Continued from Jan 4, 2017....
APRIL 2016
Federal Gas Tax Funds were meted out at the Thompson Nicola Regional District Board of Directors meeting held Mar. 24. 2016, in Kamloops. An area non-profit that benefited from a portion of those funds was the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Assocation who received $45,000 toward electrical and plumbing upgrades for their fairgrounds facility in Barriere.
It was reported a car and a flatdeck truck were involved in a collision on the Highway 5 bridge across the North Thompson River in Barriere on Mar. 29. Neither driver appeared to suffer any obvious major injury, but the bridge railing suffered some damage.
On Apr. 7, Barriere Secondary School hosted the 3rd Annual Day of Sucwentwecw (acknowledging one another) celebration, with students from Barriere Elemenetary and Neqweyqwelsten School in Chu Chua attending.
Darfield resident Helen Newton attended the Mainline Regional Science Fair, hosted by SD73 at Thompson Rivers University on Apr. 7 and 8. She was a gold medal winner at intermediate level (Grades 9-10), was awarded the Canadian Women in Science and Technology Award, as was the overall winner at the Fair in the Engineering Division. Newton was one of five students to be selected to attend the Canada-wide Science Fair in Montreal May 15-20.
Barriere RCMP Cpl. Steve Mancini said a search was started Sunday, Apr. 17, after Ryan Clarke, who was out of province and was concerned that his family had not reported back since they went mountain biking near Barriere. After their vehicle was found on Monday, near the 18.5 km mark on South Lake Road, Angela Clarke and her three children were spotted by helicopter within 15 minutes at the north end of Johnson Lake. The family was a little shaken up, had some bumps and bruises, and were embarrassed by the whole event.
The first major thunder and lightening storm of the year leaped up the North Thompson from the south on Thursday, Apr. 21. The wind took down a number of large trees and branches that in turn took out BC Hydro transformers and power lines. Power was out within the area for approximately seven hours until hydro crews had made numerous repairs to transformers and downed power lines. However, some 70 homes on East Barriere Lake Rode were without power until well into Friday. The Grad 2016 Fashion Show at Barriere Secondary was rescheduled for the following day, as was the Chinese buffet at the Station House Family Dining Restaurant. Environment Canada reported the next day, some 1500 lightning strikes had taken place during the Thursday storm.
Chu Chua resident Fred Fortier reported he was building two 96 x 30 Hamois greenhouses ordered from Quebec. Hamois greenhouses are designed to make the most of natural ventilation, and to keep energy consumption to a minimum. Fortier says the name for this new venture will be “Uncle Freddy’s”. He was hoping to be enrolled in the Master Gardnener program at Thompson Rivers University in the fall.
The National Day of Mourning was recognized on Apr. 28 in Barriere at the Bandshell in Fadear Park with the unveiling of the Logging Industry Worker’s Memorial. The memorial is in memory of those who have lost their lives as a result of their work in the forest industry. Just under 50 people attended the unveiling, with a number of dignitaries and official representatives taking part in the ceremony.
MAY 2016
The Investors Group Walk For Alzheimer’s was held in Barriere on May 1, and saw 55 to 60 walkers participate. “About half the number we had last year,” said Walk co-organizer Liz Gilbertson. “However, our subtotal of fundraising is sitting at $10,180.70, with people still being able to donate until the middle of May.” (The previous year’s total was $11,300.)
The Thompson Nicola Regional District board approved $140,000 for the construction of an addition and front entrance improvements at the Little Fort Community Hall in Little Fort.
Simpcw signs with Kinder Morgan. “We didn’t get all we wanted, and they didn’t get all they wanted,” said Simpcw First Nation Chief Nathan Matthew, “Our parents and grandparents would say “good”, that we have negotiated to protect the interests of our people and other people in putting in this pipeline.”
Barriere Secondary student, Dustin Pawloff, was presented with the School District 73 Heavy Metal Rocks Program Top Operator award. This trades orientated program provides the opportunity for students to gain work experience and exposure to operating a variety of heavy equipment.
A massive search was underway by numerous volunteers, RCMP and Search and Rescue members for 72-year-old Roy Lampreau of Chu Chua, on May 17. On May 16, police had received a report that Lambreau was missing. Speculation was that Lampreau may have run out of gas, become stuck in mud with his vehicle, or had a mechanical problem. Teams had been scouring back roads throughout the area from Adams Lake through Little Fort, and were then moving some teams to Bonaparte Lake. Found after 32 hours pinned by his truck, Simpcw First Nations elder Roy Lampreau, 72, was airlifted to hospital, and survived his ordeal.
