Columbia Valley Pioneer, November 12, 2020 by Columbia Valley Pioneer

November 12, 2020 Vol. 17/Issue 46

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1 November 12, 2020

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

The Columbia Valley

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ATHALMER PLAN

Invermere’s Donald Redhead served in the First Gulf War as part of the British Army’s fabled Desert Rats. See his story in the Pioneer’s Remembrance Day veteran’s feature, starting on page 10. Please note that the Pioneer’s press deadline this week fell on Monday, Nov. 9, two days prior to Remembrance Day. Please see next week’s issue for coverage of Remembrance Day ceremonies in the Columbia Valley.

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05 GARBAGE BINS ISSUE

07 ONLINE EXCLUSIVE • Consider the Luxor Linkage Conservation Area - full edition

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

November 12, 2020 Highlights of the @LiveColumbiaValley Instagram account, brought to you by the Columbia Valley Community Economic Development Office, a service of the RDEK.

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Swans depart the Columbia Valley until next spring. Just like many warm weather campers. Raven’s Nest Resort is one of five businesses in Fairmont Hot Springs and Windermere listed on the new KtunaxaReady.com business directory. They built a series of log cabins ready for guests in 2021.

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Congratulations to Akisqnuk First Nation for starting their first Trappeur Homes’ elder triplex log home on Friday! @trappeurhomes owners, Aaron Cameron and Max Fanderl, were on hand to guide the setup. The project also has a workforce development component employing and training community members.

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Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Support local campaigns are being developed in the Columbia Valley, through a combination of in-person meetings, Zoom calls and a flurry of emails, as this holiday season’s events will be significantly different from the past. Hosted by Cortney of @invermerebcevents, local retailers and business support organizations got together on Monday to finalize plans for Invermere’s peak shopping season. Thankfully, @columbiabasintrust has just announced some funding for “Holiday Buy Local Grants,” so there is an even stronger incentive to get working together.

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November 12, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

VALLEY NEWS

Planners present a refined plan for Lake Windermere Resort lands By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Invermere residents had a chance to check out the new refined concept plan for the Athalmer Neighbourhood Plan during an open house last week. The Athalmer Neighbourhood Plan has been in the works for more than a year. It includes the Lake Windermere Resort (LWR) lands that the district of Invermere purchased for $5 million last year, following a 2018 opinion poll that shows 66 per cent of voters in favour of the acquisition. The open house ran all afternoon on Tuesday, Nov. 3, on the LWR lands site, with project representatives both from the District of Invermere and from planning consultants B&SA Planning Group on hand to answer questions, and with plenty of display board as well as signs to guide attendees on their own walking tours of the site (with COVID-19 pandemic protocols in place). The concepts on display showed relatively modest development, as compared with some previous potential options outlined in the spring, with an emphasis on reducing environmental impact and creating green space. The project team mentioned that the new refined concept plan results from feedback received from local residents during public consultation (most of which happened online, due to the ongoing pandemic) during spring 2020. “They’ve narrowed it down to something lower key, in terms of development, and added more park land...I certainly like that concept. I am pleased about the direction the plan now seems to be heading,” Invermere mayor Al Miller told the Pioneer, while attending the open house, adding that in his view, parking is still a huge issue that needs to be solved, and one that won’t be easy to fix. “We got a lot of feedback on our scenarios, which we presented in the spring. We heard clearly the need for more natural area and public space,” B&A Planning Group partner Geoff Dyer, adding this has resulted in moves such as making the planned accommodation in the area much smaller in scope and locating it tucked away in the northwestern corner of the site (the part abutting Tarte Road and Third Avenue, behind Huckleberry’s Restaurant), leaving the entire waterfront area as public lands. He outlined that some development is necessary to

offset the significant cost of the amenities the district and local residents say they want: a re-naturalized marshland, environmental interpretive elements, a waterfront boardwalk, and a natural amphitheatre, but that it’s also clear the Invermere public wants such development to be limited in scope. “Ultimately, we’re looking for a balance, and in this case, we are trying to make the most extensive public use of the land possible, while still having a business case to make it happen,” said Dyer. He said a rough ballpark estimate of the cost of the green space and amenities the public and district are keen on runs to somewhere between $10 million and $15 million. Invermere planner Rory Hromadnik suggested the figure could well be even higher.

“They’ve narrowed it down to something lower key, in terms of development, and added more park land...I certainly like that concept. I am pleased about the direction the plan now seems to be heading.” Al Miller Invermere mayor

The refined concept plan was labelled under the tentative headline of ‘ecovillage and marina’. Numerous messages at the open house attested that this plan is a concept only and is still open to further feedback. Key refinements from the spring concepts include reducing the accommodation development and moving it to the northwest corner of the land, making sure to “sensitively” integrate amenities while limiting environmental and visual impact, including much more dedicated green space and re-naturalized areas, and a focus on preserving visual corridors and pedestrian walkways. Marina improvements will be limited to rebuilding, instead of relocating, to prevent any further environmental disruption, and will include rebuilt boat slips, a rebuilt marina building with a covered wraparound veranda, space for a marketplace area that can accommodate food trucks, markets and seasonal kiosks, and gateway signage for both the District of Invermere and specifically for the neighbourhood of Athalmer.

Submitted by Ryan Watmough This signage may take the form of public art, a monument, a freestanding sign or a small building. The natural amphitheatre will involve three or four tiers on a subtle slope, integrated with the waterfront boardwalk and a stage that could be designed for 360 degree views, and which would bring lake users into the audience. The re-naturalized marshland is envisioned as a link between James Chabot Provincial Park and the Columbia River wetlands that begin north of the Athalmer bridge, and would include the waterfront boardwalk, interpretive signage, and a reclaimed marsh pond. The developed accommodation part of the plan in the northwest corner of the land was labelled as an ‘ecovillage’ in the concept material. It would encompass a small inn, with 20 to 40 rooms and a maximum of three stories, with a few limited options for commercial activities (the retail component of the plan is being restricted to avoid business competition with downtown Invermere). Envisioned improvements to 1st Avenue and Tarte Street include paved roads, sidewalks, trees, decorative lighting, and a unique seasonal parallel parking space. After feedback on the refined concept plan, the project team will create a final concept plan, which should come before Invermere council for approval some time this coming winter. Local residents are welcome to give feedback on the plan through an online survey running until Nov. 17. To participate in the survey, visit invermere.net/athalmer-neighbourhood-plan/.

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4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

RCMP Report

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Submitted by Sgt. Darren Kakuno Detachment Commander Columbia Valley RCMP This past week, Nov. 2 through Nov. 8, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 71 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

Annual General Meeting Thursday, November 19th at 7 pm Pynelogs Cultural Centre

• On Monday, Nov. 2, Columbia Valley RCMP, with the assistance of the Cranbrook RCMP Crime Reduction Unit and Police Dog Service, arrested a male without incident in Radium Hot Springs for flight from police and obstruction. The male was alleged to have fled from police on two separate occasions and provided a false name to police in October of 2020. A 46-year-old male from Canal Flats was brought before a judge and remanded in custody. • On Tuesday, Nov. 3, police attended a property on Edelweiss Street in Radium Hot Springs, where it was reported a TV and karaoke machine were found abandoned. If anyone is missing a TV or karaoke machine, they are asked to contact the Columbia Valley RCMP with a description of the items. • On Thursday, Nov. 5, police received a report of an

Everyone welcome but seating is limited to 30 attendees in accordance with COVID-19 regulations.

SA FE T CO AR Y PR VID E I EC N P AU LA TIO CE NS

For more information contact wingsovertherockies@gmail.com

7th Annual

An Outdoor Evening of Commemoration and Remembrance

Summit Youth Centre reopens

November 27th, 2020 at 6:30 pm $10 per name

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com

This year’s Tree of Lights will be held in your community at: Invermere: Outside, below the Invermere Public Library Radium: Outside the Village Office Fairmont: Outside the Lion’s Den Canal Flats: Outside the Discovery Centre

The Summit Youth Centre is reopening the doors after remaining closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The centre is welcoming youth from Tuesday through Friday after school to 9 p.m. Tuesday night is usually full of art and creativity. Youth can attend, for example, music lessons or paint night. Wednesday will make the gamers in the valley happy with some video game contests. Food lovers will love the Thursday night cooking sessions. Friday night programming will alternate between sports events and movies. “We are very excited to be able to be open during

Please find your Tree of Lights forms around your communities, or you can register online at hospicesocietycv.com Special Thanks to our Tree of Lights Sponsor

Please deliver completed forms by November 20th to the Invermere Hospice Office: Unit 103, 926 7th Ave. (Frater Landing), Invermere, BC

778-526-4143 • hospicesocietycv.com

Have an opinion? Email your letter to the editor to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

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this time and believe the centre remaining open is meeting an increased need in the community due to the pandemic,” said Alison Bortolon, centre manager. Summit Youth Centre have COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure the safety of the youth and staff. Everyone entering the centre is being screened for symptoms. Masks are mandatory while inside, as is sanitization prior to entering the centre. Staff are making sure all high-use touch points in and around the centre are being sanitized numerous times throughout the day. Also, there’s a limit of 10 youth and two adults inside the centre at any given time to ensure physical distancing. Visit invermeresummityouthcentre.org for more details.

Restaurant Open!

intoxicated male wondering near traffic on Athalmer Road in Invermere. Officers attended and arrested an adult male for being intoxicated in a public place and held him in cells until he was able to care for himself. • On Sunday, Nov. 8, shortly after midnight, an officer conducted a traffic stop with a Toyota Tacoma on Athalmer Road in Invermere. While speaking to the driver, the officer observed a crossbow in the back seat. It was discovered the male was prohibited from possessing weapons, including cross-bows. The male was arrested for breaching his conditions and released on an Appearance Notice to attend court at a later date. • On Sunday, Nov. 8, at about 11:30 p.m. an officer was conducting patrols in Invermere when he observed a Hyundai Santa Fe parked in a gravel lot on 7th Avenue with the vehicle running. The officer conducted a traffic stop, and while speaking to the driver, the officer formed suspicion the driver had alcohol in her body. The driver complied with a roadside breath demand and blew two “fails”. As a result, the driver was issued a 90-day immediate roadside driving prohibition, and her vehicle was impounded for 30-days.

