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A look back at the Columbia Valley's biggest news and community stories of 2013 The Columbia Valley’s Newspaper Since 1956

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Suspicious fire destroys Fairmont condos Pg A2

Minor hockey celebrated Pg A11

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Family Literacy Day embraced Pg A12

Fire and Ice set to take over Fairmont Pg A15

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Wednesday, October 31,6, 2012 Wednesday, February 2013

Curling kid

NICOLE TRIGG editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

Property values in the Columbia Valley have dropped since last year, but according to the

lion this year, the Village of Radium's assessment roll decreased from $394 million to $362 million and the Village of Canal Flats decreased from $141 million to $128 million over the same period. Approximate roll totals for Fairmont and Windermere dropped from $403 million to $378 million and from $1,108 million to $1,076 million respectively. TO 'NOT' ON PAGE A9

Kootenay-Columbia riding may grow Pg A3

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DAN WALTON/ECHO PHOTO Invermere's Bonspiel on the Lake took place over three days from January 18 to 20 and by all accounts was an incredible success with a huge turnout. These two intrepid curlers were caught in action at Lake Windermere's outdoor curling rink on Sunday, and The Valley Echo will award a free subscription to whoever can identify them! Email editor@invermerevalleyecho.com.

We’re also featuring a Winter Comfort Food Menu!

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A great debate

Highway changes urged after inquest concludes Jury mulls 2011 crash that killed three, concludes four changes needed for Highway 95 GREG AMOS editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

Improvements for Highway 95 could be on the way

after a three-day Coroner's inquest in Invermere shed light onto what led to a crash that killed three Lower Mainland residents near Spillimacheen in January 2011. Winter road conditions and a surge of Highway 95 traffic caused by an avalanche-related closure of the Trans Canada Highway were among the factors considered in the Invermere courthouse from Monday, March 25th until Wednesday, March 27th, when the five-member jury reached their decision after hearing from nearly 20 witnesses.

The jury, comprised of people from the Columbia Valley, made four recommendations: • That if the Trans Canada Highway is closed for any length of time and Highway 95 is used as alternate route, that Highway 95 should be deemed a Class A highway. • That an acceleration and deceleration lane should be built at the Spillimacheen Rest Area. CONTINUES TO 'JURY RECOMMENDS' ON PAGE A5

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Teen artist takes the cake Pg A12

Ivy House officially opens in Invermere Pg A3

Macdonald calls for change to Wildlife Act

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Fiery midnight magic

GREG AMOS PHOTO BC Liberal party candidate Doug Clovechok expounds on an answer to one of ten questions posed to three candidates at the all-candidates debate held on Wednesday, April 10th at David Thompson Secondary. A capacity crowd of 150 packed the high school theatre for the event, which ran for two hours as candidates answered pre-approved questions. There was no opportunity for the public to pose questions directly Pictured, left to right: Mr. Clovechok, BC Conservative candidate Earl Olsen, NDP incumbent MLA Norm Macdonald, and event moderator Craig Knapp.

sliding to the point where operational debt is being paid for with more debt," he added. While candidates had to compete with noise from a band practice early in the event, all stood and spoke directly to the crowd while resisting the urge to take personal shots at their rivals. "The NDP want more government, and who's going to pay for that?" questioned BC Liberal candidate Doug Clovechok, who also strongly endorsed

Premier Christy Clark's plan to create a liquefied natural gas export industry for B.C. He also condemned former premier Gordon Campbell for the manner in which the harmonized sales tax was introduced, but praised the tax itself. "As a small business owner, the HST worked for us," said Mr. Clovechok. The NDP "followed Bill Vanderzalm over the cliff," on the HST issue, he added. Seizing on a strong community issue, Mr. Macdonald related the closure

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Cranbrook ready to carry out deer cull Pg A3

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of Invermere's community dialysis unit to a 2005 BC Liberal government decision to appoint health board members. "If we form government, that dialysis unit will re-open," he said. Mr. Macdoanld also pledged the NDP would fund more home support care in rural B.C., without stretching the healthcare budget.

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BC Amateur Championship wraps up Pg A14

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Weekend wilderness warrior

Phase one of a $4.88 million wildlife fencing and underpass project for Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park is slated to begin in early spring. “Over the past decade, we have averaged 50 large animals killed on the road every year,” explained Trevor Kinley, wildlife crossing project manager for Parks Canada, during the Village of Radium Hot Springs council meeting on Wednesday, January 13. “It is a fairly major safety concern and a visitor experience issue because nobody wants to run into a dead animal or see a dead animal on the side of the road.” Phase one of the project, which could eventually include fencing and underpasses for up to 62 kilometres of Highway 93, will begin with a three kilometre stretch of highway north of the Dolly Varden day use area of Kootenay National Park — a location prone to animalvehicle accidents. The plan will feature 2.5-metre tall woven wire fences with a metre of chain link fencing buried underneath.

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KRISTIAN RASMUSSEN/ECHO PHOTO Radium Hot Springs' own Pete Feldmann saws a "button" off a log during the Wilderness Challenge at Radium's Winterfest on Saturday, February 16. The event held true to its name as the snow fell from sky while adults and younsters enjoyed sleigh rides, treasure hunts, and more. For more photos, turn to page A12.

Queen gives nod to Verge for Youth founder Pg A4

Rockies battle, but Ghostriders prevail Pg A14

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Awareness raised on rail tragedy

Canadian commerce is dependent on our railway system. But the dangers associated are brute and unforgiving, and can only be combatted through public awareness. Between Monday, April 29th and Sunday, May 5th, the Canadian Pacific Police Service stationed themselves in high risk areas throughout the Columbia Valley to remind the public of railroad dangers. The demonstrations were part of the annual Public Rail Safety Week in Canada. “The Canadian Pacific Police Service’s priority over our 100 years of service is to ensure public safety and to protect railway personnel, property and railway operations,” said Canadian Pacific Police Service Chief Ivan McClelland. “Public Rail Safety Week is an important initiative to remind the public that we all have a role ensuring safety in the communities in which we operate.” Over the course of 2012,

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Radar for the rails

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Team Canada readies for X-Alps race Pg A15

Everest explained by Pat Morrow Pg A12

Drinking water week a hot topic locally

Wednesday, October 2012 Wednesday, June 5,31, 2013

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Motorized vehicles prohibited for duration of summer as of June 1st STEVE HUBRECHT

steve@invermerevalleyecho.com

DAN WALTON/ECHO PHOTO Cameron Bird was one of three artists doing live painting demonstrations at The Artym Gallery on Saturday, May 18th for the May long weekend in Invermere. Bystander Brian Burnyeat, 8, looks on. For more community photos, turn to Valley Life on page 9.

The Forster Creek drainage area, about 45 kilometers northwest of the Village of Radium Hot Springs, has

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long drawn snowmobilers, backcountry skiers, climbers and hikers, but as the area’s popularity has increased in recent years, so too have the user conflicts. The province recently issued a reminder to Upper Columbia Valley residents about new restrictions on use of motorized vehicles in Forster Creek area that came into effect June 1st. “The impact of quads and side-by-sides on the high alpine is phenomenal,” Windermere Valley Snowmo-

Agreement encroaching on business relations

New friends lend a lift

KRISTIAN RASMUSSEN The Valley Echo

A group of Invermere businesses have begun voicing their concerns about an agreement between the district and street vendors they feel is encroaching on their profits. The encroachment agreement, which has created some controversy among the local business community, is a document between the district and owners of street vending stalls operating on district property. “My primary concern with the encroachment agreement is that vendors who come in to town to sell during the summer months are selling items that are identical to existing businesses,” said Yolande Dolman of River Gems. “I don't have an issue with street vendors, but it would be nice to see them setting up things that are perhaps not represented by permanent store owners.” Jurassic Gems, who were approved for a one-year encroachment agreement by the District of Invermere at the Tuesday, February 26th council meeting, sell products very similar to Ms. Dolman’s business. “When we bought this store the vendor in question had already been approved last year,” she said. “At the time the store was for sale, and I didn't know that the vendor had applied.” In addition to the concern regarding product duplication, street vendors are not paying a fair rent in the downtown core, Ms. Dolman added. “I think there are people in town that feel that street vendors add to the flavour and ambiance of Invermere and I think that's fine, but it would be nice to see people contributing to things going on in town instead of taking their money back out of the area.”

KRISTIAN RASMUSSEN PHOTO Firefighter Billy Robideau lifts Cash McKay into an Invermere Fire Rescue truck during a demonstration held on Thursday, March 14th behind the Sonshine Daycare in Invermere. The firefighters were there as part of an outreach program intended to build trust between youngsters and firefighters, who can intimidate children when dressed in their full protective gear.

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Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald is calling on the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations to change the Wildlife Act to allow deer hazing. Mr. Macdonald's comments come after a recent deer hazing demonstration in Kimberley. The Wildlife Act currently prohibits deer hazing and the Kimberley demonstration was CONTINUES ON PAGE A2

Invermere selected as Top 20 finalist by Kraft

Cutting edge comedy coming to Bud's Pg A10

Portable solution for James Chabot Park Pg A2

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Fostering fun

STEVE HUBRECHT/ECHO PHOTO Eileen Madson Primary School and J.A. Laird Elementary School students (left to right) Dylan Beddie, Kyle Brunner and Kody Brunner hungrily tuck into their hot dogs with Aly Barsby and Ryland Neville during Eileen Madson's Fun Day on Friday, July 14th. Students enjoyed all sorts of games and activities, including riding on a zip line, zumba lessons and getting soaked by a giant fire department hose. AG Valley Foods donated 600 hot dogs at cost and the use of a barbecue. For more images from events that have taken place throughout the valley so far in June, turn to pages A10.

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Wednesday, October 2012 Wednesday, August31, 28, 2013

Regulations forbid the transportation of intact deer carcasses into B.C. STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com

Provincial authorities have started a new public awareness campaign to keep a disease killing white-tailed

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deer, mule deer, elk and moose in Alberta and Saskatchewan from spreading across the border into B.C. “The idea is to minimize the risk to wildlife in B.C.,” B.C. government wildlife veterinarian Helen Schwantje told The Valley Echo. “I really hope people take it seriously and support us rather than think it's just some silly rule. We don't want people to stop hunting; we just want them to use some common sense.” Chronic wasting disease is a progressive, fatal ner-

George Leach to rock the Lakeshore Pg A10

Skaters compete in Ride for Crisqo Pg A13

Stand up guys

STEVE HUBRECHT/ECHO PHOTO Paddlers get set on the start line of the Summer Splash men's paddleboard race. This year's Summer Splash was a huge success, with about 300 people joining in the event at James Chabot Provincial Park on Sunday, August 11th, according to organizer Duncan Whittick. Turnout was way up from the 50 to 70 or so people the event has drawn in previous years. For more weekend coverage, turn to pages A9.

STEVE HUBRECHT

A bigger bridge over troubled waters

JOE LUCAS PHOTO Spectators, both on land and in boats, take in the dazzling night sky and impressively illuminated waters of Lake Windermere during the Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley's midnight fireworks display marking the start of Canada Day on Monday, July 1st. For more coverage of Canada Day, turn to pages A10 and A11.

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Message sen a mun c pa con erence

The torrential rain and flooding that slammed Alberta and also hit the East Kootenay in late June rendered many forest service roads impassable, affecting more than 50 sites and 30 bridges across the region. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations engineers have made an initial estimate that the total repair bill may cost as much as $5.5 million. Damage in the Upper Columbia Valley is far less extensive than in the rest of the region.

“CanFor (which licenses some of the backcountry roads) is going to go ahead and do some fixing, around Whitetail Lake, for example. The ministry doesn’t have the money to fix some of these trunk roads. They say that PEP (provincial emergency program) may come in, but there’s a timeline delay on that,” said Columbia River Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald,

STEVE HUBRECHT

ing last year’s ultra-busy B.C. Day long weekend, according to the visitor information centres in both Invermere and Radium, while visitation was up from last year at Panorama Mountain Village. “It was an excellent long weekend for us,” said Panorama marketing co-ordinator Jamie Hurschler. “We had a lot of people out, especially on the Eurobungy. And our new archery program has been really popular with guests.”

According to Mr. Hurschler, Panorama welcomed a lot of day visitors over the long weekend and also opened its new discovery centre, which gives visitors information on what’s new at the mountain resort). “We were completely full in terms of our accommodation. It was better than (B.C. Day long weekend) last year,” he said.

GREG AMOS / ECHO PHOTO A new 190-foot (58-metre) steel truss bridge at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is sure to keep RV campers connected with the main resort, no matter what surges come rushing down the creek. The bridge was secured into its footings on Thursday, August 22nd.

New foot bridge to enhance resort GREG AMOS editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

A new foot bridge at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort should ensure there's a flood-proof means of access between the resort's main grounds and its recreational vehicle (RV) park. The 190-foot (58-metre) steel truss bridge was set in place with the help

of two giant Mammoet crane trucks on Thursday, August 22nd, and is expected to be ready for foot traffic by Friday (August 30th) or Saturday. After assembling the three pieces into a single span, about a dozen workers secured the bridge into its footings at 11 a.m. With an inside width of 10 feet (three metres) and a weight of just under 100,000 pounds (45,360 kilograms), the bridge is wide and sturdy enough

2013 steve@invermerevalleyecho.com

Rotary Club of Invermere members and friends erupt in cheers on Friday, July 12th at The Station Pub at the announcement that Invermere beat Pemberton for the Kraft Celebration Tour. For the full story, turn to page A2. Steve Hubrecht/Echo photo

Washouts on several backcountry roads in the valley and other parts of the East Kootenay have been hampering access for recreational and commercial users for several weeks and may continue to do so for some time, possibly until next year.

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The B.C. Day long weekend drew flocks of visitors to the valley, with many of the resorts and golf courses in the area saying they were packed with customers from Friday, August 2nd through to Monday, August 5th. Visitor numbers were more or less the same as dur-

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Numa Creek fire quenched after quadrupling

to drive golf carts and even vehicles across, though under normal circumstances it will be for walkers only. "In case an ambulance has to go across, the bridge can take it," commented Fairmont Hot Springs Resort chief financial officer Pascal van Dijk. "It was a small creek before, and now it's a wide canyon covered by a single-span bridge.”

Strong winds last week helped the Numa Creek wildfire in Kootenay National Park jump in size from 100 hectares to 400 hectares, briefly giving off a large column of smoke. The fire has been burning for almost a month after likely beginning with a lightning strike, but as of early last week had been holding steady in size and was not producing much visible smoke. On Thursday, August 22nd the fire increased almost fourfold and produce quite a visible column of smoke, which was blown east to Banff, Canmore and Calgary. The sudden jump prompted Parks Canada fire management specialists to conduct flyovers and put ground fire crews in action. A strong five-millimeter dose of rain on the night of Saturday, August 24th combined with generally cooler temperatures during the weekend quickly curtailed the smoke, which at the last update before press time included some smaller puffs from a few fire spots as well as some smoke haze. Although ground crews had initially been on the scene when the fire started, they were pulled off because the steep slopes and difficult terrain in the area made it potentially unsafe for them. Parks Canada was also opting to manage the fire by not directly suppressing it, since fire plays an important ecological roles in mountain parks and is particularly beneficial to recovery of white bark pine, an endangered tree species found in the Numa Creek drainage.

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Matrimony at the Toby

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Improvement needed in forest management, says MLA editor@invermerevalleyecho.

