Columbia Valley Pioneer - October 26, 2023

Vol. 20/Issue 43

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The Columbia Valley

October 26, 2023

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2 The Columbia Valley Pioneer

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October 26, 2023

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

WINDERMERE VALLEY YOUTH CENTRE SOCIETY Thursday, November 16th, 2023 7:00 pm Summit Youth Centre Hub 201 7th Ave, Invermere Review 2023 operations and provide 2024 outlook.

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Gravel-bikers stop for a rest at Horsethief Creek on their Westside Road journey between Radium and Wilmer.

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Columbia Valley Pioneer staff In the Oct. 19 edition the Pioneer incorrectly reported that Zero Carbon Step is Step 5 in the B.C. Energy Step Code and that local resident Meredith Hamstead was making the case for Invermere to early adopt BC. Energy Step Code 5.

The Zero Carbon Code and B.C. Energy Step Codes are in fact separate codes that, in combination, are meant to ensure new homes in B.C. do not negatively contribute to the global climate crisis.

The Zero Carbon Code is a three-step code related

to operational carbon emissions of new homes. It will be in force in 2024, with lower levels of carbon emission required for new homes down to Zero Carbon in 2030.

The B.C. Energy Step Code is related to the energy efficiency of new homes. Step 3 came into force this year, Step 4 in 2027, and Step 5 will be in force in 2032. Step Code requires that new homes be more air tight, better insulated, have better windows and doors, and have more efficient mechanical systems. Hamstead was in fact making the case for early adoption of the Zero Carbon Step in the Zero Carbon Code, or either of the two other lower carbon steps (moderate, strong).

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October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

3

VALLEY NEWS

RDEK opposes selling public beach land

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Following a recent thumbs down from the Advisory Planning Commission (APC), Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) directors last week also voted not to support an application for sale of public land at Calberley Beach.

The board was unanimous in its decision on the issue during its Friday, October 13 meeting, and added that the RDEK would be interested in taking over control of the land — currently it’s controlled by the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) — with an eye to creating a future Columbia Valley park there.

The public land at the centre of the application is known as the ‘boulevard’ or the Stoddart Boulevard’. It stretches north and south along the eastern shore of Lake Windermere from the public access point where Highway Drive meets the lake in the unincorporated community of Calberley Beach. The boulevard is 600 feet (213 metres) long and 70 feet (21 metres) wide and has been in place for 80 years (in 1943).

Remember

But in the many decades since, property owners in Calberley Beach who front onto the boulevard have encroached significantly onto it, building decks, lawns, retaining walls, staircases, and other structures on what is actually public property.

The end result is that near-lakefront lots in Calberley Beach (lots two through nine) seem as though they are actually right on the lakefront.

The public access — and the encroachment — are not widely known by many Columbia Valley residents. The idea of turning the boulevard into private property has been discussed for some time, and the Calberley Beach residents put forward a similar application three years ago, before it was eventually withdrawn.

This second application, like the first application, seeks to “close” the parts of the boulevard to the north and south of where Highway Drive meets the lake (although not at the exact point where the drive meets the lake). The ‘closed’ land would then be sold from MOTI to the private landowners of lots two through nine at market value.

“From my perspective, it seemed that maybe upland property owners in that

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subdivision (Calberley Beach) would be the only ones to benefit from the sale. To me that’s not enough,” RDEK Area F director Susan Clovechok told the Pioneer.

Clovechok outlined that money from a sale of the boulevard would go into the provincial government’s general revenue.

If that money could have perhaps been earmarked for a project that would benefit all RDEK Area F residents — such as trail development in the area — then perhaps the idea of sale might have more merit, but that’s not the case, she continued.

“Ultimately there is no benefit to other residents and property owners in Area F (outside of Calberley Beach),” she said.

In September the RDEK Area F and G Advisory Planning Commission also voted unanimously not to support the request, citing the following: the transfer of publicly held land to private landowners, inconsistency between lake access requirements at the time of subdivision and current requirements under the Land Title

Act, ensuring lake access to all lake users, and the adequacy (or lack of adequacy) of current lake access opportunities in the surrounding area on the lake.

Ultimately, however, neither the APC’s nor the RDEK board’s lack of support for the application ends it. Both bodies act in an advisory capacity on the issue, and their recommendations to refuse the application will be passed on to MOTI, the organization that actually makes the final decision on the application.

Clovechok said she has no idea how long it may take MOTI to make a decision, particularly since the RDEK suggested transferring the land from MOTI’s control to the RDEK’s control. That adds another dimension to consider.

On the topic of creating a park at Calberley Beach, Clovechok said “that will come with challenges because of the encroachment on that property (the boulevard). But it’s a discussion worth having.”

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4 The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 26, 2023

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The Columbia Valley

PIONEER NEWSPAPER

SERVING THE COLUMBIA VALLEY ONLINE OR IN PRINT

This past week, October 16 to October 23, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 80 calls for service.

The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to: On October 18 the police received a report of a vehicle stolen from a property in the Windermere area. A light grey 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 with Alberta plates went missing sometime between October 15 and

October 18. The Land Cruiser is a unique vehicle, if anyone has any information or has seen the vehicle, please call the Columbia Valley RCMP at 250-342-9292.

In the early morning hours of October 20, members responded to a vehicle fire involving a transport truck on Hwy 93 east of Kootenay Crossing. Luckily the driver and passenger were able to exit the truck after successfully disconnecting it from the trailer, resulting in only the cab burning.

A Kootenay National Park ranger also attended and confirmed there was no danger of the surrounding forest igniting.

Legion prepares poppies Submitted by Invermere Legion The Royal Canadian Legion’s 2023 National Poppy Campaign is officially underway with biodegradable poppies and wreaths and some poignant initiatives to help promote remembrance. They are crafted from a variety of natural materials including paper, cotton velvet, plaster, moss, and bamboo. It will take a few years for residual stock to be depleted, but eventually all poppies and wreaths used during the campaign will be biodegradable.

Poppy stories The Legion is excited to present “Poppy Stories” again this year. People can visit PoppyStories.ca to scan their lapel poppy with their smartphone. They will then be taken to short personal stories about Canadian veterans who gave their lives in service to our country. This initiative is a way to further build connections with those who serve our country, and help people make more direct links between service, remembrance, and our freedoms.

Invermere Legion volunteers are placing the well known poppy boxes at businesses throughout the District of Invermere, Windermere, Fairmont and Canal Flats. Business owners in our community always welcome these boxes and are usually the first to donate. On two Saturdays, October 28 and November 4, volunteers will be out in the community for our poppy tag days. You will see them at various locations with their poppy displays.

Remembrance Day On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour we all stand silent for two minutes to remember and hon-

Jerry Meadows pins a poppy on Invermere Mayor Al Miller. our those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Saturday, Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day in Canada. The Legion will organize the yearly ceremony at the cenotaphs in Canal Flats, Edgewater and Invermere. The ceremony will be very similar to last year’s and we ask that everyone respect each others choices. The parade will be by invitation and we ask those who would like to lay a wreath to do so when called during the ceremony. We welcome all those who wish to come to the cenotaph on November 11. We are hoping to live stream again on a social media platform.

NEW WINTER MENU COMING NOVEMBER 2023

October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

5

Local apiarists win continental awards

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The Columbia Valley produces some really good honey. Want proof? A local honey farm recently grabbed two first-place prizes at the Western Apicultural Society (WAS)’s Northern Lights Beekeeping Conference awards.

Castledale-based Rocky Mountain Honey Farm returned from the conference, held Friday, Sept. 29 to Sunday, Oct. 1 in Calgary, with a blue ribbon (top place) for its dark-coloured honey, and a second blue ribbon for its cut comb honey.

If that doesn’t get you buzzing, it should: the awards honour the best in beekeeping and honey producing in Alaska, the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the western and midwestern U.S, as well as Hawaii.

Yes, that means Rocky Mountain Honey Farm has the best dark honey, and the best cut comb anywhere on the western half of the continent. Not bad, considering it was the first time Rocky Mountain Honey Farm owners and operators Clare and Dave Carter had ever entered a honey contest, and that they only entered three categories at the conference.

“We were absolutely shocked – it’s our very first time entering anything. So to get two first places was amazing,” Clare told the Pioneer. “We’re proud to have this feather in our cap.”

So, what’s the secret to apiary success?

The Carters chalk it up to the Columbia Valley’s excellent natural bee forage. There’s not a lot of commercial agriculture around Castledale, so the bees have a very diverse array of forage sources: the occasional alfalfa crop and clover, snowberry, dogbane, native raspberries, choke cherries and fireweed, to name just a few among the 40 different types of flowers, shrubs and trees the couple figure their bees get nectar from. That mix is why they call their honey ‘wildflower honey.’