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November 12, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

The Rockies are back at it! By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com The Columbia Valley Rockies, Invermere’s local junior hockey team, launched their season with a full month of exhibition games, seven in total. The regular season then began on Nov. 13 against the Thunder Cats from Creston Valley at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena in Invermere. The first game resulted in a tie 1-1. The Rockies then lost their second game 5-2. When the Pioneer asked assistant coach Tryg Strand how the beginning of the season was, he replied, “First few weeks back to hockey have been great. It’s really been nice for our players, and ourselves as a coaching staff, to return to a bit of normalcy with the start of a new hockey season.” Team captain Greg Parker adds, “I’m super excited to get back and play competitively. We have a great group of players who really put in the work and have a great collective attitude.” With seven games played so far, coach Strand mentioned that there is a large group of core returning players who represented an important role in the postseason success last year, and coaches are thrilled to have them back. There are also some young recruits that Strand qualified as a strong addition to the team, saying “We are excited to watch (them) grow this season.” Their goal for the winter is already well established in the minds of the whole team: “Our objective is to get better every week as a unit, working towards our goal of being a championship caliber team by the time we get to the playoffs,” said Strand. It won’t be easy to create team chemistry outside the rink this year. Like everything, sports such as hockey must follow and obey COVID-19 pandemic protocols and guidelines in and outside the rink, including specific ones created by Hockey Canada and the provincial government. There is a restriction of social activities when players are not in training or playing during a game. Respecting the ‘bubble’ rule makes it significantly harder for players to see and hang out with their family and friends.

For the coaching staff, managing the team’s health and making strategic decisions will be more challenging due to the current situation as they are unable to have associated players, and any new athlete must be quarantined for two weeks before joining the team. No physical distancing is required on ice, and full contact is allowed. “New rules have been enforced to whistle down the play when more than three players get involved in a scrum for the puck on the half wall, penalties for being in scrums after the whistle, face-washing etc.,” explained Strand. “The new sanitation and safety measures that were put in place really help the players feel safe and comfortable with coming to the rink or the gym and just focusing on the task at hand,” commented Greg Parker. Another novelty due to the pandemic is the sport cohort, “It consists of fifty people, or four teams that will allow for players to be involved in contact activity and breach the two-meter physical distance guidelines,” described Strand. This means that for the entire first half of the season, the Rockies will play exclusively against just three fellow teams: the Kimberley Dynamiters, the Fernie Ghostriders and the Creston Valley Thundercats. “Later on in the year, the Golden Rockets will replace Creston in our cohort. This will be sure to create some heated rivalries, which is great hockey to watch for our fans,” said Strand. If you like to watch the Rockies in action, visit hockeytv.com, sign up for an account and select the ‘All Access subscription’. Columbia Valley Rockies fans will receive $80 off the cost of an annual HockeyTV subscription with the unique team code KIJHLROCKIES20 until Nov. 16. The Rockies will receive a $10 rebate for every annual pass sold using this team code. “It really takes some time getting used to playing in front of no fans because that’s what makes junior hockey so exciting as a player. I think the guys are just happy to be fortunate enough to be able to play hockey at all this year.” concluded Parker.

The District of Invermere Presents…

MIKE DELAMONT

SH TW O O W S!

SOCIALLY DISTANCED STAND UP COMEDY TOUR

Wednesday, November 25th, 6 pm and 8:30 pm The Columbia Valley Centre- 646 4th Street, Invermere BC Maximum 50 audience members per show. Award winning stand up comedian Mike Delamont brings his acclaimed, family friendly comedy to Invermere for just two shows and talks about everything from marriage to bidets in a hilarious evening of comedy you won’t ever forget!

A three time Canadian Comedy Award Nominee, Mike has appeared on CBC’s The Debaters, CBC’s Laugh Out Loud, SiriusXM’s Top Comic, Halifax Comedy Festival, Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the world famous Just For Laughs. “Five Star Stand Up With Soul!” Winnipeg Free Press.

Tickets are only $30 For the safety and comfort of our staff, performer and audience members, all attendees must abide by our COVID protocols.

More all event details and tickets please visit www.mikedelamont.com

Land Act:

Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land Take notice that the Pedley Heights Community Association (PHCA), from Windermere, BC, have applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), Kootenay Boundary Region, for a Lease for a 60 slip Group Moorage for the benefit of both PHCA and Baltac Community Association, situated on Provincial Crown Land (foreshore) located in the vicinity of Windermere, BC, and containing 0.966 hectares more or less. FLNRORD invites comments on this application, the Lands File is 4406146. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Authorization Specialist, FLNRORD, Kootenay Boundary Region, at 1902 Theatre Road, Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G1. Comments will be received by FLNRORD up to December 17, 2020. FLNRORD may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at http://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

Land Act:

Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land Take notice that we, Village of Canal Flats, from Canal Flats, BC, have applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), Kootenay Boundary Region, for a Lease for Private Moorage situated on Provincial Crown Land located at Midden Road, Canal Flats, BC. FLNRORD invites comments on this application, the Lands File is 4406151. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Authorization Specialist, FLNRORD, Kootenay Boundary Region, at 1902 Theatre Road, Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G1. Comments will be received by FLNRORD up to December 27, 2020. FLNRORD may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at http:// comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

PERSPECTIVE

November 12, 2020

Historical Lens

U.S. election will influence Canada By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com

All the countries and their citizens were riveted to their screens, breathlessly refreshing their newsfeeds every few seconds and straining their shoulders as they hunched over screens awaiting U.S. election results that dragged on and on... After three days of uncertainty and impatience, the official result came: Senator Joe Biden has been elected as the 46th President of the United States of America. The news of his election came 48 years to the day after his election as Senator from Delaware. Ironically, the man who, at 29, was back then the youngest ever elected to the Senate, will become at the age of 78, in January, the oldest president the U.S. will ever have. Yet not everyone is passionate about politics, let alone about U.S. politics. Why was the topic on everyone’s lips... Put simply: The U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, not to mention the largest economy, so naturally the country’s change of leadership will have an impact globally. What does this mean for Canada? The U.S. withdrew, the day after Donald Trump was elected, from the Paris Agreement on climate change, became the only country in the world to pull out from the agreement. This impacted Canada, which then had to delay its planned methane regulations by three years. Prime Minister Trudeau and his government had to limit carbon emissions pricing, since Canadian companies faced competition from the U.S. companies, which were not subject to similar tax. Biden has promised to reinstate the Paris agreement as soon as possible, which could be good news for Canada’s clean energy technology industry. The picture of immigration changed in Canada following the election of President Trump, who drastically modified immigration policies. In addition, the decision to make it more difficult to obtain visas for skilled workers and entry into the U.S. for some countries has created an increase in the rate of immigration to Canada. The relationship between the U.S. and Canada has been troubled for the past few years. We remember that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had to be renegotiated, and tariffs were imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum, only to be later abolished. But Biden also has protectionist policies like Trump’s ‘Buy American’, which could continue to limit Canadian companies ability to obtaining of projects. But let’s be honest, in the end people around the world probably followed the U.S. election with just as much passion as Americans. Like a close sports game, in which each team’s supporters get wound up to epic proportions, this U.S. election brought into play values and morals that were fundamentally important to each of us. As a duty of citizens willing to do their part, people wanted to know on which side the scales of values were going to fall in the most powerful country in the world.

Home of Conrad Kain on the west side of Wilmer.

Farm land Photo C2220, 1934, courtesy Windermere District Historical Society

Athalmer Ecovillage Dear Editor: I supported the purchase of the above mentioned land by the Invermere District because I saw it as a great opportunity to increase the green area spaces for the enjoyment of residents and also visitors. We are witnessing unprecedented development in our area as more and more people experience the magnificent setting and environment and want to live and share our space. As a result of this urban growth, it is imperative to protect our natural setting for the enjoyment of all. Our shallow Lake Windermere, the Columbia River and its location within the Rocky Mountain Trench, where we live, is a paradise well worth protecting for the future. My specific suggestions and comments for this project are: 1)Creation of green areas as much as possible. This area was a wetland not too many years ago; 2)No Resort accommodation on this area. I do not believe our Municipality should get involved in commercial infrastructure development; 3)No permanent facilities for food vendors other than mobile/seasonal purposes. Athalmer, just a short walk away, offers and could develop more food outlets to supply demand; 4)Yes to walkways and gathering areas for outdoor

events/music, art, presentations as well as wildlife, birds and nature observation; 5)Perhaps facilities for campers to enjoy staying on site. Suggested to limited stays, as a revenue source; 6)Ensure that access to the lake and river for the non-motorized recreationalist is well taken care of. All we need to do is look at the numbers of paddleboards, canoes and inflatable devices outside of the motorized areas using our waterways summer and winter to see the public enjoyment of the great outdoors. Demand for these activities will continue to grow; 7)Marina. Limited enhancement only if there is no alternative site for it. The current and proposed area is located in a narrow channel of the Columbia River and it is a vessel bottleneck which at times expands down current to below the bridge and area where non-motorized and limited horsepower craft access the wetlands. Green spaces, either in large cities or small towns, are in great demand by people. At times it may seem that investing in green spaces is a waste of money. However, these green areas continue to prove themselves as the very thing that people seek — a place to find peace, quiet, inspiration and refuge from a busy world. Chris Espinel, Invermere

The Columbia Valley

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013

Pioneer

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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.

November 12, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

Bears break into new residential garbage bins Residents advised to keep bins inside

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The district of Invermere and the local Columbia Valley WildSafe BC representative are reminding local residents that the new garbage bins — introduced a few weeks ago as part of a new automated garbage collection system — are not bear-proof, and that homeowners must keep their trash inside their homes until the morning of garbage pick-up, just as they did with the old bins. “The new bins are much more sturdy and an improvement compared to the variety of containers used previously. It is important to note that these containers are not bearproof or bear-resistant,” wrote WildSafe BC Columbia Valley community coordinator Corinna Strauss in a recent post. “For a bin to be deemed bear-resistant, it undergoes a test in which a grizzly or black bear cannot access the bin for at minimum an hour. Since bears are incredibly smart, adaptive, and powerful animals, it is rare to find any fully bear-proof container.” The post stems from recent occurrences of bears coming into Invermere, looking for snacks. “There are several black bears wandering into town right now, and there have been four different incidents of bears breaking into bins,” Strauss told the Pioneer, adding that these have not been confined to any one particular neighbourhood, but have been scattered evenly throughout the town. Strauss cautioned that nobody is 100 per cent sure, but the bin break-ins are likely the work of one or two bears, rather than four separate bears. She advised residents to keep their bins inside — either their homes, or inside a garage or shed — even when they are empty, if at all possible. Strauss estimated that probably 80 per cent of Invermere residents are keeping their bins outside at the moment. Invermere mayor Al Miller explained to the Pioneer that getting completely bearproof bins for each home in Invermere would be tremendously costly and would necessarily mean that the bins would be quite heavy. “The only thing that you can get that is totally bear-proof is the heavy, heavy steel

