September24, 2020 Vol. 17/Issue 39
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1 September 24, 2020
Your Weekly Source for News and Events
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Lilla Godlien, 3, enjoying a bouquet after the Invermere Flower Picking day held on Friday, Sept. 18th, 2020
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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer
September 24, 2020
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From top: Photo one: The Markin MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail unveiled their sculpture installation by Cajsa Fredin Friday. Directors, donors and dignitaries turned out to commemorate the event, which was followed by a grand opening on Saturday. Since June 2020, more than 32,000 people have used the $9.6 million 25 kilometre paved trail between Fairmont and Invermere. Photo two: These cows couldn’t wait for the Westside Legacy Trail Grand Opening on the weekend. Photo three: Three cheers for the Invermere Farmers and Artisans Market’s fearless leaders, Marius and Ken. The Legion has been running the market for a number of years - but none more challenging than this! They’ve provided an outlet for transactions between 100 vendors and roughly 3,000 shoppers per market this year. There is still an opportunity to get your favourite local goods at the Oktoberfest Market. Photos four - six: The pandemic has led to the cancellation of the majority of events around the world, including Radium’s annual huge car show. However, with extra precautions and planning, the Columbia Valley Classics Car Club Poker Run at True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd went ahead last weekend with 95 entrants and raising $2,400 for the Columbia Valley Food Bank and Columbia Valley Classics Car Club; Aaron Van de Kemp from Cleanline Automotive was on hand to answer questions about electric vehicles at Wildsight Invermere’s first electric car show. Photos by Ryan Watmough
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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3
VALLEY NEWS Interior Health confirms COVID-19 case at JA Laird Elementary School By James Rose james@columbiavalleypioneer.com B.C. Interior Health reported a confirmed case of COVID-19 at J.A. Laird Elementary School on September 14th. Administration at Laird declined to comment for this story, as did School District #6 (SD6) Superintendent Karen Shipka. It remains unclear if the confirmed case will alter the school’s operating plan going forward. SD6’s current protocol for when there is a confirmed case is as follows: “If a student, staff or other individual who has been in a school is a confirmed case of COVID-19 through testing or investigation (i.e. case
finding), the local health authority will initiate contact tracing to determine how they were infected and who else may have been at risk of infection. If there was a potential exposure at a school (i.e.the confirmed case attended school when they may have been potentially infectious), the health authority will work with the school 29 administrators to understand who may have been exposed, and to determine what actions should be taken, including identifying if other students or staff are sick (case finding) or have been exposed and should monitor for symptoms or self-isolate. If there was no potential exposure at the school (i.e.the confirmed case did not attend school when they may have been potentially infectious), the
health authority will not notify the school administrator.” Interior Health’s COVID-19 protocol: “We begin the process of contact tracing to determine how the person was infected and who they were in close contact with; we identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days; we work closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact tracing process to maintain close communication with the school community. Interior Health determines close contacts of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 using specific criteria, based on likelihood of transmission.”
Provincial incident team leaves Doctor Creek wildfire By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The Doctor Creek wildfire burning near Canal Flats continues to be classified as ‘being held’ by the British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS). The provincial incident management team that has been battling the blaze for a month have been pulled off the fire, turning responsibility for the Doctor Creek fire back to the local zone firefighting team. The fire, suspected to be caused by a lightning strike, was discovered on Tuesday, August 18th, 25 kilometres southwest of Canal Flats, and very quickly grew to an estimated 3,000 hectares in size, making it one of just three ‘wildfires of note’ in B.C. By Sunday, September 23rd, the BCWS had sent in an incident management team. Over the following weeks, the firefighters used heavy machinery, helicopters and, at one point, skimmers (air tankers). The rugged and steep terrain in the Doctor Creek area and some, unfortunately, timed high winds meant the fire grew to more than 8,000 hectares, before planned ignitions on Friday, September 4th, and again on Friday, September 11th and then again on Monday, September 14th, coupled with the valiant efforts of the firefighters helped get the fire to ‘being held’ status early last week. The ‘being held’ classification means that, with the resources currently committed to the fire, the
blaze is not likely to spread beyond existing and predetermined boundaries, given the prevailing and forecasted conditions. “Things have been winding down. Resources have been taken off the fire because the fire behaviour is fairly quiet,” BCWS fire information officer Nicole Bennett told the Pioneer on Friday, September 18th. “We’re not expecting the (fire) perimeter to grow. The zone team will be doing monitoring and response on the fire until some kind of major fire-season ending events such as heavy rain or snowfall occurs.” On Wednesday, September 16th, the area restriction around the Doctor Creek wildfire was rescinded as the remaining firefighting personnel no longer need to restrict public access to operate efficiently and safely in the area. Although the BCWS reminded the public that the Doctor Creek wildfire is an active worksite and that people should exercise caution while travelling in the area. On Thursday, September 17th, there were 64 firefighters, two helicopters, and eight pieces of heavy machinery. By Friday, September 18th, it was down to 40 firefighters, one helicopter and four pieces of heavy machinery. On Saturday, September 19th, just before the incident management team turned control of the fire over the local zone team, there were seven firefighters, one helicopter and four pieces of heavy machinery. The fire is currently estimated at 7,600 hectares in size.
Firefights battle the Doctor Creek wildfire. BCWS photos
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4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer
September 24, 2020
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AGM Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 to 8:00 pm Veterans Hall Invermere Legion To accommodate needs related to COVID, preregistration at 250-342-5566 is required to attend.
Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund Technical Review Committee Expressions of Interest The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) in partnership with the Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) are seeking qualified members for the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF) Technical Review Committee (TRC). The role of the TRC is to make recommendations on allocating annual funding for conservation projects for the area from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen. Term is for three years. Travel expenses will be covered for those who require them. Preference will be given to applicants residing in the Columbia Valley. To apply, please find information: https://kootenayconservation.ca/cvlcf-trc/
Have an opinion? Email your letter to the editor to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com
This past week, September 14th through September 20th, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 63 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to. • On Wednesday, September 16th at 9:00 p.m., an officer was conducting patrols on Highway 93/95 near Athalmer when he observed a Dodge Nitro travelling approximately 30 km/h below the posted speed limit and failing to maintain its lane. The officer conducted a traffic stop and determined that the driver had a restriction to have a zero blood/alcohol concentration. The officer suspected the driver had alcohol in her body and read a breath demand. The driver complied with the breath demand, and the results confirmed the driver had alcohol in her body. The driver was issued a 12-hour license suspension and was served a violation ticket for driving contrary to restrictions. • On Thursday, September 17th, at about 4:00 p.m.,
a Columbia Valley officer observed a male and female sitting in a black Chevrolet pickup in a parking lot in the 3000 block of Highway 93/95 in Windermere. The pickup caught the officer’s attention because it appeared to have been crudely spray-painted. Queries of the vehicle revealed it had been stolen out of Cranbrook on August 8th, 2020. The officer arrested the adult male and female for possession of stolen property and released them on Appearance Notices to attend court at a later date. • On Friday, September 18th, at 6:00 p.m., police were called to a residence in Windermere for an intoxicated female who refused to leave the residence. Officers attended, and after several requests to leave the residence, the female was arrested for mischief and transported to cells where she was held until sober. • On Sunday, September 20th Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a theft from a property on Kindersley Road in Edgewater. Within the past few days, a weed eater and a chainsaw were stolen from a container on the property. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbia Valley RCMP or Crimestoppers.
Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail has a grand opening with a surprise announcement By James Rose james@columbiavalleypioneer.com After six years of planning, fundraising, building, the Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail (WLT) officially has opened. The multi-recreational, human-powered trail is now paved the 25 km distance from Invermere to Fairmont Hot Springs on the west side of Lake Windermere. The grand opening ceremony was on Friday the 18th with the “Last Spoke” sculpture unveiling done through a Facebook live stream. The installation was meticulously sourced and crafted over the course of a year by Casja Fredin, co-owner of Black Star Studios and CV Arts’ new Executive Director. “I feel very honoured to have been chosen to do this piece,” said Fredin. Before the sculpture’s unveiling, a blessing was given by Mike Archie, the
Language and Cultural Advisor for the Shuswap Indian Band. “It was about creating doors for people to safely use this area alongside our abundant wildlife.” On Saturday, the public was invited to walk, bike, run the trail as photographers, and drone flyovers captured the action. “It is thanks to everyone who helped make this trail a reality,” said Lianne Lang, Project Manager. To complete the project, in-kind support and cash donations totalled over $9.6 million with 42% of that support from the private sector. “We are tremendously grateful to the over 1,100 donors, all three levels of government, and grantors for their incredible support.” said Bob Shaunessy, Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Continued on page 5 . . .
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September 24, 2020
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5
B.C. Supreme Court rules against private health care By James Rose james@columbiavalleypioneer.com In a 880-page judgment released September 10th, B.C. Supreme Court Justice John Steeves dismissed the argument that the constitutional rights of patients and physicians were being violated by limits on access to privately paid surgical services. The plaintiffs, led by Dr. Brian Day, Chief Executive of the Vancouver based for profit Cambie Surgeries Corporation, sought to overturn provisions prohibiting B.C. doctors from accepting public and private pay, limit extra billing, and ban health insurance for services already covered under the public plan. The legal dispute started in 2009, entered the B.C. Supreme Court in 2016, and is expected to continue with an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. British born Dr. Day is a past president of the Canadian Medical Association. He was a pioneer of arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine in Canada. “Politicians for many, many years have failed to deal with the health system,” Dr. Day said after the ruling. “They have failed to address its failings. The evidence at trial was overwhelming that the health system is in a state of crisis. Every politician knows that.”
