The Free Press, November 26, 2015 by Black Press Media Group

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GHOSTRIDERS

Two wins for the Ghostriders - Page 21 ELK VALLEY

Lions Club property vandalised - Page 5 SPARWOOD

BC Hydro contractor James Clive, Ktunaxa Nation representatives Diana Dearden and Marion Eunson, Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett, BC Hydro’s Diane Tammen and Kerrie Huolt, and RDEK Area B Director Stan Doehle in front of the Winsor Substation upgrade project. For more on this story, turn to page 3. Photo by B. Catton

Teck announces 1000 job cuts worldwide By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff

ARTS

Print and graphic artist - Page 12

n Nov. 17, Teck Resources Ltd. announced the elimination of 1000 jobs worldwide, across all of Teck’s global offices and operations. The job eliminations are expected to happen through a series of layoffs and attrition. The reduction in jobs is expected to bring their labour force reductions to a total of 2000 positions over the past 18 months. Teck also announced the suspension of any further work on the Coal Mountain (CMO) Phase 2 project and from the environmental assessment process. The halt on

efforts to improve efficiency and productivity, while remaining keenly focused on safety and sustainability.” Nic Milligan, Manager of Community and Aboriginal Affairs for Teck, noted Teck’s intention to keep Coal Mountain Operations active until 2017. “It’s important to note that Coal Mountain Operations is expected to continue operating through to the end of 2017, a full two years away,” he said. “Our intention is to transition as many workers as possible from Coal Mountain to the other four mines in the Elk Valley. Depending on market conditions, Teck intends to identify

potential options to make up the approximately 2.25 million tonnes of annual coal production that were planned from the CMO Phase 2 project by optimizing production from its five other steelmaking coal mines.” The international coal company announced dividends of five cents per share, which is lower than the earlier semi-annual payment of 15 cents per share. Milligan said the company is expecting to see layoffs in the Elk Valley. “We anticipate reducing the Elk Valley workforce across all areas, including management. Continued on page 5

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Closure of local tennis courts - Page 4

the Coal Mountain project means mining could conclude at the current Coal Mountain Operation in two years. Teck said they are actively identifying opportunities that will replace the planned production from the expansion of the Coal Mountain Operation. “We are implementing these additional measures to conserve capital, lower our operating costs and maintain financial flexibility in light of very difficult market conditions,” said Don Lindsay, Teck’s President and chief executive in a press release. “These steps build on our ongoing cost reduction program and I want to thank all employees for their

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

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BLACK FRIDAY

Shop Fernie!

NOV 27 ................................................... What’s Happening:

12-9pm* Black Friday: Shopping local supports local. Dozens of Fernie businesses are taking part in this year’s Black Friday, why leave town when you can shop at home! *Check retailers for speciﬁc hours. 12-8pm TELUS will be serving complimentary warm beverages in front of the Arts Station. Don’t forget to pick up your draw cards at their tent. 1-2:30pm Library: Drop in age 7 and up. Pirates, ships and treasure maps.

Promotions:

Barkside – 10%-80% off all jackets and sweaters. 10% off all dog toys. Spend $50.00 and get a free Pawflex bandage. Buy any cat toy and get a second cat toy or treat for 50% off. Winter snuggle up with Organic Oscar grooming products @ 25% off Big Bang Bagels – 5pm - 9pm with coffee and inhouse made cheesecake Board Stiff – storewide sale 20-50% off Bridge Bistro - 2 for 1 Appies and $5 Draft, Highballs or Wine Canadian Tire – Black Friday deals start 7am Nov 26 til Nov 29. See online flyer for details Clawhammer – printing demo and give-away Coal Town Goods – Come say hello and enter to win a stellar gift bag full of beautiful goods Crumbs – free cupcake with lunch purchase Edge of the World – 15% off storewide, additional 10% off sale items Elevation – 20% off storewide Elk River Guiding Co – 50% off flies, 30% off fishing gear, 25% of hunting gear Eye of the Needle – newly expanded gallery, spend $150 and receive a Fernie Forge tote. KD Rooster tea light set $20. EK Community Credit Union – For new members to EKC: 1. $100 when you open an account with a minimum deposit of $100. 2. $200 when you open an account set up with payroll or pension direct deposit or transfer your business chequing account. For Existing EKC members: Receive a $25 credit for each friend you refer who opens an account with a EKC.

FernieCHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2-4pm Face Painting in Ghostrider Trading lobby 3-5pm Arts Station: Free movie TBA 3-7pm Rotary Club will be offering complimentary freshly popped popcorn and hot chocolate outside the Museum. 4-9pm Arts Station: ‘Deck the Walls’ craft fair. 5-8pm Art Walk: Various galleries and studios will be taking part in a self guided art walk around Fernie. Participants include Eye of the Needle, Fernie Arts Co-op, Stephanie’s Glass, Brian Pollock Photography, Clawhammer and the Fernie Arts Station.

Fernie Arts Co-op – we pay the tax’! Hot apple cider & appies. Free rose reusable tote with $50 purchase Fernie Brewing Co – 20% off storewide (does NOT include beer). Receive 1 free ﬁll with purchase of growler Fernie Chamber of Commerce – 25% off Destination BC apparel Fernie Golf & Country Club – Sale: 40% off all Clothing, Bags 35-45% off, Shoes 35% off, Headwear 35% off, Equipment 15% off Hours for the Pro Shop will be 10AM – 9PM Fernie Home Hardware – Hourly instore draws 1-9pm, hourly instore specials starting 12pm Fernie Stationers – 25% OFF all Artist Canvas, as well as many other in-store specials for the day! Freshies – buy any size latte, americano or brewed coffee and get a Freshies designer cookie for 25 cents Gearhub – tons of deals from 25% - 75% off Ghostrider Motorsports – up to 40% off on select apparel and accessories Ghostrider Trading – Surprise Sale Giv’Er Shirt Works – buy 2 hoodies, get 1 T-shirt for free Green Petal – choose your own discount (10-40% off) Grow – 10% off storewide + instore specials Healing Hollow – 25% off excluding diffusers. Free gift with diffuser purchase Surprises announced Heaven Boutique – 50% off consignment, 30% off yarn & ﬁbre, prizes and treats Hempire – no tax on smoking supplies (excluding tobacco), 20% off all clothing, bags, hats, mitts, incense & gifts. Up to 70% off clearance IGS Drugmart – 50% off selected jewelry, 25% off all winter toques, scarves, gloves and selected tops Interior Envy – up to 50% off select items

Don’t forget to enter our draws for incredible prizes from Fernie Golf & Country Club, Healing Hollow, Vogue Theatre, Ghostrider Trading, Loaf, FBC and more!

King Fir Spa – 35% off ALL Rocky Mountain Soap Company products, 20% off ALL services of 1 hour or more Loaf – $5 Happy Hour from 4-6pm: all food and drinks (including beer & wine) on the Happy Hour menu are just $5 per item. Pre-order your Christmas goodies (Yule logs, Fruit mince pies, Christmas puddings and cakes, Stollen, Panettone etc) and get a 10% discount on your order. Odyssey – 30% off winter outerwear, 25% off dress slacks, other instore specials Polar Peek Bookstore – 10% storewide Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – BOGO specials throughout the day Scotia Bank – We will be having a customer appreciation day, cookies in the banking hall, etc. Also one of our ABM’s will contain a $50 bill instead of the usual $20 - some lucky person will get it as part of their cash withdrawal Soar Cycle Studio – Spin it forward Friday: $3 of every bum on a bike will be donated to Salvation Army for Nov - Jan Spa 901- 10% off all regular priced retail items, blowout Bins $5, $10 & $25. Receive $10 Dermalogica credit with every Gift Certiﬁcate Purchase over $100. Enter a draw to WIN a Dermalogica Gift Basket TD – Enjoy three months free service charges when you open a new account with TD The Guide’s Hut – Stop by starting Monday for a full menu of Friday Specials Three Sisters Day Spa – 20% off all Aveda and Spa retail. 10% off all Limited Edition Aveda holiday gift packages. Purchase a $100 gift certiﬁcate, we will make it $120. The Tipple – instore specials. Enter draw for snowboard

FernieBlackFriday

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Winsor Substation to receive upgrades By Bryn Catton Free Press Staff

n Nov. 23, BC Hydro hosted MLA Bill Bennett, Regional District East Kootenay and Ktunaxa representatives at the Winsor Substation upgrade project in Elko. The substation is receiving needed upgrades to the tune of $15 million. This will be the first substantial upgrade the facility has received since its was initially built in 1970. “We are lucky here in B.C., our former leaders back 50 60 years ago invested in hydroelectric projects and built this huge distribution and transmission system. But it's getting older, and it’s not as reliable as it once was,” said Bennett. He continued on to say the substation upgrades are needed in the area. “[It’s] necessary to retain one of the most reliable electricity systems in the world right here in B.C., that’s not an exaggeration. We have the third lowest residential rates in North America here in B.C. In order for it to stay that way, you have to invest.” The station is currently running at maximum capacity and is only able to supply six megavolt ampere (MVA). The rebuild project includes a new 25 MVA transformer in addition to upgrades to the switchyard and protection and control equipment. Furthermore, the station’s wooden poles will be replaced with steel structures. These upgrades are aimed to increase the number of customers that the station currently provides power to from the current

A division of

Annual Sparwood Food Drive By Bryn Catton Free Press Staff

A BC Hydro representative shows community representatives the plans for the upgrades to the Winsor Substation in Elko on Nov. 23 Photo by B. Catton

capacity of 1,700 to an upgraded 3,100. BC Hydro predicts this will meet the demand for at least the next 30 years with the current growth rates and electricity demand predictions of the area. The $15 million expected cost is a part of a province-wide decade-long capital investment plan for BC Hydro, which will see $2.4 billion spent each year. Fernie’s recent $21 million substation completion is a part of the almost 200 million invested by BC Hydro in the East Kootenay. The project is being completed in partnership with the Ktunaxa Nation Council. A representative of Ktunaxa,

Marion Eunson, said they are pleased to be working with BC Hydro on this project. “Building our capacity and our skills, when opportunities become available B.C. construction services will ask us to provide additional manpower providing they have the skill set. They are excited and looking to do more. We have young people coming up looking to be trades people and looking for those very opportunities. Hopefully in the future we will have the opportunity to work on some more of these projects within our territory,” she said.

n Nov, 29 around 5:30 p.m. residents of Sparwood may receive a knock on their door from their local ambulance crew, fire department, cadets, and search and rescue crews for the Christmas Charity Drive. The drive is for the local food bank and Toys for Tots. Sparwood Council encourages the community to be generous with donations of non-perishable food, new toys, monetary gifts, or Canadian Tire money. If residents are not at home during collection, they are encouraged to drop off donations at the Fire Hall, 479 Pine Avenue or leave them on the front doorstep in a bag or box for pickup. According to Food Banks of Canada, over 850,000 Canadians use food banks each month. That’s enough to fill Toronto’s Rogers Center 17 times. 150,000 Canadians that rely on food banks reside in rural communities. Not all of distributed goods are non-perishable. 38 per cent of the food used by these banks are things like milk, eggs, fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables or bread. Toys for Tots was created by local partnerships between the Canadian Armed Forces, businesses, and concerned citizens whose sole focus as an organization is to provide toys for children who are in need, working to address and prevent specific problems faced by families and focusing on assisting children up to the age of 12, but many participating communities extend the age limit to 14-16. The program is a 100 per cent volunteer organization.

#UsedHelps

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

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Closure of Sparwood tennis courts lead to public consultation process on the new BC MRI strategy with MLA Bill Bennett

1. Premier Christy Clark announced a new 4 year MRI strategy that will give access to MRI procedures to 65,000 more patients per year. 2. Because of the strong, diverse and growing economy and a third straight balanced budget, this government is able to invest and increase patient access to MRI procedures. 3. Health authorities will also develop plans to increase current volumes by 45% and extend operating hours for MRI machines to ensure timely access to MRIs. Bill Bennett MLA, Kootenay East www.billbennettmla.bc.ca

The tennis courts in the Cherrywood subdivision in Sparwood are closed after the residential lot they were on was purchased by a developer. Submitted photo By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff

he tennis courts in the Cherrywood subdivision in Sparwood have been closed and will not reopen for public use. The tennis courts were on residential property, which has been recently purchased by a developer. “We’re in the process of closing it down. In 2007 the council of the time decided to sell that lot for development purposes. As of November 2015, a sale of that lot actually went through, which will result in the removal of the tennis courts and basketball courts that are currently located on that residential lot,” said Duane Lawrence, Director of Community and Facility Services for the District of Sparwood. The District is

now conducting a consultation process with the community to research what, if anything, should replace the public recreation facilities. “The District of Sparwood is doing a consultation process, with the residence of Sparwood and any other interested parties, to determine what, if any replacement infrastructure or recreation infrastructure is desired by the residents that are living in the heights that are mostly affected by this, and ideas on where they would like it to be located,” said

Lawerence. New Dawn Developments purchased the lot, and intends to build a 19-unit multi-family facility on the lot, meaning the loss of the tennis court and basketball court. “There is an online survey that we are conducting right now, and it’s open for the public to access,” said Lawrence. “We want to make sure that what we are putting in is what the residents want.” Once the data is collected, the findings will be presented to the community for further feedback before anything is decided upon. “We encourage everybody to participate in the survey,” said Lawrence. “We will do some further investigation into what our findings are and what our feedback is from the community and bring back a final report to the community on what we found to be the most preferred amenity, what it is going to cost to do it, and how long it will take to raise the funds to do it.” The survey is available on the District of Sparwood’s website, at Sparwood.ca. Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to contact the District of Sparwood.

Remembrance of Life Candlelight Service

KYLE KYLE HAMILTON HAMILTON PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY

Honouring the lives of those we love Wednesday, December 16th at 7:00 PM Cherished Memories “Serenity Chapel” 891 4th Ave. Fernie

250 250423 4230904 0904 www.kylehamiltonphotography.com www.kylehamiltonphotography.com

EVERYONE WELCOME Donations to Hospice appreciated.

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Lions Club property vandalised

Teck announces job losses cont.

Submitted

Continued from page 1 These reductions began in May 2015 and about 200 have been achieved to date, primarily through attrition,” he said. “We are targeting a further reduction of 200 positions by the end of 2016, for a total of 10 per cent, approximately 400 positions. The remaining reductions will occur over the course of 2016 and we expect that the majority will also be achieved through attrition. This is a continuation of our ongoing focus on reducing costs and improving efficiency to ensure our mines remain viable and are well-positioned for when markets improve.” Teck also announced the intention to reduce total spending by $650 million in the next year, through a $350 million reduction of capital spending and deferrals along with $300 million of operating cost savings, which will be identified in the 2016 operating budget.

Update The Nov. 19 edition of The Free Press featured a story on the opening day of Save-On-Foods, originally set for Nov. 27. The opening has been postponed until early December. We will update the information details of the event as they become available.

5:30

recent break-in at the Fernie Lions Demolition Derby concession building will cost the club thousands of dollars to repair and replace the damaged property. Club spokesman Rick Ganter said they were informed of the vandalism by a citizen who had noticed it. When club members inspected the site, they were shocked at the level of damage done. “We’ve been hit in the past by what was probably young idiots who used paintball guns to wreck the siding, but this was a degree of vandalism that really shocked us. Whoever was down there had to be pretty determined to boot out a steel door from its frame to gain entrance. And for what? There’s nothing to steal in our cook shack. It’s just got old fridges and freezers and a metal grill,” said Ganter. The grill and a deep freeze were tipped over, boards from the steps and railings were removed, and the club will have to pay to repair the damage, and possibly purchase a new grill if the old one is beyond repair. “The sad thing about this, the money we will shell out to repair this mess, that money could have gone to a family with a sick kid, or to help out a senior in this town. It could have gone to fund a teen athlete or help out a group of deserving young people. Instead, because some young idiots with nothing better to do than get drunk on private property that doesn’t belong to them decided to then destroy property that doesn’t belong to them. Where do they learn that kind of thing is okay?”

Above: Lions Club property, such as their grill and fridges, on the Demolition Derby grounds was vandalised last week. Below: A locked door was broken into. Submitted photos

The RCMP have been to the scene and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Elk Valley RCMP. The clubs public relations representative, Shelley Furedi said that the communities have come together to help replace, repair, and pay for the damaged property. “Citizens of the Sparwood and Fernie communities have come forward to offer to help pay for damages, help replace items that have been damaged, or repair damages. We had a gentlemen who said that he would help with repairing our destroyed grill. It shows that the Lions Club’s efforts don’t go unnoticed in the community,” said Ganter.

Sparwood Community & Facility Services 367 Pine Avenue, Box 669, Sparwood, BC V0B 2G0 Phone: 250-425-0552 Fax: 250-425-0551 Email: recoffice@sparwood.ca

January 13, 2011

FITNESS CLASSES

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District of sparwooD Launches new BranD

Synergy October 21 – December 9, 2015 Wednesday, 7:15 – 8:15 pm This class is designed to improve coordination and balance while strengthening your entire body. Class is suitable for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Strength Intervals October 13 – December 8, 2015 Tuesday, 6:00 – 7:00 pm This is a calorie incinerating workout that uses no weights. Alternate between intervals of body weight resistance exercises and heart rate elevating athletic moves that melt away fat and promote long lean muscle development.

