Columbia Valley Pioneer, December 30, 2021

December 30, 2021 Vol. 18/Issue 52

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1

December 30, 2021

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

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“I was stunned. No words came out of my mouth,” Stober told the Pioneer, detailing her reaction. “My daughter Laurie was holding the card. The minute they called the last two numbers — 58 and 60 — she started jumping up and down. I was too stunned to say anything. But my granddaughters Emily and Jessie did all the hollering and jumping for me. They performed all night.”

COVID-19 pandemic sends real estate crashing then soaring in 2020 BC Assessment figures from early 2021 showed median home prices relatively the same as they were in early 2020. But those figures obscured what was a wild real estate swing.

BC Assessment Deputy Assessor for the Kootenay Columbia Region, Sharlynn Hill, told the Pioneer, that in the first half of the year, as the pandemic first hit the Kootenay region, real estate sales and listings dropped off a cliff. “It was quite dramatic.” she said. “Nobody could have predicted that.” Then things abruptly switched. “So this very sharp decline was followed by a very sharp spike in demand. And in the summer, a combination of this increasing demand with a limited supply put upward pressure on prices for sure,” said Hill. “If you look at the numbers, it appears as though things have held steady as compared with the year before, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.”

According to those early 2021 assessment figures, in Invermere, the price of a median single-family home is up three per cent (from $407,000 to $418,000). In Canal Flats, it’s up two per cent (from $189,000 to $194,000). And in Radium Hot Springs, the median price of a single-family home has gone up 12 per cent (from $285,000 to $319,000). In the past, BC Assessment officials have cautioned that any change in price, up or down, between zero and 10 per cent, is consider to be essentially holding steady.

Local ski racer makes impressive World Cup debut Panorama alpine racer, Cassidy Gray, turned heads by finishing 26th in the women’s giant slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, earning World Cup points and posting what the CBC termed “one of the best starts to a World Cup career by a Canadian in recent memory.”

On Jan. 17, during her first weekend of World Cup racing, Gray held a combined time of two minutes and 4.25 seconds for the day. The 26th place finish put Gray, at only age nineteen, up on the World Cup points board for the season.

“The whole weekend accomplished so many of my dreams, and it was so crazy to have it happen in two days. From starting my first World Cup, to then starting

my first World Cup second run, and then getting my first World Cup points, it really was just so many dreams coming true at once,” Gray told the Pioneer by email.

“I came into the weekend being confident about my skiing, but at the same time not expecting much because it is such a competitive field. All my coaches were great at not putting too much pressure on me. I really was not expecting anything. I was racing for experience, and it seemed to work out pretty well.”

70 tickets issued as hot spring bathers at Lussier ignore pandemic closure BC Parks implored the public to stay out of Lussier hot springs in Whiteswan Provincial Park, which had been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Yet, in late January, 73 violation tickets with fines and five written warnings have issued at the site. Things were bad enough that BC Parks put chain link fencing and a gate at the main path to the hot springs in Sept. 2020, followed by vehicle deterrent boulders in Oct. 2020. However, people unhappy with the closure had repeatedly vandalized and destroyed those barriers. But people unhappy with the closure had found ways around the obstacles, and had repeatedly done their best to destroy these barriers. “Fencing, gates, and locks continue to be damaged to enable unauthorized access and have been replaced four times since closure...the entrance gate (which is swingable) continues to be damaged and continues to require repairs due to the vandalism,” said the spokesperson.

Not Alone campaign launched for Foundry Center A Not Alone campaign was launched in Jan. 2021 with the hopes of raising $1.4 million in 18 months for the construction of a Cranbrook-based Foundry centre.

The Ktunaxa-Kinbasket Child and Family Service Society (KKCFSS) attained lead status for the Foundry East Kootenay youth centre after an intensive application process beginning in Oct. 2019, with roughly 40 applicants. “We were lucky, we were one of eight new foundry centres coming across the board to join the nine that are in existence,” says Colin Sinclair, KKCFSS chief administrative officer.

The center will offer primary care, youth and family peer support, walk-in counselling, mental health services, substance abuse services and social services, with the goal to provide easily accessible programming for youth aged 12 to 24 without the burden of waitlists.

Panorama alpine racer Cassidy Gray charges down the slopes of Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, en route to 26th place in her first weekend at the World Cup. Photo by GEPA

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By Pioneer Staff Columbia River Treaty is updated The Columbia River Treaty local governments committee updated its recommendations regarding the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty in early Feb. The committee wrote that adding ecosystem function as a third and equal priority in the treaty, alongside flood risk management and hydro power generation (the two priorities of the original treaty), is a continuing interest and priority for many basin residents “so there is relief in knowing this is one of the main points of discussion during the negotiations.”

Other revisions included a detailed description of the impacts from the treaty, additional recommendations related to the treaty on less fluctuation in reservoir levels and “a broader governance structure that includes Indigenous Nations at a government to government level with the federal and provincial governments, as well as Indigenous and western science expertise in ecosystem management, local governments and basin residents.”

The committee has provided its recommendations to the federal government, the B.C. government, the Ktunaxa Nation, the Syilx-Okanagan Nation and the Secwepemc Nation.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

February our shores and beaches to the community via a healthy, non-motorized connector pathway. This will foster the physical and economic health of our town and truly set Canal Flats apart as the beach community that it is.”

Wilmer woman reaches Inked magazine competition quarterfinals A self-proclaimed “small town girl” from the Columbia Valley was, for several weeks in early 2021, in the running to become the next cover model for Inked magazine, one of the top tattoo publications on the planet. Wilmer resident Emily Blackmore had been doing some tattoo modelling on Instagram and other social media platforms for a little while, more for kicks that anything else, when out of the blue Inked magazine contacted her in early January, suggesting she apply for their Next Inked Cover Girl competition.

Blackmore was flattered and delighted, knowing the winner of the contest gets a $25,000 cash prize (in addition to the potentially life-altering exposure). With more than 400 entrants from around the world in the contest, Blackmore, by her own admission, “didn’t really expect much.” Still, she thought, it would be fun, why not give it a go? That was back on Jan. 8. By mid Feb. She has made it to the fourth of the contest’s seven tiers, finished on top of her group in voting at each of the first three tiers, before finally losing out on the fourth tier quarterfinal stage vote.

Canal Flats builds shore-to-shore trial The Village of Canal Flats continued its efforts to create a paved trail for residents that, once complete, will connect Columbia Lake with the Kootenay River. Work on the path — which goes by the official name Shore to Shore: Kootenay to Columbia Pathway —began in 2018, and when complete, the paved trail will be roughly 3.5 kilometres and will be two metres wide for most of its duration. The first phase involved making an unpaved trail north from the village centre, roughly 1.5 kilometres, almost to Tilley Park, and was completed in 2020. In early 2021 the village began work on the second phase, which will see this north section of trail paved, and the village is pursuing grants for this work. The third phase is the creating and paving the southern stretch of the trail from the village centre down to the shore of the Kootenay River.

“The vision of the Shore to Shore: Kootenay to Columbia Pathway is to Wilmer resident Emily Blackmore made the quarchannel the spirit of the founders of terfinals of an online competition to be the next covCanal Flats in a contemporary way. er model of Inked magazine. Submitted photo From David Thompson, who as I am told, used the current Canal Flats townBlackmore has, by her best estimate site as a portage spot from the Kootenay to 40 tattoos across her arms, legs, chest, Columbia to William Baillie-Grohman, a back and even one behind each ear. “Evfounder of the community who literally ery single one has a story behind it,” she connected the two via the canal that gave said. “There’s nothing random. It’s very our town its name, there has always been purposeful.” a magnetic quality between these two waterbodies in Canal Flats,” said Canal Whiteway Challenge goes virtual Flats chief administrative officer Adrian The Toby Creek Nordic Club with Bergles. “We’d like to link these popular made some significant alterations to make recreation sites in Canal Flats and link its smash hit Whiteway Challenge pan-

demic friendly. The new Virtual Whiteway Winter Challenge kicked off on Jan. 22 and is ran until Feb. 22, and got some 80 participants going out on Lake Windermere on their own, or in their household bubbles, to walk, nordic ski, skate, run or use other self-propelled means to log as many miles on the Whiteway as possible in a month.

“We started the challenge last year, but it was a one day thing,” said Lake Windermere Ambassadors program coordinator Shannon McGinty. “That had to be adapted this year.”

Local wins World Cup ski cross bronze Windermere’s Courtney Hoffos nailed a podium finish with a bronze medal in an International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Cross World Cup race in Reiteralm, Austria. The bronze came on Friday, Feb. 19 and was the first podium of this season for Courtney. The medal followed just a week after she placed fifth in the world championships in Sweden. “It was a fun course, definitely different. Very fast with a lot of contact in some areas,” Courtney told Alpine Canada after the race. “I had a fire in my belly and was hungry for a big final. Hopefully, I’ll be back on the podium again The fifth place for Courtney at the world championships on Feb. 13 came during her first appearance in the world

championships, and she earned that top 5 result with what Alpine Canada labelled ‘a clean run’ in the small final (which consists of four skiers, racing to determine fifth through eighth place). “It was good, I had some really good sections and skied well. I tried to piece together a full run and I did that at the end, it was a good day,” Courtney told Alpine Canada after the world championship.

Annual campaign raised over $15,000 to combat homelessness A fundraising campaign focused on reducing the risk of homelessness for youth in the East Kootenay region of B.C. has successfully raised over $15,000 for Operation Street Angel. The Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) and Cranbrook’s Home Depot have collaborated on the Orange Door campaign for the last five years, raising more than a total of $140,000 to support the needs of vulnerable youth and homeless populations in the Cranbrook area. Typically, the Orange Door campaign runs fundraisers twice a year to support the community. The KNC and Operation Street Angel have offered services to at-risk youth in the East Kootenay region since 2010, including operating a healthy meal program, access to a nurse practitioner and mental health services, advocacy, employment and justice services.

