Issuu

OCTOBER 2012

David Gogo set to perform in Prince George B1

Big North FREE PRESS

■ HIGHWAY OF TEARS

Did you know Bobby Fowler? DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com

After almost 40 years at least one of the Highways of Tears murders has been solved. Colleen Macmillan was 16 years old in 1973 when she made plans to hitch-hike from her home in Lac la Hache to the home of a friend. No one saw her alive again after she left her home. Instead her body was found about 46 km south of where she was last seen. Decades later, in 2006, as forensic science became a more precise tool, evidence collected at the scene was sent to a lab. There the DNA of an unknown male was discovered, however no match for that male was Undated photo found in the data of Bobby Jack base. In 2012 samFowler ples of the DNA were sent to Interpol. They got a hit. In May of 2012 CODIS matched the DNA to an American, Bobby Jack Fowler. Fowler, who died of natural causes in an American prison in May of 2006 at the age of 66, had an extensive violent criminal history including attempted murder, sexual assault, arson, kidnapping and attempted sexual assault. “Since we got the hit investigators have been pursuing Fowler’s movements over his lifetime,” Inspector Gary Shinkaruk with E-PANA said. They spoke to family members, associates and former cellmates among others to determine with certainty where Fowler

travelled and when. A transient, it has been determined that Fowler lived in Prince George in 1974. He worked for Happy’s Roofing, which is now out of business, its records destroyed in a flood. Police are asking for the public’s help in filling in the blanks of Fowler’s life. They say he stayed in and lived in hotels, liked old cars and drove them till they quit, and frequented bars. “We believe there are people out there who employed Fowler and socialized with him. We want the public’s help,” he said, adding Fowler worked as a roofer and labourer. Police believe there are other victims of Fowler, people he may have assaulted who survived. Fowler is suspected in at least two more of the 18 Highway of Tears murders or disappearances E-PANA was created to investigate. The two women are Gale Weys, who went missing Oct. 19, 1973 and whose body was found six months later, and Pamela Darlington who was murdered Nov. 6, 1973. Though Fowler has been eliminated as a suspect in eight of the files, he remains someone to look at in the other cases. At the same time, Oregon suspects Fowler of at least four murders and is conducting an investigation as well. The public is being asked to share any bit of information they have on Fowler, no

matter how insignificant it might seem. People can call the E-PANA tip hotline

at 1-877-543-4822 or their local CrimeStoppers.

Introducing the AWARD WINNING… % efÀcient FRASER 38

Years

Experience

INDOOR WOOD BOILER & FURNACE • cleaner burning • long burn times plus more…

EPA White Tag Qualiﬁed

Call Fraser Plumbing & Heating; exclusive dealer for more info.

NO Interest, NO Payments for 6 Months, O.A.C.

Plumbing & Heating Ltd. 430 Third Avenue Prince George Phone: 1-250-562-6777 Fax: 1-250-562-6707 www.frasercanada.com

1-866-447-6777

WOOD FURNACES BY • CLAYTON • HOTBLAST • CADDY • SELKIRK CHIMNEYS WOOD STOVES BY • LOPI • REGENCY • ENERZONE • DROLET • QUADRA FIRE • OSBURN • NESTOR MARTIN • ARCHGARD GAS FIREPLACES BY • LOPI • TRAVIS • REGENCY • KINGSMAN • NAPOLEON • ARCHGARD • NESTOR MARTIN PELLET STOVES & INSERTS BY • QUADRA FIRE

