus a diplomat.
The six deaths on Sunday, the first in over four months, bring Canada’s total of dead in Afghanistan to 51 military personnel, plus a diplomat.
Those we have sent to Afghanistan are ordinary men and women, from every reach of a nation far from an Asian trouble spot, who have been tasked with a most extraordinary mission and facing what seem to be increasing dangers with every day.
Canadians have been in the forefront of events in Afghanistan since our arrival, our territory is not the safe back zones of wired compounds, but rather in many instances it’s the isolated mountain ranges, the flat desert like plains and the mud walled villages. Some friendly, while others not particularly welcoming.
While the mission is a NATO mission by definition, in reality with the exception of Britain, the United States, Holland and Canada, there are few of the other NATO partners involved in the day to day patrolling of and fighting in Taliban strongholds.
Our casualty count marks a grim indication of the tasks we have taken on and the dangers our forces face each time they move out. It’s said that the process will be slow to regain the confidence of the Afghan people, who have seen more war, destruction and tyranny than a Canadian could ever imagine.
A rejuvenated Taliban taking advantage of a rather muddy political situation and provided with resources from the mountain passes of Pakistan, numerous factions in Iraq and who knows where else, continue to offer up tactics that are hard, if not impossible to defend against.
In the end, the difference will come when the Afghan people feel secure enough to take an active role in turning back the Taliban groups, which at times seems a distant goal. For every positive bit of what they call nation building we provide, it seems it can all go for naught with a sudden surge of violence such as today presented.
These violent spasms, which rattle Canadians at home, seem to stiffen the resolve of those that serve there. A brave lot who prove determined to do what they believe is right, to lend assistance and see their mission through.
What is becoming increasing apparent is the need for NATO to back them up with more than just platitudes. It is an organization of 26 member countries, born out of the days of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
The new NATO offers up much in the way of dialogue over Afghanistan. Complete with a nice little website that details all the contributions of the alliance; but perhaps the time has arrived for more than just talking points. What might be of better use to the cause, would be tangible assets taking on a role where only a few seem willing to tread these days.
We will soon return six more sons of Canada home for a final journey, we’ll take time to think about them and honour their memory. We’ll continue to offer our support to those we’ve put in harms way, a group that is never far from our thoughts and prayers. As a nation we continue to hope for a day when they are no longer in harms way and have been reunited with their families.
But before that day, perhaps we’ll begin to ask some hard questions of our partners in this mission. It would seem that there’s some heavy lifting to do in that troubled country, it might be time for some help from those chatty alliance members currently safely on the sidelines.
Canadians have been in the forefront of events in Afghanistan since our arrival, our territory is not the safe back zones of wired compounds, but rather in many instances it’s the isolated mountain ranges, the flat desert like plains and the mud walled villages. Some friendly, while others not particularly welcoming.
While the mission is a NATO mission by definition, in reality with the exception of Britain, the United States, Holland and Canada, there are few of the other NATO partners involved in the day to day patrolling of and fighting in Taliban strongholds.
Our casualty count marks a grim indication of the tasks we have taken on and the dangers our forces face each time they move out. It’s said that the process will be slow to regain the confidence of the Afghan people, who have seen more war, destruction and tyranny than a Canadian could ever imagine.
A rejuvenated Taliban taking advantage of a rather muddy political situation and provided with resources from the mountain passes of Pakistan, numerous factions in Iraq and who knows where else, continue to offer up tactics that are hard, if not impossible to defend against.
In the end, the difference will come when the Afghan people feel secure enough to take an active role in turning back the Taliban groups, which at times seems a distant goal. For every positive bit of what they call nation building we provide, it seems it can all go for naught with a sudden surge of violence such as today presented.
These violent spasms, which rattle Canadians at home, seem to stiffen the resolve of those that serve there. A brave lot who prove determined to do what they believe is right, to lend assistance and see their mission through.
What is becoming increasing apparent is the need for NATO to back them up with more than just platitudes. It is an organization of 26 member countries, born out of the days of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
The new NATO offers up much in the way of dialogue over Afghanistan. Complete with a nice little website that details all the contributions of the alliance; but perhaps the time has arrived for more than just talking points. What might be of better use to the cause, would be tangible assets taking on a role where only a few seem willing to tread these days.
