Crowsnest Pass Herald

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January 27, 2021 ~ Vol. 91 No. 4

$1.00

Crowsnest Pass

Herald Serving the CnP SinCe 1930

Filling the mini-libaries

Submitted photo

Local resident Billy has been organizing and filling mini libraries around the Crowsnest Pass. These libraries can be found all around the community and are a great and easy way to find new books to read. Donations of books are also accepted and can be made at Mountainview in Coleman. See the story on page 10.

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2 – CrowSneSt PASS HerALD – Wednesday, January 27, 2021

pass community Council Briefs pool Society DAvID SelleS

AGM

Wednesday, January 27 • 6:00 p.m.

ZOOM Meeting Meeting ID: 896 2294 5265 Passcode: 607194 For more info. call or text 403.563.4220

The Pass Herald will resume regular hours Monday - Friday 10 am to 4 pm CLOSED noon - 1 pm You can email us at passherald@shaw.ca or contact us at 403-562-2248 for story ideas or advertising.

Pass Herald Reporter

The following topics were discussed at the January 19 Regular Council Meeting.

ACP Application – Airport Master Plan In the fall of 2020, the Town of Pincher Creek, MD of Pincher Creek and Municipality of Crowsnest Pass had representatives meet to discuss forming an Airport Authority and that each municipality would contribute $25,000 within the upcoming budget process to help advance this initiative. During the Town of Pincher Creek's budget deliberations, the subject of the funding for the development of the Airport Authority was discussed and their Council directed that their Administration research and apply for an ACP grant, rather than each municipality having

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CNP & Area - $40/year • Seniors $35/year Outside of 40 KM radius - $60/year • Out of country - $85/year NAME:____________________________________________ ADDRESS:_________________________________________ __________________________________________________ PHONE:___________________________________________ PAYMENT AMOUNT: $_______________________________ PAYMENT:

CASH

CREDIT CARD

CHEQUE

CREDIT CARD NUMBER:_____________________________ EXPIRY DATE:___________________

to contribute the funds from their own budgets.

The Town has agreed to be the managing partner for the grant although will need a motion of support for the project from each Council. Included in the motion will be that the Town of Pincher Creek will be the managing partner. After a short discussion, Councillor Filipuzzi made a motion that the Town of Pincher Creek is the managing partner for the ACP grant application for the Airport Master Plan project.

The motion was carried.

Curfew Bylaw 798, 2010 The 789, 2010 Curfew Bylaw is one that has been identified as a bylaw that Council may not wish to support in the present day. The bylaw is problematic with enforceability along with it is believed by Administration to not accurately reflect Councils’ current view. From reviewing all bylaws, Administration is recommending that Bylaw 789, 2010 is repealed. The bylaw is outdated and if enforced, would involve issuing fines to children and parents/caregivers. It is not believed that Council would wish to approach this topic in this manner.

Further, there have not been identified occurrences within the Municipality to suggest this is a problem area that needs a bylaw for focused enforcement.

Councillor Ward made a motion that this bylaw be repealed.

The motion was carried.

Frank WWTP Upgrade Project Award On October 26, 2020, three tenders were received from the municipality’s preselected contractors for the Frank WWTP Upgrade project for Phases 1 & 3. AECON Water Infrastructure $29,267,390.25 PCL Construction Management $23,014,885.22 Graham Infrastructure $23,010,487.50 The lowest bid with GST removed and engineering added, resulted in a total project cost of $23,497,105. The project funding was $19,500,000 or a $3,997,105 shortfall. Administration has been working with our consultant and the lowest bid to strategize what can be done to close the funding gap. The Municipality has also sent letters to the Ministers McIver, Panda and Nixon along with MLA Reid. Two cost reductions have been identified thus far that would have any significant bearing on the project costs: Reduce project contingency from $2,822,250 to $1,250,000 or remove the offsite work which includes the sanitary dump station, bulk water fill station and RV dump station $550,000. This would leave a funding shortfall of approximately $1,874,855. Administration is recommending to move forward with project award to secure pricing, as we have already heard that steel prices may have increased by $70,000 since Christmas alone. The funding shortfall could be covered by several ways: Provincial assistance Deep infrastructure Capital Plan funding Debenture. The

Minister of Transportation's office advises that we should have a response by the end January, however the tender would no longer be valid and the project would need to be retendered.

Council all agreed this is something they want to move forward with as soon as possible. After discussion, Councillor Ward made a motion that council accept administration's recommendation and move to award the Frank WWTP upgrade project to Graham Infrastructure.

Council 2021 Priorities Councillor Ward would like to see Council establish what their top priorities are for 2021, so that they get the necessary effort to ensure they are done prior to the end of Council's term. To assist Council with this task, Administration has prepared a multi-level prioritization framework that includes all open Council motions, budget initiatives, capital projects, and special projects.

Council discussed the top 5 priorities they’d like to see completed and after deliberation settled on the following five priorities: 1) Recycling Program 2) Traffic Signals (Hillcrest/Bellevue, Frank etc) 3) Crowsnest Crossing 4) Low Income Housing 5) Committees and Boards. CAO Patrick Thomas told Council most of these are in the works and that it is feasible to see all these initiatives completed in 2021.

Thomas also said that other initiatives would still be worked on throughout the year as well.

Kicking off 1 Book 5 Schools Herald Contributor

1 Book 5 Schools Family Literacy Project is kicking off January 27. This project is brought to you by the Crowsnest Pass Literacy Foundation. We want to thank TC Energy for their generous financial support of $5000 to buy the books. Additional funding of $850 was received from FCSS Crowsnest Pass.

This year 927 books were purchased. This is a multi-school book club, with families from Horace Allen (Coleman), Isabelle Sellon (Blairmore), Livingstone School (Lundbreck), Canyon and St. Michael’s (Pincher Creek) all reading the same book at home with their children. Teachers also plan various activities at school to compliment the book.

We have selected a book that can be followed, understood and enjoyed by younger students, but will still captivate and stimulate older children.

We would also like to thank both of our local libraries. Extra copies will be available to community members who would like to join in the fun.

Have fun! “When a whole school reads a book, there is a lot to talk about.” With your help, we will build a Community of Readers at our schools.

We know you will enjoy our 2021 1 Book 5 Schools project!

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - Crowsnest PAss herAlD - 3

In the lIne of fIre Between January 18 and January 25, Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a total of 31 calls for service including the following reported incidents.

One (1) assault, two (2) break and enter (other), one (1) theft of motor vehicle, two (2) theft, two (2) disturbing the peace, one (1) other criminal code, five (5) driving complaints, five (5) motor vehicle collisions, four (4) assistance to general public, one (1) suspicious occurrence, four (4) assistance to other agencies, two (2) animal calls and one (1) municipal bylaw, Break and Enters On January 20th, 2021, at approximately 2:20am, there was a complaint of a break and enter of a liquor business in Coleman. A small amount of liquor was stolen.

On January 20th, 2021, at approximately 2:30am, there was a complaint of an attempted break and enter into a

business in Frank. A glass door was broken but entry was not gained.

Suspicious Persons On January 20th, 2021, there was a complaint of suspicious persons yelling and kicking a door of a residence on 18 Avenue in Coleman. It appears they were looking for friends but had attended the wrong residence.

Vehicle Taken On January 21st, 2021, there was a complaint of a vehicle taken without consent by an acquaintance. The vehicle was later recovered abandoned in Calgary with a stolen licence plate. The licence plate owner was not aware the plate had been stolen until advised

by Calgary Police.

Intoxicated Male On January 22nd, 2021, there was a complaint of an intoxicated male in a yard throwing sticks and rocks. Police attended and the male was

~ rCMP news ~

located and removed from the area.

Be aware of a new 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.

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

The Simple Raven’s Post

by Avner Perl

New year, old problems We will set the year 2020 in memory as one of the worst that people like me will remember. A few fireworks lit up the sky above our beloved mountain towns, and people will remember being alone during the holidays. Some will feel blessed that worst didn’t happen, but we know that so many suffered more than their share. The economy has been depressed for a few years, many lost their parents and grandparents, and the younger folks are struggling. Some must work in constant danger, (my daughter is a nurse) some work from home while playing teachers and child caregivers, and others simply lost jobs and businesses. This is made worst by all of us knowing some people who decided not to believe that there is a problem and are going around proudly spreading conspiracy theories and germs. That is their way to do “positive thinking” while spreading the killer virus.

