September 26, 2019 The Valley Voice 1 Volume 28, Number 19 September 26, 2019 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. New Denver students join Global Climate Strike on September 20 by Jan McMurray trucks, snowplows and other equipment “Just talk about it. It’s an important Global Climate Strike on September 20 – – that’s bigger than our tiny town,” A group of students from New – and buys carbon offsets to compensate issue and it’s not going to go away. Our inspired by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg said Amelie Tremaine. “It feels like the Denver marched through the community for those emissions, which totalled 32 leaders need to start doing something from Sweden. The New Denver students message is really getting across. There’s as part of the September 20 Global tonnes of greenhouse gases last year. about it,” said Cassandra Qui. expressed appreciation for being part of strength in numbers and the more people Climate Strike, stopping in at the Village New Denver has also joined the 100% According to www. a global movement. there are doing it, the more effective it office along the way to find out what the Renewable Kootenays initiative of the globalclimatestrike.net, four million “It feels really nice, to be part of will be. We’ve been really inspired by Village is doing about climate change. West Kootenay EcoSociety, aiming to people all over the world joined the something that lots of people are doing Greta… her words are crazy powerful.” The march was organized by students transition to 100% renewable energy from the Social Justice class, and the by 2050. four key organizers came to the Valley New Denver’s Lucerne School Voice office for an interview at the end is also doing a lot to combat climate of the march. change, the students pointed out. It has “We want to raise awareness that excellent composting and recycling climate change is a real thing,” said systems, solar panels, and a garden and Juniper Zoll. “It’s happening, and we greenhouse, where the students grow need world leaders and everyone to see food for their lunch program. that it’s happening and there needs to “In general, our classes are very be change.” progressive and we talk about social The students said they were happy issues quite a bit,” said Ruby Zoll. “Our to hear about the steps the Village of teachers really make sure we understand New Denver is taking toward reducing this type of thing.” its carbon footprint. At the Village office, The students listed several simple Acting CAO Catherine Allaway told the things we can all do to reduce our carbon students that the municipality signed footprint: turn out lights, recycle, reduce, on to the BC Climate Action Charter source food locally, compost, support in 2008 and reports to the government global movements, and raise awareness. every year on its progress. The Village They also urge us all to educate ourselves uses fossil fuels only in its vehicles – fire about climate change. A group of students from New Denver marched through the community as part of the September 20 Global Climate Strike. Book your Seasonal Tire Change online: Get tires now... pay down the road. - Financing available - www.kaltire.com Visitor Information - Pages 18 & 19 2 NEWS The Valley Voice September 26, 2019 Nelson Climate Strike brings out 1,000 people by Jane E. Burton and we had 400 head bands made and currently being destroyed.” looking for, because we need the results diversity of backgrounds” participated “What do we want?” they’re all gone, so probably we have Following the march there was a we’re looking for, or the earth is going in the march. “It really should show “SOLUTIONS!” “When do we want around 600-700 people here right now.” rally at the City Hall plaza with music to go into the ground. And I don’t know our elected leaders and leaders looking them?” “NOW!” Aeon explained the evolution of the and an open mic session. One of the how there aren’t more people freaking to be elected that climate change is a That chant echoed through climate strike movement. “The youth speakers was 15-year-old Kaitlynn out about it!” huge priority here in Kootenays and downtown Nelson Friday as over 1,000 movement started when Greta started Mortensen from Kaslo. “If you look As the rally was winding down and worldwide it is a huge priority and we people marched in support of the Fridays standing outside the parliament building back in history at all the other times that people dispersed to go back to work, or to are not doing enough and we really need for Future Climate Strike. Nineteen in Sweden, just over a year ago. Now, people have risen up to make a change one of the many workshops being offered to step up and meet our international businesses closed or curtailed operations we have the entire planet mobilized, 194 in the world because the government that afternoon, I sat down with three commitments and get to a place where to allow their employees to participate; countries, over 33,000 strikes are taking wasn’t doing it for us,” she said, “it’s Fridays For Future Nelson organizers the entire globe can prevent some of the some provided paid time off to do so. place in 5,200 cities. This is huge!” like you look back in history and that to hear their thoughts on the day and the worst effects of climate change from Waya Aeon, one of the organizers of Waiting for the march to begin, was so long ago and it is almost hard movement. happening.” Nelson’s event, reacted to the turnout as Kaslo residents Jana, age 10 and L, to put yourself into the perspective of it Daniela Sirois from Winlaw said, Jamie Hunter from Nelson pointed the crowd was gathering: “I’m feeling age 14, explained why they travelled actually happening to you, but you take “Personally I just feel that it is really out, “Studies show that you only need fantastic, the energy here is amazing, to Nelson to participate: “We love the a step back and you realize, that that is important that we’re using the rights 3-5% of the population to change and the crowd is continuing to grow. We earth and we want to help.” Their sign what’s happening right now. History that we do have, since we can’t vote, to something. And we’re definitely above aren’t even half an hour to the march yet read “We’re studying the future that’s is happening before our eyes and we let our leaders know what we’d like to that with this strike so I think something are a part of it. That’s like surreal, like see happen in our communities and in will definitely change. It has to.” “boom,” you know, right? And we’re our future.” Follow Fridays for Future Nelson trying to change the world and if we keep Linn Murray of Nelson estimated on Facebook for more information and pushing we will get the results that we’re that at least 1,000 people from a “huge upcoming events. PHOTO CREDIT: JEBURTON CREDIT: PHOTO Fridays for Future Nelson organizers carry banner at the head of the march. Open Sun. 11-3 • 411 Kootenay St, Nelson September 26, 2019 The Valley Voice NEWS 3 Job action affects Balfour ferry and may be coming soon to Arrow Lakes by Jan McMurray and current overtime ban, we’re not will be based on where things stand Kootenay Lake ferry workers staffing – they haven’t invested in the With no negotiated contract yet able to do that probably more than 36 with the employer [Waterbridge took the strike vote on June 24 and workforce and that’s why community for ferry workers, the Balfour ferry hours in advance.” Ferries],” she said. voted unanimously in favour. Arrow members are seeing cancellations.” service is being affected by job action. The order issued by the Labour Smith explained that the ferry Lakes ferry workers took the vote on Smith says BCGEU members tell An overtime ban is now in place until Board pertaining to the Kootenay workers’ contract expired in March. August 16 and voted “resoundingly her they are expected to take training further notice, resulting in some Lake ferry service put essential Negotiations began in June, but “the in favour,” Smith said. on their vacation time, and to pay for sailing cancellations on the Balfour service at three sailings per day employer was not amenable to the Following the June strike vote, their own accommodation wherever run. Ferry service on the Arrow Lakes on weekdays (round trips from proposals that our members had Kootenay Lake ferry workers went courses are being held – usually has not yet been affected – but may Balfour at 6:30 am, 8:10 am and put forward, particularly around into essential service hearings with on the Lower Mainland. “So we’re be in early October. 4:30 pm), with priority boarding competitive wages and an investment their employer, Western Pacific looking down the road on how to The union representing the for school and medical emergency in the workforce for training to ensure Marine, and received the order from continue staffing these ferries. And ferry workers, BC Government transportation. “We will respect those there are qualified staff to run the the Labour Relations Board in time to we want competitive wages because Employees Union (BCGEU), is essential service levels and then all ferries.” issue 72-hour strike notice resulting in when people get the training now, posting information at ferries.bcgeu.