Columbia Valley Pioneer, April 29, 2021 by Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 29, 2021 Vol. 18/Issue 17

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley

P ioneer

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TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

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05 FIRE DANGER

Santa left the North Pole with his elves for a day to get vaccinated at the Catholic Church of Invermere.

Photo by Camille Aubin

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 29, 2021 Highlights of the @LiveColumbiaValley Instagram account, brought to you by the Columbia Valley Community Economic Development Office, a service of the RDEK.

Bruno’s Plumbing Service Mike Sylvestre 250.342.5105 brunosplumbing@shaw.ca ~ We now service drains ~ Serving The Columbia Valley

UPCOMING EVENTS Ser

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Spring into Summer Reading Challenge!

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Have you seen the signs? Check out #CVSignWars on Facebook! What started as a friendly ribbing between Hopkins Harvest and Ullr Bar, has spread throughout the Valley and from highway signs, to sandwich boards and online-only posters - raising morale and sales of participating businesses. Everyone’s getting involved and having a good-natured laugh!

Join in on our Beanstack site invermere.beanstack.org Log your books and do activities like colouring contests and seed planting!

invermere.bc.libraries.coop

HIGHLIGHTS #ColumbiaValleyBC

GREAT GAS

GIVEAWAY This week’s winner is…

Trevor Klarke

All winners of a hundred and twenty five dollars of fuel each. Many, many more draws will continue through 2021.

O S SR OAD

RKET

Enter to win our

Mother’s Day Contest!

Stop by and pick up a picture to colour, and tell us in a sentence or two why your Mom is the greatest Mom ever! Winners will win a basket of goodies for both Mom and Child!

Sealed Units

Windermere LHA Mass Vaccination Clinic – Thanks to requests by MLA Doug Clovechok and local health care professionals, the Windermere Local Health Area has a mass vaccination clinic underway in Invermere. Hundreds of residents are getting vaccinated each day at the Canadian Martyrs Roman Catholic Parish. It’s easy to register and book by phone or online (https://www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca). Radium’s bighorn sculpture is a photographers’ dream. And it’s not uncommon to see residents and travellers trying While everyone’s experience will be different, at least one person was able to register, book an appointment, get a shot and to get the roundabout feature in their photos and videos. get back home in 69 minutes yesterday. The efficiency is truly amazing! The collective efforts of those at the Invermere District Hospital, the COVID-19 testing site, medical clinics, vaccinations sites, and efforts by businesses and residents to stop the spread have resulted in the reduction in new daily cases from our local peak two weeks ago.

Windows steamed up or cracked? Book your sealed unit replacements now!

Jack and Amie, and their colleagues with the B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy operate the Watercraft Inspection Station, near Radium, seven days a week. If you are transporting a watercraft in B.C., it is mandatory to stop and report to all invasive mussel watercraft inspection stations along your travel route. Failing to stop at an inspection station can result in a fine of $345. Do your part to keep invasive mussels out of the East Kootenay.

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Takeout Food – With the amended B.C. Health Orders announced March 29 and extended until May, we are urging the Columbia Valley community to support local businesses and particularly those in the restaurant and fitness industries. Let’s keep doing the right thing as a community so we can get all our businesses through, and beyond, May! And with these recent changes, remember that hours of operation may change, so look online and call ahead. Submitted by Ryan Watmough

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April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

VALLEY NEWS

B.C. restricts non-essantial travel Restrictions could be a hard hit to local tourism industry’s hopes for Victoria Day long weekend guidance remains unchanged throughout B.C.: everyone should continue to stay within their local community – essential travel only,” read a provincial government press release, outlining that travel for school, work, commercial transportation of goods, returning to a principal residence, for child care, for health care, or to assist somebody receiving health care is considered essential and is still permissible.

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Last week the provincial government banned non-essential travel outside of B.C. residents’ local health authority regions, a move that left those Columbia Valley residents concerned about rising COVID-19 numbers in B.C. relieved, but also left other local residents who rely on out-of-town visitors for business or who were looking forward to Victoria Day long weekend vaAvpics / Alamy Stock Photo cations away voicing frustration. B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth announced the restrictions on Friday, April 23. For Columbia Valley residents, they mean staying within the Interior and Northern Health Authority regions for anything other than essential reasons. “I’m restricting non-essential travel into or out of all health authority regions effective immediately,” said Farnworth, later noting “this is a legal order, under the emergency program act.” Farnworth cited the rising number of COVID-19, said it was time to restrict non-essential travel in a formal way and outlined that anybody caught breaking the rules can be fined $575. The legal order came into effect on Friday, April 23 He noted that the legal order applies to health au- and lasts until Tuesday, May 25, the day after the Victoria thority regions, ideally, people should be following pro- long weekend finishes. vincial health office guidelines (which are different from The press release also said the provincial government the legal order and do not carry fines) by staying within is working to put up highways signage and to increase their local community as much as possible. signage on the border with Alberta; is working with B.C. “While the order puts legal limits only on travel Ferries to restrict non-essential vehicle passage, deter between regional zones, the provincial health officer’s non-essential bookings and limit sailings; and is working

with the tourism and accommodation industry to encourage all operators and businesses to support the order by declining new bookings from outside their regional zones and cancelling existing bookings from outside their regional zones. The government said it is also working with B.C. Parks to inform the public about restriction and refunding bookings; and with police departments on establishing enforcement measures in the coming days. “In the coming days, the province will work with police to establish periodic road checks at key travel corridors during times associated with leisure travel to remind travellers of the order,” read the press release, later adding that “these road checks will be set up near ferry terminals and on highway corridors that connect different regions of the province.” The restrictions have considerable implications for the Columbia Valley, where tourism is a major part of the economy and many businesses typically see a good deal of revenue on the Victoria Day long weekend. “Our economy obviously depends on that farther trade, with Alberta and other places. But right now, with the pandemic, we have to think a little differently. We’ve got to flatten the curve of rising numbers (of COVID-19 cases) that we’ve been seeing,” Invermere mayor Al Miller told the Pioneer. “This is not ‘don’t come Alberta’. This is ‘everybody needs to stay in one place’. That means everybody, no matter where you are from. It’s not meant to single out any one place.” Continued on page 11...

High School in lockdown following teen’s apprehension Submitted by Columbia Valley RCMP A report of a youth brandishing a firearm outside David Thompson Secondary school prompted police to order a lockdown at three additional area schools and campus’, while front line officers carried out a search for the suspect late Tuesday morning. On April 27, 2021, just before 1 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a report from a school official that a youth suspect was spotted out front of David Thompson Secondary school, in possession of what appeared to be a handgun. Front line police officers re-

sponded to the school, which implemented its school safety procedures and entered into a school lockdown in order to protect students and staff. “As an added precaution, RCMP contacted and recommended the lockdown of three additional schools in the immediate area, including Eileen Madson Primary School, JA Laird Elementary School and the College of the Rockies Invermere Campus,” states Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesperson for the B.C. RCMP in the Southeast District. A detailed description of the youth suspect was obtained by police, who responded to the scene and

launched a search for that individual. The investigation led to the identity of the youth suspect, who has since been taken into police custody without incident. RCMP has seized a replica firearm. The Columbia Valley RCMP is working closely with the school district as it continues its investigation into the incident. All school lockdowns have since been lifted. Columbia Valley RCMP would like to thank each of the impacted schools, all students, teachers and staff for their patience during the lockdown and hold and secure requests.

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4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

SECURITY Est. 2005

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RCMP Report Submitted by Sgt. Darren Kakuno Detachment Commander Columbia Valley RCMP

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

April 29, 2021

This past week, April 19 through April 25, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 72 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to. •On Friday, April 23, at about 1 a.m., a resident on Columbia Avenue in Radium Hot Springs reported someone had just driven away in his white 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup that had been parked in front of his residence. The truck was later located unoccupied in a parking lot on Glacier Drive in Radium Hot Springs. •On Friday, April 23, Columbia Valley RCMP received several reports of vehicles being broken into overnight in Radium Hot Springs. The owner of a vehicle

on Ridge Road discovered his vehicle had been rummaged through and two vehicles parked in a parkade on Radium Boulevard had their side windows smashed. Missing from the vehicles in the parkade was a garage door opener and a duffle bag with climbing equipment. The climbing equipment was located later in the day on Borrego Ridge Road and returned to the owner. Anyone who may have information is asked to contact the Columbia Valley RCMP. •On Sunday, April 25, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of off-road vehicles continually operating on private property off Westside Road between Wilmer and Munn Lake. Operators of off-road vehicles are reminded it is an offence under the Off Road Vehicle Act to operate an off-road vehicle on private property without permission, and doing so could result in a fine and/or the seizure of the vehicle.

Nobody hurt in Kootenay lookout accident By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com A roadside crash in Kootenay National Park last week, fortunately, ended with nobody hurt. The Columbia Valley RCMP reported that on Wednesday, April 21, at about 5:15 p.m., emergency personnel responded to report of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 93 in the park, near the Kootenay Valley lookout partway between Olive Lake and Settlers Road. “Witnesses reported the driver of a Dodge pickup attempted to pass a vehicle forcing an Photo by Shanna Bohdan oncoming motorhome off the road and down an embankment. None of the occupants reported any injuries,” read the report.

Columbia Valley resident Shannon Bohdan was at scene not long after the accident and snapped the photos shown here. She explained that the motorhome had gone over the edge of the lookout dropping away down to the Kootenay River, but it appeared to be in good shape when it was hauled back onto the road by a tow truck. “They took out that barricade (at the lookout). They must have got caught on some trees. The windshield was not even smashed, even though they went right over,” said Bohdan. “The motorhome was in way better shape than I thought it would be,” she added. RCMP reported that the driver of the pickup was issued a violation ticket for driving without due care or attention, for passing on a solid line and for passing into oncoming traffic.

Sunday Prime Rib Dinner

ELEMENTS IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED

We’re sad, you’re sad… we get it! Looking forward to welcoming you back again once the restrictions soften in BC and we can get back to business as usual. See you again soon! From all of us at Elements.