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4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

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Athalmer trail receives funding Trail networks in the Columbia Valley got a financial boost in early March, with two major grants being awarded to two separate trail project either in or near Invermere. The District of Invermere received $983,000 for its Athalmer Destination Trails, and the Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance received $976,455 for a segment of the Invermere to Radium legacy trail project that will run from Invermere up to the crossroads.

The grants, collectively totalling almost $2 million, come from the rural economic recovery stream of the provincial government’s Community Economy Recovery Infrastructure Program, which was initiated to help B.C. communities recover from the economic impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Invermere mayor Al Miller said the $983,000 is meant “to help with the trails and boardwalks, and to connect existing trails through our new lands (the Lake Windermere Resort lands recently purchased by Invermere)” and then added that in conjunction with the funding for Greenways “this is just fantastic for our area.

What a great way to give a little push start to our Joint Transport Network... all in all, great news.”

The $976,455 for Greenways will be used for a shovel-ready segment of the organization’s planned Radium to Invermere legacy trail, which will eventually connect to the Old Coach Trail. This northern trail will join with the 25 kilometre Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail between Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs as part of the larger Legacy Trial network, which once completed will connect three of the Columbia Valley’s biggest communities (Radium, Invermere and Fairmont) and its two largest commercial hot springs.

Pandemic alters winter recreation patterns in the Columbia Valley The COVID-19 pandemic has driven people outside in the Columbia Valley this winter, but they’re not getting outside in quite the same way as they did before.

Alpine ski numbers were down in the valley’s first ‘pandemic winter’, but numbers for nordic skiing were up, way up, and several other winter recreations pursuits have seen a bump in participants as well.

Panorama Mountain resort reported a drop in alpine skier numbers down at the resort compared with before the pandemic, but an increase in people nordic skiing and fat biking.

“Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking have been increasing in popularity for years but this season we’ve seen a real boom in trail use – numbers are way up. Experienced (nordic) skiers and first-time snowshoers are filling the parking lot at Greywolf,” wrote Panorama chief marketing officer Marke Dickson Dickson. “Since the pandemic hit in March 2020, sales of recreational products like bikes, skis and snowshoes went through

December 30, 2021

the roof. We think we’ll see the first-timers of this season back for years to com.”

Nipika Mountain Resort had also seen a tremendous surge of interest in nordic skiing.

“We are booming. It’s unbelievable. For the whole winter we have been at about 90 per cent occupancy,” said Nipika co-founder Lyle Wilson. “For nordic skiing, it’s been an absolute atomic bomb explosion of participation. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Wilson said Nipika has had 120 to 130 cars in its parking lot most weekend days, with the lot in fact full to capacity most of the time, and cars parked down the road. “There’s new people out cross-country skiing, left, right and centre,” he said. “You actually can’t buy (nordic) gear right now, all the suppliers have it flying off the shelves as soon as they stock it.”

Lusti and Mac ‘nail the big one’ and make first ski descent of Mt. Nelson Top calibre Columbia Valley freeskiers Christina Lustenberger and Ian McIntosh achieved a lifelong dream, and became the first to make a ski descent of the gnarly east face of iconic Mount Nelson. The white fang of a peak dominates the western skyline of the valley. Lusti and Mac (as the pair are often know) made their way down the near-vertical slope on March 4.

Burglars hit Radium post office A break and enter and theft from a Canada Post office that occurred overnight in Radium Hot Springs is currently was investigated by the Columbia Valley RCMP. The Radium Hot Springs Canada Post office, located in the 4800-block of Radium Boulevard, was broken into at 7:20 a.m. on Tuesday Mar. 9. There were signs that the front door of the facility had been forced open overnight, according to the police on the scene. “It is unknown what the motive was in this break and enter,” specified Sergeant Darren Kakuno, detachment commander for the Columbia Valley RCMP. LWR resorts land concept changes to include more green space, less development Invermere council members got an update on the Athalmer Neighbourhood Plan, including the Lake Windermere Resorts (LWR) lands in March. The update came in the form of a report from planning consultants B&A Planning Group, which has been working on the project for more than a year, and included the final draft concept for the area. This latest iteration of the project, labelled ‘Concept E: Marina and Lakeside Park’ envisioned even more green space and even less development than the previous ‘Concept D: Marina and Ecovillage’, which was the subject of a public open house and online consultation in fall 2020. Public feedback from that consultation informed the design of Concept E. Continued on page 5...

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

...Continued “March” from page 4 Key points in Concept E, as compared with Concept D, included expanded parkland and reduced ponds; the addition of active transport elements including crossings, transportation hubs, pathways and improved access; and expanded non-motorized boat amenities.

Indigenous components had also been added. The formal amphitheatre seating and building envisioned was replaced with a talk circle and fire pit. The development area has been reduced to a single building site along 3rd Ave., and space for a potential fish hatchery had been included north of the Athalmer bridge. “Now it’s more of an amphitheatre-shaped hill that could serve as amphitheatre, but there’s not permanent seating in it. And it aims down to essentially a fire circle or a discussion

circle that can have an Indigenous tie-in,” said B&A partner Geoff Dyer.

Emergency phone installed in Kootenay National Park Parks Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) significantly upgraded one existing emergency phone and installed and three brand new permanent emergency satellite phones. Concerns about the lack of call reception in the park coupled with anticipated large surges in traffic volumes on Highway 93, owing to periodic closures and reroutes from the TransCanada Highway. In the future, more emergency phones will be installed a the Marble Canyon day-use area, the Simpson River trailhead, the Parks Canada operations centre at Kootenay Crossing, and the Kootenay River day-use area.

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April Housing needs assessment sees Invermere’s brutal rental crunch Invermere’s housing needs assessment was made public in April and, in results that surprised few local renters, showed that the district is an extraordinarily difficult place to find adequate and affordable rental housing. The report outlined that there are 125 to 140 households in Invermere with a “core need” for housing, which means they are households consisting of families or individuals who are living in unsuitable housing.

ley residents regardless of age, in order to curb the surging number of cases. Clovechok emphasized that “the rising numbers are primarily from different events that should not have occurred. It is more than a little COVID-19 outbreak and my concern is that we remain vigilant.”

Radium roundabout public art sculpture unveiled In April, the Village of Radium Hot Springs unveiled an impressive piece of art in its new roundabout, affectionally called the ‘Bighorns’. The funding provided from the provincial and federal governments for the $11.9 million roundabout (built between June 2020 and Oct. 2020) included the opportunity for an art piece in the middle. This visual work of art was enabled through the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) program managed by the B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport in partnership with the MOTI. Nearly $300,000 was spent on the project.

Valley site of COVID outbreak By mid April, the Columbia Valley was in the midst of a local COVID-19 outbreak, with cases number spiking dramatically over two weeks through late March and early April. By Sat, Apr. 10, there were 46 cases of COVID-19, including some variants of concern. The cases were occurring in Columbia Valley residents, not visitors from Alberta, and the numbers shot up rapidly as the weeks progressed.

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6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

By Pioneer staff

December 30, 2021

May through his work at Summit, and with youth who skateboard specifically, through his Rite to Ride foundation.

Albertan second homeowners express frustration TransCanada detour creates dramatic spike in traffic with restrictions Provincial travel restrictions became a point of conaccidents in valley tention in the Columbia Valley, with second homeownThe closure of the TransCanada Highway for upers from Alberta expressing their frustration in letters to grades and the subsequent detouring of traffic through Invermere council. the Columbia Valley in spring resulted in a spate of trafThe first letter came from Howard Bakken, who live fic accidents in the valley. in valley almost full time from April to September, with Starting in late April and extending in mid May only occasional trips back to Alberta. “I will return to weeks, TransCanada traffic between Castle Junction and Alberta before Friday and not move back to the valley Golden was rerouted south on Highway 93 to Radium until the restrictions are lifted... however, I feel it is es- and then north up to Golden on Highway 95, while sential that I return to my property briefcrews work to ‘twin’ ly every few weeks to check and maintain the TransCanada (i.e. all the essential systems — HVAC, hot make it two lanes in tub, sprinkler system, etc.,” wrote Bakeach direction). The ken. “Please recognize that these travel reclosure and detour restrictions create emotional and financial sulted in a huge surge stress on property owners from Alberta.” in traffic volumes Another letter, from Renee Ratke, on Highway 93 and requested exceptions to the travel restricHighway 95, to levels tions for people who have already had quite possibly never COVID-19; for people who are vaccinatbefore seen in the Coed; and for people who own property in lumbia Valley, underInvermere (who Ratke termed “part-time scoring the dangers residents” and who Ratke felt should that can arise from be permitted to travel to those second funnelling TransCanIn May, the Pioneer also began carrying the serialized homes). Ratke wrote that if exceptions ada levels of vehicles to the travel restrictions for second story of 89-year-old Invermere resident, Andy Stu- onto highways not homeowners cannot be granted, she is art-Hill’s, epic journey from Cape Town to Cairo as a necessarily designed requesting “a partial refund of the prop- 22-year-old in 1955. to handle the Transerty taxes paid by Alberta residents who own property in Canada traffic volumes.

