Columbia Valley Pioneer, June 3, 2021

June 3, 2021 Vol. 18/Issue 22

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1

June 3, 2021

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 3, 2021 Highlights of the @LiveColumbiaValley Instagram account, brought to you by the Columbia Valley Community Economic Development Office, a service of the RDEK.

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Another market has come to town… The new Canal Flats Market, from noon until 4 p.m., Saturdays.

Congrats to Tammy Lee Chadney for organizing a successful first market with 17 vendors!

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Average Water Temperature: 17 °C Average Water Depth: 4.45 m Average Turbidity: 1.28 NTU Average D.O.: 11.3 mg/L Average pH: 8.5

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“The Village has recently installed several new picnic tables in the Park in Canal Flats. Also we have recently completed an open air, covered, pavilion which will also feature several picnic tables. Bring your picnic to Canal Flats!” Adrian Bergles

It is starting to feel like summer out on the lake!

Anyone take a dip this weekend? This week we were paying special attention to the turbidity (cloudiness) of the water with the high water levels in the creeks; however, the water in the lake has remained very clear.

Fancy being the first citizen scientist of the year?

The Ambassadors are once again looking for volunteers to join us in collecting samples out on the boat.

We have Covid safety protocols in place. To join the Ambassadors out on the lake on a Tuesday morning this summer, please contact Alyssa Taburiaux at (250) 341-6898 or intern@lakeambassadors.ca.

The Lake Windermere Ambassadors would like to thank the Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Valley Community Foundation, Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund, Real Estate Foundation, BC Gaming Grants, District of Invermere, Regional District of East Kootenay and community donors for supporting our 2021 programming.

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June 3, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

VALLEY NEWS

The community responds to the news out of Kamloops Residential School Most important thing the community can do is honour the children

By James Rose Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photo by Amanda Nason

There has been a swift, heartfelt community response to last week’s shocking news, the bodies of 215 children were found buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

On Sunday, May 30, Suzie Thomas invited family, friends and the community to place hearts on her fence down Papilo Way two kilometres north of Tim Hortons. “(Our family) decided to invite the community to help us honour those children and residential school survivors by putting up 215 hearts,” said Thomas, Youth and Community Coordinator at the Shuswap Indian Band. “Some of the hearts have little blurbs on them like ‘Never forgotten’ and ‘Every child matters’, that sort of thing.”

On Monday, May 31, students and staff at J.A. Laird Elementary school wore orange shirts to honour the lives of the children, residential school survivors and intergenerational victims. Across the valley, teddy bears were exhibited on porches as another act of compassion and respect.

“The most important thing the community can do is honour these children and support the Métis Nation, Shuswap Indian band, and Akisqnuk First Nation,” said Deb Fisher, Kootenay regional director at the Métis Nation of B.C. “We all need to do our part to hold accountable those involved allowing these situations to occur.”

On the popular Invermere Community Share Facebook page, people shared links to donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

“When I heard the news, I was immediately in shock,” said Thomas. “I sat downed and had a tough conversation with my two children (age 10 and 14) explaining to them the situation and that their grandmother went to the St. Eugene Mission Residential School.”

Thomas and Fisher both share a similar sentiment that it will take time to process. “But what’s important is to make sure those children are well respected and laid to rest peacefully. The families must get honoured properly. Visit irsss.ca/donate to donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

Photo submitted by Suzie Thomas

On Sunday, May 30, Suzie Thomas invited community members and friends to place hearts on her fence near Tim Hortons on Papilo Way. From left to right: Emma, Suzie, Ian, Devin

Photo submitted by Suzie Thomas

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This past week, May 24 through May 30, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 68 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

On Wednesday, May 26, police received a report of a break and entered to a building in the 4800 block of Athalmer Road. An officer conducted a scene examination and confirmed forced entry had been made through the back door. A suspect was identified through video surveillance and arrested the following day. The adult male was released on conditions to attend court at a later date.

On Thursday, May 27, at about 3 a.m., emergency crews responded to a commercial transport truck collision on Highway 93, approximately 6km from the Alberta border. Crews arrived to find an unoccupied commercial transport truck in the ditch. The truck was towed from the scene. The investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. The driver, who failed to remain at the scene, spoke to Abbotsford Police the following day and confirmed he was uninjured. The driver is also under investigation for failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

On Friday, May 28, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of an erratic driver in a Pontiac Vibe on Highway 93/95 near Invermere. An officer located the vehicle at a property on 13 Street in Invermere, and upon approaching the vehicle, the officer observed the driver with what was believed to be a controlled substance in his hand.

The driver was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, and a search of the vehicle incidental to arrest revealed additional drug paraphernalia. The driver was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition.

On Friday, May 28, at about 10:20 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop with the driver of an Audi A4 on Laurier Street in Invermere after the officer observed the driver failing to maintain its lane. The driver complied with a roadside breath demand and blew two “warns.” As a result, the driver was issued a 3-day Immediate Roadside Driving Prohibition.

On the evening of Friday, May 28, Columbia Valley RCMP and Cranbrook Highway Patrol members conducted a road safety check on Athalmer Road in Invermere. Officers checked approximately fifty vehicles.

Several warnings were issued for vehicle defects, and one 3-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition was issued.

Evacuation alert still in place for parts of Fairmont

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

There has been little rainfall in the Columbia Valley over the past week, but 229 properties remain on evacuation alert in the Fairmont Hot Springs area.

The properties were placed on alert, and a local state of emergency declared on Monday, May 24, in the midst of one of the valley’s longest continual rainstorm in many years, which drenched the area from Sunday, May 23 through to late af-

ternoon on Tuesday, May 25, filling debris ponds and debris basins in the flood mitigation systems in the Fairmont area with water, rocks, gravel and other debris.

The creeks did not burst their banks, the debris remained in the traps, and although more rain and thunderstorms were in the forecast for most of last week, those did not materialize, at least not to the degree predicted.

“Although we did have additional rain yesterday, there are no noticeable changes in the upper debris ba-

sins,” explained Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) information officer Loree Duczek in a press release on Thursday, May 27. “Having said that, the evacuation alert will remain in place until we are able to remove the debris from the basins and restore capacity within the system.”

On Monday, May 31, in another press release just prior to Pioneer press time, Duczek outlined that the evacuation alert remains in place, and that the local state of emergency has been extended.

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June 3, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

Canal Flats gets age-friendly plan

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Canal Flats now officially has an age-friendly plan, which aims to make the village a place where seniors are better supported, better able to remain in their homes longer, and are more active and engaged with the community.

The village contracted ISL Engineering and Land Services to create the plan, and company representative Courtney Laurence digitally attended the Tuesday, May 25 council meeting to present it.

Laurence began by outlining that age-friendly communities (which Canal Flats is seeking to become with the plan) support older people to help them age with dignity, respect and independence; promote the inclusion of older adults in as many areas of community life as possible; and are physically designed to address the needs of all residents, including seniors.

Canal Flats’s age-friendly plan, said Laurence, sets goals for the village to become age-friendly and lists actions that need to be taken to achieve these goals. She enumerated eight key sections the plan covers including: outdoor spaces, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community support and health services.

On the topic of transport, Laurence noted that “we heard a lot (from Canal Flats seniors) that because it (public transport) is not regular, it’s hard for people to access services.” In terms of housing, she said “there’s not a lot of options available for seniors’ housing (in Canal Flats).” When it comes to social participation, Laurence

Continued from ‘Fairmont’ on page 4 Duczek said the alert is still in place because with the debris basins on both Fairmont Creek and Cold Spring Creek are near capacity, the potential for debris flooding remains high, particularly with the unsettled spring weather and onset of spring freshet. “The accumulated debris has reduced the capacity of the creeks to withstand a future event, and until we can restore that capacity, the risk remains,” said Duczek.

Since the rain abated, geotechnical experts have been working to determine when the basins can be safely accessed with equipment and how much debris needs to be removed before the evacuation alert can be lifted. Late in the afternoon of Monday, May 31, the RDEK received approval to undertake debris removal from the reservoir and debris trap on Cold

pointed out that although the village has plenty of activ- mind, age-friendly “is one of the highest priority things ities and groups for seniors to join, many of these have the village has to pay attention to. To me, it’s something been heavily impactwe haven’t done a very ed by the ongoing good job of.”

COVID-19 pandemMcCutcheon said putic, and she suggested ting all the report’s recomit would be good to mendations into action is develop other ways likely more than what vilfor local seniors to lage staff can handle, givstay connected. en that they have a lot on Canal Flats altheir plates, and wondered ready has a great start whether or not it would be on communication worth the village hiring a and information, accontractor with expertise in cording to Laurence, the field to help Canal Flats in the form of its implement the plan. community newsCanal Flats mayor Karl letter. She suggested Sterzer said he’s proud of adding a seniors-spethe strong leadership local cific section to the seniors show in many Canewsletter. Noting nal Flats civic and volunthat seniors, and virteer groups, and suggested tually every other that tapping into that spirit age group, are dealcould help the plan be sucing with increases in cessfully implemented. mental health and Councillor Bill Lake wellness issues during asked Laurence which secthe pandemic, Lautions of the plan are most rence said establishpressing in her estimate.

