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March 11, 2020 ~ Vol. 90 No. 10 $1.00
Crowsnest Pass
Herald Serving the CnP SinCe 1930
skijoring
David Selles photo
Cowboys and rednecks from around Alberta attended the Pole and Spur skijoring event on Sunday March, 8th. The Pole & Spur 2020 winners are: Division A: Grand Champs - Super Fast: Nick Bentley & Lucas Garrett, $864 - 2nd - Damn Fast: Foster Kennedy & Kendall Miller, $518 - 3rd: Jean Louis Frank & Kirk Prescott, $346 Division B: 1st - Darn Fast: Jesse Pittman & Taylor Bland, $576 - 2nd - Fast Enough: Jean Louis Frank & Jesse Romo, $346 - 3rd: Kendall Miller & Kirk Prescott, $230 Novice: 1st - Just Enough: Janice Lea & Ryan Linderman, $100 - 2nd: Carola Sossdorf & Paul Kopp, $50 Best Costume: Game of Thrones, Hayley Miller & Janelle Miller
Frank slide
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looking baCk
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bear aware
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2 – CrowSneSt PASS HerALD – Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Hillcrest Miners’ club
AnnuAl GenerAl
MeetinG sunday, March 22nd • 1 pm
AgendA: election of executive
Frank Slide Centre says farewell Monica Field retiring after 36 years at Frank Slide Interpretive Centre DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter
Current Manager and long time employee at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre (FSIC), Monica Field, is retiring. Field has been at the Centre since it opened in a few different roles. “I've worked here since the year before it opened, which is 36 years but I've been worked for the department of culture for 38 years. I started out as a historical interpreter here and eventually became the education officer, then the interpretation education officer and finally the manager. It just goes to show that if you stay anywhere long enough you can get to the top.” Field says she has enjoyed her time at the FSIC and is pleased with how far they’ve come over the years. “We have changed so much in all these years. The Centre was never envisioned to have as many activities as we've developed. There was no gift shop back then, no sleep over programs and no big
Herald contributor photo
Monica Field was part of the Grand Reopening at the Frank Slide in 2009 where the Centre renewed their exhibits.
events. Over these 35 years since the centre opened, we have brought on so many new offerings in terms of visitor services and education programs and events that I would say it's really been just onward and upward.” As for what she’ll miss in retirement, the people she’s worked with are at the top of the list. “I'll certainly miss the view from my window and the slide itself but I think the thing I'll miss the most is the people I work with. We're all really good friends and we've probably spent more time together than with our own families. I'm not the only old one here. There are quite a few people who have worked at the centre for
more than 25 years, which doesn't happen much anymore. It's a testament to how much we all enjoy the job.” When looking back on some accomplishments over the years, Field says she’s most proud of the training aspect of the work she’s done. “In terms of looking back in accomplishments, we've certainly done some huge events like the centennial of the Hillcrest Mine disaster and the Frank Slide. I think what I've found most meaningful is bringing the young people on and training them. It's a bit like hockey where you get the rookies and you train them up and get to be a really good team and then one by one they leave and
you start again with some new ones. Watching some of these people develop skills and public speaking and confidence in the jobs here and seeing them go on to incredible careers is really rewarding.” With the extra time on her hands now, Field says she will turn her focus to walks and chores. “People ask me that a lot and often I'll say a one word answer, walk. It's kind of my default setting that I love to walk so I'll definitely be walking but I also have a huge garden and land and fences so I need to literally get my house in order and get caught up in the backlog of chores that just haven't been done in the last 35 years.”
Servus - creating wealth Jessica Bohn (Left) and Stacey Gauthier (Right) were at the local Service Credit Union letting people know about the new wealth team that services the area. Bohn says they will come into town at least once a week to help people with certain financial needs. David Selles photo
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - Crowsnest PAss herAlD - 3
In the lIne of fIre Between March 2 and March 9, Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a total of 50 calls for service including the following reported incidents. One (1) assault, two (2) fraud/forgery, two (2) threat/harassment, one (1) theft of motor vehicle, two (2) other criminal codes, three (3) other provincial statutes, six (6) driving complaints, eleven (11) motor vehicle collisions, three (3) assistance to general public, two (2) abandoned vehicles, five (5) assistance to other agencies, one (1) 911 call (invalid), two (2) animal calls and one (1) municipal bylaw. Lost Kayak On March 1st, 2020, there was a report of a lost blue Pelican kayak, which fell off a vehicle on highway 3 west of Coleman. The owner returned to pick it up and saw a white truck with a rack loading up the kayak. If anyone has
found this kayak, please call the RCMP detachment. Fraud On March 3rd, 2020, there was a complaint of online fraud from a company advertising to raise your credit score if you apply for a loan online. A local bank advised suspicious activity occurred on the complainant’s account indicating this was possibly fraud. It is still under investigation. Scams On March 3rd, 2020, there was a complaint of an online scam. The complainant applied for a loan and was then requested to provide a security deposit. On March 4th, 2020, a complainant received three phone calls from the same person saying she had won a large amount of money and was asked to hand over bank information. The complainant hung up
~ rCMP news ~
and no information was provided. Male with Warrants On March 5th, 2020, a male from Lethbridge turned himself into detachment on outstanding traffic warrants from Grand Prairie. He was released on documents for Court. Suspicious Phone Call On March 6th, 2020, a complainant received three phone calls from an unknown person asking her to stay on the line to speak with an officer. The complainant hung up. Theft On March 8th, 2020, there was a complaint of theft of a licence plate from a vehicle parked in the back alley of 19 Avenue in Blairmore. Found bikes turned into Crowsnest Pass Bylaw Be aware of a new
The Simple Raven’s Post by Avner Perl
Musical spirits in the mountains The people of “old” often associated God with mountains. I remember growing up with the sight of Armageddon from my window. The teacher told us that this was where the final battle between good and evil is destined to take place. It was not much of a mountain from our Canadian point of view, but in Israel, it was called a mountain. My earliest memory is from the time I was three years old and people celebrated fifty years of manned flight. 1903 incidentally was also the year of the Frank Slide. In the fifties, we still used to go outside when we heard an airplane and the kids waved at the pilot. Soon after, Dad called me out one day to see the first jet and it was awesome. Man conquered new heights and speed. By the time I went to school humans went to space. People were glued to the radios and cheered when the Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin returned from space alive. We cheered again when the American Astronaut John Glenn orbited the earth and landed safely. In grade three I looked up at the moon trying to see the Americans walk on the moon. It looked the same. Now I see people building Highrise buildings taller than mount Megiddo, (Armageddon) which was visible from my childhood window. I have always been feeling a special closeness to God when I am in the mountains. The stories from the Bible come to mind. Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the ten commandments. A Google search reveals over five hundred places where mountains are mentioned in the Bible. The one I seem to remember is the Transfiguration. The apostles were made aware that there was something unnatural about Yeshua whom they were following. Today we assume that it is Mount Tabor. The basic concentrated teachings of Christ are taught as the “sermon on the Mountain”. We can’t forget Mount Olympus in Greece, Mount Etna in Italy, and Mount Kailash in Nepal where the deity Shiva resides according to stories. There are holy mountains on every continent and all the religions which I am aware of have some stories involving mountains. There are also many reasons for people believing that mountains have a strong relationship with that which is sacred. Perhaps the
scam. Victims get phone calls from someone pretending to be from Service Canada or another government agency, saying their social insurance number (SIN) has been blocked, compromised or suspended. The call might be one of the latest variations on caller ID in which fraudsters disguises the number seen on the ID display in order to trick victims into answering phone. The person will ask for SIN and other personal info, such as date of birth, address, etc. Victims who provide personal info are at risk of identity fraud. Anyone with information regarding any crime is urged to contact the Crowsnest Pass RCMP Detachment at 403-562-2867, or Crimestoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-422DO NOT OPEN EMAILS if you are suspicious of its origin. Do NOT purchase gift cards for payment to Revenue Canada.
