September
The forest fires near Little Fort showed the importance of retaining what had been the Clearwater Fire Zone office in Clearwater, according to Mayor John Harwood. Most of the fire zone had been amalgamated with Kamloops the previous March and its staff reduced. The portion near Blue River had been amalgamated with Prince George.
READ ALSO: Year in Review, January - April, 2017
READ ALSO: Year in Review, May – August, 2017
The Elephant Hill fire came within 100 m of a resort on Sheridan Lake, nearly 90 km from where it had began near Ashcroft in early July.
TNRD stopped accepting plastic bags with mixed recycling. That meant items in blue recycling bags needed to be emptied out at the eco-depot.
Upper Clearwater residents Lisa-Marie Morgan and Annette Stock charged they were being discriminated against because of their age by Immigration Canada. The retired police officers had formerly worked with London (U.K) Metropolitan Police.
In a guest editorial, former faller Jim Lamberton alleged B.C.’s wildfire response was mismanaged. The initial firefighters should be the loggers and first responders living in the area, he said.
Crews were removing signs as BC Parks prepared to reopen fully Wells Gray Park. Stephanie Molina, marketing manager for Tourism Wells Gray, noted that there was still a campfire ban covering the entire Kamloops Fire Centre, including Wells Gray Park.
Residents of the North Thompson Valley decisively turned down a proposal to create a Geopark in the valley. About 16 per cent of the eligible voters in the proposed service area indicated they were against the proposal in a “negative petition.” Only 10 per cent were needed to turn it down.
There were plenty of questions asked but not a lot of opposition heard during a meeting held to explain why District of Clearwater wanted to borrow $315,000 to upgrade its water system. The money would help pay for a third well plus other improvements, said engineer Terry Underwood.
Erica Massey used research on the volcanoes of Wells Gray Park to help complete her master’s thesis at UBC. She looked at the mineral palagonite, which is primarily found in Iceland, British Columbia and, possibly, the planet Mars.
Sgt. Grant Simpson took over as NCO-in-charge at Clearwater RCMP detachment. He took the place of Sgt. Kevin Podbisky, who had transferred to Prince George.
Residents of Upper Clearwater formed their own volunteer wildfire crew. “We live in fear of fire every year but this summer was something else,” said Steve Murray, one of the organizers.
An affordable housing apartment building proposed by Yellowhead Community Services hit a problem. District of Clearwater felt property taxes should be paid on the society’s Employment Services office, which would be located on the building’s ground floor. Not getting a full exemption would cost YCS an additional $13,000 per year and would put the project in jeopardy, said board chair Louise Weaver.
A good-sized crowd turned out for the first ever showing of highlights from the Banff Film Festival. There will be another one next year, said Charlotte Smith, one of the organizers.
Youngsters from Blue River, Vavenby, Raft River, Barriere and Neqweyqwelsten School in Chu Chua took part in a salmon education program put on by Simpcw First Nation at the Raft River viewing platform.
October
Forsite forest management consultants hosted a public meeting in the forests ministry office in Clearwater to update a landscape inventory of the Clearwater River corridor. The visual impact of logging along the corridor had been the source of some controversy.
Students from Raft River, Blue River and elementary schools in Kamloops took part in the second annual Dan Coleman Classic cross-country races at Clearwater Secondary. The event was named for a teacher who was passionate about coaching and who had passed away in February of that year.
Clearwater resident Kim Dunn used a metal detector to find a wedding ring a German couple had lost near Bailey’s Chute in Wells Gray Park.
Over 200 people attended the Serenity Harvest Festival at Serenity Performing Arts Centre (located on the road between Birch Island and Vavenby).
A Valley Voice profiled the history of Blue River School, which was celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Vavenby residents were without water for 48 hours after sand plugged its pump. TNRD restored the system but problems remained.
Clearwater council members had a productive time during the recent Union of BC Municipalities convention, reported Ken Kjenstad. Their meetings had included one with Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, about more seniors housing at Evergreen Acres.
Sharon Neufeld won the prize for best pie during a community potluck held at the schoolhouse in Upper Clearwater.
Several members of Simpcw First Nation took part in a hunt in Jasper National Park. “Our intent was to hunt within our traditional territory,” said chief Nathan Matthew. “We’ve been working with Parks Canada for two years on this.”
Mikael Kjellstrom and Dan Daase were about to start work as community paramedics in Clearwater and area. The pair would be doing home visits, wellness clinics and educational initiatives.
The master plan for Wells Gray Park, written in 1986, needs an overhaul, including consideration of a bridge over the Clearwater River, said Clearwater town council during a special discussion. “The big change is climate change,” said councillor Merlin Blackwell.
People taking part in an open house held to mark the 100th anniversary of Blue River School included Solveig (Johnson) Graffunder. She was born in Blue River in 1929 and went to school there whenever her father, who worked for the railway, was working there.
