Progress
The Chilliwack
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The Magic Flute set to charm Chilliwack audiences.
Auto shop destroyed by fire.
Klassen and 3-Field entering the Hall.
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Teachers to vote Thursday on tentative agreement Tom Fletcher Black Press
Dan Oostenbrink of Local Harvest Market (with headset) maps out his bold vision for making Chilliwack a more “food secure” ag community. The farm on Lickman Road was one of five stops the 2014 Chilliwack Agricultural Tour. JENNIFER FEINBERG/ THE PROGRESS
Tour showcases Chilliwack’s ag leaders The Progress A pair of coach buses packed with Ag Tour participants crisscrossed Chilliwack all day Friday. The five host sites on the annual 2014 Chilliwack Agriculture Tour were in the spotlight for different yet compelling reasons. A quest for sustainable practices, innovative approaches and staying ahead of the curve, were elements they all had in common. First stop was Rainbow Greenhouses on South Sumas Road, in the throes of benefiting from a recent expansion. They are also industry leaders in recycled agricultural plastics, and have
applied the greenest techniques possible. Then it was on to Esau Industries hazelnut orchard on Prairie Central, owned by Walter and Lenora Esau, home to some critical test growing of blight resistant varieties of hazelnut trees. The Agriculture Centre of Excellence at UFV on Cain Avenue was bustling. The state-ofthe-art greenhouse and livestock barn infrastructure is falling into place for agricultural research at the highest levels. Smits and Co.w Farm Cheese, owned by Ron Smits has gone from producing different varieties of handmade gouda cheese, to their newest line of goat milk
cheeses. Mayor Sharon Gaetz reminded the crowd that agriculture was a big part of Chilliwack’s past and its future. “You might not know that the city just west of us has the top farm gate, but we’re second,” Gaetz said. “It makes our city so very proud.” Chilliwack boasts close to 900 farms, and one in five jobs directly connected to farming. The foodie trend is growing and drawing attention to Chilliwack, with 700 people participating in the last Slow Food Cycle Tour. “We lift a fork to all of the farmers who work so hard,” she said. Coun. Jason Lum spoke after
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lunch, thanking the farmers, organizers and sponsors, and mapped out two city initiatives, including The Agricultural Area Plan, and the Agricultural Advisory Committee. “We have a long history of excellence. What we needed was to build on it.” He touched on points about striving for excellence, and building on that which is already established. Creating knowledge, understanding and sustainability were also key, adding it was great to see the UFV Centre of Excellence evolve and grow. Finally the tour buses arrived at The Local Harvest Farm Market, Continued: FOOD/ p5
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B.C.’s striking teachers are expected to vote this week on a tentative settlement with the provincial government. Mediator Vince Ready announced the agreement early Tuesday morning, after five days of talks at a Richmond hotel. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the province’s negotiators agreed to withhold details until they have a final document to present, he said. With a ratification vote of 40,000 union members expected to be held Thursday, the province’s 60 school districts are attempting to return to regular classes next week after five weeks of full-scale strike action that began last June. Education Minister Peter Fassbender has said a plan will be developed to make up missed instructional days, which could involve rescheduling Christmas and spring break. “This is wonderful news for the students, teachers, administrators, support staff, trustees and parents in B.C.,” said B.C. School Trustees’ Association president Teresa Rezansoff. “The immediate goal is to get students back in classes as quickly as possible.” Chilliwack school superintendent Evelyn Novak echoed those comments. Although more information will be available soon, she said students will likely be in class early next week. “We are hoping that our teachers and staff may be in schools late this week and that we are ready for students for Monday or Tuesday of next week,” said Novak. “It will be a partial day for the first day for students as we organize classes and confirm registration.”