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main reason is that we feel something spiritual amongst mountains, but not everyone does. I was thinking the other day about some success stories from the Crowsnest Pass. It was stimulated by the Music Festival organized by some blessed individual or individuals. There are a few examples of groups doing a lot of good community work in arts, sports, and entertainment. We have trail rides, running competitions and a rodeo sprinkled with swim meets and other sports competitions. There are choral and symphony performances and theatre productions. Of course, the one big example that people in Calgary are still asking me about was our Thunder In The Valley. Aside from our stories from the turn of the century and the great fire, that placed us on the map. What do you think about having a big musical event where religious groups, choirs, and gospel singers could compete for first place in performing spiritual music? It could be hymns or even modern Christian music. We are surrounded by unique religions who often perform great music. It could include just western Alberta or even western Canada. It could be like The Big Valley Jamboree In Camrose but aimed at spirituality in the mountains. We have people who know how to organize events. We can provide a field for a faith-oriented musical Festival and parking and busses can be available. There is space for camping and the acoustics are incredible. Mountains are great for music. Above all, we have a business-oriented leadership (Council) who knows how to get things done. The coronavirus will come and go, and the world economy will probably suffer a setback. In short, those who are ready with projects and ideas will be first to get back on track. A small more localized test event could begin on short notice with the aim of a big event the year after. People will be hungry for good news and will look for excitement close to home. Albert Einstein said that imagination is superior to knowledge. He was right about most things. I don’t know about most of you but I would love to see the Crowsnest Pass become a destination and be on the national news in a positive way. We live in the mountains, which are a spiritual space. That is if you ignore Geology, natural resources, and political affiliations. Only look at the natural beauty, the stars at night and the nature of the inhabitants, us. If we drew a circle on the map around the Pass, we will find a wide variety of spiritual groups and music brings people together. I was able to find on the “Net” wonderful Hutterite singers, Indigenous spiritual music, Later Day Saints choirs, and old hymns to compete with Charismatic music. I think that there is untapped potential here for people with vision. Being a canoeist, I believe it's best to go with the stream in the direction that the river flows. Here is a link to my blog: https://thesimpleravenspost.blogspot.ca/ Feel free to check other articles and comment.
4 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Editorial Beside my editorial is a letter from Dr. Vanessa Rogers, a local physician who is worried about the future of medicine in Alberta and most importantly for us in the community, the future of our doctors and our hospital in the Crowsnest Pass. I have been fortunate to sit as a councillor on the recruitment committee for doctors in the Crowsnest Pass. Councillor Glavin and I attended an RhPAP seminar in Lethbridge with doctors looking to enhance their rural residency in Alberta. Not surprisingly these doctors gravitated to our table. They want to practice here in the Pass; the only thing holding them back is a lack of affordable and decent accommodation in the area. When I asked them why they want to practice here the resounding response was the mountains, the biking, the affordability to live here when compared to other mountain communities such as Fernie, Canmore and Banff. Then the budget came down and the medical world imploded. On Wednesday there is an open house meeting at the Elks Hall in Blairmore at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the future of health care in the Crowsnest Pass. I encourage you all to attend. Politicians listen to numbers and it would sure be nice to flood the building with people worried about the future of our doctors in this community and ultimately the future of our hospital. I sat in a meeting with two local doctors in the community and I heard what they had to say. They indicated this community could see the loss of upwards of six doctors in the very near future. Two of those doctors bring a specific skill set, that of surgery and anesthesiology. If we can’t recruit these two positions, how do we keep our operating room here at the hospital open? It’s a slippery slide downward for our hospital. With six fewer doctors it could translate into a loss of walk-ins at Crowsnest Medical Clinic, it could lead to more strain on the remaining doctors to put in Emergency room services at the hospital. This could lead to a partial closure of our Emergency Room at the hospital. Can you imagine a car accident, a mine injury, a sick baby and not having an emergency room to bring them to in this community? These are very real scenarios that can play out. Our doctors are tired, they work hard for us, they sacrifice time with their families, time for their own personal well-being to help keep us healthy. The emotional toll they take losing patients must be incredible. How do you not create a relationship with your patient! Pincher Creek is writing a letter to their MP and meeting with Minister Shandro, they are vocal and they are militant. Perhaps it’s time for the Crowsnest Pass to call to arms. I suggest you attend the meeting on Wednesday, research what’s happening to the medical system in Alberta and make an informed decision. Don’t get your information off Facebook. Research, ask questions and demand answers. It’s up to each and every person in this community to fight for our doctors, nurses and for our hospital. I know the health care system isn’t great - I watched two parents die in it, however, this is not the way to fix it. This is not what I voted for Jason Kenny to do. I wanted him to look at the entire system from the top down and make reasonable changes, not walk in and cut wages of frontline workers. The issues with Alberta Heath are far beyond these workers and are systemic in the AHS system that needs the overall. Just for a moment imagine at your worst having no where to turn for help, we are not far from being in that situation!
