A Breath of Fresh Air at Climate Change Conference Area Sees Highway
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May 9, 2007 The Valley Voice Volume 16, Number 9 May 9, 2007 Delivered to every home between Edgewood, Kaslo & South Slocan. Published bi-weekly. “Your independently owned regional community newspaper serving the Arrow Lakes, Slocan & North Kootenay Lake Valleys.” A breath of fresh air at climate change conference by Laurie Page need large systemic action, inspired There was particularly interesting “Such an event in politics, where drought and depression of the ’30s).” Alysia Garmulewicz, 19-year- by a positive guiding vision, that sees debate about individual versus everyone is welcome, is not He also thanked the visiting MLAs old from Hills, stole the show at a climate change as an opportunity to systemic action: which is more something new. It harkens back to the for giving up their weekends to climate change conference put on by redesign society.” important? Garmulewicz made the early days of the CCF, when folks attend, and commended conference Nelson-Creston NDP May 5. The afternoon included a political point that individuals, by becoming gathered to discuss ways to solve the organizers for putting youth Garmulewicz has been advocating panel with NDP MLAs Claire informed and taking collective action, compelling issue of their day (the participation “front and centre.” for climate change mitigation locally, Trevena from North Island, Shane create systemic change. Corky nationally and internationally since Simpson from Vancouver Hastings, Evans, local MLA, made the she was 15 years old. and Gregor Robertson from comment that provincial or federal The high point of the conference Vancouver Fairview, and local MP policy sometimes makes appropriate for many was Garmulewicz’s Alex Atamanenko. In a refreshingly action illegal. He used the protection presentation, which took the holistic frank discussion, the politicians of agricultural land as an example, view that action to deal with climate talked about the challenges of holding as it could be threatened under the change must cross all sectors and government to account. All agreed Trade Investment and Labour engage all disciplines. The young with Garmulewicz that the “lens of Mobility Agreement (TILMA) expert was engaging, articulate and sustainability” must be applied to between BC and Alberta. Evan’s optimistic, recommending that we as decisions we make as a society and point was that engagement in politics a society must plan for a sustainable as politicians representing that is not optional if systemic change is future rather than fearing the society. The visiting MLAs to be addressed. unknown. commented on the high calibre of At the close of the conference, According to Garmulewicz, “In participant engagement at the Corky Evans spoke about the Alysia Garmulewicz of Hills and MLA Corky Evans both spoke at the A Climate order to mitigate climate change, we conference. openness of this political event. of Change conference on May 5, organized by the Nelson-Creston NDP. High-speed internet to reach Slocan Valley by the fall of 2007 After five years of research, will be the guarantor of the loan, and in version in the fall with the funds from providers and is a better long-term ahead.” planning and negotiations, the Slocan order to do that public approval is the MFA loan. solution for residents,” says Murphy, For more information, check out the Valley Economic Development required this summer from affected “The additional MRIF funding will “but either way, once the public regular monthly updates on page 3 of Commission (SVEDC) will bring residents. allow us to create a more robust system, approves the RDCK to guarantee the the Valley Voice or call Derek Murphy community-owned high-speed internet “It’s important that residents gives us more choice in service loan from the MFA, we’re moving at 250-359-5998. service to the valley this fall. understand that this loan guarantee will The service will be wireless, giving not increase taxes,” says SVEDC chair Slocan Valley trash art competition valley residents the equivalent speed Derek Murphy. “The RDCK is just Winlaw trash art competition interesting show. Entries were judged Assembly of BC Arts Councils. If you and quality they would receive in other asking your approval to guarantee the organizer Leslie Mayfield announces on creativity, craftsmanship, and overall would like to see this event again, or communities in the area such as Nelson. loan. The project itself will generate that the jury has completed its effect. A big thank you to our jurors, have comments to offer, contact Donna The business plan has the system enough funds from those using the deliberations. And the winners are: Peter Perepolkin of Castlegar BizNet, Gole, at [email protected]. paying for itself, resulting in no increase