News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

Grade 11 and 12 students from Williams Lake schools spent the day at TRU immersed in chemistry.

(Cariboo Adventist Academy students Nakita Rowat and Nina Poulin enjoyed their first TRU lab time today. Photos by Cailin Cousins)

According to a media release issued by the Superintendent of Schools today, graduation ceremonies for the School District No. 27 graduating classes of 2011 – 2012 will take place as follows:

•GROW -- Thursday, June 7, 2012 1:00pm at Marie Sharpe Elementary Gym

•Columneetza Secondary -- Saturday, June 9, 2012 9:30am at Cariboo Memorial Complex

•Williams Lake Secondary -- Saturday, June 9, 2012 1:00pm at the Cariboo Memorial Complex

By LeRae Haynes 

Two years ago the Legion in Williams Lake hosted a lunch and a ceremony in Boitanio Park in honour of Lieutenant Andrew Nuttall, who was killed in Afghanistan. Andrew’s parents, Richard and Jane Nuttall stopped in Williams Lake this past Friday to visit the Legion on their way to their property in Alexis Creek.

(Members of the Delta Company, First Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Boitanio Park.)

By LeRae Haynes

Closing the fire lane next to Cariboo Memorial Complex will aggravate a traffic flow problem that has been a challenge in Williams Lake for many years, according to John Dell, former City Councillor and member of the City Planning Commission and long-time business owner.

He said that the big issue is moving traffic to the downtown core while moving traffic to Mackenzie Avenue or to the highway, at the same time.

This past weekend, May 12 & 13, the Williams Lake Girl Guides took advantage of the warm weather.

The year-end Canoe Camp at Gavin Lake had 43 Girl Guides attend. Over the two days the Sparks ages 5-6, Brownies ages 7-8, Guides ages 9-11, Pathfinders ages 12-14, and Rangers ages 15-18 did crafts, went canoeing, hiking, and had a beach party.

(Photo:  Click to open larger image.  Photo submitted by Laura Allgrove.)

By LeRae Haynes

Williams Lake SPCA shelter manager Liz Dighton said that she finds a statement in the Vancouver Sun this morning about Cariboo SPCA practices offensive and untrue.

(Shelter manager Liz Dighton said that animals are not euthanized to make more space: if an animal is healthy and friendly, like ‘Twinkle’ pictured here, it is up for adoption.)

By LeRae Haynes

WLSS student Sam Tudor has been selected by his fellow students to be class valedictorian for the 2012 graduation ceremony. He said that about 10 kids signed up to give a test speech as an audition for the rest of the class. “Anyone who wanted to could sign up,” he said. “I think it’s cool that the class votes on the valedictorian.”

A black bear made its way through Green Acres Mobile Home Park last night and demolished a compost box belonging to park manager Elaine Whyte. She said that she'd like to warn people to check carefully and make some noise before letting their pets out at night, as well as make their children 'bear aware.'

By LeRae Haynes

Deni House residents and Adult Day Services participants can look forward to new, high definition entertainment after today’s delivery of a 50” Panasonic LED flat-screen TV for the main living area.

(Deni House resident Harley Hiebert, Adult Day Services participant Louise Holst, Sean Ryll and Joel Gyselinck from Sight and Sound, Bob Samchuk, Legion Bar Chair and Jan Hermiston, Legion Vice President are pictured here with the new TV.)

There are dozens of reasons to adopt an older cat or dog, but only one that really matters; it’s the right thing to do.

“There are so many benefits to adopting an older pet,” says Lorie Chortyk, general manager of community relations for the BC SPCA. “They’re more settled, they’re housetrained, their personalities are fully developed and you know how big they’ll get. The best reason to adopt one, however, is because they deserve it.”

Senior dogs often have many good years left to enjoy and cats can live well into their teens and even their 20's.