Columbia Valley Pioneer - September 14, 2023

Outdoor education advocates ‘shocked’

No mention of it in CBT draft plan

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) has released a draft version of its Columbia Basin Management Plan, and is seeking public feedback.

The draft has already created a stir, not so much for what it contains as for what it does not contain, with local outdoor education advocates noting the plan does not refer to education or learning in broad or general terms, let alone to environmental education specifically.

The topic became a hot issue this past spring, when the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) announced it would discontinue funding for outdoor and environmental education programs that it had been giving money to for years. The move took effect earlier this year and several prominent local organizations had their programs affected, including the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN), Wildsight and the Lake Windermere Ambassadors.

When the CBT undertook public engagement this past spring, in the form of community meetings, those connected to outdoor education were out in force, making their voices heard and their dismay at the funding cuts known. That included at a community meeting here in Invermere, where the Columbia Valley Centre was packed with dozens of residents, and where the conversation returned repeatedly to outdoor education.

These same reactions are now being re-run, with environmental education advocates expressing surprise at the topic’s omission in the new draft management plan.

“We read the plan over in detail several times just to make sure we weren't missing anything. The plan includes important focus areas dedicated to supporting the natural environment, climate change, relationships with Indigenous Peoples, and

building stronger communities. However, we were shocked to find that education and learning are completely absent from all areas of the plan,” CBEEN executive director Duncan Whittick told the Pioneer

Whittick added that education and learning “are foundational to the important priorities that have been identified such as addressing the growing impacts of climate change, building healthier relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples, and supporting the health of the local natural environments that we all value.”

He noted that more than 100 people at the Invermere community meeting identified outdoor education as a priority, adding that CBEEN estimates that more than 1,000 people brought the topic forward at meetings through the basin last spring. This, he pointed out, “is a significantly large proportion of the total number of people who engaged in this feedback process.”

Whittick explained CBEEN has not heard why education is not in the plan, but given the tight timeline (the deadline for feedback is September 20), he recommended the public give feedback through the CBT’s online input survey or through other official channels.

“Prior to the release of the plan we heard from individual staff and board members who said that they were reluctant to fund environmental education because they had funded it in the past. But by that logic nearly all of the organizations in the basin would be excluded from future funding,” said Whittick. “And we also heard from staff saying that we should ensure that those who supported outdoor learning and environmental education being in the plan should come out and let CBT know this was important to them, which hundreds upon hundreds of people did.”

Continued on page 7

Advocates for outdoor environmental education are concerned that the CBT has not specifically addressed this in its draft plan. Shown here is a pair of Sandhill Cranes.

Photo by Jane Shopland

RCMP Report

Sgt. Ed DeJong Columbia Valley RCMP

This past week, September 4 to September 11, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 82 calls for service.

On September 5, an officer observed a vehicle travelling southbound on Hwy 93/95 near Dry Gulch at over twice the posted speed limit. The driver failed to stop for police and continued at a high rate of speed southbound where he was again observed travelling at approximately 150 km/hr approaching the Athalmer Road intersection. The driver proceeded through the intersection striking another vehicle, then rolling over multiple times coming to rest in the Black Forest restaurant parking lot. Police were on scene almost immediately, but in the ensuing chaos, the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Police located the driver approximately one and a half hours later. Thirty-seven-year-old Joshua McLelland was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including dangerous driving, fail to stop for police, obstruction, resist

arrest, and fail to remain at the scene of a collision. He is currently in custody awaiting his next court appearance.

On September 11, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to a collision on Hwy 93 at the Floe Lakes Trailhead. A Harley Davidson motorcycle was driving erratically eastbound on Hwy 93 and pulled out to pass on a double solid colliding with a pickup turning left into the trail head. The 51-year-old male driver of the motorcycle suffered life-altering injuries and was airlifted via STARS air ambulance to Calgary Foothills Hospital.

Eight of the 82 calls for service, or 10 per cent, were false alarms. The use of a home alarm system is an effective way to protect your property when you are away; however, responding to false alarms takes RCMP officers away from other work and ties up resources needlessly. If you have an alarm system and are experiencing issues with false alarms, please contact your alarm company to troubleshoot and correct the cause as soon as possible. If you accidently set off your alarm, please contact your alarm company immediately to cancel the alarm.

Horsethief Creek fire ‘held’

Columbia Valley Pioneer staff

The BC Wildfire Service has reported that the Horsethief Creek fire is being ‘held,’ meaning it is not expected to grow beyond its current size of 3,918 hectares.

“The wildfires that comprise the Horsethief Complex have stabilized, (and) all evacuation alerts and orders have been rescinded,” it says.

Resources across the Horsethief Complex have

downsized where they are no longer required, and guards to protect priority areas have been established and tested. Firefighters will continue to monitor and patrol the fires, extinguish any hotspots and strengthen containment in priority areas. Drone scans are ongoing to identify areas where heat remains so crews can extinguish them.

The BC Wildfire Service advises the public to stay out of these fire areas, even when area restrictions are not in place.

DEARINVERMERE, Iloveourvalley.

Besidesitsnaturalbeauty,it possessesincrediblecommunity andremarkablepeople.

AndIhavebeenfortunateto personallyconnectwithsomany amazingfolks.

Manyofmyverybestconversations andconnectionshavehappened eitherinourCafé,orinoneofthe othermanygreatspotstomeet inourregion.Wehavegreat placestoconnect.

27yearsago,westartedroasting coffeeinourgarage.

Whoknewwe’dbewherewe aretoday?

Today,we’reproudofhowour coffeecompanyhasgrown.

Andweareimmenselyproudand gratefulforthecommunitythathas helpedusgrowovertheyears.

OurCaféhasbeenaplacewhere coffeeandcommunityconnects.

OnthisFriday,September15th, we’reopeningournewCafé.

AndIamexcitedformore communityandcoffeeconnections.

OurnewKickingHorseCafé team,ledbyVictorandother familiarfaces,arealsoexcited tobeginanewadventurein ourcommunity.

Indesigningou rCafé,we’ve challengedourselvestodreambig.

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It’sbeenalaboroflove.

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COMEJOINUSSEPTEMBER15&16 FOROPENINGSHENANIGANS&OTHERACTIVITIES.

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Swallowed by tech whale

Humankind is continually being swallowed up by technology to the point that our humanity is being whittled away like a piece of hickory in a woodcarver’s hands.

To many institutions, we are just a number on a screen. To the many hackers and identity thieves out there, we are just another victim without a face, unless of course you are on Facebook for the world to see (hey, look at the muffins that just came out of my oven).

We all have to admit that technology is great when we need it. But do we really have any other choice? Yes, you can live like Alan Tenta in the bush without electricity and running water, but your spouse and kids won’t. So be prepared to go it “Alone.”

Forty years ago if you kept talking about Twitter, Tik Tok, and WhatsApp you would have found yourself in a padded room looking at symbols on cards held up by nice people in white coats.

The truth is if you’re not technologically savvy today, you’ll be left behind.

A recent newsletter to parents in School District 6 is one example, asking them to fill out all of their start-up forms electronically. Why? To reduce paper consumption and the risk of losing sensitive information. But as one parent told the Pioneer last week, playing the security card seems strange given the fact it is probably easier to hack something in this day and age than to steal a paper document.

Parents who want to find out how their child is doing either have to set up a meeting with the teacher (which is far more personal and informative) or be well-schooled in online navigation. Visit this website. Download this app. Update that app. It can be confusing for many, and very frustrating when it’s not working. Argh! Stupid website!

All I want to do is find out how my kid is doing in school, not the schematics of rocket propulsion. Wait, no letter grades? What is the world coming to?

The latest buzz is the utilization of AI (artificial intelligence) in education, deemed revolutionary to learning and teaching. This is basically using computer systems to perform tasks commonly associated with the human mind. The advantages include personalized learning, instant feedback, and enhanced resources to assist in tutoring and special needs support. But the disadvantages are lack of interpersonal skill development, privacy/security issues, potential job displacement, and zero emotional support.

Let’s not lose sight that we are humans first, not machines. Our intelligence is not simulated, it is real. And while today’s computers may be smarter and faster than our brains, they have no humanity, and that’s what makes all the difference.

Lyonel Doherty, editor

There are new books arriving at the Radium Library every month, and if we do not have the book that you are looking for, we will do our best to bring it in from another library. We also recently put together a parent resource basket, which contains children’s books that cover difficult topics for parents and caregivers.

There are some exciting new additions to our program calendar this fall, as well as a few old favourites. We have weekly, monthly, and seasonal programs for all ages. Check out our calendar on our website for information on upcoming library programs and events.

On behalf of the staff at the Radium Public Library, we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported and contributed to the 2023 Friends of the

Radium Library Adventure Auction. We are grateful for the support and generosity of our community and local businesses. Thank you to the Friends of the Radium Library for putting together such an incredible fundraiser.

