Columbia Valley Pioneer - October 24, 2024

VALLEY VIEWS

Bruno’s Plumbing Service

Autumn is a beautiful time of year in the valley with eye-catching cloud formations like this one. And Munroe Hunsicker Sr. proudly completes his eight jack-o’-lantern tower just in time for Halloween next Thursday.

VALLEY NEWS

Scott McInnis voted new MLA in riding

By Lyonel Doherty editor@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Conservative Party candidate Scott McInnis is the new MLA in Columbia River-Revelstoke.

McInnis garnered 8,616 votes (48 per cent) in the provincial election to defeat NDP candidate Andrea Dunlop who finished with 7,901 votes (44 per cent), and Green Party candidate Calvin Beauchesne who ended up with 1,394 votes (7.8 per cent).

The riding’s total valid vote count was 17,909. Elections BC reported that preliminary voter turnout in the October 19 election was 57 per cent. It should be noted that a final ballot count will begin on October 26.

McInnis told the Pioneer that Saturday night was a very “emotional” evening.

“For us here in Columbia River-Revelstoke, we knew it would be a close election. It really shows the diversity of our riding.”

He thanked Dunlop and Beauchesne for running “excellent campaigns,” adding that he has a lot of respect for both of them for stepping forward as candidates.

McInnis said lots still has yet to happen in the wake of the election, noting that with so many “close” ridings across the province, the final counts will be critical.

When asked what he attributed to his win, the candidate said it was simply “hard work.”

“Our goal as a team was to make sure we left no stone unturned and that whatever the results, we did everything we could to give us the best chance to win here. I think we achieved that over the past six months, especially since it was such a tumultuous ride for our campaign group.”

McInnis said the election taught him the unpredictability of politics.

“With BC United folding and how that all went down, I learned to accept that there is so much in this arena that is out of my control.” But he noted he had control over how he conducted himself as a candidate from day one. “Throughout my life, I’ve understood that if you’re honest, have integrity, and work hard, good results happen more often than not.”

So where does McInnis start as new MLA? Obviously, there will be lots to take in over the next couple of months as everything becomes official and organized.

“The most difficult part for me is accepting that I can’t fix everything quickly and all at once. What I do strongly believe we need to get a handle on is the housing situation in our riding. It is a complex issue, but at the end of the day,

we need to find a non-partisan way to work together in Victoria to get homes built quickly.”

Beauchesne told the Pioneer that he’s proud of the campaign he ran.

“No one else stepped up to the plate for the BC Greens in this riding, so if I hadn’t put my name in, there would have been no Green candidate. That means no candidate talking about the link between fossil fuels and climate disasters, or the link between inequality and the affordability crisis.”

Beauchesne said Green leader Sonia Furstenau not winning her seat is a huge blow, but the party can’t let that hold it back. “There’s thousands of other hard-working Greens out there working to empower and strengthen our party.”

Beauchesne said whatever the final results are, he hopes it is not a majority government. “A minority government would potentially give the BC Greens the balance of power in the Legislature. Also none of the other two parties received more than 50 per cent of the votes, so neither deserve a majority.”

The candidate said a lot of people are upset and are now shifting to right of centre politics. “But I continue to believe a lot of this anger is misguided. For example, why are more people mad about a carbon tax that is designed to give money back to people in rebates, instead of the fact that oil companies are making record profits from the war in Ukraine and from gouging British Columbians at the pump?”

Beauchesne said the right wing parties have been successful in galvanizing people’s anger. “I think our job as BC Greens is to help explain what people should be angry about.”

The candidate said the BC Greens did not get as much of the popular vote as the last election. “I think this is because people are thinking a lot about things like affordability and housing as opposed to climate and environment.”

If there is one thing that is making life unaffordable, it is the climate crisis, the candidate said. A big reason housing is so expensive is because of the corporatization of the housing market.”

Beauchesne said the other two parties both ran very divisive campaigns, encouraging people to vote against fear instead of voting for their values.

“It’s really discouraging that this is the case. I had a lot of people tell me they would like to go Green but don’t want their vote to be a wasted vote. Without strategic voting, the share of votes for the BC Greens surely would have been significantly higher in my opinion.”

Beauchesne said he will definitely consider running again.

As the dust settles, Dunlop takes a moment to reflect on her journey.

Continued on page 4

Conservative Scott McInnis received more than 8,600

RCMP REPORT

Continued from page 3

DON’T LOSE YOUR LOCAL NEWS

Man, 55, found deceased

Submitted by Sgt. Ed deJong Columbia Valley RCMP

On October 20 it was reported that a 55-year-old male had wandered away the previous night from an RV in Kootenay National Park and had not returned. Due to darkness the search was suspended until the morning. On October 21 the Parks Canada search and rescue group attended with a canine and helicopter to commence the search. Sadly, in the early afternoon the male was located deceased in the Vermillion River. Police did not identify the victim.

On October 18 and 19 a bear was reported being aggressive at a residence on Kootenay No 3 Road in Windermere. On October 20 police responded to a report of a bear charging at a resident’s door in the area of 10th Street and 12th Avenue. Upon attendance the

bears were gone and not located.

On October 18 members responded to a truck in the ditch on Westside Road north of Wilmer. Upon attendance it was determined the 27-year-old male driver had consumed alcohol prior to driving. A breath demand was made and the driver registered a fail. He was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and his vehicle was seized for 30 days.

“While I didn’t secure the seat, I am deeply impressed by the voter turnout in our huge riding.”

She said typically, 14,000 people vote each election, but this year (so far) 17,911 people voted.

Dunlop said she found travelling to every corner of the riding exhausting but enriching as it gave her a unique opportunity to connect with so many people and hear their concerns firsthand.

Throughout the campaign, she learned a great deal about the different issues that are close to the hearts of residents. For example, the need for better management and sustainability of the forests.

Affordable housing was another issue that reso nated everywhere, especially the way short-term rent als are impacting housing availability.

Dunlop noted that Golden needs a courthouse, housing, child care, and access to forests for their community. Revelstoke needs to update their sewer system and needs housing and childcare. Kimberely

needs a new seniors care home, more childcare spots and a forest management system to protect their water. Field needs someone to turn on their generator when the power goes out.

“One of the most heartwarming parts of this journey was the warmth and kindness I received at the doorsteps. Even when people had political views that differed from mine, I was met with respect and a genuine willingness to engage. It made me wonder where the harshness of online political discussions stems from because, face to face, our region is full of thoughtful and compassionate individuals.”

Dunlop said a major highlight of the campaign for her was the opportunity to help people better under-

for the future.

The candidate thanked Beauchesne for his time and effort in the campaign, and she wished McInnis all the best as he steps into his new MLA role. “I know he will work hard for our region, and I look forward to seeing progress.”

Dunlop remains committed to advocating for the issues that matter to local communities.

“I’m not ruling out the possibility of running again, but for now, my focus is on continuing to contribute in meaningful ways to my own community. Yahoo Windermere!”

Dunlop is grateful for all of the support and for the kind messages and comments she received on the

Invermere starts wildfire resiliency plan

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Invermere wants to create a community wildfire resiliency plan, and has launched a survey to that end.

The plan is meant to help figure out fire risks and hazards in Invermere, as well as strategies to keep the district safe. The district is seeking feedback from local residents and property owners to help guide the plan.

“It’s something all municipalities are trying to ready themselves for. It’s better to be proactive than reactive,” Invermere mayor Al Miller told the Pioneer.

The catastrophic wildfire that destroyed Jasper this past summer caught plenty of attention all over Canada, and left some Columbia Valley residents worrying if the same could happen here.

But that fire wasn’t the inspiration for the plan, explained Miller, since “our minds were on this (creating a plan) before the Jasper fire. But Jasper certainly is an example that all mountain communities are vulnerable to wildfires.”

In the Columbia Valley, Invermere is following in the footsteps of the Village of Radium Hot Springs, which completed its community wildfire resiliency plan earlier this year. Through late September and still ongoing this October, the village has been carrying out work recommended in the plan, thinning out vegetation and clearing out undergrowth on the southern slope of Sinclair Creek Canyon, east of Highway 95 above the Canyon RV Resort, and to the north of Highway 93 as it heads into Kootenay National Park.

This slope was flagged as an “extreme” fire risk in Radium’s wildfire resiliency plan, the only such area on village-owned land. The other areas marked as an extreme fire risk near Radium are a few swaths of land in Kootenay National Park on or near Redstreak Mountain, which are managed by Parks Canada.

Radium chief administrative officer Adrian Bergles explained to the Pioneer that the village’s new resiliency plan updates the old one, which was done

more than a decade and a half ago in 2008.

