Powell River Living April 2011

Powell River Living April 2011Catalyst mill Why it survived
Food for thought
LittLe house • Big difference
Drop by the administration Off ce or call 604.485.4681 to order gift certificates — Values of $5, $10, $25 or $50.
You’ll find great deals hiding all over the Mall this Easter!
More to shop for...
Rapidedge Technologies Inc. Serving the Sunshine Coast
Authorized Reseller
is back!!! Brazilian Blowout ZERO, is a Plant-Derived KeraSafe
Bonding System. 0% formaldehyde released before, during or after treatment. Same great results for up to 12 weeks.
Prices from $150. Bring this coupon in before April 30 and receive 15% oFF your aftercare products! Book now!
Now iN store!
Pick up the colouring page & entry form from any store in the mall or from
the mall office.
Submit entries to the Mall Office not later than April 22.
Winner will be notified on April 23
Enter TC Mall's Easter Colouring Contest
Prizes $50 • $25 • $10 for each age group of
3 – 4 yrs • 5 – 6 yrs • 7 – 9 yrs
This fundraiser for Success by 6 and the ORCA Bus is presented by School District 47 and the Powell River & District United Way.
A community night of family fun as local celebrities challenge the
Grade 1– 6 curriculum with the
HElP of our Grade 6 students!
Hosted by Dan Devita & Jamie Burt
includes SilEnt auction
of family-friendly prizes
Thursday, April 7, 6:30 pm Max Cameron Theatre at Brooks
Adults 18+... $10 Children 6 or over... $5
Family (2 adults, 2 kids)... $20 5 & Under... FREE
TiCkETs: Academy of Music, Breakwater Books, Credit Union and Brooks High school
Thank you to our sponsors:
carolEann
lEiSHman
Gary
DiEtricH
JoycE
carlSon
Bill
HoPkinS
frank
clayton
nicHolaS
SimonS
Promoting healthy lifestyles since 1975
B e
A ct
iv e.
the complex Powell River’s Recreation Destination
5001 Joyce Avenue
something for everyone Special Events
the great community easter egg hunt Saturday, April 23 • Willingdon Beach • 10:30 am For ages 10 yrs & under... and please bring a basket
giant indoor garage sale & used Bike sale
Saturday, May 14 @ 9 am – Noon Held in the large dry rink... Book your table NOW!
Used Bike Seller rEgiStrAtiON FEE $2 goes to the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society.
Lots of room for large items – Bring it & sell it.
FrEE entry on day of event & lots of parking.
new sPring Programs haPPening rEgiStEr NOW! 604 485-2891
• Pre-school Bunny Express • Belly & Bollywood Dance • Zumba Fit • Summer Shape-up • Yoga • intro to Fishing • Oyster Picking & Clam Digging • Japanese Appetizers • Argentine tango dance • New Age Jive dance • Campfire guitar – Adult lessons • tennis Lessons – Youth & Adult • t-Ball for tots • First Kick Soccer
limited time special youth fitness rate
just $2.00 for all 5:30 pm drop-in classes (only)
get in shape for grad! Call the Complex for more info.
4573B Marine Ave www.fitstoat.ca
!
For all your Outdoor & Marine Supplies 4446 Willingdon Ave at Wharf St • Monday to Friday 8:30 – 5:30 Saturday 9 – 5
Tel 604 485-4624 • Fax 604 485-4644 • [email protected]
www.marinetraders.com
On the ROad, tRail OR WateR,
GARMIN GPS keeps you on course
Scan the QR code with your smart phone and choose to our new Facebook page.
Join us April 29-30 for Customer Appreciation Days. Visiting Manufacturer Reps to answer your questions, in-store specials and door prizes!
Associate Publisher & sales Manager Sean Percy
Graphic Design & Production Robert Dufour, works Consulting
office Manager Bonnie Krakalovich
sales & Marketing lauri Percy
We welcome feedback from our readers. email your comments to [email protected], or mail to Powell River Living, 7053E Glacier Street, Powell River, BC V8A 5J7 Tel 604 485.0003 no part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. © 2011 southcott Communications. We reserve the right to refuse any submission or advertisement.
Complete issues are available online at:
www.prliving.ca
iSSn 1718-8601
ON ThE COVER Kate Brown with her tiny, low-impact home, which gave her freedom to spread her wings.
Photo by isabelle Southcott
OuR ChOICE OF papER this magazine is printed entirely on paper made at the Powell River Catalyst mill. the cover stock is electraprime — the company’s smoothest and glossiest uncoated grade, made only in Powell River... on #10 Paper Machine!
JOhN DEaN is an amateur writer from the UK who has been in Powell River for a year.
BaRB REES loves writing, photography and making a difference in the world, one person at a time.
ESThER DyCk is president of the Myrtle Creek steward society.
ChaRlENE RuEDIG started with her first camera at age eleven and continues to explore and capture nature with her camera.
MaRNIE EDwaRDS was in the Max Cameron Graduating Class of 1965.
haIlEy SaCREE is a Grade 9 student at Brooks. she enjoys musical theatre.
TRaCEy EllIS is a journalist, writer and former editor of several BC magazines.
MaRy TIlBERG lives in Lund. Her novel, Oonagh, is available at Breakwater Books.
GERRy GRay was an editor and long-time columnist for The Powell River News.
kEVIN wIlSON is a gardener who moved to Powell River in 2003 to grow vegetables for market.
aBBy MClENNaN is an active member of the Let's talk trash team.
DylaN yOuNG is coordinator of success By six and is active in the community.
SEaN pERCy enjoys hiking, diving, photography and beautiful Powell River.
SuSaN yOuNG DI BIaGI is a historian, writer and storyteller with a consuming passion for history.
5 In this issue not easy being green
6 Mailbag Letters and kudos
7 A house for one And for the planet
11 Walking the walk Mayor hikes and bikes
13 PR’s father of first aid George Clapp and st John Ambulance
14 Family Matters Do what you can, even from afar
15 Catalyst looks ahead the success of the Powell River mill
21 Who’s smarter than a 6th grader? A fun night and a fundraiser
22 Jo’momma designs Local fashion
26 Explore Powell River through Charlene Ruedig’s lens
27 The Fun House Clowning around with Far off Broadway
28 Pardon My Pen How to be a great speaker
29 Willy Wonka Junior Roald Dahl’s story takes to the stage
30 Duncan Street wetland environmental treasure threatened
32 Zero waste Regional plan puts us on the path
33 Solar cookers Morrocan Feast April 17
34 Solar energy Brooks fieldhouse
35 A community of firsts Powell River led the way
37 Class act Grad group resurrects class photo
38 Inland Lake access off-season, the park is still popular
39 Métis society formed Local group recognized by Metis nation
40 A Royal Event Wedding calls to mind Queen’s visit
42 Time to Plant those pesky currant maggots
43 Food for thought Could Powell River feed itself?
44 Business Connections What’s new in the business community
46 New school Designs for Westview elementary
It’s not easy, but bein’ green is beautiful
earn AIR MILES reward miles with every purchase at Valley
Build with Valley A new reward program for 2011
Buy locally and get rewarded: earn up to 5,000 bonus reward miles
with a complete home packagewith a complete home package
See in-store for details
Valley Building Supplies Ltd. 4290 Padgett Rd • Tel 604 485-9744 • www.valleybuildingsupplies.com
Even in his heydey on the music charts, Kermit the Frog’s 1970 refrain “It’s not that easy bein’ green” was proba-
bly not quoted as often as it is today. Being environmentally “green” is truly a challenge. And as consumers become more and more aware of the impact their actions have, they’re demanding more and more from the businesses from whom they buy. It’s not enough to stick a product in some recyclable packaging, slap a green label on it and call it “green.” Consumers are, quite rightly, seeing through that facade and demanding real reductions in emissions, waste and environmental impact.
This is as it should be, since consumers can really force change. Governments and business simply try to keep up with the demands. Those demands can be tricky to meet. For example, our magazine business faces real environmental dilemmas. In support of our local economy, we’ve chosen to print on papers made in Powell River. We’ve considered recycled papers instead. But does it make sense to choose papers that have to be shipped hundreds of kilometres, thus adding to the greenhouse gas problem, as opposed to paper that’s made here, shipped the short distance to Vancouver for printing, then shipped back to Powell River? As you can see, it’s a delicate balance — and that’s just an example of the many decisions faced by businesses every day as they try to do the
responsible thing. Success in this area is a difficult thing to measure — both for individuals and businesses.
Fortunately, Powell River is working hard at it, and making progress, as this issue shows. Starting on Page 7, we have our cover story about the benefits of living in a smaller space — literally with a smaller footprint. Then there’s the feature on our mayor; whether you are a political supporter or not, you have to respect the fact that he literally walks the walk on reducing our reliance on gas-guzzling vehicles.