Visit our Resort website for detailed information and pricing. Loc ated at Copper Point Resort, 760 Cooper Road

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April 29, 2021

Invermere approves new downtown location for Hungry Rooster

she was one of the pioneering food trucks at Victoria’s waterfront. The Hungry Rooster set up for its first few summers Invermere residents with a penchant for perogies will in the empty lot by Lake Auto, before moving last year no doubt be delighted (and perhaps get a bit hungry) up to the brewery. upon learning that the bright green Hungry Rooster food “Her truck is a little larger than some of the other truck will be back in downtown Invermere this summer, food trucks,” said Hromadnik, explaining why it has takfollowing a council vote to approve a one-year right-of- en awhile to find the perfect spot for the Hungry Rooster. way encroachment agreement. Tokarski again talked with district staff this spring The approval came during Invermere council’s Tues- about setting up downtown, and by chance, district staff day, April 13 meeting, and Tokarski happened and will allow the Hunon the location by the Ingry Rooster to set up vermere Inn, when they in the right-of-way on parked the truck there to 7th Avenue (Invermere’s check out other locations main street), outside of in the vicinity, and then the Invermere Inn, in a realized it fit rather nicely. parking spot just a bit off “The right of way is the corner of 7th Avenue kind of weird and it does and 12th Street, the mislook as if it (the food aligned four-way intersectruck) sticks out a bit,” tion common known as said Hromadnik. “But I Disfunction Junction. measured it and there’s “It’s a bit of a feel close to four metres of good story,” Invermere right of way... so there’s Screenshot of Invermere council meeting documents showplanner Rory Hromadplenty of room.” ing the new location of the Hungry Rooster perogie food truck. nik told council members He added that power during the meeting, addcan be run through the ing district staff have been working with Hungry Roost- Invermere Inn or through one of the district’s light staner owner Paulina Tokarski to find a good spot for the dards (“if we can make an arrangement”), which would Hungry Rooster truck ever since Tokarski moved to the mean Tokarski may not need to use a generator. Columbia Valley several years ago from Victoria, where Continued on page 9... By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

District of Invermere

FireSmart Rebate Program

As a part of our continued efforts to increase our community’s resilience to wildfire, the District of Invermere is excited to continue the FireSmart Rebate program. Homeowners who take steps to FireSmart their homes may be eligible to be reimbursed through the FireSmart Rebate Program. Through funding received from the Union of BC Municipality’s Community Resiliency Investment Program, the District of Invermere is offering $500 rebates to residents who take steps to FireSmart their homes or property. The focus of the FireSmart Rebate Program in 2021 will be on the reduction of combustible vegetation in and around residences, and wood shake or wood shingle roofs- this is the simplest, yet most effective way to improve a home’s ability to survive a wildfire. To qualify for a rebate, residents must first have a Fire Smart Home Assessment by the District of Invermere Certified Local FireSmart Representative completed. Next, residents will need to take action on the recommendations made during the home assessment. The homeowner will submit their receipts (or copies of) to the front counter at the District of Invermere Municipal Office along with the Work plan / Estimate. The District will then inspect and approve the completed work at the property. If designated work is successfully completed, the homeowner will be reimbursed for 50 % of material and labour costs to a maximum $500 rebate per property. The rebate program will be available for registration from May 1st to October 30th, 2021 on a first-come first-served basis. The deadline to complete the recommended work, and request a rebate is November 30th, 2021. There are approximately 40 rebates available. Assessments completed in the 2020 program but not acted upon are valid for the rebate program in 2021.

Contact 250-342- 9281 or email info@invermere.net for your free FireSmart Home Assessment.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

Columbia Valley Community Foundation

2021 Student Awards Application deadline:

Saturday, May 15th, 12 p.m.

Details, including eligibility and applications are available at:

valleyfoundation.ca/ Students/ 2021 Student Awards: Arnold Ellis Scholarship Alan J. Witherspoon Fine Arts Award Bidder Bursary Award Erwin Kloos Memorial Award Arnold Ellis’ (right) gift to our community has resulted in over $326,000 in student awards since the fund’s creation in 2014.

WWW.VALLEYFOUNDATION.CA DISTRICT OF INVERMERE

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

FIRESMART YARD WASTE PICK-UP PROGRAM Do your part: Protect your home from wildfire You can make choices that will help protect your home from wildfire. The District is running the Firesmart Yard Waste Pickup Program to assist residents in disposing of spring yard waste. Residents are encouraged to clean up woody debris and deadfall. Especially the first 1.5m around your home. The program will be a reservation based system where residents are to call the Municipal Office at 250-342-9281 and ask to be put on the reservation list for Yard Waste Pickup. Residents are to provide the following information to Municipal Staff : • Name; • Phone number; and • Civic Address Pick-up will occur on Wednesday, April 28th and Wednesday, May 5th. Resident will be required to place their yard waste at the curb for pickup after 8 am on the day of pickup after you have placed your reservation and confirmed your street address. Yard waste must be placed in clear plastic or brown paper bags and includes leaf and grass material. Branches and pruning are to be bundled in maximum 4 foot bundles and are not to exceed 50 lbs in weight. Staff will not pick up any yard waste if it does not meet the above requirements. If you have not placed a reservation, your yard waste will not be picked up. The District if also offering a drop off location at the Transfer Station in the Industrial Park. There will be a bin on location that residents can access to drop off any yard waste as specified above. For further questions, comments or concerns, please contact the office at 250-342-9281 or info@invermere.net.

Protecting communities against wildfires starts with Individual homeowners. https://invermere.net/operations/ fire-safety/firesmart/

6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

PERSPECTIVE

#CVSignWars

April 29, 2021

Historical Lens

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com Since Saturday, April 24, we have been at war: the Columbia Valley Sign Wars. The first sight of it appeared in our community when Hopkins Harvest inscribed on its banner, “Hey ULLR since COVID, it’s easier to pick up fruit than someone at your bar!” In no time, ULLR stepped up, gloriously answered, and then the fight escalated. Businesses and entrepreneurs in the Columbia Valley have banded together to participate in the Sign Wars by substituting their usual advertising with humoristic messages to call attention to one another. Since then, more than seventy businesses have joined the battle, much to the delight of local residents watching them send low blow after low blow at each other. “Super fun to see all of the businesses that have jumped on board with it!” expressed Toni Coward, administration and visitor information centre manager at Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, by email to the Pioneer. In case you haven’t seen this funny skit that are going around the valley yet, look up #CVSignWars on Facebook. A fantastic hour of laughter awaits you as you explore the evidence and photos from this memorable war. This battle is a marvellous symbol of businesses supporting each other during this demanding time. “Great to see our local businesses’ sense of humor is alive & well!” wrote the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce in a Facebook post. That says something! It’s gone viral. The Facebook post has been shared more than 415 times. It’s incredible to witness an initiative, such as the Sign Wars, that created many laughs in our community. Laugh... We had almost forgotten its benefits. Suddenly, we felt lighter, as if a certain weight had been lifted off our shoulders. The stress has disappeared, leaving behind space for a well-deserved moment of relaxation away from the chaos that surrounds us, far from any conflict or divergence. For a moment, we felt the strong sense of community that reigns in this valley. That’s what a genuine laugh does. What an enchanting solution! We needed that sense of community, a good giggle, and a reason to connect us back collectively again. It felt fabulous. Visit page 16 to see some of these entertaining digs.

Columbia Valley Irrigation flume built for irrigation of the benches. The water came from Boulder Creek. C2135-2138, late 1990’s, courtesy Windermere District Historical Society

Submitted by Larry Halverson Like my grandpa used to say - he wasn’t afraid of work. In fact, he could lay right down beside it and go to sleep. So the other day, I followed his advice and sat beside a pond and watched beavers work. They would occasionally cruise by me, turn and stop to check me out before heading back to work on this huge tree they felled.

The Columbia Valley

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013

Pioneer

is independently owned and operated, published weekly by Robert W. Doull, President and Publisher, Misko Publishing Limited Partnership. Box 868, #8, 1008 - 8th Ave., Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Phone: 250-341-6299 | Toll Free (866) 496-8047 info@columbiavalleypioneer.com | www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

Amanda Nason

Associate Publisher/ Sales Manager Ext. 102

Camille Aubin Editor Ext. 106

Steve Hubrecht Magazine Editor/ Reporter Ext. 105

Lerissa McLaughlin Sales Representative Ext. 103

Emily Rawbon Graphic Design Ext. 104

Amanda Murray

Office Administrator/ Sales Ext. 101

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.

April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

Downtown Invermere Revitalization Project Starting in September 2021 with completion by the end of 2021

Photo by Amy Baugess on Unsplash

About our toes

Fresh old ideas By Arnold Malone Pioneer Columnist Our toes seem so innocent, all in a row at the front of our feet. Most of the time, we pay little attention or assign much importance to them. Yet, one of the first things that new parents do upon the birth of their child is check to make sure that there are ten fingers and ten toes. Once assured, most give up fussing about the family’s toes except for periodic nail trimming. We do, however, have a curious interest in other people’s toes. At the beach, we observe stubby toes, fat toes, long toes, crooked toes, and wrap over toes like carrots that were planted too close together. Some toes were crammed into shoes that were too small, and they grew to signal that they had been abused. Our toes have names. Our inner toes are called the Hallux. Only a rare few would have a clue as to what you were talking about if you said, “I stubbed my Hallux.” Best that you use the words, “Big Toe.” The next toe is your pointer toe, followed by your middle toe, then the fore toe and finally names such as, my little toe, baby toe or my pinky. The big toe is a load bearing toe. When you walk, and your foot rotates upward, most of your body weight is then transferred to your big toe. The average person walks 100,000 miles in a lifetime. It is our big toe that has allowed us humans to walk upright. Some Canadians have designer toes. These are toes that are coloured. Some flesh coloured and others brightly illuminated with primary colours. Some persons add sparkles. Such toes become the decorative part of open-toe shoes. Fancy toes, the ones that are done up for fashion, are meant to be seen. The wearer of stylised toes wants you to notice them. Otherwise, there would be no purpose in giving them a makeover. Stylized toes have greater visibility

when worn with flip-flops. Flip-flops are those rubber-like soles that have a prong that goes between your big toe and your pointer toe. People my age grew up referring to flip-flops as ‘thongs’. So, readers who are near my well-weathered vintage need to take care and not ask their teen age grandchildren, “Sweetie, would you go get Granny her thongs?” “Thongs” have morphed into different attire for a different location. Toes are made with a bunch of bones. In fact, one quarter of all of the bones in our bodies are in the foot. Anthropologists indicate that human toes were once larger and spread further apart. Shoes, which have been worn for about 40,000 years, have re-organized our toes to cuddle side-by-side. There are 26 bones in each foot. It has been observed that as our population has become heavier, our foot size has grown larger. Toes are essential to us humans. Persons who have their toes amputated would give anything to have them back. Our toes allow us to maintain proper posture, retain good balance and provide thrust in our forward motion. If you don’t believe that toes are important for thrust and faster motion, just try moving quickly while wearing ski boots where the toes are held ridged. The motivation for this article came after I badly stubbed my toes. A “My Left Foot” story. It happened along with such profanity as, “Oh my goodness gracious me, look what I have done now.” For three days, I wore slippers in my woodworking shop. For nearly ten days, my balance was compromised. So, if you are running on an icy slope while carrying an anvil, be extra careful. Wreck your toes, and you may diminish your posture, balance and thrust. “Oh my goodness, look what you have done now.” Arnold Malone served as MP for Alberta’s Battle River and Crowfoot ridings from 1974 through 1993. He retired to Invermere in 2007.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

project will be pushed to the fall.

The District of Invermere is very excited to announce that we have applied for and have successfully received two very significant grants which will fund continued Downtown Revitalization efforts in Invermere. The funding received is from two sources, Columbia Basin Trust – $500,000 and the Province of British Columbia- $700,000 as part of the Tourism Dependent Communities Initiative program which Invermere qualifies under.