In addition the bees are able to forage at different elevations, from right down by the wetlands, to up the mountain slopes throughout the year.

“It really is an exceptional area for honey production.

We’ve always thought so, and now we have the awards to back that up,” Dave said.

The couple’s honey farm involves 100 hives on 40 acres and they explained bees tend to “mine” a nectar source. In other words, when they find a new source, the bees will keep repeatedly going to that source en masse until they’ve exhausted it. This means that as the seasons change, you can actually taste a slight difference in the honey. For instance, early in season the Carters have what

they call “dandelion honey” since that is one of the first nectar sources to bloom, and consequently, that’s what the bees flock to. The honey looks, tastes and smells different as a result of the bees buzzing almost exclusively to dandelions at that time of year.

Rocky Mountain Honey Farm is very much locally produced, and is also very much locally consumed — 90 per cent of the honey is sold between Golden and Invermere.

Getting an award for liquid honey is one thing, but getting an award for cut comb honey is another altogether. Cut comb honey is simply sliced honey comb. It sounds straightforward, but it’s actually quite tricky, and there is a long list of variables (most completely out of the control of the beekeeper) that can go awry.

“You need a very good nectar flow, good hives, and good conditions to make it happen. And it really depends on how the timing turns out,” said Dave. “Some years you get a lot of good cut comb. Other years you do everything right, and you don’t get very much at all. Or what little you get is no good.” Indeed so difficult that many professional beekeepers keep their exasperation in check by not bothering with cut comb honey.

The couple is modest about their cut comb award, with Dave deferring credit to his winged collaborators, saying “my girls (the bees) did what they did, and all I did was give them the opportunity.”

Clare and Dave originally hail from Calgary, but lived for many years in the Okanagan and West Kootenay, before settling in the northern end of the Columbia Valley more than two decades ago. Dave worked for 14 years as a snowcat operator at Kicking Horse Resort in Golden, while Clare worked at Spur Valley Golf Resort, Patty’s Greenhouse in Brisco, the Brisco general store, and for Parks Canada.

In 2017, Karl and Jutta Krezdorn, the German-born couple that started Rocky Mountain Honey Farm in 1997, were looking to sell the operation. The Carters jumped at the chance and have enjoyed the ride ever since. Karl did most of the beekeeping work for the Krezdorns, but unfortunately he passed away not long after the sale, so much of Dave’s beekeeping knowhow is self-taught. Clare runs the business and marketing side of the farm.

Despite enjoying the honey business, the Carters explained to the Pioneer that they will soon be pursuing new opportunities and are looking for what they called Rocky Mountain Honey Farm’s “next generation” — new owners eager to buy out and take over the buzzing business.

A blue ribbon for Rocky Mountain Honey Farm for its cut comb honey.

Photo submitted

NOTICE Columbia Valley Métis Association

Special General Meeting Monday, October 30 - 6:00pm Virtual - Zoom Please email columbiavalleycc@mnbc.ca or call 250-270-0291 to RSVP and receive the code.

Clare and Dave Carter at work with their bees on Rocky Mountain Honey Farm in Castledale. The couple has won two prestigious awards for their honey-making efforts.

Photo submitted

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 10am The AGM will be held at Panorama Mountain Resort and virtually.

Please email: Panorama.Foundation@panoramaresort.com for meeting information or for funding applications.

6 The Columbia Valley Pioneer

PERSPECTIVE

October 26, 2023

A father’s tale to frighten his son Close the shutters. Bolt the door. Snuff the candle. Live no more. Must be quiet.

Don’t be seen. In the dark. On Halloween.

A poor-as-dirt farmer went searching for his cattle in twilight one October when the wind carried long dead whispers through the pines.

After many miles, the old codger sat on a stump to catch his breath, wondering where in damnation his cows got to.

Striking a match to light his pipe, the farmer was startled to see a hulking satyr sitting on a fallen tree not 30 feet yonder.

It seemed the flame of the match itself was frozen in fear as it never had a chance to burn the tobacco.

“Look at your foot,” the woodland God hissed in the growing darkness.

“The hell you say?” the old man replied with his pipe drooping from the corner of this mouth.

The great beast made a gutteral laugh and pointed to the man’s worn-out rubber boots.

The farmer nervously slipped them off and was horrified to see a goat’s hoof where his right foot used to be.

The old coot’s first inclination was to run like a greased pig at a country fair, but he summoned every ounce of courage he had to play it cool.

“Are you the devil?” the farmer asked the abomination.

The thing raised its gnarly head and grunted, “Merely a disciple.”

“Why do you torment me so?” the farmer continued, his voice shaking.

“You have what our Lord wants,” the horned satyr replied.

“What could you possibly want from an old sod like me?”

The farmer was careful not to draw attention to his Grandpappy’s Colt 45 tucked in his waistband.

“We want your cattle, old man, and after we’ve bathed in their blood, we want your wife and children, too,” the evil thing rasped.

The farmer suddenly felt sick; his insides knotting up like mating dew worms.

His beloved Marta and girls, Ginny and

Lou-Ann, were likely preparing dinner right now in the farmhouse.

With a boldness he could scarcely muster, the grizzled old crank said, “You could have done that already.”

The beast with the glossy red skin rose to its feet as the ground tremored. “Yes, but where would the fun be in that, without a fine audience such as yourself?”

The wind died, setting the stage for a deafening silence.

His 50 years of tilling soil and pulling triggers served him well as the Colt came up and the muzzle flashed.

“This pistol ain’t cleared leather in a coon’s age, but I reckon it’d still put a hole where it ought to be,” the old man whistled with new-found confidence.

The satyr stumbled backward and roared as the bullet tunneled under its left eye. Two more ripped holes in its chest, laying the beast to earth.

The farmer then bolted through the trees, wincing in agony as the arthritis gnawed at his hips. Gotta get home to Marta and the girls, his mind screamed as the wind now cackled through the pines.

He thought he heard a crashing sound behind him but couldn’t be sure; he never looked back until he nearly broke down the door to the farmhouse.

“We’se got to git outta here,” he yelled, “the devil is on my heels as sure as the rains in June,” he croaked with hardly a breath to spare. “Marta . . . Ginny . . .

Lou-Ann . . . where you be?”

The crackling fireplace was the only sound as the ol’ codger stumbled into the room where shadows licked the walls.

“They were delicious,” said the hellspawn, dripping blood from horn to hoof as he sat in a dilapidated rocker.

A mile away, a timber wolf turned its head towards the scream from the homestead. After sniffing the wind, it turned and high-tailed it to the next valley where dawn was just breaking.

Close the shutters. Bolt the door. Snuff the candle. Live no more. Must be quiet.

Don’t be seen. In the dark. On Halloween.

Lyonel Doherty, editor

In the middle of building the first road through Sinclair Canyon prior to 1920.

Photo provided by the Windermere and District Historical Society

Water pollution concern Wildsight stands with the Ktunaxa Nation and their right to engage in decision-making regarding the cross-border pollution problem in the Elk and Kootenay watersheds.

After the US and Canadian governments promised to reach an agreement in principle by the end of summer 2023, we have seen no progress made and no meaningful engagement has taken place

with the Ktunaxa Nation on this water pollution crisis. This is unacceptable and must be rectified immediately. The time for action is now.

We encourage you to report on this issue and the Ktunaxa Nations' urgent call for action.

For the wild!

Casey Brennan, Wildsight Conservation Director

The Columbia Valley

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013

PIONEER

is independently owned and operated, published weekly by Robert W. Doull, President and Publisher, Misko Publishing Limited Partnership.

Box 868, #8, 1008 - 8th Ave., Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Phone: 250-341-6299 | Toll Free: 866-496-8047 info@columbiavalleypioneer.com | www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer is available free of charge at 13 essential businesses in the Upper Columbia Valley, limited to one copy per reader.

This publication has been made possible, in part, by the Government of Canada and the support of our advertisers and is published every Thursday. The Columbia Valley Pioneer may be distributed only by its authorized contractors and employees. No person may, without the prior written consent of The Pioneer or its Publisher, take more than one copy of each issue of The Pioneer. The content is protected by copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited except with the permission of the Publisher.

October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To say yes or no to STRs, that is the question Invermere council and planners are asking us (until October 27), should short-term rentals be allowed in R1 and R2 low-density Invermere home areas which comprise a very high percentage of town zoning properties?

