Our archive of selections for October.
October 27--The Trammps-Disco Inferno
October 20--Neil Young-Heart of Gold
October 13-- Annie Lennox- Dark Road
October 6--Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band-Radio Nowhere
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Podunkian Music Club
Bruce Springsteen-Radio Nowhere
After wandering the dusty back roads of the folk era covering the Pete Seeger songbook, the Boss is back with a straight ahead rock and roll album. Something that his fans have been anxiously awaiting five years for, since The Rising last came out in the wake of 9-11.
The new release Magic, brings back the E street band to drive out the beat and add that urgency to his music that made them famous through the decades since Springsteen first wandered out of Freehold, New Jersey.
Our selection tonight, is the first release from the new recording. It's a hard kickin' rocker of a tune, that makes excellent use of all the players in the Springsteen symphony. From Max Weinbergs' driving back beat to Clarence Clemons wailing sax, each and every member of the E street band seems to have something key to contribute to Radio Nowhere.
The lyrics ask for a testimony from the audience that there is somebody alive out there.
While his manager Jon Landau suggested that the album was not particularly political. Magic still manages to touch base with the things that America is concerned about, from war, through suspension of civil rights to the economy, all of it is covered in Springsteen lyrical prose, biting and correct.
It's an album at times paced with disillusionment, frustration and exhaustion. A sharing of a journey that has left many wondering how to fix their shattered dreams and reclaim some of what they have lost. However, it's certainly not a doom and gloom affair, there is the kinetic energy of rock and roll to the recording which with Springsteen is almost always a near religious experience.
His last studio album with the E Street Band came out as America was still coming to terms with the grief over the attacks of September 11, 2001. That album was one of catharsis, the singer poet laureate taking his charges to a safer place to come to grips with what had happened and try to look forward with some hope.
Five years later, it's a subliminal anger that resonates through some of the songs, a feeling of betrayal and a call to reclaim that country that they shared from their shared youth.
This first release from the album starts out with the crashing guitars, wall of sound that announces the return of America's chronicler. It's a natural fit from his recent works from the Pete Seeger collections, Seeger was the original conduit of American folk music, the lighthouse for troubled times of the era.
Whether he accepts the comparison or not, Springsteen is very much fulfilling the same role in modern times, the music at times is reminiscent of the Born to Run through Born in the USA era, yet it's message is as current and vital as the latest newscast.
Through the years Springsteen has come to speak for much of his generation, a social standing that makes him an icon for many. That status once gets examined on CBS's 60 minutes on Sunday night, as Springsteen is one of the featured interviews on the newsmagazine.
His voice is filling the void that the politicians and news industry seem to have allowed to take place. His higher profile may bring him that answer to his question, "is there anybody alive out there".
Artist-Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Recording-Magic
After wandering the dusty back roads of the folk era covering the Pete Seeger songbook, the Boss is back with a straight ahead rock and roll album. Something that his fans have been anxiously awaiting five years for, since The Rising last came out in the wake of 9-11.
The new release Magic, brings back the E street band to drive out the beat and add that urgency to his music that made them famous through the decades since Springsteen first wandered out of Freehold, New Jersey.
Our selection tonight, is the first release from the new recording. It's a hard kickin' rocker of a tune, that makes excellent use of all the players in the Springsteen symphony. From Max Weinbergs' driving back beat to Clarence Clemons wailing sax, each and every member of the E street band seems to have something key to contribute to Radio Nowhere.
The lyrics ask for a testimony from the audience that there is somebody alive out there.
While his manager Jon Landau suggested that the album was not particularly political. Magic still manages to touch base with the things that America is concerned about, from war, through suspension of civil rights to the economy, all of it is covered in Springsteen lyrical prose, biting and correct.
It's an album at times paced with disillusionment, frustration and exhaustion. A sharing of a journey that has left many wondering how to fix their shattered dreams and reclaim some of what they have lost. However, it's certainly not a doom and gloom affair, there is the kinetic energy of rock and roll to the recording which with Springsteen is almost always a near religious experience.
His last studio album with the E Street Band came out as America was still coming to terms with the grief over the attacks of September 11, 2001. That album was one of catharsis, the singer poet laureate taking his charges to a safer place to come to grips with what had happened and try to look forward with some hope.
Five years later, it's a subliminal anger that resonates through some of the songs, a feeling of betrayal and a call to reclaim that country that they shared from their shared youth.
This first release from the album starts out with the crashing guitars, wall of sound that announces the return of America's chronicler. It's a natural fit from his recent works from the Pete Seeger collections, Seeger was the original conduit of American folk music, the lighthouse for troubled times of the era.
Whether he accepts the comparison or not, Springsteen is very much fulfilling the same role in modern times, the music at times is reminiscent of the Born to Run through Born in the USA era, yet it's message is as current and vital as the latest newscast.
Through the years Springsteen has come to speak for much of his generation, a social standing that makes him an icon for many. That status once gets examined on CBS's 60 minutes on Sunday night, as Springsteen is one of the featured interviews on the newsmagazine.
His voice is filling the void that the politicians and news industry seem to have allowed to take place. His higher profile may bring him that answer to his question, "is there anybody alive out there".
Artist-Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Recording-Magic
Halloween fest plans coming together
The traditional Halloween fest activities are still in the planning stages, but organizers anticipate another successful night at the end of October.
The festival has been fixture in Prince Rupert for almost twenty years now, an opportunity to provide a safe environment for youngsters on Halloween, with a number of activities planned for the Civic Centre and Earl Mah Aquatic Centre.
In addition to the games and treats, the always popular fireworks program is planned for that evening at 8:15 pm.
The organizers are still looking for volunteers and details on the nights events and how people can help out were provided in Friday's Daily News.
Festival targets fun as its main ghoul
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Friday, October 05, 2007
Nearly 20 years after it's inception, organizers of Prince Rupert's Halloween Fest hope to once again put together a successful event, but they will need help from the community.
As Halloween quickly approaches, Constables Rebecca Scarlett and Jana Starr, along with other volunteer organizers, are trying to rally even more community support, although the generosity shown so far has been great.
"Every year, we donate money and it gives the police a good start," said Manny Richards, one of many Moose Lodge men who helped raise $750 for this year's event.
"It's important for the children, and that's what the Moose Lodge is all about."
Similarly, Ladies of the Moose donated money to help fund another fun-filled Halloween for Prince Rupert youth, and representative Adella Eliuk knows that making the night safer for everyone is important.
"It's very much needed, because we need to keep kids entertained and off the streets."
Joy Sundin has been helping to organize Halloween Fest since the idea was first conceived, and believes it's still needed for the same reasons that it was a good idea 20 years ago.
"There was a need in the community due to the vandalism and the property damage, so a few people got together and asked 'What can we do?'" explained Sundin. "The police came on board, and right off the bat it just mushroomed.
"We built it to have the youth groups and older students in the community come and put the event on, so they get the idea, the attitude and atmosphere that this is a day of fun for children and for them to give something back to their community."
In 2005, the RCMP was pleased to report only 15 minor calls on Halloween night, most of which calls that did not even end up as files. Instead, nearly 5,000 packed the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre for a night of frightful fun for people of all ages.
This year's Halloween Fest is scheduled to include many of the familiar activities of past years, such as a haunted house put on by Treena Decker and a group from the Harbour Theatre, a Haunted Swim in the Civic Centre pool, a dunk-tank, pizza and pop, as well as enough candy to supply every kid in Prince Rupert.
"We're still trying to organize more volunteers and donations in order to coordinate all the events we have planned," said Constable Starr. "We're really looking for all the help we can get."
There will be a bus running throughout the evening to take everybody to and from the civic centre, and the Prince Rupert Fire Department will be playing the pyro-technical role and setting off the big fireworks display scheduled to commence at 8:15 p.m.
Volunteers are encouraged to attend the next Halloween Fest Volunteer Committee meeting at noon on Wed. Oct. 10 in the Community Policing Centre in the lower level of city hall.
Kids are also encouraged to call the Halloween Fest hotline at 62-GHOST, where they can suggest ideas for games or activities they'd like to see at this year's event.
The festival has been fixture in Prince Rupert for almost twenty years now, an opportunity to provide a safe environment for youngsters on Halloween, with a number of activities planned for the Civic Centre and Earl Mah Aquatic Centre.
In addition to the games and treats, the always popular fireworks program is planned for that evening at 8:15 pm.
The organizers are still looking for volunteers and details on the nights events and how people can help out were provided in Friday's Daily News.
Festival targets fun as its main ghoul
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Friday, October 05, 2007
Nearly 20 years after it's inception, organizers of Prince Rupert's Halloween Fest hope to once again put together a successful event, but they will need help from the community.
As Halloween quickly approaches, Constables Rebecca Scarlett and Jana Starr, along with other volunteer organizers, are trying to rally even more community support, although the generosity shown so far has been great.
"Every year, we donate money and it gives the police a good start," said Manny Richards, one of many Moose Lodge men who helped raise $750 for this year's event.
"It's important for the children, and that's what the Moose Lodge is all about."
Similarly, Ladies of the Moose donated money to help fund another fun-filled Halloween for Prince Rupert youth, and representative Adella Eliuk knows that making the night safer for everyone is important.
"It's very much needed, because we need to keep kids entertained and off the streets."
Joy Sundin has been helping to organize Halloween Fest since the idea was first conceived, and believes it's still needed for the same reasons that it was a good idea 20 years ago.
"There was a need in the community due to the vandalism and the property damage, so a few people got together and asked 'What can we do?'" explained Sundin. "The police came on board, and right off the bat it just mushroomed.