The intent is to limit the disruption to the commercial core for both the businesses, residents, and visitors. This project is tentatively set to begin in September with the project to be completed by the end of 2021.

DESIGN & CONCEPTS Invermere’s Downtown revitalization has been an ongoing initiative which to date has included Pothole Park, 7th Avenue approach from Pothole Park to the commercial core and the Cenotaph plaza upgrades. This new development phase will extend the refresh of 7th Avenue from the AG Valley Foods/Inside Edge intersection to Cenotaph Park, (12th Street).

Key components will include increasing space and amenities with public seating areas, adding street trees for aesthetics, shading and GHG beneﬁt, improving accessibility and pedestrian safety, curb replacement, select sidewalk replacement with refreshed paver inlays, upgraded electrical and street lighting, pedestrian scale directional and information signage, as well as new irrigation for our wonderful downtown ﬂower gardens and baskets.

DURING CONSTRUCTION *There has been development with the award of the Downtown Revitalization Project contract. Due to supply availability and a short time frame to complete the work needed by July and August, this

The construction hours will vary with the task being undertaken but will generally fall between 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday to Sunday. Pedestrian access: All eﬀorts will be made to maintain pedestrian access on sidewalks, however, there will be periodic disruptions due to the upgrades and to maintain COVID-19 distancing protocols. Roadway / Parking : Vehicle access on 7th Ave will remain open during construction and street parking will continue to be available on 7th Avenue. Short term parking closures will be required but are to be minimal in duration, most disruptions will occur during the curb removal and replacement works.

PROJECT TEAM The District of Invermere engaged Urban Systems Ltd (USL) to prepare the revitalization design for this project which is essentially an extension of the previous projects completed in the downtown that this undertaking will connect. USL have a signiﬁcant history working with the District and community and are the Landscape Architects and Engineer designers for the completed Pothole Park and 7th Avenue approach revitalization as well as the Cenotaph Plaza re-development. USL, with District of Invermere Staﬀ oversight, will continue to implement the project build out to its design as well as managing the project to its completion.

CONTACT For more information on the project visit www.invermere.net/news/Downtown revitalization. You can also follow the District of Invermere on Facebook for all updates. Questions and comments about the Downtown Invermere Revitalization Project can be directed to:

District of Invermere info@invermere.net www.invermere.net 250-342-9281

We want to hear from you Email your letters to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com or visit our website at www. columbiavalleypioneer.com. Mail your letters to Box 868, Invermere, V0A 1K0, or drop them in at #8 1008-8th Avenue. Letters to the editor should be sent only to The Pioneer, and not to other publications. We do not publish open letters or third-party

letters. Letters for publication should be no longer than 400 words, and must include the writer’s address and phone numbers. No attachments, please. Letters may be shortened for space requirements. We reserve the right to edit for space, clarity, civility and accuracy. Opinions expressed are those of the writer, not The Pioneer.

8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 29, 2021

Canal Flats gets grant to beautify its downtown By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The Village of Canal Flats has received a Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) grant that will pay for the first phase of its downtown streetscape beautification plan. The CBT grant is for $55,000 and comes from trust’s Community Outdoor Revitalization Grants. Work covered by the grant includes restoring and enhancing the eastern block of Grainger Road in downtown Canal Flats, between Burns Avenue and Luck Avenue, adding signs highlighting local history, improving sidewalks, and putting in street lamps, benches and bi-

cycle racks. “Community aesthetics and implementation of the village’s downtown streetscape beautification plan is a strategic priority of council,” said Canal Flats mayor Karl Sterzer in a press release. “This will enable phase one of the beautification plan to be implemented—taking a project off the page and making a tangible improvement to the quality of place in downtown Canal Flats. We’re eager and excited to get started on this and other projects that will make Canal Flats an even more attractive place to be.” The downtown beautification plan was created last year, and this planning work was paid for by the planning

Screenshot from the Canal Flats downtown streetscape beautification plan. Screenshot 1 (up) shows an overview of the phase 1, for which the village is receiving a $55,000 grant. Screenshot 2 (right) shows the areas encompassed in all phases of the plan.

stream of the CBT’s Outdoor Revitalization Grants. “The plan was created with community input,” Canal Flats chief administrative officer Adrian Bergles told the Pioneer, adding when the work will begin and wrap up is still to be determined. “It may begin this year and wrap up in 2022, or it may perhaps start in 2022 and finish the following year,” said Bergles. CBT collectively distributed more than $1.3 million to 10 communities (including Canal Flats) through the Outdoor Revitalization Grants.

April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

Invermere’s downtown revitalization set for fall

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The District of Invermere will see some significant downtown revitalization work this coming fall. The work is part of the district’s vision for community improvement, tying in with the Official Community Plan (OCP), work on which has been ongoing for a number of years. “It’s pretty exciting stuff,” Invermere planner Rory Hromadnik told the Pioneer. Downtown revitalization efforts began years ago with the refresh of Pothole Park and the improvements along 7th Avenue (Invermere’s main street) between Pothole Park and the three-way intersection of 7th Avenue and 9th Street (the corner by AG Valley Foods), and continued with the revamp of the Cenotaph Plaza. The latest phase in the downtown revitalization work involves street improvements along 7th Avenue from the

AG corner down to Cenotaph Plaza, and will essentially ‘connect’ previous phases. Residents will see many of the same features of 7th Avenue north of the AG corner (such as improved sidewalks, trees, and flowers) ‘stretched’ further along 7th Avenue, south to the Cenotaph Plaza. Once this latest phase is complete, Invermere’s main street will have a consistent look from Pothole Park to the Cenotaph. “The goal has always been to drag that concept through the community as money became available,” said Hromadnik. The funding from the current phase of revitalization work comes from two sources: $500,000 from the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and $700,000 in resort municipality initiative (RMI) funding. The work will begin later this fall. Hromadnik explained the fall timing is done purposefully in order to keep the downtown undisturbed during the summer high season, when most local retail

Continued ‘Hungry Rooster’ from page 5 “Most importantly, the manager of the Invermere Inn, Chris McIntosh, is in full support of it. He’s actually pretty thrilled to have them there,” said Hromadnik. “It feels like a win-win opportunity.” Hromadnik added that increasing the district’s outdoor eating options this summer, when the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to still be going on, is probably a good idea. McIntosh sent a letter to council, confirming his support. “It’s an interesting placement,” said Invermere mayor Al Miller. “I think it looks good actually.”

Invermere councillor Gerry Taft added that, in his opinion, the district’s street and sidewalk vending policy is under-used. “It really can add a lot of vibrancy to the downtown,” said Taft. “Some communities...are pretty anti-mobile vending. I think it’s worth embracing.” Taft (who as a teenager ran a mobile vending business) added that occasionally some of the local businesses with physical storefronts complain about mobile vendors, but in his view, the reality is that it benefits the community to have mobile vending. “In the case of the Hungry Rooster, that’s an expensive truck, so there’s some money invested...I don’t think it’s competition for the brick and mortar busi-

stores are at their busiest. Even when work happens in the fall, “there will always be parking, there will always be access,” he said. The work will include a new sidewalk design with pavers, street trees and new street lighting. A proper irrigation system will be implemented, so district staff no longer need to water street trees and flowers by hand. Pedestrian scale signs will be added, and a new visitor information kiosk will be built. Intersection nodes will be reworked, making them bigger and adding more seating options, and the sidewalks will be reworked in such a way as to make walking down the main street both easier and more pleasant. The new street trees will be lit (as they are on 7th Avenue north of the AG corner). “It’ll be a little bit nicer ambience, safer, you could almost say more romantic,” said Hromadnik. Updates on the work will be posted on the district’s website and Facebook page. nesses downtown,” he said. Hromadnik clarified to council that Tokarski plans to be in the 7th Avenue location most days between May and September, but may occasionally be elsewhere, at festivals, for instance. “I think it’s good for the downtown, and I will support this,” chimed in councillor Greg Anderson. Miller re-iterated his support and noted that, in terms of dining options in Invermere, “it adds selection, and people want that. We’ve got a pretty special downtown and I think it’s (the new location for the Hungry Rooster) going to be great.” Council unanimously voted in favour of the encroachment agreement.

No long waits. Appointments available now!

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ON ROUTE 93 • 778 526 5177

10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 29, 2021

Live Columbia Valley wins marketing innovation award

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The Columbia Valley Economic Development Office has been hard at work during this past pandemic-filled year, and earlier this spring, that work was recognized when the office won a British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) Marketing Innovation Award for its Live Columbia Valley campaign. Columbia Valley economic development officer Ryan Watmough received the award for Marketing Innovation in communities with a population of fewer than 20,000, in March. Part of the Live Columbia Valley project appears regularly right here in the Pioneer, in the #LiveColumbiaValley Highlights section that appears weekly on page two. Of course, the Live Columbia Valley campaign, run by Watmough, encompasses much else, but as Watmough pointed out in his award acceptance speech, traditional media outlets such as the Pioneer are excellent places to share stories and reach readers. He noted that the Pioneer has a circulation of 4,400, and one of the highest reader uptakes of any community newspapers in B.C., that aside from local residents, many visitors tourists pick up the paper to find out what’s going on in the community. The Live Columbia Valley campaign also makes extensive use of social media channels such as Instagram and LinkedIn in telling its stories. “Finding and engaging your audience doesn’t take a professional marketer, photographer, video crew and a

five-figure budget. You can do a great job with your smart phone, if you consider composition and basic editing,” said Watmough, adding most shots that he uses on social media are not overly complicated, as they are up-close, in

Columbia Valley economic development officer Ryan Watmough Pioneer file photo

daylight and of locals at events. “Families and animals are particularly appealing. These are your community’s unofficial lifestyle brand ambassadors,” he said in his speech. “Your models don’t have to be perfect. They need to be authentic.” Online videos likewise need not be daunting, explained Watmough, adding they are a great way to help businesses that need to tell stories, but don’t have the time, capacity or budget to do so. “The best stories don’t have to be long,” he said, noting that human attention spans are falling, but those telling economic development stories should aim to get readers to take one action from their posts. “And prepare to nudge them many, many times.” Watmough emphasized the value of partnering with local businesses, which makes messaging more effective and content more valuable. The BCEDA awards have been given for the past 30 years to individual and group BCEDA members for outstanding work in supporting their local economies. Watmough explained that he was humbled to accept this award on behalf of the Columbia Valley Community Economic Development Office and the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) and thanked the office’s member communities, First Nations, the Village of Canal Flats, rural electoral areas, and other organizations and individuals that contribute to the Community Economic Development Office.

