News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

A group of approximately 20 local business people calling themselves ‘TRU Grit’ have banded together to make the university an economic and social development driver in the community. This week four of those dedicated people, Ray Sanders, David Hall, Betty Turatus, Brian Garland and Lorne Doerksen, met at TRU to talk about their first endeavor: a Gala evening fundraiser for bursaries and scholarships for local students.

(Photo and information by Joe Cousins)

By LeRae Haynes

The Williams Lake SPCA shelter has shut down the ‘dog department’ for a week after a female dog and her pups have been diagnosed with Parvo. “Stress definitely has an impact on the disease and it’s highly contagious,” said shelter manager Liz Dighton. “You can get it on your clothes and carry it everywhere and treatment is very costly.”

(There are cats healthy and ready for ‘forever homes’ this week at the SPCA, including ‘Taffy’, a uniquely-coloured and extremely friendly ‘senior’ cat.)

February is a sweet, sweet month at TheGreenGazette, with fresh, tantalizing articles about temptation, chocolate, romance and stories of real-life relationships with the planet and our environment.

There are unique stories about off-grid living in an underground house, battle-lines drawn in the Embridge Northern Gateway Pipeline war, expert advice and information about artificial sweeteners, good sugars and bad sugars and fair trade coffee and chocolate. There are romantic-getaway destination ideas, along with a true ‘Will You Marry Me’ story set on a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands.

By LeRae Haynes

One young Cataline Elementary student who was on the school bus that struck another vehicle coming down the icy road from Mt. Timothy on Friday said that damage to the bus was limited to a ‘popped-in’ light on the front.

(Andy Dyck is a 9-year-old Grade 4 student who enjoyed his first ‘mountain snowboard’ experience on Friday on a school ski trip. It was also his first big trip with Cataline.)

Did you know that nearly half of those who use social media don't enhance the default privacy settings on their user profiles? The first step in using social media in a privacy enhancing way is learning how to protect your personal information online.

In recognition of International Data Privacy Day, the Government of British Columbia encourages citizens, private organizations and public bodies to learn some simple tips on how to protect personal information online, and be privacy aware while using social media. Changing your privacy settings on social media sites is one of many ways you can take control over what information remains private and what is accessible to others.

By LeRae Haynes

New Community Policing president Andy Sullivan says that the new board is working to improve all the programs under that ‘umbrella’ and looking for ways to inspire and recruit more volunteers.

(Andy Sullivan invites the public to explore the many volunteer opportunities available through Community Policing.)

By LeRae Haynes

Canadian Mental Health Homeless Outreach Worker Wayne Lucier said yesterday that we haven’t seen the last of winter weather yet, and that the pressing need for people to find affordable housing is on the rise, no matter what the temperature.

(Slumber Lodge has been suggested as a possible site for a monitored housing facility like Jubilee Place.) 

By LeRae Haynes

The Cariboo Direct Farm Market Association’s request that power fees for approximately $500 in Boitanio Park be waived for the Friday summer markets was denied by City Council last night.

(The Farmer's Market is a regular fixture in the park throughout the spring and summer, providing local farmers, crafters and ranchers a venue for selling their products to the community.)

Councillors Rathor, Walters and Hughes expressed concern that the Farmer’s Market was denied the waiver. The request was denied because the Grants-in-Aid application deadline for 2012 was not met. Add a comment

The federal government announced last week that a new non-refundable tax credit for volunteer firefighters has been put into effect. The non-refundable tax credit is available to any volunteer firefighter who serves at least 200 hours per year at one or more fire departments beginning on January 1, 2011.

(Wildwood Deputy Fire Chief Randy Worsley, pictured with the Wildwood fire fighters at their open house, says that it’s great to see volunteers fire fighters get a bit of a break.)

A generous donation from a long-time supporter of the SPCA has forever changed the life of a white husky dog at the Williams Lake shelter. 

It was down to one working day before a decision had to be made about the future of the badly-injured dog.