"We built it to have the youth groups and older students in the community come and put the event on, so they get the idea, the attitude and atmosphere that this is a day of fun for children and for them to give something back to their community."
In 2005, the RCMP was pleased to report only 15 minor calls on Halloween night, most of which calls that did not even end up as files. Instead, nearly 5,000 packed the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre for a night of frightful fun for people of all ages.
This year's Halloween Fest is scheduled to include many of the familiar activities of past years, such as a haunted house put on by Treena Decker and a group from the Harbour Theatre, a Haunted Swim in the Civic Centre pool, a dunk-tank, pizza and pop, as well as enough candy to supply every kid in Prince Rupert.
"We're still trying to organize more volunteers and donations in order to coordinate all the events we have planned," said Constable Starr. "We're really looking for all the help we can get."
There will be a bus running throughout the evening to take everybody to and from the civic centre, and the Prince Rupert Fire Department will be playing the pyro-technical role and setting off the big fireworks display scheduled to commence at 8:15 p.m.
Volunteers are encouraged to attend the next Halloween Fest Volunteer Committee meeting at noon on Wed. Oct. 10 in the Community Policing Centre in the lower level of city hall.
Kids are also encouraged to call the Halloween Fest hotline at 62-GHOST, where they can suggest ideas for games or activities they'd like to see at this year's event.
We'll be right back after this short commercial message October 5
The fifties, when men were men and drinking was drinking.
The sea shell knows good taste when it hears it!
The sea shell knows good taste when it hears it!
Bob Ackles stands on guard for thee
Normally the President of the B. C. Lions would concern himself mainly with the Lions fight song, but these days he's thinking larger than just his team on the Pacific coast. In fact it's the salvation of the entire CFL that is on his mind as he winds down his many years in all versions of North America's football scene.
As the Blues brothers might say ,
A mission to save the CFL.
It may seem like a silly concept these days, for in the last few years the CFL has seemingly never been stronger, as the eight teams for the most part seem to be functioning without the normal state of panic that we've know in the past.
Attendance this year is beyond anyone's wildest dreams, repeated sell outs in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, healthy crowds in Calgary and Edmonton despite significant injury problems.
Ontario has been fairly steady with Toronto's crowds edging upwards as the team returns to health and just as things turned bad for the Cats on the fied, their fans found still another reason or two to stop by Ivor Wynne for a football game as the excitement over Casey Printers gave new hope in the land of broken dreams.
Ackles own team continues to bring in the large crowds at BC Place regularly passing the 30,000 mark.
While Montreal's only problem is seats, there aren't enough of them, the 20,202 currently at McGill are filled on a regular basis.
And there is once again hopeful talk that Ottawa will soon rejoin the league, bringing back a flood of memories of the days of Jackson, Stewart, Adkins, , Clements, Holloway, Gabriel and host of other names that once made Ottawa one of the CFL's great cities.
So where does Mr. Ackles find the troubling signs that need our attention.
From the south and the always present whispers of an NFL franchise for Toronto.
Ackles has taken on a holy crusade of sorts to try and send the idea to the sidelines on a permanent basis.
In fact he's so concerned at what an NFL franchise may do to the CFL, that he's enlisting Canadians in his efforts to keep the NFL away and to help keep the CFL as a living unique entity above the 49th parallel.
An excerpt from his book The Waterboy, sums up his feelings quite nicely and sends out a message that Canadian football fans should take to heart and take up the battle with.
But to have 70,000 people enjoy an NFL game in Toronto, you will murder eight CFL franchises, Ackles writes in his book. Other than for a few people and one city, what is the advantage of a franchise -- except, as I say, for a few greedy people to turn $1 billion into $6 billion, while screwing the rest of the country.
Grab your copy of the Ackles song sheet and join in, raise your voice with like minded Canadian football fans to join the cause.
And since every good cause deserves a theme song, we suggest that he take advantage of that good old fashioned wheatland soul. They have the perfect sentiment for the cause!
The above post first appeared on my Twelve Men on the Field blog, where we track developments in the Canadian Football League.
As the Blues brothers might say ,
A mission to save the CFL.
It may seem like a silly concept these days, for in the last few years the CFL has seemingly never been stronger, as the eight teams for the most part seem to be functioning without the normal state of panic that we've know in the past.
Attendance this year is beyond anyone's wildest dreams, repeated sell outs in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, healthy crowds in Calgary and Edmonton despite significant injury problems.
Ontario has been fairly steady with Toronto's crowds edging upwards as the team returns to health and just as things turned bad for the Cats on the fied, their fans found still another reason or two to stop by Ivor Wynne for a football game as the excitement over Casey Printers gave new hope in the land of broken dreams.
Ackles own team continues to bring in the large crowds at BC Place regularly passing the 30,000 mark.
While Montreal's only problem is seats, there aren't enough of them, the 20,202 currently at McGill are filled on a regular basis.
And there is once again hopeful talk that Ottawa will soon rejoin the league, bringing back a flood of memories of the days of Jackson, Stewart, Adkins, , Clements, Holloway, Gabriel and host of other names that once made Ottawa one of the CFL's great cities.
So where does Mr. Ackles find the troubling signs that need our attention.
From the south and the always present whispers of an NFL franchise for Toronto.
Ackles has taken on a holy crusade of sorts to try and send the idea to the sidelines on a permanent basis.
In fact he's so concerned at what an NFL franchise may do to the CFL, that he's enlisting Canadians in his efforts to keep the NFL away and to help keep the CFL as a living unique entity above the 49th parallel.
An excerpt from his book The Waterboy, sums up his feelings quite nicely and sends out a message that Canadian football fans should take to heart and take up the battle with.
But to have 70,000 people enjoy an NFL game in Toronto, you will murder eight CFL franchises, Ackles writes in his book. Other than for a few people and one city, what is the advantage of a franchise -- except, as I say, for a few greedy people to turn $1 billion into $6 billion, while screwing the rest of the country.
Grab your copy of the Ackles song sheet and join in, raise your voice with like minded Canadian football fans to join the cause.
And since every good cause deserves a theme song, we suggest that he take advantage of that good old fashioned wheatland soul. They have the perfect sentiment for the cause!
The above post first appeared on my Twelve Men on the Field blog, where we track developments in the Canadian Football League.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Latest Queen of the North revelations once again have critics asking questions
The latest details to come out about the sinking of the Queen of the North have only gone to reinforce the belief that there are some serious problems with the way that BC Ferries is being run.
That at least is the impression that was left with NDP ferries critic and North Coast MLA Gary Coons, who suggests that there are many questions about the handling of the sinking and the subsequent investigation into the sinking.
His thoughts on the state of affairs at BC Ferries were presented in the Friday edition of the Daily News.
'Queen of the North report poses new questions'
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, October 05, 2007
Page one
The newly released information by B.C. Ferries on the sinking of the Queen of the North just adds to the confusion and concern of those people who want answers about the tragedy, say critics.
On Wednesday, B.C. Ferries Divisional Inquiry Panel released an addendum to its original report in to the tragedy March 2006.
In it, B.C. Ferries employees provide testimony that only one crew member was on the bridge at the time the ship ran aground off Gil Island. Of the 101 passengers, 99 survived and two are presumed drowned.
"The premier and Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon could have ordered a judicial inquiry as was done by premier Glen Clark in 1992 when three lives were lost in an incident in Nanaimo," he said.
In four weeks, the public found out what happened and moved on, he said. However this has not been the case within the sinking of the Queen of the North. People have had to wait a year and a half to see if the Transportation Safety Board report due out this month answers the many remaining questions about the tragedy, said Coons.
He went on to say that the new revelation, that only one crew member was on the bridge at the time of the sinking, is troubling, however the report still fails to address four key issues.
First of all, B.C. Ferries never adequately addressed the May 11 Transportation Safety Board advisory that went to B.C. Ferries CEO David Hahn that warned that "crew members on the bridge were not adequately trained and that it is the responsibility of management to ensure this. Training is part and parcel of management responsibility."
Hahn has allegedly called this advisory benign and "didn't know if he bought into it."
Secondly, Coons said the report fails to address the allegations from BC Ferries safety director, Darrin Bowland, who resigned days after the sinking. Bowland says he warned a catastrophic event would happen if management did not heed his warnings about safety and "the lack of qualified people to run the new equipment on the bridges was an accident waiting to happen."
Thirdly, the report does not address any special dispensations or variances that allowed the Queen of the North to sail until 2012 despite reports that clearly called into question the vessel's stability and single compartment design.
And last, B.C. Ferries continues to fail to address the order to "remove and destroy" records and purge documents including ship-specific manuals from the Queen of the North five days after the sinking, said Coons.
"Is a public/judicial inquiry necessary? At this point in time, I believe we need to wait for the full Transportation Safety Board report to see if the public gets the answers we are looking for," said Coons.
"But I believe it's obvious to most British Columbians that something is dreadfully wrong with this particular scenario, and with how our whole ferry system is being managed and it needs to be changed."
That at least is the impression that was left with NDP ferries critic and North Coast MLA Gary Coons, who suggests that there are many questions about the handling of the sinking and the subsequent investigation into the sinking.
His thoughts on the state of affairs at BC Ferries were presented in the Friday edition of the Daily News.
'Queen of the North report poses new questions'
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, October 05, 2007
Page one
The newly released information by B.C. Ferries on the sinking of the Queen of the North just adds to the confusion and concern of those people who want answers about the tragedy, say critics.
On Wednesday, B.C. Ferries Divisional Inquiry Panel released an addendum to its original report in to the tragedy March 2006.