We’re happy to report that our first Adventure Auction this summer was a great success with close to $3,000 in bids. We’d like to acknowledge everyone who volunteered and supported the Friends of the Radium Library, with a special thank you to ocal businesses that generously donated all of the fabulous prizes. Kudos also to the Village of Radium Hot Springs, and Jill Logan, for helping us with our printing needs. Wondering if you’re a winner? We’re contacting all individuals with successful bids, along with the passport draw prize winner, informing you how to accept your treasures.

In addition to the Adventure Auction, we also held five pop-up book sales on Fridays during the Market on Main events in July and August. Extremely popular, these impromptu book sales provided locals and visitors alike with bargain summer reads.

Get out your calendars and circle Saturday, Nov. 25, because you won’t want to miss our third annual Christmas Book Sale. We’ve got thousands of gently used books, in dozens of genres, at low, low prices, plus treats, crafts, and a visit from Santa. It all happens at the Radium Community Centre from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This week’s column was written by Jacqueline Wagner, director of the Radium Public Library, which is located at 4683 Stanley Street. Friends update written by Donna Tunney. Call 250-347-2434 for more information.

‘Fall’ into good books this autumn

CBT draft plan void of outdoor education

Continued from page 3

Through his role as Wildsight’s Columbia River Futures program manager, Golden-based Graeme Lee Rowlands helps run several environmental education programs, including the Columbia River Field School, which many Columbia Valley residents are familiar with and which takes teens on a 15-day paddle along the Columbia River, starting at its source in Canal Flats. He echoed many of Whittick’s sentiments.

“I am also surprised. I don’t completely understand,” he said, adding he had

been at the CBT’s Canal Flats community meeting in the spring and the CBT’s symposium in Golden in the summer, and that environmental education was a prominent topic at both. He also explained, as Whittick did, that environmental education can easily be a key method for helping the CBT achieve positive results in its six chosen focus areas.

Last spring CBT officials had outlined to the Pioneer that during previous rounds of public consultation (held digitally during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 and 2021), public input had shown on-the-ground ecosystem restoration as a

top priority. The CBT officials suggested that in choosing to funnel money to restoration projects, they must necessarily claw back funding in other areas, such as outdoor education.

But according to Lee Rowlands “those two things are actually very complementary. We do need on-the-ground ecosystem restoration, but for long-term success of ecosystem restoration, we need education . . . it doesn’t need to be an either-or proposition; I think there’s actually a lot of potential in harmonizing these two (environmental education and ecosystem restoration).”

The Pioneer asked the CBT specifically about the lack of mention of education in the draft management plan and CBT communications director Delphi Hoodicoff replied that “given the plan is a longer term — 10 years — it is also a higher-level document and not as specific as previous plans. After it is finalized, there will be more effort required to develop the trust’s approaches in particular focus areas with more detailed planning to come.”

The public can provide input prior to the September 20 deadline online at ourtrust.org/draftcbmp or by calling the CBT at 1-800-505-8998.

The bears are back: secure your garbage

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The bears are back in town.

Like cooler, crisper evenings and the yellow of a few tree leaves, bruins wandering residential streets are a sure sign of seasonal change in Invermere.

A sure sign, yes, but for most people not exactly a welcome one. Still, you can hardly blame the bears for trying their darndest to fatten up before hibernation. What you can do, and should do — and what unfortunately some people are not doing — is to get rid of natural bear attractants, such as ripe fruit hanging on trees, and secure unnatural ones (your garbage) so the bears can’t get it.

So far it’s been a great year in terms of there not being much human-bear conflict. But that could change — a black bear sow and her three cubs have been ambling around the Wilder subdivision, southern Invermere and the parts of Invermere near the local primary, elementary and high school. Local conservation officers are asking the public to be alert.

“Up until the last two weeks it has been almost unprecedented for the low number of bear conflicts in the Columbia Valley in terms of what we see at the Conservation Officer Service,” senior Columbia Valley conservation officer Greg Kruger told the Pioneer last week.

An abundance of rain early in the spring and summer and then significant heat created a bumper natural berry crop, which has kept the bears busy up in the hills, explained Kruger. “If there is a natural food source, they will focus on that. And this year that’s exactly what they did.”

But that crop is now starting to dry up, at least in the hills, and as a result bears are coming down to the valley bottom.

“So we’re seeing an influx of bear sightings and bear complaints now. In Radium, in Invermere, in Panorama, in Windermere, and in Fairmont Hot Springs,” said Kruger. “In Invermere over the last five days, we’ve had a sow with three cubs actively moving around.”

When the Pioneer spoke with Kruger on Friday, Sept. 8, the most recent sighting of the bear family had been the day prior on 10th Avenue in the Wilder subdivision.

“They are in Wilder, in the parts of Invermere off Westside Road and up closer to the schools. They’re getting fruit up in (fruit) trees and on the ground and they are snooping around for unsecured garbage,” he said.

Invermere resident Andy Stuart-Hill has lived in the Wilder subdivision for 53 years, and has seen plenty of bears in the neighbourhood over those decades, but ex-

plained that this is the first time he’s seen a mother bear with three cubs there.

Kruger strongly emphasized the need for residents to secure their garbage and help prevent a negative outcome for the bear family.

“It’s extremely difficult for us to deal with a (bear) family group. We really want to avoid having to euthanize the mother bear. Relocating a family of orphaned cubs is very hard,” he said.

Conservation officers have had to deal with improperly secured garbage in Rushmere, Windermere, Panorama and Radium.

“We have a common recurring issue, that should not be recurring, with people putting their garbage in wooden bins that are not really bear proof,” explained Kruger,

adding there is a $230 fine under the Wildlife Act for attracting dangerous wildlife to land or premises.

“We don’t want to have to do that (give fines), but people do need to be more responsible about not habituating bears to human food sources.”

Conservation officers recently trapped a bear at Panorama Mountain Resort. They were trying to catch a bear that had been getting into restaurant grease traps, but ended up catching a different bear instead.

“It was not the target bear that we caught,” said Kruger, so it was tranquilized and then relocated.

Bear sightings or bear conflicts should be reported to the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hot line at 1-877-952-7277.

A black bear sow and her three cubs take a stroll on 9th Avenue in Invermere. Residents are advised to use caution and to ensure their garbage is secure.

Photo by Andy Stuart-Hill

Bring back bovine firefighters: rancher

By Lyonel Doherty lyonel@aberdeenpublishing.com

After witnessing the wildfire devastation in BC this year, a veteran rancher in the Columbia Valley is urging a renewed focus on utilizing cattle as natural firefighters.

Franz Feldmann, chair of the Windermere Valley Rural Range Patrol, believes this resource is part of the solution to manage the damaging impacts of wildfire.

A rancher for more than 60 years, Feldmann enjoys the fact it’s a tradition in his family, with his son, daughter and granddaughter in the business full time. Other family members also help out throughout the year.

Feldmann points to areas such as Toby Benches that used to have approximately 400 head of cattle grazing there. But not anymore, which he fears is a hazard to local infrastructure and homes.

“If those cows keep the grass down, there is way less chance for fire to get started,” he says, noting these bovines keep the tall, dry grass to a safe level.

He recalls (in 1985) a large wildfire south of Invermere where cattle used to graze, but they were subsequently moved off the land. A campfire reportedly spread to tall grass and burned all the way to K2 ranch, he points out.

Feldmann also remembers another fire (in 1991) by Toby Benches that jumped Horsethief Canyon and came within 1.5 kilometres of his ranch.

With increasing recreational pressure in the Steamboat range unit, Feldmann and his range patrol members have to remain vigilant for campfires. One year they spotted 34 campfires on a long weekend.

The BC Cattlemen’s Association is a strong supporter of using cows as lawnmowers to keep the wildfire hazard in check. It uses targeted grazing to manage fires and bring them under control when they start.

It is reported that more than 160 million tons of carbon was released into the atmosphere during the 2017 wildfire season in BC, and from 2017 to 2018, more land was burned by wildfire than the last 25 years combined. But 2023 is being touted as the worst fire season in Canada’s history.

Four years ago the BC government provided $500,000 to the BC Cattlemen’s Association to use grazing livestock to manage fine fuels in the province. Since then the ranching sector, local governments and Indigenous communities have developed partnerships to conduct pilot projects to see the job done.

Then Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham said reducing the risk of wild-

fires and adapting to a changing climate requires more action than the status quo of the last 20 years.

While targeted grazing is not the whole solution, it is seen as a powerful tool when used in combination with other methods, such as prescribed burning and

selective tree harvesting.

Kevin Boon, general manager of the BC Cattlemen’s Association, said fire seasons have shown them the value of cattle grazing in mitigating the start or spread of fires.

Long-time rancher Franz Feldmann believes the solution to preventing devastating wildfires in BC is to bring back the age-old practice of using cattle as natural firefighters.

File photo

Veteran rancher Franz Feldmann with his cattle that he views is the key to helping reduce the effects of wildfires in the province. File photo

Stewardship toolkit pitched to landowners

Columbia Valley Pioneer staff

(The following are news briefs from last week’s Regional District of East Kootenay meeting.)

Engineering report

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort signed an agreement in early August that will allow access to construct the new Cold Spring Creek barrier.

It is expected that construction will begin in early September, however, there is potential for delays.