At present in low-density R1 and R2 areas, STRs are not allowed, or are operating illegally. Long-term rentals are permitted when the owner resides full time in 60 per cent of their home. Many of us, myself included, have had long-term rentals (LTRs) to help us with expensive home payments despite the grossly absurd tenant-favoured rental act in B.C. A huge problem with STRs is the loss of local LTRs. The result would be more resident exodus and fewer local workers, for starters. Then, logically home prices will again escalate to account for the difference of STR money potential (basic marketplace economics), making buying less affordable for locals. And with increased visitor density within Invermere, town residents will all have to pay more taxes for very costly infrastructure updates that STRs will make necessary. So what are the advantages,

Stop the rogues Someone once wrote that the more people they met the better they liked dogs. I can't really agree with that opinion, but there is one group that I certainly don't want to meet. Those are the people who become unstoppable forces (in their own minds) just by getting behind the wheel of a powerful vehicle. They are frequently found in Kootenay National Park – speeding and ignoring the "no passing" zones, as if the highway was exclusively for them. And I cannot recall the last time I saw anyone apprehended.

That is why I was very pleased to read in the Pioneer that the RCMP is going to make their park presence more common. Some enforcement is long past due.

Thank goodness, not everyone in the valley acts like road rogues. In fact, we are blessed by some wonderful folks that are just the opposite. For instance, I went into Moms Upholstery last week seeking a minor repair. Not only was the repair promptly completed, but there was no charge and I was even sent on my way with a complimentary piece of cucumber to chew on.

Another example of our helpful locals came the next day when I stopped at Mister Tire to pick up a tire which had been left for repair. I promptly got my tire and any payment was again waived off.

We have a wonderful group of friends and neighbours in the valley. Let's only hope that few of them encounter the dangerous road rogues.

except to a very few owners? None, unless you’d enjoy a revolving door of unpredictable strangers for neighbours.

Yes, more density in town is probably inevitable, but this should be for the benefit of local full-time residents only, not more STR transient visitors. Our businesses and shortage of local staff can’t adequately serve the

massive increasing part-time and tourist visitors now. We have until Friday, Oct. 27 to input our opinions via the online survey. Without your participation, you may get an un-retractable “yes” decision that you don’t want.

Bill Ark, Invermere

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8 The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 26, 2023

Chamber honours business with awards

Columbia Valley Pioneer staff Columbia Valley businesses were in the spotlight last week during the 24th annual Business Excellence Awards hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at Radium Hot Springs Centre on October 19.

The gala recognized numerous businesses and entrepreneurs for their standout performance throughout the year.

Winning Businessperson of the Year (sponsored by Panorama Resort) was Stephan Gale from Radium Brewing.

Columbia Valley Freight won Business of the Year (16-plus employees). This award was sponsored by Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery.

Earning the Business of the Year award (1-15 employees) was DevTel Communications. McDonald’s was the award sponsor.

Invermere Health Care Auxiliary won Non-profit/Association of the Year (sponsored by The Columbia Valley Pioneer).

New Business of the Year (sponsored

by Avail CPA) was won by SC2 Strength.

Landon Dales from River Craft earned the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award, sponsored by Aspire Professional Corporation.

The honours of Employer of the Year was given to Aisling Baile Inc., sponsored

by SkiHome Kristina Hann from Blooming World won Employee of the Year, sponsored by Bosley’s by Pet Value.

Toby Creek Adventures was recognized for Tourism Impact, sponsored by Travel Columbia Valley.

The Environmental Stewardship award went to Cleanline Automotive, sponsored by Columbia Valley Community Foundation.

Black Star Studios won the Community Builder award, sponsored by Triptician.

The People’s Choice Awards for Outstanding Customer Service went to Four Points Books, sponsored by Shenanigans on 12th.

Many local businesses and entrepreneurs went home with awards on October 19.

Photos by Justin James

Big success!

Deanna Berrington, Communications & Member Events Coordinator What a party! The 24th annual Business Excellence Awards were a smashing success! We can’t say thank you enough for all the help we received to make this year as fantastic as it was! A huge thank-you for the volunteers who kept things running smoothly and the prosecco flowing (provided by Invermere Liquor Store). Special shout-out to the Rockies for providing a safe ride for anyone who needed it, and cheers to Pharmasave for their emergency toiletries in the bathroom. Palliser Printing graciously supplied the programs, and weren’t they lovely this year?

We also can’t thank our major sponsors enough – without them, it wouldn’t have been so successful: Avenue Modern Clothing, College of the Rockies, Columbia Basin Trust, and Home Hardware.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year – the excellence of the Columbia Valley continues to shine! th 24 ANNUAL

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

AWARDS DEVTEL Communications WINNER BUSINESS OFTHE YEAR 1-15 Employees

th 24 ANNUAL

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

AWARDS Four Points Books WINNER

People’s Choice OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE

th 24 ANNUAL

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

AWARDS Aisling Baile Inc. WINNER EMPLOYER OFTHE YEAR

October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Many businesses stand out for excellence

9

There were a lot of smiles at the 24th annual Business Excellence Awards at Radium Hot Spring Centre on Oct. 19.

Photos by Justin James Award categories • Community Builder This award honours a business, non-profit or organization that actively pursues community involvement and betterment as a core tenant of their business activities in the valley.

• Environmental Stewardship This award honours a business that demonstrates leadership in sustainable business practices and acts as a steward of environmental awareness within our region.

• Outstanding Customer Service - People’s Choice This award honours a business that is a leader in providing exceptional customer service. The winner of this award will be decided by public voting!

• Tourism Impact This award honours a business that has excelled at making the valley a premier travel destination by providing a tourism experience worth shouting about!

• Employee of the Year th 24 ANNUAL

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

AWARDS

This award honours an individual, team or department that demonstrates exceptional commitment to the growth & betterment of their business, serves as a positive example and are viewed as a Superstar to their employer.

• Employer of the Year This award honours a business that demonstrates a commitment to a healthy workplace culture and employee prosperity through professional development, advancement opportunities and employee recognition.

• Youth Entrepreneur of the Year This award honours an individual (25 years old or younger) who demonstrates initiative, exceptional entrepreneurial skills, significant community engagement and a passion for creating their own path in business.

• Businessperson of the Year This award honours an individual who is the founder, owner, CEO, President, or Senior Executive of a company who displays a significant commitment to the success of their business and serves as a leader or model for th 24 ANNUAL

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

AWARDS

Kristina Hann Blooming World

Toby Creek Adventures Ltd.

WINNER

WINNER

EMPLOYEE OFTHE YEAR

TOURISM IMPACT

other businesspeople in our region.

• New Business of the Year This award honours a new business (opening after January 1st, 2022) that has achieved outstanding business performance in a short period of time, demonstrates exceptional promise of continued growth and a commitment to the community.

• Non-Profit/Association of the Year This award honours a non-profit organization or association that is providing outstanding contributions to our region through community improvement, inspiring & mobilizing others and effectively promoting their mission.

• Business of the Year This award honours a business that demonstrates continual business excellence through positive business growth, displays a commitment to the community exemplifies superior customer service and embraces an outstanding commitment to quality. th 24 ANNUAL

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

AWARDS Columbia Valley Freight WINNER BUSINESS OFTHE YEAR 16+Employees

10

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 26, 2023

OUT OF OFFICE…

What a party! The 24th annual Business Excellence Awards were a smashing success! We can’t say thank you enough for all the help we received to make this year as fantastic as it was! A huge thank-you for the volunteers who kept things running smoothly and the prosecco flowing (provided by Invermere Liquor Store). Special shout-out to the Rockies for providing a safe ride for anyone who

needed it and cheers to Pharmasave for their emergency toiletries in the bathroom.

Palliser Printing graciously supplied the programs, and weren’t they lovely this year?

I know everyone who couldn’t make it for the event is just itching to know, so here is a list of the winners, in no particular order, mostly because I couldn’t be bothered to alphabetize it:

Businessperson of the Year Stephan Gale – Radium Brewing Sponsor: Panorama Mountain Resort

Non-profit/Association of the Year Invermere Health Care Auxiliary Sponsor: The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Landon Dales – River Craft Sponsor: Aspire Professional Corporation

Tourism Impact Toby Creek Adventures Sponsor: Travel Columbia Valley

Business of the Year (16+ employees) Columbia Valley Freight Sponsor: Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery

New Business of the Year SC2 Strength Sponsor: Avail CPA

Employer of the Year Aisling Baile Inc. Sponsor: SkiHome

Community Builder Black Star Studios Sponsor: Triptician

Business of the Year (1-15 employees) Devtel Communications Sponsor: McDonald’s

People’s Choice Awards for Outstanding Customer Service Four Points Books Sponsor: Shenanigans on 12th

Employee of the Year Kristina Hann – Blooming World Sponsor: Bosley’s

Environmental Stewardship Cleanline Automotive Sponsor: Columbia Valley Community Foundation

We also can’t thank our Major Sponsors enough – without them, the party would have only been part (ha! See what I did there? Ok, sorry. I’ll stop) Avenue Modern Clothing

College of the Rockies

Columbia Basin Trust

Home Hardware

We can’t wait to do it all again next year – the excellence of the Columbia Valley continues to shine!

