2 Road Runner Winter 1992/93 Index "Wee Jimmy Davison and the Robson Ferry.......... p 4 The Stena Danica Affair...... p 5 In the Field........................... p 6 lotro... Your Fan Mail P 11 Cycling B.C. a Success p 12 Share-the-Road-Runner Program A Day in the Worklife p 13 We'll keep bringing you the Road Runner but to meet cost-cutting commitments, it is now only one colour and we're printing less copies. Until further notice, that Service Excellence means we're on a share-the-Road-Runner program, as suggested by one of our Update p 14 own "MoTHonians." Thanks for the idea. It's Your Serve p 16 In this issue, catch up on the latest and greatest. Find out about the "Stena Personnel Connection Danica affair." See what the Gas.Ex exploder we've been talking about looks like. Editor: Barb Romanaki p 18 Meet the people who operate the MY Omenica Princess. Learn about "dynamic pile driving." All thanks to staff who sent in so many stories we couldn't use them all. What is Service We've reserved space in the Spring Road Runner for them. Excellence Anyway? ......... P 21 In the Spotlight.................. P 22 Take Your Best Shot Contest Growing Roads?!!? p 23 We need good in-action shots as on page 23, Growing Roads??!!??, of our people WIM Stripping p 24 working. So, to get you going, we will give the photographer of the best shot in the next issue a surprise prize. PIOs excluded. Bridges in Bulk.................. p 25 Toy Intersection Deadline for the next Road Runner , February 26, 1993 Educates Kids p 26 Inland Ferry Standards Review p 27 In Trust Many people throughout the ministry have enquired about a "Memorial Fund" for Shannon Guyatt's (who was slain last summer) son Jason. Shannon's parents have responded by establishing a "Continuing Education Fund" for Jason. Contributions are confidential and can be made in a number of ways. By ROAD RUNNER cheque: please make payable to "Mr. C. Underwood in Trust for Jason Guyatt" and forward to one of the contacts below. For details on cash, anonymous or other Road Runner is the employee contributions, consult the contacts below. Donations can also be made directly magazine for the British Columbia through any Canada Trust branch in B.C. by quoting Branch #200 and Account Ministry of Transportation and Number 552394. Highways. It is produced quarterly. Yourgenerosity is appreciated by the entirefamily. Published articles appearing in Road HQ Contacts: Runner may be reprinted only with the permission of the Editor. MarilynWargo, Personnel Services Branch, 387-7822 Direct enquiries to: Barb Romanaki, Personnel Services Branch, 387-1483 Kris Aitken Jeanne Pittman, Public Affairs Branch, 387-7788 Road Runner Editor Louise Graham, Executive Branch, 356-0397 Public Affairs 5B-940 Blanshard Street Peter James, Information Systems Branch, 387-0144 Victoria, BC, V8W3E6 Cover photo by Bill Dunn Story p.27 Road Runner Winter 1992/93 3 On the Road Island Trust Making Friends in Africa New Deal "It' s a civilized change in direc­ By Margie Sinclair, Kelowna Sub-Office tion," commented one Vancouver Island newspaper. It was a "field trip " of a lifetime. I spent Our minister, Art Charbonneau and 18 days at a bush hospital in Uganda and Chair of the Islands Trust Council, went on safari in Kenya. Carol Martin, signed an agreement November 12th which provides I didn't plan the trip. A friend who works unique standards for Gulf Island at a hospital and orphanage in Uganda roads. The agreement was made in (which Margie supports) invited me to visit. response to residents' concerns that Being an adventuresome person, I jumped roads being built for new subdivi­ at the opportunity. sions were straight, treeless and with The adventure started after flying from wide ditches replacing the winding, Kelowna to Vancouver to London to tree-shaded lanes once characteristic Nairobi, Kenya ... then on to Entebee, of the islands. Uganda. Driving the roads in Africa was an "We also are establishing a consul­ experience I'll never, EVER forget. The tative process between our agencies," roads were like riverbeds; driving was on said Charbonneau. "We have set up a the opposite side of the road. formal process for planning and Driving an unfamiliar vehicle on an administering most aspects of road equally unfamiliar road (saying to myself transportation, which allows input by "Is this a road ... Wow, look at those Uganda road creui at zvork--They snapped advisory committees on each island. " holes .. Watch out folks. " and in first gear when Margie snapped. "I'm pleased Islands Trust and the all the way I ran into (not literally) a ministry are working together to Uganda road