PHOTO BY KIM SANDERSON / WWW.KIMBERLEYRAE.CA Invermere couple Geoff Hill and Jess de Groot tied the knot in theatrical style at the Toby Theatre on Saturday, September 7th, in a retro-themed wedding that dazzled many of the guests. Family, friends, Invermere Fire Department firefighters and Killer Rollbots roller derby team members filled out the seats at the historic local theatre, which was hosting a wedding for the first time in its 61-year history.

With a sunny summer that resulted in surprisingly few significant forest fires now coming to an end, Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald is focusing on how government can do a better job ensuring B.C. forests experience more summers like this one. “We've been fortunate with this fire season; it looks like we're going to get through with very few fires and a limited impact on natural resource dependent communities,” he told The Echo. “But we do know the fuel load is building, and that the sensible thing to do is to protect out communities by doing this thinning and preventative work.” The province's wildfire management branch recorded 1,687 reported wildfires for the season as of September 1st, significantly below the B.C. average of nearly 2,000 fires each summer. Despite several dry weather records being set around the province, this year's fires burned a total of 11,434 hectares, far less than the average damage of more than 130,000 hectares. However, the build-up of dead and dry timber around communities continues to be an issue, said Macdonald, who sees too few communities using provincial forest fuel reduction programs to remove dry timber, as Canal Flats has been doing this summer. “Across the province, I have real concerns about fuel management in the interface,” he said.

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vous systems disease first discovered in Canada in 1996, which has been spreading ever since, despite efforts to contain it. It is caused by an abnormal protein and spreads when a healthy animal comes into contact with an infected animal, infected tissue or even soil contaminated by the protein. “That's a really unique situation, a dead infected

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Backlog on backroads repair in valley BC Day long weekend busy in the valley

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DAN WALTON/ ECHO PHOTO The Village of Canal Flats council was decked out in period clothing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the village's incorporation for Canal Days on Saturday, June 1st. Pictured here (l-r) are Councillor Dean Midyette, Mayor Ute Juras, Councillor Gilbert Delorme and Councillor Marie Delorme, accompanied by their chauffeur for the parade, Sjac Pronk. Missing from the photo is Councillor Paul Marcil — the horse was asked to stand in for him. For more images from the weekend, turn to pages A10 and A11.

bile Society president Barry Lightfoot told The Valley Echo. “Once they drive up on the alpine, it’s done for 10 to 15 years, if not forever.” A 1996 ban on all motorized vehicles in the area was widely ignored for years, prompting provincial officials to revise Section 58 of the Forest and Range Practices Act last fall, after consulting with various stakeholder groups.

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Requiem for a Glacier

PAT MORROW PHOTO Requiem for a Glacier orchestra members on site at Farnham Glacier the weekend of July 27th and 28th. Requiem for a Glacier was a site-specific sound performance that took place on the glacier and is commissioned by the Langham Cultural Centre. The performance will be the basis of a new video work that will be the cornerstone of an installation scheduled for October 2013 in Kaslo. Requiem for a Glacier presents the history of the glacier, the advent of electricity, climate change and the B.C. government’s announcement of a year-round resort community in the Jumbo Glacier area as a four-movement operatic work.

Rotary Club's splash park project has chance to win $25,000, live TSN broadcast

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Steamboat Mountain Music Fest returns Pg A13

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Feathered hat profits donated upon retirement Pg A10

Forster Creek backcountry closures in effect Deer disease putting B.C. wildlife at risk

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Hovercraft fundraising makes strides Pg A4

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DAN WALTON PHOTO Const. Michael Crockett from the Canadian Pacific Police Service aims a radar gun at traffic headed towards an Athalmer railway crossing on Thursday, May 2nd, as part of a Public Rail Safety Week event. The private police force was conducting a safety check at the railway crossing on Bordon Street.

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Spring runoff has begun, raising water levels in Lake Windermere. For many residents of the Upper Columbia Valley, this time of year can also mean a change in the water coming out of their taps, since runoff often affects water turbidity. The runoff coincides with B.C. Drinking Water Week — May 20th to May 26th — which is put on by provincial officials and the B.C. Water and Waste Association to raise awareness about drinking water issues across the province. Some visitors assume that the municipalities of the Upper Columbia Valley, nestled as they are between two ranges of snow capped mountains beside big, clear lakes, should have perfect water flowing through their pipes year round. This, however, paints an oversimplified picture — the presence of copious amounts of water is just one part of the puzzle. In fact, large amounts of water frequently goes hand-in-hand with large snowpacks, bigger spring runoffs and corresponding increases in drinking water turbidity. The water quality of any given community is affected by a host of other factors, including geology, soil, temperature, surrounding land uses, climate, type and location of each particular water source as well as — critically — the cost and effort involved in implementing, maintaining and upgrading water treatment and distribution infrastructure. “It's absolutely more complicated than just having a lot of water,” said Ted Molyneux, past president of the B.C. Water and Waster Association.

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After day and a half of digging through the charred remains of Panorama Mountain Village's 1000 Peaks Lodge, Columbia Valley Fire & Rescue and the B.C. Safety Authority have produced no leads as to the cause of the Wednesday, February 27th blaze. “Due to the extreme heat in the area of origin, vital evidence was completely destroyed, giving investigators no option other than to deem the cause undetermined,” Fire Chief Jim Miller states in a Regional District of East Kootenay press release. “We have identified where the fire started and although the cause is undetermined, we can confirm that foul-play and human-related activities were not factors in the fire.” The fire, which ripped through the top two PHIL MARSHALL PHOTO floors of the lodge early Wednesday mornPanorama Mountain Village's 1,000 Peaks Lodge became a fiery inferno in the early hours of Wednesday, February 27, in a blaze where foul play ing, displaced dozens of residents staying at has now been ruled out as the possible cause. In addition to alerting building residents of the fire, Phil Marshall found time to take this photo. the lodge, including seven members of the Rabbit Hill Ski Steam who were preparing for the U16 CanAm Western Championship. Alnorth stairwell and was joined by another good sa- tinguisher to put the fire out on one side of the deck though visitors were left temporarily homeless by the maritan, Cam Cole. before it ran dry.” blaze, the inferno could have had much more drastic The duo loudly banged on each door they could He returned to the kitchen and filled a garbage can consequences if it were not for the efforts of bystand- find to warn resident of the quickly escalating with water to fight the blaze. Realizing that the fire ers, including Panorama resident, Phil Marshall. inferno. was out of control, Mr. Marshall performed a hand In a statement given to authorities, Mr. Marshall, “Once I had alerted each of the condos, I returned search of the bedrooms and found them empty. who owns the Earl Grey Lodge and restaurant with to the penthouse and kicked the door in, being He quickly fled the building, but not without sufhis wife Clare, noticed flames erupting from the aware that there may have been a flash back,” Mr. fering from prolonged smoke inhalation, which penthouse condo of the 1000 Peaks Lodge while Marshall stated in official testimonial. resulted in an evening of sickness and difficulty walking along Summit Drive and chatting with a The sprinklers on the top floor were working, but breathing. friend, Jason Smith, at around 1 a.m. Mr. Smith, who the area was filled with smoke. Although his actions were crucial in warning was carrying a fire department radio at the time, “I grabbed a towel from the kitchen and wet it to visitors of the blaze, Mr. Marshall remains modest immediately called in the blaze. The restauranteur put over my face before proceeding through the about his role in rescue efforts and would rather not grabbed a fire extinguisher from his business and lounge to the deck because the glass door to the be singled out. gained access to the 1,000 Peaks Lodge through the deck had broken and I was able to use the fire ex“A lot of people did a great job that night,” he added.

Columbia Valley officials discuss drinking water systems in their communities for B.C.'s 2013 Drinking Water Week

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Canada's Transportation Safety Board recorded a greater number of crossing accidents and trespassing incidents than in previous years. There were 189 automobile crossing accidents resulting in 31 fatalities and 32 serious injuries. The Transportation Safety Board also recorded 71 trespassing incidents, which resulted in 47 fatalities and 20 serious injuries. One of those incidents hit home for Invermere residents, when 50-year-old Carmen Salazar was struck by a train and killed instantly on the evening of Tuesday, February 20th in Athalmer, in nearly the same spot the rail safety demonstration was held. In that incident, the train was estimated to be traveling at close to 60 kilometres per hour, which is the speed limit for trains traveling through residential areas. In the first two months of 2013 alone, the safety board recorded 42 automobile crossing incidents which resulted in 10 fatalities and two serious injuries. Trespassing in January and February was blamed for seven fatalities and one serious injury. Mr. McClelland noted these numbers do not represent the many near-collisions that occur.

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The project will also include a maximum of two culverts, which are to be constructed out of pre-cast concrete and measure between two to four metres high by seven metres wide. The project may also come with an element of electricity to keep animals off the road, Kinley added. “We are still challenged with carnivores because bears, wolves and cougars are able to figure out how to get past Texas Gates,” he added. “We are currently experimenting with electric mats embedded in the road, which are safe for people and vehicles.” Although the building process will be structured around non-peak travel times, some single-lane traffic situations are predicted during the build period, Kinley said. Entry points will still be made available on request. “There will be gates for vehicle access and for people,” he said. “If anybody is aware of any spot where people like to go fishing or hiking and need to get through the fence we will put a gate in. Certainly let us know and we can probably install a gate.” For more information on the project, please contact Trevor Kinley at trevor.kinley@pc.gc.ca.

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Wings over the Rockies takes flight Pg A12

Abattoir gets regional district go-ahead Pg A3

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Wildlife fence and underpass slated for Kootenay National Park

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Push by MLA to allow deer hazing supported by local deer protection society

Invermere has a chance to win $25,000 for the Rotary Club's splash park project. The splash park is one of 20 finalist community projects across the country vying for ten $25,000 prizes awarded through Kraft's Celebration Tour. Keri-Anne Thomas, who nominated Invermere and the splash

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Economic visions for B.C. and approaches to the local dialysis unit dilemma were among the top issues discussed at the all-candidates debate on the evening of Wednesday, April 10th. Three candidates — one still awaiting official Elections BC confirmation of his candidacy — squared off in posing answers to ten questions on ten different topics, selected from a pool of 100 questions received by the organizing committee. "It's important in my view to simply be predictable as a government," said incumbent MLA Norm Macdonald, as he railed against the province's implementation of the now-rescinded harmonized sales tax. Mr. Macdonald also observed that the provincial debt has ballooned to $78 billion when factoring in the BC Hydro deferral accounts related to independent power producer agreements. "The creation of jobs is the largest issue in the province," said soonto-be-confirmed BC Conservative candidate Earl Olsen, a career accountant and businesman who was a new face to many in the crowd of 150 people. "We're almost

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BRAD KITCHING PHOTO Kim Poole (#172) makes his way up the first hill of the 30-kilometre Nipika Classic Loppet on Saturday (February 2) at Nipika Mountain Resort. The Toby Creek Skate Loppet followed on Sunday (February 3) and both events took place under sunny bluebird skies with temperatres around 0 degrees Celsius. For more coverage, turn to page A16.

CONTINUES TO 'CAMENZIND' ON PAGE A10

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Rail Safety Week event in Athalmer aims to cut down on train danger

Three MLA hopefuls stake positions and policies in front of crowd of 150 at school editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

NICOLE TRIGG PHOTO Paragliders take flight from the ski slopes of Panorama during the 16th Annual Easter Meet on Saturday, March 30th. A sunny and warm day lent plenty of loft to about 30 paragliders from B.C. and Alberta, who took part in an Easter egg drop competition and a cross-country challenge, set amidst a weekend full of social events. In this shot, two paragliders set out with a landing zone at the Greywolf Golf Course driving range in mind.

The Invermere Public Library is the recipient of a generous donation by a long-term Windermere resident who passed away last August. Joseph Camenzind, who died on August 17, 2012 at the age of 86, bequeathed a large sum of money to the library in his will, and library officials received the initial amount of $50,000

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Alive screening draws lively crowd Pg A19

Future mudslide hazard assessed Pg A4

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Columbia River-Revelstoke candidate for the BC Liberals, Doug Clovechok, attended a fundraiser for his campaign in Calgary last Thursday (January 17) night with some big names from his party, including Deputy Premier Rich Coleman and Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett. Holding a political fundraiser out of province has raised some

Wednesday, October 31, 2013 2012 Wednesday, April 17,

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Lake Windermere’s world record for hosting the largest and widest outdoor skating rink will likely have to wait at least one more winter. Because of less-than-ideal weather conditions, the organizations working to break the record — the Columbia River Greenways Alliance (CRGA), the Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club, the

What’s happening this week at Smoking Waters...

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Wednesday, October 31,20, 2012 Wednesday, February 2013

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More funds will follow initial interim payment of $50,000 once estate is settled

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Nearly $5 million be to invested into safer highway crossing options for animals

Proceeds for Clovechok's Columbia River-Revelstoke Liberal campaign

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Rockies holding on to spot in the playoffs Pg A15

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Whiteway record likely on hold

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BC Assessment figures released on January 2, the changes are overall relatively modest. "Generally speaking, the trend in market values throughout the Columbia Valley as well as through the East Kootenay all told was downward slightly," said Brad Lane, the area assessor with the BC Assessment-East Kootenay Office. The District of Invermere's assessment roll decreased from $966 million last year to $961 mil-

BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN

Guinness Record-breaking Whiteway looking like a no-go this winter

Arson charges have been laid in relation the suspicious fire that destroyed three partially built condominium buildings at Columbia Eagle Resort in Fairmont Hot Springs on December 22, 2012. As of January 17, a 20-year-old female from Fairmont Hot Springs and a 25-year-old male from Invermere have been

Some locations are exceptions in 2013 BC Assessment figures

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Slight decline for valley property values

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Fairmont fire suspects nabbed Arson charges laid against two residents in their 20s from Radium, Invermere

NICOLE TRIGG/ECHO PHOTO (L-R) Willa Oaks, Jazlyn Oaks and Anne Stein put in some ice time on New Year's Day along with a few dozen others who spent the first day of 2013 enjoying hockey games, lakeside fires, cross country skiing and more at Lake Lillian.

