This Newsletter is published quarterly, March, June, September and December by the B. C. Ground Water Association. For more information please contact: Secretary Treasurer, Joan Perry, 1708 - 197 A Street, Langley, B. C. V2Z 1K2 Phone or Fax: 604-530-8934

Archived Newsletters:

BCGWA PLANNING SESSION SUMMARY REPORT - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Click Here To Download a PDF file of the BCGWA Consitution under the Society Act of British Columbia

Click here for a draft of the Use of Qualified Persons in the Natural Resource Sector
Click Here to download a PDF file of supplementary 2012 documents related to MOE correspondence from BCGWA.

EXTRACTION OF SURFACE WATER FOR WELL DRILLING PURPOSES (PDF Document) – KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR USE!

March 2013 Newsletter

This Newsletter is published quarterly, March, June, September and December by the B.C.
Ground Water Association. For more information please contact: Executive Secretary, Joan
Perry, 1708 – 197 A Street, Langley, B. C. V2Z 1K2. Phone or Fax: 604-530-8934.
BCGWA Website address: www.bcgwa.org
BCGWA email address: secretary.bcgwa@shaw.ca
________________________________________________________________________

Hello Members,

As I am writing this letter, the Fraser Valley rain keeps pouring down and the grey days of March are still upon us.  At least we don’t have to shovel it out of the way as many of you still do.  This will pass soon enough and hopefully the spring rush is on for all.

First of all I would like to thank the past president, Mike Lamont, for his two years of excellent service, which no doubt, added a bit more work to his already busy routine at Precision Pumps.  I would like to thank all of the other past directors for their hard work and dedication to our association and also would like to welcome the new directors we were required to have on board this year, Justin Bourne-Treasurer, David Slade-Well Drilling Contractor, Jeff Quibell-GeoExchange BC, and Jim Clark-(acting) Vice President.

I recently attended the 2013 BCGWA Convention held in Kamloops and enjoyed meeting new friends as well as reacquainting with others who I had not met in a while.  The outdoor conditions were fairly mild with a light snowfall thus setting a relaxed and warm mood indoors.  I offer a special thank you to the Speakers and of course the Trade Show folks also for their continued support of our association.

The convention went very well but found the attendance off a bit, maybe due to the economy, but hopefully it was due to a lot of members saving up for the CanWell 2014 which will be held in Kelowna next June and should be an excellent venue to attend by all.  We are planning quite a show and hope to see you all there.  Links and information can be found on the BCGWA website.

On behalf of the Geo/Enviro Drillers part of the Association I am pleased to report the following:  As you may have heard the CGWA was no longer recognizing the new Geo/Enviro Drillers of BC as Well Drillers for those wishing to become Qualified Drillers in this province, thus we had to come up with a solution to get them registered as a separate entity.

I am glad to report that the hard work by all involved to get a certification program for the Geo/Enviro Drillers in place prior to the convention worked out well.

The exam content came from the NGWA Auger and Monitoring Well course and was well received by the drillers who wrote it.  Once passed they can now be registered under their own title, Geo/Enviro, recognized by the CGWA and MoE.  I wish to thank Mike Wei of the Ministry for his input to make this possible.  Once the new cards are in hand, the regular annual CEU point requirements to remain in good standing will remain the same as before.

May your rigs run well and the water come up clear and plenty.
I wish you all a busy and prosperous spring.

Bill Tuytel
President, BCGWA

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…………..from the desk of the Managing Director

MARCH 2013 BCGWA NEWSLETTER - MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REPORT

We just successfully completed our annual Convention, Trade Show and Annual General Meeting held in Kamloops, from March 4th to 8th. The event this year was again held at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre and again we were treated royally. We had a full schedule of trade exhibitors (27) and a total of 5 trade and 5 professional/technical related presentations as well as 2 joint presentation sessions for both sectors.

This year we had 30% lower attendance than in 2012. We attribute this to the fact that we are hosting CanWell down the road in Kelowna next year. Some members and M&S sales representatives said they would pass this year in favour of attending CanWell next year.

