Crowsnest Pass Herald

www.crowsnestpassherald.ca • 403-562-2248 •passherald@shaw.ca

March 25, 2020 ~ Vol. 90 No. 12 $1.00

Crowsnest pass

herald Serving the CnP SinCe 1930

A new world David Selles photo

The sign outside Crowsnest Consolidated High School shows a message from the staff to the students during the current school closure. Staff of all local schools are currently finding solutions to provide online learning for students for the remainder of the year.

business help

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looking baCk

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spring Care

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2 – CRowSnESt PASS HERALD – Wednesday, March 25, 2020

20034DG1

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel doing what they can as Essential Service david SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

Fur Babies (Puppies)

These Puppies are 7 weeks old and need loving forever homes. They eat puppy kibble and drink water on their own and in the process of using P Pads.

Mom is a Border Collie X with a Blue Heeler.

If Interested please contact Hope, Duane or Rico Truant for more info. 403-562-7882 Serious Inquiries only PLEASE.

As an essential service that must stay open, Darrel Sydora is doing everything he can to ensure Fantin’s Funeral Chapel are doing everything in their power to ensure the safety of clients.

Sydora says keeping on top of the many daily updates is a top priority.

“First and foremost, we have to stay abreast of all the new information that's been placed out there. We need to be in contact with Alberta Health Services and the Chief Medical Officer. We need to be educated on new information as much as possible. For precautions, we've been reaching out and networking with other organizations and preparing for what we need to do in that facet. Things like what are the symptoms, what are the things that we can do to keep ourselves safe and our customer families safe as well.”

Sydora says they’ve been going over procedures to ensure they are being as safe as possible.

“We've been doing things with finding out our procedures and going over those as to how we need to perform. Everything from fluid resist-

Thank You

ance to our personal protective equipment, respirators, transfer pouches, disposable gloves, sanitization and cleaning service contacts.”

According to Sydora, Fantin’s is following more guidelines than just what the Alberta Government and Chief Medical Officer are asking for.

“We're more thorough than that actually.

We're dealing with the Medical Examiner's Office as well so we do something a little bit further. For example, when transferring people in a body pouch, we should be doubling that in case there are any tears or things like that. We want to make sure there aren’t fluid transfers at all and also minimize airborne risks. When transferring a person we have to be very careful and make sure there are those barriers in place and disinfection is done. It's quite a technical process for us to transfer a deceased person from point a to point b. There are things that need to be done and I think most of the public aren't aware or don't want to be aware of how that's done.”

Sydora says he understands the importance of the service he provides.

“We know that we need to always honour

and memorialize a person. We still have to keep in mind that this is a difficult and emotional time for people and they need a forum or an outlet to handle and express their grief. We need to be there for them more so now than ever.”

Services are still being held at Fantin’s, but Sydora says the guidelines are being followed.

“We do still offer services but we contain them in a way that is moderated by the Chief Medical Officer as well.

For example, no more than 50 people in a venue. Trying to keep the distance between people.

Having the large chapel that we do, we're allowed to space people out for their preference.

Family units will always be together anyway because they live together at home. We also have the ability to place a better ventilation system inside our chapel, we have sanitizers everywhere and of course funeral homes have stocks of Kleenex. Just keeping things very sanitized. We have to understand the microbiology of it all and how transferring it is so easy.”

To limit personal contact, Sydora says arrangements can be made over

the phone.

“If families are so inclined we can do arrangements just by the phone and the Internet. We can easily send documents back and forth. We of course can minimize the contact that families are having with the public.”

Sydora is also asking for some help from the community to ensure he has everything that’s needed to stay open as an essential service.

“Since we do need to remain open and we have to go on day to day, it would be nice if the community would also cooperate because we don't want to see a continuance of the hoarding that is going on. Services like ours, they do need to stay open and for example, toilet paper, sanitizers and things like that, aren't to be found. If we didn't always keep a fair amount of those we'd be in a hurting situation and who knows what's going to take place a month from now. I can go to the store almost every day and I'm reluctant to see any hand sanitizers and things like that. It won't help us if people are buying everything up and hoarding it.”

Riversdale update Sidney Stella Communications Coordinator

The team at Riversdale is thinking of our fellow community members during this time of uncertainty that we’re in together.

We have closed our offices until further notice to ensure the ongoing protection of our staff and community. We’re just a phone call away so if you have questions or need to contact a team member, please call 403.753.5160 and you will be directed to the appropriate individual.

In terms of the regulatory process, review of the Grassy Mountain Coal Project continues with the Joint Review Panel (JRP) announcing the start of the public comment period on Addendum 11 on Friday, March 19.

From the JRP: “Indigenous groups, government bodies, the public and other participants are invited to provide comments on the sufficiency and technical merit of the Eleventh Addendum to the EIA available on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (the Registry) at canada.ca/iaac, reference number 80101.

Participants are also invited to make recommendations to the Joint Review Panel on additional information that it should receive prior to proceeding to a public hearing for the project.

A resource document, including template, to assist participants in the preparation of their submissions is now available on the Registry.

The Joint Review Panel will consider all submissions, including those that have been sent by participants in relation to the environmental assessment of the project and are already posted on the Registry. The Panel requests that participants not submit duplicate comments or recommendations.

Please forward submissions in either official language to the Joint Review Panel at IAAC.GrassyMountain.AEIC@canada.ca by May 4, 2020. Documents submitted or generated as part of the environmental assessment will be considered public and will be posted on the Registry.”

Until we see you again, stay safe, stay healthy, wash your hands and please practice social distancing!

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - Crowsnest PAss herAlD - 3

In the lIne of fIre Theft On March 16th, 2020, there was a complaint of theft of gas from a vehicle parked on 22nd Avenue in Blairmore. The theft occurred sometime over the previous few days.

Between March 16 and March 23, Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a total of 36 calls for service including the following reported incidents.

Two (2) assaults, one (1) break and enter (residential), one (1) fraud/forgery, three (3) threats/harassments, two (2) mischief (vandalism), one (1) theft, three (3) disturbing the peace, five (5) driving complaints, two (2) motor vehicle collisions, four (4) assistance to general public, four (4) suspicious occurrence, three (3) assistance to other agencies, one (1) 911 call (invalid) and two (2) false alarms.