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PHOTO ECHO r Tou TRIGG/ NICOLE Celebration 19th, ust Kraft At the Monday, AugTriathlon on event the Rockies ud was of Heart er Bruce Stro the live ing organiz by TSN dur ast that led adc in fi bro pro Beach entre SportsC e at Kinsmen acted at took placre, which attr ic people Inverme 0 enthusiast ering least 1,00signs and che s. 2013 era waving the cam iversary of for ann ly h ud loud the 30t Mr. Stro marked thlon, which competthe tria and he is stillmaking , started age of 69, for the te the ing at candida ous online likely end of him a ure. Trem ary Club TV feat for the Rot Beach t suppor re's Kinsmen landed al rme pos eted Inve the cov Park pro Splash re a spot on ,000 donaInverme well as a $25 ject. For full tour, as ards the pro Celebraft tow tion the Kra Friday's ge of see nt,Zook covera r eve Chris eer. and Adriann Tou a Marin, both borderi Pion tion a Valleyng the Riverside Golf from Winnipe g, enjoy a Course, said Columbi leisure despite

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A flurry of cont auditor general's roversy over of Upp a recent report may er B.C. hindN/ become Columbia Valle USSE er carb y mun O the efforts TIAN RASM neut B.C. Aud onKRIS icipalities ral. ECHO PHOT to few week itor General John Doyl s – a 55,00 ago questione ande's report l Tanther d whe 0 hectare a land in tract Chyae Dark -month-old of large the sout woo bothlyof Inver Tan, 4, hernylaSelk ed roug Eight undes velo ds depth Maka y hlysister irk betw mountainen ped legitimat een Cresthe murk s, locate sour , peer into ton near and Kinsm The Distr merece ofWinde Nels carbrmere dayon – is on Satur ict Lake off onsets. ofof Inve a Flats, the rmer Invermere e, the Beach g the Lake ge ofinRadidurin the Regi Villa ge of 9), um Villaand Gun onal Distr Cana uary Rod Hot l (Febrict of District Sprin . consideri the East Day event gs rmere Winde g enay and Darkwoo ng buyi ng Young stude y FishinKoot ds projeClub's carb Familon off old warmedwere neutral April 16th, nts at Eileen Madso g andsets from , for 2012 ct sors they as Tyler fishingthe , whic Angleh youn coul by signi Hawthorne n Primary in Inverm made by d ice be carb ers of they ng wond the golf and Scott ere were on had innow and trout to the resort in they cont the B.C.upClim pledged treate partnership McClain from to sting inue dow hungate ry pikem bait Copper Point d to some starte with B.C. “It will n Charconsido nasthat pathActio the r sets of Golf and Golf Club proje ter.other age-approp tedly took Whe is now p, and the Natio informati take a bitrepea DAN uncertainlake ther Proje ct manager for riate golf nal Golf were on hand to of time worms, shrim Club of Canad donate the equipment WALTON PHOTO ct, an on the . Invermer on comes back of wood ; it The daynds depe essential on Tuesd non-profi the Carbon a. governm e mayor els. abou shing Neutral ay, on fi gear. The mors t t socie ice where the wha ents mee Gerrtasty timewoo donation t been we y l's firstDark t their char ty that help Kootenay sion was more Chyae“It's requirem can buy off wasTaft. s Koot prettyd. Seeds,” said men purchased s to be ter goal sets and yla's secon ent of the enay to date limit from . ts “No hots ed from Maka have “We are B.C. mun reduced or sequ on char by and snaps that proje them Kootenay offsets have ter.” s and advising Und mee the icipalities estered is still local gove buy fishing photocommunity over t the B.C. er the charter, ct.” elsewhere an optio local gove rn- sion offsets to coun have until June rnm 's 188 which . n pend aroun d the still in ents ter-balan , and that12. the due ing due 8th cut back municipalities has been signe Darkwoo page onence diligence week dilig end for 2012 in so doing, beco ce last year's this year to carbon , phase,” . emission local governm d by 180 of and we ds emission carb me offi said Dale s all the are gove cially carb on emiss as muc Few off ents try set proje way Littlejohn h they to on neut rnment cts have ral , carb make up to zero is impo can. Cutting mate by the on offsets ssible, the diff cal to the charter, and so far been so loca — esse erence deemed Darkwoo Koot l gove ntially legit ds is the rnments enay area, mak paying by purchasin only one iVJ (Butch g for carb ing it a in the regio lonatural on emis ) n. choice Owner/Op Bishop for • Excavato erator 4846 Holla CONTINUES nd Cree • Compact rs • Mini-Excavat TO 'DARK k Ridg Invermere WOODS' ors • Bob ion Equi ON PAGE , BC V0A e Rd. cats • Dum pment • A3 • Mobile 1K0 Snow

motel cupied Radium Fire engulfs unoc four local fire Firefighters from under control halls bring blaze

on at nts, including to the bers of fire departme was still under investigati — 14 in all — responded Dixon in a press and Panorama Panorama,” said Radium firefighters 5 p.m. and were quickly assistjob of aerial truck from before did an excellent incident shortly “Our firefighters fire departments. because the release. ed by other local ON PAGE A2 fire to put out HT TO 'CARETAKER' STEVE HUBREC “It was just a stubbornRadium Fire Chief Dave Dixho.com said steve@invermerevalleyec wind was swirling,” a huge factor.” the Village of Rad Ritz Motel in on. “The wind was Trucks Water • Trucks The old, abandone completely destroyed by a fire • Bobcats • Dump was t • Crane Truck dium Hot Springs s • Mini-Excavators

Foreign

KRISTIAN RASMUSSEN PHOTO More than 100 anti-Jumbo protesters from across the valley and beyond gathered outside the Village of Radium Hot Springs municipal office on Tuesday, February 19, as Jumbo Glacier held its first ever council meeting. Among the protesters was valley resident Doug Anakin, a Canadian bobsled team gold medallist in the 1964 Winter Olympics.

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Dialysis unit moving to Sparwood

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to the Sparwood Hospital. Health regional director According to Paula James, Interior CONTINUES ON PAGE A4

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NICOLE TRIGG editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

January Property values down A report released by the BC Assessment-East Kootenay office revealed that property values in the Columbia Valley had dropped from the previous year, but the downward trend was partially offset by growth resulting from subdivisions, rezoning and new construction. "There is always a certain amount of activity that results in a certain amount of growth," said Brad Lane, the area assessor with the BC Assessment-East Kootenay Office. "It's just a question of whether or not that's enough to offset declines due to market value." Suspicious fire unsolved The cause of the suspicious fire that

Nicole Trigg/Valley Echo Photo (Left to right) Willa Oaks, Jazlyn Oaks and Anne Stein put in some ice time on New Year's Day along with a few dozen others who spent the first day of 2013 enjoying hockey games, lakeside fires, cross country skiing and more at Lake Lillian.

destroyed three partially built Columbia Eagles Resort condos hadn't yet been determined. When ten or so firefighters

R DE K Ho liday Hours CRANBROOK RDEK OFFICE December 31 January 1 January 2

8:30am-3:00pm Closed Regular Hours (8:30am-4:30pm)

COLUMBIA VALLEY OFFICE December 31 January 1 January 2

8:30am-3:30pm (closed 12pm-1pm) Closed 8:30am-4:30pm (closed 12pm-1pm)

COLUMBIA VALLEY LANDFILL December 31 January 1

9:00am-5:00pm Closed

All other days through the holiday season, the Landfills will be open from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

For more information, contact the RDEK at 1-888-478-7335

Invermere

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ly Columbia travelling River around the /ECHO PHOTO world, he has float through Fairmo NICOLE TRIGG resort's nt Hot yet to find ski a nicer summe Springs on Sunday y 9 for the , September r spot than sday, Januar 1st. Mr. Zook, Fairmont Hot GREG AMOS pictured here Springs. Village on Wedne floating around / ECHO orchestra and choir will PHOTO ma Mountain A full-blown a bend it to Panora who made perform climate change arts project to page A17. the people A new $275 a handful of weekend, turn proce temporary ssing fee sh were just Festival this for each Bruce McInto Panorama's Snowflake is tacked foreign employee, STEVE HUBRECHT River Grill Dubois and ation on onto the , Christine which in inform Inverm Martin For steve@invermerevalleyecho.com application pre-existing throu hours. ere sh, Darcy etres in 48 $150 have gh the TFW progr and has hired , Ann McInto bia Valley fee, is impacting and choir singers — 43 centim no qualifi am. to the Colum Later this month, roughly 70 musicians , where severa out what (L-R) Greg Fenton year so far ed Canad - which pay for travel expen “Employers availa the Jumbo area, possibly the TFW DAN WALTON/ECHO PHOTOsnowfall of the ers to find l employers will perform together somewhere in program ble to the ians make thems record disturbing. use lars, gets into the thous ses anyway, to local teach grow from the year before. to find elves "It's just on a glacier. emplo valley Edgewater on Saturday, July 5th saw its audience vered was so the next he talked se ands of money that employees. a Glacier’, is an artistic The Steamboat Mountain Music Festival in Early in the evening, Crandol- altern business owners, yer. ForThmany couple hund have to e performance, called ‘Requiem for music, vendors and plenty of outdoor activities. Murray said g, and what he discoand anxious becau won't make you're going Paul Walde. there are spend as The event lasted all day with continuous live concert-goers of every age to their ative hiring red dollar nt seein and proor break led by Victoria-based artist and composer project to very few playing fun and upbeat music which brought Justin Atterb an emplo stressed s strategies. it." Because employme they were brook's Good Ol' Goats took to the stage, and climate change is municipal "One of yer,” ury, who the “The primary theme is the landscape, the challe come to class related to lack of sive and calling on feet for a dance in front of the stage. owns the said my is mainl Columbia Valley nts were nges in Students home a comprehenthe prov(BCTF) and 's econo- finding workers Rocky y based on him stude CONTINUES ON PAGE A5 issues at year-round,the valley is program for Federation nments to develop something teacher told of family is often utilizetourism, the TFW consistent produ to delive tion plan • Water Trucks VJ (Butch) ct," Mr. Atterb issues. One ’s lunches, ra al gover d in cases rty reduc • Mini-Excavators • Bobcats • Dump Trucks vinci other Excavators other • pove and each where ury said. Bishop e child Equipment • Crane Truck stealing VJ (Butch) Bishop ut a plan Owner/O • Excavators accountabl h Columbia. • Compaction Equipment • Snow Plow • Sanding CONTINUES e. regularly nces witho Services perator • Mini-Excav ON PAGE Owner/Operator of Britis A4 4846 Hollan dians provi the evidence can he’d never seen befor Pressure Washing & Steam Cleaning • Underground A3 Mobile • • ince PAGE Comp Cana ators ON d Creek Ridge action Equip • Bobcats of two • Land Clearing • Controlled Burning 4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. TO 'TEACHERS' Invermere, ent Doug toba — and • Dump Truck Rd. B.C. is one • Site Prep & Demolition • Road Building • Mobile Press ment • Snow Plow BC V0A 1K0 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 being Mani ooms, WTA presid s • Water Truck • Sand • Rock Walls • Rip Rap • Top Soil • Sand & Gravel the other January 8. ure

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The ValleyrepEcho saw its fair share of change in 2013 — a joint operating agreement with its former competitor rieve 90-day ts e g l a v it remoe Pioneer), a change in location and a changeover in staff. Amidst its growing pains, however, the Columbia s un(Th Dialysi Valley's heritage paper walked away with provincial and national recognition for newspaper excellence in its circulation category, earning a gold, silver and bronze at the 2013 B.C. and Yukon Community Newspaper Awards, and a national blue ribbon at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. The past year was also a time of great change and accomplishment for the valley community, and the following pages endeavour to reflect this evolution with a special collection of stories and photos. Welcome to The Valley Echo's 2013 "Year In Review" special edition. • Site Prep

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Wednesday, CHO 1, 2014 The Valley Echo VALLEY EJanuary

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Key staff members at the Vil- made. lage of Radium Hot Springs The new municipality encomwill soon be filling double passes more than 6,000 hectares roles by also working for the in the Jumbo Mountain area lonew Jumbo Glacier mountain cated 55 kilometres west of Inresort municipality. vermere, where a world-class ski Against a backdrop of more resort is slated to be built on a than 100 anti-Jumbo protest- 104-hectare resort base. The deers from across the Kootenays velopment would include 5,500 chanting outside Radium’s vil- bed units, and has faced intense lage offices, the municipality’s opposition in the region over the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, 22-year history of the proposed February 19th solidified several project. The resort would offer aspects of how Jumbo Glacier year-round glacier skiing at elwill work. evations as high as 3,400 metres All meetings will be held at the via 23 ski lifts. Radium office on the third TuesThe decision to establish a new day of each month at 1 p.m., a municipality in the area, which time that’s convenient for both as yet has no buildings and no Radium staff and Jumbo’s coun- population, was made by the cil, consisting of Mayor Greg province last November. Deck and councillors Nancy HuTo keep costs down, the coungunin and Steve Ostrander. All cil will earn lower-than-average three were sworn in by Radium remuneration. Mayor Greg Deck chief administrative officer Mark will be paid $7,500 for each full Read to commence the meeting. year, while the two councillors “Are you sure you want to do will earn just $5,000 per year. WALTON/ECHO PHOTO DAN Elderly this?” he wryly asked Mr. Shuswap Band chief in a matter of hours. Ostrander, the as abandoned protesters Ritz be-Motel Paul Sam opened the council destroyed gan pounding on the building’s meeting with a prayer, and rebattle the blaze that to watch firefighters 9th June doors and windows in time with marked he had never seen a grizSunday, Springs on Street in Radium Hot a slogan of “Save democracy”. zly bear in the Jumbo area in his Street West and Mackay the corner of Main At that point, Columbia Val- life. Crowds gathered at ley RCMP Staff Sergeant Marko “When you say Jumbo Wild, Shehovac, who was in the room, it’s fine, but what has wild ever ghtthehefirefi called for backup, as protestfiordone until for us?” said. “They're hours ve for at least put it out.but we've Bob Campsall went out-control protesting e fire burned Thganizer andeverything, it under bringthe todown memside toable calm crowd. got our ownfrom , ers were 9th. support heart and soul to tell ly received in the afternoon Two immediate additional police cars ar- us what to do. I'm glad that you on Sunday, June , Edgewater “We blaze, which began re, Invermere rived, though no arrests were people chose the right way The cause of the theto go.” the Winderme press time.

STEVEl Realty Invermere MaxWel HUB RECHT

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Radium and Jumbo to buddy up

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with the Fairmont and Windermere fire departments arrived on scene after witnesses called in the fire on the morning

of December 22nd, 2012, they discovered the condominium buildings completely engulfed in flames. There were no occupants in any of the unfinished units and no injuries as a result of the blaze, which lasted about three hours. Springing for Swansea On Sunday, January 6th at the Radium Village Office, Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks presented the Columbia Valley Cycling Society with $57,775 in Department of Western Economic Diversification Community Infrastructure Improvement funds toward improving the recreation cycling and hiking trail and flying infrastructure on Mt. Swansea. The money was matched 100 per cent by a group of funders — Columbia Basin Trust; BC Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations; District of Invermere; Regional District of East Kootenay; BC Association of Hang Gliders and Paragliders;

We’re ready... are you?

