Feed the swarming smolts. Stroll the nature trails that wind alongside the creek. Lay down a blanket and enjoy a picnic or toss a baseball on their lawns. There’s always something to see according to the hatchery staff, whether it’s beavers, otters, ducks or mink, in addition to the spawning steelhead and returning salmon in Toboggan Creek.

Hatchery staff incubate eggs from salmon returning to the creek via Glacier Gulch each year when the water begins to warm. The fish are raised for a year and a half at Toboggan Creek before they are released with coated wire tracking tags embedded in their snouts. A hundred and fifty thousand fry are currently inside the hatchery, waiting to be tagged this August and eventually released into the wild.

The adipose fins are removed from the tagged fish at an early stage as a means of identification. When the hatchery fish are caught, the lucky fishermen and women are asked to return the heads to the hatchery so that information the fish carry can be compiled and analysed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The information that this system supplies is so detailed that biologists are able to observe patterns amongst wild fish and set catch limits. As incentive to return the heads, each person who returns a head is offered a hat and is entered in a draw for a vacation.

The hatchery, (or Toboggan Creek Salmon and Steelhead Enhancement Society), is open to the public every day before 3 p.m.. There is no need to make tour reservations, unless you are planning to come in a large group, in which case a phone call in advance is preferred.;

Some survivors were found, but the wreckage was not. And so, the world’s first broken arrow was born.

Three years later, what was left of the biggest bomber ever built was discovered in the Kispiox Valley area. It was determined that another crew member successfully took over piloting the aircraft until it slammed into Mt. Kologet.

The community forest is located in provincial forest crown land on the south facing side of Hudson Bay Mountain and is a haven for some of Smithers’ natural treasures.

The forest was established in 1991 as an outdoor classroom of sorts, meant to generate local involvement in forest management plans and has become a popular year round destination for tourists and locals alike. In the summer it boasts many wildlife and flora and fauna viewing opportunities due to its ecological diversity. In the winter months its maintained trails are often used by cross-country skiers. It’s full of trails marked according to difficulty level and time estimations for hiking, making it a must-see for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels.

You can access the community forest bay way of the Hudson Bay Mountain Road, or “Ski Hill Road.” This untamed oasis is a mere five kilometres outside downtown Smithers. For a detailed map of trails, stop by Tourist Information, down town Smithers on Highway 16.;

Riverside Park is a notable segment of the trail, as the river offers a scenic highlight and varied terrain. Despite the increase in elevation at this point, the trail is classified as easy as it has many long, flat stretches like that along Railway Avenue and it is suitable for everyone.

The Perimeter Trail is mere moments away from down town Smithers, but since it avoids (except for two crossing points) Highway 16 that runs through the town, it feels like a father departure into the serene. There are access points and parking throughout the town, including on Riverside Campground Road, off of Main Street (just past the Hilltop Pub). There is also a map of the trail at this point. The section on the western side of Highway 16 follows residential streets. To avoid this paved leg of the trip, turn back at the north highway crossing and head back to the parking lot.;

THE ESSENTIALS

- Never approach a bear

- Never feed a bear (either intentionally or by not properly disposing of garbage).

- Respect bears; do not attempt to take photos of them.

FACTS ABOUT BEARS

- There are both black bears and grizzly bears in the region and they are difficult to distinguish by colour since they both can range from light brown (or white in black bears) to black. Grizzly bears have a pronounced shoulder hump, a concave profile and larger claws than the black bear. Black bears have a flatter profile, larger ears and no shoulder hump.

-Bears generally avoid humans and are usually drawn to fruit trees or other vegetation like wild onions or bird feeders and improperly disposed of garbage.

- Bears consume up to 25,000 calories per day and are attracted to almost any food source to help meet their needs.

PRECAUTIONS

- “Make lots of noise,” said conservation officer, Kevin Nixon. “Be aware of any signs like torn up logs or fresh scat.” A surprised bear is not one you want to meet. If you see these hints that a bear is in the area, don’t stick around.

- If you see a dead animal, or signs that one is nearby, leave the area.

- Hike in daylight hours within a group if possible.

IF YOU SEE A BEAR

- If you are in a vehicle, remain inside with the windows up.

- If you are on foot, make a wide detour.

- If a bear is acting aggressively towards you, bear spray should be used with caution, Nixon said. “Fifty per cent of people who use bear spray end up contaminating themselves,” he said.

- If you see an aggressive bear, or one in town, call Animal Conservation at 847-7266.

BEWARE OF FOOD

- Bears are attracted to the smell of food, no matter how faint. Don’t sleep in the clothes that you cooked in.