B IG N OR TH F REE P RESS ~ S EPTEMBER 2012

news

auto

PG ENTE UD

ITY

TAY LOR

BIRCH

ASH

LATHAM

HIL

MIN IO

TAR

EEN

SW AY

EET

STR

ICK

RIA

AY ILW RA

YOUTH CONTAINMENT CENTRE

R VA

WIN DS OR

TO ON

ELM

FIR

CEDAR

DOGWOOD

L FARR EL

QUEENSWAY

JASPER

KASLO

MOYIE

NORWOOD

A FR

VIC

CLAPPERTON

PAXTON

1 Northland Chrysler Jeep Dodge 2 Fraser Plumbing and Heating AIRPORT 3 Wood Wheaton 4 Esthers Inn 5 Stride & Glide Sports 6 Northland Nissan 2nd A 1 7 Northlandve. Hyundai st Ave. 3rd Ave 8 Visions .One Hour Optical 4th . 9 FourAvePoints by Sheraton Hotel PO 10 Queensway Auto OF ST FIC E 11 PG Motors 22 12 Wayne Mobile GOV'T BLD FIRE POOL 13 CIVIC Harvey’s Carline MufﬂerGS HALL CITY HALL 14CENTRE Serengetti RCMP M U E LIS ART GALERY 15 Northern CO Foot Clinic LIBRARY 16 NR Motors E ICIA CAIN PATR 17 Shhhh . – the unique boutique BLVD CONNAUGHT HILL 18 PG Chateau 19 Interior Workplace Compliance Testing 20 Grama’s Inn 21 Action Motors www.maps.bc.ca 22 PG Klassic Autobody MAPS OF Tourism Prince George BRITISH COLUMBIA L.C. GUNN PARK

QU EB

SS O M

OAK OAK

PINE

QUINCE QUINCE

HAZELTON

NORWOOD

OAK

QUINCE

PINE

VICTORIA SPRUCE

UPLAND UPLAND

LONSDALE REBMAN

SPRUCE

BUCHANAN PL.

16 16 E

PRINCE GEORGE REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

HEMLOCK

GORSE

INGLEDEW

JUNIPER

STO N LO ND ON

TOR

SC OT IA OT TAW A

RIO

NNQUEENSWAY AU G HT QUEENSWAY

O C

LARCH

KENWOOD

NORWOOD

KIN G

CO QU UR TH EEN OU SW SE AY TA

INIO

OR GE

DO M

EBE

TO RIA VIC ICK NSW BRU

PINE

QUINCE

OAK

WIN

FLOOD

PUMPHOUS LEY

PIERREROY

MAPLE

NIP

REDWOOD

UPLAND

YEW

TAMARACK

SPRUCE

VINE

WILLOW

BORDEN

ABBOTT

R IVE

WARNER

C O

CITY BOUNDARY

INAL

TERM

ABOUT US

ENTA

NOTR

VAN CO UVE R

TON

LETHBRIDGE

MO N ED

ALWARD

BURDEN

CARNEY

VERSATILE

HOLLANDIA CRT.

DR .

ST AR

R ST E

BIE

CONTIN

WAY

MBIA

PL .

LANSDOWNE

ROMANIN

CORMACK N AVIS O

E PROPPE QU N USTO HO

PACIFIC

VILLAGE

LU CO

BL VD

LILOOET

WATROUS

WAINWRIGHT ALWARD

CARNEY

BURDEN

DOUGLAS

EWERT

DOUGLAS

RD EN FIN LA Y

RPE HA

WESTWOOD

UNDERHILL

CHRISTENSON

HWY 16W

IVY

SYCAMORE

WAYNE

R ISTOPHER CH

ISH

IKA

WIEBE

VANIER

GOHEEN

WESTWOOD

BOND

HU BL E ST RE

HWY 16W

NIC HOLS

ON AR K

C HE

G UE ST

TAPPING

WEBBER

PASCHAL

NE H RIN G

KIN IZO NE W Y SK I

LA SALLE

INLANDER

TOMLIN

FREEMAN

EWERT

IRWIN IRWIN

R GA

ELLIS O

EAST CENTRAL

ARMSTRONG

COMMERCIAL

W. CENTRAL

JOHNSON

ENDAKO NICHOLSON

OGILVIE

QUINN

ROBERTSON

HARPER

JOHNSON

IRWIN

GILLETT

N UN IO

AHBAU

DAHL

BABINE FRASER

NIKA

INGE-

AHBAU

R DE

LIARD

SON

MAN

NATION

AHBAU

OSPIK A

VE D

TAY

STUART

SUM MIT

KELLAR

ONGMA

RICHARD

NECHAKO

MOFFAT

KELLY HWY 97N

RUGGLES

LYON

PATTERSON

QUINN

RILEY

NICHOLSON

CANOE

PORTAGE

MILL

LYON

MUNRO

OGILVIE

TYRE

RADCLIFF

Mc IN

R VOY AG EU

OTTER

LACOMA

CONVEYOR

GO RD

TABOR

KE RR Y

DRUMMOND

TABOR

GENEV IEVE JARVIS

BEDNESTI

N SE LW Y

OCHAKWIN LTA

BRIGADE

BOYD

TAB

RAV PILOT

CLARK

BELLOS

EEN

PINKER

ANDERSON

GRAHAM

BIC

KILLOREN WOLV-

ERINE

URQUART HUNTER

FOOTHIL

FOOTHILLS

ZILLMER TEAPOT

RUSSMAN

HOFF

S. FORT GEORGE

BRIT

IE US

NORTH COLLEGE

ETON

BELL

PL.