The president of the United States was chief rumour spreader, and by the end of the year, over 300,000 of his people were buried. Here in Alberta, we found ourselves short on hospital staff with those still working demoralized by the news that they may lose their jobs as soon as things improve. If anyone cares for my opinion, we are suffering from poor management on top of the pandemic.

The new year started with a crisis in the capital of our big neighbours. A mob was set up by the outgoing president to attempt an armed coup. They failed, but five people died. My parents used to talk about revolutions. Their parents saw the Russian Communist revolution, and they suffered first hand from the Nazis’ takeover of Germany. I am scared of events like those. As the first month of 2021 is rolling by and I see the combination of pandemic and bad management seriously impacting my beloved province, I wonder if we are safe and if people reach their limits. I don’t know how it can play within the Canadian establishment, but there are ominous signs of trouble.

I came to Alberta from Israel, so I always compare the two. Israel 22,145 sq. Kilometers, 9 million people, half are original Palestinians, no natural resources, and the constant danger of war. Alberta 661,800 sq. km, less than 4 million people and lots of resources chief amongst them oil which we always knew will run out. The province has no concerns about defence and receives or contribute to the national welfare depending on need. Why is it that Alberta is not feeling on top of the world? We were set up to do so by our greatest Premier fifty years ago.

Crimestoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-422TIPS. Reminder to residents 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?

The English word with the most definitions is "set."

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The problem as I said is bad management. We had a temporary injection of wealth and could have been the best economy in the free world. What we did instead is sold ourselves to oil interests, ignoring the future. We had oil locked up in sand, knew that it was expensive to produce, and unwisely placed all our eggs in one basket, thinking that we would be able to force the world to buy it. We were in such a hurry to make a quick buck that we failed to ensure that there would be a way to transport it to markets.

Bad speculation followed us. Towards the end of the 2020 disaster year, we invested the last of our savings financing a pipeline from the oilsands to the bottom of the continent while knowing that the soon to come US elections can render the project bankrupt. We set our revenue back by earlier tax cuts (not for me) and in my local community, we are facing a conflict between ranchers and miners.

The pandemic made us face other problems not unique to just us. We either shut down the economy now or lose vast amounts of money, and lives, later. If we stop the economy and not help people and small businesses, there is going to be hell to pay. Any help that would have been available from the Federal government in normal times will have to be reduced since all the provinces and territories are in the same dire straits. You can’t squeeze money from a rock.

I watch 2021 beginning and I fear that the last year may have not only been a terrible year but could be the beginning of a real test. What I need is some sign of hope. Like people who struggled with addictions, I realize that there are steps a person must take before healing.

First, you must hit bottom. We did. Next, you acknowledge that there is a problem and accept responsibility. Later you realize that you must make some changes or suffer to death. Well, it sounds harsh.

I don’t want to be ranting and demoralizing people, so I look for that silver lining in the dark clouds. It is always there if you look hard and long enough.

The pandemic will be over when enough people will be immunized. We only have to be careful and stay alive until we beat it. Then we have to deal with the problems that we caused in the last thirty to fifty years. Namely, we kind of have to go on a diet and get away from an unsustainable way of living. I say “we” but I mean those of us who took so much that the working people can’t sustain.

It is not impossible or even very difficult. There are countries that do it, and we can fly over and see with our own eyes. I go to popular tourist places just like the rest of you, and I meet people from other places. Two years ago I was talking to some Germans in Waterton.

They are comparable to my wife and I, working middle-class people, but they enjoy benefits that we can only dream of.

We can have an easier life if we only demand that our governments will look after our interests first and be less concerned with corporate profits. As simple as that.

Here is a link to my blog: https://thesimpleravenspost.blogspot.ca/ Feel free to check other articles and comment.

4 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, January 27, 2021

community Peace officers focus on Intersection safety DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

Local enforcement officers highlighted the importance of intersection safety in January.

Community Peace Officer, Brad Larsen, says his department wanted to put a bit of extra focus on intersection safety over the course of January.

“I want the public to be focused not just on day-to-day driving and making sure that they're safe while they're driving but we as a department are putting extra focus into all intersections.”

Larsen says that over his time in the municipality, he’s noticed complacency when it comes to drivers at intersections.

“I've noticed that there is a common complacency within the municipality with relation to full stops at stop signs.

We'd like to try and curb that and get the public out of that complacent attitude of thinking slowing down and yielding is good enough.”

Larsen highlights that it’s not just important that drivers stop at stop signs but that they

do so at the appropriate spots as well.

“Whenever there's a marked intersection with a stop sign or lights, they'll be a stop line.

What it states in the Traffic Safety Act is that drivers must stop at or 1.5 meters prior to the stop line. By at I don't mean the stop line is in the centre of your vehicle. It means that the nose of your vehicle is stopped at the stop line.

The best advice I can give people and the training that I have with relation to the operation of an emergency vehicle is that we stop and slowly begin creeping forward. There's nothing that says you can't stop after the stop line once you've originally stopped there. There will be circumstances, especially where there's angle parking, where drivers won't be able to see and it's unsafe. One primary example is the post office intersection in Blairmore. It's very challenging to see everything and it's not only busy with vehicles but also with pedestrians.

The easiest rule of thumb is that all four tires on the vehicle will come to a complete stop at or 1.5 meters before the stop line. That will give drivers a clear view of the entire intersection and then drivers can begin creeping forward and then proceed when it's safe to do so.”

Another aspect of intersection safety is proper signaling.

“Drivers should signal in advance of reaching the intersection, not while they are almost there. Any time I am making a turn, I signal at least 20 meters in advance of the intersection.

Commercial traffic is something Larsen has had to keep his eye on as well.

“The other thing we've noticed and started noticing heavily is commercial vehicles. Commercial traffic is a large aspect of traffic throughout the municipality. We see a lot of commercial traffic that comes through every day. Just in the last two or three weeks I've stopped two or three commercial vehicles for failing to stop at a red light.”

Pedestrians also play a factor in intersection safety.

“The easiest rule of thumb for drivers is to remember that pedestrians always have the right of way. That said we've all been in a circumstance where a pedestrian doesn't look both ways or jumps out from between

vehicles. The thing I'd like to preach as heavily as I can to pedestrians throughout the community to try and keep themselves safe is to do their due process and pay particular attention when they are out on the streets,” said Larsen.

“One of the other things I've noticed is that particularly throughout the core area on 20th Avenue in Blairmore, pedestrians make it a bit of a free-for-all. They'll park on one side of the street and then cut to the other side without using a crosswalk. We'd like to prevent collisions and injuries and fatalities with relation to pedestrian safety by having pedestrians use the crosswalks.

That's why they're there, to keep them safe.”

Larsen says that his department will spend time on the busier streets in the community and remind people to use crosswalks to keep everyone safe.

“One of the proactive approaches that we're taking as a department is parking on 20th Avenue in Blairmore and when we see that stuff happen, we'll remind people to please use the crosswalks. It's going to keep them safe as well as motorists because if you've got someone who suddenly slams on the brakes in front of you, there's a possible rear end collision situation.”

According to Larsen, there is a specific motion that drivers will feel that will tell them they’ve come to a full stop.

He also mentions that there is no set time you have to stay stopped at an intersection.

“The same thing I tell every vehicle I stop for a stop sign offence is you'll know when your vehicle is stopped when you feel the rock forward and the rock back. That's when you know you've stopped entirely. A lot of people have a misconception that there's a three second rule for the length you have to stop. I don't know where that comes from, it's not written in law. It's not a bad rule of thumb but it's not law either.”

Routine drives to work and other daily activities can be a cause of intersection violations.

David Selles photo

In January, local enforcement officers focused on intersection safety in the community. In 2017, stop sign violations accounted for 36 fatalities across the province and with an extra focus around intersection safety, officers are hopeful that number will drop.

Larsen says that it’s important not to get complacent in day-to-day driving.