Dr. Murray Trusler, a retired physician living in Fairmont, thinks an appeal by Dr. Day is the correct approach. “It is a national issue of great importance to all Canadians, not just the people of B.C.,” said Dr. Trusler, whose career as a physician took him all over Canada and the world. “It requires a Supreme Court of Canada ruling on the matter.” Dr. Day argued that private clinics filled a gap left by the public health care system in which people suffered needlessly while on waitlists. Lawyers for the defendants countered that the case was more about physician greed, and that opening the door to a two-tiered system would make waiting times even longer in the public system. “Private healthcare can unload the public system for procedures such as diagnostic imaging (e.g. MRIs) and surgical procedures (e.g. joint replacements),” said Dr. Trusler. “But it won’t place a family doctor in Fort St. John or Inuvik.” Will Justice Steeves’ decision have an immediate impact on Columbia Valley health care? “Nothing will change until the case is resolved at the federal level,” said Dr. Trusler. “It may take years.” Invermere doctors Dr. Walsh and Dr. Mannheimer declined to be interviewed for this story. For the rest of the story, visit columbiavalleypioneer.com
. . . ‘Markin MacPhail from page 4 “After six years of tremendous effort and dedication by our large volunteer base, this is fantastic to see the entire trail finally paved. Creating and helping to build the trail has been challenging but also incredibly personally rewarding.” Shaunessy with pride looked at the sculpture after its unveiling. “I think I may have a sleep over here tonight,” he said, laughing. The WLT is one of several initiatives from the Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance, a trails advocacy group made up of seven local trail and stewardship groups, including Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club, Panorama Mountain Resort, Nipika Mountain Resort, and Village of Canal Flats. Other projects completed by Greenways include the Cross River Adaptive Trails Project at Nipika Mountain Resort, the James Chabot Dragonfly Boardwalk at James Chabot Provincial Park, and the Old Coach Trail that runs between Radium Hot Springs and Dry Gulch. Since June, over thirty thousand people have used the trail, ten thousand more than last year. The WLT is Greenways’ largest project completed to date. “We are really proud of this initiative that will help our economy, tourism, and add significant recre-
ational opportunities for our community,” said Lyle Wilson, Greenways’ Chair of the Board of Directors. Crucial to the project was the RDEK agreeing to maintain the pathway after its completion. The RDEK also adopted the path into its regional park system. “It’s an iconic trail,” said Susan Clovechok, RDEK’s Area F Director. Invermere Mayor Al Miller spoke about what the trail represented. “We’re in a new era of active transportation. People desire to get out of their vehicles and exercise, it’s a real paradigm shift.” Just when the crowd gathered thought the final applause was… final, Wilson said he had one more thing to say. That’s when he announced the work and planning already underway to connect Radium with a similar trail. “We’re not done yet!” said Wilson. “With this great momentum, quietly we’ve been in planning with stakeholders to connect this trail to the Old Coach Trail to downtown Radium.” Mark Halwa, Greenways’ former Executive Director, recalls the project’s origins. “Back in 2012, Steve Ostrander and I were riding down in Colorado on a paved path connecting Breckenridge to Frisco, and I told Steve
we should do a trail like this back home.” Ostrander, a local biking enthusiast, thought his riding partner was off the rocker. “I told him it was his craziest idea yet!” Upon their return home, Halwa’s crusade began. “Looking back on the valley trail concept before there was a name, start or endpoints (preliminary work began on a trail between Radium and Invermere), some excellent advice was provided by another B.C. community: ‘the project is not the building of a trail, but the creation of relationships.’ Since then, thousands of people have heard about it, worked on building it, volunteered time to advance the project, donated money and talents.” For the rest of the story, visit columbiavalleypioneer.com
Notice of Water System Flushing: Panorama, Fairmont & Kinbasket System Users Operators with Corix Utilities will be flushing (cleaning) watermains in the communities of Panorama, Fairmont and Kinbasket during the weeks of September 28th – October 16th between 8am and 4pm. Customers may experience intermittent drops in pressure and discoloration of water during these dates. Please contact Corix Utilities with any questions or concerns at 250-341-6158. Thank you for your patience as we work to maintain the water system.
GREAT GAS
GIVEAWAY This week’s winner is…
Peggy Lucas All winners of a hundred and twenty dollars of fuel each. Many, many more draws to follow right till the end of 2020.
Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail had its grand opening ceremony. Key stakeholders gathered to present and celebrate the development of the project. Photo by James Rose
RO
S SR OAD S
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RKET
6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer
September24, 2020
PERSPECTIVE The Columbia River Treaty changed the Columbia Valley
Historical Lens
Skier’s Left by James Rose The Columbia River is undeniable. How vast, how beautiful. How important and powerful. How influential. The river will continue to have an undeniable impact on our economy, environment, society and our history. And by ‘our’ I am, of course, referring to not just those of us in the Columbia Valley but also British Columbia, Canada and the United States. Millions of people place an enormous amount of good faith and trust in the Columbia. First Nations and immigrants alike. For power, irrigation, spirituality, recreation. Have been for a long, long time. As we all know, it begins right here in our backyard and then twists and turns its way through a diverse variety of ecosystems. Eventually, it empties into the Pacific. Astoria, Oregon is the nearest community to the river’s mouth. Astoria was the first American settlement west of the Rockies. Coincidence? The Columbia is the River of the West. It’s in the same petridish as the Colorado, Mississippi, Rio Grande. A phenomenal river with phenomenal history. Since 1964, the Columbia River Treaty has tightly governed the management of the river’s watershed. The treaty provided the legal framework necessary for Canada and the United States to try and optimize the river’s power to our mutual benefit. Without a treaty, there is no cooperation, coordination on large scale dam construction for flood control, agriculture, electricity. The treaty is famous for being a model example of international cooperation. Infamous for its incredible insensitivity toward the environment. To think, there was a (recent) time when anadromous salmon swam as far upstream from the Pacific to our very own Columbia Valley a two-thousand kilometre effort. The abundance of salmon in our waters back then, unfathomable. The treaty is soon expiring. 2024 is the year, approaching fast. Renegotiations between Canada and the United States are underway. There are sticking points. Nine years ago, B.C. initiated a review process to evaluate whether the agreement deserved continuation, amendment or termination. It took two years of consultation with the public, local governments, First Nations, and hydro operators before B.C. decided to continue the treaty but seek improvements through renegotiation. Colossal are the stakes. Over the next two months, I will be exploring through a series of articles the impact the treaty has had on the Columbia Valley through an economic, social, environmental, and historical lens. An awareness of what’s at stake in the Columbia Valley is critical. And for the millions of lives touched by the river. And for the well-being of the river itself. My aim is to raise awareness. The Columbia deserves it.
School House with Flag Pole Invermere – east side of 10th Ave a bit north of 4th St. (Now location of Sobey’s) C2268: Circa 1935-1940 Courtesy Windermere District Historical Society
Local politician runs for UBCM director at large Electoral area F director seeks to give voice to rural areas on UBCM board
By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Area F director Susan Clovechok is running for election as a director-at-large on the board of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). Online voting for the board positions has been ongoing throughout the convention, which is being held digitally this year, and will wrap at noon today (Thursday, September 24th). “My primary reason for running is to make sure that there is a strong rural voice at the provincial table. It is important to me that the Columbia Valley, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) and southeastern B.C. isn’t an afterthought when discussions are taking place and decisions are being made at the provincial level that could impact our lives,” said
Clovechok in an email on the topic. Clovechok noted that of the 15 candidates running for the five director-at-large positions on the UBCM board, only she and one other candidate are electoral area directors as opposed to being municipal mayors or council members. “I’m hoping we both get on the board, so that we have a better urban-rural balance on the board,” Clovechok told the Pioneer. “If you have an opportunity to represent your area, your region, it’s important to take advantage of that opportunity. We are unique in southeastern B.C., and we do have a different voice. It needs to be heard.” A letter to the editor which ran in the July 24th edition of the Pioneer previously addressed the topic of Clovechok running for director-at-large, but Clovechok did not submit the text as a letter to the editor, nor did she ever intend for it to become formatted into a letter to the editor.
The Columbia Valley
CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013
Pioneer
is independently owned and operated, published weekly by Robert W. Doull, President and Publisher, Misko Publishing Limited Partnership. Box 868, #8, 1008 - 8th Ave., Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0
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The Columbia Valley Pioneer is available free of charge at 13 essential businesses in the Upper Columbia Valley, limited to one copy per reader. This publication has been made possible, in part, by the Government of Canada and the support of our advertisers and is published every Thursday. The Columbia Valley Pioneer may be distributed only by its authorized contractors and employees. No person may, without the prior written consent of The Pioneer or its Publisher, take more than one copy of each issue of The Pioneer. The content is protected by copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited except with the permission of the Publisher.
September24, 2020
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7
Radium Hot Springs re-opens By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com
A Unique Shopping Experience
After several months of remaining closed due to COVID-19, the Parks Canada Radium Hot Springs hot pools facility (RHS) has finally open its doors to the public again. RHS has to make sure COVID-19 protocols are followed, and staff and the guests are kept safe. There are some changes: the famous hot pools will open at 11 a.m. to give guests more time to enjoy them, as capacity will now be limited by number. Before COVID-19, RHS could hold more than 500 people at a time. This number has been reduced to a maximum of 100 persons in the building at any given time. Because of this limited capacity, guests should expect waiting lines and will be asked to reduce their time in the pools, so that everyone can enjoy them. There are no rental costume or towels to rent anymore. Change rooms and shower will limited capacity. Most of the COVID-19 procedures and protocols in place in local stores are also in place at RHS; the plexiglass screens, several stations for hand sanitizing and physical distancing routes. Even though there are fewer people who can enter the facility, there will be more staff working to help ensure protocols are in place. When the Pioneer asked why open now, Julian England, the hot pools chief operating officer, said, “time gives us the opportunity to open and manage it safely. It would have been hard to do it before.” One of the main problems RHS had to resolve before re-opening is the safety of the lifeguards as they must work really closely with the public in case of emergencies. RHS worked with Lifesaving Society to ensure all the protocols are respected for the guests and the staff’s health. Lifeguards will be following special updated COVID-19 instructions and practices to minimize risk. Interior Health has also worked with RHS to put COVID-19 protocols in place. England is asking the public to be patient. “The experience can not be the same as before, as the conditions are not the same anymore,” he said. Guests should expect a waiting line in the busiest moments of the day. He also suggested coming, if possible, during the quieter, less-busy times during the day. While RHS was closed, many improvements have been put in place. Contractors could continue working throughout the closure and have completed the wet hall subfloor’s replacement and completed renovations in the change rooms. The change rooms had a lift-up, as did the shower facilities. Since 2017, more than $9.5 million has been spent on renovation, maintenance, and upgrading the RHS facility.
Submitted photo
We want to hear from you Email your letters to info@columbiavalleypioneer.com or visit our website at www. columbiavalleypioneer.com. Mail your letters to Box 868, Invermere, V0A 1K0, or drop them in at #8 1008-8th Avenue. Letters to the editor should be sent only to The Pioneer, and not to other publications. We do not publish open letters or third-party
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September 24, 2020
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By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Summer has given way to fall, and kids are back in school. The summer tourist season has just about wrapped up too, and along with Invermere’s summer community ambassador program. Invermere was one of several municipalities in the East Kootenay to hire a summer community ambassador, as part of the East Kootenay Restart program, when the region began to open up after the province-wide COVID-19 lockdown this past spring. Valley resident Caitlyn Raven filled the position this summer, regularly visiting local public spaces in Invermere, including Kinsmen Beach, Pothole Park, the Mount Nelson Athletic Park (and its ever-popular skate park) and the downtown area (including the farmers’ market) to educate the public about the importance of physical distancing, provide information and answer
questions about the B.C. Restart Plan and the community in general, and to encourage safe use of available amenities and services. In her wrap-up report, Raven outlined that much of her time on the job was spent reminding visitors and residents to keep two metres apart or to use sanitizer (after using the playground, for instance). She also spent a good deal of time answering queries about the farmers’ markets, hiking options, whether or not dogs were allowed at the beach and other tourist questions. “People generally really appreciated (the ambassador position),” said Invermere Mayor Al Miller, speaking at the September 8th Invermere council meeting, at which council members discussed the report. Councillor Greg Anderson concurred and suggested that Invermere should entertain the idea of having a community ambassador again in future years, even if the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Toby Creek Nordic Society looks to extend Whiteway season By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com
FREE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley is offering a Free Bereavement Support Group starting October 6th, 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions only a few people can register. All safety precautions at the Hospice’s office have been taken. Please contact us immediately to ensure your spot. The support group will follow a 10-week curriculum designed by Dr. Alan Wolfelt, founder of the Center for Loss and Life Transition. There is no charge for the group. People who are interested in registering must contact the Hospice Office at 778-526-5143 on or before October 2nd, 2020. If you or someone you know is having a difficult time with the grieving process, please give the Hospice a call. Symptoms of Grief include: Shock, numbness, denial, fear, panic, sadness and depression, amongst others. If you are experiencing symptoms of grief, we can help.
www.hospicesocietycv.com
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The Toby Creek Nordic Society has compiled and released its annual report for the past winter’s Whiteway season. One item in the report sure to catch the interest of local residents, visitors and indeed anybody who enjoys skating, cross country skiing, fat-tire biking or just walking along the iconic Whiteway trail in winter is the society’s outlined desire to purchase lighter grooming equipment. Which would make it possible to open the Whiteway earlier in the winter and keep it going longer at the end of the season. “Every year we are inundated with emails, phone calls, and messages after the lake is frozen and before the holiday season asking when will the Whiteway open. Of course, this is always weather dependent, and we need to wait for at least 12 inches (30 centimetres) of ice before we can safely take our machines out on the lake, but we would love to be open before the holiday season every year!” reads the report. “That is why we are currently raising funds to acquire a smaller piece of equipment that will allow us to get out sooner when there is 8 inches (20 centimetres) of ice, and also clear a skating trail on Lake Lillian in addition to the skiing already present there.” The report listed quite a few other highlights for the 2019-2020 Whiteway season include more than $12,000 in donations received, more than 20,000 trail users, 53 days open on the Lake Windermere Whiteway, more than 75 days open on the Lake Lillian Whiteway, the
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inaugural Whiteway Winter Challenge race, eight Toby Creek Nordic Society athletes trained as Whiteway ambassadors, and more than 180,000 views on the Whiteway’s Facebook posts.
“We are currently raising funds to acquire a smaller piece of equipment that will allow us to get out sooner, when there is 8 inches (20 centimetres) of ice,” Toby Creek Nordic Society, in 2019-2020 annual Whiteway report Lake Windermere officially froze on November 29th, 2019, according to the report, and the society was able to get the Lake Lillian Whiteway open exactly two weeks later, on December 13th, 2019. The Lake Windermere Whiteway followed a bit more than two weeks after that, opening on December 29th, 2019. “Throughout this (past) season we saw a couple of warm weather periods that closed either one or both of the Whiteways periodically, but (the society) managed to keep the Lake Windermere Whiteway open until February 29th, 2020, and the Lake Lillian Whiteway until March,” reads the report. “We were also able to re-open the Whiteway briefly in mid-March to provide residents with a good physical distancing outdoor option.” A record number of Toby Creek Nordic Society memberships — 354 — were purchased in the 20192020 season.
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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9
Canal Flats passes renewed bylaw enforcement policy after lively discussion Rest of the evening saw unanimous voting in favour of items By James Rose james@columbiavalleypioneer.com Council for the Village of Canal Flats held the first of two monthly regular meetings on Sept. 14th. The meeting was dominated by lively discussion over bylaw enforcement policy. Council had previously requested a renewed policy to include a process for responding to bylaw complaints. For any municipality, there is a tightrope walked between crafting a bylaw that addresses community needs while also being mindful of a municipality’s scarce resources. Adrian Bergles, Chief Administrative Officer, submitted a renewed policy listing several of the enforcement mechanisms available to the village based on existing policy melded with a policy from Ft. St. John - a provincial leader on bylaw enforcement, according to Bergles. Highlights of the new policy include an outlined complaint process and how complaints will be responded to; assessment criteria staff will look at in determining low/medium/high priority violations; enforcement mechanisms available to the village; flow charts on how bylaw violations will typically be dealt with. In Bergles’ report to the council, he noted Canal Flats doesn’t have the resources nor the mandate to formally review properties on a regular basis to determine whether regulatory bylaws are being complied with at all times. “Therefore, except for called inspections arising from permit applications and like most municipalities, it is the general practice of the village to rely on citizen complaints as a means of alerting Bylaw Enforcement to potential non-compliance of its bylaws,” Bergles wrote. Councillors Bill Lake and Marie Delorme thought the renewed policy was still lacking. They both wanted to see a timeline attached to the process for responding to bylaw complaints. “There’s got to be something more,” said Lake. “If someone puts in a complaint and nothing happens, then if I am a constituent, after that, why would I bother to put in a complaint?” De-lorme echoed Lake’s point. “To just have an open-end without a timeline doesn’t help the people that are in the supposed wrong,” said Delorme. “I agree it’s important to have flexibility in the policy,
but we also need a timeline to give hope to both sides of the fence of the dispute.” Bergles agreed that there was merit to having a timeline included in the policy. But he pointed out that going down that path could become problematic for the village. “If there’s a complaint lodged and we, the village, don’t have the resources to follow up, we’re then putting ourselves in a position to limit our abilities to proceed. I don’t believe we want to have such a strict bylaw enforcement policy because the more prescriptive we become, the more difficult it will be to meet the letter of the policy.” Bergles doesn’t want the village to set the bar too high given the limited resources available. According to Bergles, the village’s bylaw enforcement officer currently spends only one day per week on these kinds of issues. Mayor Karl Sterzer called the vote and the initiative to accept the process passed. “We have the ability to amend a bylaw, so why don’t we revisit this process in sixty days to see if it’s working for our constituents,” he said. The rest of the meeting was unanimous. Council voted in favour of the village’s application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Municipal Asset Management Program for a $50,000 grant with the village kicking in an extra $12,500. Provided the grant application is successful, the deliverable would be a proposed work plan of hydraulic models of its water and wastewater systems. “The information will paint a much more detailed picture of the condition of the village’s underground assets than currently exists,” said Canal Flats’ Chief Administrative Officer Adrian Bergles. “It will help guide council’s infrastructure capital investment decisions going forward.” Council also unanimously voted in favour of waiving the “Purchasing Policy” requirement for a public tender and award the contract for the village’s “Age Friendly Plan” to ISL Engineering (ISL) and Land Services and J Consulting Group. ISL had already been contracted to do the housing needs assessment for the village, and village staff identified economies in having ISL do an “Age Friendly Plan” for the village as well. “It makes sense to use the same firm if the plan builds off the housing needs assessment,” commented Sterzer before the vote passed.
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September 24, 2020
Little Badgers learned about Salmon in September By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter While the safety precautions of COVID-19 may have hindered the celebrations for the annual salmon festival in the Columbia Valley, children attending the Little Badgers Early Learning Program will be learning about the species for the month. During September’s curriculum at preschool, there will be songs, stories and art projects incorporated into the learning curriculum for children to learn about the life cycle of salmon — a recurring theme that takes place annually. “Salmon played a large role in the history of Ktunaxa culture,” explained Evelyn Walker, Early Childhood Educator at Little Badgers Early Learning Program. “We try to incorporate as much Indigenous studies as possible in our curriculum.” The theme will be shared with students at an appropriate age level with children from each classroom this fall. “We are very thankful for those who collaborated to produce the book “Swaqmu’s Tale,” including Lisa Ede, Kathleen Elphick, Maxine Hawe, Lillian Rose, Kurt Re-
ichel and Dorothy Alpine,” said Walker. “As well as the Ktunaxa elders who have been so willing to share their culture with the Little Badger students. We are looking forward to a great year at Little Badgers Early Learning Program.” However, the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted the program participants from taking local field trips and logistics, so the lessons have been refocused through the use of book learning and developmentally beneficial activities for children. Preschoolers were welcomed back to school officially on Sept. 15th and visited with an elder. “Little Badgers enrollment has increased from the summer,” explained Walker. “We have been flexible in programming and will only have one preschool class running (this year) instead of two like last year. A lot of families have communicated that due to COVID-19, they are waiting until spring or fall 2021 to return to care.” This fall, the Little Badgers team encourages families to visit local waterways to see the salmon spawning to mitigate the loss of important les- The Akisqnuk Development Corporation recently produced a children’s sons that would have been reinforced through the book entitled, “Swaqmu’s Tale” for the early childhood educators at the Little Badgers Early Learning Program teach their students about salmon Salmon Festival. during the month of September.
