EVENT! – BALLET KELOWNA’S UNCERTAIN JOURNEY ’S WILD CARD AT WORLD CLASSIC PASSAGES PAGE B1 Tues.-Thurs. $1.12 + HST,Mon. and Fri. $1.34 + HST 6 C Thursday, March 7, 2013, Kelowna, B.C. www.dailycourier.ca

ENTERTAINMENT Hockey Song singer silenced By The Canadian Press Canadian cultural icon Stompin’ Tom Connors dead at age 77 work would continue to “bring a little bit of cheer” into people’s Canadian country-folk legend spokesman described as “natural nothing else,” Edwards said. or future, to know that without lives even after his death and Stompin’ Tom Connors, whose toe- causes.” “The man stood for everything you, there would have not been called on his fans to continue to tapping musical Brian Edwards said the musi- that Canada stood for, and he was any Stompin’ Tom,” Connors bring Canadiana to the world. spirit and fierce cian, rarely seen without his sig- very adamant that he stayed a wrote. “I must now pass the torch, to patriotism estab- nature black cowboy hat and Canadian and made it very appar- “It was a long, hard, bumpy road, all of you, to help keep the Maple lished him as stomping cowboy boots, knew his ent that he never left the country but this great country kept me in- Leaf flying high, and be the patri- one of Canada’s health was declining and penned a to advance his career and stayed spired with its beauty, character ot Canada needs now and in the strongest cultur- message for his fans a few days be- very, very true to who he was.” and spirit, driving me to keep future.” al icons, has died. fore his death. In the letter posted on his official marching on and devoted to sing Connors is survived by his wife He was 77. “I know Tom loved the fans website, Connors issued a final about its people and places that Lena, two sons, two daughters and Connors passed more than anything. He’s proba- thank-you to his fans, to whom he make Canada the greatest country several grandchildren. Connors away Wednesday bly one of the few artists that built credited his entire career. in the world.” at his Ontario home from what a his whole life around fans and “I want all my fans, past, present The musician said he hoped his Continued on page A4

ROCKETS TAKE ON ROYALS JUSTICE Confession to arson may be tossed out By Daily Courier Staff

Brandon Seberras-Pick was drunk and high on mushrooms when he torched a house occupied by a young family, a Kelowna court heard Wednesday. RCMP say the teen went on a brief crime spree in Black Mountain last winter, breaking into one house, setting fire to an- other and endangering the parents and two children inside.

Continued on page A4 INDEX Business B6 Canada A6, A7 Classified C1-6 Comics C3 Horoscope C4 Letters A9 Lotteries A2 Obituaries A4 Opinion A8 GARY NYLANDER/The Daily Courier Prime-time TV C4 Sports B1-5 Victoria Royals goalie Coleman Vollrath and the ’ Cole Linaker and Royals’ Ryan Gagnon look for the puck during first-period Weather C4 play in their WHL game Wednesday night at Prospera Place. See page B1 for full coverage of the game. World A10 MolluskENVIRONMENT a monster Scan with your smartphone for Fearing millions of “If they were to get into water ballasts. If the ballasts are quick links to our website, social Okanagan Lake, conservatively, purged, they get into the lake. If media, contact info and more dollars in damage (experts) think that it could be they get here, milfoil is going to if zebra mussel $45 million per year in damage to look like nothing compared to infrastructure, to loss in property this. It’s very, very critical.” Wise words gains foothold, values, to damage to the native “This matter concerns all local If only we’d stop trying to be Valley politicians species,” said Kelowna Coun. governments in the Okanagan as happy, we’d have a pretty good Gerry Zimmermann, council’s the infestation will have drastic time. appeal for action Photo contributed representative on the water board. economic and environmental — Edith Wharton An infestation of zebra mussels “There’s no way of getting rid consequences,” said OBWB chair By J.P. SQUIRE could end up costing millions of of them once they are here. They Stu Wells. The Daily Courier dollars in the Okanagan. clog up any sewage outfall pipes, “The infestation will cost mil- Wise Counsel any water intake pipes, any in- lions of dollars in damages and orget milfoil. Water Board is pleading with the frastructure like that.” increase operating costs for in- Zebra and quagga mus- provincial and federal govern- Last year, officials at Idaho in- frastructure. Over time, changes sels are the Okanagan’s ments to immediately set up boat spection stations found the mus- in ecosystems caused by these in- F aquatic enemy No. 1 inspection stations to prevent the sels on 50 boats, noted vaders can stimulate growth and Call 250-763-4323 • www.doakshirreff.com with the potential to cause mussels from migrating into Zimmermann. spread of aquatic vegetation, and $45 million in damage every Okanagan Lake and other “Six of them were coming in increase the severity of toxic al- year. Interior waterways. Kelowna our direction,” he said. “Mussels gal blooms.” As a result of this looming city council endorsed the recom- can travel in anything, not only threat, the Okanagan Basin mendation Monday. clinging onto a boat but in the Continued on page A4