In it, B.C. Ferries employees provide testimony that only one crew member was on the bridge at the time the ship ran aground off Gil Island. Of the 101 passengers, 99 survived and two are presumed drowned.
"The premier and Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon could have ordered a judicial inquiry as was done by premier Glen Clark in 1992 when three lives were lost in an incident in Nanaimo," he said.
In four weeks, the public found out what happened and moved on, he said. However this has not been the case within the sinking of the Queen of the North. People have had to wait a year and a half to see if the Transportation Safety Board report due out this month answers the many remaining questions about the tragedy, said Coons.
He went on to say that the new revelation, that only one crew member was on the bridge at the time of the sinking, is troubling, however the report still fails to address four key issues.
First of all, B.C. Ferries never adequately addressed the May 11 Transportation Safety Board advisory that went to B.C. Ferries CEO David Hahn that warned that "crew members on the bridge were not adequately trained and that it is the responsibility of management to ensure this. Training is part and parcel of management responsibility."
Hahn has allegedly called this advisory benign and "didn't know if he bought into it."
Secondly, Coons said the report fails to address the allegations from BC Ferries safety director, Darrin Bowland, who resigned days after the sinking. Bowland says he warned a catastrophic event would happen if management did not heed his warnings about safety and "the lack of qualified people to run the new equipment on the bridges was an accident waiting to happen."
Thirdly, the report does not address any special dispensations or variances that allowed the Queen of the North to sail until 2012 despite reports that clearly called into question the vessel's stability and single compartment design.
And last, B.C. Ferries continues to fail to address the order to "remove and destroy" records and purge documents including ship-specific manuals from the Queen of the North five days after the sinking, said Coons.
"Is a public/judicial inquiry necessary? At this point in time, I believe we need to wait for the full Transportation Safety Board report to see if the public gets the answers we are looking for," said Coons.
"But I believe it's obvious to most British Columbians that something is dreadfully wrong with this particular scenario, and with how our whole ferry system is being managed and it needs to be changed."
A catch and release program for feral cats?
The province's chief veterinarian stepped into the debate in Prince Rupert over feral cats and dangerous dogs this week, advising local residents that while their hearts may be in the right place, they aren't helping the situation by feeding the increasing number of feral cats that wander the city.
As part of the information session, Dr. James Lawson said that if a proper sterilization and vaccination program is put in place the city will need to trap and sterilize 90 per cent of each cat colony.
The Daily News provided complete details on the thoughts of the doctor as well as the concerns raised by the public at the open meeting.
SPCA's TOP VET CALLS ON CAT LOVERS TO STOP FEEDING FERALS
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, October 05, 2007
Pages one and three
People who are feeding the feral cats that populate the alleys and dark corners of Prince Rupert are only increasing the suffering of these animals, said the chief veterinarian for the B.C. SPCA.
Speaking at a meeting about feral cats and dangerous dogs, Dr. James Lawson said people may feel a desire to "feed these poor, wretched souls," but, without sterilization and vaccination, it is not helping.
The city is considering a bylaw to deal with the feral cat problem and has proposed three solutions - doing nothing, trapping and euthanizing and trapping, sterilizing and releasing.
Lawson said that if the city's proceeds with a trap and release program, it will need to trap and sterilize 90 per cent of the population within each cat colony.
"This is only the answer if it is done correctly," he said.
In addition, those cats that have been sterilized need to be easily identifiable either through a clipped ear or tag.
Dr. Paul Kennedy of the Pacific Coast Veterinary Hospital said the number of abandoned/feral cats has increased since the downturn in the economy.
"People call me and say their neighbours have moved, they have been gone for four days, but the cats are still there," said Dr. Kennedy.
He also believes more can be done for the feral cats that are in good health, by having them brought in and sterilized and vaccinated. Those in really poor health should be relieved of their suffering and euthanized.
If a bylaw is brought in to licence cats, he said the city should use any money collected to deal with the feral cat situation.
"I don't want to see that money go into general revenue."
In addition, both Lawson and Kennedy encouraged people to be responsible pet owners, to have their cats spayed or neutered and to have outdoor cats properly identified through tattoos or microchips so they can be returned if they get lost.
"I don't think domestic cats should be contained. If they are licensed, they should be identified and if they are spayed or neutered there should be a lower cost for the license," Kennedy said.
A shelter worker for the SPCA agreed with the need for cat identification. She related the story of Mario the cat. Mario spent a year in the shelter, taking up space, food and supplies, before his owner found him because he did not have a tattoo.
Currently, the city has no limit on the number of cats a person may own.
A number of people at the meeting complained about having their gardens overrun by cats, either domestic or feral, while others noted feral cats have an enormous impact on the local bird population.
Ken Shaw presented a study that showed worldwide cats have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause.
He suggested the city tell people to keep their cats indoors.
As part of the information session, Dr. James Lawson said that if a proper sterilization and vaccination program is put in place the city will need to trap and sterilize 90 per cent of each cat colony.
The Daily News provided complete details on the thoughts of the doctor as well as the concerns raised by the public at the open meeting.
SPCA's TOP VET CALLS ON CAT LOVERS TO STOP FEEDING FERALS
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, October 05, 2007
Pages one and three
People who are feeding the feral cats that populate the alleys and dark corners of Prince Rupert are only increasing the suffering of these animals, said the chief veterinarian for the B.C. SPCA.
Speaking at a meeting about feral cats and dangerous dogs, Dr. James Lawson said people may feel a desire to "feed these poor, wretched souls," but, without sterilization and vaccination, it is not helping.
The city is considering a bylaw to deal with the feral cat problem and has proposed three solutions - doing nothing, trapping and euthanizing and trapping, sterilizing and releasing.
Lawson said that if the city's proceeds with a trap and release program, it will need to trap and sterilize 90 per cent of the population within each cat colony.
"This is only the answer if it is done correctly," he said.
In addition, those cats that have been sterilized need to be easily identifiable either through a clipped ear or tag.
Dr. Paul Kennedy of the Pacific Coast Veterinary Hospital said the number of abandoned/feral cats has increased since the downturn in the economy.
"People call me and say their neighbours have moved, they have been gone for four days, but the cats are still there," said Dr. Kennedy.
He also believes more can be done for the feral cats that are in good health, by having them brought in and sterilized and vaccinated. Those in really poor health should be relieved of their suffering and euthanized.
If a bylaw is brought in to licence cats, he said the city should use any money collected to deal with the feral cat situation.
"I don't want to see that money go into general revenue."
In addition, both Lawson and Kennedy encouraged people to be responsible pet owners, to have their cats spayed or neutered and to have outdoor cats properly identified through tattoos or microchips so they can be returned if they get lost.
"I don't think domestic cats should be contained. If they are licensed, they should be identified and if they are spayed or neutered there should be a lower cost for the license," Kennedy said.
A shelter worker for the SPCA agreed with the need for cat identification. She related the story of Mario the cat. Mario spent a year in the shelter, taking up space, food and supplies, before his owner found him because he did not have a tattoo.
Currently, the city has no limit on the number of cats a person may own.
A number of people at the meeting complained about having their gardens overrun by cats, either domestic or feral, while others noted feral cats have an enormous impact on the local bird population.
Ken Shaw presented a study that showed worldwide cats have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause.
He suggested the city tell people to keep their cats indoors.
"We don't think we can miss in Prince Rupert,"
It was reunion time in Memphis for Canadian National Railway President E. Hunter Harrison, who returned to the city where he once went to school and played ball and shared his vision of how Memphis will benefit from the Port of Prince Rupert.
Last Wednesday, Hunter spoke at a function of the Economic Club of Memphis, where he outlined a rather promising future for Memphis as one of the key distribution points for CN. As he pointed out in his speech, as Prince Rupert grows its business, so will Memphis grow.
As the Rupert to Memphis connection becomes fully operational, Memphis will be receiving a mile long train a day from Prince Rupert alone, double stacked with import containers. Making the southeastern city one of CN's most important inland ports, ready to distribute goods across America.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal provided some details on Harrison's speech.
(photo from Commercial Appeal website)
Transport to drive growth
Canadian rail executive talks of expanding Memphis hub
By Jane Roberts
Thursday, October 4, 2007
E. Hunter Harrison, the former Memphian who runs Canadian National Railway, doesn't know this, but when the Economic Club of Memphis expects a blockbuster crowd, it books the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis.
Wednesday night, members of long standing were lining up to shake hands with Harrison, their high school buddy in the 1960s and teammate from summers of ball in Memphis.
From a few notes in his own handwriting, Harrison outlined what CN sees down the track, including payoffs on the $250 million it invested since 2004 in Prince Rupert, British Columbia -- the closest port in North America to Asia -- and its entry into logistics park management, eventually in Memphis.
"We don't think we can miss in Prince Rupert," Harrison said. "We're not wishing bad luck for anyone, there's enough business for everybody. But the U.S. ports cannot handle the business from Asia. All kinds of alternatives are being looked at, including Mexican ports, Suez, eastern U.S. ports, even going around the Horn of Africa.
"With Prince Rupert, we are two days closer to Asia."
With CN's announcement last week that it intends to buy a major portion of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Co. in Chicago, Harrison's own number suggest CN will be able to get cargo to Memphis in 100 hours from Prince Rupert -- 3,100 miles away -- as early as 2011.
In the same year, he says Memphis will be receiving a milelong train a day from Prince Rupert alone, double stacked with import containers.
The combination of the investments will change CN's entire U.S. network.
"We currently have seven primary yards in the U.S. All will be downsized to focus on Chicago and Memphis."
Container imports are expected to rise 350 percent by 2020, creating immense stresses for the U.S. transportation sector. Improved rail efficiencies must cope with this problem, he said.