LAVAL

ELER

WHE

CRT.

COLLEGE HTS.

SIM

PL.

ETO

IDGE

PL.

ES.

CR ILL

McG

NT BIRD

THAPAGE

AD RO

. PL

TIAN

OA D

CAMBR

www.maps.bc.ca

PL.

RIS

DRA

WAR T

EN LAUR

R KE BA CAL

CAPELLA

PL.

VEG

PL.

DA VI

PEARSON

HAMILTON

ROY AL

QUA

E AG RIT WIG

BLV

CRT.

.R.

B.C

WIENS

BLAKLEY

DIA AN LL HO SPEC A

AIL

RIV

ING

KER

PIC

GRE

ER BA EA

SINCLAIR

FORT GEORGE

TERN EAS WAY IAL USTR IND

TYN

HOLLANDIA PL.

DIEFENBAKER

O SL

McCULLAGH

N SO AR PE

VANCE ROAD PETERSON

CRT.

ER AK

AN RY

GOGOLIN

S RNE

SANDERSON

WALLS

PEDEN HILL

PL.

ILL

Y BA

.R. C.N

PARK

INDIAN MUSEUM CEMETERY

ENT

D HU

MONKLEY

RUNNALS

CEMETERY

JOHN McINNIS SEC.

MERRITT

FORT GEORGE BANDSHELL

REG

McINNIS

PINE VALLEY GOLF

PEDEN HILL

17th Ave.

MINIATURE RAILWAY

CARNEY HILL

N VA

FERRY MUNICIPAL

ENS

EMMET

FERRY

CRES.

FE DIE

ANDRES

ST. LAURENT

WATSON

WILSON

PATR IC

O DF BE

KUENG

HOPKINS

CHARELLA

McKENZIE

VAN BIEN

BEECH

DENISE

97S

AITKEN

CHERRY

RANGE

BON

LAUREL

MELODY

FERN

ALD

JAMES

OSPIK

PL.

PINEWOOD

CRES. NICOLE

PRINCE GEORGE GOLF & CURLING CLUB

15th.

19th.

RASE

PORTER

MILBURN

TIO EA

JAM

THE WORLD

FAIRVIEW

20th.

HERITAGE HERITAGE HERIT RIVER R VER T AIL TRAIL

CUDDIE

CR RE

MIC

BESSEBOROUGH

PINEWOOD

WILLINGDON

ATHLONE

WOOD

HWY

Ave .

16th.

STRATHCONA PARK

4th

PO OF ST FIC E

GO V'T BLD FIRE GS CIVIC POOL HALL CITY CENTRE HALL

RON BRENT

PG PLAYHOUSE

TWEEDSMUIR

ALEXANDER

HENER

GOULD WEST-

CRES.

DUFFERIN

HESSE

SHANE

R LO LORNE PARK

Ave . Ave .

3rd

UM ART GALERY LISE CO LIBRARY E ICIA CAIN PATR . D BLV CONNAUGHT HILL

RCMP

STRATHCONA

SHOPPING CENTRE

SHIRE BYNG

FOREST

PL.

FORESTS FOR

PL.

G LIS

GRACE

K IC ARNETT

O T

12th

13th

BOWSER

CARRIE JANE GREY PARK

97N

LIN

HWY

INTERCO INTERCONTINENTAL INTERCONTINENT CONTINENTAL AL PULP

TOURISM PRINCE GEORGE

HERITAGE RIVER TRAIL

MASSEY

SEYMOUR

PRINCE GEORGE Sr. SEC.

I SP

PINEWOOD OL

OPIE

9th 10th

11th

GRIFFITHS

LVIL ME

ARE

AY SITY W

SHE

7th

Locate each participating advertiser using the corresponding number bubble on their ad F

RAILWAY MUSEUM

Ave .

8th

SHOPPING CENTRE

20th.

COLLEGE OF NEW CALEDONIA

CASSIAR

19th.

1st

6th

DUCHESS PARK

EWERT

22nd Ave.

CN CENTRE

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

15th Ave.

AIL WA Y

2nd

RID

UNIVER

14th Ave

B Mc

18th.

13th. Ave.

AURORA FREEMAN PARK

WIC

12th. Ave.

GIL LETT

ATIO

5th

9th.

ST. MARY'S HARWIN

C TONWOOD COTTONWOOD ISLA D ISLAND PARK

REN

8th. Ave.