Letters to the the Editor Policy: The Pass Herald welcomes Letters to the Editor that examine issues, but reserves the right to edit for length, libel and syntax. Writers must sign letters and include first and last names, address and telephone number. Address and telephone numbers will not be published. Only in exceptional cases will the Pass Herald withhold the name of the writer and in those cases the writer must disclose his/her name, address and telephone number to the Editor. Electronic email will be considered an electronic signature. Letters to the Editor do not reflect the opinion of the Pass Herald. Letters cannot exceed 1,000 words. We have limited space, but we do enjoy printing every article. So please, to allow everyone to express their opinion, keep the letters short and to the point. We do have the right to refuse any letter that in our judgement may contain libel or libelous opinions. Should a litigation result from your letter, you as the writer are responsible but so is this newspaper as the publisher. The Pass Herald is a family owned community newspaper and therefore reserves the right to refuse any advertisement that in our opinion does not follow our mandate. We cannot accept advertisements or letters criticizing or disparaging other advertisers, companies or individuals or any advertisements directed to a religion or race.
Are you staying? Are you my doctor? Dear Editor, “Are you staying”? “Are you my doctor”? In the last three months, I have been asked these questions at least 10 times per day. I have been working here for 8 months, but since December I have been seeing patients who don’t have a family doctor. This how our community tells me every day that we want and need doctors. Another question I’m asked is: “why did you choose to come here”? In order to sift through offers from different towns, cities, provinces, and sometimes even different countries, I tried to characterize my ideal job and compared that list to the various places I could work. My list is as follows: • Closer to my family • Rural mountain community • Strong colleague support and mentorship • Full-scope family medicine (ER, clinic, obstetrics, inpatients, palliative care) • Teaching stu-
dents and residents Crowsnest Pass was a great match. My partner and I ultimately decided to buy a house here. We settled into the community and became comfortable living and working here; my days are rewarding and I am proud of my work. I book 15-minute appointments and allow some “catch up” time to address additional concerns or questions from my patients without running behind. I spend more than 15 minutes with about half of my patients. These patients have complex medical needs and often 20 minutes spent with them prevents them having to come back for a second visit. Flexible appointments were part of why I chose to stay in Alberta; there are billing codes that encourage doctors to spend more time with patients who need it, but similar models are not used in every province. I assumed that by working in Alberta, I would continue to be able to book my complex patients for longer visits and not be pressured into high-quan-
tity, revolving-door medicine. Unexpectedly, the current Alberta government recently announced major changes to health care funding. Physicians are scrambling to try to sustain the operations of our clinics. Ongoing expenses at my clinic include rent, utilities, medical equipment, staff salaries (nurses, medical office assistants, receptionists, referrals coordinators, billing and scheduling staff, clinic managers), and loan repayments from renovating our current clinic space. Individually we also have other mandatory professional expenses including medical education, association fees, and liability insurance which cost more yearly than my medical school tuition. Unfortunately, these prices are fixed, and although the budget cuts affect our payments, they do not affect our expenses. We now have little option but to increase the number of patients seen in a day by shortening the length of each appointment. I will
likely have to see 6 patients per hour, rather than 4. At that rate, I cannot afford to spend an extra 5 minutes with each patient, or I will run at least 90 minutes behind by lunchtime. I will have to ask my complex patients to book more follow-up appointments because the billing codes that used to allow me to book longer appointments are being reduced to the point that it is unsustainable to routinely use them. Ten minutes is not enough time for the majority of my patients; only 25-30% of my visits take 10 minutes or less. My wait times will skyrocket if 75% of my appointments require another visit to finish covering every concern. Furthermore, two 10-minute appointments under the new fee structure cost taxpayers more than one 20minute visit would under the old one. Additionally, I don’t know how I will continue to teach the next generation of doctors; rapid-fire appointments are not conducive to good learning. Con’t on page 6
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Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 5
6 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, March 11, 2020
A lack of Leadership - Letters continued from page 4 Dear Editor; “As the B.C. Supreme Court rightly concluded, it does not mean some self-anointed Indigenous aristocrats..” - John Ivison, National Post The latest dilemma of blockades across the country demonstrate a lack of leadership at virtually every level of government and native leadership. Firstly, there is the Wet’suwet’en band itself.
There are 20 elected band councils that have all endorsed the Coastal Link pipeline, yet a few hereditary chiefs feel that their interests trump the elected councils. As Wet’suwet’en member Philip Tait said recently “Right now, this is probably got one of the biggest job creations in the province here, and we want to be part of it.” Then there is the problem that the hereditary chiefs oppose Coastal Link. Apparently five
chiefs oppose it and the three female chiefs who support the pipeline were stripped of their titles. As deposed chief Theresa Tait-day said in support: “We want to share our (land) wealth, we want to live in prosperity.” And further there is a lack of leadership within the police forces. The RCMP in British Columbia have been acting on the court injunction Even at the larger level of First Nations there is no leadership.
Are you staying cont’d from page 4 We use rural teaching as a way to attract new doctors to our communities, but if their experiences are negative, how will we convince them to pursue rural family medicine? We are already struggling to attract and retain as many physicians as the community needs. Budget cuts have eliminated financial incentives that helped to attract more doctors (even
temporarily) to our area to help ease the pressure on the physicians we do have. In a 2018 survey, more than 30% of Canadian family doctors suffered from burnout and 35% screened positive for depression. Research has shown that major contributing factors include long work hours, frequent call shifts, increased time spent charting or working from home, and the loss
of autonomy at work or control over work circumstances; all of these factors are currently at stake in Alberta as a result of these changes to the healthcare budget. What does this mean to Crowsnest Pass? We are at risk of losing doctors because our overhead expenses could easily become unsustainable. We may not have enough doctors for full time emer-
Within their organization they do not appear to agree on anything. And lastly and most importantly, there is a total lack of leadership at the federal level. Prime Minister Trudeau was waltzing around Africa buying off African chiefs to support Canada’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. He is conflicted by the issue of the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and does not want to lose UN
support by appearing to be unsupportive of that shallow edict. He is passing the buck, saying this is a provincial matter while the national railway network half a continent away has come to a halt bringing the shipment of essential goods and services to a halt. This is not a provincial crisis – it’s a national crisis, actually it’s a crisis of leadership! Trudeau speaks of the ‘rule of law’. He doesn’t even know what that means, he only uses that
phrase when he doesn’t haven’t a clue what to do. The ‘rule of law’ is in the court injunction which gives the RCMP the authority to arrest the hereditary chiefs in defiance of the law. Their defiance is contempt of court. The Federal Court has recently ruled that there is a need for consultation but natives do not have a veto. Our democracy is turning into a mobocracy!