Whiteway annual report highlights increased use Future projects include Ice Dragon ice smoother, adaptive nordic ski sledge, and decreasing dog poop on trails By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The annual Whiteway report, compiled by the Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club and Lake Windermere Ambassadors, details a trend that many people had already reported anecdotally: self-propelled winter recreation boomed this past winter during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The report, which was presented to Invermere council this April, outlined that the nordic club saw memberships nearly double this past winter to 697, up from 354 the winter before. The club and Ambassadors wrote in the report that “this year highlighted the importance of the Whiteway trail networks for our community.” With the pandemic showing no signs of abating last fall, the Whiteway committee began planning its operations in late September. The lake froze in early December this year, and the Lake Lillian Whiteway was open by Dec. 20, and the Lake Windermere Whiteway followed on Jan. 1., with the report crediting the earlier-than-normal opening times to lighter grooming equipment purchased in the fall. Despite at least nine chinook-like events the committee kept the Lake Windermere Whiteway open until March 2, and the Lake Lillian Whiteway open until March 7. The report outlines that the Whiteway saw more than 25,000 trail users this past winter, and received more than $13,000 in donations (brought in over the course of the season by the Whiteway Ambassadors, who are posted at the start of the trail by Kinsmen Beach and sometimes by Windermere Beach). A Whiteway clean-up

in February helped remove 15 kilograms of waste. “With the increase in traffic this season, we also saw an increase in motor vehicles accessing the lake. For the most part there was minimal conflict experienced, except for a few users, who were either unaware of or had disregard for the Whiteway. We had one event of vandalism to a sign, and benches moved from their location at Kinsmen Beach to a spot halfway down the lake. Our volunteers were able to repair the sign and the benches were found and recovered,” read the report.

This is a lower tech option to a Zamboni that doesn’t have the logistical concerns of weight and water supply,” the committee wrote in the report. Another project for the future focuses on reducing dog turds on the Whiteway. “One complaint we heard loud and clear this season was the increase of waste found along the trails, particularly dog poop. For the past few years, we have been placing community benches at entrance points for the east side communities, to expand this partnership (next winter) we will be reaching out to those community associations to ask them to take on maintenance of a waste receptacle,” reads the report. “Providing more spots for waste to be deposited along with education is one way we hope to address this community concern moving forward.” Still another future project, which will see the nordic club partner with the Columbia Valley Recreation Adaptive Society (RAD), aims to help make nordic skiing more accessible and open the Whiteway to a wider group of users. “In order to do this, RAD is adding an adaptive cross-country ski sledge to their inventory to be provided to adaptive users both living in, and visiting, Invermere and the surrounding valley communities,” reads the report, adding that funds The Whiteway on Lake Windermere. for this have already been secured from the Columbia Photo by Ryan Watmough Valley Community Foundation and Kootenay SavFuture projects that the nordic club is pursuing in- ings. “The Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club, the Panorama clude procuring an Ice Dragon (an ice resurfacing ma- Adaptive Snow Society and the District of Invermere chine), which would allow maintainers to make the ice on will work together with RAD to make the sit ski availthe trail smooth after melt events (which have a tenden- able for rent next snowy season. We hope next winter, cy sometimes to ruin the skating part of the Whiteway). COVID-19 protocols pending, to hold a public launch “This product (the Ice Dragon) uses a propane heater, to introduce the valley to this fun and much needed piece pulled by person power to melt the ice and smooth it out. of gear.”

April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11

Early fire danger in the Columbia Valley

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com Jason Roe, fire chief at Invermere Fire Rescue, is advising the public to exercise caution when conducting outdoor burning. Warmer temperatures and spring winds are increasing fire danger across the Columbia Valley. “It is extremely dry conditions for April, and we are seeing unexpecting fire behavior for this time of year,” explained Roe. The increased temperatures cause the grass to dry and harden, which makes it more fireprone. At the moment, there are no active burning prohibitions in the Southeast Fire Centre. However, everyone is responsible for ensuring that burning takes place in compliance with the appropriate regulations. “Right now, we are hearing that most of the fires have been caused by people attempting to burn grass, and it’s getting out of control,” said Roe. According to BC Wildfire Service, anyone conducting an outdoor burn must adhere to the following precautions: Never burn in windy conditions. Weather conditions can change quickly, and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material and start new fires. Ensure that adequate resources are on hand to control the fire and stop it from spreading. Create an appropriately sized fireguard around the planned fire site by clear-

ing away twigs, grass, leaves and other combustible material, right down to the mineral soil. Never leave a fire unattended. Make sure that any fire is completely extinguished, and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time. “Try to follow the FireSmart principles and get rid of all the dry, dead grass and stuff around your property,” advised Roe. FireSmart BC recommends that homeowners take several steps to eliminate fire risks on their properties. These include creating a 10-metre buffer around their homes, removing brush, dead plants, garbage, and other items at risk of catching fire to prevent a disaster. “You should always have a water source and hand tools available, and one big thing is that you should never leave your fire unattended,” said Roe while asking everybody to be extra cautious right now until we get some moisture. On April 21, Fairmont area was surrended by smooky condition caused by For more information and resources, a wild fire. Photo by Annmarie Jackson visit: https://firesmartbc.ca/.

Youths always come first Submitted by Summit Youth Hub The Summit Youth Hub will not be slowed down by COVID-19. Youth needs have only increased, and therefore our work is as important as ever. Although we have closed for a few short weeks to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have continuously been working to reach the youth in our community. For the Summit Youth Hub, the youth have always come first. The unsteadiness of COVID-19 has brought a variety of challenges. We have reopened, but we have chosen to open for cohort nights only. Knowing that this limits the time we can spend with youth of varying cohorts, we have started doing commuContinued ‘travel’ from page 3 Miller noted that tighten up now, and cutting COVID-19 number across the province, means a sacrifice now, but one that could help lead to a good summer, both health-wise and business-wise, in a few months time. “I desperately want us to have a great summer. If we stay at home now, get this under control, it will be a big step down the road to having a good summer,” said Miller. “It’s difficult. Nobody likes it. Some people are having it rougher than others. We’re all in this together, but it’s not equal. It’s really hitting some people here in the valley hard, and they are struggling. Financially, emotionally and in terms of mental health. But we’ve got to get through this. Now is the time to think of others.” Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok told the Pioneer on Friday, April, 23 that he sympathiz-

nity outreach. Every day after school, we have and will continue to send staff over to the skatepark. We know this is a popular hangout and by attending the skatepark, we are able to offer our services and connect with youth. Our presence at the skatepark provides a safe space for all youth, and access to positive role models and resources. Of course, we also have a cooler full of free popsicles, juice and snacks! Not only are we connecting with youth through our outreach initiative and our drop-in nights, but starting this May, we are excited to be offering free guitar lessons. This program will be taught in a variety of formats, with the best part being that youth can sign out guitars to take home to practice. Thanks to the Columbia Basin Trust, we are able to provide es with local residents and businesses frustrated by the vagueness of the order. “It’s added more confusion than clarity,” said Clovechok, noting that at first, the government said there would be random roadside checks, and then later said there would be checks, but not random checks; that there is confusion regarding police’s role in enforcing the restrictions; and that his office has had plenty of questions about interprovincial travel, which he pointed out, as far as he understands it, is still under the same guidelines as it has been for the past year. “It’s so vague I don’t even know how to answer the questions,” said Clovechok. “It’s unfair to the public. It’s unfair to businesses. They’re asking details about how they should go about cancelling bookings? Is there support for refunding cancelled books? They’re asking these questions, but there’s been no clarity.” Clovechok suggested those frustrated should call the

youth with everything they need to learn guitar successfully. We are also excited that we are now offering a LGBTQ+ youth drop-in group at the youth centre. We are proud to provide a safe space and a place for meaningful conversation for youth who identify in this community. Just like our youth are resilient and adaptable, we will strive to be this in order to continuously offer a fun, safe, relevant, and accessible hub. We are constantly growing our programming in support for youth, especially during this trying time. The best way to stay up-to-date with the Summit Youth Hub is through our Facebook and Instagram channels @SummitYouthCentre. Premier’s office, if not to get an answer, then at least to make clear the level of frustration within the local business community. Also on Friday, April 23, B.C. Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Melanie Mark and a group of provincial tourism officials including Indigenous Tourism BC chair Brenda Baptiste, Tourism Industry Association of BC chief executive officer Walt Judas, BC Hotel Association president Ingrid Jarrett, and Destination BC interim president Richard Porges released a joint statement asking all British Columbians to stay local unless it is absolutely essential. “The many people and businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry in B.C. need each of us to follow the rules without exception. Their livelihood depends on us all doing our part now so some travel can safely resume this summer and set these businesses on the road to recovery,” read the statement.

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

N E W S PA P E R

12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 29, 2021

Virtual world Submitted by Blair McFarlane Community Outreach Library Assistant

The Invermere Public Library is Where Our Community Gathers. This has been our slogan, along with Where Imaginations Soar, for as long as I can remember. What does this mean for the library in a time where we can’t gather? It means we really miss that quality time with our patrons! We miss spending time with those who attended our adult programming from our Craft Connections Club crew, our Senior’s Tea regulars & book club members. I have really, really missed our youth programming — our Ozobots are sitting patiently in their box waiting to be powered up, and who knows when the Lego will get played with again. Pre-pandemic,

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

OPERATOR 1 (COLUMBIA VALLEY) – STUDENT The Regional District of East Kootenay has an excellent opportunity for a qualified and motivated individual to work within the Engineering Services Department as an Operator 1 (Student) located out of the Columbia Valley Office. This position is open to students enrolled in post-secondary institution and planning to return to school in the fall. Working under the supervision of the Senior Operator, the Operator 1 (Student) performs duties primarily related to water and sewer systems and maintenance of utility grounds and assets.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: • Experience maintaining water and sewer systems, preferably in a local government setting; • Certified in or working towards Water Treatment 1 and Water Distribution 1; • Certified in or working towards Wastewater Collection 1 and Wastewater Treatment 1; • Chlorine Handling Certificate; • Valid British Columbia Driver’s Licence; and

our Saturday morning free play sessions were bringing lots of families together and the library was full of laughter and joy. Not to mention all my wonderful little story time friends gathering on Thursdays with your smiles, laughs and curiosity. Singing Slippery Fish to a camera is not nearly as much as fun as singing with all of you! And the kiddos help drown out my off-key singing! Here’s a little poem I wrote about missing story time as it is National Poetry Month: Oh woe! Oh woe! I miss you so! When you all jump up on your toes To sing and wiggle, then listen and giggle To a story or two or three! Soon we can all read together under a tree! Letting our imaginations soar has helped us move to the virtual world with everyone else. We have live Story time videos & Kootenay-wide Zoom book club, as well as our online reading tracker, Beanstack—check out our Spring Into Summer Challenge live now with colouring contests, book logging and more. We have grandparents coming to check out children’s books to read to their grandkids over video chat. But it’s not the same as meeting in person. Screen time is much more draining than a live interaction with great people. We all know that. However, there is hope that we are nearing a future in which we can gather. The warmer weather means outdoor programs can resume soon. I’m planning to begin outdoor story time sometime in mid-May (keep an eye out on our social media/website as nothing is set in stone). With the whole community vaccination, open until May 5, hopefully we are that much closer to gathering in person and connecting as a community in a way that fills up our buckets instead of draining them. While we can’t gather yet, I urge you all to remember what’s at the heart of the library: our community. We’re all worn out. We’re all feeling some form of isolation and division. But we are still a community, and we all have the capacity for kindness and empathy towards everyone we encounter. Let’s remember to respect one another and work together to get through this, so that we can all gather at the library soon.

