Tag Archive: Canada


ICE

English: Thomas Nast's most famous drawing, &q...

English: Thomas Nast’s most famous drawing, “Merry Old Santa Claus”, from the January 1, 1881 edition of Harper’s Weekly. Thomas Nast immortalized Santa Claus’ current look with an initial illustration in an 1863 issue of Harper’s Weekly, as part of a large illustration titled “A Christmas Furlough” in which Nast set aside his regular news and political coverage to do a Santa Claus drawing. The popularity of that image prompted him to create another illustration in 1881. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The streets about Merritt are covered in ice this morning. Rain yesterday  and freezing temperatures overnight have joined to make it very slippery . By 10 am sanding was near complete in the city and no powerline problems are clear.

Last evening nearly 200 thousand people in Toronto Canada were still without power, do to ice , and were expecting not to have any through Christmas Day.

Editors note:Ice can fall from roofs and although large icicles arte pretty they can seriously hurt or maim if they fall on you.

Today in history: December 24th 1955

Norad begins its Santa Claus tracking program.

English: This is a logo for Teck Cominco.

English: This is a logo for Teck Cominco. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Teck, Highland Valley Mine operation near Logan Lake in BC has been under going an expansion. The mill building was the center of the upgrade as well as three domes that put some operations inside at the huge mine. A source says that the mill will be commissioned in February 2014.

Iron workers at  the project told us that they are in the process of removing the huge amount of scaffolding around the 80 foot tall mill structure.

Today in history: December 20th 1916

Micheal Chartrand , Canadian union leader born. (d 2010)

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

TGIF-Thank goodness its Friday

Merit of Merritt

Its good that it is friday….

Toronto Rally for a Progressive Coalition, Sta...

The winner of the Merritt Library 1000 dollar draw was a child; Ms Latremouille won the draw and an adult Louise  Brown won the 100 dollar prize based on content.

Today in History: December 6th 2008

The Greek riots break out resulting in the police killing of a 15 year old boy.

TGIF – Christmas parade

Coat of arms of City of Merritt

Coat of arms of City of Merritt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The people of Merritt are having their kick off parade for the Christmas season to-night. all the merchants will be open for the parade with specials and advertised incentives in the local weekly newspaper.

The small community of Merritt puts a lot of effort into the evening and it shows a lot of coöperation and commitment as it generally very succesful.

The construction company Sanders and Company provided a 30 foot pine tree for the center of Spirit square and it was decorated and ready last evening . Overnight vandals tore the lights off and attempted to remove the tree from spirit square. At 8:AM this morning to city workers were well on with the task of repairing the damage. The tree was up and lights were being restored. The pair was confident about it being ready for the after dark parade and open house of the downtown core of Merritt.

Today in history: November 29th 1919

Joe Welder ,Canadian American bodybuilder born.

Weights and Measures Canada

manitence contractors also test for weighs and measures say a source

Maintenance contractors also test for weights and measures say a source

Ever wonder if you are getting what you pay for at the gas pump? Yesterday the Petro Canada station at the top of the hill was half roped off and being worked by technicians from Protec petroleum services 1.888.799.7987. One of the two workers when asked said he was doing regular maintenance of the pumps. When asked if weights and measures do the meter testing he said ” we do that for them every two years we test 20 liters to see if the pumps are accurate.” Here is the context:

Effective January 1, 2007, initial inspections of scales, gasoline dispensers and other types of measurement systems used in any trade sector, must be acquired from Measurement Canada authorized service providers. In cases where there are fewer than two authorized service providers, capable of providing the type of inspection service required, in the province in which the measurement system is to be inspected, Measurement Canada will continue to provide the service. For initial inspections required outside of the provinces (i.e. Northwest Territories), Measurement Canada will only provide the service if there are fewer than two authorized service providers in the adjoining provinces who typically provide these types of services in these locations.

Authorized service providers may be accredited or registered by Measurement Canada. A list of Accredited Service Providers and a list of Registered Service Providers can be found on Measurement Canada’s internet site. The scope of the inspection services which can be provided by registered organizations is directly linked to trade sector review recommendations and may have some limitations. These same limitations do not necessarily apply to accredited organizations.

The use of Measurement Canada authorized service providers to provide initial inspection services is in keeping with our commitment to focus Measurement Canada resources on establishing rules and requirements related to measurement, investigating occurrences of suspected inaccurate measurement, and monitoring the performance of authorized service providers and of the marketplace. Authorized service providers will increasingly do inspections on Measurement Canada’s behalf.

The Government of Canada and this ministry will also take up complaints and not only gas pumps but firewood , electric and gas meters, retail scales and others.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/mc-mc.nsf/eng/h_lm00007.html

Editors note: Health Canada has the people responsible for wireless radation from meters.

Today in history: November 27th 2001

A hydrogen atmosphere is discovered on Osiris and extra solar planet, by the Hubble space telescope.

TGIF- one cent a liter

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Its good that it is friday….

The Petro Canada at the junction of highway 5 , 97c and eight is showing a drop in price by a cent to $1.26 a liter.

Editors note:There is a summer driving season that puts pressure on fuel prices. Winter road conditions may put serious  downward pressure on demand and use of highways.

Today in history: November 22 1987

A  pirate dressed as Max Headroom hijacks two Chicago television stations.

NVIT, visiting speakers series

Dr.Eugene Atleo speaks to staff members and interested public at the NVIT lecture theater, Wednesday November 20th. Re- member

Dr.Eugene Atleo speaks to staff members and interested public at the NVIT lecture theater, Wednesday November 20th. Re- member

Last evening the School NVIT  had a speaker from the lower mainland, of BC. Dr. Eugene Richard Atleo,a chief of the Abbotsford first nations band and the father Shawn Atleo of the Grand chief of the national expression of first nations.

Dr. Atleo is a hereditary chief of  the Ahousaht First Nation and was the first  to earn a doctorate among First Nations people.    Dr. Atleo’s main message is that the cooperative life is sustainable and that dominate life is not. He took ownership of the cooperative life style as being Aboriginal and traditional.

Today in history: November 21st 1953

The Piltdown Man Skull is declared a hoax the the British Natural Museum.

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.

Engaging the world

Simon Fraser University has a presence here today at the local community college. Their theme is Engaging the world and are specifically presenting to Academic criminology prospects for degrees.

SFU has a distinction of having won the world pipe band  contests in Scotland. The school is named after the Explorer Simon Fraser who was the first to make it to the Pacific ocean by Land. He also relied on the most major river in British Columbia that bears his name today. The Fraser River empties into the Pacific ocean at Vancouver

Jack Lee, Pipe Sergeant of the multiple World ...

Jack Lee, Pipe Sergeant of the multiple World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band warming up prior to the band’s performance at the 2005 Bellingham Highland Games. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today in History: November 4 2008

The United States elects its first Black American President.

TGIF

Merit

Have a great weekend.

Halloween came and went last evening we had aHalloweenbout 20 people in the center of town and we noticed lots of cars taking kids to homes of people they  knew and trusted.

Fire works seemed briefer then other years . KDG

Today in history:  November 1 1956

A coal mine disaster in Spring  Hills Nova Scotia kills 39 miners, 88 are rescued.

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