Regional Directors attending reported work loads continue to be light other than those working in the resource sectors. Housing starts continue to be very light in most of the province, although there is some indication that residential construction may be improving in the Okanagan valley. Hopefully that will be a precursor to the rest of the province this year.

As reported at the Convention we have been informed that the provincial Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training – Industry Training Authority (ITA) has agreed to re-activate the (formerly deactivated) Water Well Driller Program. This is good news after several months of our committee working to get this program up and running again. The program will contain a full water well driller apprenticeship program, skills training at Red Deer College and a BC provincial examination. Current driller apprentices with the eligible number of direct well drilling experience hours may be able to challenge the new ITA exam. The ITA working with BCGWA member registered well drillers are currently composing the new well driller exam.

As mentioned in earlier reports your association has been working with the CGWA to get a certification program in place for Geotechnical and Environmental (Geo/Env) drilling contractors. Geo/Env drilling contractors are required to meet all provincial groundwater regulations when encountering groundwater upon drilling. The CGWA were able to provide support from the NGWA (US) to provide an applicable exam (Augering and Monitoring) for our Geo/Env drillers to challenge. The NGWA sent a staff member (Kathy Butcher) to attend our recent Convention and proctor the exam. A total of 12 CGWA approved candidates wrote the exam. We wish to sincerely thank the NGWA and especially Kathy and also the CGWA for their quick response to our request to provide certification for Geo/Env drillers, which will lead to registration with the BC Ministry of Environment along side the Qualified Well Driller and Qualified Well Pump Installer.

As many of you know the CGWA has an on-going legal battle with the Canadian Geothermal Coalition (CGC).  As a result of this it is possible the CGWA will go into receivership this spring.  If this happens it will not adversely affect our (BCGWA) membership as we are an independent organization that is simply a member of a larger independent organization.  We expect to operate on behalf of our members as usual.  There may be some issues arise with regard to future certification of trades (drilling and pump installation), however these will be addressed as required and we are considering other options.

It is with great pleasure we note that KEN SLADE an icon in our industry, will receive the Black Tie Lifetime Achievement Award from the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. See the Victoria Times-Colonist article for more information elsewhere in this newsletter.

Bruce Ingimundson 

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Pursuit of Water Brings Honour of a Lifetime

A lifetime of drilling on Vancouver Island to bring people drinking water has earned Ken Slade the thanks of thousands of families.  Now Slade’s pursuit of water has brought him a lifetime achievement award from the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce.

Slade, 84, who founded Drillwell Enterprises in 1965 and has drilled more than 6,000 wells, will receive the Black Tie Lifetime Achievement Award at the chamber’s annual awards dinner April 13.  The award recognizes a body of work across all sectors of the community-business, industry, sport, volunteerism and philanthropy.

“Drillwell is B.C.’s largest water-well drilling company.  They diversified to meet market demands, were instrumental in founding industry associations and helped shape the province’s groundwater legislation,” said chamber president George Cates.  “Along the way, Ken oversaw the building of the Cowichan Bay fire hall, coached girls hockey and was a Cub leader.”  Slade’s volunteer work and commitment to the community includes 50 years on the Cowichan Bay Fire Improvement District Board.  He has been a Business Development Committee member at Community Futures, serves on the building and finance committee for the United Church and is a longtime member of  Rotary and the chamber of commerce.

Slade’s experience in drilling on complex terrain like the Island has made his company a sought-after consultant around the world.  Drillwell has worked on drilling operations in Botswana, Indonesia, the Caribbean, New Guinea and Swaziland and continues to do so under the leadership of Slade’s sons, Paul, Calvin and David.

Slade still works in the office, but his sons don’t let him run drill rigs anymore as he is, in his word, “too hard on the equipment.”

Slade was born in 1929 in Meadow Lake, Sask., and his family moved to the Island when he was in his teens.  Ken attended school until Grade 11, by which time, “I figured I knew everything,” he smiles.  After a short stint logging, he joined a drilling crew that was working on wells being drilled for the Harmac Mill in Nanaimo.