“It is important. All forest communities in British Columbia are vulnerable to wildfire,” noted Bergles. He added that village staff were not necessarily expecting the south southern slope of Sinclair Creek Canyon to be identified as extreme risk, but neither did it come as a complete surprise.

Invermere’s wildfire resiliency plan is being developed by a registered professional forester with Nupqu Resource LP, the same company that did the Radium plan.

Miller said the District of Invermere has done some work to reduce wildfire fuels in the past but added “there’s still a lot to be done.”

Are there areas of extreme or high risk in Invermere, similar to the south slope of Sinclair Creek Canyon in Radium?

“There certainly are,” said Miller, pointing to problematic privately-owned land to the south and west of Invermere, as well as some to the north. “There are also problem areas that we need to deal with right here in town,” he noted.

One high-risk area is the land to the south and west of the CastleRock subdivision. The fire risk there is so well known that in spring 2023 dozens of firefighters and other emergency crews conducted a mock scenario based on a huge wildfire sweeping into Invermere via CastleRock, in order to gauge their preparation should the real thing occur.

Aside from CastleRock, Miller also noted there are likely high-risk areas through the Wilder subdivision, and along the heavily forested north-facing and west-facing slope separating Upper Invermere from the Athalmer industrial park.

“There’s some (fire) fuel in there. It’s been treated before, but that was awhile ago. It probably needs to be done again,” said Miller. “I think the experts in the field will also find other areas that need to be worked on.”

The survey runs until October 31. To take the survey, visit: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/56bf5c856d3a401f8bf317585da3d31a.

The Radium community wildfire resiliency plan flagged the south slope of Sinclair Creek Canyon as an “extreme” wildfire risk (shown on map as red). Invermere hopes to develop its own resiliency plan.

BOTTOM PHOTO SUE COY

Change the act

She was kicked, punched, beaten and knocked unconscious while her peers stood by and did nothing except record her humiliation and post it online.

It makes one wonder what type of youth society is raising today. Certainly not one you’d want to admit categorizes your son or daughter.

The swarming against the 13-year-old girl took place in Kelowna recently and has sparked outrage. In fact, a parent has started a petition calling for amendments to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (which is long overdue).

Youth have come a long way since stealing apples from their neighbourhood farmer or throwing rocks at store windows downtown. They have transitioned to violent attacks, the kind you see on nature shows where hyenas swarm injured wildebeests.

Some youth have a wild animal mentality that seems to thrive off the vulnerable, weak and the sick. Others are content to merely stand there and watch while a fellow youth is beaten. Their only reaction is to take out their phones and record the atrocity and post it for everyone to see. There are no thought bubbles saying “this is wrong,” or if there is, these bystanders don’t have the courage to speak up.

Luckily, incidents of youth violence is low in the Columbia Valley, according to the RCMP. But it can happen anywhere, anytime. Even your children could be involved, which is why it is so important to talk to your sons and daughters about the problem and how easy it is to become entangled in it. Parents need to explain how devastating these incidents are to the victim and how wrong it is to stand there and do nothing. Especially how abhorrent it is to film the assaults for entertainment purposes.

The petition is heading in the right direction by calling for a rehabilitation centre to focus on repeat offenders dealing with violence, bullying, and mental health.It also calls for parents of repeat offenders to bear some accountability for these assaults through the payment of fines.

And finally, make it compulsory for social media platforms such as Snapchat to share information about violent behaviour with parents and police.

There are people who believe that authorities should release the names of these young offenders instead of protecting them with legal hugs and kisses. But society cannot expose youth to such high risk, even if many people think they deserve it. Addressing violence with violence is not the answer.

Lawmakers must finally take heed that people are getting fed up with the system protecting the perpetrator and doing little to help the victim suffering long-lasting effects. This 13-year-old girl has been in seclusion, scared to go anywhere and contemplating moving away. That is not the solution or the justice that she and many other victims deserve.

Lyonel Doherty, editor

Lyonel Doherty

Boucher

Autumn brings a season of change and preparation for winter, but for much of nature, it’s also a busy, active time.

We are fortunate to live right in the path of the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for waterfowl travelling along the western coast of North America. Even more amazing, the Columbia River Wetlands play a crucial role in supporting this migration. These wetlands offer migrating birds food, shelter, and resting spots, making it a biodiversity hotspot.

The Pacific Flyway stretches from nesting sites in Alaska all the way to wintering grounds in Patagonia, covering 15,000 kilometres.

Along this lengthy route, reliable and safe stopover sites are essential, especially for young birds making their first journey. A flyway is only as strong as the rest stops along it, and the Co-

LETTERS

lumbia Wetlands are one of those vital locations.

Wetlands are some of the most valuable and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. They provide essential services like flood control, groundwater recharge, irrigation, water purification, and carbon storage — entirely through natural processes. Wetlands also serve as homes, rest stops, and vital support systems for countless species.

So, who’s stopping by the Columbia Wetlands this fall? Among hundreds of species, you can spot great blue herons, ospreys, kingfishers, bald and golden eagles, geese, great gray owls, western tanagers, western sandpipers, and tundra swans.

A five-year Columbia Wetland Waterbird Survey (2015-2019) recorded over 200 bird species, including 35 atrisk species. Notably, the highest one-

day count was an impressive 20,575 birds, recorded in October.

The Columbia Wetlands are one of North America's longest intact wetland systems and home to the only undammed section of the 2,000 kilometre-long Columbia River.

This free-flowing stretch, from Canal Flats to Mica Dam north of Golden, allows for seasonal flooding, providing the crucial 'pulse' that sustains the ecosystem. However, the area is under pressure from downstream damming, climate change, land-use changes, and numerous other threats. In response, initiatives such as the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative, the Columbia Wetland Conservation Action Framework, and the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Framework are being implemented to protect and restore the region.

Protecting this pristine floodplain is crucial in slowing the drying rate of trends – a troubling effect of climate change – and the resulting ecological shifts. The surrounding wetlands have been drying up for decades, with evidence of a 50-year drying spell. One natural solution involves a rather nifty, paddle-tailed friend: the beaver. They create dams, quite ironically, that help trap water during floods, allowing the landscape to retain water, rather than lose it.

As we begin to turn to human-made beaver dams in efforts to replicate their handy work, it becomes increasingly clear just how irreplaceable these incredible habitats and animals are to our ecosystem and lives.

Marie-Jeanne

Reid Lake Windermere Ambassadors

Columbia Wetlands important to ‘flyway’ Chance discovery leads to conservation

Submitted by Lorene Keitch Wildsight communications

A chance discovery by a group of Invermere birders led to a conservation success for a fledgling bank swallow colony in Invermere.

In the spring of 2022, local birder Greg Scott and his fellow birdwatchers noticed a small colony of bank swallows near a large dirt mound on a District of Invermere-owned lot bordering Lake Windermere. Upon closer inspection, they found nesting holes and estimated that about seven pairs of the swallows were residing there for the breeding season.

Greg, a volunteer with Wildsight Golden’s Upper Columbia Swallow Enhancement Project, reported his findings to project lead biologist Rachel Darvill.

“She came to check it out and agreed it was a great find. She asked me

to keep monitoring the site as part of the swallows project, and I’ve been watching it ever since,” said Greg.

Bank swallows are a species at risk, facing near extinction in Canada with an estimated 93-98 per cent population loss over a recent 40-year period. The swallows project, launched in 2021, aims to inventory, monitor and enhance habitats for at-risk bank and barn swallows in the Columbia Valley.

The dirt pile on the District of Invermere land is estimated to have been undisturbed since the 1980s, but until 2022 had gone unnoticed as an important habitat for the at-risk species. Rachel reached out to district staff, urging them to protect the hill. Her timing couldn’t have been better; the district had planned to level the dirt pile in preparation for landscaping and future development plans for a park.

In October 2023, the pile was cut away to create a more vertical cliff on

one side. The mound was also fenced off to prevent human interference, a suspected cause of colony collapse in other nearby areas.

“Bank swallows need very specific conditions to thrive,” Rachel said. “They look for near-vertical cliffs, proximity to water and specific types of substrate for their nests. We worked hard to ensure the dirt pile met those needs.”

District of Invermere Mayor Al Miller said they were pleased to allocate habitat for the bank swallows that had found a home here.

“When we purchased this land, we saw a true opportunity to be able to increase our area for parks, for both our citizens and visitors,” Miller said. “That particular bank that was there had be-

come a great nesting home for swallows. So what better in a park than to add a little education as well? By being able to carve off a nice piece of it and protect it for the future, it adds that whole educational piece to the park.”

When bank swallows came back north in the spring of 2024, they started to occupy the newly-created cliff.

“By early May of this year, I saw around nine nest holes, and then every time I came back, the numbers just kept going up. By late May, there were 52 nest holes, and by June it exploded to about 300 (nesting holes). In 2022, there were only seven breeding pairs,” Greg said. “It’s incredible to see the difference after the habitat enhancement!”

