Competitors from across North America will converge on Nitehawk Recreation Area this Saturday for the 1st annual Zulu challenge. Nitehawk assistant general manager Johnathan Clarkson explains what Zulu is.

“It is an obstacle race featuring about 35 obstacles including walls, and different strength challenges from carrying logs above your head to having to wade through water almost waist deep.  It is over 11 kilometres of hill terrain at the ski hill.”

Around 200 competitors will take off every half hour from the start line, starting at 9 am Saturday morning, with the final group leaving at 1:30. Clarkson says they will have their cafeteria and lounge open for spectators, as well as a barbecue and beer gardens on site.

A report from the Joint Review Panel on the Site C Clean Energy Project has been released. The report was compiled by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the BC Environmental Assessment Office. It says the proposed dam, which would be the third hydroelectric facility built on the Peace River, has a number of benefits. Those include the creation of clean, cost-effective energy, and the opportunity for local and regional economic growth from jobs created by the dam. The panel also warned about what effect the creation of an 83 kilometer reservoir on the Peace River would have. Both the Federal and Provincial governments have 120 days to make a decision on whether or not the Site C project will go ahead, once they review the report and it’s 50 recommendations.

The Federal Government is enabling a number of organizations to provide employment to Peace Region youth this summer. Many of the community based and not for profit organizations would not have an opportunity to hire students without an extra boost in funding. Peace River MP Chris Warkentin says it’s a win-win for the community and for young people in the region.

“The program was set up to help assist young people get job training and work experience, as well as to support community based organizations that really do benefit our communities that maybe wouldn’t be able to afford to bring on staff through the summer, but with this support they’re able to.”

Warkentin says the $318,400 in Canada Summer Jobs funding will hopefully create around 80 jobs in Peace Country communities. He says Canada Summer Jobs program is meant for the employment of a certain demographic.

“It is required that these students are returning to school in the fall, so either high school students or else college or university students. It is a requirement of the funding that the student will be returning to studies in the fall.”

Warkentin says the funding doesn’t cover the entire cost of employing these students, but acts as a supplement so organizations can hire temporary staff without having a huge impact on their bottom line.

Over 70 Family and Community Support Services directors from across Alberta are in Grande Prairie this week for their annual provincial directors’ network. The two day event, which begins tomorrow at the Pomeroy Hotel, is a learning and networking opportunity for the directors to keep them connected and informed on issues that impact their communities and programs. Among the sessions are a Poverty Simulation Workshop hosted by the United Way of Edmonton. Becoming a Community Builder founder Ian Hill will also be at the conference, hosting a session called Leading the Heart of the Community.

The city and county have hired their first pound keeper under their new joint regional animal pound operating agreement. Jamila King is in the midst of finalizing a Bachelor of Science degree at Grande Prairie Regional College, specializing in pre-veterinary studies. She has also volunteered in the past as an animal care attendant at the SPCA. Besides carrying out day to day operations of the regional pound, King’s duties include serving as a liaison between the city and county, and the Grande Prairie and District SPCA – who operates the pound for both municipalities.