WESTSIDE ROAD BC ALONG OKANAGAN LAKE BC

The Yalakom wildfire burning northwest of Lillooet, B.C., is seen on July 27, 2010.

A helicopter bucketing water to a wildfire blazing in B.C.'s southern Interior crashed Thursday afternoon, sending its occupants to hospital.

Two people were on board when the Bell 214-B chopper, carrying a full load of water, hit the side of a large hill while fighting the Jade Wildfire burning northwest of Lillooet, about two hours west of Kamloops.

Both were found conscious. The 61-year-old pilot was taken to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops with pain in his legs, while his 27-year-old co-pilot was treated and released in Lillooet.

The helicopter was on contract to the B.C. Fire Service by TransWest Helicopters, based in Chilliwack.

It is still not known what caused the crash.

In Pictures: Yakalom Valley fire

The Yalakom Valley fire, sparked by lightning July 21, is now 10 square kilometres in size and is only 15-per-cent contained.

On Wednesday, fire officials said crews were limited to fighting the blaze from the air because it is on such steep terrain.

A total of 125 firefighters, five structure protection unit personnel, 11 helicopters and 12 pieces of heavy equipment are working to contain the wildfire.

High winds were forecast for the region Thursday.

Fire crews mop up a fire in Kamloops on Wednesday as about 165 new fires are sparked by lightning. (CBC)
Lightning strikes caused an estimated 165 new wildfires in B.C.'s Interior overnight Wednesday, prompting officials to issue two new evacuation orders and call in aerial reinforcements as hot, dry weather continued to blanket the province.

On Wednesday, officials decided to bring in an extra air tanker from Yukon to help dump water and flame retardant on the fires as the province's fire crews had their busiest day of the season so far.

While many of the new fires burning across B.C. remain small, officials say nearly 20 notable fires pose a potential threat to the public.

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Post your photos of the wildfires in B.C.
Officials prioritize fires burning near homes and communities while others in remote areas are often left to burn out on their own.

Extra air tanker support
Jeff Berry, the superintendent of the provincial air tanker program based in Kamloops, says more equipment might have to be brought in from Alberta, Saskatchewan and even Alaska if the fires persist.

"We're looking at a Convair [air tanker] that's being released out of Alaska for Friday, and we're considering other options if any other aircraft come available — mutual aid — from Alberta or Saskatchewan," Berry said.

When there are this many wildfires, co-ordinating where the aircraft dump their water and flame retardant is critical, Berry said.

An air tanker plane drops a load of flame retardant on an Okanagan wildfire on July 12 in this photo submitted by a reader. Officials say they plan to call in additional air tankers to help fight the fires. (CBC)
"When we get overwhelmed, when we get this many fires, it really becomes a really key job of making sure we're winning where we can and losing where we should," he said.

The province's air tankers are land-based aircraft that must return to the base to take on additional fire retardant, and there are only so many tankers that the operational centre can handle, Berry said.

"Given the number of aircrafts we have right now, it's pretty hard to put any more in the chain … because they physically can't load at the bases," he said. "There's just only so much space. We sort of have to manage both sides of that."

Evacuations ordered
After Wednesday's rash of lightning strikes and a fire that quickly spread to cover 150 hectares, officials ordered the evacuation of about 60 homes near Bonaparte Lake, north of Kamloops.

A firefighter surveys a fire east of Kelowna on Thursday. (CBC)
An evacuation order was also issued for about 20 residents of the Riske Creek military base in the Cariboo region.

Smoke from the blaze was raising health concerns Thursday morning in nearby Williams Lake, where the air quality rating was high, meaning children and the elderly should consider reducing outdoor physical activity.

A small wildfire was also sparked in the hills above Kelowna's Joe Riche neighbourhood. Forestry crews were working their way into the area, and the size of the fire has not been determined.

Meanwhile, in B.C.'s far northwestern corner, a wildfire has caused the closure of a main highway heading into the Yukon. Highway 37 is closed from a point 30 kilometres south of the Yukon border all the way to the border crossing. The only other route into the Yukon is via the Alaska Highway, a detour of more than 1,700 kilometres.

More than 100 new fires were recorded across B.C. on July 28, 2010, most of them in the northern and central sections of the province.

Separate wildfires have prompted new evacuation orders and a highway closure in several areas of British Columbia.

B.C.'s Wildfire Management Branch said 165 new fires were reported Wednesday, the most ever in a single day in the province. The majority of the fires are being blamed on the recent hot weather -- this is one of the driest summers on record in B.C.

More than 125 people were forced from properties around Bonaparte Lake, north of Kamloops in the southern Interior, when an evacuation issue was ordered Wednesday.

Airtankers spent the morning dropping water and fire retardant to slow the fire's growth on the east flank of the waterfront. Officials say the fire grew north and south overnight, away from homes. It is currently 100 per cent uncontained.

Strong winds are forecast in the region this evening.

In a separate fire, about 20 residents of the Riske Creek military base were ordered out of their homes east of Williams Lake, about 500 kilometres north of Vancouver.

Meanwhile, a wildfire burning just south of the B.C.-Yukon border has closed the region's main highway.

The aggressive 685 hectare blaze crossed Highway 37 near the Alaska Highway sometime Wednesday, prompting crews to be pulled off the fire as a safety precaution.

That lightning-sparked blaze broke out on Tuesday and now covers one square kilometre.

Crews continue to action a ten hectare wildfire just off of Big White Road that started early Thursday morning.

The fire off the Joe Rich Forestry Road started at around 2am.

Fire Information Officer Michaela Swan says three BC Forest Service fire fighters are on the scene, with another ten on their way.

"We currently have guard established around 70 percent of the fire," says Swan, "and crews are working on establishing a hand guard on the remaining 30 percent."

Swan says crews are seeing rank one and rank two fire behaviour, that is smoking with pockets of open flame.

The fire is not threatening any structures at this point, and is believed to have started from a lightning strike.

Gord Vizzutti & Charmaine de Silva - Kelowna

A gasoline shortage at some Shell stations has spread from Alberta to southeastern B.C.

Shell said it doesn't know how many service stations have run dry, nor how long it will take to get fuel to them.

Some Shell stations in Alberta, and now B.C., are out of fuel, with no guarantee when the pumps will flow again. (CBC)
Several stations, starting in Alberta and now in B.C., are out of gas and have been for at least a week.

The petroleum giant acknowledges it has a supply problem, and that station owners have had to turn customers away.

"We've got our trucks on the road, but it is a tight market, so I can't say how long this will last for," said Jeff Gabert, a Shell spokesperson.

The shortage probably won't spread, like it did last summer, when entire towns in Western Canada ran out of gasoline. For now, the fuel drought is limited to Shell, industry analyst Michael Ervin said.

Ervin also said it's typical that the West gets hit hardest when supplies run low, despite the ample oil in Alberta.

"In general, we see Western Canada as the most vulnerable. There is very little relief from offshore and pipelines flow away from this region and not into it," Ervin explained.

Sailview Bay fire human caused Castanet.net - by Contributed - Story: 55967 - Jul 26, 2010

The investigation into the cause of the interface forest fire that occurred above the Raymer Bay Regional Park and Sailview Bay area, has concluded and determined it to be human caused.

District of West Kelowna Communications Supervisor Kirsten Jones says the fire resulted from a camp site setup above Westside Road.

The person or persons responsible for the campfire have not been identified but personal belongings have been retrieved from the fire area, which was not an organized camping area and did not have road access.

Members of the public venturing into forested areas are cautioned that campfires must be in an organized camping area or on private property with the owner’s permission.

A campfire must not be larger than one half metre (19 inches) around and no higher than one half metre (19 inches.)

The fire pit must be built in dirt and one metre around the pit must be dirt, with no foliage.

A shovel or at least eight litres of water must be nearby to extinguish the fire.

The campfire must never be left unattended and it must be completely extinguished when leaving it.

Effective at noon July 29, 2010, all open burning, including campfires and fireworks, will be prohibited across the Kamloops Fire Centre's jurisdiction to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

No campfires by B.C. Day weekend By Tom Fletcher - BC Local News - July 26, 2010

Lightning strikes have caused fewer forest fires as B.C. heads into the driest days of summer, but careless people are causing as much damage as ever.

The B.C. government is expanding its campfire ban to include most of the province effective Thursday, June 29. Heading into its busiest camping weekend of the year with continued hot and dry weather expected, the Kamloops, Northwest, Cariboo and Prince George regions will join the Lower Mainland and Coast region under a ban on all open fires.

That means burn barrels, tiki torches, fireworks and even industrial and burning-permit fires are off limits in all regions except the Kootenays. Camp stoves may still be used.

So far this year, 65 per cent of forest fires have been human-caused, compared to 40 per cent last year, despite a size limit imposed for campfires.

Forests Minister Pat Bell said Monday the current forest fire season has seen 23,000 hectares burned and $27.1 million spent on firefighting. That's less than half the damage as this time last year, when 47,000 hectares had burned and $64.9 million was spent.

A fire at the base of Mount Seymour in North Vancouver Sunday was the season's first interface fire, but it was contained before any homes were threatened. Witnesses said a campfire got out of control in a remote spot near Northlands golf course.

Another interface fire was contained quickly in West Kelowna on Sunday, after an evacuation alert was issued for homes in the area.

Bell said he is encouraged by the relatively low damage so far this season, despite a hot July and drought conditions in some regions.

"But that can all change in a very short period of time, and fire bans are now on throughout the province, with the exception of the Kootenay region," he said.

Unauthorized campfires are subject to a $345 fine, and there are penalties of up to $1 million fine or three years in prison for causing a wildfire. Enforcement officers will be out full force during the August long weekend.

Most B.C. wildfires this year caused by humans By: ctvbc.ca - Monday Jul. 26, 2010

A wildfire burns in B.C.'s Yalakom Valley. July 25, 2010. (Wildfire Management Branch)

The province of B.C. has spent $27.1 million so far this year on fighting forest fires, the majority of which have been caused by humans.

In a relatively quiet forest fire season, 23,000 hectares of land have burned across the province, compared to 47,000 hectares burnt by this time in 2009, Forests Minister Pat Bell told reporters Monday.

The province has also spent less than half of what it did on fighting forest fires last year, when $64.9 million had already been exhausted by this time.

But a much higher proportion of this year's fires were started by humans. Firefighters blame people for 65 per cent of forest fires this year, compared to only 40 per cent in the same time period last year.

Campfire bans are now in place for most parts of the province, including parks as well as Crown and private lands.

"If you ignore a campfire ban, you will be fined $345. If your recklessness causes a wildfire, you could be fined up to $1 million or spend three years in prison and be held responsible for fire suppression costs," Bell said.

He added that rain isn't expected for most of B.C. in the near future, and the fire danger rating is high or extreme in most areas.

This July has been one of the driest on record, with only 0.6 mm of rain so far, compared to the average 33 mm.

Evacuation alert continues in Yalakom Valley

A wildfire in Yalakom Valley continued to grow Monday morning, spreading to consume 670 hectares.

A crew of 100 firefighters and eight helicopters have contained 15 per cent of fire, which was triggered by a lightning strike on July 21.

More than 85 residents in 20 homes remained on evacuation alert in the area, which is 30 kilometres northwest of Lillooet.

West Kelowna has decided to keep out of the business of cleaning up forest fire hazards on private property.

In a presentation to council this week, Chief Wayne Schnitzler said his research found that B.C. municipalities do not get into forest fire fuel cleanup on private property because of liability issues.

The chief also said it could fall to his fire department to start making difficult judgments from one property to the next if a forest fuel management bylaw were adopted.

“Inevitably, it could give everybody in the district the ability to say, ‘your trees are a hazard, cut them down,’” said Schnitzler.

Schnitzler noted, for example, that fire officials could be forced to go onto one property and ask that pine beetle-killed trees be removed. Then, they could be required next to go into older neighbourhoods like West Kelowna Estates and ask people to cut down trees that have decks built around them.

The chief said he’d prefer to continue to follow the practice of educating homeowners about fire safety and prevention best practices.

To help with that education the municipality would hire an additional fire inspector, mentioned chief administrative officer Jason Johnson.

Johnson said the fire department would also have its fire prevention officer do assessments in interface neighbourhoods and then attempt to contact property owners about any identified hazards.

West Kelowna council was unanimous in a decision to continue with the educational approach.

Coun. Duane Ophus said the reality is most residents in West Kelowna live in forested areas and they assume a certain amount of risk when they buy homes in interface zones.

“All we can really do is aggressively and proactively encourage all property owners to take as many precautions as they possibly can,” said Ophus.

A proposal to deal with forest fire fuel on private land arose from a complaint from Huntsfield Green on Horizon Drive.