In Memphis alone, Harrison said, CN has invested nearly a half-billion dollars since 2004, opening a new intermodal terminal at Frank C. Pidgeon Park in 2005, and beefing up its rail car yard at Johnston Yard.
With its new focus on freight forwarding through CN International Worldwide, which it started in early 2007, CN can take shipments "from Rotterdam to warehouse No. 3 on Mallory Street in Memphis," Harrison said.
"When that business starts to click, then we'll make the big play," he said, a reference to an expanded logistics park presence here.
CN currently runs a small logistics center here, shipping paper from eastern Canada to Memphis for eventual shipment to markets 300 miles away.
City leaders have hoped for more at the 3,000-acre city and county-owned Pidgeon Park, which CN serves with partner CSX Railroad.
Memphis offers a noncongested yard -- with river access -- within a day's drive of 70 percent of the U.S. population.
"Every time we grow in Prince Rupert, Memphis will grow," Harrison said. "Memphis understands it needs CN. And CN knows it needs Memphis."
--Jane Roberts: 529-2512
Canadian National Railway
President, CEO: Hunter Harrison
Scope: Operates 20,300 route miles, including 14,000 through eight Canadian provinces.
2006 revenue: $7.7 billion, up 7 percent
2007 capital expenditures: $1.6 billion
Stock: in 1995 IPO, sold for $23. Wednesday, it closed at $55.91.
The Googles of October 2007
Our listings of the Google Alert items that come across our mail server on a daily basis. Archived here for your viewing enjoyment.
October 31-- Watching the wheels
October 31-- First ship arriving today at Prince Rupert terminal
October 30-- Imperial Oil's Q3 report
October 30-- Parents should brace for more school closures in the province
October 26-- Get serious, natives tell RCMP
October 26-- Fortune Minerals announces Slurry Pipeline Transportation Study for Mount Klappan Coal Project
October 25-- Views of the BayWith the candidates for the Bay District board of directors
October 24-- First CN box train from Prince Rupert on October 31
October 23-- Lumber, loonie hurt CN
October 23-- Canadian ports losing business to U.S., report says
October 22-- Canada needs to close transportation gaps to seize historic opportunity
October 21-- Containers Moving Through Prince George
October 19-- Serious Labour Shortage In Prince George
October 19-- HIGHWAY OF TEARS IN FRASER VALLEY?
October 18-- First Container Ship Less than 2 Weeks
October 18-- Action urged on Highway of Tears
October 16-- CN opens intermodal terminal, distribution center in Prince George
October 16-- CN opens new rail terminal
October 15-- Bridge twinning to help with movement of goods
October 15-- BC begins work on Simon Fraser Bridge twin
October 15-- Canadian National Railway Commences C$20 Million Prince George Terminal Operation - Update
October 15-- CN's intermodal terminal and distribution centre now operating
October 15-- CN opens C$20-million intermodal and distribution centre terminal in Prince George, B.C.
October 13-- Highway of Tears list grows to 18 women
October 13-- Rupert's ship comes in
October 12-- Mounties Get Their Suspect
October 12-- List of women on 'Highway of Tears' doubles
October 12-- Canada's New Government and Province of B.C. Support Rehabilitation of the Simon Fraser Bridge
October 12-- Number of missing women on the highway of tears has doubled
October 12-- British Columbia Lottery Corporation: New Gaming Centre Launches in Prince Rupert
October 12-- List of women missing or killed along Highway of Tears doubles to 18
October 12-- Suspect in RCMP officer's shooting arrested
October 12-- RCMP say accused Mountie killer may be going to Prince Rupert
October 12-- RCMP shooting suspect may be headed for B.C.
October 12-- Police expected to expand Highway of Tears investigation
October 12-- Wind-farm developers have high-tech tool
October 12-- Mounties to expand Hwy. 16 probe
October 11-- British Columbia Lottery Corporation: One-Of-A-Kind Entertainment Facility Opens in Prince Rupert
October 9-- For YXS, The Sky Is the Limit
October 8-- Windstorm, rain pass as sun shines on Thanksgiving Day
October 6-- Hermits, hawks and history on a railway in northern B.C.
October 5-- Enchanted by Haida Gwaii
October 4-- Sharing the wealth?
October 4-- Transport to drive growth
October 3-- Residents protest pit bulls in Prince Rupert neighbourhood
October 3-- Veteran named Prince Rupert port director
October 2-- New Report from Northern Real Estate
October 2-- Prince Rupert container terminal opens up Pacific trade
October 31-- Watching the wheels
October 31-- First ship arriving today at Prince Rupert terminal
October 30-- Imperial Oil's Q3 report
October 30-- Parents should brace for more school closures in the province
October 26-- Get serious, natives tell RCMP
October 26-- Fortune Minerals announces Slurry Pipeline Transportation Study for Mount Klappan Coal Project
October 25-- Views of the BayWith the candidates for the Bay District board of directors
October 24-- First CN box train from Prince Rupert on October 31
October 23-- Lumber, loonie hurt CN
October 23-- Canadian ports losing business to U.S., report says
October 22-- Canada needs to close transportation gaps to seize historic opportunity
October 21-- Containers Moving Through Prince George
October 19-- Serious Labour Shortage In Prince George
October 19-- HIGHWAY OF TEARS IN FRASER VALLEY?
October 18-- First Container Ship Less than 2 Weeks
October 18-- Action urged on Highway of Tears
October 16-- CN opens intermodal terminal, distribution center in Prince George
October 16-- CN opens new rail terminal
October 15-- Bridge twinning to help with movement of goods
October 15-- BC begins work on Simon Fraser Bridge twin
October 15-- Canadian National Railway Commences C$20 Million Prince George Terminal Operation - Update
October 15-- CN's intermodal terminal and distribution centre now operating
October 15-- CN opens C$20-million intermodal and distribution centre terminal in Prince George, B.C.
October 13-- Highway of Tears list grows to 18 women
October 13-- Rupert's ship comes in
October 12-- Mounties Get Their Suspect
October 12-- List of women on 'Highway of Tears' doubles
October 12-- Canada's New Government and Province of B.C. Support Rehabilitation of the Simon Fraser Bridge
October 12-- Number of missing women on the highway of tears has doubled
October 12-- British Columbia Lottery Corporation: New Gaming Centre Launches in Prince Rupert
October 12-- List of women missing or killed along Highway of Tears doubles to 18
October 12-- Suspect in RCMP officer's shooting arrested
October 12-- RCMP say accused Mountie killer may be going to Prince Rupert
October 12-- RCMP shooting suspect may be headed for B.C.
October 12-- Police expected to expand Highway of Tears investigation
October 12-- Wind-farm developers have high-tech tool
October 12-- Mounties to expand Hwy. 16 probe
October 11-- British Columbia Lottery Corporation: One-Of-A-Kind Entertainment Facility Opens in Prince Rupert
October 9-- For YXS, The Sky Is the Limit
October 8-- Windstorm, rain pass as sun shines on Thanksgiving Day
October 6-- Hermits, hawks and history on a railway in northern B.C.
October 5-- Enchanted by Haida Gwaii
October 4-- Sharing the wealth?
October 4-- Transport to drive growth
October 3-- Residents protest pit bulls in Prince Rupert neighbourhood
October 3-- Veteran named Prince Rupert port director
October 2-- New Report from Northern Real Estate
October 2-- Prince Rupert container terminal opens up Pacific trade
A nasty wind, she will a blow
Batten down your hatches, just in time for the Thanksgiving Day weekend the first storm of the fall is set to arrive.
The Environment Canada website has issued a Wind Warning for the North coast, advising that winds from 70 to 90 kilometres will arrive on the north coast this afternoon.
The winds should ease off by this evening, however it will be wet for the next few days. Rain at times heavy through the afternoon, with accumulations of between 25 to 35 mm by Saturday morning.
The steady precipitation will continue through until Sunday afternoon when it gives way to clouds and showers.
The Environment Canada website has issued a Wind Warning for the North coast, advising that winds from 70 to 90 kilometres will arrive on the north coast this afternoon.
The winds should ease off by this evening, however it will be wet for the next few days. Rain at times heavy through the afternoon, with accumulations of between 25 to 35 mm by Saturday morning.
The steady precipitation will continue through until Sunday afternoon when it gives way to clouds and showers.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Is Prince Rupert barking up the wrong tree when it comes to dangerous dogs?
The current outcry over dogs perceived to be dangerous to the community seems to be pitting the wishes of some citizens in town, against the advice from the veterinarian world.
A recent high profile incident on 4th Avenue West seems to have been the lightning rod for the call to ban certain breeds of dogs from the city. A suggestion that both the provinces head veterinarian and the city’s local vet both agree wouldn’t be particularly effective.
Local critics point to the city’s dog control bylaw as an ineffective piece of local legislation that has done little to define aggressive behavior and has resulted in residents becoming hostages in their own homes.
The full story was presented on Thursday’s front page of the Daily News
CRITICS CLAIM THE CITY’S DOG CONTROL BYLAW HAS NO TEETH
But veterinarians say that outlawing certain breeds not the way forward
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Pages one and three
The head veterinarian for the B.C. SPCA does not recommend the city of Prince Rupert follow Ontario's example and try to ban specific breeds of dogs from the city.
Dr. James Lawson told a group of concerned citizens Wednesday night that with existing cross-breeds and new breeds of dogs being constantly developed, breed banning is not an effective way to control dangerous dogs.
"I don't believe in breed banning. It's impossible to do," said Lawson.
Rather, he said the city needs a bylaw to deal with incidents in which a dog shows aggressive behaviour toward another human or dog.
