Category: Social Activism


The time to be heard at the public process for the Kinder Morgan  twinning project application is fast approaching. opening on Wednesday the 14th and ending on February 12th you must apply to the National Energy board to make a submission.

Here is the contact info according to Trans Mountain Pipeline; Kinder Morgans subsidiary and active agent in this application.

Grass seeding at a construction site in Merritt Photo KDG

Grass seeding at a construction site in Merritt
File: Photo KDG

Trans Mountain notes an error in the email notification that was sent to you this afternoon on behalf of the National Energy Board.

The correct email address for the National Energy Board’s Process Advisor, Reny Chakkalakal is transmountainpipeline.hearing@neb-one.gc.ca.


The National Energy Board (NEB) has issued an Application to Participate Notification about the hearing process for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.

Those who wish to take part in the NEB hearing must apply to participate. The application to take part is on the NEB’s website at:

www.neb-one.gc.ca select Major Applications and Projects, then Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC – Trans Mountain Expansion.

Applications to participate in the NEB Hearing are due on or before noon on 12 February 2014.

If you need more information, the NEB has appointed Ms. Reny Chakkalakal as Process Advisor to give assistance.

Ms. Reny Chakkalakal Process Advisor, NEB E-mail: transmountainpipeline.hearing@neb-one.gc.ca  Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

The notice is also posted on the Trans Mountain website. You can read the full notice here.
Sincerely, The Trans Mountain Expansion Project Team

Today in history: January 17th 1946, 2007

The UN security council holds its first meeting.

The doomsday clock goes to 5 minutes to midnight in response to North Korean nuclear testing.

Mary Sandy is the presenter at the January 16th meeting of the Nicola  Naturalists. The First Nations people have a unique world view on the environment. Mary’s work has a focus on wildlife and ecosystems. She is an anthropologist with the Esh-km-am Cultural Resources Service. The service is based in the Nicola Valley and is used for gathering information on ecosystem.

The presentation begins a 7PM at the NVIT lecture theater. Free parking no food or drinks in the theater,admission by membership or donation requested all welcome.

Today in history: January 15th 1759

The British Museum opens.

Mary Sandy’s presentation was conditioned by a brief outlining of the first nations world view on environment and ecology. In a nut shell she defined western culture as seeing resources as  something to be possessed. She asserted that First Nations ideal is ” who do we share this with.” She contented that their view was holistic.

Sandy said her drive comes, believe it or not from Walt Disney’s methods of film making . She thinks that robust knowledge comes from tradition  and legends are based in some substance. Her father, she explains was born in 1903 and her grand mother  in 1886, her great grand mother whom she knew was born in 1861. They also were connected to two  living generations giving a legend of tradition that was even longer. Some legends based in stories: ie Coyote stole his long tail from rabbit.

Her discourse then went to the archeology of the local area and its climate and vegetation changes over 4 periods going back to pre glacier, 10.000 years bp ( before present.).

Mary is a member of the Coldwater Indian Band in Merritt BC Canada.

Twinning of the pipeline from Edmonton

The city of Merritt has the line that Kinder Morgan operates through its subsidiary Trans Mountain Pipeline running by here to Burnaby. If fact it goes right by the airstrip, Saunders Field. The pumping station at Kingsvale required an employee to be here at one time. There is no local contact now however there is pride in the general sence to have had them and for the 60 years they have operated without major problems in the valley  bringing energy to the lower mainland.

The  news letter they posted recently out lines their application and its vastness we hope that people are not deterred by its complexity and will look at it because now is the time they will have voice. To have that voice they need points to communicate concerns that are valid, we hope that people other then press , lawyers or professionals will be able to take the non jargon documents and voice there concerns: Below is their announcement.

The company proposes to build  a pipeline in segments that complete a twinning (or “looping”) of the pipeline in Alberta and BC with about987 km of new buried pipeline.New and modified facilities, including pump stations and tanks.Three new berths at the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, BC, each capable of handling Aframax class vessels.

This morning, Trans Mountain Pipelines filed a Facilities Application with the National Energy Board (NEB) for the proposed Trans Mountain Expansion Project. This application filing follows over a year and a half of engagement with pipeline and marinecommunities, a detailed environmental and socio-economic assessment, route assessments, and other various marine and terrestrial risk analyses and studies. This filing is a significant milestone in the development of this project and another step in the on-going engagement we will be having within your community.

When printed, the Application is over 15,000 pages and up to two metres high when stacked end on end. Please visit our Application website at http://application.transmountain.com.

The NEB will hold its own public engagement process, including a hearing on the Application before it makes a decision on the proposed Project. The hearing will allow people or groups who have been granted permission to participate by the NEB a chance to raise issues, present evidence, test evidence, and provide their input. Information on how to participate in this process can be found here: http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rthnb/pblcprtcptn/pblchrng/pblchrng-eng.html

We invite you to visit our website to see how we have addressed community interests along the pipeline and marine corridors. Over the coming months we will be approaching stakeholders to consult on specific elements within the application. We will also be returning to communities where we have visited before in our previous engagements to discuss the application and proposals contained within.

From the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, we wish you the best this holiday season and look forward to continuing our dialogue with you and your community in 2014.

Sincerely,
The Trans Mountain Expansion Project Team

Editors note: we respect all views that are brought in good faith. To carry out that we suggest that you look at the informationin in the application.   In our view we support the application as  we think our local environment would benefit by the effect of a twin pipeline with new pumping stations and technology being so close to the existing line by increasing scrutiny and attention, we think that the use of double hulled ships will be safer then reliance on forgien flags in international waters supplying the demand of  the oil market.