On a contract in Cowichan in 1955, Ken met his wife-to-be, Patricia Barker.  In those days, drilling a well required weeks.  As son Paul explains, “By the time the drilling was finished, Ken was a good friend of the family.  In the case of the Barker family, there was a wedding for Ken and Patricia.”  Ken and Pat will be celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary this year!

Slade was with Pacific Water Wells for 17 years.  In 1965, with a young family soon to expand to seven children, and the company starting to downsize, he bought one of their rigs and started Drillwell.  As his sons left high school, they joined the company.  By 1982, all were partners in the business and the company diversified, adding geotechnical, environmental and exploration drilling to their services.

Drillwell estimates it has drilled 90 % of the water wells in Cowichan.  And it is poised to remain a family business into a third generation as Slade’s grandsons, Colin and Shawn, are ready to move into partnership and gradually take over running the company.  Ken works in the office most days – busy with light administration and available for questions that might come up.  The family is passionate about the business, proud to keep it in the family and delighted to spend their days working with family.  “It’s great to be in a business where the matriarch and patriarch are still involved,” says Paul.  “It’s pretty special.”

The partners take water stewardship as a primary corporate responsibility.  David is working with the province to shape Ground Water Protection legislation expected to be adopted this spring.  Ken is a founding member of the B. C. Ground Water Association and the Canadian Ground Water Association.  Says Paul, “Seventy per cent of what we do is education.”  Drillwell’s experts conduct seminars and information sessions for well owners, schools, community groups and real estate professionals.  Says Paul, “It’s the most valuable resource we have on the planet.”

When asked if he would do anything differently given the chance, Ken shakes his head and smiles, “I don’t think so, no.”

Victoria Times Colonist

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Executive Secretary Posting

The B. C. Ground Water Association is looking to hire someone to take over the part time position as Executive Secretary to the Association.  Duties to include:

• Invoicing for memberships and obtaining correct information for the printing of the booklets and keeping information up-to-date on the web site
• Accounts receivable and accounts payable
• Organizing the annual convention and attending registration desk at the convention
• Newsletters
• General office duties- answering phones/emails and responding to or passing requests for information to others in the organization
• Quick books accounting system and MS Word text processing
• Reporting to the Executive and work with the Managing Director
• Be able to work from a home office or candidates existing business office
• Work load entails an average of approximately 80 hours per month involving a mix of heavy and light load periods depending on need

This person would help in organizing and attending the CanWell 2014 Convention and then take over the position of Executive Secretary in September 2014.

Please send resumes to the B.C. Ground Water Office.  If you would like more information, please call Joan Perry at 604-530-8934 or 1-855-530-8934 or email secretary.bcwa@shaw.ca

Thank you, Once Again, Manufacturers and Suppliers

Well, it wasn’t a big show but it was great to connect with friends and new acquaintances.  Some of the Manufacturers said that they had made some good contacts even though the floor was fairly quiet.  Next year is our CanWell 2014 from June 10-14 in Kelowna.  There will be more information coming out shortly and we are expecting everyone’s full support.

We would like to thank the M&S members for their continued support.

Please support these Businesses who participated at our Convention.

• Andrew Sheret Ltd.
• CanWell 2014
• CARO Analytical Services Ltd.
• CETCO
• Delta Irrigation Ltd.
• Di-Corp Drilling Depot
• Dominion Pipe & Piling (BC)
• Foremost Industries
• Foundex Explorations Ltd.
• Franklin Electric
• Ingram Well & Pump
• Langley Welding & Machine Shop Ltd.
• Merrill Manufacturing Co.
• Ministry of Environment (MoE)
• Pinnacle Drilling Products, Inc.
• Pompco Inc.
• Pump Systems Inc.
• Rice Earth Sciences
• RST Instruments Ltd.
• Sego Industries Inc.
• Sphere Drilling Supplies
• Talik Industrial Services Inc.
• Tundra Sales Inc.
• Van Isle Water Services
• Variperm Canada Ltd.
• Wallace Control Systems Corp.
• Western Drilling Tools Inc.
  

