Columbia Valley Pioneer, November 1, 2018

VALLEY

Opioid clinic in Invermere, one year in

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer.com

A year after Invermere’s opioid clinic opened, the centre is supporting 10 to 20 patients at any given time and has the capacity to treat more.

“People are in recovery and are getting better,” said Chris Huston, a mental health and substance use administrator for Interior Health in the re gion. “We believe (having local clinics) is helping keep people alive.”

According to the BC Coroners Service, last year 1,450 peo ple in the province died from unintentional drug overdoses.

“The numbers are staggering,” Mr. Huston said.

Essentially all of the provincial overdose deaths over the past few years have been related to fentanyl, he said, which makes the services the opioid clinic provides even more im portant.

crisis in preventing the harms for people around better access, better engagement, get ting to see real physicians in your own community and having reduced barriers to ac cess to good clinical care,” he said. “We’re giving our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, grandparents a better chance to not experience the tragic consequence of a poisoned drug supply.”

Drugs that are considered opiates include heroin, OxyContin, Demerol and more. People from all walks of life suffer from opiate addictions, he said. Since the clinic offers outpatient services, it is able to support working employees, parents with children and those with other time commitments.

Mr. Huston wants people to know “there are options for them to keep themselves safe.”

Chris Huston, Interior Health

“If we can provide support to people, get them into recov ery, have them not expose themselves to this very dangerous drug, they have a better chance at staying alive,” he said.

Previously those seeking treatment for opioid addictions had to travel to Cran brook, he said, adding that the drive for appointments and to get medication was “a pretty big burden” for those who needed support.

Offering a local clinic means “we have a much better chance in this opiate overdose

He welcomes anyone with questions about future plan ning, service delivery or community engagement for mental health and substance use to contact him directly at 250-4202276.

The clinic is open Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m., with physicians taking appointments with clients on Thursday mornings. The clinic is located within Invermere Mental Health at 850 - 10th Avenue. The office num ber is 250-342-2363. People can call or stop by for more information.

East Kootenay Addiction Services also provides support for those with addictions. They have an adult counsellor and a youth counsellor in Invermere. The phone number for the local branch is 250-342-3868.

Problem painkillers: one woman’s battle with opioids

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer.com

After Linda Jones (not her real name) had surgery on her spinal cord, her doc tors wanted her to take OxyContin.

When she told the doctors she was worried about side effects and the pos sibility of becoming addicted, they waived her concerns aside. This was back in the early 2000s, when she said the drug was associated more with pain relief than addiction.

“It wasn’t my fault. I swear to you I asked all the right questions,” the mid dle-aged Radium woman said about what happened next.

When her surgery turned into two surgeries and her pain didn’t go away, she felt like she needed more and more medication and her doctors kept writing pre scriptions. Soon she was taking close to 1,000 milligrams of the drug each day, a volume she called insurmountable.

She didn’t consider herself an addict since she obtained her drugs legally. And she said she can relate to the feeling of wanting to kill anyone that might stand between her and her fix.

She can also empathize with a friend of hers, a nurse who died by suicide after developing an addiction to OxyContin.

“You’re sick and you feel like you’re dying,” she said, adding that the drug tricks a user’s brain. “It tells your body that you’re in more pain than you actually

are... There’s something evil in it.”

Eight years ago she worked with her doctors to start tapering off her medica tion and switched to a different drug. It’s been a slow and steady process to move forward, but now she estimates that she’s down to about 1/16th of her highest dosage.

“After a while you build up such a tolerance,” she said. “You could become quite addicted and need quite a bit of that OxyContin within six weeks.”

And if recovering addicts slip up even once, they can lose themselves all over again. That’s what happened to one of her family members who had been sneaking her drugs. He had been off the painkillers for three years when, she said, “some body handed him something at work and he had to go to treatment all over again.”

Even so, getting clean can be done, she said, but “you really, really have to want to.”

Invermere’s opioid clinic is “exactly what’s needed,” she said. She wasn’t aware of the clinic until she reached out to the Pioneer, but she said it’s such a “fantastic” idea that she plans to volunteer.

She recommends that those trying to recover work with a doctor to get better and participate in a program like Narcotics Anonymous.

She also has advice for the larger community and the friends and family mem bers of those who are struggling with addictions.

“Quit demonizing these people,” she said. “It’s not them. It’s the drugs... You have to have the understanding.”

“We’re giving our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, grandparents a better chance to not experience the tragic con sequence of a poisoned drug supply.”

RCMP Report

is past week, October 22nd through October 28th, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 58 calls for service. e following are some of the more notable les our o cers responded to:

• On Monday, October 22nd at about 6 a.m., the RCMP and Radium Fire Department responded to a fuel spill at the Petro-Canada in Radium. e sta were alerted to a fuel spill at one of their pumps shortly after turning the pumps on. In reviewing the surveillance video it was discovered that a white or light coloured GMC extended cab pickup towing a at deck trailer loaded with bales of straw struck the pump at about 12:30 a.m. then departed southbound on Hwy 93/95. Investigators continue to try to identify the truck and occupants.

• On Monday, October 22nd at 11 p.m., an adult male who is known to police threw a rock through the front entryway window of the Columbia Valley RCMP

Detachment. O cers were quickly noti ed and located the intoxicated man inside the rst vestibule of the detachment. Several levels of security prevented the man from gaining access to any part of the main detachment. e man was arrested for break and enter and mischief.

• On Tuesday, October 23rd at 6:50 a.m., a pedestrian collision occurred at the intersection of 4th Street and 7th Avenue in Invermere. An 89-year-old man was struck by a pickup as he was crossing the road on a green light. e pedestrian was transported to the hospital to be assessed. e driver of the truck remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. e driver of the truck remains under investigation for failing to yield.

• On ursday, October 25th, a resident called police to report he received a call from someone purporting to be from Publishers Clearing House and advising him that he had just won $2.5 million but he would need to sign a form in order to receive the money. e man was cautioned about providing any personal information as this was a scam.

Orienteering teamwork

nal

‘control’

in the

is best for you. e path

challenging. Invermere’s 2756 Army Corp

Submitted photo

Submitted by Sgt. Darren Kakuno Detachment Commander Columbia Valley RCMP

Cadets from Invermere (at left) joined up with Cranbrook (middle) and Nelson (at right) squads to compete in the Kootenay Zone Orienteering competition Saturday, October 13th. Orienteering is an outdoor adventure sport

Victims of abuse to get safe space

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

have a

in Invermere

by the

place to

to new

seven units planned for Invermere are on top of the 16 a ordable housing units announced earlier this spring. Pat Cope, executive director of Family Dynamix, says they hope to break ground on both projects this spring.

“ ese homes will allow women and children to heal with the supports and services they need, as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives.”

believe that by doing this, we’re reducing a barrier, and the barrier is safe accommodation,” says Ms. Cope. “We believe our numbers are going to increase signi cantly.”

Premier John Horgan

of a safe place to sleep. e seven units will include both temporary shelter and longer-term accommodations, called second-stage housing units. Safe homes provide short-term shelter and support, typically for up to 10 days, for women and children eeing violence in rural and remote communities, according to a Ministry of Municipal A airs and Housing spokesperson. Second-stage housing provides safe short-term housing and supports for women after they leave an abusive relationship or situation. Women can stay for six to 18 months while they prepare for independent living.

e Minis-

Ms. Cope says over the past 30 years, Family Dynamix has served 2,000 women eeing domestic violence; 115 women in the last year alone who have been impacted by domestic violence in their immediate family unit.

e team at Family Dynamix is certain they are not seeing all the women who could potentially come forward; there are many barriers preventing women from stepping forward for help, Ms. Cope says. However, she says, the new facility “will signi cantly improve our ability to deliver services in a timely manner to women. It supports our agency’s work.”

e model in Invermere for roughly the past 30 years has been community volunteers who open their homes to women eeing violent domestic situations. While Family Dynamix intends to continue that partnership with private homes, the seven units will expand the options to women and children in need

try of Municipal A airs and Housing anticipates the units will be available in 2020. BC Housing selected the projects based on community need and demand, expression of interest submissions, and information gathered during a review of BC Housing’s Women’s Transition Housing & Supports Program.

e project was announced ursday, October 25th as part of the B.C. government’s plan to address transition house facility needs across the province.

is rst phase, with a $90 million budget, will see 280 homes built in 12 projects across the province, including in Smithers, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Langford, Port Alberni, and Prince George.

“In a province that puts people rst, we need to make sure women and children can nd safety when they need it most,” said Premier John Horgan. “ ese homes will allow women and children to heal with the supports and services they need, as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives.”

e Province’s three-year goal is to add 500 units to the system across B.C.

PERSPECTIVE

Treading lightly in tales of tragedy

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

We heard the choppers from our homes. We saw the emergency responders mobilizing. e wail of sirens blasted through the cool evening air. ere was no hiding this emergency. It was Tuesday, October 16th. A head-on collision shut down the highway between Radium and Invermere. e worry was it would be one of our own. After all, it’s shoulder season; the tourists have gone home and it’s mostly locals on the road.

e worry quickly turned to reality. All three involved in the incident were local: Stephanie Eugene died on scene, Jayden Je erson and Morgan Odlund were rushed to critical care in larger centres.

Covering tragedy is not an easy part of a newspaper’s job. We debate and discuss; we analyze our long-held customs against changing times and how we must navigate our role as the teller of our community’s tales.

We put a story online to con rm the facts and hopefully clear the chaos, not add to it. We kept it brief, and simple, and used only what was veri ed by primary sources.

We talked about running a full story in the newspaper. But families of the three involved chose not to talk to media at the time, and we chose to respect their wishes. We had enough for a small story and decided to work with what we already had for our print edition. And then, just as we were preparing to go to press last week, the tragedy grew deeper when we heard Jayden had passed away as a result of his injuries.

We made the call to pull the story. Out of respect for the families going through this intense, unimaginable time of tragedy, the last thing Pioneer sta wanted to do was add to their grief with a stark black and white article, a clinical look at what became a very personal story. e community’s grief was too fresh, too raw, to scrape deeper.

Did we do our journalistic duty in this case? Some would argue no. We strive instead to live by our conscience: to be the community voice, yes, but for it to be a respectful. And sometimes silent.

A trust account has been set up for Morgan Odlund and the late Jayden Je erson at Invemere Kootenay Savings Credit Union, under the name Morgan and Jayden Fund. Account number is 1615947. Deposits can be made at the Invermere or Radium branch, or cheques dropped o at Inspire Floral Boutique. A GoFund me page was also set up, which has exceeded its goal.