Screenshot of the final report of the Canal Flats age-friendly plan Laurence replied that coming something such as a community garden could give local seniors, and in- munications and information, and access to services seem deed the whole village, a nice mental boost. to have been mentioned the most prominently by local Councillor Doug McCutcheon said that, in his seniors.

Spring Creek, and was in the process of securing a contractor for the removal work.

“We are continuing to work to secure required approvals for the debris removal on Fairmont Creek,” said Duczek. “There has been no significant change in the amount of debris in the debris traps at this time, and the creeks are running clear. With the warm temperatures this week, we could see an elevation in creek flows as upper elevation snow melts.”

In the meantime, residents of those 229 properties on alert should stay vigilant, have a grab-and-go kit prepared, and be ready to leave on a moment’s notice if an evacuation order is issued.

The RDEK is urging all Columbia Valley residents to sign up for the regional evacuation notification system (ENS) if they have not already done so.

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and this notification system will alert people immediately when every second count,” stressed Duczek in the press release. “We have 229 properties in the Fairmont evacuation alert area – and (by) Tuesday night (May 25), only 60 people had signed up for the notification service. Those people received the notification in under one minute. The door to door notification to those 229 properties took our hardworking members from the RCMP, fire department and Search and Rescue six hours to complete. No matter where you live in the East Kootenay, please sign up for the notification system today.”

Registration details and information are available at www.rdek.bc.ca.

Stay tuned to the Pioneer’s website and Facebook page for updates as the evacuation alert situation continues to evolve.

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June 3, 2021

PERSPECTIVE

Your feelings are valid

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Following the B.C. government announcement of its restart plan - ‘a plan to bring us back together’ -, you may have experienced unexpected emotions.

B.C. recently announced a ‘four-step plan focused on protecting people and safely getting life back to normal.’ Phase 1 officially began on May 25, allowing people to meet inside private homes with up to five other people or with one other household, or go out to lunch with up to six people outside your household or bubble, along with other eased restrictions. The next phase could happen as early as June 15, dependent on vaccination rates, daily case counts, and hospitalizations.

Some of you might have been delighted by these new regulations, but others may have been anxious about the slow return to normal social life.

The thought of meeting your family and taking them in your arms might have made you cry even before the conference ended (it sure did for me). Maybe at first, you were excited to hear that a return to normal is on the horizon, and then your joy turned to an anxious dread of ‘what if.’ What if people are sick? What if I am sick, or I get sick?

A recent survey conducted in collaboration with the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) and published in the Canadian Press revealed that 52 per cent (more than half!) of Canadians are anxious about going back the way things were before the pandemic.

In the past, we could speak freely with dozens of people each day without a second thought. Then, for the past year and a half, we have been warned by the government and health care specialists that if we are standing within two metres of someone else without protection (a mask), we were more likely to catch COVID-19, a potentially deadly virus. And now that 60 per cent of British Columbians are vaccinated against COVID-19, that provincial government has announced that we can slowly move forward with social interaction. But…what if?

In order to overcome social anxiety, we need to learn not to worry about social interaction anymore. For some, this will be no problem, and will happen instantaneously.

Others will need to more gradually come to terms with the idea that social interaction is not synonymous with potential death or disease anymore.

Judging someone based on his or her fear of social life getting back to normal again is pointless. As humans, we all react differently to stress and fear. Whether you feel comfortable or concerned about the B.C. restart plan, your feelings are valid. Set your own personal boundaries, share them with those around you, and respect yourself and others in the process.

Historical Lens

Mrs Ethel Cleland with her three children, Marion, Allison, Audrey, in front of thier home situated on 7th Avenue in Invermere.

C2051, 1929, courtesu Windermere District Historical Society.

Climate Action for Invermere Dear Editor: I grew up 50 kilometres northwest of Toronto, and I watched forests, farms, and greenspaces become subdivisions, strip malls and parking lots. As a kid, I always craved more nature. It was the mountains and wilderness that drew me to Invermere 15 years ago. Our three children were all born in Invermere, and they are growing up surrounded by – well, you know. Just look around. It’s extraordinary. I want future generations to experience nature as we know it here.

Climate change is a hot topic these days. Very hot apparently. I have to admit, I find it all pretty overwhelming. Dangerous weather events, melting glaciers, animal extinction. Here’s where I turn on Netflix, choose a romantic comedy and forget all the world’s troubles. If this is you, no judgement. The only problem is, the movie ends, and the climate change issue is still there. Darn it. Climate change is definitely overwhelming. The good news is that change is possible, and it often starts with a few individuals who are regular people taking small actions.

Sometimes a catalyst for change is something as simple as a letter (maybe even a Letter to the Editor!).

Then more voices speak up, and with enough voices and letters and conversations, a movement begins.

Then, (slowly) change happens; change in how we do things, policy change, change in our business practices, change across entire industries and change in our

local government. Speaking of which…

Every year, our Council makes a list of priorities. This list will be updated on June 14. It would be great to see a Climate Action Plan on this list of priorities for 2021. A Climate Action Plan would be us declaring as a community that we acknowledge the Climate Crisis, and we are prepared to take action to protect the nature we love. According to the Province of B.C., “They [Local Governments] are best positioned to adapt their land use planning, capital asset management and service models to become resilient to changing climate conditions, as well as mitigating global warming. Climate action efforts also enhance livability and support public health, well-being, and environmental and fiscal sustainability of communities.”

Many towns and cities in B.C., have Climate Action Plans, including Sidney (they created theirs in 2010), Kelowna, Oliver and Kimberley. Please join me in sending a letter to our Mayor and Council (info@invermere.net), asking them to add a Climate Action Plan to their list of priorities for the coming year.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” -Dr. Seuss, The Lorax Thank you, Stephanie Van de Kemp, Invermere

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

James Rose

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lerissa McLaughlin Sales Representative Ext. 103

Emily Rawbon Graphic Design Ext. 104

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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.

June 3, 2021

This interpretive sign along the Westside Legacy Trail came down around the same time the stop signs were stolen.

More damage to Westside Legacy Trail

other trail users could accidentally collide at the crossing.

Lang pointed out that although reThe Markin-MacPhail Westside Leg- placing the stop signs is not necessarily an acy Trail has continued to suffer damage; exorbitant expense, the cost will certainly some of it was intentional. Most recently, run into the hundreds of dollars if not to an interpretive sign was knocked over — more than a $1,000, and that Greenways either falling of its own accord or possi- is a charitable nonprofit society, and “we bly having been knocked over; a pair of don’t have an endless budget...when damstop signs were stolen from a crossing; age is repetitive it adds up over time.” and somebody drove a motor vehicle up In another clearly intentional incia narrow, switchbacking section of the dent that also created a considerable safety non-motorized paved recreation trail. hazard, it appears quite likely that someThe damage comes a few weeks af- body drove a vehicle up the Westside Legter somebody removed barriers along the acy Trail’s first major switchback, rising up Westside Legacy trail from Goldie Creek. and pylon-like delinea“You can see tor barriers were twice tracks at the first knocked over along the corner, where the district of Invermere’s vehicle’s wheels had Westside connector gone off the trail trail. and spun out,” said The interpretive Lang, adding the sign — which had trail has been damjust been installed two aged a bit as a result, weeks ago — came but a major concern down on a section of is the risk to the the trail high up above driver and to any the parallel Westside cyclists or trail users. road, in a spot where “The trail does get the trail cuts through quite narrow furthe K2 ranch, on Frither up that switchday, May 29. Columback where there’s bia Valley Greenways that beautiful grass Trail Alliance project wall. It wouldn’t be The stop signs (empty post shown hard for a vehicle to manager Lianne Lang explained that as there is here) at the spot where the Westside slip right off the edge no evidence, other than Legacy Trail crosses the Hoodoos park- there. And of course, the sign being down, of ing lot were removed and stolen late last there’s a chance of vandalism, it is possible week. Submitted photos the vehicle hitting that the bolts simply somebody riding failed and the interpretive sign then just the trail, who of course isn’t expecting to fell over. “There’s been no damage to the have a vehicle come around the corner,” sign from it falling over,” said Lang. said Lang. “It’s a non-motorized trail, and But the removal and theft of the stop quite obviously, people shouldn’t be up signs, which happened the same day, is there driving on it. It’s really dangerous. clearly intentional, she noted. The signs Whoever is doing it, if it’s teenagers or were taken from where the trail crosses young adults that are just bored and lookthe Dutch Creek Hoodoos Conservation ing for something to do, there are other Area parking lot. The sign’s removal cre- ways to entertain yourself that aren’t putates a genuine safety hazard as it heightens ting others and yourself in danger. Please the chance of motorists and cyclists, and stay off the trail.”

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

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June 3, 2021

Local family back in home after being flooded with municipal sewage other belongings at the time), a storage room holding all their outdoor gear, and the room where Steve, an avid mountain biker and bikepacker, kept all his biking equipment and where he produces his bikepacking podcast.

Steve salvaged what he could, as fast as he could, with the couple flinging their possessions out onto their lawn.