We will soon return six more sons of Canada home for a final journey, we’ll take time to think about them and honour their memory. We’ll continue to offer our support to those we’ve put in harms way, a group that is never far from our thoughts and prayers. As a nation we continue to hope for a day when they are no longer in harms way and have been reunited with their families.
But before that day, perhaps we’ll begin to ask some hard questions of our partners in this mission. It would seem that there’s some heavy lifting to do in that troubled country, it might be time for some help from those chatty alliance members currently safely on the sidelines.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Was it Professor Lamoriello, in the dressing room, with a line up card?
If you’re looking for a suspect in the game of Clue that became the end of the Leafs season on Sunday, perhaps look no further than that listed above!
My oh my, you could hear the wails of despair as far as Hamilton on Sunday night, as the Mighty Maple Leafs were denied a trip to Lord Stanley’s post season dance this year.
After a remarkable tension filled third period of hockey between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders, the Leafs found themselves on the outside, suddenly free to spend more time with the kids, the clubs and their outside business interests.
In the end, the Islanders would rely on a little known goaltender from Invermere, British Columbia to put them into the play offs. Wade Dubielewicz made two key Overtime shoot out saves, securing a place for the Islanders in this years playoff season and sending the Leafs to join the Habs on the sidelines, to serve as testimonies to chances missed.
But, before we rehash an amazing last ten minutes of hockey we rewind to a pre game decision by head coach, GM, and Presidente for Life Lou Lamoriello. It was Lamoriello who chose to sit out perennial all star goaltender Martin Brodeur in favour of seldom used back up, Scott Clemmensen.
It was a move that no doubt has more than one member of the Maple Leaf Nation screaming conspiracy at the top of their soon to be silent lungs.
To be fair to the back up, he played a fairly solid game for the Devils, and while a little sloppy on puck control he none the less held the Islanders to account for a good portion of the game, Despite numerous scoring opportunities the Islanders could only tally two goals, both of which were scored by Richard Park, who ironically played a fair amount of his formative hockey in the Toronto area. (Go ahead blame his minor hockey coaches if a scapegoat is needed) an interesting bit of irony for Leaf fans to ponder on a most remarkable day.
The Islanders held the Leafs fate heading into the third period, when they began to falter, allowing the Devils to get back into the game, including a wild last .9 second of a goal that sent the Leaf’s misery into extra time. With a bit of a momentum shift taking place, Leaf fans would be forgiven if they perhaps thought they had been offered a stay of execution, with the Devils to provide deliverance in short order.
However, five minutes of Overtime settled nothing, despite a last minute of play that featured an Islander power play with a 4-3 advantage. With neither team scoring it was off to a shoot which saw the Islanders take a 2-1 lead into the final shooter, an effort from Sergei Brylin that was poke checked away by Dubielewicz bringing an end to the roller coaster of emotions on Long Island and setting a whole new wave of tears loose in Southern Ontario.
While the Leaf fans may not like their fate, they should remember that their heroes had more than enough chances in the last two weeks to avoid all the drama and secure a playoff spot, in the end as the Leafs and Habs stumbled through the last week of the season it was the Islanders that ran the four game winning streak into the final playoff spot.
The remarkable Islander win now provides the Metro New York City area with three different options for Stanley Cup cheering, a situation that will most likely bring a smile to the face of Gary Bettman while the CBC wonders whatever will become of their ratings now that Toronto can get Raptor crazy.
In fact, don’t be surprised if we soon hear conspiracy tales from depressed and angry leaf fans on how the Leafs hopes were not just dashed, but murdered on the last day of the season.
If this were a game of Clue, cynical Leaf fans might suggest that if not Lou, then perhaps the following as their prime suspect in the crime: The name of Colonel Bettman, in the office, with the telephone.
Happy Easter
From the Podunkian rabbit hole we wish all our browsers,lurkers and dedicated viewers a Very Happy Easter.
Hope that your egg hunt goes a little smoother than this epic adventure from Springfield!
We'll be right back after this short commercial message, April 7
Tonight on the Podunkian Advertising Festival we take a walk with the Heritage Foundation back into our history.
In Flanders field the poppies grow, between the crosses row on row.
In Flanders field the poppies grow, between the crosses row on row.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
4 Days in April, 3,600 Canadian soldiers dead another 5,000 wounded and one ridge taken!
We remember Vimy this weekend, a battlefield where a nation’s reputation and essence of being was forged with blood, tears and death.
