Printable leaflet on the Hunger Strike (44 Kb PDF)
background information on
the Wells-Barkerville School situation
Pictures from reopening
of the school, April 28, 2003
Downoadable "Missing"
poster: Minister Christy Clark and the Rural Task Force Report (PDF format,
52 Kb)
Reflections on the
Deal - a bulletin from Bill Horne & Claire Kujundzic (April 18, 2003)
Press release: Quesnel
School Board Flip Flops On Wells School; Children Continue In Sub-Standard
Conditions (March 20, 2003
Costs of moving children back into
the school (February 2003)
Abbreviated Chronology of Wells School Issue
Critique of Louise Scott's Aug. 28 letter (java
version)
Critique of Louise Scott's Aug. 28 letter (html only
version)
Picture from Cariboo hunger strikers dinner in
Quesnel, November 14
Picture from all-candidates' meeting, Quesnel,
November 4
Pictorial summary of the campaign to save our school
(305 Kb PDF)
Pictures from "Thanks for the Memories"
a benefit with Fran Dowie and Club 6/21
First day of classes at Wells Community Hall - pictures
September 22 Press release: Wells Presents Resolution
to UBCM Urging Rural School Grant Not Be Used to Close Schools
September 17 Press release: Community of Wells
wins Half the School Battle! Children Return to Classes Today: Fight to
Reopen School Continues
September 10, 2002 Press release: Wells Proposes
Option of Opening Temporary School in Wells: Will Make a Deal But Not
Pay Ransom
September 3, 2002 Press
release: Wells parents hold "classes" at closed Wells school
as new school year starts
First Day of School - demonstration pictures
Pictures from August 28, 2002 meeting of Trustees
August 28 document presented to all Trustees
Aug. 27 press release: "Hunger Strike to
Save Wells School Continues; Wells School Enrollment Higher Than Last
Year"
Aug. 7 articles from Lillooet News "Clark
appoints special adviser to school district"
July 30 letter from Education Minister Christy Clark
to Chair Louise Scott
Interview with Claire
on CBC Radio's As
It Happens on July 30 - click on Part 1 and fast forward yr player
about half way into the file.
Why there is a Hunger Strike to save the Wells-Barkerville
School
What you can do
On July 5, Quesnel School District trustees voted 4-3 to
close the Wells-Barkerville school. If their decision stands, children as
young as five years old will be forced to ride a bus almost 80 Km over a mountain
road each way to and from school in Quesnel. The decision supposedly ends
a three month "review" that began with the announcement of
the school's closure, but Wells residents are determined to keep their school
open and question the fairness of the process.
The Quesnel School District continues to lie about costs. "Unless they
walk away from the building as a major asset, they’d save less than $500 by
closing our school, not $100,000. They’re just trying to steal the yearly
$100,000 Small Communities Supplement allocated to our school by the province,"
said Wells Councillor Judy Campbell.
The school closure, coming just when Wells is experiencing record development
and investment, threatens the North Cariboo economy. A town without a school
will discourage, rather than attract new growth. Claire Kujundzic, Vice-President
of the Wells & District Chamber of Commerce was outraged when the Trustees
awarded their administration a $120,000 increase.
"It's unjust, and would more than pay to keep the school open,"
she says. She began a hunger strike on July 16, but was forced to end it after
13 days due to heart trouble. Her primary demand remins keeping the Wells-Barkerville
School open.
Wells Mayor David Hendrixson, in his seventies, joined the strike on July
24. "We hope it will force Victoria to sit up and take notice."
He is now in his fourth week.
The closure of the Wells-Barkerville School is fiercely opposed by people
in Wells, where many businesses are flying hunger strike flags to support
the action, and inviting support from visitors and residents. Support has
also come from the Friends of Barkerville, representatives of the Cariboo
Regional District, the Mayor of Quesnel, a former Social Credit MLA, the BC
Government and Service Employees Union, Hospital Employees Union, the BC Teachers
Federation, and the BC Federation of Labour.