»See A3

overty

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 The Valley Echo

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A3

»YEAR IN REVIEW from A2

and the Columbia Valley Cycling Society — for a total of $115,000. First baby of the year The Columbia Valley's first baby of 2013 was Hali Maria Brown of Invermere, who was born at Cranbrook Regional Hospital at 2:07 a.m. on Thursday, January 10th weighing eight pounds, one ounce. She was welcomed into the world by her great-grandparents Ed Reynolds and Dorothy Brown, both of whom reside in Invermere; by her grandparents Kathy Emery in Trail, Eric Brown in Invermere, and Linda and Don Reynolds, also in Invermere; and, of course, by her ecstatic parents, Jeanelle Reynolds and Randy Brown. District open to deer options The District of Invermere (DOI) set funding aside for the relocation of 100 urban deer and was looking for a group to get the job done. On January 8th, DOI council voted to authorize funding for the development and implementation of a provincially- permitted relocation program to any group, local or otherwise, that meets the necessary criteria. “I think this is a good move, reaching out to those who have been in disagreement with the DOI,” said Councillor Paul Denchuk. Conditions of the newly-approved funding include a maximum of 100 deer to be removed from the community at a maximum cost of $300 per deer before the end of 2014. Old recreation service area resurrected After voting in September to eliminate the Canal Flats Recreation Service Area — which included the Village of Canal Flats and a portion of Fairmont Hot Springs — and replace it by extending the larger Columbia Valley Recreation Service Area to make property taxes more equitable across the entire region, the Columbia Valley directors opted to keep the old Canal Flats service area active until upgrades to the Canal Flats arena were paid off. The cost of the arena’s planned upgrade project had jumped from $1 million to an unexpected $1,305,000. Ice shack catches fire A sudden fire in an ice fishing shack on Lake Windermere near the Invermere Bay Condos received a flood of attention by local fire departments on the night of Sunday, January 13th. The newest addition to the string of enclosed fishing holes caught fire around 8 p.m. after its owner left without extinguishing the flames in the shack's small wood stove. According to Jimmy McGilvery, the owner of one of the nearby shacks who called the fire in to 911 using his cell phone, the shack had been newly set up that morning and its owner had made the mistake of setting his stove on a wooden bench. "He didn't have legs on the stove, the bench got hot, and caught fire," said McGilvery."You’d think the guy would put his legs on." Arson charges laid As of January 17th, arson charges were laid against a 20-year-old female from Fair-

Nicole Trigg/Valley Echo Photo The Invermere Community Hall was filled to capacity the night of Sunday, January 6th for the Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club's annual fundraising event — the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Several hours of extreme and inspirational mountain-themed movies wowed the crowd.

mont Hot Springs and a 25-year-old male from Invermere in relation the suspicious fire that destroyed the three partially-built condominium buildings at Columbia Eagle Resort in Fairmont Hot Springs on December 22nd, 2012. BC Liberal fundraiser raises eyebrows A Calgary fundraiser for Columbia River-Revelstoke BC Liberals candidate Doug Clovechok sparked the ire of pundits across the country, forcing Premier Christy Clark to defended the event in the Globe and Mail. Mr. Clovechok said he was a bit surprised at a “little tiny fundraiser turning into a national event," adding that it was "not an unusual thing as other parties including our provincial NDP raise money in other provinces.” Mr. Clovechok attended the $125-a-plate-dinner political fundraiser for his campaign at the Delta Bow Valley with some big names from his party, including then-Deputy Premier Rich Coleman and Minister of Community, and then-Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett. Dialysis debate begins Interior Health announced the Invermere dialysis unit would not be re-opening and NDP MLA Norm MacDonald questioned the Liberals’ priorities. “Many people in this area will be forced to travel vast distances for dialysis services a number of times every week,” Mr. MacDonald said. “It’s simply not acceptable for even more services to be removed from this area… It’s hard to take the government claim that there is simply no money to provide this necessary service when government is currently spending millions on advertising with the sole purpose to try to convince you to vote for them in May.” Employment centre floods A ruptured water tank flooded the second-storey offices of the Columbia Valley Employment Centre (CVEC) on the evening of Monday, January 14th, damaging some equipment and causing minor damage to the ceiling of the Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Shop below. “We closed because we didn’t want anybody to be in an uncomfortable situation because the dehumidifiers and the fans they put into these places to dry them out are really loud and noisy,” said CVEC self-help host Jim Jenkinson. Ptarmigan Restoration had the office back to normal within 72 hours. Tragedy strikes The 20-year-old female from Fairmont Hot Springs who was charged with arson related to the Columbia Eagle Resort fire in December was found dead behind a building near the Riverside golf course in Fairmont Hot Springs on Thursday, January 24th. On January 28th, the BC Coroners Office confirmed the identity of the deceased as Cheyenne Michelle Mason-Lalonde, aged 20, a resident of Fairmont Hot Springs and an employee of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Ms. Mason-Lalonde was found by a friend late in the evening of January 24th. She was deceased at the scene, her death the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

February Kristian Rasmussen/Valley Echo Photo More than 100 anti-Jumbo protesters from across the valley and beyond gathered outside the Village of Radium Hot Springs municipal office on Tuesday, February 19th, as Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality held its first-ever council meeting. Among the protesters was valley resident Doug Anakin, a Canadian bobsled team gold medallist in the 1964 Winter Olympics.

Guinness Record for Whiteway a no-go The quest to make the Lake Windermere Whiteway a world record-breaking outdoor skating rink was trumped by bad weather. “What we ran into this year is a really bad freeze,” DOI councillor Justin Atterbury told The Valley Echo. “You kind of get a freeze, »See A4

A4 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 The Valley Echo

Kristian Rasmussen/Valley Echo Photo Eight-month-old Chyael Tan and sister Makayla Tan, 4, both of Invermere, peer into the murky depths of Lake Windermere near Kinsmen Beach in Invermere on Saturday (February 9), during the Lake Windermere District Rod and Gun Club's Family Fishing Day event. »YEAR IN REVIEW from A3

and then some mild weather, and then you get a freeze right away again with some snow in the meantime; so if you go out there, it’s really bumpy, it’s almost like there are speed bumps everywhere and there are a lot of ripples and that’s the kind of thing we can’t get out; Mother Nature has to get it out for us, and it’s not doing it for us this year.” Library benefits from big heart The Invermere Public Library was the recipient of a generous donation by a long-term Windermere resident who passed away the previous year. Joseph Camenzind, who died on August 17th, 2012 at the age of 86, bequeathed a large sum of money to the library in his will, and library officials received the initial amount of $50,000 in December. “We had received notification in June of last year that we were receiving a bequest but we didn’t know at the time the size that it was going to be,” said librarian Nicole Pawlak. “We are very surprised and grateful, just really overwhelmed that he would consider us for that.” The donation coincided with the Invermere Public Library's 50th anniversary celebration year. Hovercraft fundraising underway A generous family chose to forego formal recognition after donating $5,000 toward the cost of a new hover-

craft for the Columbia Valley. The anonymous donation brought fundraising for the new vehicle, priced at $55,000, to the 25 percent mark. “We’re not counting on massive donations,” said the hovercraft project's fundraising initiator Danny Osborne. “I think we’re going to get there one, two, five thousand at a time." Dialysis removal delayed After local, regional and provincial politicians expressed their dismay regarding the removal of the community dialysis unit at the Invermere Hospital, Interior Health agreed to a 90-day freeze on its moving plans. "It's pretty positive news," said Mayor Gerry Taft of the announcement made on Friday, February 8th. "It seems like we've got their attention." The closure issue was discussed during a Regional District of East Kootenay meeting in Cranbrook on February 1st, where there was unanimous support from the whole board to send a strongly-worded letter to the Interior Health Authority and the BC Renal Agency, the body which funds dialysis service. A similar motion was also unanimously passed at the District of Invermere meeting on January 22nd, where mayor and council agreed to write a letter challenging Interior Health's decision to remove the dialysis unit. With the 90-day delay in place, Taft said he is optimistic about the fate of local dialysis. Canal Flats gets a Canfor helping hand

Canfor donated the plywood and lumber needed for the upgrades to the Village of Canal Flats hockey arena. “We only asked for the donation of the lumber; it was Canfor who also offered the plywood,” said Canal Flats mayor Ute Juras. “It is a huge break for the taxpayer and we are very grateful for that.” Panebianco released on bail The Radium Hot Springs man charged in the April 2012 death of Cory Jarock in Invermere was released on bail. Brian Panebianco, 24, was arrested in July 2012 and charged with manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, robbery, assault causing bodily harm, and breach of undertaking. He had been in custody in a Fraser Valley prison since his arrest. Cell phone coverage for Kootenay Parks Canada received a proposal from Telus outlining plans to install six cell phone service towers throughout Kootenay National Park. “Construction will be a year and a half from now at the earliest,” explained Trevor Kinley, wildlife crossing project manager for Parks Canada. The completion of the towers will likely mean cell phone coverage throughout Kootenay National Park, Kinley said. “The intent is to get nearly continuous coverage throughout the entire park, but there are a few issues with canyons and trying to get around corners.” Jumbo challenged for third time Jumbo Glacier Resort faced its third legal challenge when Nelson-based environmental group West Kootenay EcoSociety filed a court petition on February 18th challenging the province’s decision to grant the project mountain resort municipality status. It was the first legal challenge to changes made under Bill 41 in the spring of 2012, which altered the Local Government Act to remove the requirement that resort municipalities must have residents. “Every Canadian should shudder at the idea of a provincial minister appointing a mayor and council for a municipality with no residents. It’s an affront to our constitution and our democracy,” said EcoSociety executive director David Reid. Train fatality rocks Invermere The BC Coroners Service identified 50-year-old Invermere resident Carmen Denise Salazar as the woman killed as a result of being struck by a southbound train near 4th Avenue and Borden Street in Athalmer on February 20th. Ms. Salazar was attempting to cross train tracks south of the Borden Street rail crossing with a friend when she was struck by a handrail near the front of the train. Deadly avalanche in Purcells A 34-year-old skier was killed in an avalanche on February 19th during a heli-skiing trip in the Purcell »See A5

CHURCH SERVICES DIRECTORY ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN MISSION Of INVERMERE Worship Services every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Christ Church Trinity 110 - 7th Avenue, Invermere Pastor Rev. fraser Coltman Pastor Rev. David Morton 1-866-426-7564

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED 250-342-6644 100-7th Avenue, Invermere www.wvsm.ca Reverend Laura Hermakin

Sunday, January 5th Epiphany Eve 2:30 p.m. Chirstmas Cantata at Christ Church Trinity, Invermere. Kimberley United Church Choir and Friends present Terry Macham’s cantata, “Looking for the Light” Please note: This will take the place of our regular morning worship service.

CANADIAN MARTYRS CATHOLIC CHURCH Roman Catholic Parish Pastor: Father Gabriel 250-342-6167 Invermere 250-344-6328 Golden Confession: 1/2 hour before Mass Canadian Martyrs’ Church 712 - 12 Ave, Invermere Saturday at 5 p.m. Sunday at 9 a.m. St. Joseph’s Church Highway 93-95, Radium Hot Springs Sunday at 11 a.m. Sacred Heart Parish 808 - 11 Street, Golden Saturday at 7 p.m. Sunday at 10 a.m. St. Anthony’s Mission Corner of Luck and Dunn, Canal Flats

Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (served from Kimberly)

RADIUM CHRISTIAN fELLOWSHIP For more information call 250-342-6633 or 250-347-6334 Loving God, Loving People #4 - 7553 Main Street W, Radium Sundays at 10 a.m. Bible Studies #4 - 7553 Main Street W, Radium Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Kids’ Church Edgewater Hall Thursday 6:30 p.m.

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

326 - 10th Ave. 250-342-9535 REV. TREVOR HAGAN Senior Pastor www.lakewindermerealliance.org

Sunday, January 5th 10:30 a.m. Worship and Life Instruction, Pastor Trevor ministering. The Lord’s Supper will be served. “K.I.D.S.” Church, for children Age 3 to Grade 1; and Grades 2-5, during the Morning Service.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Hwy. 93/95 1 km north of Windermere Pastor: Murray Wittke Sunday Service 10 a.m. Worship & Word Kid’s Church Provided Call the office at 250-342-9511 for more information. www.valleychristianonline.com

Sharing Truth Showing Love Following the Spirit

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 The Valley Echo

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A5

»YEAR IN REVIEW from A4

Mountains west of Radium Hot Springs. Gotz-Thilo Ries of Karlsehie, Germany, was skiing with a group of friends south of Jumbo Mountain when the avalanche struck, sweeping up him and three others in its path. It was classified as a two out of a possible five on the Canadian Avalanche Scale. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased,” said Rod Gibbons, operations manager at Invermere’s RK Heliski, who took the skiers on the excursion. “It is an absolute tragedy; there is no other way to describe it.” Google maps out local ski resorts Google virtually mapped out threedimensional imagery along the ski runs at Panorama Mountain Village and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. "We've ventured to far-flung places (like Cambridge Bay, Nunavut), we've gone under water in the Great Barrier Reef, and, yes, we've ventured down ski hills around the globe, helping users navigate to the nearest chairlift or the chalet," communications and public affairs officer Aaron Brindle told The Valley Echo. Panorama Mountain Village and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort were, at press time, two of only five ski resorts in Canada to offer the feature.

March Wolf snare program halted The wolf snare program in the Columbia Valley was shelved after a local nature photographer spoke out. Brad Hill, whose keen eye behind the lens and beyond helped him discover 18 wolf snare traps located six kilometres from his Columbia Lake home, played a role in curtailing the provincial government's snare trapping program in the region. “I am not just happy about the fact that we have saved a few wolves, which is great, but at the same time we have saved a lot of other wildlife and even dogs in the area,”

Joshua Estabrooks/ Valley Echo Photo Columbia Valley Rockies forward Ryan Henderson body checksh Fernie Ghostriders defenceman Patrick Webb during a hard fought 6-3 loss to the Ghostriders on Saturday, March 2nd.

said Mr. Hill. The program was begun on February 8th and the traps, which were spread out around the Dutch Creek, Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake area, were baited with road-killed elk and mule deer.Fearing for the safety of his dog, Mr. Hill discovered the location of the traps for himself and started an online petition to halt the program, which had received more than 2,000 signatures at press time. Rockies playoff run concludes Rockies had a groundbreaking 20122013 season, making the Kootenay International Junior Ice Hockey league playoffs, but it came to an end on Saturday, March 2nd in front of a cheering home crowd when Fernie moved on to second

Kristian Rasmussen/Valley Echo photo Cauy Robideau peers at his father, Invermere Fire Rescue firefighter Billy Robideau, during a demonstration put on by the emergency responders at Sonshine Daycare on Thursday, March 14th.

round of playoffs."We've been in playoff mode since pretty much December," said coach Wade Dubielewicz. "Every one of these players gave their all this season, but sometimes it just isn't enough." The Rockies lost the game 6-3 and the series 4-2 against the first place team in their division, the Fernie Ghostriders. Panorama honours the past As part of the ongoing celebrations during Panorama Mountain Village's 50th year in operation, the resort invited all of its staff, past and present, to a weekend reunion at the hill on March 8th and 9th. The resort's alumni were welcomed with a reception followed by Cowboy Casino, a western-themed mobile casino. Guests then socialized at the T-Bar during a live music performance by the band Funk & Disorderly. The alumni were also offered reduced lift tickets over the weekend and family-friendly activities, including a slideshow by Andy Stuart-Hill that took viewers through the years of Panorama, decade by decade. Charging ahead with green Two electric vehicle charging stations became operational in the Columbia Valley, opening up a whole new grid of green opportunity. One charging station at the District of Invermere office and another at Kicking Horse Coffee became available to the public on Tuesday, March 12th, under a joint initiative between the province, local government and sustainable energy supporters. "I think we are at the forefront of the kind of vehicle electrification that we are going to see a lot more of in the future,” said Bill Swan of Invermere's Ground-

swell Network Society, a participating non-profit group. “I would anticipate that this kind of project results in additional vehicle chargers in the region to service the market.” Attracting valley visitors To spread the word about the local attractions, the Tourism Committee of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce convened nearby businesses at the Red Deer Home Show held on March 8th and 9th in Alberta. More than 10,000 people attended the two-day event, and it was the committee's second effort at trade show promotion — the first was back in December at Calgary's Bankers Hall. The most recent trade show booth was shared by representatives from Bighorn Meadows, True Key Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Creek Property Management and the Invermere-Panorama Destination Management Organization. According to Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director Susan Clovechok, the team promoted a large number of valley businesses while collecting contact information from about 500 visitors. Home brewer makes it big An Invermere man turned yeast, barley, hops and malt into silver and bronze at the 2013 Cowtown Yeast Wranglers Roundup at Calgary's Wild Rose brewery. Paul De Guise of Fairmont Hot Springs competed against 90 other participants and 314 other brews in 27 categories to score a second place finish for his Spruce Beer in the Spice Herb and Vegetable Beer category, and a third place finish for his Steam Lager in the light lager category. Mr. De Guise was new to the competitive circuit, having only entered one competition prior to his podium placement. He collected the ingredients for his Spruce Beer from spruce buds found while hiking in the Columbia Valley.