Some of our other “green” stories include a feature on punk hippie fashion designer Alisha Van Belle and a look a the vi- brant, but threatened, wetland at the top of Duncan Street. As our writer discovered, this wetland comes complete with its own cute owl mascot! Solar cooking, solar heating and garden- ing are also included in our green issue.
And our story on the regional district’s “zero waste” goal sets a lofty goal. But it’s important that we reach for such goals. It won’t be easy, but as Kermit concluded about being green “It’s beautiful! And it’s what I want to be....”
Sean Percy, associate Publisher • [email protected]
6 • www.PRliving.ca
We welcome feedback from our readers. Letters may be edited for length. Letters can be sent to [email protected], faxed to 604.485.8381, or by post to Powell River Living, 7053E Glacier St, Powell River, BC V8A 5J7.
4730 Willingdon Ave right around the corner from The Chopping Block Open Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 5:30 d tel 604 485-2919
Spring cleaning from the inside out with Healthy Solutions. Now is the right time to clean your entire body systematically with our organic, fermented, ionic, flavoured six-step Deep Cleansing & Detoxification Program.
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Come in and enjoy discounts of 10%-35% OFF.
We now carry Organic Eggs & Fresh Breads.
Quality Parts Ltd. by certified mechanics at
Auto Repairs
Open Saturdays!
Soccer kudos Kudos to Powell River Youth Soccer’s “Timbits.” Forty four- to-five-year-old children wrapped up their season on March 5. These tykes learned how to shoot, pass the ball, score goals and all about boundaries thanks to coaches Heather Banks and Cam Miller.
On this day, team sponsor provided Timbits and players were asked a soccer question. When they answered the question cor- rectly they got to hit a button that says “You’re a winner!”
“They loved it,” says organizer Denise Abbott Then each player was presented with a medal of achievement
along with a Timbits soccer ball. Tim Horton’s mascot joined the young soccer players. “They
were thrilled,” said Denise. As a thank you to sponsors Lisa and Cal Giesbrecht and Tim Hortons, the children signed a ball to give to them.
Dear Powell River Living: Your magazine just keeps getting better. Jonathan van Wiltenburg’s article this month (March) is steLLAR and its page layout is very attractive. I wouldn't be surprised if the great turnout for seedy saturday this year was inspired by Wendy Devlin's article in the last issue. I love those garden-related stories while my husband always turns to Kim Miller’s business column first and reads me bits of it over coffee.
so local! so fun!
Jill Goudriaan
Dear Powell River Living: Please tell George Campbell how much I enjoyed reading about when he was young — his 'soul' episode. It was ab- solutely wonderful! Perhaps he would consider submitting it to another publication, Reader's Digest, for example, so that he might reach an even larger audience.
Graham Harrop
Ooops! In last month’s issue we incorrectly spelled the name of one of our cover models, Brendan Keane. We apologize for the error.
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kate’s green house Tiny home is perfect for one
By Deb Calderon
Why would any sane person give up living in a nice four-bedroom home
to live in a house smaller than many of our living rooms? If you ask Kate Brown, owner of a perfect tiny house here in Pow- ell River, she will tell you that building her tiny house gave her back her life.
Sitting in the charming, fir-lined living room, which doubles as a bedroom, Kate explained. “I was always frustrated with the maintenance of my character home: both physically and financially. Being disabled, I didn’t have the energy or finances to deal with it and still be able to have some joy out of life. I decided that I needed to be in an environment that I could maintain and still be able to have energy and some money left over at the end of the day.”
This tiny jewel of a house sits on a reg- ular city lot. It is not a backyard cottage or a guesthouse. It is the only house on the lot. Kate first noticed this home design in a magazine and then contacted the ar- chitect, Henry Mann, who builds sacred
BIG AND SMALL: Kate Brown finds big benefits to living in a small space... with just 350 square feet.
The Powell River Transit System has expanded to include:
• Additional weekday mid-afternoon runs on the Westview and Grief Point routes
• Additional weekday mid-morning trip to Sliammon • Extended evening service Monday to Wednesday
until after 10 pm
and starting April 15th...
• A new evening trip to Sliammon on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Reduce youR
footprin t!
For schedule and fare details visit www.bctransit.com or call 604 485-4287
Take a ride with the best Transit System of its size in BC and help keep Powell River green.
Be efficient
Helping the planet. It’s what we do.
What does WB do? Project management Project design New Custom homes Foundations & Framing Renos (large or small) Interior Decorating
3577 MacKenzie Avenue (604) 485-6656 [email protected]
Wes Brown, Owner
Mother Nature wants you to save money. We can help.
homes. Mr. Mann usually only designs one-of-a kind homes but after the two of them talked he agreed to share the Man- dela design Kate liked.
The building of Kate’s home didn’t happen overnight, as there are size restrictions to buildings in Powell River and Kate had to apply for a variance as her design was below the minimum requirement. Kate took her ideas to Mayor Stewart Alsgard and he was instrumental in helping her begin the project. After the home was complete he came for tea and shared his ideas around solar power for the future.
Local contractor Wes Brown (no rela-
tion) of WB Contracting was commis- sioned to construct the 350 square foot home, which sits on a 10’ x 10’ basement. It is in the shape of a cross with the centre being 10’ x10’ and the pods each 10’ x 6’. It has a cathedral ceiling with a skylight in the middle and a double roof that creates a convection effect: warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Being inside the house feels like being in a perfect little nest. “From the built- in bed, which is snuggled up next to a window I can look out and see the forest. If I turn my head I can see out a skylight to the sky above. The first week
I was here was in the middle of a fierce storm. I was afraid for a moment but then I realized the house is built as sol- id as a little fortress. I remember think- ing if my soul is infinite and this body can contain it then this little house can hold my body,” said Kate.
Kate has room in her home for a perfect little kitchen. The cupboards are made from wood recycled from antique furniture she no longer needed. She has a full-sized bathroom and has just enough closet space for her careful selection of clothes. “My clothes that are out of season go down to the storage space below
Not sure which class to take? Drop by your nearest branch; our friendly staff will be pleased to assist you.
Customer Service Centre at: 1.866.321.2651 Mon - Fri 8:00AM - 8:00PM / Sat 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Find online registration and the current course calendar at www.sja.ca/bc
Powell River Celebration of Community 5907 Arbutus Street T. 250.483.2250 Powell River, BC F. 250.483.2151 V8A 4S2 E. [email protected]
CPR-AED Levels A + B + C are held in the same classroom at the same time. Annual CPR/AED refresher training recommended by WorkSafeBC and the Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation.
BC-CPA-AED = 5 hrs. BC-CPB-AED= 5.5 hrs. BC-CPC-AED = 7 hrs.
Pet First Aid Kit (BC-PET) $22.32 Don’t forget the four legged members of our community. Contact our Customer Service Centre or visit your local branch to purchase North America’s leading Pet First Aid Kit!
PLEASE NOTE Most classes require pre-reading.
What Every Babysitter Should Know (BC-HBS) $40.00 Sa, May 28 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM CPR-AED Levels A+B+C* (BC-CPC-AED) $39.00/$57.00/$65.00 Tu, May 10 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM M, Jun 06 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Tu, Jul 19 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM CPR Level C with AED Renewal (BC-CPC-R-AED) $45.00 F, May 20 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM W, Jun 22 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM F, Jul 29 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Emergency First Aid - Community Care (BC-ECC) $89.00 M, May 30 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
F, Jun 17 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Sa, Jul 23 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Emergency First Aid for Industry (Work- SafeBC/OFA Level 1 Equivalent) (BC-ESO) $89.00 Sa, May 07 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Tu, May 17 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Th, May 26 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Sa, Jun 11 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM W, Jun 15 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Tu, Jun 21 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Sa, Jul 09 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM W, Jul 13 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Th, Jul 21 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM W, Jul 27 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Standard First Aid for Industry (WorkSafeBC/ OFA Level 1 Equivalent) (BC-SSOC) $165.00 W, Th, May 18 - 19 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM M, Tu, Jun 13 - 14 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Th, F, Jul 14 - 15 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM WorksafeBC/OFA Transportation Endorsement (BC-TE) $105.00 F, May 27 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Su, Jun 12 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Su, Jul 10 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM WorkSafeBC/OFA Level 3 (BC-OF3) $715.00 M-F, Jun 27-Jul08 8:45 AM - 4:45 PM
until I need them. I am very careful about what I bring in here, when something comes in, some else has to go out.”
The house is a product, not only of local building, but also of local recycling. The bed, which is built like a galley bunk into the wall, as well as the kitchen and many of the added features, were a shared creation by Kate and Tim Borsos, a local carpen- ter. The bed was recycled from a damaged bunk bed found at Liquidation World.