-Deanna Berrington Communications & Member Events Coordinator

October 26, 2023

Thursday, October 26 • 1:30-3:30pm Annual Seniors Health Fair. Columbia Valley Centre. Annual Seniors Health Fair presented by the Invermere Seniors Association.

Discover services offered in our valley. Everyone welcome! Free Admission, door prizes & Refreshments!

• 10:30am-11:30am: Senior’s Fitness Columbia Valley Centre, $2 dropin.

• 11:30am-12:00pm: Little Lambs Radium Hot Springs Public Library. Join us for songs, rhymes, and stories with your babies! No registration required.

• 2:00pm-3:00pm: Seniors Tea. Invermere Public Library. Join us for a cuppa and a chat on the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month. All welcome!

• 6:45pm: Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Invermere Legion. $30 buy-in.

• 7:30pm: Trivia Night Windermere Whitehouse Pub.

Friday, October 27 • 10:30am-11:00am: Family Storytime. Invermere Public Library. Join us weekly on Fridays and/or Saturdays for Family Storytime at the library! With stories, songs & a craft. Geared towards preschool age (2-5) but all welcome.

• 12 pm: Lunch at Edgewater Community Hall. Soup or Chili and a Bun, Dessert, Tea or Coffee $10 per person. For take out bring a thermos or jar and container for dessert.

• 2:00pm-3:00pm: Friday Funday. Invermere Public Library. Crafternoon: fun new craft each session! Fall and Halloween themed this month. Drop-in programming. Drop-off for ages 7+. Younger children are more than welcome to join with a grown-up.

• 2:30pm-3:30pm: Teen Connect and Create Radium Public Library. Every fourth Friday of the month. Connect with other teens while making different creations each month! For ages 13 to 18. No registration required.

• 6:30pm - close: Meat Draw and 50/50 in the Legion! Members and guests welcome!

• 7:00pm-10:00pm: Columbia Valley Rockies vs Creston

Saturday, October 28 • 3:00pm–5:00pm: Trick or Treat, Downtown Invermere. (until supplies last) Old-fashioned trick-or-treating in our local businesses. This is a free event for the community. Children are required to be accompanied by an adult. Children 12 and under will be encouraged to dress in costume to receive a treat!

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

• 3:00pm-6:00pm: Back 40 Outdoor Events, Brisco. 2nd Annual Haunted Halloween Hike & Treasure Hunt. Regular admission is $10; kids 6-12 $5; under 6 free. Portion of proceeds to support Columbia Valley Search and Rescue. Get tickets at www.back40outdoor.ca • 10:00pm: Ullr Bar Halloween Costume Party. Featuring DJ Strength – Best Dressed at 11pm. $5 cover • 10:30am-11:00am: Family Storytime. Invermere Public Library. Join us weekly on Fridays and/or Saturdays for Family Storytime at the library! With stories, songs & a craft. Geared towards preschool age (2-5) but all welcome.

• 10:30am-11:30am: Pokemon Club at Main Street Fun & Games for ages 7+, Reading proficiency required.

• 11:00am-12:30pm: LEGO/Duplo Club Invermere Public Library. We'll have Lego, Duplo, big blocks & more out to play with on Saturday mornings! All ages welcome.

• 11:00am-12:00pm: Halloween Craft/Activity Radium Hot Springs Public Library. Join us for a spooky craft/activity! Ages 5+ • 2:00pm-4:00pm: Buddy Reading. Invermere Public Library. Book a one-onone 30 minute reading session to practice reading aloud! Build skill, confidence, and a love of reading. Contact us to book a 30 minute session between 2-4 pm on Saturdays at the library. All reading abilities welcome. publiclibrary@ invermere.net • 6:30pm: Meat Draw and 50/50 in the Legion! Members and guests welcome!

Sunday, October 29

11

Trinity. We want you! Come sing with us! Super fun happy times! Emailbryantolender@icloud.com. see you soon!

• 6:30pm: Poker (Chip up for Charity). The Station Pub $20 buy-in. Every Monday.

Tuesday, October 31 • 9:30am-10:30am: Parent Tot Yoga. Mountain Home Yoga. Well-rounded yoga practice and play. Follow along, or attend to your child, no pressure to participate (this grace is extended to your instructor Laura and her daughter Winnie too!) Here we invite the littlest of us to learn mindfulness, lovingkindness and compassion, while practicing breath and playing with postures.

All ages welcome!

• 10:30am-11:30am: Senior's Fitness Columbia Valley Centre. $2 drop-in.

• 10:30am-11:30am: Homeschool Meetup. Invermere Public Library. Dropin, all-ages programming with open-ended STEAM play, group activities and art projects. A chance for homeschool kids and families to get together!

Please contact us to get on the Homeschool email list to stay up to date and see what extended programs are coming up.

• 11:45am-12.45: Homeschool+ (Extended Program). Invermere Public Library. Specialized programs bi-monthly. Book Club: We’re Not From Here by Geoff Rodkey (ages 8-12) • 2:00pm: Novel Idea Book Club. Invermere Public Library. This month: Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. Pick up a copy at the circulation desk.

• 6:30pm-8:00pm: Second Winds Community Band. Practice at Invermere Catholic Church Annex. For info please email scndwinds@gmail.com

• 2:00pm: Cards, Cribbage and Darts Come to the Legion and have some fun!

Members and guests welcome.

• 5:00pm-7:00pm: Herb of the Month Club Circle Market & Café. A gathering of • Wednesday, November 1 hobby herbalists, plant lovers and wildcrafters. Share and learn together about a different herbal ally each month. Crafted take-homes, recipes, tea and snack • 10:00am-11:00am: Senior's Yoga Columbia Valley Centre, $2 drop-in. provided. Bring your enthusiasm, journal + favourite mug. Sign up for the Fall • 11:30am-12:00pm: Story Time. Radium Public Library - preschool & all class series along the sliding scale $55-$77 Contact Laura to save your spot: ages. email plantsandposes@gmail.com • 3:00pm-4:30pm: After School Club. Invermere Public Library. A window of • 7:00pm: Live Music Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery. Accompanied minors are transition time between school and home or extra-curriculars. Come colour, permitted. No cover. bead, play with LEGO and catch up with friends! Open to all school-aged kids and teens. Drop-off allowed for Grade 2 students and up. Younger kids are welcome with a grown-up. Please bring your own snacks! Register. https:// Monday, October 30 invermere.bc.libraries.coop/ • 10:00am-11:00am: Senior's Yoga Columbia Valley Centre. $2 drop in, open to • 6:00pm-9:00pm: Wednesday Dinners & Meat Draw & 50/50 Invermere all seniors.

Legion. All welcome.

• 5:00pm-7:00pm: Super Happy Fun Time!! Valley Voices Choir. Christ Church

12

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 26, 2023

New movie shows greed behind murders

By Julia Magsombol Local Journalism Initiative julia@columbiavalleypioneer.com There’s a scene in Martin Scorsese’s new film Killers of the Flower Moon where many Osage people are brutally murdered in different ways. At first, when you watch the movie, you would think it was the rampant shooting, stabbing, and bombings that crawl under your skin, but it’s not. It’s the loudest, unspoken actions of settlers’ greed towards Indigenous Peoples.

Killers of the Flower Moon is based on a true story of the murders of Native Americans in Osage County, Oklahoma from 1921 to 1926.

The Osage lands are rich in oils. In 1907, it was estimated that the Osage fields produced oil for more than five million barrels.

William King Hale (played by Robert

De Niro), a wealthy rancher behind the Osage murders and manipulation, sees this wealth as his.

Driven by greed, he suggested an idea to his nephew Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) to marry an Osage woman, Mollie Kyle Burkhart (Lily Gladstone), to acquire her and her family’s wealth. It was not only Ernst who married an Osage woman, but many local whites were encouraged to marry Osage people to acquire the wealth of their spouses.

The movie focuses on the murders of the family of Mollie, where all her sisters and mother died in a suspicious death, with no thorough investigations done.