gency department or obstetrics coverage. Without access to these services, patients will be forced to travel to neighbouring communities in emergency situations, but we only have two local ambulance crews to transport patients. I fear that this would be unsafe for our patients. Our local healthcare will be running on fumes. For now, it is difficult to answer my patients’ questions about whether I am staying to be their
doctor. I want to be here, but many of the reasons I chose this town are now in jeopardy. I must decide if I can stay and work in a broken system, or if I have to consider leaving the community I now call home. Is 10 minutes per visit enough for you and your family members? Do you feel safe with the possibility of losing local ER and obstetrics care? Are you ok if we cannot find you a family doctor? If you answered no to any of these
questions, I urge you to add your voice by writing to our MLA, Roger Reid, or our provincial Minister of Health, Tyler Shandro, about what is important to you. Roger Reid: 618 Center Street SE, High River, AB, T1V 1E9; email Livingstone.Macleod@assembly.ab.ca Tyler Shandro: Office of the Minister of Health, 423 Legislature Building, 10800-97 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5K 2B6; email health.minister@gov.ab.ca
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Wednesday, March 4, 2020 - crowsnesT PAss HerALD - 7
This is our “Home Page” DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter
We live in a truly beautiful place. Whether it’s the mountains, lakes or forests that surround us, we have so much to enjoy. Not only is it the nature that makes this place amazing but it’s also the people who call Crowsnest Pass home. That’s why we at the Pass Herald decided to create a new page that will include photos of what makes the Crowsnest Pass the Crowsnest Pass. Starting this week, we’re encouraging all residents to send in whatever photos they’ve taken over the last while and will be including them in our “This is our Home Page” that will be in every issue of the paper. Whether it’s a photo of an event you attended,
time spent in the park with kids, a shot of the beautiful scenery or something else you feel represents what the Crowsnest Pass is all about, we want to see them. The idea for this page came to me when I was out taking the night photos you see on this page with my older sister. I thought to myself why don’t we showcase our area more and what’s a way that we can continue to showcase what we have to offer? While the paper is fairly local, there are still people outside of the Crowsnest Pass who receive it so by having this page in every issue, we can show people what we can offer them in the Crowsnest Pass. The idea to call it “This is our Home Page” comes from the world of social media or websites.
Most businesses that have social media accounts or websites have a home page that sort of summarizes what that business is about. My idea is that we can do the same sort of this with the paper. So, all we need from you is your photos and a bit of information that goes with them! If you have any photos that display anything that you find represents what the Crowsnest Pass is about, send them and the information on where the photo was taken, what the event was and what all happening in the photo to passherald@shaw.ca and we will make sure they get into the paper! Also, keep in mind that while photos shot on phones will work for the most part, the better the quality, the better they’ll look in the paper!
8 – CrowsnesT Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, March 11, 2020 K-38606 is the World War II regimental number for a soldier named Torindo John Bisaro. Every soldier had a number like this assigned to him when he signed up for service. Torindo’s records are now available on-line and there is a story within these files, and yet another story that emanates from them, that makes for some interesting reading. First, let’s look at Torindo’s background and reveal what happened to this young Italian volunteer. Bisaro’s enrolment form reveals he was born in 1923 in Gradisca d’Isonzo in the very northeastern part of Italy near the Slovenian border. He immigrated to Canada along with his parents in 1927 when he was only four years old. His Personnel Selection Record shows that his parents returned to Italy in 1933 with his three sisters while he remained. Where he remained was his uncle’s farm in Baldwinton, Saskatchewan, where he worked for four years as a labourer. Torindo finished up Grade 8 at the Irene School in that town, in 1941, and then left at the age of 15 to find work. Torindo wound up as a coal chute loader for the Crows Nest Pass Coal Company in Michel, B.C. What drew him across two provinces in search of work might be explained by the fact that there was a Luigi and Maria Bisaro (possibly relatives) living in Michel at the time. As an aside, I find findagrave.com a useful tool when it comes to chasing down a particular family name. In this case this is how I located possible Bisaro relatives. Torindo worked for almost a year as a coal car loader underground before he signed up with the Second Battalion of the Rocky Mountain Rangers where he remained in reserve from October 1942 until February of 1943. The number of acronyms in his record almost overwhelmed me but mercifully I found a comprehensive list of military abbreviations used in service files that helped me (sort of) track his movements. Through the National Resources Enrolment Act (NRMA) enrollment form I was able to follow his transfers and training through the system from Vancouver to Camrose to Calgary and then Nanaimo. Eventually, in April of 1944, he was S.O.S. (Struck Off Strength). This term means; “ceased to be a member of a unit because of transfer, injury or death.” A typical soldier’s file can contain a few S.O.S’s and T.O.S’s (taken on strength) as they are moved around and reassigned. The sad reality of this was that sometimes regiments, battalions or platoons were so decimated from battle that a lot of reassignment went on. In Torindo’s case he was then T.O.S. from the 1st Battalion Oxford Rifles on August 31st, 1943 and officially enlisted for active duty here in Canada. A disturbing note highlighted in red at the top of his Personnel Selection Record reads: “RESTRICTED TO NON-SENSITIVE UNIT ANYWHERE including OVERSEAS” In that record, under recommendations, part five, it states the following; “Enemy Alien – not to be employed in Coastal Defense Areas or sent to Chilliwack C.A. (B) T.C. #112.” See what I mean by acronyms! So because Torindo was Italian born and Canada had declared war on Italy on June 10, 1940, the Canadian government designated Italian nationals and Italians naturalized after 1922 as enemy aliens. Similar to the Japanese, 31,000 Italian Canadians were singled out; finger printed, photographed and required to report monthly to the police. Some 600 plus were interned in rural camps in Petawawa, Kananaskis and Fredericton, most never even charged with a crime. Locally, I recall the case of respected Italian contractor, J. S. D’Appolonia, who was elected mayor of Coleman in February of 1940 and resigned four months later because of agitation about his nationality. I wonder how Torindo felt about being treated with suspicion despite his pledge to serve this country. There were several evaluations done of him and his suitability up until April 10th of 1944 when his record reads; “Qualified Driver Mech. Group “C” – suitable for O/S (overseas) C.I.C (Canadian Intelligence Corp) if Pulhems profile confirmed”. Pulhems is, I believe, an acronym similar to the American Pulhes acronym for a grading system which evaluates a candidate’s physical profile (overall, upper, lower, hearing, eyes and stability/psychiatric). This comment was signed by J. F. English, a lieutenant and Army Examiner in Prince George, B.C. It is probable that Torindo’s reclassification had to do with Italy switching sides and declaring war on Germany on Oct 13, 1943. In May 26th, 1944 Bisaro was shipped overseas to England where his record indicates he landed on June 2nd. He was disembarked in France on the 14th of July and was taken on strength with the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch of Canada. He was listed missing in action two weeks later. So this so called enemy alien died for our country in very short order in Normandy at the age of 21. He is buried in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. Torindo was killed fighting in the late stages of the Normandy invasion. I suspect he may have been involved in the terrible battle of Saint-Andre-sur-Orne. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about this; “That village witnessed the expulsion of many schoolchildren from the "Maison du Clos" by the Nazi army during World War II, but the marching children were then rescued by Allied soldiers. The village was finally liberated in late July 1944 by Canadian soldiers, many
Looking Back By John Kinnear
Torindo John Bisaro – K-38606 of whom died in this fierce battle, hence the street names of "Royal Black Watch" (the Montreal-based regiment) and the village's main street "Rue des Canadiens". Their bodies are buried in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in the nearby village of Cintheaux.” Of the 2958 soldiers buried at Bretteville, 2782 are Canadian. On Torindo’s marker is the inscription: “Torindo - quanto si manchiinconsolabili pregano mama pappa e sorelle.” It translates; “how you are missed, we are inconsolable, prayers from mom, dad and sisters.” Amongst Torindo’s records are two telegrams sent not to his mother and father Frank and Angela in Italy, but instead to his listed next-of-kin John Bisaro in Baldwinton. One is on August 6th from the Ministry of National Defense and notifies John that Torindo is missing in action. The second came June 6th, 1945, incredibly some 10 months later, and reads; “DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT K38606 PRIVATE TORINDO JOHN BISARO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING IS NOW REPORTED KILLED IN ACTION TWENTY EIGHT JULY 1944 STOP. Amongst his other papers is a will filed in February 1943 bequeathing to his Uncle John; “all my estate both personal and real.” It was a requirement of all soldiers to file one after being moved to active service. Below the will is a copy of a letter sent by Frank to Canadian Military Headquarters in Acton, London in September of 1945. In the letter his father Frank acknowledges their 28th of July, 1945, notification of, in his words, “the bad notice of my son.” This came to him one year after Torindo died, for God’s sake! Frank goes on to say in a heartbreaking paragraph; “He was the only son I had so you can imagine how my dalour (sorrow) is like and what it means to me by having lost him. We are both, his mother and I, old and rather sickly. We were waiting for him and always thought to have his help in our last years, and now that we know he will never come back to us, how can we live?” There is also a 1947 letter, typed in Italian, from his mother Angela Bisaro and signed by her. It was probably crafted for her by others and below it is a typed transcription, done by the Bureau of Translation- Foreign Languages Division, that basically reveals her thanking the Department of National Defense for the photographs they sent her of her son’s grave. She also asked if it would be possible to have his remains transferred to Italy. Finally there is a 1951 official response letter to the family from Colonel A.G. Cherrier, Military Attaché, Canadian Embassy, Rome, Italy. Sent from Ottawa, it stated that it had received the family’s request on March of that year wondering if it would be possible for Frank, at no personal cost, to visit his son’s grave. The letter reveals there was no provision for such requests and that possibly the Canadian Legion might organize subsidized trips to war memorials in a couple of years but that this was a Canadian initiative only. It goes on to say; “The possibility of extending any financial help to Mr. F. Bisaro is most unlikely.” This is just half of Torindo John Bisaro’s legacy. The other half will come next week when I will reveal the wonderful story behind the naming of a mountain and a spectacular cave in the Fernie area after this young Italian who gave his life for this country. Authors Note: Outside the entrance to the Bretteville Cemetery is a memorial in the shape of a maple leaf dedicated to Gérard Doré, considered to be the youngest Canadian soldier to be killed during the Battle of Normandy. He lied about his age and volunteered for the Royal Canadian Artillery at the age of 15, and was just four weeks shy of his 17th birthday when he was killed at the Battle of Ridge Canopies on 23rd July. That is his picture on the front page. He died one day before Torindo did.
From top: Extracts showing alien restriction and his declaration and oath to the King-courtesy Library and Archives Canada; Second telegram sent to Torindo's Uncle -courtesy Library and Archives Canada; Bretteville sur Laize Canadian War Cemetery where Torindo lies - courtesy wikitree.com; Torindo's marker at Bretteville - courtesy findagrave.com; Italian message at the foot of Torindo's grave - courtesy findagrave.com Front page: Gerard Dore - died at age 16 one day before Torindo - courtesy Wikipedia
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - crowsnest pass HeraLD - 9
John Pundyk.CoM
Simply Selles Musings from you local reporter
This week I’ll be talking about toilet paper… Man, I can’t believe I just typed that out. Yes, the toilet paper epidemic has hit the world as people have been flocking to every store possible buying as much toilet paper as they can fit in a shopping cart. I recently saw a video shot at a Costco in Langley, BC where the doors open and every shopper literally starts running to the back of the store to grab as much toilet paper as they can. While everyone else is doing this, I’m struggling to understand why. There is absolutely no correlation anywhere that says the Coronavirus causes you to need 5,000 rolls of toilet paper at the ready. I have yet to grasp how people can hear “wash your hands thoroughly” and change it into “I must buy all the toilet paper I possibly can!” If people want to go on a massive spending spree to try avoid getting Covid19, then buy a bunch of hand sanitizer! According to twitter (I know, not an actual source) some people have been saying Australia have already limited the amounts of toilet paper people can buy to one package a day. While more and more videos of people stockpiling toilet paper are popping up on social media, the comment section of these videos is a mixture of people saying they got their bunch the day before and people just laughing at the weird decision these people are making. One picture I’ve seen making the rounds on social media is of a paper telling customers “Due to the recent outbreak of stupidity and panic-purchasing by complete idiots, the nation is currently experiencing a shortage of toilet paper and common sense. We expect supplies to be replenished once these sheep-minded morons have all starved to death in their homes, surrounded by toilet paper but without anything to eat. Thank you for your patience.” I just truly don’t understand what the thought process behind this is. If there’s a genuine reason for it, please let me know because right now, I’m so lost at why this is happening.