“There's a certain level of complacency I've observed. I have a rule I follow and it's to not get complacent in your dayto-day activities. There's never such thing as a routine traffic stop or routine patrol. Everything can be different. Every situation is different. The same rule can be applied to day-to-day things such as driving. There's no such thing as a routine commute to work. Whether or not you've felt you've had the exact same commute to work every day for the past month, if you really think about it, something is different.

Maybe you saw wildlife, there was a pedestrian on the street that you weren't expecting, a car was backing out of a spot on main street you weren't expecting, there are many different things that can happen every day. Make sure that care and attention is put into everyday driving. One, it'll prevent visits from me and two, it could protect you or someone else.”

Larsen says people may be curious as to why there is such a big focus on intersection safety and he says the number of fatalities that occur at intersections across the province points to a need of focus.

Stats from the Alberta Traffic Collision Statistics on the Government of Alberta Open Government show that in 2017, stop sign violations accounted for 36 fatali-

ties, disobeyed traffic signals accounted for four, failed to yield right-ofway to pedestrians was six fatalities, backing unsafely was one fatality, failed to yield right-ofway at an uncontrolled intersection accounted for one and yield sign violations resulted in three fatalities.

"As a Peace Officer, our goal is to make sure that number is 0. Even if there's a dent put into it, that's what we want to see."

Driving for what the road conditions are is another important aspect of intersection safety.

"In the summer, you do not need 50 feet to come to a stop. In the winter, with ice on the ground and snow flying, you'll see a considerable distance change in how long it takes to come to a complete stop. I can't count the amount of times I've stopped people for stop sign violations who say they were sliding and couldn't stop.

They could've, they just didn't give themselves enough time to stop. Just because you're sliding through the intersection doesn't mean you'll get out of a ticket. You have to make sure you give yourself enough time and distance.”

Larsen says he also wants to share his appreciation for drivers as well.

“I praise the people who do their parts to keep everyone safe. It shows when at the end of the year there are zero statistics.”

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 5

6 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Letters to the the Editor

Editorial Well it’s been a whirlwind of a week for me here at the Pass Herald.

I decided to wade into the pending mine issue finally coming to fruition in the Crowsnest Pass. It’s been six years in the making and we finally need an answer one-way or the other. It’s hard to move the community forward when you have no clue what the future could potentially mean. Do we keep the status quo of pretty much tourism in the community, something we have been working on since the mines closed in the early 80s?

A friend of mine sent me a message on how the community tried to use tourism as an industry after the last mine closed. I was surprised how varied the plans were and we are no better now 30 years later then we were then.

The Municipality has tried and the businesses have tried to make a community based solely on tourism.

They have been trying hard, with support from the province, since 1985 when the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre was first opened. They tried to ramp it up with the creation of the CNP Ecomuseum Trust which started a historical bus tour then opened a portion of the closed underground Bellevue mine for underground tours.

They even developed plans for rebuilding the old Greenhill Mine surface structures to open as tourist destination (but could not pull it off because the capital investment was too high). Besides sight seeing, they tried engagement activities such as snowmobile rallies, Xcountry skiing trails, downhill skiing, Thunder in the Valley, curling bonspiels. The list goes on. Some had success, such as Thunder in the Valley. The community has tried for over 35 years, but tourism as single economic generator, to save the community, has failed. Biking trials and home based business do not pay taxes like industry and traditional store fronts. Unlike Banff, the Pass is not a federal park and does not benefit from the federal park management (and federal funding). I wish this wasn't true, but unfortunately it is.

That’s not to say that tourism shouldn’t be a component of the community. I truly believe they can both exist if it’s done in a proper manner. Tourism helps our restaurants; tourism helps home based businesses as well as some retail. But the real money, taxes and wages come from industry.

The opponents of this project keep talking about short-term benefits of a mine. My question is this, is a twenty-three year mine plan short term? The mines in the Elk Valley have been operating since the 1960s and no end in site. A few jobs? Using Teck’s ratio of direct to indirect jobs, 400 direct to 1100 indirect, that would represent a pay roll alone of $128 million a year. (400 @ $100k a year and 1100 @ $80k a year) even if that’s only half right. It would be a huge boost to our local economy plus with a federal/provincial tax rate of fourty percent, a boost to maintaining all of the government programs we all cherish.

What I see is a failure to compromise. The majority of people I’ve talked to are either pro tourism and antimine or vice versa. I’m for both. I have always stated that I was fine with two mines in the valley. Not once have I said that mining should be a free for all in the community. I’m pretty sure the local hiking groups, which do a fair amount of their business in the Waterton area, wouldn’t tour the old Grassy or Tent Mountain sites. They go to places like the Miner’s Path, which has a interpretive component to the mining history (I know ironic), and the tours are mostly up Crowsnest Mountain, Frank Slide and Bluff or any other of the many mountains we have in the community.

This has been an interesting experience for me making a stand. It’s been an eye opener on human nature.

When I posted my editorial it was on my own Facebook page and when I was getting disparaging remarks from people on my friends list they seemed surprised that I unfriended them. If you can say some of the disgusting things you have about me on your own Facebook why the hell would I want you as a friend on my personal page. I genuinely hurt a few feelings. Remember it’s not a council or Pass Herald Facebook, it’s my personal one and if I don’t like you, I don’t want you as a friend on my social media account. It’s a pretty simple concept.

What I found most interesting is that between the Pass Herald and my personal Facebook my editorial was shared over 400 times. That tells me it resonated with someone, somewhere and for that alone I’m happy I started the conversation.

I’ve been picked up by the Claresholm Local Press, did an op-ed for the Edmonton Journal that was printed yesterday, and was quoted in a CBC article. I’ve made a few mistakes, which I’ve owned up to but I have truly tried to represent the majority of my constituents in this community with a promise from the day I chose to run.

LS

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.

Alberta Crown Land Vision Dear Editor: Congratulations on the January 20 edition!! It was full of information, starting with your long editorial pointing out several facts that the opponents of the new mines conveniently or intentionally ignore. That was followed by Tim Juhlin's letter regarding the straws these opponents will grasp at to shut down the advancement of the proposed mines. Then came bill Stuart's letter doing a great job at pointing out to the opponents what they would have to live without if there was no steel to be had, produced by heating raw ore with coal. Will all these opponents give up their vehicles, ATV's, steel corral fences, and other machinery reverting to horsepower of the fourlegged variety to make a living? No, they want to keep all that as long as the means to produce it doesn't happen close to them.

They don't talk about the agricultural effluent, from cattle feces to fertilizers, that leech into our rivers.

Only what the mines might emit.

The final letter from a Nanton resident is the primary reason for my writing this one, though. In it she falls back on inflammatory statements, with little basis in fact, which is what opponents do really well. These statements, unless looked upon carefully can sound reasonable but don't stand up to any kind of scrutiny. She says her Junior-High aged daughter, after watching the film at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre "had nightmares for months".

Has anyone at the Centre been informed of or received concerns about this film?? It has been viewed by many thousands of people over the years, many of them school students without ill-effects that have been revealed.

Bricks & Bouquets

Further, she says that this disaster could have been prevented, just as she suggests that the 2013 flood that devastated her home in High River could have been prevented. She states that the flood was caused by "climate change and the clear-cutting" of the mountains west of there. Do any of these people really think that we can change the course of nature? That we could have prevented the freezing, thawing, and melting that caused the Frank Slide, or the extraordinary large winter snow pack, the cooler than normal spring, and the quick melt and rain that caused the flood in High River? Are their egos so huge that they think we humans can control what has been happening for millions of years? There are about 60 volcanoes that erupt each year, some more than once. Each eruption emits as much CO2 as ALL the motor vehicles in the world emit in a whole year! And yet we are ex-

pected to pay trillions of dollars in taxes in attempts to reduce emissions.

Talk about emptying the ocean with a teaspoon.

She also talks about Jonny Harris' featuring the town of Coleman in one of his episodes, and says of 75 towns he visited "all were laid to waste and left to rot by resource companies". This is a gross exaggeration in that most ghost towns were in agricultural areas where smaller farms were taken over by larger farms, thus reducing the population necessary to sustain these small towns.

The prairies have hundreds of abandoned elevators in what were towns that once prospered, but now no longer exist.

Thank you for presenting the facts about the exploration companies operating here. Hopefully we can make as much noise about these facts as the opponents are making about their concerns.

