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THE<br />

MOUNTAIN<br />

TELEGRAPH<br />

Bralorne | Gold Bridge| Gun, Tyaughton and Marshall Lakes<br />

<strong>Dec</strong>ember <strong>2019</strong> | Issue 10 | Volume 11 $4.00


<strong>Dec</strong>ember <strong>2019</strong><br />

The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong><br />

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Cover photo: Robin James


The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong> Editor’s Note 3<br />

Dear Readers<br />

This our last issue for <strong>2019</strong>, the <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong>’s<br />

10 th year! Thank you to everyone who has contributed<br />

to our little newsletter over the years, your support has<br />

been invaluable.<br />

It’s been a beautiful autumn in the valley, mild<br />

temperatures and no early snowfalls to catch us off<br />

guard. The Hurley has been passable much later than<br />

normal too, a big bonus.<br />

Winterfest is just around the corner, BC Family Day<br />

weekend, and plans are starting to take shape. The<br />

BCAC is jumping in this year with a weekend event too,<br />

stay tuned for all the details.<br />

Shout out to the Gold Bridge Community Club, they<br />

installed a shiny new sign at the entrance, looks great.<br />

Happy Holidays everyone!<br />

Jenny James<br />

Editor<br />

The submission deadline for the next issue is Jan 7 th .<br />

The Community Resource<br />

Building in Gold Bridge will<br />

be closed for winter break<br />

between <strong>Dec</strong> 20 th - Jan 5th<br />

Happy Holidays!<br />

Tanis Dubeck 1944 - <strong>2019</strong><br />

Cherished mother and friend Tanis Helen Dubeck passed<br />

away peacefully on November 16, <strong>2019</strong> in the company<br />

of her loving sons Nathan and Reg, and daughters-in-law<br />

Beth and Cris. She was born in Trail (BC) on June 21, 1944<br />

and spent her early years on a ranch where she<br />

developed a life-long love for horses. She attended hair<br />

dressing school and moved to Squamish, BC where she<br />

ran a hair salon for over twenty years. Her travels<br />

eventually took her to the Bridge River Valley.<br />

She was a fabulous cook and she spent many summers<br />

turning out amazing meals for guests on multi-day horseback<br />

trips into the South Chilcotin <strong>Mountain</strong>s, and she<br />

cooked epic meals for family and friends. In 2017 her<br />

heart led her to the Anahim Lake area where she worked<br />

as a caretaker and all-around hand at 3 Circle, 6 Mile<br />

Ranch. She had come full circle and these were the<br />

happiest days of her life. With her horses, her pets and<br />

her "Anahim family" close by, Tanis's time at 3 Circle was<br />

fulfilling and joyful. Tanis will be remembered for her<br />

courage, resilience, quick wit, generous heart and her<br />

amazing cooking.<br />

The family wishes to thank all the staff at the Anahim<br />

Lake Medical Clinic for their devoted and compassionate<br />

care during Tanis's difficult battle with cancer. We are<br />

indebted to everyone who helped support us throughout<br />

Mom's illness. In keeping with Mom's wishes, there will<br />

be no service.