Meanwhile, construction of the channel repairs below Fairmont Creek Wier 2 is scheduled for late September.

The request for proposals for Fairmont Creek Debris Flow Hazard and Risk Assessment and Mitigation options has been delayed until this fall to facilitate the proponents’ busy schedule.

Stewardship toolkit

A delegation from the Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) presented its Stewardship Solutions Toolkit to the board.

Camille Roberge wanted to educate the RDEK so that it can communicate the importance of stewardship to private landowners.

The toolkit includes options on how to enhance wildlife habitat, wetlands and riparian areas, and touches on invasive plants, water quality, and FireSmart ideas.

The toolkit was also designed as a resource for stewardship practitioners and local government planners.

Groundwater monitoring

A delegation from Living Lakes Canada (LLC) presented a report on the organization’s groundwater monitoring program.

A presenter explained the LLC developed the program in response to the need for a better understanding of groundwater resources.

They noted that groundwater is being negatively impacted by climate and land use changes. It was mentioned that the Water Sustainability Act includes provisions for groundwater licensing to better manage the resource and protect aquifers and streams.

The goal of the LLC program is to

track groundwater levels to determine how these levels change over time.

Trail detour

Bank erosion has resulted in a small section of the Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail to be cordoned off to the public.

“The trail remains fully open, there is just one small section that has experienced some erosion on the down hill side of the embankment and we are asking trail users to detour around that area until we have been able to fully assess it,” said RDEK General Manager of Engineering and Environmental Services Kevin Paterson.

“We have marked this section with flagging tape, signage and barriers. While there is plenty of space to go around the affected area and trail access has not been impeded, we are urging trail users to slow down and exercise caution while going around the barriers as this is an area adjacent to Westside Road.”

The RDEK has reached out to a geotechnical engineering firm to complete a full assessment.

“We will continue to keep the public

advised as we learn more, but would like to thank trail users for respecting the temporary barricades and for their patience while we work to restore full access,” said Paterson.

Arena news

The Columbia Valley Hockey School finished its three-week hockey school in late August at Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.

The camp was very well received and staff have begun preparations for next year.

The Real Ice cold water system has been installed and staff have begun managing pad temperatures and utilizing cold flood water. The feedback on the quality of ice has been very positive to date.

Invasive plants, mosquitos

Staff are scheduling neighbourhood visits and working on enforcement site inspections to control invasive plants.

Morrow BioScience continues to monitor river levels and conduct treatment of flood water mosquitos.

Bank erosion has closed off a small section of the Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail in Invermere. The public is being asked to detour around this section until it is fully assessed for construction.

Photo submitted

OUTOFOFFICE…

CastYourVoteforthe2023OutstandingCustomerServicePeople’sChoiceAward

TheColumbiaValleyChamberofCommerceisgearingupforitsannual BusinessExcellenceAwards,andthisyearpromisestobemoreexciting thanever.Oneofthemosteagerlyawaitedsegmentsoftheeventisthe OutstandingCustomerServicePeople’sChoiceAward,wherethepublicgets tohavetheirsayandchoosetheirfavouritelocalbusinessforrecognition. WithvotingopenuntilSeptember24th,theanticipationisbuilding,asthe listofnominatedbusinessescontinuestogrow.

ThisawardisauniqueopportunityforresidentsandpatronsoftheColumbia Valleytoexpresstheirappreciationforthebusinessesthathavemadea differenceintheirlives.

VotingforthePeople’sChoiceawardisasimpleandimpactfulwaytoshow supportforthebusinessesthathavemadeapositiveimpactontheregion. It’sachancetoacknowledgetheirdedication,hardwork,andcommitment toexcellence.Everyvotecastisanodofapprovalandgratitudeforthevital rolethesebusinessesplayinourdailylives.

TheexcitementwillculminateonThursday,October19,whentheColumbia ValleyChamberofCommerceBusinessExcellenceAwardstakecenterstage attheRadiumHotSpringsCommunityCentre.Thisannualgalaisnotjusta nightofglitzandglamour;it’sacelebrationofayearofthrivingbusinesses intheColumbiaValley.Theawardsceremonyrecognizesoutstanding achievement,innovation,andcommunityinvolvement,highlightingthe positiveinfluencethesebusinesseshaveontheregion’seconomicand socialfabric.

AsthecountdowntoSeptember24thcontinues,makesuretocastyour voteforyourfavoritebusinessintheColumbiaValley.Yourvoicematters, anditcanmakeasignificantdifferenceindeterminingwhowillbecrowned thePeople’sChoiceatthisyear’sBusinessExcellenceAwards.Let’scome togethertocelebrateandsupportthebusinessesthatmaketheColumbia Valleythevibrantandthrivingcommunitywealllove.

Thursday,September14

•10:00am-12:00pm:OutdoorPickleball Mt.NelsonAthleticPark,drop-inplay.

•10:30am-11:30am:Senior’sFitness ColumbiaValleyCentre,$2drop-in

•11:30am-12:00pm:LittleLambs RadiumHotSpringsLibrary.Joinusfor songs,rhymes,andstorieswithyourbabies!Noregistrationrequired.

•2:00pm-3:00pm:Senior’sTea.Joinusforacuppaandachat!Allwelcometo join.Occursevery2ndand4thThursdayofeachmonth.

•6:30pm:IndoorPickleball InvermereCurlingClub.Advanceplay.

•6:45pm:TexasHold‘EmPoker InvermereLegion.

•7:30pm:TriviaNight WindermereWhitehousePub.

Friday,September15

•7:00am-9:00pm:ColumbiaValleyClassicShow&Shine RadiumHot Springs.TheannualColumbiaValleyClassicsShow&Shinetakesplace thethirdweekendofSeptemberinbeautifulRadiumHotSprings,BCand bringsthousandsofcarenthusiaststogether.

•10:00am-12:00pm:InvermereTennisClub attheKinsmenBeachCourts.

•10:00am-12:00pm:OutdoorPickleball Mt.NelsonAthleticPark,drop-inplay.

•10:30am-11:00am:FamilyStorytime.InvermerePublicLibrary.Joinus weeklyonFridaysand/orSaturdaysforFamilyStorytimeatthelibrary!With stories,songs&acraft.Gearedtowardspreschoolage(2-5)butallwelcome.

•6:30pm-close:MeatDrawand50/50 intheLegion!Membersandguests welcome!

•6:30pm-8:30pm:IndoorPickleball InvermereCurlingClub.

Saturday,September16

•7:00am-12:00am:ColumbiaValleyClassicShow&Shine.RadiumHot Springs.TheannualColumbiaValleyClassicsShow&Shinetakesplace thethirdweekendofSeptemberinbeautifulRadiumHotSprings,BCand bringsthousandsofcarenthusiaststogether.

•9:00am-1:00pm:Fly-In&PublicOpenHouse.FairmontHotSprings

Airport.Tourairplanes&theairport,breakfastbydonationtotheLake WindermereLionsClub,ticketedprizedraws,20+itemstochoosefrom, helicoptertours(mustbepre-bookedandpaidfor),learnaboutthe airport'soperations&volunteer.Pleasebesuretobringcashtotheevent, yoursupportisVERYappreciated.

•7:00pm-10:00pm:ColumbiaValleyRockiesvsRevelstoke.EddieMountain MemorialArena.

•10:00am-12:00pm:OutdoorPickleball Mt.NelsonAthleticPark,drop-inplay.

•10:30am-11:00am:FamilyStorytime.InvermerePublicLibrary.Joinus weeklyonFridaysand/orSaturdaysforFamilyStorytimeatthelibrary!With stories,songs&acraft.Gearedtowardspreschoolage(2-5)butallwelcome.

•10:30am-12:00pm:LEGO/DuploClub InvermerePublicLibrary.We'llhave Lego,Duplo,bigblocks&moreouttoplaywithonSaturdaymornings!

•10:30am-11:30am:PokemonClub atMainStreetFun&Gamesforages7+, Readingproficiencyrequired.

•11:00am-12:00pm:STEAMGames&Activities.RadiumPublicLibrary.Our STEAMsessionsaredesignedtoencouragechildrentodevelopaninterestin Science,Technology,Engineering,ArtandMathatayoungage.Therewillbe newactivitiesandgadgetsfeaturedateachSTEAMsession!

•2:00pm-4:00pm:BuddyReading.InvermereLibrary.30minOne-on-one readingsessionwithlibrarystaffmember,Blair,whohasmorethantenyearsof readingtutorexperience.Byappointment,publiclibrary@invermere.net.

•6:30pm:MeatDrawand50/50 intheLegion!Membersandguestswelcome!

Sunday,September17

•9:00am-11:00am:TerryFoxRun JALairdSchool.

•2:00pm-12:00am:Cards,CribbageandDarts CometotheLegionandhave somefun!Membersandguestswelcome.

•2:00pm-4:00pm:IndoorPickleball OpenplayatCurlingClub.

•6:00pm-8:30pm:Archery@theRange.RauchRanch.Memberdrop-in:$4, non-member:$10/person/day.Equipmentisavailabletorent.Pleasesigninvia thebook.DirectionstoRauchRanch(westoftheRadiumroundabout):https:// lwdrodgun.com/

•7:00pm:LiveMusic HorsethiefCreekPub&Eatery.Accompaniedminorsare permitted.Nocover.