The strata approached council in September, shortly after the Rose Valley forest fire subsided, asking the municipality to clear a ravine behind their homes, which was full of dead trees.

The municipality tried unsuccessfully to contact the property owner and request the site be cleaned up, prompting the investigation into a municipal bylaw to clear forest fire fuels on private land.

Former Huntsfield Green strata president Wayne Byron said the municipality’s educational approach seems to lack any teeth when it comes to forcing a property owner to actually do any cleanup.

However, he said he’s willing to see what comes of the educational approach over the next few months.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Byron.

“But it boils down to, at the end of the day, the obligation of a property owner to mitigate a fire hazard. That’s to me the key.”

He said he would still like to see some policy that would hold private property owners accountable to clean up their properties.

“But, if I understand correctly (education) is the first step in that direction.”

A forest fire that was ignited on Sunday on the Westside was quickly contained by the forest service.

The evacuation alert for what has been tagged the Sailview Bay Interface Fire was rescinded at 8:30 a.m. this morning for the following areas: Bear Creek Road north of Petterson Road; Rose Valley Road including Petterson and Dougmac Roads

The forest service says today the fire has been contained, as hand guard has been built around the perimeter and backed up with hose lay. A scaled down fire crew worked over night. Today, a scaled-down forest service crew and response from the West Kelowna Fire Rescue will remain on site today to work on hot spots.

Westside Road is open to north and south bound traffic. Rose Valley Road and Bear Creek Road are open to local traffic only due to emergency crews working in the area.

While there was no structural damage reported as a result of the forest fire, the public is reminded to stay out of the fire damaged area for their own safety.

The cause of the fire is not known at this time.

The BC Forest Service rushed to West Kelowna Sunday afternoon to deal with a wildfire near Bear Creek Provincial Park.

The blaze broke out around 1pm, and was first reported at half a hectare in size.

A team of 20 firefighters from the West Kelowna fire department quickly responded, and provincial airtankers and helicopters battled the blaze from above.

Fire Information Officer Elise Reidlinger says they were able to limit the fire to one hectare and had reached the mop-up stage within a few hours:

"Definitely a quick response - a unified command between the Kamloops Fire Centre and the West Kelowna fire department."

However, an evacuation alert remains in place for residents living on Bear Creek Road north of Petterson Road, as well as for residents living on Rose Valley Road including Petterson and Dougmac Roads. Those residents should be ready to leave on short notice.

No word yet on what caused the fire.

Denise Wong - Kelowna

One North Okanagan mayor wants the creation of a mutual aid agreement in regards to fire coverage with the Okanagan Indian Band.

Spallumcheen’s Will Hansma is calling for mutual aid in the wake of Friday’s fire at the Coyote Crossing Villas Mobile Home Park, in which four mobile homes were destroyed by fire.

The park is located on Westside Road in Okanagan Indian Band territory, but Hansma authorized for the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Department to send one truck and 13 volunteer firefighters to battle the blaze.

“We are thankful that there were no reported injuries to the residents of the mobile home park and thankful that our firefighters were able to assist the Okanagan Indian Band fire department in protecting the lives of these citizens and to minimize any further spread of the fire,” said Hansma.

“However, this situation emphasizes the need for a mutual aid agreement to be in place to assist our First Nations neighbours when called upon.”

Armstrong-Spallumcheen’s fire department, said Hansma, will always respond to help neighbours, and because there was concern that Friday’s fire could spread to the Spallumcheen boundary.

However, at no time, said the mayor, was the township or City of Armstrong in danger of being short on resources in case a fire broke out in their communities on Friday. There were still 30 volunteer firefighters and four trucks available.

“There are definitely liability concerns when our fire department responds to calls on lands where there is no fire protection agreement and no mutual aid agreement in place,” said Hansma, whose desire for mutual aid is echoed by Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper, and Okanagan Indian Band Chief Fabian Alexis.

“I am open to what Mayor Hansma is saying and I thank him for making the call to have his fire department respond,” said Alexis, who is discussing the matter with his council.

Alexis has also been on the phone to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to discuss funding for 911 land line service for the band territory.

Part of the problem Friday was that residents of the park calling 911 from their land lines were calling a service the band doesn’t have, and the band fire department’s one multi-use phone line was jammed with calls.

Residents were upset it took band volunteers a reported 25 minutes to respond to the blaze.

Alexis said it will cost the band $21,000 for 911 service, which would include doing house addresses for all homes on band land.

“Not all of the residences have house numbers and we can’t just go on their properties and put up a post with numbers,” said Alexis.

“They have to be willing to comply with that and the majority of the reserve does have that. Addressing will help with fire protection as well as ambulance and RCMP response.

“We’re under-resourced in the money we get from INAC. It’s really tough to manage our fire department as well.”

A call to INAC was not returned prior to The Morning Star’s press deadline.

Statistics from the operation command centre, which handles 911 calls in the Okanagan, show the first call regarding Friday’s fire came in as a 911 call at 3 p.m.

A total of 64 calls, predominantly from cell phones, went to the command centre in Kelowna, and 59 of those calls were answered between 3 and 3:35 p.m. There were 27 calls transferred to the Vernon Fire Dispatch centre, 17 of those within the first 10 minutes of the fire. The remaining 32 calls were checked out and found to be relating to the fire call.

Five 911 calls were abandoned, three from cell phones and two from land lines including one from a residence at the park. Police made contact with all of the abandoned calls.

A fire has reportedly destroyed several homes west of Vernon on Westside Road.

Witnesses say one home caught fire, with flames spreading quickly to two adjacent mobile homes and a parked vehicle.

Crews from the Armstrong Fire Department are on scene, reportedly arriving about half an hour after the flames were spotted late Friday afternoon.

The fire is reportedly out, with no reports of injuries.

The grass fire near Okanagan Falls is fully contained and 18 hectares in size.

That's the latest report from Fire Information Officer Elise Reidlinger, as crews continue to battle the blaze that's been burning since Thursday afternoon.

Reidlinger also tells us, "'A fire investigator has concluded that the fire was person-caused. He has ruled out lightning."

A team of 41 firefighters are on-site on Saturday, working on reinforcing the guards, as well as putting out any hot-spots.

Denise Wong - Kelowna

At least four homes burned to the ground and a number of surrounding residences were badly damaged in a fire Friday afternoon at the Coyote Crossing Villas Mobile Home Park.

There were no injuries reported as the dying flames were being doused by volunteer firefighters from the Okanagan Indian Band and Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Departments.

A cause is not yet known but witnesses say the fire originated in the garage of a home in the northwest corner of the park, which is located just off Westside Road near the junction with Highway 97.

Neighbours said a retired couple lived in the home but were quickly notified by neighbours to get out.

Pat Mick lived in the home beside where the fire started and said when he noticed smoke, he grabbed a garden hose but it was futile.

“It was too far gone,” said Mick. “I got my dogs and got out.”

Mick said the only reason he was home to save his pets in the first place was his shift at Okanagan Spring Brewery was cancelled because of a hydraulic explosion there on Thursday. His home is insured and he took the fire’s destruction in stride.

“I don’t have to clean that window this weekend,” he chuckled ruefully with neighbours as a firefighter took an axe to the glass at the front of his house. “It was a beautiful home, but no one was hurt.

“That’s life; what can you do?”

Mick, the father of former Vernon Vipers head coach and general manager Troy Mick, said he would lose all the hockey photos he had of his son. He said his wife had gone to another part of the park because she was too upset to take in the scene.

North Westside Fire and Rescue firefighter Fritz Vant Hullenaar was the first person on scene trained to deal with fires. He happened to notice the column of smoke as he was driving home from shopping and began moving residents once he assessed the fire.

“All the people were standing around and I had to evacuate them,” said Vant Hullenaar, who has been with North Westside Fire and Rescue for nearly three years. “I had to make sure everyone was out; there was a possibility of a natural gas explosion and the smoke was deadly.”

He estimated the fire began just before 3 p.m. Soon after that, the fumes rising into the sky were so thick and black, the sun was blotted out.

Witnesses said firefighters didn’t report until about 25 minutes after the flames broke out.

“The response is what it is,” said Vant Hullenaar, noting the vinyl siding on the homes acted like fuel once ignited. “But it would sure be nice if we would have an agreement (with local departments).

“We should be able to respond.”

Most of the homes in the park were six years old or less.

Mounties are warning Lower Mainland residents to be vigilant after dozens of recent Craigslist transactions involving counterfeit money.

Police say they have received at least 70 reports of transactions from the online classified site Craigslist involving fake bills in the Lower Mainland since June 25.

In most of the cases, the buyer met the victim in an isolated area, such as a park, quiet street corner or parking lot. Police say the transactions were done hastily and the buyer provided minimal contact information.

Many of the items purchased with counterfeit money were popular electronic devices, including iPods, iPhones and video game consoles.

Several of the incidents ended in violence, police say. One victim was sprayed with bear spray and another suffered injuries to his face, head and chest after inviting the suspect into his home.

Police recommend those buying or selling items on Craigslist do the following:

•Obtain the other person's contact information before the meeting.
•Use common sense when deciding on a place to finalize the transaction.
•Do not meet strangers in isolated areas.
•When you meet, bring a friend and do it in a busy public area like a coffee shop or mall where there are surveillance cameras and potential witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or their local police force.

After a couple of rough years marred by lay-offs and continued uncertainty, the Okanagan’s very own finally got some pampering.

Viewers of Global Okanagan – formerly CHBC – may have noticed the fruits of a month’s worth of labour and a year’s worth of planning during Thursday’s newscast.

“It (was) the first time (we went) with the new HD technology,” said Dennis Gabelhouse, the station’s general manager.

Gabelhouse said it was a lengthy installation process that followed a long wait for the technology.

“There will be lots of different graphics, a larger weather map for Mike (Roberts) to work with and an exciting and engaging newscast.”

A few new tricks have been added to their bag, but that won’t translate to a crystal clear image of local personalities onto your home TV right away.

An HD broadcast is still in the offing, and by the time it happens the station may no longer be a Canwest property.

Shaw Cable is in the process of picking up the station, as was widely reported earlier this year. Gabelhouse said the next big step in the process should be Sept. 20.

From that point, whatever changes may occur will start to become more evident over the months that follow.

The CHBC purchase happened after Canwest went into creditor protection last October as a means to manage the massive amount of debt it had acquired.

At that time representatives said the purchase harkened a nice change of pace for CHBC employees, who have otherwise had a tumultuous few years.

They had been dealing with potential closure for the better part of a year and those who remained survived an earlier cull that saw 22 employees lose their jobs.

One North Okanagan rural community is showing little enthusiasm for the local RCMP’s newly created North Okanagan Rural Unit.

Rene Talbot, Columbia Shuswap Regional District director for area D, Falkland-Silver Creek-Ranchero-Deep Creek, said the unit, created by the RCMP July 5 to provide better policing services to rural communities, is a reactive solution, not proactive.

“It’s not the person that’s doing the job in the car out on the street, it’s management,” said Talbot. “They’re telling us this new unit is going to be so much better for us. People out here are not happy. You don’t see any police presence.

“I’ve had three meetings with the inspector, superintendent and sergeant but they’ve never answered any of my questions or concerns. They listen to them but don’t answer them.”

What troubles Talbot, among several issues, is response time. He states an accident on Highway 97 about a month ago in a construction zone saw a police officer arrive the better part of two hours after the accident was reported.

And nearly two weeks ago, said Talbot, there was no police presence during a vandalism spree that saw vehicles, homes, the school and fire hall painted, items stolen from cars and a window broken at the school.

“Members here spend most of their time going to Enderby and Armstrong,” said Talbot. “We’re paying for policing but most of the policing is done in Enderby and Armstrong. One Enderby councillor recently complained about policing. Maybe they should send some money back to us seeing as how we’re paying for their policing.”

Under the old system, three members were assigned to the Falkland detachment, though one is currently on maternity leave. A call for service may have depended on an RCMP member coming from Vernon or Kamloops.

The new system, says Vernon North Okanagan detachment Supt. Reg Burgess who announced the creation of the rural unit, will see a member who is working available to take a call in Falkland.

“I can’t guarantee the calls will be answered any better, but it makes sense that a member already in a car working in the North Okanagan, if not in the detachment or in the vicinity, is still going to respond quicker than calling out another member to deal with it,” said Burgess.

The rural unit includes 26 police resource positions, including two First Nations officers, two general investigative officers and two patrol supervisory sergeants.

Members will continue to report to the actual departments they’re assigned to. Armstrong-Spallumcheen has eight assigned officers, Enderby has six and Falkland and the regional districts have three each.

Burgess said he’s met with Talbot to discuss the area’s concerns, which also include highway speeding, drinking and driving and the roar of Harley-Davidson motorcycles screaming in and around the community.

