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CHAMBER HOSTS ELECTION FORUM
Over 70 people attended the All-Candidates Forum, hosted by Princeton & District Chamber of Commerce, last Wednesday night in the Legion Hall. Four of the five candidates seeking the British Columbia Southern Interior seat in Ottawa were represented.
New Democrat candidate, Alex Atamanenko, 60, was born in New Westminster and is a retired teacher. He ran in the last Federal Election in this riding.
In his opening remarks, Atamanenko pointed to his relationship with municipal politicians. "I've made a commitment to local officials to work together with them to improve life in this riding."
He touched on the shortcomings of NAFTA and how health care cutbacks are hurting services.
"The more NDP MPs we elect, the better we'll be able to protect our health care."
Liberal candidate Bill Profili is 58 and was born in Rossland. He has spent many years in local government as Mayor of Rossland. Profili also has thirty years under his belt as an Emergency Paramedic for BC Ambulance Service.
He leaned on his years in municipal politics as a focus on local issues. "Regulations are great to pass but when they get passed down to the municipal level, they cost homeowners."
Profili explained his experience related to the power of local voices, "With collective voices at the municipal level, we got things done at the Provincial level." He sees the same concept as working at the Federal level.
Conservative candidate Derek Zeisman could not attend the Forum due to his recovering from a car accident last month. Zeisman did provide a short video, taped from his hospital bed in Trail, and Stockwell Day, from Penticton, was in attendance to field questions on Zeisman's behalf.
Zeisman discussed his December 20th accident, "My injuries were not life threatening, but they are serious. Although I am injured right now, I am going to recover. I will be your full time representative in Ottawa."
Zeisman addressed concerns regarding the Similkameen being added onto the riding in recent years and promised to open an office in the Western end of the Riding.
"As your MP I will fight for your interests and concerns."
Green Party candidate Scott Leyland is 55. He was born in Trail and is a Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. Leyland also ran in the last Federal Election.
He discussed a recent tour of the South Okanagan with Green Party Leader Jim Harris and the wonders of the natural beauty of the area.
"We who live here often take it for granted." He focussed on the clean air, clean water and desirable lifestyle typical of this portion of the Province.
"We need to protect that. As your MP I will work hard to work to build the amenities that attract people to this area."
The Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada candidate, Brian Sproule, who lives in Ontario, did not attend the Forum.
There were a number of good questions put forward to the candidates, who often provided excellent answers.
When asked if the Liberal Government is as corrupt as the previous Conservative Government, Liberal candidate Bill Profili responded with, "There have been segments of corruption at the government level." He stated it was unfair to brand every member of a party or governing body in the same manner.
When asked how a candidate would ensure Princeton is being heard from and represented in Ottawa, New Democrat Alex Atamanenko promised to work hard within the framework of the NDP party, "I will do everything I can at my level to work with locals."
Scott Leyland said to effectively serve the riding the Green Party would be establishing constituency offices in each area of the riding and schedule regular meetings with elected officials and residents. "We need people like you to guide us."
Liberal Bill Profili said he would attempt to bring the local message to the Federal level often, "For a solution to be successful there has to be ownership and ownership should come from the local level."
Youth programs, such as Canada World Youth and Katimavik were discussed and all candidates stated their parties would support such programs in the future.
Green Party's Scott Leyland pointed out, "These programs, like Katimavik, create more peace than large military interventions."
The candidates fielded questions on everything from the gun registry and climate change to views on same-sex marriages and negative campaigning.
One question asked each candidate for descriptions of their individual actions to protect the environment.
The NDP's Alex Atamanenko said he walks when he can rather than use public transit. "I try to lead a healthy lifestyle as best I can."
Scott Leyland of the Green Party said he often walks to go shopping and recently took up running. "I go for walks regularly, I also have a bicycle."
Liberal Bill Profili owns a wood stove, recycles and composts at home. "I like to go riding on my horse, but I'm not sure if he's helping the environment."
Stockwell Day, representing Conservative Derek Zeisman, stated, "Personal initiative is where it's at," and pointed out he uses a pellet stove and has added high efficiency features to his home.
"I also want to do all I can to reduce the amount of hot air coming from Ottawa."
PATHWAY STEPS CLOSER TO REALITY
A group of like-minded people, known as the Friends of the Pathway, had a vision of a nature-type of public pathway around Princeton. They formed a non-profit society with the goal of making the Two Rivers Pathway a reality.
The Friends of the Pathway signed a Memorandum of Understanding last Tuesday morning in Town Hall with the Town of Princeton and Area H of the Regional District that spells out the details of their cooperation.
The Friends of the Pathway have undertaken to try to acquire land and funds to construct the Pathway. Any land acquired will be turned over to the Town or Regional District for parkland and that parkland will be maintained by the partners for the use of present and future generations.
Features visible along the Pathway include coal seams, a tiny intact piece of the spur line to Copper Mountain, the skeleton of the Granby Power Plant, a 1,072 foot long tunnel, a 'basket-handled pony truss' railway bridge, two beautiful, clear, pollution-free rivers, local wildlife, rail spur lines to two coal mines, a section of undisturbed interior dry belt flora and the site of a turbidity flow.
"We know of no other pathway that has such a combination of unique features," states a release from the Friends of the Pathway.
"The Pathway with explanatory signs would be of interest to our visitors and to tourists; would benefit our local businesses and most especially, would allow us - who live here - to take a walk away from the hustle and bustle where we can appreciate our nearby gifts of history and nature."
GSAR ELECTS NEW BOARD
Princeton Ground Search & Rescue (GSAR) Society held their annual general meeting last Tuesday night in the Boardroom of Princeton Hospital.