4 SLRD Update The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong><br />

A helping hand this holiday<br />

season<br />

Jackie Tegart - MLA for Fraser-Nicola<br />

Below is a summary of decisions made at the<br />

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Board and<br />

Committee meetings in October <strong>2019</strong> pertaining to<br />

SLRD Area A. The full report is available on the SLRD<br />

website.<br />

By-Election for Electoral Area A Director The<br />

appointment of the Chief Election Officer for the byelection<br />

of the Electoral Area A Director will be<br />

considered at the SLRD Board meeting on November<br />

27, <strong>2019</strong>.<br />

SLRD Hazard Policy<br />

The SLRD’s Natural Hazards Policy No. 7.5 was<br />

amended to reflect the current practice that where<br />

construction is proposed to occur in hazard areas, the<br />

SLRD Building Inspector has the discretion pursuant to<br />

the Local Government Act and the Community<br />

Charter to require the following items prior to the<br />

issuance of a building permit:<br />

- a site-specific geotechnical report ensuring that the<br />

site is safe for the use intended; and<br />

- a Save Harmless Covenant to be registered against<br />

title to the property.<br />

As the holidays approach and we settle into winter,<br />

excitement for the season is building. This time of year is<br />

filled with hope, happiness and family. Holiday events<br />

become commonplace as weekends are filled with<br />

parties and community gatherings. It is a time of festive<br />

joy and fun.<br />

But for many British Columbians, it can be a difficult<br />

time emotionally and financially. That is why a key piece<br />

of the holiday season is giving back to the community<br />

and supporting the less fortunate. You can do your part<br />

by supporting local food banks and hampers, or<br />

volunteering your time. Something as simple as a few<br />

hours at a seniors’ living facility can bring so much light<br />

to people over the holidays. Wrap gifts, share meals and<br />

treats or just give back in any way you can.<br />

On top of the giving back, you can also attend a myriad<br />

of exciting events in the region that are perfect holiday<br />

events for families and individuals alike. So, this holiday<br />

season, take the time to give back. Nothing makes the<br />

festive spirit soar like making a difference in the lives of<br />

those in your community.<br />

Bylaws<br />

- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Procedure Bylaw<br />

No. 1499-2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1653-<strong>2019</strong> to<br />

amend the physical quorum requirements for the<br />

Northern Economic Development & Initiatives<br />

Committee.<br />

Grants in Aid<br />

The following was granted from Area A Select Funds:<br />

- Up to $500 per month for a maximum period of 4<br />

months (total of $2,000) to the Gold Bridge Community<br />

Club to continue providing the monthly seniors’ lunches.