Monday,September18

•10:00am-12:00pm:TennisClub KinsmenBeach,doubles.

•10:00am-12:00pm:OutdoorPickleball. Mt.NelsonAthleticPark,drop-in play.

•10:00am-11:00am:Senior'sYoga ColumbiaValleyCentre,Invermere.$2drop in,opentoallseniors.

•5:00pm-7:00pm:SuperHappyFunTime!! ValleyVoicesChoir.ChristChurch Trinity.Wewantyou!!!!ComeSingWithUS!!!Superfunhappytimes!!Emailbryantolender@icloud.com.seeyousoon!!

•6:30pm:Poker(ChipupforCharity).TheStationPub$20buy-in.Everysecond Monday.

•6:30pm-8:300pm:IndoorPickleball. InvermereCurlingClub.

Tuesday,September19

•10:00am-12:00pm:OutdoorPickleball.Mt.NelsonAthleticPark,drop-in play.

•10:30am-11:30am:Senior'sFitness ColumbiaValleyCentre.$2drop-in.

•6:30pm-8:30pm:IndoorPickleball InvermereCurlingClub,SkillsandDrills.

•m:Pickleball InvermereCurlingClub,SkillsandDrills. Wednesday,September20

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Local artists add vibrancy with murals

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer

Downtown Invermere is looking a lot more colourful this summer. The vibrancy comes from a trio of new pieces of public art — all murals — decorating several prominent buildings.

The first of the murals to go up was ‘The Spirit of Invermere’, which local artist James Wyper created on the northeastern-most wall of Frater Landing (on the Valhalla Pure Outfitters store) over a period of three weeks in June. The past few weeks have seen two more murals, both by local artist Kelsey Van Raay — one on the wall of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 Windermere District, which began a few weeks ago and is now nearly complete, and a third on the northern and eastern walls of ION2 Progression Suspension on 7th Avenue (Invermere’s main street).

Last week’s issue of the Pioneer touched on Van Raay’s Legion mural and the Invermere mural program that helped fund it through the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI), but what about the other two murals, and what about the artists who created the art?

He and his partner Marlo Johnson (who is also a full-time professional artist) were previously based on Pender Island. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in North America, they were in Los Angeles for an arts show. Seeking a respite from the chaos, they lived for a time in a motorhome, before eventually deciding to settle in Invermere. Throughout the pandemic Wyper’s ‘Sanctuary Series’ took on new meaning.

The longer Wyper and Johnson stayed in Invermere, the more they liked it. Wyper was born nearby in Kimberley, but grew up in Saskatoon and has since lived all over Western Canada. ‘The Spirit of Invermere’ mural is meant to encapsulate “the friendly, welcoming spirit of this place and reflect that back to the people,” Wyper told the Pioneer. “The (public) response has been wonderfully kind and people have told me it helps brighten up the town. It’s been a real honour to work on it.”

Balabas told the Pioneer that he’s delighted to have the mural on his store’s wall, saying “we’ve gotten a lot of great comments about it. People think it’s great.”

‘The Spirit of Invermere’ essentially kickstarted the Invermere mural project. Wyper has been living in Invermere for more than three years and had wanted to do some kind of public art to give back to the community. He got talking with Frater Landing and Valhalla Pure co-owner Jay Balabas, who coincidentally had also been thinking about creating a mural. Together they approached the District of Invermere to find out if some funding for public art was available. As it turns out, it was, through the RMI.

‘The Spirit of Invermere’ depicts mountains, a forest, a lake, and sweeping, sun-filled sky in a colourful, almost geometric pattern of forms. It’s a style Wyper, who has been a professional artist for 30 years, loosely calls an “abstract, architectural landscape.”

It’s hard to describe in words what that looks like, aside to say the end result is eye-catching in an almost hypnotic way. If you go check the five foot-by-12 foot piece out in person be prepared to stand gazing longer than you expected.

Wyper explained that this style grew out of a series of works he began about four or five years ago, titled the ‘Sanctuary Series’. Those were initially much more abstract, he said, “and gradually over the years that’s evolved from simple shapes into something that’s more clearly a landscape.”

Van Raay has had similar feedback about her murals. Many people have stopped to talk to her as she works on them, telling her they add colour to the town, she explained. Part of the reason Van Raay and her husband relocated to the Columbia Valley from Calgary was that they feel Invermere is still in the process of shaping its identity as a community, and she said she feels lucky to be able to contribute to that, in at least some way, with her murals.

The mural on the Legion wall is 21feet wide by 15-to-16-feet high (Van Raay has been up on scaffolding to do the upper parts of it) and features enormous, brilliant red poppies, a burst of sunlight (either sunrise or sunset), and a quote of remembrance. The top of the flowers stretch above the heads of most passers-by, which Van Raay outlined was purposefully done. “It means to make you feel that you are literally walking among the poppies, as though you are right there in it (the field of poppies),” she told the Pioneer

The Legion mural is a combination of spray paint and outdoor latex paint. When the Pioneer spoke to Van Raay last week, she had been working on it for two weeks and estimated it would take at least five more full days of work to complete it.

Van Raay’s mural at ION2 Progression Suspension uses similar material (spray paint and outdoor latex paint) but on a different shaped ‘canvas’: it occupies a nine-foot-high by 20-to-30 feet space that wraps across two different walls, each facing a different direction. And the end result is quite different too: the ION2 mural depicts a landscape of hills, a lake, trees and mountains (one of them is clearly the iconic Mount Nelson that rears up to the west of Invermere) in hues of blue, green and brown. Continued on page 24

Artist James Wyper with his “Spirit of Invermere” mural of mountains, a forest and lake.

Photo submitted

Kelsey Van-Raay pauses while putting the finishing touches on her poppy mural at the Legion.

Photos submitted

“It means to make you feel that you are literally walking among the poppies.”

Kelsey Van-Raay

Swim club has new head coach

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Submitted by the Columbia Valley Swim Club

The Columbia Valley Swim Club (CVSC) is pleased to announce the hiring of our new head coach, Katie Millns.

Katie comes with a wealth of knowledge, a passion for coaching, and a deep love of the sport. Most recently, Katie has been an assistant head coach with the Campbell River Killer Whales on Vancouver Island.

Katie was born to be a swimmer. Her parents actually met through swimming, and Katie grew up on pool decks across the country as her dad took various coaching positions around Canada.

"My family moved a lot during my childhood, so I got to be part of a bunch of different clubs," says Katie. "My dad took clubs from virtually nothing, and I watched him build them up. It taught me so much."

Swimming is still a family affair for the Millns. Her mom, Cheri, runs the administrative side of the Campbell River club while her dad, Richard, is the head coach. Her older brother runs the summer programs while her three younger siblings still swim competitively.

Katie started swimming at a young age, moving up in the competitive ranks to eventually compete at both the eastern and western nationals, along with various other national level meets. She began coaching young swimmers when she was an early teen.

"Connecting with all the younger kids, I loved it right off the bat. My coaching career started when I was still a swimmer as a hobby, and quickly turned into my passion," she reflects. "I absolutely love coaching; it's the best job in the world."

Katie has already felt incredibly welcomed to the community. While the Radium pool is still undergoing renovations, the CVSC is excited and grateful that Fairmont Hot Springs Resort will host the club starting the week after Thanksgiving. Up until then, Katie plans to meet with the swimmers and their families, get some dryland exercises underway, and start planning for swim meets. But above all the competitive goals, she wants to get to know her new students and create a strong, unified team of swimmers who love the sport and care for each other.

"I bring a love of swimming, and it's something I love passing onto my swimmers. I want to inspire them to be as passionate about swimming as I am," says Katie. "I am full of excitement and optimism for what this team has in store for the coming seasons. I look forward to seeing you all on deck soon!"

Karen Farhni retired as the CVSC head coach this past season after numerous years of hard work and dedication to her swimmers and their families. A very heartfelt thank you to Karen! Katie began her new position with the club on September 10.

Club President Laura Kipp says the board is pleased to welcome Katie to the position.

"We anticipate a great 2023/24 season, and are looking forward to seeing the energy and enthusiasm Katie brings to all our swimmers here in the Columbia Valley.”

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Edward and Ruth Carlile - lives cut short

By Dorothy Isted Special to the Pioneer

When researching to write a story about people in Columbia Valley settler history, one can spend hours chasing hints, seeking confirmation of guesses based on what used to be, and tracking rumours to find kernels of truth. When people died and left no descendants here it’s a needle in a haystack. Sometimes people can be located elsewhere and if fortune smiles, they know something about their forefathers/mothers. A bonus is when they share pictures or diaries from those times. Not so in the case of Edward and Ruth Carlile. We are left with intriguing questions nonetheless.

Edward Hildred Hanbury Carlile was born in England in 1881 to wealthy parents, the only son with four younger sisters. His father, MP and Baronet Sir Hildred Carlile partnered in a business some who do needlework would recognize: J&P Coats, manufacturers of textiles, including embroidery floss. In 1896 it had over 50,000 employees worldwide and approximately 25,000 shareholders.