crew. And, at great risk , ensure road construction and rnainte­ snapped a picture to bring back to MoTH. Actually, I found the people very friend­ ly. Now that I'm back home, I realize what nance on the islands is compatible I forgot to ask permission first. When I with Trust's legislated mandate 'to a wonderful opportunity I'd been given to snapped the picture, the response from the live and work with native Africans rather preserve and protect' the unique crew was unprintable, not in English any­ amenities and environment of the than just being a tourist. way. Trust Area," said Martin. Another thing I realize: we are privileged Margie with [riends-i-Discussing a to live in Canada and to have such a good subdivision/rezoning application. road system. Two EITs Awarded Congratulations to Maurizio T.L. Ponzini and Dennis]. Nadon-two of the ministry 's Engineers-in­ Training (EIT) who both received achievement awards from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. Maurizio was recognized for having the greatest potential in the Civil Engineering class at the University of British Columbia and Dennis for the greatest potential in the Computer Engineering class at the University of Victoria. 4 Road Runner Winter 1992/93 "Wee" Jimmy Davison and the Robson Ferry By Tom W. Parkin) Public Information Officer) Vancouver Island he devastating floods in British Captain at that time was "wee" Jimmy fun by the kids: "There was a tug called Columbia in the spring of 1948 are Davison, whose career extended from 1919 Elko, that used to tow log booms between well remembered by Fred Thompson, to 1951. Short in stature, but never in words, the Arrow Lakes and a mill downstream. If now working on Nanaimo's regional the diminutive Scot exemplified service the river happened to be low, and the ferry design team. That year he was 11, and living excellence. Fred recalls how he ran his ship: mid-stream, occasionally the tug would snap in a home on the bank of the Columbia "At night, pedestrians signaled the ferry the ferry cable. When this happened, the tug had to rescue the drifting ferry. It never hap­ River at Robson. on the far side by flashing a light on a pole. pened when I was aboard, but I always "My family had to move to Nelson for The skipper would come over to get you. wished it would." three months to live with my grandmother. He would also back up for foot passengers We lost many of our belongings to the fast­ if you arrived just after he had left. This was The Robson ferry was decommissioned in rising water. The basement was filled with greatly appreciated as it could be very cold 1988, ending 69 years of service at the cross­ silt, frogs and tree stumps. " waiting in rain, wind or snow." ing. Today, drivers reach the far side via Hugh Keenleyside Dam or Highway 3A. A Fred's recollections were triggered by an It was also likely Jimmy who once fished bridge has been designed to span the aerial photograph of his former home, locat­ Fred out of the drink: "I was with a bunch Columbia near the old crossing, with con­ ed just downstream from a ministry cable of eager beavers going to a matinee in struction to start in January 1993. ferry. As readers can see (picture below), Castlegar. I was jacking around and fell off vehicles weren't able to get on the ferry dur­ the apron. Someone threw me a life ring and pulled me aboard." ing the high water. The ferry powered itself Castlegar/Robson cable ferry during 1948 along a single cable which wound around a That was scary, Fred admits, but another flooding on Columbia River-vehicles drum in the central powerhouse. concern of the ferry operator was viewed as weren't able to get on the ferry. --- ------ --------- ---=-==--- - - - --- - -------- - --_ ............_----- -~ Road Runner Winter 1992/93 5 Bob Strachan, a true politician, had arisen The Stena Danica Affair early to polish his appearance and his knowledge of the tax problem prior to our 10:00 a.m. meeting. In his haste, he had However, to comply with federal regula­ A toothsome tale in which dropped his dentures into the sink and tions it was necessary to pay the duty on Al Rhodes) retired acting deputy when he picked them up they were in entry to Canada and to seek a remission by minister and admin ADM) pieces. He had already arranged by tele­ formal application. The federal government fondly (and humorously) phone to have them repaired by a dental reneged on the previous agreement and as mechanic, but having exhausted his cash the remembers Minister Bob Strachan the amount was substantial, multiple dis­ previous evening he didn 't have cab fare. and the "Siena Danica" import cussions ensued.