The dedicated group of volunteers have had a very busy year, as was reviewed in detail by President Arnie Powell and Secretary Randy Rorvik.
Princeton GSAR responded to five call outs over the past year including a body recovery/evidence search in May, an Eastgate back injury carry out in July, the Monument 78 heart attack carry out in September and two lost hunter searches in November.
The group has also spent a considerable amount of time training members in avalanche work, tracking and swift water rescue. A number of members also attained a variety of certifications over the past year including instruction and manager status.
The Mobile Command Centre was completed (the first phase) in the past year and equipped with a variety of essentials including computers, pylons, rope bags, First Aid kits, high visibility vests, water jugs, floodlights, flagging tape and a generator.
Fundraising over the past year saw Princeton GSAR benefit from a number of funding sources including the BC Lotteries Gaming Fund, New Initiatives Fund, Weyerhaeuser, Regional District Area H, Lions Club, Otter Valley Fish & Game Club, a GPS Presentation at the Skills Centre and private donations.
The group has also purchased a great deal of equipment to aid in it's operation including Swift Water rescue gear, throw bags, compasses, handheld spotlights, a tent, a Search Managers kit, table and chairs, portable radio batteries, a number of GPS units as well as a reradiating GPS antenna.
The financial statement confirmed everything with a total income for the year ending December 31, 2005 of $12,428.78 and expenses totalling $13,042.41 leaving a bank balance on December 31, 2005 of $5,552.53.
There were a number of highlights from 2005 that were noted at the meeting including participations in local events such as the Lions Club Duck Race and Auction, Princeton Fall Fair, Racing Days Parade and Halloween Spook House.
Other highlights included media coverage of the Monument 78 rescue, a potential funding source through the RDOS, the positive feedback from meetings with neighbouring SAR Managers, and the achievement of local members earning their SAR Manager and GSAR Instructor Certifications.
Goals for the upcoming year are many but include a new home for Princeton GSAR as they have outgrown their current location in the hospital basement, hosting an in-house Tracker Training Course and more certifications and training programs for existing members.
Elections were held and Arnie Powell was returned as President with Brian Hurd Vice President. Randy Rorvik will remain Secretary and Dawn Gardner stays in the capacity of Treasurer. Directors for the next year will be Joe Houben, Lorraine Stubbins, Trina Adams and Brian Gibson.
CYRIELLE BRINGS US UP TO DATE
Princeton's 2005 Rotary Exchange Student Cyrielle Bon has been back home in France for six months and says she's misses Princeton a great deal.
"Princeton is and will forever stay very special in my heart. I spent a wonderful year there, the experience was so enriching that I could not forget it!! Everyday spent in France is so different that I keep dreaming of coming back to Canada...one day. I love my two countries very much, but living far away from one is hard, and it is all the more harder that I don't get to talk and see all the people that have been and still are so important to me!!!! My mind keeps going back and forth from France to Canada, and even other countries, since I keep in touch with some other exchange students."
We asked Cyrielle what she missed most about Princeton.
"I miss most the spirit of the town, just the fact everything was so simple and small, the fact Princeton was 'my' little Princeton makes it so special, and being away from it is hard in a way. It's really hard to explain but I miss all the connections I've made, all the places I went to when I was living in Princeton and that all is pretty much what I call the spirit of my little Princeton."
Although she lives miles away, she has been able to stay in contact with a few friends made in Princeton, although it's been difficult.
"All the things I'm doing here are keeping me soooo busy that I tend, not to forget about them, but forget about doing the move to write or call!!! Because I DO think of them soooo often, at school, in the streets, when I look at my friends and wonder what I would have been doing if I were in Princeton...I think of it a lot, but I unfortunately haven't been doing too much to keep in touch."
Schooling is so very different in France from what Cyrielle experienced at Princeton Secondary. We asked her to describe her current studies for comparison.
"I'm taking the same classes as before (it doesn't change in France...) which means I have Philosophy, English, German, Russian, Economy, Politics, Sociology, History, Geography, Maths and Sport (I am in the ES section which stands for Economy, Politics and Sociology). My studies are doing very good especially because I've been so serious and dedicated to my work lately. I'm not getting straight As this year but almost straight Bs (except for English where I get an A!!! yee haaaa) so that's not bad. I guess."
Anyone who knew Cyrielle during her time in Princeton saw her transform in many ways. One of the most noticeable changes involved her speaking skills in English. We had to ask how her English and French speaking skills are now.
"Well, French is getting better everyday (I was very bad at first when I got back in France!!! Everyone found I had an accent in my own language!! And I used some English words in my sentences or used the English grammar to speak French...Well, it was really funny according to my parents!!! But I'm happy that I can speak better now!!) On the other hand, my English tends to slip away because I don't practice it anymore. The only English speaking people I know are either my English Teacher (who doesn't have a great accent) or an Australian girl (and everyone knows how the Australian accent is, right??) So I read a lot, and try to read aloud so I don't forget too much, but it certainly gets a bit bad."
We offered space for Cyrielle to send a special message to Princeton and here it is:
"Well, just say to everyone that they will forever stay in my heart. That I love them very much, and hope to come back soon for a visit!! Other than that, well...Oh, you can tell them I'm safe cause I know CNN made a big fuss about the incidents in Paris and some people (who think I live in Paris) were scared for me, but first, I don't live in Paris and second, I recently went to Paris and it's NOT that big! Trust me, there are worse conflicts in the USA!!!! so yeah, tell everyone I'm ALIVE!!!!"