• Good communication and organizational skills.

This is a temporary, full-time (35 hours per week) Union position with an hourly rate of $22.10. The term of employment commences on or about May 17, 2021 and concludes on August 27, 2021. If you possess the necessary qualifications and experience, we invite you to submit a resume and cover letter, with references, in confidence, no later than 4:30 pm, May 7, 2021 to: Becky Hoglund, Human Resources Email: hr@rdek.bc.ca (MS Word or PDF Format) Please quote: Engineering – 24 Information on our organization is available at www.rdek.bc.ca/careers. We thank all who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

REQUEST FOR QUOTE

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE – MARKIN-MACPHAIL WESTSIDE LEGACY TRAIL The Regional District of East Kootenay, requests quotes as specified in the Bid Document for the Operation and Maintenance of Trail Sections 1-3 on the Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail in the Regional District of East Kootenay. All adenda, amendments or further information will be published on the BC Bid website www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca. Deadline: Tuesday May 4, 2021 at 2:00 PM Contact: Colin Peet Columbia Valley Recreation Services Superintendent cpeet@rdek.bc.ca

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

2021 Electoral Area VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR Nomination Deadline is FRIDAY, MAY 21 Nominees must be a resident of an Electoral Area and make voluntary contributions to the spirit, culture or people of the community. Nomination forms are now available at our Cranbrook & Columbia Valley RDEK offices and on: engage.rdek.bc.ca/volunteer

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

Recovery advisor positions Submitted by Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Communities and businesses throughout the Southern Interior are receiving new support for much needed economic recovery. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) announced the successful funding recipients of the Rural Business and Community Recovery (RBCR) Program and the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce received funding to lead a group of partner stakeholders covering a micro region of Columbia Valley, Cranbrook, Kimberley, and Golden. “We were excited with the interest shown by communities and business support organizations throughout the Southern Interior to hire Recovery Advisors through this funding,” said Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC. “We are delighted to provide this assistance in our region with support from the Province of British Columbia as it delivers on its StrongerBC Plan.” After careful consideration, the ETSI-BC adjudication team selected 20 successful applicants whose projects will create a total of 30 part-time and full-time Recovery Advisor positions to assist businesses and rural communities in the Southern Interior with COVID-19 economic recovery. The funding received will support the hiring of one full-time advisor in

the Columbia Valley, one in Cranbrook/Kimberley, and agency/stakeholder supports in Golden & Kimberley. Starting as early as May 1, 2021 and lasting for at least one year, this program will provide businesses and organizations with customized service to connect owners and operators in this region to the supports they need now and into the future. “We are thrilled to be working collaboratively with our community neighbors and partner organizations on this incredibly valuable program. We are beyond grateful for this support from ETSI-BC and the Province of British Columbia, which comes at such a critical time for the economic sustainability of our region,” said Pete Bourke, Executive Director of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce. In total, 59 communities in all nine ETSI-BC regional districts are being served by these RBCR-funded projects, including 10 First Nations communities. ETSI-BC’s CEO Laurel Douglas and her team were inspired by the applications. “In reviewing the applications, we saw innovation at the forefront as a key to economic recovery for communities,” said Douglas. “Our team is working closely with the recipients so their Recovery Advisors can engage and begin providing much- needed economic recovery support.”

April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

t’ W h HAPPENING

Hospice

Swims the Lake

in the Columbia Valley

• 10:30 am: Rhyme Time by Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy. If you are a parent or caregiver of a child under 2 years old, come and learn some fun songs, rhymes and stories with us! Email skalesnikoff@cbal. • 9 am: Strong Start at Martin Morigeau. Please email any questions or to org for the Zoom link. reserve your space at skalesnikoff@cbal.org or call 250-409-4251. • 5 – 9 pm: Strong Start at Eileen Madson Primary School, Invermere. • 9:30 am: Momfit. Moms are invited to join a weekly morning workout, hosted Please email any questions or to reserve your space at skalesnikoff@ by Invermere’s Momfit & Preschool Play Group. Kid-friendly! Due to COVID-19 cbal.org or call 250-409-4251. restrictions, sessions are held via Zoom. • 6 – 9 pm: Youth Art Mural - Edgewater. Who wants to plan an art • 3:30 – 9 pm: Invermere’s Summit Youth Hub Centre welcomes Columbia mural in their own Community? We have heard from teens on how they Valley kids Grade 6/7 (Curry) + Grade 11 to drop by for free fun, games, music would like to help plan and design an art mural in their own towns and much more. Please note the cohort schedule and follow the centre’s for a while now. Our plan: One art mural in Edgewater, Canal Flats and guidelines. www.facebook.com/summityouthcentre • 7:30 pm: The Read Local Book Club connects readers and authors from Invermere. We will meet on zoom over the next 3 weeks planning this across the Kootenays for a book club on Zoom! In April we’re discussing fun project. www.facebook.com/events/141076101251961/

Thursday, April 29

Bird’s Eye View by Elinor Florence. Email kootenaylibrariesprogramming@ gmail.com to register and get a copy of the book. www.facebook.com/ events/1057201708024211/

Friday, April 30 • 9 am: Strong Start at Edgewater Elementary. Please email any questions or to reserve your space at skalesnikoff@cbal.org or call 250-409-4251. • 10:30 am: Virtual Story Time by the Invermere Public Library. Tune in each Friday morning at 10:30 am for live stories and songs! Find the videos on our Facebook page. Find a craft kit at the front door of the library each week after story time! Aimed at preschool age, but all are welcome to tune in! • 1:30 – 7 pm: Invermere’s Summit Youth Hub Centre welcomes Columbia Valley kids Grade 8 ans 12 to drop by for free fun, games, music and much more. Please note the cohort schedule and follow the centre’s guidelines. www. facebook.com/summityouthcentre • Bingo Online – 6:00 streaming on Face Book. Go to ‘Rotary Community Online Bingo’ for playing instructions, and buy cards at https://folden-rotary. myshopify.com

Saturday, May 1 • 10 am - 3 pm: Hospice Swims the Lake! On July 8th 2021, 7 am three brave Hospice volunteer swimmers will leave Lakeshore Campground to James Chabot Beach in Invermere. To add to the fun of the challenge, The Hospice Society will sell Raffle Tickets, starting April 3rd until July 3rd (or sold out) every Saturday at Home Hardware from 10 to 3. Tickets are as follows: 1 for $10, 3 for $20. Visit www.hospicesocietycv.com for a complete list of prizes and donors.

Sunday, May 2 • 10 - 6 pm: Bottle Drive: Rotary Fundraiser. the Rotary Club collects refundable bottles and cans at the Invermere Transfer Station. Drop off your bottles at the designated bin near exit. We sort and deliver for refund - this money goes “right back into the community” through our Projects and Initiatives.

Monday, May 3 • 10 - 6 pm: Bottle Drive: Rotary Fundraiser. the Rotary Club collects refundable bottles and cans at the Invermere Transfer Station. Drop off your bottles at the designated bin near exit. We sort and deliver for refund - this money goes “right back into the community” through our Projects and Initiatives.

GRAND PRIZE 4 nights stay and 1 welcome dinner at SLR K2 Ranch. A value of $2,500

Other Major Prizes • • • •

Banﬀ Springs Hotel ($400), Brunch at Banﬀ Park Lodge ($170), Dinner at Touloulou’s Restaurant ($250) For a total value of $820 Nipika Mountain Resort, Guided paddle on Kootenay River – $600 McDonald’s Law Corp., Estate Planning $500 Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, 2 nights stay and 1 golf game $540

List of Prizes

Tuesday, May 4 • 9 am: Strong Start at Edgewater Elementary. Please email any questions or to reserve your space at skalesnikoff@cbal.org or call 250-409-4251. • 3:30 – 9 pm: Invermere’s Summit Youth Hub Centre welcomes Columbia Valley kids Grade 6/7 (P&A) + Grade 9 to drop by for free fun, games, music and much more. Please note the cohort schedule and follow the centre’s guidelines. www.facebook.com/summityouthcentre • 6 – 7:30 pm: Online Youth Night. Hey teens! For the month of May we will be doing an online activity every Tuesday. Sign up for one or all of the events. Contact Angela Miller at 250-341-5216 or Columbiavalleyyouthnetwork@hotmail.com to sign up. Kits will be available for each event, delivery can be arranged for outer Communities if needed.

Wednesday, May 5

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• 9 am: Strong Start at Eileen Madson Primary School, Invermere. Please email any questions or to reserve your space at skalesnikoff@ cbal.org or call 250-409-4251. • 10:30 -11:30 am: Seniors & Elders Catch – Family Dynamix hosts a Catch-up Cafe for the Columbia Valley every Wednesday morning on ZOOM for those isolated and unable to get out as much because of COVID-19. Contact Tricia at patkin@familydynamix.ca for safe login instructions. Even if you are unfamiliar with ZOOM video conferencing, we can help you get inexpensive internet and get you logged on! • 3:30 – 9 pm: Invermere’s Summit Youth Hub Centre welcomes Columbia Valley kids Grade 6/7 (P&A) + Grade 9 to drop by for free fun, games, music and much more. Please note the cohort schedule and follow the centre’s guidelines. www.facebook.com/summityouthcentre

Where to Have your event added by visiting recycle?

www.cvevents.ca

• • • • •

Fusion Wellness Spa — $200 Smokehouse 93 — $100 Sobeys Invermere — $300 Avenue, Summit Footwear and Inside Edge — $150 1 painting from Leslie Cartwright — $150 Home Hardware any purchase in store — $150 Crossroads Esso purchase of card — $100 Valley Fitness Centre 1 – 10 hole Punch Pass — $162 Valley Zipline Adventures ($84) and Scootin’ Kootenay Segway ($79) –f $163 Horsethief Pub — $100 Hoodoos Resort – Gas valued at 50 and Lucky Gas valued at 50 — $100 Family Chiropractic 2 orthopedic pillows — $120 Tim Hortons – Gift Basket — $100 St Eugene’s Mission Golf and Stay 1 night stay and on 18 holes golf game for 2 people including cart — $349 Kicking Horse Coffee ($100) and Winderberry & Edible Acres ($50) — $150 Fairmont Mountain Side Grocery ($50) and Healing Forest Walk w Pat Bavin ($50) — $100 Lakeside Bike Co. Free Level 1 Tuneup — $100 Spur Valley Golf – 4 people — $120 Columbia Paddle Kayak and Canoe Rental 4 hour paddle for 4 people — $190 Paradise Lodge 1 night stay for 2 people 1/2 price for second night available — $325

• • • • • • • • • •

Pandora Bracelet and Bead in Banff 1 Bracelet — $240 2 Stain Glass Lanterns from Ceasar – Canal Flats — $200 Eagle Ranch Golf – 18 Holes – 2 people including cart — $240 Warwick Interior Décor — $100 Windermere Valley Golf – 18 Holes – 4 including cart — $204 Bootleg Gap – 18 Holes – 2 people w/ cart Monday thru Thursday only — $120 Golden Golf Club – 18 Holes – 2 people — $120 1 Metal or Wood Art – Bill Dorschuck — $200 1 Painting – Win Kemper — $100 Canadian Mountain Holidays — Therm-ic Socks — $320 Rona Hardware ($50) and AG Valley Foods ($150) — $200 Riverview B & B – Fairmont – 1nt King Suite – Arrival Dinner & Hot Breakfast — $200 Canadian Tire – 1 Inflatable Kayak — $300 Pete’s Marina – 2 Hour Rental Pontoon Boat — $400 Valley Coffee Co. ($50), From Scratch Restaurant ($50), La Galleria ($50) and Purple Cow Gift Shop ($25) — $175.00 ULLR Bar 100 — $100, Station Pub restaurant — $25 — $125 Sobeys — $203 Copper Point Golf Course 2 rounds at the Ridge — $196 Black Forest Steak & Schnitzel Haus Gift Certificate value $100 and Columbia

Hospice • •

Swims the Lake • • • • • • •

If you have a residence in BC you can purchase tickets online. Visit www.hospicesocietycv.com

Where to recycle?