The district eventually came and turned off the pipes, but Chris said that took awhile. “So we had raw sewage filling our house for more than an hour,” said Chris. “It’s pretty hard to describe how disgusting it was.”

a major upheaval for the family. In a matter of hours, their home had become uninhabitable. They were able to stay a few nights at a neighbour’s house, before their Raw sewage gushed into the downstairs of local couinsurance company stepped in and paid for the family to ple Chris and Steve O’Shaughnessy’s home, filling their rent a condo while their house was being cleaned. That, basement rapidly. It was Labour Day, just before the couhowever, was a lengthy process, and the family had to live ple’s kids were set to head back to school. in the condo for months before they could move back For their son Jasper, elementary school was an old into their home. The cleanup also meant heavy machinhat: he was going into Grade 2. For their daughter Sloan, ery treading over their front lawn as well as dumpsters however, it was the first day of kindergarten. A pretty big being set up on it, which tore the yard up. deal by any measure. Even though it was a few days “Being displaced like that, even in good circumahead of time, Chris had clothes ready for that first stances, is not easy on anybody, and these weren’t the day of school, and backpacks and lunch kits set out, exactly ideal circumstance, with the COVID-19 panwaiting to be filled. This, of course, is quite in characdemic going on, and with the kids starting school,” ter for the O’Shaughnessy’s. Anybody who knows the said Chris. “It’s stressful, and it really is a gross feeling family will tell you: they are organized and they are to have your home filled with sewage like that. You feel punctual. Chris gets the kids to school each morning almost violated in a way, although maybe violated is at least 15 or 20 minutes early. Steve always shows not quite the right word. It plays with your mind a bit. up for kids’ playdates — and for everything else — You can’t help thinking about it, even still, and part of right on time, to the minute. They are a family that me can’t help worrying about the next time. Even our is prepared. kids talk about ‘the next time it floods’.”

But nobody could be prepared for what was unIt wasn’t the first time the O’Shaughnessys’ home, folding in their basement. Something was clearly terwhich sits at the bottom of a bowl-like slope in the ribly wrong with the municipal sewer lines, and the Wilder subdivision, had been flooded by sewage. A Raw sewage flooded into the O’Shaughnessys’ basement from the O’Shaughnessys’ downstairs was getting worse by the few months beforehand, the exact same thing had hapmunicipal sewer system, causing tens of thousands of dollars of damminute. pened, although the amount of sewage that came in the age, during the past Labour Day weekend. It was months before the “We went down (to the basement) some time first time was far less, it didn’t pour in as rapidly, and it family could move back into their home after the incident and they about 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m., and the sewage was alreceded of its own accord, after a bit. Still, that incident are now raising awareness in an attempt to prevent the same issue ready over our ankles. I don’t know when it started, meant the family had to completely re-do their basefrom affecting others. Photo submitted but it was coming in really fast. Not dripping, but ment with brand new carpets and brand new flooring. literally gushing,” said Chris, indicating with her hands Cleaning the fetid lagoon of fecal matter in their That renovation lasted all of seven or eight months before that the sewage was jetting into their home in a two-foot- basement was no easy task, and a special pump truck fi- the second, larger flood hit. high stream. “The volume was crazy, just unbelievable.” nally had to be called in, because normal pump trucks Nor are the O’Shaughnessys the only ones on their The pair didn’t waste a second. Chris frantically simply couldn’t handle the sheer volume of sewage in street that have been flooded by the municipal sewer called the district of Invermere to let them know what their house. system: at least two of their neighbours have had issues, was happening, begging them to turn off the pipes beDespite their swift reaction, they lost a lot, including though none as dramatic as the O’Shaughnessys. fore their whole house was ruined. Steve gamely waded plenty of high-quality camping gear, bedroom furniture, After the second flood, the O’Shaughnessys put in into the muck and began moving the family’s belongings and some of their kids’ treasured possessions. And, of a backflow preventer, a device that ensures their home off the floor and then right out of the basement. The course, their sewage-flooded basement sustained tens of won’t flood if the sewer system on their street fails a third O’Shaughnessys’ basement includes all three bedrooms thousands of dollars worth of damage. time. in the house, a laundry room (filled with clothes and Aside from the physical damage, the incident created Continued on page 12...

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Welding • Metal Fabrication • Machining • Design

Specializing in Architectural Stairs and Railings http://www.kootenaygamblingsupport.com

Maynard Raven 250-341-5214 Dave Weatherhead 250-409-4299

June 3, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

–akis“nuk and Shuswap increase stocks of quality, affordable housing Columbia Basin Trust partnering with First Nations to create local housing solutions

By James Rose can repair and maintain existing homes as well as build Local Journalism Initiative Reporter new ones. Together we’ve been able to bring in other

partners and resources to support this work.”

The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) announced in a Locally, the –akis“nuk First Nation is in the process press release last week First Nations in the Columbia Ba- of building four triplexes—two earmarked for Elders and sin are moving ahead with building and improving hous- two for families. In 2019, it completed a six-plex that ofing stock: “adding additional affordable housing options fers a combination of two and three-bedroom units. “The and professional development opportunities while being recent and current flurry of on-reserve housing activity is supported by unique and overdue and welcome,” innovative partnerships.” said Dale Shudra, CBT launched the Housing Manager First Nations Housing with –akis“nuk First Sustainability Initiative Nation. “New homes in 2017 after discussions were needed, and atwith First Nations in the tention to existing Basin. In just five years homes was also necesacross the Columbia Basin, sary. It’s rewarding to “First Nations have built see improved housing or are developing nearly conditions and a very eighty affordable units and substantive increase in have assessed, renovated affordable housing.”

–akis“nuk First Nation is leading housing solutions in their or made plans to renovate The Shuswap Inover two-hundred additional community with partners including the Trust. Photo by CBT dian Band recently built homes.” duplexes that provide “Through initial talks with First Nations, (CBT) eight one-bedroom, 700 square foot homes. “Our comgained a better understanding of how we could work to- munity needs more affordable housing because, prior to a gether to meet their housing needs and the role we could few years ago, homes hadn’t been built here in 30 years,” play as a partner,” said Mark Brunton, Delivery of Bene- said Dolores Nicholas, the Shuswap Social Development fits Senior Manager with CBT. “We have provided proj- and Housing Manager. “The members really appreciate ect development support and funding so First Nations and take care of all the new and improved homes.”

District of Invermere FireSmart Program

d o o h r u o b h g Nei

s n o i p m a h C

If you are a homeowner that has concerns with the wildfire hazard on or nearby your property – you can become a Neighbourhood Champion – taking the initiative to contact the FireSmart Neighbourhoods Program can start the ball rolling.

Working together with your neighbours is fun and effective!

Often an annual day or half-day dedicated to cleaning up wildfire hazardous vegetation that has accumulated around the neighbourhood becomes a traditional community event.

Over the years getting together and sharing food, laughter and some outdoor work can make a big difference to the wildfire hazard in and around your neighbourhood.

Columbia Valley Arts Council

Annual General Meeting

The CVA’s Annual General Meeting refreshes your Board and ensures CVA continues to operate legitimately in accordance with the BC Societies Act, employ its two staff, support Valley artists and implement its extensive public Arts programming.

Three Directors will stand for Re-election. The Board may consist of 10 Directors, and hereby calls for nominations to be sent to info@columbiavalleyarts.ca for the positions of President, Secretary, Treasurer and (seven) Directors at Large.

A Zoom Meeting, consistent with COVID measures, will be held th

Monday, June 14 at 7 pm To attend this meeting online (and for assistance learning how to connect) contact: Cajsa Fredin, Executive-Director info@columbiavalleyarts.com For a copy of the agenda and CVA AGM documents, contact Sharron Chatterton, Secretary at 1-867-334-1875.

Pynelogs Gallery is open!

Land Act:

Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land Take notice that I/We, North Star Mountaineering Inc., from Invermere, BC, have applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), Kootenay Boundary Region, for a Licence of Occupation for guided mountaineering/rock climbing situated on Provincial Crown Land located in the vicinity of Radium, BC. FLNRORD invites comments on this application, the Lands File is 4406214. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Sr. Authorization Specialist, FLNRORD, Kootenay Boundary Region, at 1902 Theatre Road, Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G1. Comments will be received by FLNRORD up to July 8, 2021. FLNRORD may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at http://comment.nrs.gov. bc.ca/ for more information.

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov. bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

The FireSmart Neighbourhood Program…NEEDS YOU!

T

he FireSmart™ Neighbourhoods Program is designed to encourage self-organized groups of residents to take the lead in implementing solutions for wildfire safety on their own properties.

The Program provides people living in wildfire prone areas with the knowledge and organizational means to significantly reduce their neighbourhood’s vulnerability to wildfire. They achieve this by planning and working together – with the support of a local wildfire professional.

Remember, if you’re concerned about the wildfire hazard in your area - there’s a good chance your neighbours feel the same way.

The FireSmart Neighbourhoods Program is designed to assist you and your neighbours to develop an action plan to reduce your wildfire hazard simply and effectively.

If this sounds like something your neighbourhood might be interested in, contact the District of Invermere at 250-342-9281. We will arrange our local Firesmart Representative to meet with you (the Neighbourhood Champion) and your neighbours to discuss your concerns and explain what the FireSmart Neighbourhoods Program can do for your neighbourhood.

There’s no obligation - the program is funded by a variety of fire prevention agencies.

Visit our website: https://invermere.net/operations/fire-safety/firesmart/

Please recycle this newspaper

10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 3, 2021 Photos by James Rose

Abuse takes many forms.

Every woman has the right to be safe and free from violence.

The Women’s Wellness Support Group provides a secure environment in which women are free to express themselves without being judged and share their experiences and strengths.

Your experience is valuable.

Please, help us build our community of support.

Wednesdays at 1pm via Zoom Please contact wc@fdx.family or call 250-341-3963 to register.

Resource, Development & Advocacy

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROJECT SUPERVISOR The Regional District of East Kootenay serves 60,000 permanent residents and about 25,000 to 30,000 seasonal residents. We are looking for a high energy individual excited about becoming a key member of our team; a team that is dedicated to providing quality local government services in an efficient, effective and friendly manner.

This position will work on a variety of projects related to water and sewer, and some flood control and building construction. Reporting to the Engineering Services Manager, the Project Supervisor is responsible for coordinating project development, facilitating public processes, project procurement, contract management, project monitoring, and supervision of capital projects to ensure they are constructed on time and within budget. In 2021, the budget for these capital projects is $2,100,000.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: The preferred candidate will be a highly motivated team player having demonstrated: • Five years’ of Civil Engineering experience with project management experience.

• Civil Engineering undergraduate degree.

• Certificate in Project Management.

• Experience in local government service delivery and thorough knowledge of legislation, policies and procedures pertaining to local government; • Excellent organizational skills with the ability to handle conflicting priorities; • Coordinate projects involving multiple departments and agencies.

• Manage construction projects using established project management practices and tools including computer based project management software to ensure objectives, budgets, and timelines are met.

• Maintain composure and find solutions when dealing with difficult customers.

• Prepare clear and concise reports.

• Proven decision making and analytical skills.

• Effective and engaging presentation skills.

• Sound analytical thinking, planning, prioritization, and execution skills.

This is a permanent, full-time (35 hours per week) Union position with a starting salary of $41.02/hour increasing to $43.07/hour after successfully completing a six-month probationary period, as well as a comprehensive benefits package.

If you are interested in joining an organization with a reputation of being a great place to work, and you possess the necessary qualifications and experience, we invite you to submit a resume and cover letter, with references, no later than 4:30 pm on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 to: Becky Hoglund, Human Resources Email: hr@rdek.bc.ca (MS Word or PDF Format) Please quote: Eng-27 Information on our organization and a complete job description are available at www.rdek.bc.ca/careers.

We thank all who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

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

Alice White (Nicholas) of the –akis“nuk First Nation thrived during the depression

By James Rose Local Journalism Initiative Reporter In June, Canadians celebrate National Indigenous History Month to honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. National Indigenous History Month is a time for learning about, appreciating and acknowledging the contributions First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have made in shaping Canada.

For the next month, I’ll be writing a weekly column that focuses on local Indigenous history. This week, I use as source material a story written about Alice White (Nicholas) of the –akis“nuk First Nation. I found the story in The Valley Echo’s 25th Anniversary Special Supplement published in 1980. There is no byline attached to the story.

The editorial in that edition started the following way: “We commenced this Special Edition with the idea we would concentrate on the Depression Era, the 1930’s, feeling that there were many young people in the district today who would like to know what the Valley was like during that period.”

The story begins at the site of the old Dominic Nicholas homestead. In 1980, the only family still residing on the homestead was Jack Stevens and one of Dominic’s daughters, Elizabeth with four of their 10 children still at home. Alice White, the eldest Nicholas daughter, at the time still lived nearby.

“Alice, at 73 years of age, fondly remembers the old days on the reserve.

During the 1930’s Alice was just com-

ing into her twenties and the depression years were not affecting her people at all.

‘We had everything in those days, we had pack horses, we raised vegetables, we had enough to last all winter with chickens and turkeys. One year, potatoes were so expensive, that we kept losing them out of the root cellar.’”

It was a time when potatoes were selling for $8 or $10 for a hundred pounds.

When Dominic noticed the slow disappearance of the spuds, he promptly got a padlock for the door. “Berries were so plentiful, Alice could just sit in one place and fill her basket.”

During the depression, Alice recalled her mother Sophie always telling her that “If you want something, you have to work your hands.” Alice did just that. If she needed money for any purchases, she would saddle up a pack horse and go into the hills to hunt. With the hides, Alice would make work gloves, moccasins and do beadwork “for which there was always a plentiful market locally.”

Back then, a turning point came with the arrival of the Second World War. “Kootenay men (former title for the – akis“nuk First Nation) were called into service. Alice lost her brother Toby in the fighting overseas, and in the article she remarked: ‘What were they doing there? - it wasn’t [our] war.’”

When the automobile arrived in the valley, it wasn’t long before Alice’s family had one. “But with Dominic gone most weekends playing baseball, one day Alice’s mother told her she should learn to drive the machine, so they all didn’t have to just stay at home.”

W h a t’ HAPPENING

s

June 3, 2021

in the Columbia Valley Thursday, June 3

• 9 am: Strong Start at Martin Morigeau. Please email any questions or to reserve your space at skalesnikoff@cbal.org or call 250-409-4251.

• 9 am - 4 pm: Thrift Store Donation Drop-offs at the Lakeview Parking Lot - Invermere, 28 6th Avenue. Invermere, BC Housewares etc in boxes and clothing only in garbage bags if possible.

• 10 – 11 am: Momfit. Moms are invited to join a weekly morning workout.

Kid-friendly! We will be outside at Spider Park as long as the weather permits from now on. Always bring your bands, a mat, water and stay home if you are not feeling well.

• 3:30 – 9 pm: Invermere’s Summit Youth Hub Centre welcomes Columbia Valley kids Grade 6/7 (Curry) + Grade 11 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

Friday, June 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.

• 10:30 – 11 am: Pop-up Story Time by the Invermere Public Library. Join us in the front library yard for stories, songs and a take-home craft kit! Families must bring their own blanket to sit on and stay 6ft/2m apart from other families at all times. Drop-in program geared towards preschool age and their families, but all welcome! Weather dependent.

• 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 • 6 pm: Online Bingo – streaming on Facebook. Go to ‘Rotary Community Online Bingo’ for playing instructions, and buy cards at https://folden-rotary.myshopify. com

Saturday, June 5 • 9 – 10 am: CheerFit in the Park, Want to try cheerleading, but don’t know if it is for you? This is the event for you! Please note that all minors are to be accompanied by an adult. $5/person at gate. Bring your own mat to workout on, and a water bottle. Wear lots of sunscreen! Spots are limited, email unitedcheerbc@gmail.com to secure your spot!

• 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.

• 11 am – 1 pm: Columbi-YA will be hosting a community cleanup in Windermere.

They will designate people to specific areas to ensure this event abides by current health standards. Bring your own gloves and garbage bags if you can. There will be a pickup station with some bags, buckets, gloves, safety bests and a limited supply of litterpickers. Visit our Facebook page for more information and register by June 3rd to columbiya.info@gmail.com.

• 12 – 4 pm: Canal Flats Market. Come check out the diverse artisans and producers at this Mixed Market in Canal Flats, every Saturday from 12-4pm MST! Located at 9110 Highway 93/95.

Sunday, June 6 • 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

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11

Have your event added by visiting

Hospice

www. cvevents.ca

Swims the Lake

or email info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

designated bin near exit. We sort and deliver for refund - this money goes “right back into the community” through our Projects and Initiatives.

• 1 – 5 p.m.: Live DJ Music on the water from a private venue in Taynton B. All are welcome to join by your choice of Stand up Paddle, canoe or kayak, boat, floaty or even water wings... However you feel comfortable and socially distanced to enjoy the afternoon. www.facebook.com/localmotiveevents

GRAND PRIZE

Monday, June 7 • 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.

• 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.org for the Zoom link.

• 11 – 1 pm: Zoom talk: Michele A. Sam By College of the Rockies. Michele will contextualize and unpack the place based Indigenous Peoples intellectual sovereignty and cognitive justice issues inherent to “Indigenizing” and “decolonizing” approaches. She will do so from a Ktunaxa perspective, according to Ktunaxa knowledge systems, relationships, responsibilities and roles and structures, as she experiences them. Register for free here: forms.cotr.bc.ca/indigenous-speaker-series-registration/ • 11:45 am – 1 pm: Indoor Walking by District of Invermere. Weekly indoor walking inside of the Columbia Valley Centre will resume every Monday and Wednesday.

Please wear clean indoor shoes. A mask is required.

• 5 – 9 pm: Strong Start at Eileen Madson Primary School, Invermere. Please email any questions or to reserve your space at skalesnikoff@cbal.org or call 250-4094251.

4 nights stay and 1 welcome dinner at SLR K2 Ranch.

A value of $2,500

Other Major Prizes • • • •

List of Prizes • • • • • • • • • • •

Tuesday, June 8

•

• 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

• •

• •

• 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.

• 9 am - 4 pm: Thrift Store Donation Drop-offs at the Lakeview Parking Lot - Invermere, 28 6th Avenue. Invermere, BC Housewares etc in boxes and clothing only in garbage bags if possible.

• 10:30 -11:30 am: Seniors & Elders Catch-up Cafe 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 • 5 – 7 pm: Farmers Market – Providing a quality selection of local food, produce, beef, baking and much more. Evening meal by “From Scratch Mountain Kitchen.“ the BC Find us on theCheck Agri Park, Highway 93/95RECYCLEpEdia kiticorner to Tim Hortons, Windermere. www.rcbc.ca We still have some space for new qualifying vendors. Please email: farmersmarket959@gmail.com for more information.

