Columbia Valley PIoneer, November 29, 2022

Ladies Night

Home Hardware’s Ladies Night was another superb success, with arts and crafts, a fashion show, tasty treats, and live music by Smarty Pants (above).

Photos by Dauna Ditson

Cram the Cruiser Saturday

By Leah Scheitel Special to the Pioneer

e third annual Cram the Cruiser event is back at the Invermere Canadian Tire. Store owners Je and Jaimie Cote are excited to host the annual toy drive, which is in partnership with the local RCMP and the Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley.

“What we do is we have the RCMP come over, they drop o one of their trucks and our goal is to ll that truck as many times as we can,” Mr. Cote explained. “All of the toys that get collected, the Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley, they gather up all the toys and they distribute them to families in need right here in our Valley.”

Mr. Cote said any new, unwrapped toy will be gladly collected to Cram the Cruiser. Along with the Cotes, there will be a local RCMP o cer and a representative from the Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley to help collect as many toys as possible.

e rst Cram the Cruise event in 2016 collected more than 250 toys, and that number was doubled to 500 in the second year. is year, the Cotes are hoping to gather 700 toys for local children. Mr. Cote estimated

that last year’s event lled the RCMP truck over 10 times. Last year’s hot-ticket toy was an oversized teddy bear that was for sale at the store.

“A lot of the customers were buying those and adding to it, and so that really lled up the truck fast,” said Mr. Cote. “We just count them as they come in, we weren’t really looking at truckloads. But it was nine or 10 truckloads for sure.”

Mr. Cote said their inspiration for this event, which they started in their rst year of owning and operating the Invermere Canadian Tire, was just to help spread some holiday cheer.

“Jaimie and I have two children of our own and in our household, Christmas is an extremely important time . . . ere is de nitely a need in our Valley and we wanted to do anything that we can to help support that,” he said. “We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to give back and help ensure that everyone has a great Christmas.”

To help Cram the Cruiser, bring new, unwrapped toys to the Invermere Canadian Tire between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 1st and help the Cotes spread some of that holiday cheer.

VALLEY

Radium woodcarver’s Home Of A Thousand Faces goes out with a blaze

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer.com

“Forty years of history down the drain,” said Rolf Heer on Friday, November 23rd as re hoses blasted the charred remnants of his iconic home and business, e Home Of A ousand Faces.

“I don’t know how I’m going to handle this,” he said as he shivered and pulled on a pink fuzzy housecoat, one of the few items he was able to save before his home burned to a crisp. “I might be crying for three weeks.”

Mr. Heer said he had a re outside the night before that must have gotten out of control.

In the morning, Gary and Sherry Froescul who were visiting from Sherwood Park, Alberta drove past Mr. Heer’s home on their way to the Radium Hot Springs pools. ey were disappointed to nd that the pools weren’t open when they arrived so they returned to Radium.

Ms. Froescul noticed a re as they passed by the landmark again. She wasn’t sure if it was a normal re. Neither was Mr. Froescul, who had been a re ghter for 18 years before retiring.

“It looked like it was going where it wasn’t supposed to go,” he said.

ey went to the Petro-Canada, and one of the employees called 911. By then, they said, the re had doubled in size.

Mr. Froescul said “a young guy” went into the house

and came out with Mr. Heer.

Fire ghters were on the scene so fast it seemed like only 30 seconds had passed since the call was placed around 10:20 a.m. But the blaze at the all-wood building kept growing.

“Within ve or 10 minutes the whole thing was engulfed,” Mr. Froescul said.

Holly Hahn, who stood bearing witness in somber solidarity with Mr. Heer’s friends and neighbours, said her boyfriend called and told her there were “1,000 foot

Photo by Dauna Ditson

ames” coming from Mr. Heer’s home.

“Rolf’s my friend. All these people, they’re my family,” she said. “It’s devastating for the entire community.”

It was also devastating for her children, who cried when she told them the Radium woodcarver’s home had gone up in smoke.

“ ere was nothing like this in the world,” she said. “I’m sad for all the children who used to come here.”

. . .

Government announces $1 million for Akisqnuk housing

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

e B.C. government is helping Akisqnuk families nd a new place to call home.

“We have a number of members who want to move back to the community,” shares Lorne Shovar, Junior Administrative o cer at Akisqnuk. “But affordable housing is a big issue in the Valley.”

at is why Akisqnuk First Nation started a multi-family housing project last year, to help bring

Akisqnuk home and provide much-needed homes for members. e rst phase – a six-unit multiplex – is expected to be completed within the next month. e funding announcement made by the provincial government last Saturday, November 24th of $1 million for the Akisqnuk First Nation, will go towards a second six-plex.

Mr. Shovar says the ultimate goal is to hopefully build at least 18 new units on the Akisqnuk reserve, which rests between Windermere and Fairmont Hot Springs o Hwy 93/95. e $1 million

is only a portion of what will be needed to build the new multiplex. However no other details are available at this time.

e government’s announcement encompasses more than 1,100 new homes for Indigenous peoples. e rst set of homes selected through the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund includes nearly 780 o -reserve homes and close to 370 homes on-reserve. Part of a 10-year, $550-million commitment to build 1,750 new units of social

. . .

Fire ghters from Radium, Invermere, and Windermere, joined forces to ght a house re last Friday, November 23rd.

RCMP Report

Submitted by Sgt. Darren Kakuno Detachment Commander Columbia Valley RCMP

past week, November 19th through November 25th, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 47 calls for ser-

following are some of the more notable les our o cers responded to.

• On Tuesday, November 20th at about 5:10 p.m., police received a report of a motor vehicle collision at Highway 93/95 and Swansea Road in Invermere. e investigation revealed a southbound Subaru Crosstrek was attempting to make a lefthand turn when it was rear ended by a Hyundai Accent. e driver and passenger of the Subaru sustained minor injuries as did the driver and two passengers in the Hyundai. After further investigation it was learned the driver of the Hyundai had smoked marijuana within an hour of driving. e driver was issued a 24 hour driving prohibition as well as a violation ticket for following too closely and driving contrary to restrictions. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

• On Friday, November 23rd, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report from the Rocky Mountain School District that a black Chevrolet Silverado traveling north on Hwy 93/95 had failed to stop for a southbound bus that was stopped and had its ashing lights and stop sign activated. After reviewing the information from the school district the driver was issued a $368 violation ticket for failing to stop for a school bus.

• On Friday, November 23rd at 10 a.m., police were dispatched to a house re at Hwy 93 and Madsen Road in Radium Hot Springs. e residence was fully engulfed when members arrived. e occupant of the house escaped

without injury. e cause of the re is undetermined but is not considered suspicious. Radium Hot Springs Fire Department received assistance from the Invermere Fire Department and the Columbia Valley Fire Department.

• On Friday, November 23rd at about 11 p.m., a resident on 15th Street in Invermere reported two young males rummaging through his vehicle. e youths ed prior to police arrival. e owner did not notice anything missing but con rmed both of his unlocked vehicles had been accessed.

• On Saturday, November 24th at 1:15 a.m., police received a report of an impaired driver leaving Panorama in a white GMC Sierra. O cers located and stopped the truck in Wilmer. e investigating o cer noted an odour of liquor coming from the driver which furthered his grounds to read a breath demand. e driver complied with a breath demand which resulted in a fail. As a result of the failed breath sample, the driver was issued a 90-day immediate roadside driving prohibition and his truck was impounded for thirty days.

Columbia Valley RCMP members will be at the Invermere Canadian Tire store on Saturday, December 1st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to accept donated toys for the Cram the Cruiser Toy Drive. is event is a partnership between the Columbia Valley Christmas Bureau, the Invermere Canadian Tire and the RCMP. If you’re in a position to, please consider dropping by and donating an unwrapped toy. All the donated toys will be distributed to local families in need of support.

On Sunday, December 2nd, Sgt. Kakuno will be serving meals at the annual Copper Point ‘Feed the Town’ event. A traditional holiday feast will be served and the proceeds will be going to our local food bank.

Fire at Best Western Invermere

By Pioneer sta

A re broke out at the Best Western hotel Tuesday, November 21st in the joint kitchen space between the hotel and the Copper City Saloon. Invermere Fire Chief Jason Roe reports the 28 attending re ghters were able to contain the re to the attic area above the kitchen.

Crews from Invermere Fire/Rescue, along with assisting crews from Panorama and Windermere departments, worked together to beat the blaze.

Fire ghters stayed on scene until approximately

2 a.m. to monitor for hot spots.

e cause of the re is under investigation.

Copper City Saloon posted on Facebook the following morning about the incident.

“We would like to say thank you for the rst responders and re departments that came quickly when called. No one was hurt and everyone is safe. anks for everyone’s concerns we will keep you updated, thank you for understanding.”

As of Tuesday’s press time, the bar and kitchen were still closed. e hotel and liquor store are open for business.

Radon runs rampant in Valley

High radon levels found in one out of every three homes tested in Columbia Valley

Submitted by Wildsight

Wildsight Invermere announced the ndings of their Columbia Valley Radon Action & Awareness Program community radon testing.

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate unnoticed in our homes and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. Radon gas builds up indoors when uranium-rich rock under buildings decays and releases radon gas; radon levels can be drastically di erent from one neighbouring dwelling to another. Based on the geology of the Columbia Valley, our area is believed to have elevated levels of radon gas.

Because radon levels vary between neighbouring homes, we cannot predict a localized areas’ indoor radon levels from a single household sample; long-term testing in each dwelling is the only way to accurately determine the radon level within a given home.

With funding received from the RDEK/CBT Community Initiatives and A ected Areas Programs, Wildsight’s Columbia Valley Radon Action & Awareness Program distributed 100 long-term radon test kits to residents throughout Area F, Area G, Canal Flats, Invermere and Radium, at no cost to homeowners, from December 2017 through to spring of this year.

While there is no single, global gure for allowable radon levels, Health Canada, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.N. World Health

Organization (WHO) have each established radon guidelines to help address the dangers of radon; WHO is the most conservative, followed by the U.S. and then Canada.

