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The ‘Legendary Betty Frank,’ whose life-story has now been told by Cariboo author Sage Birchwater, will be doing book signings throughout the Cariboo this week, including Quesnel and 100 Mile House, as the book is launched.

(Betty Frank and Sage Birchwater signing books and greeting fans.)

Fans lined up on Friday in Williams Lake at Save on Foods to meet Betty, enjoy a chat with Sage and get a book signed for themselves or for a lucky recipient for Christmas.

Do you have a great photo, video or story about Quesnel’s Riverfront Trail or any of the area’s other great trails and hikes? If so, share it and you could win an amazing prize while helping the community win funding to make the trail even better.

Earlier this week, the Healthy Families BC Walking Challenge was launched. The contest, which urges residents to share their walking stories online, offers great prizes for individuals such as trips to amazing resorts and athletic gear. In addition, the five communities with the most postings (per population category) will win $10,000 to upgrade a local walking trail, with one of those five winning an additional $50,000.

Animal lovers in the Quesnel area are urged to slide into their favourite pair of walking shoes and get moving to help a furry friend. Registration is open for the annual Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause walk held each fall to raise funds for homeless and abused animals in B.C.

Each year participants in 37 communities around the province walk with colleagues, friends, family and with their dogs to raise $1 million to help animals in need. “This is the largest single event supporting animals in B.C.,” says Denise Meade, the society’s director of development.

“Participants are already signing up and will be fundraising in their own communities all summer long,” says Meade. “The creativity and passion that people show each year is remarkable. People in every region of the province — the Lower Mainland, Coast, Island, Interior, Kootenays and Northern B.C. — gather together each September to go on walkathons and hold many interesting all-ages events and activities to raise money to help animals in their community.”

In March, the City of Quesnel in conjunction with the Shiraoi Twinning Society, launched a community fundraising initiative to provide assistance to its sister city Shiraoi, Japan after its own Japanese sister city Sendai, was devastated by an earthquake and resulting tsunami. To date, the residents of Quesnel have raised an astounding $19,727.31, nearly double the original goal of $10,000.

"Once again, the generosity of the residents of Quesnel shines through. I am so proud that we have all come together to help our sister city of Shiraoi," said Mayor Mary Sjostrom. "It was truly a community effort! The money will be of great assistance to the people of Sendai as they rebuild their community."

Automated light display to turn on this Saturday

The Fraser River Footbridge will show off some holiday spirit as its automated light display will be officially lit this Saturday. A seasonal light theme will be the first in a series of light displays to be showcased on the historic bridge. The lights will come on at around 5:15 p.m., 10 to 15 minutes after the conclusion of the fireworks display after the Quesnel Downtown Association’s Santa Parade.

The best views of the lights can be seen along the sidewalks near the east and west entrances to the bridge. Viewing from the Moffat Bridge sidewalk is strongly discouraged by the City. Not only is the view from that vantage point not as good, but there are safety concerns as well.

(Click to see larger version of this photo.)

By Helen Williams

Gold Bridge, BC - In the rain shadow of the South Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia’s Bridge River Valley, Terry Grant and production crew are finished filming two new episodes at Chilcotin Holidays Wilderness Guest Ranch for season six of the Canadian hit outdoor reality show Mantracker.

Two sets of prey, two routes, and a variety of terrain to cover over 16 days kept Mantracker’s Terry Grant and his professional guide sidekick Russell Floyd scouring British Columbia’s wilderness in pursuit of human prey on horseback. Floyd, one of Chilcotin Holidays’ advanced wilderness guides and graduate/instructor of Chilcotin Holidays’ Canadian Wilderness Tourism Training Centre, was a perfect fit to accompany Grant.

(Photo: Mantracker Crew at CH July 2010)

QUESNEL, B.C. - Lynne Wright was named the 2009 Volunteer Citizen of the Year at a banquet Wednesday evening celebrating volunteerism in Quesnel.

Wright is an exceptional community volunteer. Last year she stepped into organize the Billy Barker Days parade, and she's the parade director again this year. Her efforts don't end there. She's very involved with Girl Guides, the United Church, and the Bouchie Lake seniors' lunch. She also helps with the costumes needed for Correlieu school productions, Kersley Musical Theatre and the YES group.