To offset some of our convention costs, we thank the following for their donations:

• A & H Drilling Ltd.
• Bernard Drilling
• Di-Corp Drilling Depot
• Dominion Pipe & Piling (BC)
• Downrite Drilling Ltd.
• Foremost Industries
• Foundex Explorations Ltd.
• Langley Welding & Machine Shop Ltd.
• Mud Bay Drilling Co. Ltd.
• Piteau Associates Engineering Ltd.
• Sego Industries Inc.
• Variperm Canada Ltd.

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Membership Dues!

Your membership dues must be paid by the April 15 deadline to ensure your listing in the membership booklet!  Please keep your dues up to date with your Association.  To remain certified with the Province you must keep your membership dues paid up and also, for many of you, collect CEU’s for attending workshops, conventions, regional meetings etc.

Thank you to the candidates that were nominated and elected to serve for the coming year.  The list of Directors and Executive Officers are listed with the minutes of the AGM.

Entertainment

In case you missed the Banquet at our convention, this is a song that Todd, our comedian for the evening, wrote for our Association.  It was nice of him to share it with us.  You can sing it to your favourite tune.

You get up every mornin’ to the alarm clock warnin’ You’ve got ground water issues on your mind
You are drillin’, you are pumpin’, and your industry is jumpin’ ‘Cos groundwater is the world’s most precious kind.

If yer crews on time you can get to work by nine and start your water job to get your pay.  ‘Cos water is your passion so you jump into action and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
Takin’ care of business – everyday
Takin’ care of business – the B.C. way
Takin’ care of business – here to stay
Takin’ care of business at the BCGWA

Remi Allard, he is here and he is an engineer, He’s always saying “at the end of the day” He is busy being busy – hear it from Joan Perry in a technical and pro-fessional way!

Bruce just turned 70 – he still rides his Harley and he like to cross his T’s and dot his I’s.  He’s an engineer too – and he’s way cooler than you when it comes to boats and anything that flys.

Mike Lamont likes to party – he likes to party hardy.  He’s your president but have you heard the news
He’s known to pay off waitresses to get his favourite liquor
Here’s a hundred bucks, now go and get my booze

Bill Tuytel he likes Holland, Mexico and drillin’, caught a great big fish in PEI, He’s yer President in waitin’ and has flowers germinatin’ In his nursery ‘cos Bill’s a tulip guy

Ron Nelson isn’t scary – he is your secretary, A computer geek who does everything big, he likes to make posters – I am sure that you have noticed, that he always uses dad’s old drilling rig!

Ken and Pat Slade – sem-retired so they say, Charter members who like travelling about, until Pat broke her ankle-I’m not sayin’ she was pickled on that trip when she had her appendix out.

Max Schibli had a trauma when he took on a Llama and the damn thing, it broke his leg in two.  But he ended up a winner, when Shirely made him dinner, was a heapin’ helpin’ of fresh Llama stew!

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Don’t mess with Children!

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.  The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.  The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.  Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.  The little girl said, ‘When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah’.  The teacher asked, ‘What if Jonah went to hell?’  The little girl replied, ‘Then you ask him’.

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In Memory
(James) Vaughn Anderson
February 12, 1935 – February 28, 2013

(James) Vaughn Anderson passed away with dignity and in the presence of loved ones at St. Joseph’s General Hospital.  From his modest beginnings near Arthurette, New Brunswick, Vaughn worked hard first as a Steam Engineer with Canadian Pacific Railroad and later as a water well driller.  Vaughn migrated to the West Coast and finally settled in the Comox Valley in 1970.  Vaughn ran several successful businesses throughout his life including Atlas Manufacturing in Merville, which produces and markets an ingenious tool that has revolutionized the water well drilling industry.