"You judge a dog by its behaviour and hold the owner responsible," he said.
Dr. Paul Kennedy of the Pacific Coast Veterinary Hospital added that he recommends people put down a dog once it has attacked a human because of the liability; however banning specific breeds would not be effective.
"Within specific breeds, there are both good and bad," he said.
The city is currently reviewing its animal licencing and control bylaw in a bid to deal with complaints about feral cats and dangerous dogs.
Residents from Fourth Avenue West, who said they had been living in fear of aggressive dogs in their neighbourhood for the past two years, said the city’s bylaw lacked bite.
Area resident Dave Fisher said the dogs in question have charged people and other dogs, but despite multiple phone calls, neither RCMP nor the city’s bylaw officer have responded to concerns. The residents want a bylaw that clearly defines aggressive behavior so action can be done before dogs maul people or other animals.
“We are being held hostage up there,” said Fisher.
In addition, neither of the animals on Fourth Avenue West are neutered, he said. They are used for breeding purposes and are passing on their aggressive characteristics to a new generation of pit bulls, he claimed.
One way to control aggressive dog breeding and to curb the problems of an expanding pet population is for expanded licencing, he said.
Lawson said a substantially larger licenecnig system for people whose animals are not fixed, would, in essence, be like charging a breeder’s licensing fee.
Currently, having an intact dog in Prince Rupert only costs $40 more annually to licence that a fixed dog.
Others added that more enforcement would do a lot to help deal with the situation.
Kathleen Palm, a letter carrier in Prince Rupert said the standard for dogs in Prince Rupert is “startling low” compared to other areas of the country.
Any letter carrier or hydro reader in town could tell the city where the dangerous dogs live, she said.
“The safety of people in the community should come first,” she said. “The safety of our children should come first.”
Both Coun. Nelson Kinney and corporate administrator Doug Jay were on hand to take notes at the meeting and will pass on suggestions to council.
Warmer winters and drier summers don't bode well for the salmon.
A warming trend on the province's rivers and streams is proving to be a troublesome sign for one of B. C.' s best known symbols. And it very well may have a huge impact on not only a valuable resource but on the economic well being of one of the former pillars of B. C.'s economy.
The Globe and Mail's Mark Hume has an article posted on the papers website today that outlines the findings of a pair of reports from the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council.
In the reports, the prospect of warmer temperatures in the province could render the southern waterways uninhabitable to the cold water fish stocks. Recent trends in B. C.'s climate have researchers concerned that the result will be for warmer rivers in the summer, affecting migration timing, and winter floods, which will scour spawning beds.
They urge British Columbia to come to the aid of the salmon, suggesting that without our help the stocks will be in great peril.
.
Considering the fine work we've done so far with the resource, you have to think that the salmon are probably hoping for divine intervention, rather than a little help from their human friends.
Report 1: Helping Pacific Salmon survive the impact of climate change on freshwater habitats
Report 2: Helping Pacific Salmon survive the impact of climate change on freshwater habitats
Salmon need help to survive climate change
MARK HUME
From Friday's Globe and Mail
October 4, 2007 at 8:54 PM EDT
VANCOUVER — Salmon in British Columbia will need human help to adapt to changes being brought on by global warming, but some streams may simply become uninhabitable to the cold-water fish, a government advisory body declared Thursday.
“Big changes are happening, creeping forward inexorably,” Paul LeBlond, chairman of the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, said as he released two new reports.
He called on the provincial and federal governments to do more to help salmon survive climate change.
“Our lakes and rivers are warming up. The freshwater flows are changing in rivers. The rain and snowfall patterns are changing. Salmon have to adapt to this. Every one of their life phases is affected,” Mr. LeBlond said.
“The adults face warmer rivers when they are swimming upstream. What's comfortable for us for swimming is lethal to the salmon. The fry and the juvenile salmon live in warmer waters and face the direct impact of climate change. They face changing conditions of warming oceans, more acidic oceans, different predators and food shortages. The whole nine yards of problems.”
He described salmon as “a valuable gift from the sea” that need protective action now, not after stocks have collapsed.
Mark Angelo, vice-chairman of the council and an environmental instructor at the B.C. Institute of Technology, said climate-change impacts are different across the wide sweep of the province, but the overall trend is for warmer winters and drier summers. He said that will result in warmer rivers in the summer, affecting migration timing, and winter floods, which will scour spawning beds.
“As a result of these changes, some dislocation of salmon stocks may be unavoidable,” he said.
The reports suggest some watersheds at the southern range of salmon habitat in British Columbia may lose the ability to support the fish. Scientific studies several years ago identified the Adams River – one of B.C.'s most important sockeye streams, with runs of millions of salmon in some years – as a watershed that could lose its stocks if temperatures increase just a few degrees.
Mr. Angelo said he hopes the reports generate public discussion on the problem and stir government to launch pro-active strategies. The reports identify two possible kinds of actions – called hard and soft solutions – to help salmon adapt.
The hard solutions involve changing dams and other structures to improve flow rates, modify temperatures and store more water in reservoirs.
The soft solutions call for policy changes to “make sure the rules are favourable to salmon survival.”
The reports say changes are needed to the provincial Water Act to specifically recognize the environmental needs of salmon and to bring under control the use of groundwater, which is currently unregulated.
Mr. Angelo said that in addition to such changes, government needs to look to warmer regions, specifically California, Australia and South Africa, to learn how best to respond when temperatures go up and fish stocks go down.
The Globe and Mail's Mark Hume has an article posted on the papers website today that outlines the findings of a pair of reports from the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council.
In the reports, the prospect of warmer temperatures in the province could render the southern waterways uninhabitable to the cold water fish stocks. Recent trends in B. C.'s climate have researchers concerned that the result will be for warmer rivers in the summer, affecting migration timing, and winter floods, which will scour spawning beds.
They urge British Columbia to come to the aid of the salmon, suggesting that without our help the stocks will be in great peril.
.
Considering the fine work we've done so far with the resource, you have to think that the salmon are probably hoping for divine intervention, rather than a little help from their human friends.
Report 1: Helping Pacific Salmon survive the impact of climate change on freshwater habitats
Report 2: Helping Pacific Salmon survive the impact of climate change on freshwater habitats
Salmon need help to survive climate change
MARK HUME
From Friday's Globe and Mail
October 4, 2007 at 8:54 PM EDT
VANCOUVER — Salmon in British Columbia will need human help to adapt to changes being brought on by global warming, but some streams may simply become uninhabitable to the cold-water fish, a government advisory body declared Thursday.
“Big changes are happening, creeping forward inexorably,” Paul LeBlond, chairman of the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, said as he released two new reports.
He called on the provincial and federal governments to do more to help salmon survive climate change.
“Our lakes and rivers are warming up. The freshwater flows are changing in rivers. The rain and snowfall patterns are changing. Salmon have to adapt to this. Every one of their life phases is affected,” Mr. LeBlond said.
“The adults face warmer rivers when they are swimming upstream. What's comfortable for us for swimming is lethal to the salmon. The fry and the juvenile salmon live in warmer waters and face the direct impact of climate change. They face changing conditions of warming oceans, more acidic oceans, different predators and food shortages. The whole nine yards of problems.”
He described salmon as “a valuable gift from the sea” that need protective action now, not after stocks have collapsed.
Mark Angelo, vice-chairman of the council and an environmental instructor at the B.C. Institute of Technology, said climate-change impacts are different across the wide sweep of the province, but the overall trend is for warmer winters and drier summers. He said that will result in warmer rivers in the summer, affecting migration timing, and winter floods, which will scour spawning beds.
“As a result of these changes, some dislocation of salmon stocks may be unavoidable,” he said.
The reports suggest some watersheds at the southern range of salmon habitat in British Columbia may lose the ability to support the fish. Scientific studies several years ago identified the Adams River – one of B.C.'s most important sockeye streams, with runs of millions of salmon in some years – as a watershed that could lose its stocks if temperatures increase just a few degrees.
Mr. Angelo said he hopes the reports generate public discussion on the problem and stir government to launch pro-active strategies. The reports identify two possible kinds of actions – called hard and soft solutions – to help salmon adapt.
The hard solutions involve changing dams and other structures to improve flow rates, modify temperatures and store more water in reservoirs.
The soft solutions call for policy changes to “make sure the rules are favourable to salmon survival.”
The reports say changes are needed to the provincial Water Act to specifically recognize the environmental needs of salmon and to bring under control the use of groundwater, which is currently unregulated.
Mr. Angelo said that in addition to such changes, government needs to look to warmer regions, specifically California, Australia and South Africa, to learn how best to respond when temperatures go up and fish stocks go down.
Love of donuts optional!
The coming crunch of retirements in law enforcement have police forces from Newfoundland to British Columbia seeking out new recruits.
From the RCMP to municipal forces, the need for interested applicants has developed into a bit of a challenging situation, as the various law enforcement organizations seek out the best of the available pool of interested applicants.
Things are so competitive for recruits, that it seems that some forces are trying some pretty interesting approaches to filling their ranks with potential officers. The CBC has taken a look at the Vancouver police website and the on line test provided on it and found that there really may be no wrong answers when seeking out a chance to jump into the world of law enforcement.
They found that even a 36 year old , out of shape and anti social applicant, might still find that his or her dream is still alive. The CBC found that even by picking the most likely to be wrong answers to the questions provided, upon completion of the test applicants would receive a message that suggests that there is hope for a police career.
"Your responses indicate that you have the potential to be a police officer but may need to strengthen certain areas of your application."
Take the test yourself and see if you have what it takes.
Who know's, with a little luck you could find that you could be on a beat in no time.