Outside the little house are three out- buildings. Local builder Dale Forsberg
built the carport and meditation hut; Tim Borsos built the greenhouse and studio. All the out buildings use recycled windows in their design. When Kate decided to build the studio she needed it to be her “happy place” and so she created a miniature of her grandfather’s home in the prairies.
“My grandfather was very special to me,” she said.
Tiny houses are the wave of the future and because of Kate’s tiny house Powell River is part of that wave.
But most important of all to Kate is the idea that building the house empowered her. “I was diagnosed with a permanent disability 14 years ago. For quite a while I lived as a shadow of the person I once was. I know that living in this way allows me to simplify my existence and create a quality of life. I don’t really have to give up anything, just live with less; there is a difference. For someone who is disabled, retired or single this type of living can restore their faith in themselves.”
While most Canadians have spent
April 23 is Earth Day. Celebrate with the commitment to care about
our environment and make every day Earth Day. 4675 Marine Ave, Powell River • 604 485-1249 Pier 17, Sechelt • 604 741-0792
Take care of the earth and she will take care of you. ~ Author Unknown
We strive to be your conscious one stop local shop
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25-year warranty to boot! Alan McCallum, upholsterer
604-414-0441 Upholstery shop located at
Moving, Storage & Restorations Powell River ’s Friendly Movers
7339 Duncan Street E-mail: [email protected]
more money on creating bigger, more luxurious houses, some like Kate have decided that good things come in small packages. Electricity and all the heating for this little house costs around $35 a month. Kate and her big dog Moon live comfortably and simply and have for the last two years, leaving a smaller footprint on the planet.
Kate has decided to move closer to her family and will soon be putting the house on the market. “I know someone will come along who has dreamed of living the tiny house lifestyle, who shares my philosophy and will love this house as much as I have loved it.”
Max Cameron Theatre Family SerieS present
live on Stage
At Nightfall The story of Auguste, a village shoemaker and his adventures. The story uniquely combines live action theatre, enchanting music and awe-inspiring dance. You’re invited into a mystical fantasy that will thrill and dazzle the imagination.
Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 pm
TickeTs • Academy of Music Box Office... call 604 485-9633 to buy then pick up at the show. Also available at Breakwater Books.
Day of performance tickets at the door. Adults $16 • seniors/students $12 • Age 5 & under $2
www.MaxCameronTheatre.ca
Coming up!
4th Annual Trash Bash Coming up Saturday, April 30 at Willingdon Beach. Last year more than 218 people gathered a total of 17 tonnes of illegally dumped garbage from around the community. Reports of ‘dump sites’ have already started to pile up so more volunteers are needed. Registra- tion begins at 9:30 am. Garbage bags and maps will be handed out. If you come without a vehicle, we will try to organize ride sharing.
Register by sending your info to [email protected]. Local youth groups can win cash donations in this event. All partici- pants get lunch and will be entered into a prize draw.
Last year Brooks School’s wood- working class built signs which were creatively painted by the art class with different messages encouraging people to enjoy the pris- tine outdoors and to discourage illegal trash dumping. These signs were planted in locations that had been cleaned up.
To report sites, include as much information as possible and send it to [email protected] or call 604 483-3231.
How much can I afford, and what will it cost me? Spring is in the air, and with that fresh start comes the desire to build your own nest. Whether you are looking at your first home, or a place to retire in, buying a house is a big deal. One of the very best things you can do to make the process easier is to get pre-approved for a mortgage first. Why you ask? For several very important reasons: • You’ll know exactly how much you can reasonably afford to borrow, and how much your payments will be. • You’ll be able to negotiate with confidence and be taken seriously by the seller and their agents. • You’ll understand the closing costs, legal fees, and other expenses that go with buying a home. • You’ll be able to lock in the best interest rate
for a specific amount of time, knowing that if rates go down, you will automatically get the lower rate for the term you selected. • Getting pre-approved doesn’t cost anything and it can save you valuable time in your negotiating process.
A mobile Mortgage Specialist is your best resource to guide you through your entire purchase. They can look at your situation from every angle and help you choose the best mortgage for your financial situation and goals.
Rachelle Ford, the RBC mobile Mortgage Specialist for Powell River has more than 8 years experience in Powell River’s market. If you’re looking for expert advice to help you make informed mortgage decisions, contact Rachelle today.
Tel: 604 483-4878 Fax: 604 483-4838 Cell: 604 414-5189
Rachelle [email protected]
By Isabelle Southcott
It’s all the little pieces that when added up amount to something. The guy who rides his bike to work instead of driving.
The child who uses a water bottle instead of taking a tetra pack of juice to school every day. The lady in your office who brings her sandwich in a container instead of a baggie. The employee who makes sure machines that are not in use are turned off and who turns waste paper into scrap paper.
Mayor Stewart Alsgard knows only too well how all the dots connect in business, government and the community. That is why, back in 2007, he initiated the Sustainability Charter.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm for it,” says Alsgard. “The vision of the charter was to recognize the fragility of the earth, expand on the idea of sustainability and set the stage for action. “
The charter demonstrates an ongoing commitment to sustainability. “Every time someone introduces something we refer to the principles established under the sustainability charter so we can protect the community today and in the future,” says Alsgard.
Personally That’s all well and good but that’s work and politics. What about on a personal level? What does the mayor do to reduce his own carbon footprint?
To begin with, the mayor rarely drives. He takes the bus to work and, whenever he can, he walks to appointments.
“I do not own a car,” Alsgard confirms. “I got rid of my van after I retired from being a Coroner. I believe I benefit from not being dependent on a car.”
By looking at the trim figure that can be seen hoofing it around town, I would have to agree.
Hmmmm. I wonder how many other mayors can say that?
Biker Boy Like many of us, Alsgard got his first wheels when he was a
child. Back in those days it was his main form of transportation. His dependence on a bicycle continued throughout his adult
years. “I still have my little 5-speed Peugeot that I bought in Victoria in 1974 and carted around the country.”
When Alsgard was in the Navy he would ride his bike to work at the Naval dockyard in Esquimalt and then change into his uniform to do his job. At the end of the day, he would bike back home to James Bay.
“Then I took my bike to Kingston, Ontario, packed in a box. We’d ride across to Wolfe Island and on weekends we would
SETTING THE PACE: Mayor stewart Alsgard rides the bus to work every day. Where he doesn’t bus, he walks.
Coming up!
Festival of Writers Whether you have never written or your are an established writer, there is something for you at the eighth Annual Writers' Conference coming up at Dwight Hall on April 15 and 16.
“Writers Buzz” sets the tone on the first day with author readings around the community. That evening the Opening Ceremony will bring together literary and musical talent. CBC broadcaster and author of “Ad- ventures in Solitude,” Grant Lawrence, will share his stories. He will be teaching a workshop the next day. Poet Hannah Main-Van der Kamp, editor Sylvia Taylor and expedition leader Anthony Dalton will also present workshops.
Visit www.prwriters.org or call Barb Rees at 604 485- 2732 for details.
often plan trips further afield. One trip took us to the Upper New York State.”
When that posting was finished, Alsgard shipped his bike back to Vancouver where he was stationed and continued to use it. Then when he retired and returned to Powell River, the Peugeot came with him. “I used to ride with friends a lot.
Donations will be accepted April 4 to April 29 Please make cheque payable to
Brooks Dry Grad and mail your donation to: Brooks Secondary, 5400 Marine Ave
Powell River, BC V8A 2L6
More information: [email protected]
presents
The Phantom Ball • It’s the NON-EVENT of the season! • It’s the place to NOT be! • It’s NOT on any day, and • NOT at any location!
(Pretend you’re going to a ball, but give the ticket price to Dry Grad instead!) Dry Grad gets the fundraiser, and you get to stay home!
Supports the 20th Annual All-Night Graduation Celebration, encouraging a positive approach to teens’ rites of passage from high school by offering a night full of food, entertainment & fun in an alcohol & drug-free environment.
TWO Phantom tickets... $25 • FOUR Phantom tickets... $50 gives you the privilege of not worrying about a new dress or tux, and the added
benefits of NOT feeling foolish while doing the chicken dance.
Phantom Table of 10... only $125 for the privilege of NOT having guests before the ball
Optional Donation of your choice Be thrilled to be able to stay home!
We thank you for supporting this Alcohol & Drug-Free Celebration
We’d do Inland Lake and I’d often ride to and from City Hall. I’d even go home for lunch on the bike when I was at Books & Stationery.”
Public Transit Mayor Alsgard is proud of Powell River’s public transit system
and justifiably so. “When I got rid of the van I thought, ‘We have a transit system and I am going to use it.’ We’ve worked hard to develop it. We’ve grown from a basic service to one that is championed throughout BC as the best for its size in the province.”
