Archives for January 21, 2021

Julie Payette born October 20, 1963) is a Canadian engineer, scientist and former astronaut who served as the Governor General of Canada from 2017 to 2021. She was the 29th officeholder since Canadian Confederation.

Payette holds engineering degrees from McGill University and the University of Toronto. She worked as a research scientist before joining the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 1992 as a member of the Canadian Astronaut Corps. She completed two spaceflights, STS-96 and STS-127, and has logged more than 25 days in space. She also served as capsule communicator at NASA Mission Control Center in Houston and from 2000 to 2007 as CSA’s chief astronaut.

In July 2013, Payette was named chief operating officer for the Montreal Science Centre. She also held a number of board appointments, including the National Bank of Canada. On July 13, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved the appointment of Payette as the next governor general of Canada. She was sworn in on October 2, 2017.

Payette resigned on January 21, 2021 amidst the release of a report by the Privy Council Office accusing her of harassment of civil servants in the Office of the Governor-General. She said that she supported the investigation into the workplace harassment.

Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health:

“Today, Interior Health is sadly reporting two additional deaths and a total of 57 individuals who have now been lost to COVID-19 in our region. On behalf of everyone at Interior Health, we send our condolences to the loved ones and caregivers. I know people are fatigued by the impact COVID-19 on our day-to-day lives. However, the ongoing challenges of this pandemic shows us we need to continue to be vigilant and compassionate. We all need to do our part to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in our communities.”

Sunnybank long-term care in Oliver has 35 cases: 26 residents and nine staff, with two deaths connected to this outbreak.

Station Street will close beyond Veterans Avenue (at the Legion)

The road from Co-op to Airport St will close.

All these final decisions to made Monday

Vandals broke into the north entrance of the Oliver Fire Department – training grounds in the last few days and vehicle used for instruction in accessing them were heavily damaged – most likely with hammers – indicated by the type of damage observed.

“I was advised this afternoon by Chief Graham that someone broke into the training grounds and smashed all the glass on the cars they have to do their training on. He will be coming to see me in the morning and provide details for a file to be created at that point.”

Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth

“I am very disappointed” says Fire Chief Bob Graham. ” This distracts from our training to save lives…. and more money spent on security, bigger and better gates, cameras and security will lessen our ability to serve the community”

Thanks to Captain Ash Regner for his cooperation today.

If you have any video or information contact the local detachment of the RCMP.

“Today, we are reporting 564 new cases, including eight epi-linked cases, for a total of 62,976 cases in British Columbia.

“There are 4,450 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 309 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 68 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“Currently, 6,816 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and a further 56,010 people who tested positive have recovered.

“Since we last reported, we have had 111 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 234 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 47 in the Island Health region, 95 in the Interior Health region, 76 in the Northern Health region and one new case of a person who resides outside of Canada.

“To date, 104,901 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 1,680 of which are second doses. Complete immunization data is available on the COVID-19 dashboard: www.bccdc.ca

“There have been 15 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,119 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have no new health-care facility outbreaks. The outbreaks at Vancouver General Hospital, Ridge Meadows Hospital, Hart House, Fleetwood Villa, Arbutus Care Centre and Renfrew Care Centre are now over.

Karen Anne Syme (nee Kwasnica)

30 Aug 1947 – 19 Jan 2021

 

 

Karen, at age 73, died suddenly and peacefully at home with her husband Stuart at her side. They met in high school at the age of 14 and had been married for 40 years on 27 December just passed.

Karen Anne Kwasnica was born in Kelowna, eldest child of Steve Kwasnica and Irene (nee Rose), long- time Oliver residents also both deceased. Karen is survived by her husband Stuart Syme, her children Wes Gale (Jen Alder) and Nadia Gale (Charles Hoare), her step-son Ian Syme, her grand-daughter Phaedra Gale (Louis Au), her step-grand-son Benjamin Syme, her siblings Marie Leiren, John Kwasnica, and David Kwasnica (Lynn Price), and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Karen was a voracious reader who owned not only an extensive collection of first editions, but eight feet of library dedicated to leather bound classics and three overfull Kindle DX’s – the only model she would use. She studied Biology and Physics, not formally, but as a hobby. When a dear friend, who at the time was in his last year of seminary, visited for tea and said that they had been studying Spinoza that week, she instantly asked which of the following translations were they reading and not waiting for an answer, expressed her opinion about the best and worst. When she met her new son-in-law, her first question was “What is your philosophy of life?” He wisely responded, “What is yours?” and she judged him a ‘keeper’.

Karen was a questioner, a thinker, and a seeker of truth. Karen was Mother Earth – there was never an animal that did not instantly bond with her. Karen was a gardener and every plant was fitted with wheels until they found a permanent place where they could thrive. Each of them had their histories recorded in hand-written notes organized in three-ring binders. A computer might have been better suited to that task but computers were not to be trusted. Karen was unable to add a column of numbers without a calculator – and she did not trust a calculator that did not produce a written record – which made her perfectly suited to be a bookkeeper and, though not a papered accountant, a self-trained accountant who handled the financial records of several companies over the years. Her first job was as a lifeguard and nanny to a family of five who spent theirm summer on Lake Simcoe. Her earnings funded the material for her to make her own wardrobe for school. Her most-loved job was on a working farm that housed and helped young offenders and emotionally scarred youth.

Karen was an air-force brat and became an Army wife. You may have met her in Borden, North Bay, Marville, Burnaby, Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Penhold, Ottawa, Oliver, or Grand Forks.
You would remember.

There will be a celebration of life and a chance to tell true tales when we can all travel again. Should you wish to donate in Karen’s name then the family suggests lupus, diabetes, or heart-health research.

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com