Yoga October 20 – December 10, 2015 Tuesday & Thursday, 7:00 – 8:00 pm This class will encourage you to become familiar with what your body needs as well as offer a comfortable non-judgmental environment. Everyone is welcome!

Pre-Teen Thursday

Christmas Ice Special

When? Thursday, November 26, 2015 What Time? 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Who? Grades 4, 5, & 6 This is a chance for pre-teens to show up at the pool and unwind with various activities. Bring your friends and enjoy! This week’s theme “Pirate Party”! Activities to include: Treasure Hunt, Team Games, and Kayak Relay Races.

Book the ice for $50.00 / hour during the Christmas holidays. Please book early as space is limited. Times will be available from December 21, 2015 – January 4, 2016.

Yours & Mine. together. The District of Sparwood is pleased to announce the

AROUND TOWN

TRX October 14 – launch of its new brand and identity. “We’re now December 9, 2015 ideally positioned to clearly and consistently share our Wednesday, 6:00 – 7:00 pm community’s story,” said Terry Melcer, The District of This class combines the Centennial use of the TRX suspension Square Tree Sparwood’s Chief Administrative Officer. system and boot camp Lighting style activities to provide Thursday an intense full-body November 26, 2015 brand has Unlike many community brands, Sparwood’s workout. Centennial Square

PiYo pm Bonfire tourism or not been developed primarily6:30 to increase October 15 – December 10, 2015 6:45 pm Caroling Thursday, 6:00 – 7:00 pm destination visitors. Rather, 7:00 pm attract itsTree brand development Sunday, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Lighting & Santa Arrives is tolow strengthen its intensity distinctive Bring characteristics, demonstrate PiYo is a music driven impact, high family and friends and join in as workout that fuses powerful Pilates and YogaCentennial Square is illuminated to kick off continue develop economic inspired moves. Ita desire includes to modifi cations to and the festive season!diversity, and exercise progressions to challenge all fitness levels.

to continue to provide a solid foundation to increase

Adult Rec Hockey Starting - October 22, 2015 Thursdays, 9:30 – 10:30 pm (Must be 19 or older) Come out and enjoy a fun game of hockey with friends. Men and women of all skill levels are welcome!

Melcer. “This allows our brand to resonate with our most FIT FOR HEALTH important audience first — our own community.”

Prescription for Health Has your Doctor, Pharmacist or Health Care Practitioner recommended exercise as part of your medical treatment? Sparwood is committed initial results the branding exercisetheir include a new to helping The people recover from of illness, injury and improve overall health and wellbeing. The Leisure Centre is now accepting a logo, new taglines, a community website, professional “Prescription for Health” from for your Doctor, Pharmacist or Health Care Provider. Simply posters, bring in your prescription for exercise ads, to the and other images, trade show materials, Leisure Centre and you can receive three months of discounted access to our Gentle Fit, Aquacollateral, Fit and Drop as in Fitness Classes as well informational well as recommendations on as access to our Lane Swims and Fitness Centre for three months.

how to implement the brand as the community moves Health Matters This three month program is designed for people rehabilitating from injury or disease and/or forward begins share story. those who are new to and exercise. Undertotheproactively direct supervision of aitsPhysiotherapist participants will be guided through either a circuit class or gym class. To help in your recovery your program will include access to the Leisure Centre’s Gentle Fit and Aqua Fit classes as well as access to our Lane not intent on strictly developing as a tourism Swims and “We’re Fitness Centre. For more information and conditions please call 250.425.0552 community,” says Melcer. “But we are intent on

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Opinion

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Letters to the Editor

by Leah Scheitel

I have had the displeasure of writing more than one somber headline in the past month regarding job losses in the Elk Valley. With Finning announcing that they are closing their Sparwood facilities and Teck announcing the loss of 1000 more positions worldwide, it’s hard not to feel depressed at how this could impact the area. And its affects are already being felt. I visited a friend at the local craft fair this weekend and she had booths at the Elkford craft fair on Thursday, the Sparwood craft fair on Friday and finally the Fernie craft fair on Saturday. She said that people in all communities are a little more reluctant to part with their cash, resulting in lower sales than normal. People are tightening up, causing a ripple effect that will penetrate other industries, not just mining in the Elk Valley. The Elk Valley isn’t the only area feeling this. The once-booming oil metropolis of Fort McMurray may be the hardest hit, as their economy is directly contingent on the health of coal prices, which have been dropping since the start of the year. A CBC report said that their local food bank has been forced to cut their rations in half in order to keep up with the demand. More families are in need of subsidies, resulting in less for everyone. Again, one industry fell on hard times, resulting in all industries feeling the impacts Economies, like most things in nature, are cyclical, and ebb and flow at their own speed. One of my economics instructors said that most industries and economies go through sevenyear cycles, and if a boom lasts longer than that, the imminent downfall will be harder on everyone. It would be easy to use a cliché to make the situation seem better – you can’t have the rain without the rainbow, or something equally as sentimental. But I have never been a fan of clichés. The current situation that many families are facing – job losses, less disposable income, stricter budgets – is a terrible situation. It’s a simple as that. I heard Sparwood Mayor, Cal McDougall, on the radio last week, talking about how the two announcements will affect his community. He reminded people to rely on friends, neighbours and the resources in the area and I would like to echo that statement. EK Employment in Fernie is a great place to look for information on job opportunities in the area, and other resources to help gain employment. While it may be scary and uncertain times, no one is alone in it. It’s a reality that we are all facing, and it will be better if we face it together.

Letter to the Editor re: Coal prices We are all now fully aware of the impact of declining metallurgical coal prices to our coal mining industry in the Elk Valley. Teck has announced 1000 staff reductions world wide, hundreds in our own region. These families are worried right now and although I can't control commodity prices, I can, as MLA and as Mines Minister, try my hardest to help ensure positive outcomes on the issues that I can influence. First, I am working with Teck and all of B.C.'s mining industry to find ways for companies to lower their costs. Lowering operating costs will help ensure the mines remain open and get through this generational challenge. Second, I am working with the federal government, Teck and the Ktunuxa to finally get the Dominion Coal Blocks into provincial hands so that Teck and the Ktunuxa can manage the development of these coal resources. We were close to an arrangement with the last

Letter to the Editor re: Universal Children’s Day More than 60 years ago the UN established Nov. 20 as Universal Children’s Day, a day where the rights and needs of children everywhere are acknowledged. By all measures the world has done an incredible job at improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable, but of course much remains to be done. Sadly, Canada cannot take much credit for this, because we have long lagged behind all other major developed nations in our commitment to foreign aid, as a proportion of GDP. With the election of the Trudeau government many Canadians hope for a significant improvement in Ottawa’s sense of social responsibility, at home and abroad. But past Liberal governments began Canada’s steep decline in aid, a trend that only worsened under the Conservatives. Canada’s aid is parsimonious, barely one third of it’s publicly declared goal of .7 per cent of GDP. Improving Canada’s standing in the world has been one of Mr. Trudeau’s stated goals during the election, and this Universal Children’s Day is a great opportunity for him to show that this was not mere electioneering, and at last increase aid funding for the world’s most vulnerable children.  Nathaniel Poole  Victoria, B.C.

federal government to transfer some of the DCB lands into the Flathead no-mining zone and but we could not persuade the former federal government to get the high value coal lands into the hands of the Ktunuxa and Teck. These are the lands close to Coal Mountain that would enhance Teck's capacity to access high quality metalurgical coal that could, potentially, keep Coal Mountain open long term. I can't guarantee what Teck will decide to do but it is my job to try to make their decision to keep Coal Mountain open easier. And it would hopefully be an easier decision if coal prices come back up and they have access to the coal in the Dominion Coal blocks. This is my commitment going forward. I have been honoured to represent you for 15 years. Many of you have honoured me with your vote. I will not forget that. I will try my hardest. Bill Bennett MLA, Kootenay East

Letter to the Editor re: Medicinal marijuana business license

Fernie city council was approached on Nov. 9 about overriding a portion of the business license bylaw so that a medical marijuana dispensary could open in Fernie. I'm sure there are many in our community who know first-hand the powerful medicinal properties of marijuana. I thank Mayor Giuliano and Council for taking the time to listen to our presentation, so that we might begin to do important work for the residents of the Elk Valley. City Council was positive and receptive to our proposal, but, rightly, want to study the issue from a legal and zoning standpoint. Every day in the Elk Valley, people suffer from arthritis, neuropathic pain, MS, cancer and traumatic injury and medical marijuana should be an option to help them reduce their pain. Many complain of a lack of relief from conventional pain treatments. A full 50 per cent of neuropathic pain patients receive no meaningful relief from conventional treatment. Of those, 57 per cent achieve a 30 per cent reduction in their pain with low-dose vaporized cannabis (Wilsey et al., University of California, 2013.) The implication of going from 10/10 pain to 7/10 pain means that these patients can begin to enjoy more of life again. James Gittens Fernie, B.C.

Do you have something to say? We’d love to hear from you. Please send your Letters to the Editor at editor@thefreepress.ca.

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

The Free Press welcomes new reporter By Bryn Catton Free Press Staff

ey! My name is Bryn Catton, I know, it looks like a misspelt version of the name Bryan, but it is Welsh for “hill”. While I’m unsure why my parents called me a hill, I do have an obsession with mountains and while long walks on the beach are neat and all, I’d prefer to be riding my bikes, skis or snowboards. For the first time in my life I finally have the opportunity to chase the weather west and live in the mountains. I have just moved to Fernie from Ontario. I grew up in a small town that’s cattle outnumber the human population two to one. While I grew up in a blue-collar farming community, I have just graduated from University of Toronto and Sheridan College. In university I took Professional Writing with a focus on print and online text. My second major was Communication, Culture, and Information Technology, the courses centered on how we use technology and

The Free Press is happy to welcome new reporter and outdoor enthusiast, Bryn Catton. Photo by L. Scheitel

communications to interact with each other and our surrounding environments. At Sheridan College I studied multimedia design with a focus on content creation and editing. I’m excited to bring my writing and content generation skills to The Free Press where I can combine my education and passions while contributing to a great community, team and paper. I have been an avid cyclist that has been in and out of racing for 11 years, I have been skiing and snowboarding for 13 years and playing hockey and other organized sports since I was four. Fernie and the surrounding area has a remarkable outdoor backdrop and active community. I find every trip to British Columbia makes it harder and harder to travel back to Ontario. The landscape is what has brought me here, and the community is what will make me stay. I hope to meet the local people that make this area awesome; and in time, hopefully, become one myself.

Fernie residents react to winter weather Martin Brock

Sarann Press

“I’ve got mixed feelings about the snow. I love it because it brings tourists, it brings skiers, its great for business but when you have to shovel it it’s not so great. We’re used to it, we keep shoveling it, keep it out of the runway.”

“I do not like the snow. It’s cold, miserable and it’d be nicer if it stayed summer. I want to be in Arizona.”

Mark & Matt “Long time coming,” said Mark.

“Just wanna jump on that mountain,” said Matt.

District of Elkford 816 Michel Road P.O. Box 340 Elkford, B.C. V0B 1H0 P.250.865.4000 • F.250.865.4001 • info@elkford.ca • www.elkford.ca

Winter Parking Bylaw

With snow on the ground, residents are reminded that the District is unable to deliver the best level of service when vehicles are parked on highways, roadways or lanes. You are reminded to plan for offroad storage and parking of campers, trailers and vehicles. Parking off of the road allows snow plows to do a better job and ensures room for sanding equipment to cover more space. To achieve efﬁciencies in snow removal and to reduce unequal windrow distribution while plowing, on-street parking will be prohibited from 6:00 AM to 4:00 pm, November 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Parking on the street during snow plowing, snow removal, snow hauling or sanding operations is prohibited. It is an offence to push, place or throw any snow or ice upon a highway, roadway or lane.

Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings December 14th Regular Council @ 6:00 pm These meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at 816 Michel Road and are open to the public.

Remember to Turn on Bleeder Valves

You are Invited: 2015 Seniors’ Christmas Luncheon

The District reminds you that per District Bylaw No. 428, residents must turn ON the bleeder valves in their residences from October 31, 2015 to May 1, 2016. Please ensure that your valves are in working condition before you turn them on. It is the residents’ responsibility to ensure that their water systems do not freeze. Any thawing of lines will be at the homeowner’s expense.

For members of the 50+ Club and residents of Elkford who are 60 years and over. Wednesday, December 16, 2015 12:30 pm Elkford Community Conference Centre Please RSVP by December 1st by calling 250.865.4010 or by emailing cdawson@elkford.ca.

Elkford Aquatic Centre Annual Maintenance Shutdown:

Holiday Centrepieces

November 23 - December 7, 2015

This year, the Aquatic Centre’s Annual Maintenance Shutdown will take place from November 23 to December 7, 2015, rather than in its usual month of September.

Keep Informed: Visit www.elkford.ca Find us on Facebook: (District Elkford)

Use fresh ﬂowers, greenery and decorations to put your own spin on a holiday centrepiece to dress up your home for the holidays. All supplies are included. Wednesday, December 16, 2015 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Community Conference Centre Meeting Room #1 $48.85 per person + tax Minimum 5, Maximum 10 Registration deadline: December 9, 2015

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

The Good Dinosaur 3D

Want your event listed in Around the Valley and on-line?

Rated G• 7 pm Nightly 7 pm & 9 pm Fri, Sat & Tues Friday, Nov 27 - Thursday, Dec 3

BOOK THE ARCADE FOR YOUR NEXT AFTERNOON OR EVENING PARTY! Visit www.ferniemovies.com for more info. Call 250-423-3132 to book.

The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 Rated PG • 7 pm Nightly 7 pm & 9:30 pm Fri, Sat & Tues

3 pm Matinees Sat & Sun $6.50 in 2D

321-2 Avenue, Fernie

ADD IT ONLINE Event submissions are FREE!

250-423-7111 Movieline

www.ferniemovies.com

Find out what’s happening in your community and submit your own local events.

go to:

www.thefreepress.ca/calendar/submit/

Around the Valley

Around the Valley is a free listing to any local service. Please send an email to customerservice@thefreepress.ca or drop off a brief description of your event at The Free Press office.

Monday

• 6:30 to 8:00am – Early Bird Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 7:00 to 1:00pm – Public Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 7:00 to 8:00pm – Fitness Centre open at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 8:00 to 9:30am – Lanes and Leisure at the Sparwood Pool • 8:30 to 9:15am – Gentle Fit at the Sparwood Pool • 9:00 to 10:30am – Indoor Walking at the Fernie Community Centre • 9:00 to 11:00am – Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 9:30 to 10:30am – Aquafit at the Sparwood Pool • 12:00 to 1:00pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 1:00pm – Dominoes at the Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 3:00 to 8:00pm – Public Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 3:30 to 5:30pm - Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 4:00pm – Special Olympics Athletes Bowling, Sparwood Lanes • 5:30 to 6:30pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 6:00pm – Bridge at the Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 6:30 to 8:00pm – Public Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 7:00pm – Mahjong at the Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 7:00pm – Celebrate Recovery at Mountainside Church • 7:00pm – Community Climb Night at Evolution Climbing Gym • 7:30 to 9:00pm – Ladies Night at Old School Boxing

Tuesday

• 7:00 to 8:00pm – Fitness Centre open at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 9:30 to 10:15am – Aquafit at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 9:00 to 10:30am – Indoor Walking at the Fernie Community Centre • 9:00 to 11:00am – Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 10:00 to 11:00am – Kindergym at the Fernie Family Centre • 10:30 to 11:15am – Gentle Fit at the Fernie Aquatic Centre • 10:30 to noon – $3.00 Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre •11:00am – Crafts at the Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 11:00 to 1:00pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 1:00 to 2:30pm – Lanes and Leisure at the Sparwood Pool • 1:30 to 2:30pm – Water Walking at the Sparwood Pool • 3:00 to 8:00pm – Public Swim = at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 3:30 to 5:30pm - Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre

• 3:45 to 4:45pm – Swim Club at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 5:30 to 6:30pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 6:30pm - Ladies Archery at the Elks Hall • 6:30 to 8:00pm – Public Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 6:30 to 8:30pm – Opt Fernie Clinic at the Elk Valley Hospital • 7:00 to 9:00pm – Public Drop In Climbing at College of the Rockies • 7:30pm – Cribbage at the Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 7:30 to 9:00pm – Mixed Boxing Recreational at Old School Boxing • 8:00 to 9:00pm – 14+ Swim at the Sparwood Pool

Wednesday

• 6:30 to 8:00am – Early Bird Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 7:00 to 8:00pm – Fitness Centre open at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 8:00 to 9:30am – Lanes and Leisure at the Sparwood Pool • 8:30 to 9:15am – Gentle Fit at the Sparwood Pool • 8:30 to 9:15am – Active Fit at the Fernie Aquatic Centre • 9:00 to 10:30am – Indoor Walking at the Fernie Community Centre • 9:00 to 11:00am – Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 9:00 to Noon – Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 9:30 to 10:30am – Aquafit at the Sparwood Pool • 9:30 to 10:15am – Aquafit at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 10:00 to 11:00am – Kindergym at the Fernie Family Centre • 10:30 to Noon – Lanes and Leisure at the Sparwood Pool • 10:30 to Noon – $3.00 Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 11:45am – Gentle Fit at Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 12:00pm - Fernie Rotary Meeting Park Place Lodge • 1:00pm – Cards at Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 1:00pm – Decorative Arts at Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 3:00 to 8:00pm – Public Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 3:30 to 5:30pm - Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 3:45 to 4:45pm – Swim Club at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 4:00 to 5:30pm – Public Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 5:30 to 6:30pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 6:00 to 9:00pm – Drop in Workshop at Clawhammer Press • 6:30pm – Tae Chi at Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 7:00pm – Quilting at Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie

• 8:00 to 9:00pm –14+ Aquafit at the Sparwood Pool

Thursday

• 7:00 to 1:00pm – Public Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 9:00 to 10:30am – Indoor Walking at the Fernie Community Centre • 9:00 to 11:00am – Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 9:30 to 10:15am – Ease the Knees at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 10:30 to 11:15am – Gentle Fit at the Fernie Aquatic Centre • 10:30 to Noon – $3.00 Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 11:00 to 1:00pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 1:00pm – Pay Me Cards at Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 1:00 to 2:30pm – Lanes and Leisure at the Sparwood Pool • 3:00 to 8:00pm – Public Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 3:30 to 5:30pm - Red Cross Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 3:45 to 4:45pm – Swim Club at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 5:00 to 6:00pm – Lane Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 5:30 to 6:30pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 6:00 to 8:00pm – Public Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 6:30 to 9:00pm – Public Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 7:00pm – Darts at the Sparwood Legion • 7:30 to 9:00pm – Women & Men’s Night at Old School Boxing • 8:00 to 9:00pm – 14+ Swim at the Sparwood Pool

Friday

• 12:00 to 1:00pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 3:00 to 8:00pm – Public Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 3:45 to 4:45pm – Swim Club at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 4:00 to 5:30pm - Free Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 5:00 to 6:00pm – Lane Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 5:30 to 6:30pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 6:00 to 8:00pm - Public Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 6:30 to 9:00pm – Public Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 7:00pm – Jam Night every 2nd Friday at the Sparwood Legion • 7:30pm – Cribbage at Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie • 8:00 to 9:00pm – Teen/Adult Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre

Saturday

• Noon to 6:00pm – Fitness Centre open at Fernie Aquatic Centre • Noon to 6:00pm – Public Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 1:00 to 2:00pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 2:00 to 3:00pm – Family Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 2:30 to 5:00pm – Public Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 3:00 to 5:00pm – Public Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 4:00 to 6:00pm - Meat Draw at the Fernie & Sparwood Legion • 5:00 to 6:00pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood & Elkford Pool • 6:00 to 8:00pm – Public Swim at the Sparwood & Elkford Pool • 6:30 to 8:00pm – Women & Men’s Night at Old School Boxing • 7:30pm – Social at Seniors Drop In Centre Fernie

Sunday

• Noon to 6:00pm – Fitness Centre open at Fernie Aquatic Centre • Noon to 6:00pm – Public Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre • 1:00 to 2:00pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 1:30 to 2:30pm – Family Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 2:00 to 3:00pm – Family Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 2:30 to 5:00pm – Public Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 3:00 to 5:00pm – Public Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 5:00 to 6:00pm – Lane Swim at the Sparwood Pool • 5:00 to 6:00pm – Lane Swim at the Elkford Aquatic Centre • 7:30pm - Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, Christ Church Anglican, 591 4th Ave. Fernie

UPCOMING EVENTS NOVEMBER 26 26 26 26 27 27 28-29 28 29

Craft Fair, Greenwood Mall Sparwood Tree Lighting, Centennial Square Sparwood Rachel Butterworth, The Arts Station Gallery Reception: Deck the Walls, The Arts Station Pirates, Ships & Treasure Maps, Fernie Library 1:00 – 2:30pm Dublic DJs, the Royal Fun in Fernie Fatbike Sessions, The Guides Hut The Runs, (local punk band), the Royal Sarah Jane Scouten Live, Clawhammer Press

DECEMBER 1 4 5 7 7 11 12 12-13 13 17 19 19 19-20

What the Dickens, Fernie Arts Station Opening Day, Fernie Alpine Resort Fernie Ghostriders vs. Castlegar, Fernie Arena Indie Film: Remember, The Vogue Theatre Santa Claus Breakfast, Park Place Lodge 9:30 - Noon Fernie Ghostriders vs. Spokane, Fernie Arena Fernie Ghostriders vs. Golden, Fernie Arena Tea with Mrs. Clause, Fernie’s Sweet Tea Parlour 3:00 - 4:00pm CP Holiday Train, The Arts Station 5:15 – 6:00pm Fernie Ghostriders vs. Creston, Fernie Arena In the Saint Nick of Time Craft Fair, Community Centre Fernie Ghostriders vs. Beaver Valley, Fernie Arena Tea with Mrs. Clause, Fernie’s Sweet Tea Parlour 3:00 - 4:00pm

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CITY OF FERNIE BRITISH COLUMBIA

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

CONNECTION

City of Fernie CONNECTION | Community Information and Opportunities | www.fernie.ca City Council Meeting Schedule December 2015 6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 CITY OF FERNIE 15BRITISH 16 COLUMBIA 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 29 30 31

Regular Council meetings are open to the public and held at City Hall at 7:00 p.m.

City of Fernie Contact Info: City Hall

Ph: 250.423.6817 Fx: 250.423.3034 Email: cityhall@fernie.ca Website: www.fernie.ca 501-3rd Avenue, Box 190 Fernie, British Columbia V0B 1M0 Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 am-5 pm (Closed statutory holidays) After Hours Phone: 250.423.4226

Fernie Aquatic Centre

Signage on Rotary Park Fence Q. Can I attach my sign or banner, etc… on the fence at Rotary Park to advertise for an event happening in the community? A. No. Posting notices on the Fence at Rotary Park is in contravention of Section 6.2.2 of Sign Bylaw No. 1888. Sign Bylaw No. 1888 and Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2231 available on the City’s website under <CityHall/Bylaw & Policies> provide the penalties and regulations for people/organizations to follow when posting any/all signage within the community. In order to discourage visual pollution caused by indiscriminate posting of notices, posters, and banners and like material, we ask that people cease using the fence at Rotary Park for advertising events in the community. Notices posted on the fence will be removed by City staff. The City supports the promotion of user groups and non-profit agency events on the City’s free standing highway sign located in front of the Arena and Community Centre. Please contact the Leisure Services Department to inquire at 250.423.2245. Thanks everyone! Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Employment Opportunity The City of Fernie is inviting applications for a casual employee to fill the position of Municipal Clerk I on an “on-call” basis. There is no guarantee of hours with this position. The Municipal Clerk I performs a variety of duties of a general nature relating to all departments in the organization involving typing, reception, cashiering and clerical skills. Please visit the City website for a full job description and necessary qualifications. Detailed resumes with cover letter will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4th, 2015 to the attention of Ms. Premita Saran, Deputy Treasurer, City of Fernie, 501–3rd Ave, PO Box 190, Fernie, BC, V0B 1M0 or email premita. saran@fernie.ca.

250 Pine Avenue Phone: 250.423.4466

Fernie Memorial Arena

Leisure Services Happenings

For all Police, Ambulance or Fire related emergencies: Call 911

Fernie Aquatic Centre

1092 Highway 3

Request for Quotations – Multiple Facilities Lighting Upgrades The City of Fernie is requesting quotations from qualified electrical contractors for the provision and installation of lighting upgrade retrofits and new luminaires at various City facilities. Lighting systems to be upgraded include interior and exterior luminaires. Sealed quotations will be received at the City of Fernie, City Hall, PO Box 190, 501 3rd, Ave. Fernie, BC up to 4:00pm local time, Friday, December 11, 2015. RFQ documents are available at City Hall, the City website at www. fernie.ca and BC Bid’s website at www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca. All enquiries related to this RFQ are to be directed to Mr. Lloyd Smith, Director of Leisure Services, City of Fernie, PO Box 190, 501 – 3rd Avenue, Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 (Fax 250-423-3034 Email lloyd.smith@ fernie.ca).

Fall 2015 Swim Schedule (September 6 – December 19, 2015) Public Swim Monday to Friday 7:00am-1:00pm and 3:00pm-8:00pm Saturday and Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm Water Slide Monday to Friday, 4:00pm-6:00pm Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm Aqua Fit Active Fit Mon/Wed/Fri - 8:30am-9:15am Gentle Fit Tues/Thurs/Fri - 10:30am-11:15am Crocodile Swim 1st and 3rd Saturday each month 3:00pm-5:00pm Swim Lessons Registration for Winter Swim Lessons from January to March 2016 will open starting November 30, 2015. For more information all Aquatic Programs including Lifeguard Training courses and Private Aquatic bookings available please call the Fernie Aquatic Centre at 250.423.4466. Fernie Memorial Arena Fall Public Programs Adult Shinny Monday-Thursday, 8:45am-10:15am Public Skating Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30am-11:15am

Free Admission Parent & Tot Wednesday, 10:30am-11:15am Free Admission Skate & Shoot Wednesday, 11:45 am-1:00pm No School Fridays Youth Shinny 10:45am – 11:45am No School Fridays Public Skating Noon – 12:45pm Public Skating Friday, 7:00pm-8:15pm Saturday, 2:00pm-3:45pm & 6:45pm-8:15pm Sunday, 2:15pm-4:00pm Please note Public Skating is not scheduled during Fernie Ghostrider home games and other scheduled special events. The next Ghostrider Home Game is December 5th at 7:30pm. Fernie Minor Hockey Tournament on November 27th, 28th, December 4th, 5th, no public skating in afternoon or evening.

TaxTALK Do you want to have a say in where your tax dollars are spent? Do you know what services the City provides and what the real costs are? What services are most important to you? Here is your opportunity to TaxTALK with Council! Council is asking you to help determine the priorities for 2016 and find the right balance between investing in quality, sustainable public services and keeping tax rates affordable. Please complete a short survey that will inform Council of what you think priorities should be for the 2016 Budget and Strategic Plan. The survey asks what the top priorities should be for public services, what issues our strategic plan should focus on to move Fernie toward our community vision and a few general questions about the services we provide. Visit our webpage to do the survey online or pick up a copy at City Hall, Fernie Heritage Library or Fernie Aquatic Centre. The survey will close on December 4th. We need your participation!

Winter Parking and Snow Removal Winter parking regulations are now in effect and Snow Removal will be starting soon! We would like to remind residents to be aware of snow removal equipment working on City streets. Our crews make every effort to make streets safe and passable throughout the winter and need your cooperation. Please slow down when travelling near snow removal equipment and always observe traffic control personnel. The following alternate parking schedule will be enforced through to April 15, 2016 and vehicles are subject to towing: NO PARKING permitted on the South or East Side of the Roadways Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday NO PARKING permitted on the North or West Side of the Roadways Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays Snow/ice covered walkways and driveways make it difficult for people to get around, so we ask business owners to please ensure that your sidewalks are cleared and safe for pedestrians. We would like to remind you that every business located adjacent to a sidewalk is responsible for the removal of ice and snow from that portion of the sidewalk before 9:00AM each day. Failure to do so could result in a fine. For more information on the winter parking and snow removal regulations please visit the City’s website at www. fernie.ca or contact Bylaw Services at 250.423.2244 or bylaw@fernie.ca.

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

d is tr i c t o f spa rwo o d Box 520, 136 Spruce Avenue, Sparwood, BC V0B 2G0 Phone: 250.425.6271 | Fax: 250.425.7277 Email: sparwood@sparwood.ca

www.sparwood.ca

Upcoming Meetings of Council (in Council Chambers)

Monday, November 30, 2015

Committee of the Whole Meeting at 1:00 pm

Monday, December 21, 2015

Regular Meeting at 7:00 pm

Monday, December 7, 2015

Regular Meeting at 1:00 pm

DISTRICT OF SPARWOOD NOTICE TO BIDDERS Janitorial Services

Sealed Bids, clearly marked “Janitorial Services – District of Sparwood” and addressed to Mr. Duane Lawrence, Director of Community and Facility Services will be received at the office of the District of Sparwood, P.O. Box 520, 136 Spruce Avenue, Sparwood, British Columbia, V0B 2G0, before 2:00 p.m., local time on Thursday, December 10, 2015. Bids received and not conforming to the foregoing will be returned to Bidder(s) without consideration. These contracts are to provide janitorial services as outlined in the Bid Package for the Municipal Office located at 136 Spruce Avenue; Public Works Building located at 477 Pine Avenue and Fire Hall No. 1 located at 479 Pine Avenue. Bid packages outlining scope of work and special conditions can be obtained from the District of Sparwood Municipal Office on or after November 12, 2015. A mandatory site visit will be held on Monday, November 30, 2015 commencing at the Public Works Office at 1:30 p.m. (477 Pine Avenue). Only those bidders who have attended the site visit will be considered for the contract. The District of Sparwood will only enter into a contract with a company incorporated under the laws of British Columbia or authorized to carry on business in British Columbia. Bids must be for services for all specified facility locations. The District of Sparwood may decide in its sole discretion that no bid submitted will be accepted and no Contract will be awarded pursuant to this bid process. In that event, all Bidders will be notified and the District will have no liability to any Bidder. If the District decides to accept a bid and award a Contract, the selection of the successful Bidder will be based on a number of criteria, which shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, price, experience, and qualifications of the Bidder. Receipt of an invitation to bid or receipt and evaluation by the District of a bid does not imply that the Bidder is qualified. Bids received by facsimile machine or by e-mail will not be accepted. Inquiries regarding these Contracts shall be directed to: Duane Lawrence, Director of Community & Facility Services Telephone: 250.425.0552 e-mail: dlawrence@sparwood.ca

On-Street Parking Regulations October 1 - March 31

We would like to remind residents that the District’s On-Street Parking Regulations came into effect on October 1st. Section 36 of the Sparwood Trafﬁc, Parking and Highway Regulation Bylaw No. 472, 1987 prohibits on-street parking from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm October 1st to March 31st inclusive. Residents should note that: • Parking on the street during snow plowing, snow removal, snow hauling, or sanding operations is prohibited; • It is an offence to push, place or throw or allow to be pushed, placed or thrown any snow or ice upon a highway or lane; • That no advance warning is required under the bylaw and section 189 (1) (n) of the Motor Vehicle Act and offending vehicles will be towed. Please make appropriate arrangements for parking your vehicles.

Disposition of Land: Lots for Sale

Thinking about moving to Sparwood? There are endless reasons why you should: a great community spirit, exceptional location, and incredible lifestyle opportunities. Sparwood is situated in the South-Eastern corner of BC. Sparwood is a familyfriendly Rocky Mountain community nestled in the heart of BC's Elk Valley. Our community offers exceptional lifestyle opportunities just out the back door that include world-class skiing, ﬁshing, hiking, biking, and hunting or simply spending time in the great outdoors. Whether you are considering moving here or already live here and are considering building your own home, we have three (3) residential lots available for sale at very reasonable prices. A 10% deposit is required and you must enter into a sales agreement with the District of Sparwood to pay the balance within 90 days. These lots are subject to GST. Whitewood Crescent There are two (2) single family residential lots zoned R-1A allowing for an optional modular for sale at the appraised price of $54,000. All sales will be subject to an option in favour of the District requiring a building permit within two (2) years of the date of sale, exercisable at 90% of the original sale price. The sale must close within 90 days of the date of offer. Lot 6, DL 4135, KD, Plan NEP82630 13311 Whitewood Crescent

Lot 8, DL 4135, KD, Plan NEP82630 1315 Whitewood Crescent

For more information contact the District of Sparwood at 250.425.6271 or email tmelcer@sparwood.ca Details on each lot are available at: www.Sparwood.ca/land

Winter Driving Tips

1. Drivers are required to obey winter tire and chain up signs throughout the province. Certain designated routes require that vehicles are either equipped with winter tires or carry chains from October 1 to March 31. Visit DriveBC.ca for more information. 2. Get your car winter ready with a maintenance check up. 3. Watch for black ice. Slow down when approaching shaded areas, bridges and overpasses as these freeze sooner than others in cold weather. 4. Drop your speed to match road conditions. No matter how much driving experience you have, the way your vehicle will move on snow or ice is unpredictable. 5. Always check weather and travel conditions before heading out on the road and if they are bad, avoid travelling. 6. Keep at least four seconds distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. This will allow plenty of room in situations where you may need to brake suddenly on a slippery surface. 7. Carry an emergency survival kit in your vehicle. 8. If you get stuck in a storm, stay calm. Stay in your vehicle and open your window slightly to make sure you have a supply of fresh air. Set out a warning light or ﬂares. 9. Plan your route ahead of time. Avoid any roads that may become dangerous during bad weather. 10. Learn winter road skills. For road and weather conditions, visit www.drivebc.ca. Please report accidents, unsafe road conditions to Mainroad’s 24 hour hotline at 1-800-665-4929. Let’s all have a safe winter!

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train December 13, 2015, 3:35 p.m. Behind the Leisure Centre

The 2015 Canadian Paciﬁc Holiday Train is coming to Sparwood! More Canadians than ever are turning to food banks for support. Help make a difference in our community by bringing a cash or food donation to this year’s Holiday Train. This year the train features performances by Jim Cuddy, Devin Cuddy, and Kelly Prescott.

Arts&Entertainment WhatsOn THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

What’s on in the Elk Valley this week.