Visit chanceskelowna.cacha ceskel wna.ca for moreor informationinformation BINGOBINGO SLOTSSLOTS E-GAMESE-GA ES LONGSHOTSLONGSHOTS LOLOUNGEN E HORSEHORSHOR E RACRARACINGING OKANAGAN A4 THE DAILY COURIER, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

Mussels talked to recreational boaters about the importance of cleaning Continued from page A1 OBITUARIES their boats and equipment. Lisa Scott, co-ordinator of the HEART & STROKE FOUNDATION The OBWB wants local govern- Okanagan and Similkameen OF B.C. & YUKON ments and First Nations of the Invasive Species Society, 1-866-432-7833 Okanagan to join in urging sen- warned Regional District of #4-1551 Sutherland Avenue, ior governments to take immedi- Okanagan-Similkameen direc- Kelowna, BC V1Y 9M9 ate action. Since recreational in- tors last summer the potential fi- KELOWNA GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION land boating poses the greatest nancial impact on in-water infra- 2268 Pandosy Street, risk of transferring them, structure, tourism and control Kelowna, BC V1Y 1T2 Oregon, Idaho and Montana measures is “pretty staggering.” www.kghfoundation.com have mandatory boat inspection “It actually makes terrestrial KELOWNA’S GOSPEL MISSION stations for trailered watercraft (invasive) plants look like some- 251 Leon Avenue, and to raise public awareness, thing that’s quite miniscule,” Kelowna, BC V1Y 7N3 said Wells. she said. “A single female mus- 250-763-3737 “Establishment of similar sel has the potential to create www.kelownagospelmission.ca mandatory inspection stations one million offspring per year.” KELOWNA COMMUNITY in Canada — at key points along In 2009, B.C. signed the BATER, Jane (Shinduke) FOOD BANK SOCIETY provincial and international Columbia Basin Rapid Response July 22, 1924 - Feb. 28, 2013 1265 Ellis Street borders — would create a cordon Plan, along with Washington, to prevent or delay the introduc- Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The Jane passed away peacefully with her family around her. Kelowna, BC V1Y 1Z7 www.kelownafoodbank.com tion to three Canadian system provides for early detec- She was predeceased by her husband, Art and son, David. 250-763-7161 provinces, including British tion, rapid response and notifica- Jane leaves behind ‘big brother’ Steve, daughters, Jill and CENTRAL OKANAGAN Columbia, and four U.S. states.” tion about the fingernail-sized, Shelley (Bob), grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and HOSPICE ASSOCIATION (COHA) This strategy could save hun- freshwater bivalve mollusks orig- nieces and nephews. We will all miss her terribly. Her 104-1456 St. Paul Street dreds of millions of dollars by inally from the Balkans, Poland family offers many thanks for her care and the kindness of Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E6 protecting critical infrastruc- and the former Soviet Union. Dr. D. Reddy, Paramedics, PGRH Emergency and 2nd Floor 250-763-5511 ture on major river systems In the 1980s, they were discov- staff. Thank you also to the nurses and staff of the Rotary Compassionate care at the end of life. such as the Columbia, and by ered in the Great Lakes, likely Hospice for their comfort and support. An informal www.hospicecoha.org protecting fisheries and other the result of ocean freighters memorial, Meet and Greet, will be held in Jane’s honour KELOWNA economic sectors in regions such pumping out their bilges. They between 2-4 PM at the Prince George Chateau, 4377 Hill St. RIGHT TO LIFE SOCIETY as the Okanagan, he said. then spread throughout Ontario on Fri. March 8th, 2013. Thank you to the managers and 250-862-8202 ~ prolifekelowna.com “We believe that inspection and Quebec, and into 29 U.S. staff at the Chateau for making her stay there a happy one. 241-1889 Springfield Rd. stations are the most important, states as far west as California Donations can be made in her name to the Heart and Stroke Kelowna, BC V1Y 5V5 most powerful action that can be and Colorado. Defending life from conception to natural death Foundation or The Rotary Hospice House. taken by the governments of According to the online Canada and B.C. Following the National Atlas of the United example of our neighbours, this States, “once zebra mussels be- Arson relatively easy action will yield come established in a water Continued from page A1 meaningful results and delay or body, they are impossible to stop the spread.” eradicate with the technology The case against him may collapse, however, be- The Okanagan’s wake-up call currently available. Zebra mus- cause a judge could throw out the statement he gave came last July 3 when provincial sels are known to have caused a Mountie later that day. and federal officials found quag- alarming declines in populations Residents called 911 to report a break-in at 1549 ga mussels on a powerboat of fish, birds and native mussel Feedham Ave. and a fire at 1665 Large Ave. just be- moored for three days at a species, and can disrupt a city’s fore 2 a.m. Feb. 16 last year. Police received the re- Shuswap Lake marina. It had entire water supply system by ports two minutes apart. been transported from Arizona, colonizing the insides of The people living at the Feedham house told offi- bringing the mussels with it. pipelines and restricting the cers they chased the intruder south along Loseth Fortunately, they were all dead, flow of