Thank you Boston Bar ,North Bend,  Boothroyd, Anderson and all  surrounding areas.  The Fraser Canyon Express has been so well received that more than 200 extra copies had to be distributed and we hope that everyone got a chance to enjoy our premier issue. The phone calls, and personal messages  of support were overwhelming. If all goes as planned, each issue will be better than the last.  But, we need lots more input.  Letters to the editor are always so interesting to read, and quite often they are fuel for discussion.  Let us know what is bothering you, what has moved you and what has inspired you. Write to us and we will be happy to publish your letters (with discretion).  If your topic is controversial, you always have the option to remain anonymous.  

             Ambulance attendants, are they getting paid to sunbathe?

     On a balmy summer day in downtown Boston Bar, laughter and cheers ring out from the ambulance station as the attendants slam dunk the basketball.  On the sidelines, a young paramedic catches some rays. Maybe they will get a call, but then again maybe they won't.   A great job if you can get it....not likely says Jason Twells,  supervisor . "It is a common misconception that these people get paid to slack off, but this is not the case, none of them get paid unless they are actually on a call."  No money for gas (all except 2 live in Vancouver), no money for expenses and no money for  their own food, these 4 people are basically just sitting around waiting for calls.  They have established a station fund, with each of them to contribute $3/month.  This fund is used to purchase things like the basketball hoop, movies and  coffee for the station.  "This is an awesome place to work in the summer", says one  paramedic "the people are so friendly, we love to play volleyball and  go to the pool, but we can't go far, being on duty 24 hours/ day."


For her tireless work with the schools Counter attack groups, she receives a round of thunderous applause.  Donna has worked hard throughout the year trying to improve road safety.  Having recently been presented with one of 12  Lisa Nemetz Awards by the Insurance Corporation of BC, all her hard work and devotion has been recognized with a beautiful carved glass trophy.  Well Done! nominated by Mike Galbraith


    At the annual Boothroyd Band picnic in the Nahatlatch Valley on July 3, a lot more was on the agenda besides hamburgers and cold soda.  Representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of  Forestry Renewal, B.C. Parks,  Fisheries, and Cattermole Timber turned out to discuss their various plans for the Valley.  Boothroyd Band was well represented by Chief Phillip Campbell, some  respected elders, Rick Campbell and dozens of concerned band members.  Lytton  was also in attendance with Chief Fred Samson and  various band members.  Attendees were surprised and delighted with the last minute  arrival of Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, and chief of the Penticton Indian Band.
    First on the list was Len Blackstock, of Cattermole Timber.  He put forth a planned proposal to log  select blocks of the Nahatlatch Valley.  He stated, " We are not planning to clear cut, we are proposing to harvest small blocks between the 45Km and 47Km mark, these blocks will be a hectare in size, maximum." The blocks consist mainly of fir, some cedar and vine maple. Cattermole currently holds 42Km and between 47Km and 48Km. Blackstock stated that he is aware of the pine mushroom concerns, and that this proposal has been prepared with the intentions to inflict minimal damage to these natural resources.
    Jeff Such, of B.C. Parks, questioned Blackstock about the logging techniques  to be implemented.  Blackstock replied that helicopter logging was the preferred method.  He also said that the proposal was to harvest between "30, 40, 50% volume, and that is not the old lgrowth, we are planning to take the secondary growth only."
     Kumsheen elder, Nathan Spinks, spoke first to  Cattermole's proposal.  "This valley is the breadbasket for the Nlakapamux people" he said. He stated that  the Nahatlatch valley has been their traditional hunting and gathering lands for generations, and expressed the importance of preserving that for the young people.  " There is a lot more to consider besides the pine mushrooms" agreed Lytton Chief Fred Samson.  "We need to consider the non-timber products, the traditional foods and medicines, the saskatoon berries, the huckleberries, the grizzly bear, the Devils Club, the pine mushroom"..The  Nahatlatch River Watershed Restoration Program was also touched upon, the  next issue of the Fraser Canyon Express will look into that program in greater detail.
      Boothroyd Band chief, Phillip Campbell, gave a us brief statement "  Co-operation is going to happen, it is going on in the Province now and I hope the government will understand that land is very important to all First Nations people."  When asked who had the final say in regards to whether the logging goes ahead, he stated that it was not them, it was up to the government.  How far  would he go to prevent the logging ?  "As far as we have to, to protect our aboriginal rights in this valley".
      Chief Stewart Phillip also gave a short statement to The Express , "I have a duty to support all endeavors to protect the integrity of our title rights. I hope the government will not ignore the title interests of the aboriginal people,  ..if this does happen" he assures us, "there will be an escalation of conflict and confrontation.  Gordon Campbell has an opportunity to make a  difference, I sincerely hope he will take advantage of this opportunity. ..... Maybe the next time you  see me", he says "I will be wearing camos".  (camouflage-type military clothing).....



In the first week of July the RCMP were called out on two separate instances of rolled vehicles on the Nahatlatch road.  The first was 7 km out when a single vehicle rolled off the road, all 4  people involved were taken to Lytton Hospital, but no serious injuries were reported.  The second accident was similar in that a single vehicle rolled off the Nahatlatch road, however a Vancouver girl was transferred from Lytton to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops with back injuries.  Alcohol was not a factor in either accident but speed was determined to be  leading cause of the rollovers.



After three years in our midst, Corporal Brian Paul says goodbye.  

Express:   We will miss you when you're gone, you were so well liked in this town.  You must have made some good friends, is there anyone in particular you would like to mention?
Paul:  I have made more than just `good' friends, I have made lifelong friends, both professionally and socially.  People who assisted me greatly.  When I first came to Boston Bar, I had some concepts, some policing strategies.  This was a small place where I would be in charge, and could implement those concepts.  One of my strategies was getting the youth involved.  We created the youth action team with Marco Papillon, and the ICBC Counterattack with Donna Kneller.  Since the youth have become involved, I can count the number of times youth have been in trouble on one hand......and that is a compliment to the youth of the community.  Another of my concepts was police being active in community life, and so many people embraced me, essentially, they looked at me as a person and not just a cop.   A lot of people helped me develop those policing strategies, it  just couldn't have been done without Charles Gregg, Winston Kimber and Russell Armstrong, who were able to initiate and complete so many projects.   The Lion's Club gave me an outlet to assist the community, that's why they are there.  I have to say that they are one of the best groups I've ever been involved with, The Fraser Canyon Lions Club, they really are here to serve the  needs here in our community.
Express:  Can you relate some of your more memorable moments?
Paul:  Well, when I first came to town , I came in by fire, literally!  The Nahatlatch fires were raging. That first summer was  very challenging, simply because of all the files generated.  Radio dispatch told me it had never been that busy in history.
Express:  Are there any moments that stand out  in memory?
Paul:  Yes, I remember after I had been here about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks , I was invited to the "Harry Hoedown",  I was a little apprehensive about going but I recall leaving it and saying to Ian, " You know, I think I'm going to like this place."
Express:  What are you going to miss the most?
Paul:  There are so many things, but  just getting together with friends in an evening,  whether it's sitting around talking or doing some little project, we'll miss that.
Express:  How does your family feel about moving?
Paul:  Ellen, Ben and Emily have mixed feelings.  Victoria will have more amenities and opportunities, but we are all leaving behind, life-long friends.  Ben was ceremonially adopted by Angie Isaac.  She even gave him a First Nations name; Rainbow Brave Who Walks With Cougar's Heart, it was something that just  honoured our whole family.  Angie, Cheryl Davidson and I worked closely as First Nations liaison workers at the schools and it worked out very well.  I  also want to  say  thank you to the teachers and staff at the schools.  Many of the programs I wanted to instigate were youth oriented.  All I had to do was walk into the schools and ask, " What do you think about such and such?" and they would say " Let's do it!" The three bands that I dealt with were similar, if we had an issue, we could call and discuss it and work toward treating the cause. Instead of  dealing with the problem we could address that aspect.  If this could only be employed at a federal level, there would be a lot less political unrest and it would be a better country.
Express:  Where do you go from here?
Paul: I have been appointed a  position on a special plain clothes task force in Victoria.  It is a very prestigious  opportunity that will not come along  twice in a lifetime.  This is better than a promotion, I feel it will further my career even more than a promotion.
Express:  Will you still be able to work with youth?
Paul:  No, this task force will be dealing with organized crime.
Express:  When will you be back?
Paul:  I don't know when  I'll be back for sure, but I guarantee you that every time we set foot on the mainland, we will return.
Express:  Anything else you would like to say?
Paul:  I really would like to commend the Lions for all their  genuine and hard work that they do in the community, because they really are a great bunch of guys.


Healing with Essential OIls  by Carol Bergstrom, Holistic Health Practitioner
Lavendula and Augustifolium Lavender

   Essential oils are highly volatile aromatic liquids used to promote and maintain spiritual, psychological and physical well-being.
    Lavender may be applied `neat' for burns and beestings.  It is an antiseptic, skin rejuvenator, anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory.  It is used to relive stress and insomnia.  Put a few drops in your bath to relax, a few drops on your pillow to help you sleep and a few drops on  a warm cloth for a compress to relieve cramps.  2 drops in water dabbed on chicken pocks will help soothe and heal at a faster rate.  Fresh lavender made as tea is very relaxing and very effective for colic in infants.            
In the next issue; Chamomile