Of the Columbia Valley properties tested through the Wildsight program, even by the lower Canadian standard, 1 in 3 homes had dangerous levels of radon and some homes had radon levels greater than ve times what Health Canada says is acceptable.

“ e health risks associated with household radon are serious, but they can be solved,” said Mandi McRobbie of Wildsight Invermere. “ e rst step is to test your home, especially in our area. e testing process is simple and is best done during the winter, November is the perfect time to start a long-term test.”

While Wildsight Invermere is not currently distributing radon tests this fall, they encourage all homeowners to test their household radon levels and to mitigate as necessary. Radon test kits are available online and at most hardware stores for about $45 each and this includes lab fees and result reporting. Long-term radon tests are small (less than 3 inches), passive, require no special installation, and will take a minimum of three months to complete.

Regarding next steps for the program, “we are currently receiving feedback from program participants regarding their mitigation strategies and are also in discussion with all levels of government to pursue how we can encourage more people to test and reduce radon levels in their home,” said Ms. McRobbie.

For more information, please visit https://wildsight. ca/branches/invermere/radon.

Local radon specialist applauds awareness initiative

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Nate Sereda owns EnergyAdvise, a local business licensed under the Canadian National Radon Pro ciency Program for radon measurement and mitigation.

As the only certi ed radon professional in the Columbia Valley, Mr. Sereda stays busy with calls across the Valley and beyond. Since he started conducting radon tests ve years ago, he has tested more than 100 houses for the dangerous gas.

Originally, Mr. Serada’s business was nding and xing gaps in home energy e ciency. rough his work, he discovered the issue of high radon levels

Don’t Miss an

If

GARRY

People

in the area and took professional training to become certi ed to deal with radon.

Programs like Wildsight’s radon testing (see above), have helped to build that awareness and pushes people to take action. In his professional role, Mr. Sereda has found homes with radon levels that have 10 times over the ‘safe’ level in the Valley.

“Radon is super dangerous, but it can be dealt with,” Mr. Sereda comments. “Any time we’re raising awareness of an issue like this, it’s great.”

Mr. Sereda suggests testing your home in the winter for radon levels as you will have the most accurate results from the Radon testing during this time. For more information, visit www.energyadvise.ca.

e Rotary Club of Invermere sincerely wishes all our citizens a very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season.

e demand for a spot at the table at our Annual Seniors Dinner, normally held to honour our elder citizens, has grown so large, that we consistently turn as many folks away as we feed, creating a waiting list that cannot be ful lled.

While we realize that our event is loved and in high demand, the Club feels it cannot continue serving only the few that make the list.

With our apologies, and respect for the tradition of this event, going forward, the Rotary Club of Invermere will instead participate in the truly community Service event

“Feed the Town”.

See you there.

“People Helping

Volunteer Columbia Valley

A

www.volunteercv.ca

Create

End of Life Visitor

Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley Invermere, BC. Starting Immediately 1-3hrs/month. 8 Spots Available For more

visit www.volunteercv.ca

The

guardian or caregiver can call toll free 1 888 523-7192 or email woodlands.care.facility.residents@gov.bc.ca.

in our

PERSPECTIVE

A wizard is forever

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Rolf Heer and his stories have always been larger than life. He and his legendary Home Of A ousand Faces have been tourist draws for nearly 40 years since he bought the old Alberta Motel and turned it into a wizard’s wooden lair.

Even as a child growing up in Switzerland, Mr. Heer was never one to follow the rules. Instead he transended them. As a young student, he said, he was kicked out of the boys’ school and had to go to a girls’ school instead.

at’s where he learned that skirts were comfortable and began his life-long a nity for dressing exactly as he pleased.

Invermere councillor Gerry Taft recalls Mr. Heer climbing a tree with chainsaws dangling from his sides and seeming invincible as he cut down the tree that was holding him up.

When Mr. Heer asked Radium mayor Clara Reinhardt why she hadn’t come to see him at the Home Of A ousand Faces, she reminded him of the sign he had posted outside that said politicians weren’t invited.

Mr. Heer built an addition on his home without a permit, didn’t believe in insurance and said he could write an entire book on how he refused to be governed.

He once marched straight up to a police o cer and asked for directions to the nearest dealer. Hot tub parties in his treehouse ended with human puzzles as he and his guests tried to match each other with their clothes.

Mr. Heer stood as proof that the rules need not apply, that a man could indeed walk about town in a robe, that the child within could last for a lifetime. It may have seemed that Mr. Heer was eternal, a true wizard, a spirit in esh.

When he announced last month that he was selling his business for health reasons, it was hard to fathom that anything, even the endless march of time, could catch up with the wizard.

He seemed invincible, far too big for re or cancer, for hospitals or 911 calls.

As cancer ravages his body and re claims the Home Of A ousand Faces, Mr. Heer and his lifetime of carvings have become all too real and all too fragile.

But Mr. Heer is dancing on the ashes. Saving his hats and robes from the re, the wizard posed in front of the ames with another bold act of de ance -- a wide smile.

Fire may have consumed his home but it couldn’t claim one hint of his spirit. Watch out, cancer.

Historical LensHistorical Lens

e bottom line in support of Pro-Rep

Dear Editor:

After all the debate, it comes down to the most important reason to support Proportional Representation – everyone’s vote counts! No longer would one party earn less than a majority of the votes but have 100% of the power. Hopefully, then voter turnout would also increase because each voter will have the opportunity to choose someone who best represents his/her interests at the local level.

In one of his letters (November 15th), Mr. Jenkinson recounted the many problems with government in Italy. e bottom line on this discussion is to reinforce the fact that none of the three options proposed for B.C. has any resemblance to the Pro-Rep system in Italy. Furthermore, Proportional Representation is a vote for change but certainly not risky or unproven.

Nine out of ten of the top economies in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development use a Pro-Rep system of elections. Also, Pro-Rep usually produces stability because it is

based on consensus.

Once a choice is made for Pro-Rep, any of the three options presented on our referendum can work. It is not even necessary for you to complete the second half of the ballot.

Mr. Christenson (letter to the editor, November 15th) refers to “tinpot democracies” that use some form of Proportional Representation to elect their leaders. Would that term describe such countries as Germany and New Zealand who use a system similar to the Mixed Member option on our referendum? Would it describe the Scandinavian countries where Pro-Rep is working well?

Even though the deadline for our referendum has been extended to December 7th, time is of the essence. If you have not already sent o your ballot, you would be wise now to choose the other option of delivering it to our local Service BC o ce to be sure it is counted.

Luana Gillies Windermere

Athalmer, looking east, showing the old school house and Catholic church, alongside the river ats, in 1913.

Photo (A 1119) courtesy Windermere District Historical Society

Dean Midyette

Amanda Nason

Dauna Ditson

Katie Watt

Lorene Keitch

Steve Hubrecht

Amanda Murray

Emily Rawbon

What is Forest Bathing?

Dear Editor:

After looking at the front page of the November 19th issue of the Pioneer, I’m sure many of you are wondering “What is Forest Bathing?” No, it isn’t about wandering around in the forest in your bathing suit. e practice is ancient but in 1982 the Japanese established a research lab to signi cantly measure the positive impacts that time in nature can have on us physically, mentally and emotionally. e Japanese chose to call it Shinrin Yoku, or in the west, Forest erapy or Forest Bathing.

A Forest erapy walk with a trained guide will be about 1-2 km long and takes 3 to 3.5 hours. We engage all 11 senses with the invitations o ered within a speci c forest setting. I nd it really intriguing to design the walk to include the 5 elements of nature which I have included as an educator and practitioner of Feng Shui over the last 27 years.

e purpose of Forest erapy is to calm the overstimulation of arti cial and urban environments and promote relaxation. It is a wonderful opportunity to go on a guided forest walk and nd yourself back in the freedom and intrigue of reconnecting with your senses by smelling, tasting, listening, touching and looking at the multitude of forms and colours in the forest. Initiating a walk by slowing yourself down supports the next step which is to meander following the pace of your guide while observing the sounds and motions of the tiniest leaf to then look upward to the ight of a bird and beyond to a cloud passing. Now you are in the liminal state of slow movement as the many invitations of nature tweak your senses. You are relax-

ing. e heart is calming. Blood pressure is stabilizing and your immune system is strengthening. It is actually profoundly simple to engage the feeling of our senses with the elements of nature and its many avours.

Neurological technology can now measure the stress hormone interaction you have with your emotions by doing saliva testing to compare your adrenaline and cortisol levels before, during and after a Forest Walk. In Japan last year 5 million people went on guided walks within designated parks and reserves doing Shinrin Yoku practices. Many parks have monitoring stations to measure the shift we experience between the liminal state and the daily rat race. If you were lucky enough as a kid to hang out among trees you likely still remember your rst most favourite tree.

Mine was a big old weeping willow near the lake. You talked to it. You climbed every part of its limbs upward to the crown.

You had secret meetings up in the tree alone or with buddies. You hid from the rain. We often forget that one of our rst trusted relationships was with trees. Shinrin Yoku is simply bringing back those powerful old relationships of our beginner mind. With permission from the Forest erapy Guiding Association (who I did a workshop with in August), I started taking groups out in the fall with some great feedback and results for clients. I am establishing numerous forest sites in the valley and will have a late winter snowshoe walk program and full on guiding operation for spring.

Pat Bavin Forest erapy Guide

Dear Editor:

Salmon used to swim all the way up the Columbia River from the Paci c Ocean near Astoria, Oregon to the Canadian Rocky Mountains at the river’s headwaters in Canal Flats, British Columbia. It was an astounding journey of 2,000 km upstream that cut through a landscape of lush forest, dry desert and high peaks.

But since the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam without sh passage in Washington in 1942 (which the Canadian federal government consented to), salmon have been blocked from their ancestral spawning grounds in the upper half of the watershed. eir absence has deprived upper Columbia ecosystems of valuable nutrients that salmon bring from the ocean and has

caused hardship to Indigenous peoples, who historically relied on this resource.

Now, with the renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) underway, we have a promising political opportunity to bring the salmon back home to the upper Columbia through a collaborative international restoration program.

Federal Treaty Negotiators appointed by both Canada and the U.S. have been in negotiation since May. However, hopes for salmon restoration (and ecosystems more generally) took a dive when both countries chose to exclude Indigenous nations from the process.

Indigenous voices have been the strongest champions for salmon in the

Canadian Tire and the RCMP with help from the Christmas Bureau of Columbia Valley PRESENT the 3rd Annual

Mr. Heer lived in his showroom, where he slept on a shelf. For 40 years he had welcomed residents and tourists into his home to see his wood carvings, play in his outdoor water park and feed the goats that lived on his roof.

Inside his home, notes from the children who loved Mr. Heer like their favourite fairytale character come to life disappeared into ash. So did nearly all of his worldly possessions, except for a few portraits, his robes, a bit of cash and his prized wizard hats.

Mr. Heer, who has terminal cancer and was hoping to nd a woodcarver to take over the business, had no insurance on his place that was wooden from oor to ceiling, including the clocks.

Fire chief Dave Dixon said the Radium re department went straight into defence mode when they arrived at Mr. Heer’s home. Nineteen re ghters came to the rescue, representing the Radium, Invermere and Windermere departments.

e re ghters’ goal was to keep the blaze from spreading to other buildings, Mr. Dixon said. While they succeeded in containing the ames, they couldn’t stop the re from claiming Mr. Heer’s wooden kingdom.

Highway 93 was temporarily closed as it was “too dangerous to drive by” in case parts of the scorched structure crashed onto the road.

More than 24 hours after they began battling the re, the team was still ghting to put it out.

e o cial cause remains to be determined.

While the crews were hard at work, the Village was busy feeding them. Mr. Dixon thanked FireD Up Breakfast and Burgers, the Old Salzburg Restaurant and Riko’s Family Restaurant for helping them out.

Mr. Heer alternated between laughing and choking up as he watched the inferno consume his life’s work and as neighbours, friends, police and re ghters expressed their condolences and doled out hugs.

A life-sized carving Mr. Heer called e Crying Man, who had been standing stately in the second oor hall, wept his last sap tear and returned to ash.

And still the beloved wizard was all smiles as he asked for a photo to commemorate the end of an era going out with a blaze.

.

. ‘Radium’ from 3

Rolf Heer created thousands of wood carvings, many on display around and within his unique wood-crafted home in Radium Hot Springs.

Photos by Dauna Ditson

e ames tore through Mr. Heer’s home, rapidly consuming the tinder-dry sculptures.

Submitted photo

Frontiersman hoops with hope

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer. com

Students at Edgewater Elementary School squirmed with anticipation as they waited for hoop dancer Dallas Ar cand to perform on Wednesday, No vember 21st.

But the world champion Cree per former from the Alexander First Na tion north of Edmonton aspires to do far more than entertain his audiences; he intends to build a better society.

“First Nations people suffer quite a lot with racism and addictions and I suffered as well growing up with in tergenerational trauma. So I’m being a frontiersman, being at the forefront of the pack, to essentially motivate all of the youth,” he said in an interview.

Mr. Arcand estimates he’s seen more than half of the country’s First Nations reserves.

“It’s third world living conditions and all the youth are lost,” he said.

That’s where he and his show come into play.

“When the kids watch me they get to see firsthand a successful young in digenous person. I’m only 21 years old and I travel all over the world,” he said.

Photo by Dauna Ditson

After opening with a welcoming song on his cedar flute, Mr. Arcand picked up his hoop and told the children: “I want to introduce you to one of the oldest dances known to North America.”

“There’s a lot of lessons and teachings in a circle,” he said, rolling the hoop away and watching as it returned on its own. “What you put out into the world is just going to come right back to you.”

Mr. Arcand danced with a single hoop and then invited some adult audience mem bers including Principal Darryl Turner to join him to test their own hooping skills in case they thought his tricks looked easy.

Ethan, a grade 7 student, was also invited to participate in the lesson and received some one-on-one coaching on how to hold and swirl a hoop.

Once Mr. Turner dropped his hoop – to the children’s great amusement – and the audience volunteers were thoroughly convinced that hooping was a challenge, Mr. Arcand gathered all 13 of his hoops and paused to share the history behind his grand finale.

The dance was based on a story about a young warrior in the wild who was being pursued by predators, Mr. Arcand said. When the warrior prayed for help, the Creator gave him hoops so he could shapeshift and take the form of other animals to escape.

Mr. Arcand arranged his hoops in a circle on the floor, stood in the centre and be gan an elaborate dance where he added hoops one at a time and used them to mimic a bear, a bird, a crocodile and more.

After the show Ethan, the student volunteer, raved about Mr. Arcand’s perfor mance.

“It was awesome,” he said. “It was crazy.”

Dallas Arcand wowed students at Edgewater El ementary with his hoop dancing performance.

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 29th

• Windermere Real Storage is now accepting donations for the Columbia Valley Food Bank. during o ce hours, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday throughSaturday.

• 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 and Sunday.

• 6 p.m.: Love it Live Music Series at Pynelogs Art Gallery & Cultural Centre features Sultans of StringChristmas Caravan. Opening act Nathan Lamb. Tickets online at columbiavalleyarts.com.

• 6 - 8 p.m.: Free English Conversation Class for newcomers to Canada at downtown CBAL o ce every ursday. Email windermerevalleysettlement@cbal.org or call 250-341-7188 for info.

• 6:30 - 9 p.m.: Join Groundswell Network Society for their Mid-Campaign Mingler and Community Potluck at e Mountain Hub in Invermere. Bring a potluck dish along with your questions, ideas and insights. Contact Katrina at 250-409-4195 for more details.

• 8:30 - 10 p.m.: Indoor Pickleball at DTSS gym, every ursday. All are welcome.

Friday, November 30th

• 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.

• 4 - 8 p.m.: e 26th annual BIG Christmas Craft Sale at the Columbia Valley Centre featuring all handcrafted items. Live music by Smarty Pants.

• 4 - 8 p.m.: Friends of the Invermere Library’s ‘Twas the Book Sale Before Christmas in the library’s mezzanine. Also Saturday, December 1st, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• 6:30 p.m.: Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley’s 5th Annual Tree of Lights, an evening of commemoration and remembrance, in the communities of Canal Flats, Fairmont, Invermere and Radium. $10 per light. Register at the Hospice o ce in Invermere or online at hospicesocietycv.com.

Saturday, December 1st

• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Canadian Tire hosts Cram the Cruiser. Bring new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to families in need by the Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley.

• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.: e 26th annual BIG Christmas Craft Sale continues at the Columbia Valley Centre. Entry by donation to the Sonshine Children’s Centre.

• 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.

• 11:30 a.m.: Blessings rift Store in Radium are blessing the community with a Turkey-On-A-Bun appreciation event at the store.

• 1 p.m.: e Columbia Valley Cycling Society is inviting all fat bikers to a free event which begins at the Johnson Trails at Lake Lillian, followed by a potluck dinner.

Sunday, December 2nd

• 10 a.m.: e Columbia Valley Cycling Society is hosting a free fatduro race at Mt. Swansea. Open to cycling society members which can be purchased at the trailhead the day of the event or online. Minimum 3.8” tire size is required.

• 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.

• 12 - 7 p.m.: Copper Point Golf Club presents the 15th Annual Feed the Town turkey dinner. Sgt. Darren Kakuno will be serving. Admission is a non-perishable food item or cash donation to the Columbia Valley Food Bank. Pictures with Santa from 1 - 6 p.m.

Buying or selling?

• 6:30 p.m.: Seniors card games at Radium Hot Springs Centre every Tuesday.

• 6:30 p.m.: Cinefest at Pynelogs Independent Film Series presents ‘Finding Your Feet’ at 7 p.m. Cash bar and light refreshments. Tickets $12 or $11 for CV Arts Members, Kids 13 & under $5. Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250-342-4423 for details.

• 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.

Wednesday, December 5th

• 8 a.m.: Radium Hot Springs Sunrise Rotary meets for breakfast the 1st and 3rd Wednesday from November thru March at Big Horn Cafe.

• 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.

• 5 - 8 p.m.: Columbia River Treaty Community Meeting at the CV Chamber of Commerce, 651 Hwy 93/95. Receive updates on the Treaty negotiations and discuss key community interests.

• 6:30 - 9 p.m.: Enjoy a Medieval themed book launch for ‘Tangle of Time’ by Maureen orpe at the Invermere Library. ere will be medieval desserts, gyngerbrede, shrewsbury cakes, fyne cakes and Wassail (mulled apple cider).

• 7 p.m.: Wilmer Community Club Bingo at the Wilmer Community Hall.

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

Friday, December 7th

Monday, December 3rd

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

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

• 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.

• 7 p.m.: Lake Windermere Lions Club meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at the Lions Hall.

Tuesday, December 4th

• 10 a.m.: Fairmont Seniors Club meets at the Lions Den in Fairmont every Tuesday, for Games, Monthly Speakers and fun. Need a ride? Call 250-345-0106.

• 1:30 p.m.: Games afternoon at Invermere Seniors Hall every Tuesday.

• 1:30 p.m.: Needles and Hooks Club at the Invermere Library every Tuesday. Refreshments will be supplied.

• 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 - 8 p.m.: How Life Works For You, book study at Shasta Wellness Studio on 7th Ave. Every Tuesday from December 4th to January 8th. By donation. Contact facilitator Alex for details, 250-342-6466.

• 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.: Valley Voices presents Sing Noel Alleluia! with special guests Voices of EMP Children’s Choir at Christ Church Trinity. Tickets $10/adult, $5/child, available at Big Horn Cafe in Radium, Purple Cow Gift Shop in Fairmont and Inspire Floral Boutique in Invermere. Also Saturday December 8th.

• 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 Oct. to June.

• 9 p.m.: e Horsethief Creek Pub and Eatery hosts a Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Night featuring Adam Delorey and Tommy Mellor. For tickets visit horsethiefpub.ca/ comedy.

Invermere Library Hours

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

• 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.

MP Wayne Stetski officially nominated as NDP candidate

NDP MP Wayne Stetski was offi cially nominated by Kootenay-Columbia NDP members to be their candidate for the 2019 federal election during a nomi nation meeting that took place in Nelson Saturday, November 17th.

“I am honoured to have the opportu nity to represent the NDP for another elec tion and to keep fighting alongside NDP leader Jagmeet Singh for people who keep getting squeezed, while the richest people and richest corporations come out ahead,” said Mr. Stetski. “I hope to earn the trust of the people of Kootenay-Columbia once again so I can keep working hard for them and make sure they get what they need from their government.”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is ex tremely excited to be able to count on MP Stetski to help him improve the lives of everyday people in Kootenay-Columbia and in communities across the country.

“Wayne is a tireless worker with an unparalleled dedication and determina tion to stand up for the common good, protect our environment, and make life easier and more affordable for those who have been left behind by decades of Lib eral and Conservative governments,” said Mr. Singh.

Submitted photo

The decision to run again was an easy one for Mr. Stetski.

“Working for the people of Koote nay-Columbia is an enormous privilege and one I take very seriously,” said Mr. Stetski. “I hope that the work I have done in Ottawa on their behalf to date has shown that the concerns of my constitu ents are my first priority. I am excited to work with Jagmeet, with my colleagues in the NDP caucus, and with other Mem bers of Parliament from across the country to make life better for people in Koote nay-Columbia, in Canada, and around the world.”

BIG craft sale for sale

By Dauna Ditson reporter@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Carolyn Barzilay is selling her biggest handicraft of all: the BIG Christmas Craft Sale. After dreaming up the event and run ning it for 26 years, her highly-anticipated craft show this weekend will be her last.

It’s gone from such a tiny little craft show with 15 tables in the beginning to becoming a bustling Valley tradition where locals go to do their Christmas shopping, she said.

“I just started and off it went. It grew into a monster.”

With the craft show and her business es La Galeria II and Grapevine Designs competing for her time, she had to make some tough choices.

“Something’s got to go. I had to pick something and this is the most demand ing next to my two businesses... If you do too many things you don’t do any of them well,” she said. “I don’t have enough time to do it justice because it’s a great event so I’m having to pass it on.”

Ms. Barzilay already has a few succes sors in mind and is certain the show will be back next year with someone else at the helm. She intends to return as a vendor or a shopper.

Previously as the organizer she was too swamped to shop while the show was on. Instead she would browse her vendors’ tables after the event closed on the Friday

evening, leaving cash behind.

“I don’t even care by the time I set up if I sell anything off of my table,” she said. “I just want to be there to see all the people and everyone’s happy.”

A highlight over her quarter century running the craft show has been watching her vendors – like Apple Island Naturals and Saunders Family Farm – expand their businesses.

“It’s thrilling to be part of the growth,” she said, adding that growing her craft show has also “been quite an adventure.”

“One year we got condemned at noon on Friday in the old Invermere hall because the roof was leaking and we had to do it in the old high school gym with the heat stuck on. It was like 40 degrees in there,” she said. “And all the artisans were out (in the parking lot at the hall). They’d started unloading and the District people came over and said: ‘Oh no, you can’t have the show there this year, we’re condemning the building... It was just a fiasco. So we’ve been through a few crazy things.”

Ms. Barzilay’s last BIG Christmas Craft Sale will take place at Columbia Valley Centre on Friday, November 30th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, De cember 1st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is by donation to Sonshine Children’s Centre.

“It’s such a happy event,” she said, adding that she’s both happy and sad to be moving on.

Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.

Film fest fun

Wildsight Invermere’s annual Wild And Scenic Film Festival fundraiser inspired and entertained the audience with stories of hope and adventure in British Columbia and around the world.

An evening with Denise Lemaster

Submitted by Artym Gallery

On Friday, November 30th from 5-9 p.m., e Artym Gallery is hosting a special evening with Invermere’s own Denise Lemaster.

Ms. Lemaster is a well-known painter who loves to paint the East Kootenay region. is local artist has been a professional painter for decades as well as a writer and publisher. Ms. Lemaster will have many of her canvas creations at the Artym (they display her work year-round), and will be at the gallery as well. Her style breaks the landscape down into basic elements; form, colour, and composition. By doing this she is able to create an interpretation with simplicity and harmony. Her paintings bring focus on the landscape while elevating the beauty of this Western area.

In addition to having Ms. Lemaster at the gallery,

the Artym is also having their annual “Big Show of Little Paintings”. Little paintings are often overlooked in a collection. People usually start o with the large pieces in the social areas of a home, but what about the smaller areas? Powder rooms, small walls, and more personal areas still need to be nished and a single (or grouping) of small paintings can be the nishing touch. Smaller works are also very fun and a ordable! Whether you are buying for a loved one, (or just to surprise yourself), these little paintings will adorn the walls of the Artym until December 24th. If you have to send a small painting somewhere in Canada, no problem, the Artym has a at rate shipping fee anywhere in the country, and they do ship worldwide too!

Both shows can be see online at www.artymgallery. com.

Photos by Dauna Ditson

A helping hand for holiday cheer

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

The Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley wants every family in the Valley to have a truly merry Christmas this year.

“It’s a huge undertaking,” admits Mandi Cox, vice chair and public relations coordinator for the Christmas Bureau. She adds with a laugh that a lot of board member’s houses get taken over with all the gift-gathering, as well as a couple of donated properties used as staging grounds. The approximately 20 volunteers work to put together approximately 250 hampers each year. Volunteers coor dinate grocery gift cards, a small box of personalized gifts and goodies, as well as presents for children and seniors and gift cards for teenagers.

Ms. Cox volunteers because she knows first-hand how much the hampers mean to families in the commu nity who could use a helping hand. It was awhile ago now, but Ms. Cox was at one point a recipient of a hamper.

“It became important for me, once I reached a state where I no longer needed assistance, this was my way of giving back,” she explains. “This directly helps local fam ilies.”

She assures that 100 per cent of the funds go to help local community members.

There are a few ways you can help the Bureau. One is to sponsor a family, which can cost between $75 and $225 depending on the size of the family you choose. You can

also assemble and wrap a small box or gift bag of personal ized gifts and treats to go along with the grocery gift card. Or, you may choose to donate an additional $25 to cover the cost of items for the gift box. If you cannot cover the cost of a family, you can make a flat donation. Tax receipts are issued for any amount of $20 or over. You can also assemble gift boxes, or donate items suitable to include.

When a family signs up for the program, they indi cate some basic information about their children (12 and under), for the size of clothes they wear and gift sugges tions.

Angel trees are up around town with gift ideas for families receiving hampers. You can drop into Red Apple or Dairy Queen to pick up an angel tree tag. Or head on down to Fields where the seniors tree is located, which features gift ideas for seniors in need in our community.

Other businesses chip in with fundraisers or oppor tunities to donate, such as the Home Hardware Ladies Night Tuesday, November 20th. Attendees brought in $1,100 in gift cards and $1,000 in cash donations. Any one who brought a gift card donation was entered to win one of three grand prize packs at the event. Smarty Pants is performing around the Valley this season to raise mon ey for the Christmas Bureau, recently netting $225 from Ladies Night. To listen to them play and throw some cash in the bucket, head on over to the BIG Christmas Craft Fair this weekend at the Columbia Valley Centre or the Copper Point Golf Course Market Collective Friday De cember 7th from 6-9 p.m. Volunteers will also be at area

businesses soliciting funds throughout the next couple weeks.

“This is available for anybody who just needs a hand,” she says. “The whole idea of the hamper is, if you’re feel ing stress over Christmas, we hope this helps a bit . . . Everyone out there, regardless of their financial situation, knows how stressful Christmas can be.”

Want to volunteer?

“We’re always looking for more volunteers; you can give as little or as much time as you need,” said Ms. Cox. “We have casual volunteers who man the fundraising ta bles for one or two hours, or people that take on large roles with big commitments.”

Do you need help?

Ms. Cox says it is a common misconception that a family needs to be on social assistance in order to qualify, but that is not the case. If you are in need of help this year, applications are available at Family Dynamix, Invermere Employment Centre, Ministry of Family and Child De velopment, the Akisqnuk and Shuswap Band halls, and Columbia Valley Food Bank.

Distribution day is Tuesday, December 18th at the Columbia Valley Centre. Last day for applications is De cember 11th. For more information or to sponsor a family this Christmas, email cvcb@shaw.ca or call Angie at 250342-2611.

Return Your Referendum Ballot Today

2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform

The deadline for Elections BC to receive completed referendum voting packages has been extended until December 7, 2018.

How can I Vote?

You can return your completed voting package by mail or in person at any Service BC Centre or elections.bc.ca/rso

Elections BC must receive your ballot no later than 4:30 p.m. on December 7, 2018. If returning your

mail, mail it as soon as possible to ensure we receive it by the deadline.

What are we voting on?

You

A book under every tree

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Alongside the Christmas Bureau’s Angel Tree and family sponsorship, you can also donate new and gently used books to include in the Christmas Bureau hampers. is partnership between the bureau and the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) aims to include books in each family’s gift basket. Sandy Kalesniko , Community Literacy Coordinator, says there are typically more than 300 books distributed each year!

“We are looking for books for all ages, from baby board books to adult books. Youth, ages 10 – 14 years old, is the age range we really need books for. ese books will be given as gifts, so, if they are used, they need to be in excellent condition with no marks, torn pages or names inside,” says Ms. Kalesniko .

She encourages people to donate, as reading is enriching and enlightening.

“Parents who read, have children who read. Reading to your children right from birth is a great way create a connection that is a fun way to bond and be together after a busy day. Reading to young children helps them to develop skills they need to become e ective learners once they enter school. Reading is for life!”

Ms. Kalesniko says there are many ways people can get involved with this campaign:

• Comb through your bookshelves to nd some gently used books to donate;

• Purchase a brand new book for any age and drop it o at Kootenay Savings, in Invermere, Sobeys or AG Valley Foods;

• Encourage friends that read to donate;

• Spread the word about A Book Under Every Tree.

“Donating a book to this campaign is a simple and rewarding way to spread the joy of reading in our community,” Ms. Kalesniko encourages.

Christmas Bureau gift box/bag suggestions:

To ll a gift box for the Christmas Bureau, here are some helpful tips on what to include:

Candy, hot chocolate, teas, jams, popcorn, candles, socks, mittens, toothbrushes, soaps, dish/face cloths, family card games, puzzles, crayons and colouring books, scratch tickets, etc.

Please do not include any homemade food items.

YOUR MONEY

What is the CDIC?

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

Most people who buy Guaranteed Investment Certi cates (GICs) understand that their money is protected by insurance but are unsure of the details. Here are some of the ner points of the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) and how their coverage helps Canadians avoid loss.

How it works

e CDIC is a Crown corporation that protects deposits made with member institutions in the case of the institution’s insolvency. CDIC members include many banks, federally regulated credit unions, loan companies and trust companies. Presently, 83 nancial institutions are members of the CDIC.

Deposits of up to $100,000 per issuer, per account are protected. is is an important distinction, and one that many people do not fully understand. For example, a person could have a GIC for $100,000 with Home Trust in an individual account in their name, plus another $100,000 GIC with Home Trust in a joint account, and both would be fully insured.

To meet the requirements for coverage, the original maturity date of the GIC must be ve years or less. Additionally, interest earned on a GIC that bumps the balance over $100,000 in a single account is not insured.

Types of accounts

Aside from GICs, cash up to $100,000 in Canadian dollar-denominated savings and chequing accounts are also covered. Cash in US-denominated accounts is not covered. Other investments such as bonds, mutual funds and stocks are also not covered.

Along with individual and joint accounts, GICs in registered accounts are also covered. ese include Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) and similar accounts.

Trust accounts are covered on the basis of bene ciary designation, not overall account balance. For example, if a trust account has $500,000 with $100,000 allocated to ve di erent bene ciaries, all of the money will be cov-

ered. Due to the size and nature of most trust accounts, this is a helpful feature.

Why the CDIC is important

e CDIC is very important to investors, especially those who are very risk-averse, as it gives them peace of mind. In fact, since the inception of the CDIC in 1967 and within the speci ed parameters, no Canadian has lost money due to the failure of a CDIC member.

e CDIC is also important to nancial institutions. Because deposits are protected, it negates the need for investors to rush to pull their money from, or “put a run on” a bank that looks to be in trouble. If the bank is CDIC insured, its deposits are covered.

Additionally, if a member institution nds itself in trouble, the CDIC will assist in selling it to anothernancial institution. e money in the troubled bank’s accounts will transfer to the new bank.

Check registration

As stated above, not every company o ering GICs or high-interest savings accounts are CDIC insured. Investors can protect themselves by verifying registration on the CDIC’s website, www.cdic.ca<http://www.cdic.ca>, which provides a full list of their members.

Sometimes, obscure nancial institutions o er GICs with attractive interest rates. Be sure to check the CDIC website to ensure that deposits are protected.

Final thoughts

ere are other insurances available to protect investors. e Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) protects against insolvency of all Dealer members of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) to a maximum of $1,000,000 per account.

Provincially-regulated credit unions domiciled in BC also have special deposit insurance rules. All deposits and non-equity shares with BC Credit Unions are insured by the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation (CUDIC) to an unlimited amount.

If you would like more information about any of the insurances available to you and your accounts, contact your nancial advisor. He or she can explain what is covered and help ensure your deposits are safe and sound.

Holly Jones

Block party

Valley Block Parties summer 2018 Grand Prize Winner is Terry Pal of Windermere. e makeup application, hairstyle and family photo shoot was generously donated by Brandy Hamilton owner of Sublime Design Makeup Artistry and Brandy Hamilton Photography. Pictured is (from left) Crisanna MacLeod of Valley Block Parties, Terry Pal, and Brandy Hamilton.

Submitted photo

Roaring support

Comedy night at Horsethief

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery is committed to bringing people together. e local pub o ers shows throughout the year that engage the public, whether that be through live music, burlesque performances, or comedy acts.

If you’re looking for a great night out with a bellyful of laughs and good food, be sure to buy tickets for Horsethief’s next event: Stand Up Comedy with Yuk Yuk’s On Tour. Comedians Adam Delorey and Tommy Mellor will be taking over the pub with outrageously funny sets.

Mr. Delorey has been touring North America for more than a decade, rst starting the comedy circuit at 23. His cutting sense of humour stems from his life-threatening heart disease and sudden thrust into adulthood with the development of his family. Mr. Mellor is known for his edgy perspective, sarcastic nature, and hilariously dry delivery.

Horsethief owner Mike Gray says the comedy nights are always a big hit with the touring performers and the local audience.

“We’ve become a very popular spot amongst the comedians,” admits Mr. Gray. “ ey like coming here.”

e layout of Horsethief is ideal for crowds with multiple seating areas at various heights that provide great sight lines for performers and the audience – “a tight space without being crowded” – says Mr.

Gray.

e audience response has been great, with customers coming back again and again for feature performances.

e desire to bring in quality acts stems from Mr. Gray’s own wishes to have a variety of events and o erings in his community.

“When I rst moved to Radium, one of my concerns was ‘is there going to be much to do’,” he shares. So, he decided to make sure there were things to do by providing opportunities to get out and have fun with friends, with events that he himself enjoys.

“I put on a comedy show ‘cause I like comedy,” he reports. “If I want to have it, chances are other people do too.”

Comedy night tickets are only $15. But Horsethief is o ering a steal of a deal right now: Pioneer readers get another $5 o ticket price: buy your tickets online with promo code ‘Pioneer’ for a great deal on a fun night out.

Bring your appetite to the show too. Aside from the usual savoury meal choices, Horsethief will be o ering a prime rib dinner special. Mr. Gray says this would be a great opportunity for small businesses, friends or families, to gather for a bit of a Christmas party: great food, entertainment, and even a safe ride home afterwards courtesy of Horsethief.

“It’s a really fun way to have an entertaining night without having to go to all that expense yourself,” says Mr. Gray.

Adam Delorey Tommy Mellor

e Fairmont & District Lions President Peter Vink and Treasurer Norbert Schab presented a cheque of $2,000 to Mandi Cox for the Columbia Valley Christmas Bureau, which is 100% funded by donations and serves approximately 250 families. Photo by Doran Cain

A place of peace

Columbia House Residents, staff, visitors and volunteers are now enjoying daily access to sunshine, fresh air, mountain views and nature itself from their newly constructed patio. The Columbia House Enhancement Society proudly announces the completion of Phase 1 of The Columbia House Healing Garden “A Place of Peace” and thanks all those who made this happen (see accompanying ad, below). Phase 2 commences April 1st. Once completed, the 1.5 acre “Place of Peace,” open to the public (dawn until dusk), will include wide meandering pathways (wheelchair, walker and cane-friendly complete with handrails) including water features, a labyrinth, gazebo, pagoda, wonderful gardens and private sitting areas.

Visit www.cohogarden.org for more information and to donate online. Thank you in advance for Helping the Garden Grow!

Submitted photo

housing for Indigenous peoples, these 1,143 new homes will be built over the next two to four years.

“The housing situation facing Indigenous peoples in British Columbia is unacceptable,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Through these new homes, we are working together with First Nations, the Aboriginal Housing Manage ment Association and Indigenous housing providers to take an important step toward addressing this critical need in every corner of the province.”

In a press release, Terry Teegee, region al chief for the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, added to the government announcement: “The housing situation for many B.C. First Nations communities has been crippled by decades of federal govern ment funding policies and models that haven’t kept up with our needs, nor with economic fluctuations. This provincial funding will be gin to make a difference, but we still have a long way to go to ensure an adequate supply and good quality housing in our fast-growing communities. We will continue to work with both levels of government to reverse a crisis that has become a monumental challenge.”

The Province will provide approximately $231 million to deliver these new homes for Indigenous peoples. This includes $76 million for 367 units of on-reserve housing and $155 million for 776 units of off-reserve housing.

COLUMBIA HOUSE HEALING GARDEN

DONATIONS:

Adele Trask, Ann Tilley Memorial Fund (Andrew Tilley), Allan Markham , Bob and Barb Shaunessey, Bob Piche, Boys and Girls Club of Calgary, Brady Starr,Brownstone Asset Management, CalgaryFoundation - Larch Fund, Carla Jo Christie, Carol Huyghe, Catherine Fero, Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia House Musicians, Copper Point See You Wed Golf Group, Columbia Valley Community Foundation, Crystal Home, Dakota College - Winnipeg, Dennis Bond, Don and Rebecca Miller, Douglas Trask, East Kootenay Foundation for Health, Eileen Harding, Fairmont and District Lions Club, Farmers Market Donations, Georgina and Gerald Baresco, Gerry O’Brien, Healing Gardens Seminar Donations, Heather Bilodeau, Heather Graham, Home Hardware Ladies Night, Hugh Osler, Invermere Health Care Auxiliary Society, Iris Trask, Ivy Tucker, James Ripley and Diane Jones, Jane and Peter Lustenberger, Jane Reti, Janessa S Williams, Je and Carolyn Poole, Joanne and William Dickie, Johanna Zurbriggen, Joy Bond, Judith and Paul Roggeman, Kootenay Savings Community Fund (Aron Burke), Larch Point Community Association, Larry and Donna Swonek, Linda and Aaron Bradshaw,

Linda Macnamara, Linda Tutty, Lori and David Bacon, Louis Reil School Division, Louise Collier, Lynn Hodgson, Margaret and Robert Smith, Margaret Berry, Margaret Crawford, Marilyn and Trevor, Marlene Bimier, Martha Christie, Merlin and Sonia Velker, Monique Bourginon, Nancy and Sandy Muchmore, Old Silvertips Hockey Club, Pat Young, Patricia Phelps, Randy and Dianne Fleming, Ron and Sylvia McIntosh, Rosemary and Ronald Clarke, Sandra and Brian Coldwell, Sandra and David Coulthard, Sandra Kempf, Sara Shaak, Sheila Bonny, Sod Turning Donations, Stan and Shirley Weiler, Susan Webster, Teresa Litch eld, Terri E ord, Thomas and Ann Downey, Thomas Fowler, W Brett Wilson and Family, William D Bonner,

Winderberry Greenhouse Retirement Party - Jack and Glenda Witherspoon, Wittke Family Fund (Leann Wittke).

IN MEMORY OF: Debbie Bonner, Gladys Bradshaw, Milton Crawford, Peggy Statham, Shirley Fache, Marina Trask, William Edmond (Ted) Berry.

IN KIND DONATIONS: Barb Vinson, Bill Bonner, Bill MacDonald, Brian Je erson, Diamond Heating and Spas, Dick Walmsley, Don Miller, Doug McRobbie, Elizabeth Shopland, Home Hardware, Interior Health, Jasper Mitchell, Johana Roggeman, John and Betty Newton, June Thomsen, Lynda Kirkpatrick, Murray Davidson, Nick, Judy and Katie Gibbs, Nora E ord, Palliser Printing, Pat Bavin, Pat Luders, Theresa Wood, Vivian Bond.

GARDEN BUILDERS AND DESIGNERS: Aldridge Stone, BJ’s Autobody and Towing, Detta Trucking, Hybrid Landscapes Ltd., Interior HealthNorbert, Ed, Lucas and Russell, Max Helmer Construction, Mitchell Wood Products, Red Eye Rentals, Stantec Engineering, TXN Fabrication, WSP Invermere O ce.

lead up to the negotiation. ey must be at the table – or we may lose this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

In a recently published study, my colleague and I investigate the factors that may matter most for negotiating salmon restoration as part of the new CRT agreement. We analyzed previous and similar treaties, as well as other sh passage projects and trends in global water governance and found that, in treaty negotiations, parties will often cede rights in one domain to gain advantage in another.

As the upstream party, Canada has a substantial geographical advantage because ood control, hydropower, ecosystem health, water supply, recreation and navigation in the U.S. all depend in-part on managed water ows from Canadian storage dams.

However, as the downstream party, the U.S. has an advantage on the issue of salmon restoration because the essential rst step in a restoration program would be to get salmon over American dams, which are the rst barriers to their passage.

So, for example, the U.S. could choose to “link” its support for salmon restoration to reduced payments for Canadian water management services. In this scenario, it is unclear if Canada would be willing to prioritize restoring salmon ahead of maximizing treaty revenues.

Our study ags the risk that valuable initiatives to restore the health of Columbia River ecosystems, like salmon restoration, could be sacri ced in closed sessions for shortsighted and inequitably distributed monetary gains. is is why it is critical to have strong advocates in the negotiating room that can guard against this possibility.

e CRT renegotiation is not just an opportunity for the U.S. and Canada to pursue salmon restoration. More broadly, it is an opportunity to break with a long history on the Columbia River where ecosystems and rural people, especially Indigenous people, have been systematically marginalized for the sake of generating far away pro ts.

e original CRT agreement, which came two decades after the Grand Coulee Dam, ooded four of Canada’s agriculturally and ecologically rich valleys and created a system in which water ows are managed solely for downstream ood control and hydropower generation. And it did so with almost no local input or direct local bene ts.

Our governments have assured us that things are going to be di erent this time. But their choice to exclude Indigenous nations from the negotiation suggests otherwise.

is decision is inconsistent with the spirit of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada and the U.S. have endorsed, and is part of a worrying trend, re ected in the recent Supreme Court decision deeming the Canadian federal government need not consult Indigenous peoples when drafting laws.

It also stands in opposition to Canada’s commitment to true and meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous leaders have been far-and-away the most e ective champions for the health of the Columbia River’s life-giving ecosystems – which bene t all residents of the Basin on both sides of the border. To ensure that the new CRT prioritizes the environment in a meaningful way, our best hope is to elevate Indigenous voices. ey must be at the table. eir rights and our future demand it.

Graeme Lee Rowlands

Graeme Lee Rowlands is a researcher at Quest University Canada, in Squamish, British Columbia; an environmental educator and a Contributor to EvidenceNetwork. ca, which is based at the University of Winnipeg. He has travelled the entire length of the Columbia River by bicycle, canoe, and kayak to learn directly from people and place.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

LIBRARY BOARD

Are you a book lover? Do you enjoy volunteering? Do you believe in public libraries?

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) is looking for two people to represent the RDEK as Trustees on the Radium Hot Springs Public Library Board as follows:

• one person to represent Electoral Area G; and

• one person to represent Electoral Areas F and G, District of Invermere, and Village of Canal Flats.

To be considered for a position, an applicant must be a resident or elector of the above area(s) and cannot be employees or elected officials of the RDEK, District of Invermere, Village of Canal Flats or the Library Board. These volunteer positions are for a two year term expiring December 31, 2020.

If you are interested, please submit a letter of application and brief resume including reasons for your interest and related experience to Shannon Moskal, Corporate Officer, at the RDEK.

, By hand at the RDEK Office - 19-24th Avenue South, Cranbrook

Via email in PDF format to smoskal@rdek.bc.ca

By mail to Shannon Moskal, Corporate Officer, RDEK, 19-24th Avenue South, Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8

For information on the Library and the services it provides, visit: http://radium.bc.libraries.coop

APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 13, 2018

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) is looking for additional people to join the Columbia Valley Economic Development Advisory Commission.

The mandate of the commission is to provide strategic direction on community economic development priorities that will diversify and strengthen the economy; increase year-round quality employment opportunities; increase and retain permanent residents; and, support entrepreneurship and new business development as well as growth of existing businesses.

To round out the expertise on the Commission, we are looking for people who have experience in agriculture, technology, health care, forestry, manufacturing, arts and culture and the youth sector.

The appointments to the Commission will be for a two-year term. The Commission will meet four to six times a year.

If you are interested, please submit a letter of application and brief resume including reasons for your interest and related experience to the RDEK.

, By hand at the RDEK Offices - 1164 Windermere Loop Road, Windermere or 19-24th Avenue South, Cranbrook

 Via email to info@rdek.bc.ca

 By mail to RDEK, 19 - 24th Ave S, Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8

For more information, visit rdek.bc.ca/careers

APPLICATION

Hilda Byman

1927 – 2016

Mom, Two years have passed, and tears still fall when we think of you. But we have such wonderful memories of a Mom so strong and true. We miss you so much!

you Mom

Family

ANNOUNCEMENT

Christmas Trees available at Invermere Home Hardware. Buy early for best selection. Store protected outside until needed.

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.

ANNOUNCEMENT

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.

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.

Kootenay Behind The Seams Late night shopping deal! Open til 9 p.m. Friday, November 30th In store discounts if in PJ’S or Ugly Christmas Sweater.

Coming December 1st. Tabletop Christmas Trees. Available at Valley Foods and Invermere Home Hardware. $20. All proceeds to the Columbia Valley Christmas Bureau.

CHEERS & JEERS

Cheers to the incredibly friendly sta at Valley Foods.

CHEERS & JEERS

Cheers to “ML” and your cool environmental friendly lunch bag, which we have here at the health unit.

CHEERS & JEERS

Jeers to me; for telling someone they shouldn’t smoke, just because I don’t. That makes ME the fascist.

STORAGE

NEWHOUSE

STORAGE

Various sizes available. Now with climate-controlled units. Call 250-342-3637.

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

HOUSE FOR RENT

Big Cheers to Dan Steele and Angela’s Organic Pasta for loaning their trailer to the Toby Creek Nordic Club for the Light Up Parade!

Double Cheers to Jim from Brisco. He not only welcomed a young honeymoon couple from Idaho to the valley, he bought them a Radium hotel room for the night when he found they were camping in their car in freezing weather.

A massive Cheers to Laurie Klassen for her invaluable, tireless work for the Columbia Valley Community Foundation. We all see you constantly going above and beyond and appreciate all of your e orts!

Jeers to the teal van* that made an illegal left turn into Valley Alley on November 20th at approx. 3:20 PM. DOUBLE JEERS to the RCMP car that was behind the van and passed illegally on the right shoulder! Jeers not limited to the teal van driver. I would like to extend this Jeers to EVERYONE who makes this illegal turn. With icy roads and morning fog it’s only a matter of time before there is a serious accident. If you continue 172 metres down the highway you will nd a left turn lane that will take you to the gas station.

Cheers to Theo Fluery for being so well spoken at the event at the Community Hall on November 13th. Very well presented!

Cheers to my wonderful neighbours who helped me when the dog I was looking after bolted. Alan, Clara, Janice, Terry, Joe Rose, Jim, John. Your caring was heartwarming.

Cheers to Darcy. My cranberry prince!

Cheers to my family and friends Marg, Sasha, Bess and family who gave me the beautiful owers for my birthday. I appreciate you all being such wonderful friends!

Cheers to Patrick and Columbia Valley Arts for volunteering and donating their time and equipment to host a drum circle at Columbia Garden Village/Ivy House. The residents and sta are appreciative. We are all still smiling!

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.

Yearly House Rental in Fairmont, $1,600/mo plus utilities. Available December 1st. Newly renovated 3-bdrm, 2 bathroom single family home. Single under drive garage and new electric heat exchange system. Includes appliances F/S/D and W/D. Water softener and R/O unit. E-mail girldale@hotmail.com or text 403-863-5798. Sorry, no children or pets.

Newly renovated, 2-bdrm home with large back yard and decks. New bathroom, new kitchen/ appliances. N/S, N/P. Walking distance to downtown. Call/text 250-342-5685. $1400/mo heat included. Available immediately.

CONDO FOR RENT

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

ELKHORN COUNTRY ESTATES

A acreage for sale, 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.

HOUSE FOR SALE

BEAUTIFUL

Newly renovated Cedar Cabin 5422 Dutch Creek Rd. New metal roof. Hoodoo, mountain views, pool, tennis courts, minutes from the river. $329,000 Firm. 780-224-2070.

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LOST AND FOUND

FOUND: Ring in Windermere area. Call 250-341-6104 to identify and claim.

For rent in Radium, 2-bdrm, 4 bath, ground level condo. Beautiful views backs on to Springs Golf course. All appliances, replace, fully furnished. 2 car garage. N/S, N/P, references please. $1,650/mo, call 250-342-3790.

MISC. FOR SALE

Massage Table. 24”x69” with head rest. Dark blue, sturdy and in excellent condition. $150. Call 250-345-0065.

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FIREWOOD

Support Rockies Hockey rewood. Contact email cvrockies.firewood@gmail.com or call 250-342-1624 for more

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Fat bikers mark mutual love of riding with weekend-long event

used during winter months on trails groomed into the snow. ey earn their name from the bikes’ extra-wide tires which allow riders to oat on top of packed snow as they ride.

e Columbia Valley Cycling Society is celebrating the simple joy of riding a fat bike by o ering free events on Saturday, December 1st and Sunday, December 2nd. e group is inviting anyone who is interested to ride along.

e weekend festivities are in conjunction with Global Fat Bike Day, which is a day when once a year, people from around the world go for a ride on their fat bikes to celebrate the freedom and pleasure of riding bikes. e day is a non-commercial event that’s more about enjoying the biking community than anything else.

“It’s really just about doing something outside and having fun. It’s about celebrating community and doing it as a group,” said avid fat biker Jordie Kirk, who is a board member with the cycling society and the co-owner of Crazy Soles, which is sponsoring the events.

Fat bikes are a popular alternative to regular mountain bikes and are most often

VEHICLES FOR SALE

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Cleaning and House Checks, Renovations/Handyman Services. Book now for snow removal. 250-688-2897 or 403-861-8782.

HELP WANTED

Strands Old House Restaurant is accepting applications for a full-time chef. Experience in casual ne dining an asset. Evenings and weekends. Apply to Tony Wood at tony@strandsrestaurant.com or 250-342-6344.

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.

Last year, the cycling society raised enough money through crowd funding to purchase a fat biking trail groomer, which is operated in the winter months by the society’s volunteers. Volunteers groom a trail network through the snow in areas approved by the province; namely the Lake Lillian Trail Network.

“Fat biking is a fun challenge. It o ers a di erent perspective and a new way of seeing our beautiful valley,” Mr. Kirk said. “When you’re in the snow, the technical aspects of how you ride are di erent than a mountain bike. But so is how you experience the scenery and the terrain. ere’s nothing else like it.”

is is the fth year Global Fat Biking Day has been celebrated locally. Last year, about 40 riders donned warm outerwear to enjoy a day on the trails.

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 year’s experience and completion of Secondary School. DUTIES: Prepare and cook full course meals, prepare and cook individual dishes and foods, ensure quality of food portions, work with minimal supervision, prepare dishes for customers with food allergies or intolerances. Inspect Kitchens and Food service areas. Please forward resume to Justin Atterbury by fax 250-342-8889 or email justatterbury@hotmail. com.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! Indemand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-7683362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

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Vital Signs: finding balance in the beautiful Columbia Valley

Submitted by Laurie Klassen Columbia Valley Community Foundation

It’s been two years since the Columbia Valley Community Foundation released its first-ever Vital Signs report, and now a second updated report is available and it’s just as chock-full of fascinating facts and figures as the first.

If you’re not already familiar with Vital Signs, it’s an initiative by commu nity foundations across Canada to find out about the social and economic health of their respective communities. Data is collected through an online survey by as many respondents as possible and infor mation from a wide variety of credible and reliable sources is pulled together. The result is a reader-friendly report that iden tifies significant trends in a range of areas

. . . ‘Fat’ from 23

This year, there will be a group ride on December 1st at the Johnson Trails at Lake Lillian, open to anyone from beginners to experts. You do not need to be a member of the cycling society to attend, and for those who don’t have a fat bike, rentals are available from local shops. The ride starts at 1 p.m. and will kick off with an annual derby tradition where riders vie for a coveted home made trophy by pedalling together in a circle that gets smaller and smaller. Riders try to keep their feet off the ground until only one bike remains up right. The day caps off with a potluck dinner at the Kirks’ home that evening.

The next day, December 2nd, fea tures a brand-new fatduro — a fat bike enduro — race at Mt. Swansea at 10 a.m. Riders compete on either a long course or a short course, riding a route

critical to quality of life – a snapshot of a community’s vitality, so to speak.

New for the Columbia Valley’s 2018 Vital Signs is the integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into the report. These 17 goals aim to end worldwide poverty, protect the planet and ensure people everywhere are provided for. By linking local areas of concern here in the Valley to this global mandate, we hope to empower local residents with the knowledge that their efforts are an essen tial part of a bigger picture with the power to affect global change.

Our community itself is changing. The Valley population has increased 6.2 per cent to 9,479 (based on the 2016 cen sus) up from 8,918 (2011 census), but the median age has stayed the same at 47 years of age. That said, some communities in the Valley are older than others. While

with uphill and downhill stages on the lower section of Mt. Swansea. Only the downhill stages are timed. There are only two requirements to participate: a minimum tire size of 3.8 inches, and a cycling society membership, which can be purchased online or at the trailhead the day of.

The Mt. Swansea race will use por tions of Hula Girl, a trail that benefited from recent major trail upgrades in the area, thanks to a $115,300 grant from Columbia Basin Trust and collabora tion with other local groups such as the Summit Trail Makers Society. The 2018 upgrades include a brand-new, 6 kilometre intermediate trail called South Park, which had a soft opening this fall.

For more informatio, visit colum biavalleycyclingsocity.org or phone Crazy Soles at 250-342-2074.

Radium and Area F have a median age of 52 and 56 respectively, the Shuswap Band community is much younger with a medi an age of 34 whereas Invermere sits in the middle at 43.

The Valley’s areas of concern have also changed, based on the 677 community surveys received (not too far off from the 680 that were fully completed for the 2016 report). The main findings of 2018 Vital Signs indicate 8 issue areas with the envi ronment topping the list, followed by (in order of priority) local food and agricul ture, health and wellness, belonging and quality of life, work and earning, housing, getting around, learning and safety. In the 2016 report, work and earning was rated as the number one concern followed by housing and environment.

It’s in this context that a theme for the 2018 report emerged: “Balancing Eco

nomic & Environmental Sustainability”. As CVCF Chair Roberta Hall states in the report’s opening message, “Most of us live here for the natural beauty of our area and we are grappling with sustaining our environment while providing meaningful work opportunities for our future.” Find ing this balance is imperative to the health of our community, now and in the future.

Residents are encouraged to read the report itself, which can be found on the Columbia Valley Community Founda tion website at https://valleyfoundation. ca/vital-signs/ where it can be download ed as a PDF. Hard copies of the report will also be available through contacting the Columbia Valley Community Foun dation at 250-342-2845 or info@valley foundation.ca.

Cinefest show December 4th

DECEMBER 4 – 7 p.m.

FINDING YOUR FEET

As the newly minted “Lady” Abbot, Sandra (Imelda Staunton) is on top of the world and ready to enjoy the rest of her life with her husband Mike. However, when Sandra discovers Mike embracing her best friend and uncovers their yearslong affair, her plans for their idyllic retire ment vanish before her eyes.

With her picture-perfect but stuffy aristocratic life crumbling around her, Sandra moves in with her eccentric sister, Bif (Celia Imrie), and embarks on a jour ney to find herself and reconnect with her decidedly less-posh roots.

As Bif’s patience for her sister’s selfpity wears thin and in hopes of snapping

her out of her funk, Bif invites Sandra to join her dance class and meet her friends Charlie (Timothy Spall), Jackie (Joan na Lumley) and Ted (David Hayman). Surrounded by new friends and reviving her longstanding love for dance, Sandra comes to enjoy her new life with her sister – but she can’t avoid her past for long.

“When given the chance (which is al ways) the cast unlocks moments that are so intimate and naturally detailed, you would swear that the actors had no idea the cameras were rolling.” - Scott Marks, San Diego

Outdoor, place-based learning for local kids

Over 7500 local students will enjoy regular outdoor learning this year, thanks to their teachers’ participation in the Kootenay-Boundary Take Me Outside for Learning School Year Challenge.

This challenge is offered by the Kootenay-Boundary Chapter of the British Columbia School Superintendents Association (BCSSA) which involves schools in school districts 5, 6, 8, 10, 20 and 51. This is the second year that this school year challenge has been offered, with nearly twice as many classes participating this year compared to last.

Through this challenge, teachers register to take their learning outside at least one day/week. The overall goal of this challenge is to better support stu dents’ understanding of their local environment and empowering thoughtful ac tion, through learning that is outdoor, experiential, place-based and place-con scious. Those who participate are provided with teaching resources throughout the year and are entered to win an overnight class trip to Columbia Outdoor School’s Blue Lake Camp.

Boundary School District 51 topped the charts, with an impressive 89% participation rate. Doug Lacey, Director of Learning for that school district, re

flected that “We are proud of our teachers for enthusiastically embracing this ini tiative. We know that when students learn outdoors, they have the opportunity to work together to ask questions that can lead them to deeper thinking.”

In addition to this initiative, the committee has also developed several re sources and coordinated professional learning opportunities for their staff. In recognition for their work, they were awarded the National Award of Excellence by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) at their awards ceremony on October 20th.

Cheryl Lenardon, Assistant Superintendent for Rocky Mountain School Dis trict 6, accepted the award on behalf of the committee. She shares that “Learning outdoors and in communities allows students to gain a stronger understanding of, and appreciation for, their local place. They are empowered to become more active citizens and to engage in making our communities healthier and more sus tainable. In addition to these benefits, research shows that learning outdoors also supports academic performance, and improves emotional, mental and physical health for both students and teachers.”

Read more about the KBEE’s role and support for environmental education: http://kbee.ca.

cross country skiing’

By Lorene Keitch lorene@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Warm breaths freeze in the crisp air. Squeaky-dry snow crunches underfoot. Athletes bend down to lace and zip boots. Snap into skis. Slide gloved hands into pole straps. Don reflective glasses designed to handle the intensity of labour in the task ahead. The blue-striped athletes straighten up to face a white gauntlet with mental readiness and physical preparedness.