From the RCMP to municipal forces, the need for interested applicants has developed into a bit of a challenging situation, as the various law enforcement organizations seek out the best of the available pool of interested applicants.
Things are so competitive for recruits, that it seems that some forces are trying some pretty interesting approaches to filling their ranks with potential officers. The CBC has taken a look at the Vancouver police website and the on line test provided on it and found that there really may be no wrong answers when seeking out a chance to jump into the world of law enforcement.
They found that even a 36 year old , out of shape and anti social applicant, might still find that his or her dream is still alive. The CBC found that even by picking the most likely to be wrong answers to the questions provided, upon completion of the test applicants would receive a message that suggests that there is hope for a police career.
"Your responses indicate that you have the potential to be a police officer but may need to strengthen certain areas of your application."
Take the test yourself and see if you have what it takes.
Who know's, with a little luck you could find that you could be on a beat in no time.
Herb’s kind of town…
How we gonna keep our politicians on Kaien island, once they’ve seen Chicago?
It’s a good thing that Prince Rupert’s Mayor Herb Pond once had a background in the airline industry, at least he’ll be able to make the right connections to the various functions that he is busy jetting off to these days.
Just prior to last weeks UBCM bunfest in Vancouver, the Mayor was busy traveling half way across the continent. As Mayor Pond took up his spot as an invited speaker to a convention of the Western Hemisphere's mayors in Chicago.
He presented his thoughts on the challenges facing municipalities in the face of growing globalization, and provided input on how Prince Rupert is preparing to take on the changes that will come with our container port about to begin operation.
The Northern View featured some background information on the Mayor’s visit to Chicago, buried rather deep in the weekly paper, it can be found on page 19 of the October 3rd edition or right below.
POND A SPEAKER AT MAYOR’S MEETING
By Brooke Ward
The Northern View
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Page 19
Prior to joining fellow British Columbian mayors and municipal government leaders in Vancouver for the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference last week Prince Rupert mayor Herb Pond made the trek to Chicago, where he was invited to speak at the Western Hemisphere Mayors Conference on the topic of the effects of globalization.
Surrounded by big city leaders from as far as Rio de Janeiro and Miami and as close as Vancouver, Pond might have been a bit of a country mouse amongst the crowd, but he relished in the chance to talk about many of the issues he believes that Prince Rupert will be and already is facing is facing along with economic and social growth.
“It was just an inspirational time to be talking to world leaders who are facing all kinds of problems and see how they are dealing with some of them. All these big cities were there and so just to get a grasp on how they’re dealing with everything from addressing crime to education, it was a mind-expanding time,” said Pond.
“It was amazing, a real opportunity to talk about the role of globalization, the role of transportation in this different economy.” He added.
Pond also had the opportunity to spend a good chunk of time with Canada’s Constable General in Chicago and took advantage of the occasion to talk business.
“The prime purpose of their office is to facilitate trade, so there was a lot of discussion about how they might assist Prince Rupert and Prince Rupert businesses in terms of doing business down in Chicago and how they might access that market, but conversely about what might be the opportunities for investment in Prince Rupert.
With the majority of container traffic from Fairview terminal destined for Chicago, Pond sees the establishment of these types of links and relationships vitally important.
“Roughly 70 per cent of the containers from the Port of Prince Rupert will be destined for Chicago and another 20 per cent of them will be going beyond Chicago, so it’s a key market for us to reach,” he said.
It’s a good thing that Prince Rupert’s Mayor Herb Pond once had a background in the airline industry, at least he’ll be able to make the right connections to the various functions that he is busy jetting off to these days.
Just prior to last weeks UBCM bunfest in Vancouver, the Mayor was busy traveling half way across the continent. As Mayor Pond took up his spot as an invited speaker to a convention of the Western Hemisphere's mayors in Chicago.
He presented his thoughts on the challenges facing municipalities in the face of growing globalization, and provided input on how Prince Rupert is preparing to take on the changes that will come with our container port about to begin operation.
The Northern View featured some background information on the Mayor’s visit to Chicago, buried rather deep in the weekly paper, it can be found on page 19 of the October 3rd edition or right below.
POND A SPEAKER AT MAYOR’S MEETING
By Brooke Ward
The Northern View
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Page 19
Prior to joining fellow British Columbian mayors and municipal government leaders in Vancouver for the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference last week Prince Rupert mayor Herb Pond made the trek to Chicago, where he was invited to speak at the Western Hemisphere Mayors Conference on the topic of the effects of globalization.
Surrounded by big city leaders from as far as Rio de Janeiro and Miami and as close as Vancouver, Pond might have been a bit of a country mouse amongst the crowd, but he relished in the chance to talk about many of the issues he believes that Prince Rupert will be and already is facing is facing along with economic and social growth.
“It was just an inspirational time to be talking to world leaders who are facing all kinds of problems and see how they are dealing with some of them. All these big cities were there and so just to get a grasp on how they’re dealing with everything from addressing crime to education, it was a mind-expanding time,” said Pond.
“It was amazing, a real opportunity to talk about the role of globalization, the role of transportation in this different economy.” He added.
Pond also had the opportunity to spend a good chunk of time with Canada’s Constable General in Chicago and took advantage of the occasion to talk business.
“The prime purpose of their office is to facilitate trade, so there was a lot of discussion about how they might assist Prince Rupert and Prince Rupert businesses in terms of doing business down in Chicago and how they might access that market, but conversely about what might be the opportunities for investment in Prince Rupert.
With the majority of container traffic from Fairview terminal destined for Chicago, Pond sees the establishment of these types of links and relationships vitally important.
“Roughly 70 per cent of the containers from the Port of Prince Rupert will be destined for Chicago and another 20 per cent of them will be going beyond Chicago, so it’s a key market for us to reach,” he said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
His time in Chicago provided the chance to sit down and discuss items of importance with an impressive list of participants for sure. Yet you wonder if somehow there might not be some local people back here in the other Windy city that might like some of the mayor’s time as well.
Of course with such a hectic schedule it’s no wonder that the Mayor hasn’t responded to the sign in the front window of the Data Boy computer store. It was put up after frustration boiled over regarding a recent vandalism incident at that store. It expresses a sense of disgruntlement when it comes to high taxes, services and ongoing vandalism in the city.
Still prominently in place there after a number of weeks now, it asks for the mayor to drop in for a visit to discuss some of the many issues that the small business community is concerned about. Only less than a block away, there hasn’t been much movement from City Hall for a trip down the street to gauge the pulse of the ever decreasing commercial sector in the city.
While it’s good to represent the city on the provincial and world stage for that matter, our city councilors and Mayor need to remember that in politics everything is, in the end local. There are no votes on election day in Vancouver, Alaska or Chicago, it’s how you are remembered by the folks that wander down to the Civic Centre in November every three (soon to be four) years that will count in the end.
With money miscounted at City Hall, a tax load that is heavier than elsewhere in the province, continuing financial woes and declining infrastructure everywhere, showing some interest in the plight of the locals might be a good idea for now.
They seem to have a few questions of their elected municipal leaders, and judging by some of the feedback around town these days, they’re not getting the answers that they require or deserve.
Did the Quartermaster stand alone?
More details have been released about the ill fated trip of the Queen of the North in March of 2005. And with those details, there is even more intrigue about what really happened in the minutes prior to the sinking of the Queen of the North.
The latest revelation to be made public, was in the form of an addendum to the BC Ferries Divisional inquiry into the incident.
BC Ferries was quick to put out a press release explaining their understanding of the
The suggestion from Wednesday's release, was that contrary to her earlier testimony, the Quartermaster of the Queen of the North, a relatively new person at that particular job, was left alone on the bridge of the ferry as it made its fatal approach to rocks off of Gil Island.
The contradiction was made public after details from two BC Ferries employees stated that they have testified they overheard the ship's quartermaster say she was alone on the bridge at the time of the sinking.
If true, it would be a major violation of BC Ferry procedures and an unconscionable error in judgement by those working on the bridge on March 22nd. An error that led to a tragic loss of life and a near disaster of historical proportions.
It also highlights the need to have a full and public accounting of the events of that night, there are still far too many unanswered questions that the residents of British Columbia should receive answers for. Two years after the sinking, we still don't have a clear understanding of what happened, hopefully soon, there will be a definitive answer to the questions and a reassurance that something like this will never happen again.
Quartermaster alone on bridge of ill-fated ferry, inquiry told
2 employees testified officer said she was alone when Queen of the North sank
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 3, 2007 5:04 PM ET
CBC News
Two people told BC Ferries they overheard the quartermaster saying she was the only officer on the bridge of the Queen of the North when the ferry sank in 2006 — contradicting her earlier testimony that she was not alone.
The ferry struck Gil Island off the West Coast and sank on March 22, 2006, killing two people. The inquiry examining the sinking released a statement Wednesday morning saying it had published an addendum to its original report, released on March 26, 2007, because new information had come to light.
According to the statement, since the original report was published, two BC Ferries employees have testified they overheard the ship's quartermaster say she was alone on the bridge at the time of the sinking.
"I saw [the quartermaster] on the deck near the lifeboats where we were both assisting. Just prior to us both getting into one of the rafts [the quartermaster] said: 'It is not my fault, it was not my fault, I was left alone,'" one of the employees told the inquiry.
"When we watched the Queen of the North disappear under the water, I heard [the quartermaster] say again: 'It was not my fault' and repeat it."
The second employee testified: "Once our raft was away, it started to drift towards the stern of the vessel.… At that time, I heard [the quartermaster] say, 'It's not my fault, I was alone, I was alone.'"