For Vaughn, life was always an adventure where there wasn’t a road that he wouldn’t drive down.  He travelled extensively throughout the world for work and the pure pleasure of seeing what was out there and what was next.  Vaughn’s greatest strength was his ability to dream and to share that dream with those with wisdom enough to listen.

Vaughn is predeceased by his parents James and Annie (Sullivan), sister Marion, and infant daughters Adrienne and Psyche.  He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Myrna (Yeomans), daughters Lynn Charlton (Terry), Brenda LaTorre (Ron), Laurel Anderson (Wes Sawatsky), Marion Anderson-Goodine (Blair), Emily Wand (Pat), sons Kenneth (Diana), Paul (Trudy), Jody, stepdaughters Vicki McRae (Rick), and Valerie Burgoyne (Bliss), six sisters, one brother, 23 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.  We would like to thank the exceptional staff and caregivers who made his last moments comfortable.  A gathering to celebrate Vaughn’s life took place on Friday, March 8, 2013 in Courtenay.  Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to L’Arche Comox Valley.

“As we walk so swiftly o’er the pathway of life we meet many challenges.  Some pain, some strife, and too happy moments of laughter and mirth.  Sometimes a feeling of complete rebirth but everyone strives, be he great or small, for immortality; remembered by all.”

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Laurie Desilets Scholarship Fund
To all members:

• The Laurie Desilets Scholarship Fund is available to all members or employees of members.  We encourage members (or employees of corporate members) to apply for a sponsorship under the fund to advance their training in well drilling or pump installation.

• The fund was created in 1995.  Given that we have reportedly received no applications for it to date, it seems a shame to just let it stagnate.  As such, if we don’t receive any applications for sponsorship under the fund by September 30, 2013, I propose that we open it up to all members (including Associate members) who wish to apply for sponsorship for a specific course or training that is consistent with the Association’s mission: the protection, the promotion, and the responsible development and use of ground water resources.

• If no applications are received by December 31, 2013, I propose we roll the fund back into our general account (as proposed by our accountants), but spend it for some worthwhile activity in Laurie’s memory at CanWell 2014.

Justin Bourne, Treasurer

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Overuse of Groundwater could Impact Food Supply, study finds

The world’s increasing reliance on deep groundwater for agricultural, residential and industrial use is fuelling crop-damaging soil salinity and depleting the world’s supply of fresh water, according to a new study in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Low-lying crop lands here in B. C. could be threatened, as water brought to the surface for human needs compounds the rise in sea levels predicted by climate-change models.

The most immediate impact of overuse of groundwater will be on our ability to feed ourselves, according to one of the study’s co-authors Diana Allen, a professor of earth sciences at Simon Fraser University.

About half of British Columbia’s food supply is imported, much of it from California, which has suffered from drought and is projected to become even more reliant on groundwater as precipitation declines due to climate change.

“Water security and food security are inextricably linked,” Allen said.  “And the resources that are available in our most productive agricultural areas are already showing signs of water stress.”

Climate scientists expect regions close to the Equator to become progressively drier while northern and southern regions will experience increased precipitation and extreme weather.

In warmer regions, that may mean less rain and extended drought not seen in North America since the 1930s.  In a wet climate such as British Columbia that could mean that winter rains will come so hard and fast that much of the fresh water that might have replenished groundwater simply runs off into the ocean, Allen said.

“If the rain just runs off it won’t penetrate and it won’t recharge (our) aquifers,” Allen said.  Climate change models generally agree that ocean levels are likely to rise over the next 50 to 100 years.

But as water is removed from deep groundwater systems that are not being replenished, it is added to the volume of water on the surface, something climate change models have failed to represent adequately, the paper’s authors say.

Even if the ocean levels don’t rise enough to top the dikes that protect Metro Vancouver’s most productive farmland in Richmond, Surrey and Delta, sea surges could push water over the top during violent storms, leading to saltwater flooding, Allen said.

In B. C. we may already be feeling the effects of a changing balance between groundwater and surface water supplies as salmon-bearing rivers and streams warm up and run low, said Allen.

