PIONEER
JANUARY
New owner of Pioneer
The Pioneer will ring in the new year with some big changes.
The biggest of those will take effect on Feb. 1, when longtime associate publisher Amanda Nason becomes the Columbia Valley Pioneer’s new owner. That same day, the Pioneer will move its office from the current location, where it has been for more than a decade, to a new spot on the same block just a few doors away.
“It’s exciting and scary all at the same time to become owner,” said Nason. “Nothing grows without change,” she added, noting however, that the Pioneer is keeping its current team intact and that readers and customers will continue to enjoy the aspects of the Pioneer they love for years to come.
Fire chief warns of ‘silent killer’ in home
There could be a ‘silent killer’ in your home waiting to harm your family.
That’s what happened to one group of five recently in Fairmont Hot Springs where a carbon monoxide leak forced the evacuation of 18 condo units, resulting in a family being sent to hospital.
The December 28 call at 12:25 a.m. brought the fire department, RCMP and BC Ambulance to the scene
on Riverview Road where crews donned protective equipment and utilized CO monitors.
“Upon entry into the building, carbon monoxide levels of over 200 parts per million were detected and we immediately evacuated all 18 units,” said Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Service Chief Drew Sinclair. He noted that a family of five was sent to hospital for further examination and observation.
Radium bighorn sheep face tough winter
Snowy conditions and wily coyotes have combined to make things difficult for the resident bighorn sheep herd in Radium Hot Springs.
A pair of bighorns have been hit and killed by vehicles in and around Radium in the past few weeks. A ram was hit by a speeding pickup truck on the section of Highway 93 South within the village boundaries (between Sinclair Canyon and the roundabout) on Saturday, Dec. 23. Then on Tuesday, Jan. 2 a young male lamb was killed after reportedly running under the wheels of a semi truck on the Radium Hill.
A math lesson from mom helped Vina Benn find something magical in baking — that ordinary-yet-wonderous alchemy that turns flour and eggs and butter and sugar into cookies. She was fascinated and she wanted to learn that alchemy.
As she grew up, Benn became an accomplished home baker, the person everyone else asked to bake birthday cakes, because you just couldn’t buy in a store what Benn could whip up in the oven.
Those skills came in handy when Benn launched her own Mama Bear Bakery business here in the Co-
lumbia Valley some years back, and they may propel her even further in the near future. That’s because Benn is currently competing in the semi-finals of The Greatest Baker, one of the biggest online-run baking contests in North America.
As this issue of the Pioneer goes to press, Benn is sitting in second place in the online voting. If she bumps up to first place she’ll make the final — an astounding achievement for a small town mom running a home-based baking business.
Amanda Nason took the plunge as the new owner of the Pioneer FILE PHOTO
Bighorn sheep were faced with a challenging winter in 2024.
PHOTO SYD DANIS
FEBRUARY
Owner rushes into burning home
Firefighting operations had to be halted during a structure fire near Fairmont when a homeowner entered the burning building, according to a news release.
Firefighters were called to the scene of a two-storey home in Columere Park just before 10 a.m. after a neighbour saw smoke and called 9-1-1.
“We responded immediately and, with the help of the aerial truck, worked hard to keep the fire confined to the one structure,” explained Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Service Chief Drew Sinclair.
The homeowners were not home at the time the fire broke out but were notified and subsequently returned to the property. Against the direction of firefighters, one of the homeowners entered the home, Sinclair said.
“Immediately we had to halt our firefighting actions and firefighters had to enter the burning structure to search for and retrieve the homeowner,” he pointed out. “While it is extremely distressing to see your home or property on fire . . . no piece of personal property is worth your safety, or worse, your life,” Sinclair stated.
‘Cowboy’ Cole grabs gold x 2
Panorama resident ‘Cowboy’ Cole Carey struck gold earlier this month, winning a NorAm dual moguls competition in Deer Valley, Utah.
The 19 year old is in his third season competing on the NorAm (North American) circuit with the B.C. provincial freestyle team.
He’s been getting progressively better each season, and hit a peak with a best-ever finish of ninth in the singles
mogul event on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at Deer Valley. He then raised the bar even further the next day by winning the dual moguls competition on Thursday, Feb. 8.
“I’m really stoked,” Cole told the Pioneer a few days after his victory. “I was really happy with the ninth place finish. To then go out the next day and win it all, that was something else . . . it was huge.”
No pedestrian-only main street
There will be no pedestrian-only main street in Invermere on Fridays and Saturdays this summer.
The Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce undertook a downtown experience survey earlier this winter asking the opinions of local business owners and residents on that topic.
During a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 20, Chamber executive director Pete Bourke presented the results of the survey to council members.