Court News A 23-year-old male received 270 days in jail in Lethbridge Court for numerous charges including assault, assault causing bodily harm, breach of probation, breach of condition, theft of vehicle and driving while suspended. The offences occurred in December of 2019.

Found Found bikes turned into Crowsnest Pass Bylaw Be aware of a new scam. Victims get phone calls from someone pretending to be from Service Canada or another government agency, say-

~ rCMP news ~

ing 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.

Also, do not say yes to any questions if you are unsure of who is calling as people can use voice recognition to access other information.

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 1-800-422TIPS. Reminder to resi-

The Simple Raven’s Post

by Avner Perl

Hope during a Corona invasion Last week I predicted that my next column may be full of hope. I truly want it to be, but I am now a suspicious person and not without good reasons. I have been cheated so many times. I watched the news this morning. It was an American station.

I saw the President who just two weeks ago said repeatedly that there is nothing to worry about, now saying that he knew for a long time that the pandemic was coming. Did he? Well, four senators are being accused of selling their stocks just before the market crashed. They knew. Also, we don’t know how many in the US are infected since they don’t have enough test kits to check. Back to Canada.

Here the Prime Minister is in isolation, leading by “good example.” He is announcing some very helpful measures to keep the population alive and the economy going. I agree with pumping money into the economy. Preventing chaos and ensuring that everyone will have some money to keep commerce going is necessary. I don’t think he has another choice.

I do question when governments give billions in grants or even tax cuts to industries or corporations that are failing. This is too much socialism for me. Why Mr. Prime-minister, don’t you prepay our gas and oil bills for six months instead of giving 15 billion of our tax money to the oil and gas companies who will soon lay off a quarter of Albertans? Give the money to the oil workers, I would say. I have a good friend who believes that solutions to problems always come from big business. Now we have a major crisis and I don’t see people begging big business for solutions. I see people turning to governments demanding action. If I was the government, I would help small businesses who employ most Canadians. Instead, they are taxing small businesses and their employees and giving money to the big ones.

I watched a CBC special “Market Place Coronavirus (COVID-19)”. It’s a good show which compared our readiness for the pandemic with that of Taiwan. On that Island kids still go to school, families eat in restaurants functioning normally with a few exceptions. Per capita, they have fewer COVID 19 cases than us, and we are much better than most. How come? The Taiwan government has done its job.

Onwards, I go to review our Premier’s address from yesterday. He outlined several new measures that would make any lefty politician elated. Daycares for essential workers, expanding homeless shelters, 113 million dollars to clean orphan oil wells, paying people for self-isolation, relaxing restrictions on Unemployment Insurance, paying people’s utilities, you name it.

dents of computer scams, credit cards scams, Grandparent scams, Revenue Canada scams asking for money or cash cards and saying warrants out for arrest, do not give out personal information to persons you don't know.

DO NOT OPEN EMAILS if you are suspicious of its origin. Do NOT purchase gift cards for payment to Revenue Canada.

Do not send monies to person claiming you have won a prize and need to send money for delivery.

Crime mapping is available online to residents who are interested can login online at Municipality of Crowsnest Pass website (RCMP crime map for Crowsnest Pass). Crime mapping shows property crimes that occurred within the past two weeks in our area.

DiD you know?

Pop corn was invented by the Aztec Indians.

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In his address, the Premier said that there will be more measures outlined in the days to come. This is also happening on the Federal level. There is help for small businesses, freezing taxes, injecting funds into the health care system which has been starved for years and much more.

People my age all remember the horrible first and second world wars. Humankind has never seen such a devastating horror, and tens of millions died. The suffering was too horrible for today’s people to believe possible. The last who have seen it are quickly now joining their friends “who gave up their lives.”

Out of the ashes of those horrible wars dawned a new world. Women received equality, non-white folks had a road for success and a new middle class was born.

Countries were built up enhanced by new science, technology, and billions of people were educated. Monarchies all but disappeared and religious institutions declined.

The Alberta premier gathered a group of business leaders, and a token union person, to be an Economic Recovery Council and get us back on our feet after the worst has passed. They will be inclined to save corporations and banks, but will have to keep the labour force and consumers alive.

We are facing a tiny invisible alien human killer that multiplies fast. Until we discover a way to combat it, we will have to keep going with the existing economy impossible to sustain. We will use money for reasons other than hoarding riches away from the taxman. Now will be the time in which people will realize that the theory of austerity is faulty. The money that governments are injecting into the lower end of the economy, where it is immediately used, will create a robust economy and save us from the predicted recession. Soon the governments will begin to issue that money in exchange for public infrastructure, free education, and other socially beneficial projects.

People took part in some experiments of guaranteed income in parts of the world. Unexpectedly, the results showed that folks found ways to be useful and productive. The money created jobs and started small businesses. Yes, this is a message of hope.

From my isolated vantage point, I see God collecting all the cards from the table, shuffling the deck and redistributing it. I see humankind realizing that it doesn’t take much to cause devastating panic and by acting irrationally upset the apple cart. I see society doing exactly what it did after the great wars; rebuilding the social safety nets, investing in essential services, and building badly needed projects.

By the time our bodies adjust to the new virus, some of us will be gone but the rest may be ahead. Some of the old corporations will diminish and there will be a new appreciation for the workers who keep society going. The Wall-Street and other Markets who produce nothing but wealth for a few will reconfigure to be more useful for most people.

Trudeau stated that we trust in science. I trust in God, and science is a part of it.

After churches will be closed for a while, people may discover the truth as stated in John 4, 22. The brave new world after COVID 19 may be all different and we will be around to see it.

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 25, 2020

Editorial Again I’m sitting at my desk trying to figure out how to put into words what I’m feeling right now. I’m pretty sure you are all feeling the same way; it’s an emotional rollercoaster of happy, sad, terrified and everything in between.

Newspapers have been deemed essential services so I will be publishing throughout this ordeal. I’ve asked my staff to work remotely and I’m the only one in the office, except on production day and we have limited that to one person in the office at a time. My hands are raw from washing them and my nose burns with every spray of Lysol on a keyboard and phone.

This crisis reminds me of why papers are important. We will document this pandemic as it will be one of those moments in history that kids will discuss 100 years from now. We will have hard copy proof of this moment in time. We will remember the day the world shut down, much like the day JFK was shot, Neil Armstrong landed on the moon and the moment the planes hit the Twin Towers in New York. I remember being in an option class as a teacher helper to Mrs. Kutcher when I watched on the TV in the photocopy room at ISS the space shuttle Challenger explode. I remember where I was and what I was doing when it happened.

