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NOVEMBER 27, 2015
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Vol. 64, Issue 226
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Church group to sponsor Syrian refugee family FOR THE TOWNSMAN
A Syrian refugee family could be coming to Cranbrook thanks to the efforts of a newly-formed group called the Cranbrook Hub for Refugees (CHR), a constituent group of Christ Church Anglican, the
oldest church in Cranbrook. The eight-member group, which formed in late October, has completed an Expression of Interest application, the first step in the process for sponsoring a refugee family from Syria or
elsewhere in the wartorn Middle East. The federal Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship hopes to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of the year and 15,000 more by the end of February 2016.
Government regulations require refugee sponsoring groups to raise $15,000 before they will be considered for sponsorship. The Anglican Diocese of Kootenay has sponsored refugees before and is now planning a
major fund-raising campaign that will kick off soon. CHR chairman Gerry Warner says the campaign will go into high gear after Christmas although it’s accepting donations now. “With Christmas fast ap-
proaching, people’s financial resources are already being stretched so we won’t do a major fund-raiser until January. But if someone wants to make a donation to us, or as a gift to someone else, we’ll certainly accept it and issue a tax receipt.” The first refugees are expected to arrive in Canada within days, but are going mainly to military barracks in large cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton for relocation. As a result, Warner cautions this is only the beginning of what could be a
long process. “At this point we have no idea when we could expect to have a family in Cranbrook. But the important thing now is we’re doing everything we can to ensure that an immigrant family will feel welcome, safe and secure when they do arrive.” Warner said CHR has been holding planning meetings weekly to prepare for the refugees’ arrival and has reached out to other Cranbrook churches interested in sponsoring refugees.
See LOCAL, Page 3
Interior Health reviewing laundry services decision TRE VOR CR AWL EY
ARNE PETRYSHEN PHOTO
Each year, the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) partners with the Salvation Army and Sunrise Rotary to present A Book under Every Tree. The goal is to collect enough new and used books from now until Dec. 17 to provide at least one book for every child whose family will be receiving a Christmas hamper from the Salvation Army or a gift through the Angel Tree project. Adults will also have an opportunity to choose a book when they collect hampers. Books can be dropped off at the Cranbrook Public Library, Lotus Books, East Kootenay Community Credit Union (Cranbrook branch), Christ Church Anglican and the CBAL office. From left to right: Ursula Brigl, librarian at the Cranbrook Public Library; Major Linda Green, Salvation Army; Allan Davis, Sunrise Rotary; Coco Seitz, CBAL and settlement worker; and Katherine Hough, CBAL community coordinator. For more info contact Hough at 250-420-7596 or khough@cbal.org
Avalanches possible this time of year C AROLYN GR ANT
This early in the year, it is difficult for forecasters at Avalanche Canada to post exact avalanche danger ratings, but that doesn’t mean the danger isn’t there. The problem is that the winter backcountry recreation season has just begun
and there are not enough snowpack observations collected as yet. However, according to avalanche.ca it may be early in the season, but there is more than enough snow for avalanches. Avalanche Canada has launched the Mountain Infor-
mation Network, so that you can submit your observations on snow conditions through your smartphone. If you can take the time to dig a snow pit and observe, all the better. All this information assists in forecasting avalanche danger.
But while there are not ratings posted yet, there are some observations and forecasts. For those of you who intend to get out in the backcountry this weekend, here are the first forecasts from avalanche.ca.
See AVALANCHES, Page 5
After raising the issue of outsourcing hospital laundry services, Cranbrook Mayor Lee Pratt is encouraged by a recent statement from the incoming new CEO of Interior Health. Pratt has raised the issue at Regional District of East Kootenay board meetings over the last few months, concerned about the loss of jobs from Interior Health’s plan to outsource the laundry contract to the Lower Mainland. However, incoming Interior Health CEO Chris Mazurkewich released a statement on Wednesday noting that he would like to review the decision. “I plan to take additional time in reviewing the future of our laundry services,” Mazurkewich said in a press release. “Subsequently, a decision on the possibility of outsourcing the
service will not occur until at least March 2016 when recommendations are presented to the IH Board of Directors for its consideration. “This process has taken, unfortunately, longer than anyone anticipated, and I want to take the time to understand all of the complexities around this significant issue. I know that this may be frustrating to many of those who are anticipating a decision soon, and I appreciate the impact on our staff for the length of this process.” Currently, most of the laundry services are out of Nelson in the West Kootenay, however, Interior Health recently noted that there needs to be significant capital upgrades to the equipment, which is why the contract was tendered out.
See IH, Page 3