TUESDAY
S I N C E
JULY 9, 2013
1 8 9 5
Vol. 118, Issue 106
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Young athletes tackle triathlon Page 11
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INCLUDING G.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
KOOTS FOR CALGARY
Relief response fills four semi trailers BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
When Trina Howell opened the trailer of the first truck that arrived at her home when her family began their Koots for Calgary relief effort her first thought was, “How are we ever going to fill that?” Four trucks later the Glenmerry resident is grateful for the help in dealing with all the donations that have been loaded and shipped to Alberta. “It only took six and a half hours to fill “Not only the first truck,” said would I do Howell. it again, I’d “The call went out and the Fruitvale Fire do it in a heartbeat.” Department showed up to help out. TRINA HOWELL “They’ve been great, they had a hand in every load.” What began as a single family effort, motivated by seeing the devastating loss for so many families in southern Alberta, eventually grew into large campaign with donations arriving from around the West Kootenay. Neighbours and volunteers from around the area came on-board to help pick up and organize donations and loading the trucks destined for Calgary and surrounding area. “We had one 84 year old call and volunteer to do the pick-ups, David Quarterman, he said that he was still spry enough to help out,” said Howell. “He was more than spry, he put some of the younger guys to shame. “He was driving all over the area collecting donations.” Howell said that, through the process of building the project, she gained contacts in the stricken areas of Alberta that helped to give her a clearer picture of the effect the flooding had on residents. “I’ve got contacts on the reserves, in High River and at the drop-in centre in Calgary,” she said. “I’ve been getting comments back that people are feeling hopeless, they’re not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I just feel that it’s not acceptable to leave people in that state of hopelessness.” See PROM, Page 3
WANETA PLAZA For all your shopping needs!
Children motivate man on long walk Vancouver man stops in Trail on his journey from Hope to Calgary to raise money for the Children’s Aid Foundation BY VALERIE ROSSI Times Staff
A Vancouver business man who is walking from Hope to Calgary to raise money for disadvantaged children made it through Trail Friday with his sights set on the greatest challenge, the Salmo-Creston. Forty-year-old Bart Zych is hoofing it 1,100 kilometres for his cause, iforCommunity Project, and has set a goal of raising $50,000 for the Children's Aid Foundation, an organization that works to enhance the lives of neglected kids in Canada. Last year, he broke his knee cap so severely that doctors didn't think it was fixable and he was handicapped for three months before getting back on his feet again. The second chance at walking, a simple pleasure taken for granted, paired with disheartening news of Amanda Todd's suicide due to bullying, the Sandy Hook shootings and other violence against youth set him in motion. He woke up this past December and decided he would lace up and challenge himself to push others to give to the most vulnerable – children. He's doing it for “Canadian kids, who are neglected, disadvantaged, homeless because these types of kids don't receive the proper mentorship, education and care and they grow up with a higher potential of committing crimes, bullying, as well as being victims themselves. “I felt specifically that I had to do this for Canadian kids because there are so many charities helping kids overseas but I believe that we have to start at home,” he said. It's been a tough journey for Zych, who left his comfortable home in the West End of Vancouver (where he is a business instructor) to rough it in the wild. With a goal of 30 km of stretch per day in mind, Zych drove his car to Hope to start his trip on June 17. Nearly three weeks later, he made it to Trail after a gruelling climb over several summits and knee jerking finish down the Rossland hill, where he thought his knee might give out completely.
• Ardene • Bogie & Bacall Hair Salon • Bootlegger • Crockett Book Company • Dollarama • McAuley’s No Frills • No Frills Pharmacy
• Pro Vision Optical • Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Service • Reitmans • Ricki’s • Suzanne’s • The Source • Waneta Gas Bar
GUY BERTRAND PHOTO
Bart Zych takes a well-deserved break in Trail before resuming his walk to Calgary. “I've been thought of as a homeless and vagrant and at the same time I was given this T shirt in Grand Forks by the mayor,” he said. “It's been the highest ups both mentally and physically to the lowest lows.” Mother Nature has not taken it easy on him, either. The first two weeks of his travels it rained for nine days. Some of his limited essentials – a tent and sleeping bag – were soaked and so were his spirits.
• BC Lottery Ticket Centre • Warehouse One The Jean Store • Your Vitamin Store Financial • KSCU ATM • Scotiabank
Restaurants / Food Court • Colander Express • Eastern Wok • Sushiyo • Tim Horton’s
www.wanetaplaza.com • Late Night Shopping Thurs. & Fri. to 9pm 5 min. east of Trail on Hwy 3B • Free kids playroom and ball pit
A couple soggy weeks of torture nearly broke him. “We take for granted the simple things that we have and enjoy every day like a bed, like a roof over our heads and a shower,” he said. “I came this close, really, within an inch of giving up.” But reflecting back on who he was doing this for and looking at his financial tally go up on his website, gave him the strength to carry on. See PLENTY, Page 2
2nd Floor Professional Offices • Dr. DeGreef, Plastic Surgeon • Dr. Le Moel, Chiropractor • Dr. Morency, Dr Scheepers Ophthalmologists • Septen Financial Ltd • Waneta Primay Care Clinic
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242 Canada Post, Contract number 42068012