In 1888 the family lived at Helme Hall, Meltham, now a nursing home.

In 1906 the family moved to Ponsbourne Park, now a luxury hotel.

Edward went to Cambridge University and won an important boxing match against Oxford University, their biggest rival. After graduating as a barrister, he came to Canada to hunt big game. Arriving in the Columbia Valley, he loved it so much he purchased two properties near Spillimacheen. One, Sunny Bench, had a mail order house from Eaton’s catalogue sent by train from Winnipeg and shipped by riverboat. Known as a gentleman farmer, Carlile hired people to operate his businesses. It was the second property that has remained a recognizable part of the valley’s landscape: Hill Farm.

Carlile hired tradesmen from Calgary to build the stone Craftsman style house for his fiancé in England; the home was

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recognizable for its signature large front veranda. Up the back staircase from the kitchen was a small bedroom and sitting room for a married cook and handyman. Separate on the second floor were the three family bedrooms.

Current owner Michael Mykietyn remembers his aunt, Frances Dunne – for many decades Spillimacheen’s Postmistress – telling him Carlile’s sister came out from England to put finishing touches on the home. She remained for a time to finish up, after he returned in 1914 to fight in the First World War.

Part of the mystique around Carlile is the woman he married — Ruth Milicent Dawson, born in 1885, the same woman he was engaged to in 1912 when he was building the home, as locals remembered? Why did the marriage not take place until 1917? Marriages then were often delayed until people could afford to financially establish themselves. Yet money wasn’t an issue for either of them. He was 36 and she was 32 when they married.

Women of her class did not have jobs. Census records show one of her English homes was occupied by family and a cook, two housemaids, two ladies’ maids, a foot man, etc. Think Downton Abbey. She was raised with the expectation of marrying well. Societal pressures were enormous and vastly different from now. It was unthinkable for the couple to live together. Given that birth control wasn’t widely used or effective, it is unlikely the couple was intimate prior to marriage. They had their family reputations to uphold. Ruth’s family had an estate of 645,000 pounds in 1904. In Canadian funds today, over 139 million dollars.

Ruth was presented at the court of England’s George V in 1912, the year she turned 26. Marriageable women from high society were introduced, usually at the age of 18.

An application would be made by a sponsor, who had herself been a debutante. This big-deal introduction into society – and to bachelors from approved

families – had girls practicing their deportment long before the event. They wore what amounts to a debutante uniform – white gown with short sleeves and train, gloves, pearls and three ostrich feathers - and were required to curtsy to the king and leave without turning their back – or tripping over their trains.

Ruth’s presentation portrait resides in the National Gallery in London, England. It was serendipitous that John Culme, an appraiser for Sotheby’s auctions in London, was given two weeks in the 1970s to choose pictures from 1910-1925 slated to be destroyed. His interest was theatre. A friend helped him sort through 20,000 to 30,000 glass negatives. They saved approximately 4500 - among them Dawson’s - of folks who were actors, comedians, etc. He said, “With such a name she may well have been an actress.” Unlikely, as theatre people were frowned upon by the wellborn.

farm on the prairies and “in the Columbia Valley . . . engaged in making many valuable experiments in fruit growing.” Mention was also made of his father’s appearance at the Canadian Club luncheon in Vancouver the previous year. Sir Hildred, “is a thread manufacturer on a large scale and has given magnificently of his wealth to patriotic and educational purposes.” Ruth carried a bouquet of lilies and white heather and the wedding reception was held at Ponsbourne Park.

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Roger Sharland, of Nairobi, Kenya, a fourth cousin twice removed to Carlile, produced the portrait and the wedding certificate. An avid ancestry genealogist, he responded to the valley rumour that the family felt themselves cursed due to an uncle of Carlile’s having opened King Tut’s grave. He’d never heard the rumour but explained many branches of Carlile’s were social welfare minded Christians and there is a Carlile College in Kenya. To me it is a very blessed family rather than cursed! Roger, who is an Oxford graduate, runs an environmental stewardship charity in Kenya. Look him up at https:// reap-eastafrica.org/

A marriage announcement in the Vancouver Sun listed Ruth’s homes at Tunbridge Wells and Cannes, France. The large townhouse at Sussex Gardens in London near Hyde Park wasn’t mentioned. The article states Edward had a

Edward had been promoted to Major before his death on 22 March 1918. Dave Pattern, of Huddersfield University in the U.K. noticed that Edward is not listed in home town Meltham war memorials. Nor is he listed on the Invermere Cenotaph, but Windermere Valley Museum recorded his service. He died near Perrone, France, along with his entire company but one. His name appears on the Arras Memorial in France, one of almost 35,000 Britishwhich included Canadian, New Zealand and Australian servicemen with no known grave who had fought in the Arras sector between 1916 and August 1918.

Ruth remarried but died in 1927. It doesn’t appear as if there were children from either union. Edward’s family donated Hill Farm to the Canadian Soldier Settlement Board. This was an arm of the federal government dedicated to helping veterans of the war. A major thrust was to make farmlands available to men who had served. A comrade in arms, Jim Dunne, acquired the property. He had been left for dead in a pile of corpses but someone noticed him moving and his life was spared. Though no descendants followed, a portrait in London and a house in the valley being lovingly restored by Jim’s grandson Michael bear witness to two whose life together was shortened by unknown circumstances and a tragic war.

Shown here is the Carlile house where Edward and Ruth lived in the Columbia Valley.

Photo by Dorothy Isted

CBEEN to honour World Rivers Day

By Julia Magsombol Local Journalism Initiative julia@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) presents a workshop offering a celebration of all rivers for World Rivers Day — where the ‘I am Elwha’ book will be read and discussed by the creators.

World Rivers Day occurs on the fourth Sunday of September, which is the 24th of this month. It celebrates the world’s waterways and presents the values and importance of rivers and their relationship to people.

This free workshop will take place on Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. PT and 7 p.m. ET on Zoom. It’s an online workshop, so anyone can attend.

The creators of the book, as well as the speakers are: Tribal Elder Robert Elofson, a member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Lori Peelen, co-author of the book, and Laura Timmermans, the illustrator. Elofson served the Elwha River restoration project as its director for 15 years.

CBEEN has a partnership with Strong Nations, an Indigenous-owned and publishing company who published the book.

Jade Berrill, director of learning at CBEEN, when connecting with the creators for the book launch, proposed to host an event, which they readily agreed to.

“It’s an amazing book that shows the importance of our relationships to rivers, bringing together Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing and being. The book is a powerful educational tool for many cross-curricular subjects,” said Berrill. “We read it and thought, these are beautiful messages. This is important knowledge that should be shared.”

Berrill added that three creators of the book will read part of the story live and will participate in a Q&A from participants. This workshop offers an opportunity to celebrate where we live and how we use the water.

“We see [rivers] and interact with them every day. It’s important for building not only our connection to our place, but also the rivers where we are, and how [water] flows into other places and im-

pacts oceans and other parts of the world’s global water cycle.”

The Elwha River flows 45 miles from the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Pacific Northwest. It contains many salmon species as well as some trout. Dams were built in the river by 1911, blocking the migration of salmon and ruining its ecosystem for over 100 years. However, in 2012, the dams were removed, with this becoming one of the world’s largest habitat restoration projects.

‘I am Elwha’ follows the history of Elwha River. The book is narrated by different plants and animal voices that inhabit the river.

Berrill added that what she has learned from different Indigenous elders and mentors, like Mara Nelson and Chief Alfred Joseph of the Ktunaxa First Nation, is that water is life and everything. It is a gift, and it is sacred.

“[As a member of CBEEN], we are making sure that these incredible ways of knowing and being which are deeply rooted in relationship with the environment, that place us not separate, but as part of nature. These are the beautiful lessons that I am fortunate enough to have shared with me. We must share these diverse perspectives.”

Berrill feels exceptionally proud of the kind of events she has led with CBEEN, explaining that it is a true honour when people choose to work and share their knowledge with them.

“It’s both uplifting to learn from Indigenous and other diverse perspectives. I’m grateful,” she added.

“People care. They’re taking the time and energy to write and to create beautiful things for people — and supporting further sharing of that message is pure joy. It’s incredibly empowering to know that the work in ‘I am the Elwha’ that they have done is really about caring for rivers, caring for the world around us.”

Berrill hopes to keep supporting the World Rivers Day event in the coming years. With CBEEN, she is working to continue highlighting Indigenous perspectives and their relationship to the land. For more information about the event, visit: https://outdoorlearningstore. com/2023/08/22/i-am-the-elwha-worldrivers-day-celebration-workshop/

The Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network is recognizing the beauty of rivers on World Rivers Day. Shown here is the Columbia River.

Photo by Ryan Watmough

Metis people take part in pilgrimage

By Julia Magsombol Local Journalism Initiative julia@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The first St. Laurent de Grandin Pilgrimage in Saskatchewan took place on August 15, 1905, and ever since then, this religious journey has been a part of the Métis people’s history.

