p.m. at All Saint’s Church in Edgewater

Est. 2005

• Uniformed Guards • Mobile Patrol • Alarm Response • Property Checks www.valleyhawk.com

Licensed & Insured

250-688-HAWK Invermere & Surrounding Areas

RCMP Report

Windermere Valley Shared Ministry Anglican-United Christmas Eve Services

5 p.m. at All Saint’s Church in Edgewater 7 p.m. at Christ Church Trinity in Invermere 9 p.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Windermere

All are welcome The 7 p.m. service will also be available on ZOOM. Please go to our website, WVSM.ca, to get the link.

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Submitted by: Cpl. Jeff Witzke Columbia Valley RCMP

This past week, December 12th through to December 18th, The Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 44 calls for service. Of those 44 calls for service approx. 5-7 were for motor vehicle collisions. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

On December 17th, a member of the Columbia Valley RCMP was on patrol in the Invermere area when they observed a vehicle with a history of prohibited driving. A traffic stop was conducted where police formed grounds and suspected the driver had been driving while under the influence of a drug. As such a Standard Field Sobriety Test was preformed which resulted in the driver being detained for an impaired investigation. A member of the Columbia Valley Detachment, who is trained as a Drug Recognition Expert and one of only a handful in the East Kootenay’s, conducted a Drug Influence Evaluation. The investigation is still ongoing, awaiting toxicology results.

On December 15th, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report regrading a person dealing with a mental health crisis. Police were able to make contact with the individual who was willing to meet the police and agreed to attend the hospital to speak with the doctor.

Columbia Valley RCMP would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season.

Dates set for Invermere by-election

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Dates are set for the Invermere by-election to fill the district’s vacant council seat.

Only just enough candidates came forward to fill all the council positions - one mayor and four councillors - during this past October’s municipal election. Consequently, all were acclaimed to their roles. But the week prior to the new council’s first meeting in early November, new councillor, Mark Topliff, stepped down for personal reasons.

Invermere council carried on as a four-person team (one mayor and three councillors) in the interim, while district staff set about preparing for a by-election. The four-person council has resulted in a few moments of minor confusion during meetings, since a motion needs a majority to pass and the four-council has been tied twotwo on at least one major vote. That tie meant that the motion did not pass because it did not have a majority, and that technicality left audience members in the gallery scratching their heads, wondering what happened.

This situation will only last another couple months, with the by-election now set for March 4.

But, with only five people stepping forward to run for council in the election, has there been any expression of interest from potential candidates for the by-election?

“There has. There is one person that we spoke with today, and who expressed an interest,” said Invermere mayor, Al Miller, speaking on Tuesday, December 13. “There was another fellow two weeks ago who also expressed interest. And I’m sure there are others who may come forward as the information surrounding the dates for the nomination period and by-election becomes more broadly known. I would suggest we are going to have an election (as opposed to an acclamation).”

Nomination packages for would-be candidates will be available starting on Dec. 19. The nomination period will run for 10 days from Jan. 17 to Jan. 27. The last day to withdraw from being a candidate is February 3. The campaign period will last one month: from Feb. 4 to Mar. 4. The general voting day is Mar. 4, but there will be two advance voting opportunities (for those who cannot vote on general voting day or who simply prefer to vote early) on Feb. 22 and Mar. 2.

The official result of the by-election will be declared on Mar. 7.

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Eight-year-old Emma Miller creates moving Christmas carol ‘Christmas All Together’

By Chadd Cawson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

“I’ve been singing my whole life,” eight-year-old Emma Miller told the Pioneer as she beamed from ear to ear.

Nothing touches the heart and soul more than a moving voice and lyrics, especially during the holidays. Emma is passionate about her music and has been singing for as long as she can remember. This musical prodigy writes her own lyrics and wrote the endearing Christmas carol, ‘Christmas All Together’ this past October.

Bryant Olender, who has been a professional pianist and vocal coach for 35 years, has been helping Emma develop her singing chops as her coach for the last 18 months. Olender got his start in musical theatre and had had the pleasure of working with Canadian icon Michael Bublé as his pianist and music director for five years.

“When Emma walked into my music studio that one day, I asked her if she had practiced what we had been working on. She said, ‘Honestly, not too much,’ but presented me with some lyrics she had handwritten down,” said Bryant. “I was bursting inside with joy as it’s rare that a young person takes the initiative to start writing on their own. It was a landmark, not only in her music but also her life.”

Over the course of six weeks Emma and Bryant worked together once a week to finish writing and producing her song.

“My favourite moments when working on this song was watching Emma’s reactions of amazement and wonder as she watched how a song can go from just a baby seed to a finished song of her own,” said Bryant.

Emma’s inspiration for this tender Christmas carol came from a reality many of us know too well - that sometimes distance and other circumstances prevent us from spending the holidays with everyone on our wish list. What if we could have Christmas all together? This was Emma’s Christmas wish and it is written and sung with such heart.

Even the Grinch’s heart would surely grow three sizes after hearing Emma’s lyrics and voice in this original Christmas song. It can be now heard on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. This little pop-princess-on-the-rise has many artists she loves and looks up to, but when asked her who a few of her faves were Emma said, “I really like Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift.”

Emma was the youngest cast member in the play, ‘Santa’s New Sleigh’, that was performed by the newly-formed Hodgepodge Players on December 18 at the Legion in downtown Invermere. Emma performed her original song last Sunday and shared how much she loved being a part of the production and doing what she loves most.

“I get to do my favourite thing and sing,” Emma shared with pride. “I was their soloist.”

Emma said while Christmas All Together is not her first song she has written at her young age, it is her first to be available on Apple Music.

“When I was younger, I always dreamed of this, and now my dream is coming true,” said Emma. “I love how my music is out there now.”

Emma is in great hands with Bryant as her musical mentor: he got to witness first hand during his time working with Bublé, the singer’s journey from playing the local bar circuit to becoming an international superstar.

“All that all we can do is the very best we can. After that, it’s up to the listeners to take it to the stars,” said Bryant. “You just never ever know what will happen in this life, especially in the music business. Anything is possible and that’s what I love the most.”

When the Pioneer asked Emma what she hopes the listeners will feel when they hear her song this holiday season, she replied,

“Just happiness and joy.” Realty Invermere

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A Unique Shopping Experience We are open for all your last minute shopping

Friday 11 am -5:30 pm & Saturday 10 am - 3:30 pm. • Housecoats • Slippers • Toques • Puzzles • Shawls • Jewelry

Fairmont Plaza, 5 5019 Fairmont Resort Rd. Closed Christmas and Boxing Day • 250-345-6807

Thank you

2022 saw many incredible sponsors and volunteers! While there are too many to list, your generous contributions allowed us to make the season a little brighter for 281 families this year. The continued support from valley businesses, visitors, full-time and part-time residents is overwhelming and received with heartfelt gratitude. A huge thank you to Hamburgers on Wonderbread for putting on an amazing concert and the Windermere Whitehouse Pub for hosting the event. This was our largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds went to the Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley! For more information contact us at cvcb@shaw.ca christmasbureaucv.ca

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