RCMP Report

Released by: Cpl. Jeff Witzke

Columbia Valley RCMP

March 6 through March 12, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 43 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the file our officers responded to.

On March 6 the RCMP were made aware of numerous mischiefs in Radium over the weekend. Vandals spray painted numerous street signs, buildings and houses around the town. Police are still investigating and asking anyone with information to contact the local detachment.

On March 9 the RCMP were notified of an injured ice climber approximately 25 kilometres (km) up the Kootenay River Forest Service Road. The climber is believed to have fallen approximately nine metres (30 feet). Lifesaving measures were conducted by the climber’s friend and a passerby, along with a worksite ambulance and eventually EHS. Unfortunately, the climber succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

On March 12 the RCMP were notified of an injured snowmobiler in the Forester FSR riding area. Search and Rescue was activated and with the assistance of RK Heliski, then the injured party was located and extracted to the Invermere airport and later taken to the local hospital. The injuries were believed to be non-life threatening.

Limited but positive public feedback for Invermere budget

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The District of Invermere has been consulting local residents for the past few weeks about its proposed budget.

The budget (also gets referred to as the 2023-2027 five year-financial plan) got first reading at a recent council meeting, was the subject of an online survey through the first part of March, and was the subject of an open house last week.

Invermere mayor, Al Miller, explained so far there hasn’t been a lot of feedback, but he’s pleased with what input there has been.

“We didn’t have a huge turnout at the open house, but there were some good questions asked; it was positive,” said Miller.

The questions that did come related mostly to funding and infrastructure, and to the lighting fixture and projectors upgrades for the Columbia Valley Centre, he explained.

“I think it (the lighting and projector) got a bit of attention because it is not normal for a community of our size to have that as a priority. But for us, it is important,” said Miller. “The Columbia Valley Centre is an event amenity. We want to have a top-notch facility to attract events. The centre was made for that.”

Miller was also quick to point out that the nonprofit Invermere Film Festival did some significant fundraising for the lighting and pro-

Local residents have been complaining about potholes like these ones on 4th Avenue in Athalmer. The district will be making efforts to fill them and do some much-needed repaving around town as part of its 2023 budget, but Invermere mayor Al Miller said that not all potholes and paving that needs fixing will get done this year. The budget, however, does include a planned new paved, separated multi-use pathway (and crosswalks and gutters) for 4th Avenue in Athalmer. Photo by Ryan Watmough jector upgrades “so it is not all on the back of taxpayers”.

Another budget that’s had tongues wagging are the district’s many potholes and the state of paving around the community. Miller said this is something the district hears complaints about all the time.

“We’re going to fix some pieces this year and we’ll do some more next year, and some more the year after that. We won’t get it all done this year, but we need to at least start this year. And we are doing that,” he said.

Some of the operational budget items of note for 2023 include the sewer parcel tax that will be used to pay back the $1.5 million Invermere borrowed for phase two of the water and sewer upgrades on 13th Avenue; a new district development coordinator position; a new utility coordinator position and; a new part-time facilities clerk position. Capital projects of interest in the budget include the aforementioned paving and pothole work; the Athalmer destination trail (which will be funded mostly through grants); the planned 4th Avenue trail in Athlamer (also funded mostly through grants); design work for Lakeside Park; re-design and geotechnical work of the Fort Point Bridge over the rail tracks; a new traffic circle at the intersection of 7th Avenue (Invermere’s main street) and 4th Street; the long-awaited Abel Creek culvert at Johnston Road; and new washroom facilities at the Columbia River access point north of the Athalmer Bridge. There’s also an electronic sign, exterior coloured lighting, and a mobile stage for the Columbia Valley Centre; an outdoor commercial light-up Christmas tree at the Cenotaph plaza; and tennis court resurfacing; a tennis court practice wall; pickleball courts; and a back stop for the Pynelogs Rotary Ball Park, Field of Dreams.