Her sisters died brutally, one by one.

Hale strategically planned the killings of the sisters so all their wealth would be reverted to Mollie and Ernst, his nephew.

And in the end, he can get all this wealth.

As Hale stays in the land of the Osage,

DISTRICT OF INVERMERE

914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Tel: 250-342-9281 • Fax: 250-342-2934

PUBLIC SURVEY regarding proposals to regulate

Short-Term Rental Accommodation Units (STRs)

many Native people die, and thus, his wealth continues.

Ernst followed Hale’s plans and the plotted murders.

Scorsese focused on the point of view of Ernst in the movie, as he may want to present the themes of greed and its results.

The end of the film seems to depict Ernst’s conscience — where he indeed feels terrible for all his actions. But as audiences, must we justify the way he murdered his wife’s family?

However, through the point of view of Ernst, in the end, the audience can see his conscience and what greed can do to a human — it kills people and many souls, including oneself.

Mollie’s point of view, which I wish there were more, focused on the resilience of Indigenous Peoples. She was able to fight for herself and to feel better despite her illness.

These murders were the same year as the Indian Act was amended in Canada. For more information, read: https://www.fnesc.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IRSR11-12DE-1920-1927.pdf In 1920, the Indian Act was amended to make it compulsory for status Indian children to attend either an Indian residential school or a day school. But most of the time, there were no day schools then.

The only options available were residen-

tial schools or no education at all. And so, many parents were forced to send their children to residential schools.

Canadian residential schools were created to isolate children from the influence of their families and traditions.

European settlers believed their Western civilization was superior and wanted the Indigenous Peoples to convert to Christianity and westernize them. They thought they could achieve this through residential schools by murdering thousands of Indigenous children.

Many Canadian Indigenous Peoples are still suffering from the trauma that residential schools brought.

The Osage murders and residential schools are different stories that took place in different places, but they presented the continuous murder of Indigenous Peoples and their culture.

In both situations, it shows what greed can do — and it doesn’t only kill people but many souls and traditional knowledge that can last a lifetime of trauma.

I personally give this film a score of 4 out of 5. I wish there were more of Mollie’s point of view to show Indigenous People’s resiliency after all they’ve been through.

Overall, every scene in the movie has the purpose of giving the audience the ugly part and painful truth, but a must-know Indigenous history.

The District of Invermere is seeking public input on proposed Short-Term Rental Accommodation Unit (STR) regulations, and other updates to the District of Invermere’s Business Licencing Bylaw. The District of Invermere has posted a public survey regarding these proposals on the municipal website in the “What’s New” section: https://invermere.net/news/ Paper copies of the survey are available at the District’s Municipal Office located at 914 - 8th Avenue, Invermere, BC between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Survey responses can be submitted either on-line or on paper until 4:00 pm, Friday, October 27, 2023.

Background information regarding the proposed STR regulations and updates to the District’s Business Licencing Bylaw can be found on the municipal website: www.invermere.net . Alternatively, information about the proposals can be obtained by contacting the District of Invermere Municipal Office using the following contact information: email: info@invermere.net Telephone: 250-342-9281 FAX: 250-342-2934 Rory Hromadnik

Andrew Young, MCIP, RPP

District of Invermere Email: planning@invermere.net Telephone: 250-342-9281 ext 1235

District of Invermere Email: cao@invermere.net Telephone: 250-342-9281 ext 1225

Director of Development Services

Chief Administrative Officer

REACH OUT

Killers of the Flower Moon is based on a true story of the murders of Native Americans in Oklahoma in the 1920s.

Photo by dartompkins/Getty Images

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doug.clovechok.mla@leg.bc.ca As your MLA I am listening to what matters most to the people of Columbia River-Revelstoke

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October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

13

Does Lady Elizabeth haunt Pynelogs?

A Celtic cross marks the grave of Lady Elizabeth Bruce (Northcote) near Pynelogs Cultural Centre in Invermere. There have been reports of people seeing a shadowy female figure here.

Photo by Chris Moseley

By Anne Jardine Pynelogs Cultural Centre has a bit of a reputation as a haunted house.

It was built in 1914-15, and was intended to be the home of local mining magnate Robert Randolph Bruce and his wife Lady Elizabeth Northcote.

Unfortunately, Lady Elizabeth died suddenly before the construction was complete and never got to live in her grand new house.

In those days, there was no resident doctor to attend to her and perform the necessary surgery that might have saved her.

Randolph Bruce had her buried on the shore of Lake Windermere near Pynelogs. Her grave is marked by a Celtic cross sheltered by a small pavilion.

Bruce later donated Pynelogs to the district to be used as a hospital, and the grounds to be opened as a park. Pynelogs became the Lady Elizabeth Bruce Hospital from 1937 to 1957.

When a large new hospital was built, Pynelogs became a rest home from 1960 to 1968, and then a group home from

1970 to 1988. In its longest incarnation, from 1990 to the present, the building has served as our regional cultural centre.

Over the years, through all of its phases, many people reported hearing sounds in the building – creaking stairways, groaning winds, scratchy sounds, voices, and mysterious openings and closings of doors.

There have even been a few instances of sightings of a shadowy female figure inside Pynelogs and on the grounds.

The stories almost always characterize the ghost as a non-threatening presence.

Could it be the ghost of Lady Elizabeth?

One of the many Pynelogs ghost stories has a performing arts connection.

In 1992, when Yuriko Kuronuma, a renowned visiting violinist, was performing a benefit concert in Pynelogs, her accompanist and several members of the audience noticed a beautiful soprano voice singing a descant harmony above the melodic line of Mozart’s violin concerto.

The mysterious singer was never found. No one in the audience admitted to the singing.

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 26, 2023

Zealous buck gets tangled in soccer net

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

A mule deer is exhausted after getting stuck in a soccer net at DTSS. The buck was rescued by conservation officers and released.

Photo submitted

You’ve Written a Will...

Local conservation officers rescued a mule deer with its antlers entangled in a soccer net at David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) last week.

The buck broke off one of its antlers, but conservation officers expect the animal will otherwise be fine.

The conservation service received a call from a teacher reporting the ensnared deer around 9 a.m. shortly after school began on Monday, Oct. 23.

Senior conservation officer Greg Kruger and his colleague Matt Hall arrived on scene shortly after, used tranquilizers to immobilize the buck, freed it from the net, gave it an ear tag and then released it.

Kruger explained that the buck may have looked at the netting as a sparring partner with the upcoming rutting season, or may simply have inadvertently walked into it, then panicked when it couldn’t get out.

“It struggled pretty hard (to free itself ) and it broke off one of its antlers, which takes considerable force,” Kruger told the Pioneer.

The buck was young, in its second year, with two points on each antler.

“It was a very healthy deer, in good condition. It was injured and it will be in pain for a while because of the broken antler, but it will heal and going forward it should be fine,” said Kruger.

Conservation officers put an ear tag on the buck “so we can track it,” he explained.

Trapped and ensnared deer are something conservation officers deal with each year, and unfortunately not all cases end as well as this one did, said Kruger.

The most common way for deer in the Columbia Valley to get entangled is by sticking their heads into wire-mesh tomato baskets. Conservation officers dealt with exactly that scenario just a day before the buck got stuck in the soccer net.

“Any loose items that a deer can get a leg through, head through or antler through offers the chance of entanglement,” said Kruger.

Loose fencing or partially bundled fencing is another common entrapment for deer and Kruger asked, “if people can be aware of it, try to move it, if possible.

That would be helpful.”

The worst snaring of deer occurs on wrought iron fences with pointed ends.

A local deer impales itself on this kind of fence about once a year on average, outlined Kruger.

“If the fence is very high the deer don’t try to jump over it. But if it is somewhat high — say three or four feet — most deer will still try to jump over it, but sometimes some of them will not make it over. It’s tragic,” said Kruger. “We try to discourage people from building that particular kind of fence, at least at that height.”

Such impalings are almost always fatal for the deer, and occur in Edgewater, Radium Hot Springs, Invermere, Windermere, Fairmont Hot Springs, and Canal Flats. The most recent impaling was six weeks ago in Invermere and ended with conservation officers euthanizing the deer.

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Unrelated to above story, this doe packed on the calories as fast as the snow fell on Tuesday morning, and almost as fast as locals tried to get their winter tires on.

Photo by Ryan Watmough

October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 26, 2023

Former gang member shares journey

By Julia Magsombol Local Journalism Initiative julia@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The new Tania Ross, former street gang member turned motivational speaker and manager of a youth healing lodge in Winnipeg.

