Search & Rescue tax break Nicole Halseth News Editor | ote-news@unbc.ca nder the new federal budget, revealed U3. 10 February, volunteers for search and rescue organizations across Canada will be getting financial assistance to help them pay for the high costs of necessary equipment. The budget stated that volunteers with sufficient accrued hours with a search and rescue organization, a 200 hour baseline, will receive a tax credit each year. As such, volunteers with search and rescue organizations must keep good records of their hours. According to Prince George Search and Rescue president Jeff Smedley, “We volunteer time away from work and away from our families...a little bit of recognition from the government, it's going to be greatly appreciated.” He elaborated by stating that the cost of a basic search and rescue kit is around $500, which contains only staples like a coat, boots, raingear, and compass. Should the volunteer wish or be required to include additional gear, such as swiftwater equipment or rope rescue devices, their costs grow exponentially. According to Smedley, a swift water set could cost up to $2,000 every five years per person. Additional annual costs, like radio licenses, also fall to the volunteers. Stan Mitchell, Prince George KPMG tax partner, claims the 15 per cent tax credit could save volunteers up to $450 per annum. According to the Prince George Citizen, “basic training for a search and rescue volunteer runs about 100 hours and there is ongoing annual training to ensure members keep up their skills,” and the local search and rescue division “averages about 25 calls a year, including local search and rescue operations and mutual aid calls in other parts of the province.” The initial advocate for this tax break is Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer. He received official recognition for his idea A New Partnership Nicole Halseth News Editor | ote-news@unbc.ca NBC has formed a new partnership with Emily Carr University to provide a new northern teen arts program. This two week program, set to happen during the summer, is intended to offer youth in the north an opportunity to gain pre-university arts experience. Comparable experience was previously only available to interested youth in the Lower Mainland. According to The Citizen, the focus of this local seminar will be 2 ar tees Oe h STATA ae Emi 'y Carr University. = wordpress {' U “creative arts and their practical applications to topics like mapping, architecture, urban planning, community research and design.” Lisa Haslett, the continuing studies co-ordinator at UNBC, commented that “There is definitely going to be artistic skill development, but also some local cultural elements and learning techniques to understand your sense of community and your sense of place within our region.” Emily Carr has previously partnered with institutions in the north for a variety of programs, but this new partnership will be the first in a long time and represents the only current program the art university intends to pursue in the north. Emily Carr's dean of continuing studies, Sadira Rodrigues comments on the university’s participation by saying “[We have] an important role to play as a champion of high quality, innovative and integrated education within our province...What we offer to regional partners is efficient leverage of Emily Carr's institutional Prince, G eorge, S earchtand Rescuefpresidentdeffsmedley, at the unveiling of the new budget in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Zimmer explained his support for the idea by saying “These volunteers give countless hours to help those in need at their own expense, and this tax credit will help defer those costs.” This financial break will help search and rescue volunteers all across Canada provide a high quality of service without incurring unreasonable costs upon themselves. It is a welcome indicator of how much these dedicated individuals are appreciated for their continued hard work. reputation and expertise in art, design and media education, all toward community engagement and strategic growth [of our BC] creative economy.” According to Haslett, partnering with Emily Carr provides more opportunities to students and interested youth than a UNBC-only program of a similar nature would. Haslett added that “They [Emily Carr] have considerable drawing power of their own, based on a reputation they have built over many years. Emily Carr does something unique within Canada and certainly within BC, and UNBC also does something unique within Canada and certainly BC. This partnership, because of who we each are as institutions, can offer our region's students an educational experience that is world class.” A similar program is being offered by Emily Carr in Whistler, but officials from both organizations wanted to make sure that the UNBC program was northern-specific. Content for the summer program is set to be focused on Prince George’s unique context. UNBC unbc.ca Emily Carr official Rodrigues elaborated on this by saying “Both programs are strategic, multi-stakeholder collaborations, and will coordinate participation and input from various relevant councils, community groups, cultural organizations and educational institutions,” in order to provide youth education that is “responsive to community needs and objectives.” The total projected cost of the art program is $1,500, and includes supplies and food. Registration opened with the UNBC Continuing Education department on 17 February. Both organizations hope to promote art-interest among northern youth, and hope to work together more in the future. UNBC students and faculty may well have an artistic summer to anticipate.