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Things heating up on Otway rezoning Debate

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Photo from City of Prince George Website

Things got a bit heated at city council on Monday when proponents and opponents spoke to L&M Engineering's application to have 6161 Otway Rd rezoned. The application would have the property rezoned to light industrial use, which is to the dismay of many residents of North Nechako. Last night's meeting was the second hearing about this application and it will go on to Wednesday May 11 at 6pm for a third session.

According to the residents of North Nechako the change would result in an increase of noise, water, air and light pollution. The residents kept reminding city council that the property sits above a delicate aquifer and having the property rezoned would increase the risk of contamination. Opponents made many presentations to city council ranging from the professional to the offensive. Mayor Lyn Hall had to reign in a couple presenters for use of antagonizing, or offensive language.

The proponents have stated that concerns to the project have been blown out of proportion. The area already has industrial business, and a CN rail line, that cause noise, air, and light pollution already. This according to the opponents existed in the area for years and in the residents don't like it they should not of bought in the area. Jack Fomenoff who is one of the applicants, stated that he "tired of the attacks" and made an off the cuff comment about possibly pursuing legal action.

By Grant Bachand (Twitter) @grantbachand

POLS 320 Students Present to City Council

POLS 320 City Council Photo by Jason Morris @JPols

Students from UNBC POLS 320 class presented the results of their class project at Monday's city council meeting. POLS 320 is a political science class at UNBC which focuses on teaching students how to conduct university level research in an applied fashion.  Over the years the class has done various projects, this year they focused on voter apathy amongst youth 18-35. They concluded that youth are voting and are "politically engaged."

The results  showed that over 80% of respondents participated in the most recent federal election. It also showed that most youth are not in favour of lowering the voting age but looking to more digital ways of voting for the future. This spurred city councillors to talk about the possible return of the debate of electronic voting

However the results do show a bit of a bias according to the students that presented stating that most of the surveys came from UNBC and not enough came from the community.  Garth Frizzell was impressed by the students and happy to see students are engaged in the political process, he asked if their was ways to improve those numbers even more. One of the students stated that more engagement with young people will continue to encourage those numbers to improve.

By Grant Bachand @grantbachand

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Ether in The Attic - Episode #123: Rusty Rim & Slater D Bro-Cost the Show! - 20160509

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Rusty Rim & Slater D fill in while Hubcap Walter is stranded at the bottom of the hill due to a jacked bicycle. Thats a gap hubcaps can't fill.Gnarled, wired, and pitted, these brahs throw down the hottest surf tracks around. Yuh dig? Well then DIG and shoot the curl to this mondo playlist...

 

[embed]https://www.mixcloud.com/HubcapWalter/ether-in-the-attic-episode-123-rusty-rim-slater-d-bro-cost-the-show-20160509/[/embed]

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This Is Britt A.M., Episode 16, The National Mental Health Week Episode!

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It's the Canadian Mental Health Association's 65th Annual Mental Health Week, let's #GETLOUD in support of approximately 7 million Canadians who live with compromised mental health, mental illness and addiction. This week, I cover ten ways to #GETLOUD, and I touch on some lesser known facts about the Late Prince Rogers Nelson, as well as highlight some major sky events happening this year (Meteor shower this Friday evening, yay!). I also play two songs by The Flaming Lips in which they cover classic songs by The Beatles and Pink Floyd. https://www.mixcloud.com/britt-meierhofer/this-is-britt-am-episode-16-the-national-mental-health-week-episode/

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BC First Nations takes species-at-risk recovery into new territory

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It took 2 years of preparation but the Upper Nicola Band, the Burrowing Owl conservation society, local species-at-risk biologists, and the federal interdepartmental Recovery Fund are excited to implement the reintroduction of Burrowing Owls back into Nicola territory! Owls are deeply woven into the culture of the Upper Nicola and Interior Salish peoples. They are considered the guardian spirits for hunters and warriors and are spirit carriers and guides to other worlds

Chief Harvey McLeod, from Upper Nicola had some inspiring words on the subject, stating:

 "the culture that has always given us strength and supported us is based on coexistence with the land that has always sustained us. We must give it support in turn. It means we have the responsibility to be stewards of the world around us, and to reclaim, where we can what we have lost, and to rebuild what we are losing."

In preparation for the release of the first set of owls, upper Nicola field techs and cultural advisors helped to survey the band's eight reserves and identify suitable habitat. Community members helped with the construction of nestboxes and creating artificial burrows. These burrows will be home to the first three breeding pairs of Owls, which were hatched and raised by volunteers of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC.

The goal of both the Upper Nicola Band and the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society is to reserve the continuing decline of the Burrowing owl populations within Canada. This can be accomplished from the efforts this project aims to establish by maintaining a self-perpetual, well-distributed population of owls in British Colombia. Upper Nicola Band species at risk program is also committed to building capacity, increase knowledge of culturally and ecologically important wildlife and encourage community-based, hands on conservation.

This is exciting news as this will be the first ever release of Burrowing Owls on land that is controlled by First Nations. We look forward to hearing how these animals do after their release. To learn more about the topic you can check out the Upper Nicola website or the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC.

Upper Nicola: www.uppernicola.com Burrowing Owl Conservation Society: www.burrowingowlbc.org

 

 

BANDCAMP