Thanks to numerous sponsors, the opening of the new kitchen in the North Thompson Agriplex banquet hall coincided with the cooking of the Barriere Citizen of the Year dinner on May 14.
The Barriere AG Foods and IDA parking lot was completely replaced the week of May 23.
On Wednesday, May 18, the Barriere Lions Club presented area resident and retired teacher, Helen Fraser, with an award and certificate on behalf of Lions Quest for her lifelong commitment to youth and youth programs in the Barriere area.
A semi rollover on Highway 5 in the Darfield area on May 17 caused a grass fire alongside the roadway. Barriere Volunteer Fire Department attended with six members to extinguish the blaze.
Kash Siqouin attended the Junior BC High School Rodeo Finals in Dawson Creek, over the Victoria Day weekend, and came home with a number of award buckles for his efforts. Siqouin won the overall calf roping buckle. He also won the chute dogging overall buckle. He is now quaified and headed for the Canadian and National High School Rodeo finals.
Over $40,000 in scholarships were awarded to Barriere Secondary school graduates during the commencement ceremonies May 27 in the Barriere Curling Rink.
JUNE 2016
Barriere’s “Splash In The Past” splash pad was carved out next to the Lions Club gazebo in Fadear Park across from the elementary school.
Seven hundred dozen, or 8,400 homemade perogies is the magic number that were ordered during a North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association fundraiser.
2015 Barriere Secondary graduate, Ashley Fitger, received the Governor General’s Award for academic excellence. The award is presented each year to the student graduating with the highest average from the school.
As of Jun. 3, the WorkBC Barriere employment office moved into the Barriere Centre Mall (next door to IDA Pharmacy). Services are now provided by Free Rein Associates Ltd. and Yellowhead Community Services.
Work was steadily progressing towards completion of the Solar Aquatics Water Reclamation Centre.
Bag Lady Bottle Depot changed hands. After 15 years of operation, Cathy and John Corrigal sold their business to Miae and Brian Lee, who are looking forward to meeting all their customers.
A new store opened in Barriere - the Gift ‘N Gab Trading Post. Owners Kathie and John Heard are offering a wide array of Aboriginal arts and crafts, and gift and novelty items.
The traditional “turning of the sod” to open the garden area alongside the Solar Aquatics Water Reclamation Centre in Barriere took place Friday, Jun. 10, under a cloudy sky and a few raindrops. The gardens were created thanks to generous grants awarded to the District of Barriere from CN and Tree Canada.
The District of Barriere’s new Solar Aquatics Water Reclamation Centre was officially opened Friday, June 10, by a ribbon cutting ceremony with a number of dignitaries, special guests, and area citizens in attendance.
A generous grant from Kraft Heinz Company and Food Banks Canada in the amount of $1,800 made it possible for the Barriere Food Bank to replace the old ramp in front of their building in Barriere.
It didn’t take long on June 10 to knock down the little house on the old HY Louie property next to the Search and Rescue Hall on Barriere Town Road. District of Barriere council had approved the demolition May 16, due to reports of break-ins and vandalism of the structure.
Barriere’s pharmacist, Bruce Clary, retired after 35 years of dispensing medications to Lower North Thompson Valley residents. As Clary stepped back from the position of head pharmacist at Barriere IDA, Steve Wowchuk took up the reins.
Barriere and District Chamber of Commerce changed its name to Barriere and Area Chamber of Commerce. This was done due to the similarities between the District of Barriere and the Chamber.
The Barriere Lightning Strikers won the U10 division in the Footy Festival soccer tournament in Clearwater, June 19-20. The team won all five games of the round-robin tournament.
The Big Block Party in Barriere exceeded all expectations according to organizers Charlie Kibble and Ashley Wohlgemuth. There were an estimated 500 plus attendees, 40 vendor booths, and multiple sponsors and supporters. The Clearwater Secondary School Garage Band wowed the crowd with their musical abilities opening for the very popular award winning and crowd favourite Chris Buck Band.
During a brief appearance in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on June 23, Iain Drummond Scott of Clearwater pleaded guilty to the April 2014 second-degree murder of Angila Wilson, 33. The case was put over to July 13 to fix a date for sentencing. Second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25 years of parole ineligibility.
...continued next week