Donald Mazankowski Fresh old ideas By Arnold Malone Pioneer Columnist Anyone who ever aspires to a career in politics would be well served by emulating the characteristics of the great Donald (Don) Mazankowski. Affectionately known as “Maz”, he was admired by members of all parties. He was a workhorse in politics, and he tried hard to make the best better. Good ideas from opposition members were utilized, and credit was passed back to the source. It seemed as if he was the member for all of Alberta and a large swath of Canada. Private members of all parties approached Maz when they had an issue and were having difficulty getting the attention of a department. I recall coming out from the government lobby after one question period and observing two members of the Block Quebecois standing by Maz’s office across the rotunda from the chamber. A few days later, I was talking to one of the Block members and mentioned that I noticed he was waiting to see Maz. That member put his hands together as if in payer and then pointed skyward and said, “Maz is a man from Heaven. He helps everybody.” He was often thought of as the Minister Of Everything, yet he had the de-

meanour of a gee shucks farmer. It was his humility that made him so believable, so trusted and effective. He was Canada’s most powerful yet least elitist policy builder. Maz was widely respected as a person who truly looked upon his role as being a servant for all of Canada. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney designated a very rare distinction upon Maz’s prior to his retirement by bestowing upon him the title of The Right Honourable Donald Mazankowski. Further, he was so widely respected that when the new Heart Institution was under construction for the University of Alberta Hospital, they chose to name the facility the Right Honourable Don Mazankowski Heart Institute. As Deputy Prime Minister it was his calm, his gentle persuasion, his common sense, and his unending willingness that caused so many to seek him out for advice and resolution. He was a man of the people, and he had the fine ability to talk issues without engaging in personalities. He was the model of what a public servant ought to be. All of Canada has been advantaged because Maz has been among us. Arnold Malone served as MP for Alberta’s Battle River and Crowfoot ridings from 1974 through 1993. He retired to Invermere in 2007.

fabricated containers with the hidden latches inside, the kind we have downtown,” said Miller. “These are very, very, very expensive. I imagine most residents would be pretty unhappy at paying the bills involved in getting those. And they would not be easily transportable, not by any stretch.” The new bins are definitely more sturdy than the old ones, Miller pointed out. “What we’ve got is a container that is what you can call animal resistant. It will keep dogs and deers out, which is an improvement from the old residential garbage bins,” he said. “But although the Photo submitted new bins may be a bit more complicated than the old ones for a bear to get into, they are certainly not bear-proof.” Residents can bring any excess waste to the Invermere transfer station in Athalmer or at the Columbia Valley landfill on the Windermere Loop Road.

I took a walk By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com Known since 1982 by a large majority of Japanese people, ‘shinrin-yoku’ is still relatively unknown on our side of the planet, but in recent years it has attracted a growing number of adherents here. This therapeutic practice consists of immersing yourself in the forest and its components in order to benefit from the relaxing effect of specific molecules, called phytoncides, which are diffused by vegetation. You can take forest baths worldwide: Canada, United States, Finland, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Costa Rica, Australia, the United Kingdom and more. Here in the Columbia Valley, Pat Bavin, founder of Forest Therapy Guides, organizes immersions in different forests. Shinrin-yoku provides many benefits, argues Pat Bavin, the pioneer of this practice in Invermere. It will allow you to slow down, connect with nature and let the forest carry out its therapeutic mission. “We have a natural tendency to go to the forest. That’s why we have national parks, provincial parks, municipal parks, all of these different kinds of parks because that’s a natural thing for us to go and find a place to settle, to calm, to relax.” The biggest challenge for Bavin with his clients is that some of them actually have a hard time slowing down their pace: a trend he said is not uncommon when bringing active, outdoorsy people to participate in this walk. And I was one of them. When I met Pat, I told him that I am a really experienced hiker and spend most of my time outside. But I hadn’t understood what forest therapy was until I tried. So, what is it exactly? It is a slow

and contemplative walk in the forest. This Japanese practise aims to reconnect humans with nature so that they can take care of their body, mind and soul. A guided shinrin yoku walk consists of a series of invitations that appeal to your senses, taking the time to breathe, feel, observe, slow down and listen to the sounds of the forest. Slowness is the key, and silence is the order of the day. Over the past few years, many Japanese studies have demonstrated the physical and psychological benefits of shinrin-yoku. This practice, recognized by the medical profession in Japan, can be prescribed to treat stressed and anxious patients or people who suffer from cardiovascular disease. Yet, it is not recognized in North America. Something that might change in the next year or two, according to Bavin, one of the nine certified guides in B.C. In a Japanese study, beneficial effects of this practice were observed regarding depression, fatigue and anxiety. Many researchers have studied the therapeutic effects of the forest. They observed, in forest walkers, a decrease in stress markers, an improvement in attention, a stimulation of creativity, a decrease in aggressiveness and an improvement in mood. They also observed a drop in the level of glucose in the blood (in diabetic patients), a drop in blood pressure and an improvement in the immune system. The mere sight of green landscapes has positive effects on health. The practice of shinrin-yoku takes on its full meaning in the world we live in today, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic appeared and changed the way we live our life. People experience stress due to the unknown and fear of the threat, said Bavin. To learn more about local forest therapy, visit patbavin.com.

8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

November 12, 2020

Consider the Luxor Linkage Conservation Area

By James Rose james@columbiavalleypioneer.com The four of us met early one Sunday morning at the start of October. From the Hewitt Road intersection where we met, we drove north past Edgewater a few kilometres. Our plan was to do a short walking tour of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC) Luxor Linkage Conservation Area. Luxor Linkage forms part of a connectivity corridor for large animals moving through the Columbia Valley from the Rockies to the purcells. At 960 acres of land, it is a critical part of a natural corridor for wildlife stretching from the wetlands, across Highway 95 and into the mountains. 4.7 kilometres from one side to the other. Both Kindersley and Luxor Creeks flow through the land, and at this time of year, Luxor is known to have spawning Kokanee salmon. When the Columbia River Treaty was signed in 1964, it paved the way for the coordinated effort to construct mega-dams on the Columbia River in Canada and the United States. The dams, of course, brought B.C. cheap, plentiful hydropower. Then, and to this day. The dams also are used for flood control and irrigation. They also prevent salmon from the pacific from spawning up the river like they once used to. They used to travel as far as the river’s headwaters at Columbia Lake. When the major Canadian dams were built, like the Mica Dam north of Submitted by Joe Lucas Revelstoke in the 1970’s, the government stocked the resultant Kinbasket Reservoir with Kokanee Salmon. Spawning Kinbasket Kokanee, our day’s raison d’être. At Luxor’s parking lot, I let my dog out of my car. He, the picture of happiness as we traipsed our way through the spacious forest. The people joining me, they knew of a route to arrive to a bluff offering a sweeping vantage of Luxor Creek, the wetlands, and the Purcell mountains to the west. Between Columbia Lake and Donald is one of only

two free-flowing reaches of the Columbia River above Portland, Oregon. The other is a small section around the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in the state of Washington. We had trouble finding the right path. Obscuring our way was plentiful earth-toned wild grass. It was growing in over narrow old pathways with flagging tape leading in spasmodic directions. My dog Submitted by James Rose Guille, he was happy to follow us wherever we made our wrong turns. As long as we walked in a general due west direction, we knew we’d arrive to the north-south running Luxor at some point. Eventually, we came to a downward sloping knoll. Guille took off down the hill, and it was quite the sightseeing a French Bulldog fly through grass twice his size. He flushed out five or six big bald eagles. Were they feeding on something? Could that mean a bear may be close? Luxor Linkage was identified by the NCC as a prime parcel of land to provide the big beasts, the grizzlies, room to roam. Grizzlies travel far distances. It’s in their DNA, and facilitating their free movement encourages biodiversity. Biodiversity. It’s a word we hear often, but do we really know how critical it is to maintain in the environment? I asked wildlife biologist Richard Klafki, Program Director of NCC’s Rocky Mountain division, for a metaphor. “Understanding the importance of maintaining biodiversity can be compared to an airplane losing rivets midflight. An airplane can lose a few and still fly, but once it loses enough, the whole thing will fall apart.” Down the knoll, we walked. We couldn’t find whatever was the eagles’ object of desire. Thankfully, no sign of a grizzly. What we did find, however, was a nice path leading out to the very bluff we had been looking for. At the edge of the buff, with a wall of small hoodoos directly below, an expansive view of the valley before us was on display. Below, there was Luxor. And speckled throughout the small, gently flowing creek, there were our Kokanee. Cherry red. Bordering the western edge of the creek was a rail line. Beyond, vast wetlands ecology. Over sixty acres of wetlands are in Luxor Linkage. For the rest of this story, visit columbiavalleypioneer.com.

Wilmer Community Club

Annual General Meeting This virtual event will take place via ZOOM on November 24th, 2020, 7 pm. Email wilmerhall99@outlook.com to RSVP.

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10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

November 12, 2020

Honouring Invermere’s Desert Rat Donald Redhead’s family recalls their son’s service in the First Gulf War

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com On Nov. 11, Canadians across the country will honour and remember veterans who served their country, particularly those who have fallen in war or those who have suffered because of war. In most Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada, the majority of people reflect quite a lot on the First and Second World War, and rightly so, as these globe-spanning conflicts enmeshed the lives of countless Canadians. But plenty of Canadian veterans have served in other wars too — the Korean War, in Afghanistan, and also in many more armed conflicts. Remembrance Day is for these veterans too. This year, astute Invermere residents will have noticed a new local face among those adorning the banners of local veterans that line Invermere’s main street each year in the lead-up to Remembrance Day. The face is that of Donald Redhead. It’s the first year his family has put up a banner in his honour, and the war Donald served in — the First Gulf War — is also not one that had, until now, been featured in the annual Invermere Banner Project. Donald was born in England, but moved with his parents to Invermere when he was just two years old and grew up here in Columbia Valley, before graduating from David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) in 1988. A few months later, he told parents that Invermere was ‘boring’ and as dual Canadian-British citizen looking for some more excitement, he moved to England to live with his aunt and enlisted in the British Army’s elite Grenadier Guards regiment. The Grenadier Guards were established more than 350 years ago, in 1656, and have seen action in many significant wars throughout the past three and half centuries, including the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, the Anglo-Egyptian War, the Mahdist War and both the First and Second World War. But the Grenadier Guards are perhaps most well known around the world for being part of the Queen’s Guard, the infantrymen who stand outside Buckingham Palace in brilliant scarlet red or dark navy uniforms, wearing one-and-half foot high black bearskin hats, and famously stand stock still at attention, not even so much as batting an eye. The Grenadier Guard’s long history was one Donald was acquainted with as a kid, since it was the same regiment his dad Bryan was in from 1951 to 1956 (during which time Bryan served in the Suez Crisis). “He must have been influenced a bit by that, but I certainly didn’t try to influence him,” Bryan told the Pioneer. Training for the Guards is not for the faint of heart: less than half of those who sign up actually manage to get through the boot camp stage. Later on, there was special desert training, which owing to lack of desert conditions in the United Kingdom, was conducted in the sand hills near Suffield, Alberta. “I can see why they use that area, it’s really dry, just like a desert. And hot. A bit of a horrible climate, really,” said Donald’s mom Olga. “It was funny in a way, because he signed up for the military over

in England to go see the world beyond Invermere, and then the British military shipped him back to Alberta for training.” Donald completed the training, having no idea at the time that he would later be posted to a genuine desert conflict. He began his service and ended up going all over Europe one winter as part of the Guards’ military alpine team. “Everybody thinks, ‘oh, the war was just three days.’ They don’t know much about the cleanup and what that entailed.” Bryan Redhead

Nearly two years into his time with the Guards, in October 1990, Donald was one of 100 Grenadier soldiers selected to be attached to the Staffordshire Regiment, stationed at the time in Saudi Arabia. The regiment was nicknamed the Desert Rats, after the British Army’s legendary 7th Armoured Division, which had initially acquired the Desert Rats moniker in the Second World War during campaigns across the Sahara (throughout North Africa, in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). “It was quite an honour that they (the Staffordshire Regiment) were allowed to be called Desert Rats,” said Olga.