The results showed a clear majority of local residents either strongly agree or somewhat agree with creating a ve-
hicle-free pedestrian area in downtown Invermere on some days during the summer by closing down main street to vehicle traffic. But local business owners were sharply and almost evenly divided, with slightly more than half not agreeing with the idea and slightly less than half either strongly agreeing or somewhat agreeing with it.
“The (survey) results were not overwhelmingly in favour of a closure. There was a clear split in opinion (from business owners),” Invermere Mayor Al Miller told the Pioneer at the council meeting that immediately followed committee of the whole.
Taylor Sage leads the pack and the Nipika Panorama Toby Creek Loppet weekend.
PHOTO JOHN GIBSON/TRAVEL COLUMBIA VALLEY
Panorama’s ‘Cowboy’ Cole Carey (with black hat) won gold at a NorAm dual mogul event in Deer Valley, Utah. PHOTO SUBMITTED
MARCH
Park waterbody closure extended
Keep that fishing rod and standup paddle board tucked away: waterbodies in Kootenay National Park will remain closed for at least another year.
In fall 2023, Parks Canada closed lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, streams and creeks in the national park (which begins immediately to the east of the Village of Radium Hot Springs) until March 2024. It made this decision after it found the parasite that causes whirling disease in Yoho National Park, which borders
Child care centre ready for tender
Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 is continuing full steam ahead with its new child care projects in Invermere and Marysville.
Secretary treasurer Alan Rice gave the board an update on Feb. 13. He presented a report on the new space being built directly south of Invermere’s Eileen Madson Primary School, a project that was announced in May of 2023 with provincial funding of $8.6 million (and Columbia Basin Trust funding of $300,000).
Rice reported that MQN Architects have been awarded the design contract, adding that topographical and geotechnical surveys have been completed. He noted that the conceptual site plan has been completed and reviewed with the District of Invermere, and that the development permit application is being prepared.
Kootenay National Park.)
Last week Parks Canada extended the waterbody closures in Kootenay and Yoho for a full year until March 2025.
The federal agency outlined in a statement that it spent the winter months analyzing its options and that the continued closures will help protect fish and allow Parks Canada to conduct further sampling and monitoring.
The Village of Canal Flats recently received a warning letter from the provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change about its wastewater treatment facility. The village is aware of the issues, has secured a grant to help pay to fix them, and plans to do much of, if not all, the work this year.
The letter was sent after a ministry inspection of the village’s wastewater treatment facility earlier this winter. It highlighted failures in monitoring effluent discharge rates and sludge discharges; insufficient fencing to prevent unauthorized access; and maintenance issues with the facility’s infrastructure. It is the second such letter from the ministry about the facil-
Jeziah Halverson skates up a storm on Lake Windermere.
PHOTO LINNEA HALVERSON
Columbia Valley nordic skier Anika Rievaj
Master plan unveiled for LWR lands
Planning consultants have completed a master plan to turn the Lake Windermere Resort (LWR) lands into Lakeside Waterfront Park.
The plan is extensive and eye-catching, including a lakeside gathering and nature play area; a bank swallow conservation area; a central lawn and amphitheatre; another non-lakeside nature-theme play zone and barbecue grove; sports courts; a small area of mixed retail development; a motorized pull-in boat
launch; and a large paved parking lot and multi-use space near the boat launch.
The estimated price tag for all this is also extensive and eye-catching — in the neighbourhood of $25 million to $30 million.
Invermere council members told the Pioneer that as wonderful as the plan is, there is simply no way the District of Invermere will be implementing all of it any time soon.
Ambassadors call for boat moratorium
The Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) last week added their voice to that of the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) and the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce in calling on federal and provincial officials for an immediate-but-temporary moratorium to stop out-of-province watercraft from coming into B.C.
In a letter sent on Wednesday, April 10 to Canadian Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez and B.C. Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Na-
than Cullen from Ambassadors chair Taoya Schaefer and vice-chair Shannon Nickerson, the group pointed to two discoveries last year — of invasive mussels in Idaho, and the parasite causing whirling disease in Yoho National Park.
To stop the spread of these potentially devastating invasive species the Ambassadors asked for a temporary moratorium on out-of-province watercraft entering B.C.
Invermere finally adopts official STR rules
The District of Invermere’s short-term rental (STR) regulations are finally in place.
Invermere council members earlier this month adopted the final zoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments, making the district’s new STR rules official.
Invermere has been working toward STR regulations for the better part of two years.
Earlier this year the long months of planning and consultation started crystalizing into reality as council began giving initial reading to the various pieces of municipal legislation that collectively make up the new regulation.
The process was completed during the Tuesday, April 9 council meeting, and the new rules are set to take effect on May 1.
Did you welcome a new addition to your family in 2023?
Show off your little bundle of joy in the January 25th edition of The Columbia Valley Pioneer!
Simply submit a high resolution photo of your baby (or grandbaby, niece, nephew...) along with the child’s full name, date of birth, weight at birth, parents’ names and a fun fact about the child.
High-flying - Fun seekers defy gravity during the popular Red Bull SlopeSoakers event at Panorama Mountain Resort.
PHOTO LIAM GLASS
MAY
Applicants change proposal
The Columbia Valley Metis Association (CVMA) and Metis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) have changed their affordable housing/cultural centre development proposal in Invermere.
The project is one of the biggest efforts ever in Invermere to create affordable housing. It quickly became the hot button issue in town when the proposal first became public in late March.
The initial plan called for a four-storey, 36-unit affordable housing building and a 3,000-square foot (280-square metre) CVMA cultural centre office to be built on 13th Street.
A public hearing on the develop-
ment in early April drew more than 150 people — an enormous turnout by Invermere standards. Many people at the hearing were staunchly against the project and many others were staunchly in favour of it.
The CVMA and MNBC submitted a radically revised proposal to Invermere council last week.
In the new plans, the fourth storey has been chopped off the affordable housing component, the building has been reconfigured into an ‘L’ shape, the cultural centre has been removed, and four extra units of affordable housing have been added.
Boat launch repair delayed
The Athalmer boat launch needs fixing, but won’t get properly patched up for some time yet.
The launch has been deteriorating for years and the situation became so bad that last summer the concrete portion of the boat launch was closed (the unpaved part remained open). The situation will remain the same again this summer.
Part of the reason repairs haven’t been done yet, and won’t be any time soon, is that it’s unclear exactly who has jurisdiction over the concrete part of the launch.
Many local residents assume that
the launch belongs to the District of Invermere since it appeared to be part of the Lake Windermere Resort (LWR) lands, which the district purchased for $5 million following a public referendum in 2017.
But the boat launch is located on the foreshore, and consequently the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy may also have jurisdiction over it.
“It is not entirely clear,” said Invermere chief administrative officer Andrew Young.
Housing, medical hub unveiled
Canal Flats residents found out more about the village’s planned new affordable housing-medical technology hub project during a town hall meeting at the Civic Centre on May 17.
Village councillors and chief administrative officer/chief technology officer Richard Wayken outlined the plan for the new development, as well as the village’s other strategic priorities.
The first phase of the hub will see 16 units of new housing and four new units of commercial space built at the corner of Burns Avenue and Grainger Road, next to the Headwaters Academy daycare centre.
Carving her future - Marie-Line Gagne demonstrates her craft during Woodcarver Days in Radium Hot Springs. FILE PHOTO
Edgewater father-daughter duo Tim and Ursula MacIntosh captured some outstanding images of the aurora borealis (northern lights) glowing above the Columbia Valley during the geomagnetic storm on Friday, May 10.
Hart hot on trails to be best biker
Invermere dirt biker Trystan Hart recently earned a silver during the Red Bull Erzberg Rodeo Hard Enduro in Austria, widely considered the toughest offroad dirt bike event on the planet.
Over the past several years Hart has risen to the top of the professional dirt biking world. He’s won the U.S. Hard Enduro Championship series for three straight years and he earned bronze at the Erzberg Rodeo Hard Enduro in both 2022 and 2023.
This year he was aiming to win the Erzberg Rodeo, and just might have done so had he not been knocked off his bike right at the start of the race.
Cell tower debate
Cell phone reception may get better in Invermere and surrounding parts of the Columbia Valley.
Rogers Communications Inc. will soon begin public consultation on a new cell phone tower within District of Invermere boundaries.
Rogers wants to put the new tower — described as a 25-metre high monopole — on a 10 metre by 10 metre square area at the eastern edge of the Lakeview parking lot, behind Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.
Fairmont Hot Springs chef Lara McCormack is in the running to be on the cover of Taste of Home magazine.
McCormack is taking part in the Favourite Chef — one of the biggest online cooking competitions on the continent and she’s on a roll.
Last week voting for the first round of the competition — the top 60 — had just closed, and McCormack had swept into the second round with ease, finishing with the third most votes of any of the 60 competitors.
She was in the midst of the second round of voting — the top 20 — and appeared poised to continue her streak of success.
Dirt devil - Invermere dirt biker Trystan Hart won silver at the Red Bull Erzberg Rodeo Hard Enduro. Since then he has been churning up more wins on the dirt biking podium.
JULY
Community mourns deaths of car crash victims, pilot
A tragic and heartbreaking motor vehicle accident took the lives of three individuals in the Columbia Valley.
On July 9 at approximately 10:30 p.m., RCMP responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision on Westside Road, near Panorama Drive in Wilmer.
Upon arrival, first responders located a vehicle which had driven off the highway and down an embankment.
RCMP spokesperson James Grandy said the driver was taken to hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries, while three passengers were sadly pronounced deceased. Police say all of the deceased were male in their early 20s; one male was local, while the other two were from Alberta.