Continued on page 8

Scarecrow contest winner enjoys fall fun

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavallepioneer.com

Shoulder season, what shoulder season? Sure, the trembling aspen and larch have gone orangey-gold and are dropping their leaves and needles. Sure, Thanksgiving has come and gone, Halloween is on the way, pumpkin-flavoured beer is on liquor store shelves, frost is on the ground and the snow in the high alpine looks like it’s sticking around until spring.

In other words fall is clearly here. But given the number of community events still going on, you’d be forgiven for not realizing ‘high season’ is techni-

cally over.

Last weekend was the second annual Peter Pumpkin Eater Classic, with teams of local residents rolling pumpkins on wheels down a sloping section of 13th Street in downtown Invermere. And earlier last week, on October 15th, the winners of Invermere’s fifth annual Great Scarecrow Competition were announced.

The scarecrow competition has grown since first being introduced in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year there were 24 entries (a 40 per cent increase over last year) and participants went to exceptional lengths to make their scarecrows

stand out from the crowd, with some truly creative designs.

The Fuller family won the residential category with their ‘Bloody Wind’ scarecrow; Columbia Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR) won the community group category with its mountaineering scarecrows; and the Invermere Inn and Suites won the business category with its ‘I Want to Stay Here’ scarecrow.

The ‘Bloody Wind’ scarecrow is a hoot, to put it mildly. The scarecrow is a playful take on the severe windstorm that battered the Columbia Valley in August, uprooting countless tress and causing all sorts of damage. The Fuller’s scarecrow appears caught in those blus-

tering gusts, stretching out sideways while clinging to a tree, mouth gaping open in surprise.

The Fullers have been entering the scarecrow competition for the past four years, creating a completely different design each time. Last year they also won the residential category, and the year before that they finished second.

“It’s been really good this year, there are more people making scarecrows and there are some really good ones,” Mackenzie Fuller told the Pioneer

The whole family, including daughter Liv and son Nash, help make the scarecrow each year.

Continued on page 9

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

Local Government Assistance (Grant-in-Aid)

The District of Invermere may provide financial assistance or a grantin-aid to non-profit or local organizations that provide services to our community. These grants are awarded annually by Council through an application process and we invite applications for financial assistance in preparation of our 2025 budget. The total budget allocation for all grants is $10,000 and the maximum grant per applicant will be $1,500. Those groups or organizations wishing to apply for financial assistance are requested to make written application before November 8, 2024 to be considered for the following year.

Application forms are available at the Municipal Office or our website: www.invermere.net

Birders’ discovery

Continued from page 7

The result was nothing short of extraordinary.

“It was a hugely successful project,” Rachel reflects. “We spent some hours observing the colony, trying to count the number of active burrows. It was challenging due to the sheer volume of activity—there were so many swallows coming and going.”

Rachel and her team determined that at least 195 of those 300 nesting holes were active and produced chicks. With each burrow holding an average clutch size of three to four eggs, upwards of 800 chicks may have been pro-

duced at the colony this year.

This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and community-driven conservation.

“We’re not aware of another enhancement project like this one,” Rachel says. “It’s an innovative, collaborative and successful effort for a species at risk, and I hope we can continue to share its success with others.”

Thanks to volunteers like Greg working alongside Rachel in this fiveyear project, a colony of bank swallows now thrives, a reminder of how small conservation efforts can lead to significant results.

This year’s Great Invermere Scarecrow Competition included ‘Bloody Windy’ by Liv and Nash Fuller and their parents. The scene depicts the recent wind storm in the Columbia Valley.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Creative scarecrows give off ‘character’

Continued from page 8

“It’s turned into a family tradition for us. The kids remind us, a month or two beforehand, and we start brainstorming ideas. We spend a few days gathering material and then we make it. It’s a lot of fun,” said Mackenzie. “Nash does walk/run with his school (Eileen Madson Primary School), and he really likes that all his classmates go past and see it. The kids are really proud of it, and that makes us proud.”

The CVSAR mountaineering scarecrows were put up by members Katherine Friedley and Mike Cope.   “A mountaineering scene seemed like a good theme for Search and Rescue,” Friedley told the Pioneer. “We were lucky, we had a great spot and Mike did a really good job making the mountain backdrop. It (the scarecrow contest) is a great community initiative, and hopefully it helps get word out about who we (CVSAR) are and what we do as an entirely volunteer-run organization.”

Invermere Inn and Suites room

and guest experience manager Colleen Booth told the Pioneer this is the first year the Invermere Inn has made a scarecrow, but based on feedback from guests and staff, “I’m certain we’ll be doing it again.”

The business had initially planned to make a single, simple scarecrow outside its front door on main street, but that plan quickly morphed into a whole scene, called ‘I Want to Stay Here’. It features the scarecrow lounging in an al fresco hotel room, complete with a couch, telephone, television remote control, tourist maps, bath towels, luggage and more.

The effort involved several departments of the Invermere Inn, outlined Booth, including housekeeping staff, maintenance, front desk, night audit, and even the kids of front desk staff. Each day, someone else at the business added another touch: lights, or bath towels folded to resemble swans, and so on.

“It was a great team-building event,” said Booth.

Columbia Valley Transit Service Change

Effective Monday, November 4, 2024

This service change includes:

} New and improved service to JA Laird Elementary School

} Changes to routes servicing Radium, Windermere and Fairmont Hot Springs

} New and improved bus stop signage to clearly mark bus stops

For full details of the service change please visit: BCTransit.com/Columbia-Valley/ or pick up a new rider’s guide on board. BC Transit recommends using real-time planning apps to stay up to date with current schedules.

Community group winner is Columbia Valley Search and Rescue with its mountaineering scarecrows.

PHOTO JENNY HUBRECHT

Above is the business winner Invermere Inn and Suites. Below is really Oscar Myers, not Michael Myers. PHOTOS JENNY HUBRECHT

OUT OF OFFICE…

25th Annual Business Excellence Awards

Tomorrow night is the night - the Business Excellence Awards are upon us!

This is the 25th annual celebration of business in the Columbia Valley and is taking place on Friday October 25th – how’s that for numerical alignment! This night is to celebrate the businesses that go above in beyond in different categories – the winners are… going to be announced at the awards ceremony, silly. Don’t worry if you can’t make it, we will also list the winners here next week.

Let’s start with the major sponsors:

Red Carpet & Photo Booth Sponsor

Avenue

Cocktail Sponsor

Invermere Home Hardware

Ceremony Sponsor

College of the Rockies

Venue Sponsor

Invermere McDonalds

Event Sponsor

Columbia Basin Trust

Audio Visual Sponsor

EZ Mode AV

As important as it is to celebrate the businesses that were nominated by the public and selected by a committee of business people from across the valley, it is equally important to recognize and celebrate the sponsors that ensure that this incredible event can happen every year. Their generosity helps make this event the celebration that it has been for the last 25 years!

The Award Sponsors are:

Community Builder

Columbia Valley Community Foundation

Environmental Stewardship

Kicking Horse Coffee

Outstanding Customer Service

2DayFM

Tourism Impact

Travel Columbia Valley Employee of the Year

Invermere Bosley’s by Pet Valu

Employer of the Year

Palliser Printing and Signs

This year’s catering will be appetizers by Rocky River Grill, and the awards themselves have been beautifully handcrafted by Cajsa Fredin this year! The bar will be run by the Lake Windermere Lions club this year, and there will also be an after party at Ullr, so best keep those party shoes on!

Youth Entrepreneur of the Year

Aspire Professional Corporation CPA

Business Person of the Year

Panorama Mountain Resort

New Business of the Year

Avail CPA

Non-Profit/Association of the Year

Columbia Valley Pioneer Newspaper

Business of the Year 1-15 Employees

Royal LePage Rockies West Realty

Business of the Year 16+ Employees

Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery

We look forward to seeing you this Friday and celebrating the finalists, the winners and the sponsors – here’s to local business!

-Deanna Berrington

Thursday, October 24

• 10:30am-11:30am: Senior’s Fitness Columbia Valley Centre, $2 dropin.

• 11:30am-12:00pm: Little Lambs. Radium Public Library. Join us for songs, rhymes, and stories with your babies! Every Thursday, no registration required.

• 2:00pm-3:00pm: CommuniTea. Invermere Public Library. Join us for a cup of tea and a chat on the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month. All welcome!

• 2:30pm-4:30pm: Wild Woolies. Radium Public Library. Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the Month. Drop in; Join our fibre arts circle! No registration required. *Supplies not provided.