Invermere.” Invermere council and staff pointed out at Each week the Pioneer had reports of horrific acthe meeting that the district does not have the authority cidents. During that same time frame in spring 2020 to change property tax rates. (when there was no traffic diversion), the Columbia Valley RCMP saw 10 traffic accidents here in the valley, including seven major collisions. In spring 2021, from Skatepark gets youth ambassador In an effort to curb ongoing troubles at the Moun- April 12 to May 10 the local detachment saw 52 traffic tain Nelson Athletic Park (MNAP) skatepark, the Dis- accidents, including 17 major collisions. trict of Invermere and Summit Youth Centre paired up Swollen creeks and flooding result in evacuation to create a summer-long skatepark youth ambassador alert in Fairmont position. Reports of bullying, aggressive behaviour, vanSome of the most prolonged rains the Columbia dalism, drug use and possibly worse at the skatepark had circulated on social media and among concerned par- Valley had seen in quite some time prompted the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) to issue an ents for weeks.

“Summit Youth Centre staff stated that they had evacuation alert and declare a local state of emergency in also recently received comments about people at the the Fairmont Hot Springs area in late May. Rain began in the valley on Sunday, May 23 and — skatepark. The issues, however, as they have heard are with some people’s behaviour at the MNAP, not the unusually for the dry Columbia Valley — continued to skateboarding or scooter activities themselves,” read a fall steadily for at least 48 hours. By late Monday, May district document on the issue, presented to councillors. 24, the RDEK issued an alert for 229 properties in Fair“It was suggested that instead of policing the skatepark, mont, in areas alongside both Fairmont Creek and Cold the focus should be on education, awareness, and youth Spring Creek.

“The prolonged, steady rain has resulted in an inoutreach to promote good behaviour. The skatepark ambassador would be present at the park to help promote crease in water flow and sedimentation in both Fairrespectful behaviour at the park.” Summit Youth Centre mont Creek and Cold Spring Creek, which has filled program coordinator Devin Publikover was chosen for our upper debris basins on both systems to near capacthe role, since he already had established good working ity,” RDEK information officer Loree Duczek said in a relationships with youth in the community in general, press release. “As a result of this reduced capacity, and

with the forecast of more rain and thunderstorm activity this week, we have issued the evacuation alert out of an abundance of caution and to give people time to prepare to leave on a moment’s notice should conditions worsen.” The RDEK’s weather station in Fairmont recorded almost 44 millimetres of rainfall between Sunday morning and Monday morning, enough to qualify as a onein-25-year rainfall event for the area. The Fairmont Hot Springs area is no stranger to floods and debris flows, having been hit with them — and with evacuation alerts or orders — in 2020 and 2012.

CVFF launches guide for community food supports Columbia Valley Food and Farm (CVFF) began working on a food security resource titled Nourish Columbia Valley – a guide to community food supports.

The guide will include a section on new Canadians and Indigenous Foodways and will be published online and made widely available as a hard copy.

“Our aim with the guide is for it to be a valuable resource for those providing support to vulnerable people and, equally, to those in need of support,” said CVFF’s Chair, Alison Bell. The project got underway this past winter when concerns over the precarious nature of food chains were raised across Canada. “It became clear that the level of food insecurity would rise with loss of income due to job loss, and the Columbia Valley was, and is, no different,” said Bell.

The roots of the project began when community organizations supporting food security came together and took action to implement and deliver a twelve-week community meal program. 150 meals were delivered twice weekly, and in the process, a working partnership was created between Columbia Valley Food and Farm, Family Dynamix, Columbia Valley Food Bank, Shuswap Band, Aquisknuk First Nation, Columbia Valley Metis Association, and the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Jambo-Rae Paagman working on the Community Meal Program.

Submitted photo courtesy of CVFF

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.

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

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

December 30, 2021

By Pioneer Staff

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

June

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Grade 7 Legacy Project students unveiling their mural in late June.

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Canal Flats gets ‘The Portal’ Canal Flats got its first-ever public art installation piece in June this year. The swirling new sculpture was set in Portage Square Park in the middle of the village.

The piece, entitled ‘The Portal’, was designed by East Kootenay artist Paul ReCanal Flats unveiled its first public art piece: imer and incorporated repurposed steel ‘The Portal’.

Photo by Ryan Watmough from the former sawmill (which was the said Woodworth. After carefully consideconomic lifeblood of the village up until its closure in 2015), rocks from the Koo- ering many different decoration designs, tenay River. Reimer told the Pioneer that the group reached out to local artist Kelthe fluid form of ‘The Portal’ is meant to ly Tomalty to ask her for help in creating convey the passage of time, the evolution a mural. Tomalty met with the students, of industry and technology in the village, getting a clear idea of their vision for the and the major water bodies near the vil- mural.

The mural is comprised of four panels lage. The sculpture was fashioned from (three of them are roughly seven and half a recycled I-beam from the old sawmill, Reimer explained, pointing out that one feet tall by four feet wide and one of them end of the beam was distorted by the fire is seven and half feet tall by two feet wide) that burned down part of the disused mill was installed on the shed beside the Laird several years ago. “I’m sure many people playground. Work on the final touches remember the day of that fire, just as they wrapped up in mid June, and it was unremember how important the mill was,” veiled at the school on Tuesday, June 22. he said. “On a conceptual level, the piece The vibrant and colourful scene showed a is meant to represent the passage of time host of animals common to the Columbia in Canal Flats, from the days, not all that Valley — including a mama bear and bear long ago, when it was resource communi- cub, a skunk, lynx, fox, eagle, deer, and ty, to the new vision of the community as wolf — perched amidst natural surrounda technology centre.” The sculpture is sup- ing of trees, a lake and mountains, all unposed to be interactive, explained Reimer. der a swirling sunset sky.

“I feel humbled by what (Tomalty) “It’s meant to be walked. As you walk has done.

The kids are so excited and so through it, it’s as though you are stepping proud to have been part of it,” said Woodthrough time, through that passage from resource town to technology town. That’s worth. why it’s called ‘The Portal’.”

Freshet makes Toby Creek flow upstream to Lake Windermere Students leave legacy mural at J.A. The freshet has arrived in the ColumLaird Elementary School bia Valley in June, and in 2021 it manA vibrant and colourful mural that aged to get Toby Creek flowing up the would turn even toasty old Sam McGee’s head was put up at J.A. Laird Elementary Columbia River into Lake Windermere.

School, where it now does double duty as That’s right: for several days in the first few an eye-catching art piece and purposefully weeks of June, the waters of Toby Creek built wall-ball surface. The mural was the were coming down from the mountains work of J.A. Laird’s Grade Legacy Project with enough velocity and volume that the Group. Students in the group — Tyson creek was not just joining the Columbia Clark, Leighton Armstrong-Michel, Gabe River on its journey downstream, but was Nielsen, and Anisha Waite — realized that also pushing back upstream through the creating a new wall-ball surface would be wetlands.

A large swath of the bay-like norththe perfect legacy. Wall-ball is a classic schoolyard game involving a ball, a wall to ern end of the lake, by James Chabot Probounce it on, and a whole lot of fun, but vincial Park, swirled with logs, sticks and unfortunately, students can’t use most of other debris swept in by the Toby. Some the side surfaces on the buildings at Laird, residents reported seeing the debris build as the repeated bouncing of the ball could up as far down the lake as Fort Point.

The upstream flow of the Toby into potentially cause damage the lake was hardly the only sign of the “Then they thought ‘if we are going to make a surface, we ought to decorate it,” freshet: the water off Kinsmen Beach went from shin-deep and lukewarm to chest-deep and ice cold seemingly overnight, and three evacuation alerts were issued in and around the Fairmont Hot Springs area as debris filled flood mitigation systems on Cold Spring Creek and Fairmont Creek, and then Dutch Creek topped its banks.

8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

December 30, 2021

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PUBLIC NOTICE Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1493, 2017 - Amendment Bylaw No. 1602, 2022, a bylaw to amend District of Invermere Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1493, 2017 and Notice to hold Special Meetings of Council Pursuant to Sections 94 and 124 of the Community Charter, Council may not amend, repeal, or substitute a Council Procedure Bylaw unless Council first gives notice of their intent to do so.

The Council of the District of Invermere will consider Bylaw No. 1602, 2022 (namely Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1493, 2017 - Amendment Bylaw No. 1602, 2022) which if adopted will amend Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1493, 2017. The purpose of the proposed amendments in Bylaw No. 1602, 2022 are to update Bylaw No. 1493, 2017 to permit the District of Invermere Council to conduct electronic Council and/or Committee meetings.

For the purposes of considering Bylaw No. 1602, 2022, the District of Invermere Council will conduct a Special Council Meeting on January 4th, 2022 at 7 p.m. to consider first, second, and third readings of the Bylaw, and also on January 6th, 2022 at 7 p.m. to consider adoption of the Bylaw. Both meetings will be held at the Columbia Valley Centre which is located at 646 - 4th Street, Invermere, BC. A copy of Bylaw No. 1602, 2022 is available for inspection on the District of Invermere website www.invermere.net, and at the District of Invermere Municipal Office located at 914 - 8th Avenue, Invermere, B.C. during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., MT), Monday to Friday, except Statutory Holidays. For additional information concerning Bylaw No. 1602, 2022 please contact the District of Invermere Municipal Office tel: 250-342-9281, or email: info@invermere.net or corporateservices@ invermere.net Kindry Luyendyk, Corporate Officer

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

...Continued “June” from page 7 CF students create Columbia headwaters sign In June, students from Martin Morigeau Elementary School in Canal Flats, together with local Indigenous partners and the Columbia Lake Stewardship Society (CLSS), installed an interpretive sign at Tilley Memorial Park centred on the importance of the Columbia River headwaters. The sign was a project three years in the making and is an extension of the Social Studies and Science curriculum, which focuses on Indigenous peoples in the valley and about the role the wetlands play in the valley’s ecosystem. The resulting informational sign couldn’t be more timely, as Columbia River Treaty negotiations, aimed at modernizing the 56-year old treaty, were (and still are) ongoing. “We started all of this as a social studies project, but it became part of our leadership club projects after that,” said student Kayleigh Robson. “The headwaters creates a safe space for a number of species to grow.”

College of the Rockies hosts Indigenous History Month speaker series The College of the Rockies recognized National Indigenous History Month with three weekly virtual preContinued “April” from page 5...

sentations by Indigenous speakers: Alfred Joseph, Michelle Sam, and Marlin Ratch. Over one hundred people signed in via Zoom. Their talks focused on truth and reconciliation.

SIB hosts vigil and remembrance ceremony The Shuswap Indian Band (SIB) hosted a community vigil and remembrance ceremony in June. The ceremony honoured the 215 children found at the Kamloops Residential School, survivors and products of residential schools. The ceremony took place in the field next to the band’s administration office. A much larger crowd than anticipated attended, including elders, residential school survivors, and Shuswap staff and members.

Akisqnuk First Nation and Métis band members were also there Drummers lead the procession alongside non-Indige- toward the memorial. nous allies.

Photo by James Rose

Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA, Doug Clovechok, had spoken with B.C. Health Minister, Adrian Dix, and Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry multiple times, pressing the case. “The advocacy has paid

off,” Clovechok told the Pioneer.

“But we’re not out of the woods by any stretch yet. Even once vaccinated, we still have to follow protocols.”

Mass vaccination in Invermere Mass community vaccination came to the Columbia Valley, following a local COVID-19 outbreak Healing Through Hoop Dancing Students from Edgewater that saw case numbers jump rapidly here in the last week Elementary School began taking hoop dancing lessons with their of March and first week of April. Community mass vacAboriginal Education Support Worker (AESW), Debra Murcinations for all Columbia Valley residents older than ray , this month. The purpose age 18, began on April 19 of incorporating a culturally safe learning program for Indigenous and will ran until May 12.

The vaccinations occurred students in the community was to encourage social-emotional in what Interior Health calls Indigenous students from Edgewater Elementa“community clinics” at the well-being to work towards leadry School began taking hoop dancing lessons this Invermere Catholic Church. ing healthy lives as young adults. schoool year.

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July

By Pioneer staff Schools and program shut down early Several confirmed COVID-19 cases in the valley have led to the early closure of Eileen Madson Primary School, Windermere Elementary School and Windermere-based Mountain Ridge. The Columbia Valley Youth Soccer also cancelled the remaining games and practices of the season. Invermere Mayor announced 20 COVID-19 cases in the Columbia Valley.

Invermere refused pedestrian-only downtown idea Invermere council turned down the idea from resident Stefanie Mclellan to make the 7th Avenue pedestrian-only, a proposition that came right before the downtown revitalization. Council members noted that businesses strongly opposed to the idea of blocking traffic. “That did upset a number of business owners in the downtown core. I think that...these types of changes have to come from the business community,” said Taft. “If anything the push (from downtown business) owners is for more parking (downtown), not less parking…Obviously, there is a balance.” says Miller. You need to encourage human (pedestrian) traffic as much as vehicle traffic, but a closed main street with no programming, nothing going on, is going to be a very quiet, empty street.”

B.C. went into Phase 3 of its deconfinement plan In July, the reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases in the province made B.C. approve gathering in larger groups. Indoor and outdoor personal gathering was allowed with a maximum capacity of 50 people. Bingo halls, casinos, and nightclubs reopened on July 1 with reduced capacities.

Residents urged Invermere to create local climate action plan Severe weather events kept raging one after the other: rainstorm, heatwave, and wildfire. Council received four letters from residents, and several more locals attended the

council meeting to ask questions and raise concerns about Invermere getting its own municipal climate action plan, an emissions reduction strategy and a more environmental-friendly building code. Invermere mayor Al Miller said that the council had been “ahead of most communities,” but there are more things that could be done.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

about 73,000 kwh.” A crucial aspect of the project was gaining approval from BC Hydro to tie into their grid. “It took a while for the application to go through, but it was worth the wait,” Shovar said. Connecting into BC Hydro’s grid enables Akisqnuk not to invest in storage infrastructure for excess supply.

Wildfire burned out of control near Panorama A wildfire of 15 hectares was Sasha Eugene’s Medicine Sasha Eugene completes her first of two medicine discovered southwest of PanoraWalk from St. Eugene to walks (the second in Sept.). Photo by James Rose ma Mountain Resort near Mineral Invermere Creek. The fire quickly spread to 103 hectares in a few 130 kilometers, 200,000+ steps, three long days, rain, days. The cause of the wildfire was unknown. Five fire- hail, lightning, thunder, wind and a forest fire. Sasha Eufighters, a helicopter and three pieces of heavy equipment gene, blood member of the Shuswap Indian Band, began were on site. A fire restriction area was established around walking from St. Eugene Mission Residential School- the Mineral creek by BC Wildfire Service. site of the recently discovered 182 unmarked children’s graves. She didn’t stop walking until she had reached the Solar energy offsets Columbia Lake Shuswap Indian Band’s Administration Office over 120 Recreation Centre operating costs kilometres away. “I got the idea to do the walk about a The Columbia Lake Recreation Centre is now par- month ago when my grandfather died,” Sasha said. “But tially powered by solar energy. Close to a quarter of the when the news came out about the 182 graves, I knew it building’s energy needs is estimated to come from the was time to act on my idea. There was no time to second new solar panels built alongside the buildings. Building guess myself.” out the added power infrastructure for the relatively new building was completed Renovations completed at Raven’s Nest this past May. “In total, 100 per cent off-grid campground features eight there are fifty-six 320cabins, 26 campsites, and one tipi. Raven’s Nest Rewatt panels,” said Lorne sort and Campground, the Columbia Valley’s newest Shovar, Interim Senior addition to resort camping, had finished building eight Administrative Officabins, adding to the resort’s 26 campsites and lone tipi cer for Akisqnuk First site. Raven’s Nest was opened mid-summer 2019 by Nation. “We expect Faro Raven Burgoyne, a member of the Akisqnuk First the panels to produce Nation, and his girlfriend Emily Slobodzian, both in 22,122 kilowatt-hours their late twenties. Since he was in high school, Bur(kwh) per year, and the Faro Burgoyne and Emily Slobodzian goyne had dreams of one day opening his own campbuilding currently uses at Raven’s Nest. Photo by James Rose ground, and his perserverance made it a reality.

August

By Pioneer staff Intense fire at Mineral Creek becomes largely stable Fire activity around Mineral Creek, southwest of Panorama, was removed from the Wildfires of Note list after the fire reached 103 hectares and remained stable. 27 firefighters and two helicopters were on site to fight the fire.

Disappointment from KERHD board over provincial funding process Kootenay East Regional Hospital District (KERHD) was not pleased after finding out that the Ministry of Health announced a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) opening in Cranbrook without consulting them. The announcement went public before the KERHD passed a motion to accept to give $1.2 million in capital

funding project. The new UPCC will manage non-life-threatening conditions and help patients connect with a regular primary care provider.

PM Justin Trudeau called snap election Canada went into a federal fall election on Sunday, Aug. 15. Many opposition leaders denounced the move from PM Trudeau, saying that the pandemic was no time for an election, and pointing to Canada’s fixed election law shouldn’t be forgotten every time a prime minister is in good standing in national polls. In the Kootenay Columbia federal riding, incumbent Conservative Rob Morrison, NDP Wayne Stetski, Green Rana Nelson and Liberal Robin Goldbury participated in the leadership race.

Continued on page 14...

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10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

December 30, 2021

December 30, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11

HOLIDAY RECYCLING TIPS Disposal of Christmas Trees

GIFT WRAP

Paper based wrapping paper can be recycled at the Recycle BC Depots in Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford Transfer Stations, in municipal curbside pick-up or any of the Yellow Bins in the East Kootenay. From cards and envelopes to wrapping and tissue paper, please recycle as much as possible. Foil based wrapping paper, bows and ribbons are not recyclable, try to reuse them whenever possible.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Christmas light strings are included in the Product Care program and can be dropped off for free at participating light fixture recycling depots.

The Product Care program also accepts compact fluorescent and tube fluorescent light bulbs , LED and incandescent lights free of charge. Lighting fixtures are also accepted in several locations as are strings of Christmas lights.

There are LightRecycle Depots throughout the region, visit www.productcare.org to learn more.

Christmas trees can be discarded at no charge at any staffed transfer station throughout the East Kootenay as well as at the Columbia Valley Landfill or the Canal Flats, Tie Lake and Wasa wood waste piles.

Recycle BC Depots (Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood & Elkford Transfer Stations)

Delivery packaging, where does it go?

THE ONLY delivery packaging listed below that can go in a Yellow Bin is paper & cardboard packaging.

PAPER & CARDBOARD PRODUCTS

CARDBOARD boxes of all types.

Corrugated cardboard and boxboard can both be recycled in the Paper & Cardboard bin.

These products are also accepted in Yellow Bins and municipal curbside pick-up.

SMALL APPLIANCE RECYCLING

More than 120 small electrical appliances, ranging in size from electric toothbrushes to countertop microwave ovens are accepted at Return-it depots around the East Kootenay.

Products are divided into categories including: kitchen countertop, time measurement, weight measurement, garment care, air treatment, floor care and personal care.