Dick Burgman

This is your column, THE READERS, use it but please don’t abuse it. All Bricks & Bouquets are expressions from OUR READERS and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of THIS newspaper. If you wish to expressly thank someone, please use our CARD OF THANKS section of this newspaper. We appreciate you making this column a success, and keep sending us your Bricks and Bouquets. All Bricks and Bouquets are kept on file at the Pass Herald.

BOUQUETS - To the people that realize 1000 years of tourism is better then 25 years of strip mining and reclamations.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 7

John Pundyk.CoM

Simply Selles Musings from you local reporter

403

Royal LePage South Country Real Estate Services Ltd. COlemAn ACreAge

This winter has been fairly mild and it’s allowed me to enjoy a lot of the outdoors so far.

This past Friday, I had a friend come visit from Lethbridge for the day and we decided to hike the trail to Allison Creek Falls.

This was my first time hiking to the falls in the winter and it was beautiful.

The way the water moved under the frozen parts of the falls was amazing.

It’s one of my favourite little hikes to do in the Pass and for the longest time I didn’t even know it existed.

I love walking through the trees on the way to the falls as I’m just immersed in the beauty of nature.

We hung out near the falls for a while before walking back towards Chinook Lake.

We were the only ones there and it was incredibly peaceful to just sit on a bench by the lake staring at the mountains and frozen water below.

Once we were finished hiking I followed him back into Lethbridge to visit my parents for the rest of the weekend.

I would classify the drive in as peaceful…except for one moment right near the beginning.

Heading east just past Bellevue there was a plough heading the opposite direction.

Before I could blink there was a loud crack.

Sure enough a rock smoked my windshield.

I pulled off to the side of the road to assess the damage and since there was no glass inside my Jeep and the crack was within reason, I finished the drive to Lethbridge and booked an appointment to get it fixed.

I made the trek back out to the Pass on Monday with a new windshield and I can happily say no rocks have hit this one, yet.

I’ll see how long that lasts.

5 bdrm acreage. Big mountain views to the south. Spacious floor plan. 2 fireplaces. Surrounded by mature Douglas Fir trees, close to Forest Reserve and mountain trails. Large garage with big loft. Located between Fernie and Castle Mountain resort. Championship mountain golf course, Blue-Ribbon fly fishing, and X-country skiing nearby.

Tremendous value and opportunity. $504,900 CALL JOHN MLS

26 KAnAnASKiS COUrt Spectacular south-facing mountain lot. Northside of the valley, off Alberta Forest Trunk Road, and Forest Reserve. Sun exposure all year round. Suitable for a walk-out bungalow looking towards the South Range and the Flathead. No timeline to start building. 1/3 acre with all required services: water, sewer, power, gas, cable, telephone. $127,000 CALL JOHN MLS

61 irOnStOne 4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms. Fantastic mountain view. Deluxe townhome still under construction, purchaser can choose own finishes. Large attached double car garage; double car driveway. Spacious laundry room and storage area. Crowsnest Pass has championship golf course, hospital, 2 medical clinics, dental clinic, and 3 pharmacies. Area famous for blue ribbon mountain fly fishing, x-country skiing, hiking. Close to down-hill ski resorts. $419,500 + GST CALL JOHN MLS

HillCreSt lOt Affordable mountain property. Large corner lot on the edge of town. Spectacular open vistas to the south and east. Extra large 66’ x 120’ lot. Good location for an RTM. Access from front or sidestreet allows for large garage. Services in front street. Close to 4 season recreational activities. $75,000 CALL JOHN MLS

belleVUe COmmerCiAl Commercial land with east and west bound access on busy Hwy 3 corridor. Located at first entrance to Crowsnest Pass with access to municipal water and sewer. Tremendous traffic count in front of the property. Zoned commercial and suitable for many different activities. $190,000 CALL JOHN MLS

timberline ridge Hillcrest Lot 7, Block 2 is ready to build.

All services underground and on property. Beautiful, sunny location. 65.5 feet wide and 119 feet deep. Crowsnest Pass is a great mountain community nestled in the Alberta Canadian Rockies. Home to renowned mountain golf course and mecca for unparalleled mountain activities. Close to Fernie, Castle Mountain ski resorts. $88,000 CALL JOHN MLS

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 $88,000 to $115,000. 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

562-8830 jpundyk@shaw.ca 31 irOnStOne Beautiful bungalow under construction at Ironstone Lookout. Open floor plan with luxurious finishes. Magnificent mountain views. Unobstructed vista to the south.

Two bedrooms up and two down. 3 bathrooms. Kitchen with quartz counter-tops.

Spacious media room. Large double car garage and driveway. Hardwood and tile flooring. Main floor laundry. Tremendous value for a luxurious home. Choice of finishes if bought early in the process. $439,500+ GST CALL JOHN MLS

blAirmOre 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. $475,000 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

blAirmOre Two-bedroom, top floor condo with fantastic southern exposure and beautiful mountain view at Crowsnest Condominiums in Blairmore. Close to the Crowsnest River, waking paths, Blairmore Ski Hill, fantastic mountain golf course, and bike trails. Also, hospital, 2 medical clinics, dental office and shopping close by. $119,000 CALL JOHN MLS

COlemAn Fantastic commercial lot in downtown Coleman. This corner 50’ x 100’ lot has tremendous visibility, is close to the post office, and popular restaurants. Level and with back lane access. Crowsnest Pass offers incredible opportunity for mountain activities, hundreds of miles of back country trails, and mountain-bike trails. This property has two titles, creating additional opportunities. Both are to be sold together. $69,000 CALL JOHN MLS

COlemAn Fantastic mountain views, lots of sun. Tremendous B&B potential. 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom home northside of the valley facing Flat Head Mountains. 2 gas fireplaces. 4,544 square feet. South facing walkout basement. Large decks. Natural gas BBQ. Two soaker tubs. 4 pc ensuite in master bedroom. Washer and dryer on each floor. Two great rooms with plumbed in counters. Attached double car garage with additional parking. In floor heat and heat exchanger. $555,000 CALL JOHN MLS

blAirmOre COmmerCiAl

Large lot in fantastic Blairmore location with lots of parking. This former popular “SIDE TRAX” diner can be brought back to life. It has a commercial kitchen and large outside patio. This commercial kitchen can be reconfigured to bring your different food ideas to life. $225,000. CALL JOHN MLS

38 KAnAnASKiS WildS South facing, stunning mountain views and mature douglas fir trees. Great building site. All services, including water, sewer and high speed internet at property. Special mountain community, northside of the valley above Coleman, just off Kananaskis Hwy. Beautiful 1/3 of an acre fully serviced lot. $119,000 CALL JOHN MLS

New ShowhomeS

8 – Crowsnest Pass HeraLD – Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Council considering recyling program DAVID SELLES Pass Herald Reporter

Council discussed a potential new recycling program at their January 19 Council Meeting.

Councillor Ward brought the potential program to Council’s attention.

“The Landfill has put a proposal out and all they're looking for right now is for us to say yes and where do you want your bins. The price is cheaper than what we used to pay. This was a stand-alone offer. We don't have to wait for Pincher Creek. They had their own stand-alone offer. The Landfill has no problem proceeding on a stand-alone basis.”

Mayor Painter asked how many stations would be put in the Crowsnest Pass.

CAO Patrick Thomas says he believes the Pass would receive three separate bins with slots for plastic, paper, cans and cardboard in each bin.

21014TN0

Council also discussed whether or not they would have three different locations for the bins.

Councillor Ward says he would like to see the bins spread out throughout the community.

if it means putting them at the (municipal) shops."

During further discussion, Mayor Painter says he would like to see these bins somewhat hidden from main roads throughout the community.

"One of the big complaints over the years was that people didn't want to drive to Frank. If we could put one at the east end, one at the centre and one at the west end of the community it would make the most sense."

-Dean Ward - Councillor, Municipality of Crowsnest Pass

"One of the big complaints over the years was that people didn't want to drive to Frank. If we could put one at the east end on at the centre and one at the west end of the community it would make the most sense."

Councillor Filipuzzi says he would like to see this process move ahead quickly and suggested they begin with one site as soon as possible.

"Even if we started out with one site where Administration can find and set up in an appropriate way, I'd be happy with that. Then we can move from that site and expand.