• 6:00pm-8:00pm: Read it and Eat. Invermere Public Library. Read it and Eat is a cookbook club featuring a different cookbook each month, participants choose a recipe to make, and then bring the dish to the meeting to enjoy food and good company! Please contact the Invermere Library for details. The featured cookbook this month is: Katie Mitzel's Rocky Mountain Cooking.

6:45pm: Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Invermere Legion. $30 buy-in. 7:30pm: Families Housing that Fits. Zoom meeting with host Ben Postmus. Inclusive and supportive housing in your community. diversefamilyroots@gmail.com

7:30pm-9:30pm: Trivia Night Windermere Whitehouse Pub. Host Mandi Cox $3/person, teams of more than 6 will be split into two groups. Ages 19+

Friday, October 25

• 6:00pm-9:00pm: 25th Annual Business Awards by the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce. Columbia Valley Centre. Join us to celebrate the best in business for the 25th year! Get your tickets at cvchamber.ca

• 10:30am-11:00pm: Family Storytime. Invermere Public Library. Join us at the library for stories, songs and a craft! Geared towards preschool age, but all welcome to attend!

• 12:00pm: Soup for Lunch. Edgewater Community Hall. Take away available - bring your own thermos or jar and a container for dessert. $10 per person for hearty soup or chili bun or biscuit and dessert. Everyone welcome. Sponsored by Edgewater Seniors.

• 2:00pm-3:00pm: Friday Fundays! Invermere Public Library. Drop in programming! Drop off allowed for ages 7+. Younger children are more than welcome to join with an adult! Crafternoon: a fun new craft each session!

• 2:00pm-3:30pm: Wholesome Hobbies. Radium Public Library. Every 3rd Friday of the Month; join us each month to try out a new project! For adults 50+ but all adults welcome. Registration is required. Call 250347-2434 to save your spot!

• 6:00pm-8:30pm: Halloween House & Yard Tour. 410 3rd Ave in Athalmer. Tour begins at back alley - toonies for Terry Fox or a nonperishable food item for the Food Bank. Costumes appreciated! Adults welcome - Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

• 6:30pm - close: Meat Draw and 50/50 in the Legion! Members and guests welcome!

• 7:00pm-9:30pm: Columbia Valley Rockies vs Spokane Braves. Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.

Saturday, October 26

• 11:00am-12:00pm: Halloween Craft/Activity. Radium Public Library. Join us for a spooky craft/activity at the Radium Library. Ages 5-12 *Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

• 2:00pm-3:00pm: Living in Wildlife Country with WildsafeBC. Radium Public Library. Learn how to Live, Work, Play, and Grow in Wildlife Country. British Columbia has some of the greatest diversity of habitat and wildlife in Canada.

• 10:30am-11:00pm: Family Storytime. Invermere Public Library. Join us at the library for stories, songs and a craft! Geared towards preschool age, but all welcome to attend!

• 11:00am-12:30pm: LEGO/Duplo Club Invermere Public Library. We'll have Lego, Duplo, big blocks & more out to play with on Saturday mornings! All ages welcome.

• 2:00pm-3:15pm: Community Book Club. Radium Public Library. All adults welcome!

September book: “Manhattan Beach” by Jennifer Egan. Sign up and pick up your copy at the Radium Hot Springs Public Library.

• 3:00pm-4:30pm: Buddy Reading. Invermere Public Library. Practice reading aloud one-on-one with a staff member to build skill, confidence and a love of reading! 30 minute sessions at 3:00, 3:30 or 4:00 pm. By Appointment Only!! Contact Invermere Public Library to sign up.

• 6:00pm-8:30pm: Halloween House & Yard Tour. 410 3rd Ave in Athalmer. Tour begins at back alley - toonies for Terry Fox or a nonperishable food item for the Food Bank. Costumes appreciated! Adults welcome - Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

• 6:30pm: Meat Draw and 50/50 in the Legion! Members and guests welcome!

• 7:00pm-9:30pm: Columbia Valley Rockies vs Quesnel River Rush Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.

Sunday, October 27

• 2:00pm: Cards, Cribbage and Darts Come to the Legion and have some fun! Members and guests welcome.

• 6:00pm-8:30pm: Halloween House & Yard Tour. 410 3rd Ave in Athalmer. Tour begins at back alley - toonies for Terry Fox or a nonperishable food item for the Food Bank. Costumes appreciated! Adults welcome - Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

• 7:00pm-9:00pm: Live Music Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery. Accompanied minors are permitted. No cover.

• 7:30pm: Dads Matter. Zoom meeting with host Ben Postmus. Dads connecting, Dads Supporting, Dads Inspiring. Do you have a son or daughter with Diverse Abilities? So do I. diversefamilyroots@gmail.com

Monday, October 28

• 10:00am-11:00am: Senior's Yoga Columbia Valley Centre, Invermere. $2 drop in, open to all seniors.

• 3:00pm-4:00pm: Buddy Reading. Invermere Public Library. Practice reading aloud one-on-one with a staff member to build skill, confidence and a love of reading! 30 minute sessions at 3:00, 3:30 or 4:00 pm. By Appointment Only!! Contact Invermere Public Library to register.

• 6:30pm: Poker (Chip up for Charity). The Station Pub $20 buy-in. Every Monday.

Tuesday, October 29

• 10:30am-11:30am: Senior’s Fitness Columbia Valley Centre, $2 drop-in.

• 1:00pm-3:30pm: Art in the Afternoon. Radium Library. A weekly gathering for artists! A free program for local artists and art enthusiasts; whether you sketch, paint, carve, knit or crochet, bring your supplies and work alongside fellow artists.

• 7:00pm-9:30pm: Columbia Valley Rockies vs Kimberley Dynamiters. Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.

• 7:30pm: Families on Tuesday. Zoom meeting with host Ben Postmus. Families connecting, Families Sharing, Families Supporting Families: Support, Listening, Sharing, Connecting. diversefamilyroots@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 30

10:00am-11:00am: Senior's Yoga Columbia Valley Centre, $2 dropin. 11:30am-12:00pm: Story Time. Radium Public Library - preschool & all ages.

3:30pm-4:45pm: After School Club. Invermere Public Library. A window of transition time between school and home or extracurriculars. Come colour, bead, play with LEGO, and catch up with friends! Open to all school-aged kids. Drop-off for Grade 2 and up. Please bring your own snacks! One time registration required. Find the form on the After School Club page on our website or fill it out at the library.

6:00pm-9:00pm: Wednesday Dinners & Meat Draw & 50/50 Invermere Legion. All welcome.

national week WASTE REDUCTION

This is National Waste Reduction Week, a time to think about the waste we generate.

From spoiled food to used oil, cell phones and single-use plastics, garbage can add up quickly. It’s up to all of us to minimize the waste we produce wherever possible. From meal planning, to getting a couple more years use out of your laptop, we can all start to make a difference. The RDEK offers dozens of recycling options on hundreds of products.

REPAIR

If you are looking for a great way to save money, learn new skills, and support your local repair shops and tradespeople then repair is the way to go. Repairing something instead of replacing it prevents the need for a new product to be made, preventing the creation of greenhouse gas emissions.

SWAP

Ski swaps, bike swaps, clothing swaps, they are all a great way to save money, clear space in your home, get things for free, and connect with your community. It is simple to keep everyday products in circulation, and take part in events in your community, school, or workplace.

TEXTILE WASTE

Did you know nearly 500 million kilograms (or about a billion pounds) of clothing and fabric-containing home goods are thrown out by Canadians every year? Globally, textiles waste has increased dramatically due to the rise in clothing consumption and production.

Here are some tips on how to take a more sustainable approach to your wardrobe:

• Choose organic or recycled fabric.

• Shop second-hand.

• Choose locally made clothing.

• Repair clothing instead of purchasing new ones.

• Wash your clothes correctly and less frequently.

• Donate clothing to local thrift or consignment stores.

E-WASTE

In 2022, the world produced 62 billion kg of electronic waste, double the amount generated in 2010. The parts that make up your electronics, such as steel, glass, copper, aluminum, plastics and precious metals, can be recovered and made into new products.

To find e-waste disposal options, or to learn more about recycling and waste reduction in our region, visit engage.rdek.bc.ca/recycle

PLASTIC WASTE

Did you know that some shampoo bottles, shoes and other materials are being produced using plastic waste recovered through recycling programs? You can now build a deck with recycled plastic lumber and buy boots made from plastic water bottles.

Here are some tips to help reduce plastic waste:

• Recycle everything you can. Recycle BC Depots accept an extensive number of plastic materials which you can find here: www recyclebc.ca

• Avoid purchasing single use plastic bottles by keeping a reusable water bottle on hand.

• Consider buying in bulk when possible and storing in reusable containers.

SHARING

By shifting to access over ownership (a.k.a. borrowing and lending instead of buying a new item for yourself), you can save money and reduce demand for the manufacturing of new things. How many times would you need that tool over the next 5 years, and how much space would it take up in your home? Before you buy it, ask yourself if you can borrow or rent it!