PAPER & CARDBOARD PRODUCTS

BATTERIES

Both your alkaline and rechargeable batteries are recyclable. There are numerous drop off locations in all major centres in the RDEK.

When it comes to the three Rs there is no mistake as to the order that they appear. Once you have done a great job reducing and reusing, let us help you figure out the best way to recycle. There are many different options in the East Kootenay to keep waste out of our landfills, each one having its place in making things efficient and effective.

Recycle BC Depots

Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling in BC. Recycle BC Depots (located at the Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford Transfer Stations) offer the greatest opportunity for keeping products out of the trash.

Yellow Bins

The Yellow Bin system has been operating in the RDEK for over 20 years. Through this system we don’t have access to the same markets. The Yellow Bins accept only paper, cardboard, tin cans, grocery bags and plastics 1-6 (no styrofoam).

Municipal Curbside Programs

Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook and Fernie all have curbside recycling programs, check with your municipality to find out which products are accepted by your local program.

Provincial Product Stewardship Programs

When you pay an eco fee on a product, such as oil or electronics, those funds go to Provincial Stewardship Programs for their proper collection and recycling/disposal. These programs are Provincial and are totally separate from the RDEK. There are hundreds of products that can be recycled through these programs including: oil, antifreeze, paint, light bulbs, tires, batteries, cellphones, power equipment, smoke alarms, electronics, medications, small appliances and so many more. A list of collection locations can be found in the recycling guides at engage.rdek.bc.ca/recycle. You can also contact the RDEK and we will do our best to help connect you with these resources.

/recycle

c.ca engage.rdek.b

learn more

Contact the RDEK or visit www.call2recycle.ca to find a location near you.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

Electronics are often a hot holiday gift item. If your old electronics are no longer working, they may be able to be recycled.

There are drop-off locations for electronics through the RDEK. To view a list of accepted electronics, visit www.return-it.ca/electronics

Did you know?

BUBBLE WRAP goes into the Flexible Packaging bin. This applies to both large and small bubble wrap of any colour. Of course you can feel free to pop it all first if that’s what you like.

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

PAPER PACKAGING that is stuffed in delivery boxes to take up the excess space can be placed in the Paper & Cardboard bin.

These products are also accepted in Yellow Bins and municipal curbside pick-up.

For details and locations contact the RDEK or visit www.return-it.ca

Reduce, Reuse, then Recycle

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

WHITE STYROFOAM spended

Temporarliy Su

INFLATABLE AIR PACKETS go in the Flexible Packaing bin. These are becoming more common which is nice as they require much less material to produce.

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

STYROFOAM collection is temporarily suspended as the processing facility in the Fraser Valley recovers from the November flooding. Please hold on to your styrofoam until collection resumes.

PADDED MAILERS that are made entirely of plastic can go in the Flexible Packaging bin. If they are a combination of paper and plastic, they go in the trash.

SQUISHY FOAM

SQUISHY FOAM products are not recyclable at this time.

This type of packaging is distinguishable from styrofoam in that it will not break if bent. Place this foam in your household garbage.

FOAM PEANUTS

FOAM PACKING ‘PEANUTS’ are not recycleable at this time.

Please place these little guys in your household garbage.

PAPER PADDED MAILERS

PAPER PADDED MAILERS that are created with a combination of paper or cardboard and plastic are not recycleable at this time.

These mailers go in with your household garbage.

• In Canada 545,000 tonnes of waste is generated from gift-wrapping and shopping bags each year.

• Canadians use 6,000,000 rolls of tape to wrap up Christmas presents every year.

• On December 25th alone, over 30,000,000 bags of garbage will be thrown out of Canadian households.

• Household waste can increase more than 25% in the holiday season.

• If everyone in Canada wrapped just three gifts in reused paper or gift bags, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 hockey rinks.

• If each person reused two feet of ribbon this Christmas it would save 61,000 kms of ribbon. source: zerowastecanada.ca

12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

December 30, 2021

We Want You

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We are focused on fostering a culture of positive energy and a strong, local business community that can provide all of the infrastructure and amenities you need to start, expand or relocate your business.

“Well, that year dragged”... said no one, ever.

As we take a moment to reflect on 2021, your Chamber team is proud of what we have accomplished, not only together but with the incredible support from the local business community.

Most of all, we continue to be the voice of business for our region, working hard through advocacy with our Provincial and National Chambers. We supported and lead initiatives on:

Exclusive promotion opportunities through our business directory, social media platforms & print media.

The welcome return of networking/community-building events

We saw teams having a blast as our Business Best Ball returned in May, with action off the course too in our silent auction. There were laughs as Hopkins Harvest’s ‘Sign Wars’ took hold and lifted spirits when times were at their lowest. Our taste buds were delighted as we indulged during ‘Burger Month’ and raised over $10,000 for local non-profits. We stopped in to ‘Visit’ businesses of all sizes and got to know the people behind the brand. We celebrated the business community at the Annual Excellence Awards BU and embraced being together again.

SI And we continue to promote NE commerce these holSS localidays by giving away ES over $12,000 in OF cash and prizTH es.

Meetings with Provincial Ministers and Chamber Colleagues across the country. Securing just over $350,000 in grant funding for our region.

Visit cvchamber.ca to view all other benefits unlocked with Chamber membership.

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Hosted and co-hosted surveys, roundtables, and workshops on key issues for our Valley. Endorsing and supporting local produce & agriculture. Growing our online presence to build awareness for local commerce.

Our primary mission is of course ensuring our members are being served and taking full advantage of their membership perks & benefits, such as: Federal & provincial corporate partnership discount programs.

We are proud of what we accomplished in 2021 but we are always looking to the horizon and can’t wait to share what’s coming in 2022.

If you’re not yet one of the 300+ Columbia Valley businesses working together for a prosperous future, please reach out. We DEC. 31 would love to know how we can CANAL FLATS ARENA be of service to you and your 7:30 PM business.

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December 30, 2021

cvevents cv events.ca .ca WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Tuesday, December 28

• Bingo Night: Radium Brewing. Contact radiumbrewing@gmail.com for more details.

Friday, December 31 • New Year’s Eve Casino Night: Let’s end 2021 with a super fun night of casino games & welcome 2022 in style. The Station Pub is pumped to host an evening of Roulette, Texas Hold ‘em, Black Jack, Crowns & Anchors and Heads & Tails: $22 gets you funny money to play with + sparkly wine to toast the New Year. • The cards & wheels come out at 8pm. • Ages 19+ only. Tickets available at the Station Pub • Radium Hot Springs New Year’s Eve. Enjoy hot dogs and hot chocolate at Brent’s Shack from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. and watch the fireworks at the Springs Driving Range at 6 p.m. (sharp!).

• 8-10 pm New Year’s Eve Make It or Break It, ULLR Bar. Get a crew together to watch 20 videos and tell us if they “make it” or “break it”. $10 per ticket. Book your table at info@ullrbar.com

Ongoing Events

Thursdays • 9 am: Thrift Store donation Drop Off. • 10 am: Parent and Tot Connect. Parent and Tot Connect program by Family Dynamix for children ages 0-6, starting September 21st. Pre Registration is required, contact Contact mferster@fdx.family or text 250-341-8678.

• 10:30-11:30 am: Drop-in Seniors Fitness Class at the Columbia Valley Centre. $2 per class. Proof of vaccination required.

• 1:30 pm: OKO/Po-Keno. . $2 (plus some nickels) Senior’s Hall. Must be fully vaccinated • 3 pm: Youth Drop-In Fun. The Summit Youth Hub is back open for FREE after-school fun! Grades 7-12 are invited to come for free food, safe hang out areas, Friday skate nights, virtual reality, gaming computers and our music room! MASKS ARE MANDATORY.

THE COLUMBIA VALLEY COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR IS POWERED BY

Fridays

• 9-10:30 am: Momfit & Preschool Group at the Columbia Valley Centre. Proof of vaccination required for caregivers. Invermere Public Library Storytime to follow at 10:45 am.

• 10:30 am: Story Time with the Invermere Public Library. Join us for stories, songs and a take-home craft!

• Wing Day at the Edgewater Legion. Every Friday is Wing Day at the Edgewater Legion! 12 pm Take Out, 5pm Dine In! www.facebook.com/RCL199 or call 250-347-9725.

• 1 p.m.: Duplicate Bridge. $2. Senior’s Hall, Must be fully vaccinated.

• 4-8 pm: Pub Grub at the Invermere Legion, Every Friday and Saturday, Wings & Things, Pub Grub in the Branch.

• 5 pm: Magic the Gathering, Come for Friday Night Magic & play Magic the Gathering! 5:30 pm start. Entry: $10-40 depending on format. Call 250-3423440 for details. No registration required, but space is limited. Ages 10+.

• 6 pm Rotary Community Bingo. Must be 19+ to play. Online live bingo games with the purpose to raise money for various community charities, organizations and businesses who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Choose to support a local Rotary Club with your ticket purchase!

• 7:30 pm: Beer League Hockey, Canal Flats. If you are interested in participating in a non-contact BEER league season please send us an email at badgershockey2019@gmail.com and we can fill you in on the details. Carpooling from Invermere available.

Saturdays • 4-8 pm: Pub Grub at the Invermere Legion, Every Friday and Saturday, Wings & Things, Pub Grub in the Branch.

Sundays • On Sundays and Mondays, the Rotary Club or Kinsmen Club collects refundable bottles and cans at the Invermere Transfer Station! We sort and deliver for refund - this money goes “right back into the community” through our Projects and Initiatives!!• 1:30 pm: Crib. $2. Senior’s Hall. Must be fully vaccinated.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

scan me!