The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong> BRVCA News 5<br />

Bridge River Valley featured<br />

in NDIT newsletter<br />

Excerpted courtesy of the Northern Development<br />

Initiative Trust ( NDIT)- October <strong>2019</strong><br />

Nestled in the northwest corner of the Squamish-Lillooet<br />

Regional District is Bridge River Valley. The Bridge River<br />

Valley Community Association (BRVCA), which serves the<br />

nearly 200 full time residents and approximately 400 parttime<br />

residents living in Gold Bridge, Bralorne, Tyaughton<br />

Area, Marshall Lake and Gun Lakes, has successfully<br />

applied for $109,796 for 12 projects since 2013. We took a<br />

moment to chat with Jenny, Debbie, and Laurie from<br />

BRVCA to learn more about what the Trust’s funding has<br />

meant for their communities.<br />

Q: What are some challenges that residents of the area<br />

face? How has Northern Development’s funding helped<br />

alleviate these challenges?<br />

A: Distance from regular services such as medical care,<br />

shopping, and tradespeople does present its challenges.<br />

Residents of the Bridge River Valley rely heavily on the<br />

postal service and cartage from Lillooet for supplies,<br />

particularly during the winter months. The main route into<br />

the valley is Road 40 which can be challenging driving in<br />

the winter months in addition to occasional avalanches or<br />

mudslides causing road closure.<br />

Funding from Northern Development’s programs has<br />

helped to alleviate challenges by increasing awareness of<br />

the needs of remote and rural communities, improving<br />

community assets and resources, and supports the<br />

community’s efforts to grow permanent population for a<br />

more self-sustaining area.<br />

Q: BRVCA has received funding from four of the Trust’s<br />

funding programs: Community Halls and Recreation<br />

Facilities (4), Fabulous Festivals and Events (4), Marketing<br />

Initiatives (3) and Capital Investment Analysis (1). Is<br />

there a project that received funding from any of these<br />

grant programs that really resonates with residents?<br />

A: Every project supported by Northern Development’s<br />

grant programs resonates with residents throughout<br />

Bridge River Valley. The Trust’s programs have helped to<br />

drive economic diversity, develop brand identity and build<br />

awareness of the Bridge River Valley not only as a tourism<br />

destination, but also a great place to live and work.<br />

Funding from the Community Halls and Recreation<br />

Facilities program have allowed communities to renovate<br />

and revitalize gathering spaces that are incredibly<br />

important to remote communities. Improvements to<br />

recreation facilities, especially in the community of<br />

Bralorne, has enabled community volunteers to revive the<br />

annual Bralorne Ball Tournament – a community legacy.<br />

Improved signage, e-commerce marketing, restoration of<br />

heritage sites, to name a few, have been advanced by the<br />

Trust’s Marketing initiatives and Capital Investment<br />

Analysis. Funding support through Fabulous Festivals and<br />

Events has resulted in the success and growth of<br />

Winterfest.<br />

Q: As mentioned above, BRVCA received four grants<br />

through the Fabulous Festivals and Events program for<br />

Winterfest. How has the $10,000 over four years<br />

benefitted this annual event?<br />

A: Winterfest is indeed a Fabulous Festival. It is one of the<br />

most anticipated events of the year, not only by full time<br />

residents, but also visitors, tourists, and part-time<br />

residents. Winterfest has grown in attendance,<br />

participation and popularity each year.<br />

Q: All of BRVCA’s eligible projects that you’ve applied for<br />

funding for have been approved by Northern<br />

Development. Do you have any suggestions to other<br />

community associations that are looking for grants?<br />

A: Northern Development Initiative Trust wants<br />

communities to be successful. They are a catalyst in<br />

stimulating economic growth and job creation, as well as<br />

an invaluable resource to community groups and<br />

organizations striving to move economic development<br />

initiatives to realization. The staff members are<br />

knowledgeable, approachable and available to answer<br />

questions about programs most suited to your community<br />

project or initiative. Call them!<br />

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?<br />

A: Bridge River Valley Community Association is thankful<br />

for the support of NDIT.<br />

Visit the NDIT on-line newsletter for more information:<br />

https://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/newsletter/october<br />

-<strong>2019</strong>/


6 Season’s Greetings The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong><br />

Season’s Greetings<br />

Thank you to all the residents and<br />

businesses of the Bridge River Valley<br />

for the business over the year!<br />

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year<br />

from Bridge River Indian Band,<br />

Lillooet Disposal Ltd. and the<br />

community of Xwisten.<br />

Merry Christmas from the Directors<br />

of the Gold Bridge Community Club<br />

A very special thank you to our<br />

volunteers, members and supporters<br />

for another great year!<br />

We would like to wish everyone a very<br />

Merry Christmas and a<br />

Happy Holidays from<br />

Minto Communications!<br />

Happy New Year!


The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong> Season’s Greetings 7<br />

The Bridge River Valley Community<br />

Association wishes everyone, near<br />

and far, Happy Holidays and a<br />

joyful New Year!<br />

Season’s Greetings<br />

On Behalf of the SLRD and the Oakley<br />

Family, I would like to wish everyone<br />

a very Merry and Safe Holiday Season.<br />

I see many great things ahead in 2020<br />

and look forward to serving the<br />

community in the coming year.<br />

Merry Christmas to Everyone


8 BCAC News The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong><br />

Ball Diamond improvements<br />

moving forward<br />

By Roger Geeves- Chair, Ball Diamond subcommittee<br />

( BCAC)<br />

On June 4th, 2018 BRVCA held the “All Everything” meeting<br />

to assess the progress and needs of its various committees.<br />

In a session facilitated by Suzanne Denbak of Cadence<br />

Strategies members of the BCAC Ball Diamond Sub -<br />

Committee discussed their vision for the Bralorne Ball<br />

Diamond and identified the following key elements:<br />

• The Sub-Committee manages a well-maintained and<br />

marketable venue available for rental and for community<br />

events (venue managers not event organizers)<br />

• The venue includes a multi-use building fitted with a<br />

commercial kitchen, washroom facilities, outdoor deck<br />

• Revenue/net income is generated from rentals to private<br />

operators (weddings, festivals, tournaments)<br />

• Community events are hosted on a cost-recovery basis<br />

• The venue is a catalyst for economic activity in Bralorne<br />

and a hub for community building.<br />

In <strong>2019</strong> BCAC put this plan into practice. Given the state of<br />