DIA

WE LLS

10th Ave

EL TOFI

7 th.

HUTCHINSON JUBILEE

18th. Ave.

KIN CENTRE

8th.

10th.

CHILAKO

15th Ave.

AQUATIC CENTRE

4th.

KELLOGG

EXHIBITION GROUNDS

PRIN PRINCE NC CEE GEORGE C G GEO GEOR GEORG EORGE EORG RGE

NSW

•

PARSNIP

RRE

SPRUCELAND

UNG

HARRY LODER PARK

QUAW ELEMENTARY

ALEZA

POWELL McGREGOR

6th. Ave.

ZELK W

RAINBOW

AIL OLU WA M Y BIA

HUSKY OIL RE INER NE Y REFINERY

SAND

BRU

RAINBOW PARK

QUESN

EAGLET

N MA

ROLF PETTERSEN

3rd. Ave.

BOWRON ANTLER

15th Ave.

BOW

CULCULZ

CENTRAL FORT GEORGE

BEIRNES

N SH

RAIN

LAKEWOOD ELEMENTARY JR. SEC. DAVIE

FRANCOIS

2nd. Ave.

No matter how long it’s been around, the Mustang convertible is one of the enduring favourites of summer car fans. Available with a powerful V-6 or a more potent but economical V-8 in its GT version, the Mustang convertible is not only a buyer favourite, it is also one of the most chosen by short-term rental companies who want to please their own customers. Reasonably priced, this very reliable car is easy to drive and easy to park. What’s more, it has a good sized rear trunk that can take a few golf bags. With the top up, it becomes a quiet automobile that can be used in the rain or even during the cold days of winter. Note that the Mustang can also be delivered in the very striking Shelby version, which makes it pretty close to an exotic car. The Mustang is still the car to have in summer! And there is one on the lot for you!

p a M s r e s i t r Adve

KIWANIS PARK

KE FIS LLIH HA H ER TC HE R FO Y LE Y

HERITAGE RIVER TRAIL

5th Ave.

REID

RIVER

1st. Ave.

3rd. QUINSON

AZURE

MIC

RD HANSA

CASC

GLE CREST

DOME CHINGEE

1st.

HAMMOND

KINSM

LAKEWOOD PARK

TON

NECHAKO RIVER ROAD

5th Ave.

MER

INEZ

LS THIL

ADE

O FO

AVRIL

FLY GRANITE

FOOTHILLS

PL.

NESS

HORSE -

PIONEER

PARK ONGMAN

McALONEY

EE FR

FAULKNER

N O

PUNCHAW

ISLAND EA G LE

RD.

R RIER AVE HIGHGLEN PL.

2nd.Ave.

TRADER

TO N

TOLL FREE I CA 1-866-350-5312 ET F T ED I BEHIND ICBC • L

HENDERSON

HAMMOND

NUGGET

PRIVATE

T LET

S ELKHORN CRE

HILL

QUENTIN

JACKPINE

TRAPPER

BRO

McRAE

EXPLORER

DE ZE LL

McLEOD

FACTOR

LIM

QUARTZ

VALLEY OCHAKWIN

TARA

NEST

HILLS

LAW

E cL HERN M M cD OU GA

McEAC DUP RE

FISK

HILL

GIL

D.P.TODD SEC.

HUNTER

McARTHUR

ESS

HERITAGE

ALLEN

CORL

MULLET

FOOT

H UC e. Av t.

MORAN

OLIVER

NER

O XT

R LE UL EIM FR

NEFF

* Limited areas. Call for details.

For more details call your Ford dealership’s toll free number. 1-800-926-1331

So, may you ask, what would the ultimate pick-up be? Any expert will tell you that it’s a Ford F-150. But not just any F-150, though: it has to be the Raptor. You probably have seen the Raptor on the road. It’s a four-wheel drive F-150 pick-up truck with a short bed and a very aggressive attitude. It is quite recognizable by its massive blackened front grille with four big letters spelling F-O-R-D in its middle. Riding pretty high, it has a special suspension and very big and knobby tires (315/70R17). The only engine available is a very powerful 6.2-liter V-8 that emits an audible grumbling sound. Not only is this truck powerful, it is also very agile on trails and on muddy roads. One look inside the cab (available in the SuperCab or Crew Cab configurations) should be enough to convince you that this is a special truck. But fear not! Even if it looks ready to go offroad, it remains very comfortable on roads and highways thanks to its long-legged suspension! THACKER

EW AR RA

E RR

The TOW is on Us! * M

#1 REF

Major & Minor Collision Specialists

Convertible and hardtops

dy bo

Ultimate pickup?