service to pay back the loan.” Wearable category: first prize ‘Helgi’ and Grigg Stone of Gaia Tree Whole The next event for the Slocan Valley in taxes. It will be rolled out The commission is also awaiting a by JoAnn Chatten; Useable category: Foods. Arts Council (serving Crescent Valley incrementally over 8 months with the late June decision on additional funding first prize ‘Bird House’ by Pam Sims; The Slocan Valley Arts Council to Slocan) is our annual Art and Garden hope to eventually have all valley from the Municipal Rural Infrastructure second prize ‘Oval Rug’ by Netty organized this show as part of BC Arts Tour on June 24. Contact Laura Tiberti residents and businesses connected. Fund (MRIF) to create what Murphy Soukeroff. In the Just Plain Art category, and Culture Week April 22-28, with at 226-7347 if you are either an artist or The project will proceed when a calls “the Cadillac version.” Regardless the criteria for entry were that things had funding from the BC Government a gardener who would like to loan is received from the Municipal of whether the project receives this to be made from recycled materials. The through the BC Arts Council and participate. Finance Authority (MFA). The RDCK additional funding, it will still roll out a winners are: first prize Blissfully Oblivious by Carl Schlichting; second Area sees highway upgrades prize When all the Snow is Gone by Carter Maloff; third prize Peace Dove by Jan McMurray this same location closed the road by Laura Spear. Improvements to the area’s overnight. The People’s Choice ballots have highways this season include the recent Knight also reports that the final 15- been tallied and the Best in Show culvert work at Summit Lake on Hwy km section of Hwy 31A into Kaslo will category winner goes to Carter Maloff, 6, finishing off Hwy 31A paving, and be paved this season. The Ministry is for When all the Snow is Gone. The replacing Enterprise Creek Bridge. about to tender the project, which will ballots revealed that A. Berland’s YRB has installed a new, larger include paving several sideroads in the Goodbye Stupid Job, and Maureen culvert at the Summit Lake area of Hwy Kaslo, Balfour, Harrop and Proctor McEwen’s Muffled were also quite 6 since another slide came down on areas. This project is scheduled to begin popular. Easter Monday, plugging three culverts. this summer and be finished by the end “We had hoped that this event Surface runoff has been re-channelled of September. would draw out people who don’t to flow through the new pipe and into Another big project for our area this normally consider themselves to be the natural drainage channel. summer is the replacement of the ‘artists,’ but who have a very creative Ministry of Transportation Enterprise Creek bridge on Hwy 6. The approach to the use of materials,” says spokesperson Jeff Knight reports that work is expected to start in early July Mayfield. “It worked, but we are sure the larger pipe should accommodate any and finish by the end of October. Knight there are many more of you out there!” future small debris events, thereby reported that the project will be tendered Hundreds of entry forms were taken preventing the blocking of the culvert within the next two weeks. The new, but only 19 entries made it to and having debris and water flowing two-lane bridge will be slightly Carter Maloff won second place in the ‘Just Plain Art’ category of the Slocan Valley Arts completion, enough to make an across the highway. Last July, a slide at downstream from the existing bridge. Council’s trash art competition, with the self-explanatory title, When all the Snow is Gone. COUNTRY FURNITURE & HOME DECOR Looking for something out of the ordinary? Country Furniture & Home Decor, 115 Hall St. Nelson, Toll-Free 1-866-352-3665 2 NEWS The Valley Voice May 9, 2007 Climate Change conference in Nelson consults the world for solutions by Art Joyce organizers, at between 150-160 runoff from snowmelt to move 10-30 Peter Vadasz on its European Centre for there to explain how the city has become Scientists at Climate Change: delegates, including members of local, days earlier in our region. This will Renewable Energy. Vadasz explained one of only three communities in Exploring Regional Solutions, a two- regional and provincial governments. affect slope stability, resulting in more how Güssing had formerly been one of Canada to reach milestone 4 of 5 in the day conference held in Nelson April 23 Dr. Lori Daniels led the morning landslides, and temperature increases in the poorest areas of Austria, with a 40% FCM’s Partners for Climate Protection and 24, made it crystal clear: Climate panel, discussing the role of climate streams that will impact fish popula- unemployment rate. Since establishing Program. Its public transit strategy has change is a reality and humans have change in the forest fire history of BC.