Historical LensHistorical Lens

Love of the librarians

A survey in the Columbia Valley in 2004 found the best thing about the library was the librarians, as evidenced by sentiments such as the “excellent service,” the “welcoming environment” and the “smiling sta ,” when respondents referred to what they like about the Invermere library. Some things never change: 14 years later, our librarians are still the best! is photo showed librarians Virginia Walker and Liz Robinson.

le photo November 2004

Partisan politics

Dear Editor:

Re. People, not politics comes rst letter to the editor by Wendy Booth, October 25th

Hi Wendy, e truth is that the Conservatives are masters at playing partisan politics and you will experience that over time, should you become the Conservative nominee. I always put people rst, have no political masters at Committee and vote how I believe the majority of the people of the riding want me to vote in the House of Commons.

In this case the Conservatives on the Environment Committee were asking to bring Volkswagen before the Committee and asking government enforcement o cials to come and provide evidence on how rigorously they are with enforcing legislation with a focus on Volkswagen. ey knew that since Volkswagen is under investigation government ocials were not going to talk about the case and Volkswagen would not come, but it looks good to ask for

what isn’t going to happen for the sake of partisan politics. My counter proposal was that we should invite government o cials to come before the Committee to testify about how they enforce environmental laws in general - we need strong enforcement of all of our environmental laws.

In the House of Commons we see the Conservatives proposing things that may not be legally possible, for example asking a Federal Minister to do something that they have no legal right to do, like intervene in the Justice system. is is something you see in a third world country, but hopefully we will never see in Canada.

Like I said, Conservatives are masters at partisan, divisive politics. We saw that under Stephen Harper and there is no reason to expect any change in how Conservatives would behave in the future.

Wayne Stetski

Member of Parliament Kootenay Columbia

Dean Midyette Publisher/ Sales Manager

Amanda Nason Advertising Sales

Dauna Ditson Reporter Katie Watt Intern

Lorene Keitch Editor Steve Hubrecht

Editor/

Amanda Murray

Administrator/

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Design/

LETTERS

A houseful of memories from a bygone era

Dear Editor:

This letter comprises my first letter written to the ed itor. In light of the recent “Halloween House of Horror” article published on October 25th, I felt it necessary to interject on behalf of my family. This horror house hap pens to be a house that myself and my family hold near and dear to our hearts. I felt the depiction of the home itself a little tasteless, and wanted to provide an alterna tive representation of that home.

My Oma (an Austrian name for grandma), Chris tine Gagatek, immigrated to Canada in 1952 at the age of 19 from Austria following my Opa, Mike Gagatek. She arrived, speaking only German and made a go of life in a new country, staggeringly far away from her family and anything she’d ever known. She would reminisce to us that the mountains surrounding the Columbia Valley reminded her of her home in Europe.

My Oma raised three boys in that home. She worked tirelessly using the strength of her own two hands to cultivate her garden and feed her family. That home is a piece of history, both in the Valley and in my family.

My Oma, after suffering a fall, moved begrudgingly from the home she spent the last 60 years residing in, into Columbia House. She was adamant on maintaining her independence, reiterating to our family that she did not want to move. She loved her garden, she enjoyed tending to her vegetables and flowers, she took pride in her ability at the age of 84, to manage the arduous task of maintain ing her home and the swath of land it sits upon. Oma,

now 85, suffers from dementia, and is now living out the remainder of her life in Columbia House. On her better days, she will reminisce about her life, her past, and her home.

We still have an oil painting depicting my Oma’s house displayed proudly on the wall at my parents’ house — the vibrant red of the house’s siding, creating the backdrop for so many of our family memories.

Oma’s house is not “a fairly creepy place” – in fact, it is exactly the opposite. It is a place where we shared meals as a family, embarked on elaborate Easter egg hunts, and celebrated Christmas Eve. We sat with Oma in her kitch en and watched her hand-roll noodles and hang them on a wooden broomstick to dry in preparation for our favou

First past the post

Dear Editor:

First past the post! Another perspec tive for consideration!

Those who favoured PR in their Let ters to the Editor last week, argued that Lester Pearson brought in a long list of progressive legislation such as the Cana dian Flag, the National Health Act, and a host of other pieces of legislation with a minority government. They were correct!

However, PR is NOT the same as a minority government in Canada?! Working in the best interests of a majority of Canadians with another more main stream party is far more productive/inher ently easier, than the multitude of parties that become a part of the political land scape with proportional representation.

Germany held a PR style election on September 24th, 2017 AND they were unable to form a government for 6 months after the election. Angela Merkel had to relinquish control over three min istries to a smaller party and to agree to a number of demands, just to form a work ing government. Thus, the party that had the most votes was forced to allow a shift of  major leadership control to parties with lesser, citizen support.

Germany got lucky, they had no com pelling issue nationally or inter-nationally during the six month “lame duck” period, when essentially they were without a co hesive, sitting government!

PR encourages special interest groups to form fringe, political parties. People should check for themselves: Google “the number of parties” in European countries where the elections process has proven to be a confusing mess, with resulting nega tive impacts on their economies, particu larly of note the last number of years.

We don’t need MORE government with its attendant add-on costs, borne by simply writing cheques to be paid by hard working British Columbians. Enough has been spent already on flawed court cases and this referendum. What’s the rush in pushing this through so precipitously?

At the end of the day, Proportion al sure doesn’t define as INDIVIDUAL when it comes to our votes .... it says (and does) quite the opposite!

We simply voted NO!

David Gregory Fairmont Hot Springs

rite family meal: sauerkraut and noodles. A little-known fact to many – Oma cooked on a wood fire stove for the entirety of her life. She would haul wood in from the shed outside (through rain, wind and snow) to fuel this stove, cooking upon the same fire that kept the entire house warm on cold winter nights. Her sons (my dad and uncle) purchased her an electric stove so that cooking in the summertime would be easier, but let it be known that her electric stove served only as a storage cupboard for Tupperware containers.

I can still remember the scent of the root cellar in the basement; the sound of the thick wooden door scraping open to reveal the well-stocked shelves of canned goods and sauerkraut fermenting in large casks; the feeling of the worn green carpet on the bottoms of my bare feet. These “horrors” painted the canvas of my past, my fam ily’s past and my Oma’s past inside that house that holds so many memories that have woven our family tapestry.

As an urban planner, I understand all too well the importance of redevelopment, but this does not damp en the feelings of loss associated with the demolition of Oma’s house, signifying the end of an era for my family and closing the door on a life well-lived. Despite the last memories made by many Halloween-goers, I can hope that I have been able to repaint the image of that lonely two-storey home, once full of life and laughter, now sit ting vacant — a fading memory of my Oma.

Lauren Gagatek Calgary

US style politics in the Valley

Dear Editor:

Oh boy, the US political style is al ready here in the Columbia Valley! Used to take 10 years for fads down there to take root up here. Now it’s down to much less. DEAR POLITICIANS: Please do not run a Federal campaign based upon nit-picky negative stories unless it has to do with felony charges, moral turpitude, and other more tradi tional reasons for being deemed unfit for public office.

The other sort of nickle and dime criticism should wait until an actual election. This constant droning about

what he said and she said or what he did or did not do is an unfortunate emotional state of mind that most of us would rather not take part in. I’ve had enough of that style! Good luck to us all and I wish there were less par ty hacks and more independents to choose from. The “Party’s” over, so to speak, if we ever want to catch up with our systemic problems and solve them rather than muddy them up with finger pointing.

Dennis Herman Fairmont Hot Springs

Christine Gagatek, ‘Oma’, in front of her 10th Ave. home. Submitted photo

MLA weighs in on Pro Rep vote

Dear Editor,

As the MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, people from across the riding have been asking me on a daily basis, ‘What should I do with the Proportional Repre sentation (PR) Referendum Ballot?’; for the individuals who have done some research on this referendum, they are telling me just how offended they are. They are of fended that their Government has not provided enough information for voters to make an informed decision; on a referendum which has the potential to change the po litical landscape in this Province, forever.

This isn’t fearmongering, there are many unanswered questions; yet when the Premier was confronted about a number of the ‘grey’ areas, his response was that voters should “take a leap of faith” and trust him. In effect, he is asking us to take a leap into an abyss of unknowns; voters do not have a clear and transparent understanding of the choices that are being offered, no side can refute that. There are no riding maps, no direction as to how MLAs will be elected, or for that matter, how many MLAs will be elected. In the 2009 referendum, there was a threshold that would protect rural B.C., and a commission that was non-partisan; there is nothing like that with this referen dum. Again, the Pro-side cannot refute those facts.

I am not against a PR system that is well thought out, shows us exactly what we are going to get, and doesn’t pit rural and urban citizens against one another.

BC MUST KEEP THE CURRENT SYSTEM (First Past the Post), which is used across North America and the UK.

Here’s why:

More Elections means more tax payer dollars? Italy uses a form of PR and has had, on average, one election every year since 1945. Who the heck thinks that voters want more elections? Elections are costly, do you know how much this referendum alone is costing British Co lumbians?

Mainstream or Fringe? PR opens the door for in fluence from smaller, single issue parties, who are often extreme on issues. Right now, Sweden has larger main stream parties who must partner with a Neo-Nazi par ty. The mainstream party must satisfy the needs of the Neo-Nazi party, if they want to form a government.

Electing a mainstream party is not a bad thing; elect ing a party with broad interests benefits the greater good of a large diverse population, such as our Province.

Majority or Minority Governments? It’s difficult enough for majority governments to get good things done for people. PR leads to governments made up of multiple Parties, each with their own special interests. Under PR, nothing gets done; the balance of power rests in fickle hands.

Elect or Appoint? The three proposed PR options would result in some MLAs being appointed by their Parties, not elected by the People. These MLAs will be

loyal and accountable to their Party, not their constitu ents. This is a huge diversion from what voters and tax payers deserve.

Leap of Faith? Two of the three PR options on the ballot are not in use anywhere in the world; they are the ories. I choose to not be a guinea pig with something as vital as the workings of our Provincial Government. If the proper time and attention was spent filling in all the grey areas we wouldn’t worry so much about being guinea pigs.

Rural Influence? When my Party held two previous referendums in 2005 and 2009 on this same topic, we weighted rural ridings to make up for the larger popula tions on the coast. The NDP have not done this. If any of the PR systems on your ballot are passed, rural B.C. will lose any meaningful influence in Victoria. Columbia River-Revelstoke, as we know it, will disappear forever as a Riding.