Long after the snow has melted and the rains have stopped for the summer in B. C.’s Interior, groundwater continues to flow into the province’s streams and rivers at a temperature of about 10 C, which keeps the water cool for spawning fish during the summer and moderates water temperatures essential to egg and fry survival during the winter.

In the Okanagan, surface water licences for agriculture are fully allocated, which has fuelled an increase in the number of groundwater wells that have been drilled, Allen noted.

“If people keep drilling more wells, eventually the groundwater that discharges in to the streams will be reduced,” she said.  “Groundwater and surface water are totally linked.”

In the Fraser Valley, too, agriculture is placing stress on groundwater systems.  Chemicals used in agriculture are also swept into the groundwater system by over-application of fertilizer, irrigation and poor manure management, Allen said. 

“The Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer, which straddles the Canada-U.S. border, has nitrate concentrations that are well above Canadian drinking water guidelines, largely due to intensive agriculture,” she said.

Drinking water from the aquifer is not drawn from wells that register the high nitrate content.

Irrigation water drawn from deep aquifers often has a higher mineral content than water close to the surface, according to the paper Groundwater and Climate Change.

“When that water is used for irrigation, some of it evaporates and causes salts to accumulate in the soil,” said Allen.  “Rains leach those salts out and cause a deterioration of the quality of water closer to the surface.”

Deep groundwater systems, found at depths of 100 metres and more below the Earth’s surface, were recharged by precipitation and melting glaciers at the end of the last ice age, between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago.

“When we take groundwater out of the system and it is not being replenished, you are basically mining it,” Allen said.

Vancouver Sun
February, 2013

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Woman Stops Grizzly Attack with 25 caliber Pistol

This is a story of self control and marksmanship with an itsy bitsy shooter by a woman against a fierce predator.  What is the smallest caliber you trust to protect yourself?     The Beretta Jetfire:

While out hiking in Alberta, Canada with my boyfriend we were surprised by a huge grizzly bear charging at us from out of nowhere.  She must have been protecting her cubs because she was extremely aggressive.  If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire with me I would not be here today!  Just one shot to my boyfriend’s knee cap was all it took.  The bear got him and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace. 

It’s one of the best pistols in my collection!

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Upcoming Events

Alberta Water Well Drilling Assoc.
Convention & Trade Show
April 10-12, 2013
Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, Alberta
Ph: 780-386-2335

Ontario Ground Water Association
Convention & Trade Show
April 11-13, 2013
Huntsville, Ontario
Ph: 519-245-7194

Day of Mourning
April 28, 2013
149 workers died in B.C. last year - 149 families mourn

Official Drinking Water Week
May 20th – 26th, 2013
Duck/Moose/Fish all in a water splash…
www.drinkingwaterweek.org/

NGWA Groundwater Expo
December 3 – 6, 2013
Nashville, Tennessee
www.ngwa.org

CanWell 2014
Delta Okanagan Grand
Kelowna, B. C
June 10-14, 2014
Contact: 604-530-8934

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Changes in HST

We received a note from our accountant regarding changes (or not) to the GST/PST replacement of the HST.  They contacted the Ministry and based on their conversation, they directed us to bulletin 2013-003 http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents_library/notices/notice 2013-003.pdf for “Real Property Contractors”.  If this is applicable, the drillers would have to pay PST on their materials and would not charge PST on their sales.  For further information contact PST with more specific details about the activities of the drillers at 1-877-388-4440.

Groundwater Video

At our convention luncheon, we showed a video from the American Water Works Association.  This video is on loan from the office if anyone is interested in showing it at a high school or to educate employees of city water utilities that use groundwater as a source.  “Groundwater” provides a basic understanding of aquifer geology/design and operation of water wells/treatment to remove contaminants/long-term groundwater management for the future.  It runs for 21 minutes.

A Police Stop at 1 a.m.!