Where to recycle?

• •

•

Wednesday, June 9

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

•

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?

C

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

Recycling council of B.c. MeMBeR

Recycling council of B.c. MeMBeR

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

12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 3, 2021

pay us a bit for the backflow preventer, which we had to get to protect ourselves from their failing sewer system,” Installing a backflow preventer, depending on where said Chris. “Or, since they filled our house with sewage, exactly it needs to go in, and whether connecting sewer it would be fair if they only charged us utility tax based pipes run under a lawn or a driveway, can cost as much on the days we were able to be in the house using the as $10,000, although the O’Shaughnessys were lucky in utilities...Of course, I got a big fat no. But they did offer that the location of their connector pipe runs under their to charge us for the cost of turning off the utilities.” lawn rather than their driveway and lucky in that Steve Chris said she understands why — liability purwas able to do much of the labour himself, with the re- poses — the municipality seemed to do its best to dissult that they ended up spending only $1,000 putting tance itself from the situation, but pointed out that that the device in. doesn’t mean it can’t at least show The O’Shaughnessys’ insurance company some compassion for citizens. “I was fantastic, stepping in to help and going Submitted photo get a bit upset at the total indifabove and beyond the call of duty to help the ference...it rubbed us the wrong family through the situation, said Chris, adding way,” she said. unfortunately their experience with the district Chris is keen to raise awareof Invermere municipal office wasn’t quite the ness about this issue, pointing same. out that although backflow pre“With all the issues we’ve had on our street, venters are now mandatory on I feel like we’re sitting on a time bomb here, newly built houses, most homes with the sewer system, but the district, whenin Invermere are older than these ever I’ve interacted with them, they’ve basicalrequirements, and that given the ly just shrugged their shoulders and said ‘well, older infrastructure in some parts that’s too bad: we checked the sewer system of town — (the Wilder subdivitwice this year and didn’t see anything wrong, so sion quite apparently, but Chris we’ve done our due diligence’,” said Chris. “We has also heard of problem areas needed to get a statement of property damage along 13th Avenue as well) — (for insurance purposes), but the district was many other Invermere residents not forthcoming with that. We only got it because I kept are potentially vulnerable to sewage flooding. going in to ask.”

“This is a problem, clearly on our street, but possibly When the family’s utility bill came due in October, in other parts of town. It could happen to anyone. HopeChris went in to the office to pay in person and asked fully, if enough people are aware, there doesn’t have to be if the district could help pay some of the cost of the crap jetting into somebody else’s home,” she said. “I don’t backflow preventer, and asked if there could be a dis- want this happening to anybody else.” count on the utility bill based on the number of days the Invermere planner Rory Hromadnik noted that O’Shaughnessys had been unable to live in the house. “most of the infrastructure in the Wilder subdivision is “It seemed reasonable — we weren’t asking them for 1970s era” and said that the engineering expectation for thousands in compensation, we were asking if they could it is likely a minimum of 50 years, but that even before Continued ‘sewage’ from page 8

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Non-Bleed 4.65” x 7.15"

1/3 4.65 ” x 2.4”

1/4 Hor. 4.65 ” x 1.75”

1/4 Ver. 2.25 x 3.6

1/12

v

Quality publication with a trusted reputation

1.5” x 1.75”

ACT NOW! Sales close Friday, June 18th.

Business Card

Full Banner

(2.5” wide x 2” high)

(10.33” wide x 2” high)

Ad deadline: Monday, June 14th

(10.33” wide x 6” high)

Pioneer Publication date: Thursday, June 24th

(5.08” wide x 2” high)

2.25” x 1.75”

Complimentary and professional ad design

This feature is designed to congratulate our grads for their achievements and to wish them luck on their future endeavors.

By advertising in this feature you have helped make it possible for The Pioneer to produce this memento for our graduates of 2021.

$75 + GST Half Banner $105 + GST

Includes: Print and online exposure

B R I T I S H

C O L U M B I A

•

C A N A D A

Amanda Nason, Associate Publisher/Sales Manager Phone: 250-341-6299 ext. 102 advertising@columbiavalleypioneer.com Phone: 250-341-6299 ext. 103 lerissa@columbiavalleypioneer.com

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

$200 + GST Half Page $325 + GST

We’re also looking for Kindergarden photos from 2008/2009 for the Edgewater, Invermere, Windermere and Canal Flats schools. Please give us a call!

Lerissa McLaughlin, Sales Associate

N E W S PA P E R

reaching the minimum lifespan, it is possible to have issues with underground infrastructure such as sewer pipes.

“Things change underground. Sediment can shift, gravity takes a toll, if the pipes are clay tile pipes, they can get moist, which creates problems. Roots can get in, too,” he said, adding there are some parts of town that are worse than others.

“It’s super unfortunate to be flooded that way twice,” Hromadnik said in reference to the O’Shaughnessy’s case, which he did not know of in detail when the Pioneer contacted him. “It sounds like there may be some type of issues there. Just one time, that could be an isolated incident, but if there’s continued problems, that’s an indicator that there could be bigger issues.”

Invermere mayor Al Miller explained to the Pioneer that the Labour Day sewage flood at the O’Shaughnessys was the result of a sewer pipe blockage, saying that after the family called the district “that is when they (district staff) found some clothing and other items jammed up in the sewer system. There were rags, as well, and other things that should never be flushed down into the sewer system, but that somehow had gotten in there. They actually had to get a contractor to get it out.”

Miller noted that “our regular maintenance schedule was followed, and the pipes were checked as per protocol, so it’s a bit of an interesting situation,” adding that “obviously having the sewer system back up into your house is very problematic, and shouldn’t have happened.”

He said that from what he gleaned from district staff, they were only aware of the Labour Day flood incident and did not know of the earlier flood at the O’Shaughnessys or of any incidents at their neighbours’ homes.

“We do want to fix any problems that there are, if people let us know, we will do our best to fix them. But if people aren’t reporting the incidents, and we don’t know about them, we can’t fix them,’ said Miller. “Our team is usually good at getting out as fast as possible. They move very quickly.”

N E W S PA P E R

For more information contact Amanda Nason at 250-341-6299 ext 102, advertising@columbiavalleypioneer.com or Lerissa McLaughlinat 250-341-6299 ext 103, lerissa@columbiavalleypioneer.com to participate.

June 3, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

HERE TO SERVE YOU Fire'D Up

Breakfast and Burgers

SERVICES

SERVICES

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 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

• • • •

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

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE ON ALL WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES • WETT INSPECTIONS

• Pruning and Removal of ALL Trees and Shrubs • Stump Grinding • Fully Insured & WCB Covered

YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP for all home maintenance from raking your lawn to renovating your entire house.

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

4950 Hot Springs Rd. Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. V0B 1L1

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

20 years experience • Satisfaction guaranteed!

30

YEARS EXPERIENCE

Keep your local businesses alive.

Get your tree services right here in Invermere!

Professional • Lawn Maintenance Serving the Valley for over 20 years!

Commercial Residential

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

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

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

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

Kootenay

Fully Insured

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

P H A R M A C Y ( 2 0 1 9 ) LT D .

Your Compounding Pharmacy

KITCHEN CABINETS & COUNTER TOPS

Everett Frater Enterprises

LAMBERT-KIPP

Come in and browse our giftware

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential

OVER

Please call Steve ~ a real local you can trust! 250-342-1791

Gerard Rehman

unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca

FREE ESTIMATES

You name it!

I’ll take care of it!

HOW WE ROLL

Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700

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

Chimney and Eavestrough Cleaning and Repair Specialists

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

UNIVERSAL DOORS & EXTERIORS

WINDOW COVERINGS SHOWROOM

Beat the fall rush ~ clean your Chimney this spring!

Fully Insured & WCB Covered

Sales ~ Service ~ Installation

(Servicing the Valley since 1999)

NEW SEWER CAMERA

• Septic Tank Pumping • Portable Toilet Rentals

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

Fraser Elrick • 250-688-1271

Toll Free 1-88

Kootenay Paving 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

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 3, 2021

HERE TO SERVE YOU LANDSCAPING

LANDSCAPING

THE COLUMBIA VALLEY’S TREE CARE SPECIALISTS 2016

• FireSmart• Equipment Civil Earthworks 62”x74” Brushcutter

Quality not quantity Sue Coy

250-341-5353 sdcoy@shaw.ca

WINDERMERE, BC 250-341-7029

Landscaping&&Design Design Landscaping Landscaping & Design Trucking Excavating • •Trucking ••Excavating Trucking • Excavating •• Civil Earthworks • Civil Earthworks

Lloyd Wilder

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

250-342-5326 www.decoylandscaping.com lewilder@shaw.ca

INSURANCE

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

CONTRACTING

CONTRACTING

There’s a new ‘Sucker’ in town!

Patryk Jagiello STAIN/LACQUER/PAINT INTERIOR/EXTERIOR INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD.