April New councillor after by-election The Village of Canal Flats resumed with a full five-person council at the village's April 8th meeting, after resident Dean Midyette claimed victory in last weekend's by-election. “I'm looking forward to resolving the water system issue in Canal Flats, and doing my best to make sure the existing municipal projects, such as the hockey arena renovations and the Columbia Discovery Centre, are brought in on time and as close to on budget as possible,” said Mr. Midyette, who edged candidate Roy Webb by a 79 vote to 47 vote margin. For Canal Flats to have seen 124 people coming out to vote on a by-election during a long weekend was “huge”, he added, noting the village boasts a total population of about 700. Local ski racers head to Whistler Team Panorama racers Keegan Sharp and Amelia Smart were selected as two »See A7

A6 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 The Valley Echo

Opinion

Something to say? email editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

What's in store GREG AMOS editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

After breezing through the 2012 year-end doomsday Mayan predictions without a scratch, we here at the Valley Echo ended last year by predicting 2013's challenge for the Columbia Valley would be to find common ground and respect all points of view to move forward as a united community. With 52 weeks of evidence now examined, the people who call this mountainous river valley home have passed that test with flying colours. Consider the strong consensus reached by Invermere residents on a new multi-use community centre: of the nearly 1,000 residents who voted, 75 per cent were fully in favour of borrowing $5.6 million towards a new centre. At the Regional District of East Kootenay table, the District of Invermere's cost-sharing proposal was supported by Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs and other areas of the Columbia Valley that see the mutual benefits the centre would entail. Invermere wisely chose not to step on other communities' toes by pursuing a pool as part of the project. Then there's the cross-valley co-operation that resulted in a huge win for the Invermere Rotary Club's Splash and Spray Park, which won $25,000 and resulted in a TV broadcast from Kinsmen Beach featured on TSN. The win was the sum of efforts by many valley residents individuals who chose to take a minute to vote online — and it was another example of understanding a vision based on the greater good. While urban deer issues won't be going away any time soon, progress was made on managing the unruly ungulates. The BC Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge against Invermere's cull-enabling bylaw, and the district garnered support from 75 per cent of voters in the November referendum to use a cull as a tool in the future. With no local cull planned for 2014 and an appeal of the lawsuit dismissal not likely to be heard until next fall, we can expect a bit of a ceasefire on this issue. The voices of reason prevailed in a packed public hearing before the regional district's May approval of a zoning bylaw amendment to allow an abattoir at the crossroads. The Windermere District Farmers' Institute will focus this year on finding funding to make the small-scale (i.e. a few cattle processed each week) slaughterhouse a reality to support local ranchers. Looking ahead, 2014 could be the year that Columbia Valley real estate really regains its lustre, after solid homes sales figures this year were capped by a burst of condo-buying activity in the fall. Judging by how popular the Whiteway is already with a winter of activities yet to come, the lure of the valley seems stronger than ever.

VALLEY ECHO T he

The NEWSpaper in the Columbia Valley

#8, 1008 8 Avenue • P.O. Box 70 Invermere, B.C., Canada V0A 1K0 Phone: 250-341-6299 invermerevalleyecho.com

Grow Your Life — Elizabeth Shopland

Focus on how you feel for 2014 O

n Christmas day, I decided to go out stay committed to my skating resolution for a skate on the lake. As a child, I — not just for the action itself but, more spent countless hours at our local outdoor importantly, for how it made me feel. rink laughing with friends, twirling to the This is the time of year when many of us 1970s hits coming over the loud speakers, hit the reset button and make a list of goals. and sipping on my fifteen cent cup of hot If we want to feel and do better in 2014, chocolate. then let’s do something different. Here are Now, thirty-five years later, I still love the a few tricks that may support you and your feeling of gliding over frozen water and feelresolutions or goals: ing the cool air nip at my cheeks. 1. Stay committed to your actions and reTo be honest, the first ten minutes on my ally connect to how they make you feel. skates this year weren't so pretty. My ankles and shins 2. This year, instead of saying “I have to,” let’s use were in resistance, and my balance was poor at best. I the words, “I get to.” straightened myself up and headed 3. Focus on the human “beingdown the Whiteway: one stride, two ness” of your life and not just the “This is the time of year when stride, rest and repeat. As I began human “doingness.” to pick up speed, I lifted my eyes up many of us hit the reset Putting these words into action from the icy surface and realized I means that, in 2014, I “get” to skate button... If we want to feel and was smiling from ear to ear. To the once a week or more, and by doing do better in 2014, then let's do observer, I am sure I still looked so I will “be” joyful, playful and awkward, but the feeling within was something different.” free. Happy New Year and I’ll see one of sheer joy. you on the lake! After about an hour, I sat down on the bench and Elizabeth Shopland is a horticulturist for Homefront took off my skates. I promised myself that, in 2014, I Essentials Gardening, a Certified Solution Focused would get out skating more often. Before I left, I looked Coach, author and speaker, and the owner of Banyan around and saw all the other people enjoying themTree Solutions. She can be reached at 250-342-8978 or selves on the lake that day. I secretly hoped I would www.btswellness.com.

Angela Krebs

Rose-Marie Regitnig

Greg Amos

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Wednesday, January 1, 2014 The Valley Echo

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A7

Word

on the Whiteway What is your New Year's resolution for 2014?

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»YEAR IN REVIEW from A5

of Canada's competitors at the prestigious 21st annual Whistler Cup, that ran from April 5th to 7th in Whistler, B.C. The young skiers raced for Alberta as part of the 18-member Team Canada contingent in ski events including the super-G, slalom and giant slalom and achieved outstanding results to help Canada reclaim the Whistler Cup over the weekend. Amelia receiving the Nancy Greene Award for top overall Canadian girl who accumulated the most points over the three days of competition. Keegan claimed a silver medal in the men's under-16 giant slalom, fourth in slalom and did not finish the Super G. Both skiers competed against approximately 80 other racers from around the world in each of their events. Real estate sales rising Real estate sales figures in the Columbia Valley, along with one high-profile sale of an upper-end lakefront property, were giving cause for some optimism among local homeowners and realtors. The most recent numbers available from the national Multiple Listings Service were showing the Columbia Valley had 161 sales in 2012, including single family detached homes, attached housing, and multifamily housing — an increase from the 151 units sold in 2011. The area that saw the biggest jump was Invermere, which saw 47 homes sold in 2012, up from 36 homes sold in the previous year. Windermere also saw a notable uptick, with 35 homes sold in 2012 compared to 28 the year before. Provincial politics heat up Economic visions for B.C. and approaches to the local dialysis unit dilemma were among the top issues discussed at an all-candidates debate on the evening of Wednesday, April 10th. Three candidates — BC Liberal candidate Doug Clovechok, NDP incumbent MLA

get better

Greg Amos/Valley Echo Photo Jeff Norgren hoists a Norco Sasquatch, a bike he bought for just $275, above his head at the Columbia Valley Cycling Society's bike swap in Invermere on Sunday, April 21st.

Norm Macdonald, and BC Conservative candidate Earl Olsen, who was still awaiting official Elections BC confirmation of his candidacy — squared off during the debate by answering ten questions on ten different topics, selected from a pool of 100 questions received by the organizing committee. A capacity crowd of 150 packed the high school theatre for the event, which ran for two hours as candidates answered the pre-approved questions. Great at grants A federal Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF) grant for Pynelogs meant the federal government would be footing half the bill for a new 12 foot by 15 foot addition at Invermere's beachside art centre. The $10,420 grant, delivered in person by Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks, was only the latest in a long line of federal grants Dan Walton/Valley Echo Photo that have found their way to During a warm evening on Friday, April 5th, a group of Invermere teens hit the streets with an unconven- the region. "You have some tional vehicle: a couch resting on two longboards. Back row, left to right: Japhy Hunt, Miranda Raven and very good community grant Kieran Moore. Front row, left to right: Michael Kopp, Kellan Moore, Liam O'Sullivan and Alastair White. writers," said Mr. Wilks.

— Drew Allen

"The Columbia Valley seems to have a knack for writing grants." With five CIIF grants delivered since the previous fall in Invermere, Windermere and Radium Hot Springs, the valley was outpacing other parts of Mr. Wilks' riding on a grant money per capita basis — Cranbrook, Fernie, Revelstoke and Creston having each received just one of the grants, while Golden had received two. Abbatoir introduction A crowd of more than 170 packed the Windermere Community Hall on April 24th to debate the need for a small-scale slaughterhouse in the valley to be built near the crossroads of Athalmer Road and Highway 93/95. The Windermere District Farmers Institute began by explaining why they are pursuing a micro-abattoir — a small-scale slaughterhouse — to be built on 9.2 hectares (roughly 20 acres) of property they own on the southwest corner of the intersection. “The intent of this thing is a small-scale micro-abattoir,” said John Zehnder of the Farmers Institute, who compared the abattoir concept to one found within an urban area in Duchess, Alberta, and to small abattoirs in Summerland and Enderby in B.C. “We're not trying to create one of these monster plants out in Alberta,” he added. “No tanneries, nothing crazy.” Many of the concerns arose from residents in the nearest residential building, the Black Forest Heights condominiums on the east side of the intersection, who expressed their concerns about what they said was a lack of notice about the proposal. Nearby businesses including the Crossroads Collective and the Copper Point Golf Course also had plenty of questions.

May Young skater honoured A member of the Columbia Valley Figure Skating Club, 16-year-old Leah Newman, had competed in a series of testing exhibitions through STARSkate (Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition) and reached gold rankings in three of the four senior level tests. She was the first club member to ever have achieved three golds in one skating season. After years of perseverance, she succeeded through pre-preliminary, preliminary, junior bronze, senior bronze, junior silver, and senior silver before claiming the coveted gold. Inching toward an abattoir Invermere's micro-abattoir took another small step closer to becoming a reality. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors made a text amendment at their May 3rd meeting to a zoning bylaw that would allow for an abattoir to be built on a lot near the Invermere crossroads, albeit with limitations. The bylaw was submitted for approval to the province. “There were some fears that this could grow in size and numbers to thousands of animals,” District of Invermere mayor Gerry Taft said at the regional district meeting, adding that the »See A8

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TUES DECEMBER 31 •Snowshoeing up to Panorama with the Summit Youth Centre, 12:30 - 4 p.m. We have snowshoes available to borrow. •Radium Village’s annual birthday party and New Year’s Eve celebration at Brent’s Shack, 3 6 p.m. Fireworks display at 6:30 p.m., Springs Driving Range, courtesy of Radium Volunteer Fire Department. •Family New Year's Dinner and Dance at the Invermere Community Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., countdown at 10 p.m. Party favours, DJ & dance, loonie & toonie games, buffet dinner. Alcohol free. Tickets available at The Monkey's Uncle, DOI office, and Copper Point Resort. Proceeds will benefit Invermere Events and the local Beaver Club. Contact Theresa Wood for more details at events@invermere. net or 250-342-9281 ext 1227. •Children’s New Years Eve party from 7 – 8 p.m. in the Pine Room at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. •New Year’s Eve party from 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. at Bear’s Paw Bar & Grill. •Torchlight parade down Showoff at Panorama Mountain Village, 9:25 p.m., followed by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. at the base of the Mile 1 Quad.

Summit Youth Centre, 5 - 9 p.m. Let’s make a mural for the Summit! THURS JANUARY 9 • Hang out night at the Summit Youth Centre,5 - 9 p.m. FRI JANUARY 10 •Chain story and Exquisite Corpses at the Summit Youth Centre, 6 - 11 p.m. SAT JANUARY 11 •Fast and Furious movie marathon at the Summit Youth Centre, 6 - 11 p.m. TUES JANUARY 14 •Swimming at Radium Hot Springs with the Summit Youth Centre, 5 - 9 p.m. Please register by January 13th, 7:00 p.m. Leaving the Summit at 6:00 p.m. •Cinefest movie night presents Storm Surfers, marking Australia Day (January 26th). Runnerup for the 2012 Blackberry People’s Choice Award, this awe-inspiring film follows two Aussie best mates (Tom Carroll and Ross ClarkeJones) approaching their 50’s who travel the southern hemisphere pursuing one of the world’s most deadly and exhilarating sports: big wave surfing. At Pynelogs Cultural Centre. Tickets at the door, $10. Cash bar and light refreshments. All ages. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., film begins at 7:00 p.m. WED JANUARY 15 •Experiment night at the Summit Youth Centre, 5 - 9 p.m.

FRI JANUARY 3 •Book swap at the Summit Youth Centre. Bring a book (or more than one!) if you want to participate. 6 - 11 p.m. •Steamboat Mtn. Music Society AGM at the Edgewater Hall at 7 p.m. An extraordinary general meeting will follow (to modify the society’s constitution as a requirement for federal charity status.) Entertainment and refreshments provided. Call 250-347-9882 for further info.

FRI JANUARY 17 • Challenges and hang out night at the Summit Youth Centre, 6 11 p.m.

WED JANUARY 8 •Mural night at the

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Key staff members at the Vil- made. lage of Radium Hot Springs The new municipality encomwill soon be filling double passes more than 6,000 hectares roles by also working for the in the Jumbo Mountain area lonew Jumbo Glacier mountain cated 55 kilometres west of Inresort municipality. vermere, where a world-class ski Against a backdrop of more resort is slated to be built on a than 100 anti-Jumbo protest- 104-hectare resort base. The deers from across the Kootenays velopment would include 5,500 chanting outside Radium’s vil- bed units, and has faced intense lage offices, the municipality’s opposition in the region over the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, 22-year history of the proposed February 19th solidified several project. The resort would offer aspects of how Jumbo Glacier year-round glacier skiing at elwill work. evations as high as 3,400 metres All meetings will be held at the via 23 ski lifts. Radium office on the third TuesThe decision to establish a new day of each month at 1 p.m., a municipality in the area, which time that’s convenient for both as yet has no buildings and no Radium staff and Jumbo’s coun- population, was made by the cil, consisting of Mayor Greg province last November. Deck and councillors Nancy HuTo keep costs down, the coungunin and Steve Ostrander. All cil will earn lower-than-average three were sworn in by Radium remuneration. Mayor Greg Deck chief administrative officer Mark will be paid $7,500 for each full Read to commence the meeting. year, while the two councillors “Are you sure you want to do will earn just $5,000 per year. WALTON/ECHO PHOTO DAN Elderly this?” he wryly asked Mr. Shuswap Band chief in a matter of hours. Ostrander, the as abandoned protesters Ritz be-Motel Paul Sam opened the council destroyed blaze that gan pounding on the building’s meeting with a prayer, and refirefighters battle the June 9th to watch doors and windows in time with marked he had never seen a grizSprings on Sunday, Street in Radium Hot a slogan of “Save democracy”. zly bear in the Jumbo area in his Street West and Mackay the corner of Main At that point, Columbia Val- life. Crowds gathered at ley RCMP Staff Sergeant Marko “When you say Jumbo Wild, Shehovac, who was in the room, it’s fine, but what has wild ever ghtthehefirefi called for backup, as protestfiordone until for us?” said. “They're ve hours for at least put it out.but we've Bob Campsall went out-control protesting everything, e fire burned Thganizer and it under bringthe todown memside toable calm crowd. got our ownfrom ers were 9th. support heart and soul to tell in the afternoon, Two immediately additional policereceived cars ar- us what to do.Edgewater I'm glad that you on Sunday, June “We blaze, which began , Invermere, rived, though no arrests were people chose the right way The cause of the theto go.” the Windermere press time.

