Christmas truck: A Christmas-themed truck making the rounds in Powell River will be available to view at the gravel area of Willingdon Beach from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Sunday, December 20, weather permitting.
The nearly 18-metre-long truck, complete with lights and music, is the work of Ryder Spick of Spick & Sons Projects.
Spick has been driving the truck through various neighbourhoods during the evenings this past week, travelling where permitted by the vehicle’s size.
This is the fourth year Spick has shared his lighted truck with residents.
For updates on the location of the Christmas truck, go to facebook.com/RydersChristmasTruck.
Wood stove exchange
A provincial wood stove exchange program for communities and regional districts won’t include Powell River again this year.
Poor air quality was a key factor in the Ministry of Environment’s decision to include 13 communities in the program, and Powell River’s outdoor air is the best in the world, according to the World Health Organization May 2014 data.
Dan Ouellette, City of Powell River director of fire and emergency services, said criteria for the program is onerous for a city of Powell River’s size, including having a staff program coordinator. He added his department has tried to host public information sessions on the issue of reducing wood stove smoke, but attendance was low.
The provincial government announced the list of communities Friday, December 11. The $190,000 program, which has been running since 2008, provides homeowners with a $250 rebate when they replace their older model stoves with newer, approved models.