FOOD WASTE

It’s estimated that Canadian households waste more than $10 billion worth of food annually. Compostable organics make up almost 30% of the waste going into the landfill here in the RDEK. Some simple changes like meal planning, proper produce storage and getting creative with leftovers can make a big difference. Earth Machine composters are also available from the RDEK for $52, and there are many resources to learn about vermicomposting for those looking for indoor options.

Recycle BC Depots in the region

INVERMERE TRANSFER STATION Industrial 1 Rd in Athalmer

8:30 – 5:30 seven days a week

(closed Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

KIMBERLEY TRANSFER STATION 800 Jim Ogilvie Way

8:30 – 5:30 seven days a week

(closed Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

CRANBROOK TRANSFER STATION 2405 22nd St N

8:30 – 5:30 seven days a week

(closed Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

FERNIE TRANSFER STATION 6000 Highway 3

9:00 – 5:00 Mon to Fri 10:00 – 4:00 Sat & Sun

(closed Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

SPARWOOD TRANSFER STATION 1001 Highway 3

9:00 – 5:00 Mon to Sat

(closed Sunday, Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

ELKFORD TRANSFER STATION #6 Inkaneep Rd

9:30 – 3:30 Tue to Fri 10:00 – 5:00 Sat

(closed Sunday, Christmas Day, New Years Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day and Family Day)

RECYCLE BC vs THE YELLOW BIN SYSTEM – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

So many times we hear people say that it doesn’t matter if they put things in the Yellow Bins instead of taking them to a Recycel BC depotbecause the systems are all the same and the products all end in the same place anyway. Nothing could be further from the truth. These two programs are completely separate.

THE YELLOW BIN SYSTEM

This system has been in place for over 25 years and bins are still found throughout the region outside schools, businesses and in rural areas. This system was a great option for the East Kootenay for a long time; however, as the recycling landscape has changed in BC this program is no longer meeting the same needs and is incredibly expensive to operate.

A few years ago, the recycling regulation in BC was changed mandating a new recycling program for residentially-generated paper and packaging products. Recycle BC manages this program and the RDEK is a registered collector at our Depots. This program has opened up dozens of new items that can be recycled – and we get paid per tonne collected. Here are a few key facts:

1. We encourage as much residential recycling as possible to go through Recycle BC.

• Recycle BC accepts far more products and categories.

• The Yellow Bins accept only paper, cardboard, tin cans, grocery bags and plastics 1-6 (no styrofoam).

2. From January 2024 to August 2024 the RDEK has been paid $212,194 in revenues by Recycle BC. By contrast, the Yellow Bin program has cost taxpayers $896,930 to operate.

3. In 2025, the Yellow Bin program is expected to cost $2 million to operate.

4. On average the RDEK earns $274/tonne from Recycle BC. By contrast it costs us $309/tonne to operate the Yellow Bins.

5. At its meeting on October 11, the RDEK Board asked staff to prepare a plan to phase out the Yellow Bins by the end of 2025.

6. Curbside recycling programs in Fernie, Cranbrook and Kimberley are part of the Recycle BC system (Invermere curbside is currently part of the Yellow Bin system, however plans are being made to switch to Recycle BC).

• Curbside programs take the same products as the Paper/Cardboard and Containers categories.

• Glass, styrofoam, and flexible plastics are not accepted in curbside programs and have to be taken separately to a depot as these products are shipped directly to market.

Because Recycle BC mandates its sites must be fenced, staffed and open during set hours, we cannot operate this service rurally with our current transfer station structure, which is why the Yellow Bins have remained at rural sites.

RECYCLE BC DEPOTS

Our Recycle BC Depots are available for residential recycling across the Regional District and with locations at the transfer stations in Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford. We would like to direct as much residential recycling as possible to the Recycle BC Depots as they accept a wider range of products and the RDEK gets paid per tonne collected as a registered Collector.

Products we accept for recycling at Recycle BC Depots include:

• Paper & Cardboard Products

• Containers

• White Styrofoam

• Flexible Plastics

• Coloured/Printed Styrofoam

• Glass Containers

For a full list of products accepted and “what goes where”, visit engage.rdek.bc.ca

Recycle BC continues to expand and we anticipate revenues to increase in 2025. We are encouraging residents to direct as much recycling as possible to these depots in our region and explore the many other recycling and diversion opportunities available to us in the East Kootenay.

New councillors ask questions in the Flats

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The winning candidates from September’s byelection in Canal Flats were sworn in as new councillors during last week’s council meeting.

The byelection generated considerable interest and high voter turnout, driven in part by perceptions of lack of transparency and an alleged conflict of interest involving the village’s chief administrative officer and companies owned by the CAO’s son (including one involved in the village’s planned affordable housing-medical technology hub project); as well as by upgrades to the village’s water system.

Byelection winners Andrew Weitzel and Paul Marcil (who had previously served two terms as a councillor from 2011 to 2019) both spoke to these topics during the campaign, but after the byelection both made clear they planned to dig into the facts first, and both said they would attempt to keep the village moving forward in a positive way.

Those comments spoke to some of the rancour of the byelection. Indeed in the last village newsletter prior to voting day, candidate Denise Trepanier expressed her despair at the negativity. “Our town is being divided, families are fighting against each other, longtime

friendships are being destroyed, harsh words are being said, accusations and bitterness,” she wrote.

Given the strong civic interest and the divisive byelection, some may have expected fireworks at the first council meeting with the two new councillors aboard, but Marcil and Weitzel were true to their word about keeping things positive. They were also true to their word about wanting to get to the facts beneath some of the rumours, as collectively they asked nearly two dozen questions during the Tuesday, Oct. 15 meeting.

Weitzel asked several in a row (and Marcil asked some) on the village’s application to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s housing accelerator fund. Most were about details of the funding and other housing incentives, which were ably answered by Canal Flats mayor Mark Doherty and village corporate officer Sylvie Hoobanoff.

At one point Marcil asked about the Canal Flats Attainable Housing and Childcare Society.

During the byelection, some residents had voiced concern about the village not having control over decisions made by the society or enough ownership over projects the society is involved in. Conversely other residents had expressed worry that the village is in fact

too involved, with village staff in key spots on the society’s board of directors.

Doherty replied to Marcil, explaining that the housing society reports back to the village, with a report to council required for each project.

Weitzel then asked about freedom of information requests made to the village, relating to the society. Doherty noted that would need to be discussed in camera, and asked if Weitzel wanted to do so. Weitzel was happy to instead wait until the end of the council meeting, when an in-camera meeting was already scheduled.

He also suggested postponing the appointment of new Canal Flats chief

financial officer Annette Robinson until some time after the in-camera meeting, which other councillors agreed to do.

Marcil and Weitzel also asked questions about the dike improvement project.

Hoobanoff explained that the project was sparked by a flood plain assessment done by the village several years ago, which recommended upgrading the dike to be able to handle a onein-200 year flood.

The village applied for and received a grant for the work, but in the ensuing years inflation has pushed up construction costs significantly, meaning the grant is no longer enough.

PHOTOS SYD DANIS

New Canal Flats councillors Paul Marcil (left) and Andrew Weitzel are asking a lot of questions of council.

Colour contrast - Driving through wind and rain near Edgewater can be a little unsettling, but ironically the beauty can take your breath away at the same time.

New massage therapist opens in Canal Flats

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Canal Flats has another new business, with Kootenay River Massage opening its doors.

Monique Kruk has been a massage therapist for more than two decades. She moved to the Columbia Valley six years ago along with her husband and two children and launched Kootenay River Massage on October 1.

who suffered from chronic headaches, and the friend often asked Kruk to help, inadvertently teaching Kruk how to massage. “She would ask me ‘please poke my neck here, like that, or please poke my neck there, like that’. And it would work. Her headaches would go away. It amazed me that you could do that; that I could do that,” recalled Kruk.

KOOTENAY RIVER MASSAGE

CANAL FLATS, BC

We offer full-time Spa Massage Therapy appointments to Canal Flats and area! Relaxation to deep-tissue treatments available.

“It’s been really good so far. I’ve had great feedback, and I’ve already had returning clients even though I’ve only been open for two and a half weeks,” Kruk told the Pioneer Kruk first became fascinated by massage when she was growing up in Ontario. Her mom has a friend

9006 Grainger Rd., Canal Flats, BC 250-688-6976 kootenayrivermassage@gmail.com

This early introduction to the restorative powers of massage stuck with Kruk and she decided to make it a profession. She graduated from the massage program at the Toronto School of Business in 2002.

“It’s very satisfying to be able to help people. If you can relieve someone’s pain, ease their stress, you’re helping making their life better.”