Burgess believes the new unit will give Falkland the increased presence it desires.

“We believe this new model of having more police officers working at any given day gives us the ability to provide that service and get some visibility out there,” he said.

North Okanagan rural communities will have more police presence.

The Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP detachment has announced the creation of a North Okanagan rural unit which will police the west side of Okanagan Lake down to LaCasa Resort, Spallumcheen, Armstrong, Falkland, Enderby and the North Okanagan Regional District areas.

“Collectively, we’ve combined these areas together to create an integrated approach to effective policing of the region as a whole,” said detachment Supt. Reg Burgess.

The unit, which began July 5, will include 26 police resource positions, including two First Nations officers, two general investigative officers and two patrol supervisory sergeants.

Members will continue to report to the actual departments they’re assigned to. Armstrong-Spallumcheen has eight assigned officers, Enderby has six and Falkland and the regional districts have three each.

The creation of the unit does not affect the Vernon detachment, that is, no Vernon members are lost to the new unit.

“Our goal is to provide the best possible police service to everyone in the North Okanagan with the number of police officers we have,” said Burgess.

The unit was created in part after at least one community expressed frustration over what they perceived as a lack of police presence.

Officials in Enderby felt their city was getting the short end of the stick when it came to police resources, stating they had problems with theft and vandalism.

Coun. Greg McCune told The Morning Star there were a number of incidents of theft at the community campground on the July long weekend, and he believed the need to patrol the Funtastic Slo-Pitch Festival in the city may have diverted officers.

The rural unit is being seen as a good move by Enderby Mayor Dee Wejr.

“I think the new unit is great, to tell you the truth, because I’ve already noticed a difference in police presence around Enderby,” said Wejr. “Whether that is because us verbalizing our unhappiness or not, I’m not sure, but I think it’s a step in the right direction. If it works, great. We do feel a little under policed in the community.”

Wejr feels the new unit will make residents feel safer and help out the RCMP members as well.

“It must be a struggle for them. It wasn’t the members we were complaining about, it was the fact that the system didn’t seem to be working,” she said. “It’ll be a matter of waiting to see how it goes but I think it’s a positive step.”

Burgess said a new shift schedule will be introduced in September that he believes will further create efficiencies to the delivery of police service.

The Fire Investigation Team on the Seclusion Bay Interface Fire has determined the cause of the forest fire that began July 12 to be a tree falling on a power line during windy conditions with gusts of up to 70 km/hr.

The Investigation Team, consisting of RCMP, West Kelowna Fire Rescue and Peachland Fire Rescue, determined the cause after a thorough investigation of the fire zone.

B.C. Hydro is actively working within the fire zone today to ensure the safety of the area and restore infrastructure and electrical service as quickly as possible.

Power poles critical to electrical service in difficult terrain sustained significant damage during the fire and will need to be replaced.

The Evacuation Order and Declarations of Emergency as a result of the Seclusion Bay Interface Fire remain in effect. Today, West Kelowna and Peachland emergency personnel are conducting hazard assessments in the fire zone, with the principle goal of ensuring the area is safe to allow residents to return as quickly as possible.

Of particular concern is the single-road access, currently occupied by a number of emergency personnel and equipment, and hazards posed by steep, rocky outcroppings, unstable slopes and dangerous trees that may have been compromised by fire activity.

Peachland, West Kelowna and B.C. Ministry of Forests fire fighters continue actively working to extinguish the fire which remains contained and estimated at approximately 30-hectares.

Fire officials report that all fire guards remain in place. Work today will concentrate on strengthening the north and south fire guards. Warmer temperatures are expected today and may result in heating of ground fires and possible flare ups.

click each pic for a larger pic

Logs are covered in fire retardant.

Fire retardant spilled across highway 97.

Valley Auction looks ok

But not this machinery

It is the fuel that feeds Tolko’s cogeneration plant in Spallumcheen.

It’s the hog pile, two massive mounds of chips and sawdust that resides outside the mill in plain view of passing motorists alongside Highway 97A and for residents of trailer parks across the highway.

It is not uncommon for the hog pile to heat up and catch fire. When it happens, which some nearby residents estimate is about three or four times a year, a Tolko bulldozer operator on-site is quick on the scene and buries the smouldering chips underground.

What is uncommon is what happened Sunday, when heavy winds prevented Tolko officials from putting out the fire in the hog pile, and the blaze spread to nearby log piles.

Four fire departments plus air attack from helicopters and water bombers helped keep the blaze under control.

But the ensuing thick smoke forced a cautionary evacuation of five trailer parks and a handful of nearby homes.

“The hog pile’s been there for eons, for decades, it’s nothing new,” said Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma. “I haven’t had a worry about it. Occasionally it will start smouldering. Sunday was just a freak thing that happened with this one.”

Hansma said he has had constituents express concerns over the hog pile, but he said he’s confident Tolko is doing everything it possibly can to prevent a fire disaster from happening.

“They’ve got the co-gen plant there and it’s the hog fuel that feeds it to keep up the level of power required to run it,” said Hansma.

Richard Zawada doesn’t share the mayor’s confidence.

Zawada is a 16-year resident of Belva’s Trailer Park, directly across from the mill on Highway 97A, which was evacuated during Sunday’s fire.

He said a similar situation happened in 2009 when the pile caught fire and residents were put on evacuation alert.

“I asked people at Tolko about the pile and they said they are managing it the best they can. You call that managing?” said Zawada. “It starts on fire every stinking year.”

Zawada believes Tolko needs to be more accountable in managing the hog pile, or else Sunday’s near-disaster could turn out to be much worse.

“Bottom line here, somewhere down the road someone has to take accountability,” he said. “Because one day, that mill is going to go up in flames and when it does you’re not going to be able to stop it.”

Officials completely rescinded the evacuation alert issued to residents Monday at 3 p.m.

The emergency operations centre and emergency social services operation reception areas were stopped, and site level operations were returned to Tolko Industries management.

A hog pile at Tolko Industries’ Armstrong division caught fire Sunday afternoon, and spread to nearby log piles. The resulting thick smoke caused an evacuation of some 300 nearby residents.
natalia vignola/morning star

For more than 30 years, Gary Berg and his wife, Chris, have peeked out their large living room window off Highway 97A between three Spallumcheen trailer courts and occasionally noticed plumes of smoke coming from the big chip piles across the road at Tolko Industries.

It’s an occurrence Berg estimates happens “three or four times a year, like seeing a little bit of steam coming off a compost pile.”

“The wind picks up, we see a little bit of smoke and usually the Tolko guys are on top of it quick with the bulldozer and they bury it,” said Berg, an employee at a Vernon tire company. “This has been going on for years and years and years.”

Sunday afternoon, Berg was watching TV at around 3 p.m. when he looked out the window of the home he bought in 1978 from his parents and saw “smoke like crazy coming from the back side of the sawdust pile.”

“Not the side that faces the highway, the side that faces the other side of the mill, and I thought, ‘Holy,’” said Berg. “The wind was really starting to pick up and I thought, ‘They better get the bulldozer and bury that thing, and get it under control.”

Within 15 minutes, estimates Berg, the smoke was now going the length of the pile closest to the mill on the corner of Highway 97A and moving north towards Valley Auction.

“Now we’re talking big flames, about 10-to-15-feet high and the wind was blowing,” said Berg. “Before any of the fire trucks arrived, I’m sure the mill had their own people working on it, but it jumped to the log pile, then to the next log pile and the next, past the auction sale. They called in water bombers and helicopters.”

At around 7 p.m., Berg answered a knock on his door, and was told by search and rescue personnel that he and Chris had to get out, and were given 15 minutes to pack up.

“We were never in the smoke but I guess they worried about the wind change and embers hitting the bush and trees,” said Berg, who had just started his vacation. “That always goes through my mind whenever the bloody thing (chip pile) catches fire.”

The Bergs took with them important documents, pictures, photo albums and a change of clothes and were told to report to an emergency social services centre established in Armstrong at the Centennial Hall. It was the first time in more than 30 years at their home the Bergs had been evacuated by a fire.

Residents of the three trailer parks that surround the Berg’s off-highway home, along with residents of two other parks on Spallumcheen Drive and Head Road were also evacuated.

Those that reported to Centennial Hall did so in an orderly fashion, and volunteers had no problems dealing with the evacuees.

“There was no panic, no chaos,” said Helen Sinclair, North Okanagan emergency social services co-ordinator. “We weren’t facing the truest form of human trauma but there’s always that element of uncertainty.”

A total of 35 volunteers helped with the process at Centennial Hall. The Salvation Army was there Sunday night with food and beverages, and were back again Monday morning to serve a pancake breakfast.

Residents evacuated were allowed to return home Monday at 11 a.m.

“The plan we have in place (for an emergency) worked, I’m really happy with it,” said Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma. “With how everything went here Sunday, we’re ready for virtually anything that can happen through our emergency co-ordination program that we have in place with our neighbouring communities.”

A sawdust and log pile are on fire at the Armstrong Tolko Industries plant.

Fire crews from the Enderby and Silverstar departments are on scene at the plant, which is around 15 kilometres north of Vernon beside Highway 97A.

A helicopter and air tanker are also on scene.

According to the Vernon fire department, the fire started at the plant's sawdust pile around 2:41 p.m.

The wind then blew the flames into a nearby log pile, which is around 40 feet high and 20 metres long, said a witness.

The plant's mill, which is south of the fire, has not been affected. It has been reported the wind is blowing hard from the south, which is keeping the fire away from the mill and auction.

Vernon fire department Captain Paul Pshyk said there is a great deal of smoke being directed into the nearby trailer park, and it is possible the park is being evacuated.

An area of Highway 97 near the plant has been closed.

More information as it becomes available.

Lawyers representing BC Hydro customers have criticized a decision by the BC Utilities Commission approving two-tiered rates for household electricity. Under the approved scheme, the price of residential electricity jumps to a higher rate once consumption passes a defined threshold, each 2-month billing period.

This decision will inflict needless pain on BC families already facing huge Hydro increases over the coming years, said Vancouver lawyer Jim Quail, Executive Director of the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre. BC Hydro is already seeking an increase of about 20% covering this year and next. This decision will mean that households who rely on electricity to heat their homes and water will see even larger increases.

Quail noted that BC Hydro's justification for the block rates is to encourage energy conservation.

It's like slapping a deterrent tax on top of gasoline that already sells for $1.40 a litre, said Quail. The price of household energy is rising enough by itself to make people look for ways to cut back. All this does is to sharpen the pain for some of those least able to afford it.

Quail noted that Hydro rates are rising much faster than the rate of inflation, leaving fixed incomes like pensions far behind, at a time when the minimum wage has been flat for years.

This is an insensitive decision that will cause needless hardship for thousands of households across the province, said Quail, who said that he and his legal team are waiting for the Commission's detailed reasons to determine the feasibility of an appeal to the Courts.

For more information please contact Jim Quail at 604-687-3063

Vancouver Island resident unaware her land held aboriginal bones, artifacts

..Archeologists worked on site for several days last year, charging as much as $85 an hour. (CBC)
A property owner and her family from Vancouver Island are up in arms over a $35,000 bill she was held responsible for after her land was registered as a heritage site.

"We felt invaded," said Louise Allix.

Allix was required by law to hire an archeology team last year — to dig up the family property — before she was allowed to build a house just outside of Parksville. Bones and aboriginal artifacts were found, but her son said not much has been done with that discovery.

"It's just a box full of artifacts — that aren’t even on display," said Tim Allix. "If the B.C. government had to pay $35,000 for this, they wouldn't do it. They're saying 'Ah, let's just pass this on to the landowner.'"

Under the province's Heritage Conservation Act, landowners whose property has been designated a heritage site cannot build until archeologists have done an assessment and removed any First Nations artifacts or human remains — at the landowner's expense.

Individual violators face possible fines of up to $2,000 or six months in jail for altering a heritage site and up to $50,000 or two years in jail for damaging one.

"I never would have imagined that there would be bones under the ground," said Louise, who has lived on the property for 40 years, in a neighbourhood where there are several other homes.

"We had a garden here and dug it up all the time and never found anything."

No system to inform landowners
Many B.C. residents don't know their land has been designated, because there is no system in place to inform them. The province keeps the database of sites that are reported to them, by First Nations and other interested parties, but that information is not shown on land title documents.

Louise Allix and her son Tim feel they should not have to pay $35,000 for the archeological dig on family property. (CBC)
There are now 38,000 registered sites with some 2,000 new ones added every year. The minister responsible, Kevin Krueger, acknowledged that the lack of disclosure has been a long-standing problem.

"It's an ongoing issue," said Krueger. "We are carefully working through how to address this whole issue."