• 10:30-11:30 am: Drop-in Seniors Fitness Class at the Columbia Valley Centre. $2 per class. Proof of vaccination required.

• 1:30 pm: Carpet Bowling. $2 Senior’s Hall Must be fully vaccinated.

• 6 - 9 pm LGBTQ+ and Allies Youth Group. LGBTQ+ and Allies are invited to attend the Summit Youth Hub’s weekly drop-in for youth. Every Monday, ages 12-18. Snacks + a safe space!

Tuesdays • Tech Time Thursdays: Invermere Library, 10:15am-1 pm. Radium Library 1:304 pm. Need some help with your computer, phone or tablet? Make a Tech Time appointment for FREE one-on-one tech support! CBAL will be at the Invermere Library on Thursdays from 10:15 am-1 pm. Please call the library at 250-3426416 to book an appointment.

• 10 am: Parent and Tot Connect. Family Dynamix will be running an indoor Parent and Tot Connect program for children ages 0-6, starting September 21st. Pre Registration is required, contact Contact mferster@fdx.family or text 250-341-8678 • 6-10 pm:Youth/Teen Drop in Fun - Invermere. NEW this year, the Summit Youth Hub is taking our youth centre on the road to Edgewater and Canal Flats!

We will be bringing our mobile skate park, BBQ, tunes and so much more! This is where you can pick up your Summer Snack Pack too!

Wednesdays • 10:30-11:30 am: Family Dynamix hosts a Catch-up Cafe for the Columbia Valley every Wednesday morning on ZOOM for those isolated and unable to get out as much because of Covid 19.Tricia at patkin@familydynamix.ca • 12:30 pm: $2 Duplicate Bridge. Senior’s Hall. Must be fully vaccinated • 4-5 pm: Sparks and Brownies For girls 5-7yrs. Meeting at Spiderweb park (west of the Invermere hospital) • 6 pm: Drop in Utimate Frisbee. JA Laird Sports Field. $20 registration fee for the season. Please bring cash or transfer to justin@justinkeitch.com • 6-8 pm Legion Legend Wednesday Dinners. Reservation by Saturday is required.

Mondays • 10:30 am: Rhyme Time. 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.

CVCHAMBER.CA/ OUTOFOFFICE

CONTACT US TODAY AND GET EYES ON YOUR NEXT EVENT

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

December 30, 2021

WANTED

...Continued “August” from page 9

NEW LISTINGS NEEDED

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NOVEMBER SALES UP 20%

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If you are thinking of selling, let’s talk

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Pour a glass of bubbly, Zoom your friends and family and enjoy this delicious meal at home as we all say goodbye to 2021. Place your order on our website and pick up by 7:30pm, Dec. 31.

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Season’s Greetings

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DECEMBER

Downtown revitalization scheduled for early September The District of Invermere approved the latest phases of the downtown revitalization on 7th Avenue between the AG Valley Foods intersection and the Cenotaph park. Still, few businesses remained with concerns, such as the lack of parking space and the idea of adding trees. The work started early September with Wilco Contractors Southwest Inc. for $1.02 million.

Mary Simon becomes Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General Mary Simon was officially sworn in last week as Canada’s 30th governor general — the first Indigenous person ever to hold the position. “I’m so proud of [Simon],” says Shuswap Band Chief Barb Cote. “What she’s accomplished as an Indigenous woman, she’s done a lot in her life. This is a step forward for Canada.”

Simon said. “My view is that reconciliation is a way of life and requires work every day. Reconciliation is getting to know one another.”

Radium welcomed splash park After two and a half years of hard work and dedication, the Radium Rotary Splash Park celebrated its grand opening. The park is situated between the hockey rink and the outdoor fitness gym, in the Legend’s Field. The Rotary Club Ribbon cutting to celebrate fundraised $220,000 for Radium’s new splash park. the project.

Photo by Camille Aubin.

Radium adopted STR bylaw After three years of discussion, the village of Radium Hot Spring became the first municipality in the Columbia Valley to adopt a bylaw regulating short term rentals (STRs). At a public hearing, before the council meeting, few residents expressed their point of view on the matter. Some pointed out that most of Radium accommodations during summer are full and the STRs help bring in additional visitors; other said that the bylaw needed more “teeth’’ in terms of enforcement.

Despite the comments, Mayor Clara Reinhardt decided to move forward with the bylaw.

Invermere made climate change a strategic priority Invermere council had made climate change one of the district’s priorities after a summer of persistent petitioning from residents, without defining in any way what this new priority would generate. The chart outlined a timeline of October for council to begin discussing the priority in more detail.

Ktunaxa Nation purchases Columbia Lake archaeological site The Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) announced last week the purchase of a parcel of land on the east side of Columbia Lake near Canal Flats. The 2.2 acre lot at 8200 Bighorn Sheep Lane is an important archeological site for the Ktunaxa nation’s continued growth and success. Sources suggest the price paid by KNC for the land was ~$250,000.

Archeological assessment reveals evidence of ancient pit house The discovery indicates indigenous usage of land dating many thousands of years ago. In 2018, Eagle Ranch Resort began the development of its now complete Headwaters Lodge and Cabins. Before the development could start however, a building permit from the Shuswap Indian Band was needed. Eagle Ranch Resort resides on Shuswap reserve land.

Conditional to the issuance by the band of a building permit was a third party archaeological assessment. The proposed development overlapped with a known archaeological site.

A hearth used for cooking and associated fire-broken rock is carefully excavated. Photo submitted by Brett Watson

Happy Holidays Everyone!

December 30, 2021

By Pioneer staff Radium car show cancelled The annual Columbia Valley Classics Show and Shine car show in Radium Hot Springs was canceled due to provincial health restrictions stemming from B.C. fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for a second consecutive year.

Only the Poker run took place as the event respected the provincial guidelines in place.

Invermere busy with strategic priorities The District of Invermere had renewed its priority strategies, such as climate change, and several ongoing projects to focus on, including securing funding for the infrastructure upgrade, figuring out how to achieve attainable housing, and developing a civic land strategy.

Vaccine cards came into effect B.C. government rolled out its vaccine card program on Sept. 13. The province was the second one to launch the vaccine passport after Quebec. The card was and is still needed for anybody wanting to participate in or attend non-essential activities and places such as indoor dining or sports.

At the time, having one dose was enough to get a card, but by Oct. 24 people needed to have been double vaccinated for a minimum of one week to get a card.

Conservative MP re-elected Incumbent Conservative MP Rob Morrison had been re-elected to a second term as the riding representative in Ottawa. The local election result was very similar to the one back in 2019 with the very same candidate.

Morrison garnered 44 per cent of the total vote, NPD candidate Wayne Stetski 36 per cent, Liberal candidate Robin Goldsbury nine per cent, PPC candidate Sarah Bennet was fourth with seven per cent, and Green Party candidate Rana Nelson finished fifth with four per cent.

By Pioneer staff

September Canal Flats waive new business taxes As part of the effort to re-establish its population and increase its non-residential tax base, Canal Flat adopted a bylaw waiving municipal taxes for all new businesses and light industrial operations. The tax exemption can last up to six years, on a reverse sliding scale, with 100 per cent of new assessment waived the first three years, 80 per cent the fourth year, 60 per cent the fifth year and 40 per cent the sixth year.

SIB develops environmental management plan Under the direction of Shuswap Band biologist, Braydi Rice, 29, the Shuswap Indian Band (SIB) began developing an environmental management plan (EMP)ensuring continued maintenance and future environmental quality improvements on First Nation reserves. After two open houses, Rice worked to compile the second round of feedback, create the top ten environmental priorities, and then start drafting the actual EMP for the Shuswap Band reserve which is 1,077.62 total hectares in size. The feedback Rice received after the first open house suggested to her that fish habitat was the number one priority among Shuswap Band members.

Shuswap Band adds housing to address valley real estate crunch Shuswap council has made significant progress in a key mandate. The goal was to add affordable on-reserve housing. Since, 17 new homes have been added, accommodating 30 Shuswap members that once lived off-reserve. The estimated on-reserve population is now 125. “Before Chief Cote took office, no new homes had been added on the reserve in thirty years,” says Dolores Nicholas, Housing & Social Development for the Shuswap Band. “We’ve surpassed our five-year plan.” The band has overseen considerable renovation work as well. “We’ve renovated six homes totally and we’ve purchased new electric and wood-burning furnaces for fifteen of the new homes,” Nicholas says.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

First ever Truth and Reconciliation Day local residential school survivors.

• Edgewater Elementary School completed a prayer flag project with the hopes of honouring those sent to residential schools, as well as acknowledging the intergenerational trauma that often gets brushed under the rug. Debra Murray, the Aboriginal education teacher at Edgewater Elementary School, was in charge of the initiative, and hung prayer flags made by the students at both the school and the community park in Edgewater

Sept. 30 marked a monumental occasion in Canadian history, as the first ever Truth and Reconciliation Day. According to the government of Canada’s website, the “day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.” The day, traditionally known as Orange Shirt Day, was inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, who was taken from her family, stripped of her brand-new orange shirt and identity, and forced to assimilate into a culture not her own at age six.

With reconciliation at the forefront of many minds this month, the Columbia Valley held a variety of events to honour, remember, and respect the Photo by Haley Grinder Indigenous peoples, their way of life, Drum circle • A pop up café joined the Columbia and the hardships they endured: Valley in honour of Canada’s first feder• An honorary ‘drum for the chil- ally recognized Truth and Reconciliation dren,’ occurred in the afternoon in the Day. The café was the contribution of field across from NoFrills, where many Lillian Rose, who wanted to “extend an invitation to those who choose to live gathered to listen and remember.