Kruk and her family moved from Ontario to British Columbia more than a decade ago. They came to Canal Flats in 2018, and quickly knew they’d found a

place to put down roots.

“It’s quiet here, a bit more relaxed. We love it.”

Kootenay River Massage is located in the Columbia Lake Technology Centre on Grainger Road. Kruk is not registered with the Registered Massage Therapists Association of British Columbia, and consequently is keeping her rates low, aiming to keep her massages affordable for those without health benefits.

“I do believe massage should be affordable for everyone,” she said.

To find out more contact Kootenay River Massage at 250-688-6976.

We provide a safe and reliable method of transportation (RIDE SERVICE) between rural communities within the Columbia Valley for locals and visitors to partake in a wide variety of activities year-round. Rides to and from your destination on your own schedule.

We currently have (2) licensed vehicles, and each are able to accommodate up to (7) passengers. We are also able to do DELIVERY

& KEYS PLEASE (when additional drivers are available).

We look forward to having you ride with Dara’s Dolphins!

STARS requests funding support from RDEK

Columbia Valley Pioneer staff

In a worst-case scenario, STARS is your “best hope.”

That’s how the critical care organization bills itself, which the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) heard firsthand during a presentation on October 11.

STARS representatives Glenda Farnden and Jackie Seely spoke to regional directors about what the medical transport (air ambulance) group does on a daily basis utilizing the latest innovations and technology.

The organization provides physical and virtual care, averaging 34 missions per year in the RDEK at no cost to patients. Farnden said most missions take one to one-and-a-half hours to complete, and the cost per mission can range from $7,500 to $10,000. Incident types range from cardiac arrest to motor vehicle collisions.

Since 2010, STARS flew 604 missions within the RDEK boundary. And since inception in 1985, STARS has flown more than 60,000 missions.

One of those missions included serious trauma patient Willem van Lankvelt, a paramedic who needed life-saving treatment after being struck by a vehicle while cycling. The injuries to his head and face were so severe that the rural paramedics who previously

worked and socialized with Lankvelt didn’t even recognize him on the scene.

After he recovered, Lankvelt said STARS had the skillsets that were not available to the rural medics who attended.

“I believe those skillsets made a significant difference in how I was able to overcome the trauma that I faced.”

Another mission (STARS’ longest) involved a hunter who suffered a major heart attack while in the rugged mountains of northern BC. That call took 2,408 litres of fuel and eight hours of flight over 1,768 kilometres. The result was one life saved.

Seely highlighted the latest technological advances that STARS utilizes including night vision goggle capability (50 per cent of their calls occur in the dark). She also outlined their handheld I-stat lab that provides vital test results in under two minutes. In addition, she noted that STARS is the first helicopter emergency medical service in North America to carry ‘universal’ blood for severe trauma patients.

Another tool that STARS utilizes is the video laryngoscope for intubation; the video screen shows a view of the trachea during difficult airway management.

The EZ-IO drill, yet another advancement, is used for vascular access in cardiac arrest, shock, respiratory, and

stroke patients.

The handheld ultrasound offers rapid test results and diagnosis for internal bleeding, heart abnormalities, and compromised fetuses.

STARS has bolstered its medical toolkit with two products that help stop bleeding - one reverses anticoagulation, the other helps blood clots to form.

Farnden said STARS saves one life every day.

In its constant pursuit of sustainable funding, the organization is re-

questing (from the RDEK) a pledge of $2 per capita for a three-year term. The board referred the request to its upcoming budget deliberations.

Director David Wilks, mayor of Sparwood, said the board is challenged with stretching its tax dollars, noting it already supports Angel Flight, a volunteer-run charity that provides free air transportation to residents in need. He recommended STARS make a funding presentation to the regional hospital board which has a wider audience.

Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP)

OUR

The District of Invermere has initiated the development of a Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP). The CWRP is intended to identify hazards and strategies to better protect the district from wildfire.

The work is being completed by a registered professional forester with Nupqu Resource LP. This brief survey will help to inform the CWRP.

Funding for this project is generously provided by the Union of BC Municipalities.

The survey is intended for residents and property owners within the District of Invermere.

The survey will close on October 31st 2024.

For more information please visit the DOI FireSmart website: https://invermere.net/operations/fire-safety/firesmart/

STARS is seeking operational funding from the Regional District of East Kootenay for its work in the valley.

PHOTO STARS

RDEK approves three TUPs for rentals

Columbia Valley Pioneer staff

The following are news briefs from the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK)

The RDEK has approved three temporary use permits for short-term rentals in Windermere, Panorama, and Fairmont Hot Springs.

The applications requested occupancies of greater than 10 people, but following deliberations the board authorized a maximum of 10 guests (per permit) to align with the district’s regulations.

Yellow bins phased out

The RDEK has directed staff to pre-

pare a plan to phase out the yellow bin recycling program in 2025.

The program provides yellow bins to businesses, institutions and rural transfer stations.

Grants in aid approved

The RDEK has approved a number of discretionary grants-in-aid to various organizations.

For example, the Windermere Valley Youth Centre will receive $2,500 from Electoral Area F and $500 from Electoral Area G for their basketball skills clinic.

The Canadian Mental Health Association for the Kootenays will also receive grants from Areas B, C and E for its ‘essential items project.’ This project

provides people with essential items during the holiday season so they can focus on household and other expenses during Christmas.

Last year 127 essential item boxes were distributed to those in need.

Letter of concern sent

The RDEK has undertaken a minor rescue of Columbia Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR) via a letter of support.

The board has sent a letter to British Columbia Search and Rescue expressing concern about a 45 per cent decrease in funding for CVSAR. A new funding formula has been implemented for the 2024-25 fiscal year, resulting in a decrease in funding for the local volun-

*AMENDED* NOTICE OF INTENT – Temporary Use Permit No. 8-24 –

teer group.

Board chair Rob Gay said the funding cut was unexpected and has created significant challenges for this busy team.

“The RDEK is concerned that such fluctuations in funding allocations could negatively impact search and rescue operations in our region,” Gay said. “At the very least, it places unnecessary financial strain on hardworking volunteers and jeopardizes essential training and equipment maintenance.”

Gay urged the BC search and rescue organization to consider an allocation process that ensures predictable and stable funding in the future.

Fairmont Hot Springs

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of Directors is considering an application for a Temporary Use Permit to allow an accessory shed building and placement, storage and residential use of a recreational vehicle prior to the principal dwelling being built. The proposed building and RV are currently on the property. The permit would be for a 12 month duration, without an option to renew unless there is an active building permit. The application is for property located on Wills Road in Fairmont Hot Springs.

If the application is approved, the RDEK will issue a Temporary Use Permit to permit the recreational vehicle and accessory structures on Lot 8, District Lot 138, Kootenay District, Plan 8296 as seen on the attached map.

This application was on the Board of Directors meeting in October, but was deferred for a month at the request of the applicant. The Board will consider the proposed Permit at its meeting on November 8, 2024. If you believe that your interest in property is affected by this proposed Permit, you may prior to October 30, 2024:

• request a copy of the proposed Permit by contacting Krista Gilbert, Planning Technician by email at kgilbert@rdek.bc.ca ;

• mail, or email written submissions to the addresses/numbers shown below.

All written submissions are public information pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All submissions will form part of the public record and will be published in a meeting agenda posted online. Personal contact information such as phone and email will be removed from written submissions. Questions about the disclosure of your personal information may be referred to the Corporate Officer at 250-489-2791 or 1-888-478-7335.

For more information contact Krista Gilbert, Planning Technician at 1-250-489-0314 or by email at kgilbert@rdek.bc.ca.

STEP UP SHOW UP MAKE AN IMPACT

FIREFIGHTER

RECRUITMENT DRIVE ON NOW

Communities in the RDEK rely on the individuals who make up our paid-on-call fire departments to help protect their communities from emergencies and assist with medical aid when needed. They train, practice and maintain equipment so they are ready when the call comes. They support community events and are part of the heart of their communities. No matter your skill set, you can contribute to public safety in your community.

Supporting kids and families in your community!

o make a donation or to purchase Blue Sky Clothing Co. socks, contact your local Community Literacy Outreach Coordinator or visit cbal.org!

https://cbal.org

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Creston – Gillian Wells

crestoncoordinator@cbal.org

250-402-3534

Cranbrook – Alison Facey cranbrookcoordinator@cbal.org 250-402-7596

Kimberley – Kayla Wilson kimberleycoordinator@cbal.org

250-687-4681

Donate to our Books for Kids campaign: e-Transfer/online/cheque • Purchase a pair of

Every donation makes a difference!