MUSTANG

u sCiEcGEA s OR G t o a N I E l PR

NTY

FORD F-150 RAPTOR

2012

GE OR

2 BIG NORTH

MAPS INDEX BC MAP LISTINGS

CANADA

PR AIR

BIG NORTH 3

BIG NORTH FREE PRESS - OCTOBER 2012

RCMP issue plea for help DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com

Bobby Jack Fowler murdered 16-year-old Colleen MacMillen, a girl whose name was listed among the 13 unsolved homicide victims the E-PANA task force was formed to investigate. Named among the Highway of Tears victims, MacMillen, who lived in Lac la Hache, planned to hitchhike to a friend’s house on Aug. 9, 1974. She walked up to Highway 97, and was never seen alive again. Her body was found 46 kilometres south by a logging road. With the expanding precision of forensic science, DNA evidence, preserved over the years by the RCMP, was tested in 2012. A hit with CODIS proved that Fowler, who DeLynda PILON/ Fre e Pre s s died in an Oregon prison Staff Sgt. Wayne Clary (left) and Insp. Gary Shinkaruk speak at a press conference in in 2006, was responsible Prince George Wednesday. for her murder. Though he has been eliminated in eight of labourer and roofer who took odd jobs, he the 13 homicides and five missing women cases worked for a time for Happy’s Roofing in 1974. Police are asking anyone who worked with or E-PANA is investigating, officers believe he may 5 be responsible for other murders, in particular had contact with Fowler at any time to contact RUN • SK the murders of 19-year-old Gale Weys, who was them. Tracking Fowler’s movements is important to last seen hitchhiking from Clearwater on Oct. 16, 1973 and whose body was found six months the investigation. Shinkaruk said within the timelater, and 19-year-old Kamloops resident Pamela line they have, when they can pinpoint exactly Darlington, whose body was found in Pioneer where Fowler was and when he was there, there are cases of girls gone missing and murdered. Park on Nov. 7, 1973. “There are many unsolved killings of young He also remains a suspect in the murder of Ramona Wilson, who was last seen alive in June girls everywhere he went,” he said. Fowler was convicted in Newport, Oregon for of 1994. Her body was found in April 1995. Wilson’s family, including her mother, attended a 1995 violent attack against a woman. He served a press conference in Prince George held by 10 years of that sentence before dying of natural E-PANA investigators on Wednesday. Her causes in prison. His final conviction was the last of several, daughter stood and asked whether Ramona was one of the eight murders Fowler was eliminated including one in 1970 for killing a man in Texas during a vicious assault. from as a suspect. “We believe continually, throughout his life, “Ramona has not been eliminated,” Insp. Gary Shinkaruk, officer in charge of B.C. RCMP major Fowler committed violent crimes on men and crime special projects unit, said. “We are looking women.” Police also believe there will be unreported at Fowler with Ramona’s case in mind.” A violent man who bounced in and out of cases involving Fowler. Fowler, a transient, liked old cars that he drove American prisons for a variety of crimes, Fowler lived in the Prince George area at times. A until they quit. At one time he drove a white ‘61

Chrysler. A car matching that description was seen in the area during the time Pamela Darlington was murdered. Living in motels or renting, Fowler frequented restaurants and bars where he was violent towards men and women alike. He enjoyed picking up hitchhikers. Police are are asking the public to help them gather information on Fowler. “We believe there are people out there who employed Fowler, worked with him, socialized with him or even waited on him while he was in British Columbia. We are asking you to think back to the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s at your own memories of that time period, then have a look at his photos, and please call us with any information you have about him,” Shinkaruk said. The E-PANA tip line can be reached at 1-877543-4822, or call your local CrimeStoppers. “We are optimistic someone knew him,” Shinkaruk said.

Mat Manufacturing & Rental Business For Sale - Ability to generate $2.5 to 5 million in proﬁt - Portable company with proprietary technology - Includes current rental contracts, established brand, logo, website and current marketing materials, all equipment needed to build 8’ x 14’ 3-Ply Access/Swamp Mats, raw materials, and current mat inventory of both Access Mats and 8’ x 40’ Steel-Frame Rig Mats. - Industrial property in 100 Mile House available for sale with the business

Owner wants to retire Please call 403-218-3244 for more information

www.pgfreepress.com

I • S W I M • A P PA R E L Phone Orders Welcome

Snow Shoe Sales, Rentals and Service Children & Adult Ski Packages Available!