And if anyone should know about our buses, it is the mayor. “I travel every day, Monday to Friday, to City Hall by bus,” he says proudly. “And frequently I go out on the bus routes themselves to ride the entire system to see the reaction to it. Some- times the Number 1 route is standing room only,” he says, “but it is a good place to get feedback.”
As a result, on January 1, the City of Powell River added another 1,600 service hours to its transit system, which provides evening service Monday through Saturday and expanded day- time service and continued Sunday service.
“As we get more feedback and identify how to provide more hours and get BC transit approval we will look at route changes,” he says.
In the future, Alsgard would like to see earlier direct service to the bus interchange at the mall, which would allow people to leave their car at home and take public transit to work.
“That would reduce the carbon emission on the roadways,” says Alsgard.
Is the mayor proud of Powell River’s transit system? You bet he is.
AdvAnce tickets • Academy of Music • 604 485-9633 / perforMAnce dAy tickets • Max cameron Theatre at Brooks
Opera InsIghts • Join John Silver for discussion of Le Comte Ory on Tues, April 6; Capriccio on Tues, April 19; and
Il Trovatore on Tues, April 26. Extensive DVD and/or CD excerpts. Future Chef's Cafe @ Brooks, 6–8 pm. $6/presentation.
Coming in May • Wagner’s DIE WALKÜRE
METROPOLITAN OPERA Live in High-definition
MAX CAMERON THEATRE presents
saturday, April 30 • 10 am Running time: 3 hr 15 min VERdI
Il Travatore (English Subtitles)saturday, April 23 • 10 am
Running time: 2 hr 45 min R. STRAuSS
Capriccio (English Subtitles)
saturday, April 9 • 10 am Running time: 3 hr 15 min ROSSINI
Le Comte Ory (English Subtitles)
Adults $22
Student/Senior $20
St John ambulance Powell River’s Father of First aid
This year St John Ambulance celebrates its 101st anniversary in Powell River. A grand celebration will be held in June but in the meantime, we’d like to share a bit of local history with you.
In July 1910 a man by the name of George Clapp landed at Powell River. One year
later he organized the Powell River Centre of the St John Ambulance Association.
George Clapp, christened AW Clapp, is remembered as Powell River’s Father of First Aid. He played an important role in the history of Powell River and the local branch of St John Ambulance.
Clapp served in the Navy and the Mersey Railway before moving to Powell River. The May 1941 Powell River Digester says he witnessed the first roll of newsprint leave the Powell River docks and the foundations laid of every building on the 55-acre Powell River mill property.
Clapp was Powell River’s first volunteer fire chief, a founding member of the Pow- ell River Sick Benefit Society, founding member of Squatters Creek Water User’s Association and President of Westview Ratepayers. He lived in this community for 30 years before he died in 1941 at the age of 77 in St Luke’s Hospital.
“He was in harness to the last. Only a few days prior (to his death) he was planning new problems for his first-aid classes,” explains the Digester.
Clapp held classes in first aid work for several years before being put in charge of the First Aid Station at the Mill.
When George Clapp came upon a young and careless worker at the mill during his days of first aid duty he would say: “Re- member young fellow, when they turned you out they didn’t issue any spare parts.”
During his life, Clapp made first aid work his hobby. It was in recognition of the valuable service he provided to the community that A.E. McMaster, who was the mill manager in 1924, at a meeting of the Employees’ Sick Benefit Society, presented Clapp with the Vellum Vote of Thanks of the Grand Prio- ry of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England, an honour rarely bestowed.
According to the May 1924 issue of the Powell River Digester, “It was a fitting appreciation of the sterling work which he
has done both in England and in our own town, and he has been the recipient of the hearty congratulations of his fellow work- men here in Powell River.”
In 1936, Clapp was appointed as a serving brother in the St John Ambulance Asso- ciation recognizing outstanding service.
FIRST AID: George Clapp, right, teaches H. Hutton how to treat an injured worker in the First Aid Room.
SAVARY ISLAND REAL ESTATE www.savary.ca “Anything you need to know about Savary Island” Rick Thaddeus • 604 483-3218 • [email protected]
waterfront • cottages lots • dreams
Savary has white sand beaches, summer ocean swimming, a good deal of sunshine. It also has deer, eagles, hummingbirds, clams & oysters and two bylaws.
Savary does NOT have blacktop, car ferry, hydro, building permits, rats, raccoons, bears or cougars. Nor does it have many mosquitoes.
Lots from $45,000. For tales and a tour, contact Rick.
By Isabelle Southcott
Do what you can
Sometimes it feels like we live in our own little world because Powell River is separated from the rest of the coast and Van-
couver Island by Jervis Inlet and the Salish Sea. But when the tsunami and earthquake hit Japan last month
we were reminded that we are all of one world. Connected by oceans, the air we breathe, and the relationships we have with friends, family and even strangers, we are bound as one.
Powell River may be many kilometers away from Japan, but many of us have friends there. For the past few months Rumi Niino lived in Powell River so she could improve her English skills. Rumi was a student teacher in my son Alex’s Grade 6 class at Assumption School. She returned to Tokyo the very day the earthquake struck.
By the grace of God, Rumi and her family are fine and she sent us an email to let us know. “I appreciate many other countries and my friends supporting and praying for Japan.”
Yumi Yamano, another young Japanese international student came into my life a couple of years ago through Toastmasters. She emailed us after the earthquake that she had survived. “I’m okay but most parts of Japan got terribly damaged. It was worse than a tragedy and nightmare… like the end of the world. The risk to get radiation sickness is getting up.”
Even though we live far away we are one and we can all do something to help in our own little way. Many people have lost
family, friends, and possessions. They are terrified for their own future and their children’s future. They don’t know what will happen and what the long-term effects of the nuclear disaster will be.
I was listening to a CBC Radio interview recently with Joy Kogaowa, author of Obasan. She told a story that resonated with me and so I will share it with you.
One day there was a great forest fire. Everything was burn- ing and all the animals were running to escape. That is, all the animals except the hummingbird. The hummingbird was flying back and forth between the lake and the forest fire releasing drops of water on the fire as she went. A bear saw what the hummingbird was doing and asked her why she bothered doing such a small and insignificant thing. To which the hummingbird replied: “I am doing what I can.”
This story illustrates the point that even though we may feel disconnected, isolated and insulated here in Powell River, we are not and we can all do something to help. We can raise money for the people who have lost their homes. We can ask relief organizations what is needed. And we can pray.
My family and your family may not be suffering right now but someone’s family is and that is why we should care. We are needed and because of this we need to reach out and do what we can to help.
oPEN ALL EASTER WEEKEND including Good Friday!
The Boardwalk Restaurant in Lund
Open 7 days a week, 11 am - 8 pm • 604 483-2201 • theboardwalkrestaurant.ca
There's always a reason to come to Lund! Book the restaurant for Special Events
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Powell RiveR living • april 2011 • 15 Sponsored Article
For the past 10 years, a dark cloud loomed over the Catalyst Powell River mill. Lay-
offs, tax cuts, a reduced work week, early re- tirements, and everything else associated with weak markets, a recession and downsizing has plagued the mill that was once the largest newsprint producer west of Ontario.
But now, for the first time in over a decade, that dark cloud has dissipated and the future looks brighter, says Stew Gibson, former Pow- ell River mill manager.
The mill is recovering and management is cautiously optimistic, says Gibson. He’s sitting in the boardroom of the Powell River mill with Mike Verdiel, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 76 president. The two had to work closely together to keep the mill viable. Powell River would certainly have followed the demise of other mills without the cooperation of Locals 76 and 1 of the Com- munications, Energy and Paperworkers Union.
Both the company and the unions also say the cooperation of the City of Powell River has made the mill’s survival possible.
Catalyst Paper, a leading mechanical papers producer in North America, owns a mill in Arizona and three in BC. The Crofton and Port Alberni mills continue to operate, but the mill in Campbell River closed permanently in
2010. So did the recycling operation in Co- quitlam. Both were victims of the worst economic downturn in the industry, and a difficult labor and tax situation.
The fact that the Powell River mill survived the worst economic downturn in the industry can be summed up in two words: cooperation and diversification. First there was cooperation between mill management, the unions, and staff. Then the taxpayers of Powell River and the City made adjustments to ensure the viability of the mill. Without this willingness to change and move forward, the mill could not have survived.
AGREEMENTS REACHED At the same time, the mill was examined
for areas to reduce costs. Although Local 76’s labour contract didn’t expire until April 2003, a new agreement was reached early at the re- quest of the company. “It gave people some breathing room and brought about relative labour peace,” says Verdiel. In an attempt to cut costs and save jobs, members of Local 76 agreed to a reduced workweek of 371⁄3 hours.