St. Laurent de Grandin is a significant religious heritage site for French-speaking Métis in Saskatchewan. Some of them are devoted Catholics.

Each year, around the middle of July and August, Métis people make the pilgrimage back to St. Laurent de Grandin. On the western shore of the South Saskatchewan River, the former Métis mission receives many devotees every summer for the annual pilgrimage. The Parish of Duck Lake organizes the pilgrimage now.

The tiny shrine of St. Laurent de Grandin only drew the attention of Métis from the surrounding parishes. But soon, the First Nations people from the other reserves joined as well.

The mission of this pilgrimage has always attracted a large number of faithful Catholics. These gatherings draw between 2,000 and 6,000 people each year. Many young Indigenous people no longer participate, but their ancestors once did— their parents and grandparents. Yet hundreds of First Nations people still take part in the procession, starting at One-Arrow and Beardy reserves, then proceeding to the shrine of St. Laurent de Grandin.

For more information, visit http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/article-396/Saint-Laurent_Pilgrimage_ in_Saskatchewan.html.

NOTICE OF TAX SALE

The following properties located within the Village of Canal Flats shall be sold for taxes as per the Local Government Act on Monday, September 25, 2023 at 10:00 am at the Village of Canal Flats Municipal Office located at 8866 Grainger Road, Canal Flats, BC. All properties are within District Lot 110 and Land District 26.

Indigenous leaders to discuss T&R

Submitted

Leading into Truth & Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30, Four Points Books will be hosting a speaker series to learn more about Columbia Valley’s Indigenous communities.

Richard Wayken, Collector September 14, 2023

P.O. Box 159, 8866 Grainger Road, Canal Flats, BC, V0B 1B0 Phone: 250-349-5462 Fax: 250-349-5460 Email: village@canalflats.ca

Leaders from each community will provide a brief overview of their members, major initiatives, and the various ways they operate within the valley. The presentations will also discuss how “truth and reconciliation” resonates within local communities, followed by a Q&A session.

The first event will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14, with Debra Fisher representing Metis Nation. The second part of the speaker series will be on Thursday, Sept. 28, with presentations from Mark Thomas, a representative of Chief and Council for the Shuswap Band, and Lillian Rose, a councillor for the Akisqnuk First Nation.

There is no cost to attend and light refreshments will be served. Please visit www.fourpointsbooks.ca/events for details and registration.

Each year Métis people make the pilgrimage back to St. Laurent de Grandin. The first pilgrimage in Saskatchewan took place on August 15, 1905.

Photo by Getty Images

Four Points Books is hosting an Indigenous speaker series to honour Truth & Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30. The speaker series is scheduled for Sept. 14 and 28.

Photo by Getty Images

Youth experience one of oldest sports

By Julia Magsombol Local Journalism Initiative julia@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The Columbia Lake Recreation Centre (CLRC) allowed the youth of Invermere to experience one of the oldest sports in North America: Lacrosse.

"The vibe was great. Everyone had an amazing time," said Nevada Nicholas, one of the staff of CLRC.

The CLRC had a great partnership with the Iroquois Lacrosse Program and the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Services Society. Kevin Sandy, the president and director of the Iroquois Lacrosse Program, along with Mekwan Tulpin, a Lacrosse coach, taught the children much more about what lacrosse was to their culture.

This was the first-ever lacrosse program held on Aug. 24 in CLRC, and they hope to host it every year. Nicholas said the sport is geared to First Nations youth ages 7 to 17, adding the program is free.

"Lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America and was invented by the Haudenosaunee (pronounced Hoad-Nah-ShawNee) hundreds of years ago. Lacrosse is an Indigenous game and it is important to learn, practise and teach the art of the game to our youth to continue on," Nicholas explained.

"The youth learned about the historic origins of the Creator’s game. They learned and participated in fun interactive skills and drills, learned the art of stick making, and got an opportunity to play with wooden sticks. They also learned about the importance of water and nutrition, how important it is to live a healthy life, and the understanding of why lacrosse is a medicine and healing game," Nicholas said. "[There were] lots of learning and understanding of the history of the sport."

Nicholas believes that lacrosse has opened a keen interest for some youth, and they hope to expand this sport to all valley residents. "[We hope] for lacrosse to become a frequent sport played at the rec centre . . . and to be available for everyone," she added.

Nicholas said being able to see the young participants learn and practice this “amazing sport” invented hundreds of years ago by Indigenous Peoples was very memorable.”

Register for TF Run

Submitted

It's time for the 43rd annual Terry Fox Run that takes place on Sunday, Sept. 17 starting at JA Laird school

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. There is no cost to register, however, donations will be gratefully accepted on behalf of the Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research.

The mass start begins at 9 a.m. from the school. It goes up 13th Avenue to the

Castle Rock subdivision turnoff. People who can’t make it at 9 a.m. can register any time until 11 a.m.

Participants decide the distance they want to go and also what mode; walk, run or cycle.

Bring your family and friends, enjoy a walk or run on a beautiful fall morning in our amazing community and do something for a very worthy cause,” said Donna Scheffer, one of the coordinators.

The 43rd annual Terry Fox Run for cancer starts at JA Laird school on Sunday, Sept. 17.

Photo submitted

“The youth learned about the historic origins of the Creator’s game.”

Nevada Nicholas CLRC staff

The CLRC is giving Indigenous youth the opportunity to play one of North America’s oldest sports: lacrosse.

Photo submitted

Al-Anon. Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking? Meeting Mondays 7:15 pm. at Canadian Martyrs Parish front side door. 712 12 Ave. Invermere. For more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship, please call 250-8782448 or 250-342-8392.

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Cheers to Audrey and Steve at The Local View. Fast service and always with a smile!

Cheers to Ollie a super tech with Rogers/Shaw Cable for installing a new box and router and for taking the time to explain to a senior how the new system works. Great customer service!

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LovingmemoryofRossMacDonald,whopassedin theearlyhoursofJune8.

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Rossissurvivedbywife(Eloise),son(Bren), brothers(NeilandBruce),niece(Shauna),andnephew (Evan).

Athisrequestaformalservicewillnotbeheld,but thosewantingtohonourRossareinvitedtoplantatree inhismemory.

2.5 to 3.4 acre parcels. Great mountain views, privacy, individual wells, no building time commitment. Located on sunny side of the Valley. Starting at $329,000 + GST For more information contact Elkhorn Ranches 250-342-1268 www.elkhornranches.com

ATTENTION ASPIRING MUSICIANS

Just wanted to say how much we enjoy Lyonel Doherty's editorials. Lyonel has a way of cutting through the rhetoric, to the heart of the matter. Well done!

ASPIRING MUSICIANS from Parson to Canal Flats

Applications are open for the Carol Wilkie Memorial Steamboat Mountain Music Bursary

Carol Wilkie Memorial

Steamboat Mountain Music Bursary

Cheers to Caio for dropping off a freshly baked lemon loaf, still warm out of the oven. It was delicious!

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

Download application: www.steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca

B.B.'s Home & Design Services Renovations, Masonry & Handyman Services, Blinds, Housechecks/ yard / window/ eavestrough cleaning/ dump runs.

250-688-2897

Saturday Sept 16, 9a-2p. Christ Church Trinity 110-7th Ave Invermere Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conict 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.

Shane's Window Cleaning " GET A NEW VIEW " Call/ Text today for your free quote. 250-341-5884

THE HEARTFELT COMPANION: Services for Seniors

Since 2014 we've provided kind and compassionate non-medical care, transportation to Cranbrook, overnight care, meal prep, grocery shopping and more. Excellent local references. 250-341-5683 Heartfeltcompanionservices.com

KarenVigue,78,passedawayonSeptember2,2023,surrounded bylovedones.KarenissurvivedbyherchildrenNatalieHarder (Eldon),DarrinVigue(Alison),andTammyVigue(Dave),aswell aseightgrandchildrenandtwogreat-grandchildren.

Inherlateryears,KarenmadeColumbiaHouseinInvermereher home,wherethestaffbecamehersecondfamily,alongsideHeartfelt Companion,LeanneBrooks,andherteam.Karen’sfamilyisdeeply gratefulfortheirexceptionalcare andsupport.

Karen’sjoywasfoundinsimplemoments,especiallythroughmusic, games,andsharingmealswithlovedones.Foodwasherlove language,andthewaytoherheartwasthroughsweetsandcandy, andagoodstrongcupofcoffee.

KarenislovinglyrememberedbyhersiblingsAlvinaCharest,Larry Schmidt,andJackSchmidt,hermanyfriendsandrelatives,and theBeingessnerfamilies.SheispredeceasedbyherparentsJohn GeorgeSchmidt,EdnaPearlyBeatriceSchmidt, andbrotherRandal DouglasSchmidt.

WeinviteyoutocelebrateKarenVigue’slifebysharingyour memoriesandtributesatwww.mcphersonfh.com

Inlieuofflowers,donationsmaybemadeinKarenVigue’shonour toColumbiaHouseathttps://www.ekfh.catoprovideservicesfor theresidentswhocallColumbiaHousetheirhome.