Country-folk artist Sarah Jane Scouten to perform in Fernie

of the Nashville sound of the 1950s. She completed a tour for the release of anadian country-folk artist, The Cape last year, but is Sarah Jane Scouten is set to touring with a different play at Clawhammer Press band this time around, and this Sunday. Her stop in Fernie rearranging some of the is one on her 20-date tour across songs to make them more Western Canada. unique. Although Scouten currently lives “We’re doing different in Toronto, she is familiar with the arrangements and the West Coast as she lived on Bowen songs are maturing as Island from the ages of seven to 18. we go. I keep changing She planned her tour around being the key, singing them able to spend the holidays in B.C. higher, changing the “It’s going to lead us just about Country-folk artist, Sarah Jane Scouten, is performing at arrangement to keep Submitted photo up to Christmas time and then I Clawhammer Press on Nov. 29. them fresh for me, and to was strategic in planning it to end make it relevant for the magical and so dramatic, there were on Bowen Island, where most of our new band,” said Scouten. “This was family friends still live,” Scouten said. jungle vines and soaring alpines. Maybe a previous arrangement with another “There will be lots of warm and fuzzy because I was a kid then and it seemed group of people and that was how we as all the more Jurassic.” feelings.” a collective wanted to play it, but now The area has since been developed Scouten is touring in support of we’re doing something different, and I her 2014 album The Cape, which was resulting in 10-acre lots with extravagant want to have their input in it as well.” influenced by her roots on Bowen Island. houses, which Scouten said didn’t She is touring with three musicians – “I named it the cape after this area on benefit the majority of the community. Sly Juhas on drums, James McElemey “It was just sort of sad for me to see Bowen Island, which was 600 acres of on the bass and Ben Plotnick playing that area that was so much of people’s untouched old growth forest and we the fiddle. had just sort of used it as park land, even hearts be used in that way.” Tickets to the show are $15 and can be Scouten said she was influenced by though it was private land, so as such purchased at Clawhammer Press. The it was totally unmonitored,” she said. old time, honky tonk music, giving her show is set to start at 8 p.m. on Nov. 29. “We would get lost there and it was so a country and folk sound, reminiscent

By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff

you by brought to e, Fernie BC

h Av 5500 1622 – 7t 250-423-

.com rnfernie stweste www.be E NTAIN LODG

FERNIE MOU

CAN’T MISS

From Mountains to Monasteries to Fernie

trip of a lifetime saw four friends journey to the Nepalese Himalayas on a selfsupported bike packing trip this past October. On Nov. 21 Todd Weselake, Miranda Murphy and Kathryn Whiteside hosted a slideshow presentation, From Mountains to Monasteries, of their trip featuring Raven Eye Photography and Steve Shannon Photography at the Fernie Arts Station to raise money and awareness about the challenges facing Nepal in their rebuilding efforts after the earthquake they suffered in April of this year. “We just had the most amazing time,” said Murphy. “We’ve been collectively all over the world and I think we were most struck by the

ELKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

SPARWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY

592 - 3rd Ave. 250-423-4458

816 Michel Rd 250-865-2912

110 Pine Ave. 250-425-2299

Mon. Closed Tues.-Wed. 11am-6pm Thurs. 11am-8pm Fri. 11am-6pm Sat. 1-5pm Sun. Closed

Mon. Closed Tues.-Wed. 10am-5pm

Mon. Closed Tues. 10am-8pm Wed. 10am-5pm Thurs. 10am-8pm Fri.-Sat. 10am-5pm Sun. 12-4 pm

Thurs.-Fri. 11am-6pm Sat. 12-5pm Sun. Closed

Space donated by The Free Press

Black Friday in Fernie Friday, November 27 Submit your posters and approximately 50 words of text describing your event to customerservice@thefreepress.ca Only two events will be sponsored, so first come first served.

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Call The Free Press 250-423-4666 or email editor@thefreepress.ca

It was standing room only at the Arts Station on Saturday night, as people gathered to watch a slideshow presentation featuring the Himalayas. Photo by A. Horton

i f in te

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Fernie Black Friday is for everyone: retail, restaurants, service providers, galleries, you name it! Great deals are to be had, do your shopping locally and support the Fernie economy.

SPORTS - NEWS - ARTS

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ELK VALLEY Libraries

attitudes of the people and the resilience of everyone in Nepal and the way they are able to just cope with everything even though they are in quite a horrible situation right now. It just made us really want to help out.” During the presentation, Weselake and Murphy described the challenges that Nepal is facing when it comes to rebuilding now that India is not letting any fuel or food pass through it’s borders, causing extremely limited transportation and an inability to cook and heat their homes. For more information visit the groups Facebook page From Mountains to Monasteries. The presentation and silent auction raised $1900 and all proceeds will be donated to Nepal to support reconstruction efforts.

By Andrea Horton Free Press Staff

Deck the Walls at the Arts Station Thursday, November 26, 7:00pm Opening Reception

It’s getting cold outside, so time to start creating for the 2015 Deck the Walls annual art show and sale! Deck the Walls is The Arts Station 7th Annual year-end art show and sale. Each and every item is for sale and everything is priced under $100!

B ou

ti q u e

Patio & ive L Music

Friday - Shanaynay & Friends play live 8pm Saturday - Tortiere Night $12 (book) Sunday $10 New Summer -Me nuRoast Dinner 6-9pm (book) Tuesday - Ladies Wine & Cheese Night with Dirty Laundry Wines & Le Grand Serving Lunch &Fromage Dinn er - tickets $35 Book Infi nitea for your Private Functions infinitea@mail.com Patio Lic enced Noon untilemail: 10pm Located on 5th St downtown Located on 5th St. downtown Fernie

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

www.thefreepress.ca

The artist behind Clawhammer Press By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff

t could easily be said that Michael Hepher has an affinity for the niche arts. The self-defined artisan printer, who also has a background as a blacksmith, owns and operates Clawhammer Press, located on 2nd Avenue, and creates unique print art through the historic craft of the printing press. “How I got into it was as a graphic artist. I was working on a computer, and I decided to explore the history of that trade and far enough back, there were no graphic artists, there were just printers,” said Hepher. “In the early 1900s and the late 1800s, type design and book design and poster design were all done by a specific part of the printing process. When

Michael Hepher working at his gallery, Clawhammer Press, located on 2nd Ave, in Fernie. Photo by L. Scheitel

Regional District of East Kootenay

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

West Fernie Servicing and Restructure Project - Phase 1 The Regional District of East Kootenay invites contractors to submit a Statement of Qualifications: The construction for Phase 1 of the West Fernie Servicing and Restructure Project will occur in 2016 and 2017 and will include the area of West Fernie on the south side of Highway 3. Major work items for the contract include: • • • • •

Upgrading the water distribution system (approximately 1.5 km of 150 mm pipe); Installing sanitary sewer (approximately 1.5 km of 200 mm pipe); Installing storm infrastructure (approximately 2 km of pipe from 300 mm to 900 mm); Upgrading roads (approximately 2 km); and Constructing highway crossings.

This is a contractor prequalification. Any contractor that desires to submit a bid for the construction of the project must be qualified by the RDEK before they may bid on the tender. NO BIDS FOR THIS CONTRACT SHALL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS THE BIDDER HAS BEEN QUALIFIED. The Request for Qualifications document may be viewed and obtained on the websites listed below on or after November 9, 2015. This Request for Qualifications is being issued electronically through: • BC Bid - www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca • COOLNet Alberta - www.coolnetalberta.com All addenda, amendments or further information will be published on the websites. It is the sole responsibility of the Contractor to monitor the websites regularly to check for updates. Submissions clearly marked “West Fernie Servicing and Restructure Project – Phase 1 Request for Qualifications” will be received by the RDEK up to: RFQ Closing Time: 2:00 pm MST RFQ Closing Date: December 3, 2015 Address: Regional District of East Kootenay 19 – 24th Avenue South, Cranbrook, BC V1C 3H8 Attention: Kara Zandbergen, Engineering Technician Email: kzandbergen@rdek.bc.ca For further information, please visit www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca or contact: Don Nash, PEng, Project Manager Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Email: dnash@kwl.ca Phone: 780-270-9414

I found the process and got a chance to do it, I realized that I liked the hands on part of it way more than designing on a computer.” Hepher was living in Cranbrook and working at a print shop, Rocky Mountain Print Solutions, when he got the chance to first work with a press. His boss had an old press in the shop, gave it to Hepher, and lent him the necessary equipment to begin experimenting. Hepher acquired an old apprentice manual from the 1950s, and taught himself the technical side of the craft. “Eventually, I found some mentors in the West Kootenay who were a professor emeritus from the U of A who taught graphic design but also included printing in his work,” he said. “But their mentoring was more about design and creative ideation and printing, rather than just technical aspects.” Hepher said he did have to alter his artist and creative styles to match the limitations of a printing press, but that was part of the fun of it. Trained in illustration, there were a lot of skills that parlayed well into designing for a press, but some limitations to work around. “Most of my illustration work before was pen and ink because that was the medium I had available,” he said. “On the press, it’s all wood block or wooden carving, those are the processes I use, which are reductive rather than additive, so it’s more akin to sculpture than it is to drawing, because you are actually carving away the bits that you don’t want printed.” Hepher said another alteration with working on a press is the number and types of fonts available to complement the art and design of the work.

“We live in a world where you can spend an afternoon on the computer, trying to find the right font for your project,” Hepher said. “The process of choosing type for a hand printed project is often narrowing it down to two potential options very quickly because it needs to be about this size and these are the words that need to fit on the page, so I got these two that will work, which one is going to work the best and how can I arrange it to maximize all the characteristics of that font.” In 2011, Hepher and his family moved to Fernie and opened Clawhammer Press, which celebrated its fourth birthday on Nov. 4. At the time, he was running his own freelance graphic design firm, and building websites for a variety of clients, and he had a desire to return to more of a hands-on craft, and he saw the opportunity to start his own print shop. Now, he creates all types of art that can be printed on a variety of things, including coasters, journals, posters, CD covers and wedding invitations, among other things. Hepher also uses the retail space as a small gallery and hosts performances in the space as well. “When you’re printing paper, it doesn’t take up much space,” he said. “This space suited the best from a number of perspectives. All the things we wanted to do worked out well here.” Hepher is participating in Hearth 5, a holiday craft fair hosted by potter Sarah Pike in early December. He and his work can be found at Clawhammer Press or by visiting Clawhammer.ca.

A sample of the poster and design work created by Hepher. More work can be seen at Clawhammer Press. Submitted photo

Christmas Hampers To apply for a Christmas Hamper come to The Salvation Army – 741B 2nd Avenue, Fernie

No Appointment Necessary Monday, November 23

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 25 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

19 - 24th Avenue South, Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8 Phone: 250-489-2791 Toll Free: 1-888-478-7335 Email: info@rdek.bc.ca Website: www.rdek.bc.ca

Friday, November 27

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Monday, November 30

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 2

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. & 5:00 – 8:00 p.m

www.thefreepress.ca

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Buds and Blooms opens Fernie location By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff

uds and Blooms, a floral boutique based in Sparwood, opened a second location in Fernie on Nov. 18. The new retail location is in the same building as Mugshots, just off of 2nd Avenue. Owner Sherry Benko opened Buds and Blooms over two years ago in Sparwood and felt like it was the right time to expand to Fernie. “Running two stores is almost as easy as running one store, and we have great staff,” she said. “We will offer the same products in both stores.” Benko added that she conducts classes out of her Sparwood location, and intends to do classes in Fernie as well. There are classes on wreath making, floral arrangements and classes catering to children. “We have done some kids classes but we’ve done them through the District of Elkford so we don’t do them in the shop. We may still do something like that here but there are too many breakables to do something like that in [the

Buds and Blooms opened a new location in Fernie next to Mugshots last week. Photo by L. Scheitel

shop]. It’s still on our radar to do kids’ classes,” she said. Benko was born and raised in the Elk Valley and is happy to have her businesses in the area. She started looking for retail spaces in Fernie about two months ago, and said all the factors have fallen nicely into place for the Fernie shop. “I bought out a florist last year as well, so I had enough stock and enough coolers and that type of thing to facilitate two stores, so that was what made it easy. I didn’t have to shop for a whole new store,” she said. “Once you’ve opened one, it’s easier. We have wrapping and bags and containers and all the type of stuff that we can just basically split it, so that’s what we did.” Buds and Blooms arranges flowers for all occasions, including weddings, funerals, and graduations. Benko said she also does pop-up locations at dance recitals and skating competitions in the area.

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE FOR COUGAR PIT EXTENSION (CPX) PROJECT PERMIT AMENDMENT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT FOR TECK GREENHILLS OPERATIONS Teck Coal Limited (Teck) has filed with the Ministry of Environment an application for an amendment to Effluent Discharge Permit 06248 under the provisions of the Environmental Management Act. The permit would authorize Teck to discharge from new sediment ponds on Willow and Wolf creeks, and authorize new works in Mickelson, Leask, and Wolfram creeks located at Teck’s Greenhills Operations located approximately 8 kilometres northeast of Elkford, B.C. In addition to the Environmental Management Act permit amendment, the Project will require authorizations under the Mines Act, and new and amended water licences.

Buds and Blooms will offer the same products and services as their Sparwood location. Photo by L. Scheitel

The Project would involve: mining deeper in the existing pits; developing a new Phase 7 pit; and placing waste rock as backfill in mined-out pits, in currently-approved waste rock piles, and in the proposed West Spoil Phase 2 Expansion and West Spoil Access Road.

THANK YOU The Royal Canadian Legion Br. 36 Fernie, wishes to thank The City of Fernie, RCMP, acting Sergeant-at-Arms F. Gentile, Captain Pennock, Civilian Instructor D. Kurschenska and PPCLI Cadet Corps, Colour Party, Randal Macnair, Gloria Perry, Mike Sosnowski, Piper Jim Walgren, The Fernie Academy Choir, Padre Major J. Hagglund, United Church rep. Evelyn Cutts, Robert Angus, Pianist B. Kosiec, Ladies Auxiliary, Station Strings, Staff of Rocky Mountain Village, Jim Paul, KC’s, 3300 Club, Fire Dep’t, youth groups, schools and the general public who participated in the Remembrance Day parade and ceremonies and /or supported the Poppy Campaign. As well, we wish to thank the businesses, service clubs and individuals who, through the purchase of wreaths or by donations contributed to the Poppy Fund. Overwaitea Jay’s Jewellers Fernie Printing Company T.D. Canada Trust Fernie Stationers Leffler Law Office Stephanie’s Glass Dr. Soetaert Dan Kurschenska Fernie Meat Market C.I.B.C. Rockies Law Corporation Scotiabank The Tipple Grow Children’s Boutique Nufloors The Free Press Vince Minifie C.G.A. Evelyn Cutts Odyssey Spar. East Medical Centre The Three Sisters Day Spa The Fernie Academy AJP Holdings (Bunches) Majic, Purdy Law Corp. Blue Lime Western Financial Group Giv’er Shirt Works Ltd. Wally Thrun Cook’s Electrical Service Barkside Pets Conservation Officers Elk Valley Denture Clinic

GPI Chartered Accountants Isabella Dicken E.S. Rocky Mountain Optometry Ladies Auxiliary Br. 36 Susan Templin Big Bang Bagels Janet Ankutowicz Canadian Tire United Steelworkers Local 9346 Royal Lepage Realty Best Western Park Place Lodge Fernie Husky Fernie Ford Coal Valley Motor Products Independent Grocer Day Auto Ghostrider Motor Sports Fernie Rentals E.K. Com.Credit Union Fernie Rod & Gun Club Sr. Citizens Club of Fernie Zanis Jina Isosceles Bus. Systems Stratton Plumb. & Heating River City Woodworks Kootenay Labour Council Fernie Gas Station Ed Potokol Rocky Mtn. Health Centre Mirror Images Rotary Club

The CPX Project is an integral part of GHO’s mine plan, and would need to be initiated in early 2016 to provide the quantities of coal and blend of coal fractions that are necessary to extend GHO’s mine life through to 2029.

Evolution Health & Fitness Fernie Chiropractic Inc. Fernie Home Bldg Centre Fernie Army Cadet Corps Fernie Curling Club Fernie Secondary School The City of Fernie Hosmer Vol. Firefighters Fernie Elks Lodge #81 3300 Club Ambulance Paramedics of BC Fernie Lions Club Teck Coal Ltd. Fernie Professional Firefighters College of the Rockies Fernie Ghostriders Fernie Auxiliary Firefighters K. C. Council 2206 R.D.E.K. R.C.M.P. (Elk Valley) Fernie Bottle Depot Fernie Minor Hockey Sand Creek Lions Club The Salvation Army Wayne Stetski - MP Operating Eng. Local 115C Bill Bennett - MLA Elk River Masonic Lodge #35

Geotechnical stability assessments were conducted for the pit slopes and waste rock piles, and recommended configurations, construction considerations, and mitigation have been incorporated into the Project design. Water management infrastructure would include two new sediment ponds to manage runoff from the new Phase 7 pit area. Greenhills Operations is located on Greenhills Ridge, with runoff from the site draining to both the west toward the Elk River and the east toward the Fording River (a major tributary to the Elk River). The Project would primarily affect a series of small seasonal drainages that drain westward to the Elk River, including Wolf, Willow, Wilde, Mickelson, Leask, and Wolfram creeks. The Project is located primarily on existing mine-disturbed lands, with only 86 ha (<15%) of the overall Project footprint outside of the existing C-137 mine permit boundary. The Project includes mitigation and management plans that address engineering and environmental concerns, and existing monitoring programs are considered appropriate for characterizing any changes to the receiving environment that could occur. Teck has carried out public consultation related to CPX with key community stakeholders, including the Ktunaxa Nation, presentation to the District of Elkford, (1) community information session, Project information mailouts to the residents of Elkford and meetings with hunting and recreation groups. Feedback received from this consultation has been incorporated into the application. A copy of this application was posted at Greenhills Operations Gatehouse on November 25th, 2015, in accordance with the Public Notification Regulation. Details of the application are available for viewing at the Cranbrook office of the Ministry of Environment at 205 Industrial Road G, Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie and Crowsnest Pass Public Libraries or at the Teck Community and Aboriginal Affairs Office at 116 Centennial Street, Sparwood, British Columbia. Any person affected by or interested in the proposed Cougar Pit Extension Project who wishes to provide relevant information may, within 30 days after the last date of posting, publishing, service or display, send written comments to Devan Oldfield, Environmental Protection Officer, Regional Operations Branch at, 102 Industrial Place Penticton, BC (facsimile: 250.490.2231) or email Devan.Oldfield@gov.bc.ca with a copy to Nic Milligan, Teck. The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record. Dated this November 20, 2015 Nic Milligan Manager, Community & Aboriginal Affairs Teck Coal Limited Office: 250.425.3335 E-mail: nic.milligan@teck.com

www.thefreepress.ca

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

PET personalities

Benefit dinner to be

Send us your

PET This is Capone (the 2 year old Rottweiler) the branch manager and Coal (the 8 month old hound) the branch assistant. They are best friends and hoping to be famous!

photos! and a small description.