Motives? The NDP has been granted political power by B.C. voters for only 13 of the last 65 years. Their pro posed PR systems will give them political influence with out them having to earn a majority. That is their motive. It has nothing to do with “fairness”.

This referendum is costing us, the taxpayers, $15 mil lion for nothing more than a political scam. This money could have been spent on an informative, non-partisan exploration of electoral reform, which I would have sup ported. I cannot express strongly enough that this 2018 referendum is rigged and cloaked in mystery and disin genuous promotion. Why didn’t the Government finish filling in the grey areas for us? We have been told that we will not start using it until 2021; why are they rushing this referendum?

You would never purchase a house or accept a new job offer with such little information about what you are actually getting, so why would you accept this ‘swiss cheese’ offer to change our democracy in B.C.?

It is very important to do your research on https:// elections.bc.ca/ and for everyone to vote, because the vot er threshold has been marked as such:

• No minimum voter turn-out (ie: 10% of the Prov ince’s voters could decide our fate); and

• Out of those cast ballots, there only needs to be 50% plus one single ballot to tip the scales in favour for, or against PR.

As such, I will mail in my ballot this week, and mark the ballot with one notch, to keep our current system, First Past the Post.

“Mark one and you’re done!”

Yours truly, Doug Clovechok Member of the Legislative Assembly Columbia River – Revelstoke

Retiring Radium councillor honoured at last Council meeting

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Ron Verboom was so touched by the tributes he received at his last Village of Radium Hot Springs council meeting on Wednesday, October 24th that he said he was feeling “pretty tempted to run again.”

Mr. Verboom has served on council for 25 years. He has been sitting at the table for every term except one since 1990 when the village decided to separate from the Regional District of East Kootenay in order to run itself.

“We were just a bunch of teenagers, young kids really, trying to run a town,” he joked about the rst council, adding that Phyllis Jackson kept the younger men in order.

Ms. Jackson begged to di er as she and other former council members who served with Mr. Verboom stood to praise him for his e orts and accomplishments.

“You could always be counted on as a level head,” she said.

Dee Conklin, one of Radium’s former mayors, said Mr. Verboom was an advocate for seniors and for the library and that it was a pleasure to work alongside him.

Current mayor Clara Reinhardt said she always felt like Mr. Verboom had her back and supported her in her leadership role.

“I occasionally felt almost like I had a cheerleader,” she said. “Ron has been a guide. He’s got the history. He’s got a conscience.”

Mr. Verboom said he “ gured infrastructure was numero uno” and is proud of the village’s water and sewer systems and other community assets that have helped the

community grow.

Photo by Dauna Ditson

Ms. Reinhardt read a statement on behalf of Greg Deck, the village’s rst mayor, where Mr. Deck said “few are as well regarded” as the retiring councillor and highlighted Mr. Verboom’s tendency for being “quick to spread the credit for success as widely as possible.”

True to form, Mr. Verboom showered others with praise.

“We’ve been so successful in large regard to our sta ,” he said. “It’s really been an honour. We had great councils, great council people... It’s been a great 25 years, and I’m going to miss it.”

Outgoing Invermere councillors praised

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Invermere’s past and future mayors thanked outgoing councillors Paul Denchuk and Justin Atterbury for the contributions they made to the community.

Gerry Taft, who will be trading the mayor’s seat for a role as a councillor, and Al Miller, who will o cially become the mayor at the District’s swearing-in ceremony for the new council on November 6th, praised their outgoing colleagues for their service.

“Both of their minds were constantly looking at doing the best for their town, without costing the taxpayer big dollars. ey were committed to the betterment for all,” Mr. Miller said. “I believe as a community we are all better o because of their work.”

Mr. Miller said Mr. Denchuk was quick to speak up for the environment and to advocate for a more accessible community, while Mr. Taft said Mr. Denchuk “was reasonable and balanced in budgeting and nancial discussions, and always voted to invest in the community and in the people in the community.”

eir council colleague Greg Anderson said: “I found Paul was a positive in uence on Council

Continued on page 13 . . .

Ron Verboom joins the league of esteemed retired council members that includes Kent Kebe, Dee Conklin and Phyllis Jackson.

Out & About

Submissions must be received by the Monday prior to publication. We may only run an entry for two weeks prior to the event. Please limit your submission to 30 words. Priority is given to one-o events, so weekly events may only run occasionally.

ursday, November 1st

• 10 a.m.: Pickleball at Pineridge Courts, every ursday, Saturday and Tuesday.

• 10:30 a.m.: Stretch and Move Classes for Seniors at the Invermere Seniors Hall every ursday and Monday.

• 1:30 p.m.: Seniors Carpet Bowling at Radium Hot Springs Centre every ursday.

• 6:30 p.m.: Texas Hold Em’ Tournament at the Invermere Legion every ursday. $35 buy in.

• 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Food Preservation Demonstration with Groundswell at the Foods Room at DTSS (access from the cafeteria). Learn tips and tricks for salsa making and uses of sea buckthorn berries. Free to attend. No registration required. Contact Katrina at 250-409-4195 for details

• 7 p.m.: Horseback Archery Club at Luxor Corrals in Spur Valley every ursday. 250-347-9048 for details.

• 7 p.m.: Columbia Valley Narcotics Anonymous meet at 4878 Athalmer Road every ursday.

• 8 p.m.: New AA meeting at the Firehall Building, 8853 Grainger Road in Canal Flats every ursday.

Friday, November 2nd

• 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.: Intergenerational Program between Seniors and Kindergarten children, every Friday at Invermere Seniors Hall. Seniors interested in assisting please call Madelene at 604-798-3061.

• 1 p.m.: Duplicate Bridge at Invermere Seniors Hall, $2. Every Friday and Wednesday.

• 2 - 4 p.m.: the DTSS Chef Training class hosts the 24th annual Seniors Tea at the DTSS cafeteria. Complimentary for Valley seniors.

• 4 p.m.: Radium Hot Springs 2018 Headbanger Festival runs through to Sunday, November 4th. Visit tourism@ radiumhotsprings.com for festival details, fees and to register.

• 6 p.m.: Meat Draw and 50/50 at Branch 71 Legion in Invermere. Every Friday and Saturday.

• 6 - 8 p.m.: Columbia Valley Youth Network Halloween Party for youth grade 6 to 18 year at Valley Alley Bowling. Costume contest, music, bowling and food. RSVP to Angela Miller, 250-341-5216 or columbiavalleyyouthnetwork@hotmail.com.

• 7 p.m.: Learn to Curl at the Invermere Curling Centre every Friday October 19th to December 7th (none on November 2nd). Includes 2 hours of instruction. $25 drop in or $120 for all 6 sessions. Contact the rink at 250-342-3315 for more details or show up at 7 on Friday.

• 7 - 10 p.m.: Fresh Fridays Open Mic at Pynelogs. Showcasing young talent from the Valley. All ages, licensed bar. First Friday of every month.

Saturday, November 3rd

• 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.: W.V.S.C. Ski and Gear Swap at the Columbia Valley Centre. Bring your sports gear to sell

from 9 - 11 a.m.; sale 12 - 2 p.m. Pick-up unsold gear 22:30 p.m. For info email wvskiclub@gmail.com.

• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Craft and Home Based Business Sale at Christ Church Trinity, 110 7th Ave., Invermere. Tables Available, $15 each. Call Caron Green at 250-342-5253.

• 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.: Family LEGO Club at the Invermere Library, every Saturday morning. DUPLO free play will also be out for the younger builders.

• 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Invermere Home Hardware’s Annual Beef on a Bun customer appreciation. Enjoy free food, co ee and pop and a celebration cake. Donations to STARS air ambulance gladly accepted.

• 6:30 p.m.: 17th Annual Wine Festival at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Event is Sold Out.

• 6 p.m.: Love it Live Music Series at Pynelogs Art Gallery & Cultural Centre features Jake’s Gift, a multi award winning play about a young girl who becomes obsessed with wanting to meet veterans. Opening act Emma Postlewaite at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at columbiavalleyarts.com.

• 7:30 p.m.: Rockies Hockey plays Grand Forks Border Bruins at the Eddie Mountain Arena.

Buying or selling?

new one. Refreshments will be supplied.

• 1:30 p.m.: Seniors card games at Radium Hot Springs Centre every Tuesday.

• 6 p.m.: Shuswap Indian Band Bingo - Fundraising for National Aboriginal Day Pow wow 2019. 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Shuswap Indian Band Hall. Doors open 6 p.m., games start at 6:45 p.m.

• 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Options for Sexual Health drop in clinic in the Public Health Unit the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Call 250-342-2360 for information.

• 7 p.m.: Trivia Night at Bear’s Paw Bar & Grill at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort every Tuesday. $2 entry, teams up to 6 people, winners take all.

• 10 p.m.: Karaoke at the Farside Pub in Fairmont every Tuesday night.

Wednesday, November 7th

• 10:30 a.m.: Seniors Chair Yoga at Invermere Seniors Hall, $2, every Wednesday.

• 11:45 a.m.: e Rotary Club of Invermere meets every Wednesday at the Rocky River Grill/Kanata Inn.

• 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Radium Art Guild meets every Wednesday at the Radium Library to create and share.

• 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.: Happy Hands Knitting and Crocheting group meet every Wednesday at Columbia Garden Village.

• 7 p.m.: Play Cribbage at Invermere Seniors Hall, every Wednesday.

ursday, November 8th

• 2 p.m.: Seniors Tea at the Invermere Library the 2nd and 4th ursday of every month. If you would like to attend but do not have transportation, please contact the library at 250-342-6416.

Saturday, November 10th

• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Handmade Market. Local arts, crafts, baking and more. Windermere Community Hall, 4726 North. St. Windermere.

• 7:30 p.m.: Rockies Hockey plays Golden Rockets at the Eddie Mountain Arena.

Invermere Library Hours

• Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday, November 4th

• 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Sunday Toast and Jam, an all-ages music jam at e Base Camp in Canal Flats every Sunday.

• 12 p.m.: Cribbage at the Edgewater Legion every Sunday. Doors open 12 p.m., games start at 1 p.m.

• 1:30 p.m.: Seniors Carpet Bowling at Radium Hot Springs Centre every Sunday.

Monday, November 5th

• 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Indoor Walking at the Columbia Valley Centre in Invermere. Every Monday and Wednesday. All ages. Indoor shoes required.

• 10 a.m.: Senior Singalong Group meets every Monday at Columbia Garden Village.

• 1:30 p.m.: Carpet Bowling at Invermere Seniors Hall every Monday.

• 7 p.m.: Lake Windermere Lions Club meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at the Lions Hall (behind Chamber o ce).

• 7 p.m.: Monday Night Drum Circle at Pynelogs, led by Patrick Carrick. $10 if you bring your own drum, $15 if you don’t. Call Patrick for more info 250-409-4110.

Tuesday, November 6th

• 1:30 p.m.: Needles and Hooks Club at the Invermere Library every Tuesday. Bring current projects or start a

• Wednesday and ursday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

• Story Time: ursday 10:30 a.m.

• Baby Goose: Monday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Radium Hot Springs Library Hours

• Tuesday: 1 - 8 p.m.

• Wednesday and ursday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Friday: 1 - 4 p.m.

• Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Story Time: Wednesday 10 a.m.

Windermere Valley Museum Hours

• Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Columbia Valley Food Bank Hours

• Tuesday and ursday: 1 - 2 p.m.

• 3rd Wednesday of the month: 5:30 - 7 p.m. by appointment only, 250-342-0850.

Summit Youth Centre Hub Hours

• Wednesday and ursday: 4 - 8 p.m.

• Friday: 2 - 10 p.m.

• Saturday: 6 - 11 p.m.

Invermere rift Store Hours

• ursday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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778-526-5143.

YOUR MONEY

Who should withdraw their pension?

Submitted by Sara Worley & Brendan Donahue Investment Advisors, Manulife Securities Incorporated

Upon retirement or leaving a job, people with pension plans have the option to leave their employer-sponsored pension in place or withdraw the cash value and manage it themselves. is is a decision not to be taken lightly, as there are pros and cons to each option. e following are some considerations when planning for the best pension strategy.

How it works

When a person retires from their job, or leaves a job before their normal retirement date, they receive a pension statement listing their options. In most cases they can leave their pension in the plan or move it to a Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA). e LIRA must be de-registered according to a schedule determined by the federal or provincial government. is structure is meant to emulate how the funds would have been paid out as income had they been left in the pension plan.

Financial discipline

A pension is designed to provide a stable, predictable income during one’s retirement years. Because of this, people with poor spending habits should not withdraw their pension. An exception would be those with very small pensions that won’t provide a meaningful amount in retirement.

Consider your spouse

When making decisions about one’s pension, it’s important to consider the retirement assets of their spouse. As a general rule, those who have very little in total pensions should not withdraw their work pensions, particularly if they have a de ned bene t plan.

If one spouse has a modest sized pension and the other has a very good pension, and they have little in RRSPs other investable assets, it might make sense for the spouse with the small pension to withdraw theirs.

e main reason is to increase nancial exibility. For example, if a couple has all their money tied up in pensions and little else saved, they won’t have access to lump sums for things like emergencies or large purchases. e

same holds true for a single person who expects to receive multiple work pensions. As long as the single person or couple have a solid foundation of pensions, withdrawing a small pension can be bene cial in retirement.

Do the math

Simple math can come in handy when deciding if it’s in your best interests to withdraw your pension. Firstly, determine the pension’s expected annual rate of return using the pension’s commuted cash value, the annualized amount of the monthly payments and the number of years it will last. A nancial advisor can help with this.

Next, compare the expected rate of return with longterm annuity rates. e pension plan will likely guarantee a higher rate of return than an annuity. In fact, the expected return is probably more in line with a very conservative investment portfolio. If this is the case, it might make sense to leave the pension as it is. If the return is in line with long-term annuity rates, one might consider withdrawing it.

Be sure to take note if the pension is indexed to in ation. According to the Bank of Canada website, in ation averaged 1.85 per cent per year from 1997 to 2017. In other words, a basket of goods or services that would have cost $100.00 in 1997 cost $144.37 in 2012. Many pensions, including government-sponsored pensions such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) are indexed to in ation.

Another important factor is whether an extended health bene ts plan attached, subsidized or included with the pension.

Final thoughts ere are a few scenarios where withdrawing a pension makes sense. Young people often bene t from withdrawing their pension after changing jobs, however as a general rule, the closer a person gets to retirement the more bene cial it is to leave the pension alone.

When making a pension decision, consulting with your nancial advisor. If they recommend withdrawing your pension, make sure they clearly explain how this would be to your bene t. Always exercise extreme caution with high risk strategies involving pension money.

Fond farewell for Canal Flats mayor

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

e nal meeting for the outgoing Canal Flats Council included a tearful farewell from Canal Flats Mayor Ute Juras.

Ms. Juras is leaving Canal Flat’s Council as mayor and joining Invermere’s as a councillor. She has served as a councillor and as mayor for the last 14 years.

“It’s been an extreme honour and pleasure and privilege to serve this community,” said Ms. Juras. “We’ve had many ups and downs, and I’m very happy to leave on an upside.”

She said the result of the election in Canal Flats made her feel good about leaving her “baby” in good hands.

“I want to say thank you to Council for the ongoing support; it’s been a pleasure working with you,” she commented.

Paul Marcil ran again for Canal Flats Council but was unsuccessful, coming fth with 42.1 per cent of the votes. Erin Gornik, who took the highest percentage of votes in the 2014 municipal election, chose not to run again. Marie Delorme was re-elected, while Karl Sterzer made a successful bid for mayor.

Adrian Bergles, Canal Flats CAO, had a few words for the outgoing Council. Mr. Marcil just completed two terms on Council and served it well, Mr. Bergles said, adding he was an active council member. To Ms. Delorme, he said she represented the village well and congratulated her on being elected for a third term. With Ms. Juras having been on council for 14 years, she has been involved since

. ‘Outgoing’ from 10

as he was always prepared to challenge us to collectively address ongoing environmental and social issues.”

Issues he helped champion included things like inadequate a ordable housing, the future use of plastic bags, community composting, developing alternative energy sources, etc.”

While Mr. Denchuk strove to move the District in the direction of “a more green, clean, sustainable future,” his ideas didn’t often receive the support he sought.

“I felt like one hand clapping,” he said.

He believes the most-urgent issues for the new council to manage are to do with the District o ce’s sta ng and management as well as addressing the need for a ordable housing. He intends to go to a council meeting to share his advice with the new team.

About Mr. Atterbury, Mr. Taft said: “Justin is a great example of an involved and invested council member, someone who truly cares, who is at the council table to have an impact

the village was incorporated and provided “many years of good service,” Mr. Bergles said.

He praised Ms. Gornik as a key member of the team, and congratulated Mr. Sterzer for moving on to the mayor’s chair.

“I look forward to keeping on with it and doing some good things here in Canal Flats,” Mr. Bergles said to Mr. Sterzer.

Council received gifts from the village, which included a Canal Flats branded water bottle and cup, and a bracelet for Ms. Juras at the end of the meeting Monday, October 22nd.

Ms. Juras, who moved to Invermere more than a year ago, earned the second highest number of votes for Invermere Council in the municipal election, behind newcomer Kayja Becker.

Photo by Lorene Keitch

and to promote action.”

Some of that action included helping bring Columbia Valley Centre to life.

Mr. Miller said: “Justin was our fundraising guru and chair. Many hours were spent in committee and on the phone trying to pull people together for the common good of our new centre.”

Mr. Atterbury said working to make the centre a reality was “probably the best highlight” from his seven years as a councillor.

“I enjoyed my time and maybe I’ll get right back into it in a few years but right now I’m just taking a breather,” he said. “Any kind of controversy that came up, obviously you’re going to be in the thick of it (as a council member), so it’s going to be weird being a spectator now.”

As for advice for the new council and especially for brand-new politician Kayja Becker he said: “always keep an open mind and don’t let your own personal opinions sway you from what people are telling you is important.”

Outgoing mayor Ute Juras at her nal Council meeting Monday, October 22nd.

20th ANNUAL Business Excellence Awards

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

e Valley’s business community walked the red carpet into a swanky Columbia Valley Centre full of sparkle and shine for the annual awards evening last ursday, October 25th.

e event celebrated business excellence in the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce (CVCC) and the Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce membership. Susan Clovechok, CVCC executive director, reports this year’s event was a great success, with approximately 185 attendees and a beautifully executed evening.

ese awards are a chance to recognize businesses that are taking that extra step in everything they do as well as support the overall business community, she explains.

“It’s an opportunity to not only recognize those employers and businesses that are doing great things for their customers, employees and the community and give them a bit of a boost but it is also an opportunity for other business owners to see what success and business excellence looks like and where they might nd a mentor or inspiration for their own businesses,” says Ms. Clovechok.

With 13 awards and 67 nalists, it was a memorable night at the 20th annual event.

“ ere were a lot of moving parts this year, more than ever before and yet with great team work we pulled it

o ,” comments Ms. Clovechok. “Dee Conklin and Sarah Miller deserve extra recognition for how much work they did in advance.”

Award winners included Avenue Modern Clothing, which won the Retailer of the Year award.

“We appreciate it because we really truly love what we do,” said co-owner France Andestad, alongside her sister and business partner Lisa Schulz at the ceremony.

In a followup interview, Ms. Andestad said they were surprised at the award.

“We really didn’t expect it. It was a very welcome, unexpected gift,” she told the Pioneer

Ms. Andestad has run Avenue for three years. She says the community support in the Valley has been amazing, and they continue to o er products that suit Valley lifestyles which makes it easy for the community to continue to support the business. Events like the Business Excellence Awards go a long ways in helping and recognizing local business, Ms. Andestad re ects.

“ e Chamber does so much already. And these sorts of events are good to bring awareness to people here,” says Ms. Andestad. “A lot of local people haven’t even come to check it out. Even by being nominated (for the awards), it creates curiosity. It draws people in to come and see.”

Century 21 Rockies Realty won the Professional Services category, with Mr. Becker thanking everyone who nominated them.

“ e key is working like a team; all of us pulling on

the oars to make things happen,” said Mr. Becker.

Wild Mountain Chocolate took home the Rising Star Business of the Year award, which is awarded to a new business in operation for at least one year and less than three years.

“ is has been a true adventure, said Helen Davies. “ is Valley is amazing. e entrepreneurial spirit that is here really helped us with the courage to start up this company. ank you everybody here.”

e business excellence award for over 10 employees was bestowed to True Key / Bighorn Meadows Resort.

“We’re very honoured,” said Ms. Tubbs, acknowledging all the wonderful businesses in attendance at the evening event.

When they accepted the award for trade services, Rainbow International Restoration’s Dave Hessel said, “We really appreciate the nomination . . . To all our sta , we certainly couldn’t do it without you.”

e community impact award recognizes a business or organization that coordinates projects, services, and / or community events that give back to the community and whose strategic plan clearly identi es their commitment to contributing to the social and cultural well-being of the Columbia Valley; Tutty Financial was honoured with this award.

“Our family takes it very seriously to be active members of the community, so this means a lot,” said Rhiannon Tutty.

Continued on next page . . .

Awarded to a business that

Columbia Valley & Radium Chambers of Commerce

Columbia Valley & Radium Chambers of Commerce

Awards

Columbia Valley & Radium Chambers of Commerce

Excellence

True Key / Bighorn Meadows sta celebrate two wins: employee of the year and business excellence.

Photo by Kyla Brown Photography

Al and Lucy Miller and Home Hardware sta gather in for a photo to celebrate Invermere Home Hardware Building Centre’s Longevity Award.

Photo by Kyla Brown Photography

ANNUAL Business Excellence Awards

Longevity Award was the last award of the evening, and the one with the most anticipation. roughout the awards ceremony, ve businesses were featured in special video tributes, leading up to the nal event of the ceremony: voting online for the most deserving business to receive the award, which was for a business that has won multiple awards over the past 20 years, had been in business for 20 years or more, and has consistently contributed to the community at large over that time. Invermere Hardware & Building Supplies won the voter’s choice, with owner Al Miller accepting the award.

“It’s a great honour, and it certainly – it’s been quite a week for me,” commented Mr. Miller, who recently won the municipal election run for mayor. “I’m so proud of our team; that’s what makes it happen, a great team... everybody pulling in the same direction.”

He dedicated the award to his team, adding his wife has always been by his side supporting him in the business.

To qualify as an award recipient, businesses must belong to at least one of the two area Chambers, and must have been in operation a minimum of three years, with the exception of the Rising Star award. Other award winners of the evening included Columbia River Paddle for tourism / adventure organization; Copper Point Resort for tourism / hospitality; e Station Pub for food and beverage; Taynton Bay Spirits for small business excel-

lence; Julia Blakely for employee of the year; and Black Star Studios for Innovative / Game Changer.

Award winners received visually stunning awards made by Glenn Le ey of the Curly Grains Company; Australian eucalyptus tree burls framed with maple and ash wood.

e after party featured decadent desserts and music by the Small Town Dirt Bags, as well as specialized cocktails made just for the event.

Columbia

Columbia Valley & Radium Chambers of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

Rising Star Business

‘Business Excellence’ from previous page

Rhiannon Tutty accepted the Community Impact Award for Tutty Financial.

Photo by Kyla Brown Photography

Glen and Helen Davies of Wild Mountain Chocolate with their Rising Star award. Photo by Kyla Brown Photography

Century 21 won the Professional Services award.

Photo by Kyla Brown Photography

Lisa Schulz and France Andestad of Avenue Modern Clothing won Retailer of the Year.

Photo by Lorene Keitch

Robotics wonders

Larry Faste from Van couver’s Telus World of Science shows students at Windermere Elementary School how to control a ro botic mouse as part of a spe cial presentation Thursday, October 25th.

Photos by Katie Watt

Plenty of programs at library

the Library. Our storytime program cur rently runs every Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. Please be aware that the date and time of this program will be changing soon. Our popular craft time sessions will resume on a seasonal basis.

The Radium Public Library has a mul titude of programs to keep you and your children busy throughout the autumn and winter months.

Our Adult Program, Tuesday Evenings at the Library: Speakers’ Corner, is com ing to a close for the season. We would like to extend our gratitude to our group of speakers for their thoughtful and inspir ing presentations! We would also like to thank everyone who attended our evening program. Keep an eye out on our website and Facebook for a list of upcoming adult programs—we will be running a few new activities for adults in the winter months.

The library has also partnered with the Columbia Valley Food Bank to put on our first ever Bites for Books food drive from October 2nd-10th. Patrons were encour aged to bring non-perishable food items in place of monetary donations for any of our book sale books. We would like to thank everyone who donated to make this food drive a success!

Our children’s programming will con tinue to expand in the months to come. The library now has a LEGO table available for public use. It is compatible with Duplo and LEGO, both of which are available in

We continue to offer our STEAM pro gram for children aged 3-9. It runs on the third Saturday of every month. We are hap py to report that there has been a lot of in terest in this program. We will continue to expand and diversify our gadget collection and plan new activities for each session. In the new year, we will be offering a STEAM program for older children.

The Radium Public Library is current ly looking for volunteers for our one-to-one reading assistance program. Volunteers will help make a difference by supporting chil dren to develop their basic reading skills. Please contact the Radium Library if you would like to volunteer during after school hours. If you are able to volunteer during school hours, please contact the Edgewater school at 250-347-9543 to volunteer with their program. All volunteers will receive a formal training session with CBAL.

Libraries Need Friends! The Radium Public Library is excited to announce the start of a Friends of the Radium Library group. Please contact us for more infor mation if you are interested in joining this organization.

This week’s column was written by Jac queline Wagner, director of the Radium Pub lic Library.

Woodcarver etched in Valley’s history

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Inside a tall fence made of wooden faces, Rolf Heer –the Radium woodcarver – is putting down his chainsaw after nearly 40 years carving his way into the hearts of the village’s residents and visitors and into the very history of the community.

While he would love to continue running his iconic Home of a Thousand Faces, he is putting his business up for sale. Prostate and bone cancer is ravaging his body, and Mr. Heer doesn’t expect to make it to the spring.

“I had such a good life I can’t complain if I kick the bucket tomorrow,” he said, reclining next to the crackling wood stove that warms the showroom that doubles as his bedroom.

As walls of his wooden wizards gazed down on their maker, he said: “A lot of people love me. I’m a funny guy. I’m like a comedian. I tell people good stories.”

Those stories tell of a life filled with pranks, adven ture and glee.

Once when his friends took a break on the slopes, he nabbed their skis and carried them up a tree. When his friends came to get their skis, Mr. Heer feigned in nocence before pointing to his handiwork and saying: “Look at this beautiful Christmas tree.”

Later one of those friends told Mr. Heer: “You were the craziest guy I ever met.”

In Europe, Mr. Heer smuggled a goat onto a train and brought the creature into the bar with him where he fed it fries and laughed as the goat pranced along the bar table nibbling off the other patrons’ plates.

Speaking of goats, at Ron Verboom’s final council meeting, the councillor shared stories about some of his strongest memories from his 25 years of service to the Village of Radium Hot Springs. He said the Village was “dealing with a local colourful individual,” when he heard a “clang, clang, clang” as the individual in question walked into the council meeting with his goat.

Mr. Heer said he could write a whole book on his dealings with the Village and with the Regional District of East Kootenay that regulated the community before it was incorporated. They wanted him to abide by their rules for his goats, parties, noise, bylaw infractions and “all kinds of stuff,” but Mr. Heer often declined.

“I didn’t back up from them,” he said. “I’m not back ing up from anybody.”

Mr. Heer also has stories about growing up in Swit zerland, catching gigantic fish in Thailand that he shared with the locals and travelling around Iran, Iraq and Af ghanistan. He allowed skunks into his home and played with the babies that climbed on him like kittens. And that’s not to mention the legendary hot-tubs parties he threw in his treehouse that are too steamy to print.

“A lot of girls wanted to marry me,” he said, but he stuck to his mother’s advice.

“You’re too good of a guy (to get married),” she told him. “You just give everything away.”

Instead of giving himself to a partner and having a family of his own, he gave himself to everyone and be came the Valley’s favourite bachelor uncle.

Even when his pain became nearly unbearable in Au gust, he kept his doors open so he wouldn’t disappoint anyone.

Nowhere is that generosity more apparent than on his showroom walls, which are lined with an abundance of love from his youngest fans. Notes and drawings of

Annual General Meeting

Photo by Dauna Ditson

the beloved wizard in his pointy red hat are covered with hearts, smiley faces, goats and exclamation marks.

While the notes praise him for everything from his carvings to his water park and his silliness, two notes summarize the rest. One says “the important thing about you is that you are nice,” while the other says “i Love You” in crayon.

Gesturing to a drawing that is yellowed with age, Mr. Heer said some of his biggest fans grew up to have families themselves and returned to share their childhood memories of the Radium woodcarver with their children.

Young people like him so much “cause I’m a kid too,” he said. “I never grew up. I’m a bloody kid all my life.”

As for life advice, he said: “If you treat people nice, they’ll treat you nice too.”

And if they don’t, he recommends responding with absurdity or bringing your livestock to council.

“I can get away with the bulls*** because everyone loves me,” he said.

One of a kind business opportunity

“I would like somebody to buy and keep up the busi ness,” Mr. Heer said. “If I would be healthy, I would run this for another 40 years.”

While the former forester would like his successors to be interested in woodwork and is willing to train them and take them into the bush to show them how to find the best wood to carve, he would encourage them to try their own ideas too.

“You don’t even have to do much” to carve a wiz ard from a piece of wood, he said. “I only pick up wood where you can see something in it.”

He held up a few sample pieces from his wood pile to show how they already came with natural hats and beards and just needed to have faces carved in between.

“Nobody can do it any better than I could,” he said, “but if you would be serious and run this place serious... I can’t even explain how much money they could make.”

Mr. Heer didn’t provide a selling price but anyone who is interested in the business can call him at 250-3479208. It might take a few tries for a call to go through though. Since he posted on Facebook about selling the business, he said, “my telephone is so dead from having all these calls.”

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Rolf Heer inside his showroom / bedroom.

Booth four votes shy of Conservative vote

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Wendy Booth lost the federal Conservative party nomination by only four votes. Ms. Booth, Area F director for a few more days, had announced her decision to move away from municipal politics to take a run at the federal slot for the Kootenay-Columbia riding. However, Cranbrook’s Rob Morrison earned Conservative party member’s nal choice. Dale Shudra, who was recently acclaimed as a councillor in Radium Hot Springs, also ran for the nomination. According to Ms. Booth, the rst round of voting saw her with 328 votes to Mr. Morrison’s 320. Mr. Shudra was eliminated with 57 votes and his votes redistributed based on the voter’s second choice marked on their ballot. When that count was done, Ms. Booth has 346; Mr. Morrison had 350. “It was tough for sure, to lose by four votes after winning the rst ballot,” Ms. Booth says. While it was not the result she hoped for, she says at the end of the day, she knows she put everything into her campaign.“I did the best I could, enjoyed the ride, and learned a few things along the way,” she re ects. Ms. Booth is not sure what will be next for her. She says to lose in such a tight race certainly underlines the importance of voting. As for leaving the Area F position, Ms. Booth says she really enjoyed being an elected o cial in the area.