The Staffordshire Regiment Desert Rats and other coalition soldiers were posted to Saudi Arabia in the wake of Iraq’s invasion and annexation of neighbouring Kuwait in August 1990. Military and political tensions built through the rest of 1990, as the United Nations Security

Council issued a resolution calling for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait by a deadline of Jan. 15, 1991. For Donald, it was a time of waiting in the sands, constantly on alert, as a surprise Iraqi offensive into Saudi Arabia by air or land, or even a chemical gas attack, was a genuine possibility. “It must have been terrible for the nerves, to just sit there in the desert, waiting for a war to perhaps start,” said Bryan. Olga added that Donald and his colleagues had to keep their gas masks and gas suits immediately on hand at all times, even when showering or going to the toilet, just in case. Indeed the British gas masks and suits had such a reputation for quality (and similar American suits the opposite reputation) that American soldiers were known to approach their British counterparts offering to buy their suits. “They spent most of the time living under their armoured personnel carrier,” said Bryan, adding the Desert Rats would stretch out their sleeping mats there “because it was cooler. It was the only place there was any shade at all.” Obviously, Donald had to keep his specific whereabouts confidential, and the tense atmosphere in the lead up to the First Gulf War did not make things easy for Bryan, Olga and Donald’s siblings at home in Invermere. “I didn’t like it,” said Bryan. “The trouble was, I never knew what he was doing until I saw it the next day on the news,” added Olga. Both tried to avoid watching too much coverage of the conflict on television. There was plenty of support and morale-boosting efforts for Donald from Invermere. Students from J.A. Laird Elementary School wrote and mailed letters to him, the nurses at the Invermere hospital (where Olga worked) put together a care package for him, and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 Windermere District sent a letter of support. And come December, Olga and Bryan mailed a parcel with an honest-to-goodness real Christmas tree. It was a sapling, and the couple posted it in a plastic tube, stuffed with moss at both ends to keep the tree moist. “It was only a foot long. Don put it up in the desert, and they sprinkled white foot powder around it as ‘snow’. He said it was the only Christmas tree any of the troops had,” recalled Olga. In reply, Donald sent back a homemade Christmas card, drolly pointing out that he had to make it himself because there are no Christmas cards for sale in Saudi Arabia. In addition to these supportive reminders of home, and the camaraderie, there was the endless landscape of the desert, with horizons of nothing but sand and rock stretching beneath a ceaseless blue sky. Bryan said Donald was quite intrigued by this environment. International anxiety grew in the new year as the Jan. 15 deadline loomed. The deadline came and went: Iraq did not withdraw. On Jan. 16, the First Gulf War began. For the Redheads in Invermere, that meant more waiting and watching: in a phone call on the morning of Jan. 15 Donald had told them he and his fellow soldiers were headed to the Saudi-Kuwait border to see if ground

November 12, 2020 troops would become involved in the conflict. But much of the first month of the war was an aerial battle, with coalition bombing campaigns into occupied Kuwait and Iraq, and Iraqi forces countering by launching Scud missiles into Israel and Saudi Arabia. On Feb. 24, coalition ground forces entered Kuwait. The conflict was swift and decisive. By Feb. 26, Iraqi forces were retreating from Kuwait, setting some 700 oil wells on fire as they left, filling the skies of the small country with enormous billowing clouds of ominous jet black smoke, and creating burning ‘oil lakes’ and ‘fire trenches’ in places were oil from the wells flooded low-lying areas (efforts after the war to put out the fires eventually took the better part of a year). On the night of Feb. 26 to 27, a long convoy of Iraqi troops retreating back to the Iraqi city of Basra on the main Kuwait-Iraq highway was bombed so extensively by American airforce and navy pilots that it became known as the Highway of Death (or as the Road to Basra). On Feb. 28, 100 hours after the ground campaign started, with coalition forces continuing to pursue retreating Iraqis into Iraq, American President George H.W. Bush (the first Bush president) declared a ceasefire. “So (for Donald) it was six months of waiting and then three days of war,” said Bryan. “But those 100 hours were quite intense.” Donald was among the infantryman in support vehicles, supporting coalition tanks, and from this vantage, he watched coalition tanks take out Iraqi tanks, said Bryan, adding Donald was among the British troops involved in the cleanup of the Road to Basra. “That would have been difficult work, it would have meant helping bury a lot of dead,” noted Bryan. “Everybody thinks, ‘oh, the war was just three days.’ They don’t know much about the cleanup and what that entailed.”

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11 The Road to Basra attracted some controversy, with some commentators saying the American pilots used disproportionate force on Iraqis who were retreating and who were trapped in a bottleneck traffic jam. Other commentators and American military officials defended the attack, saying it was legitimate military action. Images of the devastation on the Road to Basra, with thousand of burned-out, crumpled vehicles and hundreds or thousands of charred corpses (estimates of fatalities vary) circulated widely in newspapers and on television the day after the bombing, and some analysts argue these images played a role in prompting President Bush to cease hostilities the following day. With the war over, Donald returned to the United Kingdom, and after years of waiting for the chance, he finally got his opportunity to wear the iconic Grenadier Guards uniform with bearskin hat while guarding the Queen. He had originally been scheduled to do so starting in December 1990, but the Gulf War pushed that back, and Donald ended up serving an extra six months with Guards on top of the originally planned three years, even staying on an additional four days right at the end of his service specifically to partake in an official Queen’s Review. In all, Donald spent five months on public duties at Windsor Castle, and life in London was a clear high point in his time in the military. “He really lived it up there, he spent all his money,” said Olga, with a wry chuckle. Of course, Olga and Bryan, proud as any parents would be, made a trip to England to see their son on duty. Olga did her best to play the stereotypical

annoying mom and break Donald’s concentration while he was standing at rapt attention outside Buckingham Palace, and after her persistent efforts, he obliged by slyly and ever so subtly lifting a finger or two up by the edge of his coat in acknowledgement, all while keeping his gaze solidly straight ahead and not otherwise moving a muscle. “Boy, if I’d reported that, he would’ve gotten in a good deal of trouble,” said Olga, smiling at the memory. When Donald’s military service ended, and he returned to Invermere. “We knew he was coming back, but didn’t know precisely when. He didn’t tell anyone. There was just a knock at the door one night, and we got up out of bed, and there he was at the door,” said Olga, adding the son who had once thought the Columbia Valley boring was now as happy as could be to be back in the mountains, with plenty of lakes for fishing nearby. Life moved on for Donald, as he tried his hand at other post-military occupations, and his career with the Grenadier Guards wasn’t something he talked much about without prompting. “If you ask him, he’ll answer your question, but with a short answer. He won’t tell you anything more than what you ask,” said Bryan. “I did ask him once if he was glad he enlisted, and he said ‘yes, but I don’t want to do it again’.” Donald, now 51, has been working as a nurse at Foothills Hospital in Calgary for more than a dozen years, a niche his parents say he is quite happy in, and his service with the Grenadier Guards has become a thing of the past. In the past, yes, but not forgotten: a banner hanging near the north end of Pothole Park reminds passersby that one of Invermere’s sons once volunteered and saw service in faraway desert sands; and that Invermere honours its own Desert Rat.

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12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

November 12, 2020

@KtunaxaPride content curated for outreach By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A 20-year-old member of the Tobacco Plains Indian Band has recently opened an educational account on social media to raise awareness about Ktunaxa language and culture with her peers. Aiyana Twigg, the content creator behind the @KtunaxaPride Instagram account, is a member of the Ktunaxa Nation and has roots with the Blackfoot too. She is currently in the process of completing a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in anthropological linguistics and First Nations’ endangered languages remotely through the University of B.C. (UBC). Her goal is to curate culturally educational content for other youths between the ages of 20-and-30 years-old. “I had a lot of cousins who grew up and didn’t really have the opportunity to understand the language, our culture and our people, so I wanted to educate people who didn’t have the same opportunities that I did growing up,” Twigg told the Pioneer. She is currently in her third year of post-secondary education at the UBC and is completing this pandemic

school year remotely from Kelowna. Twigg hopes to become a linguist that focuses on Indigenous language reclamation with aspirations to better understand how Indigenous dictionaries and dialects for under-resourced languages by creating and using tools from communities and scholars alike. “An example is that in (the field of ) linguistics, oftentimes, is that they don’t think about the people that they’re researching the language on,” Twigg said. “(Linguists) just dissect the language. But a lot of elders from Indigenous communities find distrust in that because the culture tells you a lot about the language, so you’re overlooking the worldview of the people speaking the language... Lots of times, (linguists are) comparing the language to English, which isn’t really good because they’re not looking in the language in the way that they should be.” Her goal is to change the attitudes of Indigenous communities to advocate for language preservation. She believes that the most important thing language learners need to understand about the Ktunaxa people is the importance of the lands as well as their connection to animals and people.

This winter, in January, Twigg plans to work with Anthropological and First Nations educational professors to build a relational lexicography and work toward developing teaching strategies to benefit Indigenous communities to improve community-based learning through unique relational lexicographies and orthographies. She hopes to continually learn and develop new educational tools for others. In the summer of 2021, Twigg remains optimistic about returning to the East Kootenay region known as home. She plans to work with the Ktunaxa communities in Canada to focus on developing learning resources for Indigenous language learners to promote language reclamation by creating documentation about the writing conventions and differing dialects from Tobacco Plains, Akisqnuk First Nation, Aq’am and Yaqan Nuki. “Language and culture are connected, and that’s what I really want to bring awareness too,” she explained. “Linguistics tends to constrain our Indigenous voices, and our Indigenous languages. It doesn’t really allow our cultural view, so that’s ultimately what I’m trying to deconstruct and decolonize and my linguistics studies.”