Canada’s Army did what many said was impossible at the end of the Easter weekend of 1917, push a solid German occupation force off of a vital French ridge, one of the first of the major victories for the Allies of the First World War.
It proved to be a coming of age for Canada’s Armed Forces, fighting under their own commanders and as a cohesive unit of four divisions, some twelve battalions aligned on the French frontier, striking a push into German lines and wresting one sliver of real estate from occupying hands. (An interactive map can be found on the CTV website, showing the push towards the ridge by Canadian forces)
Canada’s Army did what many said was impossible at the end of the Easter weekend of 1917, push a solid German occupation force off of a vital French ridge, one of the first of the major victories for the Allies of the First World War.
It proved to be a coming of age for Canada’s Armed Forces, fighting under their own commanders and as a cohesive unit of four divisions, some twelve battalions aligned on the French frontier, striking a push into German lines and wresting one sliver of real estate from occupying hands. (An interactive map can be found on the CTV website, showing the push towards the ridge by Canadian forces)
Many successes and setbacks would come over the years, war seemingly never that far from our history and when called our's has been a nation that went forward. But for modern era Canada, the touchstone of all military matters for the newish nation will always be Vimy ridge 1917.
It has gone down as perhaps one of Canada’s greatest victories, a time of test and success, but at a horrible cost. 1917 is such a long time ago now, as a nation we have fought many battles since through a number of wars and military conflicts and we continue to do so even today!
It has gone down as perhaps one of Canada’s greatest victories, a time of test and success, but at a horrible cost. 1917 is such a long time ago now, as a nation we have fought many battles since through a number of wars and military conflicts and we continue to do so even today!
When sent to far off lands, the battles are joined again, lives can be lost and lives can be changed forever. The ghosts of yesterday, march along the forces of today, a reminder of the horror of war and at times the glory that arrives as well.
While war is never wanted, at times it is forced upon us. In April 1917 Canadians from all corners of the nation fought as one on the ridges of France, its in their memory that we commemorate their sacrifices and achievements this weekend.
The CBC is covering the Vimy commemorations quite extensively starting on Sunday and featuring a ceremony on Monday where the memorial will be re-dedicated. They have compiled an excellent collection of information on their website, historic pictures, videos, stories and maps all providing extensive glimpses of just what Canadian troops were up against starting on Easter Monday of 1917.
You can take a virtual tour of the Vimy Memorial through the Veteran's Canada website, which features a number of multimedia presentations.
Further information can be discovered at the Canadian War Museum's portal, which is a wonderful source of information on Canada's military history through our history.
The National Archives as well provides some fascinting images of those days from its website, including this silent movie reel which was made shortly after the epic battle.
Canadians tend to not be chest thumpers when it comes to their history, in fact far too many of us don't learn enough about our past and how we have developed through the years. While we consider ourselves to be one of the most fortunate nations on the planet, that good fortune did not come just by happenstance, it came from a nation willing to take on the hardest and most dangerous of tasks and not accept failure.
It's through sacrifice and reputation that a nation's image is made, Vimy shaped a good portion of what we've become, we should make the time to learn more and honour the memories of those that made the ultimate in sacrifices for us so many years ago.
It's shiny and new, and apparently not working so well!
A few growing pains for the new Northern Adventure as it begins its time on the North Coast.
The latest addition to the BC Ferry fleet and the vessel that Prince Rupert has been patiently waiting for since last years Queen of the North tragedy, is apparently having a few technical problems as they say. Resulting in service disruptions for the North coast once again.
In what reads like a chapter of Lemony Snicket's unfortunate events, a number of strange occurrences led to the Ferry having to stay tied up in Rupert for thirty hours this weekend, while technicians worked out some of the bugs in the new vessel.
The vessel was reported to be set to sail on Saturday evening at 8pm and according to the BC Ferries website now meets all of Transport Canada's requirements.
Glitches delay new northern ferry; expected to sail again tonight
Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, April 07, 2007
The Northern Adventure, B.C. Ferries’ replacement for the ill-fated Queen of the North, was stuck in dock in Prince Rupert for more than 30 hours this weekend while technicians scrambled to fix a series of glitches which surfaced on the way from the Queen Charlotte Islands to Prince Rupert.
The refitted ship, which went into service on the Inside Passage between Skidegate, Prince Rupert and Port Hardy March 31, had 69 passengers booked on the 1 p.m. Friday run from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy.