Communications improved at the mill. “Grievances dropped from 110 a year to three a year,” says Verdiel. For the first time ever, the heads of the mill’s two unions were invited
to be part of meetings and discussions with the municipality. “Labour was willing to make changes to en-
sure the viability of the mill,” says Gibson. Some took early retirement, others were laid off. The collective agreement was modified and efficiencies were gained on the paper machines, said Gary Jackson, Local 1’s second vice-president.
As Jackson points out,“It was survival mode and everybody stepped up. We knew we were going through some tough times and that we had to work with what we had.”
Because of the efforts made by the City and mill employees, Powell River’s was the only mill in the Catalyst group that did not take downtime in 2009.
As a result, the Powell River mill produced 480,000 tonnes of paper and, directly and in- directly, supported more than 1,100 jobs.
RouGH DECADE The first 10 years of 2000 haven’t been easy
and both Gibson and Verdiel are glad they are behind them.
In October 2001, Norske purchased the Powell River mill from Pacifica Papers. In late November of the same year Norske closed the kraft mill as it was not economically viable.
Catalyst looks ahead Powell River: The mill that could and did
by Isabelle Southcott
Sponsored Article
That closure eliminated 350 jobs in Local 76, says Verdiel. Norske committed $30 million to help employees find other jobs in the company or accept a voluntary severance offer. “Norske came in well prepared, offered ear-
ly retirement and enhanced severance. The packages were well done. They even offered it to Local 1 which opened up opportunities to members of Local 76 to get jobs in Local 1, and 20 and some of our members went there.” says Verdiel. “It didn’t save jobs but it kept people work-
ing.”
MAjoR iNDuSTRy TAxES Too HiGH It was clear that the industrial tax base in
all four BC Catalyst communities needed to be reduced if the mills were going to survive. In December 2001, CEO Russ Horner met with Powell River Mayor Stewart Alsgard and Coun- cil, City department heads and union heads.
“Russ Horner expressed a personal affront to the taxation levels all four communities with Catalyst mills were charging,” says the City’s Chief Administrative Officer Stan Westby.
Westby encouraged council to take a con- structive view. “I suggested it would be a com-
petitive advantage for the community if we were to take a proactive approach to reducing major industrial taxation. I felt that it would send a clear sign to the company that we were willing to listen and sympathetic to their concerns and willing to take action.”
Council listened and under Mayor Alsgard’s leadership formed a policy to reduce major industrial taxes. “Instead of digging in, which you really see in the other three Catalyst communities, Powell River worked with Catalyst,” says Westby.
In 2001, Powell River residential taxes were
Investing in the future Green transformation project by Isabelle Southcott
investing in the community is important to Catalyst Paper. In February Catalyst an-
nounced $13.3 million in federal funding approval of a new green-energy project at its Powell River mill that will produce low- carbon electricity and be one of the cleanest waste wood co-generation projects in Canada.
The project is funded entirely by the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program credits earned through production of black liquor at the Crofton pulp operations in 2009.
It will maximize on-site electrical produc-
tion by using biomass fuel to bring Power Boiler 19, and its steam generator, G12, up to capacity, said Carlo Dal Monte, Catalyst’s Director of Energy. This is important because electricity is one of the highest costs incurred by the mill.
It will also optimize the power boiler and generation system’s ability to create green electricity by installing an exhaust steam condenser, expanding hog fuel storage and handling, and recycling sand used in Power Boiler 19. The upgrade could increase G12’s
output from 15 megawatts of power to about 36 megawatts, he added.
The federal government’s green transformation program was a response to subsidies and tax credits the United States government gave American pulp mills that used a by- product from kraft pulp called black liquor. “The concern was that it was creating an
unfair playing field,” said Dal Monte. The money has to be spent on projects that
show environmental benefits or create more green energy.
Catalyst received $18 million in GTP funding credits and is spending the bulk of it on the G12 project.
By increasing the amount of biomass burned, projects such as this one help re- cover more of what’s being left behind in the bush, said Dal Monte. “It never makes sense to cut down a tree just to burn it. If you have to cut a tree down, get the lumber from it, turn the chips to pulp and paper and what is left over turn into energy. This project gives us the opportunity to use that last little bit.”
The company has been working with local contractors on how to use what is now left behind in the bush and Dal Monte said they’ve had discussions with Sliammon First Nation about possible opportunities in the future.
Paper Machines #2 and #3 in 1914
Steam turbo generator
Powell RiveR living • april 2011 • 17 Sponsored Article
well below average for communities of com- parable size. Industry was carrying the bulk of the tax load. Residential taxation was just 34.47%, while major industry paid 52.82% and business 11.84%.
MARkET DEMAND DRopS In North America, the demand for graphic
paper began to decline rapidly. Beginning in 2004, the industry saw demand drop from 48 million tonnes to where it is today at 32 million tonnes a year. A big part of this had to do with society’s shift to social media. Newspapers that had been publishing for decades closed. “The whole business dropped by one-third,”
says Gibson. Every aspect of the mill’s expense sheet
was examined. “The overall cost structure was onerous, taxes were one aspect of it,” says Gibson. “Labour, another.”
Ripples of uncertainty could be felt in the mill and in the community. “We had the risk of losing at least one paper
machine, Number 9, and possibly, the entire mill,” says Gibson. But Catalyst employees did what they could to ensure the mill survived. Further agreements were reached with both locals and concessions were made as Catalyst continued to figure out how to run as a leaner operation.
CoopERATioN bETwEEN THE CiTy AND Mill Instead of ignoring Catalyst’s concerns
about unreasonable taxation levels, The City listened and responded. In 2003, council passed a motion to reduce major industry taxes by $200,000 annually for five years to help Catalyst lower costs and maintain employment levels. With an additional $1,470,000 reduction in major industry in 2010, resulting in a major industry and business to residential tax ratio of 3.5:1 and a 17.9 per cent reliance on major industry.
Over the next five years the City will continue to reduce taxation levels for major industry with a goal of achieving average provincial taxation levels for this tax class. Since 1999, the City has achieved a cumulative total of $13
million in taxation reductions while maintain- ing a reasonable level of service, says Westby.
lEADiNG THE wAy Powell River is viewed as a leader for creat-
ing competitive conditions for business. The City inked an agreement in principle (AIP) with Catalyst in April 2010 that had the objec- tive of reducing major industrial taxation paid by Catalyst while assisting the City in reducing its capital expenditures for future municipal service infrastructure.
The company will sell the City the unoccu- pied mill administration office building and associated lands for a nominal price and the City and Catalyst will explore a variety of joint economic development initiatives. The agreement also includes a four-year mortgage extension to the PRSC lands, a three-way partnership with Catalyst, The City and Tla’Amin First Nation. Lyn Brown, vice-preident Corporate Relations, calls the tax agreement between Catalyst and City of Powell River “bold and instructive.”
“The relationship marks quite a departure from what typically has been the relationship between government and industry. What we saw in our dealings with Powell River was a community and municipal government that was prepared to work with the mill and the company to help the business be competitive in a pretty difficult time,” she says.
Both Mayor Stewart Alsgard and Council- lor Dave Formosa played key roles in the AIP.
“The work and decisions made by this council along with those of the two Catalyst unions are truly why Powell River is still operating,” says Formosa. “Unfortunately it was Campbell River that suffered when their mill closed for good. This very well could have been us,” For- mosa adds.
Mayor Alsgard agrees. “We did what needed to be done. We addressed the issues that needed to be addressed in order to move forward and we accomplished what we set out to do.
pRoDuCT DivERSiFiCATioN The final piece in the survival puzzle has to
be attributed to diversification. If you don’t
Two decades ago, the Powell River mill’s production was mostly newsprint. But
in the early 1990s, the company invested money and energy to diversify the kinds of paper it was able to produce. The instal- lation of soft-nip calenders on Paper Ma- chine #10 was the first step in a transition toward smoother, glossier finishes for the flyer and catalogue markets.
Then in 2001 and 2002, a team under the direction of tech whiz Neil Gray started developing a sheet to compete with soft- calendered (SC-A) grades. The new grade was known as Electraprime and gained wide acceptance in 2003-4. It remains hugely popular with advertisers throughout the West Coast because of its brightness and gloss. It’s the paper used for the cover of Powell River Living. “Grade development efforts like E-Prime
are one of the reasons why Powell River Di- vision has been able to survive while other mills have not,” says engineer Jeremy Mer- cer, manager of Technical Services at Cata- lyst’s Powell River Division.
Meanwhile, Paper Machines #9 and #11 were also primarily newsprint, with some of the highest manufacturing costs in the business. Through a combination of investment, application of technology and hard work, the company was able to shift away from newsprint and lower its cost at the same time. A mainstay of PM9 is a grade called Electrastar with a brightness range of 76 to 84. Catalyst hopes to deliver an Electrastar 90 this year. “Electrastar is why PM9 continues to op-
erate when other machines of that vintage shut down decades ago,” says Mercer.