According to Grandy, speed and intoxication are believed to be contributing factors in the collision.
The crash knocked out power lines, which led to a power interruption in the community.
“RCMP offers their condolences to
the families affected in this tragic incident,” Grandy said.
The Columbia Valley RCMP, along with assistance from BC Highway Patrol and the BC Coroners Service continue to investigate.
In another tragedy, the BC Coroners Service is still investigating the death of a ranch owner following a helicopter crash near Brewer Creek on July 2.
Police reported that the rancher was piloting the helicopter when it crashed.
Two passengers were injured and taken to hospital.
“Search and rescue crews were deployed to the area and located the helicopter, and sadly the pilot who was deceased,” said Cpl. James Grandy, RCMP spokesperson.
Police say the helicopter was privately owned but did not release the name of the deceased.
No further details are being made available at this time.
Invermere has new planner
After nearly a year of the position sitting vacant, the District of Invermere finally has a new environmental planner.
Amy Fletcher began in the role the first week of June, and has already sunk her teeth into a number of initiatives.
Fletcher grew up in a surfing and sailing family in Adelaide, capital of South Australia, and credits that initial — and constant — exposure to the out-
doors with fostering an environmental ethic in her at a young age.
“We were always, always by the ocean. Surfing, sailing, swimming. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was a connection to nature and it was always there. Through that I learned the idea of leaving the environment in a better state than when I found it,” Fletcher told the Pioneer
New superintendent hired
A new superintendent has been hired to oversee Rocky Mountain School District No. 6.
Aaron Callaghan has been appointed the role, taking over for acting superintendent Steve Wyer and former superintendent Karen Shipka who left the position earlier this year.
The board says Callaghan brings with him a wealth of K-12 experiences, and his commitment to equity, innovation and student success “aligns per-
fectly” with the values and goals of the district.
Callaghan is a long-time educator with diverse leadership experience, most recently serving as superintendent of Coast Mountains School District No. 82 based in Terrace.
Prior to that he held both school and district senior leadership roles in the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board in Nova Scotia.
Action taken against CWD
The province of BC is taking further action to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer, moose, and caribou populations.
The disease is a fatal infection that affects the brain and nervous system, weakening the animal and making it slower. It was confirmed in two deer from the Kootenay region in January 2024. However, no further positive tests
were found after enhanced surveillance of road-killed cervids and a targeted harvest of 50 deer in the areas of the two positive cases. This may suggest that the disease has been detected early and is affecting a small segment of the population. But without active management, the disease will continue to spread and lead to irreversible impacts to cervid populations.
Big honour - Area F director Susan Clovechok congratulates veteran firefighter Doug Sinclair for winning the honour of Volunteer of the Year. PHOTO SUBMITTED
AUGUST
Conflict claims addressed
The mayor of Canal Flats has responded to social media criticism from a group of citizens questioning council’s transparency and the village’s chief administrative officer (CAO).
In a message on the village’s website, Mayor Mark Doherty acknowledges a number of recent posts on Facebook from a coalition of Canal Flats citizens calling for “transparency.”
Resident Andrew Weitzel, a candidate in the upcoming byelection in Canal Flats, says action is necessary to deal with concerns outlined in a letter to council reportedly signed by more than 125 citizens.
The letter, with accompanying documentation, highlights concerns about
the role of CAO Richard Wayken relating to dealings between the village and companies owned or managed by Wayken’s son.
“We believe that there are reasonable bases for concern regarding conflict of interest and ensuring that contracts and relations are negotiated and conducted in the best interests of the VCF (Village of Canal Flats),” the letter states.
The accompanying document outlines various holdings of the CAO and “parties closely related to him.”
It includes $129,510 paid by the village in 2023 to a company the coalition says is owned and directed by the CAO’s son.
Four candidates vie for seats
Four people have officially declared they are running as candidates in the upcoming byelection in Canal Flats.
Chief Election Officer Sylvie Hoobanoff confirmed the following candidates (two to be elected): Paul Marcil, Mark Topliff, Denise Trepanier, and Andrew Weitzel.
The byelection, set for September 14, was declared after a pair of village councillors, Jennifer Noble and Anora Kobza, stepped down recently for personal reasons.
First Nation unveils centre
?Akisq’nuk First Nation recently hosted a major ground-breaking ceremony for a new multi-purpose centre.
The ceremony was part of the band’s annual General Assembly on August 23 to 25.
The new building will be constructed over the next few years.
“This project has been in progress for a while now, and we are very excited to finally be in the construction phase,” said Lisa Cannady, the band’s economic development officer.
The groundbreaking on August 23 saw many officials and community members take part.
Chief Donald Sam, elders, dignitaries, and mayors from Invermere (Al Miller) and Radium (Mike Gray) attended, as did Electoral Area F director Susan Clovechok.
