TUESDAY
S I N C E
DECEMBER 31, 2013
1 8 9 5
Vol. 118, Issue 204
105
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
HOPE FOR CADANCE
Volunteers prepare for New Year’s Eve benefit BY VALERIE ROSSI Times Staff
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Amy DeJong (left) and Helen Bobbitt are wrapping up last minute details for the silent auction before the Hope for Cadance fundraiser begins tonight in the Cominco gym at 6:30 p.m.
The New Year is looking up for a five-year-old Trail girl who is battling cancer. Cadance Brace’s strength continues to amaze her parents Jeremy Brace and Amy Kotyk, who have been in Vancouver with her since November. Cadance is diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, cancer of the white blood cells, and is receiving chemotherapy at BC Children’s Hospital until the summer. She just completed her induction period to chemotherapy; the goal of this is to achieve remission, which means that leukemia cells are no longer found in bone marrow samples, the normal marrow cells return, and the blood counts become normal. “The doctor is really happy with the way she’s responded,” said Brace. “Her blood count came back good, her white blood cells are up and her hemoglobin is as high as it’s been so far.” Cadance’s cancer is now in remission but her fight is not over yet. The parents were hoping for news of a low risk assessment for Christmas this year but instead received word that their daughter is considered standard risk but a slow responder. With that in mind, it was decided to not take any chances and treat her like she was a highrisk case. Her treatment is about to become more serious as she moves into the consolidation phase, which typically includes multiple cycles of intensive chemotherapy. “It is what it is,” said Brace. “It’s not in my
hands. I can only support Amy and Cadance.” Brace is blown away with the tremendous support outpouring from his community, which has enabled him to stay down on the Coast with his girls. In just over a month about $20,000 has been raised to alleviate the cost of staying away until chemotherapy treatment is complete. “Her blood count The money will came back good, cover the family’s mortgage and bills her white blood back home but will cells are up and also pay for costs her hemoglobin associated with staying in Vancouver. is as high as it’s Volunteers are in been so far.” full force today preparing for a New JEREMY BRACE Year’s Eve benefit dinner, dance and silent auction at the Cominco Gym from 6:30 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.) to 1 a.m. The no-minors dinner, which includes appetizers, midnight snack and champagne, is catered in kind by Darren Rossi. Bands Green Avenue, Round 2 and Emerson have also volunteered their time to put on the big event. A safe ride home is ensured by the AM Ford Shuttle Service. Donations can be made to the Hope for Cadance Trust Fund at Kootenay Savings or online at (www. gofundme.com») For more information visit the Hope for Cadance Facebook page or contact Helen Bobbitt directly at 231-7971.
TOP STORIES OF 2013
Unions square off against province and companies The Trail Times is reviewing some of the top stories of 2013 as it closes the book on a busy year. BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
The last 365 days saw its share of labour battles in the Greater Trail area and a sometimes controversial petition campaign to round out the year. The longest, and probably most divisive, labour issue was the recently settled FortisBC lockout of over 200 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 213 working in genera-
tion, transmission, and distribution of power. “Going back to work is a relief but I don’t like the circumstances,” said Albert Bortolussi, IBEW bargaining committee member. “We should have been able to get an agreement but we exhausted every effort.” Bortolussi admitted that the general feeling amongst the union membership was probably similar to his own but that the extended lockout had taken its toll on many workers who had gone so long without pay. “I think we had a lot of people whose mortgages had to be
ART HARRISON PHOTO
Sept. 25 – The United Steelworkers held a support rally, barbecue, and march through downtown Trail in support of IBEW employees locked out by FortisBC.
extended but we have a lot of proud people who never showed how much they were hurting financially,” he said. “The membership’s resilience is phenomenal; nobody showed the pain because they believed in what we were doing.” The picketers were surprised and greatly appreciative at signs that many people in the community stood behind them during their struggle against the company. “One guy dropped of a turkey and all the trimmings, a whole load of groceries, and he told us to give it to whoever See SCHOOL, Page 2
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