A new bleach plant in 2005 allowed PM11 to produce brighter paper. Compa- nies such as Safeway and Shoppers Drug Mart started printing their flyers on Elec- trabrite Lite, a lighter-weight, brighter paper that has grown into the single largest seller from PM11. Now, newsprint is less than 30% of the machine’s production. The current grade range of PM11 extends to papers with a brightness of 70 per cent. Electrabrite 70 makes up most of Powell River Living’s inside pages.
Recently, the division has dipped its toe into the book grade market. “It’s a challenge producing book grades (thick, bulky paper) and Electraprime (thin, dense paper) in the same mill,” says Mercer. But it means more versatility and diversity for a company that is still alive only because of its willingness to change.
Brighter paper, brighter future Why diversification has Catalyst turning a new page
by Sean Percy
Mike Verdiel, President Local 76; General Manager Rick Maksymetz; MP John Weston, Mayor Stewart Alsgard; Catalyst VP of Finance and CFO Brian Baarda at March 14
announcement of Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program funding.
Sponsored Article
Opportunities for Powell River Future employment at Catalyst Paper by Isabelle Southcott
Seventy per cent of the Catalyst workforce in trades specific areas will be eligible
for retirement in the next five to eight years. “That creates tremendous opportunities for
our youth and other citizens of Powell River for local employment,” says Troy Marshall, Central Island Regional Coordinator for dual credit programs for Vancouver Island Uni- versity and School District 47. The school district and VIU have been offering training in several trades for several years and soon they’ll be offering more, only the new training will be geared to those wanting to work for Catalyst Powell River.
These opportunities come with challenges. Challenges that educators like Marshall and Arlette Raaen, principal of the Powell River campus of Vancouver Island University, are only too happy to have.
The school district and university are working on a post secondary program that would provide industry specific training that upon completion would provide entry into a job in the mill. “We are focusing on train-
ing people in the community for jobs in the community,” said Raaen. “There may be an opportunity to draw people in who need training to go to work in other communities. This could become a niche specialization in education.”
Catalyst will need skilled workers. “We will continue the work we have been doing in training people and expand it into trades specific for the mill and the paper industry such as electricians, pipefitters, machinists and millwrights, and boiler operators as well as welders and carpenters which we already train,” said Marshall.
Their first priority however is “to identify what skill sets that we can train First Nation youth to enable them to be work ready.”
Clint Williams, Chief of Sliammon First Nation, is excited there will be employment opportunities for Sliammon. “We look to play a more meaningful role
with the renewal of our protocol agreement and to also see opportunities increase for Sliammon First Nation people in the areas
of employment, training and education with VIU, School District 47, Catalyst and Sliam- mon working together,” said Williams.
Sliammon wants to be part of the mill’s revitilization project, he added. “Sliammon First Nation would like to be-
come part of the economic revitilization of Powell River. We said to Catalyst we realize your mill is shrinking in terms of employees and operations, with our Aboriginal rights and title we would like to be a part of the revitilization process of the mill. We would like to help get the mill back on its feet. Sliam- mon is open to exploring opportunities that will help the City, Catalyst and Sliammon to create employment and opportunities to live and work here and raise their families here instead of having to leave to find employment.” “This is a wonderful opportunity,” says
Raaen. “It is really promising to see Catalyst looking years forward. It sends a message out about the anticipated number of jobs that will be available in the future.”
change you die. If the mill still relied solely on newsprint it would not be alive today. Prod- ucts like Electraprime and Electrastar are two important reasons why the mill continues to operate and why Paper Machine #9 didn’t shut down.
Number 10 paper machine has had some direct investment. “It was the heart of the grade development focus,” says Gibson.
And for now, Number 9 has been given a stay of execution. “For the first time in 20 years, Number 9 isn’t the rumour mill of going down next year. The company ordered replace- ment parts… this gives people confidence that they will be employed and that they can make decisions about their future,” says Verdiel.
Jackson says morale is on the rebound at the mill although with all the downsizing it’s a challenge of remain safe yet cost efficient. “It looks like we have turned a corner with
all machines sold out and pricing holding. We just learned that Local 1 will be hiring. Cata- lyst is a great place to work and we have great people,” Jackson added.
Because of improved communication, working together instead of against one another, cooperation between the unions, the city, management and the taxpayers of Powell River, the mill is once again positioned to compete.
Today the mill is a smaller, leaner operation but it still employs 390 people. In 2010 the Powell River mill’s payroll was $40 million. “Mill jobs are still in the top 10 per cent of
good paying jobs,” says Verdiel. “The pay is good, benefits are good, there’s a good pen- sion plan and because we have those we are able to spend money in the community. The
businesses in town realize the spin off benefits from us.”
The mill still plays an important role in the community today and will in the future.
Mill jobS oN THE HoRizoN For the first time in years, there are oppor-
tunities for Powell River’s young people who want to work at the mill. “We are starting the hiring process and in the
next 10 years, about 100 jobs will become available. There will be career opportunities for pipefitters, millwrights, instrumentation,” says Gibson.
The majority of Local 76 members are 50 and up. In the next 10 years, 75% of Local 76s members will retire.
“We don’t have many young people working here anymore,” says Verdiel, admitting he’d be hard pressed to find someone in their 20s or 30s. “But we will have,” adds Gibson quickly.
The question for the future is: “What can we do to get kids ready for employment in the mill?” asks Gibson. “What skills do they need? How can we get them heading in the best direction and give them the best opportunity if they want to stay in Powell River or come back home to live and work in Powell River?”
Catalyst has entered discussions with School District 47, Vancouver Island Universi- ty and Sliammon First Nation, in order to learn how to prepare Powell River’s youth for future employment at the mill.
Garry St. Cyr at the helm in the control room of Power Boiler #19
pATRiCiA wiNCHEll Accountant
Patricia Winchell and her husband Brad both work at the Pow- ell River mill. “I started as a co-op engineering student in the summer of 2000,” says Patricia, an accountant, who grew up here. Af- ter graduating she transferred to the Crofton mill where she began working on her Certified General Accountant designation. Patricia and Brad, Manager of Planning and Coordination, and their two children were excited to move back to Powell River last fall when job opportunities opened up. “Catalyst has been very supportive of me working part-time which en-
ables me to have a great work-life balance as we raise our young family,” Patricia says. My colleagues at Catalyst are fantastic to work with and I enjoy the new challenges we are presented with on a daily basis. Powell River is such a great community.”
DoNovAN vAN GoRkoM Electrical/Instrumentation Supervisor in Utilities and Power Distribution
Donovan dreamed of working in a mill but knew that job opportunities for electricians in his line of work were few and far between.
“Fortunately for me my resume landed at Powell River right when they were adding to their electrical staff,” says Donovan, a six-year employee. “From the start Catalyst has been
a progressive company to work for. I’ve always loved the automation and programming so arriving here I feel like I won the lottery. Having a consistent income is a huge bonus, as well as the paid vacations. To be home every night with family and friends, enjoying the beautiful scenery of Powell River and working at a place where one’s skills are stretched and challenged daily leaves me truly thankful.”
DouG lANiGAN Instrument Mechanic
Doug began working at the Powell River mill in 1998. “I had recently completed a Pulp And Paper Technician course through NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) and wanted to remain in this industry. Powell River is a great location, and of the employment opportunities available, we chose this as a lifestyle.”
Doug has been working in the industry for close to 20 years and when it comes to the future he is cautiously optimistic. “It seems we started to turn the corner with respect to the global market last spring. It is a credit to this division that we were able to keep all three paper machines running throughout the recent lengthy downturn. I am encouraged that we are starting to hire again, and of course overjoyed that our son was able to secure one of the engineering co-op positions.”
TylER lANiGAN Mechanical Engineer Student UVIC
Tyler’s interest in the energy savings projects being carried out at Cat- alyst led him to apply for a job at the mill while working on his degree. “It’s a good opportunity to live at home and save some money for
school,” says the co-op student. Tyler is interested in alternative energy and hopes to become involved
in Sustainable and Renewable Energy projects in the future. “Working for Catalyst has been good because I’ve gotten to do a lot of
different things here, gaining some experience in many different areas. As a second year mechanical engineer studying at the University of Victoria, this exposure has been invaluable.”
Sage products Come from Sage papermakers
As a World Wildlife Fund Climate Saver company, Catalyst has an outstanding
greenhouse gas emissions reduction story and the Powell River mill is setting the pace for the company and the industry. “At 51.2 kg of CO2e per tonne, we have one
of the lightest carbon footprints in our industry,” says Sarah Barkowski, PhD, the mill’s environment manager. “We’re focusing on sustainability in every part of our operation
– from aiming to use less and waste less, to fibre certification and annual reporting of our environmental performance.”