Attendees emphasized the importance of this new building replacing the old facility, and the fact it will provide health and wellness for Akisqnuk members.
Blowing up a storm - The August 23 wind storm caused a lot of damage by uprooting many trees.
PHOTO CHERI HANN
OUT OF OFFICE…
Adventures in Physician Recruitment
As some RDEK folks are aware, there is a line on their property tax bill which indicates an amount for Economic Development – a percentage of this amount goes to Physician Recruitment in the Columbia Valley. This is specific to the 2 clinics for Family Doctors as well as our Emergency Department at Invermere Hospital.
I started my involvement with this team about 4 years ago while still Mayor of Radium Hot Springs. I was honored and pleased to be invited to stay on the team post elected! Dee Conklin (another recovering local government elected person) and myself were assigned a role as liaisons with the Students, Residents, Locums and potential new Doctors. We host them in a variety of ways via Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner around the Valley. Each of these groups required an opportunity to share their experience, identify gaps in their stays, and to ask questions about the community. We quickly discovered that they all had different perspectives and needs, but had one commonality – it was important to meet with them early in their engagement to ensure that we could assist them
with meeting people with similar recreational interests, assist with finding a place to live, and to engage with any partners or family members who came along for the duration. With the variety of biking and hiking groups, golf courses, Panorama, and arts and culture entities we were able to accommodate most. Thanks to everyone who stepped up to host, provide passes and more.
Although we have a strong contingent of Physicians here, the goal of this work is to enable them to take breaks knowing there are locums to see their patients! The valley is fortunate to have Physicians at both clinics who see the value of mentoring the next generation and through a partnership with UBC, we have residents coming through the on average every 3 months! They talk to their peers and share their great experience here. Thanks to all who provide support to this initiative.
Many newer folks in our community are well aware that there is a waitlist for a family physician and part of our strategy is to attend Family Physician Conferences as exhibitors at the tradeshows to promote the advantages of working, living and
playing here in the Columbia Valley. The team understands our assets and our needs and have been able to speak to folks specifically who might be interested and be a good fit in our clinics and taking their shifts in Emergency. Interestingly, there are some mature Physicians around the country who would consider taking leave and hiring a locum at home to go somewhere else to locum! We have spoken with students who grew up here who are nearing end of training and are considering coming back. We meet folks who have no idea where we are when they approach and are excited about the possibilities when they leave us!
The Physician Recruiting team consists of a Physician from each clinic, nurses, hospital administrators, clinic administrators, Local Govt rep, Dee and myself and staff from the Columbia Valley Chamber who administer the program. The cost to taxpayers is minimal and I would be happy to chat with anyone who would like to learn more.
-Clara Reinhardt
Thursday, January 2
• 2:00pm-3:00pm. Needles & Hooks. Invermere Public Library. Join us on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month for Needles & Hooks. Bring your current yarn project and meet with other makers! All welcome.
• 3:30pm-8:00pm: Summit Youth Night at the Edge. Edgewater Community Hall Basement. For all youth Grade 6 to 12. Every Thursday join us for snacks, games, food, pooltable, crafts at The Edge.
• 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: Trivia Night Windermere Whitehouse Pub. Host Mandi Cox $3/person, teams of more than 6 will be split into two groups. Ages 19+
Friday, January 3
• 6:30pm - close: Meat Draw and 50/50 in the Legion! Members and guests welcome!
• 7:00pm-9:30pm: Columbia Valley Rockies vs Williams Lake Mustangs. Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.
• Saturday, January 4
• 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.
• 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 Library to sign up.
• 6:30pm: Meat Draw and 50/50 in the Legion! Members and guests welcome!
• 7:00pm-9:30pm: Columbia Valley Rockies vs Kimberley Dynamiters Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.
Sunday, January 5
• 2:00pm: Cards, Cribbage and Darts Come to the Legion and have some fun! Members and guests welcome.
• 7:00pm: Live Music Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery. Accompanied minors are permitted. No cover.
Monday, January 6
• 10:00am-11:00am: Senior's Yoga Columbia Valley Centre, Invermere. $2 drop in, open to all seniors.
• 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 Library to sign up. 6:30pm: Poker (Chip up for Charity). The Station Pub $50 buy-in. Every Monday.
Tuesday, January 7
• 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.
Wednesday, January 8
10:00am-11:00am: Senior's Yoga Columbia Valley Centre, $2 dropin.
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.
SEPTEMBER
Tom Cochrane coming to town
Invermere is getting set for a music show of a magnitude perhaps never seen before in the Columbia Valley.
Legendary Canadian classic rocker Tom Cochrane is headlining the coming week’s Invermere Mountain Block Party.
The event is a part open-air concert and part street 0festival, and will take up the easternmost stretch of 13th Street in downtown Invermere (next to the are- na) on Friday, Sept. 6.