I think it's important that we get this project started.

I don't want to task Administration to look at three separate sites right now. I think that would be a big challenge. I would like to see if we could get one place started here now so we can get this program underway."

Councillor Glavin says she'd prefer to see three sites right away.

"I think if we do it, we do it with three bins, even

"These bins need to be camouflaged somehow. They need to be behind a wall, they need to be someplace where people aren't driving by seeing these recyclables all the time."

Mayor Painter added that he believes this is something the community could really benefit from.

"I think this is really good. This is something our community has talked a lot about. We do have a private recycling company that has been doing an amazing job in my opinion, but this gives people another option for places to deposit recyclables. This would definitely satisfy that request from our community."

Mayor Painter added that the Crowsnest Pass would still have their toxic roundup each year even if these bins come to the Pass.

Following discussion, Councillor Ward made a motion for administration to investigate the options for council regarding the recycling program.

The motion was carried.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND CLAIMANTS Estate of KIM DALE LIVINGSTON, who died on December 21st, 2020. If you have a claim against this estate, you must file your claim by February 28th, 2021. and provide details of your claim with

Guy Livingston Box 568 Coleman, AB. T0K 0M0

If you do not file by the date above, the estate property can lawfully be distributed without regard to any claim you may have.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - crowsnesT Pass HeraLD - 9

MP John Barlow holds Facebook Live Town Hall night DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

MP for Foothills John Barlow held a Facebook Live Town Hall on January 6, giving constituents a chance to ask him questions.

Below are some of the questions that were asked and his responses.

Can you comment on the timeline to vaccinate the majority of Canadians? It sounds like this fall for most of us. Can that be accelerated to get Canadians back to work?

JB: This is something that we have been pushing the Liberals on since the fall. We are way behind our western democracy colleagues in the G7.

When you look at the United States and the United Kingdom, they could have their entire populations vaccinated by the end of this spring.

We will be much later into next fall maybe even into 2022 before all Canadians are vaccinated. This is something, I think, the Liberals are going to have to be held accountable for.

This started last spring when they didn’t take Covid seriously initially when we were asking them to shut the borders from any international flights.

Is it true there are

prisoners who will receive the Covid-19 vaccine before all of our elderly and vulnerable persons?

JB: Yes. That is true. It was announced that the Liberal government is going to be vaccinating in many cases prisoners in federal penitentiaries.

They have been given a priority. I find this completely unacceptable.

There have been minimal outbreaks in prisons across Canada. The priority has to be on those most vulnerable in society. The priority must be on the elderly citizens in long term health facilities, our frontline workers, doctors, nurses and paramedics.

How are things progressing for making rapid testing available across Canada?

JB: When this is all said and done I think this will show a massive failure of the Liberal government. When we have been asking about rapid testing, they say it’s inaccurate and it doesn’t work. For the past three months, more than 80 countries were using rapid testing as a means to reduce the need to quarantine, keep their airlines and their travel businesses open and operating but to also keep

businesses open, schools operating, keeping healthcare workers safe and keeping their economy going. One of the only countries that wasn’t utilizing rapid testing was Canada. We even have an Alberta company in Calgary called ClearMe that has a rapid test with 98 per cent accuracy. It has been approved to be used in the United States and the United Kingdom. It received those approvals eight or nine months ago.

As of August it still hasn’t received approval here in Canada. I find it completely unacceptable.

When you have a made in Canada solution that will offer us an opportunity to minimize the need for lockdowns, keep our businesses operating and allow Canadians to get back to their normal lives.

Why on earth are we not using this technology?

Several million rapid test kits have been dispersed but in a country of 35 million it’s not nearly enough.

How long has it been since the Trudeau government has had a budget JB: It has now been well over a year. The last time we had a budget was the spring of 2019. We’re expecting to see a budget this spring. These financial updates as they (Lib-

Rita Anderson photo

Rita Anderson brought in a receipt from a 1952 hospital stay in the Crowsnest Pass. These little treasures of our community remind us of a different time when things were as progressive as they are today. If you have a cool piece of history, bring it in and we will print it in the paper.

erals) call them are not sufficient.

Any update on Rural Broadband JB: As we go through Covid and the recovery, this is going to be one of the main issues that we have to deal with as a country as we see the importance of access to rural broadband and how much Canadians rely on it. Even when vaccines are rolled out and Canadians are vaccinated, this is going to be, for many Canadians, a new way of life. Working from home, students working at home. This is not something that’s going to change overnight. We have to look at high speed internet as a utility and make sure we treat it as

such.

When may the next election occur JB: My guess personally would be next fall.

We are preparing for a spring election just in case. The reason I say next fall is that the roll out of the vaccines has been a bit of a disaster and when Canadians see that other countries are ahead, they’ll be angry. Another reason is that the Liberals will have to table a budget that will be very ugly. The third thing is that when people start doing their taxes this spring, many Canadians will see that the CERB is taxable. This wasn’t necessarily free money. When they see that again they’ll be angry. Trudeau will

have to navigate that. The other option is that he calls it before he tables a budget in the spring and before people start doing their taxes. Either one is possible.

Anyone interested in hearing the entire Town Hall can do so by going to John Barlow’s Facebook page John Barlow, MP Foothills to find the post.

Barlow said he hopes to continue doing these Facebook Live Town Halls once a month to give constituents the opportunity to ask questions and make sure their voices are heard.

The main ways to contact Barlow is by phone at 403-603-3665 or by email at John.Barlow@parl.gc.ca.

10 – CRowsnest Pass HeRaLD – Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Local Resident filling mini libraries across Crowsnest Pass DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

One local resident is doing his part to make sure everyone in the Crowsnest Pass has something to read.

Billy has spent the last few months finding and filling mini libraries throughout the Crowsnest Pass.

“I put the books in the library, tidy them and then we move on to the next

one. There's around 30 that we've found.

Billy says he really enjoys being able to fill these libraries and likes that it keeps him busy.

“It takes a long time.

We spend most of the day every Wednesday. We like it so much and we have so many books that we can continue doing it more often. When we first started we didn't have so many books. Now we do

and it's good. I like to keep busy."

The books get donated by different businesses and people from the community.

"We get some from Bagatelle and some from Mountainview. Bagatelle donates a box to us every week. The Blairmore Library has been helping us out as well. We did a post on the Crowsnest Network Facebook as well and be-

~ Letters to the the Editor ~ Sensationalism and fear mongering Dear Editor, Certainly “the discussion” of coal mining in the Pass has heated up.

I’m certainly in favour of these mines but I want to learn more about their proposals and continue to educate myself. What concerns me is you have the polarized people on this issue, but also you have those undecided and those wanting to know the facts. The fear mongering media is try-

ing to portray that if these mines are opened the environment and water quality will drastically deteriorate. This is incorrect.

Let me give you 2 examples of articles I’ve read recently in the Outdoor Canada magazine.

One titled “Combat Biology” and one titled “Coal vs Trout” Both written by a retired Government employee . You tell me if these titles are designed

to explain facts or to create fear about the effects of industrial activities?

Coal vs Trout is introduced by the magazine’s editor in a piece titled “Lousy Friends” The title and article “Coal vs Trout” presents the incorrect assumption that if we re-open the historic coal mining industry in the Crowsnest we will have no trout. Absolutely incorrect, but to the average person that title creates

Letter sent to MLA Roger Reid Dear Editor, The following is a letter sent to MLA Roger Reid.

Dear MLA Reid, I recently came across your piece titled “Province halts coal leases” in The Breeze and began reading it with great interest. You note that you listened carefully to the concerns citizens brought before you and that, as a result, new coal leases will be canceled.

You fail to mention that the said remaining leases to be auctioned represent an insignificant lease area and value, basically the crumbs in the bag. Therefore, it does not take a lot of wit to expose this statement as a strawman argument, recklessly aligned with party lines. Duly noted, however, my recommendation is to please not rinse and repeat, as it could just put you in a

vulnerable corner.