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE – BYLAW 3010 – Bylaw Amendment – Upper Columbia Valley The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of Directors is considering amendments to the Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1990. Bylaw No. 3010 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1990 – Amendment Bylaw No. 365, 2020 (Miscellaneous Amendments / RDEK)” will amend the text of the zoning bylaw to integrate regulatory changes that were previously made to other RDEK zoning bylaws during a round of housekeeping and to implement some regulatory changes to address OCP direction and current planning matters. A public hearing will be held via Zoom webinar conference: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 6:00 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 Bylaws and supporting information by requesting that an information package be emailed to you by contacting kbelanger@rdek.bc.ca. Information packages may be requested up until Friday, November 20, 2020 at 4:30 pm; • mail or email written submissions to the addresses shown below before Friday, November 20, 2020 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 Friday, November 20, 2020 at 4:30 pm. Register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gy-5km5kRTiGNtgsPz4NlA Please note that a question and answer period will not occur during the Zoom webinar conference. You must address any questions relating to the bylaws to the Planner prior to Friday, November 20, 2020 at 4:30 pm. 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 Kris Belanger, Planner, at 250-489-6903, toll free at 1-888-478-7335, or email kbelanger@rdek.bc.ca.

TO PRE-REGISTER visit the Meetings page on rdek.bc.ca and choose Public Hearings & Meetings

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WATER/WASTEWATER OPERATOR 2 (TEMPORARY) – WINDERMERE BC

WATER/WASTEWATER OPERATOR (2 or 3) – WINDERMERE BC

The Regional District of East Kootenay is looking for an experienced Water/Wastewater Operator 2 located out of our Columbia Valley Office in Windermere BC. Supervised by the Senior Operator, the Water/Wastewater Operator is primarily responsible for operating and maintaining 6 water and 2 wastewater systems. This is a temporary one year term to cover a maternity leave.

The Regional District of East Kootenay is looking for an experienced Water/Wastewater Operator (2 or 3) located out of our Columbia Valley Office in Windermere BC. Supervised by the Senior Operator, the Water/Wastewater Operator is primarily responsible for operating and maintaining 6 water and 2 wastewater systems.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: • Progressive experience (three to five years) maintaining water and wastewater utilities, preferably in a local government setting • Class II Water Treatment and Water Distribution Operator Certificates • Class II Wastewater Collection and Wastewater Treatment Operator Certificates • Possession of a Chlorine Handling Certificate • Valid British Columbia Driver’s Licence

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: • Progressive experience (three to five years) maintaining water and wastewater utilities, preferably in a local government setting • Class II or III Water Treatment and Water Distribution Operator Certificates • Class II Wastewater Collection and Wastewater Treatment Operator Certificates • Possession of a Chlorine Handling Certificate • Valid British Columbia Driver’s Licence

KEY SKILLS & ABILITIES: • Thorough knowledge of the operation and maintenance of water and sewer systems and applicable government regulations. • Excellent communication and organizational skills. • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and SCADA monitoring systems. • Ability to establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships with contractors, developers, applicable regulating agencies, staff, and the general public.

This is a temporary, full-time (35 hours per week) Union position with a starting salary hourly rate of $32.10- 33.70/hour (wage is currently under review through a Joint Job Evaluation process) depending on qualifications.

This is a permanent, full-time (35 hours per week) Union position with a starting salary hourly rate of $32.10 - $37.04/hour (wage is currently under review through a Joint Job Evaluation process) depending on qualifications.

If you possess the necessary qualifications and experience, we invite you to submit a resume and cover letter, with references, no later than Friday, November 27, at 4:30PM to: Becky Hoglund, Human Resources Information on our organization and copy of complete job Email: hr@rdek.bc.ca (MS Word format or PDF) description are available at www.rdek.bc.ca/careers. Please quote: Engineering – 22 We thank all candidates for their interest, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

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

November 12, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

Recycle BC Depots

Where does it go? THIS WEEK’S FOCUS: Once it is in the bins, where does the material go?

What happens to our recyclables? Recycle BC materials that are collected in the East Kootenay go to Cranbrook for processing and shipment. Here is a breakdown of what goes where. Recycle BC Depots Our Yellow Bin program has been in place for over 20 years. Although there have been very few changes to the Yellow Bin program since its inception, there have been major changes in the recycling industry in that time. One of the biggest changes is the advent of Extended Producer Responsibility Programs (EPR) – which were created by the Provincial government to regulate the recycling/end of life management of specific hazardous wastes and recyclables. A great example of an EPR Program is the printed paper and packaging program, which is managed by Recycle BC. This EPR program is slightly different in a couple of ways: 1. Instead of charging consumers at the register (like when you buy a new TV and pay an eco-fee), the producers/manufacturers of printed paper and packaging are charged a fee to ensure that these products can be collected, recycled and managed through their end of life. The Recycle BC Depots in our region accept a much wider range of products than our Yellow Bins or the municipal curbside programs. Recycle BC has access to more markets than we do through the Yellow Bin program and a mandate that the materials must be recycled or managed through end of life. As a result of this regulation, there is also a lot of work being done in research and development to further improve options and more full-circle handling of materials. 2. By setting up Recycle BC Depots (that meet Recycle BC’s requirements) the RDEK is classified as a Collector. That means that we are PAID per tonne for all recyclables that we collect at these Recycle BC Depots. PLUS, the public is able to recycle a much wider range of materials. In the Yellow Bin program, we can recycle less, have access to fewer markets, and have to PAY for every tonne collected.

Recycle BC Depots in the region

• Plastic containers and plastic bags and overwrap collected remain in BC, with a local end-market in Metro Vancouver that processes this material into pellets that can be manufactured into new packaging and other products. The contractor is Merlin plastics and 99% of the plastics go here. • Glass is shipped to Abbotsford to be processed into new bottles and to Quesnel to be made into sandblast materials. • Metal containers are sold to end-markets in BC, Ontario and the United States and can be recycled into new packaging, like aluminum cans, and sheet metal for automotive manufacturing. • Paper collected is sold to end-markets overseas, in the United States or in BC and is made into things like egg cartons, boxes, and other paper products. • Foam packaging is recycled in Metro Vancouver and overseas. Styrofoam that goes overseas (which accounts for 1% of the total plastics) is sent to Malaysia to a company where it is used in the production of picture frames. Recycle BC has visited the company and verified its end use. • Other Flexible Plastic Packaging is collected as part of a research and development project to determine how best this material can be recycled. During this time, material that is unable to be recycled will be recovered and produced into engineered fuel.

INVERMERE TRANSFER STATION Industrial 1 Rd in Athalmere 8:00 – 6:00 Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun (Closed Tue, Wed and all Stat Holidays)

FERNIE TRANSFER STATION 6000 Highway 3 9:00 – 5:00 Mon to Fri 10:00 – 4:00 Sat & Sun (closed Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

KIMBERLEY TRANSFER STATION 800 Jim Ogilvie Way 8:30 – 5:30 seven days a week (closed Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

SPARWOOD TRANSFER STATION 1001 Highway 3 9:00 – 5:00 Mon to Sat (closed Sunday, Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

CRANBROOK TRANSFER STATION 2405 22nd St N 8:30 – 5:30 seven days a week (closed Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

ELKFORD TRANSFER STATION #6 Inkaneep Rd 9:30 – 3:30 Tue to Fri 10:00 – 5:00 Sat (closed Sunday, Monday and all Stat Holidays)

The Yellow Bins & Municipal Curbside Recycling The RDEK pays for each tonne collected

through the Yellow Bins and curbside pick-up in Fernie and Invermere. Only the products outlined below can be recycled in the Yellow Bins or curbside pick-up in Fernie and Invermere. • PAPER all mixed paper (such as newspaper, magazines, phone books, brochures, books, envelopes). • CARDBOARD all types of cardboard. Exception: Cardboard covered in wax (for example milk cartons) or soiled with food or grease (like pizza boxes) cannot be recycled and must go in the garbage. • TIN & ALUMINUM CANS food and beverage cans; labels off, rinse well. • PLASTICS Grocery bags and household plastic with the number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 on it. Plastics must be rinsed and every item must have a number on it. No Styrofoam, even though it will be marked a #6. • GLASS goes in yellow bins marked Glass Only. We accept food grade glass jars (jam, pickles, salsa, baby food, etc.). Dishes, windows, mirrors, decorative glass and light bulbs are not accepted. Paper goes to markets in the US and Canada to be made into new paper products. Cardboard goes primarily to Tacoma or Portland to be made into new cardboard products. Plastics go to Merlin plastics and are turned into pellets or flakes for new plastic products, aluminum/tin goes to Ontario to be made into new metals.

learn more

The materials collected in the Recycle BC Depots go to different markets than our Yellow Bin materials. Here is where they go at this time:

www.recyclebc.ca

Recycle BC Depots The RDEK is paid for each tonne collected through the Recycle BC Depots throughout the region.

In order to accept all the new materials, Recycle BC requires some sorting to be done. The materials are separated into the following categories: • PAPER & CARDBOARD PRODUCTS • CONTAINERS (PLASTIC, TIN, BEVERAGE CONTAINERS, ETC.) • FLEXIBLE PLASTIC PACKAGING • PLASTIC BAGS/OVERWRAP • STYROFOAM • GLASS

By adopting the Recycle BC program, we are able to recycle many new products that are not available through the Yellow Bin and curbside system. These include milk cartons, ziploc bags, styrofoam, coated paper cups, bubble wrap, flexible plastic packaging, potato chip bags, aluminum foil & pie plates, and many more. Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout British Columbia. Recycle BC is funded by producers, like retailers and manufacturers that supply packaging and paper products to BC residents, keeping the costs away from homeowners.