Check the BC RECYCLEpEdia or email www.rcbc.ca

Check the BC RECYCLEpEdia 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) 1-800-667-4321

Recycling council of B.c. MeMBeR

info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Recycling questions?

Recycle? Yes o

Get the BC ReCYClep

BC RECYCLING HOTLINE 604-732-9253 1-800-667-4321 Recycling council of B.c. MeMBeR

www.rcbc.c

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 29, 2021

HERE TO SERVE YOU

BUSINESS OF THE WEEK

CONCRETE

BUSINESS OF THE WEEK

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

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

Playwest Mountain Experiences offers all inclusive guided hikes in the Invermere and Columbia Valley area. We provide professionally certified Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) hiking guides, luxury transportation, fresh packed lunches and only book small intimate groups. Ask about our Backpacking 101 program!

Products and Services Available 7 Days a Week

Go to Playwest.ca for more info! www.cvchamber.ca

Concrete Sales ~ Concrete Pump ~ Sand and Gravel Sales

CO NC RE T E

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

250-341-7474

CONCRETE

20 years’ experience • Anything concrete! Basements Garage pads Driveways Patios

• • • •

Decorative Exposed Stamped concrete Acid staining

WE RESEAL CONCRETE

250-688-3739

Serving the Columbia Valley

CARPET CLEANING

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

CONTRACTING

Big Cat Painting For all your painting needs! 250-688-9418 • www.bigcatpainting.ca Serving the East Kootenay area!

TILE AND GROUT CLEANING Business: 250-342-9692

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

Cell: 250-342-1273

ptarmiganrugclean@gmail.com

Enjoy life, we’ll clean it up!

Call NOW:

250-688-0213

N E W S PA P E R

Electrical and Bedding Sand ~ $9/tonne • 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.

Columbia Concrete Inc. • • • •

• Foundations to Finishing • Flat Work • Driveways • Patios • Stamped and Exposed Aggregate Concrete • Sidewalks • Garages • Foundations • Excavation • Site Preparation • Utility Installation

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry kekulibaycabinetry.com

I N

P U R S U I T

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

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

1756 Hwy 93/95 Windermere B.C.

• Carpets dry in 1 hour • Environmentally friendly products • Disinfectant kills COVID-19 • Fresh clean scent – no steam • Area rugs and upholstery • Protector • 100% guarantee • Prompt reliable service

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

CONTRACTING

Visit www.heavensbest.com for more information

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

• Authorized dealer • Designer • Installer

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

• 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

April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONTRACTING

CONTRACTING

There’s a new ‘Sucker’ in town! Vacuum/ Septic tank pumping Registered ROWP Serving all areas from Wasa to Golden

Slurpy

INTERIOR • EXTERIOR • WALL COVERINGS

Gary’s

Seniors Discounts

Patryk Jagiello

Specializing in all heating, electric, gas and wood. • Fireplaces • Commercial and residential • New builds • Renovations.

Professional Painting & Decorating Ltd. 1978 CUSTOM WOOD FINISHING FAUX FINISHES JOURNEYMAN RED SEAL

FREE Estimates

MOUNTAIN RIDGE HYDROVAC & SEWER 250-342-1502 • 250-342-1551

CONTRACTING

We also offer roundthe-clock service calls.

A licensed, registered and bonded company

403-650-4622 • garysptg@gmail.com

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

INSURANCE

STAIN/LACQUER/PAINT INTERIOR/EXTERIOR patco_dev@shaw.ca

(250) 270-0345 in Calgary since 2002 in Invermere since 2004

INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD.

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

Patco Developments Ltd. PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS

PHARMACY

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

LAMBERT-KIPP Irena Shepard, B.Sc. (Pharm.)., Émilie Lamoureux, Pharm D., Laura Kipp, Pharm D.

THE COLUMBIA VALLEY’S TREE CARE SPECIALISTS WINDERMERE, BC 250-341-7029

Your Compounding Pharmacy

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

1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere

250-342-6612

GOLDEN, BC 250-344-0188

GET YOUR QUOTE AT WWW.GREENLEAFTREE.CA INFO@GREENLEAFTREE.CA

R O O T E D I N T H E C O L U M B I A VA L L E Y S I N C E 2 0 0 7

SERVICES

• Patches • Driveways • Parking Lots • Roads • And more!

(Servicing the Valley since 1999)

Kootenay Paving

• Septic Tank Pumping • Portable Toilet Rentals

• A well maintained septic system • Complete sewer/drain repairs Toll Free 1-888-341-2221 NEW should be pumped every 2-3 years • Reasonable rates – Seniors’ discount SEWER CAMERA • Avoid costly repairs • Speedy service – 7 days a week

Toll Free 1-888-341-2221

Call now for a free quote! Locally operated, with full-time staff to serve you better. 1756 Hwy 93/95, Windermere, B.C. V0B 2L2 Phone: 250-342-6500 • Fax: 250-342-3484

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

SERVICES

Kootenay Paving

N E W S PA P E R

www.kootenayinsurance.ca

LANDSCAPING

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

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

Bruce Dehart 250.347.9803 or 250.342.5357

Spring Cleaning • Lawn Maintenance Serving the Valley for over 20 years! Commercial Residential

Fully Insured

Everett Frater Enterprises Cell: 250-342-5645 • efrater@telus.net

• 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!

Scott Postlethwaite

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

Free Estimates

invermereelectric@gmail.com

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

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

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 29, 2021

SIGN WARS What are they good for?

Slinging smiles! Say it again

See our editorial on page 6 for more information,

HERE TO SERVE YOU LANDSCAPING

SERVICES

WINDOW COVERINGS SHOWROOM

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

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE ON ALL WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES • WETT INSPECTIONS

• • • •

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

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

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

SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN THE COLUMBIA VALLEY

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

We give all students 15% off with valid student ID

North American Warranty All Makes and Models Tire Sales and Installation

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

House Doctors Where to Contracting recycle?

Custom Kitchens, Bathrooms and Interior Renovations

Check the BC RECYCLEpEdia housedoctorcontracting@yahoo.com 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) Dave Drouin – 519-995-1630 1-800-667-4321 Mike Shelson – 519-566-9745

www.hd-contracting.ca

Recycling council of B.c. MeMBeR

KITCHEN CABINETS & COUNTER TOPS

Can this be recycled? Check the BC RECYCLEpEdia www.rcbc.ca Recycling council of B.c. MeMBeR

Sales ~ Service ~ Installation

UNIVERSAL DOORS & EXTERIORS Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700

unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential Your Weekly Source for News and Events

N E W S PA P E R

Amanda Murray

Sales Representative

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

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com amanda@columbiavalleypioneer.com

April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

P ioneer C lassifieds

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

NOTE: Cheers Without Tears has replaced Cheers & Jeers ~ Let’s highlight the positive!

OBITUARY

Shaw, John Eldon 1931 – 2021

We are saddened to announce the passing of the man named John Shaw. He was a husband, our father and to everyone grandpa. He was born on a farm in Rural Western Saskatchewan. It was May 24, the year 1931. Here with his siblings, there were nine in all, They would do chores and Walk to school, spring, summer, winter, and fall. He left the farm at a young age; the year was 1950. He came west to Radium to do Christmas Trees. He liked the area and noticed there was lots of work here. And a few years later met his wife to be, Marg such a dear. He was a farmer, carpenter, logger, jack, of all trades. He could build or repair anything and show you how it was made. He worked for the Invermere Hospital, 31 years as a maintenance man. He worked hard and long to provide for his family, the best he can. He kept busy as a volunteer fireman for 35 plus years and could tell you, A long story that would have you laughing with tears. He taught his five children the difference of right and wrong. And loved to listen to family music and dance to old time songs. You can take the boy off the farm, but you could never take the farm from the boy, And you could see that in John’s eyes when he rode on an old tractor or one of his other old toys. We will all sadly miss him and try to wipe away the tears, His five children, 12 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and loving wife of 66 years. We love you John “Grampa” Shaw. John is loved and survived by his wife Marg, his children, Wayne (Kathi), Greg (Michele), Kevin (Mary Frances), Meg (Ken Gresdal), Carolyn (Kelly Kain), his grandchildren; Brandon (Sandra), Jared (Leah), Jesse (Emma), Kindra (Matt), Brittany (Leyen), Duncan (Hailey), Dylan (Brogan), Kris, Savanna, Breanne (Trevor), Sarah (Thomas) and Ryan, his great grandchildren, Alyssa, Kade, Riley, Tristan, Brielle, Leo, Sam and Alex, his siblings Edith, Ruth, Evelyn and Gerald and many other extended family members. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Invermere Fire & Rescue, IFR Account # 711622190 at the Invermere Kootenay Savings or contact Jason @ 250-342-5241 for other options. Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services. Condolences for the family can be offered at www.mcphersonfh.com

ANNOUNCEMENT 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. 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.

Please email classified ads to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

CHEERS WITHOUT TEARS

Huge Cheers to Dr. Mannheimer for his letter and advocacy, and to all who made the mass vaccination clinic happen for our community!

A huge Cheers to Ireland Brunner for her extremely kind gesture of providing local care staff with a beautiful letter and Tim Hortons gift card... Ireland you sure have a big heart and I know you put a few happy tears in our eyes. Much appreciated.

Cheers to the Radium angel who found my earring - I am very grateful!

Huge Cheers to Karin H. at No Frills! When I forgot my wallet, your kindness and generosity saved me a big hassle. You personify Small Town Livin’ at its Best!! The biggest Cheers ever to Doug Clovechok, all the volunteer doctors and nurses making it possible for many of us to get our vaccines early. Very much appreciated! Huge Cheers to locals educating visitors and other impatient drivers NOT to honk at wildlife on the road! This is their home first! Learn proper respect please!