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

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

GOLDEN, BC 250-344-0188

Vacuum/ Septic tank pumping

patco_dev@shaw.ca

(250) 270-0345

Slurpy

in Calgary since 2002 in Invermere since 2004

Registered ROWP Serving all areas from Wasa to Golden

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

Patco Developments Ltd. PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS

INTERIOR • EXTERIOR • WALL COVERINGS Specializing in all heating, electric, gas and wood.

Gary’s

Seniors Discounts

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

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

www.kootenayinsurance.ca

A licensed, registered and bonded company

We also offer roundthe-clock service calls.

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

kekulibaycabinetry.com

FREE Estimates

CUSTOM WOOD FINISHING FAUX FINISHES JOURNEYMAN RED SEAL

403-650-4622 • garysptg@gmail.com

Big Cat Painting

CONTRACTING

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry

Professional Painting & Decorating Ltd. 1978

• 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

For all your painting needs!

250-688-9418 • www.bigcatpainting.ca Serving the East Kootenay area!

CONCRETE

READY MIX CONCRETE • 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

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)

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

N E W S PA P E R

June 3, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

New business features goods made

by Columbia Valley producers

By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com A new B.C. business — Townships and Tales — has launched this spring, featuring an East Kootenay-specific’ subscription’ box containing local goods made across the East Kootenay — two of them from right here in the Columbia Valley.

“Townships and Tales is a seasonal, curated subscription box supporting entrepreneurs, artisans, and artists in small towns across B.C. Every item is handmade, and each purchase is paired with a local act of kindness,” explained Adrianna Stange, founder and co-owner of Townships and Tales.

So, what is a subscription box, and how does it work?

The box — which the company mails out once a season — is indeed a physical cardboard box, filled with the five to seven products local to a given region of B.C. This coming summer’s first season box focuses on the East Kootenay. Customers order the boxes (which are recyclable boxes) online, and then they arrive in the mail.

A first blush, it sounds like shopping local via e-commerce. And it is, but there’s more to it than that, explains Stange.

“We believe that this is so much more than e-commerce, it’s really a movement. Our goal is to create a rip-

ple of kindness so strong and powerful that it will be felt across all small towns in B.C. In the first month since our launch, we have done yard work for seniors, picked up garbage from the side of the highway, placed handwritten thank-you notes on the cars of hospital workers, and paid for strangers’ orders in the drive-thru lineup,” she said.

The five to seven products included in each box include items such as housewares and décor, beauty and personal care, gourmet foods, accessories, stationary, and artwork. “We want the products to reflect the values of the towns they come from, so the product variety will change each season,” said Stange, adding that the first box, which will be out in June 2021, includes seven products from six makers in five different towns.

Two of those makers are Valley locals — TEA etc.

(Invermere) and Saunders Family Farm (Windermere).

Others include the Highland Springs Soap Company (Cranbrook), Studio 501 Handmade Goods (Kimberley), The Proud Art Post (Fernie) and Wild Wolves Design (Fernie). But if you want to know exactly what products these makers are putting in the boxes, well, that stays secret until you open the box.

DISTRICT OF INVERMERE

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

JET RODDING OF SEWER LINES The District will be Jet Rodding the sewer lines in the Wilder Subdivision area from June 7th-11th.

This program is necessary to maintain the quality of the sewer system. It is recommended that you leave all toilet seats down during this operation.

The District apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this operation.

If you have any questions, please contact the District office at 250-342-9281

Please recycle this newspaper

Continued on page 18...

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONCRETE

CONCRETE

Products and Services Available 7 Days a Week

Columbia Concrete Inc. 20 years’ experience • Anything concrete!

• • • •

Basements Garage pads Driveways Patios

• • • •

Decorative Exposed Stamped concrete Acid staining Serving the Columbia Valley

250-688-3739 I N

P U R S U I T

Concrete Sales ~ Concrete Pump ~ Sand and Gravel Sales

CO NC RE T E

250-341-7474

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

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

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

TILE AND GROUT CLEANING

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

Email in info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

CARPET CLEANING Enjoy life, we’ll clean it up!

1756 Hwy 93/95 Windermere B.C.

Have a sports story idea?

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.

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

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

Business: 250-342-9692

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

Cell: 250-342-1273

ptarmiganrugclean@gmail.com

Call NOW:

250-688-0213

• 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 Visit www.heavensbest.com for more information

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

S

OBITUARY

June 3, 2021

S

P ioneer C lassifieds

Wright, Kelly Gene 1942 – 2021

With sadness the family of Kelly Gene Wright announces his passing on May 20, 2021, at the age of 78.

Kelly Gene Wright was born in Calgary, Alberta on September 14, 1942 to Jim and Lillian Wright. Kelly’s family hailed from Vauxall, Alberta, and lived in various areas of Southern Alberta for several years before finding their way to Teepee Creek, Alberta, where they bought land, built a homestead and farmed for many years. He left home at the age of 19 and moved to the Yukon where he worked for NorthTel for a few years, then moved to Fort St. John in 1965 where he began his career with BC Tel and started his life with his first wife, Karen. He transferred to Invermere in 1970 where he settled with Karen, and their six children. Besides working in telecommunications, he was also a talented handyman - always working on a project or two around the house, including building additions to accommodate six growing children.

Kelly retired from BC Tel at the age of 53 and decided to go back to his farming roots. He bought a farm close to his parents’ homestead in Teepee Creek and farmed for several years.

In 1991 he met his second wife, Sharon. After retiring from farming, he adopted a laid-back lifestyle. He enjoyed camping and spent many months at the lake with Sharon during the summers. He also enjoyed playing games and socializing with his friends. The couple relished their trips down south to the casinos with their friends there.

However, Kelly’s greatest passion in life was fishing – on a lake, river, or the ocean – it did not matter to him as he was happiest with a rod in his hand. That is how he will be remembered by those closest to him, sitting in a boat, with a rod in his hand and a big smile on his face.

He is loved and will be missed.

He was predeceased by his son Trevor Wright (2004) and his first wife Karen Borden (2016). He is survived by his second wife Sharon Campbell, his daughters - Shelley (Dwayne) Kashuba, Sherrey Collier (Wayne Henry), Susan (Frank) Rad, Wendi Wright, Debbie (Tim) Moore, his 12 grandchildren, two great grandchildren and four sisters.

A private family interment will take place.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation, in Kelly’s name, to ALS Society or a charity of your choice.

Gone, But Not Forgotten Don’t think of him as gone away His journey’s just begun Life holds so many facets This earth is only one.

Just think of him as resting From the sorrows and the tears In a place of warmth and comfort Where there are no days and years.

Think how he must be wishing That we could know today How nothing but our sadness Can really pass away.

And think of him as living In the hearts of those he touched For nothing loved is ever lost And he was loved so much.

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.

CHEERS WITHOUT TEARS Huge Cheers to the lady in the Elevation Massage and Spa car who paid for our breakfast at Timmy’s Saturday morning.

Much appreciated! We will pay it forward.

S

CHEERS WITHOUT TEARS

CHEERS WITHOUT TEARS

CHEERS WITHOUT TEARS

A huge Cheers to Tim Tubman and the staff at Odyssey Restoration for your above and beyond help, in dealing with a flooded basement.

Cheers to Theo and the Invermere Bakery for teaching EMP students all about baking and owning a business. The cookies and playing with dough were a big hit. Much appreciated!

Cheers to Allegra and Ambulance Services for teaching EMP students all about being a paramedic. Much appreciated!

Shovels and buckets full of Cheers to Ollie and the couple in the white Toyota Tacoma truck with 2 kayaks on top from Canal Flats for their kindness in shoveling and loading my buckets of soil and compost at Winderberry Nursery during the busy long weekend-your compassion speaks volumes to your character and the world needs more of you! Paying it forward for sure!

Cheers to Dale at Copper Point Resort for the golf lesson. I am golf happy again.

OBITUARY

S

Arif, Karen Marie Hatalcik August 31, 1963 – May 9, 2021 In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 9, 2021, at the age of 57, Karen Marie Hatalcik Arif passed away at the Invermere & District Hospital after a difficult battle with brain cancer. Karen was born in Invermere on August 31, 1963 to Frances and Alois Hatalcik.

She married her husband, Stephen Arif, on September 28, 1992 and they were blessed with two daughters. Karen spent her life hiking, skiing, canoeing, and camping with her family and friends. There was no place Karen would rather be than in the outdoors with the people she loved. Karen spent her career as a physiotherapist, dedicated to helping others.

Karen leaves to mourn her passing her beloved husband Stephen and her two daughters, Elizabeth Ivy Hatalcik Arif and Anna Louise Hatalcik Arif. Karen also leaves her mother Frances Esther Hatalcik, two brothers, John Anthony Hatalcik (Shannon) and Stephen Christopher Hatalcik (Tanya), and one sister Joanne Frances Hatalcik (Mike), and several nieces and nephews. Karen was predeceased by her father Alois John Hatalcik.

Donations in Karen’s memory may be made to the Invermere Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley. Karen was a founding board member of the Society and was very passionate about this cause.

A funeral Mass was held on Saturday, May 15 at Canadian Martyrs Parish. The family is planning to hold a celebration of life after COVID restrictions have lifted, hopefully on September 4th in Invermere.

There’s a reason they’re called “CLASSY”. Pioneer Classifieds…

The family would like to thank this community for all the love and support during this most difficult time.