EARLY SEASON PRICING NOW IN EFFECT!

Stride & Glide T

PARKWOOD SHOPPING CENTRE

WINN

N IA

VICT

IPEG

15TH AVE

Shayne Hoehn DeLynda PILON/Free Press

RCMP poster of murder victim Pamela Darlington and Bobby Fowler, the man police say is linked to her death and others in the Interior.

Tuppy Hoehn

SPRUCE

17TH AVE

REDWOOD VICTORIA

TAMARACK

UPLAND

X VALUE STRIDE & GLIDE SPORTS VILLAGE

Cory Watts

1655A 15th Ave. Prince George (Across from Parkwood Mall) www.strideandglide.ca • 1-866-612-4754 • 250-612-4754

4 BIG NORTH

B IG N OR TH F REE P RESS ~ O CTOBER 2012

BIG NORTH 5

PGMOTORS.CA

4 BIG NORTH

B IG N OR TH F REE P RESS ~ O CTOBER 2012

BIG NORTH 5

PGMOTORS.CA

BIG NORTH FREE PRESS - OCTOBER 2012

6 BIG NORTH

P.I. says more investigation needed DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com

Ray Michalko with Valley Pacific Investigations is a former RCMP officer who has dedicated years to investigating the Highway of Tears murders and disappearances, and despite the E-PANA announcement that at least one murder has been solved, he knows there is still a great deal of work to be done. The first time he heard the name Bobby Jack Fowler was when E-PANA announced last week that the murder of 16-year-old Colleen MacMillen in 1974 was finally solved. Though Fowler has been eliminated as a suspect in eight of the 18 cases E-PANA is investigating, 19

he remains a suspect in some of the remaining files, in particular the murders of 19-year-old Gale Weyes (Clearwater, B.C.) in 1973 and 19-year-old Pamela Darlington (Kamloops, B. C.) also in 1973. In the United States, Fowler is a suspect in the murders of Shelia Swanson, 19, and Melissa Sanders, 17, in Oregon in 1992 and Jennifer Esson, 16, and Kara Leas, 16, in Oregon in 1995. Fowler died of lung cancer while in prison, serving a 16-year sentence for rape, kidnapping and attempted rape for a crime that happened in 1995. “I never heard of him until the press release,” Michalko said. “I hope this gives the families some hope that there’s a possibility of

Drug and Alcohol Testing Services Pre-Employment, Reasonable Suspicion and Post Accident. Plus Pre-Employment Background Checks and Drivers Abstracts. All Services are Private and Conﬁdential.

something being done with some of their cases, but I think the announcement has caused a lot of anxiety and brought up old feelings for the families as well.” Michalko, like the investigators working for E-PANA, believe the murders along the Highway of Tears were committed by more than one killer. Michalko added it will be very hard to tie Fowler to any more of the murders. “Everyone needs to step back and take a breath. They figured out Fowler was responsible for one of the victims because of DNA. If they had other DNA they could link to him they would have probably said that,” Michalko said. “The chances of linking him to another victim now are

probably nil, unless someone comes forward as a witness who saw a crime, or who was an accomplice. “I think you can insinuate Fowler did a lot of things here, but finding the proof of that is going to be next to impossible. I think this is good and it certainly brings closure to one family but I don’t see it going any further.” However, he added, there is still hope for closure for other families. “The only reason they were able to link Fowler with DNA is advancements with DNA. So there could be other DNA they have but the system can’t analyze it yet, and there could be improvements that way. I think the discouraging thing with families is if your victim doesn’t fall under that

serial killer net you have to be concerned about the the police doing anything about that case.” Michalko added that, technically, the MacMillen’s case does not fall under a Highway of Tears murder. “With the Highway of Tears there are nine victims, inclusive of what they (E-PANA) have. E-PANA added nine in 2007, so the one they solved isn’t a Highway of Tears case, but it is one they were working on.” Finding answers to more of the Highway of Tears murders means looking into the communities along the route, Michalko said. “I think the answer still lays in some of those communities that lie along Highway 16.”

MENNONITE FALL FAIR

Interior Workplace Compliance Testing “Keep Your Workplace Safe” Serving Prince George and the Central Interior Mobile Services to the North. FFor complete details of our services call 1.877.764.6829 www.iwct-testing.com Email: iwct01@telus.net

Welcome to

Jo h n M cK ENZ IE/ Fre e Pre s s

RECOGNIZED BUSINESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Stan Schellenberg serves up the sausages at the Mennonite Fall Fair at the Civic Centre September 28.

ay you look at i t

FREE PLUG-IN PARKING

…

Grama’s Inn offers you clean, comfortable rooms, reasonable rates, homestyle cooking from Grama’s kitchen. Free wireless internet, kitchen suites, executive suites available.