Photo submitted

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Behind second chances is always the willingness to change, and that’s the story of Tania Ross, a former gang member turned motivational speaker and manager at a youth healing lodge in Winnipeg.

Ross, originally from Opaskwayak First Nation in northern Manitoba, grew up in Winnipeg, recalling how it all began.

"It was hard because I didn't know how to change my whole life. I've never lived a legit life before," she said.

Ross spent 20 years in prison at the Edmonton Institution for Women and was convicted of second-degree murder in Saskatoon.

Going back in time, her parents separated when she was five years old. She lived with her mother until she was 11.

Ross was brought up in foster care and spent her youth and teenage years going back and forth between Winnipeg and Edmonton.

She was in foster care until she was 15, and that’s when she started getting into trouble with the law. Ross had her eldest son at the age of 17, and was in an abusive relationship with the father of her child until she was 19. "I was on my own," she said.

Everything took a turn for Ross when she decided to join the Indian Posse, an Indigenous street gang based in Winnipeg.

"I was charged for home invasion, gang-related . . . three months later I got lonely and went back to the gang lifestyle.”

This was a very tough time in her life, made worse by getting involved with drugs. At one point she went to prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Ross described her experience inside prison as "pretty rough . . . they treat you like inmates, they don't treat you like a human.” She added, “Three out of 10 guards care about you. And they want to see you do good in life. But not all guards are like that."

The Pioneer asked how this action affects people inside the prison system and Indigenous healing lodges as well.

"It depends. If you're in the max, you weren't treated very well. If you're in the minimum, then you were treated very well. So it depends on your security classification," Ross chuckled.

Meanwhile, Kim Beaudin, the na-

tional vice-chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), spoke about healing lodges from a different perspective.

"I do not think it's really a healing centre designed for and run by Indigenous peoples in Canada. That's just not what's happening," he explained. "They look at these facilities like healing lodges, which is like a barrier for more jails, like more prisons, for more people to be populating in our prisons in Canada. And that's why they don't put the necessary resources forward."

However, Ross said it's been a journey for her, as she thought she'd never make it out of prison and into healing lodges.

"I just didn't want to live that life anymore. Slowly, I made my way out of prison. So, it's been a journey.”

She described how she started changing her life for herself and not for anybody else. She also received a lot of support from the people she loves.

"There's been lots of people that have come into my support system like my work family, I love them. They're always there for me. They're cheering for me to do good . . . my family, my son, and my partner, Mandy."

Ross went on full parole in 2019 and finally went back home. However, the reality isn't easy for her. She had a hard time finding jobs, especially in Winnipeg.

"Nobody wants to hire me. And I had all this lived experience and all this training, but nobody would give me a chance," she said.

But as she changed, second chances came naturally. After 16 months, she got a call from a youth healing lodge in Winnipeg and was offered the program supervisor position for high-risk kids. Six months later, she became the manager.

"I love the work because I can finally give back. What did little Tania need when she was in foster care? Love. And that's the love I give to these babies who were abused. I love it every day. It doesn't feel like work," she said.

Ross also works as a motivational speaker around Canada. She goes to communities to speak to schools and organizations, then tells her life story.

"I forgave my mom a long time ago and forgive myself. And that's why I can be strong and able to give back today in a good way," she pointed out.

"To little Tania, I'm here, you don't have to feel so alone in the world, and you can trust that there are good adults. Keep going to school and have a good life," Ross said to her younger self.

PLEASE FILLEr RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER

October 26, 2023

SPORTS

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

17

Disc golfers hope to create Invermere course

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Efforts are afoot to create a disc golf course in Invermere.

The Columbia Valley Disc Golf Association (CVDGA) will soon present before Invermere council on just such an idea.

The CVDGA was formed a few years ago, and in that short time has already helped create a course at Nipika Mountain Resort, then at Raven’s Nest Resort and Campground near Fairmont Hot Springs, and then a free public course along Sinclair Creek in Radium Hot Springs. A family-friendly course in Invermere is the group’s next ambition.

“It would mean a lot to get a course in Invermere,” association president Jesse Tomalty told the Pioneer.

Tomalty actually began examining the possibility of a public course in Invermere long before the CVDGA existed back in 2007 when he was a Grade 6 student at J.A. Laird Elementary School. He and other students approached municipal officials, but ultimately nothing came of it. More than a decade later, Tomalty returned to the Columbia Valley as an adult after finishing university. His interest in disc golf remained, and he along with a few like-minded other residents formed the CVDGA. Both the course at Nipika and the one at Raven’s Nest are technical, challenging courses that offer a lot for experienced players. But the group wanted something that could instead be fun for beginners, and so undertook the Sinclair Creek course. The vision for Invermere is similar.

“What we really want is a small place in town where families and kids can play the game,” said Tomalty.

Fellow CVDGA member Andre Lodder cited the Idlewild disc golf course in Cranbrook as another example of what the group would love to create in Invermere.

“It’s (Idlewild) a very popular course, probably the most popular in the whole region. It’s very family friendly but it’s also fun for experienced players too,” Lodder told the Pioneer. “The best part of disc golf is that it has such a low barrier to entry, in terms of both skill and cost. If you have a free public course, like we want to have in Invermere, all you need is a $15 frisbee and you can play. And it really doesn’t take very long at all, even if you’ve never held a frisbee, to get the skills you need to go out and have fun on a course.”

Lodder explained that, right now, the idea for an Invermere course is very much in its infancy and that the CVDGA has reached out to the District of Invermere and to the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) “just to get the ball rolling.”

The idea was enough to pique the interest of Invermere council, which after receiving a letter from Lodder, decided to invite the association to present before council members.

Aside from creating disc golf courses, the CVDGA holds free ‘learn to play’ events each Monday through September and October, organizes occasional tournaments, and holds work-play events (including one just last weekend) to help keep the local courses in good condition.

The group is always looking for more volunteers for the work-play events and is happy to hear from anyone else interested in its other endeavours.

To find out more, check out the Columbia Valley Disc Golf Facebook page.

Andre Lodder tosses a disc during play at Sinclair Creek Disc Golf Course in Radium Hot Springs.

Photo by Jason Dubray

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Columbia Basin Trust gratefully operates on the unceded traditional territories of the Ktunaxa, Lheidli T’enneh, Secwépemc, Sinixt and Syilx Nations.

Almost . . . give it a couple of years. Juniper Lodder tries her hand at disc golf like her dad.

Photo by Andre Lodder

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer

October 26, 2023

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October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

19

Pumpkin street race sees ‘hot’ gourds

The first-ever Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater Street Race Classic was a smash success on Saturday, Oct. 21. Teams created wheeled pumpkins, which were rolled down the street in one-on-one elimination matches, knock out style, until one pumpkin (the Weatherhead family’s ‘Pump Kitty’ entry) was crowned the winner. There was another prize (won by the A. Team’s ‘Mr. P’) for “most gorgeous gourd.”

Photos by Jenny Hubrecht

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT Narcotics Anonymous Open Meeting Mondays 7 p.m. at the BC Service Building, South End. 624-4th St. Invermere.

ATTENTION

ASPIRING MUSICIANS

from Parson to Canal Flats Applications are open for the Carol Wilkie Memorial Steamboat Mountain Music Bursary Musicians of all levels and any age may apply.

Funds may be used for: workshops, music camps, lessons, master classes, college, or university music programs.

Deadline: November 15

October 26, 2023

CHEERS WITHOUT TEARS BIG Cheers to Dr. L. Ross for the very professional and painless tooth removal. You are awesome, so glad you moved here and looking forward to my visits with you! Who would ever think I’ll say that to a dentist ?.

CHEERS! To Christina for doing such an amazing job!

Shuswap Band is looking to hire for our newly posted EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR position!

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Cheers to Maj and his team at B.B.'s Home & Design Services the new Mark's store. Customer Renovations, Masonry & Al-Anon. Are you concerned service is great and the staff are Handyman Services, Blinds, Housechecks, eavestrough/ about or affected by someone very friendly! yard cleaning/dump runs else’s drinking? Meeting Cheers to Monique for taking 250-688-2897 Mondays 7:15 pm. at Canadian time from her very busy Martyrs Parish front side door. schedule to transplant a rose GET-ER-DONE 712 12 Ave. Invermere. For bush for a senior citizen prior to HANDYMAN more information or to speak the snow falling. Your kindness Landscaping,Asphalt Pads, with someone from our is very much appreciated.

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Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or con ict in your life, AA can help.

All meetings are at 7 p.m.