This issue has a lot of information about the pandemic, from how our local businesses are trying to navigate, where businesses can go to access financial resources and a message from our MLA Roger Reid and MP John Barlow.

We are keeping our Facebook page updated daily with news from all three levels of government, federal, provincial and local.

If there is something you want to read, an issue you need us to investigate send us an email to passherald@shaw.ca and David will do his best to get you an accurate answer.

We are all in this together. There are going to be extremes, there are people who think the apocalypse is here and people who figure they can have a house party. On the former, please stop terrifying people, that’s how hoarding of toilet paper starts and the later, that’s how you can kill someone. I’m in the middle. I think if we practice reasonable social distancing and diligent hand washing we can make it through. I will still stop at Country Encounters and get my box of veggies. I will still grab a coffee from Cherry on Top and I will still go to the post office to get my mail.

I will still go for walks and I will wash my hands diligently. I will not touch my face and I will keep a 2-metre distance. If we practice that we are doing our duty.

Please check on your neighbours, even if you don’t like them. Be kind and don’t be a fear monger. Seniors are scared enough and if you are still lucky enough to have an income, please try to set aside a bit to help the food bank because it will be needed more then ever.

My only warning is to make sure you check the information you are receiving off social media is accurate. You will see everything from zombie hordes to cures. The misinformation out there is massive. We will only print what we have researched and what we are given as information from reliable sources. We will make sure what you read is correct. You can trust us to give you the right information. That’s my word.

So I will end this editorial telling you that our ‘Garden of Eden’ as my mom always called it has been through several facets of tragedy and yet we seem to persevere. This too shall pass and we will come out of the dark stronger then we were before even if it takes some time to fix the broken pieces. God bless you all and stay healthy and safe.

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.

Eye on Education - school closure and COVID-19 Dear Editor, It has been one week since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. A lot has happened since then.

The situation is unprecedented and fluid, and we are fortunate to have Alberta’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Hinshaw, guiding the provincial response.

In cooperation with Alberta Education Minister, Adriana LaGrange, Dr. Hinshaw met with Alberta Superintendents, School Boards and other stakeholders on Saturday, March 14, 2020 via teleconference to provide direction and answer questions regarding elementary and secondary schools’ response to COVID-19.

I found this meeting reassuring and extremely helpful in answering many of the questions Albertans had concerning the operation of schools during this time. I was grateful that the Ministry of Education as well as Dr. Hinshaw were receptive to hear more from School Boards

and Superintendents regarding the logistical impact of the practice of zero tolerance for ill students and staff.

Although Alberta had put in place many aggressive measures to try to prevent the spread of, or at least “flatten the curve,” of COVID-19, many Albertans were left wondering why schools were initially to remain open in our province. As you can imagine, the decision to keep schools open or closed is complex. In order for school closures to be effective, Dr. Hinshaw suggested that school closures would be in place for months rather than weeks.

On March 15, 2020 information regarding the nature and scope of the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta changed such that Dr. Hinshaw announced a stoppage of all regular operation of daycares, playschools and K-12 schools which would take place immediately. For the time being, K-12 schools remain open to healthy

staff, however classes are cancelled.

Seventy-four percent (74%) of children in Alberta do not have a stay at home parent/guardian.

Schools play a critical role in the provincial response to public health issues as medical experts balanced public health risks with actions that significantly impact society as a whole.

When classes are cancelled, parents/guardians who do not have regular childcare in place may be forced to stay home from work. If parents are home, who is handling the hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies, utility companies and the host of other venues that we as a society depend on?

For parents/guardians who have no choice but to work, who will care for their children? How are the almost 750,000 K-12 students in our province going to receive their education?

These are very real problems that we are facing currently in our

province. The decision to cancel classes was not entered into lightly given the difficulties that will inevitably arise, however, the health and safety of Albertans is of paramount importance. Over the next several days, school divisions will review how education can still be delivered to students who are not physically in the building. Many online platforms and virtual strategies exist and will be used in the continuing education of our children but other options will need to be explored for those without internet or devices.

I have the highest respect and appreciation for all our professionals who spend hours each day teaching, supporting and caring for our children. I have full confidence that Alberta’s professional educators will continue to be collaborative, creative and innovative as they do all they can to make the best of education in these challenging times.

Fortis power outage update DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

On Sunday, March 15th, Fortis Alberta was dealing with a power outage to the Crowsnest Pass Community. Fortis says that the problem was that supply was lost from the transmission service provider, AltaLink. Fortis spent Sunday afternoon and part of the evening restoring power to the area as quickly as possible.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 5

John Pundyk.CoM

Simply Selles

403

Musings from you local reporter

I’m on my fourth day of self-isolation as I write this column, not because I’m sick or know I have the virus but simply because I want to do my part in limiting the spread of Covid-19.

If there’s even a small chance I have the virus right now, I don’t want to risk giving it to others without knowing it.

While working from home has its perks, Most days I still miss heading to the office and talking to whoever comes in that day.

I’ve been surviving with minimal face-to-face contact because I’ve still been chatting with friends on social media.

It’s been a big help to being cooped up in my small apartment.

I’ve also been surviving by going for walks throughout the day.

Since we aren’t in a mandatory stay-at-home order as other places were at points throughout this uncertain time, I’ve been capitalizing on the opportunity to go out for walks while still keeping my distance from other people on the trails.

I think it’s really important for people to get outside right now.

Social Distancing doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself inside until this situation dissipates.

Even Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, is encouraging people to go outside at this time to help with their mental health throughout this.

People are experiencing enough stress on a daily basis hearing updates that aren’t always positive without having the chance to go outside and get some fresh air.

So, if you feel the need to go outside and gain that extra bit of sanity back, DO IT!!

The only thing people need to do when going outside is keep their distance from other people.

If you do that, you’ll be totally fine.

I recently went out for an hour-long walk by the river and I felt so much better the rest of the day compared to the days I stayed inside.

I hope everyone in staying safe and following the guidelines that have been put in place for us!

The quicker we fall in line with what we’re being asked to do, the sooner we’ll be able to go back to the sense of normalcy we were accustomed to.