This steady operating focus led to introduc- tion of Catalyst’s Sage line of specialty papers
– many of which are made at the Powell River mill. The Sage offer has received a warm welcome from publishers, retail advertisers and printers who want great pressroom performance and a verified environmental pedigree.
Says Tom Crowley, senior vice-president,
sales and marketing, “it’s proof that our natu- rally positive environmental story has traction in the marketplace. Customers want it and are willing to pay for it.”
Catalyst Sage paper is 100 per cent certified through the Programme for the Endorse- ment of Forest Certification (PEFC) chain of custody system. It is manufactured carbon- neutral using 86 per cent renewable energy sources. And it offers transparency, as all data is available through the environmental paper assessment tool (EPAT), a project of GreenBlue, a science-based environmental nonprofit. “In today’s Wiki-driven world, we have to earn
the business and confidence of paper customers in new ways,” says Brown, vice-president, corporate relations and social responsibility.
“Catalyst is part of a pretty complicated value chain and Sage is a simple way to tell a great story. It puts the spotlight on our production
expertise and the environmental care that we wrap around the rolls of paper we sell.”
An area of particular interest for the Powell River mill is the book market. “As we grow our sales in the book market, Sage will be a big part of it,” says Tom. “It resonates well with book publishers, and gives them a clear way to live out the environmental commitment they’ve made to their shareholders.”
With early success, it’s clear that the Sage line of products made at the Powell River mill represent a story whose time has come. And for a growing variety of customers, it’s recognized as the wise choice. “Customers know exactly what they’re buy-
ing: paper with excellent pressroom performance, a verified environmental profile and backed by the hard work and expertise of production, technical, logistics, service and sales employees. Sage is an offer all of us at Cata- lyst can be proud of and stand behind.”
Have you noticed that the ‘paperless society’ never happened? That’s because paper
remains a high quality, high touch communication media for newspapers, magazines
and other forms of print-based information. People still love to interact with paper.
Better still, paper is constant. And, it’s still one of the most environmentally sensitive
communications media. Consider that paper is made of renewable natural fibres and
that paper can be recycled many times over.
Catalyst Paper is a global leader in making paper the responsible way. We are western
North America’s leading manufacturer of mechanical papers – papers whose raw
materials are sourced from sustainably managed forests and papers that are produced
using 89% renewable energy at our BC mills. Catalyst was the first company to
introduce manufactured carbon-neutral paper for a mass market. Our eye is always on
using fewer raw materials, wasting less, increasing efficiencies in manufacturing, and
lessening our greenhouse gas emissions. There is no one solution and that’s why we
work tirelessly with our supply chain and other partners, including WWF Canada to
reach better outcomes.
You can feel good about using paper to get your news and information. You can feel
even better when you reuse and recycle that paper.
Learn more: catalystpaper.com/sustainability
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Let’s talk! 604 485-4231 office • 604 344-1234 direct • 1-877-485-4231 toll free • coastrealty.com • [email protected] • 4760 Joyce Ave
“Thank you for everything Brandy!”
– Steve Laycraft
who is smarter than a sixth grader? Fundraising event promises fun for all
By Dylan Young
How smart are our sixth graders? Do you suppose they are smarter than
our own MLA Nicholas Simons? How about that amazing actress CaroleAnn Leishman? Or maybe Bill Hopkins — the guy you hear on SUN-FM? He seems to know something about everything.
We’ll find out just how wily, cunning and brilliant our own students are on Thursday, April 7 when Powell River’s own Who Is Smarter Than A Sixth Grad- er? show gets under way at 6:30 pm at the Max Cameron Theatre. This side-splitting fundraiser for The Orca Bus and Success By 6 will pit six local celebrities against Grade 6 students.
The adult celebrities are: “Mr. Karate” Frank Clayton, MLA Nicholas Simons, SunFM and PRACL's Bill Hopkins, Joyce Carlson from The Peak, Gary Dietrich from Modern Windows, and CaroleAnn Leishman of local theatre fame from Agius Builders.
Do you suppose they were paying attention in class? Hmmmm…. Well, we will find out just how much they remember from their elementary school days! Don’t worry, they’ll have a bit of help from the Grade 6 students!
This will be an evening of family fun but there is a reason behind all this fun. You see, the Orca Bus has become such an important vehicle for the youngest members of our community that we need
to make sure the money is there so it continues to operate. Our bus is an older vehicle and it costs a lot to maintain and fix it. Someday soon a new bus will be needed to replace the aging bus, which is
why fundraising is necessary. The Orca bus drives all over the place
providing young children with fun and learning opportunities. It’s in Sliammon, Lund, and even on Texada Island. Dedi- cated individuals from multiple genera- tions create a world of excitement and play for our youngsters and they enjoy doing so.
The ORCA Bus, (On the Road with Children’s Activities), is a mobile Early
Childhood Education (ECE), vehicle that offers Strong Start programming provided by School District 47. Its goal is to ensure that children have the ability to learn necessary skills that are essential to being school ready. As a community resource, our ORCA Bus has proven to be essential affecting the lives of over 200 children and families this year alone.
Individuals, Powell River & District Unit- ed Way, School District 47, Success By 6, Powell River Living and the Powell River Literacy Council have created this amazing night of community fun hosted by the ever entertaining Dan Devita and Jamie Burt to raise money for the Orca Bus. The night itself will challenge local celebrities against questions developed from students in Powell River’s elementary schools. Just in case these great minds have some trouble bringing back knowledge from elementary school we have paired each of our contestants up with three Grade six students from elementary schools around town. Each of the contestants will have 15 minutes in order to answer questions from Grade 1 up to Grade 6 in order to accumu- late points and come out a winner!
This night of family fun is sure to be a hilarious event with many twists and turns. All proceeds will go straight to the ORCA Bus. Get your tickets from the Academy of Music, Breakwater Books, First Credit Union or at Brooks School.
HELP!: Contestant Bill Hopkins gets last- minute help from Kelly Creek students.
Reading Writing
We can help.
CALL is a free program that matches adult learners with volunteer tutors for FREE one-on-one help. Community Adult Literacy & Learning To find out more, phone Deb at
604 413-1021 [email protected] Funded by the Ministry of Regional Economic and Skills Development
Academy of Music Concert Hall Tickets $10 adults / $5 children
from the Academy of Music 604.485.9633
ACAdeMy MusiCAl THeATre enseMble
presents
April 14, 15 & 16 at 7 PM & Matinee April 17 at 1:30 PM
1-888-754-1441 or 250-339-2262 Visit www.mitchellpando.com for more information. Achieve the comfort
and function you deserve.
Certified orthotists... are the only professionals in
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Ian Fleming, B.A., LL.B. General Practice
Katya Buck • Articling student Laura Berezan • Articling student
604 485-2771 • 4571 Marine Avenue
Giroday & Fleming Corporate & Commercial Law • Corporate records management • Commercial transactions
Societies & Charities
By Tracey Ellis
If you’ve heard of the slow food movement, get ready for the slow clothes movement. Alisha Van Belle is the inspired mind
behind Jo’momma designs, clothing made with love from natural materials such as soy, bamboo, hemp and organic cotton.
What are slow clothes? According to Alisha slow clothes are handmade without a rush and always with what the customer wants in mind. “Things are made with human energy,” she adds, not mass mechanized enterprise.
Perhaps the ultimate in slow clothing is Alisha’s upcycled sweaters that are created for sale at festivals. “I cut beautiful sweaters apart and by serging pieces together create unique one-of-a-kind sweaters,” she says. The sweaters are then embel- lished with a machine felter and machine appliqué work.
While most of her clothing can be found at festivals such as the Sunshine Music Festival in Powell River and the Filberg Fes- tival in Courtney, her clothing can also be found at Ecossentials/ Trendzessence on Marine Avenue in Powell River as well as at her online store at www.jomommadesigns.ca.
Her clothing line designs reflect Alisha’s unconventional background. They includes theatre clothing along with varied interests such as elements of nature (especially leaves), the cir- cus, Faerie folk, tutus, Rococo Baroque, Medieval and Victorian
age all combined with a little Lord of the Rings — the resulting clothing is pure Alisha, who could pass as a woodland nymph herself.
[email protected] 4766-B Joyce Avenue 604.485.4231 office 604.414.8408 direct anytime
Dez HooffDez Hooff REALTOR®
Go to Facebook and “like” Coast Realty Group (Powell River) Ltd
Scan this QR code with your smart phone
Get the app for your device at mobile-barcodes.com
Green pet tips
• Use a biodegradable bag for scooping poop. Otherwise, you’ll embalm it in plastic in a landfill.
• Recycling is key to reducing our carbon paw-prints on the environment. Why not try a recycled pet from the SPCA?