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

November 12, 2020

HERE TO SERVE YOU BUSINESS OF THE WEEK

SERVICES

BUSINESS OF THE WEEK

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

North American Warranty

IN THE COLUMBIA VALLEY

SINCE 1991 ICBC Glass Repair Out of Province Vehicle Inspections Auto Body Repairs • Painting • Quality Parts

On November 21st, Wildsight will be hosting their annual Wild and Scenic Film festival. This year it will be an online virtual event. They promise a fun evening in the comfort of your own home with thought-provoking films and door prizes with tickets purchased! Get yours at wildsight.ca/events

We give all students 15% off with valid student ID

Tire Sales and Installation

141 Industrial Rd. 2 • 250-342-9424 • Open Monday - Saturday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Sales ~ Service ~ Installation

Have you driven an electric vehicle? Now you can with Wildsights Spark EV Share! With only a $2 registration fee and your first day FREE this month, it’s never been more cost effective to experience the future. Visit gospark.ca

Judy: (250) 341-1903

JOIN YOUR CHAMBER AND REAP THE REWARDS! P. 250-342-2844 E. membership@cvchamber.com

All Makes and Models

valleysolutions@shaw.ca

House Checking and more! Bob: (250) 341-5014

PROVIDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE VACATION HOME OWNER SINCE 2006

SERVICES

UNIVERSAL DOORS & EXTERIORS Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700

unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential

WINDOW COVERINGS SHOWROOM • • • •

Doors Windows Flooring Painting/Interior/ Exterior • Kitchen Renovations • Window Coverings

• Bathroom Renovations • Additions • Decks • Finish Carpentry • Basement Renovations

KITCHEN CABINETS & COUNTER TOPS

915 7th Avenue, Unit B, Invermere • EMAIL: fairmontridge@telus.net • 250-342-4663

East Kootenay Plumbing Services & Renovations Available 24/7

• Air Conditioning/Heat Pumps • Fireplaces • Full Heating and Ventilation Systems

Beat the fall rush ~ clean your Chimney this spring! ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHIMNEY SWEEPS LTD. 804 Almberg Road, Golden, BC V0A 1H2 CELL: 250.272.5599 OFFICE: 250.344.7323 todd@rockymountainchimneysweeps.com rockymountainchimneysweeps.com

Call for your FREE consultation and estimate

Red Seal Journeyman Plumbers/Gasfitters (B)

eastkootenayplumbing@yahoo.com 250-272-3374

PHARMACIES

LAMBERT-KIPP

P H A R M A C Y ( 2 0 1 9 ) LT D . Come in and browse our giftware

Irena Shepard, B.Sc. (Pharm.)., Émilie Lamoureux, Pharm D., Laura Kipp, Pharm D. Your Compounding Pharmacy

• Interior/Exterior Painting • Staining • Clear Coat • New Construction • Renovations

HOW WE ROLL Gerard Rehman 4950 Hot Springs Rd. Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. V0B 1L1

Ph: 250-688-ROLL (7655) LetUsRoll4U@Gmail.com

20 years experience • Satisfaction guaranteed!

Open Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

250-342-6612

N E W S PA P E R

(Servicing the Valley since 1999)

NEW SEWER CAMERA

• Septic Tank Pumping • Portable Toilet Rentals

• A well maintained septic system • Complete sewer/drain repairs should be pumped every 2-3 years • Reasonable rates – Seniors’ discount • Avoid costly repairs • Speedy service – 7 days a week

Bruce Dehart 250.347.9803 or 250.342.5357 Your Weekly Source for News and Events

1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere

For all your advertising needs, call 250-341-6299

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE ON ALL WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES • WETT INSPECTIONS

WETT Certified

Scott Postlethwaite

Residential, Commercial Electric Furnace and Hot Water Tank Repair and Service For All Your Electrical Needs

Free Estimates

invermereelectric@gmail.com

1710 10 Avenue – Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 th

N E W S PA P E R

Amanda Murray Office Administrator/ Sales

#8, 1008 - 8th Avenue PO Box 868, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Ph: 250-341-6299 ext: 101 www.columbiavalleypioneer.com amanda@columbiavalleypioneer.com

November 12, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONTRACTING

INSURANCE

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry kekulibaycabinetry.com

INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD.

BOX 2228 742 - 13th STREET INVERMERE, BC V0A 1K0 P: 250-342-3031 F: 250-342-6945 info@lambertinsurance.ca

BOX 459 7553 MAIN STREET RADIUM HOT SPRINGS, BC V0A 1M0 P: 250-347-9350 F: 250-347-6350 TOLL FREE: 1-866-342-3031

P.O. Box 130 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Office: 250-342-2175 • Fax: 250-342-2669 Cindy.mackay@kootenayinsurance.ca

www.kootenayinsurance.ca

CONTRACTING

• Authorized dealer • Designer • Installer Specializing in all heating, electric, gas and wood.

Dale Elliott Contracting

25 years experience installing cabinets Custom Woodwork and Finishing Serving the Columbia Valley for over 40 years.

dale@decontracting.ca • 250-341-7098 CONCRETE I N

P U R S U I T

• Fireplaces • Commercial and residential • New builds • Renovations.

• Trusses • Engineered Floors • Wall Panels Tel: 250.341.6075 Fax: 250.341.3427 Email: info@duskbuildingsystems.com www.duskbuildingsystems.com

1320 Industrial Road #3 Box 159, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

A licensed, registered and bonded company

Give us a call! James, 250-688-1267 or Jerry, 250-342-5299 Email: jeffersoncontractingltd@gmail.com

O F

EXCELLENCE Skandia Concrete • Manufacturers & suppliers of quality concrete & gravel products • Experienced, professional operators and the right equipment to get your job done • Serving the valley for over 30 years

We also offer roundthe-clock service calls.

DESIGN BUILD

New Builds, Renovations, Additions, & Kitchens

• Architectural Design • Interior Design • Building Permits • Construction Management

• Environmentally responsible • Steamed aggregate beds for top quality year-round concrete supply • We stand behind our service, quality and products

Paul Aubrecht, Dipl. Arch. SAIT

250-342-5698

1756 Hwy 93/95 Windermere B.C.

paulaubrecht.houzz.com

Office: 250-342-6500 • Toll Free: 1-888-341-2221

CONCRETE

Best of

2020

SERVICE

Established since 1993

Enjoy life, we’ll clean it up!

Concrete Pump • Sand & Gravel Heavy Equipment Rentals • Crane Service Proudly Serving the Valley for over 50 years

Call NOW:

250-688-0213

• Carpets dry in 1 hour! • Environmentally friendly products • 100% guaranteed! • Fresh clean scent - No steam • Deodorizer/disinfectant • Area rugs including silk and wool • Protector • Prompt reliable service Visit www.heavensbest.com for more information

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com Phone: 250-341-6299 • Email: amanda@columbiavalleypioneer.com

2020

DESIGN

CARPET CLEANING

READY MIX CONCRETE For competitive prices and prompt service, call: 250-342-3268 (plant) 250-342-6767 (office)

Best of

N E W S PA P E R

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

November 12, 2020

Elders’ log home underway at Akisqnuk

By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A log home that’s being built for elders at the Akisqnuk First Nation recently broke ground with a small gathering of community members. On Nov. 4, Akisqnuk First Nation housing manager Dale Shudra and his teams hosted a community barbecue for labourers, chief and council as well as the community behind the hockey rink near the band hall. The lunch-hour event took place on ancestral lands at the Akisqnuk First Nation with delegates from ThinkBright, Trappeur Homes and the housing department to showcase the first of four new three-plexes being built to support housing needs from the nation’s members. “The walls are going up on an elder three-plex,” said Shudra about the first building at the recently surveyed sight. “Akisqnuk First Nation is excited to be working with Trappeur Homes to construct these attractive and functional log homes. These units, along with a second threeplex to be constructed in 2021, present great strides in better caring for Akisqnuk First Nation’s elders for years to come. In addition to the project providing shelter, it is also gratifying to see many members working alongside, and being mentored by, local contractors.” There were a handful of people present at the ceremony to hear opening remarks about the project. Shudra successfully secured $1,200,00 from Indigenous Services Canada in June to support the development of housing for elders in a three-plex. While the newly erected three-plex is the first of four three-plexes in a housing project intended to support

Akisqnuk First Nation chief Ryan Nicholas welcomed the community to the log laying ceremony of a new three-plex for elders last week. Photos by Breanne Massey

elders from the community over time. Shudra remains optimistic that the first three-plex project’s completion can be utilized to help to inform costs for subsequent projects in 2021. In addition, the Akisqnuk First Nation’s housing department received funding from BC Housing and the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) to support the housing project for elders in the community. However, the CBT was unavailable to provide a comment before the Pioneer went to press. Shudra praised the workforce for their effort and time dedicated to delivering the housing project — a sentiment that was echoed by many. Akisqnuk First Nation chief Ryan Nicholas opened the ceremony by greeting attendees, while praising Shudra and his workforce for their dedication. “I wanted to thank everyone who has come to join us on this lovely day on the Ktunaxa territory,” Nicholas told the crowd. “Today, we are taking a giant step that we have Trappeur Homes partners Aaron Cameron and Max Fanderl offered Akisqnuk First been waiting to take for many years. Nation chief Ryan Nicholas a case of maple syrup at the ground opening ceremony.We are starting the construction of one

of two elder complexes.” He added that the nation’s future is rooted in supporting elders and families in need of housing at the community level. Nicholas is optimistic that the elder’s housing project will help bring families closer together upon completion of the project. “And I want to thank Dale Shudra for keeping the housing (project) going through all of the problems that arose within the band office and most of all the pandemic we are currently facing,” Nicholas concluded. “I’m glad to see so many faces here today to celebrate us moving forward as a community.” Councillor Lillian Rose led a prayer for the nation and its attending to earmark the start of the log laying ceremony last week. She spoke with admiration for the longevity of the project and expressed gratitude to the Creator for guiding a housing project that will benefit families from the community. Rose also praised Shudra for his hard work and dedication to securing funding for the housing projects inplace in spite of uncertainty and change over the course of the past several months. Labourers from both the six-plex and the three-plex projects attended the event to learn more about the initiative. Akisqnuk First Nation interns Justin Grosso and Bobby Morgan networked with the community, while taking turns grilling at the barbecue. Grosso made rounds at the event to learn more about how various attendees came to arrive that day. Through a high collaborative working agreement, Trappeur Homes partners Aaron Cameron and Max Fanderl began serving the community as project managers to help facilitate training and mentoring for members of the Akisqnuk First Nation and the Ktunaxa Nation Council. The duo hopes to support the community develop workforce skills, while successfully supporting the Columbia Valley communities it serves. Continued on page 19...

Progress of the three-plex by the end of the day on Nov. 6.

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONCRETE

CARPET CLEANING

• Ready Mix Concrete • Commercial concrete sealer • Concrete Pumping retarder for exposed • Over 50 colours available aggregate and in stock • DELIVERED ON TIME • Concrete stamps for rent at a fair price • Full range of coloured release • Full range of sand and agents for stamping gravel products.