Submitted photo
COTR encourage Orange Shirt Day awareness By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
“College of the Rockies values our close relationships with Indigenous people in our region and is committed to true reconciliation,” said Karen Smith, Director of InA decision to honour Orange Shirt Day at the Col- digenous Strategy and Reconciliation at COTR. “Phyllege of the Rockies (COTR) has been made despite the lis Webstad is a symbol of the injustices experienced by pandemic. Indigenous people in the residential school system. We The COTR is encouraging students, staff, and pub- participate in Orange Shirt Day to honour her, and all lic members to wear an orange shirt on Sept. 30th to those impacted by residential schools. By sharing Ktucommemorate residential school survivors’ stories, while naxa Nation members Gina and Kay’s experiences in resraising awareness about one of the darkest chapters in idential school in this year’s event, we acknowledge how this part of Canada’s history also had an impact at a very Canada’s past. local level.” The COTR encourages students, employees, and the public to wear orange PO Box 159, 8866 Grainger Road t-shirts on Sept. 30th to Canal Flats, BC V0B 1B0 village@canalflats.ca honour residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad’s story and support Canadian NOTICE OF TAX SALE residential school survivors. Webstad, a northern The following properties located within the Village of Canal Flats shall be sold for taxes as per Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Local Government Act on Monday, September 28, 2020 at 10:00 am at the Village of Canal Flats Municipal Office located at 8866 Grainger Road, Canal Flats, BC. All properties are withthe Stswecem’c Xgat’tem in District Lot 110 and Land District 26. First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band), was taken to Folio # Legal Description Location Upset Price a residential school at the 0001960.004 Lot 4, Plan NEP81134 4812 Burns Avenue $7612.39 mere age of six. Upon ar0001998.040 Lot 8, Plan NEP14609 4985 Spruce Avenue $3590.56 riving at the mission, the school stripped Webstad of 0070075.086 MHR# 3344 8E-9415 Baillie Grohman Ave $423.19 all of her personal belongAdrian Bergles ings, even a brand new orCollector ange t-shirt that laced up September 17, 2020 the front recently purchased by her grandmother. She
began to believe that the colour orange represented her feelings of oppression during that chapter of her life and worked with others to help commemorate the residential school experience for all Canadians to learn from in 2013. Historically, the church ran residential schools between the 1860s and the 1990s, where roughly 150,000 Métis, Inuit and First Nations children were forcibly removed from their families and required to speak English or French instead of traditional languages. The loss of familial culture, traditions and languages is widely believed to have harmed several generations of residential school survivors. That’s why government officials offered an official apology to residential school survivors in recent years. The Orange Shirt Day initiative came to life through the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, B.C. in May 2013 with Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’ in, Southern Dakelh and St’at’ imc Nation families with support from the Cariboo Regional District, elected official in various municipalities, school districts and civic organizations. Now, Orange Shirt Day is recognized nationally to honour residential school survivors. The COTR recently hosted a virtual event featuring Ktunaxa elders Gina and Kay as guest speakers through a Zoom meeting preceding the Sept. 30th event for the community on Sept. 22nd. “As we move toward reconciliation, it is valuable for people to gain a real understanding of the residential school system and how that system impacted the lives of Indigenous people,” said Smith. “We’re pleased to welcome anyone who is interested in gaining a deeper insight into this period of our history.”
Summer Art Show - Part 4 September 15 to October 3 Featuring Angelique Gillespie, Rita Rankin, Elizabeth Segstro, Cat McDiarmid, & Ron Robinson P y n e lo g s g a l l e ry H o u r s a r e 11 -4, W e d n e s day t H r o u g H s at u r day · W W W.CO LU M B I AVA L L E YA R T S.CO M
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September 24, 2020
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11
Ktunaxa commemorate residential school survivors with Orange Shirt Day By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The start of the school year each fall triggers a wide variety of emotions for students from all walks of life. For residential school survivors, September is a stark reminder about being scooped up and taken away from their families and friends for forced assimilation at church-administered schools set-up by the Canadian government. Since 2013, Canadians have been invited to honour residential school survivors by participating in Orange Shirt Day annually on Sept. 30th. “The date, September 30th, was chosen because that was the time of the year the trucks and buses would enter the communities to “collect” the children and deliver them to their harsh new reality of cultural assimilation, mental, sexual and physical abuse, shame and deprivation (Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.),” Bonnie Harvey, Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) education ambassador from the Education and Employment sector wrote to the Pioneer by e-mail. Orange Shirt Day is a legacy that began when the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion events took place in Williams Lake in the spring of 2013. It united former students and families from the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, Southern Dakelh and St’at’imc Nations with the Cariboo Regional District, school districts, civic organizations as well as elected officials from a number of municipalities by commemorating the residential school experience for survivors and their families to work toward healing and reconciliation. “Orange Shirt Day is a movement that officially began in 2013, but in reality, it began in 1973 when sixyear-old Phyllis Webstad entered the St. Joseph Mission
Anne Jimmie, Robert Louie Sr., Virginia Fisher, Dorothy Alpine and Darcy Luke contributed to successfully completing the Orange Shirt Poem for the Ktunaxa Nation Council’s distribution to commemorate living and non-living students from residential schools during Orange Shirt Day. Submitted photo
Residential School, outside of Williams Lake, B.C.,” explained Harvey. “Young Phyllis was wearing a brand new orange shirt for her first day of school — new clothes being a rare and wonderful thing for a First Nation girl growing up in her grandmother’s care — but the Mission Oblates quickly stripped her of her new shirt and replaced it with the school’s institutional uniform (Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.).” The KNC honours both living and non-living residential school survivors annually on Orange Shirt Day. The staff and council encourage teachers to register their classes for the virtual event of Every Child Matters scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 30th, which is hosted by the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation and to wear orange shirts on September 30th to raise awareness for students who have been affected by attending residential schools. The KNC team has created a poem available in both Ktunaxa and English with artwork to honour Orange Shirt Day. Anne Jimmie, Robert Louie Sr., Virginia Fisher, Dorothy Alpine and Darcy Luke contributed to the completion and distribution of the Orange Shirt Day poem. In fact, the poem is now displayed in the gymnasium at the high school in Yaqan Nukiy, and students recite it during their morning pledge. To learn more about Orange Shirt Day, please visit https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/what-isorange-shirt-day For those interested in learning more about residential schools from a historical perspective are encouraged to contact the KNC at 250-4892464.
Students learn Every Child Matters By Breanne Massey Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A lesson on the historic shortcomings of Canada is being taught to students at Kootenay schools preceding Orange Shirt Day this week. Rocky Mountain School District #6 encourages students and their families to wear orange shirts on September 30th to honour residential school survivors. “As part of our ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for Indigenous Students and to rise to the calls to action of Truth and Reconciliation, schools across Rocky Mountain plan to recognize the impact of residential schools on all Canadian Indigenous People, including our local Indigenous education partners,” said Steve Wyer, assistant superintendent of schools at Rocky Mountain School District #6. “The impact of residential schools is taught in ongoing ways as part of our subject curriculum as well as part of our instruction in the core competency of responsibility. However, on Orange Shirt Day, schools and staff collectively recognize this impact for our students, their families and their communities.” While David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) Aboriginal Education Support Workers Monica Fisher and Tisha Tardiff were unavailable for comment before the Pioneer went to press, they recognized the importance of honouring September 30th by wearing orange shirts. “Aboriginal Support Workers in schools work with their teams of teachers, prin-
cipals and community Knowledge Keepers to plan such things as assemblies, collective actions, curricular activities, and professional learning about the Orange Shirt and its symbolism,” explained Wyer. “Because Orange Shirt Day evokes strong emotions through the stories of injustice and colonization, it often propels further learning about, interest in, and relationships with members of our Indigenous communities,” said Wyer. “I certainly hope to see our younger generation expressing their commitment to the calls to action through a show of Orange on September 30th.” DTSS principal Glen Sage indicated that students can attend the free online event for the Every Child Matters event at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30th, to honor residential school survivors and their families in the pursuit of encouraging meaningful reconciliation across Canada. However, the logistics of the DTSS plan are still be fleshed out amongst staff and administrators. “Teachers of all subjects are infusing aboriginal content into all of their classes, and specific to the legacy of residential schools, Grade 9 social studies classes have been engaged in the Project of Heart,” said Sage by e-mail. “With Andrea Dunlop’s efforts, we plan to build a large piece of art, shaped as a sturgeon nose canoe (unique to the First Nations of this region) and place the tiles from the Project of Heart on it.” To learn more about Project of Heart, please visit http://projectofheart.ca/what-isproject-of-heart/ Wyer encourages the community to visit www.orangeshirtday.org to learn more about the significance of the event.
