Since forming government, the BC Liberals have and continue to invest in our communities giving them the local control they deserve. We have provided $2.7 billion in new funding to local governments, we created and funded the $20 million Spirit Squares  Program enabling local celebration sites in communities and invested $51 million on Towns for Tomorrow funding up to 80% of infrastructure projects in smaller communities. We established a new one-stop Rural secretariat to assist municipalities and regional districts in applying for government infrastructure funding programs, we promised and passed the Community Charter giving local governments the most empowering local government legislation in Canada,  we brought in new Resort Community Legislation which provided funding to communities including Golden, Invermere, Kimberley, Radium Hot Springs and Revelstoke; communities along with others who share approximately $19 million annually to further invest in their local infrastructure and amenities.  We created WelcomeBC, a comprehensive approach to enhance settlement and integration services to help newcomers better adapt to life in their new communities and to assist communities to be more welcoming, we launched Network BC to help connect 151 communities without access to the internet, since 2001 we have provided arts and cultural groups found in communities throughout BC with more than a half billion dollars, more than any other government in the history of BC! We continue to focus on Community Living BC supporting adults with developmental disabilities and their families so they can have meaningful lives in their communities. Working directly with communities we have established 65 new parks, 144 conservancies, two ecological reserves and nine protected areas.  We have expanded more than 60 parks and six ecological reserves, protecting more than 1.9 million hectares of land; an area almost three times the size of PEI.

When Norm Macdonald tells us that “we need to choose a government that understands and supports the power of community” he is correct.  What he forgot to mention is our collaborative achievements with communities and that British Columbia already has that government under the leadership of Premier Christy Clark and the BC Liberals.  So Norm, please tell us what the NDP have put into the pot over the last two decades keeping in mind that talk does not cook rice!

Doug Clovechok
BC Liberal Candidate for Columbia River-Revelstoke
Fairmont Hot Springs, BC

Helen Payie — 1926 - 2012

Helen was born on August 15, 1926, at Mt. Cartier near Revelstoke to John and Stella Ozero (nee Soberlac).

She came to Vancouver as a young woman in the 1940s joining her cousin Anne Skrypnyk and working at Kelly Douglas.  Helen always enjoyed dancing and going out with friends.  She married Douglas Payie in 1955 and sadly was widowed in 1962.  Helen worked at Eaton’s  Brentwood for many years and later enjoyed frequenting the mall and seeing many friendly neighbours and staff, particularly at Zellers.  Helen had a gift for getting to know people and remembering names.

Helen, w died on January 21, 2012, was predeceased by her  brother, Adam (Edie), and cousin Anne Collier (nee Skyrpnyk).  She leaves many Ozero and Soberlac cousins around B.C. and Ontario, as well as her aunt Ann Young in the Cowichan valley, her sister-in-law Pat Chapman in Kamloops, and the Collier family Ken (Marj King), Maureen (Jim LeMaistre) and Sharon (Peter Crawford) and Lauren Collier Crawford.

Helen is fondly remembered for her sweet smile and kind disposition.

Please join us for a celebration of Helen’s life at St.Timothy, Burnaby, 4550 Kitchener st, corner of Willingdon on Sat.Feb.11 at 11:00 a.m. followed by refreshments.

Another celebration of Helen’s life will be held in Revelstoke in the spring; further information to follow.

Employment listing updates for the day will be posted at about 9 am and 4 pm daily (actual posting times may vary due to the editor’s workload).

Job seekers interested in these positions, or those shown on previous days, are strongly encouraged to contact the Revelstoke Employment Services Centre. RESC is located at 117 Campbell Avenue. It can be contacted by telephone at 250-814-0244, by
 fax at 250-814-0256 
and by e-mail at resc@okanagan.bc.ca. The RESC Website is at www.resc.ca.

Latest Job Listings — Friday,  February 3, 10:42 am

Position Title: Payroll Clerk
Employer: Vic Van Isle Group

 Wage: VVI Construction Ltd. offers competitive salary packages, an incredible work environment, and career advancement opportunities in Revelstoke, BC. Wage is negotiable depending on experience.

 Job Description:  VVI Construction Ltd. requires a Payroll Clerk to ensure for the accurate and timely processing of our payroll, and perform various clerical and accounting tasks such as data management, keeping confidential employee information relevant to payroll purposes up to date. The Payroll Clerk will work as a member of the accounting team and provide support to other roles within the department as required.  Integrity and strong attention to detail are crucial for this role, as well as strong customer service and interpersonal skills, as communication and client inquiry assistance will be a key component within this position.