You also argue that despite the rescindment of the 1976 coal policy nothing has really changed, which immediately raises the question, as to why rescinding the coal policy was necessary in the first place, and in an obscure, political nightand-fog maneuver? Fact is, things did change; it allowed the sale of coal leases and opened increasingly sensitive lands to an onslaught of irresponsible development, benefiting predominantly foreign gross domestic product. By contrast, the government put the advocates of responsible land use management amongst its electorate on the defensive. The benefits to Albertans or Canadians are minimal and at best short term, while we will bear the legacy risks and associated mitigation costs for many decades to

come. These companies are structured such that bankruptcy of the subsidiary operating company during adverse economical circumstances is a perfect option to shed responsibility for their legacy in the classic boom and bust fashion. The rest of us are left with hemorrhaging landscapes and communities, and we have history to back that up. Nobody with the overall public benefit in mind can with all honesty be a proponent of such developments. This will not benefit the Albertan and Canadian taxpayer and certainly put future (potentially conservative) governments in a worse position than we see now.

But I suppose that, such facts are not worth the effort spent, if your thought is focused on merely 4year chunks of time. After all, that could lead to political sacrilege like the

cause of that post we got over 1,000 books donated," said Billy.

It started on a much smaller scale and has now continues to grow.

“It started out as a take a book leave a book. We've been doing it since September and when we started a lot of them were empty. We took it on ourselves.”

Billy is happy with how much support the community has shown to

these little libraries.

“It seems like the community is really using them, which is great. The more people use them the busier we are so it would be great if people kept using them.”

Billy also plans to help build more mini libraries around the community and will have one new one built by his home.

Billy says the new mini libraries will be built

in the spring when the ground isn't as frozen.

If there are any other libraries around the community that haven't been filled with books yet, let Billy know and he will make sure those libraries also get filled.

Anyone interested in donating books to these mini libraries can drop off books at Mountainview located at 8102, 19 Ave in Coleman.

concern. And rightly so.

Now for century’s the Media has used sensational, leading titles to draw peoples eyes. So now instead of “Sex” we have the anti coal proponents using, “Headwater Destruction”, Coal vs Trout, Toxic Selenium, etc.

And we who love and are concerned about the environment and the water, yet see the positive future for opening up, particularly the old abandoned mines, are labeled as trading the environment for jobs! Yes I’m concerned about jobs, is that so wrong? Would I like my grandkids to have a choice of local area

jobs created by these industries? Yes. Is it wrong of me to notice that those groups and individuals opposing the mine, using incorrect facts and assumption, are often not from the Crowsnest Pass, are “Anti anything Industrial” groups (many foreign funded), or are individuals who moved to the area and are “setup”?

Not in my backyard types. Well Riversdale Coal is pretty close to my backyard and I think they have a good, sound proposal. I do think they need to present that to the public but I’d probably find out they are not allowed too.

A friend of mind

pointed out a very informative website.

Hunterconservationistcom. They have a super series of episodes, #25 presents some great FACTS on the selenium issue in the Elk Valley and the truth about the Fording River trout. Tech should be commended for their work and moitoring in that valley.

As well as the JOBS they provide.

So get informed.

Look for the facts. And do not be sold the lie that we are trading jobs for the environment. Don’t be fooled by these many headlines.

1976 coal policy, protecting a vulnerable ecosystem from destructive impacts for over 40 years!

Albertans with a bit of foresight understand the significance of this.

You also bring up the EPEA requiring measures to control contaminants, including selenium, in mine effluents. Fact is, technologies for the control of selenium leaching from large open scars in the landscape are more often than not ineffective while also being costly. It is impossible to predict all the conditions leading to export of selenium into the watersheds downstream, and once these processes run away, mitigation costs will severely impact the economics of the mine. In that case I would expect considerable leniency in regulatory enforcement to protect the operation and associated jobs. History tells again.

Selenium is also only one of many risk factors.

One aspect that has never been discussed so far is

naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). These materials exist as part of minerals in the earth’s crust and the process of mining and beneficiation exposes people and the environment to these radioactive substances. Cancer-causing radon gas in the basement of your house is one example of this, but there are many others, including uranium, radium and polonium. Especially the coal industry is internationally recognized as a NORM industry. Regulations for environmental NORM releases are rudimentary at present, however they are rapidly emerging in the international guidance; in a nutshell, action levels for radioactivity in handled materials are very low, about twice as high as the background radioactivity in the human body (yes, we all are radioactive).

The materials in the Grassy Mountain Mine likely exceed these levels already, necessitating risk assessment, however no-

body presently cares.

Someone will care soon; I would expect Canada to adopt this regulation in the future, more than likely affecting the reclamation and mitigation requirements of coal mining legacy in a decade or two.

You cannot destroy radioactive materials, and you cannot chemically sequester them – you can only store them in very costly, secure facilities.

Pity the fool…sorry, Albertan… to pay for that.

So, having informed you of this, do you honestly believe the nonsense, that the Alberta government holds proponent companies to a high standard? – Please…

To bring this letter to a point in summarizing my impressions of your piece in The Breeze, while I began reading it with great interest, I must say, I finished it with yet a raised level of concern over our political representation.

John MacGarva

Lars Brinkmann Lundbreck, AB

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - crowsnest pass HeraLD - 11

12 – CROWSNEST PaSS hERald – Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Saylor Mae Chambers July 29th, 2015 Pincher Creek, AB. Parents: Mike Chambers and Cierra Shortreed The Crowsnest Pass Herald will be publishing a

Babies of 2020 issue on February 10th, 2021.

This is an amazing keepsake to show to all the kids at graduation time!

Bring in, mail or email photos of your babies born in 2020!

Along with Baby Name, Birthday, Birth Place, Parents Names and your payment of $20 Deadline for submissions is February 5th, 2021.

Call 403-562-2248 for more details!

P.O. Box 960 • Blairmore, AB. • T0K 0E0 Email: passherald@shaw.ca

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 13

A&K Self StorAge Located in the Frank Industrial Park

Units range in size from 5' x 10', 10' x 10', 10' x 15', 10' x 20', sea can 8' x 20' and a 12' x 20' building with auto garage door.

Units are finished inside with hard board or plywood and freshly painted.

Some units are inside chain link fenced area. All units have interior lighting.

Area is secured by exterior lighting.

Residential & Commercial Excavating Landscaping • Snow Removal

jfilipuzzi@shaw.ca

403-563-7285

lannie@westerraearthworks.com

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14 – Crowsnest pass HeraLD – wednesday, january 27, 2021

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and provide details of your claim

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with

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If you do not file by the date above, the estate property can lawfully be distributed without regard to any claim you may have.

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Rose Webber October 17, 1924 ~ January 15, 2021

With great sadness we announce the passing of Rose Rae Webber on January 15, 2021 at the York Creek Lodge in Blairmore, AB. She was blessed with 96 well-lived years.

Our mother was a free spirit who loved babies, flowers, the Blue Jays, a good bargain, and especially Elvis Presley. She loved to collect things, listen to Elvis, paint with acrylics, oils, pencil crayons and pastels, and in later years, read (preferring non-fiction). She also enjoyed crocheting and working on crossword puzzles.

While living in Toronto, our mom delivered cars, either driving them from one city to another or across the border to Florida. She spent many years driving an owner-operated taxi in Calgary, enjoying meeting new people including Wayne Gretzky and Allan Thicke. Of course, she didn’t recognize them, saying only that they looked familiar. They both had a good laugh and gave her their autographs. Once, she met Charlton Heston at the Palliser Hotel. Her memory of that was “his wife wasn’t very friendly.”

Upon moving to Crowsnest Pass, she spent many hours driving around picking wild flowers which she dried and, using birchbark, made unique book marks. After some health challenges in her 80’s, she resided with her daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Norm Neufeld. She also went on many exploratory trips with Norm as well as spending many hours fishing with her grandson, Brian. In the fall, she loved picking dried leaves for projects. She was a creative cook and was known for her pierogies and cabbage rolls.

In her last year, she spent her time at York Creek Lodge where she was treated with great affection and kindness.

She leaves behind to mourn her daughters: Sherry (Norm) Neufeld, Dana Donovan, Tracy Mosby, Stacey (Joe) Skaper, Michelle (Ian) Colquhoun and Patricia Donovan. She has seven beloved grandchildren: Matthew (Jenna) Neufeld, Brian, (Chelsey) Neufeld, Kyle (Robin) Mosby, Sarah (Scott) Cochrane, Anna (Chas) Donovan, Dallas Skaper and Kelsey (Brad) Harding. She also treasured her great grandchildren: Kiera, Samantha, Rayne and baby Callum.