Thank you The family of Stephen James Squarek would like to thank you all very much for the cards, food, flowers and kind expressions of sympathy shown following his sad passing. Your support at this difficult time was very much appreciated and of great comfort to all of the family. Stever had the best care possible from some amazing physicians. Thank you to Dr. Lana Wicentovich, Dr. Benke and Dr. Jimenez-Zepeda. Also to Jennifer Brakes his clinical study nurse. Because of all of you Stever was able to fight a tough battle. Huge thank you to the employees and staff of the Municipality of the CNP and the Union for everything you all have done for the family. He would be so honoured. To our true and dear friend Eva Stanley. Thank you for the beautiful service you provided at this Celebration of Life. Darrell Sydora and Fantin’s Funeral Chapel thank you does not even justify how appreciative we all are for your kindness and support during this difficult time. With all your help we were able to celebrate the amazing life he lived with all our friends and family. From the bottom of our hearts, with love, Beverly Michael & family Michelle & family Joan & Kevin Anne Larin
403
Royal LePage South Country Real Estate Services Ltd. moUNtaiN PRoPERtY Great opportunity to own a mountain acreage close to Lee Lake and en route to Castle Mountain Ski Resort. This acreage offers many opportunities for someone who would like to keep horses or other farm animals on a small piece of land. Small acreages in this area are rare because of the subdivision process and requirements. Just off of Highway 507. $249,000 CALL JOHN MLS
562-8830 jpundyk@shaw.ca
bLaiRmoRE coNDo Very reasonable condo fees with in suite washer & dryer. Expertly updated for the comforts of modern living in the Canadian Rockies. An affordable option as a home or as an investment. Excellent main street location. Parking at rear of building. Ski hill, swimming pool and other amenities within walking distance. $84,000 CALL JOHN MLS
bLaiRmoRE Large family bungalow in central Blairmore location with fully developed basement. 3 bedrooms up, 2 down. Spacious living area with vaulted ceiling and a 3-sided gas fireplace. Great covered deck off the dining area for BBQ or entertainment. The master bedroom features a soaker tub and separate shower. Large media room/family room. Fully fenced yard. Large attached garage and paved drive. Fantastic value. $429,900 CALL JOHN MLS
commERciaL Lot Commercial land with east/west access on busy Hwy 3. Located at first entrance to Bellevue. Has access to municipal water and sewer. This bare land property can be acquired with bordering property, Crowsnest Angler. Tremendous traffic count in front of property. Suitable for many different activities. $190,000 CALL JOHN MLS
#4 bLaiRmoRE coNDo
coLEmaN Full lot with exceptional mountain views. House is to be removed so this property is priced for the lot value only. One of the very few sites where you can see Crowsnest Mountain, Tecumseh and the South Range all at the same time. $69,000 GST CALL JOHN MLS
bELLEVUE Fantastic opportunity for commercial location along busy Highway 3. East and West bound traffic access. Currently occupied as a successful flyfishing shop, known to fly fishermen throughout Canada and the U.S. Can be sold as a business to someone wishing for a change of pace or for a property that can be re-purposed. Present zoning is C1 allows for different opportunities. High traffic volume in front of the property. $435,000 CALL JOHN MLS
timbERLiNE RiDgE Great opportunity to buy affordable building lots in Timberline Ridge, Bellevue. Fully serviced lots with great sun exposure. Level building site. Very nice development with wide paved streets and all underground utilities. Build now or buy a lot to build in the future. Don't miss the opportunity to consider this location. Lots starting at $68,000 + GST CALL JOHN MLS
Great Condo apartment in historic building in central Blairmore. Expertly updated for modern living in the Canadian Rockies. Affordable option as a home or as an investment. Parking at rear. Ski hill, swimming pool within walking distance. Offers carefree condo living. $84,000 CALL JOHN MLS
bLaiRmoRE Historic brick home located on extralarge corner lot. 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom home was built with brick. Stain glass windows. Beautiful central staircase. Self-contained apartment on second floor. Amazing decks and backyard. Huge lot. 24’ x 38’ garage, large garden shed and fenced RV parking. Great access front and back lane. $619,000 CALL JOHN MLS
63 iRoNstoNE High quality 4 bedroom mountain condo at Ironstone Lookout in beautiful Crowsnest Pass. Bright open floor plan where you can choose high-end woodwork and cabinetry. Spacious main floor laundry. Large garage with double car driveway. Still time to choose from a variety of quality finishes. Enjoy maintenance free luxury living at an INCREDIBLE price. $349,000 + GST CALL JOHN MLS
bLaiRmoRE Bright, open living space in beautiful Blairmore neighbourhood. Newly updated 2+1 bedroom bungalow located on extra large corner lot at bottom of Sartoris staging area. Large windows capture spectacular mountain views. Close to school, shopping, ski hill and backcountry adventure. 22'x24' double car garage. $294,500 CALL JOHN MLS
iNVEstmENt PRoPERtY QE II Highway Commercial. High visibility and easy access. For Sale or Lease. Five acre developed parcel along busy Calgary-Red Deer Corridor. This fantastic piece of land is located on the southeast approach to Bowden in Red Deer County. Fully fenced and gated with industrial chain link fence. Sewer and water in the road in front of property. $950,000 CALL JOHN MLS
officE sPacE bLaiRmoRE
coLEmaN Spacious 3 bedroom home. This one level house is expertly rebuilt with an addition featuring a large sitting room and an ample sized master bedroom. Large family room with a gas fireplace and bright front room with fantastic mountain view. Large screened porch. Garage accessible from the back lane. Excellent starter home or revenue property. $172,500 CALL JOHN MLS
moNtE Vista Very affordable 20' x 76' modular home was built in 2002. Excellent location, fenced yard in Hillcrest. 3 bedroom, plus a large Bonus room. Brand new luxury vinyl plank flooring just installed. Bright, spacious kitchen. Beautiful large deck and 12' x 16' outdoor shed. Perfect retirement or starter home. $114,900 CALL JOHN MLS
Fantastic Opportunity for first class office space in a busy downtown Blairmore location. Currently used as a mine office, but may be re-purposed into any other commercial use. Current zoning is commercial. Perfect location. Call Lister for more details. $104,000 CALL JOHN MLS
24 iRoNstoNE 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom, bungalow with vaulted ceilings and open floor plan. Hardwood flooring, alder wood cabinets and quartz counters. Stainless steel appliances and gas fireplace. Master suite with large walk-in closet and 3-piece bathroom. Double car garage. Main floor laundry hookups and downstairs laundry. Spacious family room downstairs with wide stairway incorporating both living areas. Ample parking and beautiful green space. $345,000 CALL JOHN MLS
NEW LUXURY DUPLEX New duplex under construction at Ironstone Lookout. Incredible mountain views with bright, open design. Vaulted ceilings with a onefloor living concept. Main floor laundry. Large attached garage. 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms on main floor. 2 additional bedrooms, bathroom and large family room on lower level. Opportunity for buyer to choose from a variety of high quality finishes. Each side $419,000 plus GST. GST rebate to qualifying buyers. Alberta New Home Warranty.
VacaNt PRoPERtiEs foR aLL tYPEs of DEVELoPmENt. REsiDENtiaL oR commERciaL. EcoNomY oR DELUXE. coNtact JohN foR DEtaiLs
10 – Crowsnest Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, March 11, 2020
For Rent
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To inquire about the availability of an apartment for rent in Blairmore call 403562-8144. 1-TFN
building, Blairmore, some utilities included,$750 per month, no pets. Available immediately. Phone 403-5635385. 8-TFN/C
One bedroom condo in Blairmore. Very clean complex. Rent is $475 plus DD. Available March 1. Phone 604354-2354. 8-TFN Two Bedroom, secure adult
For Rent Sears Best Fireproof steel housesafe. 2’ X 21/2” X 2’21/2” wide 3’ X 21/2” tall, very deep shelves. Mint condition. Valued at over $2000. Asking $1000 OBO. Phone 403-
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Services Is someone’s drinking affecting you? Alcoholics Anonymous can help? Call Lyle B. at 403-563-4003, Michelle at 403-563-0548 or Barry H. 403-563-6105 for info. Meeting are Wednesdays and Sundays at 7 - back of the provincial building.
AWNA CLASSIFIEDS
Announcements POWER ENGINEERS! Steam Smart has posted new exam preparation courses for people working on their next steam ticket. 2A1, 2A2, 3B2 www.SteamSmart.ca.
Business Opportunities BLANKET THE PROVINCE with a classified ad. Only $269 (based on 25 words or less). Reach 97 weekly newspapers. Call NOW for details. 1-800-282-6903 Ext 200; www.awna.com.
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Feed and Seed HEATED CANOLA buying Green, Heated or Springthrashed Canola. Buying: oats, barley, wheat & peas for feed. Buying damaged or offgrade grain. "On Farm Pickup" Westcan Feed & Grain, 1-877-250-5252.
For Sale METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 37+ colours available at over 55 Distributors. 40 year warranty. 24-48 hour Ex-
press Service available at supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254. STEEL BUILDING SALEµ "Big Blowout Sale - All Buildings Priced to Clear!" 20X23 $6,249. 25X27 $7,334. 28X29 $7,877. 30X31 $8,965. 32X31 $9,863. One End Wall included. Pioneer Steel 1-855-212-7036 www.pioneersteel.ca. INTEGRITY POST FRAME BUILDINGS since 2008 BUILT WITH CONCRETE POSTS. Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and more, sales@integritybuilt.com 1-866-974-7678 www.integritybuilt.com.
Health DRUGS or ALCOHOL AFFECTING your home/work life? iRecover Addiction Treatment Centers rehab facility provides medical detox and substance abuse treatment. www.iRecover.ca; 1877-387-4155. HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT. Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $3,000 yearly tax credit and $30, 000 lump sum refund. Take advantage of this offer. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide: Expert
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
Canadian Prairie Pickers are once again touring the area!
Paying Cash For Coin Collections, Silver & Gold Coins, Royal Can. Mint Sets. Also Buying Gold Jewelry
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Tenders HAY & GRAZING TENDERS. Ducks Unlimited Canada is now accepting tenders for grazing on its projects. Visit ducks.ca/albertahaygraze for locations of properties available for 2020 in Alberta.
Wanted WANTED: OLD TUBE AUDIO Equipment. 40 years or older. Amplifiers, Stereo, Recording and Theatre Sound Equipment. Hammond Organs, any condition. Call Toll-Free 1-800-9470393.
Crowsnest Community support society Position AVAiLAbLE EXECUtiVE DiRECtoR PERMAnEnt FULL-tiME Position Pay dependent on education and experience starting at $35.66 for scheduled work hours Mondays to Fridays – maximum 37.5 hours per week Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is a senior-management role with strategic operational and service area responsibility. This role has responsibility for the overall strategic planning and priority setting for the Society and direct leadership responsibilities for the Society’s business/service plan. • Degree in Human Services/Business Administration or a related field • Five or more years senior non-profit management experience • Community Disability (Rehab) Diploma or related education an asset • Strong financial management skills including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting • A history of successfully generating new revenue streams and improving financial results • Active fundraising experience • Excellent donor relations skills and understanding of the funding community • Strong organizational abilities, including strategic thinking, planning, delegating, program development and task facilitation • Ability to envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to the staff, board, volunteers and donors • Ability to effectively communicate the organization’s mission to donors, volunteers and the overall community • Previous success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including funders, partner agencies and volunteers • Experience and skill in working with a Board of Directors • Demonstrated ability to oversee and collaborate with staff • Strong written and oral communication skills • Strong work ethic with a high degree of energy • Mandatory Benefit Package • Clean Vulnerable Criminal Record Check • Flexible schedule and paid vacation days • Employee recognition programs • Position covered through WCB
For more information or to apply please contact James Woodall - james.ccssmvi.ca Mail resume to Crowsnest Community support society box 507 , Coleman, Ab t0K oMo oR Fax – 403-563-3144 Deadline for applications – 4:00 pm Monday, March 16, 2020 Position start Date – to be Determined only those applicants to be considered will be contacted
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Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - Crowsnest pass HeraLD - 11
Long-term service at York Creek Lodge York Creek Lodge held a service awards ceremony to recognize incredible lengths of service to the lodge. The following people were recognized for either five or 10 years of service. Left to right: Barb Curtis - 5 years, Jackie Lacroix - 10 years; Mona Mundy - 10 years Sherri Schiebout - 5 years and Cindy Tremblay - 10 years. Not Pictured - Cindy Thody - 5 years David Selles photo
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12 – CROWSNEST PaSS hERaLd – Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Council Briefs DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter
The following topics were discussed at the Regular Council meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd. Crowsnest Crossing Commercial Site The Municipality owns a 6.25-acre parcel in Blairmore that was the location of the old hospital. The site is strategically located adjacent to the Tim Horton’s/Crowsnest Crossing development. However, the Municipality requires a comprehensive plan to actively attract an investor. Previous site designs and sales efforts have not resulted
in securing both investment and development. The proposed Comprehensive Marketing Strategy represents the Municipality’s best opportunity to see development occur on the site and includes Site Planning (2 concept designs), Retail and Commercial Market Gap Analysis, Hotel Study and Marketing Outputs. Investment and development of the site could return both a one-time cash payment to the Municipality as well as significant yearly taxes. Ensuring financial sustainability is a goal of Council. The sale and development of significant
Be Bear aware DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter
With spring around the corner, warmer weather will be coming with it and so will wildlife. District Fish and Wildlife Officer, John Clarke, says bear siting’s will be increasing as the weather warms up. “Grizzly bears throughout the winter are up and down. If the weather changes or we get some snow melting, they'll walk around.” Clarke says that while some bears may be seen early, the majority won’t come out until later in April but that weather can play a factor in when the majority make their first appearances. “Historically, most bears go end of October and then probably about the third week of April is when we'd say they're out. A lot of it has to do with snow melting. Smart bears will actually den on a north-facing slope. Others will den on a southfacing slope and what happens is the sun is facing the south facing and it melts all of the snow. Then the water starts draining into their dens and the bears wake up and walk around but there's nothing green yet and they have to wait a few weeks before there's any food for them. For the bears with dens that are north facing, by the time that melts and starts flooding the dens, they come out and everything is green.” Clarke says the bear’s first priority when com-
ing out is food. “When they come out, it's all about food. The moms had their kids last month so there will be sows coming out with their young and she's got to start pounding back the calories. Depending where the bears are, they'll look at avalanche shoots and they'll check rural areas where cows have been dumped over the last number of years. When the bears come out, they'll start looking for green stuff, they'll look for carcasses and they'll start looking for certain roots that start growing in the spring and are very sweet. They'll start hanging out wherever the sun is hitting.” Clarke also says that some problems can arise from ranchers leaving carcasses on their land. "Ranchers are calving right now. The ones that die, they'll get them taken away but the problem is some guys just bring them to the back of their field and leave it and then the bears come. If a bear finds it, they'll come back every year. It's kind of a double-edged sword. It's good for the bears because they have food when they come out but then they start hanging out around those places." Clarke adds it’s also a good idea for residents to start thinking about bird feeders and garbage disposal as well. “We want people to watch their garbage and bird feeders and things like that. If you live in acreage areas, take five minutes and see if there
commercial sites, such as the subject site (10509 20th Ave), requires extra effort when the site is not located in high traffic/high visibility locations such as Highway 2 in the vicinity of Calgary and Edmonton. Attracting development and commercial investment outside of these core urban centres requires more upfront work and investment by the owner (in this case the Municipality). Recognizing the more peripheral location of the subject site, the Municipality needs to fill market research gaps to accelerate property sale and community economic impact. Following a Council workshop with experts in marketing/economic development and commu-
nity planning there was acknowledgement that the site requires upfront work by the Municipality to ensure the site gets developed. The proposed approach to the Comprehensive Marketing Strategy is to develop highly attractive outputs that present a clear vision for the site. Depending on final development details, the site conceptually could accommodate roughly 90,000 square feet of commercial development, with a roughly estimated assessment value of $12,000,000. At current municipal nonresidential tax rates, this represents an approximate $150,000/yr municipal (only) tax revenue, plus sale of the property at a current assessed valued of $1,100,000. This
could be higher or lower depending on actual site development, land use mix on the site and other variables unknown at this time. Chief Administrative Officer, Patrick Thomas, says council chose to go this direction because there was very limited interest in the past. “There has been a for sale on the lot for several years now with limited interest generated.” Thomas also said that the previous alignment of the highway three twinning did affect the property but the new alignment will not put a constraint on the parcel. Council has now chosen to take a lead in how the property will be developed to maximize the potential for the parcel
and the community. This will be informed by market analyzes and utilizing consultants who specialize in planning and economic development.
are any tracks. If you see a track, make note of it and then mess it up so you know the next day your not looking at the same track.” As for hikers, Clarke says they should be cautious as they walk and look for signs of wildlife. “There's still snow and it's muddy out there right now. Take the five minutes to look at the tracks. People just start hiking and their focused and their not even looking. Enjoy your time out for a hike but look for tracks, what direction they're going and how fresh they are. You should always carry your bear spray with you because in the middle of winter you could meet a moose, or cougars at any time of year. People just need to be conscious about what their surroundings are. If you're walking in the city late at night, people tend to watch around. It should be the same thing out in the woods. You've got to watch for these animals.” Clarke also says that for the first while, bear’s scat will be a tarry black paste as the bears try and clean out their systems. Later in the year, Clarke says it’s important to keep awareness up even more. “Males usually come out first. Once they've done their thing, the females will come out. In June is when they start breeding, so they'll start touring around trying to find females. If you ever see a bear in June, think two because there could be another one around because they're breeding.” Clarke says he believes the actual number of bears has dropped
fairly significantly the last couple of years. “Our population has been down the last couple of years from before. I mentally keep track of all the bears I see and over the years we've had 27-33 bears during that year. Last year I think we had maybe eight and the year prior was 12. That could be it was a horrible winter and some died in their dens or it could be hunting.” Clarke also wants hunters to take some time and look before pulling the trigger. “Some things hunters have to know is that if they are bear hunting this season, take the time and make sure there are no cubs. If you sneak up on a bear and they're feeding, you don't have to shoot right away. Take a few minutes, look at them, watch the behaviour and see if there's cubs around. It's against the law to shoot a mother with cubs. Clarke also advises
hunters to take the time to make sure they're shooting the correct species as well. "We have a lot of brown black bears in the area. The majority of grizzly bears are brown so we've had to charge guys for shooting grizzly bears when they think it's a black bear. Look at the characteristics, take your time and if you don't know, don't pull the trigger." Clarke also advises people to take BearSmart courses to gain more understanding. "Crowsnest BearSmart puts a program on in the springtime and one in the fall. It's a really good course to take. The program's been working really well here. The residents are working really well together. Most people work with BearSmart and work with their neighbors because they want to keep their kids safe. The Communities
been getting better and better over the years. I have this little quote, 'people fear what they don't understand.' If they understand bears and their behaviour, then they know what to do." Clarke says one thing hikers need to do is not get caught frozen if they see a bear. "Whenever someone's hiking and they see a bear, they have to start backing up. Most people will do this stand off and they just sit there wondering what to do. Pull out your bear spray and back up. Too many people just sit there and that's changing the bear's behaviour. What if there are cubs right there you can't see? The biggest thing is people need to start backing up when they see a bear." More information on the BearSmart program can be found on their website www.cnpbearsmart.com.
Secondary Suites Council talked briefly about moving forward with collecting more information regarding secondary suites. During discussion, the topic of garden suites was also brought up and council decided to include both secondary and garden suites in the information they’d like brought back to them. Councillor Ward made a motion that council direct administration to explore the options and possibilities of secondary suites and garden suites. The motion was carried.
Lions Trip of the Month Winner Top photo: Linda Kaprowski of Coleman, all-inclusive trip for two, to Iberostar Paraiso Beach, Mexico, valued at $3,102.00 Larry Robutka of Blairmore a $200.00 Allied Hardware gift card Wes and Deborah Ostrensky a $120.00 Pure Country gift certificate Herald Contributor photo