Columbia United AA, Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the BC Service Building, South End – 624 4th St., Invermere. Please call 250342-2424 for more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship.

designer, keep up the great Call Ryan 604-346-5087 work!

CHEERS to the volunteer volleyball and soccer coaches at DTSS! Your commitment and dedication to our athletes does not go unnoticed! If you would like to volunteer coach at DTSS, we are looking for more basketball coaches for the upcoming winter season!

In loving memory of Denis G. Bergeron Denis G. Bergeron, age 75, of Invermere, B.C. formerly of Assiniboia, SK, passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Denis is survived by daughter Morgan Bergeron & Adam Duxbury, siblings; Ron & Ali and their sons Michael, Kevin, and Gregory; Judy & Cal Moneo and their children Jeff, Jessica, Curtis, Cameron, and Jennifer; brother-in-law Dennis Oleniuk and daughters Ashley and Stephanie. He was predeceased by his parents, Edgar (2005) and Stella (2022) Bergeron, and sister Lorianne Oleniuk (2001). Funeral Liturgical Memorial Service was held on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in St. George’s Roman Catholic Church, Assiniboia, SK. Interment at Mount Hope Cemetery, Assiniboia. Fellowship and lunch followed at St. George’s R.C. Parish Hall.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Bergeron family may be shared at www.rossfuneralservice.com. Arrangements entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK 306-642-3373

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GARAGE SALES GIANT Garage Sale at Newhouse Storage!

Contractors tools and supplies, Furniture, Housewares, and Much More! 10:00 AM, Sat. Oct 28. 1311 Industrial Rd. #3. All proceeds donated to Columbia Valley Food Bank.

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Nicholas Stuber

11 February, 1938 - 15 October, 2023

Nicholas was born in Budapest, Hungary. He came to Montreal, Canada in 1957, where he met his wife, Livia, who also came from Hungary. While in Montreal, Nicholas went to night school and earned his Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University).

He started his career as an accountant, but after a few years, he and Livia moved to London, UK, where h he switched h d to selling ll business b machines. He was successful in this field, eventually starting his own business. He, together with Livia, ran the business for many years in the UK. During that time, he also enjoyed, with Livia and their two children, winter holidays skiing in Europe and summer holidays visiting family in Montreal.

In the early 1980s, Nicholas moved to Calgary, where he and Livia switched to the food service industry. They began operating a number of shops in shopping centre food courts in Calgary. After expanding this business over a number of years, Nicholas and Livia eventually sold and Nicholas joined Canadian Business Brokers as a business broker. He ultimately became the President of Canadian Business Brokers.

In 1995, Nicholas and Livia built a home in Invermere, BC, where they spent weekends skiing in the winter and boating on the lake in the summer. In 2010, after retiring (for the most part), they made Invermere their full-time home.

Nicholas enjoyed various activities such as skiing, tennis, golf, playing games, particularly playing bridge, cooking, entertaining and dining out. He loved spending time with family. He also loved traveling, socializing and engaging in conversation with anyone and everyone.

Sadly, he suffered with deteriorating health over the last few years. Fortunately, Livia was able to continue to care for him. At the end, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his closest family.

Nicholas lived a full life and was loved by many. He will be very much missed by Livia; his children, Ron (Mel) and Larissa; his grandchildren, Anna, Matt and Megan; and family and friends from around the world.

October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

HELP WANTED

21

HELP WANTED DISTRICT OF INVERMERE

914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Tel: (250) 342-9281 • Fax: (250) 342-2934

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY RECEPTION/CASHIER CLERK PERMANENT FULL-TIME

SEXUAL ASSAULT CLINICAL COUNSELLOR Union Classification: Clinical Counsellor, Grid Level 16P Permanent Part-Time Position Hours: 14 hours per week Salary: $41.78 per hour Shift Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm Job Summary Provides accessible and inclusive clinical counselling to persons of any age who are survivors of sexual assault, including historical sexual assault, after assessing client’s social, psychological, emotional and/or behavioral issues and by developing therapeutic programs and interventions. These services will ensure the personal and physical safety of clients and the counsellor.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 1 Identifies, assesses, and monitors client’s needs in conjunction with caregivers and/or other service providers.

2. Develops and implements short-term therapeutic counselling plans necessary to meet client goals and objectives. Provides individual and group counselling interventions using therapeutic techniques depending on client need.

3. Will collaborate with clients to identify the circumstances that have led the client to seek or be referred for counselling.

4. Maintains knowledge of community resources, and in agreement with the client, provides resources and appropriate referrals to meet their needs, with respect of Indigenous cultural and healing practices. When appropriate referrals to other local service providers including, the safe homes and transition house, victim services, alcohol and drug programs and mental health services will be undertaken.

5. Performs other related duties as required.

A more detailed job description is available upon request.

Accountability The Family & Individual Counsellor is accountable to the Director of Program Management and/or Executive Director. Clinical supervision is provided by Family Dynamix. The counsellor is responsible to read and follow the employment policies and procedures of Family Dynamix Association.

Qualifications Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology or a related field.

A. Registered membership in one of the following professional associations is a minimum requirement: I. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association II. BC Association of Clinical Counsellors III. BC Psychological association; and, B. Experience or training in: I. Counselling survivors of Sexual Assault II. Trauma-informed Practice; and, III. Indigenous cultural safety Training and Experience: Two (2) years recent related experience. education, training, and experience.

The District of Invermere has an opening for a Reception/Cashier Clerk position in its Administration and Finance Department.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Reception/Cashier Clerk position performs a variety of routine and non-routine clerical tasks, word processing, spread sheeting, record keeping, cashiering, facility booking, photocopying, and other duties as assigned. The Reception/Cashier Clerk position possesses a sound knowledge of specific department procedures and municipal bylaws and regulations.

Under supervision, the Reception/Cashier Clerk position is required to exercise some independent judgment and action within the limits of departmental systems and procedures. The Reception/Cashier Clerk position must deal courteously and effectively with the public and municipal clients. Performance will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy of work undertaken and assigned, as well as adherence with the District’s procedural guidelines.

The preferred candidate for this position will have completed a business college or secretarial program with extensive computer training. Municipal work experience would be an asset. Applicants interested in applying for this position must possess the following skills and abilities: • Completion of Grade 12 (Senior Secondary School Graduation); • Completion of a minimum of a six (6) month office administration training program; • Proficient word processing skills and a minimum net keyboarding speed of 50 to 80 words per minute; • Working knowledge of and experience using standardized business letter formats in English, as well as record management systems; and • Knowledge and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (i.e., Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, and Access) as well as Adobe software.

The selected candidate will be expected to: • Maintain accurate, dependable, high-quality work; • Communicate effectively (i.e., orally and in writing); • Possess good organizational skills; • Possess excellent interpersonal skills; and • Maintain harmonious relationships with the public and staff.

This position is within C.U.P.E. 2982 bargaining unit. The current wage rate for this position falls within the range of $32.05 - $32.97 per hour plus benefits as detailed in the Collective Agreement. The Reception/Cashier Clerk position is expected to work 35 hours per week Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

A job description for this position is available but is currently under review.

Persons interested in applying for this position are invited to submit their resumes by 2:00 pm on Monday, November 6th, 2023 to:

District of Invermere Attn: Kindry Luyendyk, Corporate Officer Box 339, Invermere, BC, V0A 1K0 Email: corporateservices@invermere.net

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

Or an equivalent combination of

Application process and deadline: Submit a resume and cover letter to Cari Stewart, Director of Program Management, Family Dynamix Association at cstewart@fdx.family, or Box 2289, Invermere, BC., V0A 1K0 by Monday, October 30, 2023 at 4pm.

PS: We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

THIS IS A TEST 14M THIS IS A TEST 14L

THIS IS A TEST 14B THIS IS A TEST 14K

THIS IS A TEST 16M THIS IS A TEST 16L

Roadwork crews have been busy paving 13th Street in Invermere.

Photo by Ryan Watmough

22

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

HELP WANTED

October 26, 2023

Those determined Dragonflies

The dragonfly is a unique insect that can see in all directions simultaneously.

Photo by wirestock/Getty

By Julia Magsombol Local Journalism Initiative julia@columbiavalleypioneer.com

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER

They say that dragonflies can see in all directions simultaneously — and that might be true because, in this way, they symbolize a change and a view of self-understanding in some Indigenous communities.

There are a lot of different kinds of dragonflies. But they usually have long bodies with two narrow pairs of membranous and transparent wings. Most of their wings have brown spots.

There are approximately 3,000 kinds of dragonflies on Earth, but their colour varies from yellow to red, brown, and blue in Canada.