Beginning in 1965, the Allix family lived in a house on one of three lots, near the Englishman River — an area where the Nanoose First Nation lived several hundred years ago.

In 2007, Louise and her husband Hereward decided to build a smaller house on the lot next to the main family home that they could move into, because, she said, as they got older, they were having trouble with stairs.

The Allix family decided their aging parents had to move out of the old house, when the stairs got too difficult. (CBC)
Louise said a local archeologist heard of their plans and sent a letter informing them of their obligations, so they hired an archeological consultant to do the work.

"The [house] construction was delayed by months," said Tim, who stands to inherit some of the same property. "Every step of the way there was another permit that had to be applied for."

"Instead of the digging taking two days — which we had thought it was going to be — it was something like two weeks," said Louise. "All these people, crawling about at 80 bucks an hour.

"My mom had to pay for their lunches," Tim added. "It's right on the bill. Accommodation and meals."

Bill 7 times estimate
The original estimate was $4,000. However, Louise said, after the team found part of a human skull, they decided to sift through the dirt for several more days. They also recovered a dog skeleton, several arrowheads and a hand-carved pin.

Her husband was in his 80s and in poor health while this was going on, Louise said. He died last summer, and his son and wife believe the stress hastened his death.

"He broke down and cried one day. He just broke down and he cried. He didn't know how to deal with it," said Tim. "It makes me want to cry — to think of him getting that upset."

Louise said the $35,000 final bill came as a huge shock — and because she lives on a fixed income, she doesn't have the extra money to pay it.

Nanoose First Nation historian Wayne Edwards said all property owners whose land could be affected should be informed by the province. (CBC)
"If the bill were split up among taxpayers — between everybody in the province — it would be peanuts. But for me it's a heck of a lot," said Louise.

"I don't really care who pays it, but it shouldn't be us," said Tim.

The B.C. Real Estate Association has been pushing the government for years to compensate landowners for whatever losses they incur in such cases.

"If society is benefiting from whatever the government is doing, society should pay for it, not the landowner," said CEO Robert Laing. "The cost can be horrendous. And it isn't fair."

Buyer beware, says First Nation
When the B.C. Liberals were in opposition, some of its MLAs also called for full disclosure and compensation.

"Buyer beware," said Wayne Edwards, historian and former chief of the Nanoose First Nation. "That land you are buying may be of historical importance to First Nations."

Edwards said he agrees with the Allix family that every B.C. landowner and buyer whose property might be affected should be told.

"Homeowners should be afforded the courtesy of having that kind of information," said Edwards.

With no system in place, he said, some property owners bulldoze through precious artifacts, because they don't know or care that they are there.

Kevin Krueger, B.C.'s minister responsible for the Heritage Branch, said the government is working on solutions 'in a big picture way.' (CBC) "We've found artifacts in pawn shops and in private collections. From areas that are known archeology sites," he said.

Over the years, there have been several disputes, all across the province. Last year, police were called on a property owner in Oak Bay, near Victoria, who was trying to build $1 million home without the proper site alteration permit.

"Heritage can be preserved or destroyed," Edwards said. "And the biggest problem that we've had is that it's been destroyed."

He believes the cost of preserving heritage should be shared. Otherwise, he said, there is a great incentive for individual property owners to ignore the rules — to avoid getting stuck with the bill.

"A lot of people are saying why should I say anything? And that's unfortunate," he said.

'Heritage can be preserved … it's being destroyed.'
—Nanoose First Nation historian Wayne EdwardsEdwards pointed to a plain brown box sitting on property bought by the province in the 1990s at Craig Bay, also near Parksville. The box holds ancient bones, dug up when the area was developed, before the province bought the site to end the dispute between First Nations and the developer planning to build there.

Edwards said that, as the landowner, the province should have re-interred those bones long ago.

"I'll be happy when they are back in the ground," he said. "It saddens me. But the province is broke. They tell us that they are broke and they don't have money for this kind of thing."

Better forgiveness than permission
Even if the government makes changes, Krueger indicated landowners would still bear most of the financial responsibility.

"The ownership of the land on the surface doesn't mean unrestricted control of what happens subsurface when the ground is disturbed," said Krueger. The minister also said the registered sites are just a small fraction of the real number across the province.

Bones from an extinct dog were considered to be one of the more important finds on the property. (CBC)
Tim is currently unemployed — and expects to face the same hurdles his mother did, if he tries to build on the other empty lot when he inherits it.

"I think it's better to ask forgiveness than permission," he said. "Then say — oops, I didn't know."

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O’Keefe Ranch is hosting their 2010 Vintage Motorcycle Rally on July 10 and 11.

Vintage bikes will be on display at the ranch throughout the entire weekend.

On Saturday, July 10 there will be vintage bikes doing racing practices in preparation for the time trials to take place from 1 to 3 p.m., then the Vintage Flat Track Racing will follow at 5 p.m.

After the races the popular flaming board wall crash will follow. On July 11 there will be a memorial ride to Armstrong at 9:30 a.m., and the awards for the weekend will be handed out at 2 p.m.

In conjunction with the motorcycle event, O’Keefe Ranch will be offering free tractor rides during the day.

There is a family friendly admission rate of $20 per family with school-aged children, or $6 per person.

Motorcycle enthusiasts wishing to enter their vintage bikes (pre-1985) can call Art Gavel at 250-545-0163. For more information or for general inquires call O’Keefe Ranch at 250-542-7868 or visit www.okeeferanch.ca.

A single-vehicle accident on the west side of Okanagan Lake has claimed the life of a local resident.

A 46-year-old woman, who lived in the Westside Road area, died Sunday when the vehicle she was in went off Six Mile Creek Road.

“It was over a very steep embankment,” said Gord Molendyk, spokesman for the Vernon RCMP detachment.

The force of the crash ejected the woman from the vehicle.

The woman’s husband was able to climb up the 500-foot hill.

“He walked out looking for assistance,” said Molendyk.

As part of the investigation, police hoped to interview the husband, who sustained some injuries, Tuesday.

The exact time of the accident is not known but the police became aware of the incident at 10:30 p.m.

It also hasn’t been determined if the woman was wearing a seatbelt, or if she was the driver or the passenger.

“We think it was him (husband) but we’re not sure,” said Molendyk of who was operating the vehicle.

Members of the volunteer Vernon Search and Rescue unit were called out to the scene at 3 a.m. Monday.

“Once the rope team was at the bottom of the ravine, it took them over two hours to get the female out,” stated a Search and Rescue media release.

“The SAR members also located the couple’s pet dog that was also in the vehicle. It had survived but was also injured.”

Officials have not determined what caused the vehicle to leave the road.

Regional Board Meeting Audio Available
Audio recordings of the regular and special meetings of the Regional Board are now available.

Starting with the meeting of June 28th, 2010, Regional Board meetings are being recorded and the audio is being saved as an MP3 file. The file for each meeting will be available on the RDCO website in the days following the meeting by selecting the appropriate meeting date file in the Board and Committees - Agenda link.

To listen you may require a download of the free Windows Media Player

(June 30, 2010)

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Improved Water Management with Gas Tax Funds
Close to 500 residents of two water systems of the Regional District of Central Okanagan are receiving new water meters thanks to $345,000 from the federal the Gas Tax Fund. The Regional District has contracted the installation of meters in homes connected to the Killiney Beach and Westshore Water utilities. These homes are the last of the Regional District’s five water systems to receive meters.

“Fresh water is one of our most treasured natural resources and it should be well managed,” said the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. “Through the Gas Tax Fund, the Government of Canada is supporting the Central Okanagan Regional District in its efforts to improve water management to ensure the long-term sustainability of its communities.”

“The regional district should be commended for making this project a priority,” said Minister of Community and Rural Development Ben Stewart. “Improved water management is a key component of sustainability in the Okanagan Valley.”

Regional District Chair Robert Hobson says, “Water meters are an important tool for measuring the demand for treated water. Based on the experience of other metered water systems, the Regional District anticipates these new meters will provide an opportunity for individuals to reduce their water bills by better understanding their water use and taking steps to control their consumption. The meters should also result in reduced repair costs by extending the life of existing equipment on the water systems.” (Link to Water Metering Project webpage)

The Government of Canada’s Gas Tax Fund is a tripartite agreement between Canada, British Columbia and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) delivering infrastructure funding to local governments for capital projects that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. UBCM administers the Gas Tax Fund in B.C. in collaboration with Infrastructure Canada and British Columbia.

“The addition of meters to these water systems provides a valuable tool for regional water conservation,” said UBCM President Harry Nyce. “We are very appreciative of the federal and provincial support for this improvement to the region’s infrastructure.”

For more information on the Government of Canada’s infrastructure investments in British Columbia, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.

For information on the Gas Tax Fund, visit www.infc.gc.ca.

(June 30, 2010)

When I ran in the 2009 provincial election, I promised to build a strong economy and create jobs in British Columbia.

Just one year ago, our economy was in a downward freefall. Government revenues had decreased and businesses and families across the country were feeling financial pressures.

In the last year, we’ve come a long way and the B.C. government has delivered on its promise to get British Columbians working and be fiscally responsible.

The province practices prudent fiscal management and will lead the country in economic growth in 2010.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has stated that B.C. will have the greatest number of new housing projects in Canada, at an increase of 37 per cent this year alone.

Not only does real estate development generate economic activity, but it creates jobs for British Columbians.

One of the best ways to weather the economic downturn is to create jobs. The best social safety net is a job.

A job gives people the means to support themselves and their families and contribute their success to their community.

Since 2001, B.C. has added over 400,000 jobs to the economy and last month alone 12,700 new jobs were created.

Across British Columbia sawmills are reopening, mines are reactivating and businesses are growing; all organizations that employ thousands of British Columbians.

We said we would work to stabilize B.C.’s economy and bring us back to a balanced budget and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

We are practicing prudent fiscal management, while maintaining vital services that are important to British Columbians, like health care and education. YEH RIGHT!

It’s important to remember how far we’ve come in the last year, but equally important to take a look at other jurisdictions around the world.

After witnessing the debt crisis in Greece, we can appreciate the lengths at which our provincial government has gone to ensure we maintain our AAA credit rating.

We have achieved this credit status, one which is not widely enjoyed by other jurisdictions, by living within our means.

By conserving our AAA credit rating, we are able to obtain a cheaper borrowing rate, which in turn lowers costs for everyone in British Columbia.

We believe that government should not spend today, what our children will have to pay for in the future.

Thanks to the economic actions we have taken since 2001, British Columbia is one of the most economically competitive jurisdictions in the G7.

Competitiveness creates an attractive business climate, which in turn brings investment and jobs to B.C.

The bottom line is we depend on a strong economy in B.C. in order to maintain the level of social programs we have come to enjoy and expect from our province.

I am proud to represent the constituents of Westside-Kelowna and I will continue my efforts to keep B.C. the best place on earth.

Ben Stewart is the Liberal MLA for Westside-Kelowna.

Feeding wildlife, whether intentionally or not, could cost you $575, particularly if it attracts bears.

That warning comes from conservation officer Greg Kruger, after a Rose Valley woman was issued a wildlife protection order last week, requiring her to clean up wildlife-attracting food and not put more out.

She complied, and was not fined, but officers have had to trap and put down two bears already this year who have been aggressive and caused damage once they became habituated to eating human food.

Kruger said although staff at the Kelowna office aren’t dealing with nearly as many complaints as Vernon and Penticton staff are this spring, there are a couple of hotspots where bears are creating problems and generating complaints.

It was from one of those areas that officers removed a bear yesterday, in the Fintry area on Westside Road.

He said there have also been a lot of complaints from the upper Glenrosa area where a couple of bears have become bold and habituated to humans because people have left un-natural food sources available, mostly garbage.

“The difficulty is that once they develop the habitat of going after garbage they become habituated,” he explained.

There are also issues in the Shannon Lake and Tallus Ridge areas and in the Mission benchlands area.

He warned that the new garbage bins are not animal proof, and said people should not be relying on that.

They must be kept inside until the morning of your garbage pickup day.

In fact, he said he feels the best solution for bear issues is a bylaw for garbage control, requiring that residents keep their garbage inside until the morning of garbage day.

It’s an automatic ticket offence if it’s outside any other time, and that ticket can be issued by bylaw enforcement staff, police or conservation officers, he said.

Province-wide, he said last year set an all-time low record for bear complaints, yet this spring it’s been the reverse, with the Kootenays having all sorts of complaints too.

He speculated that the cool spring meant bears hibernated late and their usual feed wasn’t available when they woke up.

He’s confident they will move up into the hills soon when it warms up and the berries ripen.

jsteeves "at" kelownacapnews.com

Soft fruit that you don’t eat should be bagged, buried or frozen rather than tossed out the window, into the garbage or in the compost.

That’s the message from orchardists and grape growers facing the potential loss of an entire crop of fruit to a new insect pest which enters the valley in fruit such as cherries, plums, grapes, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

The spotted wing drosophila is a vinegar fly, similar to a fruit fly, that feeds on rotting fruit but lays its eggs on ripening fruit, destroying it for market.

Organic fruit grower and entomologist Linda Edwards says growers have concerns about fruit which is coming in from California now and berries coming from the Fraser Valley in the coming weeks.

If you buy fruit which is bad and compost it, you could find your raspberry patch is infested with inedible fruit at harvest time, she warns.

Similarly, you could cause the infestation of a commercial operation if you permit eggs in soft fruit that you don’t eat, to develop.

Prevent that by freezing the fruit for two days, or securely bagging it in plastic before throwing it away.

Discovery of this Asian pest for the first time last year in the Fraser Valley and in the Kelowna area is said by some people to have marked “the end of fruit growing as we know it,” because it has such potential for devastation, right in the last few days before harvest, when most conventional pesticides can’t be used against it.

“It’s a very frightening pest,” commented Edwards.

There can be eight to 13 generations in a year, compared to the most serious pest of cherries, the cherry fruit fly, which has only one.

“We need to change how we handle fruit waste,” advised Edwards.

Kelowna cherry grower Christine Dendy says they are hopeful the new pest will not over-winter in the Okanagan, but it will in the warmer Fraser Valley, so now each spring growers here will have to monitor for it.

“Public cooperation will be important, since drosophila will even infest wild saskatoon berries,” she noted. From there it can move onto commercial farms.

Monitoring traps have been placed around the valley, and so far this spring two flies have been caught, one in a Mission-area orchard and another in an Oyama orchard.

Susanna Acheampong, entomologist with the agriculture ministry, says 300 monitoring traps have gone into orchards and some into back yards, while grocery stores and fruit stands are also being monitored.

A weekly monitoring report will go out to growers.

Brochures are available for growers as well as for homeowners and gardeners, and there are more details on the ministry website at: .agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/swd_brochure.

Some emergency control pesticides have been registered for use against drosophila, if needed, said Acheampong.

jsteeves "at" kelownacapnews.com

North Okanagan residents can take part in some old-fashioned fun Saturday.

O’Keefe Ranch will host Family Fun Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Visitors can take in all of the old favourites,” said Alicia Kay, special events co-ordinator.

“Tour the O’Keefe mansion, the Greenhow Museum, the North Okanagan Model Railway or get some heritage candy from the general store.”

There will also be bocce ball, horseshoes, a colouring contest, mural painting and a chance for children to build their own scarecrow, which they can take home.

“Kids can try their luck and throw their line into the fishing hole,” said Kay.

“Also, the ranch has some new spring arrivals, so everyone can come say hello to the new lambs, and can come by and visit the animals.”

There will be free tractor rides, Zumba, cloth dyeing demonstrations and more.

“A day at the ranch would make for the perfect day out to celebrate the beginning of summer and the end of a busy school year,” said Kay.

For more information, call 250-542-7868 or go to www.okeeferanch.ca.

A man who went missing on Terrace Mountain while mushroom picking with some friends found his way back to camp.

Vernon RCMP were alerted Sunday night that the 25-year-old man from Alberta had been picking mushrooms with friends when he got separated from the group.

Just as Search and Rescue personnel were setting out Monday morning to conduct a search for the man, he wandered back into camp after having spent the night in the bush.

The man was not injured.

click image for larger picture

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Re: Terrace Mountain
by NeilNazzer » May 31st, 2010, 8:48 pm

Another inconveniant after effect of the fires in the area is that all the dead trees keep falling down and blocking the roads. A couple weeks ago I was running from Penticton to Kelowna along the KVR the day after a storm and there were several trees that had fallen over blocking the forest service road. A couple different vehicles had to turn around and go back the way they came. Luckily there was a couple guys driving the road that had chainsaws in the cars and started sawing the fallen trees into pieces.

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Pic of a portion of the road up Terrace Mountain showing all the burnt trees along both sides of the road.

Source Castanet.net Forum

Big changes are coming to Highway 97 this summer to accommodate construction of the $41-million Westside Road Interchange.

But West Kelowna Coun. Bryden Winsby says he isn’t convinced the necessary traffic pattern changes will go off without a hitch.

“My only concern is that we do get tie ups now. We do get traffic backlogged back to the bridge, as wonderful as it is, and I’m concerned this could get real bad,” said Winsby, in reference to planned detour routes, which are scheduled to open July 2.

Winsby said a choke point already exists on Highway 97 at Abbott Street in Kelowna and the highway could do without another at the start of the peak tourist season.

“The concern, looking at this, is a choke point on this side as well.”

However, in a presentation to West Kelowna council Tuesday night, project spokeswoman Evelyn Lube said that impact on traffic would be minimal.

“There may some very limited single-lane (flows), for a day or two during the end of construction, but for the most part it will be straight through traffic, just as you know it now along Highway 97.”

Two-lane detour routes going both north and south are meant to allow continuous flow of traffic around the interchange project and unencumbered construction for the next year, said Lube.

Detour routes would leave the highway past the Westbank First Nation offices to the north and at Nancee Way to the south, at an intersection where WFN Chief Robert Louie once had a SuperSave gas station.

Traffic signals, which are currently located at Westside Road and Highway 97, would be moved to the intersection of Nancee Way and Highway 97 to accommodate traffic from Westside Road.

Eventually an underpass will also be constructed at Nancee Way, with work on that project to commence in the fall of 2011, following completion of the Westside Road overpass.

Lube also told council that more traffic changes on Highway 97 are envisioned beyond the Westside Road and Nancee Way projects.

“Once this interchange is finished the next project will be to do a similar structure at Boucherie Road. So, I think we are going to deal with construction on Highway 97 for sometime until this is all finished,” explained Lube.

“The idea in the end of it is to eliminate the stop and go traffic and the traffic lights that are slowing traffic down.”

It should be noted, however, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation has not given any timelines for construction of an interchange at Boucherie Road and Highway 97, nor has a budget been determined.

As for the Westside Road interchange, it is funded jointly through a federal/provincial infrastructure grant announced 13 months ago.

The Westbank First Nation is managing the project for the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.

Upgrades include improved access to the Westbank First Nation administration building, the addition of sidewalks and cycling lanes along portions of Nancee Way and Westside Road and a transit exchange in front of the WFN offices.

A website for the entire project, www.westsideinterchange.ca, should be available within the next few weeks to keep the public up to date, said Lube.

jluciw "at" kelownacapnews.com

The longest continuously running free family festival in the Central Okanagan is extending an invitation at all youth in the valley.

Westside Daze has a full day of events, activities and competitions aimed directly at youth during Youth Day, Friday, July 2.

Youth Day features a skateboard demonstration and competition at the Johnson and Bentley Skateboard Park in conjunction with Westgate Church with prizes provided by Freeride, a Freestyle Motocross performance featuring Kelowna's Kris Garwasiuk and culminates with a Battle of the Bands.

Battle of the Bands will feature up to 12 musical groups not currently under contract with a recording label.

The winning band will win a prize package which includes a 3-track Demo CD professionally produced by Tree Fort Music Studios and a spotlight on SUN-FM radio.

Among the judges are producers from Tree Fort Music Studios and members of Vancouver recording artists Goodbye Beatdown.

Prospective groups must not currently have a recording contract and members must be between 13 and 28 years of age.

Entry deadline is June 10.

Entry forms for the Battle of the Bands competition are available at www.westsidedaze.com.

As with all Westside Daze events, there is no admission charge.

Westside Daze takes place Thursday, July 1 through Sunday, July 4 at the main field below the Johnson and Bentley Memorial Pool.

For more information on Youth Day and the Battle of the Bands, call Adrienne at 250-899-1425 or friend_angell "at" hotmail.com.

A proposal to triple the size of the marina at Lake Okanagan Resort, near Wilson’s Landing, is lacking input, according to the Central Okanagan Regional District.

The board weighed in Monday night on the resort’s application to the B.C. Ministry of Environment to increase the size of its moorage facility from 58 berths to 158 slips.

Before agreeing to conditionally support the application to the ministry, however, the board sought clarification on a few issues, including the size of the proposed expansion and opportunities for public and First Nations’ feedback.

The board began by questioning why so many slips would be needed when the resort has only 79 rooms.

Resort spokesman Doug Fry said that the larger marina was in keeping with an expansion plan for tourist and residential accommodation.

“It contemplates up to 500 residential units on that land. Currently there are just in excess of 230 including two new buildings.”

Resort expansion would be subject to market conditions, noted Fry, offering no firm timelines for full build out.

Fry also noted that the marina expansion has been reduced in scope since the resort originally applied to the ministry in 2006.

The initial application called for 296 slips, plus moorage for 10 houseboats, a storage house for water toys and fuel station on the lake.

The size was reduced because of potential impacts on kokanee salmon spawning grounds, regional district staff noted.

Fry then mentioned that a fuel pump station and a small water toy and life jacket storage facility would still be included in the plans, but added at a later date.

The provision for houseboat slips was removed, he said.

Central Okanagan West electoral area director Jim Edgson said he had opportunity to speak with area residents at a recent meeting concerning the marina application.

They’re pleased so far with what they see, according to the director.

“They’re wildly ecstatic there won’t be any houseboats. That’s number one.

Number two, is they welcome and support fully the reduction in the dock size,” said Edgson.

“They would like to see the fuelling establishment there. They need a fueling facility.”

However, board chairman Robert Hobson noted that residents should also be able to express their views, either for or against the marina, directly to the applicant.

The regional board said it would support the marina expansion application, provided the environment ministry required the applicant to hold a public information session.

It also wanted the ministry to ensure the Westbank First Nation and Okanagan Nation Alliance were consulted concerning the revised application, noting they were consulted at the time of the original application in 2006, but not since.

The board also wanted to ensure the marina was monitored full time and that environmental safeguards were in place including the use of a proven catch system to prevent spills into the lake at the fueling station.

The board said it would also like to receive annual reports on the marina’s impacts on water quality, which the applicant has promised to monitor for at least 10 years.

jluciw "at" kelownacapnews.com

Gerard Hayes, applied suicide intervention skills trainer, speaks at First Aid for Suicide Thursday.  photo submitted

There is something that can be done when a person feels someone is thinking about suicide.

“I think there’s a lot of fear and stigma around suicide,” said Sharon Durant, chairman of the Vernon Suicide Prevention Committee which is made up of a number of local service agencies.

“A lot of people don’t know what to do if someone is giving signs that they may be suicidal so they don’t do anything.”

The committee presents First Aid for Suicide with Gerard Hayes Thursday.

Hayes is an applied suicide intervention skills training master trainer at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.

“We want to show people how to recognize the signs and how and where to get them help,” said Durant.

“It’s like CPR. If you don’t know how to do it and someone near you needs it, you cant help them the way you should.”

Durant believes people can learn how to put things in context to assess the real risk.

For example, a person may say in exasperation about one area of their lives, “I can’t handle this anymore,” but have no thoughts of suicide.

All factors should be considered.

“Don’t ignore that gut feeling. Someone may be reaching out to you, looking to see if you accept the way they’re feeling. Asking them how they’re feeling shows you care about them and accept them,” she said.

“By talking, you may be able to help them get professional help and prevent something worse down the road. People are more likely to reach out to someone they know first rather than to a professional.”

High school students may be asked by peers to keep secrets but anything to do with suicide is one secret they should never keep. School counsellors can show them how to get help.

Suicide affects people of all ages from all cultural, religious, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds and is increasing affecting seniors.

Durant has trained with Hayes and is enthusiastic about being able to bring him to the area as a speaker.

“He’s excellent at giving an overview and teaching the skills people need to help anyone of any age who might have suicidal behaviours,” she said.

“We know that by providing a place where people can talk about suicide, it is very helpful. At the vigil in Polson Park, a woman said she couldn’t tell us how important it was for her to be there and acknowledge her loss and know she was not alone.”

The presentation will include two speakers on their personal experience of losing someone to suicide and service agencies will have resource material available.

Anyone in need of immediate help should call the PIN Crisis Line at 250-545-2339.

The free First Aid for Suicide presentation takes place Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Best Western Vernon Lodge.

Child minding is available at no charge but people must register for it by Jan. 18 by calling 250-542-3114 (ext. 2120.)

The Facts

In 2008, 487 British Columbians took their own lives with 95 of those from the Interior. It is estimated that there were 7,170 attempts.

At any given time, five per cent of the population is having thoughts of suicide with that number doubling for young women between 15 and 24.

In 2002, there were 3,548 deaths by suicide in Canada with fewer than 500 murders and about 3,000 traffic accident deaths.

“What’s Taxable and What’s Not” list

Here are some of the items that the HST will apply to.

Cigarettes going up approx. $5.00 per carton

internet access, cable tv, cell phone, yard maintenance equipment, plumbing and electrical service repair and renovation, phone, appliance repair, Tools, Building Materials, Paint, cookware, vacuum cleaners, toys, art and craft supplies, weather stripping, used adult clothing costing less than $100, dry cleaning, sunglasses, junk food, restaurant meals, alcoholic beverages, housecleaning, lawncare, landscaping, snow removal, domestic air rail and bus originating in BC, leasing a vehicle depends on previous PST treatment, vehicle parts and repair, car rental, oil changes, tires, antifreeze, lubricants oil and grease, vehicle window repair, boats and non-turbine aircraft, new homes over $525,000 HST taxable but get rebate of $26,250 (page 7 of the hst list), legal fees, real estate commissions, massage therapy, over the counter medications

A premier local resort, which counts Queen Elizabeth among its distinguished past guests, is trying not to make too many waves as it attempts to triple the size of its marina.

This is Lake Okanagan Resort’s second attempt at marina expansion.

The resort failed to win the B.C. Ministry of Environment’s approval to quintuple the size of the facility from 58 to 296 slips back in 2006.

At the time, the ministry cited potential impacts on kokanee salmon habitat as the primary reason for disapproval.

However, this time around the resort, located 17 kilometres up Westside Road, has applied to the ministry for a permit to build an additional 100 slips, for a total of 158.

In its revised application to the ministry, Lake Okanagan Resort owners Northwynd Properties Limited Partnership noted that the original expansion was meant to accommodate full build out of the resort, going from 218 units at present to 438 units over a number of construction phases.

That marina was also to be constructed in phases.

However, the company said it has accepted, that since the initial application was made four years ago, studies showed the first design would have caused a detrimental impact to spawning sites in the vicinity.

The company said that with the reduction in the size of the latest marina proposal, the facility could be built in one phase.

It also said it would eliminate plans for 10 houseboat slips, which were planned in the original design.

And the company noted it would be charging guests a premium for slips because fewer would now be available.

The company said it still planned to construct an outbuilding on the marina, housing water toys and a fueling facility, in keeping with some elements from the original design.

It also noted that 10 to 15 of the slips would be available for public use on a daily basis.

The marina would be open from May 1 to Sept. 30 each year, if approved.

The company is also promising a 10-year monitoring program, starting before marina construction, to keep tabs on the facility’s impacts on water quality.

Finally, it is promising to use deck material and to design the marina in a way that would allow more natural light into the lake to reduce habitat for those fish that would prey on salmon fry.

The Central Okanagan Regional District board is being asked Monday night to weigh in on the application and provide referral comments to the environment ministry.

Planning staff recommend the board conditionally support the application, provided the ministry can guarantee the company would follow conditions outlined in a January 2006 environmental impact assessment, such as boat exclusion zones, respect of kokanee spawning areas, safeguard procedures against potential fuel spills and full time monitoring of marina activities.

The regional district also said it wanted annual updates on the water quality monitoring studies the resort is promising to conduct.

jluciw "at" kelownacapnews.com

Brown-tinged water boils down through Shorts Creek canyon in Fintry Provincial Park at this time of year, as melting snow adds to Okanagan Lake.

That’s why the Friends of Fintry Society hold a festival each year on a May weekend. The Festival of the Falls celebrates the awe-inspiring power evident in that series of waterfalls, which were harnessed by the Laird of Fintry, James Cameron Dun-Waters, to produce electricity to power the homes and other buildings on the delta of Shorts Creek, at Fintry in the early days of the last century.

This year, the festival is Saturday, May 8 and visitors are invited to hike up the 300 or so stairs alongside the falls, and to enjoy displays and booths of vendors around the restored octagonal dairy barn at the base of the falls.

Gates are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with guided tours of the heritage barns and the historic granite Manor House, where a museum is being created by the Friends of Fintry.

This year, the staff quarter building, near the Manor House, is being restored, where there were separate rooms for the cook, the maid and the butler for Dun-Waters and his family.

On Saturday, there’ll be live music, a concession and lots of activities for the whole family, promises director Sandy Welbourn.

Dun-Waters always had dogs, so dogs on leash are welcome to join their masters at the festival.

There’s no admission charge for children.

page 2

During an address to residents of the Westbank First Nation (WFN) reserve, Chief Robert Louie outlined the band’s development plans. Louie noted that two projects, the Real Canadian Superstore and a joint venture with Property
Development Group (PDG), are currently on hold. The PDG West Kelowna Landing project is looking to secure one more anchor tenant before proceeding, said Louie.

page 3
However, the band is considering a number of other projects such as a joint venture shopping centre called the Gathering Place and the development of a six-hectare island and marina in the Okanagan Lake. WFN and Canadian Aggregates Inc. also recently applied to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands for an investigative permit for their proposed joint venture gravel pit project. Louie said the band council is currently working on its budget deliberations, which could increase taxes for non-First
Nations residents by 1.5 per cent. The council is keeping the state of economy in mind while working on the numbers and trying to keep the tax increase close to the levels recently approved by Kelowna and West Kelowna, which is 3.55 per
cent and 2.0 per cent respectively.  WFN chief and council are also close to passing a controversial banishment law aimed at serious criminal offenders that seeks to banish “undesirables” from band lands who present a tangible threat to the community.

(Kelowna Capital News, April 26)

Westside Road concerns will be addressed as part of the Westbank First Nation’s application to operate a gravel pit near Fintry, according to Chief Robert Louie.

Louie made the comments Wednesday, four days after residents expressed concerns in the Capital News regarding the impact gravel truck traffic would have on Westside Road if the pit were permitted. (Proposed Gravel Pit Has Nearby Residents Worried, April 4, Page A10).

The residents said they were opposed to the idea of a sand and gravel quarry primarily because Westside Road would be unsuitable for the resulting 40 gravel truck trips per day.

Louie explained that his band would consider funding Westside Road upgrades if the pit permit were awarded.

“The province has come back to us and said it would like to see some road upgrades,” Louie commented.

“This is something we’re still working through right now is agreements to contribute potential moneys to improve the Westside (Road) so that all travelers can take the benefit of that.”

Louie indicated that Westside Road is in need of an estimated $15 million in upgrades.

However, the WFN chief would not say how much money his band would commit to improvements.

“It’s not cheap and this is not to a four-lane standard by any means. This is just dealing with the lack of shoulders, the tight corners, that type of thing. We’ll have to work (the) figures out.”

The chief also acknowledged the idea of using a barge to ship materials on Okanagan Lake.

“That’s a possibility of finding a barge that would be suitable for that particular venture and then having it land on one of our reserves, probably Indian Reserve No. 10…(on) lands adjacent to the (Bennett) bridge.”

Alternatively, the North Westside Community Association suggested building a back road southwest or northwest out of the pit, adding that under no condition would its 300 members support the addition of 40 gravel truck trips per day on Westside Road.

The B.C. government has posted legal notices in newspapers for the last few weeks informing residents that the WFN and Canadian Aggregates Inc. has applied for the gravel permit on a lot about one kilometre south of the La Casa subdivision.

The application indicated that 249,000 metric tonnes of gravel would be produced at the mine each year.

Residents and Crown land licence holders in the area have been invited to address concerns or comments to Chief Inspector of Mines/Section Head Crown Lands, c/o Front Counter BC, 441 Columbia St., Kamloops, BC V2C 2T3 with reference to file number 1620848 Westcan pit.

The deadline for submissions is April 30.

To the editor:

I am appalled at the misinformation in MLA Norm Letnick’s column. Either Mr. Letnick is woefully uninformed at how the current PST works or he is deliberately misleading the public.

A quote from this column: “As it stands, PST is charged at every stage of production. For example, if you purchase a new couch you currently pay both PST and GST on the final purchase price. However you also pay PST on the frame, the fabric, the stuffing, the tools and equipment used in assembly and every last stitch and button. The HST eliminates these hidden PST costs. Consumers will not pay the PST anymore.”

1. If manufactured in B.C. (unlikely), then the retailer purchasing the couch would not pay PST on the purchase of the couch from the manufacturer. Goods purchased for resale are PST exempt.

2. The B.C. manufacturer of the couch would also not pay PST on the frame, the stuffing, the stitches or buttons for the same reason (resale).

3. If manufactured in another country, for example China (likely), then the importer would not pay PST because it was purchased for resale.

4. The manufacturer would also not pay PST on any tools or equipment used in making the couch if the manufacturer is not located in B.C. Most consumer goods that we currently purchase are not manufactured in B.C.

5. Labour costs (the stitches) are also PST exempt.

6. The only person who currently pays PST on goods is the end purchaser. There are no hidden PST costs in this example.

He is correct with his last sentence, consumers will not pay the PST anymore, but this is misleading. Consumers do not save any money in this scenario: 12 per cent HST vs. 12 per cent PST/GST on goods and 12 per cent HST vs 5 per cent GST on services (7 per cent increase). This 7 per cent increase in the cost of services—like haircuts, maintenance and repair labour, and some medical services and equipment—will hit seniors, low income working people and people on fixed incomes the hardest.

Remember these statements next election time and ask yourself if this is the type of government representation you want.

Shari McDowell, Kelowna

The campaign against the harmonized sales tax has reached a milestone in Vernon-Monashee.

As of Thursday, the Fight HST group unofficially had 5,421 signatures on a petition against the levy. That is more than the minimum 4,521, or 10 per cent of voters, required under Elections B.C. rules.

“It tells me that people are unhappy with the decision made by the Liberals and they’re sending a message to Victoria,” said Dan Thorburn, Okanagan organizer.

Fight HST has until July 5 to collect the signatures of 10 per cent of eligible voters in all of B.C.’s 85 constituencies.

A successful petition campaign could force the tax bill to be repealed in the Legislature or for the issue to be put to referendum.

Eric Foster, local Liberal MLA, isn’t surprised that those against the tax have reached their minimum target.

“I expected they would do this,” he said, adding that it’s easy to get people to sign against a tax.

But Foster continues to support harmonization of the provincial sales tax and the goods and services tax.

“It doesn’t change how I will vote on the matter. It’s good public policy,” he said.

The government hopes to pass HST-related legislation by Saturday so it can start charging the tax on services provided after July 1.

Foster denies the government is pushing ahead with legislation this week as a way of circumventing the petition campaign.

“The process with the petition is one part of the initiative legislation but day-to-day operations of the government must carry on,” he said.

Thorburn doesn’t believe the petition campaign will stumble if the HST is passed into law and the public considers the tax a fait accompli.

“That would only happen if we stopped talking about it. We’re going full steam ahead,” he said.

Thorburn is concerned, though, that the public will stop signing the petition now that the minimum threshold has been reached.

“We need to remind the public we’re not sending a minimum message. We’re sending a maximum strength message and that takes people getting out to sign it,” he said.

“If the government sees just 10 or 12 per cent (of voters), they’re not going to care. But if they see 40 or 50 per cent, they will have to care because that’s their voter base.”

To find out petition locations, go to www.danthorburn.com or www.fighthst.com.

VICTORIA - The B.C. Liberal government has made good on its vow to push through legislation repealing the seven per cent provincial sales tax, making way for the imposition of the 12 per cent harmonized sales tax.

After weeks of bitter debate that saw NDP critics demand the government withdraw or delay the measure, and a groundswell of support for a petition against the move, the government used its majority to force the necessary votes Thursday.

The HST takes effect May 1 for pre-sales of services such as gym memberships and airline tickets that are delivered after July 1. At that time, the federal-provincial sales tax is in effect for all purchases subject to the federal GST, including restaurant meals, home repairs and new homes costing more than $525,000.

Finance Minister Colin Hansen had been planning a province-wide mail-out to explain the effects and benefits of the HST, but Elections BC looked at the content and informed the government it would not be permitted during the period of an initiative petition spearheaded by former premier Bill Vander Zalm.

Neither the government nor business groups in favour of the HST registered with Elections BC as opponents of the petition drive, so their ability to advertise against it is restricted by provincial rules until July 5.

Hansen had argued that the mail-out is similar to one the finance ministry sends out each year after a provincial budget, and that its focus on the HST is needed to counteract "misinformation" he says is being circulated by the NDP and Vander Zalm's supporters. Hansen said he has asked Elections BC to look at the opponents' websites and claims about the effect of the tax to see if they affect the validity of the petition.

Even a successful petition drive would not repeal the HST, which is being imposed in Ontario and B.C. based on a federal law passed in December. If enough signatures are gathered in each of B.C.'s 85 constituencies, the government may be required to introduce a bill to repeal its legislation, but it could then defeat the measure or simply let it die on the order paper.