• The Summit Youth Centre wanted Ktunaxa Traditional Territory to ‘break to honour the Indigenous community. bread’.”The café was held at the ColumRiver Woods, Mental Health Outreach bia Lake Recreation Centre,Rose shared Coordinator, as well as a local Indige- traditional frybread, a “bread cooked in nous Elder educated the youth on the oil and enhanced by a meat and bean, horrors that Indigenous peoples had to chili-style topping with lettuce, tomago through. They also wrote letters to toes and condiments.” Over 170 people attended • Schools across the Columbia Valley also commemorated, by wearing orange on Sept. 29, as the facility was closed on Sept. 30.

• Tripleshot Cycling organized a 215 km ride of intention, reflection, and learning in commemoration of the first federally recognized Truth and Reconciliation Day. Over 70 riders participated, Debra Murray hung prayer flags the EES stu- biking from Tk’emlúps to the dents made.

Photo by Haley Grinder Secwépemc First Nation.

October

Construction stalled, Canal Flat’s childcare center still set to open in a few months On-the-ground constructions of the Canal Flats child care centre had been stalled for a few months as the roofing system took a long time to reach its destination. Another challenge facing the opening of the child care center was the staff shortage. To open its door, at least six new employees were needed. Once open, the center will be one of the larger employers in the village.

Canal Flats adopted vaccination policy for village employees For protection and safety reasons, the Canal Flats council adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy for municipal staff after consulting them, making the village both the first and only municipality in the valley with such a policy. The policy made the vaccination strongly recommended.

Bear incidences soared Several bears were seen in the valley in a short period of time, confirmed Greg Kruger, Invermere conservation officer. According to him, these events happened in 2021 more often than usual. Several had to be killed for safety reasons after seeking out non-natural food for too long; others were hit by a car.

Invermere infrastructure, library funding discussed UBCM Mayors and councillors from the Valley municipalities partook digitally in the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Invermere mayor Al Miller had the opportunity to discuss with B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs Josie Osborne about Invermere’s infrastructure needs and with representatives from the provincial Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation “to get people here on track with green energy.” RDEK asked for a review of the ambulance services, but the meeting was denied.

Continued on page 17...

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

December 30, 2021

HERE TO SERVE YOU SERVICES

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

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N E W S PA P E R

December 30, 2021

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

...Continued “October” from page 15 Several major Kootenay ski resorts and CBT mandate vaccinations for employees The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) announced it was implementing a proof of vaccination policy for staff and board members. The CBT had the intention to expand the policy to include contractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders with whom it deals in person regularly. Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR), including several ski resorts in the Kootenay region, also announced that its employees needed to be fully vaccinated.

Shuswap memorializes land through Plant ID Book The Shuswap Band added a creative spin to remembering our history by putting a Plant ID Book together, hopefully to be completed by summer 2022. The book asked for community involvement, allowing people to draw, paint, or even go so far as to dry out plants, leaves, and flowers and then submit PDF copies of their creations.

The signs were captivating and brightly-coloured, providing a lovely addition to the entrance to the National Wildlife Area. The area, locally referred to as Ritchies Point, boast fun facts and information about the wetlands Local skier represents and wildlife. They also recognize the traditional IndigeIndigenous culture at World Cup Cassidy Gray, an alpine skier on the Canadian Na- nous land they stand on, its uses, and wildlife common tional Team, is taking a piece of the Columbia Valley on to the area. Gerry Wilkie, Electoral Area G Director at her journey this season by redesigning her helmet to rep- Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), stresses the importance of acknowledging and resent local traditional Indigenous art. Trinda appreciating the Indigenous roots Cote, member of the Shuswap Band, created and culture present. “We’re working the design with each aspect intentionally repwith the First Nations who, for milresenting a different part of Indigenous land and culture. Although the goal of having Cote lennia, have understood and respected the land, which is the biophysical design her helmet was to “show people where I heart and soul of the Columbia am from, and how proud I am to be from the Valley,” he said. “The wetlands are valley.” She also wanted to bring recognition to Indigenous peoples. so important, and it’s a remarkable thing to see it acknowledged like this. We need much more.”

Interpretive signs unveiled at Ritchies Point Four new interpretive signs were officially Interpretive signs at Ritchies unveiled at Ritchies Point on Sunday, Oct. 3. Point. Photo by Haley Grinder Continued on page 19...

Eventually, the pages will all be compiled; however, the illustration contest is just step one of the project.

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONCRETE

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18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

December 30, 2021

P ioneer C lassifieds ANNOUNCEMENT Valley Fitness Society AGM 6:30 pm January 18 Invemere Inn Boardroom or by Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8 9817756628?pwd=MHlKQ2w 2WWx2cVMxMWY5Q0NvQjhy dz09 Meeting ID: 898 1775 6628 Passcode: 699139 Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 8 p.m.

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

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

Invermere Bottle Depot needs help tracking down who owns the 2 RV’s and 1 camping trailer stored in their compound. These 3 Vehicles must be removed by Jan 1 or they will be towed at owner’s expense. Please call 250-342-7272 or (cell) 250-3417861.

CHEERS WITHOUT TEARS Cheers to Tannis at Freshair Design for your nice relaxing shop, warm conversations and for being an open-minded, intelligent thinker.

Cheers to Suzanna, Linda and Gillian for the lovely baked goods you all dropped off at our office. Homemade treats are the best.

CHEERS WITHOUT TEARS

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

Cheers to Rick Lake for being a great friend!

Cheers to Jessie, Sierra and Catherine at Rocky River Grill.

You are always are always so nice to me when I come in. Great customer service!

Cheers to Marilyn, Melissa, Erin and Kirsta at Hucks. You girls are the Best!

Cheers to Lori at Sign Artists. You are a great community minded person!

Cheers to The Local View for the great service. The T-shirts look great!

Cheers to Sugarbear Custom Cookies. Almost too pretty to eat, but so so yummy! You are very talented.

Cheers to Akela at Mark’s for being awesome and providing exceptional customer service.

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

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BARRY BROWN-JOHN “Rocky Mountain Land Man”

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b.brownjohn@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.

Local Family searching for home.

New pastor and young family working in the Valley looking for 4 bedroom home under $450k in Invermere. Phone Josh, 250342-9535. Email: josh@lwac.ca

SERVICES B.B.’s Home & Design Services Handyman Services & Renovation’s, Blinds & Installation, Tiling, Painting, House checks/Cleaning, Dump runs, Snow removal.

Over 35 year’s experience.

Call 250-688-2897.

Kootenay Country Electrical Qualified Electrical Service Licensed, Bonded, Insured Highly skilled electrician Call Dean 250-342-5516.

Independently owned and operated

LOST AND FOUND LOST: Snowmobile trailer ramp on Hawk Road up Brewer snowmobile area on December 18 Please text or call 250-3411618

Please email classified ads to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

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

HELP WANTED Wanted 2 F/T Restaurant Cooks, Rocky River Grill, 8888 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C. Permanent, F/T shifts, overtime, weekends, days and evenings, $16/hour for 40 hours per week. Overtime after 40 hours. Minimum several years’ experience and completion of secondary school. DUTIES: Prepare and cook full course meals, prepare and cook individual dishes and foods, ensure quality of food portions, work with minimal supervision, prepare dishes for customers with food allergies or intolerances. Inspect kitchens and food service areas. Please forward resume to Justin Atterbury by fax 250-3428889 or email: justatterbury@ hotmail.com

HELP WANTED

we’re hiring!

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SEND COVER letter and RESUME TO: aaron@cleanlineautomotive.com

Part-time and Casual positions available

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.

Dreaming of Summer?

Where to recycle?

MLS# 2461991

1609 Lower Lakeview Lane $2,350,000

Eva Joseph Learning and Cultural Society has a great opportunity for the right people to join our Team. We have one permanent part time position available and are also looking for a casual person.

The successful candidate will: • Love to explore the outdoors.

• Love working with children • Be an active member of our cohesive and cooperative team, which includes staff, parents, and community members.

• Knowledgeable and respectful of local First Nations communities and cultures.

• Willing to take a 20 hr. Responsible Adult Course.

The successful candidates must have: • A clear criminal record check for vulnerable persons.

• Up to date immunization record.

• Possess a valid class 5 driver’s license.

• Must be 19 years or older.

Where to Preferences are given to those who have: recycle?

• A valid Child Safe First Aid Certificate or willing to take.

•

An Early Childhood Assistant, Early Childhood Educator license to practice,

• 1/52 ownership of the “beach” lot or have taken the Responsible Adult Course.

• Erin Reid Designed Lake Home.

Check the BC RECYC To apply or for further information, submit Cover Letter Check the BC RECYCLEpEdia www.InvermereLakefront.RealEstate

www.rcbc.ca

Recycling council of B.c. MeMBeR

Geoff Hill PREC* REALTOR® Fair Realty

250-341-7600

www.geoffhill.ca The BEST properties sell with Geoff!

Please recycle this newspaper

and resume, including 3 references to: 604-RECYCLE (732 1-800-667-432 Carrie Rickards, General Manager Eva Joseph Learning and Cultural Society Recycling council of B.c.

Email: carrie.littlebadgers@gmail.com

Thank you to all applicants who apply. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Recycling questions?

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

December 30, 2021 Continued “October” from page 17 Trunk or Treat a success The second official Trunk or Treat event was held last Friday, Oct. 29. The all-inclusive festivity was held at the Akisqnuk Arbor from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and boasted children and youth in costume ready to collect treats.