Aswemournherpassing,wecherishthemomentsoflaughterand herbigbeautifulsmile.

Restinpeace,Mom;weloveyou.

KITTEN ADOPTION ALERT!

ICAN has wonderful cuddly fur babies, we have been lucky to foster 5 of them, Snoopy (black/White) Sammy (orange tabby) Summer (calico) are still in our care and we would love for them to nd a forever home. 2 is often better than 1 for play and companionship!

Please contact ICAN for more info info@icanbc.com 250-341-7888

Rie with 4 power

Bolt action,

Ivanco, Norma Jean January 9, 1947 - September 2, 2023

Norma Jean Ivanco, a long-time resident of Fairmont Hot Springs, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 76 on the afternoon of September 2, 2023.

Norma was born in 1947 in Milden, Saskatchewan, to Lorene and John Ivanco, into what became a very large family. She moved west as a young woman and resided in British Columbia for over 50 years.

Norma was a long-time employee at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and worked tirelessly to make the resort a successful place until her retirement. In her spare time she loved quilting, golfing and reading. Norma never missed an episode of ‘Corner Gas’ or turned down a cup of coffee, especially when accompanied by a piece of banana bread.

Norma is survived by her three children Collin Tindall, Heather Dziuba (Pat), and Laurie Selwood (Duncan). She was the proud grandmother to Meredith, Ben and Emily. Norma’s immediate family included siblings Ronald Ivanco (Dorthydeceased), Glenda Weber (deceased, Ray), Robert Ivanco, Jack Ivanco (Lindadeceased), Barbara Valuck (Darryl-deceased), Duane Ivanco (Connie), Garry Ivanco (Nadine), Patricia Bascom (Ray) and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will take place at the Fairmont Mountainside Golf Course on Saturday, September 23rd at 1PM.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to your local animal shelter, the Canadian Cancer Society or charity of your choice in Norma’s name.

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

LifeSkillsWorker-YouthWithSpecialNeeds

Position: Permanentpart-time(8hoursperweek)

ShiftSchedule: Weekdays,eveningsandweekendsasrequired

StartDate: Immediately

Duties: Providesdirectgoal-orientedassistancetoyouthbetween13and18 yearsofagewhohaveadevelopmentaldisabilityor,haveadiagnosisofAutism SpectrumDisorder.Thisassistancecanincludethedevelopmentofappropriate social,lifeorotherparticularskillsbytheyouth,supportingindividualswith workexperienceactivitiesinthecommunityand/orthedevelopmentofchild managementorotherparentingskillstofamilies.

Qualifications: Preferablyadiplomainarelevantdiscipline,withoneyear ofrelatedjobexperience.Otherappropriatecombinationsofeducationand experiencemaybeconsidered.AvalidB.C.driver’slicenseisessential.Pursuant toprovinciallegislation,theapplicantmustagreetoundergoacriminalrecords investigation.FOODSAFELevel1certificationorwillingnesstogetitdoneisa requirementofthejob.

Applicationprocess: SubmitaresumeandcoverlettertoUteJuras,Directorof ProgramManagement,FamilyDynamixAssociationat ujuras@fdx.family,or Box 2289,Invermere,BC.,V0A1K0 by 4pmonMonday,September18,2023.

P.S. Wethankallapplicantsfortheirinterest,howeveronlythoseselectedforinterview willbecontacted.

Barista/SalesPerson

Part-time/Full-time

CareerOpportunity

foracheerful,responsible, energeticteammemberwho wouldenjoyservingourcustomers andlovesfreshpastriesandcoffee. Ifyouliketoworkinawelcoming, quick-paced,creativeenvironmentwith incentiveswewouldlovetohearfromyou!

InlovingmemoryofLarryNyegaardwho passedawayonSeptember07,2022

Everydayinsomesmallway Memoriesofyoucomeourway Thoughabsent,youarealwaysnear Stillmissed,loved,andalwaysdear.

EverrememberedbymotherDale, daughterHannah,andsisterDarlene

SusanEngelbracht

April7,1944–September20,2013

It’sbeen10years,sincewesaidgoodbye, Butnotadaygoesbywithoutyouinourthoughts. Love,allyourfamilyandfriends.

-Winnie the Pooh

Radium resident returns to her clan roots

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Radium resident Elizabeth Stuart is proud of her roots. So proud, in fact, that a few weeks ago she flew half way across the world and trekked up lofty Cairngorm Summit in the Scottish highlands to commemorate her ancestor John Roy Stuart.

John Roy Stuart, a descendant of the Barons of Kincardine, is a legendary figure in the highlands: he was an officer in the ‘Black Watch’ infantry unit of the Jacobite Army during the risings of the early to mid-1700s, including the famous 1745 uprising led by Bonnie Prince Charles.

Elizabeth Stuart has always been proud of her last name, but she didn’t realize just how close her connection was to such a famous Scot until she began researching her family’s history 30 years ago.

“He (John Roy Stuart) was a true, Rob Roy-like figure,” Elizabeth told the Pioneer. As a result of her research Elizabeth made several trips to Scotland in the past. During one such trip she met Seamus Grant, a retired professor of Gaelic studies at Aberdeen University. Grant was delighted to meet Elizabeth, since he organizes an annual hike up Cairngorm Summit in honour of John Roy Stuart. He promptly invited Elizabeth along on the next such hike.

Alas, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and travel plans had to be put on hold. Finally this summer, Elizabeth flew back to

Scotland. She was there for three weeks, and timed her visit to coincide with the trek up Cairngorm on August 20.

“It was a real honour to be invited. I learned so much more about my ancestry through this group, who are all historians,” said Elizabeth. “It was a great day. Normally it is very windy and terrible weather. But not that day, the weather was wonderful.”

On the way up the group pointed out various parts of the land that once belonged to the Barons of Kincardine, and told Elizabeth stories relating to these sights. At the top Grant read poems and sang Gaelic songs written by John Roy Stuart. Then the group unfurled a modern version of the green banner of Kincardine.

“It was an amazing trip. I was very glad to be over there, steeped in history, with other people who are very much in the know about the history of the clan system,” said Elizabeth. “It’s an interesting history, really: about the resistance of the Scottish highlanders to the yoke of the English for centuries . . . there was a lot of bloodshed, so it is certainly a bittersweet history . . . it’s funny that the English were trying to stamp out the clan system, the Scottish traditions. But these days, what do you think of when you think of Scotland? You think of kilts and tartans, bagpipes and Highland games. Those traditions are still going strong.”

In some ways it’s still an unfolding history, noted Elizabeth, pointing to the

2014 Scottish independence referendum (45 per cent of Scots voted for independence, 55 per cent voted to stay as part of the United Kingdom) and ongoing talks in Scottish Parliament for a second independence referendum in the wake of the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union (a majority of voters in England and Wales wanted to leave the EU, but a clear majority of voters, 62 per cent in Scotland voted to remain in the EU).

Nearly three decades after the final Jacobite rising was defeated by the English, Elizabeth’s fifth great grandfather, Dr. James Stuart (John Roy Stuart’s cousin) emigrated across the Atlantic. They arrived in upper parts of colonial New York province (now New York state) in 1774. Dr. James Stuart had served as surgeon with the British military during the Seven Years War. But in upper New York, he, his wife and six children worked a 100-acre farm.

But, in 1775, barely a year after emigrating, the American Revolution broke out. American revolutionaries took over the farm, taking livestock, farming equip-

ment and even Dr. James Stuart’s surgical tools. In 1777 he began again serving with the British military. In 1783, when the revolution ended, with the U.S. now independent, the British government gave Dr. James Stuart 900 acres of land near Cornwall, Ontario. He moved his family there and became a practicing physician.

Elizabeth’s fourth great grandfather moved from Cornwall to the town of Blenheim, in the Chatham-Kent area of southwestern Ontario. That’s where Elizabeth grew up too, going into a career in education. That career eventually took her to Alberta, and then to B.C., where she worked at schools in what is now called Rocky Mountain School District 6, working with students with learning challenges and as an education psychologist.

“I’m really glad I was finally about to go and do it (hiking to Cairngorm Summit),” she told the Pioneer. “I would encourage anyone to research their family history, to look up their genealogy. There are so many options to do that today, with DNA ancestry tests and things like that. For me it’s been very rewarding.”

Elizabeth Stuart from Radium recently participated in the annual climb up Cairngorm Summit in Scotland to commemorate her ancestor, John Roy Stuart, a celebrated hero in the highlands. In left photo, Seamus Grant, retired professor of Gaelic Studies at Aberdeen University, reads a poem of John Roy Stuart and sings one of his songs.

