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L&M NEW ENERGY SYSTEM P. 3 EDITORIAL P. 6
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VHF CYCLE NORTH BANTAM BEARS P. 8 WIZARD OF OZ P. 9
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Daylight savings - 2 a.m. Sunday March 10 clocks “spring forward” one hour. Move clocks one hour ahead before going to bed on Saturday night. Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Challenges surface after referendum With major decisions on the horizon, council defers pool-loan bylaw until April Cameron Ginn Omineca Express
Cameron Ginn/Omineca Express
W.L. McLeod students and staff gather downtown to participate in an anti-bullying flash mob dance on Feb. 27.
Students occupy Burrard Street in colorful crusade against bullying W.L. McLeod Submitted On Wednesday, Feb. 27, W.L. McLeod Elementary School students and staff made a statement against bullying. The town cordoned off Burrard Street as 250 students and staff, dressed from head to toe in pink, black and denim, performed a flash mob dance to One Life by Canadian band Headly. The message of accepting diversity, making the most out of each day and giving to others was expressed. People holding signs introduced the routine, shouting, "One life, one love and
one world!" The students' focus on social responsibility, defending human rights and acceptance of diversity was enhanced by the flash mob. W.L. McLeod School would like to shout out our sincerest thanks to the many people who helped and supported us in sending a strong message of one life, one love and one world! We stood together as a street of pink to show that bullying has no place in Vanderhoof. W.L. McLeod School would like to thank the community and council members, local businesses and parents who helped make the flash mob dance happen. The generosity and support of every-
one involved is greatly appreciated. We couldn’t have done this without you.
Cameron Ginn/Omineca Express
A crowd of spectators and videographers, many wearing pink in support of Anti-Bullying Day, record the W.L. McLeod flash mob dance.
The $4-million loan-authorization bylaw approved at the Feb. 16 pool referendum won't be accepted by town council until early next month. The bylaw is valid for five years from the date of being accepted. And since a loan can only be issued to the district in March or September, the delay affords the town a full five years to find the remaining $8-million needed to build a $12-million aquatic facility and effectively extends the amount of time a $4-million loan can be acquired. "Fiscally, it's the best way to do it, to optimize it for the taxpayer," said Deputy Administrator Tom Clement. In an open discussion, Councillor Darren Carpenter recommended accepting the bylaw immediately on Monday, Feb. 25, during the first council meeting since the pool referendum, which passed with an overwhelming majority of 78 per cent. "My theory was to pass the bylaw as quickly as we could and then get to work within our fiveyear limit," Carpenter said afterwards. In the meantime, council is looking at forming a select committee whose mandate will be to find the remaining $8 million for the pool. The select committee, consisting of councillors, citizens and sitting members of the current pool committee, will be tasked with developing a plan for approaching the province, the federal government, area companies, First Nations and residents of Vanderhoof to gather contributions, donations and fundraising dollars.
t SPRING r a t S Kick “
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Kick Start is a community driven initiative focused on creating an awareness of what Vanderhoof has to offer!
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Publication Date: March 13 & 20, 2013