Crowsnest.Pass.Herald by crowsnestpassherald

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

September 8, 2021 ~ Vol. 91 • No. 36 $1.00

Crowsnest Pass

Herald

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9- 1 S e g Pa

Serving the CnP SinCe 1930

Community Washrooms

David Selles photo

The Municipality has begun the installation of new washrooms that will be located around the community. One is along the walking trail at the east entrance to Blairmore and another has been installed at the Hillcrest riverbottom. The final washroom will be installed near Albert Stella arena. The money for these washrooms came from the Municipal Stimulus Program.

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2 – CrowsNest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, September 8, 2021

New education facility in Crowsnest Pass DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

Livingstone Range School Division has purchased property that includes the old information centre located near Crowsnest Lake. The purchase of the property will allow LRSD to create and develop more programs for students to enjoy. Board Chair Lori Hodges says LRSD is thrilled to have been able to purchase the property. “The Board of Trustees and Senior Administration are absolutely thrilled to

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acquire this amazing property. There are so many opportunities for our students to learn and grow right here in the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Alberta.” Hodges says the interest in the property came from the school division’s core values. “One of our core values in Livingstone Range School Division is placebased. This means leveraging and integrating our location and environment to learn, grow, and prepare for the future. We became aware of the opportunity to purchase this property in September 2020 and when we visited the site we knew immediately it would provide an extraordinary opportunity for our students.” The building was first used by LRSD this summer and will now continue to be a place for more educational programs to thrive. “The building and 4.62 acres have already been used as a home base this summer for the FACES summer education program. More than

425 students in July and August attended in-person mountain and educational adventures at the facility. Potentially planned programs include an Environmental Education Centre, International Language Centre, and a Pre-Employment Centre offering certification for first aid, wilderness safety, backcountry touring and more. Additionally, students from across the Division will be able to enjoy field trips and outdoor activities that align with our placebased values. Current place-based programming such as current high school Outdoor Purand ski suits instructor/patrol training can take advantage of the prime location. Future offerings of experiwinter ential programming, experiential water programming, and environmental stewardship are also planned.” Hodges says all schools and students will use this location. “Every school will have opportunities to use

the facility for specific programming as well as field trips. Students from across the Division, throughout Alberta, and even around the world will be invited to take advantage of the top-rate programming we offer, in one of the most beautiful places in the world.” Programming will begin at the new location as early as this fall. “Our LRSD Pursuits place-based programming is getting underway this fall. We look forward to having the site be a lively and much-used educational facility in our Division.” Hodges says these programs will provide great opportunities to all students moving forward. “Place-based programs give students opportunities to explore additional skills and interests that benefit them now and may lead to their future careers. By providing these types of experiential learning opportunities - and particularly in a location like the Crowsnest Pass - students benefit in school and beyond.”

Choo choo ... kids train

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The Blairmore Lions had the local train operating again to kick off the Labour Day weekend. Residents were able to take their kids down to park and enjoy train rides as well as burgers and hot dogs. Funds raised from the day will go into keeping the train operational and other community benefits. Submitted photo

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - Crowsnest PAss herAlD - 3

In the lIne of fIre Between August 31 and September 6, Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a total of 52 calls for service including the following reported incidents. One (1) assault, one (1) fraud/forgery, two (2) threats/harassment, five (5) mischief/vandalism, two (2) thefts, two (2) disturbing the peace, one (1) drug, one (1) other criminal code, three (3) other provincial statutes, eleven (11) driving complaints, five (5) motor vehicle collisions, two (2) assistance to general public, six (6) suspicious occurrences, two (2) assistance to other agencies, one (1) false alarm, two (2) animal calls, three (3) municipal bylaw, one (1) lost and found and one (1) abandoned vehicle. Mischief On August 31st 2021, at approximately 6:30am, there was a complaint of mischief. A vehicle was being vandalized with a

pipe on 135 Street in Blairmore. A 27-year-old male was arrested and charged with mischief over $5000 and breach of probation. A JIR bail hearing was held and he was released on documents for Court. Vandalism On August 31st, 2021, there was a complaint of damage to a campaign sign just east of Bellevue, which occurred on August 26th.

~ rCMP news ~

ing lot in Blairmore. A 2009 Subaru was sideswiped by an unknown vehicle. Noise Complaint On September 5th, 2021, approximately 10:30pm, there was a complaint of a big party in Bellevue. Fireworks were being set off during the party.

Disturbance On August 31st, 2021, at approximately 7:20pm, there was a complaint of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance with a taxi driver. The male was arrested and lodged in cells until sober. There are no charges pending.

Assault On September 6th, 2021, at approximately 8:00pm, there was a complaint of domestic assault in Blairmore. Police attended and arrested and charged a 38-year-old male with numerous charges including assault, uttering threats, resist arrest and disobey Court order. He is scheduled for JIR hearing.

Hit and Run On September 1st, 2021, at approximately 4:30pm, there was a complaint of a hit and run to a parked vehicle in a park-

Pets REMINDER to residents and owners of PETS, do NOT leave your pet in vehicles in the extreme heat, it could be ex-

The Simple Raven’s Post by Avner Perl

Oh, little towns? Around 1995, I began considering a place to retire. A co-worker mentioned the Crowsnest Pass, but I remembered it from the late sixties and it didn’t look great in those days. The friend told me it was now clean, “pure mountain air” and that fixer-upper little homes were selling for as low as $16,000. I drove over. That trip changed my life. Now I am an old-timer here. This is home. In the beginning, it looked as if the place was declining, but so was the world economy. Every few years there is an adjustment when many poor people lose their savings and homes later to change around and start again. My real estate agent, a Swiss guy, told me he was waiting for the place to become like a European mountain town with a lot of little businesses, pretty homes, and many people vacationing away from the cities. There was a steady talk from old-timers about “heavy industry” and coal mining, but protecting the water took first consideration with governments, and mining was regulated by law, as I was told. I didn’t know the background of the arguments yet decided that the place was a gem. It had the looks of a place that is on the verge of developing into a historic attractive self-sustained community housing some coal miners, folks seeking an old-style rural feeling, and businesses to cater to them. It had a reputation for being friendly and welcoming. On my first Christmas Eve here I saw “folks dressed up like Eskimos” heard church bells ringing, observed bright stars above snowy mountains, and placed a down payment. When I moved here, I found out that there were many attempts to develop the towns that were often refused by the local population and their councils. Some people wanted the coal mines (heavy industry) to come back and nothing else. Others simply didn’t want the place to change but complained persistently about the small tax base and lack of money for improvements. Businesses started and died, a mall converted to a storage place, and new projects stood undeveloped for years. There were good reasons, I am sure, but I am telling what I saw. I discovered a town in Colorado that is much like our towns. As a matter of fact, from the air, you could mistake it for the Crowsnest Pass. Its name is Crested Butte, and they call it a Zoom Boom town. It is a recent phenomenon that appeared since COVID started. People from the big cities are looking for small, attractive, peaceful places to live in. Zoom and the internet at large make it possible to work and study from

tremely fatal to your PET Lock you Doors Reminder to property owners to lock your doors and vehicles. Also mark your belongings and record serial numbers of tools and other important items. Scams 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. CrimeStopppers Tips 18002228477

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home. If the workers need some time in the city, they can rent their country homes out for a period of months or even a day like an Air B &| B. The income can finance the home. People moving in, even for a short term, often are much more well off than the old locals. Animosity is building up and we hear the old French revolution slogan “eat the rich” used. Overall, the little towns that were looking for new residents to move in and pay local taxes, find their towns becoming too expensive to live or even rent in, and the new people may change the town’s character. Resentment is building. With the Zoom Boom, there is a fresh development and a noticeable shortage of service workers. We halted immigration for over a year. If you have workingclass level employment, you may not be able to find a place that you can afford to live in. Where there was an unemployment problem now, under-employment makes things less affordable, especially for those on fixed incomes, which many old-timers are. I realize that complaining is not the solution. I also know that blaming new people who invest in our community will not serve us, or the new people. When the province cuts money to education, healthcare, infrastructure building, municipality programs, recreation, transit, policing, and who knows what else, we must be prepared. Many are helpless to do anything. We need to figure out solutions other than waiting for the oil prices to rise and bring a windfall or new energy investors to return. Instead of fighting for some foreign companies to mine our resources and sell them to other foreign countries, we could take initiative and help ourselves. If “heavy industry” will not work, a string of smaller businesses will do the same. We need modern-day solutions, not solutions that would have worked in the past but perhaps are outdated. If kicking a dead horse doesn’t work, a fresh horse may be a good idea. We have historic little towns near cities with relatively wonderful services. We have good people that can serve on council and do what’s good for us. There is potential here for a lot of light industries, and businesses on the internet or on the ground. Let’s attract them, help them (Not tax them to death) improve services and go on aggressively with the beautification plans that already began. Retain and market our advantages and use the skills and experience of those moving in. They love our place and want to help. We see a push towards reducing services in rural areas designed to herd populations to cities, leaving the countryside to large corporations. It is slow yet effective. Fewer voters in rural areas will reduce our ability to influence politics. However, for most of us, it is a way of life worth preserving. Now, with the Zoom Boom, it is our chance to rebuild our communities up to modern standards. We may never go back underground or even mine coal again, it’s in the courts, but can influence our and our children’s future. It takes having a vision and a plan of how to achieve it. Let’s show what country people, old and new, can do. Here is a link to my blog: https://thesimpleravenspost.blogspot.ca/ Feel free to check other articles and comment.

4 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 5

Deer attack brings reminder to residents to not feed wildlife DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

Submitted photo

Residents are asked to remember the importance of not feeding wildlife after an attack on a local residents dog occurred. The attack occurred after neighbours fed mule deer daily causing a confrontation between the deer and the dog.

A recent attack involving a deer and a dog has brought back the reminder of the importance to not feed wildlife. The attack occurred after a resident of Coleman had been leaving food out for mule deer. In a Facebook post on Crowsnest Pass the BearSmart Association page, they remind residents of the importance of keeping wildlife wild. “We are constantly sending out reminders about the dangers of feeding bears, but this post is to remind residents of the issues caused by feeding any wildlife including

deer.” The post goes on to highlight what led to this particular attack. “We have numerous "domestic" herds of mule deer through out the Pass and quite a large gathering of them in Coleman. A new family got to experience the very sad and negative side of neighbors who routinely feed the group of deer on their street, and the outcome for them was devastating as they love and respect the wildlife but do not feed them. Their nextdoor neighbors do not share the same respect and feed them daily! All the fences around the yard were checked and

repaired to keep the dogs in but not the deer feeding from the buckets of grain at the neighbor’s house out.” This daily feeding played a part in leading to the attack. “As their senior dog went out to do his morning business in their yard a doe felt he was much too close and immediately went into the yard and attacked him. Was it the dogs fault? No! Was it the does fault? No! She was protecting her young and her food source from a recognized threat in a yard she has grown very comfortable in as she is fed there daily by the neighbors right next door.

Unfortunately the dog had to be rushed into the Veterinary Clinic for surgery and is now recovering from a very brutal and traumatic event, because people continue to habituate and feed the deer they find so pleasing in their back yards.” The post then reiterates the importance of not feeding wildlife. “This has to stop, next time it's a person or a child that cannot defend themselves. There are bylaws in place to deal with those feeding the deer as much as the bears and the area with this particular herd is now being watched closely. The detrimental effects of feeding wildlife comes in so many forms and this one had a devastating impact on a young family and the old dog. It should not have to be repeated but that's proven wrong once again. Leave the wildlife wild and DONT feed them for any reason!” Sergent, Community Peace Officer, Brad Larsen, says there are fines and bylaws in place regarding feeding wildlife. “Currently the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Animal Control Bylaw prohibits the placement of anything that may be considered to be an animal attractant, specifically wildlife. If you contravene that particular provision of the bylaw, you may be subject to a fine of $350.00 for the first offence. In addition to the bylaw, the Province of Alberta; Wildlife Act also prohibits the feeding of wildlife.” Larsen also wants to remind residents to do their part in keeping wildlife wild. “The only reminder that I have for the public, is that we, as community members, should strive our hardest to keep our “wildlife, wild”. This includes not feeding wildlife, taking proactive measures to prevent attractants on our property and to deter wildlife from making our properties their homes. As a Department we respond to so many calls a year, which may include bears, deer, skunks, raccoons and many other critters. Ultimately it is detrimental to the animal if we find that they have become habituated and this is something we do not like to see.”

6 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, september 8, 2021

Editorial Guest Column on the Election First off, I'd like to say I know it’s been a while since I’ve written one of these, but considering that my first article was on the 2016 American election, I figured it would be a nice return to form to write on this upcoming Canadian federal election. Now I’m not writing this editorial to convince anyone how to vote, I’m sure by the time anybody reads this thing you’ve already decided who you’re going to choose, but rather I wanted to talk about an issue I’ve been faced with as a youth in general but especially during this election. As a person who was pretty active in this community I’ve gone to a pretty sizeable amount of political gatherings and while I’ve always learned a ton of stuff, I always tend to come away with one quite sinking feeling, that many people don’t think I can have my own opinions, or be a contributor to a discussion just because I am only 19. Over and over again people make comments or outright tell me that my personal views don’t mean anything or aren't even real because I have a politically active parent, which is true if you’ve ever met my mom. What most people don’t realize is just like anyone I form my own opinions, and just because I agree with the same party she does, doesn't mean that I haven’t done my own research and certainly doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything she does, considering the healthy debates constantly raging in my home, in fact, it ensures I have done due diligence in knowing why I support who I do. In preparation for the enumerable questions of people needling, in an attempt to somehow reveal that I don’t know anything I research just to prove a point; it is fun to launch a well-researched tirade on the Conservative Climate change platform or the Liberal importation of Saudi-Arabian Oil. However, even if I can manage to convince people that I at least know what I’m talking about it is an absolutely entirely other issue to get people to see me as someone intellectually equal to them. People love it when I agree with them; they get to spout the same rhetoric they would with anyone else that agrees with them, waxing poetic about reserves or natural resources, anything as long as it doesn’t let me get a word in edgewise. This certainly becomes an issue when these people refuse to believe I can add anything to a conversation, which really stops it from being a conversation at all. I suppose that happens to everyone when you get an old conservative riled up about his/her politics. What I find to be a much worse issue is when you disagree with someone's politics, on either side of the spectrum. If I, at any point, bring up a differing opinion I am once again suddenly a simpering child who is either too idealistic, too young to know how the real world works, or not thinking critically about the impacts of said opinion, more often than not it’s all of the above. This is obviously ridiculous, not only does my age not dictate at all my ability to have a well thought out opinion but also as a younger person I have the unique ability to look at problems from a different perspective, now of all times this is most clear as youth and child activists make bigger impacts than any other. Greta Thunberg is only 15 and she’s going around the world raising awareness for climate change, sure it may be a little ridiculous to tell Canada it has to get its act together considering we emit less then 2% of the world’s greenhouse gasses, but climate change is a big issue right now and to really get the ball rolling on talking about it the world needed a youth to come in and start a campaign, but lets be reasonable in our expectations. We can have resource extraction in this country, a country with the highest environmental standards in the world. Let’s hold countries like India and China accountable. We are not the issue; it’s our lack of holding those who are the worst emitters accountable. That’s the real issue. We don’t have the power to hold them accountable and therefore we go after places like Canada because it’s easy and it makes them feel in control of the climate situation. If you take away anything from this guest editorial here's my call to action if your a politically minded person or you meet someone who is, especially if they are a youth, don’t dismiss them out right. Talk to them, debate with them, treat them as you would any other intellectually stimulating adult, because age is not a deciding factor in forming opinions, values and choosing things to care about. As we move into a more sensitive and open-minded age, they most likely will give you something to think about. Aiden Douglas

~ 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.

Work Dear Editor, those “Remember who long for honest work, so that they may lead a life of peaceful security.” Our bodies are designed and made for work. Our bodies and minds need work to stay healthy and active. The opportunity for work gives us the ability to provide for ourselves and our families. Work gives the human person a sense of dignity, of decency and of self-respect. Without work, we can sink into the depths of depression to become the “street people” who have become so numerous and many who have turned to drugs and addiction. A book called