Photos submitted

Know your right of way

By Mike and Christine Dubois

Recently someone asked me “what do I do when I see a kite surfer?” As very avid kite surfers, we have had plenty of near misses with boats. The wind travels northsouth, the boats travel north-south yet the wind powered vessels travel perpendicular to the wind and travel eastwest so this could be a recipe for disaster. (Luckily most boaters will go in during big winds.) Often the misses occur when the driver is turned backward to watch their rider, (use your mirrors, please) or they are too busy chatting with the passengers to pay attention and not scanning side to side. Here are a few tips to remember when operating a motorboat:

Right of way- who has it? (listed in order)

• Swimmers

• Non-motorized vessels (kayak, sup, row boat)

• Wind-powered vessels (sailboats, kite surfers, windsurfers, etc)

• Motorized vessels

Every boater is obligated to do what is required to avoid a collision. But you should give way to the following:

• A boat towing a rider

• A larger vessel (aka a Seadoo should give way to a pontoon boat)

• When approaching head on each vessel must give way. The recommended practise is to veer to the right and pass so the oncoming boat is on the left. If safe to do so, both boats should veer right. (Note: even though the driver’s seat is on the right, the preferred practise is to pass just as you would on a two-lane road. Just pretend you are driving an import on the road. But either side is fine as long as each driver recognizes and veers correctly.)

• When overtaking a boat from behind, either side

File photo

is fine, but ensure the boat ahead of you knows you are there. A simple "beep beep" of the horn then a kind wave is a great way to say “hello fellow boater, just making sure you see me so we can both be safe as I overtake you.”

• On our lakes the boat travelling north-south should have the right of way over the boat coming eastwest from shore. So if you are heading in or out of the shore be sure to look both ways and avoid any boats already travelling in a north-south pattern. The etiquette on our lake is to travel north-south, any boat travelling east-west will cause chaos.

So now that you are well versed in right of way, what do you do when you see a kiter? You’ve already won half

the battle because you were actually scanning to the lake to see the kiter, and you know that you must give way to the kiter. Now you must decide: do I have time to pass in front of the kiter? Do I need to slow down or veer my course in order to avoid a collision or close encounter? Don’t assume that the kiter (or any other boater for that matter) sees you. When in doubt slow down, drive defensively, keep yourself safe and assume the other vessel doesn’t know anything about right of way.

Tip of the week

How to pick up a fallen rider: When towing, it is imperative that you stay in your lane, not only to protect your rider from oncoming boats, but also to avoid a collision with another boat. If your rider falls, put your boat immediately into neutral, let your rollers go past you, then slowly turn 180 degrees and idle back to the fallen rider who now is directly behind you. Earlier this season I was towing and another boat ahead was also towing approximately 45 degrees to my right. He was in his lane, I was in my lane. His rider fell and he did a massive power turn to the left – directly into my lane! He had no idea that I was there, I had to do a hard left to avoid him. When he finally saw me he decided it was my fault that he left his lane and he flipped me an interesting gesture. I gave him my biggest smile and a friendly wave and thought; "I really hope that guy reads our better boating articles.”

A request from a fellow boater: Last week, a fellow boater picked up 17 beers cans floating on the lake one morning.

Come on boaters, you can do better than this! You must do your part to be a better boater. Good boaters and good people do not throw cans in the lake. If you enjoy boating, be a better human.

Lady golfers compete in team challenge

Submitted

The Riverside Golf Club hosted the annual Ladies East Kooteney Amateur Team Challenge under bright sunny skies on August 23.

Ninety-six ladies participated in the event. Teams entered were from Elkford, Fernie, Creston, Cranbrook, Wildstone, Kimberley, Golden, Windermere Valley, Radium Resort, Radium Springs, Fairmont Mountainside and Fairmont Riverside. The event was played as a “best ball” match in teams of two.

Congratulations to the Fairmont Riverside Ladies (Loretto Keenan, Denise Litke, Sandy Krenning, Shirley Bergman, Grace Rudiger, Pat Loewn, Catherine Chipuer and Joan Gallaway) who won the Low Gross championship and the Challenge.

Congratulations to the Fairmont Mountainside Ladies (Michelle Flaa, Kathy Landry, Mary Caldwell, Lisa Marusiak, Janet Dahl-Freeman, Joan Kozlowski, Val Martin and Gail Nelson) who won the Low Net championship.

Nearly 100 ladies participated in the annual East Kootenay Amateur Team Challenge recently at Riverside Golf Club. The team of Fairmont Riverside Ladies (bottom photo) won the low gross championship and the Challenge, while the Fairmont Mountainside Ladies (top photo) won the low net championship.

Photos submitted

Do you know the rigth of way rules on Lake Windermere?

ColumbiaValley Churches

The Lord is our rest and our need

By Pastor Wayne Frater Radium Christian Fellowship Church

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

From the Amplified Bible:

Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

In Psalm 147 verse 3 it tells us that God healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Do you need to be refreshed? Are you feeling rundown? Are you facing challenges? Is your heart broken? Do you feel wounded today? God is telling us, that if we come to Him, He will refresh us, He wants to refresh us.

He wants to work things out in our lives.

If we knew everything was going to work out for good, then we could stop worrying. We could rest. And even if things don’t work out the way we plan, or on our timetable, I believe, that if we trust in God, He will heal our broken hearts and bandage our wounds, and in His time He will turn things around in our favour.

When we profess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord, we will find rest for our soul. God would have us come to Him with our problems, spend time with Him in prayer and thanksgiving, thank Him for His love, thank Him for His faithfulness, and then we will go forward with a attitude of hope and expectancy, we can be confident that God is working behind the scenes on our behalf.

Try it, spend time with Him, like He says, “Come to me”, He wants to spend time with us. Spend some time in His Word. He will bind up those broken hearts, those wounds, Give Him a chance. He loves you with a love far greater then we can understand.

Philippians 4:13 tells us “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Mural artists brighten town

Continued from page 12

“It’s very nature based,” said Van Raay. She began work on this mural mid-last week, but since the stucco on ION2 is much smoother than that on the Legion wall, work is progressing much more quickly and she estimated she may finish the ION2 mural as early as this coming weekend.

Van Raay grew up in the Chatham-Kent area of southwestern Ontario, on a flower and tree farm, in a family that is creative on both sides. She studied fine art at the University of Guelph for five years, before moving out west to live in the mountains at Jasper. From there she ended up in Calgary for almost a decade, working a series of jobs (at the Calgary Zoo, for the Calgary Stampede, and with an entertainment agency) that allowed her to be at least somewhat creative. At the same time, she continued to pursue art, turning her passion into a

FILLER

professional career.

Then, propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic and pulled by the lure of an outdoor lifestyle, she and her husband left the big city for the East Kootenay. They were initially drawn to Golden (“it does have the most epic ski hill,” said Van Raay) but instead landed in the Columbia Valley (“there’s more charm here, and it has an up-andcoming feeling that we wanted to be part of,” she said).

Like Wyper, Van Raay is grateful for the opportunity to create murals in Invermere. “The great thing about public art is that it is open and free to anyone. It really does reach the masses, and it really does brighten a place,” she said.

To find out more about James Wyper visit www. jameswyper.com. For more on Kelsey Van Raay, visit kvanraaydesigns.com.

LAKEWINDERMEREALLIANCECHURCH

Whileyouarewithus,youarealwayswelcometojoinus. Sundayat10:30am

32610thAvenue,Invermere

250-342-9535|www.lwac.ca

WINDERMEREVALLEY SHAREDMINISTRYANGLICAN-UNITED Minister:BrentWoodard

Sundaysat10:30am,in-personoronZoom. FortheZoomlink,pleasevisitourwebsiteatwvsm.ca. 110-7thAve.inInvermere.

VALLEYCHRISTIANASSEMBLY

Sunday10a.m.WorshipService

4814HighwayDrive,Windermere 250-342-9511|www.valleychristianonline.com

ROMANCATHOLICCHURCH

St.Anthony’s,CanalFlats:Saturday,4pm CanadianMartyrs’,Invermere:Saturday5pm,Sunday9am St.Joseph’s,Radium:Sunday11am

FatherFrancisDelaCruz|712-12th Ave.,Invermere 250-342-6167

ST.PETER’SLUTHERANCHURCH

Sunday1:30p.m.WorshipServiceatValleyChristian 4814HighwayDrive,Windermere lutheranstpeter@gmail.com

RADIUMCHRISTIANFELLOWSHIP

Sunday10a.m.Worshipservice

PastorWayneandLindaFrater| 250-342-6633 #4,7553MainSt.Radium| 250-347-9937

CHURCHOFJESUSCHRIST OFLATTER-DAYSAINTS

WorshipService,Sunday,10a.m. ReliefSociety,11:15a.m.

PresidentKendynMackensie•ColumbiaValleyBranch• 5014Fairway,FairmontHotSprings 250-439-9041

COLUMBIA VALLEY PIONEER FEATURE PUBLICATION

Canal Flats AD

Help us recognize NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH & RECONCILIATION

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis’s account of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually. The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year.

Booking /Copy Deadline: Friday, September 22

Published: Thursday, September 28

For information contact Jamie Baes at 250-341-6299 ext 103 or e-mail jamie@columbiavalleypioneer.com to participate.

CHURCHOFCHRIST(IglesianiCristo)

WorshipService:Sunday9a.m.,Thursday7:45p.m. ChamberofCommerce(LionsHall)

Forinquiries: 250-688-1643 250-270-2208 or 250-688-0629 Formoreinfoaboutthechurch,youcanGoogle onlineat incmedia.org or pasugo.com.ph