There was also a contest for best decorated vehicle. The inspiration for the Trunk or Treat event was rooted in creating a safe, socially distanced environment to celebrate Halloween amidst COVID-19. The whole event was held outside, and decorated vehicles were invited to park spaced out on the arbor, as they competed for the best trunk or treating vehicle.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19 outdoor classroom and surrounding fields to explore, and the team of educators does their best to bring nature into their classrooms.”

Local farmers and First Nations celebrated creek restoration efforts Farmers and First Nation peoples local to the Columbia Valley met on Sunday, Oct. 17, at Upper Ranch to share food with the community, celebrate restoration

efforts, and create awareness for future projects. The event ran from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., boasting a feast of donated meat and produce from local farmers and salmon donated from the Shuswap. They also invited those who attended to take a walk down to the creeks to see the work done firsthand. Dave Zehnder, project lead at Farmland Advantage, emphasizing the lasting positives of the initiative. “It is for the benefit of endangered fish populations and the future return of sea run salmon to the headwaters of the Columbia River.”

Little Badgers installed new community garden The Eva Joseph Learning and Cultural Society (EJLCS) installed a new community garden this month. The garden is a way to increase a sense of community, while also providing a wonderful additional outdoor-learning opportunity for children attending the Little Badger Early Learning Programs.

“The garden boxes are placed in a circle to represent the medicine wheel, and we really tried to focus on creating a garden that would bring community together,” said Evelyn Walker, teacher at Little Badgers Early Learning Program, emphasizing the impor- Trunk or Treat event held at Akisqnuk Arbor on Oct. 29. tance of learning from nature. “The program has an Submitted photo

Local disc golf tournament: “first of its kind” The Columbia Valley Disc Golf Club built an 18-hole professional disc golf course on the grounds of the Raven’s Nest Resort & Campground in 2021. The course, recognizable by enthusiasts on the disc gold app: Udisc, featured a wide variety of landscapes unique to the Columbia Valley, specifically jaw-dropping views of the mountains, valley, and wetlands. The course will prove to be “the first of its kind in the valley,” says Emily Slobodzian, co-owner of Raven’s Nest Resort & Campground with her partner Faro Burgoyne. The tournament was made available to players of all levels, regardless of experience, through the PDGA. Two rounds ran on Saturday, Oct. 16, and one on Sunday, Oct. 17.

November

By Pioneer staff Legislation introduced to dissolve JGMRM The provincial government tabled legislation that formally dissolved Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality (JGMRM). Even if the project came to an end almost two years ago, the municipality had continued to exist on paper wended its way through the bureaucratic hoops and paperwork necessary to disincorporate the municipality. Under the Local Government Act and Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act, the recent amendments withdraw the authority to incorporate a mountain resort municipality without residents.

Invermere council pressed for STR timeline The issue of short term rentals (STRs) continued to be a hot topic in the Valley. A local resident asked Invermere council for a timeline concerning its effort to deal with the issue. According to Councillor Gerry Taft, putting a bylaw in place will take more than a year.

Radium took nearly two years to get its bylaw in place.

UBCM makes STR report public The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) made public its priorities for action report on short term rentals (STRs). The report contains a list of 13 requests for the provincial government to consider to potentially create a B.C. wide-regularly framework for STRs or other policy opinions to deal with the issue. For instance, the UBCM had recommended creating new split classifications or properties and creating an online accommodation platform to make data available.

Local RDEK director takes run at board chair position At its annual board chair, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) re-elected longtime incumbent RDEK chair Rob Gay and its new vice-chair RDEK Area F director, Susan Clovechock vice-chair election.

Radium tweaked STR approach Radium made a few tweaks in its approach to short

term rentals ( STRs), resolving to only issue a business licence for STRs in strata properties if STRs are allowed by strata corporations, and deciding to more actively pursue local homeowners who are operating STRs without business licences.

Survey shows Invermere wants STR regulation Invermere council members received the results of the district’s short term rental (STR) survey conductor through September and October. There were 671 local respondents. Generally, the respondents support STR accommodation but would like to see them better regulated.

Ktunaxa Nation declares Mental Health State of Emergency A state of emergency had been officially declared regarding the looming mental health crisis within Ktunaxa Territory. The reasoning for declaring a Mental Health Crisis is due to the aftermath and continued effects of COVID-19. The pandemic-inspired mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, combined with the continuing opioid crisis is especially risky with winter approaching. This is a particularly big problem regarding Indigenous peoples, as many mainstream services are inaccessible or culturally misaligned.

Columbia Valley Food and Farm promote seasonal eating through virtual cooking classes Columbia Valley Food and Farm (CVF+F) hosted their first ever cooking class on Nov. 10 to promote healthy seasonal eating. The class was provided virtually to twenty attendees, under the instruction of Chef Galasa Aden and J2 Ranch. The event taught the art of cooking Bolognese, and was the first in a series of cooking classes.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival returned to the valley The annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival returned to Invermere on Nov. 20. The festival, led by Wildsight Invermere, boasted the showing of 10 short films in an innovative way: virtually and in person. Although a unique format in 2021- both virtual and in-person, the event marks its eighth year. Environmental stories were told from locations far and wide.There was even one special tribute film to B.C. itself, which highlighted the decreased number of salmon spawning through Vancouver creeks, along with the efforts that are being made to ensure their safe return.

Frank Sam Remembered Although Frank Sam passed away in January, 2021, the Pioneer published a memorial piece this month to honour the legendary local veteran.

Loved by many. Remembered for eternity.

Eighth Wild and Scenic Film Festival organized by Wildsight Invermere. Submitted photo

20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

By Pioneer staff

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH Now open for in-person services.

Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 • www.lwac.ca

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED We are back “in-person” at Christ Church Trinity Services start at 10:30am. Attendees need to be doubly vaccinated and wear a mask. Or, you can join us online using zoom. To receive a link please call 250-342-6644 or email office@wvsm.ca Invermere – 110 7th Ave.

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.

Canal Flats: Saturday 4.30 pm Canadian Martyrs, Invermere: Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 9 am.

St. Joseph, Radium: Sunday 11.00 am 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 lutheranstpeter@gmail.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 Kendyn MacKensie • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs 250-439-9041

December

13th Street full with retailers For the first time in a long time, the part of Invermere’s downtown around the arena is bustling with local businesses. Since 2005, when Home Hardware relocated to the crossroad, those buildings on 13th Street remained empty until recently. Invermere mayor Al Miller attributed the event to the economic crash of 2007-2008 and its slow recovery. Since the start of the pandemic, the local economy has changed a lot, giving way to new businesses coming to settle in those stores.

Rudolph returns: another buck gets antlers stuck in Christmas light For the second year in a row, the Columbia Valley’s very own real-life Rudolph was back again. The buck was one of Invermere’s resident urban mule deer. Local conservation officers found him near the hospital but couldn’t find a safe angle to het off a tranquillizer dart shot. The deer most likely had gotten the lights off by itself, as there had been no calls after the attempt.

Facebook group launched to help bighorn herd A Radium Hot Springs resident concerned about the number of bighorn sheep being killed by vehicles during the fall has started a Facebook group to help keep track of the incidences.

According to Kent Kebe, local wildlife enthusiast, traffic-related bighorn fatalities in Radium were on the rise and appeared to come from vehicles driving well above the posted speed limits. The Help the Bighorn Herd page on Facebook mission is to increase public awareness around the issue.

Columbia Valley home to world’s only rental Eskaip The world’s one and only publicly available Tessier Eskaip adaptation cross country ski ledge was set for its first rentals here in the Columbia Vallet. The $6,000 piece of equipment was brought to the valley by Recreation Adapted (RAD) Society. The Eskaip will be housed in the Revolutions Mountain Gear store in Invermere, from which people can rent the sledge.

Bills to uphold Indigenous rights given royal assent Bills 18 and 29 celebrated receiving official royal assent on Thursday, Nov. 25. Previously introduced on Nov. 17, the bills added Indigenous identity as a protected ground under the B.C. Human Rights Code. This was the province’s next steps in advancing Indigenous human rights and reconciliation for the trauma they endured through residential school.

December 30, 2021

Christmas Bureau spreads cheer The Christmas Bureau has been helping out Columbia Valley residents since 1992, and continued in 2021 during the ongoing pandemic. They provided support for those in need through grocery cards (based on the number of household members), tangible presents for children up to age 11, gift certificates for those aged 12 to 18, as well as gifts for the senior community.

Ray Crook leaves behind legacy Ray Crook passed away at age 103 on December 1, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, love, and cherished memories.

COVID Christmas yet again As of Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, 87.6% (4,366,010) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 82.7% (4,122,434) have received their second dose. However, due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, additional precautionary measures were announced by the provincial health officer on both Dec. 20 and Dec. 22. Restrictions will last until Jan. 18, 2022 closing gyms, nightclubs, and bars as well as restricting organized indoor social events and gatherings of any size.

Feed the town event 2021.

Photo by Sue Porlier

Feed the Town Santa and the Grinch teamed up with the Columbia Valley Food Bank and Copperpoint Golf Club for the 18th Feed the Town event. Brian Schaal, president and general manager of Copper Point Golf Club, says this was the “best year ever,” resulting in over 1,400 meals handed out; over $13,000 raised; and four truckloads of non-perishable food items donated.

DISTRICT DISTRICT OF OF INVERMERE INVERMERE

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

NOTICE OF HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURE

The District of Invermere Municipal Office will be closed for the Holidays from Friday, December 24th at 12 p.m. until Friday, December 31st, 2021.

The office will reopen on Monday, January 3rd, 2022.

Annual Santa Clause Parade in Invermere on Sat. Dec. 4. Pictured is Copperpoint’s Polar Express float.

Photo by Ryan Watmough