Cochrane was born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba and grew up in southern On-
tario. When he was 11 years old, Cochrane traded his train set for a guitar, and has been playing ever since.
His first gigs came in the early 1970s, playing acoustic folk music in coffee houses in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood, then home to a large arts and counterculture scene.
Cochrane recorded his first single in 1973, then later rose to fame along with the band Red Rider in the late 1970s and 1980s, with hits such as ‘White Hot’, ‘Boy Inside the Man’, ‘Big League’, and ‘Victory Day’.
School plan seeks feedback
The replacement of Eileen Madson Primary School continues to be a top priority as Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 seeks public feedback on its Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP).
Capital funding is also being sought to upgrade Edgewater Elementary and Martin Morigeau Elementary School, among other facilities.
The school district is focusing on addressing historical disparities that
have favoured Lower Mainland and coastal zone schools, and is opposing any potential school closures since no significant enrolment declines are anticipated.
Aaron Callaghan, the school district’s new superintendent, says the The LRFP is an important step in ensuring that schools are equipped to meet the evolving needs of learners.
Students face cell phone restrictions in schools
As required by the province, Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 has set the stage for cell phone restrictions for students this fall.
The restrictions are part of the district’s revised Code of Conduct to minimize classroom distractions and help keep students safe by limiting the use of personal digital devices.
Under the new rules, students will be able to use devices such as cell phones during class when specifically
permitted by their teacher. Phones will be treated as learning tools only.
The policy's enforcement will vary by school, reflecting the different context for students. For example, younger students in K-3 generally do not bring personal devices to school, while older students in Grades 8-12 who rely more on their personal devices for communications will face specific restrictions during instructional time.
Marcil, Weitzel win byelection to fill empty seats in Canal Flats
Canal Flats residents voted in a pair of new village councillors last weekend in a byelection that saw exceptionally high voter turnout.
Preliminary results for the Saturday, Sept. 14 byelection had former councillor Paul Marcil (who previously served from 2011 to 2018) returning to office, joined by political newcomer Andrew Weitzel.
Marcil led the way, earning 270 votes cumulatively across the two advance voting days (September 4 and 12) and the general voting day, while Weitzel earned 206 votes.
Denise Trepanier (121 votes) and Mark Topliff (28 votes) were the other two candidates, both missing the cut in the four-person race to fill the two vacant Canal Flats council seats.
Classic rocker Tom Cochrane is headlining Invermere’s Block Party on September 6.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Drummers perform an Indigenous song during the Salmon Festival at James Chabot Provincial Park. PHOTO SYD DANIS
OCTOBER
McInnis voted as new MLA
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.
Woodcarver Park gets permit
The planned Woodcarver Park in Radium Hot Springs is another step closer to becoming reality after Radium council approved a development permit for the project.
The Radium Village Arts and Culture Society is the driving force behind the project, and with the development permit secure, the group is now focused on the next step: getting the building permit. If that happens quickly, construction on the park could begin as early as this coming spring.
“It’s definitely a complicated process, because it’s a challenging piece of land (that the park will be built on). But they found a way to do it,” Radium Hot Springs mayor Mike Gray told the Pioneer. “The plans look fantastic. It will be a major landmark for the village.”
The park is being built in honour of former Radium resident and woodcarver Rolf Heer, who was famous not just throughout the Columbia Valley, but also around the world.
Taft releases tell-all memoir
Invermere councillor Gerry Taft has released a book about the very public nervous breakdown and mental health struggles he suffered last fall.
The book — ‘The Safe Word is Pineapple: My Journey from Mayor Through Crazy’ — is part memoir, part social commentary and charts blow-by-blow Taft’s travails, starting with the sudden onset of psychosis and paranoia last September. This was followed by his
arrest under the Mental Health Act, the ensuing loss of his career as a realtor, the abrupt changes in his personal relationships as well as pretty much everything else in his life, culminating in a year-long healing process.
It’s a gripping ride that bounces around in time and location, as Taft tries to navigate his mental health crisis, and to hold onto his sanity and his family at the same time.
‘All Night Wrong’ to film here
Lights, camera, action — the Columbia Valley is set to star on the silver screen once again.
The valley will serve as backdrop and shooting location for an independent comedy feature film starring a pair of big-name up-and-coming actors, with filming likely to start in just a few weeks.
The movie, ‘All Night Wrong’, fea-
tures Maria Bakalova and Zach Cherry. Jason James is director. Entertainment news site Deadline Hollywood described the film as a “comedy noir” about two people who meet for a hook-up via dating app Tinder, but instead end up caught in a chaotic set of circumstances involving a dead body, a killer’s car and thousands of dollars in cash.