The consequences of refusing to act on the petition would be political. Anti-HST campaigners have vowed that if they can't force Premier Gordon Campbell to back down on the HST, they will begin recall petitions against B.C. Liberal MLAs.

BC Hydro continues to work to improve reliability of its distribution infrastructure to customers on Westside road, west of Okanagan Lake.

Work on the overhead powerline structures have started. Civil work is expected to be completed in April, followed by a submarine cable replacement to be executed within the first three weeks of May 2010. Various permits still have to be obtained before the submarine cable portion of the project can start.

The submarine cable crossing of Okanagan Lake is from Okanagan Centre in Lake Country to Cedar Creek on Westside Road.
BC Hydro will replace the existing three cables with four larger capacity ones within the existing Statutory Right of Way. Replacing the three aged cables with four larger cables will provide more capacity and a more reliable electrical supply for Westside Road residents with a dedicated spare cable.

These higher capacity cables should handle the anticipated load growth over the foreseeable future. As new developments are proposed, there may always be need at a later date for additional electrical infrastructure as circumstances warrant.

Short duration planned power outages may be required during the preparation work and for the connection of the new cables. Project impact on the actual working sites are expected to cause minimal if any disruption to the surrounding communities.

Customers and other parties will be provided with more detailed information closer to the start of the project.

The project is expected to be completed before the May long-weekend.

Source District of Lake Country

RESULTS OF THE MEETING AT KILLINEY HALL FOR NORTH WESTSIDE ROAD RESIDENTS APRIL 14, 2010 IN REGARDS TO WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste Reduction Manager Peter Rotheisler from the Regional District of Central Okanagan confirmed at this meeting that Westside Road Sugar Loaf Transfer Station users and Traders Cove transfer station users will be paying $167 per year utility bill, plus the $50 some odd dollars on their property taxes for garbage disposal and recycling.

If you wish you can contact Waste Reduction Manager Peter Rotheisler, here is his email address.  He is not a bad guy to talk to unlike the past Managers at RDCO as we found out so far.  What happens over the long term remains to be seen.  Peter is willing to listen and investigate other options he told us.  One option being compacting the garbage and reducing the number of trips the truck has to haul the garbage between Sugar Loaf and the Glenmore Landfill.  He also said that other cities are using card lock systems and that we could look at that option as well.  He said he would look at the option of having bins nearer to subdivisions maybe with a cardlock or something. He said he agrees that the waste does not need to be monitored and that the cost of monitoring the waste is a large part of the cost. We asked about reopening the old landfill above Sugar Loaf transfer station and he said that landfills are very expensive because they need to install a liner to catch any leachate as well as when the landfill eventually closes, they have to monitor the gases and environmental impact after closure for 20 years.

After the meeting we sent Peter Rotheisler links to the crown land contract for Sugar Loaf regarding leasing cost of $1.00 per year saying if we need more land that land is cheap, photos of the garbage and other links you can find on this website, and so that Peter is well informed of what has been done in the past before he started working for RDCO as Waste Reduction Manager in 2009 maybe it was?  He has not been working as Waste Reduction Manager at RDCO very long.

We sent Peter this link of the mattresses laying on the side of the road all winter 2009 plus photos of the garbage sitting in front of the locked gate to the transfer station.

We sent him photos of a bin system that was in use at La Casa and as well as Fintry Provincial Parks garbage bin system and the bin system at the coast.  These bins at La Casa were moved across the road now, and there are more than just two bins there now as well.  The current bins do not have a fence around them anymore either.

Coast recycling bins

Coast garbage bins

Coast truck to haul the garbage

This is where a garbage bin could be placed for Valley of the Sun which is the pullout at the top of the hill at Valley of the Sun.  There is hydro there ... also look at that spot of garbage in the bottom photo at this same Valley of the Sun location.  This pullout could use a garbage can.

We sent Peter this link showing the number of users at Sugar Loaf transfer station over the years., the revenue and expenses over the years looking at it this way.

Sugar Loaf Revenue  (number of properties contributing to Sugar Loaf according to RDCO in the past)
2002 = 626 properties x $40 utility bill + $??? property tax = $
2003 = 632 properties x $40 utility bill + $??? property tax = $
2004 = 642 properties x $40 utility bill + $39.67 property tax = $51,148
2005 = 655 properties x $40 utility bill + $39.11 property tax = $51,817
2006 = 707 properties x $40 utility bill + $38.56 property tax = $55,542
2007 = 737 properties x $40 utility bill + $41.43 property tax = $60,014
2008 = 761 properties x $40 utility bill + $51.95 property tax = $69,974
2009 = 784 properties x $40 utility bill + $51.95 property tax = $72,089

These are the charges on the rural property tax bill from 2004 - 2009
2004 $39.67
2005 $39.11
2006 $38.56
2007 $41.43
2008 $51.95
2009 $51.95

These are actual charges for the hauling fees at Sugar Loaf transfer station
2002 $14,270
2003 $15,540
2004 $17,574
2005 $25,698
2006 $23,352
2007 $28,857
2008 $36,669

Total expenses at Sugar Loaf for each year were:
2002  $30,836
2003  $31,968
2004  $43,691
2005  $42,411
2006  $38,479
2007  $55,014 diff of $16,535 from year before
2008  $68,285 diff of $13,271 from year before

One link we sent Peter was to investigate how we might be able to produce a plastic beam or log with garbage and make money from our garbage instead of it costing us money, as there is a company called Ark Recycling in Ireland claiming to have a system that they can produce a plastic lumber, log or beam with pure unadulterated garbage.  Here is the link if you wish to read about it.

Plastic Lumber

Item 3.1 RDCO Community Wildfire Protection Plan.pdf

Item 3.2 RDCO Regional Parks Operational Wildfire Protection Plan.pdf

Item 3.3 RDCO Regional Parks Tussock Moth Forest Treatment Project.pdf

Item 4.1 BC Transit's Strategic Plan.pdf

Item 5.1 Okanagan Similkameen Airshed Coalition.pdf

Item 6.1 Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program.pdf

Agenda - April 8, 2010.pdf

Item 2.1 RDCO Community Wildfire Protection Plan.pdf

Item 2.2 RDCO Regional Parks Operational Wildfire Protection Plan.pdf

Item 2.3 RDCO Regional Parks Tussock Moth Forest Treatment Project.pdf

Item 2.4 Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program.pdf

Agenda No: 2.4
Mtg Date: Apr 8, 2010
Regional Board Report

TO: Regional Board
DATE: April 8, 2010
SUBJECT: Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program
Full report from the April 8, 2010 Governance & Services Committee Meeting
Item 6.1 Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program.pdf

Recommendation
THAT the Regional Board not participate in the Okanagan Valley Bylaw Dispute Adjudication
Program;

AND FURTHER THAT staff be directed to investigate the Okanagan Valley Program for actual
costs and results in the year after its implementation.

Item 3.1a Correspondence - Trustees for the Gellatly Cemetery.pdf

Item 3.1b Staff Report and Recommendation - February 22 meeting.pdf

West Kelowna's desire to have ownership of three regional parks vested in their name including the Mount Boucherie and Gellatly Heritage Regional Parks and a one-half undivided interest in the Gellatly Nut Farm.

Item 4.1 SIR Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw.pdf

Item 4.2 Award of Contract.pdf (Killiney Beach, Westshore Estates and Falconridge water systems)

The Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs join the provincial and national movements to celebrate Pink Shirt Day — Bullying Stops Here April 14.

Boys and Girls Clubs across the Okanagan will be participating in planned activities that provide education, awareness and teach skills to encourage empathy-building. Organizers encourage the community to wear pink on April 14 to show that bullying will no longer be tolerated.

Pink Shirt Day originated in Nova Scotia when two young men stood up to bullying in their high school.

A new student was being bullied when he came to school wearing a pink T-shirt. The other students bought 50 pink T-shirts and got other students to wear them to school to show support for the new student who was being bullied.

Since this powerful act of solidarity, Pink Shirt Day has made its way across Canada. Last year the call to make a statement against bullying by wearing pink was met with an overwhelming response from schools, employers and politicians. Thousands of people wore pink to school and work.

Everyone is encouraged to wear pink April 14 to show support against bullying. Pink T-shirts are available for $5 at London Drugs stores or by contacting Miriam King at 250-762-3914 or mking "at" @boysandgirlsclub.ca.

All proceeds will go to help support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs.

2. Electoral area residents will pay the same user fee and parcel tax for basic waste management related services whether they are on curbside collection or transfer station service.

3. Due to the $48 difference in projected user fees between transfer stations, fees were going to have to be blended to prevent residents from the Traders Cove transfer station (more expensive) changing to the NOWESI Transfer Station (less expensive), which would have further increased the difference in cost.

March 11, 2010 Regional Board Agenda
Item 3.1 Solid Waste Management Regulation Amendment Bylaw.pdf

Energy Performance of Housing
The Province is developing a Building Code change proposal to require energy performance for new Part 9 housing that, combined with provisions under the BC Energy Efficiency Act, will be equivalent to EnerGuide 80. The approach we are considering would offer three different paths to compliance:

•performance targets for thermal resistance and air tightness in the Building Code;
•prescriptive requirements for thermal resistance and air tightness in the Building Code; and
•deemed-to-comply external certifications such as EnerGuide, R-2000, Built Green or LEED.
More detail on the proposed approach is available in this presentation.

There are two new insect invaders leaving visual evidence of their presence in Central Okanagan forests.

The Western Spruce budworm and Douglas fir Tussock Moth have been found by the Ministry of Forests and Range in parts of the regional district.

Both are native species and have been responsible for past forest health infestations. However, the Douglas fir Tussock Moth is of particular concern as it not only defoliates and kills trees very quickly, but can also cause health issues with humans, dogs and horses through a condition known as Tussockosis. Approximately one in three humans have allergic type symptoms ranging from general itchiness, watery eyes and skin rashes to full anaphylaxis in extreme instances.

The Ministry of Forests and Range is responsible for pest management on Crown Lands, completing aerial surveys looking for new outbreaks and determining the severity of damage. It uses these assessments to determine and conduct an aerial spray control program.

While the Ministry is presently mapping the extent of Tussock Moth infestation in the Central Okanagan, preliminary data shows infestation in the Trepanier, Ellison and Glenmore areas. Additional information is also being compiled as to the extent of any presence in the Joe Rich area.

Ministry Forest entomologist Dr. Lorraine Maclauchlan provided information to the Governance and Services Committee at its August meeting and the an update was provided from Parks Services staff in September. Central Okanagan residents and property owners may wish to view the following links to the Ministry of Forests and Range for more information and documents regarding these insects:

Douglas fir Tussock Moth
  Ministry Information webpage 
  Ministry Public Information Links

Western Spruce Budworm
  Ministry Information webpage 
  Ministry Public Information Links

Source Regional District of Central Okanagan "What's New" (September 15, 2009)

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF ESCAPES FROM "CONTROLLED" BURNS IN BOTH THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OKANAGAN REGIONAL DISTRICTS. IF THIS TREND CONTINUES WE WILL HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO END THE BURNING SEASON AND CANCEL ALL PERMITS. WATCH THE MEDIA FOR CURRENT UPDATES AND CONDITIONS

Campfires are subject to Air Quality and Venting being at or above minimums that are <25 for AQ and 65 or higher for venting.

OPEN BURNING ALLOWED BY PERMIT ONLY

The Okanagan Indian Band has temporarily withdrawn their request to set aside an enforcement order concerning Tolko Industries logging in the Brown's Creek Watershed.

The two sides met again in court on Friday in front of Madame Justice Brown of the B.C. Supreme Court.

In the meantime, Tolko says they're prepared to go ahead with their court-approved archaeological plan for logging in the area.

Tolko missed out on the window of opportunity to log during winter months due to a blockade the OKIB had set up to prevent Tolko's equipment from moving in.

“This was an important concession for Tolko to make, as we have been saying how can you map out historic trails and other artifacts when everything is covered in three to six feet of snow,” says Okanagan Band Chief Fabian Alexis, who attended the court hearing.

"The court previously approved Tolko’s Archaeological plan which addresses both harvesting on a snow pack and harvesting without one," says Murray Wilson, Tolko's Woodlands Manager of Okanagan Forestry.

"The window for harvesting on the snow pack is now gone. So we will be completing the next stage of the archaeological plan for harvesting snow free."

The OKIB also asked for clarification of the decision Madam Justice Brown made on November 1 in regards to how much wood Tolko is allowed to log.

Justice Brown says that Tolko has the right to log about eight cutblocks and no further.