An elderly man is stopped by the police around 1 a.m. and is asked where he is going at this time of night.  The man replies, “I am going to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body.”  The officer then asks, “Really?  Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?”  The man replies, “That would be my wife.”

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Is this the last newsletter we ever print?

With your help and co-operation, it could be!

It’s not that the newsletter is ending its run, it is the printing. The BC Ground Water Association is planning to take a leap into the new millennium and stop wasting all that paper, printing and postage, not to mention all the time and effort sending out the pre-printed bulletin.

An extra page or two of content in the newsletter can increase the postage from one rate to the next, nearly doubling the cost of sending. A thicker newsletter should be good for all of us rather than make it an editorial decision to cut the extra pages or not.

Running to the printer, stuffing and addressing the envelopes all takes time.
If we send out the newsletter in PDF form, it will literally save the association thousands of dollars per year in office overhead.

Suppliers will benefit by being able to eventually have live links included in their advertisements. We will be able to archive the past issues on the BCGWA website with ads intact.

In case you don’t know, most of the manuals and documents that are on the internet are now in PDF format. Most computers automatically open them using Adobe Acrobat Reader. This allows you to save them, print them (in colour) and resend them without worrying about if you use a Windows computer or Mac or a smart phone. You can read it right off the computer screen or print it off and leave it in the lunchroom, washroom or pump-house where you get most of your reading done. Print out multiple copies if you like and keep one in every room!

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free program that is easily available on the internet at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. Most computers will already have it or something similar installed.
For anyone who still wants or needs to have the newsletter sent in printed version you will only have to contact the association office by phone or mail. It will still be mailed out for those members that prefer it.

Beginning with this issue, the newsletter will be sent by both email and snail mail. Eventually the Canada Post copy will stop, unless you specifically ask for a hard copy. Make sure we have your current email address. Be sure to check your “Junk Mail” file in case your computer sees it as spam.
So the time has come. Help us out and try the new digital version newsletter coming to your Inbox soon! Look forward to more content, more colour and more value.

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BCWWA - Daisy Foster retiring

It is with mixed emotions that I would like to inform you of my pending retirement, effective June 30, 2013

As of my retirement date, I will have been with BCWWA for 5 years.  Over this period BCWWA has matured into an organization that not only provides great programs and services for its members, but strives to impact public policy so that we all become better stewards for water resources.

I feel very fortunate to have worked with such a large and diverse group of people committed to safeguarding water and the environment.  At any given time, we have more than 200 active volunteers involved with BCWWA.  Besides the committee volunteers, many more of you contribute your views and perspectives through input to position statements, responding to member surveys on issues, and providing feedback on our programs and events.  The opportunity to draw on the knowledge and expertise of all of you has been extremely valuable to me.  Thank-you – I could not do this job without you!

Though it is time for me to retire, it is also an opportune time for a new CEO to lead this organization to greater heights. BCWWA is a very healthy organization with a solid framework for governance, operations and accountability; a growing membership along with an increasing level of member engagement; and, a competent and energetic staff, all under the leadership of a Board that provides clear vision and direction for BCWWA.  It’s a great job!

I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that the Board has retained Western Management Consultants (WMC) to search for a new CEO.  You may view the job posting at http://tinyurl.com/BCWWA-CEO.  If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the opportunity, please contact WMC directly.

Nothing can be more rewarding in our careers than being part of a ‘community’ that is passionate about its purpose and strives to make a difference in the lives of many.  I want to emphasize that I will always be thankful to this organization for having given me one of the greatest opportunities of my life to be a part of this.  Thank you for that.

Yours truly,

Daisy Foster, CEO

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Business for Sale

Operating drilling business in the sunny Okanagan.  Owner plans to retire and sell company, drilling equipment, and 2-1/2 acre fenced industrial zoned drilling yard.  Equipment includes:  3 I-R TH60 air rotary drills and full tooling.  See further details at www. cascadedrilling.ca. 
Ph: 250-767-6633 or e.mail: drill@telus.net.

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Click Here to download the December 2012 MOE Report