Ask About Our…

a’s

PREFERRED GUEST CARD*

st a y!

Gra

Inn is the plac

e to

BEST SPORTS TEAM RATES Starting at $78

(Stay 10 Nights, Get 1 FREE!)

(not to be combined with any other offer or promotion. Call for details)

DESIGNATED PET FRIENDLY ROOMS

Call for details.

Hwy 97N

5th Ave

Central Street

15th Ave

10th Ave

Hwy 97S

BUS TOURS AND GROUPS WELCOME

*Not to be combined with any other offer or promotion

1-877-563-7174 Tel: 250-563-7174 u Email: info@gramasinn.com

www.gramasinn.com 901 Central St, Prince George, BC Canada V2M 3C8

ww w.harveysmuff ler.com

BIG NORTH 7

BIG NORTH FREE PRESS - OCTOBER 2012

Economist disputes pipeline benefit DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com

Consumers could be paying two cents more per litre at the pumps every year for 30 years if the Northern Gateway Alliance pipeline goes through, according to one of the country’s leading economists. “My analysis is based on their models,” Robyn Allan, an economist and the former head of ICBC, said during a stop in Prince George last week. Allan said she began taking a deeper look into the pipeline project about a year ago after her son asked her opinion on it. What she found led her to conclude that, environmental factors aside, it just doesn’t make sense economically for the residents of B.C. She said the rising costs at the pumps won’t be the only increase consumers will see. Every industry that uses gas and oil to transport goods will have to raise costs to keep up, and that expense will be passed onto the paying public. And in the Prairies, where 40 per cent of Economist Robyn Allan says the the gas and oil consumed Gateway Project don’t add up. is used to produce agrioil,” she said. cultural products, there Her analysis was based on will be significant increases. “So what will that do to our the work Enbridge provided, however she called into quesexport industry?” Allan asked. Allan visited Prince George tion the models the company last week to talk about the eco- used. She said they are based nomic impact of the Enbridge on the Canadian dollar sitting pipeline on the province, shar- at 85 cents American, meaning ing her findings during an open the equations automatically get lecture at the university. The a 20 per cent increase in benweek prior to that she gave evi- efits. “But when the Canadian dence on the economics of the project before the joint review dollar is up, the oil industry suffers,” she said, adding the panel in Edmonton. Allan said Enbridge has commodity is sold in American stated they will not be drawing dollars. Other questions should be more oil from the oilsands to sell to Asia. Rather they will be asked of the industry, she said, harvesting the same amount of like the viability of building oil and redirecting the product a pipeline so the oil in western Canada can benefit eastern into the Asian marketplace. “When you restrict the sup- Canada. Another question revolves ply, you increase the price of

Bill PHILLIPS/Free Press

economics of the Northern around upgrading the bitumen in Alberta. Bitumen must be mixed with dilutent in order for it to move through the pipeline. Essentially, Allan said, this means shipping through two pipelines, one shipping in the dilutent to be mixed with the bitumen, and the other shipping out the diluted product. Dilutent is expensive and something Canada has to import. Thirty per cent of the end mix is dilutent, she said. The dilbit, or mixed product, is then shipped to China and upgraded in their refineries, which are heavily subsidized. Allan said many people have noted it isn’t economically feasible to build a refinery in Canada, and she said that is because

they are not subsidized in the way they are in China, a country that has a built in set of price controls to protect its own consumers. Canadians have no such protection at the pumps. Also, bitumen is heavy and sinks during an oil spill. The dilbit is light and vaporizes poison into the air. She pointed out the difficulty Enbridge Energy Partners had dealing with the oil spill in Kalamazoo. There was a leak for 17 hours before anyone knew it was happening. In effect, Allan said, what began as a small spill became the largest on-land spill in North American history, costing $800 million to clean up and likely to cost more in fines and restoration. Enbridge, however, was not liable for this though the partnership in Kalamazoo was. Likewise, the Northern Gateway, also a partnership under the Enbridge umbrella, would be responsible for any mishaps in B.C. not the parent company. “Enbridge will not stand by Northern Gateway,” Allan said. “And if the pipeline is down there is no way they can cover the cost of a spill.” She added the alliance should have a billion minimum in insurance, however it is suggesting $250 million will suffice, meaning the cost of such a spill could wind up being born by the people of B.C. Allan said the idea of the pipe-