Jumbo journeyman

motel ccupied Radium Fire engulfs uno four local fire Firefighters from under control halls bring blaze

at , including to the bers of fire departments was still under investigation — 14 in all — responded Dixon in a press and Panorama Panorama,” said Radium firefighters 5 p.m. and were quickly assistof aerial truck from an excellent job before firefighters did incident shortly . release. “Our fire departments because the ed by other local ON PAGE A2 fire to put out TO 'CARETAKER' “It was just a stubbornRadium Fire Chief Dave Dixsaid wind was swirling,” Village of Raa huge factor.” Ritz Motel in the on. “The wind was • Water Trucks The old, abandoned completely destroyed by a fire • Bobcats • Dump Trucks • Crane Truck was • Mini-Excavators dium Hot Springs

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OTHER •The Para-Alpine Panorama IPC World Cup at Panorama, January 8 - 14. Events as follows: January 8: 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. – Downhill training, men and women. •5-7 p.m. - Après with Athletes: residents of the Columbia Valley are invited to come to Pynelogs Cultural Centre in Invermere, B.C., to spend a few hours with Canadian team athletes and enjoy an evening of drinks and snacks. Grab a refreshment and take the rare opportunity for one-on-one time with

world class athletes! January 9: 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. – Downhill training, men and women. January 10: 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. – Panorama IPC World Cup downhill race, men and women. 2:15 p.m. – Awards ceremony in front of the day lodge. January 11: 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. – Panorama IPC World Cup super combined race (downhill and slalom), men and women 10:30 a.m. - Downhill race. 2:25 p.m. - Slalom race 3:15 p.m. – Awards ceremony in front of the day lodge. January 13: 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. – Panorama IPC World Cup super-G race, men and women. 2:15 p.m. – Awards ceremony in front of the day lodge. January 14: 9:50 a.m.–3 p.m. – Panorama IPC World Cup giant slalom race, men and women. 9:50 a.m. - Run 1 1:30 p.m - Run 2 3:15 p.m. – Awards ceremony in front of the day lodge. For more information: www.alpinecanada.org/ PanoramaIPCWorldCup. •The Whiteway is now open! The Whiteway is a 15km groomed track that runs all the way around Lake Windermere and connects the towns of Invermere and Windermere. The Whiteway has tracks for classic cross-country skiers, a groomed skate skiing track, and a cleared ice-skating track. There are three official entry points onto the Whiteway; one at Kinsmen beach in Invermere, one at the Invermere Bay Condos in Invermere, and one at Windermere beach. Visit The Toby Creek Nordic Club for a map and more information.

row Pg A16

EVERY THURSDAY •Weekly Texas Hold 'Em Poker tournament at the Invermere Legion, 7 p.m. $35 buy-in; no rebuys. Cash payouts. EVERY FRIDAY •Preschool Story Time at the Invermere Public Library, 10:30 a.m. For info visit invermere. bclibrary.ca.

bylaw’s limitations would make it clear to the public that this scenario would not be possible. “In all fairness (to the Farmer's Institute), the concept has been there many, many years,” said regional district Area G director Gerry Wilkie. “I think the homework has been done.” NDP MLA elected for third term Incumbent NDP MLA Norm Macdonald won the Columbia River-Revelstoke riding for the third time in a row on May 14th. Mr. Macdonald's personal victory contrasted with his party's fortunes. The BC NDP began the election campaign with a commanding lead in opinion polls, at times as much as 20 percentage points, only to watch the BC Liberals surge to a fourth straight majority on election night, meaning Mr. Macdonald is once again relegated to being in opposition. “I think what it means for this area, again as an opposition member, is that I will have to fight as effectively as I can for the interests of the area,” said Mr. Macdonald. “The people have chosen me as their representative and we will hold them (the BC Liberals) to account. We will fight to make sure this area is strongly represented.” Shoreline restored at Kinsmen Invermere's shoreline restoration project on Kinsmen Beach was finally completed. The nonprofit Lake Windermere Ambassadors group and the district of Invermere started working on the project in 2012. “We were losing a significant portion of the beach to erosion,” said Invermere director of development services Rory Hromadnik. “It had progressed back numerous metres.” Not only was the project important to keep a popular public space from degrading, but it was also a good idea environmentally since tree roots and gravel were starting to interfere with fish spawning habitat, said Mr. Hromadnik. Bothered by bighorns An abundance of bighorn sheep in Radium Hot Springs was causing odour and aesthetic concerns, according to a letter written to the Village of Radium that was addressed at the regular council meeting on May 8th. Written by

Invermere

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reporter@invermerevalleyecho.com

to the Sparwood Hospital. Health regional director According to Paula James, Interior CONTINUES ON PAGE A4

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Dan Walton/Valley Echo Photo Kate Bzeta (right) smashes a long drive down the runway at the Fairmont airport after her husband Paul (left) teed it up. On their first visit to the valley, the Bzeta family from Calgary took a few shots at the Long Drive Competition at the Fairmont Hot Springs airport on Saturday, April 27th, where Kate came in second amongst women with a 320-yard drive. The event raised more than $800 for the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Foundation. »YEAR IN REVIEW from A7

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a long-time Radium resident who wished to remain anonymous, the letter stated, “I am thoroughly disgusted as [sheep] have left my street and yard in a total disaster. I cannot allow my grandchildren to play in the yard because of all the feces.” She said if her yard was not swept free of the waste, high temperatures create an unbearable smell. Some days up to 80 sheep had to be chased off her property. Radium councillors sympathized and decided to request consultation with Parks Canada before taking action. Success in store for Saunders Windermere's Saunders Family Farm took two big steps: the local homegrown business became certified to sell its products nationwide and set up an online shop. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency gave its stamp of approval to the Saunders' family-run produce kitchen, which makes jams, jellies and pickled jalapenos, in addition to managing a mid-sized farm, to sell anywhere in Canada. “It's a huge deal. It's something that when I first started doing this, I never thought that that's where we'd be,” Faith Saunders said. “We have been told we're the next Kicking Horse Coffee. Obviously we don't know if that will happen, but we're hoping. We're striving. We're not just sitting back and saying we have enough clients." Regional district opts out of Darkwoods The Regional District of the East Kootenay decided to forgo purchasing carbon offsets from the Darkwoods Forest Carbon Project as part of its efforts to be carbon neutral for 2012 following a B.C. auditor general report that brought into question whether or not the Darkwoods project was a legitimate source of carbon offsets. The RDEK decided instead to allocate the money that would have been used to an Energy Conservation Reserve Fund. Local mountaineer tells all about Everest Wilmer resident and world-renowned mountaineer Pat Morrow co-released a new e-book with Sharon Wood covering their experiences ascending Mt. Everest in 1982 and 1986 respectively as well as their reflections on how climbing the world’s highest peak has changed dramatically from that time to the present. »See A9

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Send your comments and letters to: editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

Take charge of your health with

naturopathic medicine! I will be accepting patients in January, 2014 at Renaissance Wellness. For more information please see

www.facebook.com/ drmikebakernd Dan Walton/Valley Echo Photo A Grease-themed float in the Canal Days parade wows spectators on Saturday, June 1st. »YEAR IN REVIEW from A8

The e-book, Everest: High Expectations, was released in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the first Canadian expedition and also the 60th anniversary of the first successful summiting of Everest in 1953. “We write about what it was like to climb Everest before it was a commercial route,” said Morrow. “Our book talks about what climbers aims and goals were then compared to now.” Toby Creek claims life A 23-year-old man was killed at Toby Creek near Panorama Mountain Resort on Saturday, May 25th. The man and a 21-year-old woman were driving a 1997 Honda Civic on the forest service road about two and a half kilometers past Panorama resort around 3 a.m. early Saturday morning when they attempted to turn around. It appears that, while reversing the vehicle, they rolled back into Toby Creek. The force of the creek’s current made the Civic roll over at least twice before it came to rest upright. The woman was able to get out of the vehicle and go for help. It took 12 hours before a search team later found the man dead, trapped outside the vehicle. Lost in paradise In a second incident that same weekend, two women were evacuated by helicopter off a ridge near Panorama on Sunday, May 26th. The two women were from Ontario, approximately 20 years old, and were working at Panorama for the summer. Both were new staff who were hiking to a sub-peak of Mt. Nelson, but after eight hours ended up on an exposed ridge, still with snow on it, unsure of where they were and getting worried about their situation. “It’s not an established hike, but it can be done. They got a bit beyond their comfort level and what they were prepared for,” Columbia Valley Search and Rescue manager Steve Talsma told The Valley Echo. Privatization of hot pools delayed The federal government’s plan to hand over management of all three mountain parks' hot springs to a private operator was delayed. “The people we represent (hot pools employees) are continuing to be on pins and needles,” said Union of National Employees Public Service Alliance of Canada regional vice president Kevin King. “Considering there have been so many botched delays on the commercialization… rescind the affected letters that staff received, and let the people who are best suited to running that operation — our current-day members who we represent — continue to provide a quality experience.” “We’re in the process of discussing the interests of area First Nations in this land divestiture,” said Executive Director of Mountain National Parks Tracy Thiessen. “These hot pools are in their traditional territories.”

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250-342-1457 Dr. Mike Baker, ND ICAN – Invermere Companion Animal Network

Jumbo zoning forges ahead Jumbo Glacier Resort municipal council adopted a zoning bylaw dictating what can and cannot occur in the Farnham Glacier area. The bylaw — no. 0006 — allows for land uses such as snow sports, sightseeing and ski lifts as well as for hotels, lodges, restaurants, retail offices, services and maintenance buildings and other related structures. “It’s not a guarantee that anything untoward will happen, but it helps keep things in check,” said Jumbo Glacier Resort mayor Greg Deck.

June Marathon maverick A fleet-footed Invermere woman sparked Columbia Valley pride by winning the women's Calgary marathon on May 25th, then followed up this victory by winning the local Crazy Soles Trail Run at Nipika Mountain Resort on June 1st. Eileen Madson Primary school teacher Nadyia Fry set a strong pace in Calgary, finishing the marathon in two hours, 51 minutes and 36 seconds. “This is the first time I got to break the (winner's) ribbon in a marathon,” Fry said. “It's an amazing feeling.” The win comes after three podium finishes for Fry in her previous three marathons. She was second in the Victoria marathon and the Manitoba marathon last year, and third in the Victoria marathon the year before that. Fire engulfs unoccupied Radium motel The old, abandoned Ritz Motel in the Village of Radium Hot Springs was completely destroyed by a fire on Sunday, June 9th. Radium firefighters — 14 in all — responded to the incident and were quickly assisted by other local fire departments. The fire burned for at least five hours until the firefighters were able to bring it under control and put it out. “It was just a stubborn fire to put out because the wind was swirling,” said Radium Fire Chief Dave Dixon. Flooding causes panic Torrential rainfall caused flooding, closed roads and prompted an evacuation order in the Upper Columbia Valley, but the valley was largely spared the more dramatic situations experienced elsewhere in the East and West Kootenay, in Canmore and across large swathes of Alberta. Local creeks quickly swelled with the extra precipitation and the morning of Thursday, June 20th saw flooding in Fairmont Hot Springs and Dutch Creek. Areas north, south, west and east of the valley experienced worse rainfall and much more severe flooding, reducing most nearby major highways — including the TransCanada, Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park, Highway 3 »See A10

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ieveat both the and Highway 90-d93/95 ay repr val gets o m re bridge near Skookumchuck and s unit Dialysi near Wasa — to a single lane or, in many cases, closing them altogether. Fire chief recognized for service The District of Invermere recognized local Fire Chief Roger Ekman with B.C.'s 35 year Long Service Award. Mr. Ekman has been Invermere's fire chief for 28 years and with the local fire department for 35 years. “It's been a long haul and I don't intend on quitting any time soon. I've still got a lot I want to do. It's just a fantastic job to have. When you've got a good crew behind you it makes all the difference,” said Mr. Ekman. Osprey illegally shot in Windermere Radium tree-felling expert Rolf Heer assisted conservation officers in retrieving a dead osprey from a tree after it was illegally shot in a yard in Windermere. Local conservation officers responded to a call on June 12th from residents of the house, who said somebody had shot and killed the bird, which was still stuck up in the tree. The officers laid charges against the suspect under the Wildlife Act for shooting wildlife out of season and for discharging a firearm in a no-shooting area. • Site Prep

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July Macdonald pushes for deer hazing Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald called on the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations to change the Wildlife Act to allow deer hazing. Deer hazing (also called aversion conditioning) essentially means using trained dogs and dog handlers to chase deer out of urban areas and, by so doing, motivating them to stay out. “It is clear that local governments need more options in dealing with urban deer,” said Mr. Macdonald in a press release. “ I believe that we need to modernize the Wildlife Act to allow deer hazing in certain circumstances.” Dialysis unit moved to Sparwood Citing operational challenges at the Invermere & District Hospital involving both staff and patients, Interior Health announced the equipment from the Invermere Dialysis Unit would provide stronger benefits once it is relocated to the Sparwood Hospital. To reinstate the dialysis unit at the local hospital would first require a business case, said Paula James, Interior Health regional director

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to the Sparwood Hospital. Health regional director According to Paula James, Interior CONTINUES ON PAGE A4

Requiem planned for glacier in Jumbo area

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August Young boy rescued On August 3rd, a 16-year-old female driver of a vehicle carrying two passengers lost control, causing the vehicle to enter

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chil cklepasWhiteswan Lake. The driver one hers ta cand Local tea senger were able to escape from the vehicle, but a five-year-old boy stayed restrained in his seat as the vehicle submerged between five and seven feet. The accident was noticed by two brothers from Alberta, who immediately ran over and jumped into the water. After several attempts, they managed to free the five-year-old. When they carried him to shore, the boy was unconscious and a bystander administered CPR until emergency services transported the boy to the hospital where he recovered. Kraft craze completed At the Kraft Celebration Tour event on Monday, August 19th, Heart of the Rockies Triathlon organizer Bruce Stroud was profiled by TSN during the live SportsCentre broadcast that took place at Kinsmen Beach in Invermere, which attracted at least 1,000 enthusiastic people waving signs and cheering loudly for the cameras. 2013 marked the 30th anniversary of the triathlon, which Mr. Stroud started, and he is still competing at the age of 69. Numa Creek fire quenched Strong winds quadrupled the size of the Numa Creek wildfire in Kootenay National Park from 100 hectares to 400 hectares. The fire had been burning for almost a month after likely beginning with a lightning strike, but had been holding steady in size without producing much visible smoke, but on August 22nd the fire increased almost fourfold and produced quite a visible column of smoke, which was blown east to Banff, Canmore and Calgary. The sudden jump prompted Parks Canada fire management specialists to conduct flyovers and put ground fire crews in action.

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a significant number of people — I think there are 937 names on it." First official Swansea Scramble Dozens competed in first official Swansea Scramble on Sunday, July 28th. With five- and ten-kilometre tracks marked up the mountain, the latter gaining 932 metres in elevation, scramblers were challenged on several fronts: on ascent, descent, and on the "kick-ass" sprint. The sprint was an uphill, 200-metre marked distance on a steeper section of the route.

Association e Teachers' Windermer t of Invermere to act tric urges Dis

CONTRACT OR HOURLY TRIGG o.com NICOLE MACHINE RENTALS AVAILABLE erevalleyech editor@inverm

»See A11

Steve Hubrecht/Valley Echo Photo Paddlers get set on the start line of the Summer Splash men's paddleboard race. This 2013 Summer Splash was a huge success, with about 300 people joining in the event at James Chabot Provincial Park on August 11th.