the facility a flat rental fee of $300.00 for the entire facility<br />

was agreed upon and charged to the Ball Tournament<br />

organizers. This fee was handed over as revenue to the<br />

BRVCA, who own the facility. The tournament organizers<br />

also paid $400.00 to BCAC for the pump out costs of the<br />

BCAC owned Porto Potties. The Tournament occurred over<br />

three days on the July Long Weekend and was as successful<br />

as ever. All profits from the event including food sales<br />

belonged to the organizers. Given that it is unlikely that<br />

local volunteers can be found to organize the Tournament<br />

BCAC feels confident that the current organizers, now in<br />

their second year, can be relied upon to continue<br />

organizing the event. As BCAC makes continued<br />

improvements to the Ball Diamond the rental fee will<br />

increase to reflect these upgrades.<br />

In regard to facility upgrades the BCAC Ball Diamond sub<br />

committee work with the BRVCA Grant Writer to obtain<br />

funds to accomplish the vision of the “All Everything”<br />

meeting. As the committee becomes more experienced in<br />

seeking funding we have come to the conclusion that as<br />

large grants are difficult to come by we have opted for the<br />

more realistic goal of completing a series of smaller yearly<br />

projects. Since 2016 the following upgrades have taken<br />

place: New fencing, 4 BCAC owned Porto Potties, new<br />

picnic tables and bleachers. These accomplishments<br />

demonstrate to potential funders that we are committed to<br />

the upgrade policy in a realistic and planned approach.<br />

In the spring of <strong>2019</strong> there were two projects that we<br />

wanted to accomplish: As the 2018 report shows were<br />

turned down by a funding agency called Agri Spirit, in<br />

regard to major cook shack renovations for an amount of<br />

approximately $20,000.00. For <strong>2019</strong> we scaled down the<br />

ask to approximately $11,000.00 and this too was turned<br />

down. In consultation with the Grant Writer we have<br />

decided that over the course of the Winter we will get new<br />

cost estimates for a new propane stove and seek this<br />

funding from Agri Spirit. The amount asked will be<br />

approximately $5,000.00.<br />

There are several reasons why we are optimistic that we<br />

will actually gain the funding this time around. First of all,<br />

Agri Spirit will see that the amount asked is not<br />

unreasonable and that we are realistic in our approach and<br />

are nothing if not dogged. Secondly, we can point to our<br />

completed projects to demonstrate the success of our<br />

ongoing upgrade campaign. Further reinforcement of our<br />

success will be demonstrated by this years’ successful grant<br />

application to the SLRD for a GIA commitment of $2,500.00<br />

towards the building of a new dugout. This $2,500.00<br />

commitment encouraged the Northern Development<br />

Initiative Trust to grant almost $6,000.00 needed to<br />

complete the project. While the funding came in too late in<br />

the season to work on the dugout in <strong>2019</strong> the work will be<br />

undertaken in the Spring of 2020 in time for the July<br />

Baseball Tournament.<br />

Several Bralorne resident have asked if the 4 Porto Potties<br />

could be made to look a bit more inconspicuous and blend<br />

in with the surroundings. Anyone who was in Pemberton<br />

this summer may have seen the way Hazelwood<br />

Construction masked their two Porto potties beside the<br />

Farmers Market barn with a pleasing fenced structure. This<br />

is a relatively low-cost enhancement and we intend to get<br />

quotes from local builders for a similar structure.<br />

Proposed upgrades to the cook shack included the addition<br />

of a deck overlooking the field. This is a particularly popular<br />

concept with Bralorne residents, who envision it as similar<br />

to the one at the Haylmore site and see a number of<br />

community uses for it other than simply a food and drink


The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong> Valley News 9<br />

Ball Diamond cont’d<br />

seating area. Quotes for the cost of a deck add on to the<br />

cook shack will also be sought.<br />

The more the community uses the Ball Diamond for<br />

various events the more attractive it becomes as<br />

something potential funders can get behind. To this end<br />

BCAC held the Bralorne Party in the Park event on the<br />