A private Celebration of life will be held once Covid-19 restrictions allow. Memorial donations will be gratefully accepted by the York Creek Lodge Residents Association (PO Box 1050, Blairmore, AB T0K 0E0). Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca.

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel entrusted with the arrangements. (403) 562-8555

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - cRowSneSt PASS HeRALD - 15

Livingstone Range School division board meeting FRANK MCTIGHE CONTRIBUTOR

School division proposes single ballot for municipal election The names of trustee candidates may be on the same ballot as their municipal counterparts in the next election.

Livingstone Range School Division will ask towns and municipal districts to consider that change for the October election.

“I think that this would be beneficial to raise the profile of the school board election,” trustee Brad Toone said.

Toone made the proposal at the school board’s Jan. 19 meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building in Fort Macleod.

Wherever possible, Toone suggested trustee candidates should be on the same ballot as municipal candidates.

In past elections, the school board had its own ballot, as did municipal district and town council.

Toone said putting school board and council candidates on the same ballot would be cost-effective and eliminate some confusion at the ballot box.

Last year there were reports some people were uncertain whether they could vote in the school board election.

As a result, many school board ballots were not filled in.

“I think this simplifies the process,” Toone said of voters receiving just one ballot with the names of candidates in both elections.

Toone’s proposal received support around the table.

“I think this is a great idea,” trustee Clara Yagos said.

Trustee Jim Burdett wondered whether the MD of Willow Creek and the towns would agree to the proposal.

“I think we have great partnerships with the municipalities in the area and this could be a continuation of that,” Toone said.

Associate superintendent of business services Jeff Perry, who is Livingstone Range’s returning officer, said the idea won’t work in every scenario, due to school division ward boundaries

being different than municipal district division boundaries.

“There are some areas that would need two ballots,” Perry said, adding it would be a good idea to combine ballots wherever possible.

Trustees get update on school division reserves Livingstone Range School Division’s reserves have dwindled since 2016.

Associate superintendent of business services Jeff Perry gave trustees an update on reserves during their Jan. 19 meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building in Fort Macleod.

“Typically, Alberta Education has indicated that a five per cent threshold is appropriate,” Perry said.

Livingstone Range is at 4.5 per cent.

“We’re under the threshold in that area,” Perry said of the division’s unrestricted and school surpluses.

Reserves are established for contingencies and some specific purposes.

Livingstone Range’s reserves for maintenance, transportation and board and system administration total 5.76 per cent.

“Our intentions in the prior year were to be under five per cent,” Perry said. “With COVID happening and everything that occurred, our deficit was lower than we anticipated but still there was a $300,000 deficit.”

At the end of the year Livingstone Range had an unrestricted surplus of $106,216, down from $397,172. These are funds that are not targeted for a specific purpose.

Perry said the reason for the decrease was those funds were used for operations in the previous school year.

Livingstone Range’s operating reserves started at $2.814-million and ended at $2.793-million.

Operating reserves are funds typically set aside for a specific purpose.

Capital reserves started at $2.4-million and went down to $2.37-million. These funds are held for acquiring future capital assets.

Perry told trustees reserves decreased by $380,814 during the 2019-

’20 school year.

The school division had planned for an operating deficit, which at the end of the year was $301,253.

Perry told trustees the school division planned to use $106,216 from unrestricted reserves for COVID-19 supplies and cleaning time.

The division planned to draw another $282,487 from school reserves for COVID-19 supplies, substitute teaching costs, and to sustain the international students program.

Livingstone Range also planned to draw $278,000 from maintenance reserves to cover an increase in insurance costs above maintenance revenues.

The school division’s operating funds from the province will be reduced by $2-million in the next two years, which will force Livingstone Range to tap its reserves further.

Trustees vote down compensation committee Livingstone Range School Board last week rejected a proposal to strike a new committee to review trustee remuneration.

Trustees voted 6-1 against the proposal from trustee Brad Toone during their Jan. 19 meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building in Fort Macleod.

Toone wanted to strike a new committee made up of public members and school division employees to review trustee remuneration, likely every four years.

The public members of the remuneration committee would be those serving on the division’s audit committee The three school division employee members would be recommended by the superintendent.

“Most people who seek election to a municipal council or school board are driven first and foremost by a strong sense of public service and a desire to make their communities better,” Toone said.

“Remuneration in most cases is not an important motivating factor.”

Toone said elected officials should be able to expect “fair and reason-

able” compensation.

Striking a new committee, Toone said, would relieve trustees of the often-uncomfortable position of deciding their own compensation.

Toone said it is a practice followed by some, but not all, school boards and puts trustee compensation in the hands of an independent group who bring diverse perspectives to the discussion.

Trustees cited concerns including a lack of knowledge about the role of a trustee and the added expense of another committee in their opposition to the proposal.

Trustees also noted that any recommendations by a remuneration committee would have to come to the school board for approval.

As a result trustees would still have to decide on their own compensation.

“I don’t see this as being a good idea at all,” trustee Greg Long said.

Livingstone Range to host international students Nineteen international students will be in Livingstone Range School Division classrooms to start the next semester.

Students from Germany, France and Vietnam will be in Alberta despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The process to get these few has been very detailed,” associate superintendent Chad Kuzyk said.

Kuzyk provided trustees with an update on international students during the Jan. 19 meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building in Fort Macleod.

Fourteen students from Germany will be in Livingstone Range, along with four from France and one from Vietnam, who was here last year and remained through the pandemic.

Willow Creek Composite high school in Claresholm, Crowsnest Consolidated and J.T. Foster school in Nanton will each host four students.

F.P. Walshe school in Fort Macleod and Matthew Halton school in Pincher Creek will each have three students, and Livingstone school in Lundbreck will host one

student.

Kuzyk told trustees schools were required to submit quarantine plans to Alberta Education in July, who in turn sent them to the Public Health Agency of Canada for approval.

Livingstone Range’s plan was approved.

International students need documentation with negative COVID-19 tests 7 hours prior to boarding their flight to Canada.

The students will also download the ArriveCan app prior to arrival in Canada, for tracking purposes.

Kuzyk said Livingstone Range will pick up the international students at the Calgary airport and transport them on a school bus to their host families, where they will enter quarantine for seven to 14 days.

“Most likely, most of the students will be quarantined for the 14 days,” Kuzyk said.

International students will wear masks, socially distance from others, and handle their own luggage.

If students test positive for COVID-19 when in Canada, they will follow the government of Canada’s self-isolation protocol.

Home stay co-ordinators will check in daily.

A virtual student orientation is planned for Jan. 31 via Google Meet.

“I think it’s incredible that you’ve managed to keep the program open during the COVID pandemic,” trustee Greg Long said.

School division promotes inclusion in classrooms Livingstone Range School Division is on an ongoing journey of inclusion.

Director of learning support services Lisa Furukawa made a presentation on inclusion at the Jan. 19 school board meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building in Fort Macleod.

“Everyone has a different understanding of inclusion depending on their lived experiences,” Furukawa said.

Furukawa told trustees she was in a meeting recently where someone asked why there

is still discussion about inclusion, when it has been a topic for more than two decades.

“I smiled and I shared, inclusion is not a destination,” Furukawa said. “It’s never over, it’s a continuum — a journey that we’re on.”

Furukawa said her own definition and understanding of inclusion is ever-evolving.

“My current definition is that inclusion is everyone belonging, it’s that feeling that you have when you know you’re valued just by being you.

You know people honour your lived experiences, your gender, your race, your ethnicity.”

“Knowing that you have a place at the table, and that you have a voice that people want to hear.”

Trustees watched a video that indicated students have diverse needs and a one size fits all approach to education is not appropriate.

A better approach would be to teach to diversity, trustees were told.

That would move differences from being a burden to a celebration of strengths.

The curriculum model is now allowing for this move to flexibility and responsivity.

Furukawa said Livingstone Range is moving to assume diversity and plan for inclusion, access and equity.

That is being done through the following steps: • Looking at student and classroom profiles.

• Ensuring families had a voice at the table.

• Determining what barriers exist and planning to remove them.