The inquiry panel was reconvened as a result of the new information. The addendum concludes:
"The divisional inquiry panel (with one dissent) finds these declarations to be credible. The quartermaster has denied that she was left alone on the bridge and the fourth officer has refused to provide evidence to the divisional inquiry panel regarding the period of approximately 14 minutes prior to the grounding."
However, it stops short of concluding that the testimony proves the quartermaster was alone on the bridge at the time of the sinking.
The ferry corporation also said the new evidence does not change the inquiry's original finding that the deck watch on the Queen of the North failed to keep a proper lookout.
The latest revelation to be made public, was in the form of an addendum to the BC Ferries Divisional inquiry into the incident.
BC Ferries was quick to put out a press release explaining their understanding of the
The suggestion from Wednesday's release, was that contrary to her earlier testimony, the Quartermaster of the Queen of the North, a relatively new person at that particular job, was left alone on the bridge of the ferry as it made its fatal approach to rocks off of Gil Island.
The contradiction was made public after details from two BC Ferries employees stated that they have testified they overheard the ship's quartermaster say she was alone on the bridge at the time of the sinking.
If true, it would be a major violation of BC Ferry procedures and an unconscionable error in judgement by those working on the bridge on March 22nd. An error that led to a tragic loss of life and a near disaster of historical proportions.
It also highlights the need to have a full and public accounting of the events of that night, there are still far too many unanswered questions that the residents of British Columbia should receive answers for. Two years after the sinking, we still don't have a clear understanding of what happened, hopefully soon, there will be a definitive answer to the questions and a reassurance that something like this will never happen again.
Quartermaster alone on bridge of ill-fated ferry, inquiry told
2 employees testified officer said she was alone when Queen of the North sank
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 3, 2007 5:04 PM ET
CBC News
Two people told BC Ferries they overheard the quartermaster saying she was the only officer on the bridge of the Queen of the North when the ferry sank in 2006 — contradicting her earlier testimony that she was not alone.
The ferry struck Gil Island off the West Coast and sank on March 22, 2006, killing two people. The inquiry examining the sinking released a statement Wednesday morning saying it had published an addendum to its original report, released on March 26, 2007, because new information had come to light.
According to the statement, since the original report was published, two BC Ferries employees have testified they overheard the ship's quartermaster say she was alone on the bridge at the time of the sinking.
"I saw [the quartermaster] on the deck near the lifeboats where we were both assisting. Just prior to us both getting into one of the rafts [the quartermaster] said: 'It is not my fault, it was not my fault, I was left alone,'" one of the employees told the inquiry.
"When we watched the Queen of the North disappear under the water, I heard [the quartermaster] say again: 'It was not my fault' and repeat it."
The second employee testified: "Once our raft was away, it started to drift towards the stern of the vessel.… At that time, I heard [the quartermaster] say, 'It's not my fault, I was alone, I was alone.'"
The inquiry panel was reconvened as a result of the new information. The addendum concludes:
"The divisional inquiry panel (with one dissent) finds these declarations to be credible. The quartermaster has denied that she was left alone on the bridge and the fourth officer has refused to provide evidence to the divisional inquiry panel regarding the period of approximately 14 minutes prior to the grounding."
However, it stops short of concluding that the testimony proves the quartermaster was alone on the bridge at the time of the sinking.
The ferry corporation also said the new evidence does not change the inquiry's original finding that the deck watch on the Queen of the North failed to keep a proper lookout.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
It’s closing time….
October it seems is going to be the cruelest month yet for retail operations in Prince Rupert.
While there is a renewed sense of excitement with the advent of the Container Terminal, it seems to not be enough to keep a number of Prince Rupert retail stores open for business.
Early September saw Coles Books in the Rupert Square pack up their volumes and leave town, having ended their experiment in book selling just months before the traditionally busiest time of the year for book stores.
Last month, word quickly spread that Creative Computer Systems was about to shut its doors, the closing out signs on the windows and doors testimony to the end of the Computer store on 3rd Avenue West.
But Creative is going to have some company in the farewell to business rush.
A quick scan of the Daily News on Wednesday provides no fewer than three announcements of Rupert businesses about to close up.
The Cow Bay area will take a double hit as both Just Us Gifts on Cow Bay Road and Ocean Girl on 3rd Avenue East hold closing out sales in preparation for wrapping up their operations.
Further down the road to the west Rupert Motor Cars has called it a day, an ad in Wednesday’s paper advising patrons and friends that the long rumored closure of the auto repair centre was at hand. October 1st was the official end of business for the long time fixture in the downtown core.
And while Kal Tire recently set up shop in the Yellowhead centre, they seem to be the exception to the rule of late.
.
There still seems to be a rather significant downsizing trend for small business in the city, one which adds to the list of small local businesses that have decided that they can’t make a go of it anymore.
It would be interesting to learn what led each individual operation to make their decisions, some may just be personal reasons, others perhaps could be symptoms of a problem in the way the city handles the small business files.
The rumor mill has a few more possibilities on the verge of following the same path, surely a worrisome trend for Prince Rupert City Council, which gains a fair amount of tax revenue from the small business sector.
In fact, there has been a backlash of late about the city’s tax rates for commercial properties and the various policies regarding alarm call out charges and licensing fees to name a few.
The big threat had always been perceived to be the arrival of the Big Box stores as promised in the much delayed Shopping Village on Highway 16. But even without that competition it seems that the attrition rate for local businesses is quite high.
Those that are trying to stay alive in the commercial sector must be wondering if city hall is listening to their concerns; and will offer some relief or suggestions on how to improve the hurdles that they face. Otherwise there may be a few more stores that will soon be taking out the Closing Out ads in the local newspapers.
While there is a renewed sense of excitement with the advent of the Container Terminal, it seems to not be enough to keep a number of Prince Rupert retail stores open for business.
Early September saw Coles Books in the Rupert Square pack up their volumes and leave town, having ended their experiment in book selling just months before the traditionally busiest time of the year for book stores.
Last month, word quickly spread that Creative Computer Systems was about to shut its doors, the closing out signs on the windows and doors testimony to the end of the Computer store on 3rd Avenue West.
But Creative is going to have some company in the farewell to business rush.
A quick scan of the Daily News on Wednesday provides no fewer than three announcements of Rupert businesses about to close up.
The Cow Bay area will take a double hit as both Just Us Gifts on Cow Bay Road and Ocean Girl on 3rd Avenue East hold closing out sales in preparation for wrapping up their operations.
Further down the road to the west Rupert Motor Cars has called it a day, an ad in Wednesday’s paper advising patrons and friends that the long rumored closure of the auto repair centre was at hand. October 1st was the official end of business for the long time fixture in the downtown core.
And while Kal Tire recently set up shop in the Yellowhead centre, they seem to be the exception to the rule of late.
.
There still seems to be a rather significant downsizing trend for small business in the city, one which adds to the list of small local businesses that have decided that they can’t make a go of it anymore.
It would be interesting to learn what led each individual operation to make their decisions, some may just be personal reasons, others perhaps could be symptoms of a problem in the way the city handles the small business files.
The rumor mill has a few more possibilities on the verge of following the same path, surely a worrisome trend for Prince Rupert City Council, which gains a fair amount of tax revenue from the small business sector.
In fact, there has been a backlash of late about the city’s tax rates for commercial properties and the various policies regarding alarm call out charges and licensing fees to name a few.
The big threat had always been perceived to be the arrival of the Big Box stores as promised in the much delayed Shopping Village on Highway 16. But even without that competition it seems that the attrition rate for local businesses is quite high.
Those that are trying to stay alive in the commercial sector must be wondering if city hall is listening to their concerns; and will offer some relief or suggestions on how to improve the hurdles that they face. Otherwise there may be a few more stores that will soon be taking out the Closing Out ads in the local newspapers.
Rupert’s long time first lady passes away at age 83
Mary Agnes Lester, a long time fixture in the Prince Rupert social scene has passed away after a lengthy illness. The spouse of long time Prince Rupert Mayor Peter Lester was a well known and much beloved resident of the city that her husband governed through most of the last half of the last century.
She was predeceased by her husband, former Mayor Peter Lester who passed away last summer.
Mary Lester arrived in Prince Rupert with her then new husband in the late 1940’s and was best known for her love of the Arts, her numerous volunteer activities and dedication and zeal for the performing arts. A sense of Civic service that was best recognized by the renaming of the Performing Arts Centre, now known as the Lester Centre for the Arts.
She was predeceased by her husband, former Mayor Peter Lester who passed away last summer.
Mary Lester arrived in Prince Rupert with her then new husband in the late 1940’s and was best known for her love of the Arts, her numerous volunteer activities and dedication and zeal for the performing arts. A sense of Civic service that was best recognized by the renaming of the Performing Arts Centre, now known as the Lester Centre for the Arts.
.
The Prince Rupert website e-Prince Rupert posted this biography of both of the Lesters back in July of 2006.
Her obituary in the Wednesday Daily News recounts a full life, one which touched a good number of Rupertites through the years. They will have the opportunity to join her family on Friday as they celebrate her life lived at the Crest Hotel at 4pm. The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations could be made in her memory to the Lester Centre of the Arts, c/o City Hall, 424 3rd Avenue West, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L7.
MARY AGNES LESTER
Mary Lester, after a lengthy illness, passed away peacefully in her own home on September 30th, 2007.
Mary was born on January 3rd, 1924 in London, England and married Peter Lester in 1944 and shortly thereafter moved to Prince Rupert. Although she continued to miss her birthplace, Mary quickly adapted to her new community.