August Long Weekend. This event, spearheaded by Terri<br />

Smith drew a large number of people from all over the<br />

valley and was a great success raising over $4,000.00.<br />

This is exactly the type of event that potential funders<br />

want to see and BCAC intends to use this success as<br />

leverage when applying for further grants.<br />

While the BRVCA owns the Ball Diamond BCAC is tasked<br />

with its management. As part of managing the facility<br />

we have to face the fact that it costs over $800.00 a<br />

year to pay for Hydro ($190.00), Insurance ($500.00)<br />

and BRVCA bookkeeping/admin services ($135.00).<br />

When BRVCA took ownership of the Ball Diamond in<br />

2012 the Tournament was run as a private operation<br />

and I can’t speak to whether or not any of the profits<br />

made on the event went towards paying the bills. In<br />

2016 it once again became a community run event,<br />

unfortunately there was never enough profit coming in<br />

from the Ball Tournament to cover these yearly<br />

expenses and while BRVCA pays these bills they show<br />

up as an increasing debt in the Ball Diamond account.<br />

So far in <strong>2019</strong> BCAC has contributed $300.00 from the<br />

facility rental and $100.00 grant from the Amenity By<br />

Law Fund towards the Ball Diamond account. The sub<br />

committee is exploring revenue generating options to<br />

address the debt.<br />

Photo: Lisa Wagner<br />

Avino sells Bralorne Gold<br />

Mines Ltd.<br />

News Release Nov 21, <strong>2019</strong><br />

Talisker Resources Ltd. is pleased to announce that it<br />

has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to<br />

acquire a 100% interest in the Bralorne Gold Project<br />

from Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.<br />

“The acquisition of the Bralorne Gold Camp is a<br />

compelling and transformational transaction for<br />

Talisker," commented Dr. Terry Harbort, President and<br />

CEO who added, "With more than 60 veins identified,<br />

many open along strike and at depth, and with<br />

demonstrated high-grade continuity from historic<br />

sampling, Bralorne represents an excellent opportunity<br />

to add significant ounces for Talisker. The experience<br />

amassed by our team in unravelling controls of similar<br />

mesothermal camps, most recently at Barkerville Gold<br />

Mines, has the potential to allow us to unlock significant<br />

value for our shareholders through systematic<br />

exploration. In addition, the acquisition of an advanced<br />

stage project and the control of a second gold belt,<br />

directly adjacent to our existing land holdings makes us<br />

a dominant exploration player in south central BC."<br />

David Wolfin, President and Chief Executive Officer of<br />

Avino commented, “We are pleased to announce this<br />

agreement with Talisker to transfer Avino’s ownership<br />

of Bralorne while retaining material economic exposure<br />

to the project through a significant equity investment in<br />

Talisker and the contingent cash payment payable upon<br />

the commencement of commercial production. We<br />

believe that Bralorne is best suited for a management<br />

team with deep exploration expertise and access to<br />

strategic investment capital from partners such as<br />

Osisko Gold Royalties and we look forward to seeing<br />

them advance their exploration strategy at Bralorne as a<br />

supportive shareholder.”<br />

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Talisker will<br />

acquire all of the common shares of Bralorne Gold<br />

Mines Ltd. on the closing date of the transaction for a<br />

cash consideration of C$8.7 million; and a cash payment<br />

of US$2.5 million, upon the commencement of<br />

commercial production at the Bralorne Mine and the<br />

transfer of all future restoration and reclamation<br />

obligation liabilities to Talisker.


10 Snapshots The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong><br />

\\<br />

A good turn-out for Remembrance Day <strong>2019</strong>. Photo: Debbie Demare<br />

The Halloween crew in Gold Bridge. Photo: Kat Patterson<br />

Gold Bridge School kids reciting In Flanders Field. Photo: Debbie Demare<br />

The Illidge gang got in the Halloween spirits. Photo: Angie Illidge<br />

The handsome Pileated Woodpecker. Photo: Michelle Nortje<br />

Kindness is like snow – it<br />

beautifies everything it<br />

covers. Kahlil Gabran


The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong> Valley Recipes 11<br />