Elk Valley – Chrisy Hill elkvalleycoordinator@cbal.org 250-946-7257

Windermere Valley – Misty Hawes wvcoordinator@cbal.org 250-409-4251

Valemount – Shelby Holt valemountcoordinator@cbal.org 778-915-4934

Golden – Kim Weatherall goldencoordinator@cbal.org 250-439-9665

Since 2001, the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy has been providing free community literacy programming. Please help us raise funds to support CBAL’s literacy programs for children and families in our community.

BEYOND THE BLUE LINE Rockies player chemistry starts to build

By Stephanie Stevens

There is more to creating a strong team than just recruiting talent.   The talent has to get to know one another.

The Columbia Valley Rockies played three games in three days last weekend, all in the opponents’ barns.

But while the Rockies lost two of those three games, head coach Tayler Sincennes said a lot of good came out of the weekend trip.

“We played well in all three games and we had lots to build on coming out of the weekend,” he said. “Our group is slowly starting to come together and spending the amount of time we did on the bus over the weekend, the chemistry is starting to build.”

Friday, Oct. 18 saw the boys in the Princeton Posse’s backyard with goalie Jaiden Jakubowski between the pipes.

Teo Fath started things up with an unassisted goal in the first period, followed by Ethan Cerone (assists by Owen Ditzel and Johnny Lozeman).

Noah Asmundson (Carter Hensch) added another in the second, but the Posse ultimately took the game 4-3.

Jakubowski stopped 32 of 36 shots on goal.

The following night in Osoyoos against the Coyotes saw the weekend’s winning game, with Ryan Bain in goal stopping 26 of 28 shots in the 9-2 victory.

First period scoring was thanks to Cerone (Jack Hefferan) and the second period saw the target hit by Dylan Duzan (Bryan Kim and Shawn Minnabarriet), Carter Velker (Asmundson), Duzan (Cerone and Ashton Sledz) and Velker (Hensch and Hefferan).

Adding to the tally in the third was Peter Godley (Lukas Masters and Dit-

zel), Sledz (Cerone and Duzan), Jaxon Sperling (Duzan and Kim) and Velker (Asmundson and Hensch).

The Sunday afternoon game against the Grand Forks Border Bruins ended 6-3 for the Bruins, with the three Rockies goals courtesy of Asmundson unassisted in the first, and Ditzel (Kim and Paddy Donahue) and Velker (Kim and Godley) in the second.

Bain was again in the net and stopped 28 of 34 shots.

“Obviously still lots of things to improve on,” said Sincennes. “Even though it wasn't overly successful on the wins side of it, I'm happy with what I saw for the most part.”

The boys are back in Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena this weekend, with the Spoken Braves in town tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 25) and the Quesnel River Rush Saturday. Tuesday Oct. 29 will see the Kimberley Dynamiters back in

the Eddie. Puck drop is 7 p.m. for each game.

It will be the family weekend for the lads as well, with parents and billet parents invited to pack the stands Friday and Saturday.

Sincennes said the family weekend, planned each season, is important for a variety of reasons.

“It gives us an opportunity to meet and interact with their families, which we don't get to do very much throughout the season. All of the early morning practices and long road trips that they put into their sons’ hockey careers . . . it's nice for us to bring them all together out here and recognize that hard work they put in,” said Sincennes.

“The parents don’t get to watch in person every night, so I'm sure they are happy to come out and watch their sons play live and spend time with them after the game.”

Volunteer of the Year - Rockies’ Captain Kobe Mason (middle) presents Wally Hann and Renice Oaks with the 2023/24 season Volunteer of the Year award. Both are long-time volunteers and fans of the hockey team.

PHOTO KEN HANN

PIONEER CLASSIFIEDS

OBITUARY

BUYING OR SELLING?

Serving

Invermere & Area cell 250-341-1202 gerry@gerrytaft.ca

Al-Anon. Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking? For more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship, please call 250-878-2448 or 250-342-8392

Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 7 pm. Columbia United AA, Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the BC Service Building, South End-624 4th St. Invermere. Please call 250-3422424 for more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship.

Narcotics Anonymous. Open meeting.

Mondays 7 pm at the BC Service Building, South End. 624-4th St. Invermere

CHEERS

In Loving Memory

Lorna Francis Holbrook

April 30, 1947 - September 25, 2024

It is with great sadness that the family of Lorna Holbrook (nee Bond) announces her passing on September 25, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California.

Lorna will be remembered for her love of the beach, her cats and her baseball team, the Angels. She was predeceased by her husband, William Holbrook.

Gone but not forgotten, Forever in our memories.

HARTWIG, Marianne Ilse (nee Nietmann)

1930-2024

Marianne Ilse Hartwig, 94, died at home in Victoria, BC, on September 19, 2024. She was born in Saarbrucken, Germany, on August 29, 1930, and moved to Edmonton, AB, in 1952. Marianne lived on the former family ranch (K2 Ranch) near Invermere, BC for many years.

Marianne was preceded in death by her husband, Hans Hartwig, and her son, Marius Hartwig. She is survived by her daughter, Kat Hartwig; son, Mark Hartwig and by her grandchildren.

During her years living in Victoria, Marianne was a dedicated patron of Ballet Victoria and a strong supporter of the Victoria Women in Need Community Cooperative. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the aforementioned charitable organizations. Condolences may be offered to the family at mccallgardens.com

Cheers to Rocky River Grill for putting on a super Thanksgiving dinner for the whole town. From Nicole, Jeanette, Edel.

Cheers to my friend Cindy for sharing her fantastic turkey dinner with me. I am grateful!

Cheers to The Local View for the fast turnaround time on my order. Great service!

Cheers to Garry N. for helping my senior mom carry groceries up the stairs. Much appreciated.

Cheers to Greg, Tracey, Shelley and all the friendly, helpful staff at Crossroads Market for the super customer service they give to their customers. Well done.

Cheers to Jim Harrison for all the things you do to help a senior citizen so that she can remain in her own home. Your many acts of kindness are much appreciated.

B. B.’s Home and Design Services Renovations, Masonry & Handyman Services, Blinds, House checks, eavestrough/ yard cleaning/dump runs. 250-688-2897

ASPIRING MUSICIANS from Parson to Canal Flats

Applications are open for the Carol Wilkie Memorial Steamboat Mountain Music Bursary. Musicians of all levels and any age may apply. Funds may be used for: workshops, music camps, lessons, master classes, college, or university music programs.

Deadline: November 15

Download application: steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca

TOWN HOME FOR RENT

Akiskinook 1 Bedroom Townhouse for Rent Ground Floor/Corner Unit/ Private Entrance. Has dishwasher, new appliances, deck, gas barbecue. Clubhouse with indoor pool/hot tub. Squash, tennis and pickle ball courts, fitness equipment and beach.

$1699/month including utilities, wi-fi/cable. allwest@shaw.ca 403-383-0600

Cheers to Turning Point Advisory for supporting non-profits across the Columbia Valley in becoming more sustainable in creating positive impact in our communities! Found on Friday, October 11cordless drill on highway near Windermere. Call with description. 250-341-7536

THE HEARTFELT COMPANION Services for Seniors. Since 2014 we’ve provided kind and compassionate non-medical care, transportation to Cranbrook, overnight care, meal prep, grocery shopping and more. Excellent local references. 250-341-5683 Heartfeltcompanionservices.com

with

Stick your neck out and be seen by thousands of readers in print and online!

Call Christina at 250-341-6299 ext 101 to promote your business in the Pioneer

PASSION FOR CANNABIS?

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Responsible for but not limited to:

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• Opening/closing store Hiring and training staff

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• Strong knowledge of laws around the sale of Cannabis

If you are interested in working in a fun and productive work environment with competitive wages, submit resume to: Jennifer McLennan - gmjenliquor@gmail.com or hand deliver to Jennifer McLennan at the Invermere Liquor Store

by Arnold Malone

When size really does matter in politics

When it comes to communicating within a gathering and there is a stated purpose, the correct number of persons is important. If you have friends who have been on an adventure and you are curious about the details of their experience you already know not to invite eight other couples. That many participants would result in a scatter of chatter.

Some communication requires just a personal number of people while regional or national matters require a broad participation. In all cases the size of the group should to be adjusted to meet the objectives.   It is from the above contentions that I wish to discuss the size of Canada’s House of Commons.

Currently, Canada tends to follow the British example for determining how many members of parliament there will be.

In both countries we assign a population number that is to have a representative. As the population grows, the number of representatives increases. At first blush this seems like a reasonable and workable approach. However, such a system can grow out of effective participation.

As a high school student with an interest in federal politics I knew the names of many private members of parliament. At that time there were only 264 members

of parliament.

The big problem with adding more and more members as the population grows is that there is no possibility to add more hours to a day or days to a week. The result is that with too many members it becomes difficult for the private members to develop a profile of active public engagement.

Private members are an important part of the parliamentary responsibility. When the number of MPs grows too large the result is that parliament is diminished and the power of the cabinet becomes exaggerated.