Email your pet photos to customerservice@thefreepress.ca

Fernie Pets Wants YOU! •Lost & Found Pets •Dog Park •Spay & Neuter Program •Volunteers

DONATE OR JOIN TODAY! ferniepets.org

Myths & realities:

You wanna roll like a gangster? ▾ MYTH: Gangs have formal organization and structure: Reality: By and large, few youth gangs evolve into adult criminal organizations and most gangs are loosely structured, with transient membership and easily breached codes of loyalty. With many gang members being arrested or murdered, membership is usually in a constant state of ﬂux with internal competition for leadership roles.

The Free Press will be hosting a benefit dinner for Glenn and Tania Wallman, pictured above, on Dec. 12. Submitted photo

who sent her for some routine tests. It was Nov. 25 Tania recalls. She had her blood work done in the morning and went to work. By noon Tania was taken off of work and was enroute to Calgary where she endured more tests. She had been told in Fernie that it was quite likely that she had leukemia, a diagnosis which, after more testing was confirmed in Calgary. From December 2010 to March 2011 Tania underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment for her cancer at Foothills Hospital. Tania was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This was complicated by the discovery that she had what is known as the Philadelphia Chromosome. This is a specific abnormality of chromosome 22; the chromosome splits and in turn creates an extra chromosome. The doctors could not give Tania and Glenn a cause – they only said that it was possibly stress related.

By Jennifer Cronin and Andrea Horton Free Press Staff

he Free Press will be hosting a benefit dinner for Glenn and Tania Wallman on Dec. 12 at the Fernie Legion Hall. Glenn has been a resident of Fernie for 35 years, and Tania first came to the Elk Valley in 1975, returning permanently in 1992. The two married in August of 2006 after knowing each other for 10 years. They spent five beautiful years together before fate intervened, and Tania’s son Mike lost his life in a car accident in February 2010. His wife Brianna was in an induced coma for three weeks, at which time Tania and Glenn, together with Brianna’s parents took on the caregiver role for their three-year-old granddaughter. In November of 2010 Tania went to her doctor

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

held in honour of Elk Valley couple The first month of treatment put the cancer into remission but due to the Philadelphia Chromosome, thus Tania required a stem cell implant. Testing within her immediate family did not yield a match. Tania’s name was put on the Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network registry. In March a matching donor was found, however, as it takes time for a donor to become prepped for the transplant, it was not until the week of April 14 that Tania was given a mass dose of chemotherapy and radiation in order to wipe out her DNA and then received the bone marrow transplant intravenously. Throughout the ordeal it became apparent that if Tania had waited one more week for her initial doctor’s appointment, the outcome could have been very different. Even at the time of the transplant, there was still no guarantee that she would live. Glenn had just started his own business in the summer of 2010 and was teaching at the College of the Rockies prior to Tania’s diagnosis. Ghostrider Safety Services was short-lived as he had to shut the business

After two and a half years of relative normalcy, in March of 2015 Glenn slipped and hit his head while getting out of a hot tub. He lost consciousness and woke up and couldn’t move, he had split his head open. Glenn was taken to emergency with a gouge beside his eye and he appeared to be dopey and groggy. He was given stitches and sent to Cranbrook Regional Hospital. He had a CT Scan and was sent back to Fernie. While being monitored in Fernie for his head injury, a bruise Glenn acquired on his foot from the fall turned into a hematoma resembling a blood blister. This combined with the grogginess was an indication of an existing Staphylococcus infection of unknown origin. He was put in ICU to try to get the infection under control and was on antibiotics through IV for eight weeks.

paralyze any family, and yet despite it all, Tania and Glenn maintain a positive outlook, crediting the positive outcomes to the excellent healthcare they were afforded by the medical professionals in Fernie, Calgary and Cranbrook.

Tickets for the Benefit Dinner are $20 per person, and are available at The Free Press office. Come and join us in helping the Wallmans, by enjoying a Spaghetti dinner, silent auction, and music by the Relief Committee.

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A week after the discontinuation of the antibiotics, his toes had started to turn black. In early June, despite maggot therapy, the infection was still not cleared up and Glenn was put back on antiobiotics. After a call from the surgeon on June 9, treatment progressed rapidly. Readmission to hospital on June 10 and a consultation on June 11 resulted in the amputation of Glenn’s lower leg on June 12 which was the only viable course of action. Glenn’s life has been forever altered. He may never again be a frontline firefighter, something he has dedicated over half of his life to. He will, however still be able to do incident command, but in order to accomplish this Glenn requires a prosthetic foot that will fit into a fire boot, which will cost in the range of $10,000. The death of a child, cancer diagnosis, and life altering surgery – any one of these things would be enough to

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Glenn and Tania Wallman have stayed together throughout many tough times, and continue to support each other. Submitted photo

down in 2011 and secure an apartment in Calgary as Tania was not allowed to be more than 30 minutes from the hospital from April through October. Back in Fernie the outpouring of community support was humbling. Raven Garlock along with Cathy Follett spearheaded fundraising events, which included a head shave hosted by Ann’s Independent Grocer (then Extra Foods) to help Glenn and Tania pay for their apartment rental in Calgary. In addition to the head shave there was also a barbecue, a bake sale, a silent auction; and the Hosmer Fire Department sold shirts and toques. The year’s events had eaten away Tania and Glenn’s savings. With no income, they had eventually gone through Glenn’s pension so the fundraiser could not have come at a better time. By the spring of 2012 Tania had started a gradual return to work program at the pharmacy at Extra Foods. It took her a long time to rebuild her strength and stamina, in the beginning working only two four-hour shifts per week. After being her primary caregiver for a year and a half, Glenn also returned to work. Tania returned to work full time at the end of 2012. Things were starting to return to normal, the couple was getting re-established and Glenn was rebuilding his client base.

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regular price. §Applies to our regular priced items only ending in .99¢. °Check local store for hours of operation. 1 Day Only Deals prices in effect November 27, 2015 only. Prices in effect November 25–30, 2015 or while quantities last. Franchisees may sell for less. Product availability, pricing and selection may vary by store. Regular prices shown are those at which the items have been sold by Mark’s Work Wearhouse Ltd. Typographical, illustrative or pricing errors may occur. We reserve the right to correct any errors. To find the Mark’s nearest you, call 1-866-807-1903 or visit marks.com. Lifestyle images presented in this advertisement may not be available.

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Salvation Army Kettle Campaign

faces of the valley

Bev Inglis By Jennifer Cronin Free Press Staff

www.thefreepress.ca

ev, nee Rigg was born in 1945 to parents Anne Baran and Isaac Rigg, both also born in Fernie. Bev, had one sister, and as children they rode bikes and skipped rope. A bit on the mischievous side, Bev recalls staking out the Community Gardens during the day, and raiding them at night. “It was good fun,” she laughs. In the winter, Bev’s father, Isaac, would freeze the back yard and make a skating rink. She remembers winters were much colder when she was a child, and there was a lot more snow. “The snow was so deep that we would walk the fence line to school.” Bev’s first job was babysitting, and then she started working at age 17 at Trites-Wood. It was while working here that she met Bruce Inglis, who worked across the street at the Commerce Bank. She laughs as she tells how Margaret Cocciolo acted as a go-between for her and Bruce, passing notes back and forth. In 1965, Bev and Bruce were married in the Catholic Church in Fernie, and later that year Bruce accepted a transfer with the bank to Haney, (now Maple Ridge), B.C. While living there, they welcomed their daughter Teri Ann. The family returned to Fernie, and in 1967 Bruce accepted a job with Westar Mining. After returning to Fernie, deciding that one child would be too spoiled, they put in a request for adoption. After eight or nine months, they brought home their five-week-old son, Chris. With her family complete, Bev worked at Stedman’s Department Store, and then Robinsons. About 1975, she accepted a position at the Valley Motor Inn, and stayed there until the building was torn down, after which she retired, at least from paid positions. Bev’s retirement took on a life of its own, as she now found herself with time to volunteer. Her first volunteer position was with the Elk Valley Blazers Senior Hockey team. Bev and Bruce both did security for the games, and then Bruce became treasurer and Bev took on the role as secretary. Bev also found herself washing the uniforms and cleaning the dressing rooms. The Blazers folded in 1987, however when the Fernie Ghostriders were formed, Bev picked up where she had left off, working in security, then the beer room and selling the tickets. When asked how long she has been doing that for, Bev says, “forever – it feels like forever, but it is a good forever.” For the past 20 years, Bev has also been a volunteer with the Special Olympics, looking after the advertising. Of the Olympians, she says admiringly, “they are special people.” In 2001, after a brief illness, Bruce passed on at age 58. Admittedly feeling lonely when this happened, Bev started gradually to “get back in there. I picked myself up, dusted myself off and got out the door,” she says. These days, Bev’s role as a volunteer has expanded to helping a few of the “special ladies” at the Rocky Mountain Village (RMV), by shopping for them, or taking them shopping or to the bank. “I started because my sister was in there, and then she passed, and I thought ‘someone needs to do this.’ One day I will be in here and maybe someone will do it for me,” she shares. Together with friends, Bunny Samuelson and Candy Glover, Bev spends time crocheting hats for children with cancer, and five days a week, at 5:45 in the morning at the Lutheran Church, exercising. Of the changes in Fernie, she says, “We used to know who lived in every house on Victoria Avenue. Maybe it is our own fault that we don’t anymore as we don’t push ourselves to get to know them.” “I love helping people. If I can make them smile, it makes my day. I will do this [volunteer] until my legs won’t pack me.” Dedicated to helping others, Bev Inglis is this weeks “face of the Valley.”

The Salvation Army is celebrating its 125th annual Christmas Kettle Campaign and 115 years in the Elk Valley. Last Saturday the kettle campaign kicked off in Fernie at Overwaitea Foods. Every donation to a Christmas Kettle remains in the community in which it was given. The proceeds are used to support locals in need. This is the Salvation Army’s largest yearly fundraiser, the food and money collected helps sustain those in need throughout the holiday season as well as the rest of the year. There to celebrate the commencement of this year’s campaign were Mark Lento, Overwaitea Foods store manager, Florence Traska, local volunteer, Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano and Major James Hägglund of the Fernie Salvation Army. Photo by A. Horton

If there is a “face of the valley” that you would like to know more about, please call The Free Press office at 250-423-4666, drop by and see us at 342 - 2nd Ave., Fernie or email customerservice@thefreepress.ca

Greg Nesteroff

an independent voice.

Editor at the Nelson Star and Castlegar News. His regular forays into local history bring the dead and forgotten back to life. .

With a few keystrokes you can sample thousands of opinions, aoat in a sea of information. But as the volume increases, the accuracy and reliability of professional journalism is essential. Gathering and sorting the facts, weighing and interpreting events, and following the story from beginning to end is more important than ever.

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Throwback Thursday

1968

Massive Kaiser Coal Plans to Pour Millions into B.C. – Fernie Economy

Kaiser Coal’s plans for large scale production of coal in the Elk Valley involves gouging millions of tons of coal out of the ground, moving of vast mountains of rock, will change the face of the mountains, pour millions of dollars into B.C. and this area and

will not cause pollution. This was the message from Kaiser’s Gene Clemmer, public and industrial relations manager when he spoke to about 50 Lethbridge area men and about 50 Fernie Chamber of Commerce members and their wives Tuesday night.

The city’s first major construction project of 1968 started on 2nd Ave. early Wednesday morning when excavation began for the $75,000 to $80,000 new medical building. When completed in about four months,

the 3,000-square foot building will house the doctors and staff of the Medical Clinic. Doctors involved are Dr. Murdo McRitchie, Dr. Sparling East, Dr. John Wheeldon and newcomer Dr. Fred Lundgren.

$70,000 New Medical Building Gets Under Way on 2nd Avenue.

Mobile Home Factory May Open in Fernie

The city’s first major Decision Soon on $250,000 Deal

It should be confirmed by the end of this week whether or not a mobile home factory will be set up in the M.F.& M. Shops here. Novabilt Structures Ltd., a well-regarded New Westminster firm new in the mobile

Sparwood Social Notes

Mr. Raymond Bertolin of Calgary spent the festive holidays visiting with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Guato Bortolin of Natal * Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rypien and family of Spokane, spent the New Year’s visiting with relatives in Natal and Coleman. * Mr. and Mrs. Roy Patriquin and son Brent of Claresholm spent the Christmas holidays visiting with the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Roberge and family of Natal. * Mr. and Mrs. Randy Gris of Nelson spent Christmas visiting with the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Reggie Gris and family of Natal. * Mr. and Mrs. Jack Thomas of Calgary

spent the festive season visiting with the latter’s brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. John Desjardins and family of Sparwood. * Lieut. and Mrs. Barry Krall and daughter Karla Marie of Moose Jaw spent the season visiting with their respective parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Krall and Mr. and Mrs. William Davey, both of Sparwood. * Mrs. Mary White of Vernon is spending a few weeks visiting with her daughters, Mr. and Mrs. John Chala of Natal and Mr. and Mrs. James Walsh of Coleman.

Town Notes

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Anderson of Vancouver attended the funeral of Mr. Anderson’s brother, Bernard. * Archie Runions who

is with Armed returned Canada parents, Wally Fernie.

the Canadian Forces has from Eastern to visit his Mr. and Mrs. Runions, in

* Winners of the Senior Citizens’ whist drive Saturday were ladies’ first, Mrs. C. Nicoletti and second, Mrs. B. Marasco. Men’s first, Mr. Ralph Benn and second, Mr. A. Van Hock. Raffle winners were Mrs. L. Brenner and Mrs. Nan McLean while carrying prizes went to Mrs. D. Iannucci and Mr. Joe Poirier. * Mr. and Mrs. George Hunt and daughter Barbara were business visitors to Calgary this week.

Jaffray Happenings

Mr. and Mrs. Andy Bjorn and family of Sherwood Park, Edmonton, were visiting at the home of

the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cor Anderson of Galloway. * Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Oestrich of Longview, Alta., were visiting relatives and friends in the district. * Mr. and Mrs. Clarke of Vancouver and Mr. and Mrs. John Millner and family of Kimberley were Sunday visitors at the latter’s summer residence at Tie Lake. * Mr. and Mrs. Bob Steinrigler and family of Cranbrook were Sunday visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Steinrigler of Tie Lake. * Corp and Mrs. Garry Coyle and family of Brucefield, Ont., were visiting at the home of the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Mullins of Galloway. * Mr. Joe Gorrie of Galloway is a patient in the Fernie Memorial Hospital.

home business reached agreement Tuesday with Crows Nest Industries to lease the two big buildings on a long-term basis. Lawyers for Crows Nest and Novabilt are drawing up a lease and the paperwork should be completed by Friday. If there are no hitches, the new factory will be in production within three weeks to a month.

