Norma Blissett of Cranbrook wins New Democratic Party nomination for Kootenay East

Norma Blissett of Cranbrook will carry the New Democratic Party banner as its candidate in Kootenay East  in the next British Columbia provincial election.

She defeated Fernie city councillor Randal Macnair at the party’s nominating convention in Cranbrook on September 22.

“I’m honoured by this vote of confidence from the local NDP members,” said Blissett, “and I will work hard between now and the May 14 election to become the MLA for Kootenay East.”

“I believe that with my resource industry background and my experience in the community, I can be a strong voice for the people of Kootenay East,” said Blissett.

“After talking with constituents in the Elk Valley and Cranbrook it is clear that many people are looking for a change in government. They want an MLA that will listen and act on their concerns. They want an MLA that will respect the views of all constituents. I believe that I can be that MLA”

Blissett, 51, is a forester and a high school teacher. Originally from Ontario, for the past 17 years she has lived in Cranbrook, where she raised her three children—Douglas, Mathew and Hope.

Blissett currently teaches forestry, science and math at Mount Baker Secondary School. Previously she was employed as a Forest Educator by a group of East Kootenay forest companies. In Ontario, she worked as a forester for the Ministry of Natural Resources and as a science teacher at Port Hope High School.

Blissett earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University, and a Master’s in Leadership from Gonzaga University.

She has served as a volunteer for a number of organizations including Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook, East Kootenay Child Care Resource Centre, Salvation Army, Heart and Stroke Society, Kimberley North Star Ski Racers and Cranbrook Minor Lacrosse. Blissett enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and skiing.

SPRING SNOW ON THE CPR MAIN LINE BETWEEN REVELSTOKE AND GOLDEN, BC

CPR Mainline Between Revelstoke and Golden --- Thanks to Raoul Lemieux and Andre Renaud for providing the photos.

Lots of snow in the pass this year! Check the last one to see how deep it is around the Plow.

This is between Revelstoke and Golden on the main line…

The first photo has a D-8 Dozer pushing snow and in the tunnel entrance/portal is a train c/w a V - Plow ready to cut through  the snow.

The second photo taken from above the tunnel/portal is the plow c/w a couple of engines heading west towards Revelstoke.

The third photo is the plow heading west, probably about 1 km from the entrance/portal.

B.C. high school principal loses cellphone jamming war with students

The principal of a Vancouver Island high school has been forced to stop using an electronic cellphone jamming device he bought online from China because its use is illegal in Canada.

CBC News reported that Steve Gray, the principal of Port Hardy Secondary School, had banned the use of cellphones in the school two years ago, but it was ineffective so he bought a device from China, plugged it in and it worked.

But according to the CBC report, irate students protested by refusing to return to class after lunch one day last week, claiming the device was illegal in Canada, and they were right. Gray had to disconnect it.

Notwithstanding the issue of the use of the ubiquitous cellphones in schools, my first thought was that the principal was attempting to use the influence of arbitrary power if the CBC report is correct. It says that Gray went online and bought the device from China, plugged it in, and it jammed cellphones in the school. There is no mention that the school board was involved. Furthermore, the story notes that the jamming device was illegal. To me, this smacks of "big brotherism" and should not be tolerated in Canadian society. It is my understanding that $115 of school funds was used to pay for the device -- meaning taxpayer dollars were spent on buying something that was illegal to use in Canada.

I hope the British Columbia Ministry of Education is taking a look at this one, and will direct all school districts to ensure that they obey the law, and are not accessing illegal devices from offshore locations to solve challenges within their schools.

The real challenge facing schools everywhere today is to come to grips with the changed realities of education in the 21st century. Granted it may be very difficult to make the quantum leap from a school system designed for the 19th century to the needs of today.

How about designing curriculum that embraces the cellphone as a total communications device, which is what it really is,. I will stop here for the moment but will have more to say on this one later. Right now at least at Port Hardy Secondary School, this round goes to the students who stood up to the power that was.

As always I welcome your comments. mj.morris@live.ca
LINK:
http://news.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/abc/Local/BC/ContentPosting?isfa=1&feedname=CBC_LOCALNEWS&date=true&newsitemid=vancouver-bc-cellphone-jamming-highschool-port-alberni

The Greening of Michael -- Participate in Earth Hour!

http://www.facebook.com/earthhourcanada

I never thought that I was much of 'green' person other than being part Irish, but two things in the past week have caused me to at least pause and reflect on the entire subject of the need for a green revolution globally, and my place in the scheme of things.

First, Bill McLeod highly recommended that I read 'Hot, Flat and Crowded' by Thomas L Friedman, the award winning New York Times columnist, and I am so doing right now. It is an incredible insight into the need for the green revolution and how it can all be so very positive. More on Friedman's book later, and I will sure be asking Bill to give us his views too.

Secondly, Friday morning I was down getting the mail in the condo complex where I live in Cranbrook, BC, and the manager Bernice was posting notices asking all residents to participate in Earth Hour today (Saturday March 28, 2009) at 8:30 pm local time. I immediately decided to do so, and at 8:30 pm tonight I plan to turn off the lights in my place and reflect on my possible role in the green revolution. More on the Greening of Michael later!

I invite you to participate in Earth Hour tonight wherever you live and as always will welcome your comments. Have a super day

A LINK TO EARTH HOUR ACTIVITIES http://green.sympatico.msn.ca/earthhour/article.aspx?cp-documentid=962109

2010 Olympics: stop the spin and focus on athletes

After having Gordon Campbell, the premier of British Columbia tell me on Global TV news this morning about the celebrations being held today across the province and Canada to mark the unveiling of the Olympic torch one year before the Vancouver 2010 Olympics begin, I really tried to get in the mood. On my daily walks I even looked for Cranbrook residents to be celebrating -- you know, cars with Olympic flags on them, horns honking, much like they do after a major hockey victory. Not one did I see! Nada!

By the way for those who don't know, Cranbrook is located in the southeastern corner of British Columbia where we have been told time and again that the Vancouver Olympics are for all British Columbians.

That is something like the Ontario government telling us that Toronto projects would benefit Chapleau in northern Ontario where I used to live. Out here they say that the government's interest ends at Hope (that's the actual name of place, not stolen from the title of Barack Obama's book), while in Ontario it ends at Barrie.

But as usual I digress. I want to get into the Olympic spirit like "all" British Columbians are, indeed like all Canadians are if I believe the junior minister from the Harper government on hand in Whistler today for the Olympic torch celebration. Some of the Olympics events are being held in Whistler which makes sense because they are the Winter Olympics and they have snow there. In Vancouver, who knows! There was also a celebration in Richmond, BC.

I took a virtual tour across Canada checking for reports of celebrations from sea to sea to sea but other than stories in the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail, reportingfromVancouver/Whistler, not much did I find.

Canadian Press struggled with a story on national celebrations, but their reporter was forced to admit that in Halifax something was planned but nobody showed up.

Last night the mayor of Vancouver admitted on the news that nothing big was planned there today. Something about security costs being too high. Speaking of security costs the breaking news today was that costs may have skyrocketed from $175 million to $1 billion for the 2010 games. Tom Clark on his new CTV Newsnet show Power Play tried to get Harper minister Peter Van Loan to come clean but the reply was that negotiations were ongoing. Typical comment.

I am all in favour of the Olympics by the way. But let's focus on the athletes and the games, and stop the spin.

Please feel free to comment or email me at mj.morris@live.ca