• Reviewing curriculum goals and programs of study.

• Offering students and their families choices related to the program of studies.

• Ensuring every student has access and entry points.

• Layering supports and strengthening the classroom environment.

Work is being done to strengthen the understanding of diversity and inclusion across the school division.

“How do you do inclusion?”

Furukawa asked. “You don’t do it, you live it.”

16 – CRowsnesT PAss HeRALD – Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Looking Back

So I’ll pick up where I left off last week. At this point Aniela is being shipped along with many others way into the Siberian interior of Kazakhstan. “We came to Akmolinsk by train. The train was a special one for prisoners with bars on the windows and guards with guns. They gave us very salty fish to eat but they didn’t give us any water to drink. They tried to find some water but there was no place to get it. As far as we could see, there was nothing but snow and more snow. Finally, they brought some snow for us to eat. We travelled like that for a week.”

(Authors Note: The trip from Kharkow (Kharkiv) to Akmolinsk was 3589 kilometers by rail. My God, undoubtedly through the most godforsaken country. It is stunning to look at it on a map. Akmolinsk was renamed Tselinograd in 1961, then back to Akmola in 1992 then Astana (which means capital city) in 1998 and finally Nur-Sultan in 2019. It is the spectacular capital of Kazakhstan. In this city there is a monument to the victims of the Akmola Labour Camp for Wives of Political Dissidents during Soviet times. Women and children of most men who the NKVD deemed traitors were sent..

There were tens of thousands of men executed. Everyone was a traitor in Stalin’s eyes. He (was often known to say) “No men, No problem!”

“The camp was north of Akmolinsk, in Siberia. There were no railroads, so we had to walk through the deep snow for about ten hours to get there. Some people were so tired they were falling in the snow. The soldiers were pushing them with the butts of their rifles and swore and called us names. In this transport were more than 300 Polish women. The camp was full of Russian prisoners, wives and daughters of Tzar (Czar) officers; their husbands and fathers were shot when the communists took over the Russian government. Their wives and children were sent to prison for life.

In this camp they put me to work digging frozen ground because they planned to build a railroad. The work was hard and the hours long. We worked 14 to 16 hours every day. The temperature was 45 degrees below zero, and still we worked outside. To keep warm, we had to work fast; when you stand up to rest for half a minute, your sweat would freeze on your back. My feet were frozen so terribly that, for many years after, my feet were swollen and it was difficult for me to find soft shoes that wouldn’t hurt.

Every prisoner had to dig a “norm”, so many metres long and so many wide. If somebody managed to dig the norm he or she received more bread the next day. I could never make the “norm”. I was too weak so I received only small portions of bread. Also, once a day we got soup, which was made of some grain and fish heads.

For one and a half years I worked in that camp doing hard work outside, building railroads and digging canals for irrigation or something. Many of my friends didn’t make it; they died of starvation and diseases.

My brother also died or was killed somewhere in Siberia.

Author’s Note: There is a spectacular monument and museum at NurSultan, Kazakhstan known as Alzhir, the Arch of Sorrow. It is dedicated to the women and children of the mass terror that occurred there. Like Aniela and the thousands of Polish seized and shipped to the Gulags, these women had no idea why they were there and whether their husbands or fathers had survived. Most were shot. Six months after the Russians grabbed Aniela on the San River, in the Katyn Forest in Poland, over 22,000 Polish military officers and intelligentsia were specifically murdered. Up until 1990 Russia denied this and blamed it on the Germans.

On the Alzhir Museum website I found a disturbing description of how the imprisoned women, who were kept from knowing anything for a year, managed to get word out to relatives. (Using small scraps of paper they had salvaged, they bit their fingers to draw blood with which to write brief messages which were hidden in a train restroom box. Later these small triangles were picked up and delivered by railway workers to relatives.

Aniela goes on to say, “The Germans didn’t keep their promise of non-aggression. In June of 1941, the German army attacked Russia and the two “partners in crime” were now at war. Polish general, Wladyslaw Sikorski, tried to save the Polish people from Russian prisons. The terms of the agreement were signed in London on July 20, 1941 by Sikorski and the USSR. On Dec 4, 1941, the Declaration of Mutual Assistance and Collaboration was signed by Sikorski and Joseph Stalin. Stalin agreed to release the Polish people from Russian prisons. The Polish army was organized in the Soviet Union by Polish General Wladsylaw Anders. This was possible because there were more than one million Polish prisoners of war and many thousands of civilian families deported from Poland to Russia.

In May of 1942, I was released from the Russian prison. I was released along with two Polish ladies. Together we decided to go to the southern part of Russia by train. Some female Russian prisoners asked us to find their families and give them messages that they were alive and healthy. When we got to the addresses we were given, their families were so afraid they wouldn’t acknowledge they had relatives who were prisoners.

They said, “No. We don’t know anyone who is in prison.” When we asked them if we could sleep in their yards, they wouldn’t let us.

It was very difficult to get a seat on a train. There were a lot of people trying to get from place to place.

The trains were full of Russian army personnel so civilians had a slim chance to get on. The rail stations were full of Russian refugees running away from the front. Their homes were destroyed by bombs and fire so they had to move on. Many nights we slept on the street waiting to get on a train.

After a long wait at the Akmolinsk rail station, my two friends and I managed to get on a train, but we didn’t have any money for tickets so the lady conductor threw us out. We held on to the handrails of the steps, hanging on while the train was running. On the next rail car steps, some Russian men were also hanging on.

I had a little bag hanging on a string on my arm. A man from the next car tried to steal it. He pulled and jerked Photos clockwise from top: Map showing the horrendous rail jourthe bag but the string wouldn’t break, and I couldn’t release my grip on the rail to let go of the bag for fear of ney to Akmolinsk - John Kinnear, Memorial railway wagon with falling off the train. It was going very fast and I would have been killed if I fell. The string of the bag cut my bars, used to transport Aniela and others into Siberia -voicesoncentralasia.org, Alzhir- Arch of Sorrow and museum in Nur-Sultan arm, and for many years, I had a big scar from it.

When the train stopped, we walked to a village in Kazakhstan (a Russian occupied country), and asked (Akmolinsk) - voicesoncentralasia.org, Aniela's next journey for jobs, any jobs, because we were very hungry. The Kozak people (Cossacks) let us work on their farms and route to Tashkent in Uzbekistan, A young indefatigable Aniela. paid us with some flour and potatoes. After a few weeks, we tried to get to Alma-Ata. (A region in southern Kazakhstan). Some Russian men in the village were going to Alma-Ata, and said they had room for one of us, if we paid them. We had 50 rubles between us, so my friends decided I would take our belongings and the ride while they would walk.

On the way to Alma-Ata, the men stopped by some bars for drinks while I waited in the wagon. When they came back, they yelled at me to give them more money, but I didn’t have any. So they started hitting me and tearing off my clothes. I was very scared and didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, there was a little Kozak man travelling with the Russians. He asked them to leave me alone, but they were drunk and wouldn’t stop. When the wagon continued down the hill, the Kozak pushed me off the wagon and I fell and rolled down the hill. Then he threw my bags down. He saved my life.”

“I was in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t know where I was or what to do. I sat on my bags and cried and prayed. After a long time, another Kozak man came by and asked if he could help. He was riding a donkey and spoke only Kozak(h). But somehow we understood each other. He let me borrow his donkey. I put my bags on the donkeys back and sat on it, then started off. The donkey walked steadily, until we came to a creek. It sat down right in the middle of the creek, getting the flour in one of my bags all wet. I jumped off the donkey and started pulling the rope, but the donkey refused to move. She was just enjoying the cool water. I was so upset, I ran behind the donkey and grabbed her tail and pulled it very hard. The donkey jumped up and started running fast. Finally, I got to the place where I was supposed to meet my friends. They said, “We walked and we are waiting here for you for a long time. You had a ride and you are so late.”

By John Kinnear

Hardship and Release – Aniela Plonka Part Two

Author’s Note: In Part Three we will follow Aniela Pawlisak as she makes her way across the Baltics to Iran and Iraq with the Polish 7th Division where she eventually meets and falls in love with Czeslaw Jan Plonka, a former Russian POW and Polish Army officer. So far she has been moved an incredible 6,574 kilometers east and west through Russian territories.