Notice of Intent
Rocky Mountain District Road Closure
Notice is given, pursuant to Section 60(2) of the Transportation Act, that the Ministry of Transportation and Transit has received an application to permanently close a portion of Baltac Road right-of-way in Windermere.
The proposed closure is within NEP 4321. The area is to be adjoined to Block K of District Lot 705, Kootenay District Plan 4321, for the purpose of access and setback.
A copy of the plan showing the proposed road closure can be emailed upon request.
Anyone supporting or objecting to this road closure should submit written comments to the ministry’s Rocky Mountain District office at 129 10th Avenue South, Cranbrook, B.C., V1C 2N1, or by email to Debra.Keely@gov.bc.ca, no later than January 10, 2025.
For more information or to request a copy of the plan, please contact Debbie Keely at 250 420-6561 or at Debra.Keely@gov.bc.ca
Scott McInnis is the new MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke. He is seen here with BC Conservative leader John Rustad and Clerk of the Legislative Assembly Kate Ryan-Lloyd. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Memoir author Gerry Taft (right) is seen here with Canadian TV host George Stroumboulopoulos. PHOTO SUBMITTED
NOVEMBER
Brisco mill burns in late-night blaze
A late night fire in Brisco last week burned part of the local mill to the ground.
The mill, one of the major landmarks and employers in the community, caught fire some time during the evening of November 7.
The flames engulfed the mill’s treatment plant and its shop, destroying both. Although the fire did subside as the night wore on, it was still burning on Friday, Nov. 8.
The cause of the blaze is unknown, but will be in-
vestigated by the provincial Office of the Fire Commissioner.
Brisco lies outside of the Edgewater fire protection service area, meaning the Edgewater fire crew (and other Columbia Valley fire crews) were not allowed to attend the blaze. The RCMP came to the scene to ensure public safety and to monitor the situation.
No one was hurt in the fire, and the other buildings that are part of the mill were far enough away that the flames did not spread to them.
Senior, 105, gives thanks to folks
A long-lived local resident is nearing the end of his life, and from his hospital bed extended heartfelt gratitude to the outpouring of help he’s received in recent weeks.
Jim Ashworth has lived most of his 105 years here in the Columbia Valley. He grew up in Invermere and then Cranbrook, before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
His time in the air force included serv- ing in the Allied forces’ Burma Campaign during the Second World War, on the ‘Forgotten Front’, in parts of what is now India, Bangladesh, and China.
After retiring from the air force in 1965, Ashworth and his wife Gaetane returned to the Columbia Valley, where they took up a new career helping operate the Hoodoos Resort near Fairmont Hot Springs.
Many valley residents know Ashworth, who is a familiar face from Remembrance Day ceremonies through the years, and from his many volunteer endeavours, including his fundraising efforts for the Columbia Valley Food Bank in 2020, when he walked 101 blocks at age 101.
Restrictions work, officials saying
Cell phone restrictions in district schools appear to be having a “positive impact,” according to senior officials.
In a recent report by Rocky Mountain School District No. 6, provincially mandated restrictions on digital devices have led to some interesting results locally.
Assistant Superintendent Steve Wyer noted the implementation of the restrictions this fall was “generally smooth,” with administrators satisfied with the policy.
“Student feedback in multiple settings has been generally positive,” Wyer reported. “Principals are seeing higher levels of engagement in educational settings.”
The restrictions, set by individual schools, limits the use of cell phones in class so that learning is uninterrupted. Wyer said one school reported that students are doing things such as choosing to read during their free time rather than burying their heads in their phones.
New CWD in deer
Concern over chronic wasting disease (CWD) is growing since a new case has been confirmed in the Kootenay region.
The provincial government reports that a whitetail deer (harvested in October) tested positive for the disease; it was confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on November 20.
Chronic wasting disease is an infectious and fatal condition affecting the central nervous system in the cervid family, including deer, elk, moose and caribou.
To date, three cases of the disease have been identified in deer populations in the Kootenay region.
Many Columbia Valley residents gathered during local Remembrance Day ceremonies to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
PHOTO CHERI HANN
The Brisco mill sustained significant damage during a late-night fire on November 7.
PHOTO MIKE RIOPEL
DECEMBER
Local home used as film set for movie
A Radium resident played host to Hollywood last week, with filming taking place in her townhouse.
The independent comedy-noir movie ‘All Night Wrong’ shot in Radium throughout November is not technically a Hollywood production. But it’s still a fairly large-scale film starring big-name actors (including one Oscar nominee). And Kayja Becker didn’t actually ‘host’ the movie per se or those making it, since she and her young family had to vacate their townhouse while the filming was occurring there.
But still, when ‘All Night Wrong’ finally comes out, Becker will stream the movie, sit back and see the very living room she’s sitting in — indeed the very same couch she’s sitting on — up there on the silver screen.