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 few because of the subdivision process and requirements. Just off of Highway 507. $249,000 CALL JOHN MLS

AGM & Windup April 3, 2020 in the Curling Lounge

Cocktails: 5:30pm AGM & Elections: 6:00pm Dinner: 7:00pm

jpundyk@shaw.ca HILLCREST Beautiful, idyllic home with Drum creek nearby. This 3+1 bedroom home was recently moved into this location and placed on an ICF basement. Newer mechanical systems. Very desirable, sheltered location in the Crowsnest Pass. Original hardwood floors. Large, bright basement. Great family or retirement home. $279,000 CALL JOHN MLS

BLAIRMORE

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 CALL JOHN MLS

BLAIRMORE CONDO Very nice condo apartment in a historic building in a central location. This unit has been expertly updated for the comforts of modern living. An affordable option whether as a home or an investment. Parking at rear. Ski hill, swimming pool and other amenities within walking distance. $84,000 CALL JOHN MLS

COLEMAN Spacious 3 bedroom home. Expertly rebuilt one level house, with an addition featuring large sitting room and ample sized master bedroom. Large family room with a gas fireplace and bright front room with mountain view.

Large screened front porch. Garage accessible from the back lane. Excellent starter home or revenue property in tight rental market. $172,500 CALL JOHN MLS

HILLCREST Fantastic value for the most discriminating buyer. This very large 20' x 76' modular home was built in 2002.

Excellent location with fenced yard in Monte Vista Park. 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. $114,900 CALL JOHN MLS

LOTS & LAND

Crowsnest Curling Club

562-8830

* BLAIRMORE 2250-132 St. 11311 – 19 Avenue

$59,900 $105,000

* BELLEVUE Timberline Ridge Lots 3.01 Acres – Passburg 2211 Passburg Terrace – 3 acres

Starting at $68,000 $144,900 $169,000

* HWY 507 5.04 acres near Lee Lake

$249,000

* COLEMAN Kananaskis Wilds starting at 8309 - 27 Avenue 2321 – 86 Street 2812 - 90 Street - 3.76 acres #27 Riverview Village 22nd Ave. lots

$ 85,000 $ 79,000 $ 89,000 $259,000 $69,900 Starting at $29,000

* FRANK 14902-21 Avenue, Frank

$64,900

PRIME BUILDING LOTS UNDERGROUND POWER SERVICE AND ALL OTHER UTILITIES Timberline ridge in Bellevue offers a sunny location, beautiful mountain views and wide paved streets. These prime building lots are available at affordable prices, from $68,000 to $140,000. Large and fully serviced lots have underground power, easy topography, and are ready for the spring building season. Crowsnest Pass offers unparalleled value in the Canadian Rockies. Active, friendly community. CALL JOHN FOR MORE INFORMATION MLS

One of a kind historic brick home located on an extra-large corner lot in Blairmore. This five-bedroom, four-bathroom home was built in 1920 with brick.. Self-contained apartment on second level. Amazing decks and backyard. Huge lot. Possibility of building another home without compromising the existing living and outdoor spaces. 24’ x 38’ garage, large garden shed and fenced RV parking. Phenomenal value and potential. $619,000 CALL JOHN MLS

BELLEVUE Fantastic opportunity for commercial location along busy Highway 3. East and West bound traffic access. Currently occupied as a successful fly-fishing 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. C1 zoning allows for different opportunities.

High traffic volume in front of the property. $435,000 CALL JOHN MLS

NEAR WATERTON 12.68 acres south from Pincher Creek near Waterton National Park. Out buildings include a barn and a shop. There are corrals and a good size dugout.

Good pasture and hay. Good property for horses. The property is to be sold “As Is”. Fantastic place to build your dream home. $279,000 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. Workshop space in basement.

22'x24' double car garage. $294,500 CALL JOHN MLS

BLAIRMORE Large family bungalow in Blairmore.

1624 sq. ft. with fully developed basement. 3 bedrooms up and 2 down. 3 full bathrooms. Spacious living area with vaulted ceiling and a three-sided gas fireplace. Covered deck off the dining area for BBQ or entertainment. Best of two worlds heating system, in floor in the basement and forced air on the main. The master bedroom features a soaker tub and a separate shower. Main floor laundry room. Fully fenced yard. Large attached garage and paved drive. Fantastic value for a home of this quality and size. $429,900 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. Ample parking and beautiful green space. $345,000 CALL JOHN MLS

COMMERCIAL LOT and 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

NeW ShoWhoMeS

6 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Wednesday, march 25, 2020 - CrOwsnesT PAss HerALD - 7

Thank you for your sacrifices DaviD Thomas Herald Feature Writer

I really didn't know how much you cared.

As a healthy 72-yearold man, I would like to thank all of my younger citizens for bankrupting their businesses, depriving their children of education, shutting down normal health care, emptying the food stores, and above all for allowing fear to convert this country into authoritarian state.

If Covid-19 had been allowed to run its course naturally, without you cowering at home and willingly surrendering your most basic civil rights, I might very well have come down with a cold, maybe even a bad

one that would force me to stay home for a few days. However, because I do not have any underlying pulmonary disease, chances are I would be among the 40 percent of infected persons who don't even know they are sick, because they aren't.

Their bodies manage the virus in the usual way, destroying its ability to reproduce and leaving antibodies ready to vanquish any return.

The fact is, the vast majority of fatalities -- 87 percent in Italy -- were people over 70 with existing life-threatening lung impairment caused by smoking or living in highly polluted cities such as Wuhan and

Milan. Most of the much sadder fatalities of younger people are also linked to "underlying conditions."

There is the true and utterly shocking fact that public health systems in most of the Western world had simply not prepared its own staff and facilities for a pandemic that everyone knew was coming, sooner or later.

(Ask local author Merilyn Liddell who wrote about it in her recent book "Tomorrow".)

South Korea, Taiwan and other advanced Asian countries did prepare and are managing to cope without suspending basic civil liberties or shutting down their economies.

Much of this folly, probably the greatest in human history, is because we have sanctified and venerated individual human life beyond all reason. The life of a septagenarian with smokers' lung is now considered more valuable than that of a sixyear-old just beginning to learn how to be a good and productive citizen.

The equation is nonsense.