“Dignity” by Chris Arnade illustrates this in a study he did across the US. Before we go on crusades that are going to deny others the opportunity to work, we should put ourselves in their shoes and consider what would have become of us had we not had the work that provided us with the necessities of life – food, shelter, clothes, leisure, hobbies, retirement, recreation and fulfillment. It seems such a waste of time and money for an investor who followed the protocols and regulation to be rejected because of opponents who are against anything productive and who are loud, brash, judgmental and

unforgiving. As John MacGarva mentioned in a previous letter, they are the same people who were against sensible logging up the Adanac Road some years ago. And, I have no doubt that they have their sights set on those of us in the ranching community. Without proper study of ranching, they may not realize that there is a symbiotic relationship of grass and grazing animals that has evolved over the years in North America. With the drought this year, passersby may take poor pasture as improper management of the land. I do not know Lisa Sygutek personally, but I have read about her and I am impressed. She has

taken the brunt of the insults and threats from opponents of the proposed coal mine. Yet she has stood tall, brave and mostly alone. She has climbed many of the mountain peaks in the area so she knows the land and I believe, she has a love for the land and does not want to see desecration. She has a passion for her community and the citizens of the community and their well-being. It was heartwarming to see 400 citizens respond to her efforts and attend a meeting to show support for the proposed coal mine at Grassy Mountain. Betty LynchStaunton

We no long have democracy in Canada Dear Editor, On September 20th we will all be going to the polls to elect a new Canadian government, and I am at a loss as to who to vote for. Why??? Because we no longer have a democracy in Canada. Since Covid began, every leader, Provincial and Federal, aided and abetted by our unelected Chief Medical Officers, have tossed the Constitution aside. That document is the law of the land, and daily our leaders have ignored it, defied it, and forced their own illegal rules and regulations upon us. They and the police have forced us into quarantines and lockdowns, have fined us and threat-

ened us with jail, and have persecuted us for legally protesting their actions. They have made the Charter of "Rights and Freedoms" a joke. Our "freedoms" are gone!! Freedom of speech, of travel, of religious congregation, of refusing mandatory medical treatments. All these are guaranteed under the Constitution. However our leaders have simply arbitrarily imposed these rules, despite the fact that the Constitution puts very strict limits on governments who bypass all Parliamentary procedures before a rule becomes law. The problem with an election in today's situation, is that no matter

which party's candidate we vote for, there is no guarantee that they will be able to truly "represent" us. If, when they get to Ottawa, they question their leader's actions, they run the risk of being ejected from the caucus. In Ontario, multiple MPP's, ( the equivalent of our MLA's in Alberta), have been fired for choosing not to be vaccinated, whatever their reasons. Both Trudeau and O'Toole have ejected their MP's for disagreeing with them vocally. Same for the Greens and the NDP. In addition, almost every party leader has spoken out in favor of a "vaccine passport". If this becomes law, it means that unless you have had the

vaccine you could not only be restricted from travelling, but from going to a sports game, a restaurant, a wedding, a funeral, a church service, or any other gathering where there is a large group of people. Aside from being illegal this is totally reprehensible. As Canadians, if we value our freedoms, it is vital that we take a stand. How to vote??? I am researching and evaluating all the party platforms. I will make my choice based on which one will make a concentrated effort to restore my faith in the sanctity of the Constitution and the rule of law. Dick Burgman More letters on page 16

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Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 7

John Pundyk.CoM

Simply Selles Musings from your local reporter

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This weekend was an adventurous one for me. I had wanted to get out for a few more hikes this summer yet so I did two over the weekend. I started on Saturday by doing Mount Fernie with a couple of friends of mine. I've always enjoyed hikes that are on the more difficult side and push my limits. However, I still didn't expect Mount Fernie to be quite as difficult as it was. I new it was rated as a hard hike but I had done plenty of those over the last couple years and wasn't expecting much difference. The beginning of the hike if flat for a little while (emphasis on little) and then you just start going up, and up, and up and up. You don't stop going straight up until you've reached the summit. Now, some of you may be thinking that it's seems perfectly reasonable for a hike to the summit of a mountain to go up continuously but most of the other hikes I've done at least have a section somewhere in the middle that allows for a bit of a breather where it levels out a bit and you can regain a bit of energy. Mount Fernie didn't have that at all. Sure, they had viewpoints and benches to take breaks on as I climbed but any time I was moving, it was straight up. The last 600m or so of the hike also required a bit of scrambling as the trail became much more steep. Once I got to the top, the views were spectacular. I had a view of the entire town of Fernie and then numerous mountains around it as well. While the trip up was tiring and difficult. The way down was also a challenge for me. I've had problems with both my knees since junior high when I hit my growth spurt. My knees never really caught up to the rest of me properly and I have something called patellofemoral syndrome or jumpers knee as it's more commonly known. Walking down mountains as steep as Mount Fernie can cause some serious knee pain for me and I was definitely feeling it on the way down. However, the views I experienced at the top more than made up for the pain on the way down. After getting home and icing my knees and doing some stretching, I was ready for hike number two on Sunday. That hike was Southfork Lakes and Barnaby Ridge near Castle. This hike I did with two of my sisters. We met in Pincher Creek and then carried on to the trailhead. This hike was another one that was rated difficult and the beginning was just that. It started as another hike that goes straight up with no breaks. Eventually, after fighting not only the steep mountain but also crazy winds, we made it to a part of the hike that was a little more level. After a couple more short climbs we reached the lakes and had incredible views of the surrounding mountains. It was a little smokey again on Sunday but we still had great views overall. The trip down again was a little painful but thanks to this hike having more level stretches, I was able to make it down in decent time. I'm so glad I live in an area that has so many great hikes to explore and that I have friends and family that want to explore it with me. I'm hoping to get out and do a couple more in the fall before the snow flies to see some of those beautiful fall colours as well but for now I'll just continue to remember and enjoy the hikes and exploration I've been able to do so far this summer.