Phone: 250-342-5833 • Cell: 250-270-9444

All products are available at 9120, Hwy 93/95 which is five kilometres north of Tim Hortons

TILE AND GROUT CLEANING Business: 250-342-9692

RR#4 2117–13 Ave. Invermere, BC V0A 1K4

Cell: 250-342-1273 Fax: 250-342-9644

ptarmiganrugclean@gmail.com

November 12, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

P ioneer C lassifieds ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT Windermere Valley Saddle Club

ATTENTION ASPIRING MUSICIANS FROM PARSON TO CANAL FLATS Applications are open for the 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: Monday, November 30th, 2020. Download application: www.steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca

Al-Anon. Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking? If so, please join us on a “ZOOM” meeting every Monday at 7 p.m. For more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship, please call 250-342-8255.

Notice of Annual General Meeting Monday, November 16th, at 6 pm 1805 Twin Range Frontage Rd. Windermere, BC wvsaddleclub@gmail.com. Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 8 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.

Please email classified ads to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

S OBITUARY S Foster, Patricia Frances March 23, 1929 – October 31, 2020

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Patricia Frances Foster (nee Tegart) on October 31, 2020. Patricia, born March 23, 1929, was the youngest daughter of pioneers Lloyd and Gertrude Tegart. She grew up in the beautiful Windermere Valley sharing many adventures with her twin brother Ken, her sisters Dorothy and Joan and her many cousins. Patricia moved to the United States in her early 20s where she worked as a seamstress until her retirement. In 2016, Patricia returned home to the valley, a place where her heart had always resided. Patricia was predeceased by her parents, older sister Dorothy, brother-in-law Robert Woodall, brother-in-law Sepp Wenger, sister-in-law Patricia Tegart, and husbands, Thor Morgan and Clarence Foster. She is survived by her twin brother, Edward Kenneth (Ken), sister Joan Avril Lloydena (Karl) Schultz, her step- son Rick Foster and his family and her nieces and nephews. We would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to Dr. S Page and to the amazing staff at Columbia House Long Term Care Facility in Invermere, BC for their wonderful and loving care. True to form, the mountains did bring peace to Patricia Internment for Patricia will be held at a later date.

LEGAL NOTICE

CHEERS & JEERS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Estate of Joseph Charles Hemmelgarn deceased All Claims against the above estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 15th day of December 2020. B. Kirsch, 1605 15th Ave. Invermere, BC, V0A 1K4.

If you want to sell your home, it should be here! Call Gerry

CHEERS & JEERS Cheers to Valley Spas on their new paint job. Looks amazing! Cheers to all the knitters/sewers of Happy Hands who contributed all the hats, mitts, scarves and more to our members of the Shuswap and Akisqnuk Indian Bands. Many hours of work have been put in to create these unique handmade pieces, which is much appreciated. Cheers also to Family Dynamix for collecting and making this possible in the Columbia Valley. Cheers to Donna for returning the brown wallet. It has sentimental value to a young boy. Much appreciated! Cheers to whoever adorned Rolf’s memorial area with the Bra’s on Halloween night. I’m sure he is looking down and having a good laugh. it made me laugh and was a nice walk down memory lane.

STORAGE NEWHOUSE STORAGE Various sizes available. Now with climatecontrolled units. Call 250-342-3637.

COMMERCIAL SPACE 864 sq. ft. Shop space in the Industrial Park. Electrical included, $700/mo. 250-3423637, newmulti@telus.net.

• Phone: 250-341-6299 • Email: info@columbiavalleypioneer.com • Web: www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

*not intended to solicit those already working with an agent. BUYING OR SELLING CALL 250-341-1202

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

LEE’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SHOP

BUYING OR SELLING? I specialize in rural, recreational, farm and ranch properties.

BARRY BROWN-JOHN “Rocky Mountain Land Man”

Call or text

250-342-5245

b.brownjohn@gmail.com MISC. FOR SALE

gerrytaft.ca Rockies West Realty Independently owned and operated

CONDO FOR RENT Invermere - Furnished Upper Level two-storey Condo, close to downtown. 2-bdrm, 2 bathrooms. N/S, N/P, No Partiers. References please. Available until June 1st, 2021. $1,250/mo. Utilities and internet included. 403-978-4559.

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE ELKHORN COUNTRY ESTATES Selling Phase 3 now. 2.5-acre parcels. No building time commitment. Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-342-1268. elkhornranches.com

SERVICES

Top Quality Hay Round bales. Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-3421268.

SERVICES Heaven’s Best Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Environmentally friendly products. Dry in 1 hour! Our disinfectant is formulated to kill COVID-19. Call 250-688-0213 B.B.’s Home & Lawn Care Services: Renovations, Handyman Repairs, Small moves, Dump runs, House Checks, House Cleaning, Yard Maintenance, Eavestroughs, Tree removal. Book now for snow removal. 250-688-2897.

Specializing in chainsaws, snow blowers, wood splitters and power augers for all your firewood and winter needs. SAW CHAIN NOW AVAILABLE. Industrial #2 Road across from NAPA Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 250-341-2551 Offering Excellent Service & Fair Pricing! SERVICES FOR SENIORS The Heartfelt Companion offers non-medical help to seniors in their home and respite for caregivers. Companionship, errands, transportation, personal care, meal prep and more. Excellent local references and credentials and a big, kind heart! “Leanne and her associates have made a real difference for myself and my husband who is dealing with dementia. Leanne always seems to figure out what a client needs and enjoys. This also gave me a much needed break. I would highly recommend her service”. www.invermerehomecare.com, Leanne Brooks 250-341-5683.

COMMERCIAL SPACE

LEASE OPPORTUNITY

ACREAGE FOR SALE 4.7 acres. Has its own graveled access road from Kootenay #3 road already constructed. Drilled well, views, privacy. $219,000 plus GST.

1,400 square ft.• 6 months rent free $900 per month triple net

Phone Elkhorn Ranch, 250-342-1268.

CALL 250-341-7345

Fairmont Hot Springs 4985 Hot Springs Rd.

Or email: rhaynesmagellan@gmail.com

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

November 12, 2020

SERVICES

HELP WANTED

Pike Contracting Excavating and Skid Steer services. Call Jason 250-342-5277.

Crossroads Market Now Hiring Deli positions

Golf cart fall tune-up and winterize, pickup and delivery available at extra charge. Call Jeff 250-341-8146 leave a message.

HELP WANTED Wanted 2 F/T Restaurant Cooks, Rocky River Grill, 8888 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C. Permanent, F/T shifts, overtime, weekends, days and evenings, $16/hour for 40 hours per week. Overtime after 40 hours. Minimum several years’ experience and completion of Secondary School. DUTIES: Prepare and cook full course meals, prepare and cook individual dishes and foods, ensure quality of food portions, work with minimal supervision, prepare dishes for customers with food allergies or intolerances. Inspect Kitchens and Food service areas. Please forward resume to Justin Atterbury by fax 250-342-8889 or email justatterbury@hotmail. com. Invermere Petro-Can is currently accepting resumes for F/T and P/T employment. Apply in person to 185 Laurier Street, Invermere between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Successful applicants will be pleasant & customer service oriented. No experience necessary. Above average wage package with a high season bonus available. Please submit resume to KGTltd2020@gmail. com or apply in person at Crossroads Market.

Would you enjoy supporting a forward-thinking and modern workplace that focuses on helping others succeed? Good news! Our team is on the search for a temporary,

Administrative Assistant/ Service Writer

Part-time Administrative Assistant

Looking for a team member with a positive and energetic attitude, good customer service skills, willing to learn basic automotive systems. $18/hr or based on experience in the automotive industry. Must provide previous workplace references.

If you are positive, detail-oriented, and self-motivated, you might be the right fit to join our inclusive, family-friendly workplace. This temporary position could become permanent for the right candidate.

Contact Mike at Walker’s Repair Centre. Ph: 250-342-9424 • Email: info@walkersrepair.ca

For complete job description and how to apply, please visit: aspirecpa.ca/opportunities-with-aspire

Akisqnuk First Nation

IS THIS YOU?

A long-standing, local Kamloops company is looking for you – a talented, motivated sales professional who wants to make more money year over year, have a Monday to Friday daytime career working with local businesses, and has a passion for growing personal knowledge through self paced learning modules and by utilizing our coaching network along the way. You have a strong customer-service focus and can liaise with the fulfillment team to ensure that customer expectations are met. You have excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills and have a good understanding of the Microsoft Office Suite. You are focused on results and you love winning almost as much as you hate losing. Familiarity with online analytics would be an asset. You would enjoy working with a well-established brand with strong client relationships and the opportunity to take them to the next level. You also have the backing of a top-level support team to make your plans for your clients come to life. You value an organization with family values and honesty at its core and love the idea of benefits and a pension to support your loved ones into the future. Did we just describe you? If so, let’s talk. Send your resume and a letter to: Chris Wilson Digital Sales Manager KTW Digital is part of the chris@ktwdigital.com Aberdeen Publishing Group

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Executive Assistant Summary The Executive Assistant position provides overall assistance to Chief and Council and the Senior Administrative Officer as needed. For a complete list of Duties Visit our website or email us. www.akisqnuk.org Key Responsibilities • Maintain confidentiality on all matters • Prepare Council and Band agendas and distribute • Take meeting notes and prepare minutes for Council and Band meetings • Track Motions, Band Council Resolutions (BCR) and action items • Prepare registrations and travel arrangements for Council to attend conferences and workshops • Prepare and distribute internal and external communications as needed • Create and maintain filing system for all Council BCRs, motions and minutes • Other tasks as directed Qualifications: • Office Administration or Business Diploma • Minimum of five years’ experience in an administrative capacity To Apply: Please send resume & cover letter to: info@akisqnuk.org no later than 4:00pm November 27 2020. Mailing Address: 3050 Highway 93/95, Windermere, BC V0B 2L2 Tel: (250) 342-6301 Fax: (250) 342-9693 info@akisqnuk.org • www.akisqnuk.org

Akisqnuk First Nation EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Passion or interest for Beer, Wine and Spirits?

Administrative Assistant Summary The Administrative Assistant is responsible to assist the Akisqnuk First Nation Senior Administrative Officer, Managers and Staff. For a complete list of Duties Visit our website or email us. www.akisqnuk.org

beside the Horsethief Pub is accepting resumes. We are looking for great people for our Radium Liquor Store. Sales Associate positions available. We are looking for people who will: • Maintain a high level of customer service • Maintain a high level of product and service knowledge • Generate sales • Participate in merchandising and promotional activities • Ensure accuracy in all transactions, inventory, and procedures • Participate in all manners of store maintenance

• Stock shelves with product • Work in partnership with Store Managers and other employees to maximize store sales and in-store presence • Maintain a professional appearance, demeanor, and attitude at all times • Rate established based on position and experience

Experience in retail and/or hospitality would be an asset but not necessary. We offer professional and personal growth through educational opportunities. If you are interested in working in a fun productive environment submit resume to: Jennifer McLennan gmjenliquor@gmail.com or hand deliver to Radium Liquor Store, 7538 Main Street East, Radium Hot Springs, attn: Jennifer McLennan

Key Responsibilities • Maintain confidentiality on all matters • Prepare meeting packages for all Staff and Manager’s meetings and distribute prior to meetings. • Take and prepare notes for distribution to staff and managers. • Prepare registration and travel arrangements for conferences and workshops for Managers and Staff. • Prepare and distribute internal and external communications • Track and distribute action items from Council, Managers and Staff. • Develop and maintain a master calendar. • Required to respectfully work with all departments within Akisqnuk First Nation. • Other tasks as directed. Qualifications: • Office Administration or Business Diploma To Apply: Please send resume & cover letter to: info@akisqnuk.org no later than 4:00pm November 27 2020. Mailing Address: 3050 Highway 93/95, Windermere, BC V0B 2L2 Tel: (250) 342-6301 Fax: (250) 342-9693 info@akisqnuk.org • www.akisqnuk.org

November 12, 2020

We’re looking for hardworking, energetic and reliable people just like you!