Through the years, Mary made many friends and became well known around town for her quick laugh and easy charm. Mary was also very active in all aspects of the arts. From her love of theatre to her numerous volunteer activities, Mary never failed to please her audience. Above all, Mary was devoted to her family. A family who loved her so very dearly in return, and will continue to miss their “Boma” every single day…
Her obituary in the Wednesday Daily News recounts a full life, one which touched a good number of Rupertites through the years. They will have the opportunity to join her family on Friday as they celebrate her life lived at the Crest Hotel at 4pm. The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations could be made in her memory to the Lester Centre of the Arts, c/o City Hall, 424 3rd Avenue West, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L7.
MARY AGNES LESTER
Mary Lester, after a lengthy illness, passed away peacefully in her own home on September 30th, 2007.
Mary was born on January 3rd, 1924 in London, England and married Peter Lester in 1944 and shortly thereafter moved to Prince Rupert. Although she continued to miss her birthplace, Mary quickly adapted to her new community.
Through the years, Mary made many friends and became well known around town for her quick laugh and easy charm. Mary was also very active in all aspects of the arts. From her love of theatre to her numerous volunteer activities, Mary never failed to please her audience. Above all, Mary was devoted to her family. A family who loved her so very dearly in return, and will continue to miss their “Boma” every single day…
Bad dogs, Bad dogs, whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when they come for you!
Muzzles, fences and chains, all could be the secret to good neighbourliness, better still just moving out seems to be just fine as well.
A Fourth Avenue West neighbourhood is about to be rid of a major annoyance, but it would appear that somewhere else in Podunk trouble is about to arrive.
Wednesday's Daily News featured a story on a neighbourhood group that had become fed up with a neighbours pit bulls, two dogs that apparently were leaving the 4th West area in a fair amount of terror.
A public protest took place outside of the dog owners house, complete with signs, angry words and concerns for neighbourhood safety.
The protest took place after local residents had grown weary of inaction by the city and RCMP over their complaints about the dogs and their owner, their concerns have led to questions about the city's dangerous dog policies and whether enforcement issues need to be looked at with situations such as the one that became quite public on Wednesday.
For the Fourth Avenue West residents the days of fear are about to end, the owner of the two pit bulls, who currently has them boarding at the SPCA says that he's about to move to a new house, which will no doubt be greeted with relief by the folks of Fourth Avenue.
But somewhere else in the city, neighbours are keeping an eye on the street, wondering if that rental home, or just off the market residence is about to change their day to day routines forever.
Neighbours protest over alleged dangerous pitbulls
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Page one
After trying to get help from both the RCMP and the city of Prince Rupert, residents of Fourth Avenue West decided to take matters into their own hands Monday night, and organized a protest about alleged dangerous dogs in their neighbourhood.
The Fourth Avenue West residents claim that a resident on their street is harbouring vicious pitbulls and many neighbours say they feel threatened and scared.
"We've been living in fear for a long time," said Dave Fisher, one of the residents who organized the protest.
"This has been going on for a while.
"As neighbours and people who live in Rupert, we want our neighbourhood cleaned up. We want a bylaw that will stop this sort of action."
The residents gathered for 30 minutes with signs announcing their concerns. During the relatively peaceful protest, the resident in question arrived at the home in a taxi-cab, and addressed the crowd.
"I have rights as a resident of Prince Rupert," he said. "And there are dogs off the leash here up and down this street.
"I apologize for the dogs getting out when they did ... they ran out when I was bringing in the groceries."
That alleged incident is what inspired the protest.
The two pitbulls got out of the house, and allegedly rushed Fisher's residence, apparently trying to get their jaws on his dog. A makeshift fence boarding his patio kept the pitbulls at bay, said Fisher.
But the protesters were not satisfied with the resident's apology.
"That's not good enough," said one woman. "We don't want you here.
"We don't want drug dealers or vicious dogs here."
Tempers flared at this moment, as the resident once again reiterated that he has rights.
He did add, however, that the two pitbulls in question were being housed at the local SPCA until he finds a new place to live.
"They'll be at the SPCA until I move at the end of the month."
But that answer wasn't good enough for the protesters either.
"They haven't been surrendered?" asked one protester. "Then that's not good enough. They need to be put down."
The owner of the alleged dangerous dogs departed the scene in a taxi, leaving the protesters to fume that too little was being done and moving to a new address would not solve the problem, but only move it to a different part of the city.
"A first responder coming in to any situation such as this with dogs that are dangerous dogs, as these are, would find themselves in a great deal of trouble, because these dogs will attack," said Fisher. "They're silent killers. What we are trying to do is not only clean up our neighbourhood, but look out for the welfare of Prince Rupert. So it's not just a neighbourhood problem on Fourth Avenue, but it's a problem going throughout Prince Rupert. We're tired of being hostages in our own neighbourhood."
The residents have tried to get the city to change its bylaw regarding dangerous animals, and have also attempted to get the RCMP involved, but to date, nothing has been done.
Another resident who recently moved to the area said he has been able to watch what goes on at the residence in question, and said it's only a matter of time before the pitbulls harm someone.
"The kids never play on this part of the street anymore," he said, asking to remain unnamed.
"You can't actually have a beer or anything in your backyard, without the dogs attacking."
Fisher described the fence that keeps the pitbulls at bay as "not good enough," and said he has had to make alterations to the fence to ensure the pitbulls don't break through.
"When we're in our backyard, we're looking over our shoulder every day," he said. "These dogs have actually ripped a hole in my commercial chain-link fence, and they've gotten out a number of times."
"When they've gotten out, they've also attacked a number of people. They have not bitten anybody yet, but that will happen.
A Fourth Avenue West neighbourhood is about to be rid of a major annoyance, but it would appear that somewhere else in Podunk trouble is about to arrive.
Wednesday's Daily News featured a story on a neighbourhood group that had become fed up with a neighbours pit bulls, two dogs that apparently were leaving the 4th West area in a fair amount of terror.
A public protest took place outside of the dog owners house, complete with signs, angry words and concerns for neighbourhood safety.
The protest took place after local residents had grown weary of inaction by the city and RCMP over their complaints about the dogs and their owner, their concerns have led to questions about the city's dangerous dog policies and whether enforcement issues need to be looked at with situations such as the one that became quite public on Wednesday.
For the Fourth Avenue West residents the days of fear are about to end, the owner of the two pit bulls, who currently has them boarding at the SPCA says that he's about to move to a new house, which will no doubt be greeted with relief by the folks of Fourth Avenue.
But somewhere else in the city, neighbours are keeping an eye on the street, wondering if that rental home, or just off the market residence is about to change their day to day routines forever.
Neighbours protest over alleged dangerous pitbulls
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Page one
After trying to get help from both the RCMP and the city of Prince Rupert, residents of Fourth Avenue West decided to take matters into their own hands Monday night, and organized a protest about alleged dangerous dogs in their neighbourhood.
The Fourth Avenue West residents claim that a resident on their street is harbouring vicious pitbulls and many neighbours say they feel threatened and scared.
"We've been living in fear for a long time," said Dave Fisher, one of the residents who organized the protest.
"This has been going on for a while.
"As neighbours and people who live in Rupert, we want our neighbourhood cleaned up. We want a bylaw that will stop this sort of action."
The residents gathered for 30 minutes with signs announcing their concerns. During the relatively peaceful protest, the resident in question arrived at the home in a taxi-cab, and addressed the crowd.
"I have rights as a resident of Prince Rupert," he said. "And there are dogs off the leash here up and down this street.
"I apologize for the dogs getting out when they did ... they ran out when I was bringing in the groceries."
That alleged incident is what inspired the protest.
The two pitbulls got out of the house, and allegedly rushed Fisher's residence, apparently trying to get their jaws on his dog. A makeshift fence boarding his patio kept the pitbulls at bay, said Fisher.
But the protesters were not satisfied with the resident's apology.
"That's not good enough," said one woman. "We don't want you here.
"We don't want drug dealers or vicious dogs here."
Tempers flared at this moment, as the resident once again reiterated that he has rights.
He did add, however, that the two pitbulls in question were being housed at the local SPCA until he finds a new place to live.
"They'll be at the SPCA until I move at the end of the month."
But that answer wasn't good enough for the protesters either.
"They haven't been surrendered?" asked one protester. "Then that's not good enough. They need to be put down."
The owner of the alleged dangerous dogs departed the scene in a taxi, leaving the protesters to fume that too little was being done and moving to a new address would not solve the problem, but only move it to a different part of the city.
"A first responder coming in to any situation such as this with dogs that are dangerous dogs, as these are, would find themselves in a great deal of trouble, because these dogs will attack," said Fisher. "They're silent killers. What we are trying to do is not only clean up our neighbourhood, but look out for the welfare of Prince Rupert. So it's not just a neighbourhood problem on Fourth Avenue, but it's a problem going throughout Prince Rupert. We're tired of being hostages in our own neighbourhood."
The residents have tried to get the city to change its bylaw regarding dangerous animals, and have also attempted to get the RCMP involved, but to date, nothing has been done.
Another resident who recently moved to the area said he has been able to watch what goes on at the residence in question, and said it's only a matter of time before the pitbulls harm someone.
"The kids never play on this part of the street anymore," he said, asking to remain unnamed.
"You can't actually have a beer or anything in your backyard, without the dogs attacking."
Fisher described the fence that keeps the pitbulls at bay as "not good enough," and said he has had to make alterations to the fence to ensure the pitbulls don't break through.
"When we're in our backyard, we're looking over our shoulder every day," he said. "These dogs have actually ripped a hole in my commercial chain-link fence, and they've gotten out a number of times."
"When they've gotten out, they've also attacked a number of people. They have not bitten anybody yet, but that will happen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