I have friends in Crowsnest Pass who have lost their livelihoods, not because of a virus but because of an irrational, over-the-top reaction of governments that have abdicated their responsibilities for general social, medical and economic well-being. Instead, they

Teck COVID-19 response measure Herald Contributor

Vancouver, B.C. – Teck is implementing extensive preventative measures across its offices and operations in order to safeguard the health of its employees, while continuing to operate safely and responsibly maintain employment and economic activity.

All Teck corporate offices have been closed and remote work implemented for all employees able to do so. Other measures being put into

place at Teck’s operations include:  Reducing or eliminating in person meetings and other large gatherings  Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols, including frequent disinfecting of employee buses and work areas  Promoting personal preventative measures, such as frequent handwashing  Screening all contractors and external visitors to site for risk factors and symptoms

 Increasing social distancing practices at site, such as reducing the number of passengers on buses; separating groups of employees at work; cancelling large group meetings; changing meetings from in-person to electronic, e.g. holding crew meetings by radio  Requiring employees who show symptoms or are in close contact with someone with symptoms to stay home from work  Requiring employees returning from travel

outside of Canada to self isolate  Reducing the number of on-site staff as much as possible; implementing work from home where feasible  Working on expanding sick leave coverage for affected employees Teck’s operating sites are very large, employees are widely distributed and typically do not work together in large groups. We are further abiding by direction from public health authorities

have handed total social and economic control to a small group of epidemiologists who are now experimenting with totalitarian measures.

The avowed objective of the public health establishment is to slow the contagion to protect its own infrastructure from being overwhelmed by coughing patients who, in what looks like 99 percent of cases, would recover quite nicely by staying at home.

We are witnessing the absolute power of a public health establishment determined to save itself from its own lack of preparation. It is "flattening the curve" of criticalcare demand by shutting down society, destroying the existing free market system, ruining families forever, and denying chil-

dren their natural right to develop their own internal immune defences.

A flat curve is also a longer one, meaning the virus will be protected from running out of victims in the normal way viruses do. Instead, the virus is assured of a continuing fresh supply of uninfected victims.

Fearmongering by the government and the feckless and complicit national news media have managed in a few short days to do what Lenin could only dream of. We are now a society without civil liberties, without public education, without a functioning health system, and with a singlepayer economy.

So, from a healthy septagenarian, thanks.

to restrict gatherings of people and maintain social distancing.

“We are focused on continuing to ensure the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate, while maintaining employment to the extent possible through this evolving challenge,” said Robin Sheremeta, Senior Vice President, Coal.

“We are implementing extensive protocols in response to COVID-19 to safeguard our employees and support community efforts to limit transmission,” said Shehzad Bharmal, Vice President,

North America Operations, Base Metals.

“We are working closely with Teck management to support the preventative measures being implemented to protect the health and safety of our membership and maintain safe employment,” said Stephen Hunt, Director of United Steelworkers (USW) District 3 We will continue to adapt our response as necessary as this situation continues to evolve, with our primary focus being the health and safety of employees.

20034DG0

8 – CrOwsnest Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Government aids small business through COVID-19 DaviD SelleS Pass Herald

Both the Federal and Provincial Governments are beginning to lay out plans to provide financial aid to the many people who will need it over the coming months.

At the provincial level, MLA Roger Reid says many steps have been taken to help aid small businesses in the province.

“We have taken a number of steps this week to address the very serious economic impact on small businesses in Alberta. We know that cash flow will be a struggle as business see declining sales, or are completely closed due to COVID19. The following supports to small businesses should free up about $1.5 billion in capital to ease some of the pressures faced by our small business people during this unprecedented time.”

Reid says changes have been made to corporate income taxes to help alleviate some of the pressure.

“Corporate income tax balances and installment payments will be deferred from March 19 until August 31, 2020 to increase employers’ access to cash so they can pay employees, address debts

and continue operations.”

According to Reid, utility payments can also be deferred if needed.

“Residential, farm and small commercial customers can defer electricity and natural gas bill payments for the next 90 days to ensure no one will be cut off, regardless of the service provider. Call your utility provider directly to arrange for a 90-day deferral on all payments.”

Banks and credit unions are following suite with the major charter banks and Reid says personal situations can be addressed directly with credit unions.

“Business members should contact their credit union directly to work out a plan for their personal situation” Reid also says ATB Financial is putting a few things in place to provide aid as well.

“Small business customers can apply for a payment deferral on loans and lines of credit for up to 6 months and can also access additional working capital. Other businesses and agriculture customers can access support on a one-on-one basis. Further solutions are being considered at this time.”

As the situation is changing daily, Reid says

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people can find the most up to date information online.

“I encourage Albertans to refer to www.alberta.ca/covid19 where the most up to date information may be found.”

As for the Federal level, MP John Barlow says he’s personally spoken to small business owners to assess their concerns.

“Over the past couple of weeks I have spoken with dozens of small business owners throughout Foothills. My riding is mainly rural communities and their future relies on the success of our small businesses. They are dealing not only with the virus, but also a financial crisis. They have been creative in trying to remain open or to at least mitigate the impact of Covid-19.

We have discussed a number of potential ways to address their concerns and I have shared those in discussions with government officials and ministers.”

Barlow says there have been programs put in place but that there are still concerns among business owners.

“A number of programs have been announced, but the concern is thus far they do not go far enough, especially the

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10% wage subsidy for small business owners.

This is inadequate and we have asked the government to improve the programs available, specifically for small business.”

Barlow currently says the best way to stay up to date is online where new updates become available.

“I encourage business owners and all constituents to see https://johnbarlowmp.ca /covid-19-updates/ for all the Covid-19 information as we update it as it becomes available. Also see Canada.ca and Alberta.ca As this situation is both unprecedented and changing rapidly additional support could be coming and will keep constituents updated.”

There are temporary business wage subsidy’s available right now.

“Eligible small employers will receive a subsidy equal to 10% of wages for a period of three months. The maximum subsidy is $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Eligible employers include corporations eligible for the small business deduction, as well as non-profit organizations and charities. This benefit is available immediately, with supporting legislation to follow,” said Barlow.

According to Barlow, there is also a business credit availability program in place that is available immediately.

The program can provide small businesses with a loan up to $100,000 and can be obtained online, and businesses can also receive a working capital loan for over $100,000 to help support everyday operations.

This loan can also be found online.

Loans for purchase order financing to fulfill domestic or international orders are also available online.

All of these loans can be found at www.bdc.ca Barlow says anyone with questions can contact BDC by phone.

“If you have specific questions about applying for funding, BDC can be reached at the toll-free number: 1-877-232-2269 Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

(Eastern Time) and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). They also have an online assessment tool.”

As for other ways businesses are being supported, Barlow says the Canadian Federation of Independent Business

(CFIB) is also assisting.

“CFIB is offering advice and assistance to businesses navigating all of this. CFIB has opened their Helpline to all business owners including non-CFIB members for advice on managing COVID19 situations in the workplace. To talk to an expert, please call them at 1-888-234-2232.”

There will also be help for self-employed Canadians.

“Self-employed Canadians, including parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures and are unable to earn employment income, can apply for the Emergency Care Benefit. This benefit is up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. Applicants will need to re-attest every two weeks.

As for who can apply, Barlow says many different people are able to.

“The self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits, the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID19, such as an elderly parent, but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits and parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI.” Barlow says the applications for this will open in early April of 2020.

Individuals can also find help during this time.

There is an emergency support benefit that is a $5 billion fund to create a support for workers who aren’t eligible for EI as well as a GST credit.

Both of these aids will be available in April of 2020.

Barlow says there are also other supports that provide flexibility for individual and corporate taxpayers.

Canada’s six biggest banks are also taking action to help customers impacted during this time.

Bank of Montreal, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Bank have made a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-bycase basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19.

This support will include up to a six-month payment deferral for mortgages, and the opportunity for relief on other credit products.

Individual Canadians or business owners facing hardship are encouraged to contact their bank directly to discuss options that could be available to them.

Barlow says that while there are many options for aid, not all of them will be available instantly.

“It is important to note some of the relief measures announced last week and today must first receive Royal Assent in Parliament, which will take place Tuesday. Therefore are not available until April. While all efforts are being made to make the process as simple and accessible under the circumstances, I anticipate there will be challenges. We’re looking at a historic number of people who have lost their jobs and businesses forced to close.

About 500,000 Canadians applied for Employment Insurance last week. The influx of applications will certainly test the capacity of the Government. A lot of the aid available also requires individuals to apply online creating a barrier for those who do not have access to Internet.

My office is here to support residents who may have questions or are facing challenges in accessing any of the relief measures available.”

Barlow says he’s been busy over the last weeks to try and make sure everything is being done to help people who need it.

“We have been in the office every day and well into the night fielding calls from business owners, people who have lost their jobs and constituents stranded around the globe. We are doing all we can to help people navigate their way through the programs, answer questions and take their suggestions. We have also been reaching out to stakeholders asking what assistance measures are needed, gaps they see and what initiatives would best address their situation. We know this is a challenging and stressful time; we are here to help alleviate some of the challenges they may face. Although we are no longer taking personal meetings in the office we are committed to being in the office as much as possible to field calls and emails from constituents and provide any assistance we can.”

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - crowsnest pass HeraLD - 9

Looking Back

As a mining historian I can attest to the fact that old coal mines of the Crowsnest Pass kept very little, if any, of their records and memorabilia. Also, unlike today, where strict reclamation standards apply, back then coal companies merely walked away from their operations. In the case of West Canadian Collieries (WCC), who operated the Blairmore, Bellevue, Adanac and Lille Mines, this apparently was not the case, record wise. The Glenbow has 68 meters of records, over 2,000 mine plans and 218 photographs that were turned over to them by Scurry Rainbow Oil and Gas and Consolidated Coal who took over their holdings and passed the records on to the museum in 1976.

As we all know, many extant mine buildings were left to the elements and vandalism. Most structures were eventually knocked down and the evidence of where they all stood is very scant. Recently I came across a linen drawing that shows some of the surface detail of a not-so-well known mine that was called Blairmore South Mine. Blairmore South ran from 1906 until 1913 when WCC chose to move their operations to the north side of the valley and call it Greenhills.

The drawing shows the outline of a boiler house, a power house, tipple, lamp house, mine car tracks running along the toe of the hill and over a trestle that crosses Lyon Creek, a forge, an office and a wash house with a 22-foot-high roof. All this infrastructure was at the south end of 130th street, in and around the cul-de-sac where the Herald’s owner/publisher Lisa Sygutek lives. All of it is gone. Pass author Rick Gillis commented to me that; “As kids we played in the area often. There was an old concrete, roofless mine building there that disappeared when the pipeline went through.”

Here is a little background on the Blairmore South and how it came to be. At the center of WCC’s evolvement is a man by the name of Mr. Fleutot, a French investor and visionary. Fleutot acquired the Grassy Mountain and French Camp (Lille) properties in 1901 and then formed WCC in 1903 after acquiring the Byron and Bellevue properties. They also picked up the Fishburn and Proctor property in Blairmore, the site of the South Mine. Work started at that mine around 1904 but it was a couple of years before serious production occurred. In all, South Mine produced over 400,000 tons of coal until its closure in 1913. It also produced four fatalities.

Jno (John) Jenkins in 1906, C. Phillipps in 1910, Martin Rsetz in 1911 and Steve Roveluck in 1912.

While I suspect a lot of the South Mine infrastructure may have been repurposed, there was obviously some of it left behind. That brings me to the following suggestion and it is this: I believe there were two more fatalities as a result of the South Coal Mine operation but they did not occur until July 30, 1966, 53 years after the mine had closed. The story behind this tragic loss of life was very thoroughly covered by the media, especially the Lethbridge Herald. The Herald’s Pass Bureau reporter back then was the one and only Vern Decoux and he and Herald staff writer Jim Merriam not only documented the initial story but went back a month later to revisit it.

As I said, most of South Mine was probably repurposed but there surely were smaller and/or immovable structures left behind. I would suggest then that perhaps a small powder magazine would have been one of those abandoned buildings. It was common practice for coal mines to store their black powder, used for blasting underground, in one building and the detonator caps used to set off the powder in another, well away from each other. It was probably mandated by regulation as it still is today. The cap storage could have been a small shed that you would imagine was somewhat secured.

What happened on that fateful day is every mother’s worst nightmare. It was a warm summer Saturday and the Rinke and Knight brothers had returned to a favourite hangout near Blairmore South’s abandoned mine entry. There they were busy rebuilding a small roofless log cabin, or what we used to call a fort. It apparently had been there for years, a special retreat where kids used to go to hang out. I built a few of those in my day, growing up.