To Apply:  Qualified applicants should contact VVI Construction Ltd. attn: Human Resources via email to jobs@vvi-ltd.com, 250- 837-6145 fax or in person to 96 Cartier St. Revelstoke BC (Vic Van Isle Construction Ltd. reception) No phone calls please.

Closing Date: February 20, 2012

***

Position Title: Receptionist
Employer: Vic Van Isle Group

Wage: VVI Construction Ltd. offers competitive salary packages, an incredible work environment, and career advancement opportunities in Revelstoke, BC. Wage is negotiable depending on experience.

Job Description:  The Vic Van Isle Group requires a new Receptionist with responsibilities covering a wide variety of clerical office duties in support of company administration. Other responsibilities will include coordinating and communicating office activities, greeting and screening visitors, answering and referring inbound telephone calls, and scheduling appointments. The Receptionist will also be responsible for administrating company correspondence.

To Apply:  Qualified applicants should contact VVI Construction Ltd. attn: Human Resources via email to jobs@vvi-ltd.com, 250- 837-6145 fax or in person to 96 Cartier St. Revelstoke BC (Vic Van Isle Construction Ltd. reception) No phone calls please.

Closing Date: February 13, 2012

***

MLA Norm Macdonald

The spring session of the British Columbia legislature begins soon and will continue through until summer.  The session will focus on the provincial economy as we debate the provincial budget.

I will participate in what is called the ‘estimates debate’ where as critic for Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations I will question the Minister on each line of the proposed provincial budget for forestry.

As an MLA, it is my responsibility to represent you in Victoria.  I will bring to each debate the economic, social and environmental perspectives of our area.  My office receives contact from thousands of local residents annually, whether through a phone call, private meeting, email or by signing a petition.

You have told me that you want steps taken to strengthen our democratic rights.  You want fairness and social justice.  And you want a provincial government that will properly manage our public lands and our public assets in the best interest of British Columbians.

Hearing from you is a very important part of my job; a job I can’t do without your input.

As an Opposition MLA, I also have an obligation to scrutinize government and hold them to account.  If government takes an action that is ill-considered or does not benefit the public, it is my job to speak out against that action.

For instance, the Premier’s so-called job plan has been promoted by an advertizing campaign that cost more than $1 million.  It was your tax dollars that paid that bill, but has it actually resulted in more jobs?

And the campaign to promote the HST cost taxpayers even more.  Whether it was the constant TV ads or the costly full-colour pamphlet that was printed but never mailed, millions and millions of taxpayers’ dollars were wasted try to convince you to change your mind.

Clearly, British Columbians deserve better.

We live in one of the most beautiful and prosperous places in the world but we must actively work to ensure that average British Columbians are the ones who receive the benefit from that prosperity.

Norm Macdonald is the MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke. You can contact him at 250 344 4816 | 1 866 870 4188 |104, 806 9th Street N | Box 2052 Golden BC V0A 1H0 | www.NormMacdonald.ca

John Devitt

Rules of etiquette are funny things.  These secret codes are often unwritten but one must learn to understand and practice them if one is to become an accepted member of society.  In fact, it is often considered inappropriate to tell someone they are not following proper etiquette unless; they are specifically asking whether they are being rude, or the person is under your instruction, such as is the case with a parent, babysitter, teacher, or supervisor.  So we will politely discuss proper etiquette as though we all need a little instruction.  If this offends you, then I suggest visiting the following link: http://www.wordworx.co.nz/seriously.html otherwise, please continue reading.

Recently, a friend of mine was telling me about how while they were participating in a winter sport at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, they came over one of the rollers only to find a group of winter sport participants stopped dead in the middle of the run.  Luckily my friend wasn’t going that fast and was able to check their speed enough to go around them safely.  Etiquette prevents me from either naming the person or the sport being participated.  Furthermore, etiquette prevented my friend from making any sort of statement, either positive or negative to the group of winter enthusiasts who were an endangerment to others on the mountain.  Silly etiquette, getting in the way of safety and opinions and stuff.

The truth is there are very few rules to enjoying the mountain.  Most people are enjoying their day so much, that they really don’t care about anything other than the snow.  However, there are a few things that irk anyone throughout their day on mountain.  Through a highly scientific and accurate series of guerilla interviews of “locals,” “non-locals,” “visitors,” “tourists,” “just living heres,” “re-locals,” “seasoners,” and “Australians” at popular environs of socialization throughout Revelstoke, here are a sampling of the “rules” most frequently mentioned.