Mr. Shudra says all the candidates would have been a good choice to be “the next MP and do a great job.” Mr. Shudra says he was impressed with how strong Mr. Morrison’s base is in the riding, and his familiarity with local issues.

“I think that will serve him well,” says Mr. Shudra.

As for Mr. Shudra, he will focus on being a great Radium Hot Springs councillor, stating while the nomination process was “exhilarating and exhausting,” he is glad it has nally reached its conclusion.

Black Press Extreme Education & Career Fair

Thursday, November 15th

WaRehouse

Rockies gave an enthusiastic volunteer e ort at Reach A Reader. ey raised $450 for the Books For Kids Campaign! In the photo from L-R: Chase Hawkins, Ben Kelsch, Kale Hawryluk, Cooper Krauss, Dylan Fountaine, Evan Woods, Logan MacDonald, Josh Antun. Nikki Matthews (at right) with the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy promotes reading and sells socks as part of an annual Reach a Reader campaign to raise funds for the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy. e event, which included booths across the Valley, raised more than $990 total.

Photo by Dauna Ditson

Submitted photo

Dale Shudra

Wendy Booth

Roll up the welcome mat for bears

By Thea Rodgers WildSafeBC Coordinator Radium, RDEK Areas F & G

At this time of year, bears are in “hyperphagia”, a period of intense eating and drinking in preparation for enduring their long, winter sleep. This is a time of year when the risk of conflict between people and bears is high, because bears are often out feeding during the day as they try to meet their nutritional requirements of up to 20,000 calories a day. A few people think that bears will starve if they don’t get help from humans heading into win ter. This is very false! Bears have survived without human help for millennia, and they are very capable of finding natural food sources and water outside of urban areas. Bears choose to hang around urban areas because there is abundant, easy food they can access (such as garbage and fruit trees), and this is why many bears choose to live near humans and tolerate human activity. Unfortunately, this human toler ance often leads to “habituation”, which is the gradual loss of fear and wariness of people. It leads to boldness, and in some cases aggression, towards people and pets.

Habituation results in bears being put down in order to protect the safety of the general public. The worst part of this is that habituation is most often caused by neglectful people, who don’t make an ef fort to remove attractants from their yards and ensure their property is not inviting to wildlife. They are essentially “putting out the welcome mat” for wildlife to hang around their property, and to learn that it’s okay to tolerate humans and human activ ity because they receive a food reward in return. We can ALL help prevent the un necessary habituation and destruction of

bears by encouraging them not to spend time in our urban areas and by remov ing attractants from our properties. If there is noth ing to draw a bear close to human property, then the chances of habituation are greatly lowered! Below are some very important things to remember over the next 3-4 weeks, as bears begin to transition from hyperphagia to their win ter state of “torpor” (a very deep sleep).

• Hyperphagic bears are consuming extreme amounts of food and water, and urinating and defecating many times per day! You will likely see a lot of bear scat in areas where you have hyperphagic bears.

• Bears will often be out eating for more than 20 hours per day. Your chances of seeing or encountering a bear during the daylight hours are much higher now

• If you do see a bear, remember to stay in your vehicle or house, or retreat to a safe location and do not approach the animal. If it’s safe to do so, give it a honk with your car horn or bang some pots and pans together to give it negative reinforce ment about being near humans. Report the sighting to RAPP: 1-877-952-7277.

• Pick your fruit trees, and remove as many chokecherries from the bushes around your property as you can! Make sure your garbage, bird-feeders, pump kins, and other smelly attractants are kept clean and secured indoors. Don’t be the neighbour who leaves out the “welcome mat”.

For more, please check out www.wildsafebc.com

WildSafeBC is funded in part by the BC Ministry of Environment, District of In vermere, Village of Radium, RDEK Areas F & G, and Columbia Basin Trust.

are ALL your ducks in a row?

● BC has the second highest PROBATE fees in the country. Learn what probate is and how it will effect your executor and estate.

● Power of Attorney, Rep. Agreements and Joint Ownership. Which planning tool will help your family the most?

● Cremations and Burials not pre-planned lead to overspending. Learn how pre -planning makes things easier for loved ones.

● Most Canadians do NOT have a proper Living Will! Ensure your family is protected from the anxiety of forced medical decisions.

estate can devastate

Point

Cooper Road

TO REGISTER call 250-919-1632 or email adam@executorprotection.com

Sponsored by

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

CHEERS & JEERS

CHEERS & JEERS

Help us support Morgan and Jayden’s family!

support

Al-Anon. Are you concerned about or a ected by someone else’s drinking? If so, please join us. Al-Anon meets EVERY Monday in Invermere at 7:15 p.m., at the Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church, 712 – 12th Ave (behind the Invermere hospital). For information, please call 250342-8255.

Craft and Home Based Business Sale Sat. Nov. 3rd, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. At Christ Church Trinity, 110 7th Ave., Invermere. Tables Available call Caron Green at 250-342-5253. Tables cost $15.

CORRECTION

Last week’s Cheers to the new manager at Lambert Insurance was incorrect. While there is a new face at the o ce, she is there to help the manager, not to replace her.

Jeers to the people who speed, don’t pay attention to the road... Driving distracted...Slow down PAY ATTENTION you are going to hurt or cause death to innocent people. Report idiots. Get their plate number. Wise up!

A trust account for Morgan Odland and the late Jayden

Deposits

Anyone

WVSC Ski and Gear Swap Saturday November 3rd, 2018. Columbia Valley Centre, Sale Noon until 2 p.m.

Check in Sport Equipment 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Consignment fee $1 per item and 20% of sale price Pick up unsold gear 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For information wvskiclub@gmail. com or visit www. windermerevalleyskiclub. com. Thank you for supporting Windermere Valley Ski Club.

Narcotics Anonymous. If Drugs or Alcohol are causing problems or con ict in your life, NA can help. All meetings are at 7 p.m. every Thursday at 4878 Athalmer Rd.

Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or con ict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 8 p.m. For more information, please call 250342-2424. Columbia United AA, Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the BC Service Building, South End –624 4th St., Invermere. Thursday at the Firehall Building, 8853 Grainger Rd., Canal Flats. Radium Friendship Group: Friday at the Catholic Church, East Side of Main St. With the exception of Tuesday, all meetings are open.

A huge Cheers to Fred Bond, Sheila Graham, Gordon Langridge and Cory Kobza for all your help to get us back on the road after our tires went at on the White Swan FSR. Canal Flats has the best people!

Cheers to the new law. It must be legal to talk and text while driving. Everyone’s doing it.

year-round preservation, security, maintenance and repair of the Timber Ridge Community assets and common areas. Peak activity times are generally April through October, December and March. However, this is a year-round position, requiring an individual and TRPOA approved contractors working or on-call, to be available 365-days of the year. As the Property Manager, you will hire and oversee approved Timber Ridge contractors, and approved sub-contractors hired to work on behalf of TRPOA and Terridian Utilities Ltd., on an as needed basis, for project-speci c common area work.

Ideal candidates will have a strong maintenance and operations background, preferably in a service-oriented setting. Your ability to get the job done, while, at the same time, getting to know Timber Ridge residents makes you the perfect candidate. Previous training and education will include a combined experience and/or certi cates/tickets to support a yearround residential and recreational common property. You are well-versed in using tact and diplomacy to describe and follow best practices, while communicating with many different personalities. Previous experience, where an individual has been required to work an unconventional schedule at times, needing to be on-call, is a t. This position is a lifestyle not a “job”. Basic construction, landscape and mechanical maintenance knowledge/ training is an asset. *Upon request, a more detailed position description, can be emailed. Interested applicants, may submit a resume and cover letter, telling us about themselves and why they are the best person for the position, no later than November 20, 2018

including wage expectations,

The

to organize work to meet deadlines within an environment of constantly changing priorities

• Competitive wage

Kootenay Insurance Services Ltd. is owned in equal partnership by East Kootenay Community, Kootenay Savings, Nelson & District and Summerland Credit Unions.

Sponsored by

CHEERS & JEERS

Cheers to Marion Reid for her generous donation of craft supplies to Sonshine Children’s Centre. We are looking forward to all the exciting projects we will create with all of it!

Jeers to people who claim to be “reading a novel” when they are actually listening to an audiobook.

Jeers to the lady walking her large dog on Jackson Ave. Wednesday evening. She allowed her dog to lunge at a mother deer and her two babies. She was annoyed that the mother prepared to protect her offspring and complained to me that the mother deer was aggressive. It seemed to me that she was being protective. If you can’t control your dog, perhaps you should avoid streets with deer on them. You are the sort of person, who would complain about the deer and have it put down. All because of your own carelessness.

Cheers to Mark Topliff for the Halloween Timbits treats at the Invermere Library. Much appreciated!

Jeers to the so called body shop that promises rags to riches, never finished job and lost parts. A huge Cheers to Tim Horton’s for the donation of an extralarge carafe of coffee for our bus outing with the Ivy House Residents. The left-over coffee was shared with the residents of Columbia Garden Village. Much appreciation for you being a big supporter of our seniors.

Cheers to Scott Powell for volunteering to clear snow from the Fairmont Lions Community Den for the up coming season. Your service is greatly appreciated.

Cheers to Chris who lives at Lakeview Manor, for all her kindness and time to all the residence. You are greatly appreciated!

Cheers to Kim Hysert and Jane Friesen the winners of The Edgewater/Radium Hospital Auxiliary Money Board Raffle. Congratulations!! A huge Cheers to everyone who supported us by buying tickets.

Big Cheers to Benny, you are totally pro and the hardest working guy I know!

CHEERS & JEERS

Cheers to Tara and the other public health nurses who saved my sanity in my first few weeks as a new mom. I know it’s your job but making house calls to Edgewater in that unexpected snowfall and checking in on the phone made those rough early days with our new baby girl so much easier. We are so appreciative.

A huge CHEERS to all who took the time out their busy lives to help support the Edgewater/ Radium Hospital Auxiliary’s Halloween Tea and Bake Sale. Cheers to The Lost Bell Singers for the wonderful entertainment. As always, the favourite....”Ghost Chickens in the Sky.” For those who don’t know what that means you will have to attend next year to find out!

LOST & FOUND

FOUND: GMC keys with entry FOB, other keys and bunny. Ray Brydon Park by Toby Creek. Call the Pioneer, 250-341-6299 .

LOST: Mazda CX 3 Key Fob somewhere around Timber Ridge Road and Lakeview Road. Tag will say Kelowna Mazda. If found, please call Penny 403651-5276.