GROCERY/PRODUCE CLERKS POSITIONS AVAILABLE Starting up to $16.50/hr, depending on availability. Some restrictions apply.

Apply in person. 471 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C.

0911611 BC Ltd. O/A Tim Hortons 496 Highway 93/95, Invermere BC, V0A 1K2 Tim Hortons Invermere is currently looking for

FOOD SERVICE SUPERVISORS Permanent, full-time, part-time, shift, weekend, day, night, evening. $15.60 per hour + benefits • Start Date: ASAP # of Vacancies: 6 • Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years Education: No degree, certificate or diploma required. Please apply via email at timhortons.invermere@gmail.com or in person at 496 Highway 93/95 Invermere, BC

We’re looking for hardworking, energetic and reliable people just like you!

TEMPORARY PRODUCE MANAGER Starting $18.50/hr Benefits/Incentive plan

Apply in person. 471 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C.

If you have what it takes to work with a great Snow and Ice Management team, we want you! Can you drive a plow truck? Operate a skid steer? How about a shovel? Do you appreciate working with good equipment, an organized company, and other hardworking individuals? Are you a student, retired or self employed? Do you have a current job with flexible work hours? This is the perfect way to make some extra money! We offer a variety of opportunities to fit in with your life, whether it’s a couple of hours in the morning clearing sidewalks, a full shift, or something between. Of course, snow work is a bit sporadic. You must be available and committed to work on an on call basis. To be a good fit for this position you must be reliable, punctual, and hard working. We expect the best from our crew, so we pay them $20/hr from day one! If Snow Fighting is the kind of winter challenge you are looking for, please email enquiries to info@brigadeltd.com

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19 Continued ‘Elders’ log home underway at Akisqnuk’ from page 16... “Trappeur Homes specializes in innovative construction, high-efficient, prefabricated and custom designed dovetail log home walls, windows, doors and timber frame construction packages,” said Fanderl. “The companies aim to educate people on building techniques and innovations that we believe have great value in today’s building industry. We are particularly proud of our recent collaboration with the Akisqnuk First Nation, where the band will be learning on-site as the general contractor to build their own residential housing.” After each delegate spoke at the log laying ceremony, Cameron and Fanderl presented chief Nicholas with a case of maple syrup with a chuckle at the log laying ceremony. Nicholas thanked the duo for their gift and for their support on the housing project. Afterwards, attendees dispersed to talk in small groups about current events while waiting for hamburgers and hot dogs outside of the work-site; while others admired the log home structures. Cameron provided 1-1 demonstrations for interested attendees to learn more about the durability of the building’s dovetail corner’s, and he answered questions from those interested in learning more about the products. Former Akisqnuk chiefs Lorne Shovar and Alfred Joseph admired the craftsmanship on site and spent time discussing the project in-depth with Cameron while oth-

ers ate. Councillor Theresa Kains and her family attended the windy event to show support for the initiative as well.

Councillor Lillian Rose led the community through a prayer to the Creator, thanking him for support with the housing project. Photo by Breanne Massey

Opening doors for youth Submitted by Kootenay Employment Services, Invermere Unemployment continues to plague our younger generation. The current spike in the youth jobless rate triggered by Covid-19 only compounded the existing challenges they experience in finding and keeping employment. Youth in rural communities typically face higher employment barriers due to less opportunity and a lack of resources. Kootenay Employment Services is rolling out new youth programs offering skills training and experience more in line with the current labour market needs, opening greater opportunities to break into current high

in-demand sectors. Ignite is open to youth 16-30 years old in Invermere, Fernie, Cranbrook, Creston and surrounding areas. This five-week program includes leadership training, mentorship, identifying and fostering strengths and exploring entrepreneurial opportunities for those interested in self-employment. Participants will attend online workshops, collaborate on projects, receive training and certification to bolster their qualifications. This is followed by a 12-week paid employment opportunity. Ignite starts on Nov. 23. Eligibility applies. For more information or to sign up, go to kes.bc.ca/CMS2/ignitefor-youth. This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS).

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Applications for assistance in the 2020 season are now available Applications must be completed and received no later than December 8, 2020. They can be picked up and dropped off at Family Dynamix, Ministry of Children & Families, the Canal Flats’ Food Bank, Akisqnuk and Shuswap band offices, or mailed to: Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley, Box 2595, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 FIND US ON FACEBOOK WEBSITE COMING SOON!

20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

FAITH Hidden lives

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

By Pastor Murray Wittke Valley Christian Assembly

Online Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Visit https://lwac.online.church 326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 • www.lwac.ca

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED Please email office@wvsm.ca to request a link to our online service which starts at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Recorded services can be accessed by typing WVSM Invermere Anglican United Church. 250-342-6644 • www.wvsm.ca

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Murray Wittke 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere 250-342-9511 • www.valleychristianonline.com

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats., Canadian Martyrs’ – Invermere, St. Joseph’s – Radium. Father Jojo Augustine • 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167

ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater • 250-342-6633 No. 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 Rick Daniels • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs 250-421-3756

h e Pioneer ca T n

take you r do llar With 4,400 copies far th in circulation each week, er

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Each November, we remember the millions of men and women who perished fighting fascists for freedom. In WWII, a few died for refusing to fight for the fascists. The movie ‘A hidden lives’ tells the story of one of those lives. Franz Jägerstätter was an Austrian peasant farmer from the small alpine village of St. Radegund. As a young man, he worked in the local iron mines and loved riding his motorcycle. In 1936, he married Franziska, a devout Christian woman. Three daughters soon joined them, and together they worked their farm and worshipped in the local church. Germany’s annexation of Austria in 1938 upset their peaceful mountain life. Franz experienced the hostility of friends and neighbours for refusing to return their “Heil Hitler” or support the Nazis. Villagers called him a traitor. Franz wasn’t a radical revolutionary or resistance

fighter. He was simply a soft-spoken Catholic farmer with a deep devotion to Christ and the courage to follow him whatever the cost. In March 1943, Franz was conscripted. Convinced that fighting and killing so Hitler could rule the world was a sin, he refused to swear the required loyalty oath. For this, he was arrested, sent to Germany, tried and on Aug. 9, 1943, executed. Franz was 36 years old. His storey remained hidden until 1964 when the book ‘In solitary Witness’ appeared. The Vietnam War was escalating, and Franz’s storey inspired many young men, including Muhammad Ali and Daniel Ellsberg, to obey their conscience and do what they believed was right, whatever the cost. I believe Franz’s storey still speaks to us today saying, “Live with integrity, love your neighbour as yourself and keep your conscience clear.” This quote from George Eliot’s Middlemarch appears at the closing of ‘A hidden lives’. “The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.” This November, I honour the courage, conviction and sacrifice of every hidden life lost in the fight for our freedom.

7th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival Submitted by Wildsight Invermere

Sunday 1:30 p.m. Worship Service at Valley Christian Assembly 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere www.eklutheran.ca mtzionlc@hotmail.com

your message is resonating with residents and visitors alike.

November 12, 2020

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Film is a powerful medium for sharing ideas. That’s why for six years in a row, Wildsight Invermere has organized its popular Wild & Scenic Film Festival — a celebration of wildlife, adventure and the inspiring global efforts to protect and conserve the natural world. While the 7th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival won’t happen in its usual way (sitting shoulder to shoulder in front of a huge screen in Invermere’s Columbia Valley Centre), the show will go on. The virtual event on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 21, offers the same promise of engaging entertainment with an MC, thought-provoking films and lots of door prizes, with all proceeds supporting Wildsight Invermere’s initiatives. Even though the audience won’t be physically together, the organizers hope the community still feels connected. “Our Wild and Scenic Film Fest feels more important than ever because it can draw us together across physical boundaries. You can be a participant, no matter where you live. The films depict universal stories, shared problems and solutions. They challenge us to ask, how can we work together to make a difference in our community? That’s why this year’s festival is as exciting as any other,” explains long-time MC and Wildsight Invermere Director, Cam Gillies. The added bonus to our virtual event (streamed in high definition) is that it will also be available as Video On Demand for an additional seven days. So, if you missed the original screening, you can watch it on your own time. This year’s nine films offer a spectrum of stories — from elephants and pangolins in Africa to a community in Alaska that struggles to protect its watershed, native salmon and local economy from a mining proposal. In the feature film, Confluir, a group of scientists and river experts embark on an action-packed raft expedition down the Río Marañón, the Grand Canyon of the Peruvian Amazon. As the team navigates intricate whitewater, they connect with passionate local communities and

Photo from ‘Guardian Elephant Warriors of Reteti’ movie learn about the environmental and social issues created by the 20 proposed dams. While the stories may be about distant communities, the issues are often familiar to us here in the East Kootenay. In the past, some of the Festival films have addressed the perennial issue of plastic pollution. This year, Every Nine Minutes calls attention to the fact that the weight of a blue whale (136 tons) makes its way into our oceans as plastic every nine minutes. Wildsight Invermere’s Climate Change Resilience Coordinator, Kat Graves, appeals to viewers: “Many watching will know that on Oct. 7, the Canadian Government announced a limited ban on single-use plastics by the end of 2021. However, if we wait another 405 days, over 8.6 billion kilograms more of plastic will make its way into our marine ecosystems. For the wild spaces and species that we hold so dear, we need to do more and better.” Wildsight Invermere would like to thank the Festival’s 2020 Sponsors. Visionary Sponsor: thinkBright Homes; Catalyst Sponsors: Basecamp Innovations, Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Valley Law, Invermere Optometry; Leader sponsors: Cleanline Automotive, Copper City Dental, Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine, Peppi’s Italian Fuel. Buy your ticket on wildsight.ca/wsff2020/. Contact ccrc@wildsight.ca for any inquiries.