Mountain Telegraph Dec 2019
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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