• Buy pet supplies in bulk. It will save in cash and help the environment with fewer trips to the store and less wasteful packaging.
4480 Manson Avenue (corner of Duncan & Manson)
604 485-2244
Crossroads Village • 4801 Joyce Ave • 604 485-8251 • Mon – Thur 9 am – 6 pm • Friday 9 am – 9 pm • Saturday 9 am – 6 pm • Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Hop on down for some great deals on Easter Decorations!
“I’m the original punk-rock hippie-kid. I take my inspiration from my unconventional life.” Alisha’s designs reflect her relaxed and easy free spirit in the soft bamboo fabrics that cling to the body in all the right places and flow in the most feminine ways. “I believe that sexy, feminine and comfortable all belong in the same sentence,” she says.
Her latest fabric favourite is bamboo. “Knits are very forgiving. I love the way
bamboo in particular drapes. It’s soft, holds perspiration well and has antibacte- rial properties. These fabrics feel so incred- ible against your skin and wash so well.”
Current production includes four styles of pants, two styles of yoga pants, four styles of skirts, three types of hoodies, three types of light jackets, three styles of short sleeve and three long sleeved shirts and four dresses in a variety of eco-knits all in sizes extra-small to large. Most strik- ing to see is the wedding cloak, a peaked
hooded garment that flows to your ankles and hints at all the ethereal mystery and magic of a bride on her wedding day.
Her designs are carefully pieced together; serged edges are integral to the designs. “I like to play with lines to flatter the body and enhance shape,” she says. Her clothing line is produced with the help of a sole employee. “We inspire each other to expand, grow and most of all, create!”
While Alisha’s designs reflect the work of a true fabric artist, she designs clothes to be worn — well and often. “I want my clothes to be worn a lot, to feel really good and to wear well,” she says. When asked who her target market is Alisha replies, “I do very well with the 30 to 60 age group,” but admits she wasn’t sure who her market was when she first started her business. “I guess I en- visioned all these young and lovely nymphs, but I see now that it is the older goddesses that love my work best.”
Photos by Charlene Ruedig
Brandy Peterson is happy to let her clients speak for her.
Let’s talk! 604 485-4231 office • 604 344-1234 direct • 1-877-485-4231 toll free • coastrealty.com • [email protected] • 4760 Joyce Ave
“Thank you so much for everything! We so much appreciate all your excellent advice! You are very good at your job!”
– Alex & Tammy Beauchamp
Welcome to the Fun House actor/director also wrote new play
By John Dean
“It’s good, but you need to paint a picture across the fourth wall as you sing, so the audience can see you’re trying to
show there’s a world out there!” instructed CaroleAnn Leish- man after I had finished my song, “There’s a world.” I was at a rehearsal for CaroleAnn’s new musical suitably named Welcome to the Fun House.
CaroleAnn is from Powell River’s Far Off Broadway theatre group which has put on such productions as the famous show Chicago. CaroleAnn graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. Since graduation she has performed around North America in all different mediums; theatre, TV and even film. She has performed with La Scala Opera Com- pany and has acted in such films as Bram Stoker's Dracula and Chaplin. Her theatre experience includes performances in such productions as Steel Magnolias, Hair and even won a best supporting actress for her role in the Memory of Water.
This new creation from Powell River’s talented thespian is a story of a brother and sister who leave home to escape from a terrible thing they have done. They end up being led to a magical, yet dark place known as the Fun House, where wishes can come true, performers are electroni- cally tagged and drugged to keep them working all hours and kids smoke cigars and gamble. The sibling’s crazy adventure takes them on a journey where they learn not everything is as it seems, and this crazy world is darker than first imagined.
CaroleAnn’s inspiration came from a friend who co-cho- reograhed Chicago with her. “Jody McKamey choreographed an amazing modern dance number to rocker Pink’s ‘Fun House’ for a dance recital last June. I watched from the wings with my mouth open and said, ‘I am putting that number in my musical!’ Then it became the centre of the whole story,” CaroleAnn tells me. “Welcome to the Fun House has been swirling around in my head since last June. After months of jotting down notes about characters and songs I sat down and wrote the script in about two weeks over Christmas,” she adds.
Not only has CaroleAnn written this piece, she is also di- recting and performing in it. She has 64 performers she has to direct, at various ages, ranging from six to 60. “I have eight-hour rehearsal days. That is so I can work with each
group separately so no one but me has real long days. The kids can be a challenge. When I raise my booming voice, though, they stop in their tracks. It’s pretty funny. They are pretty good. They are kids after all,” CaroleAnn explains. She also acts as a magical performer for the musical named Grizelda. She has two other “soul sisters” who, too, are magical. “Grizelda resembles me in that she tends to try and look after some of the kids in the Fun House. Carma Sacree and Melissa Call, who play my ‘soul sisters,’ are also soul sisters of mine in real life so that has been fun to play opposite them in these roles. They’re both type cast,” Caro- leAnn explains.
CaroleAnn comes from a long line of directors, actors and singers. As she puts it to me, “It’s in my DNA.” Though she admits to having it in her genes, so to speak, she also admits,
“Theatre school was just the next step because I was a terrible actor! And I was terrible at public speaking. I also never sang until I went to theatre school. That’s where I found my voice.” Although she may have struggled at the beginning, Car- oleAnn has gone on to do many performances all over North America and admits her most memorable and favourite performance was for her role as Kather- ine in The Memory of Water. “It was such a challenging role: so different from me, very emotional and over the top and it
was a really well-written play as well.” I myself am no real actor, and have never done so before this.
However, with CaroleAnn’s tuition, I feel I have picked up many tricks and I am beginning to feel more confident and relaxed in my role. As the rehearsal comes to an end I ask her what advice she would give to those who would like to get involved in theatre, “Get involved in one of our local theatre groups or in drama at school. You won’t know if you really like it or which aspects you are interested in until you try. And if you want to get serious about any kind of career in acting: training, training, training!”
So if you are reading this and wish to be on stage or TV, be like me and put yourself out there.
Welcome to the Fun House runs from Saturday, April 30 until May 7. Do not miss this insane performance by many of our talented Powell River performers.
PAIR PRACTICE: Katherine and John rehearse a duet for the Far off Broadway production Into the Fun House.
Heritage Liquor Store Gift Baskets Snacks Phone Cards Beer Wines Spirits ATM Bus Passes
“In the Fabulous Rodmay”
Check out our furniture selection 604 485-4101
“Right Below the bowling alley”
well said!
By George Campbell
There is an old story about the human brain that goes like this: “The human brain is a marvellous device that
starts working when you are born, and ceases to function the instant you stand up to speak before a large group of people.” A Toastmasters Club is the best-known cure for this malady.
Way back in the summer of 1954 I attended a meeting at the Stanley Park Pavilion in Vancouver to listen to some speakers present their views on a number of different topics. One of these topics was ‘The den, man’s last refuge.’ The man who delivered this speech did so with such conviction, humour and downright oral ability that one could not help but be impressed. From the first sentence of his presentation he had hold of his audience, and he kept them in his hand throughout. Although all the speakers were good, this fellow was outstanding.
I remember turning and saying to my wife who was sitting beside me, “Boy, I wish I could speak like that!”
After the meeting was over, I made a point of going up to this speechmaker to tell him how much I enjoyed his presentation. “How did you learn to speak like that?” I asked him.
“At a Toastmasters Club,” he replied. The following year the company I worked for, BC Electric,
formed a Toastmasters Club and I became a member. It was one of the most satisfying things that I have ever done. I went on to become the best speaker of the club and in 1958 was awarded a trophy for this accomplishment. This brought me to the attention of senior executives of the company who pro- moted me to the Dealer Services department where my job
was to call on electric and gas appliance dealers and motivate them to sell more appliances to use our company’s gas and electricity. Soon they had me attending ratepayers associa- tions in neighbourhood halls throughout greater Vancouver to speak to people on the advantages of natural gas for hot water and home heating. It was like a dream come true — I was being paid to speak.
In 1960 I joined the Lion’s Club and became involved in a public speaking contest they were holding. I spoke at Lion’s Clubs all over B.C. and got as far as Seattle Washington before I lost and was eliminated. I still have a framed certificate from Bellingham stating that I was the winner of the District Achieve- ment Speaking Award for Club Activity during the spring conference of 1961.
After a speech at a Lion’s club, I was approached by a fellow member who congratulated me on the speech I had just given and then asked, “How did you learn to speak like that?” It was like history repeating itself “At a Toastmasters Club,” I told him.
There are few things in life more satisfying than wanting to achieve a particular goal, and then finally succeed- ing in doing so. To be able to stand up and speak with poise and self-confidence before a large group of people was one of mine. As you

Powell River Living April 2011

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