The beauty of the parliamentary system is that the House of Commons – the representatives of the common people – is a force for holding the government to account.

In England there are now 650 members of parliament. So, if a member asks a penetrating question of a government minister on one day it may be weeks, months or never before a follow-up or another question can be considered. What this means is that when there are too many MPs it becomes government by cabinet and the private members – ones who represent your local issues - become diluted.

In the British situation, if a budget speech is about

to be delivered or a foreign leader is going to address Parliament there is no longer enough room in the chamber for all of the MPs to sit. Further, the chamber has become so crowded that members no longer have desks; just benches. Without desks a member is reduced to memory regarding all comment. That diminishes effective debate.

In Canada, exceptions regarding how big a population needs to be for an area to have a Member of Parliament already exists. Prince Edward Island has four MPs but they have about the same population as Lethbridge. That was Prince Edward Island’s condition to join confederation. Likewise, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Iqaluit each have one MP with much smaller than the stated formula for population size. These are special considerations and they are respected and they work.

In my opinion a functional size for Parliament should be 200 members. These fewer members would then have additional staff to serve population increases. This would mean a lower cost than increasing the number of MPs. Most importantly, this would be a size of representation that those MPs could develop a national profile, and important local concerns could have a greater chance of being brought to attention.

Students, staff learning from the elders

The following is a condensed update on what is happening in education in Rocky Mountain School District No. 6. Submitted by superintendent Aaron Callaghan

Martin Morigeau Elementary School is striving to provide meaningful student engagement with treasured partners including Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers, historians, and seniors.

Staff have been learning more about their community to lead initiatives outside of the classroom.

In September, Canal Flats mayor Mark Doherty supported staff with visits to local sites including town hall, the arena, community hall, and local businesses.

The afternoon was spent at the headwaters of the Columbia River where outdoor opportunities can be shared with students.

Furthering the collective journey toward truth and reconciliation, students at J. Alfred Laird Elementary School

have been learning Secwepemctsin, the traditional language spoken by Secw’epemc people including the local Shuswap Band. Vocabulary development is being provided to classes by Shuswap elder Diana Cote.

During Truth and Reconciliation Week, students painted rocks orange and added words in Secwepemctsin, then scattered the beautiful stones throughout Invermere. It is the school’s hope that this simple activity will build awareness of this local language in the community.

The week also saw a flag-raising ceremony at the school district office, and a Kairos Blanket Exercise in multiple locations. The exercise provided valuable teachings about the history of colonization in Canada.

Rocky Mountain School District is continuing its implementation of the Mental Health In Schools strategy.

October began with more than 75 professionals gathering to collaborate and set programming priorities for the upcoming school year.

Martin Morigeau Elementary is providing student engagement with partners including local Indigenous elders. PHOTO SYD DANIS

Artist expresses love of nature

By Steve Hubrecht  steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

By day most kids in the Columbia Valley know Louise Wright as a school library technician extraordinaire, organizing poet-tea parties, creating library displays, matching students with books they are bound to love, and in general doing everything she can to make literacy and reading more fun.

But by night, when the displays are all cleaned up, books are on the shelves, and the library door shut, ‘Miss Louise’ (as Wright is known in local schools) heads home, picks up her paintbrushes or her camera and begins to create.

Miss Louise is an accomplished artist and photographer, and this fall has been a busy one: in September she launched her first book ‘A Columbia Welcome: A Community Photography Collection’ and throughout October her art is being featured as part of the ‘Celebrate Nature’ exhibit in Pynelogs Cultural Centre.

‘Celebrate Nature’ also includes the work of four other local artists (Rita Rankin, Christine Foran, Mara Pratt, and Beth Gallup), who all focus on the natural surroundings of the Columbia Valley. Miss Louise’s paintings are mostly acrylic, with some oil and mixed media work.

The first thing you notice about her work is the vibrant colour, especially her wildflower paintings. Purple fireweed, deep pink (almost red) tulips, brighter pink and blue snapdragons, and a piece titled ‘Bright Garden’ that is a riot of summer colours.

You also can’t miss the gently swirling brushstrokes when she paints mountains and rocks, with the lines of light grey, dark grey, brown, black, rusty orange and other earth tones seeming like the geologic striations and rock layers that created those mountains and rocks in the first place. There are outdoor recreation-focused paintings too, with a skier riding through backcountry snow, and a cyclist pedalling through a streaky sunset.

When the Pioneer visited the exhibit on Friday, Oct. 18, gallery volunteer Lori Baugh Littlejohns said visitors had seemed to gravitate to two of Miss Louise’s work in particular: the flower-filled ‘Bright Garden’ and the aquamarine waters in ‘Welsh Lakes’. “It’s the bright colours, I think people like that,” said Baugh Littlejohns.

It’s no surprise Miss Louise centres so much on nature; she grew up in the Columbia Valley in a family that was always outdoors. “My parents really embraced it (being outdoors). Camping, snowmobiling, going up logging roads deep in the Purcells that hardly anyone else goes to; as kids we did it all,” she told the Pioneer.

When she grew up, she made sure she and her husband did the same with their own kids. “I dragged

them out all the time. We always did at least one really big overnight backpacking trip as a family every year,” explained Miss Louise. They went all over: Paria Canyon in Arizona, the rugged North Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, and deep into secret spots in the local East Kootenay backcountry.

“My kids used to refer to it as the annual ‘death march’, but now that they are adults, they still make sure to come home for it each year,” said Miss Louise. “We love it . . . it’s hard to explain other than to say I always feel really good to be in the backcountry.”

All that time in nature is the inspiration for Miss Louise’s art and photography. While in the backcountry she’s constantly taking photos, and some of those photos become the basis of her paintings.

“The painting is a sort of appreciation for what I encountered out there that day,” explained Miss Louise.

When it comes to painting, she is mostly selftaught. Indeed, when she tried taking online art classes through Emily Carr University of Art and Design a few years ago, she found that “when I was forced to paint what someone else wanted me to paint, how they wanted me to paint it, it really killed the joy for me. I actually didn’t pick up a paint brush for a few years after that.”

Miss Louise started into photography in a similar fashion, beginning by taking photos of dance groups, soccer teams and other community groups as a hobby, before becoming more serious.

That focus on people as well as landscapes is still evident in her photography, making ‘A Columbia Welcome: A Community Photography Collection’ different than other coffee table photography books. Yes, there’s amazing mountain and lake landscape images in the book, which is organized into sections based on seasons. But there are also photos of farmers’ markets; the annual Show and Shine classic car show in Radium; the Canal Days festival; the Fairmont Fly-In, the Great Scarecrow Competition in Invermere, and more.

Miss Louise chalks this up to the wide array of people living here, and all the different things they do.

“I was thinking that a day doesn't go by when a person can't help but notice something impressive about where we live. Creating a book and spending time daily looking at the valley was a beautiful way to put those difficult, busy days into perspective,” she said.

Miss Louise self-published her book, which she admitted was a challenging process and took longer than expected. But there are now several hundred copies here in the Columbia Valley, available for sale at Four Points Books in Invermere, Bacchus Books in Golden, and at the upcoming pre-Christmas Holly Jolly Market at the Columbia Valley Centre in December.

The ‘Celebrate Nature’ art show at Pynelogs will run until Thursday, October 31.

Columbia Valley Churches

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

While you are with us, you are always welcome to join us. Sunday at 10:30 am 326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 | www.lwac.ca

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY (Anglican - United)

Sunday Services - 10:30 am 110 - 7th Ave. in Invermere website - wvsm.ca

Minister: Brent Woodard 250-342-6644

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY

Pastor: Justin Furse

Sunday 10 a.m. Worship Service 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere 250-342-9511 | www.vcachurch.net

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats: Saturday, 4 pm

Canadian Martyrs’, Invermere: Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 9 am St. Joseph’s, Radium: Sunday 11 am Father Francis Dela Cruz | 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater | 250-342-6633 #4, 7553 Main St. Radium | 250-347-9937

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Worship Service, Sunday, 11 a.m. Sunday School, 10 a.m. President Kendyn Mackensie • Columbia Valley Branch • 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs 250-439-9041

CHURCH OF CHRIST (Iglesia ni Cristo)

Worship Service: Sunday 9 a.m., Thursday 7:45 p.m. Chamber of Commerce (Lions Hall) For inquiries: 250-688-1643 250-270-2208 or 250-688-0629 For more info about the church, you can Google online at incmedia.org or pasugo.com.ph

Local artist and photographer Louise Wright has had a busy fall, releasing a coffee table book ‘A Columbia Welcome’, and taking part in the ‘Celebrate Nature’ art show at Pynelogs Cultural Centre. PHOTO SUBMITTED