S OBITUARY S Heuscher, Bobbie On April 14, 2021, Roberta (Bobbie) Heuscher, loving mother and proud granny left us at the age of 77.

Many knew Bobbie from her extensive work history in the Columbia Valley, mainly from Brother John’s and Bobbie’s Café. She was a proud and passionate business owner in the Columbia Valley. She was a champion of the underdog and not afraid to call out the bullies and put them in their place. Her logo was the lady with a gun, for a reason. She swore like a trucker, smoked like a train and loved liked each day mattered. Her pride and joy were her grandsons, Ian and Ward Fenton. She taught them to light fires, split wood and knives cut sharp. Many band aides were the boys medals of honour from the day spent with Gran. She loved them ferociously. Bobbie loved to garden, pan gold, paint and explore the artist that was her. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Lee, son Vince Beyette, her grandsons Ian, Ward and Pierce and a small circle of family members. A Go Fund Me has been set up to contribute towards her legacy. www.gofundme.com/f/ help-debbie-rebuildbobbies-legacy

Pioneer Classified Advertising 250-341-6299

Many Cheers to the C.V. Pioneer who continues to help us connect in this wonderful community! Cheers for the 3 young European guys in the black ford pick-up who pulled me out of a deep mud rut on the way to Blue Lake! Tried to pay them beer money and they wouldn’t accept and were first class young men. Also, a Cheers for the Radium Chalet staff who helped us when we got stuck up there also.

LISTINGS NEEDED! I WANT TO SELL YOUR HOUSE!

WHY LIST WITH GERRY? ✔ Website/Social Media ✔ 3D Tour, YouTube, Drone ✔ Responsive, Local, Expert

LIST WITH GERRY: FOR RESULTS! *Not intended to solicit those already working with an agent.

BUYING OR SELLING CALL 250-341-1202

gerrytaft.ca Personal Real Estate Corporation

Rockies West Realty Independently owned and operated

S OBITUARY S Verge, Grace Louise 1932 - 2021

It is with heavy hearts that the Verge families announce the passing of Grace Louise Verge (nee Bradley). Grace was born in Big River, Saskatchewan on September 29, 1932. She passed away peacefully at the Invermere hospital on April 24, 2021. Grace married Walter Verge Sr. on March 27, 1970. She had many cherished activities including playing cards, baking, family get togethers, and was an avid gardener. Grace also enjoyed traveling across Canada, the States, and Mexico. During her trips she would make time for family, friends, and the casino. Visiting her family in Big River with her sister Hazel was always a favourite. Grace was loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing her, as she was a kind and genuine person. She will be sorely missed by her family, and her many friends. The family is hoping to hold a Memorial Service when we are able to do so. In lieu of flowers, we ask donations to be made in her honour to the Radium Fire Department, as they were very dear to her. Grace also passionately supported the Rad Society and would be proud for any donations to go there. Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services. Condolences for the family can be offered at www.mcphersonfh.com

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

LOST AND FOUND

CONDO FOR SALE

FOUND: Garmin black watch found in the wood waste pile at the Windermere Land Fill. Please call the Pioneer at 250-3416299 to claim.

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

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 LOT/ACREAGE WANTED Looking for Land for purchase, over 5 acres. Close to Invermere. Please contact 250-688-3739.

WANTED BOAT SLIP WANTED On Lake Windermere. Interested in purchase, lease or rent. Phone Hans Leverkus, Elkhorn Ranch 250-342-1268. Retired Bachelor seeking Rural Rent/Care taking accommodation. No Vices, references can be provided. 1-250-426-4445.

Pioneer Classifieds

SPOT THE DEALS! N E W S PA P E R

info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

DOWNTOWN INVERMERE CONDO (BY OWNER) $165,000 Buy your piece of the Invermere Valley before prices go nuts! Top Floor unit. 2 bedroom, 1 bath 985 sq. ft., in-suite laundry, Warm sunny balcony, mountain views, Lots of parking, low low condo fee’s, small complex (20 units) with large treed site area. Awesome location only steps to Downtown and the beach, currently rented for $1000.00, PRICED TO SELL AT $165,000 Call 403-4027505 or email rjfaulds1@ gmail.com

MISC. FOR SALE Top Quality Hay Round bales. Indoor bales $120 per bale, outdoor bales $60 per bale. Round bales of straw, $40 per bale. Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250342-1268. For Sale: The content from Blacksmith Welding Shop. Anvils, forges, welders, hammers, tongs etc. 2031 - 13th Ave. 250-270-0698. 0.74 ct. Canadian diamond ring and band set. Mounted in platinum & laser engraved to verify certification. $2500. Text 250-688-1581.

SERVICES B.B.’s Home & Lawn Care Services: Renovations/Plumbing/House Repairs, Moving, Dump runs. House Checks/Cleaning, Spring/ Yard Clean-up, Eavestroughs. Tree removal. 250-688-2897.

LEGAL NOTICES

Court Bailiff Land Sale

Lot 14, Pedley Heights Drive, Windermere; PID 027 170 969. For information contact Canada West Court Bailiff, 250-545-7333

April 29, 2021

SERVICES LEE’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SHOP Specializing in chainsaws, tillers, trimmers & lawn mower repairs and maintenance. It’s time to get your tools tuned up and ready for spring! 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! Pike Contracting Excavating and Skid Steer services. Call Jason 250-342-5277. The Heartfelt Companion: SERVICE FOR SENIORS 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! Rest assured; COVID-19 precautions are in place to keep you safe. “The Heartfelt Companion team provide, in the truest sense, heartfelt companionship. They always have mom’s best interest in mind. I find that my family can once again enjoy our time with mom, as we know she is being cared for, lifting this responsibility from our shoulders. We can once again simply enjoy each other’s company. We have tremendous gratitude for their service.” 250-341-5683 www. heartfeltcompanionservices. com Kootenay Country Electrical Qualified Electrical Service Licensed, Bonded, Insured Highly skilled electrician Call Dean 250-342-5516. Spring tune-ups on Golf carts and lawn tractors, pickup and delivery available at extra charge. Call Jeff 250-341-8146 leave a message. AARON’S HOME SERVICES -Lawn Care -Yard Cleans -Power Washing 250-342-9222

SERVICES

HELP WANTED

PROFESSIONAL STUMP GRINDING Free quotes Reasonable rates 1-403-703-4492.

Old Salzburg seeking kitchen help, cooks start at $19 dishwasher at $16. Drop off resume or by email scottstorvik@ gmail.com.

HELP WANTED

Cafe Allium is looking for Kitchen staff, Café workers and Servers. Serving lunch and small dishes in the evening, cocktails, beer and BC wines by the beach. Email cafeallium@gmail.com to apply.

The Heartfelt Companion is hiring an associate to provide non-medical services to seniors. If you have a big, kind heart and truly appreciate the company of seniors please call 250341-5683 for more info. Only those available on short notice from Monday - Friday will be considered. This is a permanent casual or part time position. Approximately 4 - 12 hours/ week.

Elk Park Homes is in search of Carpenters and Skilled Labourers for its upcoming projects. For inquiries, please contact Thomas at 250-688-1741 or thomask@elkparkhomes.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.

Castle Fuels / Petro Canada We have an immediate opening for a P/T Permanent Cardlock Attendant. 410 Panorama Dr. Mon. – Fri. 8 a.m. to Noon (hours may vary). $18 to start plus discount fuel. Must have: Class 5 driver’s license, 3 yrs. driving exp., physically fit, enjoys being outside. Apply recruiting@ castlefuels.ca

General Carpenter Finish Carpenter Jack of All Trades If you are looking for a change, or a new start, The Home Renovation Centre is looking to add some new, permanent staff to our team. Transportation is required. Call David 250-3425682.

FIREPLACE INSTALLER Looking for a friendly, responsible, self-motivated individual with a professional appearance with technical ability. Preference will be made for a candidate with knowledge of fireplace installation. Must have a valid BC Driver’s License.

Please email or fax resume with references to

Geoff Hill PREC* REALTOR® Fair Realty

250-341-7600

www.geoffhill.ca 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.

Diamond Heating and Spas 385 Laurier Street, Invermere, BC V0A 1K7 Email: info@diamondheatingandspas.com Fax: 250-342-7103

Administrative/ Logistics Assistant Eagle-Eye Tours is based in Windermere and is Canada’s largest birding tour operator, offering 50+ tours worldwide each year. To keep the show on the road, we need someone who can handle correspondence with our clients and help pull these tours off without a hitch. This is a long-term position where we can discuss your preferred number of hours/week (20+). You will have a variety of tasks to keep you busy from researching hotels in Australia to responding to clients interested in visiting the Arctic. This job requires that you can manage multiple projects simultaneously. Core responsibilities include: • Client correspondence (inquiries, invoicing, etc.) • Website and database maintenance • Logistics (booking of hotels, vehicles and flights) Requirements include: • Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, email) • Ability to work independently • Excellent customer service skills • Excellent communication skills (written & oral) • Rigorous attention to detail and strong organizational skills • Ability to manage competing priorities • An interest in travel We offer a competitive wage, benefits, flexibility, interesting work, and a collegial positive work environment. We are all working remotely right now, but plan that some or all of this work would be in our office in the future. We anticipate work beginning late May. Please submit your resume and a brief story about a personal travel experience by noon on May 11th to Cam via travel@eagle-eye.com. Ph: 250-342-8640.

Eagle-Eye Tours

April 29, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

HELP WANTED

COVID-19 Community Liaison Secwepemc Health Caucus Reporting directly to the Shuswap Indian Band Health Director and supporting five Health Directors virtually in the Lakes Areas, the Community Liaison provides support to communities to enhance culturally safe COVID-19 mitigation measures, community preparedness, and response capacity. The Community Liaison role assists leadership, of the Sub-Region, Family, Nation, Community, or Health Service Organization to which they are assigned, through effective engagement with community members, and health partners including the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Regional Health Authority (Interior Health). In addition, they use their local knowledge and context about the community, family units, structures and processes in the region to ensure that needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic are being addressed in a manner that is relevant to the community context.

• • • • • • • • •

Demonstrated ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information Ability to organize and plan own work Ability to be flexible and meet changing priorities Good verbal and written skills including the ability to keep clean notes and action items Ability to take initiative, problem-solve and make decisions within the job scope. Ability to efficiently and effectively utilize Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel. Strong ability to collaborate with others and work well in a team. Valid BC Driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle. Must be able to work flexible hours and travel as required.