Today in history: December 18th 218

Second Punic war Hannibal defeats the Romans at the battle of Trebia

A hundred years of volunteering

Pursue the Passion Book

Pursue the Passion Book (Photo credit: pursuethepassion)

A hundred years  of volunteering in the Nicola valley! The Local health care auxiliary has a hundred years of volunteering in the area of Merritt. The society operated the local thrift shop nad has links to most non profit charitable groups in the city. It is calling for volunteers in recognition of its hundred years of service and the good work it has done.

Merritt has a hospital and a large government extended care facility as well as two significant private assisted living facilities. The local community college, NVIT has a care aid certificate program.

Editors note: The group is ideological driven and volunteering may be a step up to a career in Health care. The 100 years of service represents more then half the time  of European contact in the Nicola Valley.

They can be contacted at facebook.com/nvhca of nvhcaux@hotmail.com

Today in history: December 17th 1969

Project blue book the United States closes its books on the study of UFO’s

Respectfully yours

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela (Photo credit: Festival Karsh Ottawa)

With respect to the family, friends , colleagues of Nelson Mandela we offer our condolences to the one who according to US President and guardian of democratic freedom Barack Obama ” has joined the ages”.

A quiet spirit and a pragmatic soul has left us to our own ends we hope that the world will build on his legacy as it is far from perfect and a lesson in starting and allowing others to have a part in liberty. KDG

Today in history: December 10th 1906

Teddy Roosevelt wins the Nobel peace prize, becoming the first American to accomplish it.

5 million dollars

There is a meeting coming up for a society that plans on raising a lot of money for a movie house.  Five million dollars is the top of the thermometer that is posted on the sold sign at the site. With the red marker now covering  from zero dollars to 300 thousand.

The not for profit society is not required to have a business plan that shows a profit but needs to have its articles of purpose prove a social good that they intent to fill as a group.

The contacts for the meeting are listed as Dorothy Molnar and Dana Egan, both are downtown business people one the proprietor of The Grand hotel the other a principle with the Brambles bakery on Quilchena avenue.

The plans show pictures of vintage movie houses with multiple showing venues something that may be considered archaic but in the realm of  historical interest. The cost of architects is about 150 thousand and is displayed in the in the red raised marker on the fundraising thermometer at the site.

The group has the support of two city councilors, Clara Norgaard and Kurt Christopherson.

The meeting is December 3rd at 5 PM at Brambles bakery, the group is called Merritt Community Cinema Society

Today in History: December 2nd 2001

Enron corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Ocean Wise Super Saturday

Delphinapterus leucas at Vancouver Aquarium

Delphinapterus leucas at Vancouver Aquarium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

November 9th is a super Saturday for the Vancouver Aquarium, the facility will be open an hour early for its members. BC hydro is endorsing ocean awareness and the Vancouver aquarium. The power smart people from hydro will be there also to give out winter power conservation tips. http://www.bchydro.com/news/conservation/2013/ocean-wise-month.html?WT.mc_id=c-13-11_oceanwise

 editors Note:

There is a great concern about the ocean and its endangered species, over fishing cruelty to sharks and bait. The Vancouver aquarium will give an appreciation for its beauty and value past commercial interests.

Today in History: November 6 1991

The last oil well fire in Kuwait is put out.

The local police had a road block on Voght Street last evening we were taking pictures and a constable asked if ” we could help you sir” . After a reply we both went about our business which included more pictures and demands to see drivers licences.

The corner on Voght street is a traditional spot for the local police to have road blocks . A well advertised campaign at Holiday time called counter attack checked for drinking drivers at  about the same location.  The bend in the road afforded a surprise effect for cars coming down from a hotel on the hill. The hotel is gone in a fire some years ago but there was a good response to the Halloween activities by locals this year, with many people dressing up and having fun.

The road block was not around the bend  and was visible coming down the hill. The RCMP  remind people to be visible after dark on this social occasion.

Editors note: On examination of the photos the police where around the corner from the long hill that used to accommodate the Largest hotel in Merritt’s patrons returning to the center of town.

Today in history: November 1,1765

The British Government makes the Stamp act to fund military operations in North America by the 13 Colonies.

Sculls ?

Sculls

Sculls

There was a trailer in Merritt this morning filled with rowing boats the trailer was marked Edmonton rowing club.

Not of lot of water around Edmonton it must be a challenge to find rowing venues there?

Today in History: October 28th 1017

Henry III  Holy Roman emperor is born.

New roof

Quonset Hut - Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society

Quonset Hut – Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society (Photo credit: NoJuan)

The Nicola Valley Society for Community living is getting a new roof on the Quonset shop and facility they have on Coldwater Avenue. Crews have been working since last week to sheet and single the building.

The facility provides work for challenged members making wooded stakes and pallets. The members also work at the library on Thursdays. The shop and yard is in Berta Fraser Yard a former city clerk and benefactor for many good works…. Late of Merritt BC

Today in history: October 23rd 1915

Thousand of women march for suffrage in New York City.

ten cents a cup

The local Starbucks is one of the outlets that are participating in a 10 cent discount of coffee with your own cup. Yep fill up your own cup and you will keep a dime and one less paper cup goes to the landfill.


Watch for deer when going up Voght to coffee houses in the early AM!
Today in history: October 8th 1982

The musical Cats opens on broadway and runs  for 18 years.

TGIF

Merit of Merritt

It’s good that it is friday….

The buildings that hosted the youth Mural Project while Michelle Loughrey ( master muralist) was doing her country music stars mural project became the Fireside center  another youth outreach. It is sponsored by people like the United way and the local wellness center. They are hosting a Net Flex film night. The event is for anyone 13 to 18 years of age , it is on every Thursday night at 4 PM.

There are eats incuding pizza provided.

The fireside center is at 2026 Granite avenue off the off Spirit Square.

Today in history: September 27th 1777

Lancaster Pennsylvania is made the Capital of the United States for one day.