Cross country skiers are a rare breed of athlete. Emmylou Grieve, 13, says be fore she joined the Toby Creek Nordic Club, she thought it was a sport “your grandma did.”

“The community has a perception that it’s walking on skis,” adds Masha Stich, 15.

But this is no leisurely pursuit. Cross country skiing, Emmylou sums up, is “ex hilarating.”

Toby Creek Nordic Club teammates Emmylou, Masha, and Carly Nickaruk are quick to defend their sport, citing the endurance and strength needed to compete. After all, every movement is self-propelled, compared to its higher pro file downhill skiing cousin, where simply pointing your skis downwards will whip you forward. The teammates, who gath ered inside the warm high school foyer following a cross-training session on the track, said it helps to have a team men tality to push you forwards during races, to conquer not only the physical challenge but the mental one too.

“Me and Carly are in the same age category. It would be hard for us to ski without each other,” says Emmylou. “She’s always trying to get away from me; I’m trying to catch up to her. So we kind of need each other to go faster.”

Carly agrees: “The biggest part of be ing on a team is motivation . . . it makes you want to enjoy the race more and push yourself harder.”

Above the competitive side of the sport, the three agree that the friendships forged in the nordic club run deeper than ski tracks and training sessions: “My fa vourite part is that we’re so close,” says Carly. “We all work really well together.”

Head coach Ted Bigelow says that is one of the biggest goals he has set for the Toby Creek club – to build social connec tions, alongside having fun, taking in trips for races each season, and building up the gear, or ‘swag’ for the athletes to help fa cilitate a team mentality. That’s why Toby Creek Nordic members sport matching poufy red jackets, their club logo proudly emblazoned on the front. With the addi tion of Toby Creek toques, they look, and feel, every part the team they are when they show up to loppets around the re gion.

Carly, Emmylou, and Masha are on the club’s Junior Development team. While other teens were eating drippy ice creams at the beach last summer, these three and their other teammates were

cross-training: they could be seen around Invermere with roller-skis and poles. Ma sha estimates the Junior Development team trains about nine hours per week. Any other exercise basically qualifies as cross-training, since their sport requires full-body fitness.

On top of the regular training, the three girls were invited to join the BC Talent Squad this past season, a series of provincial camps run by Cross Country BC and open to only about 100 athletes across the province. Athletes are ranked and selected for the Talent Squad based on performance at provincial races. The three girls recently attended the Talent Squad snow camp in Vernon. They got to train with other coaches and practice with ath letes they usually compete against. While they agree it was a good learning experi ence, the girls assert the coaching team here is giving them everything they need to succeed right in the Columbia Valley. The head coach has brought a lot to the little club over the past couple seasons, as well as volunteer coaches such as Cam Gillies - “His commitment is through the roof” - says Masha. She has not felt pres sured to succeed, but instead supported in her efforts to push harder without burn ing out.

Coach Bigelow couldn’t be prouder of the talent squad or his whole Nordic team.

“These kids are total outliers,” he says, citing the incredible athletes and commu nity of families that provide a supportive environment for the kids.

Mr. Bigelow, who has filled his days and years with coaching, says he still en joys it after almost 50 years by following three rules: the kids have to know he cares before they will care what he knows, he believes in the words of Gordie Howe, who said the greatest legacy one can leave is to inspire others; and he lives vicarious ly through other people’s kids as his own three sons never reached the level of cross country skiing that his Toby Creek kids are now reaching.

“They’re astounding, they’re quite

amazing,” he says. “They’re so positive, and hardworking.”

But above that, says Mr. Bigelow: “The most important thing is we’re build ing great people.”

He shares the story of one team mem ber who asked him what would happen if they put in all the effort and the rac ing results didn’t reflect the hard work. In response, he told the athlete, “Is winning B.C. championships, or national champi onships, good, or is it good just develop ing yourself as a person, and developing an understanding and lifestyle that will be with you forever?”

That perspective shift has really reso nated with the kids, the head coach com

ments.

“These kids probably won’t remember their results, or not remember many of them. But they will remember the good times with their friends,” he muses. “Hav ing fun, meeting social needs, and devel oping a cooperative social environment makes them stronger people in our com munity.”

That message is flowing through the team, as evidenced by the Toby Creek Nordic team’s Talent Squad members. Masha sums it up well, saying cross coun try skiing “definitely teaches you to take your own path. Not many people do cross-country. So you don’t become a fol lower.”

Toby Creek Nordic club members competed in the AB Cup in Canmore last weekend, including (from left) Emmylou Grieve, Masha Stich, and Carly Nickaruk. All three placed in the weekend loppet, alongside other podium finishes for the local club. Photos by Vanya Sokolowski

BEY ND

THE BLUE LINE

Rocking a home weekend

Submitted by Columbia Valley Rockies

e Columbia Valley Rockies were hosts to a wonderful weekend of families and made a huge announcement to the crowd.

is weekend would be a tribute to the families of the players as Friday, November 23rd began with all of the players and the families entering the ice for individual and team pictures prior to the game. anks to Amanda Nason for taking pics. e crowd gave the families (who were wearing their son’s jerseys) a huge cheer of support.

While everyone was on the ice, the Rockies had a terri c announcement for all in this their 40th year of operation: the Rockies submitted a bid to host the April 2020 Cyclone Taylor Cup at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena!

e crowd erupted with the exciting news and eagerly wait the decision from BC Hockey, which should occur sometime in December. Go Rockies!

e Columbia Valley Rockies were a determined team looking to take four points and drive separation in their division while their families watched from the stands. e team practiced hard all week concentrating on systems and speed – and it paid o .

e boys had this Friday night tilt against division rivals the Fernie Ghostriders.

e Ghostriders took an early lead but with 2:18 remaining in the rst Chase Hawkins – on a terri c Tic Tac Toe play from Dylan Fontaine and Joshua Antunes –brought the crowd to their feet. e rst period saw both teams heading to the dressing room at one a piece.

e Ghostriders scored early in the second. However, the Rockies kept driving to the net. At 17:21 their work ethic paid o with Fraser McMann – assisted by Cooper Krauss and Kale Hawryluk – tying it back up again. is battle was not over as rst the Ghostriders and then Ryan Skytt for the Rockies brought the second period to a close all tied up.

Both teams left the ice tied at three after the third.

In overtime the Ghostriders saw a quick shot stopped by Ben Kelsch. Kale Hawryluk sped up the left side, crossed through center and buried the puck into the back of the net, giving the Rockies the victory.

Saturday night the Rockies opened to the visiting Spokane Braves. Fraser McMann opened the scoring at

9:26 with help from Brennan Nelson and Kale Hawryluk.

In the second Fraser McMann scored a beauty backhand at 19:16. Less than a minute later Dylan Fontaine pocketed one with help from Joshua Antunes and Jesse Carr. And less than a minute after that Gavin Fleck – on a pretty pass from Mason Robinson – gave the Rockies a 4-0 lead.

e third period brought a special moment for Fraser McMann’s family as he put one behind the Brave’s goalie at 17:39 to put up his rst Hat Trick in the KIJHL! Connor Woodworth and Mason Robinson served it up to him on a golden platter as the Rockies led. Dace Prymak put the game away for the Rockies at 6-1.

After the game on Saturday the families were treated to a great mingle with food and a reception area set up by Tracie and Stuart McMann. A huge shout out to them.

e Rockies head on the road this weekend with games in Grand Forks and Spokane. e Rockies’ next home game will be Tuesday, December 11th against the Fernie GhostRiders.

Rockies foil their opponents at home all weekend long.

Photo by Amanda Nason

Do riches prevent us from reaching God?

By Fr. Jojo Augustin St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Riches encourage a false sense of independence.  e rich think that they can buy their way to happiness and buy their way out of sorrow and, hence, that they don’t need God.

Riches shackle a man to this earth (Mt. 6:21).  If a man’s interests are all earth-bound, he never thinks of the hereafter. Instead of having security and tranquility, he is an eternal hostage of his money.

Riches tend to make a man sel sh.

Avarice, the greed for money, in addition to being idolatry, is also the source of unhappiness. e avaricious is an unhappy man. Distrusting everyone, he isolates himself.

But we need to understand that Jesus is not against riches as such, nor against the rich.  Zacchaeus, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were Jesus’ close friends and they were rich. Jesus never condemned wealth or earthly goods in themselves. What Jesus condemns is exaggerated attachment to money and property; to make one’s

life depend on these and to accumulate riches only for oneself (Luke 12:13-21).

In other words, Jesus is against our attitude towards wealth. ere are very rich men who have acquired their wealth honestly and justly and who spend much of their wealth on charitable causes. eir wealth will not hinder them from reaching heaven. On the other hand, there are many in the middle and lower income-bracket who may be o ending against justice through the means they use to acquire what they have, and in the little ways they refuse to help a needy person.

e Bible doesn’t say that money is the root of all evil; it says that the love of money is the root of all evil. Jesus also challenges the Jewish belief that material wealth and prosperity are signs of God’s blessings and condemns a value system that makes ‘things’ more valuable than people.

Finally, Jesus asserts that those who have made the kingdom of God their priority, will be well compensated both in this life with earthly blessings combined with pains and su ering, and in the next life with everlasting life.

We need to “Do something beautiful for God” by reaching out to others.  Mother Teresa puts it in a different way: “Do SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL for God. Do it with your life. Do it every day. Do it in your own way. But do it!”

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

Sunday, December 2, First Sunday of Advent, 10:30 am Worship And Life Instruction, “Revelation 101” Pastor Matt Moore ministering from Chapters 13 and 14. “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

Worship Services, Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Christ Church Trinity, 110 - 7th Ave., Invermere (Small Chapel) Pastor Doug Lutz, 250-464-0100 Email: mtzionlc@hotmail.com

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Photo by Dauna Ditson

Sunday 10 a.m.

service Pastor Wayne and

• 250-342-6633 No. 4, 7553 Main St.

250-347-9937

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS