vol3issue9 by Columbia Valley Pioneer

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

Vol. 3/Issue 9

The Columbia

March 3, 2006

Valley

P IONEER

Serving The Upper Columbia Valley including Spillimacheen, Brisco, Edgewater, Radium, Invermere, Windermere, Fairmont and Canal Flats

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Christine Keshen brings her bronze medal home to the valley. Photo by Kelsie Ede

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

VALLEY NEWS

Need Blinds? Call The Blind Guy!

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Invermere Slo-Pitch Mixed & Menʼs League

S o l i dMEETING Wood Blinds Call21,The Blind Guy! Tues. March 7 pm Arena Mezzanine

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO ORGANIZE THE LEAGUE! A representative from each team should be there

Lifetime Warranty On All Blinds! Call Bill Cropper - The Blind Guy!

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SURE SIGN OF SPRING - Christine Vidalin and Geraldine Gibson gather up their annual bouquets of daffodils to distribute for a small fee, one of the local Canadian Cancer Society’s most popular fundraisers. The local IGA store helps by storing the beautiful blossoms in their big freezers to keep them fresh.

Christmas cactus comes home By Pioneer Staﬀ

Mark and Marlene Chabot of Invermere had a nice surprise last Sunday morning when they looked of the window and saw their missing Christmas Teaser ads for the��Pioneerout revised �� cactus. �� The eight-foot Christmas ornament had been stoJuly 11th 2005 twag len from their front lawn on 10th Street in January 2005. Marlene was upset because she had two cactus ornaments which had been constructed by her father �� and had great sentimental value. �� Her parents Charlie and Shirley Mackey of Dry �� Gulch have been delighting visitors for years with �� their spectacular display of Christmas lights. Lately �� their son Ivan has been adding to the display. This �� year he built two giant candy canes to contribute to

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the eﬀort. The stolen cactus was built of plywood and anchored to Marlene’s front deck with clips to help it stand upright. “Someone would have come right up to our deck to remove the cactus,” she said. And the cactus isn’t exactly a featherweight. “They don’t even ﬁt in the back of a truck,” Marlene said. “They’re not easy to pack around.” She said her husband saw small footprints in the snow last year after the cactus was stolen and they assumed it must have been children who stole the cactus. Where it has been for the past 13 months, nobody knows. “I don’t have any idea who could have taken it,” Marlene said. “I’m just happy that they brought it back.”

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MORE THAN TWICE THE READERS OF ANY OTHER LOCAL NEWSPAPER

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

March 3, 2006

Skateboard park funded By Elinor Florence Pioneer Staﬀ

Spring Hawes and boyfriend Byron Leinor in The Mustard Seed.

Spring back home, back in action By Pioneer Staff Invermere’s Spring Hawes recently celebrated some good news. “The fingers in my hand are starting to work,” she said. Spring broke her neck in a mountain bike accident. Last Monday marked the six-month point since the unfortunate accident left the mother of two, Jessie 14, and Tyler, 15, confined to a wheelchair. The ability to use her hands is very important to Spring, owner of The Mustard Seed, a coffee bar and health food shop. “It’s a really big difference,” she said. “Having my hands I can count change and make coffee.” Spring said the news travelled fast. “We were very

excited about that and made a lot of phone calls.” Spring’s mom Maxine, from Kelowna, has been living with Spring and lending a helping hand and aiding Spring in her physiotherapy. Spring’s dad Barry, who has remained in Kelowna to work, was also in town last week when Spring held an open house at her shop. Spring said about 50 friends and regular customers stopped by on Sunday to enjoy some tea and cookies and to say hello. “It felt really nice to see people in my shop,” said Spring. Spring has been doing bookkeeping and other business at home by computer. Spring said the open house really makes her want to get back to work. “It really put some wind in my sails,” she said. “I’m really anxious to get going again.”

“Halleluia!” That was Gordon Bagan’s response to the news that the provincial government will contribute $267,000 towards a new skateboard park in Invermere. “It was so diﬃcutl to raise the funds, so draining,” said Mr. Bagan, who has been spearheading the drive to build the skateboard park on behalf of the Rotary Club, together with the District of Invermere. “Corporate donors respond to baseball and soccer, but not to skateboarding. But if you look at the new sports today like snowboarding and skateboarding, we think this will be an excellent legacy from the Olympic committee,” he said. Invermere was one of 12 communities around the province who received special funding under the province’s Olympic/Paralympic Live Sites projects. The 11,500-square-foot concrete structure will be built at Mount Nelson Athletic Park, across from the high school. Mr. Bagan said the search is under way for a specialty contractor with the skills to construct the complex structure. Mr. Bagan said the project is ready to start as soon as a contractor is found, and discussions are already in progress. The project will take several months to complete, but he said he is hopeful it may be ready by fall.

Invermere resident dies in crash

By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staﬀ

A memorial service will be held today for long-time Invermere resident Tom Andruschuk, who was killed in an automobile accident last Thursday night. Mr. Andruschuk, 84, was driving home with his wife Agnes from a medical appointment in Cranbrook. The couple was travelling north on highway 93/95 in their late-model Chrysler minivan when the van went out of control, crossed into the oncoming lane, and was struck broadside by a southbound Chevrolet Aveo mini car. Mr. Andruschuk died at the scene, said Kimberley RCMP Corporal Einor Jorgenson. The accident occurred 11 kilometres south of Canal Flats. Mrs. An-

druschuk survived RCMP from Kimthe accident and is berley to respond in Cranbrook recovto the scene. “It ering from several took them a good fractured ribs. 45 minutes to get Both the drivthere,” said corporal er of the Chevy, Jorgenson. The acStephan Lebel, 27 cident was reported and passenger Gato police at 7:12 brielle Clement, p.m. 25, are from Fernie. Eventually two They are recoverpolice vehicles, four ing from non-life ambulances, and Tom Andruschuk threatening injuries in rescue personnel from Cranbrook, said CorpoCanal Flats and Kimral Jorgenson. berley made it to the scene, said the Corporal Jorgenson said visibility corporal. The highway was closed for and road conditions at the time of the three hours as the crews worked at the accident were diﬃcult and the road scene, he said. was covered in compacted ice. “Travel The jaws of life were used to get on the highway was extremely poor,” the driver of the Chevy out of his car. he said. Mr. Andruschuk had lived in As a result it took longer for Invermere since 1959. He was often

spotted walking around town. “It keeps me young,” he said. A retired building contractor, Mr. Andruschuk was predeceased by his ﬁrst wife Lil in 1983. With Lil he had a son, Rick, 55, and a daughter, Sue, 48. Mr. Andruschuk had ﬁve grandchildren. He married his second wife Agnes 20 years ago. Mr. Andruschuk loved dancing, cooking, golf, his walks, gardening, crossword puzzles, and people, said his son. He was also well-known for his practical skills and built many of the houses on 9th avenue in Invermere. “There was nothing that he couldn’t build,” said Rick. “He really did live his 84 years to the fullest.” The memorial will be held at the Lake Windermere Alliance Church in Invermere today at 1 p.m.

4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

Former administrator received payment By Elinor Florence Pioneer Staff Former Chief Administrative Officer Patrick Robins received a one-time payment of $40,000 last year, The Pioneer has learned. Mr. Robins left the District of Invermere last August after a dispute with council, saying that he had been fired. However, Mayor Mark Shmigelsky disagreed with his version and told the newspaper that Mr. Robins had resigned. After both parties sought legal advice, an out-ofcourt settlement was reached and Mr. Robins did not return to his former job. At the time he left, Mr. Robins made an annual salary of $92,500 plus a $200 monthly vehicle allowance, according to Invermere’s Director of Finance Karen Cote. He had been employed for about 18 months.

The District did not release the terms of his departure. When asked, Mayor Shmigelsky said that any request concerning the terms of the agreement would have to be made through the B.C. Freedom of Information Act. A Freedom of Information request was made by The Pioneer to the District of Invermere in January 2006, asking for a copy of “any District of Invermere records, minutes or any other document outlining the terms of settlement with former Chief Administrative Officer Patrick Robins including all financial compensation and the terms and conditions of his leaving office.” The request was denied in a letter from the current Chief Administrative Officer Chris Prosser dated February 22, 2006. In his letter, Mr. Prosser quoted from the Freedom of Information Act, which states in part: “The head of a public body must refuse to disclose

personal information to an applicant if the disclosure would be an unreasonable invasion of a third party’s personal privacy.” The letter then continued: “However, I can advise you that, in 2005, the District made a payment to Mr. Robins totaling $40,000.” Mr. Robins told The Pioneer this week that he could not comment on the terms of his agreement with the District of Invermere because he had signed a non-disclosure statement. Mr. Robins, who is still an Invermere resident, said he has been using his free time since August to complete some courses and is looking forward to resuming employment in another location in the near future. About one month after Mr. Robins left the job, Chris Prosser was hired as Chief Administrative Ofﬁcer. At that time the mayor conﬁrmed that Mr. Prosser’s salary was about $110,000.

Fairmont resort owners fight zoning change By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staff The future of the controversial Lot 48 will be decided when a rezoning motion is given third reading at today’s regional district board meeting in Cranbrook. Lot 48 is on the undeveloped east side of the Columbia Lake. Fairmont Hot Spring Resort, the owner of Lot 48, wants to build a 630-unit golf resort on the land. Rather than granting permission to the owners, Martin Cullen, director of Area F of the regional district, moved to return the land from resort development zoning back to agricultural use. First and second reading were done in February and a public hearing was held this week. If the rezoning is successful any attempts to develop the land would be futile. Until 1981 it was part of the province’s Agricultural Land Reserve, but the land was rezoned for the resort development in 1984. “It’s not agricultural land,” said Fairmont chief operating officer Pat McCormick. She said the resort’s intentions to develop the

land have always been clear. She said a conceptual development was prepared for the regional district in 1980. An oﬃcial community plan was created, and subsequently redone in 2004, without opposition to the development from the regional district. “The rezoning is just something that came up and not something we were able to prepare for,” she said. The resort hosted its own open houses on Sunday and Monday to inform people about the project. Several consultants hired by the resort were on hand. Katherine Enns, a biologist from Castlegar, said the planned road to the resort would not be harmful to wildlife population as opponents to the project have claimed. She said a developed road would reduce the chance of cars colliding with wildlife, and reduce runoﬀ to the Columbia River and Lake. Architect Ivica Marinic said the proposed development would be done in an environmentallyfriendly way. “The logic is that if you are an investor, you have an interest in maintaining the lake,” he said.

Fairmont resident Harry Mitchell attended the open house. He said the open house was his ﬁrst chance to review the plans for Lot 48. “From what I’ve seen this is not a reasonable development,” said Mr. Mitchell, who added he is not against development. “The valley is at risk,” he said. “Generally a road in a sensitive area is not a good thing.” Mrs. McCormick said she hoped the regional district would reject the rezoning application. “We hope the regional district will see the beneﬁt of working with us,” she said. And she vowed the struggle over Lot 48 will not end if the rezoning motion is successful. “We will have to vigorously defend our assets,” she said. About 90 people were on hand for Tuesday’s public hearing, said Mrs. McCormick. One of those was Canal Flats mayor John Tilley, who attended as an observer. “There were a variety of positions stated,” said mayor Tilley. Those opinions ranged from those for, against and some undecided on the issue. “I think it will give the directors a lot to chew on,” said the mayor. “The idea is right, but the method is wrong.”

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

March 3, 2006

PST battle finished Border communities have given up their battle to reduce the Provincial Sales Tax from seven to four percent. The PST Steering Committee announced this week that it has accepted the provincial government’s decision not to reduce the tax. Representing B.C.’s eastern border communities, the committee made a proposal to the provincial government to reduce the PST to stem the loss of cross-border revenue. Recently, the B.C. government conducted a review of the proposal, and firmly declined to pursue it. Said Committee Chair Alvin Stedel, a Dawson Creek councillor: “Obviously, we would have liked a different ending to this, but the government has been very clear in its position. “At this time, it is more productive for us to find other ways to work with government and our communities to ensure our long-term economic viability.” Committee Vice-Chair Greg Deck, who is also mayor of Radium Hot Springs and chair of the East Kootenay Regional District board of directors, said: “While our committee is disbanding, we should note that

we did accomplish a few things. This is the first time any provincial government has given such a proposal a thorough review – this itself is a major step forward and we thank them for this. “In addition, the provincial government, specifically through Small Business and Revenue Minister Rick Thorpe, has offered to work with us to find ways to strengthen the small business and retail sectors in our community. We are pleased to accept this offer.” Mr. Stedel added: “We want to thank all of those individuals, communities, and organizations who have supported us in our research and advocacy efforts.” The Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce had been gathering letters from businesses in a last-ditch attempt to convince the province to change its minds. Several local business owners said they were losing shoppers to Alberta as a result of the seven-percent tax. Others said the three-percent reduction would not make a difference to the shopping habits of locals or visitors, although they supported a tax reduction in principle.

Paradise avalanche caused false alarm By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staff A search and rescue operation at Paradise Mountain was called off on Monday after it was decided nobody had been buried in the avalanche which occurred just before 5 p.m. on Sunday. Avalanche fever swept the valley on Monday morning as it was inaccurately reported that a snowboarder had been lost in the avalanche. The story even made provincial and national newscasts. As of Monday morning nobody had been reported missing, said Columbia Valley RCMP Sergeant Neil Cross. At noon the decision was made to call off the search. “It was searched with every possible piece of equipment,” said Toby Creek Adventure company snowmobile guide and avalanche forecaster Paul Fossberg. “Confidence was really high that nobody was in the slide.” The avalanche was seen by a snowmobile trail groomer employed by Toby Creek Adventure company. He reported he had seen a jacket swept away in the

slide, which occurred on the Spring Creek area of Paradise Mountain, about 20 kilometres west of Invermere. Weather at the time of the avalanche was snowy and foggy, said Mr. Fossberg. The employee radioed Mr. Fossberg, who then contacted Panorama avalanche staff. At 5:08 p.m. Brad Brush of the Panorama avalanche team called the RCMP, said Mr. Fossberg. “In less than an hour there were 30 searchers on the mountain,” he said. RCMP, Columbia Valley Search and Rescue, the Panorama Fire Department, the Panorama Mountain Village avalanche team, and staff of Toby Creek Adventures all participated in the search. Three avalanche dogs also participated in the search, said Mr. Fossberg. The search went until about 10 p.m. on Sunday before being reconvened at first light on Monday. Mr. Fossberg said all the searchers did a wonderful job. “It was a great opportunity for all the teams to get to work together,” he said.

Jumbo fate hanging in the balance By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staﬀ The Jumbo resort development will get the green light today if a motion passes at the Regional District of East Kootenay board meeting in Cranbrook. The motion is to approve taking the decision on the Jumbo resort to the provincial government and recommending that they establish a “mountain resort improvement district,” said board chair Greg Deck. This is a limited form of local government, similar to a municipality. The vote will be made by 15 board members - four of whom represent the Columbia Valley. Invermere mayor Mark Shmigelsky, Area F director Martin Cullen and Area G director Klara Trescher are expected to vote against the motion. Board chair and Radium Hot Springs mayor Greg Deck has stated in the past that he is in favour of the Jumbo resort development. The controversial motion is expected to be made by newly-elected director David Wilks from Sparwood.

Many of those opposed to the Jumbo project have said that the decision must remain with the regional district. Opponents say more public input is needed on the project, which was ﬁrst suggested in 1990. “The people who don’t think it’s gone their way yet, don’t think there’s been enough review,” said Mr. Deck. Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald is outspoken in his opposition to the motion. He said sending the resort’s future to Victoria would be a bad thing for local citizens. “If it’s sent to Victoria you’re taking away the opportunity for people to be heard,” he said. “As a principle you would never send something that can be handled locally to Victoria.” Mr. Macdonald said the motion to create a resort municipality would circumvent the democratic process. “You are essentially setting up a governance model that is removed from democratic control,” said Mr. Macdonald. He said as there is no population at Jumbo, and therefore no voters, the developer would exercise total control over the improvement district.

Mr. Macdonald said his constituency has received about 600 visits, phone calls, emails, and hand-written letters on Jumbo, most opposing the resort development. Mr. Deck, on the other hand, said granting the provincial government the authority to create a mountain resort municipality is not a miscarriage of democracy. “The same board that would vote on rezoning is voting on this motion,” he said. “I don’t understand how it’s any less democratic.” He said mountain resort improvement districts already exist at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort near Golden and Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops. “I think the rhetoric is obscuring some of the substance,” he said. Mr. Deck said the province has asked the regional district to allow them to create the municipal government. “This is something the province has said if they receive they will proceed,” he said. “It’s not as if we’re saying we don’t want to make this decision.”

6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

PERSPECTIVE

March 3, 2006

Historical Lens

Melting snow soaks valley By Elinor Florence Pioneer Publisher

The weather here is never boring. In the past few weeks we have been inundated with fresh snow, followed by warm temperatures and flooding. The District of Invermere has issued a warning to children in the community, through the elementary schools, to beware of deep potholes. One of them, located in Westside Park, has been growing steadily larger due to a blocked drainage pipe. Mayor Mark Shmigelsky said he’s concerned that a skim of ice on the surface of the pond could prove tempting to kids who will try walking across the surface - and inevitably fall in. “My son would be there in a minute,” he said. The local fire department spent hours there this week, pumping thousands of gallons away from the pond and into the sewage system. After enjoying a wonderful spate of deep powder, this week the slopes at Panorama turned into a slushy mess coated with wet concete-like snow. Hundreds of students competing in the provincial ski and snowboarding championships found themselves falling harder and more often than the Olympic athletes in Torino. The roads have become skating rinks once again, although not quite as treacherous as the roads one year ago when an ice storm coated the valley. Bob Ede took one of his long drives into the bush and his truck got stuck in the mushy ground. He walked ten miles back to town before he could get to a pay phone and call for help. My steep driveway is so slippery that we have been discouraging visitors, afraid that their vehicles might disappear over the edge. But who’s complaining? In our gorgeous but semi-arid valley, all precipitation is welcome and will help to fill our water reservoirs and prepare the soil for our spring gardens.

Gordon Lake grew up on this ranch located 11 kilometres north of Invermere on the Westside Road. Read his life story in our Valley Pioneer column on Page 18.

Meet Sarah Turk Meet Sarah Turk, The Pioneer’s new Office Manager. She is 25 years old, married to husband Randy Turk, with a one-year-old son named Logan. Sarah and Randy attended high school in Kimberley and then departed for Alberta for five years. Randy is a heavy equipment operator, and Sarah has held a number of office positions in Fort McMurray, Wainwright and Brooks.

Sarah took her training through the Banff Academy for Business. “We have been wanting to get back here ever since we moved to Alberta,” Sarah says. “We love the outdoor opportunities and we can’t wait to go camping this summer.” She and Randy are planning to make their permanent home in the valley. Since she is a new mother, Sarah says she doesn’t have much spare time - but her interests include gardening and archaeology. Sarah will be the first person you see when you enter The Pioneer’s office, just down the street from Peppi’s Pizzeria. Please feel free to say hello to Sarah and welcome her back to the valley.

The Columbia Valley

P IONEER is independently owned and operated and is published weekly by Elinor Florence. Box 868, #8, 1008 - 8th Avenue, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Phone (250) 341-6299 Toll Free 1-877-341-6299 Fax (250) 341-6229 Email: upioneer@telus.net www.columbiavalleypioneer.com The material, written or artistic may not be reprinted or electronically reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions and statements in articles, columns and advertising are not necessarily those of the publisher or staﬀ of The Upper Columbia Pioneer. It is agreed by any display advertiser requesting space that the newspapers responsibility, if any, for errors or omissions of any kind is limited to the amount paid for by the advertiser for that portion of the space as occupied by the incorrect item and there shall be no liability in any event greater than the amount paid for the advertisement.

Elinor Florence Publisher

Bob Ede Creative Director

Lisa Ede Creative Director

Adrian Bergles

Dave Sutherland

Bob Friesen

Sarah Turk

Reporter

Advertising Sales

Ofﬁce Manager

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

March 3, 2006

Letters to the Editor Youth centre founders thanked Dear Editor: Thank you to Adrian Bergles and Kelsie Ede for taking the time and initiative to visit The Summit Youth Centre and do a feature article with photos on what we do here. We truly appreciate this sort of positive publicity, and it gives the youth of our community a real sense of worth to see their photos and words in one of our local papers, both of which have been very helpful in keeping us in the public eye. One small correction, however. I have not been coordinator for ﬁve years; I have been coordinator for three years. Prior to that I was assistant coordinator, with my association with the centre beginning ﬁve years ago on a voluntary basis through my work with The Valley Echo. Nicole Pawluk was the centre coordinator before me, Andra Louie before her, and Nicole Kingdon before her, all amazing women who deserve kudos for their time with the Wind-

ermere Valley Youth Centre Society. I am afraid I do not know who the coordinator was prior to Nicole Kingdon (now Barsby). It should also be noted that the centre was originally started and run by volunteers, and would never have remained open over the years without the Herculean efforts of so many to raise funds. Those volunteers are too numerous to name and I fear I would leave out someone vital if I even tried. We have grown into so much more than we were when I first came on board and I am proud to be counted among these amazing people. Unfortunately our major fundraising gala had to be postponed until October due to a scheduling conflict with our guest speaker. We will issue a press release as soon as a new date has been set. Stephanie Stevens Program Coordinator, Summit Youth Centre

Wasn’t that a party!

Dear Editor: “Wherever that is, I’m going to be there!” And I was. In Toronto to see, to hear, kd lang sing Hallelujah to Leonard Cohen. To hear Willie Nelson sing Bird on a Wire to Leonard Cohen. The songs Farewell to Nova Scotia (that’s home, and so I wore my rubber boots), Put your hand in the Hand by Gene MacLellan, Stampeder’s Sweet City Woman, Andy Kim’s Sugar Sugar. Anne Murray feted by Jan Arden. Hobnobbing with Gordon Lightfoot, Jimmy Rankin, Sylvia Tyson, Gilles Vigneault, Adrienne Clarkson, and artists I didn’t know and now like - all at the Canadian Song Writers Hall of Fame Gala. Then an invitation to the after after party, with more food, champagne and new friends. While I still have goosebumps and CDs pumped up full volume, the thing that struck me (and nicely so) was how wonderful people are. My friends here encouraged me to go for it, travelling with Sue as she rejoined a 15-year annual gathering of friends, the airport security woman

who apologised for conﬁscating my scissors, Gus Harmsworth and her delightful family in Toronto welcoming me, the taxi driver who turned oﬀ the meter when I gave him the wrong location, the Cuban artist who gave me a subway token and led me by the hand from the Art Gallery to the Royal Ontario Museum, the clerk at Indigo who researched Niagara Falls between customers, the fellow Rotarian who is a neighbour’s cousin and another who grew up on the same street as I did in Nova Scotia. And then my friends back here at home – enthusiastically waving me down from the pink cloud: “So, how was it? Tell me, tell me.” People are just grand - and lovely and gracious, here, there, everywhere. An adventure away from home as a reminder of the good life I experience every day. A reminder to be grateful. An appreciation of new and old friends. P.S. The gala will be aired on CBC on March 6th. I’m the one in the rubber boots. Crisanna Macleod Fairmont Hot Springs

Animal kingdom mobilizes to save Jumbo Dear Editor: The Jumbo Council of Fur Beings is slowly gathering on the lower section of Jumbo glacier where the ice has melted to brownish undergrowth and rocks. The glacier is now receding with global warming. Melting happens earlier, extending further up the mountain. Griz the Wiz, short for Wizard Grizzly, is faintly appearing into sight, rolling a snowball down an avalanche chute to use as a throne facing his animal tribe. He has emerged from his cave early to take care of the Jumbo crisis! Council members gather in a circle, representing the animals of this controversial area. There are lesser rank grizzly, black bear, elk, moose, deer, mountain goats, cougar, and a scattering of tiny species including squirrel, marmot, and rabbit. Griz raises his giant front paw in a George Bush salute! A faint smile is seen in the corner of his mouth as he speaks in a low growl of authority. He reminds council that they have the power to rule with an iron ﬁst and inﬂuence the downfall of the Jumbo Resort. Griz speaks of the shipment of guns now hidden

in a secret cache on the mountain. They are to be used by a few strong elk and concealed from the former Liberal government’s registration. Al Qaeda is supporting the cause from Bin Laden’s camp in Afghanistan. Faith, our falcon, brings notes across the ocean. Griz continues in a strong voice: “We are armed and ready to defend our territory. I say Death to Development! We will no longer stand silent as we see the destruction of the land and rivers of our wilderness.” He reminds the circle that resort plans include a hotel with 6,250 beds and added staﬀ. There will be strange high cables on towers carrying human beings to the top of the glacier. A teahouse will serve hot drinks to snow bunnies in fur-hooded hats. “Gobbling up wilderness is not a priority. Skiers have Panorama. Animals don’t get fussed as glaciers melt. Tourists will look funny sitting on green grass on the glacier sunning themselves in deckchairs.” Griz booms out his ﬁnal appeal from the snowball throne, now melting in the morning sun. He is seen to tilt sideways and move lower to the ground. “This had been going on now for 15 years and a decision will soon be made. What can we do?

The shout from the venerable leader goes out. All the gathering throng are heard to speak in unison: 1. Form a ring around the Invermere town oﬃce with placards addressed to Mark Shmigelsky saying: Save Jumbo . . . Save Us! 2. Allow Regional District of the East Kootenay to make the ﬁnal decision, not the B.C. government. 3. Appoint Max Moose to take pictures with a digital camera and send them worldwide. 4. Be prepared to defend our wilderness. We say: “Down to terrorists!” 5. Form a border crossing barrier west of Panorama and post bear guards with signs saying: “Only hikers allowed.” The meeting ends as a huge shout of thanks, echoing down to Panorama, Invermere, and beyond. “We all salute you, Bob Campsall! We are part of your team. Let’s go forward and save Jumbo forever! We need our bumper stickers to wear on our collective derrieres!” Joan Birkett Windermere

8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

TOY OF

March 3, 2006

THE

WEEK

PERFECT FOR 18 MONTHS + Playmobil + Imagination Hours of fun!

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TasteofGreece ��

EVEN GOOFY READS THE PIONEER - When Pioneer Publisher Elinor Florence visited Disneyland in California last week, she spotted Goofy sitting on a park bench and reading the Columbia Valley Pioneer’s latest issue. Do you have photos of The Pioneer being read in other locations around the globe? If so, send them to us and we’ll be happy to publish them.

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Kaye Tindall’s Button Tarts Editor’s Note: Kaye Tindall’s life was written about in last week’s Valley Pioneer column, but we didn’t have room to include her famous Button Tart recipe. Here it is: 2 cups flour 2 tablespoons baking powder 1 cup butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg Method: Mix the dry ingredients. Cut the fat in with a pastry blender or two knives. Pat mixture out onto a floured surface. Cut out or shape into muffin tins with hands. Makes 18-24. Fill with: jelly or jam topped with nuts. Or savoury fowl or ham in a cream sauce. Or a butter tart mixture. Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes. Pastry should puff up and turn slightly golden when done.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

March 3, 2006

Shannon will make your pet beautiful By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staff Shannon Bennett wanted a career in the pet industry in the Columbia Valley. A little homework, and a lot of drive, led Mrs. Bennett, 27, to dog grooming. Since October she has run the Pamper Your Paws Pet Spa out of her home, and later this month she will open her own shop on Swansea Road. “I’ve always loved animals,” said Mrs. Bennett, originally from North Delta. She has lived in the valley for the past four years. She began her career search by asking herself: ‘Which pet service does the valley need?’ After checking the phone book and seeing no dog grooming businesses between Cranbrook and Golden, she was convinced that dog grooming was for her. “I found out the Invermere Vet Hospital did them but they were really busy and had a waiting list,” said Mrs. Bennett, married to Kristoffer who runs Bennett Construction. “You’ve got to choose something the valley actually needs if you want to be busy.” Mrs. Bennett inquired with Human Resources Development Canada and had 50 friends and family write letters to the government agency informing them of the need for dog groomers in the area. She also got a letter from the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce stating that about 1000 registered dogs live in the Columbia Valley. Through the government branch she was able to get a $3,500 educational grant to study dog grooming at My Pet’s Beauty Salon in Calgary. She began her course last May and finished at the end of Au-

Out & About The Pioneer is pleased to oﬀer this free weekly feature for coming events around the valley. Please call 341-6299 or Email upioneer@telus.net with your events.

Toby Theatre • March 1, 2, 3, 4: The Family Stone • March 8, 9, 10, 11: Glory Road March 3 • 7:30 pm: Wildsight presents Dr. Richard Hebda, Climate Scientist. DTSS. Everyone welcome. March 7

Shannon Bennett with freshly-groomed puppy. gust. “I spent four months living with my in-laws,” she laughs. At the end of her course Mrs. Bennett started working out of her home but she wanted to take the highest level of training available. She enrolled in the International Professional Grooming Master Certificate program. During her training Mrs. Bennett made monthly trips into Calgary. She finished her program early last month at top of her class after a two-day, 31-hour total time doggie-grooming exam. She says the certificate puts her at the top of her profession. “It means you can judge or teach,” she said.

“I wanted to be the best at what I do.” Mrs. Bennett, who owns two dogs - Porsha, a black standard poodle; and Mya, a yellow Labrador - has had much success since she opened for business. “I went to most of the businesses in town and just took business cards and introduced myself,” she said. Since then word-of-mouth references have built Mrs. Bennett a 65-person-strong client list. And it’s growing. She said Details by JoAnne owner JoAnne Willox has been very helpful in promoting her. “One of my biggest supports has been JoAnne,” said Shannon. “She’s been telling everyone she’s so happy with her girls, Lacey and Kathy.” Shannon said her goal is to make each pet she grooms look perfect. “To take them from a basic pet to make it look like a picture.” She said her doggie treatments include: a bath, nail clip, ear cleaning and she’ll clip in between paw pads so the animal doesn’t track around as much dirt. And, of course, the cut. Mrs. Bennett said the doggie style depends on what owner wants.“It’s whatever the owner wants,” she said. “I have to wrap my head around whatever they’d like to see and then put that together, however they’d like to see it.” Mrs. Bennett says some of the dog owners she deals with can be quite eccentric, but that makes her job interesting. “The eccentric ones are just the funniest,” she said. “Some of those dogs are princesses, they have more jackets than I do.” Mrs. Bennett said an average ﬁrst-time doggie treatment costs about $45-55 depending on the dog and its condition. For information call 341-5167.

by two short ﬁlms. Silver collection. Everyone welcome. • 6:30 pm: Special demonstration of the amazing Chi Machine and the Far Infrared Ray Dome for better health and weight control. Bare Hands Massage Day Spa - Prestige Inn, Radium.

• Noon-1 pm Fridays, parent/tot skating at the arena. • Climbing Wall, J.A. Laird School gym. 3-6 pm Fridays; 5-8 pm Saturdays and Sundays; $5 dropin fee. Call 342-6232 for info. • 7 pm: Bingo at the Invermere Seniors’ Centre, 1309-14th Street, every 2nd and 4th Thursday. • 7 pm: Community Hymn Sing at the Lake Windermere Alliance Church, every second March 13 Sunday of the month. Enjoy singing your favourite • 7pm: Cinefest movie: Everything is Illuminated, hymns, your participation is welcome with solos, tickets $10 each, Toby Theatre, proceeds to the duets, trios, quartettes, and instrumentals. Phone Columbia Valley Arts Council. 342-5961 for more information. March 21 • 7pm: Invermere Slo-Pitch and Men’s League Meeting. Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena mezzanine. A representative from each team should be there. OTHER

•7:30 pm: DTSS. Wildsight-East Kootenay • 5:45-6:45 pm Sundays, public skating for all ages. Environmental Society AGM. Brief AGM followed • 7 pm Wednesdays, Archery, Invermere Hall. • 11 am-noon Fridays, adult skating at the arena.

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10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

New food store planned for Canal Flats

By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staﬀ

A new 7,000-square-foot food store is set for construction in Canal Flats. “We took the big leap of faith,” said Canal Flats Foods part-owner Scott Stanbury. “We’re hoping to break ground in a couple of weeks.” The shop will be built behind the village’s Home Hardware. It will replace the current Canal Flats Foods. The owners, including other members of Mr. Stanbury’s family, are hopeful they will receive zoning to sell gas at the new store. At Monday’s council meeting, village council rejected the owner’s original application to make an exception to the town’s zoning bylaws to allow a combination gas-grocery store in a an area not zoned for gas sales, said Canal Flats chief administrative oﬃcer Bruce Woodbury. Instead council voted to create a new zone that would allow the combination gas-grocery store. A public hearing will be held on the planned new zone. A date for the hearing will be set at council’s March 13th meeting, said Mr. Woodbury.

A public hearing on the original request by store owners was held on February 21. Many members of the public expressed reservation at having another gas station in Canal Flats. A new gas station opened on Highway 93/95 last year and the town had two cardlock gas outlets that do retail sales, said Mr. Woodbury. Many gas stations have opened and gone out of business in the past. “It seems to be the history of gas stations in Canal Flats that they open and close,” said Mr. Woodbury. He added reservations by townspeople is not a strong reason to deny another gas station. “It’s free enterprise,” he said. Mr. Stanbury said he was pleased by the decision to initiate a new zone speciﬁcally for his shop. “It just seems to be a reasonable way to approach things,” he said. He said he has researched the viability of a new gas station in town. “Having done our homework, the gas is not going to a large portion of our sales,” he said. Mr. Stanbury said a stand-alone gas station would have little chance of surviving in Canal Flats. “In conjunction with a food store it will pay for itself,” he said.

Your Local

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD-WINNER - Wildsight program manager Ellen Zimmerman of Golden has been recognized internationally for her accomplishments in conserving the Columbia Wetlands and Columbia Lake. The Terre de Femmes, or Women of the Earth Awards, honour women who nurture the relationship between nature and humanity and make the world a greener place. Ellen and two other Canadian women will travel to Paris next month to receive their awards and ﬁnancial contributions to their conservation work.

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11

March 3, 2006

Pioneer Briefs Calling all veterans A representative from the Department of Veterans’ Aﬀairs will be at the Invermere Legion at 9 a.m. Thursday March 9th to answer veterans’ questions regarding pensions and pension applications. Barry Shore of Penticton will be in town. The meeting was organized by Legion member Richard Engel of Fairmont, a veteran of the Korean conﬂict. “This is a rep that comes around from time to time,” said Mr. Engel. The idea behind the meeting is to make it possible for veterans to speak to a representative face-to-face rather than by mail, telephone or email.

Need Blinds?

Softball volunteers sought

Call The Blind Guy!

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An informational meeting on the upcoming season of Invermere slo-pitch men’s and mixed leagues will be held Tuesday, March 21 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the mezzanine of the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena. A representative of each team is asked to attend. Volunteers are also needed to help organize the league.

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Rod and Gun Club holds work bee

Call The Blind Guy! Interior World

Anyone interested is invited to help clean up the Hoodoo Nature Trust Property at 9 a.m. March 11th. Meet at Hawke Road on Westside Road south. Bring old clothes to wear, axes, chainsaws, quads, tow chains, pitchforks to throw the ﬁre together, and any friends you can round up. The Rod and Gun Club will supply the lunch and refreshments. Water will be there for the workers.

Box 159, 8853 Grainger Road, Canal Flats, BC V0B 1B0 Phone (250) 349-5462 Fax (250) 349-5460 Email: canalflats@shaw.ca

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE BYLAW AMENDMENTS – CANAL FLATS

342 4406

Story Ideas? Call The Pioneer at 341-6299

The Council of the Village of Canal Flats is considering adoption of a new Official Community Plan. Bylaw No. 50 cited as “Village of Canal Flats Official Community Plan Bylaw 50, 2005” will replace the Regional District of East Kootenay – Canal Flats Official Settlement Plan Bylaw 1981 and all amendments thereto. The new Official Community Plan will apply to all properties within the Village of Canal Flats. The public hearing will be held at:

Canal Flats Civic Centre 8909 Dunn Street Canal Flats, BC Monday, March 6th, 2006 at 7:00 pm

If you believe that your interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaw, you may, prior to the hearing • inspect the Bylaw and supporting information at the Village Office in Canal Flats from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday; • mail, fax or email written submissions to the addresses/numbers shown above; or • present written and/or verbal submissions at the hearing. SUBMISSIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING All written submissions are public information pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This notice is not an interpretation of the Bylaw. For more information contact the Village of Canal Flats office. Bruce Woodbury Administrator

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12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

Our unforgettable Olympic experience

From left to right, the skiing Lustenberger family: Christina, Jane, Andrea and Peter.

Jane Lustenberger attends Olympic giant slalom event in a snowstorm. By Jane Lustenberger Special to The Pioneer

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Editor’s Note: Jane and Peter Lustenberger of Invermere travelled to Torino to see their 21-year-old daughter Christina compete in the women’s Giant Slalom at the Olympic Games. Unfortunately Christina wasn’t able to finish her race as she missed one of the gates. However, qualifying for the Olympics is a wonderful achievement. No doubt we will be seeing and hearing more about this amazing young athlete in the years ahead. Way to go, Christina! Peter and I arrived in Italy a day before Christina’s race. We were naturally a little anxious to find where we were to park our car and catch the bus in the morning. We checked it all out and returned to the town of Susa where we had hotel reservations. We discovered that Susa is full of history we explored ancient ruins from IX AD this was very amazing to discover. The morning of Christina’s race we had a wake-up call for 5:45 a.m. Sestriere was the venue for the women’s Giant Slalom and we arrived at 7.30 a.m., two hours early. That gave us time to have a cappuccino - almost as good as the cappucino in our coffee shop! We made our way through security and into the grandstand where we had tickets. Walking into the grandstands that morning and hearing the Olympic music play and realizing we were really here at the Olympics was an incredible feeling for me. We saw Christina and her team just

finishing a training run and had the opportunity to visit and give her a hug before her race. We were joined in the grandstand with Barb and Sepp Renner, Dusan Grasic and Cate Dietchi, Christina’s coach from the B.C. Ski Team. The atmosphere was very exciting. I was surprised that I was not more nervous; instead I was really enjoying the excitement of being at the Olympics. The moment Christina caught her tip on the gate and did not finish, my heart sank for her. This happens so quickly in ski racing, you don’t know what happened. It was difficult to talk about without tears. We met Kristen and Mike for lunch and we also met Kate, Ian, Brodie and Peter Reston. It was wonderful to be with friends from home. The next day Christina had a MRI on her knee, all is OKAY. We are so proud of Christina to be at the Olympics, and experience everything she has. The day after Christina’s race we had tickets to the men’s slalom, we were more relaxed and had fun with the Renner family and cross-country team from Canada. Christina is now on her way to Norway to race in a World Cup race on Saturday. Peter and I are visiting his family in Rigi, Switzerland. These are very relaxing days after being in Italy. We skied yesterday with Peter’s mother - she is 79, and still skis very well. A kaffee schnapps here and there is always fun!

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

March 3, 2006

The

D A O R to

GOLD

��

Bronze medallist comes home By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staff Invermere’s Christine Keshen is thrilled and relieved to have won her bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Italy last week. Christine’s team, the Kleibrink Rink, beat Norway 11-5 in the bronze medal match. “I’m happy it’s done,” said Christine. “It’s been a long journey.” Winning the bronze medal was glorious, said Christine. She said standing on the podium was an experience she will never forget. “That was the highMike DuBois, Christine Keshen, Jack and Carol Keshen, and Warren Keshen were reunited at the Calgary airport. Photo by Kelsie Ede light of my whole Olympics.” me ten years,” said Christine. “It’s not tenberger and watched their daughter nament of Hearts, currently underway. Christine and her teammates were easy curling at this level.” Christina compete in the giant slalom The team won’t participate but will driven to the podium in a police conDisappointed after the team lost ski competition. be on hand to represent Scott Paper, voy. A crowd of thousands lined the their semi-final game against SwitzerChristine then saw some speed skat- which sponsors them and to show off Italian plaza. land and a chance at the gold, Christine ing and watched the men’s curling team, their Olympic medals. “I don’t know how many people said there was no way they were going skipped by Brad Gushue of NewfoundChristine said she’ll be back in the were packed in that plaza,” she said. to let the opportunity to win bronze get land, win the gold medal. valley in early March and she will begin Christine’s boyfriend Mike DuBois away. Christine herself was the top-ranked work at her new job at Eagle Ranch golf of Invermere and her brother Warren “You have to pick yourself right lead in the tournament. Her 82-percent course on March 13. and his girlfriend Leah Berti were at the up,” she said. “To finish fourth would shot accuracy rate was the highest among “I’m going straight to Panorama,” medal presentation. They had to press have been devastating.” all the leads at the Olympics. Christine she said “I’m going to ski my butt off through the throng to get a view of their Christine is realistic about how her said she was pleased with her play. before I start.” heroine on the podium. team played in Italy. She said the two “I was prepared and did whatever I The team will play one more bonBack at work in Calgary this week, teams that played for the gold medal, could,” she said. spiel against top opponents this year, Warren, a 1998 David Thompson Sec- Switzerland and winner Sweden, were The team arrived back in Calgary the BDO Curling Classic in Calgary in ondary School graduate, said the scene the two best teams in the field. on Monday night where they were met early April. at the medal ceremony was amazing. “We did not play well enough by family, friends and many members Christine said the team hasn’t talked “The energy in that plaza was unbeliev- to play in the final,” she said. “When of the media. about what is next, but that she wants able,” he said. “That’s when you realize you’re outplayed you have to respect “Tons of media met us in Toronto to be at the Olympics in Vancouver in how big of an accomplishment it really your competition.” and again in Calgary,” said Christine. 2010. is.” After winning the bronze medal, Team Kleibrink members took a “It was a great experience,” said Near the end of the Olympic Games, Christine said she relaxed and became few days to relax before they flew to Christine. Christine said the stress was getting to an Olympic fan. She and Mike met London, Ontario, for the Canadian “The Olympics really make you feel her. “The game against Denmark aged Invermere locals Peter and Jane Lus- women’s championship, the Scott Tour- alive.”

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

To Torino and back again By Kate Reston Special to The Pioneer Editor’s Note: Kate and Ian Reston are currently teaching in Slovenia after spending many years at the local high school. They took a trip to Torino to visit their former students, now Olympians! I am currently composing this in a hostel in the old town of Salzburg with Sound of Music playing in the background; it plays every night in this hostel. We lucked upon this place on our way to Torino! The drive to Salzburg is just about the same as Invermere to Calgary and wow, has it been worth it. After we heard that both Christina AND Christine Keshen had qualified for Torino, we knew we had to go. It has been harrowing with driving, trains and buses but definitely worth it, even with the million little strange obstacles along the way. We finally reached our little flat in Monta-about forty kilometres from Torino. The next two days were fraught with frustration as we drove, got lost, parked, took shuttles, wrong trains and eventually walked about half an hour to the centro of Torino to see the sights. It was packed and slightly rainy. NBC had a huge stage set up with all sorts of American celebs around it and a huge screen with American announcers, and with lots of Americans hanging about. We saw Olympic athletes walking about and pretending to loudly comment on the surroundings in loud raucous voices while large camera crews with large lenses filmed them. The medals square was a disappointment with lots of looky-loos, and crowds of people

ourselves on a bench under an overhang of the boardwalk with a full view of the finish and the last four or so gates for the giant slalom; we watched athletes and crews go by and despaired about not meeting up with the Lusty - and then - there she was - Jane Lustenberger walking in front of me! There was much hugging and tears - I was so glad to see her, and then Christine Keshen ambled along with Mike Dubois. She squealed and I squealed! She was still on an incredible high from Olympic skier Christina Lustenberger met old friends Brodie and Peter Reston in Torino. her bronze medal win the night before! They went to see the second combing the souvenir and tickets tent ting boxed by trucks on the three-lane run while we waited under cover for the for Olympic paraphernalia; there were highway. I was getting seriously freaked finish. no tickets left for Lusty’s race - the lady out and convinced Ian to ditch the car Christina was, as I recall, at this believed they had been all in a small village - we did, af- point getting checked out to ensure that bought out by scalpter getting suitably lost her knee was OK after clipping the gate ers an hour before. again. In the end, that saw her out of the race. After the We got out and all turned out and race ended, we all went to a pub. I saw took our series after a series of Matt Kerr whom I taught in Victoria in of buses and trains, shuttles 1987 and who is currently the women’s walks back to and so forth, alpine technical coach. Ian snapped a Monta but we arrived at photo of me with three “generations” on our way Colle. of students and Mr. Lusty commented we shopped T h e on how my teaching them hadn’t helped and ate olsnow was make them very bright!!! He recoiled ives, fresh p u k i n g before I could punch him very hard! pasta and down but It was a bizarre moment seeing all pesto that Olympic fe- three students, in Italy, at an Olymnight! Not ver was high. pic games. Lusty also astutely pointed all was lost. We looked for out how old that makes me, and again The next scalpers but moved out of the line of fire very fast! day began at 6 discovered that Well, what can I say? It was worth it a.m. Getting to Sithe scalping was, to be there despite how entirely differestra was a trick. Trafin fact, illegal and ent it was to what we had envisioned. fic was thick, rain came polizia were everywhere It was wonderful to be with Canadians down in so we got from home - it made us miss the valley Kate Reston, top, taught both Christina Lustenberger, torrents n e r v o u s . more than we ever thought possible and left, and Christine Keshen, right, in Invermere. Kate and we In the end, made us again realize what an amazing was reunited with her former students in Torino. kept getwe parked country we hail from!

PIONEER CLASSIFIEDS

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

March 3, 2006

‘Smart growth’ discussed at seminar

By Sandra Kelly Special to The Pioneer

Growth and development in communities across British Columbia is inevitable, says Ione Smith, outreach coordinator for SmartGrowth BC. It just needs to be managed more smartly. At a free seminar co-hosted February 23rd by the local Lions and Kinsmen Clubs, Ms. Smith told 30 people in attendance that “smart growth” is especially important for the East Kootenays, since it is the second-fastest growing region of B.C., after Pemberton. SmartGrowthBC is a provincial, non-governmental organization that advocates for “healthy, livable and sustainable communities” in the province. It defines smart growth as a collection of fiscally, environmentally, and socially responsible strategies to reduce urban sprawl. Those strategies are the protection of wildlife habitats, green spaces and farmlands, higher-density infill development in urban areas, respect for natural landscapes, greater transportation choices, affordable housing, shorter distances between homes and workplaces, the preservation of unique community identities, and greater citizen involvement in the planning process. In her presentation, Ms. Smith described the urban sprawl that began in the 1950s as “undesirable growth,” i.e. too many suburbs characterized by single-family homes and shopping malls, and too many vehicles with only occupant. She talked about the “myths and realities” of urban sprawl - for example, that suburbs are believed to expand a community’s tax base, when in reality they result in a tax burden. Municipalities across B.C. are incorporating some smart growth principles into their official community plans. What principles they choose to adopt depends on their special issues and challenges. Ms. Smith noted that Invermere has population growth and land-use issues, and concerns about water supply, sewage treat-

ment and road maintenance. She said Invermere isn’t the only B.C. community in B.C. under pressure from “outside wealth,” i.e. second-home owners and people buying property for investment purposes. And Invermere isn’t the only community with very little aﬀordable housing. Regarding Invermere’s unique identity, she commented on the town’s “diversity.” She was impressed by the community overall, and particularly by the Parkside Place development. She observed that Invermere has “lots of room for inﬁll development.” Local citizens can and should help to determine Invermere’s future, she said, by participating in focus groups in which people can share ideas and develop a vision for the community. During informal discussions, audience members expressed concerns about the lack of communication and co-ordination between levels of government, regarding planning issues. One man commented that smart growth may advocate higher-density development, but many people

Smart growth principles prized SmartGrowth BC is launching a province-wide awards program to recognize “smart” building and/ or land development projects. Individuals, corporate entities, government bodies and community groups are all invited to submit nominations for awards in one or more of these categories: • Smart Growth Project Award: This award will honor the built project that best encompasses the principles of smart growth. Ideally, the project lessons should be transferable to other communities. • Smart Growth Policy Award: This award will honor an innovative policy (zoning bylaw, corporate policy, or Oﬃcial Community Plan) that facilitates, provides incentives, or otherwise enables the application of smart growth principles.

��

East Kootenay Environmental Society Annual General Meeting

Tuesday, March 7th, 2006 - DTSS at 7:30 pm Brief AGM followed by two short ﬁlms

#1 - Sanctiﬁed - (45 min.) #2 - Lost People of Mountain Village Silver Collection Everyone Welcome

want their own living space. Moreover, structures such as stacked townhouses don’t work for senior citizens because they don’t want stairs in their homes. Ms. Smith acknowledged that there will always be a demand for single-family and single-level homes. When asked why growth of any kind is desirable, she replied that all towns beneﬁt from an infusion of young people and that population growth means more funding for public amenities. “The strongest single suggestion made in the evaluation forms handed in was to form a citizens’ committee, similar to those in other communities, to address the issues around growth,” said Rick Hoar, who organized the seminar on behalf of the Lions and Kinsmen. He said likely two committees would be formed - one representing the town of Invermere and another representing the Regional District. A report on the Invermere seminar will appear shortly on the SmartGrowth website: www.smartgrowth.bc.ca.

Brendan Donahue

• Smart Growth Proposal or Process Award: This award will honor projects that are still in the planning stages. Nominations may include innovative design concepts or research projects. The proposal or project should mirror the principles of smart growth. • Smart Growth People Award: This award will acknowledge leadership by an individual or community group promoting a smart growth community vision. Nominees may include people involved in communications media, education, and community activism or advocacy. For more information go to www.smartgrowth. bc.ca, or call (604) 915-5234.

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16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

Today the placid, steaming waters of the Radium Hot Springs pool beckons to visitors.

Photo from Kootenay National Park

Crash was close call for swimmers in 1967 Victor Thygesen was a 20-year-old lifeguard when he lived firsthand the only deadly accident in the long history of the Radium Hot Springs. On May 3, 1967 he was a summer student at the hot pools when a tractor-trailer truck hauling gasoline went out of control and crashed a short distance up the highway from the hot pool parking lot. “Nobody knew what was happening - then all of a sudden, there was a wall of fire between us and the building,” said Mr. Thygesen, now 59, in a telephone interview from his home in Calgary. As the truck exploded, it caused two loud blasts. At first Mr. Thygesen thought work crews were doing some blasting, but after the second blast he knew something was wrong. “I saw a car headed up the highway stop, go on a few yards, then come racing back in reverse faster than I had ever seen a car travel in reverse before,” said Mr. Thygesen in an interview following the accident. “At the same moment I saw a cloud of black smoke and flames racing down the creek.” Burning gasoline poured from the tanker into Sinclair Creek, which runs beside the hot pool and under the facility’s stone building. Towering flames reported as high as 150 feet - turned the creek into a torrent of fire. As the fire raged, heat caused many of the building’s windows to shatter and a brush fire started on Redstreak Mountain, right behind the pools. “I could feel the heat all the way across the pool,” said Mr. Thygesen. In a written account Mr. Thygesen gave to staff at Kootenay National Park back in 1967, he said there were eight swimmers in the pool at the time of the ac-

cident. He called the swimmers toward the pool’s deep end and away from the ﬁre, then helped to pull them out of the water and gathered them together behind a lifeguard shack.

Spilled fuel from truck created huge ﬁre.

“I calmed a six-year-old boy and his mother under my jacket,” wrote Mr. Thygesen in his account. The pool acted as a buffer between the intense heat created by the towering flames and the trapped swimmers and two lifeguards who were on duty. After about 15 minutes of intense heat, the fire began to subside and Mr. Thygesen ordered everybody back into the pool. The swimmers stayed against the pool’s edge and moved toward the shallow end. The swimmers then got out and went into the building, across a wooden bridge where the fire had already been extinguished by Radium firefighters, and into the building which had suffered severe concrete and smoke damage. According to one witness: “I was on a ship that was torpedoed in 1940 and I was frightened then, but nothing like this.” The truck driver, Ernest Charles Mitchell, 32, was killed instantly. Surprisingly, nobody at the pool that day was badly hurt. “To my knowledge one woman was slightly burned and one stubbed her toes getting out of the pool,” wrote Mr. Thygesen in 1967. In his recent interview with The Pioneer, Mr. Thygesen said the accident was caused by the trucker losing his brakes on the steep mountain road. “And there were no runaway lanes in those days,” he said. A few years later Mr. Thygesen worked on a crew that built runaway lanes on the western side of the Sinclair Pass. “We got off pretty lucky; it could have been worse,” said Mr. Thygesen of the accident. “The only time I think about it is when I drive through there.”

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

March 3, 2006

Millions visit hot pools All stories by Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staff The healing waters of Radium Hot Springs have soothed the weary bodies and souls of visitors since the park opened in 1922. Since then, literally millions of visitors have enjoyed soaking in the steaming waters of the natural hot springs. The pools are nestled into a rocky canyon at the base of Redstreak Mountain, surrounded by evergreen trees. Occasionally flocks of mountain sheep graze on the surrounding cliffs. The pools have buoyed Scott Turnbull’s career since he began working as a summer lifeguard in 1979. “It’s a summer job run amok,” said 44-year-old Scott. He has spent 27 years at the hot pools, except two years when he managed the Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park. For the past nine years, he has been the manager at Radium. “You couldn’t have a better government job,” said Mr. Turnbull, who lives in Brisco. “You’re providing something that people want and enjoy.” Including Banff Hot Springs and Jasper’s Miette Hot Springs, the three hot springs make up a coalition called the Canadian Rockies Hot Springs. Profits and operating expenses are shared. “We’re still a part of Parks Canada but we’re given a little more freedom,” said Scott. “There are no taxpayer dollars going into the facilities.”

Manager Scott Turnbull started work in 1979. During his years at Radium, millions of people have visited the hot pools. On Scott’s ﬁrst May long weekend in 1979, there were more than 6,000 visitors. “This was a main place to come; there weren’t a lot of other places to go,” said Scott. “Back then there weren’t all the timeshares in the valley and things there are now.” Many people camping in the valley used the pools as a place to bathe. “It was a place to come and shower and soak.”

Since those days, the demographics at the pools have changed, said Scott. Now people with a bit of extra time are the main users of the pools. “People come to relax and for the health beneﬁts,” he said. The young and the old are the biggest fans of the pool, he said, because they don’t like cold water. “We have a lot of seniors that come every day.” Scott says 80 per cent of visitors are Canadian and of those, 69 per cent are from British Columbia. From April 2004 to March 2005, the most recent numbers available, about 266,000 guests visited the pools at Radium. That may seem like a lot, but those numbers are lower than years past. The peak season is May through Thanksgiving, but some of the best times to come to the pools are during a rainfall or snowstorm. “The really hot pool is the place to be in the wintertime,” he said. The challenge to keep prices aﬀordable. “We’re not at all aiming at the exclusive market,” said Scott. Prices are $6.50 for adults and $5.50 for children and seniors. Scott said he and his wife Mary Ann and Ian, 14, and Leland, 13 make a habit of touring other hot springs in the Western Canada and U.S. “I’ve been to them all and I feel very proud of our facility,” he said. “I really do feel that ours are the nicest hot springs anywhere.”

The science behind the spring Science allows the healing waters of Radium Hot Springs to be used in ways never dreamed of by early visitors. These days the waters that flow through the pools at Radium - which give off harmless doses of the radioactive gas radon - provide more than relief for sore muscles and joints. They also heat the building and warm the treated water used in the building’s shower facilities. The process, however, is a complicated one. Heated water is created as rain water seeps into the earth’s crust. As the water percolates down it gradually warms, as the earth’s temperature increases. According to Parks Canada, the water at Radium travels about 2.5 kilometers under the earth’s crust before it hits rocks hot enough to send it back to the surface as steam. The steam finds its way to a crack in the earth’s crust and surfaces right at the small island at the pool’s north end. About 1,800 litres per minute seep up from the earth via weeping tile into the hot pool, said manager Scott Turnbull.

When the water reaches the surface it is almost 46 degrees Celsius, said Mr. Turnbull. Chlorine is added but the water remains unfiltered. Enough water flows into the pool to refresh the 220,000 U.S. gallon pool in about eight hours, said Mr. Turnbull. Excess water flows into the building and is filtered to remove debris. The water is then pumped through two heat exchangers. A heat exchanger is a series of plates that run parallel to each other and alternate between hot springs water and another fluid, lending heat from the springs water to the liquid running nearby. The first exchanger borrows heat from the hot springs water and lends it to cool domestic water for use in the hot pool showers, and the second transfers heat to fluid which runs through the building’s pipes, supplying the facility with heat. After leaving the second heat exchanger the water is much cooler, about 29 degrees Celsius. It is then pumped into the cool pool used for swimming. After eight hours in the cool pool the water is pumped into the building one last time to be de-

chlorinated. It then flows directly into the Sinclair Creek which runs underneath the building. The process is constant, but every few years the flow of water must be interrupted. Waters at Radium are sometimes diverted because of a faroff earthquake. “Very occasionally you can feel an earthquake,” said Mr. Turnbull. Earthquakes cause black sediment in the earth to become disturbed. If water is not diverted around the pools the dark earth will run into the pools and turn the water black. “It’s like putting ink in the water,” said Mr. Turnbull. Because of faults in the earth’s crust, the quakes that affect Radium typically originate in Alaska. Mr. Turnbull said on average earthquakes cause the black soil to be churned up “two or three” times each decade and take 12 hours of hard work by the staff to clean up. The last time the pools went black was in August 2004. “And there was a full house,” said Mr. Turnbull.

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

VALLEY

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Gordon Lake comes from true pioneer stock. His grandparents Joe and Margaret Lake crossed the Canadian prairies to Edmonton in 1883, in a convoy of 342 4406 March 1 - 15th 10 Red River carts drawn by oxen. By 1898 they had moved several times and ended up in Windermere, �� operating a store for Colin McKay. Then in 1902 the �� Lakes opened their own store in Athalmer. Gordon’s dad Percy had been adopted in Winnipeg before his parents came west. He was the jockey whose picture appeared in last week’s ‘historical lens.’ Call Bill Cropper - The Blind Guy! Horseracing was big excitement in the valley prior to the First World War. Another man Percy rode for in 342 4406 those times was Randolph Bruce. If you’re getting a refund you can file today and have your money Percy married Linnie Newell in Calgary in 1911 in 24 hours or less and they had five children, of whom Gordon is the with H & R Block’s Cash Back fourth. The oldest son, Roy, was born in Wilmer in service. 1912 and opened Lake Auto in 1947. The other chil342-3626 #6 Stein Block all born in Invermere. NeedInvermere Blinds? Best Quality & Service drenThwere ough Gordon was not officially old enough Call The Blind Guy! to go to the school in Athalmer, he used to tease the Pioneer kids through the window. Finally the teacher had wwwhrblock.ca had enough, came out one day and dragged him in342 4406 *At participating offi ces. Must quality. See office for details. Classifieds side and “made me learn.” The next year he went to ©2006 H & R Block Canada Inc. the Invermere school where his first teacher was Miss Brooks, who “could use the strap!” Percy Lake purchased his parents’ farm of approximately 300 acres about seven miles south of Invermere, and the family Great rates, products and service moved there. It was situated along Brady Creek at the www.meridianmortgagesolutions.com base of Brady Mountain, on land now owned by the Step by step, professional Ruaults. mortgage support. Children were held with a looser grip back then. Teaser ads for the PioneerThrevised e whole valley was Gordon’s playground. Adults Bill Rainbow Mortgage Broker were not hovering nearby when the kids went swimJuly 11th 2005 twag (250) 342-3453 ming, and Gordon knew he was really good when he could swim upstream, against the current. When Gordon was 14 he went fishing with his brother Calvin one day, up at White Dam behind Brady Mountain. They rode saddle horses and Calvin’s dog set a day-old fawn running in Gordon’s direction. Gordon got off his horse and the little thing jumped right into his arms. He did what most 14-year-olds would have done: took it home. “When I got home I �� got the devil from my dad. Of course, we hadn’t had a baby around for a while. So I got an old beer bottle and put a rag on it for a nipple. Then after a week I had her drinking from a bucket with the calves.” Gordon named her Tiny and said she was the best pet he ever had. When he was walking across a field she would jump on his back and try to get him to chase her. Once, unknown to Gordon, she followed him as he rode his horse into town. The next day someone phoned and asked if he’d brought his pet deer into town. He said no. The caller said the

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Gordon and his first wife Elsie on their wedding day. dogs were chasing her around. She disappeared and Gordon discovered she’d swum the lake and was seen around Windermere. After two weeks, she found her way home. When Tiny got older, she would bring her fawns back to the farm to show them to Gordon. Then one day she was found in the field within eyesight of the house, shot dead. Like many young people in the valley before the Second World War, Gordon had wild horses he had tamed. One was a mare that he’d broken himself. When he and his friend Frank Foyston were about 15 and 17, they spotted a wild herd near the K2 Ranch. They cut two out of the main herd and, on horseback, ran them north through the valley for eight or nine miles. Back then there were horses everywhere, roaming freely in the lowland. The two wild ones mixed in with a herd owned by the Nixons, who had a corral near the current District of Invermere offices. They followed the Nixon horses straight into their corral. Frank took the mare and Gordon got a four-year-old stallion he called Brownie. Continued on page 19

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

March 3, 2006

PIONEER

Gordon Lake, aged 16 years, on his horse Brownie. Continued from page 18 “It was the longest, hardest ride I ever had. I had ridden my little mare so hard, from that day on she was not the same horse. She was soaking wet and when I got home with her that night she was shaking from exhaustion.” Gordon explained that the mare was ‘floundered’ and it was a big lesson for him. He never rode a horse that hard again. Brownie and Gordon were like “two peas in a pod . . . He was my horse and would do anything for me.” One year Brownie was put out to range in the early spring and Gordon had not seen him all summer. Then, after the first snowfall, Gordon heard a horse whinnying at the gate. He got out of bed, opened the gate and Brownie followed him into the barn. It was something “most horses don’t do, especially wild horses.” In 1941, at the age of 22, Gordon joined the army and took basic training in Ontario. While there, on a blind date, he met Elsie Evans and they were married in 1943 on the Lake family farm. Elsie had a son from a previous marriage named Earl, who now lives in Penticton. At first, Earl stayed with Elsie’s parents until he was 14 and then he moved to the valley where

he completed his high school. After the wedding Gordon was shipped off to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner, along with 22,000 other men. He worked in Aldershot, England, putting army trucks together from parts shipped in crates from North America. He found himself in Belgium. In the fall of 1944, he, along with other soldiers, were told to “go out to the public and find ourselves a place to stay.” Gordon found a wonderful family and lived with them for 11 months until the war was over. After the war Gordon and Elsie rented, for $15 per month, a small apartment in the old hospital building on 10th Street. Then, while working in Block 17 up Forster Creek with the C. Wenger Lumber Company, they converted a lumber shack to live in. The lumber camp had about 12 men living there in bunkhouses and only one other woman, the boss’s wife. In 1950 the couple moved to live at the Lake family farm. Also that year they adopted newborn Richard, and then adopted Carol in 1956. During this time Elsie and Gordon also fostered a little boy named Clifford Barkley for about five years. When he was about seven, he was returned to his natural mother. This was a heartbreak for the couple, who had hoped to adopt him.

Gordon with his fawn Tiny; and Calvin with dog Spot. For 15 years Gordon worked as a mechanic at Lake Auto and then in 1965 he was hired by the school board as a transportation supervisor. The starting wage was $1.50 per hour and when he retired in 1985 he was earning $12.60 per hour. Gordon also volunteered for the fire department for 30 years, and was Invermere’s first Fire Chief, holding that position for 15 years. He also held positions with the local legion branch and is now a Lifetime Member. Lifetime Membership is earned through significant contributions to the Legion. Elsie was an excellent seamstress, sewing all the kids’ clothes for many years. She made wedding dresses for many of the local girls. She also did upholstery work for family and community members. This was extra income that helped with family finances. Elsie did a lot of work for the Legion and was also voted a Lifetime Member. These days, Richard lives in Regina and Carol lives in Leduc. Gordon has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Elsie died after a short illness in 1986 and Gordon was on his own for five years. He then married an old family friend named Phyllis Gibb who had been widowed. Her story will follow in a future issue.

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20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

The Old Zone By Harold Hazelaar, Invermere 1994: • In the league’s ﬁrst major labour dispute, NHL players are locked out for 103 days. The regular season, which begins January 20, 1995, is the shortest in 53 years. 1995: • Jaromir Jagr becomes the ﬁrst European to lead the NHL in scoring. • The Quebec Nordiques move to Denver and become the Colorado Avalanche. 1996: • The Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix, where they are re-named the Coyotes. 1997: • The Hartford Whalers become the Carolina Hurricanes. • Craig Mactavish, the last remaining helmetless player in the NHL, retires.

1998: • The Nashville Predators join the NHL. • The NHL begins using two referees in each game. • NHL players compete at the Olympics for the first time, with the Czech Republic winning the gold medal. • The United States defeats Canada to win the first Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey. 1999: • The Atlanta Thrashers join the NHL. • Wayne Gretzky retires from professional hockey after twenty years of play, 1487 games and 61 official records. 2000: • The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild bring the total number of NHL teams to 30. 2002: • NHL players return to the Winter Olympics, with Canada winning the gold medal. The victory comes 50 years to the day after the last Canadian gold medal in men’s hockey. • Canada defeats the United States to win the second Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey. • The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup, with Swedish-born defenseman Niklas Lidstrom claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Lidstrom is the first non-Canadian to win the award.

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 21

March 3, 2006

Rockies look to even series on home ice

Jennifer Walsh, student at DTSS, carves the slope in a recent race at Fairmont Hot Springs.

Photo by Kelsie Ede

High school wins ski championship The David Thompson Secondary School Lakers boys’ and girls’ ski team won the overall combined skiing title at the provincial championships held last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at Panorama. Two-hundred-and-eighty high schoolers took to the slopes at Panorama mountain village, said ski team coach Joanne Bragg. Twenty-six teams from as far away as Whistler and Vancouver Island competed in the event, said Mrs. Bragg. A slalom and giant slalom ski competition, and two giant slalom snowboard races were held. Mrs. Bragg has coached the David Thompson team for the past 20 years. She said this year’s team was as successful as any she’s been a part of. “We do pretty well every year,” she said. Mrs. Bragg said conditions during the competition were not ideal. It snowed and was foggy on each of the three days. “It’s not the best for racing when it’s snowing,” she said. “Racing’s best when the snow is rock hard and the sky is blue.” Mrs. Bragg said volunteers from the Windermere Valley Ski Club worked diligently to groom the course for racing.

She said the fog created “ﬂat light,” which made visibility diﬃcult. “But we’re not complaining,” she said. “It’s nice to see the snow for all the other skiers and snowboarders.” David Thompson Results Skiing Team Results: Boys’/girls’ combined team 1st, provincial champions Boys’ team 2nd Girls’ team 5th Individual Results: Nick Brush, 1st, provincial champion Dane Petersen, 8th Kelsey Petersen, 8th Snowboarding Team Results: Boys’/girls’ combined team, 2nd Girls’ team, 3rd Boys’ team, 5th Individual Results: Sam Guenther, 2nd Hannah Bilodeau, 6th Ramona Furger, 8th

Invermere judoka earns gold medal Four young Invermere Judokas competed at the recent B.C. Winter Games in Trail. Dylan Moncur, 12, won a gold medal in the under 36 kilogram class. Other local boys at the event were Dennis Wass, 12, Jeﬀ Paul, 13, and Ross Rosin, 12 of Invermere. The games held last Friday and Saturday, attracted young competitors, aged 11,12, and 13 from across B.C. said the boys’ coach, Hermann Mauthner. “They had a really fun tournament,” said Mr. Mauthner.

Gold medalist Dylan lost his ﬁrst bout but then went on to win six straight to take the gold. “And he went almost all he way in all of them,” said Mr. Mauthner. The other boys fought hard but were eliminated, said coach Mauthner. The boys represented B.C. zone, which includes Creston, Fernie and Cranbrook. To get to the games the boys had to be zone champions in their weight class. “It was an intense competition,” said Dylan’s dad Chris Moncur.

On Tuesday night the Rockies and Dynamiters played game four of their first round series, with Columbia Valley looking to draw even heading into game five tonight in Kimberley. The Dynamiters dominated the first period, outshooting the home side 12-5. Chris Kostiuk opened the scoring at 11:51 from Chris Chapman. Then at 10:03, while shorthanded, Kostiuk and Chapman broke away on a 2 on 1 this time Chapman scored from Kostiuk for a 2-0 Kimberley lead at the end of the first. A different Rockies team appeared in the second period as they came out hard and physical and took the play to the Dynamiters and were rewarded early. At 18:07 on a powerplay, Colin Port jumped on a loose puck and slid one by Quinn Kary, assisted by Josh Renaud. Less than a minute later, Tyler Morrison would draw the Rockies even from Renaud and Port. To finish off the scoring in the second Cody Steele capitalized on a loose puck in the slot to give the Rockies a 3-2 lead assisted by Reid Mitchell. In the third the Rockies continued to apply pressure on the forecheck and outshot the Dynamiters 14-9 while holding onto the one goal lead. Travis Belanger was excellent in goal the final two periods and the home side was able to fend off some late Kimberley pressure to earn a hard fought 3-2 victory, ensuring one more home game with the pivotal game five going in Kimberley Friday night, with game six in Invermere Saturday night.

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March 3, 2006

22 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Spring Carnival Lucas Ruault, left, played cards, and Blake Gulbe, right, had his face painted at J. A. Laird’ Elementary School’s annual fun event for children.

Parents want the facts on class size.

Everyone agrees that class size is important to helping students learn. And that’s why the Province is making information on class size available for parents and students.

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The Facts on Declining Class Size

Class Size in School District 6

• There is an average of about 16 students for every one educator in B.C. public schools, a near-record low. • Nine out of 10 classes in B.C. have 30 or fewer students. • And more than one out of every five have 20 or fewer.

In the Rocky Mountain school district: • The average kindergarten class has 18.1 students. • The average grade 1-3 class has 20.9 students. • The average grade 4-7 class has 24.6 students, while there are 22.9 students in the average grade 8-12 class.

To find out more about class size and choice programs in your school district, visit www.achievebc.ca online.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 23

March 3, 2006

Valley residents will recognize this picturesque old farmhouse along the roadside between Radium and Golden.

Photo by Bob Ede

Our Local Locations ��

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The Columbia

Valley

Pioneer

24 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Celebrity

March 3, 2006

SIGHTINGS

WORLD RENOWNED CELEBRITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SEEN ENJOYING OUR LOVELY VALLEY

Over the years, many people have come through the valley to experience all it has to oﬀer. Among these passerbys have been families, couples, and individual explorers. Occasionally, there are a few people who stop by to see the valley that have celebrity status. This is a just a few stars who have gone through the area over the years.

Bea Arthur: Had a long career in stage, ﬁlm and television, but is still best known as the star of the 1970s TV sitcom Maude. Who can forget her ﬂawless portrayal of the acidtongued, domineering matron? Spotted: Vacationing at Panorama during the 80s

Paul Dean:

Mike Vernon:

Attended school in Windermere, where he ﬁrst got interested in music. Helped form the band Streetheart, and later became the lead guitarist for Loverboy. Regarded as a true pioneer of Canadian rock ‘n roll

Had a stellar career in the junior leagues, and was the Calgary Flames’ secondround draft choice at the 1981 NHL entry draft. Distinguished himself as a great goalie, and is now retired from hockey.

Spotted: Growing up in the valley.

Buckshot (real name Ron Barge) Beloved host of the Buckshot Show for kids, which aired every noon-hour on CFCN TV, for 30 years ending in the late 1990s. Still living, and working as an entertainer, in Calgary. Spotted: Owns a receational getaway in Rushmere.

Lionel Barrymore: Famed actor, composer, artist, author and director. Award-winning star of many stage shows and ﬁlms. Brother of legendary actors John and Ethel Barrymore, and great uncle of Drew Barrymore. Spotted: In the Columbia Valley during the 1920s, ﬁlming a silent movie called Unseeing Eyes.

Spotted: Recently in Canal Flats. Once owned a home on Lake Windermere.

Davey Boy Smith (aka The British Bulldog): Born in Britain, he came to Canada, became a world-famous professional wrestler, and married into the Hart family of pro wrestlers. Passed away May 18, 2002 in Invermere.

Laura Dern: The daughter of actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd grew up in the movie business, and is now an acclaimed actor herself. Has played a wide range of memorable characters on stage and in ﬁlms. Spotted: Lunching at the Blue Dog Cafe in the 1990s.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 25

March 3, 2006

Colin Mochrie:

Bing Crosby:

The comically gifted native Torontonian is a veteran of Second City, an occasional movie actor, and a regular co-star of the TV shows This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Whose Line Is It Anyway?

One of the most popular and inﬂuential stars in music and ﬁlm, during the early 20th Century. Best remembered for the song White Christmas, and for the “road” movies he made with Bob Hope.

Spotted: Skiing at Panorama with his family.

Spottted: While making a ﬁlm in the Columbia Valley during the 1940s.

Jane Fonda:

Phil Esposito:

Oscar-winning actress and star of more than forty ﬁlms. Daughter of the legendary actor Henry Fonda, and sister of Peter Fonda. After a long break, she’s back on the big screen, in Monster-in-Law.

In 1969 he became the ﬁrst NHLer in history to score 100 points in a single season. Set a record with 76 goals in the 1970-71 NHL season. Played 18 NHL seasons and had his number seven retired by the Boston Bruins. Spotted: At the John Davidson Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Spotted: in the 1970s by Eric Stills and Bobby Stewart while hot-tubbing at Panorama with then-husband Tom Hayden.

Arthur Black: For 19 years he hosted Basic Black, a national CBC program dedicated to wackiness. He currently hosts two shows: Weird Homes and Weird Wheels, and writes a weekly syndicated humor column. Spotted: At the John Davidson Celebrity Golf Tournament

Red Green (real name Steve Smith): During the 1980s he made a critically acclaimed TV variety show with his wife, Morag, and then went on to portay Red Green, the droll, duct-tape-loving owner of the Possum Lodge. Spotted: At the John Davidson Celebrity Golf Tournament

Brian Williams:

Tab Hunter:

The veteran CBC sportscaster completed grades one through ﬁve in Invermere. He covered the World Cup Ski Races at Panorama 21 years ago, and still gets “goosebumps” when he drives through Sinclair Canyon.

Hollywood’s “golden boy” made 50 movies, recorded popular songs, and had a TV show. After a long absence, his ﬁlm career took oﬀ again in the 1980s. He is now a cult favorite among young viewers. Spotted: Making the movie Hacksaw, in the Columbia Valley, in 1971.

Spotted: In Invermere in December 2004, catching up with old friends.

Ron Wood:

John Davidson:

The Rolling Stones’ lead guitarist (and occasional vocalist and bass player) replaced previous lead guitarist Mick Taylor in the mid 1970s, and helped take the Stones in a new, more professional direction.

In 1999, after 11 years as an NHL goaltender, he became a studio analyst for ABC Sports NHL game telecasts. Hosts the John Davidson Celebrity Golf Tournament every year at The Springs in Radium.

Spotted: Shopping at Pieces From the Past in Invermere in November 2005.

Spotted: Every summer on the greens. Visited The Pioneer’s oﬃce last June.

26 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

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#3, 109 Industrial Road #2, Invermere

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Telephone: 342-3659 Fax: 342-3620

NEW

WE USE ONLY REAL WOOD

Resurfacing Specialists • Custom Cabinets • Counter Tops FREE ESTIMATES CUSTOM CRAFTED BY:

No Appointment Necessary

Bob Ring

341-3311

Sewer/Drain Cleaning

Septic Tank Pumping Portable Toilet Rentals • Complete sewer/drain repair • Reasonable rates - Seniors’ discount • Speedy service - 7 days a week • A well-maintained septic system should be pumped every 3-5 years • Avoid costly repairs

Bruce Dehart 347-9803 or 342-5357

LAMBERT-KIPP PHARMACY LTD. J. Douglas Kipp, B. Sc. (Pharm.) Laura Kipp, Pharm D. Your Compounding Pharmacy Come in and browse our giftware

Floor Covering & Cabinets Blinds & Paints 335 - 3rd Ave., Invermere, BC Telephone 342-6264 • Fax 342-3546 Email: info@warwick-interiors.com www.warwick-interiors.com

Open Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm 1301 - 7 Avenue, Invermere th

342-6612

• POOLS • HOT TUBS • CHEMICALS • FIREPLACES • BBQʼS • HEATING • VENTILATION • AIR CONDITIONING • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

385 Laurier Street, Invermere, BC PO Box 117, Windermere, BC V0B 2L0 Phone: (250) 342-7100 email: info@diamondheatingandspas.com Fax: (250) 342-7103 www.diamondheatingandspas.com

*Wood blinds *Sunscreens *Woven Woods *Pleated Shades *Roller Shades and more!

INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD.

BOX 2228 BOX 459 742 - 13th STREET 7553 MAIN STREET INVERMERE, BC. RADIUM HOT SPRINGS, BC V0A 1K0 V0A 1M0 PHONE: 342-3031 PHONE: 347-9350 FAX: 342-6945 FAX: 347-6350 Email: info@invermereinsurance.com • Toll Free: 1-866-342-3031

RR3 - 4884D Athalmer Rd., Invermere

(Meadow Land Artworks across from the Invermere Airport)

Phone: 341-3326 Cell: 341-5500

www.windermerewoodworks.com

Coveralls Uniforms Linen Entry Mats Logo Mats Promo www.kootunif.com Goods 1201 Industrial Road #3 • Cranbrook, BC V1C 5A5 Image Wear Ph (250) 426-3151 • Fax (250) 426-4347 Career Wear Toll-free 1-866-426-3151 Safety Wear Great Selection of:

Lambert

High Quality Furniture & One-of-a-kind Gifts

For all your interior decorating needs.

Tamara Osborne Brenda McEachern.

Phone /Fax

345-6422

SHOLINDER & MACKAY EXCAVATING Inc.

Septic Systems Installed ~ Pumped ~ Repaired Prefab Cement Tanks Installed Water Lines Dug Installed Basements Dug

WINDERMERE 342-6805

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 27

March 3, 2006

HERE TO SERVE YOU Protect your property from theft and vandalism

Call today (250) 688-HAWK (4295) valleyhawksecurity@shaw.ca

Daily & Nightly Mobile Patrols in the Valley Fast Response to your alarms

Website design

More than you expect. Not more than you need.

Property checks

“See you there!” Tiffany, VFC Member

shapeupinvermere.com

Valley Fitness Centre • 722 14th Street, Invermere

valleyfitnesscentre valley valleyfitness centre

VFC

(250) 342-2131

• Fully marked mobile patrol unit • Professional Uniformed Security Ofﬁcer • Residential • Commercial • New Homes • New Condos • Construction Sites Reasonable Rates Keep your seasonal home or condo insurance valid

Computer system support & upgrades

Invermere by choice. Great websites by design.

RR#4, 1712 - 13th Avenue Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K4 Phone: 342-3104 Cellular: 342-5119 Email: gtek1@cyberlink.bc.ca

Benjamin T. Gagatek

Growing with the Tradition of Quality

• Custom Homes • Renovations • Decks

Kristoffer Bennett (250) 341-5030

Residential and Commercial Lighting

P.O. Box 1079 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Ph: 250.342.1666 dan@valleylighting.ca www.valleylighting.ca

Jake Haagsman Ent.

Gravel Truck - Sand/Gravel/Rock/Topsoil Deliveries anywhere in the Columbia Valley

(250) 347-9008 OR (250) 425-9000 Radium BC

A+ Certiﬁed

This space is available. Call 341-6299

WE PRINT FOR THE VALLEY PUROLATOR DEPOT

342-2999

bennettconstruction@shaw.ca

Dan Emms General Manager

harrisonmckay.com

Call to set up an appointment today!

GTECH Computer Services

Bennett Construction

Call Harrison today for a free consultation! (250) 341-6064.

Fine Homeservices

VACUFLO (250) 342-9207

READY MIX CONCRETE Concrete Pump • Sand & Gravel Heavy Equipment Rentals • Crane Service Proudly Serving the Valley for over 50 years

For competitive prices and prompt service call:

342-3268 (plant) 342-6767 (oﬃce)

CAIRN CARPENTRY

• Flooring • Finishing • General Carpentry

Reasonable Rates Exceptional Quality

Invermere

(250) 270-0390

A.R.K. Concrete Ltd. Residential • Decorative Concrete Floors, Decks, Patios & Sidewalks

342-6522 Ofﬁce 342-6512 Fax 342-5465 Aaron Karl 342-1457 Ryan Karl

March 3, 2006

28 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Kinsmen trade show planning underway By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staﬀ Planning for the Kinsmen Club of the Windermere Valley’s annual Home and Recreation Show is under way. The annual show will be held on May 12 and 13th at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena. “Just about everything people could be interested in for their home will be there,” said Kinsmen Club member Kelly Love. “It’s a really good place to go and meet your neighbours.” Mr. Love said up to 86 vendors will be have booths over the Friday and Saturday that booths are still avail-

able for anyone interested. “Interest has been strong,” he said. Booth entries are not limited, and are open to all. “It’s whoever wants to come out and put in a booth,” said Mr. Love. “We always have a pretty good variety of vendors there.” Mr. Love said one visitor to the show will be awarded a $500 cash prize and that exhibitors who conﬁrm and pay for their booth by April 21st will be entered in a $200 draw. Live entertainment will be featured at the show. The Great Green Adventure Show animal and reptile act have been conﬁrmed and others will follow, said Mr. Love.

The home and recreation show has been a regular event in the valley for the past 15-plus years, said Mr. Love. “It’s our biggest fundraiser for the year,” he said. The Kinsmen Club is a group of local volunteers who work to improve quality of life in their community. “Our mandate is to serve the community in whatever way we can,” said Mr. Love. The local chapter helps fund the Invermere public library, the Windermere Fire Department, and individuals in need. For more information on the show or on the Kinsmen Club, call 342-3314 or email nemcan@telus. net.

HERE TO SERVE YOU Hi - Heat

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Construction Ltd. CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS - GENERAL CONTRACTORS

DESIGN/BUILD CUSTOM HOMES • MULTI-FAMILY & COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

��

Avion

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

� � � � ��

#8, 1008 - 8th Avenue Invermere, BC Dave Sutherland Sales Associate

341-6299 email: upioneer@telus.net

STEVE GUTSCHE, Project Manager Columbia Valley District

INVERMERE

Cell: (250) 341-1965 Fax: (250) 347-6429 Email: guts64@telus.net www.avionconstruction.com

HEAD OFFICE

Phone: (403) 287-0144 Fax: (403) 287-2193 #200, 6125 - 11 Street S.E. Calgary, AB T2H 2L6

Beauty Built To Last A Lifetime ��

Call Helga at: Phone: (250) 342-9700 Toll Free: 1-866-312-9700 Fax: (250) 342-6265 mickeysa@telus.net

4836 Athalmer Road, P.O. Box 2710, Invermere, BC. V0A 1K0

Dr. Mary Ann Majchrzak Rombach, Ph.D.

Assiniboine Family Therapy Institute Purdue University Class of 2000

Approved Supervisor and Clinical Member

B.C. and American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy

AFTi

hardwood floors Wilson’s

at RR3 - 4750 Lakehill Road, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K3

Assiniboine Family Therapy Institute

Counselling, Consulting, Training RR3, 4750 Lakehill Rd. Invermere, British Columbia V0A 1K3 and Supervision

PHONE: 250-342-0743 FAX: 250-342-0643 EMAIL: afti@shaw.ca

Dr. Mary Ann Rombach, PH. D. Services offered:

C OUNSELING , S UPERVISION , E DUCATION & T RAINING , C ONSULTING , R ESEARCH

Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy British Columbia Association of Marriage and Family Therapy

For Appointments Call: Monday to Friday 9 am - noon

(250) 342-0743

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BLUE OX

BUSINESS SERVICES

• Bookkeeping • Payroll Service • GST/PST • Financial Statements • AP/AR • WCB & BC Health

Phone: 250-341-5421 email: blueox@shaw.ca

P.O. Box 53, Windermere, B.C. V0B 2L0

� � � �� The Columbia Valley Pioneer

�

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 29

March 3, 2006

P IONEER C LASSIFIEDS OBITUARIES

TIME SHARE RENTAL

ANDRUSCHUK, Tom 1921-2006

Spring Break in Mexico - Timeshare rental - Grand Mayan. Grand Master suite, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, dining, living room. March 18 to 25 at Nuevo Vallarta, or March 25 to April 1 at Mayan Riviera. Call 342-6761 or contact: ez_let@shaw.ca.

Tom’s sudden and tragic passing on February 23 has left his family heartbroken. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Agnes; his son Rick (Pat) Andruschuk, his daughter Sue ( Mike) Ridewood, grandchildren Kevin (Katie), Glenn (Shanli), Lori (Chad), Ian Graham, and Agnes children Sid (Lynda), Verneal, Twyla and their families. He was predeceased by his first wife, Lil, in 1983, and by his sisters Anne and Irene. Tom was born in Armstrong, BC and spent his early years on the farm in the Coronation, Alberta area. After high school he completed an electrical engineering course at SAIT in Calgary, then returned to farming and also began to work first as a truck driver, and then as a carpenter. Tom moved his young family to Invermere in 1959 and continued work as a carpenter and building contractor until his retirement in 1983. He was a hard worker and a perfectionist, legendary in his ability to make almost anything and to fix everything. We will never forget Tom’s love for his family, his unending hospitality, and cooking (nobody made better ribs) and just being around people he could visit with. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. A memorial service will be held at the Lake Windermere Alliance Church in Invermere on Friday, March 3, 2006 at 1 p.m. CAMENZIND, Agnes Anna Beloved wife of Joseph (Joe) Camenzind, of Invermere, passed away after a short illness on February 24, 2006. Agnes was born March 7, 1937 in Zurich, Switzerland, and moved to Canada in 1960 where she worked in Vancouver until August of 1961 when she moved to Invermere. She started to work at the local hospital as a nurses aid and worked her way up to a practical nurse, where she remained for 34 years until her retirement. She met her soon-to-be husband Joe upon arrival in Invermere and they were married in 1962. During this passage of time, Agnes made many friends and in retirement took up golfing which was one of her passions. She enjoyed her golf days with her friends and enjoyed the back country with her hiking buddies. Her spare time was spent in her flower beds and with her pets Farley and Sheba. Agnes devoted many hours as a volunteer with the Invermere Auxiliary Thrift Shop and will be sadly missed by that organization. Agnes will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 44 years, Joe, sister Maya (Walter) Ziesack-Hubschi of Wettswich, Switzerland, and her niece, Susan (Markus) Walser of Murs, Switzerland. Agnes was predeceased by her parents, Mr. & Mrs. O. Huebschi and her brother, Otto. A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 4, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church in Invermere. Reception to follow at the Lions Hall at the Crossroads. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.

MEXICO - Book before Feb 28th and save $200/week. Whether it’s one week or ﬁve weeks, you can’t beat this! One-bedroom or twobedroom w/luxury accommodation, LR/DR/K, granite counters, private dipping pool on your own balcony. Choose any Grand Mayan Resort $1,150CDN/week. No Block Outs - Book before Feb 28th and save $200/week. Call today and leave tomorrow. Jill: 250-342-0445. (Reservations are subject to availability).

SUITES FOR RENT New, bright, one bedroom ground level suite in downtown Invermere. Utilities, cable, laundry included. N/S, N/P, $625 a month. Available immediately, 341-6215 Studio suite fully furnished, utilities, W/D, TV & cable. N/S, N/P, $500, one person, available March 1st. Call Mom’s Upholstery 342-0355.

1 bedroom basement suite avail. March 1st, N/S, N/P. 342-1617.

LOST & FOUND

FOR RENT

LOST: Turquoise tweed/wool jacket lost Feb 14th between Tim Horton’s and Athalmer hill. Reward 270-0306.

FAMILY HOME in Wilder subdivision, Invermere. Excellent condition, unfurnished, 2 bdrms up, 2 down, 2.5 bath, 6 appliances, double attached garage. 1 year minimum, N/P, N/S, available immediately. $1100/mth + utilities + DD. 403-807-2380 STEIN APARTMENTS - residential and commercial. 342- 6912. 3 bedroom executive home, furnished, N/S, N/P, available May 1st. 342-1617.

ROOMMATES WANTED Invermere: Roommate wanted to share new house in Westside Park, 342-3705.

HOMES FOR SALE Unique 2617 square foot, eight room home on .48 acres located in the four seasons resort town of Invermere. View at BC4sale. ca, listing #2989. PANORAMA - New, resales, townhomes, condos, chalets, lots, 1/4 ownership from $99,900. Kerry Dennehy, Playground Real Estate, 270-0481.

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WANTED TO RENT Employed family seeking modest country home within 30mins. of Invermere to rent for spring. Have references, 250226-0055.

FOR SALE Kitchen corner bench w/table and chairs. Seats 8-10 $250, Bar and 4 stools $125. 342-3797.

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1990 Dodge Caravan. Runs OR parts vehicle, $500 OBO 3423264

MOVING SALE Moving basement sale, Saturday, March 4th 10am-5pm. 4774 Riverview Drive, Edgewater. Household, yard tools, furniture. 347-9060.

NOTICES

ALCOHOLISM SHATTERS LIVES. Summer wedding dress size 9/10. To help the alcoholic, you must $500, 345-0262, leave message. help yourself first. Al Anon meets 10am Tuesdays at the Four burner range with hood. Catholic Church, 1210 - 9th Clean, excellent condition, works Street, Invermere. For info call perfect $200. Microwave oven, Carol, 347-9841. free. Call Sandy 342-0020. IN MEMORIAM DONATIONS to the Canadian Cancer Society MISC. FOR SALE can be dropped off at the PioCustom cut rough lumber, dry fir neer, #8, 1008 - 8th Avenue, beams, fence boards, etc. Fire- Invermere or mail to Box 868, wood - fir, birch or pine - split or Invermere. For info call Chrisunsplit. Top quality hay, grass/ tine Vidalin, 342-0470. alfalfa mix, round or square bales. 346-3247. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS. Rocky Mountain Buffalo now Meet Thursdays 7:30-9 p.m. available at Grant’s Foods on 8th Invermere Health Unit, 1100Ave Invermere. 342-7308. 10th Street, staff entrance.

VEHICLES FOR SALE 1993 Chrysler Concorde 3.3L, V6 auto, 164,000km. Well maintained. Has factory installed fold away child seat $3400. Gordon 342-6786 1994 Chrysler Concorde, good shape, new stereo and speakers, 4 door, green. $3000 OBO 3426376 evenings.

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TRL Spec original 109,000km 454 excellent condition, safety inspection $5,000 OBO, 1992 Wilderness 19’ Travel Trl. Air $8,900 OBO 403-547-1562.

1996 Yukon SLT 199,000km 359 V8 $9,900 OBO, 1980 Suburban

Mountain Heights ~ 4 units left ~

CopperSide

~ luxury condos ~

342-2536 local phone

866-342-3526 toll free

www.lakeviewmeadows.net relax@lakeviewmeadows.net

30 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

P IONEER C LASSIFIEDS $16,000. Call Dave, 342-8819.

SERVICES

BOOKKEEPING SERVICES - Bookkeeping services, payroll, ﬁnancial statements, GST/PST reporting. Blue Ox Business Services, 341-5421.

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CAREERS

We Work At Play! Stone Creek Resorts, an established real estate developer and golf course operator, is looking to further bolster its resort operations team. We are seeking qualified and enthusiastic individuals to join our team. Our approach to resort operations is simple – we strive to provide the ultimate guest experience - which means hiring and retaining employees who strive for excellence in all that they do. We are looking for team players with a ‘can do’ attitude to contribute positively to our continued growth. Our ideal candidates will possess characteristics that reflect our corporate values of caring, integrity, excellence, team spirit and financial responsibility.

DIRECTOR F&B - EAGLE RANCH GOLF RESORT Eagle Ranch Golf Course is opening a magnificent clubhouse in the summer of 2006. Conveying the grandeur of ranch-style architecture, the clubhouse will feature a spacious ambience. Inside, there is a meeting room for small groups, a fine dining restaurant, a casual upscale lounge and a wine room featuring local and international selections. An ample patio space will provide the perfect space for relaxed dining while providing breathtaking views of the Columbia Valley and Lake Windermere. Eagle Ranch Golf Course is seeking a passionate professional to manage our expanding Food & Beverage business. As the Director of Food & Beverage, you will be responsible for building a team of culinary and service professionals that will consistently provide an extra-ordinary dining experience. Responsibilities include • Management of the entire F&B operation including the restaurant, lounge, banquets and on-course food & beverage • Revenue forecasting and development of strategies to meet and exceed targets • Management of inventory including implementation of cost controls • Direct supervision of Executive Chef, Restaurant Supervisor and On-Course Supervisor Requirements • Five or more years of F&B management experience preferably in a luxury full-scale environment • Proven track record developing and sustaining profitable F&B operations • Experience in developing, costing and pricing creative and innovative menus • Excellent background in wines • Demonstrated ability to inspire, train and develop an F&B team • A proven “hands-on” manager with a calm, organized management style • Exceptional customer service orientation, cost control skills and problem solving ability • Excellent oral and written communications skills • Experience opening new Food & Beverage operations will be considered an asset. Application Deadline: Friday, March 17 Resumes may be sent confidentially to: Eagle Ranch Golf Resort Attention: Laurie Klassen RR #3, M-2, C-11, Invermere, BC V0A 1K3 Email: lklassen@eagleranchresort.com For detailed information, visit www.stonecreekproperties.com Stone Creek Resorts thanks all applicants for their interest, however only applicants who are considered for the position will be contacted.

Anglz Hair Studio is looking for full-time hair stylist to start immediately. Call Maria 342-3227 Truck driver/equipment operator, class 1 or 3 w/air brakes. Full time, willing to train. Wage depends on experience. Phone 342-3773 or fax 342-2224 Production Worker. This is an entry level position involving all aspects of the cabinet making process. Trade apprenticeship is available to suitable candidate. Please contact Warwick Interiors Box 2673 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0. 250-342-6264 ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRAINING, B.C Licensed Employment Agency. Need a job? Need employees? Apply on-line at www.rockymountaintraining.bc.ca Phone 342-6011 or 1-888-737-5511. WE ARE RECRUITING FOR 6 linemen, 1 fibre optic splicing tech, 20 labourers, 1 upholsterer, office administration, accountant/ bookkeeper, chefs, reservations and housekeeping. Full-time front desk/admin person required for busy office. Duties include general clerical duties such as answering phones, scheduling orders, data entry, and filing. Person must be computer literate with knowledge of accounting, MS Word, Excel, and Outlook. Must have the ability to multi-task, organize, and work

with minimal supervision. Excellent communication skills and knowledge of the area an asset. Completion of high school and some post secondary education essential. Must be reliable with own transportation and willing to work ﬂexible hours and occasional weekends. Reply to Box 1072, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Helna’s Stube is looking for experienced part time evening server, kitchen help, dishwasher. Fax resume to 347-0049 or call 347-0047. Hair stylist required at Valley Hairtyling. Call Susan 342-9863

CHEERS & JEERS CHEERS to our local Olympians. We are proud of you!

Teamwork Are you self motivated, self disciplined, take pride in the work you do, and work well with others? Join our housekeeping team at Fairmont Creek for full time/year round employment. Training provided. Must have reliable transportation. Call David, 345-6116.

Windermere Valley Golf Course is currently taking applications for

full and part-time servers and cooks. Positions are seasonal and start mid March/April 1st and go to the end of October. Contact Kari or Jenn at 342-3004. Submit resumes by fax to 342-0119 or email to kdawsonwv@shaw.ca

Leadership Fairmont Creek is looking for a dynamic, self motivated, self disciplined individual who takes pride in their work and practises solid team building skills to lead our housekeeping team. Housekeeping experience required and must have reliable transportation. If this describes you and you are looking for full time employment, Call David, 3456116. Employees needed, competitive wages and positions based on experience. Rock Works Landscape is a growing company specializing in boulder retaining walls, dry stack walls, steps and patios. Duties include rock installation, planting, concrete work, Bob Cat, excavator operation, raking, wheel barrowing, etc... Must be self motivated, have good problem solving skills, related experience in construction, and masonry a great asset. 250-342-5876.

THE PIONEER CLASSIFIED DEADLINE: Tuesdays at noon #8, 108 - 8th Ave., Invermere Phone: 341-6299 Toll Free: 1-877-341-6299 Fax: 341-6229 Email: upioneer@telus.net

All classiﬁed ads must be prepaid by cash or cheque unless client has an existing account.

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 31

March 3, 2006

FAITH

Are you watching what you’re watching? By Jared Enns Lake Windermere Alliance Church Have you ever asked the question of your kids: “What are you watching?” or “What are you playing?” or “What are you listening to?” - only to receive a generic response. “It’s a good show . . .”, “Just a game (video). . .” or “All the kids in my class listen to this.” My oldest daughter just turned 11 and I am having a hard time keeping up with all of the music, movies and media that scream out at her everyday. With the plethora of choices bombarding our kids everyday, how can we keep tabs on what they are allowing to inﬂuence their minds? We tend to live in a bubble of naïve thinking that wants to believe what they are listening to; watching on the TV or playing on their favorite video game is not aﬀecting them. It is time that we take some responsibility for what we are allowing our children to feed their minds with. When you take a trip to the video store, do you really know what is on the movie or video game you are renting for your kids? When your child asks for the latest music CD, do you know its content? It is time for us to take a serious look at what our children are asking us for instead of trying to placate their every request. Instead of blindly saying yes to their suggestions for a rental, take the time to really look at what they will be viewing or listening to. Look for the rating

symbols on the products and see if it is really something your child should have. The real question in regards to the whole aspect of what you are watching, has very little to do with the media. The question is, “What are your boundaries?” You need to know what your limits are and clearly communicate these to your children. Then they will know ahead of time whether the movie, music or video game is suitable for them. What do I do as a parent when I don’t have a clue about half of the things they are listening to, playing and watching? I’m glad you asked. There are plenty of parent helps available online, and the best one that I have found to date is www.pluggedinonline.com. This site is sponsored by Focus on the Family and provides a detailed breakdown of the content in the songs, background on the music group, the details of a movie including language content, sexual content, violent acts, as well as a movie review and more. This has been an invaluable site to me in the review of all forms of media, and allows me to be informed about what my children are watching as well as everything else that is out there. The Bible tells us that what we take into our bodies, into our minds, directly corresponds to what comes out of our mouth, our minds. “Garbage in, Garbage out!!” It works the other way as well, “Good in, Good out!!” As parents it is our duty to guard the hearts and minds of our children and to allow them to be just that, “children.” They will grow up fast enough with out all of the input of the world and the media around them. So ask yourself the question on a regular basis: are you watching what you’re watching?

Message to those born before 1945: Anonymous We are survivors! We were born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, plastic, contact lenses, frisbees and the pill. We were born before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air-conditioners, drip-dry clothes, and before man walked on the moon. We got married ﬁrst, and then lived together. In our time, closets were for clothes and not for “coming out of.” Bunnies were rabbits, and rabbits were not Volkswagens. Designer jeans were scheming girls named Jean. We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent. We were before house husbands, gay rights,

computer dating, and dual careers. We were before day care centres, group therapy, and nursing homes. We never heard of artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt, and guys wearing earrings. Back then, “Made in Japan” meant junk and the term “making out” referred to how you did on your exam. Pizza and instant coffee were unheard of. For one nickel you could ride a street car, make a phone call, or buy a Coke. You could buy a Chevy Coupe for $600, but who could afford one? A pity too, because gas was 11 cents a gallon! In our day grass was mowed, coke was a cold drink and pot was something you cooked in. Rock music was a grandma’s lullaby. No wonder we are so confused! But we survived! What better reason to celebrate?

Valley Churches LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH Sunday, March 5th, 10:30 a.m. Worship and Life Instruction. Stewardship It’s a Matter of Trust “Lord I Trust You - But Look at Him.” Sunday School for ages 3 to Grade 3 during the morning service. Senior Pastor Rev. Dieter Magnus • Associate Pastor Rev. Jared Enns 326 - 10th Avenue, Invermere • 342-9535 WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY Sunday, March 5th 8:30 a.m. - Edgewater - All Saints - Communion 10:30 a.m. - Invermere - Christ Church Trinity. Communion & Sunday School. Rev. Sandy Ferguson • 110 - 7th Avenue, Invermere • 342-6644 VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Sunday, 10:00 am Children’s church during the message part of the service. Children 4 - 12 years. • Sunday, 7:00 pm Prayer Meeting Senior Pastor Rev. John Cuyler • www.vcassembly.com Highway 93/95, 1 km north of Windermere • 342-9511 ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Canadian Martyrs Church, Invermere Saturday, 7:00 p.m. Mass • Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Mass St. Joseph’s Church, Hwy 93/95 Radium Sunday, 11:00 a.m. Mass St. Anthony’s Church, Canal Flats Sunday, 4:00 p.m. Mass Father Jose Joaquin • 712 -12th Ave., Invermere • 342-6167 ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN MISSION OF INVERMERE Regular weekly worship services every Sunday at 1:30 pm Pastor Rev. Fraser Coltman at Christ Church Trinity 110 - 7th Ave., Invermere 1-866-426-7564 RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Every Sunday 10:00 am Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater • Radium Seniors’ Hall • 342-6633 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Sunday, 10:00 am President J.P. Tremblay • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs • 1-866-349-5772

Invermere Christian Supplies Invermere Christian Supplies

www.invermerechristiansupplies.com

1229-7th Ave., Invermere

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342-6415

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32 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

March 3, 2006

Invermere

At Panorama: At Radium:

Independently Owned and Operated

250-342-6505

Wende Brash 342-1300

Bernie Raven 342-7415

Daniel Zurgilgen 342-1612

Ed English 342-1194

A Piece of History

Jan Klimek 342-1195

This property in the fast growing hamlet of Wilmer offers a heritage style log home with 2 BR, 1 BTR, woodstove and room for expansion. Large fenced lot with storage shed, easy access to the wetlands, ﬁshing lakes and biking trails makes this the perfect location. MLS#115589

250-341-4898 250-347-0041

John McCarthy Lynda Kirkpatrick 342-1758 341-1907

Scott Wallace 342-5309

Lovely Home

www.ReMaxInvermere.com Timeshare: Toll Free:

Andy Smith 342-1709

Ali Wassing 341-1052

Bryan Hookenson 341-1266

250-342-2829 1-888-258-9911

Rob Rice 341-5935

Huge Views

Deborah-Kim Rice 342-5935

Family home in a quiet location in the heart of Radium Hot Springs. Large private deck with green space and shed. 5 BDR and 2.5 BTR. Double car garage, paved drive. Open kitchen with dining area & formal dining off the living room. A must see! MLS#115566

Check out the huge and amazing view of Monument Peak! Enjoy the hot pool, skating rink and ski lift just steps from your door. Fully furnished, in Intrawest Rental Pool to help cover your costs. Affordable, stylish and tons of fun! Take a look today and make it yours! MLS#115590

Landmark Business Site

Toby Chairlift

Top Floor Studio

On Main Street offering many possibilities – land and building only. Zoning offers the opportunity to build your business here at the southern gateway to the whole valley. Lake recreation and boat access to Columbia Lake via Canal Flats Provincial Park. MLS#115544

Check out the location of this great one bedroom unit at Panorama. You can put your skis on at the door and be on the Toby lift in less than a minute! The view of the slopes is unbeatable. Buyer to assume New Vision payments of $161.43 /month MLS#115541

A vacation retreat to call your own, or rent it out for that extra revenue. This recently painted, tastefully decorated unit comes with extra furniture. Condo in a box is done too. Great ski hill view and a fabulous mountain vista. MLS#115486

Great Starter

Buy Now, Subdivide Later

Jade Landing

This his lovely home in Canal Flats has new siding, roof, windows, appliances, fenced yard. Full basement with a walk out entry waiting for your finishing touches. Close to schools, golf, beach and back country. 3 BDR, community water and sewer. MLS#115591

This 1 acre parcel sits on the edge of the golf course in Canal Flats. 9 year old mobile works for now; but subdivide and build your dream home later. Canal Flats is one of the fastest growing communities in the valley. The perfect place to start. MLS#112647

Canal Flatsʼ condo development. 1 or 2 BDR units with an undeveloped basement with roughed-in plumbing. Close to the beach and public boat launch, golf, shopping, parks, schools and all the amenities which have been making Canal Flats...smart money... MLS#114214

$239,000.00

$139,000.00+gst

$169,900.00

Simply Sunning

$339,000.00

$122,500.00+gst

$149,950.00+gst

$121,900.00+gst

$269,900.00

Reﬂect Your Success

This 1600 sf home is beautifully finished with hardwood and heated tile floors, two fireplaces and large decks off the front and back of the home. Watch the sun set from your living room in the winter or from your hot tub in the summer. Mountain views in all directions. Just a few minutes to Kinsmen Beach, tennis courts and downtown Invermere. Located at prestigious Fort Point. MLS#115290

This impeccably maintained home reflects quality and gracious living with views of the lake and the mountains. Built of wood, stone and glass featuring a covered entry with a flowing floor plan, spacious rooms, 2 fireplaces, high ceilings, intricate woodwork, tile floors, granite countertops, in-floor heating, outside hot tub in a private courtyard and an attached garage all in a location second to none. Short stroll to the private beach and recreation center for your enjoyment. MLS#109322

$629,000.00

$1,250,000.00

From $149,900.00+gst