water.” Road to Lynrick Road. They said he was Caucasian, but the bilge water was tested for “Zebra mussels can damage had an afro haircut and wore a striped hoodie. He larvae and divers checked the boat hulls, plug water systems EGOLF, FRED carried a white plastic bag. lake bottom for any sign of them. used in boat motors, air condi- On Monday, March 4, 2013 Mr. Fredrick Egolf passed away A sniffer dog tracked him to a house in the area. The Invasive Species Council tioners and heads, and cause nav- at the Overlander Extended Care Lodge. He was born April Police arrested Seberras-Pick, then 18, inside the of B.C. has introduced the Clean, igation buoys to sink. Millions of 5, 1926 in Nut Mountain, Saskatchewan. Predeceased by his home where a friend lived. Officers found the plastic Drain, Dry information cam- dollars are spent each year con- parents Lily (Queenie) and Ezra Egolf, son Lenard, brother bag contained a waffle iron and food taken from the paign, used elsewhere in North trolling, cleaning and monitoring George, sister Kate and both wives Ruby and Rubie. Fred will Feedham house, court heard. America, in which trained staff zebra mussels in U.S. states.” be lovingly remembered by brothers John and Chris; sisters Investigators suspect he set fire to the Large Dorothy (Dot) and Lillian; daughters Dianne, Shirley and Lyla Avenue house shortly before the break-in. (Lester) and her grandsons Christian and Caleb; daughter- Homeowner Robert Vukic woke up to a popping unabashed embrace of all things in-law Cathy and grandchildren John and Jennifer; noise downstairs. It turned out to be balloons for one Connors Canadiana. numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great- of his kids’ birthday party exploding in the heat. Continued from page A1 As word spread of his death, Vukic, a volunteer firefighter, saw flames on the Canucks from across the country nephews. Also left to cherish his memory are step children: deck outside and woke up his wife, his son and daugh- A public celebration of his life began mourning his loss. Eileen; Bob (Lydia) and grandchildren Charlene, Berby, Pam ter, ages 10 and 12. He emptied two fire extinguish- featuring speakers and music will On Twitter, Prime Minister along with great grandchildren; Penny (Rod) and ers to calm the fire. He threw water on it to no avail. be held next Wednesday in Stephen Harper said “we have lost grandchildren Melanie, Rob, Briana and Adam; Twyla & By the time firefighters arrived and doused the Peterborough, Ont., the city where a true Canadian original. R.I.P. grandchildren Barry & Kimberely; Sandy (James) and blaze, it had caused $200,000 damage inside and out- the musician got the name Stompin’ Tom Connors. You grandchildren Ryan and Kassie; as well as friends and side the house. The family lived elsewhere for three “Stompin’ Tom.” played the best game that could be neighbours. A Celebration of Fred’s life will be held on months until the house was fixed. Dubbed Stompin’ Tom for his played.” Monday, March 11, 2013 at 12:00 (noon) in the Schoening Const. Collier Henneberry allowed Seberras-Pick propensity to pound the floor The Cremation Chapel, 177 Tranquille Road with Pastor to talk to a Legal Aid lawyer, who advised him to say with his left foot during perform- tweeted “Sad to hear that leg- Bill Kelly officiating. Condolences may be expressed at: nothing about the fire or break-in. In a taped inter- ances, Connors garnered a devot- endary Canadian Stompin’ Tom www.schoeningfuneralservice.com view, the officer asked him about what had happened. ed following through straight- Connors has passed. His legacy Seberras-Pick complained about a headache from ahead country-folk tunes that lives on in arenas every time The MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS drinking and eating magic mushrooms, and said at drew inspiration from his exten- Hockey Song is played.” If you would like to make a tribute to a charity least seven times his lawyer told him to say nothing sive travels and focused on the That iconic song was played at or society in the name of your loved one, about the allegations. everyman. the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, here are some choices: Eventually, he admitted to the break-and-enter and Although wide commercial ap- where many fans took to their feet arson, and said he had tried to torch a parked car. peal escaped Connors for much of as Connors’ death was announced CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY Wednesday was the third day of Seberras-Pick’s his four-decade career, his her- during a game between the Maple 1-800-403-8222 trial. itage-soaked songs such as Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. KELOWNA: His lawyer, David Johnson, argues the statement Canada Day, Up Canada Way, The “Stompin’ Tom, you’ll be 202-1835 Gordon Drive, V1Y 3H5 to police is inadmissible because Henneberry Hockey Song, Bud the Spud and missed. Thanks for all the memo- : breached his right to have a lawyer with him when Sudbury Saturday Night have ries and the greatest hockey song #101-166 Main Street, V2A 5A4 talking about the case. Judge Jane Cartwright is ex- come to be regarded as veritable ever,” said PA announcer Andy pected to make her ruling at a later date. national anthems thanks to their Frost.

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