OFFICE SPACE

1313 - 7th Ave. Prime second floor office space, complete with off street parking. 1 - 735 sq. ft. office, 1 - 1,167 sq. ft. office. Can be divided into two offices 1 - 710 sq. ft. + 1 - 457 sq. ft. Prime ground floor office/ retail space, complete with off street parking. 2,425 sq. ft. Call for availability 403899-9480 or carykienitz@ rockypeakent.com.

COMMERCIAL SPACE

Prime commercial space, complete with industrial bay and off street parking. 108 Industrial Road #2, 2,000 sq. ft. unit. Available Oct. 1st. 403-899-9480 or carykienitz@ rockypeakent.com.

STORAGE

NEWHOUSE STORAGE

Various sizes available.

Now with climate-controlled units. Call 250-342-3637.

STORAGE

STORAGE SPACE – assorted sizes, easy access, immediate availability, long-term or short-term. Deck Properties Warehouse, Industrial Park: 250342-3166.

HOUSE FOR RENT

5-bdrm house for rent, close to hospital. NO PETS, nonsmoking, looking for responsible long-term renters if possible (1 year), may consider shorter lease. Large fenced yard, single car garage. $2100/mo plus utilities (must be put in your name). Some furniture included. Please text me at 403-560-5086 if interested. Available midNovember.

Very nice 3-bdrm, 2 bath home. Short term month to month, January to May. Five months or portion thereof. All-inclusive except Hydro, $2200/mo, 250688-0379.

Newly renovated, cozy, 2-bdrm home with large back yard and decks. New bathroom, new kitchen. N/S, N/P. Behind Valley Foods, walking distance to everywhere. References needed as well as interview. Call 250342-5685. $1400/mo. Available immediately.

HOUSE FOR RENT

4-bdrm, 2 bath located at 1146 Windermere Loop Road. $1300/ mo + utilities. Available Nov. 1st. 1-403-265-7037.

CONDO FOR RENT

Invermere - Furnished Upper Level two-storey Condo, close to downtown. 2-bdrm, 2 bathrooms. N/S, N/P, No Partiers. References please. $1,200/mo. Utilities and internet included. 403-978-4559.

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

ELKHORN COUNTRY ESTATES

Only 1 acreage left in phase 2, 5.3 acres, water well up to 30 gallons per minute, no building commitment. $199,000 + GST. Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-342-1268. www.elkhornranches.com.

MISC. FOR SALE

Electric Edge Wheel Chair, 24 Volt charger included. Hospital Bed, both very good condition. 250-342-6534.

HOUSE FOR SALE

Live Free for 6 Months

Brand New Home in Radium No Mortgage Payments or Costs for 6 Months

403-816-6007

PRICE

MISC. FOR SALE

Sears portable sewing machine. Water cooler with bottle. Black $ Decker 40 v. easy push lawnmower (used twice). Garden windmill, compressor, misc items. All priced to sell, offers taken. Call 250-342-9636 leave a message.

UNTIL IT’S

Heron Point 2-bdrm, $25,500

250-341-7600

MaxWell Realty Invermere.

Hankook

195/55/R15.

Phone 250342-1736 or 250-342-7016.

your local Arts

Leave No Trace: Cinefest film night November 13th

Submitted by CV Arts

Debra Granik’s new film is an intimate and com plex coming-of-age story that follows a father and daughter struggling to maintain their unconventional lifestyle, set against the rugged terrain of the Pacific Northwest.

Will (Ben Foster) is a PTSD-inflicted verteran and widower living off the grid with his daughter Tom (Thomasin McKenzie) in a public park near Portland. When Tom makes a mistake that alerts the authorities to their existence, the family is removed from the park and placed in a home by state officials. Immersed in a world she has never experienced, Tom is drawn to the friendships, community, and comforts of her new surroundings. Meanwhile, Will is confronted with the triggers of the modern world.

FIREWOOD

Support Rockies Hockey firewood. Contact email cvrockies.firewood@gmail.com or call 250-342-1624 for more info or to place an order.

Pine Firewood. Pine available. Call 250-342-1586.

Dry Pine firewood $250/cord delivered.

Dry Fir firewood $300/cord delivered. Contact 250-688-0373.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

Red Dodge Grand Caravan 2014, seven passenger, great on fuel, excellent condition, $12,000. Call Garry 250-341-7304 or 250345-6603.

For Sale, 2000 Subaru Outback AWD Wagon, 208,000 kms, $3,500 O.B.O. Call 250-341-1004.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

2001 Dodge Dakota Truck 4X2, PRICE REDUCED, $3995. 200,000 kms, great condition. 403-9689222.

SERVICES

THE HEARTFELT COMPANION: Services for Seniors Non-medical care, meal prep, transportation, outings and companionship with seniors living at home, Ivy House, Columbia House or Columbia Gardens. Excellent references and credentials. Leanne Brooks 250341-5683, invermerehomecare. com for more info.

Shannon’s Blinds & Designs Thank you for your votes - Best of Business Awards! Blinds, Drapery, Phantom Screens & more 250-342-5749, shannonsblinds@yahoo.ca.

SERVICES

B.B.’s Home & Lawn Care Services: Eavestroughs to fall clean-up, tree cutting, deck repairs, roofs, moves, blinds-installation. Handyman services. Book now for snow removal. 250-6882897 or 403-861-8782.

Heaven’s Best Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning. Environmentally friendly products. Dry in 1 hour! Call 250-688-0213 or visit www.heavensbest.ca.

WORK WANTED

Short-term casual employment wanted until the end of November. Residential odd jobs inside or out, Construction or warehouse labour. Can start immediately, I have a clean criminal record check. Call 1-403-815-0911.

Required

Interested

Leave No Trace is a surprisingly endearing portrait of a father and daughter forced to contemplate whether family survival means sticking together or letting go. The lush Oregon landscape contrasts the tension-filled narrative, with Foster delivering one of his most mem orable performances to date – though it’s McKenzie who truly makes her mark. From the director who launched Jennifer Lawrence’s career, this role is sure to make McKenzie one to watch.

“Once again, Granik introduces us to a family that cinema rarely captures believable, and she does so with a style both lyrical and realistic at the same time, an chored by a pair of unforgettable performances.” - Bri an Tallerico, RogerEbert.com.

Tickets available online at www.cvarts.com. Leave No Trace plays at Pynelogs Tues day, November 13th at 7 p.m.

HELP WANTED

SUMMIT HUT (2770 m) and MILE ONE HUT Panorama Mountain Resort, BC, Canada

Seeking full-time staff, we are looking for capable Barista and cooks. Located on the mountain at Panorama Resort, the huts offer a full cafe menu and après ski fondue programs. Successful applicant must be great in a kitchen, strong skier or Boarder and have a min. 2 years of experience in a busy café. Great attitude and love of the mountains also required. Wages begin at $15/hr. Perks include ski pass, Ski to work, good tips and great views. Starting early December. Check out website for businesses at summithutpanorama.com.

Arctic Spas is looking for a P/T Retail/Sales Associate. Apply in person with resume to Valley Spas, 230 Laurier St. Invermere.

HELP WANTED

Wanted 2 F/T Restaurant Cooks, Rocky River Grill, 8888 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C. Permanent, F/T shifts, overtime, weekends, days and evenings, $16/hour for 40 hours per week. Overtime after 40 hours. Minimum several years experience and completion of Secondary School. DUTIES: Prepare and cook full course meals, prepare and cook individual dishes and foods, ensure quality of food portions, work with minimal supervision, prepare dishes for customers with food allergies or intolerances. Inspect Kitchens and Food service areas. Please forward resume to Justin Atterbury by fax 250-3428889 or email justatterbury@ hotmail.com.

Invermere Petro-Can is currently accepting resumes for F/T and P/T employment. Apply in person to 185 Laurier Street, Invermere between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

HELP WANTED

Strands Old House Restaurant is accepting applications for P/TF/T evening and weekend Servers and F/T Chef/cook. Experience in casual fine dining an asset. Apply to Tony Wood at tony@ strandsrestaurant.com or 250342-6344.

Strata Management Assistant

Mountain Creek Properties Ltd. requires a full-time Strata Management Assistant to start immediately. We are looking for a team player with excellent administration, management and communication skills, and proficiency in MS Outlook, Excel, and Word. The successful candidate will have the capability and desire to become a licensed Strata Manager. Please email resume, along with salary expectations, to LPeppard@ mountaincreek.ca.

The

Hiring

Hoobano

O

The Program Coordinator directs scienti c water quality monitoring, runs shoreline clean-ups, develops educational materials, and delivers public outreach and education to strengthen community understanding of our lake and water resources. The Coordinator also supports the board of directors and administers the program’s grants and budget. This ful lling role is suited to somebody who is passionate about stewardship, community, recreation, sh and wildlife, and water policy.

Please see our website for a full job description and instructions on how to apply, visit www.lakeambassadors.ca. Deadline to apply is November 17, 2018.

If

by the

934 - 7th Avenue ~ Invermere

Village of Canal Flats

Fireman’s ball

By Ed Jones Invermere re ghter

Editor’s note: is was the moving speech given by the MC at the reman’s ball. We felt it tting to share here.

First of all I would like to thank each and every one of you for joining us tonight. Your continued support is what keeps this Rescue program current and up to date. is event is our one major fundraiser. We fundraise each year, so we can support you and your family when the unthinkable happens.

Our rescue truck has close to $200,000 in tools and equipment on it that we train with, maintain and use to get you out on the worst day of your life. When one tool needs to be replaced, we are looking at close to $10,000 in most cases just to replace one of our big tools or one of the pumps. Over the past three years the rescue truck has gone out almost 100 times. is does not include calls for re. e support of the community is of the utmost importance.

Eleven days ago, we got the call: an MVA on 93/95 with con rmed entrapment. is was not your average call. It was a Tuesday night at just before 8:30 p.m. Since our regular practice runs on Tuesdays from 7 to 9, there were plenty of people at the hall, which made the initial response time very quick.

ere was one little hiccup. e heavy rescue truck was up at Panorama, as we are trying to practice more as a group. We in the biz call this “mutual aid”, so we can help each other out more e ectively. is is very important to practice so we can use similar language and techniques while on a scene together.

A member from one of the RDEK departments was listening when Windermere got dispatched to this MVA.