Please note that this list is presented in no particular order.  This is in order to prevent any personal emotional connection inferred by the reader’s present state of mind thereby leading them to believe these items are written and directed specifically to said individual.  Please visit: http://www.wordworx.co.nz/seriously.html for more information. Now, onto the “rules”:

• Always warn others when bringing down the safety bar on the chairlift.  No one likes being bonked in the head.
• Be aware of your surroundings!  Keep your head on a swivel and know where others are regardless of who has the right of way.
• Like to dart in and out of the trees?  Check uphill before reentering the run to make sure you don’t slam into someone.  In fact, always look uphill when merging onto another run!
• No friends on a powder day!
• Never stop in the middle of a run!  Do it off to the side so you are not an obstacle that other skiers have to avoid. 
• Never stop in a blind spot!
• Try to keep a consistent line going down the hill.  Don’t take up the entire width of the run by zigzagging.  Skiers behind you that are faster than you are trying to anticipate where you will go so they can pass you safely.  If you take a sudden wide turn to one side it may take them by surprise and cause a crash.  If you need to cut across the hill, look uphill before you make your move.
• In the Day Lodge don’t hog the whole table.  When its lunchtime and the restaurant is busy try to keep your helmets, gloves and stuff off the table or in a small area to allow others to join you.  There is nothing more aggravating than walking around with a tray of food looking for a place to sit especially when you see all these chairs taken up with clothing and stuff.
• Watch your gear in the lift line.  People don’t really like their skis or boards run over or poked with poles.
• Don’t laugh at others when they crash, laugh with them.  Remember you were learning once too, and if you don’t crash once in awhile it means you’ve stopped trying to learn.
• Try to avoid telling mountain staff who are working that day just how awesome it is up there and what they’re missing.  Believe me, they know, and would much rather be up there with you.
• Always smile, wave, say hello and wish a wicked day of shredding the gnar gnar to anyone you see!

Proper etiquette suggests I thank you for reading and direct your attention to this link: http://www.wordworx.co.nz/seriously.html prior to suggesting you go play in the snow for a while.

“Feel free to address any issue that’s on your mind or in your heart,” BCTF President Susan Lambert said in a statement on the union’s website.

All entries will be posted on the BCTF’s video challenge YouTube channel (youtube.com/mybctf) and the BCTF Facebook page. 

The Community Development Corporation is launching a new program to promote volunteerism in our community. Revelstoke has a strong history of volunteerism, contributing not only to the ‘hidden’ economy but also to the vitality and spirit that makes our community “the friendly, happening place we all know and love,” it said in a news release.

“The Spirit of Revelstoke award program recognizes citizens who have made outstanding volunteer contributions to our community,” the release said.

“Award recipients will be honoured with a personal letter from the Mayor of Revelstoke and a small token of appreciation. Names of recipients will be published in local media and entered into a draw to win a Spirit of Revelstoke print designed by local artist Rob Buchanan. The names of nominators will remain confidential.”

The volunteer nominated can be any age and his or her  contribution must be significant:

• Having occurred on a regular basis over time (i.e. shoveling a neighbour’s driveway all winter), or
• Related to a community organization, or
• Having made a major impact on a specific project that will benefit the community at large.

Please click here to access an interactive nomination form.

Nomination forms can also be picked up at Chamber of Commerce reception (204 Campbell Ave) or requested via email to: volunteer@revelstokecf.com

Send us your completed nomination form to Volunteer Revelstoke via email to:  volunteer@revelstokecf.com

OR drop off at 204 Campbell Ave. or mail to PO Box 2398 Revelstoke BC V0E 2S0

Patti Larson, coordinator of the Community Connections' Food Bank, was all smiles as she received a cheque for $1,000 from (left to right) David Evans, Pam Doyle, Ken Jones, Catherine Bell, Garry Pendergast and David Johnson. The members of the Bygone Era Entertainment Society raised the money through last Christmas' Victorian Magic Lantern Shows. David F. Rooney photo

Vittoria Mendonca and Carmella Batke were all smiles last Friday as they gratefully received a $500 cheque from George Hopkins of Revelstoke's Elks Lodge No. 453. The money was raised by the Penny Drive rganized last year by Elks Lodge member Clancy Boettger. The ladies said the Revelstoke Acrobats will use the money to purchase new trampolines and other equipment. David F. Rooney photo

You can just imagine what's rolling through five-year-old Jasper Label's mind: "Is that really Frosty the Snowman's baby picture?" The famous snowman's baby picture is on display at the Revelstoke branch of the Okanagan Regional Library. David F. Rooney photo