The two sides have been wrangling in court over the Brown's Creek watershed for nearly a decade, with the OKIB citing archaeological and watershed protection concerns, and Tolko worried about the continuing degradation of the wood due to the mountain pine beetle in the area they have a permit to log.

OKIB put up a blockade late last year to keep Tolko from moving their equipment in, and did the same thing a few weeks ago in another attempt to stall equipment.

“Justice Brown has ordered that Tolko and OKIB/Okanagan Nation appear back before her on April 9, for a full day hearing on the archaeology,” says Alexis.

Wilson says at that time, OKIB may bring forward any more concerns with the archaeological plan before Tolko logs the area.

In the meantime, Alexis says he's hoping the two parties can continue talks and possibly settle the situation out of court.

044 - Building Inspection and Bylaw Enforcement

- Building inspection permits have decreased which has resulted in a reduction of staff and reallocation of time for one staff person to other services. A tax requisition is now required to cover cost of the service.

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Local Government Act
This Act is Current to March 10, 2010
[RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 323
Part 26 — Planning and Land Use Management
Division 9 — Permits and Fees

Fees related to applications and inspections

931 (1) A local government may, by bylaw, impose one or more of the following types of fees:

(a) application fees for an application to initiate changes to the provisions of a plan or bylaw under Division 2, 7 or 11 of this Part or under Part 27;

(b) application fees for the issue of a local government permit under Division 9 of this Part or a permit under section 972;

(c) application fees for an amendment to a land use contract or to a heritage revitalization agreement under section 966;

(d) application fees for an application to a board of variance;

(e) fees to cover the costs of administering and inspecting works and services under this Part that are costs additional to those related to fees under paragraphs (a) to (d);

(f) subdivision application fees, which may vary with the number, size and type of parcels involved in a proposed subdivision.

(2) A fee imposed under subsection (1) must not exceed the estimated average costs of processing, inspection, advertising and administration that are usually related to the type of application or other matter to which the fee relates.

(3) The minister may make regulations

(a) that the minister considers necessary or advisable respecting the imposition of fees under subsection (1), and

(b) prescribing fees for applications referred to in subsection (1) (f).

(4) A regulation under subsection (3) prevails over a bylaw under subsection (1) to the extent of any conflict.

(5) No other fee, charge or tax may be imposed in addition to a fee under subsection (1) as a condition of the matter referred to in that subsection to which the fee relates.

(6) A local government, the City of Vancouver or an approving officer must not

(a) impose a fee, charge or tax, or

(b) require a work or service to be provided

unless authorized by this Act, by another Act or by a bylaw made under the authority of this Act or another Act.

Final adoption of the budget will be done on March 26.

• Residential tax rates were highlighted (based on a home assessed at $440,000).
  o City of Kelowna - $6.71
  o District of Peachland - $7.91
  o District of Lake Country - $9.49
  o District of West Kelowna - $9.81
  o Central Okanagan West - $66.52
  o Central Okanagan East - $72.99

171 - Okanagan Regional Library

- Staff noted that population numbers from the Province last year were incorrect and that adjustment has been made this year. This will result in a large increase in the electoral area budgets.

The owner of a shrimp trawler is increasingly convinced its sinking is suspicious.

The 42-foot-long boat used for harvesting shrimp submerged into about 55 metres of water near Paddlewheel Park Jan. 1. It was raised last week.

“It does appear sabotage is the reason the boat was sunk and we are working with the RCMP on an investigation,” said Nuri Fisher, president of Kelowna-based Piscine Energetics, which owns the boat.

Fisher says a valve in the engine room was opened and that allowed lake water to flow into the boat.

“This is a real malicious act to pull a stunt like this,” he said.

Fisher would not speculate on why someone would want to damage the vessel.

The RCMP confirm that they are still looking into the case.

“The file is open and our officers will be talking to him (Fisher) as to what should be investigated,” said Gord Molendyk, Vernon detachment spokesman.

The vessel is insured and worth between $300,000 to $400,000. However, Fisher isn’t sure if it is salvageable and whether repairs can be done in the Okanagan.

“We don’t have the facilities for commercial-sized boats,” he said.

Piscine is one of two companies commercially harvesting mysis shrimp on Okanagan Lake. It’s used for pet food and fertilizer.

Mysis shrimp were introduced into Okanagan Lake in the 1960s as an alternate food source for kokanee but they ultimately competed with the kokanee for other food sources.

The commercial shrimp fishery was launched as part of a plan to rebuild the kokanee stocks.
 

The victim of the North Okanagan’s first fatality of 2010 has been identified.

A northbound van went off Westside Road, about five kilometres south of Highway 97, Monday morning around 10:30.

The van clipped a power pole and ended up on its side.

The driver and lone occupant of the van, a male, was pronounced dead at the scene.

But North Okanagan Traffic Services and the Vernon RCMP had problems identifying the driver because he carried no identification with him. It wasn’t until a relative came forward Tuesday that police were able to determine the victim was Robert Russell Johnson, 68, of Vernon.

Police and the coroners department are still trying to piece together what happened in the accident. Investigators are looking at all factors including weather, speed and vehicle condition. They will likely also have to wait for toxicology results in this case as well.

One vehicle that looked like a mini van went off the road (probably driving too fast in the slush as we just had a good dumping of slush not snow), and he ended up rolling into a field on the OKIB reserve near or at Louis Estates Rodeo grounds.  The lone male driver didn't have any id so hasn't been identified yet.  He didn't make it if you know what we mean by that.

People please understand that snow is no longer snow when its soaking wet.  As soon as you drive on it, it compacts to ice.  If there is enough slush, it can pull your vehicle right off the road in a split second.

In the other accident a van drove up the side of the bank and slid back down the bank onto the side of a camper sitting on a pickup truck that must have been driving the opposite way.  Each vehicle was facing the other way from each other where they landed and the van was leaning on the camper.  The camper looked a little broken.  How that accident happened is hard to say.  The pickup with the camper looked like it was facing the correct way but in the wrong lane?  The van up the side of the bank was on the drivers side of the pickup truck and camper.  Could be that the van was trying to avoid the pickup truck coming straight at him in his lane, which isn't an unusual occurrence on Westside Road.  Or maybe a deer popped out of the wood work! 

Be careful driving at all times of year and scan the sides of Westside Road while driving if you want to avoid an accident because there are oncoming cars, cows, pickup trucks, big trucks, whitetail deer, mule deer, horses, bears, etc that could cause you to have an accident on Westside Road.

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BREAKING NEWS: Fatal accident slows traffic
Vernon Morning Star - January 04, 2010

Vernon RCMP along with North Okanagan Traffic services are currently on the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident.

The accident happened at approx 10:30 a.m. on Westside Road, approximately five kilometres south of Highway 97.

The accident involves a single vehicle that was traveling northbound at the time. It went off road to the right and hit a hydro pole. The hydro lines are down at the present time.

Police advise that they will likely have the road open to single lane traffic again just after noon.

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UPDATE: Questions remain in fatal accident
Vernon Morning Star - January 04, 2010 3:00 PM

North Okanagan Traffic Services and the Vernon RCMP continue to investigate a fatal motor vehicle accident that happened at about 10:30 Monday morning, five kilometres south of Highway 97 on Westside Road.

Police and the coroners department are still trying to piece together what happened in the first fatal crash of the year in the Vernon/North Okanagan detachment area.

Police are able to say the victim is a man, but they are having some difficulty identifying the person as there is no identification associated with him at this time.

Police say it is too early to determine the exact cause of the accident. Investigators are looking at all factors including weather, speed and vehicle condition.

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CHBC News

RCMP are investigating a fatal crash in the North Okanagan that took place 10:30 am Monday on Westside Road, five kilometers south of Highway 97.

A man died after losing control on the slippery pavement.

His vehicle struck a power pole then flipped over several times, landing in a field.

Police say he was driving too fast for road conditions, which were said to be icy and slushy at the time.

4. Regional Parks Services

4.1 Douglas Fir Tussock Moth Update - Forested Crown & Private Lands in the Central Okanagan

In follow-up to the August 13th Governance and Services Committee meeting staff were asked to report back whether there is a role for the Regional District to work with the Ministry of Forests on local infestation of the moth as well as whether there
is an issue with regional properties that need to be addressed. Staff reviewed the areas of concern within the Regional District and the role of the District including talking to Interior Health.

Staff report dated August 25th outlined the areas of known infestation in the region.

Ministry of Forest mapping has not yet been completed and the severity level is currently unknown. Based upon the results of further survey, staff anticipate seeking Board approval to partner with the Ministry in any future Ministry sponsored aerial spraying application for the Trepanier Valley and Coldham Regional Park. Appropriate funding levels will need to be determined for the 2010 Regional Parks budget.

#GS76/09 SHEPHERD/EDGSON
THAT the August 25, 2009 staff report on the Douglas Fire Tussock Moth update be received;

AND FURTHER THAT staff be directed to contact Interior Health (medical staff) and municipal staff to provide information regarding the affect of the Moth on public health;

AND FURTHER THAT staff continue to update the Board on issues related to the Moth and infestation within the Central Okanagan.

CARRIED

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FYI - The Douglas Fir Tussock Moth is a serious health hazard and can cause reactions in people.  It is also very devastating to trees, including some decorator trees that could be growing in your own yard.

This tree is located near the Spallumcheen Industrial Park near Armstrong BC and was already attacked by the Tussock Moth.  The woman whom lived in the house next to the trees had itchy legs from a reaction to the Tussock Moth during the active season.  She did not know why she had itchy legs and went to the doctor for cream to put on her legs.  It wasn't until a pest control company stopped in to notify the owner of what was wrong his trees that it was found out about how the Tussock Moth can cause reactions in people.

This is a photo is of a left over of the Tussock Moth.

This is a photo of the Tussock Moth Cocoon on a branch.  The cocoons are found on the underside of the branches on this tree.

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August 13, 2009 - Governance & Services Committee Meeting Minutes

3. Delegations

3.1 Lorraine Maclauchlan, Ph.D. Forest Entomologist, Ministry of Forests and Range - Southern Interior Region, Stewardship Section - re: Pest management in Crown forests L. Maclauchlan addressed the committee and provided a review of the Province's pest management in Crown forests and in particular pests around your home.

Information on the Douglas-Fir Tussock moth, treatment and control, as well as recognizing the Western Spruce budworm was highlighted.

• Outbreak of the Douglas-Fir and Tussock moth was reviewed. It was noted the Tussock moth may cause allergic reactions to humans, horses and dogs.

• Mapping is being done in Kamloops, South Okanagan, Similkameen and Rock Creek to Christina Lake. Outbreak is bad in areas of Trepanier, Glenmore Road, and the Kelowna airport area. Outbreaks often start on private lands. Outbreaks last for a period of approximately four years.

• The outbreak in the Okanagan is at approximately year one. By year two or three the outbreak is often rampant. If the Ministry can treat early, the outbreak would cause less damage. It was noted that trees do not necessarily die in the first year but only defoliate.

• Management options were reviewed. When, why or where would you spray. It was noted that this is a naturally occurring pest.

• Ministry policy at the present time is to use virus (NPV).

• Cost estimates were reviewed using B.t.k. and NPV.

• Is there a role the Regional District can play to inform the public? Communicating the potential problem is important in order to inform the public ie: Trepanier is a new area of outbreak.

• If spraying were to occur in rural areas, all communities would have to agree as you can't spray a 'stop, gap' method. Ministry gets signed position from homeowners and in an area all homeowners would have to agree before spraying would occur.

• The Thompson Nicola Regional District has contributed funds to spray on private lands assisting the Ministry with the spray program in the area. Their criteria was 'land had to sit next to Crown lands'.

• The spray is only available from the Province or Federal governments, It's a biological agent and does require special handling methods. Forest services decides when it might be appropriate and how to use it.

#GS63/09 HODGE/BAKER
THAT the presentation by Lorraine Maclauchlan, Ph.D. Forest Entomologist, Ministry of Forests and Range - Southern Interior Region, Stewardship Section regarding Pest management in Crown forests be received.

CARRIED

The Committee discussed:
Whether residents can contact the Ministry directly if there is an issue in their area. Yes, they can and should.

Should an education campaign be communicated by the Regional District? There is time to review as it is too late for spraying this year. Information from staff is needed on what the risks are within the Regional District first before expectations are created. It may be helpful if there were some well timed articles on the moth directly to the medical profession as well as the public. The medical profession needs to be aware that over the next few years reactions may occur to some sections of the population and be educated in order to treat properly.

#GS64/09 EDGSON/BAKER
THAT staff be directed to report back to the Governance and Services Committee if there is a role for local government working with the Ministry of Forests on local infestation of the Douglas-Fir and Tussock moth; as well as whether there is an issue with regional properties that needs to be addressed in the future.

CARRIED