SKILLS & ABILITIES: • Familiar with Secwepemc culture and traditions. • In-depth knowledge of First Nations health and wellness systems. • In-depth knowledge of FNHA and IHA, the BC health care system, and the current landscape of First Nations health in BC, preferably with a focus on the current pandemic. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: • Experience in promoting and educating basic infection prevention and control practices related to • Distributing community-relevant COVID-19 education to ensure individuals and families understand pandemics COVID-19 precautions. • Experience in inventory, ordering, and distribution of community Personal Protective Equipment • Promoting basic infection prevention and control practices to prevent COVID-19 transmission. • The ability to work collaboratively with the community’s health officials and Interior Health • Acting as a direct resource to the community – answering or responding to questions from members. COVID-19 Contact Tracers to support culturally safe contact tracing services. • Assisting in identifying accommodations in and around the community for potential self-isolation, and/or surge capacity. TERMS AND CONDITIONS • Assisting in developing and supporting food security supports. • Full-time position (32.5 hours per week) Monday to Friday. • Facilitating access to community resources and providing information on community services such as • 1-Year contract harm reduction and mental health and wellness programs. • Must adhere to the Shuswap Indian Band Human Resources Policy and Procedure Manual • Assisting in ordering, receiving, and distributing personal protective equipment. (Approved April 4, 2018). • Developing and maintaining strong working partnerships with communities, health care providers, • Must adhere to the Shuswap Indian Band Financial policies and procedures (October 24, 2017). health system partners and relevant organizations to support coordinated care. • Require three (3) recent work references. • Engaging with the communities’ away-from-home population/families. • Salary to be based on experience. • Working collaboratively with communities and RHA COVID-19 contact tracers to support culturally safe contact tracing services as per the process between the RHA and community. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Preference will be given to persons of • Assisting primary health providers in monitoring designated community members via phone daily Aboriginal ancestry as per Section 16 (1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act. Appointment to this to ensure that holistic needs are being met and isolation plans are being maintained. position will require a formal criminal record check, the details of which may preclude an offer of • Providing regular reporting on services provided. employment being finalized. • Performing other related duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS • Grade 12 or equivalent • Recent and relevant experience (2-4 years or more) working in a health services environment or an appropriate combination of education and experience. • Ability to work overtime as needed (preferred)

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and references to the Shuswap Indian Band, #3, 492 Arrow Road, Invermere BC, V0A 1K2 C/O Angela Sarsons, Director of Operations Email: dops@shuswapband.ca • Fax: 250-341-3683 Deadline for applications: Monday, May 3rd, 2021.

Mental Health Outreach Worker

• Ability to work evenings as needed • Demonstrated ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information • Ability to organize and plan own work • Ability to be flexible and meet changing priorities • Good verbal and written skills including the ability to keep clean notes and action items • Ability to take initiative, problem-solve and make decisions within the job scope Outreach or support workers in integrated community services teams specialize in supporting people • Valid BC Driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle. with long-term mental health problems. They help them adapt to ordinary life within the community by SKILLS & ABILITIES: developing coping skills rather than being institutionalized in a hospital or hostel, within a framework of • Familiar with Secwepemc culture and traditions. positive consultation and joint planning. • In-depth knowledge of First Nations health and wellness systems. • An understanding of mental health issues • Good interpersonal skills • Effective written and verbal communication • Capable of maintaining appropriate written records • Awareness of confidentiality and adhering to confidentiality policies • Able to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team • Awareness of health and safety issues for others and self • A caring nature RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: • Ability to follow instructions as part of a planned program of care • Attending the homes of identified individuals/families to carry out duties and tasks as specified in • Awareness of equalities legislation the care plan designed to enable a good degree of independent living. For example: going with the client to collect welfare benefits or a pension. TERMS AND CONDITIONS • Listening to and considering what both the client and caregiver would like to do and helping them as • Part-time position - 19.5 hours per week best they can. • May require evening shifts to support with groups and community events • Identifying deterioration in clients, enabling action to be taken to help them. For example: assisting • Will be required to work alongside our clinical counsellor and follow case management plans as with physical care such as activities of daily living, cooking, etc. outlined. • Monitoring and overseeing any medication prescribed by qualified medical practitioners and check- • Must adhere to the Shuswap Indian Band Human Resources Policy and Procedure Manual ing for any changes that have been made in dosage. (Approved April 4, 2018). • Providing a safe environment for those who need long-term supervision and support. • Must adhere to the Shuswap Indian Band Financial policies and procedures (October 24, 2017). • Helping the client with the preparation of meals, shopping, cleaning, and laundry. • Require three (3) recent work references. • Noting any significant changes in the client’s health, outlook, and behaviour; referring upwards for • Salary to be based on experience. advice about what action to take. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Preference will be given to persons of • Assisting in any assessment procedures. • Providing regular verbal and written reports to the clinical counsellor and community nurse; raising Aboriginal ancestry as per Section 16 (1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act. Appointment to this position will require a formal criminal record check, the details of which may preclude an offer of any issues about any alteration in the client’s family circumstances. • Facilitating and supporting community meetings and activities to enhance community employment being finalized. engagement. The Mental Health Outreach Worker will provide help and relieve stress for persons with enduring mental health problems and are responsible to the Health Director. They will also provide the same sort of support to the caregiver. This will involve the provision of personal, social and domestic care, training and opportunities to engage in meaningful activities and experiences at home and within the local community. They will work closely with all members of the community team to enable their clients to continue living in the community with comfort and dignity. The overall aim is to improve the quality of life of people who have mental health difficulties and prevent inappropriate admissions to the hospital.

QUALIFICATIONS • Grade 12 or equivalent • At least 1 year of recent and relevant experience working and caring for people with mental health problems • Willingness to undertake further training

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and references to the Shuswap Indian Band, #3, 492 Arrow Road, Invermere BC, V0A 1K2 C/O Angela Sarsons, Director of Operations Email: dops@shuswapband.ca Fax: 250-341-3683 Deadline for applications: Monday, May 3rd, 2021

HELP WANTED

Fairmont Vacation Villas Mountainside

(855) 345-6341or mountainsidevillas.com Fairmont Villa Management is now hiring

Housekeepers for their busy Summer and Fall season. We offer year-round employment, with a wage of $18-$19 per hour depending on experience, and a generous benefits package after 3 months. We are also accepting part-time and student applications. All positions involve working weekends. Must be reliable, Have own transportation, a strong work ethic and the Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment. If this sounds like you, we look forward to receiving your application/resume. Contact Lynn Brunelle at 250 345-6341 Fax Att: Lynn 250 345-6299 Or email: HSKPmgr@msvillas.com

BCYCNA – CLASSIFIED ADS HELP WANTED Tl’azt’en Nation is seeking an EDUCATION MANAGER to provide direction and leadership to its Education Department. Follow the link or scan the QR Code below for more information and how to apply. https://www.mnp.ca/en/services/ consulting/executive-recruiting/ career-opportunities/education-manager Closing Date: May 9, 2021 Type of position: 12-month term position (covering for a maternity leave).

Tl’azt’en Nation is seeking an experienced FINANCE MANAGER to provide direction and leadership to its Finance Department. Follow the link or scan the QR Code below for more information and how to apply. https://www.mnp.ca/en/services/ consulting/executive-recruiting/ career-opportunities/ manager-of-finance-tlazten-nation Closing Date: May 9, 2021 Proof of certifications will be required prior to employment.

HEALTH GET UP TO $50,000 from the Government of Canada. ALL ages & Medical Conditions Qualify. Have a child under 18 instantly receive more money. CALL BRITISH COLUMBIA BENEFITS 1-(800)-211-3550 OR Send a Text Message with Your Name and Mailing Address to (604) 739-5600 For Your FREE benefits package.

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Tl’azt’en Nation is seeking a PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER to provide direction and leadership to its Public Works Department. Follow the link or scan the QR Code below for more information and how to apply. https://www.mnp.ca/en/services/ consulting/executive-recruiting/ career-opportunities/ manager-of-public-works-tlazten-nation Closing Date: May 9, 2021 Proof of certifications will be required prior to employment.

Our weekly What’s Happening page features local events around the Valley. Have your event added by visiting www.cvevents.ca or email info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

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20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

FAITH

April 29, 2021

More than meets the eye

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

My parents gave me my grey/green eyes and then taught me how to see. Through their efforts and that of my extended family, my teachers, and the small town culture where I grew up, reality came into focus. The music I listened to and the books I read also helped clarify my vision of reality. I lived each day with my eyes wide open, and yet there was this lingering sense there was something more, something I couldn’t quite see. I was twenty-one years old when I realized I was blind. In his 1976 book Fully Human, Fully Alive, Father John Powell writes: “Through the eyes of our minds you and I look out at reality (ourselves, other people, life, the world, God!). However, we see things differently. Your vision of reality is not mine and, conversely, mine is not

yours. Both our visions are limited and inadequate, but not to the same extent. We both have misinterpreted and distorted reality, but in different ways. We have each seen something of the available truth and beauty to which the other has been blind. The main point is that it is the dimensions and clarity of this vision that determines the dimensions of our world and the quality of our lives. To the extent that we are blind or have distorted reality, our lives and our happiness have been diminished. Consequently, if we are to change-to grow-there must first be a change in the basic vision, or perception of reality.” The old hymn Amazing Grace says “I once was blind but now I see.” That happened to me. A simple step of faith opened the eyes of my heart to another dimension of reality; one that’s right here, close by, and all around us. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a faraway place “out there” or “way up there.” I’ve discovered it intersects and pervades our world, much like the invisible radio waves we live with every day. I’ve discovered Jesus Christ is alive, that He’s near each of us. Believe me, things are not as they seem; there’s much more than meets the eye.

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

A view of Floe Lake in Kootenay National Park.

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

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Photo by Camille Aubin

Parks Canada launches Indigenous and public engagement on draft management plans Submitted by Parks Canada National parks are gateways to nature, adventure, and discovery that hold special places in the hearts of Canadians and visitors from around the world. Now more than ever, the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded Canadians that spending time in nature and outdoors has many health and wellness benefits. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, officially launched Indigenous and public engagement on the draft management plans for the mountain national parks. Parks Canada is inviting all Canadians, including youth, to share their views on the draft plans and help influence the future of the mountain national parks. Public engagement programs are currently active for Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks, including Rogers Pass National Historic Site. More information about the individual management plans and opportunities for input is available at www.letstalkmountainparks.ca. Parks Canada has coordinated development of the draft park management plans for the mountain national parks. Common themes and priorities in the draft management plans include: To ensure protection of natural and cultural resources, ecological integrity, and park

landscapes for future generations; To provide exceptional opportunities for Canadians to develop a sense of connection to the natural and cultural heritage of these places; To strengthen Indigenous relations based on a recognition of rights, respect, collaboration, and partnership; To connect Canadians with these dynamic ecosystems and human stories; nature and history; To manage development and ensure ecological integrity is the first priority; To contribute to landscape-scale conservation in Canada by being ecologically and socially connected across boundaries; To contribute to an understanding of climate change and its impacts over time. Indigenous, stakeholder and public views provided during the first round of engagement in the spring of 2019 helped shape these draft plans. Now, all Canadians are invited to join the conversation to provide additional feedback. The results of this engagement will help finalize the management plans, after which they will be approved and tabled in Parliament. Parks Canada, in collaboration with partners, protects and restores national historic sites and national parks; enables people to discover and connect with history and nature; and helps sustain the economic value of these places for local and regional communities. Public engagement on management planning in the mountain national parks is an example of how Parks Canada is involving Canadians in implementing these priorities.