line is being sold as an exchange - a certain amount of environmental danger compared to a large economic benefit. However, she said, since the promised economic benefit has little substance, it doesn’t have to be that way. “We’ve been told there are huge benefits, so we must trade-off the environmental risk. There doesn’t have to be this trade-off. We don’t have to make that choice.” She added B.C. should never have opted out of the environmental review process. Since that happened she pointed out Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who makes no bones about the federal government’s support of the project, has loosened the regulations governing portions of the process. “We have to do our own environmental review and it has to have have some teeth in it. B.C. has to take back it’s sovereignty, it’s right to decide.” Denying a project like the Northern Gateway pipeline won’t leave the oil industry in distress, Allan said. Allan said the industry is prospering. The pipeline will allow them to increase profits and open Asian markets to their product, however not building the pipeline will not damage the oil and gas sector. In fact, Allan said, it may force them into exploring other options that would be more beneficial to Canadians.

Pipeline ‘in the Canadian national interest:’ Enbridge The Northern Gateway pipeline project is “clearly in the Canadian national interest,” according to Enbridge’s opening statement at the Edmonton hearings for the project. With those hearings now wrapping up, the focus will turn to Prince George, startingTuesday, October 9. At Prince George, Northern Gateway will present three witness panels. They will answer questions as to how the pipeline component of the project will be designed and constructed, address environmental and socio-economic effects of the project, and how the pipeline will be operated and also address spill preparedness, response and effects of accidents and malfunctions. “We believe that at the end of the proceeding you will conclude that the concerns expressed to you by Canadians to date, and particularly

by those living in British Columbia, can be addressed in a reasonable and responsible way,” Enbridge officials told the hearing. “We believe that our project presents a tremendous opportunity for our country. What is required is an approval that will allow development of the project while facilitating an ongoing and continuous process for addressing remaining concerns as the project proceeds. In answering questions that are posed to them, Northern Gateway’s witness panels will focus on identifying a constructive path forward, and one that will benefit all of Canada.” The hearings in Prince George will be held at the Columbus Community Centre on Domano Boulevard and run until October 19. They will resume at the Ramada Inn October 29 to November 9.

www.footpain.ca

BIG NORTH FREE PRESS - OCTOBER 2012

8 BIG NORTH 1

FORD - CHEV - HYUNDAI - NISSAN - VOLKSWAGEN - JEEP - DODGE - CHRYSLER

Attend the

2012 DEALER CLEAROUT! 20 JEEP COMPASS 2012 T TOTAL TOT PRICE PRI P

$19,880 Stk# EN7076

2012 RAM 1500 Q/CAB 4X4 X4 TOTAL PRICE

2012 GRAND CARAVAN TOTAL PRICE

$17,888

$22,888 Stk# BD12Q10988

2012 RAM 3500 Q/CAB 4X4

Stk# 12GV0896HD

TOTAL PRICE

$38,800 Stk# BD12C35192

CUMMINS DIESEL!

2012 CLEAROUT SPECIAL BUYS! 2012 CHRYSLER 200 TOTAL PRICE

$15,888

2012 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4 TOTAL PRICE

Stk# EN7095

2011 DAKOTA C/CAB 4X4 TOTAL PRICE

$23,888 Stk# 12Q1393101

DEMO CHRYSLER 300

$15,000 0FF! Stk# SL3C3545

$19,980

2012 12 GRAND CHEROKEE TOTAL PRICE

Stk# 12AV261010

Stk# EN7076

2011 DODGE DURANGO

2011 DODGE CHARGER TOTAL PRICE

$25,800

$31,980

TOTAL PRICE

$28,888 Stk# BD3074

Stk# SLCH2303 S

RATES AS LOW AS 2.9%!

DL#30541

1-800-945-1935

DISCLAIMER: All prices and payments plus taxes and fees ON APPROVED CREDIT. Prices above include $589 Administrative Fee which is mandatory on purchase of New and Used vehicles. Lowest cash prices and payments using all dealership incentives. All Vehicles available at time of Printing. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. File photos used on some vehicles when required. b h h l Retaill Incentive Programs are announced.See d l for f details. d l Factory Incentives subject to change as new Chrysler Dealer

1995 - 20th Avenue, Prince George, BC (250) 562-5254

DEBBIE-LEE ADVERTISING INC. (250) 614-3751

AD EXPIRES 31.10.12