Contact Garth Rizzuto @ 250-423-0272 rizzutoconstruction.ca or rizzutoconstruction.com Building in the Elk Valley - a family tradition since 1897

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Fernie Legion seeing low membership By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff

he Fernie Legion is experiencing low membership numbers, which have dipped in the past decade. According to David

Black, President of the Fernie Legion, membership numbers are a third of what they were 15 years ago, and he believes the problem is nation-wide. “It’s across Canada. The largest branch in Canada was Calgary

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No. 1 and it went bankrupt three years ago. They’ve spent the last three years trying to work with developers trying to find a way to redevelop the site, and maybe come up with an option for having something,” he said. Black said the depleting membership numbers are partly due to people not understanding that you don’t have to be a veteran yourself to be a member of the Legion. “Declining membership is really, really difficult. Part of it has to do with the whole concept of veterans because of, I’ll call it the illusion, that you need to be a veteran or have a relative who is a veteran to be able to join, which is not true,” he said. “Anybody can join it understanding that the purpose of the legion is to support veterans.” A membership costs $48 a year for a regular member and $40 a year for seniors or veterans. Of that fee, $40 of it goes to services that support veterans, both on a local and national level. “The other aspect to veterans, which is a bit difficult these days, is that everyone looks at the term veteran and still thinks World War II, and it’s not. It’s Afghanistan and Bosnia and the Golan Heights and Cambodia and the Congo. Most of the veterans today have served after the Korean War,” said Black. According to Black, most Legions operate on a model that dates back to WW2, where millions of soldiers were sent home after the war. “The military tradition is that every unit has their own

David Black, President of the Fernie Legion, says that the organization is suffering from low membership numbers. Photo by L. Scheitel

messes that provide collective food and beverage services. They wanted that when they came back, and that’s what the Legions provided, and that’s what they became was their mess - their hometown version of a military mess, where they could come and hang out and be understood,” said Black. “If I’m 25 years old, I could go anywhere in town and be comfortable. I don’t have PTSD, I don’t have all of those issues that drive me to a place like this where I have other people I can talk to.” Low membership numbers are also affecting the way the Legion operates, as they are having difficulties meeting quorum at their member meetings to delegate where their funds should go. “We’ve got to get rid of money. For gaming and lottery, what happens is every year, you have to account to them as to how you got rid of the money,” said Black. “We hit the end of the license

period and we still have money in the bank that we shouldn’t have and it’s only there because we didn’t get quorum, but then the gaming society calls us and says that we have to get rid of the money, but then we have to get quorum. So you’re stuck in this vicious circle that gets very difficult to manage.” Black is considering the options to cut the operating costs of the Legion, such as downsizing or relocating, which brings its own issues and challenges to compete with. The Legion currently hosts dart leagues and bingo nights and is available to rent as a hall space, with some stipulations. To become a member of the Legion or to find out more about their services, fill out an application form at the Legion. The Legion is hosting a Special General Meeting on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and Black encourages everyone available to participate.

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

thank you

Elkford Minor Ball sends out a thank you to our Community for the overwhelming response that made our Halloween Fundraiser such a huge success! The silent and live auction alone raised $3600 and in total raised $7,100. The money will go towards the replenishing of shale for our 4 local baseball diamonds and funds needed for hosting the U16 Fastball provincials the weekend of July 8th-10th, 2016. In addition, the Elk Valley Thrift Store Society has generously donated $5000.

Without the many parents, volunteers and sponsors this event would not have been possible and we would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their time and donations. SMS Equipment Teck Kootenay Market Paula Smith w/Royal Lepage Jkat Creations (Maire Hamilton & Kuts & Kurls C & F Restaurant Renie Porter) Epicure by Collette Owens Yoga Love/Vanessa Smith Mountain Meadows Golf Bearspaw Contracting Clarkson Contracting Kapp’s Pizza Rockhard Chauncey Ridge Food Mart Ashley Brunett w/Twisted Threads & Scentsy Glenn Donald A Signs Zenia Weir Gold Canyon by Rebecca Robinson-Bauer Western Financial Beach Body by Gerri Madsen Seacret by Sarah Wilm Christine Smith East Kootenay Community Credit Union Judy James Terry & Boltz Vandale Monique Lee Blaine & Lori Borys Jane Foy United Steelworkers Coalminer’s Gallery Roger Hockridge Clint Friesen Fas Gas Subway in Sparwood Century Vallen Tupperware by Erika Rowe Dan Rodd (auctioneer) Rod Betz & Gloria Belhumer Ball Pool Helen Shinners & Renie Porter (DD’s) District of Elkford If we have missed anyone we apologise but know we are truly grateful to everyone who attended, donated and helped out with this event.

Cougar attack on Fairy Creek trail By Bryn Catton Free Press Staff

n Nov. 23 in the late afternoon dog walkers hiking the four-kilometer Fairy Creek Trail in Fernie had their dog attacked by a cougar. The walkers escaped the attack with their dog. Unfortunately, the dog sustained severe injuries and later died. Frank DeBoon, Fernie's conservation officer was contacted in regard to the incident. “About 4:30 last night on the Fairy Creek trail, just 400 or 500 meters down the trail, the dog got away from the cougar but then died later because of it’s injuries,” DeBoon said. “We also had a cyclist along the Swine Flu trail get chased by a cougar. [There] is a potential that it was the same cat,” DeBoon continued. When asked about what to do when you see a

cougar other than reporting it to the conservation officer right away DeBoon responded that people should make themselves as big as possible to intimidate the cougar into thinking they are not easy prey. “If they see a cougar, try to act big and loud, so that they intimidate the cougar, [and] they do not look like easy prey. If they are in a group they can get together rather than being scattered and just raise your arms and make lots of noise and don’t run. Back away but maintain eye contact. We would like to have anybody that has a cougar incident or sees a cougar doing anything unusual, like stalking their dogs, to let us know right away. Especially with this fresh snow it’s a lot easier to track them down.” The local conservation office can be contacted at (877) 952-7277.

Ladies’ Night at Home Hardware

Walter and Heather Ingram and staff from Home Hardware present a donation of $2000 to the local charity Friends for Friends after their Ladies’ Night event on Nov. 17. Photo by A. Horton

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Ghostriders earn four points over weekend

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The Ghostriders won 4-2 over the Sicamous Eagles on Saturday night. They face the Eagles again this weekend in Sicamous. Photo by L. Scheitel By Leah Scheitel & Bryn Catton Free Press Staff

fter a big away game win on Friday against division rivals Kimberley Dynamiters the Ghostriders returned for a Saturday night home game against the Sicamous Eagles in hopes to keep the winning streak alive. The star of the game was goalie Brandon Butler, who kept the team in the game and gave the squad the opportunity they needed to bury a couple of goals late and come out with the win. When asked about Friday’s away game, head coach, Craig Mohr said that the overtime win was great. “It was awesome, especially since we were down 2-0 in the third.” The team carried the

momentum from the away game win into the Fernie Memorial Arena on Saturday night. Mohr said the second period was sloppy and that the third period was an opportunity to restart and get some chances. “We just played 20 awful minutes. We got to sweep that away and we got to go play 20 minutes in the third and win. Your goalie is giving you a chance to win a hockey game,“ said Mohr. Assistant coach Jeff Zmurchyk said that the team carried a lot of momentum from Friday night and had to reset after the second on Saturday. “We battled hard, it’s always tough coming back from a (win), we had a good win in Kimberley last night. We are on a bit of a high and we started out a bit slow in the game at the beginning but we battled back and came out with the win.”

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When asked about the standout players, Zmurchyk was quick to commend Brandon Butler, the Ghostriders’ defense, and the top line of Justin Peers, Zach Befus, and Cole Keebler. “Butty was our player of the game, obviously he stood on his head tonight and gave us a chance to win and that’s what we need out of a goaltender and he did a great job. I thought our top line of Peers, Befus and Keebler were great tonight again; I think they chipped in on every one of our goals. And our defense battled hard as well tonight.” The Ghostriders are away for the weekend, playing Sicamous Eagles on Friday and Revelstoke Grizzlies on Saturday. The next home game is against the Castlegar Rebels on Dec. 5. The game is set to start at 7:30 p.m.

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Don't Forget

Atom minor hockey tournament

Fernie Rotary Weekly Meetings Wednesdays at 12:00 Noon at the

Seven teams participated in the Atom minor hockey tournament last weekend, including a team from Fernie. The Medicine Hat Broncos played against the Southwest Cougars on Saturday afternoon. Photo by L. Scheitel

Park Place Lodge 742 Highway 3 • Fernie

By Andrea Horton Free Press Staff

L Est. 1898

Check out full E-editions of The Free Press as it looks in print as well as all our special sections including Real estate. Like us on...

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• Renovating to sell • Making better use of your basement • Surviving in the renovation zone • Five easy steps to efficient painting

Winter HOME IMPROVEMENT

Mini skiers and boarders took time off from their lesson at Fernie Alpine Resort to watch a Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association demonstration during Avalanche Awareness Days on Saturday. For the full story and more photos, turn to page 2. Photo by N. Obre

Candace & Jason 2213215

ollowing an investigation and a one week suspension, the permit for Elkford's deer cull has been reinstated. While a date has not yet been set, the District of Elkford is free to resume culling deer anytime up until March 10. “[The District] has received a warning and will now be under a much more watchful eye around observing the permit conditions,” said John Krebs, regional manager, Recreational Fisheries and Wildlife Programs, Kootenay Boundary Region of Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. “We did reinstate the permit on Thursday afternoon (January 16) last week and Elkford is now remobilizing things to get their people and their equipment organized to reinitiate the operational part of the cull.” The District of Elkford initially began the cull at the start of January to decrease the population of 78-148 mule deer currently living within town limits. A license was issued by the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources and Operations, allowing the District to kill up to 50 mule deer with the use of a clover trap and bolt gun. The 14 page permit issued outlined several guidelines and regulations, including that deer only be harvested during the night. “We suspended the permit on January 7 due to some complaints and concerns that we had with trapping outside of permit conditions, specifically trapping during daylight hours, which is not consistent with the permit,” explained Krebs. “We did an investigation with the Conservation Officer Service once we suspended the permit with the parties and followed up with that in Elkford.” He went on to say, “We sat down with the District and the contractor and the Conservation Officers over the whole situation and what the complaints and concerns were. We've made it very clear that we expect that the operation meets the terms of the permit.”

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Lovely corner 1 bdrm condo $474,900 on 2nd floor with ski hill Extremely well maintained 3 views. Open floor plan. Mountain Home bdrm home. Bright, open

Candace & Frank 2392625

Reduced!! Prime Location! $239,900

$259,000

Lovely corner 1 bdrm condo

on 2nd2floor withcorner ski hill unit Location, Location! Beautiful bdrm views. Open floor plan. at Fernie Alpine Resort.Ski $474,900 Candace & Jason 2213159 in ski out location. 3 Extremely well maintained

bdrm & home. Bright,2218803 open Jason Candace main floor plan. Hot tub. Jason & Candace 2393526

Top Floor Unit

Beautiful Home A must see! 4+ bdrms and 4 bathrooms located on one of the best lots in Fernie.

Jason & Candace 2394455

Great Location

Commercial/Residential

$209,900

$385,000

Candace & Jason 2389636 $264,900 $849,000

Rare 3 bdrm corner unit. Open, spacious floor plan. In suite storage, balcony. Jason & Candace 2394455

Jason & Candace 2210853

A must see! 4+ bdrms and 4 bathrooms located on one of the best lots in Fernie.

Craig Bell 2394296 141B Aspen Dr. Sparwood, BC Phone: 250-425-2722

Nice Unit

Ski In, Ski Out

$265,000

Lizard Creek Lodge

This great 1 bedroom, 2

Commercial Lots

$207,500

Great Location

Gorgeous fully furnished 1

$209,900 $385,000 bedroom, 2 bath condo at

Candace & Jason 2389636

Rare 3 bdrm corner unit. Open, spacious floor plan. In suite storage, balcony.

Melanie MacKay 2393397

Jason & Candace 2394455

Jason & Candace 2210853

A must see! 4+ bdrms and 4 bathrooms located on one of the best lots in Fernie. Craig Bell 2394296

Nice Peak Unit Out Tree Estates. Commercial Lots Polar Townhome Ski In, SkiTriple $265,000 $207,500 $286,000

$589,000

$159,900

Jason & Candace 2391303

Candace & Jason 2394028

Candace & Frank 2391186

Candace & Jason 2389636

Jason & Candace 2210853

Polar Peak Townhome

Triple Tree Estates.

Ski In, Ski Out

Very well maintained 3 bdrm, 3 level with Nicetownhome Unit ski-in access.Garage.

South Country's newest acreage located Skisubdivision In, Ski Out in Grasmere. 6.4 acres.

Unique deluxe studio with loft situated on top Lots floor with Commercial lovely views.

Luxurious 2 bdrm, 3 bath condo at 901 Fernie. This unit is not GST applicable.

This 'deluxe studio' unit sleeps four comfortably. Fully furnished and stocked.

This 3/2 bdrm home shows pride of ownership throughout.Double garage.

Lovely corner 1 bdrm condo on 2nd floor with ski hill views. Open floor plan.

This great 1 bedroom, 2 bath unit sleeps 6. Main floor location with balcony.

Gorgeous fully furnished 1 bedroom, 2 bath condo at Lizard Creek Lodge.

Two CS-1 zoned lots in the Annex area. Must be purchased together.

Jason & Candace 2192672

Candace & Jason 2206083

5 Acre Parcel

Ski Hill Home

$359,000

Situated minutes from Fernie wth great views. Many building sites.

Candace & Jason 2389113

Jason Andreola

Elk Valley 250.423.1645

Jason Andreola

Jason & Candace 2391477

Lorene Giles

Elk Valley 250.430.1066

Craig Bell

Elk Valley 250.430.1162

Jason & Candace 2392499

Fernie Golf Estates

$1,199,000

Luxurious 4 bdrm, 3.5 bath townhome at ski hill. Decks with hot tub. Garage.

Craig Bell

Elk Valley 250.430.1162

Elk Valley 250.423.1645

$549,500

$825,000

Candace & Jason 2392231

$549,500

3/1 bedroom 1/2 duplex located on the 12th fairway. Tastefully finished. Candace & Jason 2392231

Candace Grey

Elk Valley 250.423.1044

Lorene Giles

Elk Valley 250.430.1066

$259,000

$239,900

Jason & Candace 2218803

Candace & Jason 2213159

$589,000

Polar Peak Townhome Very well maintained 3 bdrm, 3 level townhome with ski-in access.Garage.

$259,000

Tricia Croteau

Jason & Candace 2391303

Frank Hughes

Elk Valley 250.425.5555

Frank Hughes

Elk Valley 250.425.5555

$289,900

$286,000

Candace & Jason 2216444

Ski In, Ski Out

$159,900

South Country's newest acreage subdivision located in Grasmere. 6.4 acres. Jason & Candace 2210918

Paula Smith

Elkford 866.425.3690

Paula Smith

Elkford 866.425.3690

$289,900

Unique deluxe studio with loft situated on top floor with lovely views. Candace & Jason 2216444

Britainy Ernst

Sparwood 250.425.4188

Britainy Ernst

Sparwood 250.425.4188

Fernie’s Winter Festival

Candace & Frank 2391186

Triple Tree Estates.

$589,000

Candace & Jason 2201146

Sparwood 250.433.6996

$207,500

Jason & Candace 2210918

Lorene Giles 2393725

Prime Location!

Jason & Candace 2218803

Melanie MacKay

Elk Valley 250.423.1800

$159,900

$265,000

Candace & Jason 2201146

Beautiful 2 bdrm corner unit at Fernie Alpine Resort.Ski in ski out location.

Melanie MacKay

Elk Valley 250.423.1800

Candace Grey

Elk Valley 250.423.1044

$289,900

deluxe studio with bdrm, 3 level townhome with $209,900 acreage subdivision located $249,500 $385,000 loft situated on top floor with

Lorene Giles 2393725

ski-in access.Garage. in Grasmere. 6.4 acres. lovely views. Top floor 1 bedroom unit This 2 bdrm corner unit is 4 bdrm house zoned C-Hwy with high vaulted & ceilings & well& Candace on 2210918 .083 acre. Prime highway Candace Jason 2201146 fully furnishedJason Candace & Jason 2216444 and lots of windows. maintained. Great views. location. Detached shop.

Prime Location! Beautiful 2 bdrm corner unit at Fernie Alpine Resort.Ski Reduced!! in ski out location.

$220,000

Ski In, Ski Out

This great 1 bedroom, 2 Gorgeous fully furnished 1 Two CS-1 zoned lots in the bath unit sleeps 6. maintained Main bedroom, bath condo Country's at Annex area. Must beUnique Lizard Creek Lodge Great2Location Commercial/Residential Very well 3 South newest floor location with balcony. Lizard Creek Lodge. purchased together.

Fernie Golf Estates 3/1 bedroom 1/2 duplex located on the 12th fairway. Custom Built Home Tastefully finished.

$1,199,000

Jason & Candace 2391477

2013

Giles 2393725 maintained. Great Jason & Candacelocation. 2391303Detached shop. and$389,000 lotsLorene of windows. views. $264,900 $849,000 Candace & Frank 2391186

Candace & Jason 2394028

3 bedroom home in downtown area. Fenced corner lot. Well maintained.

Ski Hill Home

Luxurious 4 bdrm, 3.5 bath townhome at Ski ski hill. Ski In, OutDecks with hot tub. Garage.

$359,000

$499,900

$286,000

Commercial/Residential

Two CS-1 zoned lots in the Annex area. Must be Top floor bedroom unit This 2 bdrm corner unit is Creek4Lodge. bdrm house zoned C-Hwy floor1location with balcony. Lizard purchased together. Charming Home Top Floor Unit Beautiful Home with high vaulted ceilings fully furnished & well on .083 acre. Prime highway

$249,500 bath unit sleeps 6. Main

Situated minutes from Fernie wth great views. A Must See! Many building sites.

Candace & Jason 2389113

Welcome to

$849,000

Craig Bell 2394296

FREE

Candace & Jason 2394028 $389,000

Melanie MacKay 2393397

■

Reduced!!

$825,000

Luxurious Unit

Candace Grey 2391879

ELK VALLEY FERNIE SPARWOOD ■

Rare 3 bdrm corner unit. Open, spacious floor plan. In suite storage, balcony.

$249,500

Top floor 1 bedroom unit This 2 bdrm corner unit is 4 bdrm house zoned C-Hwy with high vaulted ceilings fully furnished & well on .083 acre. Prime highway and lots of windows. maintained. Great views. location. Detached shop. Top Floor Unit Beautiful Home

Jason & Candace 2393526

$169,000

Build your dream home in Fernie's premier mountain community 'Alpine Trails'.

