Category: Government Works


Esl

 

There are English as a second language classes in progress at the public library here in Merritt. In the multi purpose room about 7 people are being facilitated  by Sharon Edwards.

English as a second language is important to some people as Government services  are only guaranteed in one or the 2 official languages French or English.

English as a second language (ESL) is the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages.

English is a language which has great reach and influence; it is taught all over the world under many different circumstances. In English-speaking countries, English language teaching has essentially evolved in two broad directions: instruction for people who intend to live there and for those who do not. These divisions have grown firmer as the instructors of these two “industries” have used different terminology, followed distinct training qualifications, formed separate professional associations, and so on. Crucially, these two arms have very different funding structures, public in the former and private in the latter, and to some extent this influences the way schools are established and classes are held. Matters are further complicated by the fact that the United States and the United Kingdom, both major engines of the language, describe these categories in different terms: as many British observers have had attributed to them,[1] the saying goes that “England and America are two countries divided by a common language.” source Wikipedia

Jury selection can be based on the understanding of the nuances of language.

Today in history: April 22nd 1876

The first ever national baseball game is played in Philadelphia

 

Green locust

File:Gleditsia triacanthos01.JPEG

Photo Source GNU Wikipedia

The Merritt Public Library has a new tree to replace the Pine Tree removed from the entrance of the building. A green Locust tree was planted by a landscaping contractor this morning and is to be “complementary of the trees on the front that are sunburst locus.”

Today in history: April 14th 1956

Video tape is first demonstrated in Chicago.

TGIF -Two nations

Editorial opinion:
Canada the true north strong and free is not one nation but two. There are 9 English common law provinces and one province , Quebec that has its own  civil code, the code is based on the written Napoleonic code and it is the civil law in the province of Quebec. That was the way the country was put together and has worked together. However we have a fundamental federal law that is the same across the country, for one the criminal code is the same for Quebec as it is for other Canadian provinces. We understand that some of the federal mechanisms such as language were less than what the culture of Quebec needed and that bill 101 relieved their concern over ” where numbers warranted”

The Quebec election is using a possible referendum as a mandate issue. We think that Quebec is well served in the world in Canada,and their legitimate language issues are quickly becoming mute with so much connectivity through electronics with quick translation and a world culture emerging between individuals rather then nation states.

The sovereign view needs to concentrate on good government and any  Quebec government should only be open to referendum  that is clear in its results and benefits to the average ordinary person.

Today in history: March 14th 1794

Eli Whitney gets a patent for the Cotton Gin.

By election result

Candidate Menard won the local by-election for city council on Saturday.  The only of the six candidates to get more than 200 votes.

Neil Menard has an honorable discharge from the Navy and has a background in the IWA union where he was employed in administration for  decades. ( source NM all candidates forum)

He is purported to be a BCJHL hockey supporter, Merritt boasts the longest existing franchise in the league 41 years

Today in history: February 24th 2008

Fidel Castro retires as Cuba’s president after 50 years.

TGIF- by elections

Merritt’s second by-election of the current term is heating up no issues are broadly discussed.

Two more councilors are campaigning for the February 22 by election.  Ginny Prowel and Julie  Vankoll are putting out signs or advertising no signs are clearly out for Linda Baird as yet. Advanced polls open on February 12th.

Below is a list of the candidates for election.

BAIRD Linda City of Merritt
CROSS Noreen Thompson-Nicola Regional   District
JOLLY Mike City of Merritt
MENARD Neil City of Merritt
PROWAL Ginny City of Merritt
VANKOLL Julie City of Merritt

GENERAL VOTING DAY will be open to qualified electors of the City of Merritt on Saturday, February 22, 2014 between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm at the following location: Lower portion of City Hall – 2185 Voght Street, Merritt, B.C.

Today in history: February 7th 1962

The United States bans all imports and exports from Cuba.

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.

Anti trust

Friendly competion comes close to sharing …..

Maintenance contractors also test for weights and measures say a source

Maintenance contractors also test for weights and measures say a source Photo KDG

Today in history: January 10th 1870

John D.Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil.

New pumper

The city has acquired a new vacuum truck it wasat work at the Nicola Valley Aquatic Center on Tuesday.

A source says that for the last two years a contractor from Kelowna has done that service for the city. Before that the city used a local contractor to carry out things like cleaning out storm sewers .

The operator expressed confidence in its abilities and estimated it to be 500.000 dollars in cost

New vac truck gives the city  of Merritt the work of cleaning out storm sewers. picture KDG

New vac truck gives the city of Merritt the work of cleaning out storm sewers.
picture KDG

Today in history: December 19th 1998

The United States president Bill Clinton is impeached by the  US Congress.

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.

Sharon McIvor

Sharon McIvor

The local community college has a speakers series, its first event of the season last night featured a local member of their faculty, Sharon McIvor. Sharon has an activist’s bent to her career. She is A lawyer but generally refuses income from her place on the bar.  Does not like to practice criminal law,she has however a couple of presidents to her credit including O’Connor vrs Canada were she got on going revisions to the way victims statements are reviewed in sexual assault cases and the McIvor amendment to the Indian act that brought 46,000 grand children of the  Indian women that lost their status over time  through marriage. The women were restored in the 1980s by legislation but their grandchildren were not at that time.

Sharon voiced concerns on poverty oppression and missing or murdered women. she has a voice at the UN through a couple of committees .Sharon also voiced concerns about the relationship of First Nations with the Police. she also said that if it were proportional to population there would be about 19,000 missing or murdered non aboriginal women.

She feels that the way government is addressing issues is by providing money for training to groups, personal safety is the one she took ownership of for her people. She alluded to it being something but seemed less than satisfied.

Sharon McIvor says she was born in the Nicola Valley and can trace her mother’s side as always being here.

Today in History: November 5 1943

The World War Two bombing of the Vatican

TGIF

A disply at a local library promoting wood and value added. Photo KDG

A disply at a local library promoting wood and value added. Photo KDG

The local library has gotten a dozen new soft and comfortable chairs. The black swivel global comfort series Obus chairs came with a Fabrique Au Canada or Made in Canada tag attached .

They have been placed at the computer stations in the Library. The original Computers were a gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and were replaced after years of grateful use.

Something new is a treat go to the library and email your buds this weekend on a new comfort chair.

Today in History: October 25th 2004

Cuba bans transactions in American dollars

BCAMTA

Merit of Merritt

Its good that it is friday….

The local British Columbia Aboriginal Training Association has a posted goal in their office at NVIT the local first nations run community college. The goal is 650 employed by March 2015.

They also post stats that claim 1998 intakes and 613 employed to date since 2010

SPF (funding partnership including federal government And mining companies such as Teck and First Nations) since 2012: 1054 intakes and 253 employed.

The British Columbia Mining Industry employed 30, 000 people in BC in the heydays of the 1979s ,about the size of the civil service with more than 30 operating mines. It has enjoyed a comeback in recent years after a hiatus to global operations.

Today in history: October 4 , 1883

The first trip of the train Orient Express.