November
Clearwater town council recommended to B.C.’s mines ministry that there be further public consultation regarding a proposed gravel pit in the Raft River area. Council also suggested to the ministry that the proponent have meaningful consultation with Simpcw First Nation.
Town council voted to give Yellowhead Community Services a 91.55 per cent property tax exemption for its proposed affordable housing apartment building. YCS had asked for 100 per cent but there would be commercial space on the ground floor of the building.
Debris piles on fire lit up the evening sky around Clearwater. “We don’t want to leave those piles around for the upcoming summer,” said George Brcko, Wells Gray Community Forest general manager.
Clearwater residents Keith McNeill and Jean Nelson reported back after attending a Citizens Climate Lobby-Canada conference in Ottawa. CCL volunteers took part in 49 lobbying meetings with MPs, senators and senior bureaucrats to promote carbon fee-and-dividend as a way to control human-caused climate change.
Crews were at work putting in passing lanes near Darfield and new pavement near Little Fort.
Over 350 people turned out for Remembrance Day ceremonies in Clearwater. Members of the color party leading the parade were Sgt. At Arms Murray Douff, RCMP Cst. Geoff Schnyder and Korean War veteran Bob Freeston.
A chimney fire caused extensive damage to a residence on Cameron Road. Clearwater firefighters were called at 4:43 a.m. after the home’s occupants were alerted to the fire by a TV falling off the wall.
TNRD asked District of Clearwater to contribute another $15,000 in federal gas tax money to complete work on the septage receiving facility on the Flats. “We’re in the position where we don’t have much choice,” said CAO Leslie Groulx.
Debbie Sallenback of Langley, the first ever female Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks of Canada, visited Clearwater Elks Lodge #499.
Clearwater Theatre Collective, Squidamisu Theatre and North Thompson Arts Council were putting on the play Vigil in the art gallery at Dutch Lake Community Centre. Lead roles were being played by Richard Stroh, Gretchen Reveille and Jean Nelson.
The provincial government is underfunding Thompson Rivers University, student union representatives Leif Douglass and Cole Hickson told town council. TRU ranked 20th out of 25 universities and colleges for funding on a per capita basis, they said.
Argo Road Maintenance re-opened the Vavenby bridge after about two weeks of daily closures for maintenance.
Clearwater resident Barry Joneson was surprised to encounter a cougar in a Weyerhaeuser subdivision backyard. He had gone in there to recover a dead cat.
Roland and Anne Neave presented TRU with a $20,000 cheque to fund annual bursaries for CSS graduates going to the Kamloops university. In 2014 they donated 160 acres of land in Upper Clearwater to TRU to be an outdoor living laboratory.
Replacement of the chiller at the Sportsplex had greatly reduced the risk to staff and public, said facilities manager Roger Mayer. He was commenting on an ammonia leak in a Fernie ice arena that had killed three workers.
A special insert commemorated District of Clearwater’s 10th anniversary since incorporation.
December
TNRD had more than doubled its target to reduce trash going into landfills but will produced more trash on a per capita basis than the provincial average. “We’re looking for your input,” said Cassandra Enns, an environmental service technologist with the TNRD during a workshop held in Clearwater.
Clearwater’s new Catholic priest was Fr. Boniface Ogbenna from Nigeria. He split his time between here and Valemount.
Colin O’Leary, a consultant working for TNRD, took questions during a wildfire business recovery meeting in Clearwater. One business owner estimated their revenue was down $150,000 and bookings for next year down 40 per cent.
A proposal by Simpcw First Nation to establish a culture education centre at the former Dunn Lake Bible Camp received enthusiastic support from town council. “That would be awesome,” said councillor Merlin Blackwell.
A 33-year-old man accused of hijacking a truck near Avola the previous month was to remain in jail for the time being. Charges included kidnapping and using a firearm in the commission of an offense.
Close to 200 people listened to a wide variety of music during the annual Clearwater community Christmas concert. The event raised nearly $3,000 for the food bank.
Winners of the Times Christmas story contest were (Grade 4-7) Reid Muddiman, Owen Thon and Brook Fowler, and (K-Gr 3) Kay McFadyen, Parker Wright and Tia Lingren-Wilson.
School District 73 was looking at moving the Grade 7 students in Clearwater, Barriere and Chase to their respective high schools. North Thompson school trustee Shelley Sim asked that two public consultation meetings be held here.
Former Clearwater volunteer police officer and coach Alan Davidson was found guilty of five sex crimes against teenagers dating back from the late 1970s and early 1980s. He later became a full-fledged RCMP member and worked in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Canada nominated eight new sites to receive UNESCO World Heritage status but Wells Gray Park was not on the list. “I’m disappointed. It’s hard not to be. The committee put in a lot of work and effort,” said Dr. Cathie Hickson, one of the proponents.
A total of 16 participants took part in a brainstorming session on how to increase winter tourism organized by Stephanie Molina, marketing manager for Tourism Wells Gray. Ideas included a winter festival focussing on the history of the North Thompson.