Fantastic investment/revenue opportunity in Crowsnest Pass. Located on busy block main street Blairmore. Two-story 5,000 sq ft building is home to successful, long-established salon and spa. Two-bedroom guest suite upstairs at the front of the building. 3 additional studio apartments accessible at the rear. Double car garage from back lane. This is a "building/land only" sale. $369,000 CALL JOHN MLS

coleman Beautiful mountain acreage with stunning views of the Crowsnest Mountain and the Crowsnest Range to the south. 3 bedroom and 2 full bath home nestled in mature Douglas Fir forest. Perfect for secluded mountain cabin to call home. Minutes away from the Atlas staging area, Chinook Prov. Rec Area and the renowned Allison Creek Nordic Ski trails. $507,000 CALL JOHN MLS

562-8830 jpundyk@shaw.ca coleman acreage 3 bedroom, 3 bath alpine home offers unparalleled access to backcountry. Enjoy hikes, snowshoe treks, or motorized adventure from this ideal location. Expansive decks take advantage of breathtaking views. Large east facing windows, wood burning stove, wide plank flooring, and exceptional woodwork throughout. Parking for RVs. Exceptional mountain acreage. $849,000 CALL JOHN MLS

kananaSkIS WIlDS Beautiful mountain home with views to the south. Fully serviced with town water, municipal sewer, fire hydrants and wired high speed internet. 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom mountain home is European Alps inspired. Big timbers and artfully crafted Douglas Fir staircases. Master suite with 3 piece bath in the loft. 2 bedrooms and large room with kitchenette in lower area. 2,363 sq ft living space, plus 300 sq ft fully insulated loft above 24’ x 26’ garage. $725,000 CALL JOHN MLS

bellevue

3 IronSTone Fantastic 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow with great mountain views. Hardwood floors, granite counters, hickory cabinets and fir doors. Main floor laundry. Fully developed with 3 bathrooms and large garage. Close to Castle Mountain and Fernie ski resorts. Great access to mountain backcountry trail network, golf course, and blue ribbon fly fishing. $384,000 CALL JOHN MLS

33 IronSTone

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

27 kananaSkIS courT

Under construction 2 beds up and 2 beds down. 3 bathrooms. Fantastic views. Main floor laundry. Open floor plan. Now under construction. Large double car garage. Spacious laundry room and storage area. Crowsnest Pass has beautiful mountain golf course, blue ribbon mountain fly fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking and short distance from down-hill ski resorts. $499,000 CALL JOHN MLS

59 kananaSkIS place

-Very large, fully serviced, mountain building lot at Kananaskis Wilds. This parcel of land, at 15,741 sq ft, has southern exposure and grand mountain views. Topography allows for a home with a south facing walk-out basement. Unusual value in this price range. Wired, high speed internet to property. Close to the Alberta Forest Reserve and hundreds of kilometres of mountain trails. Also close to Chinook Recreation Area and renowned Nordic Ski area. $127,000 CALL JOHN MLS

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Spectacular mountain views on large, fully serviced lot, high on north rim of the valley at Kananaskis Wilds. Fantastic building site. Easy topography to work with, which is a very important when choosing a building lot in the mountains. Exciting community just off Mountain Trunk Road 940. Serviced with town water, sewer, power, telephone, high speed internet, as well as fire hydrants. