City applies for $1 million grant for water system upgrade

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Chris Shepherd

Editor’s note: This post is a look at the agenda for a special council meeting, scheduled for Monday, May 2, 11:30 a.m. in council chambers.

The agenda can be downloaded here. A live blog of Monday’s meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Council is looking at a $1 million upgrade to the city’s water system, an improvement they hope will be covered by funding through the federal gas tax grants.

Photo source: go carts, Flickr, Creative Commons.

There are some questions around this item, the only one on the agenda, as the staff report reads the deadline for the application is today, Friday, April 29.

Reached by phone on Friday, Councillor Bob Adams said it was likely council will approve, retroactively, the application.

“Why wouldn’t we?” asked Adams.

The application is to the Gas Tax Fund – funded by the federal government and managed by the Union of B.C. Municipalities – for $1,006,850.

The upgrades are meant to meet Interior Health’s standards for water disinfection at the Mountain Station Reservoir. They would add an ultraviolet system to kill waterborne parasites and replace the existing gas chlorine injection system with a “sodium hypochlorite generation” system. The staff report says the new system will improve worker safety and provide a return on investment within three to five years because the new system uses cheaper material.

It’s unclear from the report whether council will have to go ahead with the upgrades if they don’t get the grant. The wording seems to suggest they will:

If the grant funding is not received, Council must find other ways of funding the project through reserves, or rates. The project is part of the long term water master plan and is included in the water long term financing strategy.

Asymmetry, Impermanence, Imperfection & Change

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Kate Bridger

Nest Building is a regular column written by Kate Bridger

There are those of us in the western hemisphere have never been shy about commandeering a philosophical design tenet from another culture, reducing it down to a slick package and re-marketing it on our own terms.

For example, feng shui, which originated in China, is the study of the placement of physical objects and their effect on personal energy flow in living and working environments.

When North America grabbed hold of it, many of us thought that all we had to do was put a mirror in a strategic spot somewhere in our house and all our riches would cease to escape through the back door! In truth, however, feng shui was never intended to be a quick fix, a fashion statement, or a lucrative marketing scam.

Similarly, ‘Zen’ is not for sale either, despite the proliferation of Zen-labeled products available in stores across the continent. Zen represents the pursuit of enlightenment through meditation and inner contemplation – it cannot be found in physical objects such as picture frames and vases.

Photo Source: TANAKA Juuyoh, Flickr, Creative Commons

Wabi-sabi, a Japanese philosophy, has yet to appear on the shelves of your local home improvement shop, but is a particularly significant belief in view of the catastrophes that have recently befallen Japan, Haiti, Thailand and other parts of the world.

Wabi-sabi is defined as ‘a comprehensive Japanese … aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience … sometimes described as one of beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete’. (Source: Wikipedia)

Wabi-sabi allows us to officially embrace impermanence, humility, asymmetry and imperfection, permitting them to flourish in our lives and our living spaces.

In its purest form, of course, it is far more than a style: it is a state of mind calling upon an inner quietude and a willingness to see what cannot always be seen.

Photo Source: DVDSHUB, Flickr, Creative Commons

The recent earthquakes and tsunami were brutal reminders that on a global scale nothing remains the same for long; but this is also something we need to recognize closer to home in our domestic spaces. Perfection is rarely attainable and even if you catch a glimpse of it for a moment, all too quickly it is disturbed and you are back to chasing after it.

Wabi-sabi on the home front means accepting that:

nothing ever stays the same – the roof will eventually have to be replaced.
we cannot control everything – the kids will inevitably kick their muddy boots off in the middle of the just cleaned hallway.
not all things are predictably symmetrical – the cedar tree to the left of the front door is slightly rounder than the one on the right.
imperfection is both enchanting and interesting – those scratches on the coffee table are there to remind us that life is lived fully in this house.

Phew! It sure takes a lot of pressure off, don’t you think?

For more about ‘NestBuiding’ and other design topics, please visit www.katebridger.ca

NDCU switch this Friday

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Chris Shepherd

PRESS RELEASE from the Nelson and District Credit Union

Nelson & District Credit Union (NDCU) and members are preparing for the SWITCH to the new banking system, Acumen of Fiserv Solutions.

Member will experience branch closures and electronic service interruptions during SWITCH, Friday, April 29 at 5 p.m. to Wednesday, May 4 at 10 a.m. The Credit Union has spent the past 10 months preparing members for this upgrade and expect Randy’s “how-to” video to help.

Credit Union CEO, Doug Stoddart states, “Members expect innovative products and efficient service. Our current banking system is over a decade old, and to keep pace with changing technology and an evolving financial services industry, we made the decision in late 2009 to start the process of upgrading to Acumen, a next generation banking system.” Stoddart adds, “We are looking forward to a seamless transition to the new banking system, but we do encourage our members to make the appropriate preparations in advance of April 30, 2011.”

Among the most compelling Acumen features cited by decision makers are its fully integrated loan origination platform, comprehensive 360° view of the member’s relationship with the Credit Union, and the ability to generate a wide range of reports with speed and ease. Nelson & District is the 20th financial institution in Canada to select Acumen.

Members are being asked to prepare for the upcoming SWITCH weekend by:

watching Randy’s “how-to” video at credit union’s website
noting the SWITCH weekend on personal calendars re-reading the communications and
frequently visiting the SWITCH website
having alternative payment options
making bill payments in advance
retaining bill payment vendor information

Members wishing to access temporary login details and additional assistance during the SWITCH weekend will be able to call the Credit Union’s toll-free helpline, 1.877.352.7207; however, member account details will not be available.

Since 1950 Nelson & District Credit Union has grown over the years from a modest beginning to a robust community-based financial co-operative. After the first year of operations, the cash-box had a net profit of $21.77. Fast forward to 2011 and NDCU manages over $162 million in assets and 3 branches in Nelson, Rossland and the East Shore. For more, visit www.nelsoncu.com.

Waldorf walks on the wild side through Nelson’s streets

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Chris Shepherd

PRESS RELEASE from the Nelson Waldorf School

If you see a grizzly bear charging down Hall Street on Friday April 29th, don’t be alarmed…..it’s just the students from the Nelson Waldorf School celebrating Earth month.

The Nelson Waldorf School is inviting the community to participate in the Wild Walk – a parade of students, community organizations and individuals celebrating the wild species that inhabit the mountains, lakes and skies around Nelson.

Photo source: ilashdesigns, Flickr, Creative Commons.

This year, Earth Day celebrates its 41st year and the Waldorf school is celebrating a month of environmental activities. As part of these activities, students are learning about endangered plants and animals in their own backyard. The Wild Walk is an opportunity to celebrate those species and renew our commitments to preserving the habitats in which they live.

We invite all those who care about the environment to this celebration. We are asking councillors, organizations, schools, daycares, and all other community members to come out and celebrate the beautiful land in which we live.

We will be led to Lakeside Park by the Moving Mosaic Samba Band, after which members from the community including representatives from the Nelson CARES Society’s Earth Matters Program, the West Kootenay EcoSociety, the Young Naturalists and the Waldorf School, will share their vision of a better future for our wild species.

If you are interested in honouring those without a voice, strengthening your connection to the Earth and making some noise, please join us with your outrageous costumes, colourful signs and banners on Friday April 29th at 11 a.m. at the Prestige Inn.

Bring a green lunch to enjoy at the park after the parade

China (Not The Reality Show!)

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Claus

…..instead getting real with corporate-media nourished pre/misconceptions about the what/why/how of China. Interactive. Facilitated by Lao. Tickets at the door.

Local orgs throw the Earth Day gauntlet

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Chris Shepherd

PRESS RELEASE from the West Kootenay EcoSociety and Nelson CARES Society

Two Nelson-based organizations are urging residents of the Kootenays to make Earth Day everyday with the “Earth Day Challenge.” Nelson CARES Society and West Kootenay EcoSociety have launched the kootenayearthday.ca website urging people in the Kootenays to “get inspired, make a difference, and tell your story.”

www.kootenayearthday.ca

Co-organizer David Reid of West Kootenay EcoSociety says the idea came up when they were reviewing the 2010 Earth Day Celebration. “We realized that we put a lot of effort into some fun events, but we had no way to know whether we had made a difference. We realized that the whole point of Earth Day is to inspire people to take action, so this year we’re hoping for lots of little projects instead of a few big events.”

Alison Roy of Nelson CARES Society thinks the Earth Day Challenge is a good fit for the Kootenays. “People in our region are very independent, and many are already doing great things for the environment, from composting and recycling to buying local,” she said. “We thought this website would be a way to recognize what people are already doing, and help people share their enthusiasm.”

The organizers started out thinking about projects in the Nelson area, but soon realized that the website could be a resource throughout the Columbia basin. They also realized they could incorporate the annual Commuter Challenge, which aims to encourage alternatives to auto travel. The Earth Day Challenge and the Commuter Challenge are open to individuals, schools, businesses, and other organisations, and they will wrap up during National Environment Week June 5-11. The organizers will award prizes for best projects for individuals, schools, organizations, and businesses at an awards celebration on June 11. The project is supported by a grant from the Osprey Foundation.

Credit union holds AGM

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Chris Shepherd

PRESS RELEASE from the Nelson & District Credit Union

At the 60th Annual General Meeting held in Nelson, BC on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, Nelson & District Credit Union (NDCU) released financial results for 2010 and introduced board members while on Thursday, April 21, 2011, they selected a board chair.