Dozens of Radium residents have been involved in ‘All Night Wrong’ in one capacity or another over the four weeks of filming in the village. Becker’s involvement came when movie location scouts decided her townhouse would make the perfect setting for several scenes.
Food recovery coordinator appointed
A new coordinator has been appointed to oversee ‘food recovery’ in the Columbia Valley.
Columbia Valley Food and Farm has given the role to Priya Biswas as part of a “generous” grant from the Columbia Valley Community Foundation.
The program aims to enhance food security and reduce food waste in the valley.
Food and Farm thanks its various partners such as Family Dynamix, Groundswell, and many others around the table who understand the impor-
tance of food recovery.
“By working together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable food system and contribute to a resilient and thriving Columbia Valley,” said Biswas.
Biswas brings more than 15 years of experience driving innovation and efficiency in large-scale organizations such as GE Ditigal and ATB Financial. She is also deeply committed to environmental sustainability and plans to use this passion in the food recovery program.
Invermere’s STR count complete
The consultants hired by the District of Invermere to help monitor and enforce its short-term rentals (STRs) have completed their initial assessment of the STR situation here.
Local residents have frequently wondered just how many STRS there are in Invermere — both aloud to district officials and to the Pioneer
District staff checked STR listing platforms several times during the nearly two years spent creating Invermere’s new STR regulations, but that was more to give a big picture idea of the situation than any sort of official tally.
The only other quasi-official count (on an independent third-party basis) was a report on STRs across B.C. from McGill University’s Urban Politics and Governance (UPGO), which outlined that Invermere had 180 active STR listings in June 2023. But this too was just a snapshot rather than an in-depth count.
When Invermere hired Granicus Consulting Ltd. earlier this year to help it deal with STRs, the company’s first big step was to spend several weeks running through the data of at least 30 major STR platforms and find out how many STRs operate here. Granicus recently completed this assessment, giving the district some official numbers for the first time.
The results? In total, there are 263 STRs in Invermere, including five listed in the past month. In terms of sheer number of listings, there are 427 active STR listings in the district.
Invermere council turned down several more requests from short-term rental (STR) operators to host more guests than allowed under district regulations last week.
Owners from three STRs in Invermere requested temporary use permits (TUPs) allowing them more than the limit of eight guests allowed under district regulations implemented in May.
Lucky Grinch - Looks like the Grinch isn’t doing too badly here during Ladies Night in Whoville at Home Hardware in Invermere.
PHOTO CHERI HANN
A YEAR IN PICTURES
The Columbia Valley Rockies hockey team learned a lot in 2024, as did women on stilts, photographers, Lake Windermere curlers, and thieving squirrels.
FILE PHOTOS
PIONEER CLASSIFIEDS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BUYING OR SELLING?
Serving
Invermere & Area cell 250-341-1202 gerry@gerrytaft.ca
ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS
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. 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
COLUMBIA VALLEY WORD SEARCH
Find all of the items in our list of local names, all without leaving your chair! Words can appear up, down, across, and diagonally. Have fun!
INVERMERE
WINDERMERE
AKISQNUK
SPILLIMACHEEN
BRISCO
EDGEWATER
SHUSWAP
RADIUM HOT SPRINGS
CANAL FLATS
FAIRMONT COLUMBIA
TOBY CREEK
BREWSTER CHISEL NELSON
SWANSEA HORSETHIEF
BUGABOOS METIS PANORAMA WILMER CASTLEROCK PINERIDGE WESTSIDE PARK ATHALMER WILDER FORT POINT KOOTENAY KINSMEN JAMES CHABOT JUMBO HOODOOS WHITEWAY PIONEER
Narcotics Anonymous. Mondays 7-8 pm, ONLY VIA ZOOM.
Meeting ID: 772 6822 4234 Passcode: 4ZgPXP
CHEERS
Cheers to Blaine, the big-hearted logger from Spur Valley, who pulled our car out of the ditch after the ore truck had squeezed us off the snowy road to Nipika. Despite it being the end of your 12-hour day, you stopped and helped us, and filled our souls with gratitude.
FOR SALE
For Sale:
2025 Columbia Valley Calendars for sale $25 each Local photography by Cheri Hann (Cheri’s Creations on FB).
Available for pick up at The Pioneer and Local View (during office hours), or email: cherihann9@gmail.com
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
B. B.’s Home and Design Services Renovations, Masonry & Handyman Services, House checks, house cleaning/dump runs.
250-688-2897 SERVICES
STAND ABOVE THE CROWD!
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
A YEAR IN PICTURES
A rodeo, nature walks, competitive skiing, concerts, and wildlife defined a great year in the Columbia Valley in 2024. FILE PHOTOS
2024 IN PICTURES
From search and rescues to fires, and from Grinches to classic car shows, 2024 was a busy year in the Columbia Valley.
PHOTOS
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