There were five boys there that day. Three of them were brothers from the Knight family; Myles, aged 13, Peter aged, 10 and little Louis aged, 7. The other two were from the Rinke family; Warren, aged 11 and Larry, aged 9. Initially the paper reports spoke of a rusted tin box containing old detonator caps that had been found by the boys and that they were trying to open. Detonator caps create miniature explosions and are used to detonate black powder or dynamite. Underground they were used in conjunction with powder to break up the coal. Detonators back then were usually about the size of half of an ink pen with two wires coming out of them. They were usually stored in tin boxes.

Around 11 a.m. that day the oldest boy, Myles Knight,was attempting to get into one of three round tin boxes they had found lying near the fort. Two of the boxes the boys described as follows; “they looked like they had been lying around for a long time”. The two that they managed to get open they claimed contained; “what looked like 22 shells with the ends gone out of them.” The boys then turned their attention to the third one that they claimed, in a later interview, was similar but not rusty.

The box had the words “Detonator Caps” on it which apparently meant nothing to the boys. It was hard to open and the lid would not come off like the others did. Myles took the hatchet they were using on the fort and proceeded to drive a nail into the box. Old detonators are even more unstable than new ones and the box exploded with catastrophic results. On seeing the terrible consequences of this unfold and injured himself, young Louis Knight ran down the hill screaming for help.

When help eventually arrived Myles was dead and Warren died a short time later after being taken to the Crowsnest Pass Municipal Hospital. Peter and Larry spent weeks in St. Michael’s Hospital in Lethbridge where they were treated for serious eye injuries. The Lethbridge Herald reported; “a doctor described the boy’s wounds as similar to those that would be received in a grenade explosion.” I cannot for the life of me imagine what it must have been like for the surviving boys and their parents.

Besides his two injured brothers, Myles Knight had six sisters, one of which was a twin to little Louie.

Warren Rinke had two other brothers besides Larry, and also had six sisters. Peter and Larry Rinke both spent a lot of time in hospital recovering from surgeries. Larry Rinke never did regain his eyesight.

The August 1st Herald article on the accident stated that, “about 185 similar detonators were found in the area after the explosion.’ An RCMP investigation was conducted into this awful event but reached a dead end when it came to verifying where the caps came from. They were, however, able to determine that the caps were: “of a type used at least thirty years ago.”

For me the answer is clear. The caps were left behind by West Canadian Collieries when they moved across the valley.

My research into the local newspapers back then reveals all kinds of incidents where explosives were mishandled. Case in point: from the Bellevue Times- May 26, 1911. “Narrow Escape – What came near resulting in a very serious accident occurred at the west end of Blairmore on Saturday morning last. Several men were at work clearing land for the West Canadian Collieries when a fire which they had made for the purposes of burning up the rubbish, reached a stump of a tree under which were between thirty five and forty sticks of dynamite. The fire ignited that large compound of nitroglycerin and siliceous earth. There was a big explosion, the report of which was heard all over town. Three men who were working nearby and who were totally ignorant of the fact that near their feet were dangerous explosives of sufficient quantity to hurl more than a score of men into regions unknown, were slightly injured; some of the houses nearby received a severe shaking, smashing eleven windows and effecting a few minor damages. It is a great wonder that more serious damage had not occurred. The dynamite was left there a week or so ago by some careless Italians.”

My heart broke for the Knight and Rinke families when I first learned of this story. I was dumfounded to find a clipping, in Mrs. Mundie’s scrapbooks, that told of fifteen-year-old Beverley Rinke being lost to carbon monoxide poisoning in a tragedy out north of Burmis less than two years after her brother Warren was lost at the South Blairmore Mine.

I am angry now, as no doubt the Rinke and Knight families were back then, that negligence that led to this disaster went unpunished. Please be careful if you choose to wander around old mine sites.

By John Kinnear

tragedy at south Blairmore Mine

Photos left to right: Enhanced linen drawing showing Blairmore South Mine Site - courtesy Glenbow Museum; Enhanced screen capture of Blairmore South Mine extent and location - courtesy AER Coal Mine Map Atlas; Pictorial layout of Blairmore South Mine - courtesy Crowsnest Museum and Archives; Myles Knight, Warren Rinke, Larry Rinke, Louis Knight and Peter Knight - courtesy Lethbridge Herald Aug 1, 1966; Beverley Rinke - lost to carbon monoxide less than two years later - courtesy Lethbridge Herald.

10 – Crowsnest Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, March 25, 2020

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~ OBITUARIES ~ Obituary

In Memory of Margaret Dorothy Salus who passed away March 14, 2020

Margaret, daughter of Victor and Annie Siska, was born June 9, 1924 in Coleman, Alberta. She married the love of her life, John Salus, on February 27, 1943. Working side by side, Margaret and John purchased the Bobbit General Store in Coleman and began their long business life together. The Salus General Store became a Coleman landmark for over 25 years.

In 1965, Margaret and John took over as funeral directors, serving the Elk Valley and South Country, and the Crowsnest Pass. This fulfilling career lasted until their retirement in 1991.

Margaret was an energetic and strong woman who was always on the go. She loved working in her yard and spent countless hours ensuring her yard was weed free, finely manicured and laden with beautiful flowers. Margaret loved to knit and crochet. After moving to Fernie, she developed a strong network of friends. She belonged to what she called the “Rummoli Gang” for many years, and a craft circle of women who all became her very good friends. Margaret was a member of the CWL in the Pass as well as in Fernie.

Margaret loved playing cards year round and outdoor games in the summer. She was an amazing shuffleboard player. Hot summers would find Margaret dipping her feet, doing the occasional dog paddle, or sitting on a chair in the cool waters of Rosen Lake, with her contagious smile upon her face.

Left to mourn Margaret’s passing and to celebrate her life are her son, Tom, and his wife Diana of Blairmore, AB, daughter Valdene Salant and son-in-law Bruce Salant of Jaffray, BC; grandchildren Jill and Jason Salus; Dawnelle and Ryan (Chantelle) Salant; great grandchild Kayleigh Salant; sister Doreen (Al) Karasiuk of Wasaga Beach, ON; sister-in-law Helen Salus of Medicine Hat AB, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband, John in 2002; her parents, Annie and Victor Siska; brothers George, Andrew and James Siska; in laws, Mary and Willy Panek, Joe Salus, Andrew Salus, Eileen Siska, Kathleen Siska, Joe and Annie Dobek.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. or the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Memories & condolences shared at www.cherishedmemoriesfs.com Arrangements entrusted to Cherished Memories Funeral Services Ltd.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - crowsnest pass HeraLD - 11

Uncertain times ahead for local business DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

Local business owner Dawn Rigby is facing uncertain times in wake of the precautionary measures to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

When asked how her business, Country Encounters Accommodations, has been affected so far, Rigby says there’s only one word to describe it.

"Decimated. That's the only way I can answer it. I've lost 61 events, big and small, in the last four days."

Rigby says that some of the events are as little as 8 people, but also mentioned that some of her

lost events are much larger than that.

"Some of them are the size of the bunny bonspiel, which is 200 people for dinner plus a concession. A large group of them, 28 of them, happened the minute the schools shut down because they were all sleepover programs at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre."

Rigby says she is still finding ways to keep as busy as possible at this point in time.

"I'm still legally allowed to have my restaurant open, although I'm not sure how long that will last. I am legally al-

lowed to have guests in my B-n-B but they're cancelling left right and centre. Our most recent thing, because I have a fridge full of food and access to have more, we're putting together grocery boxes with fresh produce. We've always done something I call Tuesday-to-go. It's a take-out meal picked up cold and you heat it whenever you want to and I'm expanding that to at least two days a week at the moment. We've also taken to delivering stuff to anyone who needs it."

Although Rigby made these changes, it hasn't been enough to keep all her staff.

"I've already laid off all my part time staff. I'm down to basically my two full-timers and doing whatever I can for them but it may come down to laying them off as well."

Rigby says that if things rebound soon enough, her staff will be hired back as fast as she can get them.

Rigby says she's worried about what's next if the lack of business extends into the months ahead.

"I'm pretty concerned about it. I haven't had a chance to see what the economic aid package that was released for businesses entails and whether we're going to qualify. There's that uncertainty on whether I'll even qualify for help. I'm hesitant to lay it on that. I've reached out to my banks

to see what we can do for short-term relief.

Rigby is worried about wedding potentially being cancelled if this continues as well.

"If this carries on much past a month, it's going to spook all the brides and grooms and then the 38 weddings I currently have will begin getting cancelled. At that point I might as well close up shop and start selling off my assets because I won't make it."

While it's a scary time for Rigby, she understands it has to happen this way.

"Nobody wants to go anywhere now. That's a good thing for the population but it's just bad for me. I understand people's concerns and why they're staying away and why things have to happen this

way, but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow."

Rigby also says that the uncertainty of this time on top of expenses from previous years makes this time extremely difficult.

"It's uncertain. My entire life is wrapped up in these two buildings, my retirement plan, the whole works of it. Last year was a hard hit with the streets torn up down here and having just opened a restaurant and the amount that cost me, to have this fall on top of it makes it difficult."

Anyone who would be interested in using the take out meals or grocery boxes can learn more about how it works on the Country Encounters Accommodations Facebook page or by calling Country Encounters.

Residential & Commercial Excavating Landscaping • Snow Removal lorne@completeext.ca

lannie@westerraearthworks.com

summit storage • Secured by Video • Dry & Clean • 24 hr Access • Caretaker on Site • 1280 CU Ft. 8x8x20 • Free Local Transport to Storage • RV Storage • Water Available

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Glen Girhiny 403.563.0300 glen@realestatecentre.ca

13013-20th Ave., Blairmore 403.562.2844 @RealEstateCen

Real Estate Centre

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taxi 403.583.4000

Units in Frank Industrial Park

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12 – CROWSNEST PaSS hERald – Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Tire maintenance keeps drivers safe

Submitted

Maintaining tires is an important component of safe driving. Tires are some of the hardest working parts on a car or truck and are subjected to wear and tear every time rubber meets the road.

Tires affect many components of driving, including handling, braking and the comfort of the ride. Maintaining tires makes driving safe not only for drivers and their passengers, but also

for fellow motorists.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that, in 2017, 738 fatalities occurred because of tire-related crashes. Many of those crashes were no doubt preventable, and that only highlights the importance of maintaining tires and monitoring their performance.

Poor tire maintenance can lead to premature wear and potentially result in a blowout. The

automotive group AAA notes it is important to visually inspect tires as often as possible. Drivers should look for overall tread wear. Pay special attention to tread wear on one edge of the tires, which could indicate poor alignment. Erratic tread wear may mean tires are out of balance.

Drivers also should pay attention to how their cars drive and sounds. Unusual vibration or thumping noises

Be safe no matter where you drive...

suggest issues with the tires. A car that pulls in one direction also may be experiencing tire problems.

Vehicle owners should be aware of the routine maintenance steps that can keep them safe and improve the life expectancy of tires.

• Tire pressure: The NHTSA says only 19 percent of consumers properly check and inflate their tires. Keeping tires properly inflated is one of the most important steps to maintaining them. Tires lose around 1 psi per month, and underinflated or overinflated tires can contribute to unusual wear, blowouts and even excessive fuel consumption.

• Rotation: Check the owner’s manual or recommendations from the tire manufacturer, but know that most mechanics advise having tires rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Rotation helps distribute wear more evenly on tires.

• Balancing: AAA says balancing also helps

minimize uneven wear and tear. Balanced tires are achieved by using small weights attached to the wheels to limit vibration of the tire and wheels as they turn. New tires should be balanced, and tires also should be balanced after one or more is removed to repair a puncture.

• Alignment: Vehicles have wheel alignment measurements that

pertain to manufacturers’ specifications. Alignment that falls outside of the range can impact handling, fuel economy and tread wear. A drift or pull suggests alignment problems and should be addressed.

Vehicle owners should keep tire inspection and maintenance in mind as part of their overall car care plan.

MaNufacturers rebates available selected brands – March through May

10% oil Change off

Has the right tire for your vehicle!

Auto Centre

Coupon Expires: May 31, 2020

No Payments for 3 Months* on New Tire Purchases and Major Mechanical Repairs

*On approved credit. Terms and conditions apply. See store associate for details.

Pincher creek 1075 Waterton Avenue www.FountainTire.com (403) 627-4456

11218 - 21st Ave, Blairmore Ph: 403-562-2743 • Fax: 403-562-2515