- Store food where bears can’t reach or smell it.

- Don’t keep any food inside your tent at all.

- Properly dispose of any food waste and be aware of any scent of food that may be left behind on yourself or your campsite.

And, “if you see a baby bear up in a tree,” Nixon said, “it’s a good thing to get out of there as soon as possible. Mama’s not far behind.”

The most aggressive bears tend to be those who are defending either their young or a kill. Most bears don’t want to have anything to do with us humans – unless we are an easy source of food. Check out www.bearaware.bc.ca for more info.;

A million years ago, lava flow formed a layer over the ancient deposits in the lake beds. Melting ice of the last ice age then formed a canyon through the wetlands and revealed the reminders of a time long ago, frozen in the shale.

The Driftwood Creek fossil beds were discovered around 1900 and remain one of the world’s most significant fossil beds today. The fossils are protected by the 21-hectare Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park, created in 1967 to preserve this natural wonder. Even after years of fossil hunters pillaging the site, many of the fossils remain today. The park has the distinction as being the site of the oldest known evidence of salmon (oesalmo driftwoodensis) considered to be the missing link between trout and salmon, however, plant fossils like the dawn redwood are most common. Identifiable as a dark brown or black imprint against the light brown shale canyon walls, you can even pick your own ancient fossil souvenir – as long as it’s collected on Crown land is for personal use. It cannot be dug from the ground or sold.

The park is complete with lookout, day-use picnic area with benches and fire pits, as well as toilets. There is also interpretive information provided by the park on site.

Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park is located on Driftwood Creek Road, on the Fraser Plateau, 10 kilometres northeast of Smithers. Take Highway 16 to Old Babine Lake Road and follow the signs from there.;

“There’s a new display on bells,” said Janet Goheen of The Telkwa Museum. “There’s sleigh bells from Switzerland, old school bells and church bells.”

To celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, the folks at the Telkwa museum have a lot to offer.

“There are celebrations at the beginning of every month,” said Goheen. “We’ll have cake, coffee and tea out on the deck. We’re also starting flea markets on the 24th of May out in the church parking lot.”

The museum will also be hosting a book launching party for their publication of writings from Telkwa Pioneer, Frank Dockrill. There’s a new information centre at the museum as well as a new display in honour of B.C.’s 150th birthday, Goheen said. But old favourites will still stay, like the smithies at work and the Aldermere room, a tribute to the original town site in the Bulkley Valley.

The 100 year-old school house was trucked down Main St. many moons ago and still, the school house display inside remains a preferred stop on the tour amongst its younger visitors. No matter what age, there’s something for everyone to check out this summer at the Telkwa Museum. ;

An inspiration to those who are fighting cancer, those who have survived the disease and those who are dealing with the loss of someone to cancer.

On Saturday night, the young Smithers cancer survivor took to the stage to deliver the poignant Survivor’s Message at the Relay for Life. Her positive attitude and message that adversity can be overcome had the assembled crowd of more than 1,000 people hushed.

Cavallin spoke about how, at the age of 10 in July of 2000, she was diagnosed with bone cancer – the same type of cancer that took Terry Fox’s life. She lost her hair, had her leg amputated and went through 28 weeks of chemotherapy. Through it all, Cavallin has managed to look at the positives the diagnosis has brought to her life.

“I’m not going to go into detail and tell you how cancer made me grow up fast by losing the innocence of my childhood or how cancer stole my leg,” she said. “Because although it is possibly one of the worst things anyone could ever experience, I believe cancer gave me a journey. A life-changing experience. It’s a moment in time where you forget all the insignificant things and see your life for what it really is.”

Cavallin told the crowd of a couple of camps she attended during her recovery that were put on by the Canadian Cancer Society and the positive effect they had on her.

“I have seen the difference it has made in the lives of those kids who are no longer with us,” she said.

This year, she will be returning to one of the camps, but not as a participant, she’ll be going as a leader-in-training.

Cancer has also opened up other doors for her, she said. In February, Cavallin competed in a Noram Tour event, winning a gold medal for Canada in the adaptive snowboarding event. In March, she tore it up at the U.S. Snowboard Association Nationals where she picked up two silvers and a bronze.

“Because of cancer, I am now paving the way for other disabled snowboarders with a dream of one day competing in the Paralympics.”

Despite the hardships of fighting cancer at such a young age, Cavallin said the disease has changed the way she looks at life.

“I may have lost part of my childhood, my leg and my hair but because of cancer I have been give n a new outlook on life,” she said. “The appreciation I have for all the little things life has blessed me with and the cherished opportunities I have been given are indescribable. Cancer effects everyone. Even though no one has the choice as to who gets it, you do have the choice to live your life to the fullest and experience it for what it really is.”

Valley residents of all ages and all walks of life participated in the event, in the form of 44 teams and more than 600 individuals, which raised over $80,000 for the fight against cancer. Over the five years the event has gone in Smithers, more than $500,000 has been raised. For Relay for Life coordinator Jill O’Neill, it was the youth teams and the first-time entries that buoyed her spirits.

“We had probably half new teams this year and that, to me, is a good indicator of the future of the Relay,” she said.

Although less money was raised this year compared to last, O’Neill said she was overwhelmed by the community support.

“It is a huge community event,” she said. “The power of the people that come out is quite unique.”

Austan Ostach, 5, was one of the first to have his head shaven at the Relay for Life. Ostach, who attends French Immersion Kindergarten at Muheim, had been growing his hair for the last two years so he could lose it during the event.

“Because kids with cancer lose their hair,” he said.

Mom Virginia Craig said Austan and a friend first committed to growing their hair with this purpose in mind but only Austan followed through.

“He wavered a little bit in this last month but he decided he would hold out because it was what he wanted to do,” she said. “I think he’s a pretty incredible kid.”

While the crowds were gathered around the Wellness Tent where the head shaving was taking place, Donna Stenger had the bulk of her curly locks shorn off by a friend using a pair of scissors donated by the Smithers Fire Department which were more suited to snipping bandages. Stenger said she took part in the impromptu hair cut to show support for her brother who has been diagnosed with cancer.

“I wanted to do this for Joe,” Stenger said.

Smithers RCMP Const. Tess Landry was also at the Relay for Life but was not sitting in the barber’s chair – yet. Landry is riding in the Cops for Cancer Tour de North – a bike ride taking place in September that will see more than 20 RCMP officers from Northern B.C. detachments riding from Prince George to Prince Rupert to raise money for pediatric cancer.

“It’s going to be long and grueling,” Landry said. “I like to see the RCMP get involved in the community. I thought it was something I could do to help.”

Landry, who currently sports dark hair that falls below her shoulders, has agreed to have it all taken off if she reaches her fundraising goal of $10,000. The campaign has just begun and she already has raised nearly $800. To donate or for more information, go to www.cancer-tours.com and click on Cops for Cancer, Tour de North. ;

Rensby-Wills also recieved the Dance Excellence Award after she was selected to dance in the multi-discipline scholarship competition.

After a highly successful season which saw the Creative Roots Performing Arts team gather dozens of top-three placements, the dancers are now preparing for their year-end show June 15 and 16.

The theme of the show is Message in a Bottle and there will be more than 150 dancers performing, ranging from the age of four to adult. There will be a wide variety of different styles on display, including: jazz, ballet, tap, modern, musical theatre and novelty.

Tickets can be purchased at Interior Stationary. ;

Smithers BC has had the honour of being chosen by Cross Country Canada and Cross Country BC to be the host community for the 2007 Western Canadian Championships.

The Bulkley valley Cross Country Ski Club is gearing up to support this exciting competition at the BV Nordic Centre. The club has pledged to provide Great Tracks, Fair Competition and Excellent Athlete Support.

For Canada and BC, this is an important development period leading up to the 2010 Olympics, This national level event will attract skiers of all ages from across Western Canada, and domestic National Team members who are trying to fulfill a Canadian World Cup quota spot for the next year. These races are sanctioned by the International Ski Federation (FIS).

We are expecting that up to 300 participants plus 100 supporters will be in town for 4-5 days. On Thursday Feb. 8 the sprint races will commence at 10:00 with the heats going at 1:00. This will be an exciting one to watch, as most of the new sprint course is visible from the stadium area in front of the Daylodge; and in the finals, the athletes will be shoulder to shoulder in direct competition.

Friday the skiers have a day off to enjoy the town. Saturday will be a mass start classic event and Sunday is an individual start freestyle race.

This race series will only be a great success with the support of the community through enthusiasm, volunteerism, in-kind donations. and financial support. A sense of community spirit and accomplishment will be promoted through all of us “coming together” once again to host a major event. Smithers will be promoted as a healthy community and premier ski destination as part of 2010 Spirit Week – SPIRIT OF THE MOUNTAINS.

To get involved, contact Andy MacDonald 846-9368 volunteers@bvnordic.ca

Opportunities for Sponsors contact Roxy Edey 847- 7505 sponsorship@bvnordic.ca;