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Invermere hospital unable to provide consistent patient care: IHA

Steve Hubrecht/Valley Echo Photo Invermere's Canada Day parade took place under a blazing hot sun on Monday, July 1st but the heat didn't stop a thousand or people from lining the downtown streets to watch the colourful spectacle go by.

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of renal services. “I’m confident that the right decision was made in Invermere to be able to provide consistent, quality renal care,” she said, emphasizing her use of the word consistent, “because it wasn’t consistent. It was not an ideal situation for the lone nurse or for the patients.” Kraft victory for Invermere Invermere handily beat Pemberton in online voting to win $25,000 for the Rotary Club of Invermere's splash and spray park project as part of the Kraft Celebration Tour. The win also meant Invermere would play host to a live TSN broadcast later in the summer. The Rotary Club had been spearheading the efforts to raise money for the Kinsmen Beach splash park and took the lead role in the Kraft campaign. Pemberton was trying to win the money to rebuild its BMX track. Water consumption drops in Radium Despite a higher rate of drinking water being used, Village of Radium Hot Springs upgrades over the past four years helped save millions of litres of water. "The Village of Radium Hot Springs has reduced gross community water consumption by 27 percent since 2009," stated a July 9th press release issued by the village. "That is equivalent to 116 mega litres or 116,000,000 litres of water saved annually." Dialysis petition goes to Victoria A petition with almost 1,000 signatures against removing the dialysis unit from the Invermere & District Hospital made its way into the hands of Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald. Mr. Macdonald told The Valley Echo he'll be taking the petition to Victoria. "We'll enter it into the legislature," he said. "It's

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VJ (Butch) Bishop r Owner/Operato

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September Invermere deer committee shrinks The Invermere Urban Deer Advisory Committee suddenly became a lot smaller, after three of the group's four members resigned. Committee chair Stan Markham and committee members Brad Malfair and James Weir stepped down, with at least two of them saying they didn't feel like the committee was really doing that much. “I am disappointed with the inaction and lack of communication and direction from council over the past year (and) the fact that the district advertised for six months for a fifth member of the deer committee to volunteer from the apparent majority of citizens wanting something done about the deer and nobody stepped up,” said Mr. Malfair. Labour Day weekend bustling The Labour Day long weekend drew crowds of visitors to the upper Columbia Valley. The valley's visitor

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they recorded for last year's Labour Day long weekend and many major businesses and resorts said they were near capacity for the three-day holiday and the Friday before it. Copper Point Resort had a standout weekend, said general manager Amanda Robinson. “It was our best revenue weekend the resort has ever experienced,” she said. Ms. Robinson also helps head up the Columbia Valley Tourism Marketing Committee and said other tourism business owners in that group expressed similar sentiments about the Labour Day long weekend. The valley is finally starting to recover from the economic downturn, said Ms. Robinson. Flying by the seat of their pants Dico Reijers and his dad John arrived in the valley by flying a homebuilt four-seat plane all the way from P.E.I. The father and son duo left their homes in Charlottetown, ducked across the U.S. border, and touched down to refuel in New York and Wisconsin before overnighting in Miles City, Montana. The next day, they continued to Lethbridge, Cranbrook and finally Invermere — with a total in-air time of 11 hours during the two-day trip. “It was really neat to do it once; I'm not sure I'd do it again,” said the younger Mr. Reijers. Hospice making headway The Columbia Valley Hospice Society's visitation program officially began, culminating months of organization and preparation work. The society began taking referrals for the program on Monday, September 16th, just eight months and one day after the group officially became a society on February 15th. “It's quite remarkable,” said society executive director Maria Kliavkoff, speaking about the comparatively short amount of time it has taken the society to progress from idea to functioning reality, adding that the volunteer and financial contributions valley residents made had been fantastic.

Requiem planned for glacier in Jumbo area

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Real estate rebounding A surge of summer activity was sowing optimism in Columbia Valley real estate, as numbers showed a definitive narrowing of the gap between supply and demand. "People are excited about the prospect of owning a recreational property in the valley again," said Barry Benson, managing broker and owner of Royal Lepage Rockies West Realty and a valley realtor since 2005. "That's the biggest factor, in my view." Overall sales of homes and properties between Canal Flats and Brisco had jumped up thanks to a good summer and very strong sales in September. Kootenay wildlife crossing a hit The official opening event of the new wildlife crossing in Kootenay National Park (consisting of 4.7 kilometres of animal exclusion fencing and three new underpasses on Highway 93) took place on September 27th near the Dolly Varden Day Use area. The $4.9 million project, which had been planned since 2009, is expected to significantly reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, proved possible by similar structures in neighbouring Banff National Park. Radium Lodge goes up in flames A fire on October 6th damaged the historic Radium Hot Springs Lodge, just weeks before it faced the wrecking ball. More than 25 firefighters from the Radium, Windermere, Invermere and Panorama Fire Departments responded to the large fire at the vacant lodge. No one was injured in the blaze, which was fought with a tanker truck at the hotel's entrance level above the highway, and via fire hydrants from the hot springs pools on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park. Enrolment holds steady For the first time in years, enrolment across School th We also • Locksmi k service very • Flat dec road reco • Towing very • Off • Boat reco cling of scrap cars • free recy

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ve Bridge over troubled repriewaters 90-day val gets o m re Asnew unit 190-foot (58-metre) steel foot bridge was set in Dialysi place at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort with the help of two giant Mammoet crane trucks on August 22nd. "In case an ambulance has to go across, the bridge can take it," commented Fairmont Hot Springs Resort chief financial officer Pascal van Dijk. "It was a small creek before, and now it's a wide canyon covered by a single-span bridge.” The new structure replaces a foot bridge that was deemed unsafe after mudslide debris clobbered the bridge's pilings last summer, causing it to lean. The torrent not only scoured out the channel of Fairmont Creek, creating a much wider crossing for the new bridge to span, but trapped many recreational vehicle (RV) campers on the south side of the waterway. Pressure Plow • Sand p Trucks • Wat Washing er Trucks ing Equi & Demoliti & Steam pment • Cleaning on • Roa Crane Truc • Und d Building k • Rock Wal • Land Clea erground Serv ls • Rip Rap ices ring • Cont • Top Soil rolled Burn • Sand & ing Gravel CONTRA CT MACHIN OR HOURLY E RENTAL S AVAILAB LE

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THE COLUMBIA VALLEY ROCKIES THANK EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WISH YOU ALL A VERY

Merry Christmas

...AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS IN THE KIJHL!

We look eing to se forward r a three o you all f eekend game w y3-5! Januar

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VJ (Butch) Bishop r Owner/Operato

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We’re ready... are you?

Wednesday, January 8th Please call 1 866 870 4188 to book an appointment

Norm Macdonald MLA norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca www.NormMacdonald.ca

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Deer cull, new centre favoured in referendum Invermere residents made clear their majority support for a new community centre and for culling deer as a means to control the urban deer population, according to unofficial results in a November 2nd referendum on both topics. Asked whether or not they support the district borrowing up to $5.6 million to fund a new community centre, 749 residents voted yes and 245 voted no. Asked if they support a deer cull as a tool for urban deer management, 729 voted yes and 259 voted no. Invermere mayor Gerry Taft said he was somewhat surprised by the large margin with which Invermere residents voted in support of the deer cull, since there was so much controversy over the issue. Community planning project takes new route The District of Invermere secured new funding for Imagine Invermere 2030 and was offering to split $15,000 among community groups with similar interests. During the Imagine Invermere info session at Pynelogs Cultural Centre on the evening of Thursday, November 7th, Mayor Gerry Taft announced the new funding formula, claiming that the district is now taking a "bottom-up approach, rather than a top-down." Water sustainability act welcomed The province made major steps toward a new Water Sustainability Act, a move greeted with optimism by local water conservation group Lake Windermere Ambassadors. The new act will replace (likely sometime this spring) the current Water Act, which is more than a century old. “It's amazing, wonderful and fantastic to have a sustainability act,” said Lake Windermere Ambassadors program co-ordinator Kristen Harma, adding the focus on sustainability is precedent-setting and includes some truly great ideas, such as monitoring environmental flows. Wildsight wins anti-Jumbo dollars Local East Kootenay environmental organization Wildsight won

milestones mile stones IVE 3 col x 2 colour

are meant to be celebrated! Which is why The Valley Echo is asking readers to submit their Milestones (anniversaries, new jobs/careers, birthdays, anything that marks a ‘turning point’ in your life or the life of someone special) for FREE to production@invermerevalleyecho.com (please put “Milestones” as the subject line). Your Milestones will appear at the start of the Classifieds section each week, and each week one Milestone will be randomly picked to WIN a FREE CUPCAKE at Quality Bakery in Invermere. Get your Milestone in today! sponsored by:

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to the Sparwood Hospital. Health regional director According to Paula James, Interior CONTINUES ON PAGE A4

Requiem planned for glacier in Jumbo area

ending a year-and-a-half long court battle over culling deer, saying it failed on its three arguments of jurisdiction, procedural fairness, and unreasonableness.

ve District No. 6 did not decline substantially from the reprie 90-day val gets o m re previous school year. The number of full-time students s unit Dialysi in the school district, which stretches from Golden down to Kimberley, was almost exactly the same as it was the previous October, with an increase of 1.125 full-time equivalent (or FTE) students compared with last year. “The current picture is certainly encouraging,” said school district superintendent Paul Carriere. A really big gift Retiring Interior World owners Pat and Karl Conway generously donated their business to the not-for-profit Family Resource Centre of Invermere. Karl Conway said the business as it's running now is profitable, and expects that the Family Resource Centre will continue in its success. "We think that it's going to be great continuing on, and it'll be local ownership. We wish them all the best," he said. Copper Point manager honoured Copper Point Golf Club general manager Brian Schaal was presented with both the Four Season Professional Golf Award and the Professional Development Award from the PGA of British Columbia on October 16th at the PGA of B.C. award banquet. “It's a great honour just to be nominated, because there are so many experienced and professional people in the room,” said Mr. Schaal. Deer cull case dismissed On October 25th, a B.C. Supreme Court judge dismissed the lawsuit brought forward by Shane Suman and the Invermere Deer Protection Society against the • Site Prep

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ckle chil $5,000 from Mountain Equipment Co-op. ers taco-op's chThe Local tea Wildbucks program awarded a total of $10,000 to three environmental organizations across Canada, with the winner decided by several weeks of online voting during the fall. Wildsight was first among five finalists, earning a $5,000 prizes. Second place got $3,000 and third place $2,000. "We are thrilled to have won,” said Wildsight program manager Robyn Duncan, adding the organization promised during voting to put the money into its Jumbo Wild campaign. Cold snap prompts lake freeze Lake Windermere froze in late November with the official ice-up coming more than two weeks earlier than it did last year. The lake was frozen by Friday, November 22nd this year thanks to a cold snap — making Steven Levitt the winner of the Lake Windermere Ambassador's second annual community Catch the Freeze competition. Mr. Levitt was just one day off with his freeze-up prediction of November 23rd — the earliest guess in the competition. Although Lake Windermere iced up this year much earlier than it did in 2012 (on December 10th), a late November freeze has been common in recent years. • Site Prep

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CONTRACT OR HOURLY TRIGG o.com NICOLE MACHINE RENTALS AVAILABLE erevalleyech editor@inverm

December

Appeal filed after deer lawsuit dismissed The Invermere Deer Protection Society appealed the B.C. Supreme Court's dismissal of their lawsuit one month after the ruling was handed down. Sensible BC hits threshold in East Kootenay The Sensible BC campaign to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana was puffed out after a 90-day, province-wide initiative petition failed to get the signatures of 10 percent of voters in each of B.C.'s 85 electoral ridings. Organizers acquired 210,000 of the 400,000 signatures across the province they were aiming for and managed to cross the 10 percent threshold in 20 of the 85 ridings — including here in Columbia River-Revelstoke, as well as in the neighbouring ridings of Kootenay East, Nelson-Creston and Kootenay West. “It's not too shabby, but we were well short (across B.C.),” said Invermere lead canvasser Stephen Lebovits, adding he's happy he and other Columbia-River Revelstoke organizers managed to hit the 10 per cent mark. Columbia Lake access debated A plan to upgrade Columbia Lake Provincial Park has been in the works, but a draft proposal by BC Parks prohibiting motorized access to the north end of Columbia Lake was met with an icy reception by the community of Fairmont Hot Springs. VILLAGE OF RADIUM HOT SPRINGS "There have been several letters written by different community groups in Fairmont," 2014 Event Coordinator (Contract) said Regional District of East Kootenay Area The Village of Radium Hot Springs is inviting F director Wendy Booth. "We all deserve acapplications for the position of Event Coordicess to our lake." The 257-acre provincial park nator. This creative, outgoing and independent — accessed through Fairmont along Columindividual will be responsible for the developbia Lake Road heading south — has been nement, coordination and facilitation of select glected for years . tourism events during 2014. This is a one year part-time contract position with the possibility DriveABLE tests senior's limits of renewal in 2015. One local senior was fuming about the provincial DriveABLE process even though The job description and position overview are she retained her driver's licence and could available upon request. continue to drive. "I made a pact that if I got through this, I would like to help people," said Interested candidates can send their cover letter Invermere resident Joan Birkett, 84, who was and resume to Mark.Read@radiumhotsprings. ca by 4:00 p.m. January 17th, 2014. forced to wait five months before learning she could keep her driver's license. "I really was We thank all candidates for their application but in a state from February to June; I just kept only suitable candidates will be contacted. writing letters," she said. "They don't tell you anything." With files from Steve Hubrecht

VALLEY E spaper

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24 Issue 40 56Issue Vol.57 Vol.

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Offices in Panorama, & Fairmont Invermere Wednesday, October 31,27, 2012 Wednesday, February 2013

Wednesda

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1. When Premier Christy Clark took the stage after her upset election win on May 14th, the first thing she said was: A: I'm going to Disneyland! B: Well, that was easy! C: Oh no, now I have to pay off the debt! D: Socialism is dead! 2. How many proposed liquefied natural gas export proposals are there on the B.C. coast, according to the premier's latest estimate? A: four B: six C: eight D: ten 3. After winning $25 million in the lottery, Terrace construction worker Bob Erb gave six-figure donations to: A. Local anti-poverty and other community groups. B. Paid $300,000 for dental work for locals who couldn't afford it. C. Provided cars and trucks for people he considered needy. D. The Sensible BC marijuana legalization campaign. E. All of the above. 4. How has the province said it would raise money to pay for a promised new bridge to replace the Massey Tunnel? A. Tax increases. B. Toll like the Port Mann Bridge. C. Small tolls on all Metro Vancouver bridges and major roads. D. It hasn't. 5. What admission to U.S. border guards did some B.C. residents find can be deemed a "crime of moral turpitude" and result in America barring entry? A. Atheism. B. Past use of marijuana. C. Past conviction for impaired driving. C. Past or present membership in the NDP. 6. Which of the following wasn't proposed in B.C.'s li-

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2012 31,2013 October July 10, Wednesday, Wednesday, MaxWell Realty

28 Issue 40 56Issue Vol.57 Vol.

Free float ing throug h Fairmo peace through design Pg A12 findsnt Wood sculptor

1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA

the Offices in Panorama, season of Invermere & Fairmontrating the

Invermere

Pg A12 snowflake

Rock

three age with ies on a ramp

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Offices in Panor & Fairmont Invermere

MaxWell Realty

Invermere

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Pg A13

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Year in Review 2013 Radium and Jumbo to buddy up

Jumbo journeyman

motel cupied Radium Fire engulfs unoc

Foreign

four local fire Firefighters from under control halls bring blaze

VJ (Butch) Bishop r Owner/Operato

Ridge Rd. 4846 Holland Creek 1K0 Invermere, BC V0A

We’re ready... are you?

quor law review? A: Licensing alcohol sales at farmers' markets. B: Letting children into pubs with their parents. C: Serving alcohol for slot players on BC Ferries. D: Selling hard liquor in grocery stores. 7. Burnaby's Tung Sheng (David) Wu was convicted and jailed for performing illegal: A. Proctology. B. Taxidermy. C. Electronic waste recycling. D. Dentistry. 8. Since his triumph in the HST referendum, former premier Bill Vander Zalm has campaigned against: A: An alleged secret global surveillance system using smart meters. B: An alleged secret global climate control scheme using "chemtrails." C: An alleged secret European Union plot to control world finance through consumption taxes. D: All of the above. 9. What's the transportation ministry's solution to prevent the new Port Mann Bridge from dropping more ice bombs onto cars? A. A system of scrapers and brushes along each cable to remove ice. B. Aerial drones that spray the cables with de-icing solution. C. A flock of seagulls trained to peck loose ice chunks. D. Closing the bridge and waiting for ice to melt. 10. What did Metro Vancouver mayors propose in 2013 as a new way to raise money for cash-strapped TransLink? A. $5 toll at the border on all vehicles heading south to the U.S. B. Regional sales tax of up to 0.5 per cent. C. Adding magnets to new SkyTrain fare gates to suck loose change out of pockets. D. Forcing SeaBus passengers to row to help save on fuel costs. E. Installing slot machines in SkyTrain stations.

Complete snow removal services available

op ) Bish r utch VJ (B r/Operato Rd. ge Owne d Creek Rid1K0 Hollan , BC V0A 4846 ere Inverm

Did you know we have

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11. The government is considering spending $6 million to stop the B.C. legislature dome from: A: Cracking. B: Peeling. C: Twisting. D: Sinking. 12. Which was NOT a 911 call received by E-Comm operators who begged cellphone users to be more careful about declaring emergencies? A. Asking who won the hockey game. B. Reporting a broken TV set. C. Panic about a big spider in the living room. D. Complaint about a politician breaking election promises. 13. B.C. pharmacies were ordered by their regulating body to stop doing what? A: Offering wine tastings at the pharmacy counter. B: Issuing reward points or other "kickbacks" to customers buying prescription drugs. C: Refusing to sell prescribed medical marijuana. D: Refusing to act as supervised injection sites. 14. In 2013, the B.C. government approved: A: Enbridge's Northern Gateway oil pipeline to Kitimat. B: Twinning Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain oil pipeline to Burnaby. C: A pipeline to carry fuel from tankers on the Fraser River to Vancouver airport. D: A pipeline to transport glacial water from Garibaldi Park to Squamish for export. 15. The poaching of what prompted Vancouver Island aboriginal groups to post a $25,000 reward? A: Roosevelt elk B: Abalone C: Seals D: Easter eggs 16. Which B.C. municipal council fended off a court challenge (and death threats) over its deer cull program? A: Oak Bay B: Cranbrook C: Invermere D: Penticton

Dialysis unit moving to Sparwood

NO. 7856

1-866-59 .CA TEAMRAVENama,

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MAIL REGIST

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PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856

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Requiem planned for glacier in Jumbo area

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A hopeless 2014 wishlist Here are a few things I’d like to see in B.C. political life in the coming year, but won’t. An orderly schedule of legislature sittings, one in the spring and one in the fall. I canvassed this topic with Premier Christy Clark in our year-end interview, and got the usual runaround about how it’s always been optional since old Gordon what’s-his-name set the schedule of sittings and elections more than a decade ago. Spring is for the budget and MLAs sit in the fall if they need to discuss legislation. They need to all right, but what governments want to do is ram it through as fast as they can, so that’s what they do. The last couple of years of this have been a sham worthy of a South American banana republic, with three chambers running simultaneously and opposition members trying to prepare as they run down the hallways. It leads to mistakes in new laws and adds to the public’s cynicism about the whole business, but it gets things done with minimum exposure of the government to criticism. Stephen Harper would approve. A political debate about real issues, rather than just a competition to score points in an endless election campaign. I appreciate this is hopelessly naive, but setting aside enough time to consider issues could, at least in theory, lead to this happening occasionally. Certainly the hastily staged mock combat of our legislature today isn’t winning new friends for any political party. The main growth area today is people who have given up on the whole thing. An opposition with ideas. The B.C. NDP will have another leadership contest in 2014, and they’d better bring more modern policy to the table than they had in the last one. Remember the big issues in that pillow-fight? Me neither. I had to look them up. Health care? Local organic carrots into the hospital food. Forest industry? A job protection commissar to force the mills to stay open. Resource development? They’re for it, unless you’re against it. These guys need a Tony Blair-type makeover. They need to be for something, and they need to leave the past behind. Media that cares about more than just conflict. News organizations are in bad shape these days, and the competition for a rapidly fragmenting audience is having some ugly effects. One thing that needs to go is obsessive coverage of who’s winning and who’s losing. If the news media are going to be interested mainly in the gaffes and gotcha moments, is it any surprise that’s what politicians try to provide? The Canada Post announcement that it has to wind up home delivery offers a recent example. Is it really so outrageous for the CEO to suggest that walking to the corner is good exercise? When there’s a 24-hour news cycle to fill, it’s a scandal! How many people know that Canada Post’s unfunded pension liabilities amount to $6.5 billion, as it continues to pay a dwindling workforce to hand out mostly advertising flyers? Should they just keep doing that until they run out of cash? Are taxpayers really expected to maintain another two-tier service that’s only available to selected urban people? Facts to go with opinions. Whether it’s the government’s fantasy figures on job creation or the opposition’s arithmetic-challenged child poverty claims, serious problems can’t be understood, much less solved, without defining them accurately. Submitting government advertising to scrutiny by the Auditor General to make sure it is accurate and non-partisan would be a good place to start. Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Find him on Twitter at @tomfletcherbc or email him at tfletcher@ blackpress.ca.

overty

Answers: 1-B, 2-D, 3-E, 4-D, 5-B, 6-C, 7-D, 8-D, 9-A, 10-B, 11-C, 12-D, 13-B, 14-C, 15-A, 16-C

A14 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Columbia Valley

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Wednesday, January 1, 2014 The Valley Echo

Brain Games Friday

Saturday

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Light snow

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January 3

Temp: 2 C o

January 5

January 4

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Feels like -8 C

Low: -5oC

Low: -7oC

Low: -8oC

CLUES ACROSS 1. Type of health plan 4. Atmospheric haze 7. A period of time 10. Auricle 11. Copycat 12. Manpower 13. Delicate fern genus 15. Diego, Francisco or Anselmo 16. Zanzibar copal 19. Jackie’s 2nd husband 22. Calcified tooth tissue 23. Conjoined twins 24. Mythological birds 25. This (Spanish) 26. Lowest hereditary title 29. Pre-transplant plot 33. Fiddler crab genus

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Feels like 0 C

Crossword January 1, 2014

VALLEY ECHO T he

34. Professional legal organization 35. Most thick 40. Sleeve indicator of mourning 44. Far East housemaid 45. Hmong 46. With three uneven sides 49. Tempts 53. Jewelry finding 55. Showed intense anger 56. Black tropical American cuckoo 57. Sculpture with a head 58. A single entity 59. What part of (abbr.) 60. Before 61. Confined condition (abbr.) 62. Hurrah 63. Transport faster than sound

CLUES DOWN 1. Sorli’s Tale hero 2. A musical master 3. Speech 4. Swiftest 5. Opaque gem 6. Origins 7. Proceed from a source 8. Rechristened 9. Liquorice flavored seed 13. Small amount 14. Mineral aggregate 17. Prefix for wrong 18. Point midway between E and SE 20. A single instance 21. French river 26. Undeveloped blossom 27. One pip domino 28. Fled on foot 30. Sheep bleat

31. One point N of due E 32. Father 36. A projecting part 37. Improved by editing 38. Made melodious sounds 39. Treatment 40. Agreeableness 41. Bell sound 42. Tennis contests 43. Furnace vessels

46. Sirius Satellite Radio (abbr.) 47. Licensed accountant 48. Crude potassium bitartrate 50. Insert mark 51. Election Stock Market (abbr.) 52. A health resort 54. So. Am. Indian people

Answer to December 24:

Horoscope Fifth Week of December

ARIES Thanks to the chilly weather, a beach vacation beckons you, Aries. Start planning an excursion to a warm locale that allows you to escape the daily grind. TAURUS A sporting event or something that draws a large crowd is just where you need to be this week, Taurus. Surround yourself with people who share your interests. Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Last Sudoku answer -->:

GEMINI Give an issue in your relationship the consideration it merits. Though it might not seem like it now, taking time to work this out will ultimately strengthen your relationship.

CANCER Cancer, the final stages of a project you have been working on are ready begin. Don’t be afraid to take credit when all of your hard work pays off in a big way.

LIBRA You may have been bouncing around aimlessly for some time, Libra. But now is the week to get all of your affairs together and put your plan for the future in motion.

CAPRICORN Perceptions vary, Capricorn. Just because you feel strongly about something doesn’t mean another will view it the same way. Accept that your passion will not always be reciprocated.

LEO Obligations to work and family leave you short on personal time, Leo. Though your schedule is hectic, make time to unwind and you will be glad for having done so.

SCORPIO Restlessness can sometimes be a dangerous thing for you. Channel any restlessness into a worthy project that makes good use of your boundless energy.

AQUARIUS Aquarius, even though it will be a busy week, you aren’t likely to feel wiped out. There will still be time for fun. Figure out a day to do something enjoyable.

VIRGO It may take a while to convince someone to go along with your idea, Virgo. Yet once you have this person’s support, they will be fully on board.

SAGITTARIUS Sagittarius, make the best of a situation that needs changing. You might not be able to affect change, but that does not mean you can’t improve the situation with a positive attitude.

PISCES Pisces, you are torn between being creative and following convention at work. Ask a colleague for some input.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 The Valley Echo

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A15

The Valley Echo's 2013/2014

NHL Hockey Pool Standings Grand Prize

This week's winner is:

2 night stay at Copper Point Resort and $100 dining certificate for Elements Grill

Hair Haven

2 rounds of golf for the Ridge at Copper Point Golf Club

Head to Echo/Pioneer office to redeem your lunch prize!

250-341-4000

250-341-3392

All prizes must be claimed before the following week's results are released.

Rank 1 T2 T2 4 5 6 T7 T7 9 10 T11 T11 13 T14 T14 16 T17 T17 19 20 21 22 23 T24 T24 26 27 T28 T28 30 31 T32 T32 T32 35 36 T37 T37 T39 T39 T39 T42 T42 44 T45 T45 T45 T45 T49 T49 T51

Team

Total

Puff Pastry Ivy Craiger Lis Ken Reid Kogging Toucan 01 Professor 05 Cotton Swab 4 Lawson 23 Love the B’s Aces N Eights Double-Duece Pouncy’s Pals 3 Hair Haven Kappdaddy26 King Chris Zman Brodes Magic Mitch 25 Injured reserve 16 Kosty 27 “The Zach Attacks” Pullz 28 Snakitov13 Rockies 3 PMD Dace 58 Jye Rockies 18 Rockies super fan Paige 13 JHaley11 Brennan B.the.B.B.B. Harley Plum 24 Major Snipes G Rohrick 15 Naho Rubicon Dirty Doan 12 an Jagar 20 Flames Suck DR19 Long Rock Crew Slut Schlittsy06 Kimmer Liam 10 Snake53 Dusty 21

673 670 670 659 650 647 639 639 638 632 630 630 627 626 626 625 624 624 619 615 614 611 610 609 609 606 605 604 604 602 600 599 599 599 598 596 595 595 594 594 594 593 593 592 590 590 590 590 589 589 588

LW 59 51 54 45 35 43 55 49 40 55 50 57 51 44 61 45 58 57 59 47 46 41 48 43 44 35 43 58 47 50 42 56 33 44 50 31 45 35 37 44 40 47 38 43 41 37 42 42 46 42 57

GM 42 67 68 63 79 99 57 74 74 87 54 82 61 94 109 87 67 106 102 84 75 71 83 84 110 61 108 104 81 89 101 96 114 106 77 79 92 120 94 105 107 78 102 89 83 99 137 71 65 72 76

P/G 0.85 0.88 0.88 0.86 0.87 0.89 0.83 0.84 0.84 0.85 0.81 0.85 0.82 0.85 0.88 0.84 0.82 0.87 0.86 0.83 0.81 0.81 0.82 0.82 0.85 0.79 0.83 0.84 0.80 0.81 0.82 0.82 0.84 0.83 0.81 0.79 0.81 0.84 0.81 0.82 0.83 0.79 0.81 0.80 0.80 0.81 0.84 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.79

If you would like to sponsor The Valley Echo’s hockey pool, contact us at 250-341-6299

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is a member of the AUDITED

Canadian Media Circulation Audit

Rank T51 T53 T53 T55 T55 T55 58 T59 T59 T61 T61 T61 T64 T64 T66 T66 T66 69 70 71 72 73 T74 T74 76 77 T78 T78 80 T81 T81 T81 84 85 86 87 T88 T88 90 91 92 T93 T93 T93 96 97 98 T99 T99 101 102

Team

Total

MM88 Jake 2 MN1 Hossa 81 The Goalie Guy RC31 Nelly Troll 6 Nelson 30 Dicks Pix Stick63 Dylan 4 R’s Rockets Chick Magnet Dave’s Laffers Westside Dan Go Habs Go Yolo Swagins LBO David Bergeeo 7 Dumpandpump 15 The Boyz Nick Bolin Brennan’s Compe Dooley N4Cer Van Fan Harley 10 Old Rock Mags57 Hendy 17 Nicole ACF lil’b Matt Cable Hunter 11 Ashley Furniture Rock 50 Joaks 16 Heidi Love the B’s 2 Cian Badtothe Boone 22 Skeeter 31 Ryann 7 Ninja Chicken Connor K Braden 5 Riley 14 J. Pike

588 587 587 585 585 585 584 582 582 581 581 581 580 580 577 577 577 575 573 571 566 564 563 563 557 555 554 554 553 552 552 552 547 544 543 542 541 541 540 539 538 536 536 536 534 532 529 518 518 490 472

LW 36 39 49 45 37 49 33 45 45 44 43 38 46 44 34 32 49 35 56 20 33 43 49 40 39 35 35 33 34 38 38 32 45 26 50 30 23 31 40 37 40 43 43 40 44 35 44 35 24 34 40

GM 86 106 76 99 116 98 106 71 113 113 118 115 103 70 125 89 108 91 77 122 134 141 83 97 94 101 109 106 98 139 105 135 100 139 100 93 140 133 117 132 103 108 131 134 156 141 115 154 131 126 155

P/G 0.78 0.81 0.79 0.80 0.81 0.80 0.80 0.77 0.81 0.82 0.82 0.81 0.80 0.77 0.82 0.78 0.81 0.77 0.77 0.80 0.82 0.83 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.75 0.80 0.77 0.79 0.76 0.79 0.75 0.73 0.79 0.78 0.76 0.77 0.75 0.76 0.77 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.75 0.77 0.74 0.71 0.71