We heard those two words “con rmed entrapment”. We packed up the truck in record time and headed down the hill. e crew that was at the hall took a di erent truck to get a head start and to put a plan into action. at crew got on scene.

ere was a head-on collision between a pickup truck and a small SUV. Other emergency departments were already on scene. e passenger of the SUV was out rst, put into the ambulance and rushed to the hospital in Invermere. Command had a plan and had communicated this plan with the crew in the rescue truck.

As the Rescue truck arrived on scene. at crew grabbed the big tools and was given a quick brie ng. We huddled up on a VERY busy scene.

We were told that we are dealing with local. We were told the single occupant of the pickup truck was no longer with us. We were told the passenger of the SUV had just left for hospital. We were told the driver of the SUV is still with us and is very much pinned. We got all the big tools, pumps and hoses o of the rescue and close to the SUV. is is when the training kicks in. We stabilize the scene, we stabilize the patient then we peel the car away from the patient.

is is when minutes felt like hours. is is when the noise, the ashing lights, the big trucks running begins to all come in at once: Someone asking for the big cutter; someone saying we are going to need the rams; Someone else saying I need the combi tool here.... now! Someone suggesting we try the big spreaders on that door; someone else saying the sip saw would be quickest here.

ere are people in the SUV assisting the paramedics at getting and keeping the driver stable. ere are people on all four sides of the SUV. ere are people trying to keep the SUV stable. ere are people cutting pillars. ere are people opening the doors. ere are people getting rid of the doors entirely.

All the doors are gone. We can see how pinned the driver is. We are all working in very tight quarters Doing everything we have been trained to do. e Medium sized ram is put into place, between the dash and the rear bottom corner of the driver side door. is is called a dash roll, it is exactly as it sounds. e dash of the SUV is rolled away from the legs of the driver. As the dash is rolled up all the plastic bits from the dash and steering column have basically crumbled. All those bits are pulled out and we can see the driver’s feet which means we can see they are no longer pinned. As the ram makes one last push, it very aggressively slips out of place.

A part of this tool ew o , but luckily the ram that popped out or the part that ew

o did not hit anyone. We quickly got the tools out of the way. Members from at least three di erent departments were there to get the driver out.

At that moment we had the win.

We trained YEARS for a moment like this. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for a time just like this. It is you here now that allows us to help when someone is pinned, hurt and their future is uncertain. And because of nights like tonight and the support of our community. We are able to have these tools and training to give people, in these terrible moments, their best chance.

By the way, that ram that broke, that was close to a $1,500 repair. If we needed to replace that ram that cost would go up to $7,500. is is why we need this fundraiser! e night of that MVA was 11 days ago… it has been a hard trudge since. e driver of that SUV passed away less than a week after that accident. at news hit like a hammer to the chest. We had the win, we got them out. We feel that loss, as a crew and as a member of this amazing community. It is these times that we are reminded of how important it is to have each others’ backs.

PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is real and it gets more and more real in times like this. Supporting each other is key. e morning after the MVA, one of my re brothers texts me. “What time you coming over for breakfast?” Saying “no man I’m good” was not an option. I had a former IFR member text me to let me know he was there to talk if needed. ere was constant texts and chats and check-ins among the crew. Our Chief and Chaplain are always on call and let us know when they were at the hall if we needed a co ee and a visit.

PTSD is becoming understood more and more. Although, the ip side of PTSD is still relatively new and it goes by a few names: PTG, Post Traumatic Growth, Resiliency, Mental Toughness. It’s the idea, and for some, a very common practice, that, recovering from trauma in the right way can actually make us stronger. In the same way that trauma and critical incident stress can eat at you and break you up inside. For way too many this has lead to loosing their jobs, families and lives. Gone are the days of “suck it up”. e mentality of “Be a man.” Pushing it down and “don’t let it bother” is no longer an option. Growth can come from trauma; we can build resiliency, emotional strength and mental toughness.

Of course, I am no expert. But there are experts who are just a phone call away. e idea is sound and the practice is important. I went searching for a simple way to present Post Traumatic Growth, and this is what I found.

Many explanations are out there, and some are much more in depth. I came across a few very simple points. e rst and most important realization is that being depressed or down, sad, mad, feeling generally negative is a state of mind. A state of mind, just like joy, happy, hope is a state of mind. And your state of mind can be changed.

If you do nd yourself down, thinking the bad thoughts, experiencing intrusive memories, you can begin to change the state of your mind by doing just one of three things. First, change your physiology. Change the way you move your body. Don’t be stationary. Don’t be stagnant. Once you get up, hormones and endorphins will change the way your body feels. Make it simple. Get up! Go for a walk.

Secondly, change your internal dialog. Change the questions you ask yourself. Change how you talk about yourself in your head. If you have to say it out loud then do it. Start that conversation outwardly if you must.

Lastly, change what you focus on. Do you focus on what you did wrong, or what can you do better next time? Do you dwell on the mistakes or focus on what went right?

Many people focus on disempowering things. ey say, “why did this happen to me?” ey say it so often to themselves they can’t get out from under it.

Everyone here has experienced trauma. But no one has gone through the same trauma. Everyone is ghting their own battles. Everyone has or will go through their own worst day ever. But you can get out; every single one of us can get out from under it!

We have each other to lean on. We have some simple tools to change our state of mind. When we become more resilient we become stronger. And when we become emotionally and mentally stronger we recover from trauma faster.

I will leave you with this. You are allowed to hurt! You are allowed to scream! You are allowed to cry! But.... you are not allowed to give up! ank You.

Invermere re ghters light up at the 47th annual Fireman’s Ball, held at the Columbia Valley Centre, last Saturday, October 27th. Photo by Ruth Fast / Painted Sun Photography

Eating for a healthy pregnancy

By Kyra Warren Midwife

It’s not easy to know how to eat “healthy” in this day and age of social media and fad diets, and now that you are pregnant it can be even more confusing. Here are a few tips to help you get started, feel free to talk to your maternity care provider for more specific ad vice if needed.

Quick facts

Maternity

Matters

When you are pregnant your caloric needs grow as your baby grows. This means you don’t need to suddenly “eat for two” but rather listen to your hunger cues throughout your pregnancy.

Healthy weight gain through pregnancy varies con siderably based on pre-pregnant weight and many other factors. An underweight pregnant women is recommend ed to gain the most, whereas an overweight woman is rec ommended to gain the least.

What to eat

A varied diet with a combination of carbohydrates (veggies, bread, rice, pasta), protein (chicken, fish, le gumes) and healthy fats (olive oil, avocados) is recom mended. When we mix up the different veggies (espe cially the different colours of veggies) and protein sources in our diet, we have a better chance of getting all the mi cronutrients (vitamins and minerals) needed to grow our baby and nurture our body.

An easy way to ensure you are getting the appropri ate number of servings of each food group is to visualize every plate composed of half veggies, a quarter protein and a quarter complex carbohydrates (like rice, potatoes, sweet pototes).

Morning sickness: Eat small meals fre quently (roughly every 2 hours) and ensure each snack has a protein component. This can help symptoms of morning sickness as it helps regulate your blood sugar levels (when I was pregnant I loved apples with peanut butter). Having said that, if you can only eat dry toast in the first trimester, just do that. You need to eat something, don’t get too worried if it’s not the perfect food. Your body is amazing and will grow your baby.

Drink lots of water (try to cut out fizzy drinks)- like 8 glasses or 2 litres a day.

Caffeine: A small amount of caffeine is safe in preg nancy – about 200mg per day; that’s 1-2 cups of coffee a day. Watch out for sneaky sources of caffeine that can add up like chocolate, energy drinks and tea.

What not to eat

Raw fish, egg or meat (sushi), unpasteurized dairy, processed foods – these foods are often high in sugar and fat but low in nutrients giving you empty calories (calo ries that don’t have the building blocks for health (vita mins and minerals, iron, etc.). Make sure all left overs are heated well. Be careful of lunch meats and preprepared salads from the deli (we just don’t always know how old or fresh that food is).

Some take home points

• Eat plenty of colourful vegetables and a variety of protein,

• Drink enough water,

• Be kind and gentle to yourself and do your best.

Maternity Matters is a semi-regular column promoting maternity services in the Valley.

BLUE

Double-overtime disappointment

There was no scoring in the third period.

The Columbia Valley Rockies took the Golden Rock ets to double overtime and unfortunately came away with only one point.

Fraser McMann, with help from Ryan Skytt and Joshua Antunes, opened the scoring 20 seconds into the game, quieting the home crowd. Later in the first period on the power play Eric Lloyd scored with help from Jesse Carr and Zachary Giacabbo, leaving the Rockies up by two.

the second period the Rockets came back and evened the score with six minutes remaining by scoring twice. With two minutes left in the second period Jes se Carr, with help from Erik Lloyd and Chase Hawkins, gave the Rockies another lead. The Rockets quickly an swered back 40 seconds later to again even the tilt.

The two teams exchanged opportunities in the first overtime which ended up again deadlocked and no an swer to the riddle being found. Halfway through the sec ond overtime Golden was able to slide it through and take the win.

“I was disappointed in the outcome of the game,” said head coach Wade Dubielewicz. “I felt we started very strong and played with pace. We were not ready to start the second period and Golden took full advantage. We need to get to a point as a group that we put together 60 minutes of hockey.”

The Rockies now go on the road for a game against division rivals Kimberley Dynamiters on Friday, Novem ber 2nd. The Rockies’ next home game will be Saturday, November 3rd when the Grand Forks Border Bruins come to town.

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

Sunday, November 4, 10:30 am Worship And Life Instruction, “A Crazy Little ing Called Church”… Guest speaker, Rev. Daren Wride ministering. “K.I.D.S.” Church during the Morning Service. 326 - 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 • o ce@lwac.ca • www.lwac.ca

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED

Worship every Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Children & Youth Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. Christ Church Trinity, Invermere 1st and 3rd Sunday, March - December 9 a.m.: All Saint’s, Edgewater 2nd Sunday, 7 p.m.: June - October at St. Peter’s Windermere Reverend Laura Hermakin 110 - 7th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-6644 • www.wvsm.ca

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY

Sunday 10 a.m.: Worship Services. Pastor Murray Wittke 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere 250-342-9511 • www.valleychristianonline.com

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.: St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats. Saturday, 5 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m.: Canadian Martyrs’ – Invermere Sunday, 11 a.m.: St. Joseph’s – Radium. Father Jojo Augustine • 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167

ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN MISSION OF INVERMERE

Lay Worship Services every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Christ Church Trinity, 110 - 7th Ave., Invermere (Small Chapel) Pastor Ron Tabbert

Parish O ce: 250-426-7564 Email: mtzionlc@hotmail.com

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Photos by Dauna Ditson