As of August 27, over 52 people in BC and as far as Albuquerque, New Mexico,
USA, have joined Kujundzic’s hunger strike in solidarity for a day or
longer. Renowned Canadian author Susan Musgrave joined on July 17 while
in Wells to teach a writing workshop for Island Mountain Arts. "If
there is any hope for this world, it’s in the preservation of small, rural
communities," she said.
Opposition MLA Jenny Kwan fasted for the day she visited Wells (July 22).
Derek Evans, Executive Director of the Naramata
Centre, who served as Deputy Secretary General of Amnesty International
in London for many years, joined the strike on July 24. Jim Sinclair, President
of the BC Federation of Labour
joined on August 12 for five days, and characterized closing the school as
an attack on rural BC. Quesnel Mayor Steve Wallace and City Councillor Mike
Doyle also joined for five days on August 12. Neil Worboys, President of the
BC Teachers Federation, joined
for a day when he visited Wells and Barkerville August 16.
What You Can Do
to Support the Hunger Strike to Save the Wells School
If you live outside Quesnel School District 28:
Please contact your MLA with a copy to Christy Clark. Say you want this issue
discussed in caucus, especially the theft of the Small Community Supplement.
The government’s own policy manual says the money is targeted for rural schools.
Why isn’t government following it?
If you live within Quesnel School District 28:
Please write, call or email the Trustees that voted to close
the school and write John Wilson with a copy to Christy Clark. Demand that
they roll back their Administration’s raise and keep the Wells School open.
Let the Provincial Government know that their policies are wreaking havoc,
and that rural children deserve support.
School District 28 Trustees who voted FOR the closure:
Louise Scott, Chair, SD 28 scottl@quesnelbc.com
Phone: 250-992-6626 Voice Mail: 250-992-0444 (754)
1535 Eastwood Road, Quesnel BC V2J 6X5
Jim Girvin girvinj@sd28.bc.ca
Phone: 250-992-6127 Voice Mail: 250-992-0444 (749)
# 12 - 654 North Fraser Drive, Quesnel BC V2J 1Z6
Caroline Nielsen nielsenc@uniserve.com
Phone: 250-992-6980(w) 250-991-0649 (h)
Voice Mail: 250-992-0444 (748)
Site 5 - 345 St. Laurent Avenue, Quesnel BC V2J 2E1
Sandy Robertson sandy@goldcity.net
Phone: 250-992-9374 Voice Mail: 250-992-0444 (753)
1052 Graham Avenue, Quesnel, BC V2J 3C8
Hon. Christy Clark, Minister of Education christy.clark.mla@leg.bc.ca
Phone: 250-387-1977 Fax: 250 387 3200
PO Box 9045, STN PROV GOVT, Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Premier Gordon Campbell premier@gov.bc.ca
Phone: 250 387 1715 Fax: 250-387-0087
PO Box 9041, STN PROV GOVT, Victoria BC V8W 9E1
Dr. John Wilson, MLA Cariboo North john.wilson.mla@leg.bc.ca
Quesnel Constituency Office: 350 St. Laurent Avenue,
Quesnel, BC V2J 5A3
Phone: 250-992-7747 Fax: 250-992- 7790
Please send a copy of any correspondence or record of calls to:
Wells School Committee, Box 206, Wells BC V0K 2R0
or by email.
You can also:
• Go on a one-day (or longer) hunger strike (please let us
know if you do)
• Write a letter to the Editor
• Call your local media and ask that they cover this story
• Make a donation to the Wells Save Our School Committee
• Hold a vigil
• Light a candle
For more information contact:
Bill Horne 250-994-2332
Judy Campbell 250-994-3349 Councillor, District of Wells
Dave Jorgenson 250-994-2345 President, Wells & District Chamber of Commerce
And watch this site for updates, pictures and the strikers’
calendar...
back to top