N E W S PA P E R

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

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

Condolences may be left for the family at www.markmemorial.com Mark Memorial Community Funeral Home in care of arrangements, 250-426-4864.

Cheers to Doug, Erin and the Invermere Fire Department for bringing a fire engine to EMP and teaching us all about being firefighters. Much appreciated!

Cheers to the Columbia Valley RCMP for bringing a patrol car to EMP and teaching our students all about your important work!

Greatly appreciated!

Cheers to Mainstreet Fun and Games for teaching EMP students all about operating such a fun local business. We loved the storytelling and that we each got to take home a game tool of our own. So much fun!

Cheers to the Valley Food and Farm guide. Well done!

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 Allison, Randall “Randy” Stewart

June 14, 1952 – May 19, 2021 It is with profound sadness that our family announces the sudden and unexpected passing of Randy on May 19, 2021, his 48th wedding anniversary.

Born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta, he began his 38-year career with Canada Safeway there and later relocated to Calgary with the company in 1982, going on to manage several stores and becoming Director of Retail Support.

He retired in 2007 and relocated to Windermere, B.C., with his wife, Raeanne. There he enjoyed his favourite past times of golfing, boating and enjoyed spending time with many friends.

He was known as a compassionate, giving man.

Left to mourn are his wife of 48 years, Raeanne, his best friend and soulmate, his son Jason Allison, and his wife Avery Smith, and his three adored grandsons, Gavin, Grayson, and Garner.

He is also survived by his mother Myrtle Allison, sister Leslie Dickinson (Mark), father and mother-in-law Roy and Agnes Craik, sister-in-law Marlene DeGagne (Kevin), brother-in-law Roy Craik Jr. (Candace) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Randy was pre-deceased by his father Stewart Allison.

In keeping with Randy’s wishes, no funeral services will be held.

A Memorial Service may be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, www.heartandstroke.ca.

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services.

Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com

June 3, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

ANNOUNCEMENT

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

Steamboat Mountain Music Festival’s 10th Anniversary

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

MISC. FOR SALE

SERVICES

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Elkhorn Country Estates Phase 4 now selling.

2.7 to 5.7 acre parcels.

3 left starting at $349,000 + GST. 250-342-1268. www.elkhornranches.com

E-Z-GO Golf Cart For Sale Gas powered fully charged golf cart complete with ball washer, fold down windshield, protective club canopy, new tires, immaculate condition, always stored inside year round. $2,800 call 250-341-5428

Pike Contracting Excavating and Skid Steer services.

Call Jason 250-342-5277.

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.

Crossroads Market is now hiring for all positions and all shifts We offer a higher than industry standard wage package with a high season bonus available from May to September. We have positions available for all shifts - Morning to Evening in all departments. Grocery, Deli, and Bakery Department. Both Parttime and Full-time positions available. Mature long-term oriented candidates will be given preference. Email your resume to kgtltd2020@gmail. com or drop off your resume at Crossroads Market & Esso in Invermere.

CONDO FOR SALE

CD Album Cover DESIGN CONTEST The Album’s Title is

Shake A Tree

Inspired by Mickey Maione’s quip, “Shake any tree in Edgewater and a musician will fall out.”

Artist of Winning Design will be awarded $250 prize The winning design will be used on the album.

Deadline for submissions June 20th, 2021 Email submissions to: steamboatmtnmusicfest @gmail.com Or mail to: Steamboat Mountain Music Society Box 247 Edgewater, BC V0A 1E0

COMMERCIAL SPACE Downtown Commercial building for rent in Invermere. 6,000 sq. ft. new recent partial renovations.

250-342-3790.

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

Buy your piece of the DOWNTOWN INVERMERE Invermere Valley before CONDO (BY OWNER) prices go nuts! $165,000 Top Buy Flooryourunit, piece2-bedroom, of the 1 bath 825 sq. ft.,before In suite Invermere Valley laundry,pricesWarm go nuts! Sunny balcony, Mountain views, Top Floor unit. 2 bedroom, parking, low 1Lotsbathof 985 sq. ft.,low in-suite condo fee’s, Warm Small complex laundry, sunny balcony, (20 units) mountain with large views, treed Lots of parking, low site area.

Awesomelow location condo fee’s,to Downtown small complex only steps and (20 units) with largerented treed the Beach, currently site area. Awesome for $1000.00, PRICEDlocation TO SELL only steps to Downtown and AT $195,000 Call 403-402the beach, currently rented 7505 or email rjfaulds1@ for $1000.00, PRICED TO SELL gmail.com.

AT $165,000 Call 403-4027505 or email rjfaulds1@ gmail.com WANTED Cash for all silver and gold!

Bullion, bars, rounds, coins, jewellery + also buying coin collections and old money!

Todd’s coins 1-250-864-3521

MISC. 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

For Sale Records, logging chains, meat grinder, disabled bathroom grab bar and toilet seat. A brand-new Toro self propelled lawn mower used 2 times. New parts washer and 5-gallon pale of Barsal, a box of fence staples, burl clock, brand new saddle bags and much more. 8915 Shaughnessy St. Canal Flats. 250-267-0053.

b.brownjohn@gmail.com LEGAL NOTICE

Court Bailiff Land Sale

Lot 14, Pedley Heights Drive, Windermere; PID 027 170 969.

For information contact Canada West Court Bailiff, 250-545-7333

D L O S

ZEHNDER BEEF. Quality natural beef, free of antibiotics and hormones. Government inspected, locally raised and processed. Halves, Quarters, ground beef and some steaks now available. Call John Zehnder 250-688-0713.

FIREWOOD Split Pine and hemlock. We deliver. Call 250-342-5481. 127 Westside Rd.

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

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.

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

Offering Excellent Service & Fair Pricing!

B.B.’s Home & Lawn Care Services Master Craftsman & Stonemason, Renovation’s & Interior Design, blinds & installation. All home interior/ exterior repairs & yard maintenance, eavestrough cleaning, dump runs, house checks/cleaning.

Over 35 year’s experience.

Call 250-688-2897.

Are you struggling in maintaining your pool crystal clear perhaps we can help you? Spring start up and pool maintenance, water chemistry.

819-341-2205.

Please email classified ads to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

SERVICES Come see Krysta Larsen R.TCM.P to help treat your pain, anxiety, menstrual irregularities, sports injuries and much more. The clinic offers direct billing to a variety of insurance companies, as well motor vehicle claims through ICBC.

Located at #304 - 1313 7th Ave. Book online at www.silverfernacupuncture.ca

NOW OPEN!

Experienced excavator operator needed.

Please email resume to cfxcavating@gmail.com We are looking for some friendly faces to work in our seasonal concession snack shack full-time or part-time. Apply Info@ridgeveiwresort.ca 250-347-9715.

COMMERCIAL SPACE

Geoff Hill PREC* REALTOR® Fair Realty

250-341-7600

www.geoffhill.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.

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.

Old Salzburg seeking kitchen help, cooks start at $19 dishwasher at $16 and servers.

Drop off resume or call 250-3476553 and ask for Scott or Ashley.

Invermere Downtown FOR LEASE PREMISES 2,400 square feet of Commercial zoned C-1 space, 9-foot ceilings, east-facing with generous private parking.

- Location: 712 -10th Street, UNIT “D” street level, bounded on two sides by roadways.

- Includes 4 offices, sales/ board meeting room, generous open space with divider, storage room.

- Equipped with 2 washrooms and a kitchen area.

- BC Hydroelectric forced air with auxiliary heat pump.

- Two separate entrances.

OPTIONALITY: The space can divide to accommodate two businesses.

Contact: M&B Properties 250-341-1940 or bruce@brucem.com

Have a sports story idea?

Email in info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 3, 2021

HELP WANTED HIRING CLASS 1 AND CLASS 5 DRIVERS

Québécois entrepreneurs bring a taste of Montréal to the valley

By James Rose Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mitch and Brienne Chabot Join our team and become a delivery driver. Class 1 and Class 5 drivers license a must. Please send resume to info@columbiavalleyfreight.com or call 250-342-2044.

columbiavalleyfreight.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Auxiliary Communications Instructor Invermere 110 Campus: Invermere Start Date: September 7, 2021 Competition: #21-FA-13 Closing Date: June 18, 2021 For a full description of this job posting and instructions on how to apply visit: cotr.ca/HRD

cotr.ca

SCHOOL DIST RIC T NO. 6 (ROCKY MOUNTAIN)

CASUAL CUSTODIANS Further position details can be found at: http://www.sd6.bc.ca/Careers/Pages/default.aspx If you are interested and qualified for this position, please submit a resume, with two references, by 4:00 pm on Friday, June 11, 2021 to: Human Resources, School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain) e-mail: hr@sd6.bc.ca

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

There’s a reason they’re called “CLASSY”. Pioneer Classifieds…

N E W S PA P E R

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

Montréal and poutine are like peas and carrots. Milk and cookies. Yan Therien and Hubert Poirier. These two Québec-born entrepreneurs are the friends and business partners behind the food truck Street Avenue Food, and new this spring, The Snack Bar in Radium.

You may have seen Street Avenue Food. Poirier and Therien’s truck has been around since 2018 after launching it as a side project. “We found this rundown truck after spotting it from the highway in a farmer’s field,” said Poirier. After lots of tenders, loving care to restore it, they initially had it parked up by Arrowhead.