The heads of the dragonflies may not be apparent due to their small size, but if you look closely, their heads are very round. They have two large eyes (usually green) that wrap around their head. They have two antennae, and a lower jaw called a labium. Dragonflies can grow three inches long, with a wingspan averaging two to five inches wide.

Like butterflies, they have three stages in their lifecycle. They start from eggs, then larva, then adult. Once they reach adulthood and have complete wings, their lives last only for five weeks.

They prefer sunny, sheltered places in trees and bushes. Dragonflies are usually found near freshwater places such as riverbanks, canals, ditches, ponds and lakes.

They are attracted to any place that has water. They can easily be spotted in wetlands.

You might be wondering what most dragonflies eat considering how small they are. Surprisingly, dragonflies are carnivores. They usually eat mosquitoes, midges, flies, bees, butterflies, and other small insects they can easily catch. They eat whatever is available to them. Dragonflies rarely eat plants or nectars.

Dragonflies are far from being extinct, as there are 7,000 species left. Based on the 2021 report of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 16 per cent of dragonflies worldwide are at risk for extinction.

And the number one reason for this is their habitat deteriorating. Other reasons include climate change, water pollution, and human destruction.

There are 87 unique dragonflies in B.C. There are River Jewelwing, Vivid Dancer, Familiar Bluet, and more. See https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/plants-animals-and-ecosystems/ species-ecosystems-at-risk/brochures/ rare_dragonflies_bc.pdf Since a dragonfly's eyes wrap around its head, enabling it to see in all directions at once, this demonstrates a flexibility that allows for a smoother transition and transformation to oneself.

Indigenous Peoples in the northwest coast see dragonflies as a symbol of new life and change in the view of self-understanding.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE – BYLAW 3255 – New Zoning Bylaw – Area F and Area G The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of Directors is considering adoption of the Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw. The zoning bylaw will replace the current Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900.

Bylaw No. 3255 is cited as“Regional District of East Kootenay – Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 3255, 2023.”Bylaw No. 3255 applies to all land within Electoral Area F and Electoral Area G. A public hearing will be held via Zoom webinar conference: Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 7:00 pm.

The Board has delegated the holding of this hearing to the Directors for Electoral Area F and Electoral Area G.If you believe that your interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaw, you may prior to the hearing: • inspect the Bylaw by viewing the Bylaw and associated Map Schedules at: engage.rdek.bc.ca or requesting that an information package be emailed to you by contacting kmacleod@rdek.bc.ca. Information packages may be requested up until Monday, October 30, 2023 at 4:30 pm; • mail or email written submissions to the address shown below before Monday, October 30, 2023 at 4:30 pm; • present verbal submissions at the public hearing.

You must pre-register in order to attend and provide verbal presentations or make comments at the hearing. The deadline to register is Monday, October 30 at 4:30 pm.

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_khCfmHN6TLGX6ftIJSJ00g or by visiting www.rdek.bc.ca (Meetings/Minutes, Public Hearings and Meetings page).

SUBMISSIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING. All submissions will form part of the public record and will be published in a meeting agenda posted online. Personal contact information such as phone and email will be removed from written submissions. Questions about the disclosure of your personal information may be referred to the Corporate Officer at 250-489-2791 or 1-888-478-7335.

This notice is not an interpretation of the Bylaw. For more information, contact Karen MacLeod, Planning Supervisor at 250-489-0313 or toll free at 1-888-478-7335 or email kmacleod@rdek.bc.ca.

19 – 24 Avenue South, Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8 | 250-489-2791 | 1-888-478-7335 | Fax: 250-489-3498 | info@rdek.bc.ca | www.rdek.bc.ca

October 26, 2023

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

BEY

THE BLUE LINE

ND

23

By Stephanie Stevens Rockies, Rockies everywhere.

The Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena saw Columbia Valley Rockies hockey action from morning to night last weekend.

The Windermere Valley Minor Hockey League Under 13 Rockies hosted several teams from the East Kootenay Minor Hockey Association in the 2023/24 tiering tournament.

The weekend was less about winning (though the junior Rockies team did win all four games they played, one in Canal Flats and three in the home barn) and more about sorting the various teams into divisions to determine who will play whom in this season’s competitive league games.

Friday and Saturday evening (Oct. 20 and 21) saw the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Junior A Rockies hosting first the Grand Forks Border Bruins and then the Summerland Steam the following night.

Despite all previous meetups seeing the Rockies beat the Bruins, the Rockies had a tough time scoring, and according to head coach and general manager Taylor Sincennes, some undisciplined penalties cost the team the game.

The goals scored in the 4-2 loss were courtesy of #14 Tysin Mulligan in the first (assists from #24 Luke Hamilton and #7 Danny Schmirler) and an unassisted goal by Schmirler in the second.

But the team turned it around for Saturday when the Steam rolled in, resulting in a shutout.

“We played really well from start to finish,” said Sincennes. “We created tons of offensive opportunities and defended really well, only giving up 15 shots.”

Starting out the scoring in the first was #8 Theo Fath (assists from #29 Carter Krause and #24 Luke Hamilton), Mulligan in the second (assist by #9 Carter Velker), and #22 Kobe Mason started off the third period with an unassisted goal and #12 Kaelen Shelton made it four (assists courtesy of Mulligan and Velker).

Between the pipes for the shutout game was #1 Jaiden Jakubowski.

The Rockies are back home in the Eddie on Friday, Oct. 27 and away in Kimberley Oct. 28.

The Columbia Valley Rockies hosted the Grand Forks Border Bruins and the Summerland Steam on Oct. 20-21. The Rockies lost to the Bruins but beat the Steam the following night.

Photo by Stephanie Stevens

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR & TOWN HALL MEETING

Area

G

NOV 2

7:00PM

EDGEWATER COMMUNITY HALL 4818 SELKIRK AVE, Edgewater

Photo by Stephanie Stevens

7:00PM – VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION: HONOURING NORM JULIEN 7:30PM – TOWN HALL MEETING TOPICS FOR THE TOWN HALL MEETING INCLUDE: • • • • • •

Director’s Report Short Term Rentals Regulation Update Five-Year Financial Plan Radium Transfer Station Update Climate Action Plan CV Active Transportation Project

1-888-478-7335 | www.rdek.bc.ca

24

The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Horsing around in parade

October 26, 2023

Columbia Valley

Churches LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH While you are with us, you are always welcome to join us.

Sunday at 10:30 am 326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 | www.lwac.ca

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED Minister: Brent Woodard Sundays at 10:30 am, in-person or on Zoom.

For the Zoom link, please visit our website at wvsm.ca.

110 - 7th Ave. in Invermere.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Sunday 10 a.m. Worship Service 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere 250-342-9511 | www.valleychristianonline.com

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats: Saturday, 4 pm Canadian Martyrs’, Invermere: Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 9 am St. Joseph’s, Radium: Sunday 11 am Father Francis Dela Cruz | 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167

The recent Dora Porcina Memorial Parade in Invermere brought smiles to many faces as decorated horse and rider visited local seniors homes just before Halloween. No tricks. Just treats.

ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday 1:30 p.m. Worship Service at Valley Christian 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere lutheranstpeter@gmail.com

Photos by Jenny Hubrecht

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Couple hosts Halloween tour Columbia Valley Pioneer staff Once again, a husband and wife team in Athalmer is inviting people to their Halloween house on October 27 and 28.

Donna and Arnold Scheffer are opening their yard and home for tours this Friday and Saturday night from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 410-3rd Avenue.

The tour begins from the back alley and enters the house via the back deck and patio door.

“It is a Halloween house, so it is spooky but nothing will jump out at you to scare you,” said Donna.

The tour is designed for people of all ages; you don’t need to have a child with you to enjoy it, however, children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult to enter.

There is no admission fee, but there will be a container for Terry Fox donations and a box for non-perishable food items for the local Food Bank.

There will be no tours on October 31.

The Scheffers are once again hosting a Halloween house tour on October 27 and 28 at 410-3rd Avenue in Athalmer.

Photo submitted

Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater | 250-342-6633 #4, 7553 Main St. Radium | 250-347-9937

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Worship Service, Sunday, 10 a.m.

Relief Society, 11:15 a.m.

President Kendyn Mackensie • Columbia Valley Branch • 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs 250-439-9041

CHURCH OF CHRIST (Iglesia ni Cristo) Worship Service: Sunday 9 a.m., Thursday 7:45 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce (Lions Hall) For inquiries: 250-688-1643 250-270-2208 or 250-688-0629 For more info about the church, you can Google online at incmedia.org or pasugo.com.ph

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