The year’s high points were the Community Investment Program, which saw close to $208,000 distributed to 139 local community organizations, and the 60th anniversary celebration. Take a moment and review this year’s corporate reports which are available online. Members should be very proud to support the many valuable causes in our communities.

Nelson & District Credit Union.

“Looking ahead to 2011, Nelson & District Credit Union will be completing SWITCH, the upgrade to a new banking between April 30 and May 3, 2011”, says Doug Stoddart, CEO of NDCU. He continues, “Despite the ongoing challenges of the economic downturn, 2010 was a good year. We appreciate the great job our employees did in 2010 to serve the members. To the members, thank you for continuing to support your local credit union. And as CEO, I thank the board for their oversight and strategic direction. Our job is to serve in the best interests of the membership; without you, we are not relevant!”

At the AGM, Regina Day and Michael Maturo, newly elected board members, and Gordon Player, elected by acclamation, were introduced. Michael Maturo, of Rossland, will serve as the director at large and Regina Day will serve as the Nelson representative area director and Gordon Player will serve as the Rossland representative area director.

The board also elected local business owner, John Malakoff, to the position of chair. Malakoff has several years experience in the role as chair of NDCU.

Nelson & District Credit Union was established in 1950 and has grown to over $162 million in assets and serves over 12,000 members throughout the Kootenay area. NDCU is a community based financial co-operative that offers a full range of banking and financial, wealth management and insurance services. Our three community branches are located in Nelson, Rossland and Crawford Bay. Please visit www.nelsoncu.com.

What the KSA students learned

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Chris Shepherd

Bill Metcalfe at Arts in the Kootenays interviewed a few of the Kootenay School of the Arts students about their work, which was on display at the school.

Clay artist Julia Cedar told Metcalfe she learned to let go of expectation when creating art.

Julia Cedar. Photo by Bill Metcalfe.

I realized when we moved from the kicking wheel to the electric I still had a struggle. So letting go of trying to make the perfect piece. And when we were to show it and have a critique with all the students, not having any fear attached to that. If people accept it good but if they don’t I didn’t make it for them.

Source: Arts in the Kootenays

Read more, including interviews with a blacksmith and a weaver, at Arts in the Kootenays.

Editor’s note

Thursday, May 5: This story was changed to show the correct location of the display of student work.

Heart ultrasound service slowly returns

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Chris Shepherd

Ultrasound services in Nelson and Castlegar are slowly returning to those communities but staffing problems still mean fewer hours of operation than before the interruptions. Also, services could be cut once more in the fall.

The services were cut in February when staffing shortages meant Interior Health could no longer run the ultrasound machine at the Castlegar and District Community Health Centre or the echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson.

The health authority has juggled work schedules to operate the machines on a limited basis, says Thalia Vesterback, director of diagnostic imaging for Interior Health East. Those temporary fixes only cover to the end of September.

Vesterback says Interior Health also managed to recruit one new ultrasound tech to the region and convince a part-time ultrasound technologist to take on some more shifts.

Photo source: gregor_y, Flickr, Creative Commons.

Nelson heart ultrasound offered monthly

Nelson’s heart ultrasound will run on a monthly basis. Vesterback expects that will mean four or five days a month.

This is a dramatic reduction from service before February’s interruption when Interior Health had a full-time technologist operating the machine. Heart ultrasounds were available Monday to Friday when that employee was working.

The employee went on leave and is expected to return to work in early 2012.

Castlegar service ‘almost’ restored

Meanwhile, Castlegar’s ultrasound services will average out to be the same before the interruption, says Vesterback.
Interior Health will offer routine scans between one and three times a week. Before the interruption scans were available twice a week.

That community had to fight for their ultrasound last year when Interior Health planned to move the machine to Trail.

The community protested the move and Castlegar’s council joined in, shutting down a street to truck traffic in a bid to stop Interior Health from moving the machine.

Regional hospital in Trail remains priority

The Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail remains Interior Health’s priority, says Vesterback.

The health authority has increased heart ultrasound services there to pick up the slack from the Nelson and Castlegar hospitals and Vesterback is focusing on staffing there before looking to the other hospitals.

“Our main priority is we have to make sure we’re providing the services the [Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital] needs,” Vesterback says. “Once that’s met and we have extra staff who want to work more we’re scheduling them to work those days.”

Services could be cut in September

The minimal restoration of services is only in effect until the end of September. Interior Health has put out a request for proposals for more ultrasound technologists to work after September.

This call is for contractors, not staff. Vesterback says the health authority would rather employ staff would move to the community but a worldwide shortage of people trained to use ultrasound machines means health authorities everywhere are struggling to find qualified people.

news@inthekoots.net

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Monthly Archives: April 2011