And when nightlife was a thing, in the back parking lot of Copper City Saloon.

This year, the truck is located in Athalmer across from A&W. “The new location is amazing, situated right in the middle of the action between the public boat launch and the entrance to James Chabot Provincial Park,” Therien said. The opportunity to situate the truck on that parcel of land was a happy accident. When the two took the plunge to start their second outpost in Radium, their landlord offered them the option to park the truck on another parcel of land he owned - the lot across the street from A&W. Street Avenue Food’s menu is centred around poutine. There’s the original Poutine with French fries, fresh cheese curds, brown chicken sauce and green onions. But then there are the more creative takes on the Québécois classic, such as the Galvaude, which is the original but with green peas and duck confit. There’s even a vegan option that features French fries, mushrooms, green peppers, sautéed onions, green peas, cashews and a marinara sauce.

At The Snack Bar, located next to Blooming World Cannabis and the soon to open Radium Brewery, the menu mirrors the food truck but with a wider selection of choices. There’s a Montréal smoked meat sandwich and the Blooming Onion - a unique take on deep-frying a whole white onion.

Therien and Poirier take the ingredients for their menus and the processes for food prep seriously. They import never-frozen cheese curds twice weekly from an Edmonton cheese factory run by fellow Québécois. They Continued ‘business’ from page 15 “We liked Adrianna’s marketing concept and her idea to promote small local businesses to a larger audience. We’re a relatively new business, and the opportunity to market our product to potential new customers was timely,” said TEA etc., owner JoAnne Hatalcik.

“We are showcasing one of our top five items, and hopefully, we will see people visit us in person or take a look at our online store.”

“We are proud to be a local vendor with Townships and Tales. They are all about community and the people in the different communities. Townships and

double blanche their fries. As much as possible, they infuse locally grown produce into all of their various dishes.

The potatoes are specific. They use Kennebec potatoes - a medium to late maturing white potato because these potatoes have a lower sugar content. “A lower sugar content allows for better browning,” said Therien, who’s worked in fine dining for thirty years. “The difference between good food and great is the knowledge behind it. We’ve nailed our recipes and love sharing them with the valley.”

Montréal born and raised, Therien, 46, went to culinary school before apprenticing at one of Montréal’s top kitchens. After moving west (for a more fleshed out backstory, see this week’s Columbia Valley Origins column), he worked for several years in Fernie, Canmore and Lake Louise. For a short spell, he was the executive chef at PanPhotos by James Rose orama’s Earl Grey Lodge.

Therien met Poirier, 26, while working in Canmore. Instantly they became friends. “Hubert reminds me of myself when I was his age,” said Therien. So while Therien is the master chef of the operation, look more to Poirer for the savvy hustle skills. Poirier is one of those natural born entrepreneurs. As a kid in his hometown of Champlain, for instance, he had a lawn mowing business for a while before starting a business of raising and selling chickens in a barn he rented. That’s not to say, however that he’s not as talented in the kitchen. He is. For a time, Poirier was the head chef at the upscale Heather Mountain Lodge near Golden.

To finance their growth, the pair turned to Community Futures East Kootenay. “Community Futures has been so very helpful for our growth since day one,” said Poirier of the Cranbrook based business development service. Serving the East Kootenay, Community Futures provides small-business loans for start-up, expansion or the purchase of existing businesses.

They’re already thinking of what more they can do to grow their business. Currently, they’re planning a HelloFresh style meal kit delivery service. Their five-year plan aims to have more food trucks and snack bars spread throughout the many mountain towns in B.C. and Alberta.

Tales is all about caring and sharing, and they have worked hard to make this venture a reality. Their mission is to make the province a kinder place, and we are proud to be a part of that,” said Faith Saunders from the Saunders Family Farm.

Townships and Tales will release a new box in three months, in September, featuring a different part of B.C. The products from the previous boxes will still be available for purchase on the company’s website.

For more information, or to place an order (by June 6), visit www.townshipsandtales.ca or find @ townshipsandtales on Facebook and Instagram.

June 3, 2021

FAITH Compassion

By Brent Woodard Anglican/United Church It would be wonderful if one day, when a parent is driving a child past a church, mosque, temple or synagogue and the child asks “what is that place for?” the parent could truthfully respond “that is where people learn compassion.”

Sadly, unfortunately, tragically, that is not what most people associate with religion.

Compassion, I believe, is the basic teaching of the founders of all the world religions. The founders invited people to set aside ego and have empathetic consideration of others. Each religion has other teachings, that were perhaps added on. And so followers, now, are left to prioritize what they want to prioritize and see what they want to see.

The etymology of “compassion” is Latin, meaning “co-suffering.”. It means “feeling for another,” “to suffer together,” “to endure (something) with another person,” “to put ourselves into someone else’s shoes,” “to enter generously into someone else’s point of view.”

Karen Armstrong, in her book ‘Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life,’ writes about how all humans have an “old” reptilian brain that has helped our species sur-

vive. She says there are four strong, emotive, drives of the reptilian brain, called the four ‘f ’s’ – feeding, fighting, fleeing and – for want of a more basic word – reproduction. The emotions they engender, she says, are strong, automatic, and “all about me.” However, over the millennia, she writes, “human beings also evolved a ‘new brain,’ the neocortex, home of the reasoning powers that enable us to reflect on the world and on ourselves and to stand back from these instinctive, primitive passions.”

We, as humans, have both the old and new brain, and, Ms. Armstrong says, the “two brains co-exist uneasily.”

Compassion is something that needs to be chosen and nurtured. As Karen Armstrong says, we need to “learn to withstand the me-first mechanisms of the old reptilian brain.” First in our homes, then in our schools, then in society and in whatever social environments we find ourselves, compassion needs to be modelled and nurtured.

It may be that most of us are not as compassionate as we think. I don’t write this article because I’m a highly compassionate person. I don’t always “enter generously into someone else’s point of view.” There is a certain high I get in thinking I’m right. I’m quite happy in thinking of others as “knuckleheads.” But life has shown me that when I have a lack of compassion it hasn’t served me. And when I watch events in the world unfold, I’m concerned the lack of compassion isn’t serving the world either.

I am given hope when I learn that our capacity for compassion can expand.

Columbia Valley Origins: Yan Thérien

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH Online Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Visit https://lwac.online.church 326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 • www.lwac.ca

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED Please email office@wvsm.ca to request a link to our online service which starts at 10:30 a.m. Sundays.

Recorded services can be accessed by typing WVSM Invermere Anglican United Church.

250-342-6644 • www.wvsm.ca

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

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats., Canadian Martyrs’ – Invermere, St. Joseph’s – Radium.

Father Jojo Augustine • 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167

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

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater • 250-342-6633 No. 4, 7553 Main St. Radium • 250-347-9937

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

Relief Society, 11:15 a.m.

President Rick Daniels • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs 250-421-3756

h e Pioneer ca T n

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

your message is resonating with residents and visitors alike.

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filled up.” Yan’s reply? “Yes, sir.”

When they got to Canmore, their Russian tank broke down. Their trip, on hold. “So, we went and got jobs,” Yan Thérien thought he was set. The year was 1996, said Thérien. They decided to stay. “And I fell in love with and at the tender age of 19, already he’d landed a coveted a girl.” Another reason to stay. It was with that girlfriend culinary apprenticeship at Le Toque, one of Montreal’s (since broken up) that he first travelled to the Columbia top restaurants. At Le Toque, he was learning from one Valley in 1997. of Montreal’s top chefs. In short, Thérien was well on “It was such a relaxing day. Right away, I fell in love his way. But after coming down with an with this valillness resulting from a workplace injury, a ley,” he said. cut on his hand, his career trajectory took “The lake, the a sharp turn in an unwanted (at the time) beach, the direction. warmer weather, the people, Hometown: Montreal, QC all of it.” Since Age: 46 that first CoOccupation: Chef, business owner: lumbia Valley Street Avenue Food, The Snack Bar visit, Thérien Columbia Valley arrival: 1997 has worked in Fernie kitchens “I couldn’t work for two weeks be(where he got cause of my injury,” Thérien said. To not his Red and be able to work for two weeks meant that Gold Seal), his position needed to be filled by someCanmore one else. Yes, the restaurant world can be kitchens, Lake Yan Thérien - Photo by James Rose ruthless. Just like that, Thérien was out of Louise kitcha job. He was crushed. ens, all kinds of kitchens. For a spell, he held the contract “But then one day I got a call from a friend. He said managing Panorama’s entire food and beverage operation he was doing a road trip across the country to Victoria, while the resort was transitioning between ownership and would I like to come?” It was exactly what Yan need- groups. ed. So, off they went in a supposedly indestructible Lada “I love Columbia Valley,” he said. “I can do all my faNiva - a legendary Russian made SUV. Brothers in arms, vourite hobbies here.” These include skiing, hiking, fishhead west young man. “My English was so bad at the ing, and biking. When an opportunity presented itself to time,” he recalls, laughing, “that once, when we stopped return to live and work in Invermere full-time, Thérien for gas in Manitoba, a woman asked if I wanted my car leapt at it.

By James Rose Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

Phone: (250) 341-6299 info@columbiavalleypioneer.com N E W S PA P E R

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

June 3, 2021

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