Gran’s Broccoli<br />

Salad By Alex Zalite<br />

I head Broccoli, chopped into bite size pieces<br />

½ red onion, slivered<br />

Generous ½ lb bacon, cut into 1” pieces<br />

1 C. cubed cheddar cheese<br />

Dressing<br />

½ C. mayo<br />

1 tsp sugar<br />

1-2 tsp white vinegar<br />

Salt and pepper to taste<br />

Fry bacon until crispy, mix dressing ingredients and<br />

combine everything.<br />

THE GOLD BRIDGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL<br />

PRESENTS:<br />

A CHRISTMAS SING-A-LONG<br />

&<br />

TURKEY POTLUCK DINNER<br />

THURSDAY DEC 12 TH 5:30 PM<br />

GOLD BRIDGE COMMUNITY CLUB<br />

THERE WILL BE A VISIT FROM SANTA TOO!<br />

Editor’s Note: We make ask Alex to bring this to<br />

every school gathering, it’s so good!<br />

Avocado Dip<br />

By Jenny James<br />

Please bring along your favourite side dish<br />

or dessert to share.<br />

This dip is definitely greater than the sum of its<br />

parts. Good with sturdy tortilla chips. Or, I really<br />

like quartered up flour tortilla rounds, brushed with<br />

a little olive oil and salt and baked at 350 until<br />

lightly browned and crispy to go with this dip too.<br />

2 ripe avocadoes, diced<br />

1C. cherry or grape tomatoes, diced<br />

½ red onion, diced<br />

¾ C. crumbled feta cheese<br />

1T. fresh lemon juice<br />

1T. red wine vinegar<br />

2T. fresh parsley, finely chopped<br />

Gently combine all ingredients. This doesn’t hold<br />

great in the fridge for very long so don’t make too<br />

far ahead.<br />

Isurvivedthehurley.com is a valuable resource for<br />

accurate and up-to-date Hurley FSR information<br />

year-round but especially in the fall and spring!<br />

You can purchase awesome Hurley merchandise<br />

on-line at www.bridgerivervalley.ca/store/<br />

All proceeds go to the support of the website


12 Society Page The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong><br />

Training Committee<br />

Update By Sal Demare<br />

The Training Committee put out a Survey Monkey early<br />

in <strong>2019</strong> to see which courses would be held. The courses<br />

that were decided on were the Occupational First Aid<br />

Level One, Travel Endorsement, Chain Saw Safety and<br />

the S100 Wildland Fire Suppression and Safety. We had<br />

great participation in all the courses. We thank all the<br />

participants as without you we could not put these<br />

courses on.<br />

All of the courses were free to the participants this year<br />

thanks to the funding partners! The funding partners this<br />

year included BC Hydro’s Emergency Preparedness Fund<br />

of $2,000, SLRD Area A Grant in Aide of $4,300 and the<br />

S100 course was organized by the SLRD Emergency<br />

Management Department.<br />

A special thanks goes out to Jenny James for doing a<br />

great job of the coordination of the courses! The<br />

Training Committee Members this year are Al Leighton,<br />

Jane Roberts, and Sal DeMare. We are looking for more<br />

members this upcoming year to help with the planning<br />

and execution of the training initiatives.<br />

Bralorne Recreation Area –<br />

Sunshine <strong>Mountain</strong> (BCAC)<br />

Update By Heather Roberts<br />

A tenure application was submitted to expand around<br />

the old ski hill tenure as a S57/56 Recreation Site in<br />

2016. The application is currently in the hands of Rec<br />

Sites and Trails BC and is still moving forward in the<br />

referral process with hopes to be complete by Spring<br />

2020. More interest has come in by way of<br />

Fundraising Memberships, there was $3000 in<br />

fundraising membership sales this year which will go<br />

towards the operational/administrative costs of<br />

keeping the cabin tenure an our project going.<br />

In addition, a Facebook fundraising drive raised<br />

another $6200 which is being saved for new<br />

developments once the new expanded tenure S57/58<br />

is approved. It’s been a long grind since the first<br />

meetings in 2012 on this project but interest<br />

continues to grow and progress comes in baby steps.<br />

Take a peek at the website, www.bra-sunshine.ca for<br />

some great history on the old ski hill and a show of<br />

membership support.<br />

Scotty Mac tracks on Sunshine. Photo courtesy Heather Roberts<br />

Sunshine Cabin. Photo courtesy Heather Roberts


The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong> Bulletin Board 13<br />