141B Aspen Dr. Sparwood, BC Phone: 250-425-2722

Lizard Creek Lodge

$474,900

Luxurious 2 bdrm, 3 bath This 'deluxe studio' unit This 3/2 bdrm home shows $419,900 $269,000 condo at 901 Fernie. This $38,500 sleeps four comfortably. pride of ownership This businessFully has been a Fullstocked. share-2 bdrm, 2 bath Fully furnished 3 bdrm unit is not GST applicable. furnished and throughout.Double garage. Custom Home for Great Private1700 Location successful operation condo at LizardUnit Creek. Unit condo-over sq ft. Lock

5 Acre Parcel

Melanie MacKay 2393397

■

Location, Location!

1 bdrm, 2 bath unit at Lizard Creek Lodge. Ski in, ski out, direct view of hill.

Fernie Cafe & Coffee

■

Extremely well maintained 3 bdrm home. Bright, open mainMountain floor plan. Hot tub. Home

$269,000

$264,900

3 bedroom home in downtown area. Fenced corner lot. Well maintained.

Candace Grey 2391879

ELK VALLEY FERNIE SPARWOOD

Affordable Condo Fully furnished 3 bdrm condo-over 1700 sq ft. Lock off bdrm.Balcony,hot tub Private Location

Candace & Jason 2213215 Lorene Giles 2201405 561A Hwy #3, Fernie, BC Phone: 250-423-4644 Toll Free: 1-888-870-9064

A Must See!

$389,000

Fully furnished, ski-in/ski-out, 5 bdrm + den. Exceptional property.

Jason & Candace 2390673

Luxurious Unit

Charming Home

$1,999,000

Build your dream home in Fernie's premier mountain community 'Alpine Trails'.

Lorene Giles 2201405

561A Hwy #3, Fernie, BC Phone: 250-423-4644 Toll Free: 1-888-870-9064

This business has been a Full share-2 bdrm, 2 bath successful operation for condo at Lizard Creek. Unit over 20 years. Hwy locationCustom Home comes fully furnished. Great Unit

March 1 - 2 - 3

Brought to you by the Fernie Chamber of Commerce

Carrie Lightburn

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Cranbrook 250.421.3629

Carrie Lightburn

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Cranbrook 250.421.3629

Continued on page 3

Complete Real Estate, Property & Strata Management, and Mortgage Brokerage Services Complete Real Estate, Property & Strata Management, and Mortgage Brokerage Services

Craig Bell Jasonhouses Andreola with maps, Giles for listing details, open property rentalsLorene & mortgages Elk Valley 250.423.1645

Elk Valley 250.430.1162

FSS senior volleyball team sees success

141B Aspen Dr. Sparwood, BC Phone: 250-425-2722

■

Fernie Jaffray

$299,000

1 bdrm, 2 bath unit at Lizard Creek Lodge. Ski in, ski out, direct view of hill.

Monday, January 20, 2014 $38,500

ELKFORD

This custom built one owner home has charm plus top quality throughout. 3.66 ac.

Fernie Cafe & Coffee

By Nicole Obre Free Press Staff

Avalanche Awareness Days - Page 2

■

Great Unit

$774,900

Avy Awareness Days is a blast! Deer cull will

FERNIE

RESS EE P

FR THE

ELK VALLEY FERNIE SPARWOOD

ast weekend, Fernie Minor Hockey hosted a tournament for kids ages nine and 10. Six teams from Calgary, Medicine Hat and Cranbrook were invited to attend with Fernie making up the seventh team. “A tournament like this takes a lot of planning,” said Kari Mertz, an organizer of the event. “We have to send out the invitations and wait for the teams to reply and we count on parents

to volunteer. All the local businesses in the community have been very supportive and have donated prizes for the raffle table.” The tournament went well and Fernie had a couple of close games that ended in victories putting them in the final game against their rival team, the Cranbrook Royals. Fernie pulled off a victory to win the tournament 6-3. According to Mertz, the organizers made up baskets for each team that took part in the competition and every player received dog tags for participating.

Elk Valley 250.430.1066

Candace Grey

Elk Valley 250.423.1044

Melanie MacKay

Elk Valley 250.423.1800

Tricia Croteau

Sparwood 250.433.6996

Frank Hughes

Elk Valley 250.425.5555

Paula Smith

Elkford 866.425.3690

Britainy Ernst

Sparwood 250.425.4188

Carrie Lightburn

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Cranbrook 250.421.3629

for listing details, open houses with maps, property rentals & mortgages

@ www.thefreepress.ca Complete Real Estate, Property & Strata Management, and Mortgage Brokerage Services

The Free Press ~ March 2013

le edu Schnside I

for listing details, open houses with maps, property rentals & mortgages

The senior girls’ volleyball team from Fernie Secondary School competed in the East Kootenay tournament last weekend, winning all of their games and finishing first overall in the tournament. Submitted photo

For all of your personal, commercial or industrial automotive repair needs!

Speed Demon Lights now in stock!

Home of the Elk Valley’s MOST EXPERIENCED Mechanics!

250-425-6535

Now hiring for service, parts and warehouse. PLEASE DON’T DRINK & DRIVE

Annual General Meeting to be held on

December 15th at 1 pm

From bumper to bumper and the ground up come see Mountain Mechanical for all of your repair needs! Sparwood - 743 Douglas Fir

Sparwood Old Age Pensioners Society (SOAPS)

Elkford - 1 Front Street

250-865-4622

in the Seniors Drop In Center

www.thefreepress.ca

The Academy’s bantam girls volleyball team wraps up successful season By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff

he season has finished for the Fernie Academy’s bantam girls volleyball team and their coaches say it was a very successful season. According to coaches JerriLynn Winters and Jean Boyd, the girls progressed and played together well, resulting in their most successful season yet. The team, consisting of 10 girls age 12 and 13, practiced two times a week throughout the fall, including a morning practice starting at 6 a.m. The team practices at the Fernie Community Centre, as The Academy doesn’t have a gymnasium on their property. Most of the girls have been playing together for three years, and they all agreed that being friends off of the court made it easier to play together and support each other on the court. “All being friends, it’s easy. We’re together five days a week. We hang out during the weekends and that’s seven days. It’s kind of not entirely super serious, we kind of just treat it like hanging out at the tournaments. We know each other not just in volleyball, but in classes and as friends,” they said. Their coach echoed this sentiment. “They are all super energetic. They get along really well, so it was a lot of fun playing,

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

DID YOU KNOW…

That we are hosting a family movie fundraiser? Elf Sunday, December 13 at noon. Tickets $5.00, available at Grow, Ghostrider Trading, Fernie Womens Centre, Rockies Law, and the Free Press

Tel: 250 423 4687 1592 10th Ave, Fernie BC Drop-in Hours: Monday-Friday 9-1 | Wednesday 9-3 www.ferniewomenscentre.com

The Fernie Academy bantam girl’s team played well together this season, making their coaches Jean Boyd and Jerri-Lynn Winters proud. Submitted photo

which was good. They learned a lot throughout the year, they progressed quite well so they have a big bright future ahead of them,” said Winters, who coached them for the first time this year. The team agreed that the Fernie Secondary School team was their biggest rival and the one that they had the most fun competing against. The two teams were close in skill level, resulting in close and energetic matches and the teams faced each other in more than one semi-final game. Winters, who has coached volleyball for ten seasons, said that the girls made a cohesive team. “They are a pretty unique group of kids. They all get

along even though they are from different backgrounds and have different interests, but there is one interest that they can connect over and that is volleyball. It’s nice for them to play together,” she said. With the school season being over, most of the girls are looking forward to starting the club season, which they will start practicing for in January. The team participates in the Alberta Volleyball Association, playing teams as far away as Edmonton. “You can open it up to anyone in the community, so our club is actually open to anyone who wants to play, like anyone from Jaffray or Fernie or Sparwood – anyone can join the club,” said Winters.

WE’RE ALL EARS

Information Session on Tailings Management and Water Quality Thursday, December 3, 2015 Causeway Bay Hotel, Sparwood 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Teck is committed to open engagement with the community. This is an opportunity to hear information about our tailings dam management systems at Elkview Operations in Sparwood and at Greenhills and Fording River Operations in Elkford. There will also be an update on our work to manage water quality in the Elk Valley. Representatives from each operation will be available to answer questions.

Questions? Comments? Story Ideas? Let us know how we’re doing.

The Free Press 250-423-4666 • editor@thefreepress.ca

If you are unable to attend, please send any questions to feedback.teckcoal@teck.com or leave a message at 1.855.806.6851

www.thefreepress.ca

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Locals petition council to consider a medical marijuana dispensary By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff

Do you know someone who is having a birthday this coming week?

Let us know who it is, and we will share it in next week’s edition!

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ocal medicinal marijuana advocates are asking Fernie city council to consider overriding a bylaw prohibiting them from receiving a business license. The group, led by James Gittens, is interested in opening a medicinal marijuana dispensary, enabling patients to have access to high quality marijuana for medicinal purposes. Gittens said he is hoping that the City of Fernie will take a proactive approach to the issue. “We are hoping that they will be proactive because what is happening across Canada is that there is a plethora of black market dispensaries opening without any oversight by the municipal government. We are looking for a really proactive approach. This is coming,” he said. In accordance with city bylaws, the city cannot grant a business license that is not in compliance with federal or provincial regulations. As marijuana is still considered an illegal substance by federal laws, the city would be neglecting their own bylaws if they granted the group a business license to open a medicinal marijuana dispensary.

applicants, and same thing – both of them came to the delegations, spoke to council and after their delegation, council instructed staff to issue them a license.” Sommerville said news outlets and mayors from across Canada contacted their city hall, asking why they decided to go ahead with granting the business licenses. “We were being asked for interviews all the way from Fernie to Ottawa,” he said. “Kimberley set precedent in Canada because they actually enabled small business and entrepreneurs to get a business license first,” said Gittens. “Kimberley is awesome because they kind of saw the writing on the wall and they’re actually controlling the market by giving business licenses. They’re not having dispensaries just randomly open, which I think is really progressive. So that’s what we are hoping the City of Fernie will do.” City councillor Jon Levesque said that the issue is multi-faceted, but one that the City of Fernie needs to start researching. “We knew this was coming. It is inevitable,” he said. “We need to think about what this means for our communities.” Levesque attended a seminar about marijuana

Celebrity Birthdays

Just email their name and birth date (no year required) to Jen at customerservice@thefreepress.ca or call 250-423-4666 and we will publish it in The Free Press Special to The Free Press - tell us your birthday wishes and give the recipient’s phone number and on their birthday they will receive a special call from a talented local singer with a very special birthday song.

November 26 Tina Turner, 75 November 27 Bill Nye, 59 November 28 Trey Songz, 30 November 29 Howie Mandel, 59 November 30 Ben Stiller, 49 December 1 Tyler Joseph, 26 December 2 Britney Spears, 33

A local group is asking the City of Fernie Council to consider granting them a business license to open a medicinal marijuana dispensary, even though it would be in contradtiction of city bylaws.

Submitted photo

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Gittens, along with Jeremy Grassic and Marsha Churchill, presented to council on Nov. 9, asking them to consider granting a business license despite Bylaw 2028, which outlines requirements for business licenses. “We were in there to ask if they could override a particular part of the bylaw, which states that you cannot run a business that contravenes federal law,” said Gittens. Fernie isn’t the first city to be confronted with this request. In June, the City of Kimberley granted a business license to a medicinal marijuana business, making headline news across the country. According to Scott Sommerville, chief administrative office for the City of Kimberley, the councillors agreed that the benefits of a medicinal marijuana dispensary would outweigh the potential risks. “The first applicant came forward and put in an application and I denied it because our bylaw says we can’t grant licenses to businesses that go against either city bylaws, provincial laws or law of the Dominion, which are federal laws,” said Sommerville. “They came to council and they gave a very heartrending version of why they wanted to do this and what their own personal experience was and council passed a resolution to issue them a license. And we had two other

in communities at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) conference in Vancouver this fall and said there are three main categories that marijuana dispensaries affect – the legal ramifications, the public health concerns and the reality of how it will operate in a community. He believes the area that council can have the biggest impact on right now is education. “If we look at all three – the legalization portion, if we have an appetite for risk as a community, we can do what Kimberley did, but I’m not sure I’m convinced that’s the best route either, especially if our current [federal] government is looking at ways to make it that no one has to go to jail. I think that the heavy lifting that we have to do as municipal councillors or as politicians is focus on the education of it. Informing our plebiscite, informing our citizens, providing contextual information,” he said. The main issue, according to Gittens, is the timeline. Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government is starting to look into legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana, which would enable Gittens to receive the business license without issue. However, he is concerned about how long that might take and the fact that local people could benefit from Continued on page 25

www.thefreepress.ca Continued from page 24

medical marijuana now. “I just don’t think that people should have to wait. I think that there is benefit to this,” Gittens said. “People have waited long enough for this stuff, they really have. Why should they wait longer?” Jeremy Grassic, who is a medical advisor to Gittens, said he has seen many patients in his massage therapy clinic that could benefit from medicinal marijuana. “Patients that weren’t getting any help from anything else that went on to use it and found it really useful,” he said. “I just talked to a patient whose biggest stress of it all was having to drive to Nelson and pick up 70 grams of weed and then hiding it in his car and being paranoid the whole way home that he was going to have to go through a check stop.” Gittens and Grassic both said that they hope to provide a high quality product, in accordance with the best practices, which is something that is not regulated through black market products.

“Everything has got to be tested by best practices, so you make sure there is no herbicides, you make sure there is no pesticides. In Vancouver, they are not following a supply chain. There is no oversight, they have no control over their product from hand to hand,” Gittens said. “We’ll have a barcode – this is where it came from, this is where it was grown, this is the strain and you can follow that all the way through. You need to have that, especially when you are providing a health care product. Unless you have control over that supply chain, what are you selling?” While Levesque personally sees the benefits of medicinal marijuana, he said right now the issue is black and white, as granting a business license for a dispensary is currently illegal. While Sommerville and the City of Kimberley understand that granting the business license was in contravention of the bylaws, city council made a moral judgment on the issue. “It was a very quick and easy decision. They know that people are using this for their health. Just about everyone that they know or themselves have been

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

personally affected, whether it’s cancer or MS. I think we are at a day and age where just about everyone knows someone who could have been helped or has been helped through the use of cannabis, so I think they thought it was the morally right thing to do for the betterment of the community and for the health of the community and I think that made it an easy decision for them,” he said. Regardless of legalities, Levesque agreed with Gittens in the fact that council has to face this issue, and start a conversation about the nuances of marijuana dispensaries, legal or not. “If I got to speak to the City of Fernie and its citizens, I would say that these are exciting times, that we are not without some heavy lifting in front of us, and that I do appreciate why this is of concern to many people,” he said. “It’s important that we start talking about it and I encourage everyone that has concerns or questions to come to the public input sessions and committee of the whole and at the council meeting because we do need to have this talk and we need to wrap our heads around it.”

Local boxer wins knock out fight

Submitted

Elk Valley Thrift Shop Society Christmas Store Tuesday – Saturday 12pm – 4pm Cash only

For more info call 250 425 0853

Elk Valley Snowmobile Club

Annual General Meeting on December 3, 2015 at 7:00 pm

at the Park Place Lodge in the restaurant area

Current membership is required to vote at this important meeting

ob Larson from Fernie Old School Boxing Club was the under card for the fourth Annual Confratellanza Italo Canadese/ NBBC Boxing Night at the Italian Cultural Center in Vancouver. He competed over the weekend of Nov. 14 and Nov. 15. His opponent was Aaron Downey of World Kickboxing Surrey. Larson previously fought Downey on home turf last year and narrowly lost on a split decision however this time around Larson was victorious with a third round TKO.

How would you like to become a

REAL LIFE

SUPERHERO

this winter season?

Join Fernie Adaptive Snow Program as a volunteer instructor today!

Bob Larson celebrates after his knock out win in Vancouver.

Submitted photo

Contact Grace through www.fernieadaptiveski.ca to find out more!

Did You Know? Alcohol Poisoning

Did you notice this ad? Then imagine the number of readers and consumers in the Elk Valley that noticed it too! Contact Sophie Howden today!

250-423-4666

advertising@thefreepress.ca

Sparwood Library

SUNDAY

hours resume: November 15, 2015 March 29,2016 12 Noon - 4 PM (Our apology for the error regarding the Nov 15 TV Bingo that appeared in the Nov 12 issue: the Bingo has been re-scheduled for February 2016) For more information call 250-425-2299 or join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sparwoodlibrary

How: • Usually results from drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time • By shooting, chugging or playing drinking games • Not spacing drinks out Symptoms: • Passing out, semi-conscious • Cold, pale or bluish skin • Slow irregular breathing • Vomiting while sleeping

What to do: • Turn the drinker on their side (recovery position) do not allow them to lay on their back or stomach • Get help immediately, call 911 • Do not allow them to “sleep it off” Information obtained from “Partying and Getting Drunk”, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.(2008) East Kootenay Addiction Services Society has sponsored this column. The intent of this column is to provide information and to encourage healthy choices. Free, confidential services are available to anyone dealing with their own or someone else’s substance addiction or misuse. For more information contact 250-423-4423, 1-800-644-6144 or visit www.ekass.com

Fun Friday Black Friday at the Fernie Library

Friday, November 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Drop-in program for ages 7 & up. Will include pirates, ships & treasure maps.