“Customers were updated through the afternoon and, quite late last night, we determined the ship was not going to sail. We offered to pay for their accommodation for the night,” said B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall.
The Northern Adventure was finally given Transport Canada clearance late Saturday afternoon and was due to sail to Port Hardy at 8 p.m.
Since going into service, the ship had done three round trips to the Queen Charlottes and one Port Hardy/Prince Rupert trip, but teething problems emerged Friday.
The sailing was already delayed because of bad weather, Marshall said.
Then, in an alarming string of events, a fire extinguisher was dislodged from its rack and, when it hit the car deck, it released dry chemicals. “Unfortunately, the powder activated the smoke sensor and that caused the general alarm to go off throughout the ship,” Marshall said.
It took between five and 10 minutes for the crew to identify the problem and switch off the alarms, she said.
Next, the grey water tank — which collects water from sinks and showers — overflowed and the water got into the galley. “We had to shut down the food services to make sure everything in the galley was clean,” Marshall said.
The most persistent problem came when the public address system broke down. That kept the ferry in dock once it reached Prince Rupert as Transport Canada demands ferries have a way of communicating with passengers.
“Sometimes you do get bugs with new vessels, this was just unfortunate timing,” Marshall said.
At the Crest Prince Rupert Hotel, where some ferry passengers stayed, a clerk said most were resigned to the delay. “There are not too many other options for getting out of Prince Rupert,” she said.
The Northern Adventure, formerly the MV Sonia, was bought by B.C. Ferries for $51 million after the Queen of the North rammed into Gil Island and sank 13 months ago.
In March, after a $9 million refit at Victoria Shipyards, the Greek-built ship, which holds 600 passengers and 101 vehicles, was rechristened Northern Adventure. The vessel, which was built in 2004, was greeted last week by northern tourism operators as the saviour of this year’s tourist season. Tourism suffered last year with the loss of the Queen of the North.
Podunkian Music Club
Alanis Morrisette-My Humps
Tonight on the Music Club a little intra band rivalry. We feature a video that has been rocketing around the YouTube universe this past week, a torch song rendition by Alanis Morrisette of the Black Eyed Peas hit of last year My Humps.
It’s a video release that was timed for April Fool’s Day and spoofs the famous Fergie and her clan with the bump and grind hip hop standard they made famous, done to a slow almost mournful sound it’s about as opposite to the Black Eyed Peas version as you can get.
At the time of the original’s release it was panned as a sad commentary on the state of hip hop and the lifestyle, which of course was greeted by huge sales and massive downloads from the likes of the iPod generation and such, so much for the critics!
To refresh your memory here’s the original version from the Black Eyed Peas, now compare that to the angst ridden tribute from the Morrisette foundry and sign up for your side of the latest would be outburst in the hip hop wars.
Depending on what you read or what you listen to, Alanis is showing her disdain for the hip hop stylings or just having a good laugh at her own image’s expense or maybe both.
Regardless, it makes for an interesting if rather strange interpretation of the song. Though we hope that this bit of gentle mockery doesn’t turn into one of those famous hip hop feuds which Law and Order have been making famous of late...
Artist-Alanis Morrisette
Recording-None (video release only)
Tonight on the Music Club a little intra band rivalry. We feature a video that has been rocketing around the YouTube universe this past week, a torch song rendition by Alanis Morrisette of the Black Eyed Peas hit of last year My Humps.
It’s a video release that was timed for April Fool’s Day and spoofs the famous Fergie and her clan with the bump and grind hip hop standard they made famous, done to a slow almost mournful sound it’s about as opposite to the Black Eyed Peas version as you can get.
At the time of the original’s release it was panned as a sad commentary on the state of hip hop and the lifestyle, which of course was greeted by huge sales and massive downloads from the likes of the iPod generation and such, so much for the critics!
To refresh your memory here’s the original version from the Black Eyed Peas, now compare that to the angst ridden tribute from the Morrisette foundry and sign up for your side of the latest would be outburst in the hip hop wars.
Depending on what you read or what you listen to, Alanis is showing her disdain for the hip hop stylings or just having a good laugh at her own image’s expense or maybe both.
Regardless, it makes for an interesting if rather strange interpretation of the song. Though we hope that this bit of gentle mockery doesn’t turn into one of those famous hip hop feuds which Law and Order have been making famous of late...
Artist-Alanis Morrisette
Recording-None (video release only)
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