Ken Robinson <strong>Dec</strong>ember 11<br />

Kya Patterson <strong>Dec</strong>ember 13<br />

Anna Gebauer <strong>Dec</strong>ember 14<br />

Sage Patterson <strong>Dec</strong>ember 22<br />

Margaret Sage <strong>Dec</strong>ember 29<br />

Tyler Rivard <strong>Dec</strong>ember 29<br />

Still need a flu vaccine?<br />

The public health nurse will be in<br />

Gold Bridge on <strong>Dec</strong> 12 th<br />

Call T: 250 256 1314 to book an<br />

appointment<br />

Gold Bridge Ambulance Station


14 Gold Bridge School The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong><br />

Autumn days fly by at our<br />

Community School<br />

By Anna Driehuyzen<br />

The season of Christmas is already upon us and it feels like<br />

only yesterday, we were returning from the summer<br />

holidays. The trees are bare, with surprisingly balmy<br />

weather and luckily no snow yet. We’ll celebrate the snow<br />

when it comes but in the meantime the enjoyment of<br />

snow-less mobility seems to be a common sentiment.<br />

Everyone’s wood piles have been stacked and the smell of<br />

smoke from chimneys wafts reassuringly throughout<br />

town. No wonder we feel like time is flying, when there<br />

are so many basic, sometimes satisfying chores to be<br />

attended to.<br />

Life in our Gold Bridge school reflects that same fullness of<br />

activity. Some of the tasks are somewhat mundane and<br />

others are of a loftier nature. The fourth grade students –<br />

of which there are three – were required to complete a<br />

province wide Foundational Skills Assessment in<br />

November. This is a very thorough testing mechanism,<br />

used predominately by the Fraser Institute to rank schools<br />

according to test results. Its controversial for many<br />

reasons, but our plucky group of three, hunkered down<br />

and completed the tests over several weeks. It’s a fairly<br />

intensive process which assesses reading, writing and<br />

numeracy abilities over wide ranging topics. The students<br />

did splendidly in attending to the questions and<br />

responding in the best ways possible.<br />

We completed our unit on Canadian Geography and in the<br />

process of our geography studies touched fleetingly on<br />

Canada’s involvement in WWI. We re-acquainted<br />

ourselves with the Canadian anthem and recited “In<br />

Flanders Fields” daily in preparation for the Remembrance<br />

Day celebration. Each morning at the front of the<br />

classroom, our seven students lined up from smallest to<br />

tallest to rehearse the famous lines in tribute to the fallen<br />

soldiers. The poem’s theme is better suited for older<br />

students to understand but in a mixed age classroom,<br />

sometimes the youngest ones simply desire to participate<br />

alongside their older peers. Calum, Kya and Sage spoke<br />

the poem movingly to the gathering of friends and families<br />

on the day of Remembrance at the Gold Bridge Cenotaph.<br />

It is now a scant month before the Christmas holidays<br />

begin. The children and parents will be hosting the annual<br />

Christmas dinner at the Gold Bridge Community Club on<br />

<strong>Dec</strong>ember 12 th and are looking forward to welcoming all<br />

friends and neighbours from throughout the Bridge River<br />

Valley. See you there!<br />

Photo: Anna Driehuyzen<br />

Thank you………<br />

Thank you to everyone who supported our Purdy’s<br />

Chocolate campaign this season! It’s a great fundraiser for<br />

our PAC and helps off-set the costs for the extra things like<br />

Community Teas, Halloween and Christmas events. And<br />

the occasional hot dog lunch too, always a big hit with the<br />

kids!<br />

Thank you also to the Gold Bridge Community Club for<br />

their always thoughtful and generous Christmas donation,<br />

a well-kept secret until Santa arrives!


The <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Telegraph</strong> Classifieds 15<br />

Valley Hardware<br />

& Grocery<br />

Monday/Thursday/Saturday—10am to 12pm, 1pm to 5:30pm<br />

Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday 1pm to 5:30pm<br />

Closed Sundays & Holidays<br />

CLOSED DURING FREIGHT DELIVERIES<br />

Monday ≈ 10:30am to 11:30am / Thursday ≈ 11:00am to 1:00pm<br />

NO BOTTLE RETURNS ON FREIGHT DAYS<br />

WE TAKE BACK LIQUOR PRODUCTS WE SELL—48 UNITS PER DAY<br />

BRIDGE RIVER VALLEY MECHANICAL CONTRACTING


<strong>Dec</strong>ember <strong>2019</strong><br />

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY<br />

1 2 3 4 5 6 7<br />

8 9 10 11 12 13 14<br />

GBCS Turkey Potluck<br />

15 16 17 18 19 20 21<br />

Last day school - GBCS<br />

22 23 24 25 26 27 28<br />

29 30 31<br />

Christmas Day<br />

Boxing Day<br />

New Year’s Eve<br />

Transfer Station Open<br />

Summer hours in effect May 20 th .<br />

Sun/Mon/Thurs 10am-4pm<br />

Mail Day<br />

Outgoing must be in by 11.30am<br />

Mail available after 1.30pm<br />

Gold Bridge Library<br />

1pm-5pm Monday/Thursday<br />

11am-1pm Saturday

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