Each year, the Peak takes a look back through the past 52 editions of the paper to pull together a reflection of life in 2014. You may have other memories of the year. Please share them in the comments section below.
Month by month
January
- Travellers adjust to ferry changes as $30-million upgrades continue for Westview and Little River terminals
- Postal workers strike over job cuts and changes to Canada Post delivery
February
- Province agrees to dozens of changes to liquor policy
- City installs crosswalk, costing $100,000, on Joyce Avenue at Nootka Street
- Women's wellness centre closes due to lack of support
March
- Teachers vote 89 per cent in favour of job action during contract bargaining with the province
- Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation and province sign final agreement for treaty, with introduction into Parliament April
April
- Herring spawn covers shorelines with milt as stocks return, bringing with them extra sea life to gorge on eggs
- Bill Cripps steps down from Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee after eight years as chair
May
- Multi-Material BC takes over recycling services
- Community participates in compassion challenge and commits more than 10,000 random acts of kindness in one day
- BC teachers go out on strike
June
- Businesses scramble to abide by federal anti-spam legislation
- Powell River hosts second annual Pacific Region International Symphony Music Academy
July
- Totem carved by Craig Galligos is awarded to Slovenia’s St. Stanislav Youth Choir, as winners of choir of the world at International Choral Kathaumixw
- Eve Stegenga loses battle but has the last laugh against Statistics Act and serves community service by teaching laughter yoga
August
- Lund celebrates 125 years with a special Lund Dayz celebration culminating in August
- Rob Wiebe takes over as staff sergeant at RCMP Powell River detachment following Andy Brinton’s decision to work as chief of the Oak Bay Police Department in Victoria
September
- Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society physical office closes but transportation of stem cells continues
- Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation holds its final election under the Indian Act. Chief Clint Williams will hold seat during transition to self-government
October
- Potential business ventures and industries attracted to Powell River are announced and introduced by City of Powell River mayor Dave Formosa during a press conference. Announcements include purchase of Millennium Park trees and medical marijuana operation
- Powell River Historical Museum and Archives receives invitation from Burnaby Museum to re-establish Anderson Sawmill in its original community
November
- Results of 2014 civic election brings a change for three city councillors, one regional director and one school trustee, while community supports referendum for proposed location and funding for new Powell River Public Library
- Potential free rides on ferries for students involved in school activities and sports is deliberated for transportation to Vancouver Island following decision to extend free travel for students heading to the Lower Mainland
December
- Patricia Theatre reopens after restoration work is complete following water damage due to sprinklers
- Seasonal storms cause landslides, slumps, flooding and closures due to heavy rains and exceptionally high tides
- Catalyst Paper Corporation announces the curtailment of No. 9 paper machine, affecting 36 jobs for CEP Local 1 employees
Powell River People
Fred Gendron, World War II veteran, took the salute on Remembrance Day.
Competing against 10 other musicians, Jasper Sassaman won Powell River Idol 2014 in front of a full house at Evergreen Theatre.
Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation Elder Dr. Elsie Paul released her book “Written as I Remember It: Teachings from the Life of a Sliammon Elder,” in May.
Vancouver Island University, Powell River campus principal Arlette Raaen stepped down at the end of August to take a phased retirement after 20 years in the role.
Brooks Secondary School principal Kathy Rothwell retired at the end of July after close to 40 years working for School District 47.
Ruth Allan, who was known as the credit union lady, was honoured at First Credit Union’s 75th anniversary, and celebrated her 100th birthday.
Margaret Leitner retired as executive administrator of Powell River Employment Program, a society she first started working for in 1991.
Chris McNaughton announced his intent not to run in the 2014 civic election, after serving as a City of Powell River councillor for six years.
The community rallied around Anakin Fretts and his family as he recovers from a serious vehicle accident.
Mother handed torch to daughter with outgoing councillor Myrna Leishman and incoming councillor CaroleAnn Leishman.
Donna Rekve was recognized for having spent 25 years working in the emergency support services, now as director.
MP John Weston and Senator Nancy Greene Raine’s national fitness bill, Bill S-211, received royal assent. The first Saturday in June will be dedicated to National Health and Fitness Day.
Quotes of the year
“No one likes to be muzzled. That’s the only tool we have in the legislature, is our words.”
Nicholas Simons
MLA Powell River-Sunshine Coast
“Without government relief this will result in additional loss of staff and further reductions to services for students.”
Teresa Rezansoff
BC School trustees association president
“She was very inspirational to me when I was a student to consider math, science and space as a future education. I think it’s important for students to keep in touch with their teachers who are pretty formative.”
Bob Thirsk
Canadian Astronaut
“This is an exciting and new era in the evolution of recycling initiatives. It is a paradigm shift and we do not exactly know how it will unfold or what to expect. However, it is fundamentally a step in the right direction.”
Al Radke
Powell River Regional district’s chief administrative officer
“As a community we dumped garbage there. We’re obligated to clean it up.”
Russell Brewer
City of Powell River councillor
“I need to be motivated. The long-term gratification of dancing at my grandchildren’s weddings is not enough to motivate me to exercise. I need short-term goals.”
Dr. David May
Family Physician
“Our community members witnessed and celebrated the signing of the agreement, which will lead us to a treaty that reestablishes our connection to our territories and sets the foundation for re-building the Tla’amin Nation.”
Clint Williams
Chief, Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation
“In 1988 we finished the bridge and we met up with another four people who were also building trails. We discovered our goals were similar and joined forces.”
Roger Taylor
BOMB (Bloody Old Men’s Brigade) Squad
“Plants and flowers and trees are good for the soul. We want to provide a place of beauty and reflection for residents; a place of education and study for students and scientists; and a draw for visitors to Powell River.”
Diana Wood
Powell River Botanic Garden Society president
“I can assure you, from the bottom of my heart, even though people are calling for my head tonight, we are simply trying to move the facts forward so we can move the process along.”
Jim Palm
City of Powell River councillor
“It is everyone’s responsibility to call out racism and prejudice and find ways to learn about each other beyond destructive and misleading stereotypes.”
Claudia Medina
“They don’t have any intention of getting an agreement before the end of August. They are trying to starve us out, trying to break the union.”
Cathy Fisher
Powell River and District Teachers Association president
“If you look around there is lots of grey hair. Having the facility is going to be really beneficial.”
Merrick Anderson
Powell River Regional District Electoral Area E director
“By having this system they have managed to persuade people not to travel in such a way that they are back to the traffic of 24 years ago. That’s another indicator to me that things are seriously wrong.”
Colin Palmer
Powell River Regional District chair
“It makes more sense to me to have the ferry on this side of the water.”
Todd Stone
Minister of transportation and infrastructure
“I don’t even remember how I came to join the team, I just remember falling in love with what we could do to assist our community in the event of an emergency or disaster.”
Donna Rekve
Emergency Social Services director
“We are not here to do the day-to-day work. We are here to set policy and direction.”
Dave Formosa
City of Powell River mayor
“Our tools only allow us to reflect it, play it back to people hoping that they’ll see what we see, the ugliness, greed and insanity—and that maybe someone out there is listening to us.”
Wendy Brown
Artist
“We know from experience that people rush to the outlets—everybody’s got something to plug in.”
Darin Guenette
BC Ferries public affairs manager
“Part of my job as an MLA is to go through the budget line item by line item to make sure they are putting the money where they say they are spending it, and that they are spending taxpayers’ money on something useful ...”
Nicholas Simons
Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA