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September 24, 2020
Foreshore Inventory Management Planning Submitted by Georgia Peck, Program Coordinator, Lake Windermere Ambassadors Lake Windermere is known for its breathtaking views, important history and year-round recreational opportunities. It provides a home to bird species including, common loons, ospreys, great blue herons, and bald eagles. It supplies critical habitat to burbot, large-mouth bass, rainbow trout, northern pikeminnow and more. Mammals, including muskrats and beavers take advantage of the calm waters. Sensitive plants such as water marigold and stiff-leaved pondweed can be found in the shallow waters of the water’s expansive body. In addition to important biodiversity, Lake Windermere provides a home to full-time and part-time human residents, as
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Photo submitted by Ryan Watmough well as a calming escape to thousands of visitors per year. Humans and nature coexist on Lake Windermere, monitoring efforts to track these interactions and the lake’s potential impacts are needed. A variety of habitats can be found in and around it, one of which is the foreshore. The foreshore can be defined as the parcel of ground between the water’s edge and cultivated land or the space between the high-water mark and the low-water mark. The foreshore can provide habitat to both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals as well as an opportunity for human interaction — many times in the form of construction, such as docks and boathouses. From 2006-2009 Foreshore Inventory Management Planning (FIMP), formerly known as Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM), took place on Lake Windermere to gain insight into foreshore habitat values and the impacts of human activities can have on this critical space. This process was intended to help stakeholders, decision-makers, local agencies, organizations, provincial and federal governments, and property owners gain perspective on their surroundings and the importance of proper management practices. In August of 2006, the East Kootenay Integrated Lake Management Partnership (EKILMP), including members from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Environment and Wildsight, conducted an inventory of the foreshore of Lake Windermere. The inventory’s purpose was to collect information on shoreline morphology, land use, riparian zones conditions, and visibly present human alterations, including docks, retaining walls, boat launches, railways, marinas, and boathouses. This work was completed using GPS technology, digital videos and a keen research eye. Results revealed that over 50% of the lake foreshore included human alterations such as vegetation removal, construction or development. Despite these potential impacts, nearly half of Lake Windermere’s foreshore remains undisturbed, providing critical habitat for various biodiversity. The information collected in 2006 has provided the Lake Windermere Ambassadors with baseline data and
have resulted in programs that have aided the Ambassadors in foreshore-related planning, outreach and education, and a foreshore development protection plan, which provides recommendations and identifies guidelines for foreshore development and enhancement. More information can be found in the Lake Windermere Management Plan. The Lake Windermere Ambassadors, in partnership with Living Lakes Canada, will redo the FIMP in 2020. The information collected will help gain insight into landscape-level changes that have occurred over a 10 year time frame and will give us a better understanding of the impacts a growing population has had on our surrounding environment. The objectives of this project are to test re-FIMP procedures by Living Lakes Canada’s Foreshore Inventory Mapping for Aquatic Species at Risk Project, to gain insight into changes on the Lake Windermere foreshore and the impact of land use on fish and wildlife habitat and to update management plan to improve the foreshore of Lake Windermere. The field data collected, including insight from First Nations Traditional Ecological Knowledge, will help guide policy and management practices and educate individuals within the community. The overall goal of this project is to improve information concerning foreshore health. It will help elucidate species at risk habitat requirements for Upper Columbia Basin waterbodies to conserve and restore the highest ecological value. Fieldwork has begun on Lake Windermere, with support from Living Lakes Canada, the Shuswap Indian Band and additional contracting agencies. The Lake Windermere Ambassadors would like to thank BC Gaming Grants, Canada Summer Jobs, Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund, District of Invermere, Lush Charity Pot, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Real Estate Foundation, and Regional District of East Kootenay for supporting our 2020 Programming. Please email at info@lakeambassadors.ca or call the office at (250) 341-6898.
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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13
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September 24, 2020
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Everett Frater Enterprises
1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere
250-342-6612
Cell: 250-342-5645 • efrater@telus.net
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Chimney and Eavestrough Cleaning and Repair Specialists
Locally operated, with full-time staff to serve you better.
You name it! I’ll take care of it!
1756 Hwy 93/95, Windermere, B.C. V0B 2L2 Phone: 250-342-6500 • Fax: 250-342-3484
• Pruning and Removal of ALL Trees and Shrubs • Stump Grinding • Fully Insured & WCB Covered
YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP for all home maintenance from raking your lawn to renovating your entire house.
CLEANING & MAINTENANCE ON ALL WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES • WETT INSPECTIONS
(Servicing the Valley since 1999)
NEW SEWER CAMERA
• Septic Tank Pumping • Portable Toilet Rentals
• A well maintained septic system • Complete sewer/drain repairs should be pumped every 2-3 years • Reasonable rates – Seniors’ discount • Avoid costly repairs • Speedy service – 7 days a week
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30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Keep your local businesses alive. Get your tree services right here in Invermere!
Please call Steve ~ a real local you can trust! 250-342-1791
WINDOW COVERINGS SHOWROOM
Beat the fall rush ~ clean your Chimney this spring! ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHIMNEY SWEEPS LTD. 804 Almberg Road, Golden, BC V0A 1H2 CELL: 250.272.5599 OFFICE: 250.344.7323 todd@rockymountainchimneysweeps.com rockymountainchimneysweeps.com
OVER
• • • •
Doors Windows Flooring Painting/Interior/ Exterior • Kitchen Renovations • Window Coverings
• Bathroom Renovations • Additions • Decks • Finish Carpentry • Basement Renovations
KITCHEN CABINETS & COUNTER TOPS
492 Arrow Rd., Unit 1B, Invermere • EMAIL: fairmontridge@telus.net • 250-342-4663
SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN THE COLUMBIA VALLEY
SINCE 1991 ICBC Glass Repair Out of Province Vehicle Inspections Auto Body Repairs • Painting • Quality Parts
We give all students 15% off with valid student ID
North American Warranty All Makes and Models Tire Sales and Installation
141 Industrial Rd. 2 • 250-342-9424 • Open Monday - Saturday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
September 24, 2020
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15
The history of the Windermere District Historical Society By Windermere District Historical Society The last article covered the beginning of the Historical Committee and its collection. We continue with the calendar, saying it is 1958. With a growing interest in the valley’s history, the Historical Committee established itself as a different society; it officially formed the Windermere District Historical Society with T.N. Weir as its charter president. Also, in 1958, a time capsule was buried by the society, registered with the provincial archives and scheduled to be opened in 2058. It contained articles of local and historical interest to the Columbia Valley residents and was sealed in the Centennial Building’s entrance step, later known as the Lion’s Club. In February 2005, the building was removed, and the vault accidentally opened when the steps were being separated from the vault concealing the capsule. It was discovered that the time capsule lid came off, and the contents were strewn inside. Over the next few years, the museum collec-
tion grew and with no place to call home, the items were placed in boxes and travelled from meeting to meeting. To view the contents as it was found, go to the School House on the museum grounds to see that display. The year 1964 marks the first building coming to the museum. Cooks Cabin was built in 1942 by Charles and Ray Crook on their family homestead in Kootenay National Park. It was one of several tourist cabins that could be rented at the Auto Camp, located at Crook’s Meadows, until 1954. After that, Kootenay National Park moved the cabin a quarter mile down the road, near Kootenay Crossing, to be used as accommodations for the warden looking after the Kootenay River Fire Look-out. The log cabin was then moved to Kaye’s Cabin, 5 miles east of Radium Pools, to add to the warden’s station. By 1964, the cabin was moved a third time to Pot Hole Park across from AG Valley Foods to be the first building for the museum that could house permanent displays. The next article will highlight a special addition to the museum collection and tell you about a deal they couldn’t refuse.
Live music at the FHSR By Camille Aubin camille@columbiavalleypioneer.com Fairmont Hot Spring Resort (FHSR) has had its first event of the summer, with organizers excerising their creativity to come up with different forms of entertainment in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. FHSR held a mini-concert series from September 12th to 14th, with Felicia McMinn, from Port Dover, Ontario, as the musical artist in residence for the event. Taking advantage of the resort’s wide-open spaces, organizer opted for take-out Southern-style barbecue in addition to the concert. The RV guests enjoyed the first live performance from their sites. Picnic tables were spaced on several vacant RV sites to allow physical distancing. On Saturday night, Felica performed a second time for guests and locals. Guests at the resort’s main lodge were invited to sit on their balconies to listen to the musicians from there. They received their take-out barbecue through a pulley system that was PYO (pull-up your own). Locals golf enthusiasts also enjoyed the concert while sitting in their golf carts, physically distanced on the green area. “It was really important to us that these events were created to offer lightness and an escape for a few hours, considering how different and challenging the last five months have been for everyone regarding COVID-19. We also wanted to thank our guests and our local community for their continuous support and understanding during these different times where we are all in. The mini-concert idea was to join together and make some fantastic memories.” said Jennifer Gare, FHSR Marketing Consultant.
Submitted photo
HERE TO SERVE YOU SERVICES
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Sales ~ Service ~ Installation
• Air Conditioning/Heat Pumps • Fireplaces • Full Heating and Ventilation Systems
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Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700
unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca WETT Certified
Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential
Bob: (250) 341-5014
Where to recycle? Scott Postlethwaite Residential, Commercial Electric Furnace and Hot Water Tank Repair and Service For All Your Electrical Needs
Free Estimates th
invermereelectric@gmail.com
1710 10 Avenue – Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0
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Check the BC RECYCLEpEdia 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) 1-800-667-4321 RECYCLING COUNCIL OF B.C. MEMBER
Just a reminder… The deadline for display advertising is 12 noon Friday.
PROVIDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE VACATION HOME OWNER SINCE 2006
16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer
September 24, 2020
P IONEER C LASSIFIEDS S OBITUARY S Jarrett, Rick William January 7, 1945 – September 3, 2020 With sadness the family of Rick Jarrett announces his passing on September 3, 2020 at the age of 75. Rick was involved in mining most of his adult life. He travelled extensively worldwide, and finally settled in Windermere, B.C. He became the Mining Engineer Manager at the Gypsum Mine in Windermere for 30 years. Rick was very active in politics, spent many years with the Legion #71 and was very active in Angel Flights. He was also active in the Rod and Gun Club, the Local Kinsman, and the Masonic Lodge, as well Rick was very supportive in any new and up and coming artists.He was an avid fisherman, and loved golf, but his passions were his family and Texas Hold’Em! But not necessarily in that order! He will be sadly missed. Special thanks and appreciation to the following… Nursing staff at the Invermere Hospital for putting up with Rick for 9 days. Kendall special thanks! Interior health and Hospice, special thanks to Carol & Jesse, Danieve, Jo & Bob Wilks for the amazing taxi service & delivery at home time! Ivan McKay for helping Rick part with things he never used anyway! Very grateful to you. John Rouse (an angel in disguise) and the best “go to” man anyone could ask for! Jim Bonny for keeping an eye on John Rouse! Dr. Maslowska for visits at home and reassuring phone calls, your compassion is unprecedented. Jan Brydon for her friendship & best “home cooking” ever... (with mysterious “AG” stickers), Erin what a lost soul I would be without you! My “work” family for their flowers and support. How can you still be operating without my words of wisdom? Coffee Boyz for joining Rick at home for his last coffee club meeting, and for finally realizing he was right about EVERYTHING! (as he told you for 17 years). Ken Carlow & the Legion gang for so much care and friendship over the years! Poker buddies, I know he felt bad for taking your $$ on a regular basis, Not. You knew the stakes when you walked into the games! Your friendship with Rick was a highlight for him. Angel flights, for bringing Rick on board early in the project. He so loved his work with you! Best of luck Brent in all your flights. To Ricks sister Lynn north of Edmonton, and all our chats via phone & for your friendship, however late. Father Jo Jo & McPherson Funeral Home, we never knew such help and kindness existed. Our neighbours for your concern & help, food, flowers, and wine! To the 80+ people that stopped by to visit, social distancing at its finest! Molly & Gauge his beloved fur babies, who never left his side in the last few hours. Not even for treats, dogs are truly remarkable! To my son Dylan who after 18 hours arrived from Spain, and my daughter Jasmine from Mexico City. My squad has arrived with much love and anxiously viewing their squad goals! And enjoying a few “quarantines”. I would also like to thank Mom in Ontario for all her phone support & love as well as for all the underwear she ironed! Rick is survived by his wife Lynda, daughter Jasmine, son Dylan and Lynn Trithart & family (Sister). He was predeceased by his Mother Gwendolyn and Father William. Please view Rick’s obituary on our website after September 21st, 2020 to view the recorded service. Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services. Condolences for the family can be offered at www.mcphersonfh.com
ESTATE SALE Estate Sale: Sep 27th and 28th, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at 1721-6th Ave Invermere. (3 doors down from the Station Pub) Please! no early birds and masks are mandatory. Furniture - Bed Sets, chest of drawers, dressers, headboards, table and chairs, display cabinets, lamps, couches, love seat, carpet, dishes, glassware, trinkets, tools, miscellaneous. Estate Sale: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday Sept. 26th. 8152 Binnie Rd Radium.
ANNOUNCEMENT Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. All meetings are at 8 p.m. Columbia United AA, Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the BC Service Building, South End – 624 4th St., Invermere. Please call 250-342-2424 for more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship.
• Phone: 250-341-6299 • Email: info@columbiavalleypioneer.com • Web: www.columbiavalleypioneer.com
ANNOUNCMENT
ATTENTION ASPIRING MUSICIANS FROM PARSON TO CANAL FLATS Applications are open for the Steamboat Mountain Music Bursary. Musicians of all levels and any age may apply. Funds may be used for: workshops, music camps, lessons, master classes, college, or university music programs. Deadline: Monday, November 30th, 2020. Download application: www.steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca
Al-Anon. Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking? If so, please join us on a “ZOOM” meeting every Monday at 7 p.m. For more info please call 250-342-8255.
S OBITUARY S Grant Albert Flexhaug July 28, 1953 – September 16, 2020 With deep sadness we announce the passing of Grant Albert Flexhaug, on September 16, 2020 in Canal Flats, B.C. surrounded by his loving family. Grant was loved by all who knew him. His happy nature and sense of humor were his best qualities, that he was known for. He had a deep love for his family, especially his grandchildren. He will be forever in the hearts of his wife Shannon, his children David (Melissa), Gwen (Peter), grandchildren Jordan (Tianna), Braden (Shaylynn), Chelsea (Brent) and Benji, and great grandson Hudson, sisters Shirley, Debbie, Sandra and Pam. Grant was predeceased by his mother Rose Marie and father Fernie. The family would like to thank the Invermere Home Support, the workers and nurses for their support and excellent care of Grant. Due to Covid-19, the Funeral Service is by invitation only. Memorial donations can be made to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation https://cpff.ca/donations/cpff-donation-form/ Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services. Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com
CHEERS & JEERS
CHEERS & JEERS
Jeers to absentee landowners in Invermere who let their grass and weeds grow knee high on their vacant property. Very unsightly and definitely a fire hazard.
Cheers to Tracey at Purolator/ Sentinel Storage for helping me out with my Purolator shipment. Great customer service! It was greatly appreciated!
Cheers to Dee Conklin at Palliser Printing. Always a smiling face, and great to talk to. The copying was greatly appreciated! Jeers to the self-centered people who litter and have or show little regard or respect for our beautiful valley. Cans, bottles, and everything in between. Absolutely horrible. Let’s do our part and clean up. Huge Cheers to Diane (Fun Cakes by Diane) for fixing a wedding cake that we “broke” within hours of the wedding on a busy Sept long weekend! You went above and beyond and the cake was beautiful and delicious! Cheers to Sophie at the Invermere Post Office! She has been such a GREAT pleasure to work with and helped us feel welcomed to the area. We recently moved from Ontario to Pano and she helped make the transition easy, along with her knowledge, humour and all around awesome personality.
Weekly Featured Listing
Huge House with an Elevator!
$559,000 4877 Edelweiss Street, Radium MLS: 2454263 (Brokerage ~ Rockies West Realty)
BUYING OR SELLING CALL 250-341-1202
gerrytaft.ca Rockies West Realty
Just a reminder… The classified deadline is 12 noon Friday.
Independently owned and operated
Cheers to the District of Invermere’s gardeners. We were visitors in Invermere last weekend and thought the flower arrangements everywhere were just beautiful. What a wonderful job your gardeners have done. Just wish that our city of Vernon would do the same. Cheers to Brent Woodard. You hit it out of the Park again! Jeers to dog owners not picking up their dog poop at the dog park. Are you afraid to pick it up or too lazy? it’s getting disgusting down there. I don’t get it! Many CHEERS to Clarence. Your timing that day was nothing short of a miracle. From a forever grateful family.
LOST AND FOUND
$1000 REWARD STOLEN Jeep from Walker’s Auto Repair Centre on Monday August 31st in the AM. Reward offered for information leading to the return of our Jeep. Please contact Mike at Walker’s 250-342-9424 or Dan at 780-721-1364.
September 24, 2020
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17
STORAGE NEWHOUSE STORAGE Various sizes available. Now with climatecontrolled units. Call 250-342-3637.
COMERCIAL SPACE 864 sq. ft. Shop space in the Industrial Park. Electrical included, $700/mo. 250-3423637, newmulti@telus.net.
LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE ELKHORN COUNTRY ESTATES Selling Phase 3 now! 2.5-acre parcels. No building time commitment. Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-342-1268. www.elkhornranches.com ACREAGE FOR SALE 4.7 acres. Has its own graveled access road from Kootenay #3 road already constructed. Drilled well, views, privacy. $219,000 plus GST. Phone Elkhorn Ranch, 250-342-1268.
BUYING OR SELLING? I specialize in rural, recreational, farm and ranch properties.
BARRY BROWN-JOHN “Rocky Mountain Land Man”
Call or text
250-342-5245
b.brownjohn@gmail.com CONDO FOR SALE Condo for sale (WPt). 2-bdrm/ den, f/f, top floor, mtn/lake views, walk to beach, price reduced $254,900, 403-9689222.
MISC. FOR SALE
SERVICES
TRAILER
By virtue of the Warehouse Lien Act and on behalf of the Strata Corporation NES2244 Panorama Springs Lodge we will dispose of goods belonging to Mark Schuit, namely: 2005 Hallmark Utility Trailer VIN: 16HCB08135U041556 including tools and equipment inside, to help recover debt of $20,000+. The trailer will be made available for sale on October 8th, 2020 in Panorama, BC. Contact Dara Allen at Mountain Creek Properties Ltd. 250-341-6003 Ext: 105 for further information.
SERVICES
SERVICES
POWER PAVING -No job too smallFree Estimates Call (250) 421-1482 Heaven’s Best Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Environmentally friendly products. Dry in 1 hour! Our disinfectant is formulated to kill COVID-19. Call 250-688-0213 Spic N Span Cleaning: Office or evening cleans available, Monday to Thursday. No daytime cleans. Please contact 250-688-1259 to book. Kootenay Country Electrical Qualified Electrical Service Licensed, Bonded, Insured Highly skilled electrician Call Dean 250-342-5516. SERVICES FOR SENIORS The Heartfelt Companion offers nonmedical help to seniors in their home and respite for caregivers. Companionship, errands, transportation, personal care, meal prep and more. Excellent local references and credentials and a big, kind heart! “Leanne and her associates have made a real difference for myself and my husband who is dealing with dementia. Leanne always seems to figure out what a client needs and enjoys. This also gave me a much needed break. I would highly recommend her service”. www.invermerehomecare.com,
LEE’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SHOP Specializing in chainsaws, tillers, trimmers and lawn mower repairs and maintenance. Industrial #2 Road across from NAPA Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 250-341-2551 Offering excellent service and fair prices
B.B.’s Home & Lawn Care Services Renovations, Handyman Repairs, Small moves, Dump runs, House Checks, House Cleaning, Yard Maintenance, Eavestroughs, Tree removal. 250-688-2897. and fair pricing!
MISC FOR SALE Top Quality Hay Round bales. Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-3421268.
Just a reminder… The classified deadline is 12 noon Friday.
HELP WANTED
CBAL Invermere – Part-Time English Language (ESL) Instructor
HELP WANTED
Wage $22.50/hr
Big Horn Cafe, Radium Hot Springs looking for Full time Assistant Baker, there will be some Barista dutiesNo evenings, flexible hours, medical and dental benefits, negotiable per hour wage based on experience, we will train. Competitive wages. Apply to bighorncafe1@outlook.com or phone 403-861-2978.
QUALIFICATIONS
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. Crossroads Market is now hiring for Deli Personnel. Above average wage package with a high season bonus. We have openings for all shifts. Please email resume to kgtltd2020@ gmail.com or apply in person at Crossroads Market.
We’re looking for hardworking, energetic and reliable people just like you!
CASHIERS/PRODUCE CLERKS POSITIONS AVAILABLE No previous experience required Days/Nights/Weekends
Apply in person. 471 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C.
0911611 BC Ltd. O/A Tim Hortons 496 Highway 93/95, Invermere BC, V0A 1K2 Tim Hortons Invermere is currently looking for
Pike Contracting Excavating and Skid Steer services. Call Jason 250-342-5277.
HELP WANTED
FOOD SERVICE SUPERVISORS
✓ Experience teaching English Language learners ✓ ESL Instructor certification (TESOL) or equivalent ✓ Specific training in Portfolio Based Language Assessment will be required and provided at no cost ✓ Experience teaching a multi-level class beneficial ✓ Good communication and record keeping skills ✓ Good computer skills and comfortable with technology ✓ Able to plan and teach 2-4 classes per week during academic year Closing date: Open until filled Start date: October 29th Email resume to: skalesnikoff@cbal.org Wanted 2 F/T Restaurant Cooks, Rocky River Grill, 8888 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C. Permanent, F/T shifts, overtime, weekends, days and evenings, $16/hour for 40 hours per week. Overtime after 40 hours. Minimum several years’ experience and completion of Secondary School. DUTIES: Prepare and cook full course meals, prepare and cook individual dishes and foods, ensure quality of food portions, work with minimal supervision, prepare dishes for customers with food allergies or intolerances. Inspect Kitchens and Food service areas. Please forward resume to Justin Atterbury by fax 250-342-8889 or email justatterbury@hotmail. com.
Look up to a higher standard with our classified ads.
Pioneer Classifieds
Radium Valley Vacation Resort is looking for a team player. Our Guest Services position does require that you be able to work nights and weekends. This parttime position could lead into full time for the right person. Experience with Microsoft office, the hospitality industry and basic accounting skills are an asset but we are willing to train. Please apply by e-mail to radval@rvvr.onmicrosoft.com. N E W S PA P E R
Permanent, full-time, part-time, shift, weekend, day, night, evening. $15.60 per hour + benefits • Start Date: ASAP # of Vacancies: 6 • Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years Education: No degree, certificate or diploma required. Please apply via email at timhortons.invermere@gmail.com or in person at 496 Highway 93/95 Invermere, BC
ONEBERRIE Jr Marketing/Photographer Starting End of Sept. $15/hr, 3 - 8 hours per week. Internship. TO APPLY go Facebook.com/oneberrie.
Phone: (250) 341-6299
18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer
September 24, 2020
Valley’s residential real estate doing well despite skyrocketing lumber prices By James Roses james@columbiavalleypioneer.com Through the summer, Columbia Valley residential real estate saw plenty of activity. Despite secondary market prices and listings declining in April and May compared to 2019, sales data compiled by the Kootenay MLS for Invermere (town and rural), Radium, and Canal Flats suggested a robust marked rebound. August sales statistics showed significant year-over-year growth in sold and new listings: 105% and 37%, respectively. For the month of July, there were 60% more sold listings and 15% more new listings. June saw a similar story though new listings declined 19%. Year-over-year list and sale price for June, July and August have shown less drastic swings. August list and sale prices both declined by about 2%. July list and sale prices were down 6% and 3%. June meanwhile saw an uptick of 7% and 5%, respectively. “That data is good, but it can’t be relied on too heavily for insights,” said Geoff Hill of MaxWell Realty. “We live in a big region with lots of different buyers for different reasons.” Developers and builders note the valley’s new-build market is in fine shape. “I’ve had more calls in the last three months than I normally get all year,” said Richard Unger of Ski Home Ltd. Highland Crossing developer Larry Kerr shares the same sentiment. “There’s more interest right now, more people are looking.” Both Unger and Kerr have plans to bring more product to the valley. “Phase one sold out and phase two [of Highland Crossing] will kick into gear this winter,” said Kerr. Unger’s townhome development on the corner of 9 Ave. and 9 St. in Invermere also sold out quickly. “It seems like anything under $500,000 is gone like that,” said Unger snapping his fingers. Unger thinks strong valley demand is a result of favourable demographics and
COVID. “There are more baby-boomers now looking to make the move to an area like the Columbia Valley for its world-class amenities. COVID has been a catalyst for that trend to accelerate. Most folks that I meet with are nearing approaching retiring age. And retirees now are more active than ever. The valley suits this trend well.” But as Hill said, the valley has a diverse range of buyers with varying socio-economic backgrounds. Not everyone can afford Invermere. “There is increasing pressure outward from Invermere,” said Hill. “People are realizing that the small fortunes they used to spend on international travel can equal a down payment in the Radium, Fairmont and Canal Flats markets.” A lack of inventory in the long term rental market has also contributed to more people choosing to buy. “When COVID came along, and people were locked in their house, once they could come out again, they did with vengeance. I’ve seen run on inventory in the last few months.” The industry does face headwinds. Prices for some building materials has skyrocketed in recent months. “Plywood and dimensional lumber, basically lumber in general has tripled in price,” said Mandy Cox, Rona Invermere’s Store Manager. “Pre-COVID orientated strand board [a common lumber metric] l sold at $11/sheet. Since July, the price has gone up to $36/sheet. I’ve never seen anything like it. And it’s not just local the same has occurred across the country.” Cox believes lumber’s price spike is so severe, and the government should intervene. “It keeps going up. It’s at the point where contractors can’t honour agreed upon cost estimates. It’s very inconvenient to builders because they have to somehow pass that increase on to their customers. I’ve seen contractors quote $100,000 to sheet a house, and two days later, the cost has risen to $130,000.” For the rest of the story, visit columbiavalleypioneer.com
Recycle BC Depot moving, DOI rolling out new carts By James Roses james@columbiavalleypioneer.com The Recycle BC Depot at the Columbia Valley Landfill is on the move later this month to improve public access to the expanded recycling services this program offers. The new location will be at the Invermere transfer station next to the public works yard in the industrial park. The relocated depot will be open on September 28th. At the Recycle BC Depot, residents can recycle a wide range of items not accepted in the local yellow bin program. Items include: styrofoam, #7 plastics, milk substitutes, zippered bags like Ziplocs and pet food bags, aerosol cans and more. The yellow bin system will remain in place. It only accepts paper, cardboard, tin aluminum cans, grocery/shopping bags and plastics #1-#6. The District of Invermere meanwhile is implementing new automated garbage and
recycling pick up starting October 5th. “This is an exciting new addition to the solid waste program in Invermere,” said interim CAO Kindry Luyendyk. The new program provides residents several benefits including: improved service offerings with real-time information, improved neighbourhood aesthetics by keeping the materials contained, and reduced human-wildlife interactions. Residents will receive one black 120L garbage cart and one blue 240L recycling cart registered to their property. Roll out for the new carts will take place between September 21-25 along with an information package. The district is asking residents to wait until the program is up and running on October 5th before using the new carts. “If a resident has a question about where they should place their new carts on pick up day, please call the district office,” said Luyendyk. “We have a Q&A on our website under District Operations, Waste Management, Garbage, and if a resident has any questions, please contact the district office at 250-342-9281.”
Chamber holds fundraising golf tournament By James Rose james@columbiavalleypioneer.com The Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf tournament fundraiser is on. For the entire month of September. “This is our major fundraising event of the year and we rely on the funds raised to continue our devoted efforts in supporting our members and the Columbia Valley community,” said the Chamber’s Executive Director Pete Bourke. “We are adjusting to this year’s many challenges and this event is no different.” Instead of the chamber’s normal one-day event in May, this year the event is being held through the entire month of September at Fairmont’s Mountainside Course. Tournament participants can book tee-times to the best ball scramble at their leisure. “The chamber is definitely not immune to the impacts of COVID,” said Bourke. “But we hope to raise a portion of what we normally would raise with this different approach to hosting a tournament. It’s about camaraderie and having fun, entering prizes, and accomplishing many of the same things with this month long format as opposed to one day event.” The entry level “par package” to register is $500 per foursome. Tiered packages go up from there but they all include two shared power-carts or four individual pull-carts,
a $15 on-course food and beverage voucher, $25 after-golf meal at the resort, and entry into a team prize draw. Players receive a tee gift package which includes, among other things, Kicking Horse Coffee beans, stationary and beer cozies. “We are also adding a mini-golf tournament to the event so now there is twice the chance to win big and have a great day out with your team after a busy summer season,” Bourke said. Since the arrival of COVID-19, golf as an activity has experienced an uptick in demand. It’s a sport that lends itself well to outdoor social distancing. Weekend morning tee-times have been a hot ticket throughout the summer months and the far into September. “People were very open to the changes we implemented for our on-course safety protocol,” said Fairmont’s head pro Jeremy Johnson. “We spaced out our tee times to ensure social distancing which translated to certain tee times that have not, for a long time, been in such demand.” The aim for golf courses in the Columbia Valley has been to provide a safe venue for golfers while simultaneously accommodating a surge activity. “Fairmont has been so great and supportive to work with,” said Bourke. “The chamber wishes to extend our gratitude toward all the support businesses have extended to one another through this challenging summer.” For more information on the tournament, visit cvchamber.ca/bbb.
September 24, 2020
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19
FAITH How do you handle your stress? By Pastor Daren Wride Lake Windermere Alliance Church One day, several years ago, when I went to a dentist, he took a good look at my teeth, and he said, “It looks like you’ve been grinding your teeth for about ten years.” I said, “That’s funny. My wife and I just celebrated our tenth anniversary.” Actually, I had been working as a pastor for about ten years as well, and for anyone who knows my wife, the extra stress wasn’t from her! In the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen articles highlighting the fact that dentists see more cracked teeth recently. And they are pretty sure it’s due to more jaw-clenching and teeth-grinding, which is, of course, a result of more stress. Even if you don’t feel stressed, the changes of these
past few months are almost certainly raising your baseline stress from whatever it was before. If even good things like getting married or buying a house are stressful, you can bet that lockdowns, masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing generate their own waves of stress. How do you handle your stress? I do all kinds of things like listen to relaxing music, drink chamomile tea before bed. My un-stressful wife also encourages me to take some magnesium. And these all help. But the most important thing I do is a simple practice mentioned twice in the Bible: “Cast your cares on Him, for he cares for you.” This means turning your worries into prayer, to take all those things you can’t control and hand them over to your Creator. Simply say, “God, here’s this thing that’s stressing me out. Please help! And please do what I cannot.” Give it a try. You might be surprised by the results.
LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH Online Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Visit https://lwac.online.church 326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 • www.lwac.ca
WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED Please email office@wvsm.ca to request a link to our online service which starts at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Recorded services can be accessed by typing WVSM Invermere Anglican United Church. 250-342-6644 • www.wvsm.ca
VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Murray Wittke 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere 250-342-9511 • www.valleychristianonline.com
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
What’s it like to be a university student during COVID-19 Submitted by Brecken Baille
ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday 1:30 p.m. Worship Service at Valley Christian Assembly 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere www.eklutheran.ca mtzionlc@hotmail.com
RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater • 250-342-6633 No. 4, 7553 Main St. Radium • 250-347-9937
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Worship Service, Sunday, 10 a.m. Relief Society, 11:15 a.m. President Rick Daniels • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs 250-421-3756
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take you r do llar With 4,400 copies far in circulation each week, th er your message is resonating
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This year has no doubt been one of the most turbulent in recent memory, and I’m sure everyone can agree with me. No matter where we look, there are always reminders that we’re no longer living in the world we used to. Between the thick sheets of Plexiglas, muffled speech through masks, and the slightly nauseating smell of hand sanitizer, it’s plain to see that things have changed. And as much as these things provide minor changes to our day-today, we’re no doubt aware of the major changes as well. I’m sure some of you reading this will have seen a reduced “in-person” component to your jobs. Maybe that means less office hours or more phone calls, or heaven forbid, more work emails. Trust me, I know the feeling. Almost exactly one year ago, I had my first ever university class, in Kelowna, at UBC’s Okanagan campus. I had never seen the big lecture halls before, where the sound echoed, and the profs had to speak with microphones to be heard. Now, it doesn’t look like I will be seeing them again for a while, as this year, I wake up and walk down the hall into the
bedroom I have converted into an office. I am one of about 9,000 students attending UBCO courses virtually. As someone who thrives on routine and structure, this year threw me for a loop. Some classes for me are completely self-guided, with nothing but due dates for assignments as instruction. Others have tried to maintain a sense of normalcy, meeting through Zoom during scheduled class times twice or three times a week. I have to remind myself to be gracious to my professors, as they only had a few short months to rebuild their classes completely to adapt to this new learning environment. I am not blind to the very real possibility that my grades could suffer this year. I learn best when in a face-to-face environment where everyone is present and focused on learning - which simply isn’t possible this year. As such, this year will present an opportunity for growth. Instead of resigning myself to my fate of worse grades, I have to remind me that I control my own experience. Is it perfect? By no means. But, along with everyone, we’re all doing our best to get through. And thus, I need to give my absolute effort to make this year the best it can be, just like all the rest of us. Stay safe. Wash your hands. Be kind to one another.
St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats., Canadian Martyrs’ – Invermere, St. Joseph’s – Radium. Father Jojo Augustine • 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167
with residents and visitors alike.
Phone: (250) 341-6299 info@columbiavalleypioneer.com N E W S PA P E R
www.columbiavalleypioneer.com
20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer
September 24, 2020
ULLR survives and thrives despite harsh time By James Rose james@columbiavalleypioneer.com The provincial government last week ordered nightclubs and banquet halls to close. The new rules came in the wake of a spike in provincial COVID infections over the previous weekend. The revised health orders include a 10 p.m. cut-off for alcohol sales at bars and restaurants and music and other background noise, such as televisions, no louder than a normal conversation. Shouting increases the likelihood of transmitting the virus. “Despite weeks of effort by public health teams, these venues are creating significant risk to everyone in B.C., and making it more challenging to protect those who are most vulnerable to serious illness,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said last week in a press conference. Jeff Guignard, executive director of B.C.’s Alliance of Beverage Licensees, said the announcement would result in job losses and failed businesses. “There’s a lot of frustration, and deep, deep disappointment,” he said in an interview with the Globe and Mail. “A lot of members have said, ‘I think this is the death of our industry.’” In Invermere, ULLR Bar had to change their operating hours and protocol immediately. But the business, which opened in May of 2018, is doing just fine. In fact, better than ever. This past summer was ULLR’s best yet. “But to get there, we had to completely change our business model,” said co-owner Josh Wall. “And we experienced a few fortunate turns of events as well. We went from being a place that opened at 4 p.m. that went late to now opening at noon and, before last week, closing at midnight.” The late night model relies on lots of people, a high volume of high margin liquor sales, and minimal staff. In
the span of a few short weeks in June, ULLR transformed itself into a sit-down restaurant. “We now do lunch and dinner. Lunch accounts for 40% of our sales, which is up from nothing,” said Wall. “And luckily chicken prices didn’t go through the roof like what happened with beef. Our most popular dish is our fried chicken, and it accounts for 60% of our food sales.” The new model for ULLR is more taxing, but it’s what’s required to survive. “We had to hire more staff, our margins are lower, but our sales volumes has never been better.” Wall remembers the day in March when everything changed. “It was St. Patrick’s Day. Ninety people were on their way down from Pano in buses. Before they arrived, the police arrived and told us we had to close. Immediately. So I had to call the bus driver and tell him to turn around.” ULLR took a $7,000 hit on its food inventory in the wake of the sudden closure. “But every single one of our beer vendors honoured their kegs. They replaced them as soon as we reopened in June.” Customers adapted as well. “We saw people having a new kind of fun. There were nights there three bachelorette parties and a bachelor party in the four front room tables. Their server was transporting handwritten notes with contact info from table to table. Buying shots and drinking them together from afar. It was cool to see.” Another silver lining was the expedited temporary permit approval for ULLR’s outdoor seating. “Normally, you have to get provincial approval first and then go through municipal council for approval. It takes time and money, but the province wanted to encourage outdoor seating, and so within a week, we got our temporary license.” The result: the popular beer garden they called the Asgarden. “Now we’re just waiting to get the permanent license.”
The provincial government also gave restaurants the ability to purchase liquor at cheaper wholesale prices as compared to hospitality prices. “It’s a very structured system. We have to buy our liquor from B.C. Liquor outlets, but for government to change the pricing regime for the industry, it went a long way.” As did the province allowing B.C.’ scraft breweries to sell their cans at wholesale prices to food and beverage operators. “That’s also been huge for us,” said Wall. Before COVID, craft beer could only be purchased at wholesale if it was in a keg. “And that’s expensive because then you need an adequate draught system and space to fit the kegs. It was too expensive for us to do a big craft beer program like you would see at beer halls in Calgary,” said Wall. Now, that’s not the case. “Next summer we’ll look to offer a huge selection of craft beer at a price that makes sense to customers and us. All from B.C.’s 268 different craft breweries.” Flexible thinking enabled ULLR Bar to come out ahead. “We get emails from the government every two days or so, and we will comply with whatever their new rules are,” said Wall. “If tomorrow they say we can’t be open past six at night, then that’s when we start thinking about opening for brunch in the morning. We’ll do everything we can to make a go.” If and when our way of life returns to the pre-COVID days, Wall believes, the changes they’ve implemented now have set them up well for success. “Because then we can go back to adding our late nights, dancing and so on in addition to the thriving business we’ve been able to build this summer. We’re all in the same storm but in different boats,” said Wall. Looking ahead, ULLR will be closed November for renovations. “We’re going to raise the dance floor to increase floor space since we won’t have the Asgarden in the winter.” November 27, ULLR will reopen with a new seasonal menu.
Recycling in the Columbia Valley is on the move. THE RECYCLE BC DEPOT IS MOVING FROM THE COLUMBIA VALLEY LANDFILL TO THE INVERMERE TRANSFER STATION ON SEPTEMBER 28
MOVING TO
Recycle over 76 items. Styrofoam? Yep, bring it down. Aluminum foil and pie plates? Of course. How about my kids' zippered snack pouches? Don't throw them out, we'd be happy to recycle them. There are separate bins for paper/cardboard; glass; containers (plastic, tin, beverage containers, etc.); styrofoam; flexible plastic packaging; and plastic bags/ overwrap. Visit engage.rdek.bc.ca to learn more.
Save your tax dollars. Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout British Columbia funded by producers, like retailers and manufacturers that supply packaging and paper product to BC residents. This keeps the costs away from homeowners. By adopting the Recycle BC program, the RDEK is paid per tonne directly from Recycle BC, whereas we have to pay per tonne collected in the yellow bins.
Tips for a quick & simple visit.
INVERMERE N TRANSFER STATIO ON (NEXT TO PUBLIC WORKS RE) INDUSTRIAL 1 RD, INVERME
SEPT. 28
Most recyclables generated by an average home will go into either the paper/cardboard bin or the containers bin, so we suggest having a box or container set aside for each of those categories. For your flexible packaging try using a good sized zippered bag and stuffing it full. Do the same with the plastic bags/overwrap materials, take a bread bag or shopping bag and fill it up. Set aside your glass containers and place them in the glass bin. As for styrofoam, just set it aside. While pre-sorting at home isn’t required, it will make your drop-off simple and fast.
learn more
engage.rdek.bc.ca/recycle