Call the Library at 250-423-4458 or check our website for details at http://fernie.bclibrary.ca

www.thefreepress.ca

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

A26 www.thefreepress.ca

Thursday, November 26, 2015 The Free Press

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ON THE WEB:

Obituaries

Life… Love… Loss… Legacy

In Memoriam

Obituaries

MAURICE PAUL BOULIANE “MOE” 1942 – 2015 It is with deep sorrow that the family of Maurice Bouliane announces his passing on Saturday, November 14, 2015 in Cranbrook at 73 years of age.

In loving memory of

Ann Ellen Price Dec. 24 1937 to Dec. 1 2007 Your are gone but not forgotten by your husband. You were taken from me too early in life you will be remembered in my heart forever. God bless you. Earle.

Information

Call The Free Press to place your message 250-423-4666

Obituaries

CANADA BENEFIT Group Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888511-2250 or www.canadabenefit.ca/free-assessment

Personals

Moe was born on March 12, 1942 in St. Paul, Alberta. Around the age of 9, his family moved to Warfield, BC where he spent the majority of his youth. Maurice married his first wife, Joan, in 1965 and they eventually settled and raised their family in Sparwood. After Joan’s passing, Moe married Lynda and they resided in Cranbrook where they enjoyed their time together. Moe loved camping, boating and fishing at Kootenay and Koocanusa Lake, golfing and was actively involved in hockey in the Kootenays for many years as a coach, manager and supportive fan. Over the years, Moe went on numerous excursions to Las Vegas and Mexico. Moe owned and operated Sparwood Electric for many years and later partnered with his son, Robert, in establishing M&R Electrical. Moe was a great man and he truly loved family gatherings and reunions and spending quality time with his grandkids. Moe is survived by his wife Lynda, his 5 children Mike (Philippa), Yvette, Tina (Gerry), Robert (Nicole), Allan, (Karen) and 10 grandchildren Lisa, Kevin, Benjamin, Kyle, William, Jared, Aimee, Abby, Aiden and Sophie, Lynda’s 3 children Tanya (Dean), Jennifer (Shane) and Alex (Leanne), her 7 grandchildren Brendan, Dylan, Granite, Flint, Quaide, Oliver and Calla, 11 siblings Annette, Richard, Lucien, Simone, Lorraine, Marie, Eugene, Raymond, Philip, Bernadette and David and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Philias and Antoinette, his siblings Leon, Cecile and Irene as well as his first wife, Joan. A memorial service for Moe was held on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at McPherson Funeral Home in Cranbrook at 11:00 am. Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service. Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com

Place of Worship

PREGNANT? NEED HELP? 1-800-665-0570

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HUDOCK: With great sadness we announce the death of David Frederick Hudock. Dave passed away at the Elk Valley Hospital on Friday, November 13, 2015 at the age of 71 years. He was born in Hosmer, BC on November 29, 1943. Dave is survived by his beloved wife Penny, his daughter Barbie, son Mark, his brother Stephen (Marlene) Hudock, with a very special thank you to his cousin Doug Dominick and his wife Debbie. He has also left to mourn his passing many close relationships shared with his in-laws, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Dave was predeceased by his parents Stephen and Josephine Hudock and his sister Marie Jurczak. Dave will always be remembered as a hard working, devoted family man with a deep love for animals and helping others in need. He was a great humanitarian, loved and respected by all who knew him. Dave enjoyed fishing, camping, and spending quality time with family and friends. He will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends for Friends. Memories & condolences shared at www. cherishedmemoriesfs.com Arrangements entrusted to Cherished Memories Funeral Services Ltd.

Place of Worship

ELK VALLEY CHURCH SERVICES

WHERE DO YOU TURN

Obituaries

Place of Worship

ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH

741B 2nd Ave., Fernie

Centennial Square, Sparwood

WELCOMES YOU Sunday Meeting Morning Services

11:00 am

Corps Officers: .. Majors James & Gwen Hägglund

Fernie Office 250-423-4661 Fx 250-423-4668

ferniesalvationarmy.ca.

SNOW VALLEY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

HOLY FAMILY PARISH

KNOX UNITED CHURCH 201 2nd Avenue, Fernie Sunday Services 10:00 am Everyone welcome.

YOU ARE INVITED! Mass Times: Saturdays: St. Michael’s ~ 7:00 pm Sundays: St. Michael’s ~ 11:00 am St. Bernard’s Mission, Elkford ~ 4:00 pm Thursdays: St. Michael’s ~ 6:30 pm Fridays: Lilac Terrrace ~ 11:00 am Confessions: Following each mass, or by appointment. Pastor: Father Marcel Cote 250-425-6444

Catholic Church

1361 8th Avenue, Fernie EVERYONE WELCOME

521 4th Avenue, Fernie Parish Office 250-423-6127

250-423-6010 www.knoxunitedferniebc.ca email: KnoxUCFernie@outlook.com YOU ARE WELCOME AT KNOX!

Masses: Tues. 9:00 am Wed. at Rocky Mtn Village 11:00 am Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 9:00 am Confessions: Before 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday or by appointment Father Marcel Cote

Monday Mens Fellowship...7 pm Sunday Worship & Children’s Ministry...10:30 am Friday Youth Group...7 pm Affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Office 250-423-4114

SPARWOOD CHRISTIAN CENTRE (formerly Fernie Baptist Church)

1622 10th Avenue, Fernie 250-423-4112 www.mountainsidechurch.ca

Sunday Services

436 Pine Avenue Sparwood BC V0B 2G0

250-425-7787 Affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC)

10:00 am in Fernie 10:00 am Sparwood Campus gathering

Services: Sunday 10:00 am Wednesday Bible Study: 6:47 pm

Contact Pastor Shawn Barden shawnbarden@gmail.com

Pastor: Rev. R.G. (Ross) Powell

Everyone Welcome

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The Free Press Thursday, November 26, 2015

Announcements

Coming Events

Krzysztof and Shirley Wisniewski (Bowman) and Jadwiga Wisniewski are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter and granddaughter, Jennifer Marie, to Ryan Walter Zuchetto, son of Dean Zuchetto and Lori Horne, on July 25th 2015. Together the families celebrated the beautiful wedding held at Blue Devil Golf Course in Calgary, Alberta.

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Timeshare

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Business Opportunities

Career Opportunities

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This position is suited to an applicant that has a forestry or strong manufacturing based accounting in their background. A recognized Accounting Designation (CMA, CGA) is required with a minimum of three years experience. The ideal candidate will be a leader and hands on type of senior accountant, that has the flexibility to perform tasks at all levels including financial statements. Send cover letter and resume to: johnt@ porcupinewood.com www.porcupinewood.com

HIP OR knee replacement? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in walking/dressing? Disability tax credit $2,000 tax credit $20,000 refund. Apply today for assistance: 1-844-453-5372.

Career Opportunities

WANT TO BECOME AN INSURANCE ADVISOR?

AMAZING CAREER Opportunity

Career Opportunities

Join our Fernie Branch today and we will pay for your education to become a Certified Insurance Broker. NO Experience Necessary. Competitive Compensation Packages Offered. Start Your Career Today, email resume: jobs@westlandinsurance.ca or apply in person.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-7683362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

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TRY A CLASSIFIED Help Wanted

Help Wanted

512 2 Ave, Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 250-423-6851

Career Service / Job Search

Your best coverage is our only policy

Education/Trade Schools

Career Service / Job Search

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT SCHOOL. Hands-On Tasks. Start Weekly. GPS Training! Funding & Housing Avail! Job Aid! Already a HEO? Get certiﬁcation proof. Call 1-866-399-3853 or go to: iheschool.com

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Medical/Dental

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Talk to us today to find out more about free employment services. You may be eligible for... x x x x

Trades, Technical

Career and Essential Skills Assessments Funding for Skills Training or Short-Term Courses Work Placements Other Financial Supports

Let us help you find work and get employed ! We offer a range of services from self-serve to focused, one-on-one support. A: 302 C 2nd. Ave., Fernie

WE HAVE LOTS OF ROUTES AVAILABLE

in Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford

HUGE DEMAND for Medical Transcriptionists! CanScribe is Canada’s top Medical Transcription training school. Learn from home and work from home. Call today! 1-800-4661535. www.canscribe.com or info@canscribe.com

WATKIN MOTORS Ford, Vernon, B.C. immediately requires an experienced Ford Diesel Technician. Go to watkinmotors.com About us, Employment, to apply and review required qualifications.

P: 423-4204

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The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

Until there's a cure, there's us.

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We've got you covered The Free Press Distribution Area

Number of papers distributed FFP- Fernie Free Press

Elkford FFP - 723

www.thefreepress.ca Sparwood

THE FREE PRESS

FFP - 1785

Fernie

Est. 1898

FFP - 2735

Jaffray Elko

South Country

FFP - 649

Total

FFP- 5892

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

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Thursday, November 26, 2015 The Free Press

Services

Merchandise for Sale

Rentals

Transportation

Financial Services

Food Products

Apt/Condo for Rent

Homes for Rent

Boats

Scenic Downtown Elkford

Clean 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo in Carbanado Court Sparwood. No pets. $750 per month. Please call Rick at 250-425-5432 or Erin at 250-425-7711.

Smaller houses in Spardell for rent. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath houses on large lots, appliances, town water, and school bus pick up nearby. Prices vary between $600 and $800 per month plus utilities. Please contact Rick 250-425-5432 or Erin 250-425-7711

Sparwood and Elkford: Property Management Services **************************** Furnished & Unfurnished houses and condos available for rent. Call Tonda at 250-433-7024 to match you up to the perfect home!! tonda@sparwoodrealestate.ca

World’s Finest FISHING BOATS

SPARWOOD, 2-storey, 3bdrm townhouse for rent w/full basement, close to school & rec centre. (250)425-4448 primeprop@mymts.net

Storage

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NEED A loan? Own property? Have bad credit? We can help! Call toll free 1-866-405-1228 firstandsecondmortgages.ca

Personal Care “We care about your hair loss”

Capilia Hair & Scalp Centre

Thinning hair or hair Loss Dandruff, dry or oily scalp Psoriasis & Eczema Chemotherapy/radiation therapy Wigs & hair systems for men & women 3019 Hwy 3

BC INSPECTED

GRADED AA OR BETTER LOCALLY GROWN NATURAL BEEF Hormone Free Grass Fed/Grain Finished Freezer Packages Available Quarters/Halves $4.90/lb Hanging Weight Extra Lean Ground Beef Available TARZWELL FARMS 250-428-4316 Creston

Heavy Duty Machinery A-CHEAP, LOWEST PRICES STEEL SHIPPING Dry Storage Containers Used 20’40’45’53’ and insulated containers all sizes in stock. 40’ containers as low as $2,200DMG. Huge freezers. Experienced wood carvers needed, full time. Ph Toll free 24 hours 1-866-528-7108 or 1778-298-3192 8am-5pm. Delivery BC and AB www.rtccontainer.com

Misc. for Sale ROMANCE Your Christmas Local BC Adult Retailer Shop Online Now & Receive 25% OFF! www.shagg.ca

Misc. Wanted WANTED -costume and fine Jewelry - tea cups and saucers -Kimberley area Call Grace 778-481-5206

ALPINE COURT Spacious NEW apartments 1 Bdrm - $775 (& up)-month 2 & 3 Bdrm- $850 (& up)- month Includes heat, lights, & hot water

250-865-2722 Live in scenic & peaceful Elkford

ALDERWOOD PLACE

Rentals

Comfortable apartment units

FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

Apt/Condo for Rent

1 Bdrm - $775 (& up)-month 2 & 3 Bdrm - $850 (& up)-month

Household Services

PINEWAY COURT

CRESTON, BC

250-428-0354 www.hairandscalpcentre.ca

A-1 FURNACE & Air Duct Cleaning. Complete Furnace/Air Duct Systems cleaned & sterilized. Locally owned & operated. 1-800-5650355 (Free estimates) KOOTENAY DUCT CLEANERS Locally owned & operated. Affordable, professional, & insured Duct Cleaning Services & System Sterilizations. Toll free 1.844.428.0522 FREE Estimates

Plumbing

FULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, reliable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1800-573-2928.

Merchandise for Sale

Auctions

Sparwood, B.C.

Apartment Units • Close to downtown • Affordable • Hot water included • Your new home! 1 Bdrm plus den $775 (& up) month 2 Bdrm plus den $850 (& up) month

250-425-9912

Includes: covered parking, sauna, heat, lights & hot water

1-250-865-7695 SPARWOOD, B.C.

New condos in Sparwood Heights 2 bed/2 bath units are $1100. per month. 2 bed/1 bath units $1050. per month. These units are in a new complex. New stainless steel appliances, granite counters, in suite washer/dryer. Building comes with an elevator and on site storage unit. No smoking or pets allowed. References required. (Utilities not included) Call Rick at 250-425-5432 or Erin at 250-425-7711 PineCrest Apartments Sparwood BC

Move in special - receive $300 after 3 months. Also receive 20% of your damage deposit back after 1 year - some conditions apply. We have a one and two bedroom in fully newly renovated building. Some furnished suites with all new furniture. Pet friendly (some conditions apply) $775 to $925.

Contact Manager - 778-518-2253 or view at www.glprentals.com

Duplex / 4 Plex Sparwood - 1/2 duplexes Several 3 bedroom, 1 bath duplexes downtown. Reduced to $800 for first 6 months on a 1 year lease then remainder is $900. Please contact Rick 250-425-5432 or Erin 250-425-7711 Sparwood Heights. 1/2 Duplex Three level split with a large yard on green belt. $1000.per month References required. Call Rick at 250-425-5432 or Erin at 250-425-7711.

Quiet • Comfortable • Affordable

Modular Homes

GOLDEN OAK GARDENS

14’ wide Mobile Home for Rent 3 bedrooms, all appliances Call Joe at 250-425-5387

1 Bdrm - 775 (& up)- month 2 Bdrm - $850 (& up)- month $

Well kept 2 bedroom furnished Condo for rent in Sparwood Heights Includes fridge, stove, washer/dryer, storage area, use of exercise room & sauna. No Smoking, No Pets. $950 per month, Heat included Available immediately Call 250-425-4431

For Rent: 2 Condos turned into one very large, clean 2 bedroom, 2 bath fully furnished condo for rent in Sparwood Heights. This unit has everything you need including Jacuzzi tub, dishes, bedding. Just bring your clothes.. $1200 per month. Call Rick at 250-425-5432 or Erin at 250-425-7711

Hot Water Included

Walking Distance to Mall

Sparwood - Several Mobile Homes for rent $600 - $1000 per month. Utilities not included. Please contact

assistant@sparwoodrealestate.ca

or call 250-425-7711 for more information.

Homes for Rent 1200 sq feet 2 bedroom Main Floor. Large back yard dead end street lots of parking and a carport. Lots of storage, has own laundry. Includes hydro, gas, you pay for cable. N/S, Small pet consider with pet deposit. Very clean and tidy house and yard. References and employment history a must. Close to school, transit and shopping . $1250.00/ month. Email tattooed193@gmail.com

BUD HAYNES Ward’s Firearms Auction. Saturday, Dec. 12, 10am, 11802 - 145 St., Edmonton. Estate John V. Abrey of Coaldale, Alberta. Collection firearms, rare RCMP items, 12 saddles, uniforms, memorabilia. Estate Elmer (Tom) Stehr of Swift Current, SK. Phone Linda 403-5971095; Brad 1-780-451-4549; www.budhaynesauctions.com. www.wardsauctions.com.

2 Bed, 1 Bath condo for rent in Sparwood Heights. $900 per month, with a $300 rebate each month for the first 6 months,utilities not included. Call Erin at 250-425-7711 or Rick at 250-425-5432

2 bedroom, 1 bath fully furnished condo for rent in Sparwood Heights. Just bring your clothes. $1150. per month Call Rick at 250-425-5432 or Erin At 250-425-7711

House in Sparwood Heights Large 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with attached garage, large yard on greenbelt, deck and shed. $1400 per month plus utilities. Call Rick 250-425-5432 or Erin 250-425-7711

Apt/Condo for Rent

Tenders

250-865-2722

Apartments for Rent 1 & 2 Bedroom Units Furnished & Unfurnished From

695 per month

Fernie Home Hardware Building Centre is now accepting proposals for

CLEANING MAINTENANCE 1422 & 1462 – 6th Avenue, Fernie Located behind the Best Western

For more information call

250-423-1358

at our location on Manitou Road Please contact Walter Ingram to discuss scope of work. We require cleaning services starting December 1, 2015.

Telephone: 250-423-4694 or 250-423-1363

SELF STORAGE: Personal & commercial. Call Finnigan’s Storage.

250-423-3308 or 250-423-1236

1-800-222-TIPS

STORAGE PLUS: Bays heated or cold & service bays with air, minor repairs. 250-423-7492.

Weldcraft, Hewescraft, Lund, Godfrey Pontoons Mark’s Marine, Hayden, ID 1-888-821-2200 www.marksmarineinc.com

Community Newspapers We’re at the heart of things™

4 OUT OF 5 PEOPLE WITH DIABETES DIE OF HEART DISEASE. Better your odds. Visit getserious.ca

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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 26, 2015

Hugh Twa Hockey Day raises money for cancer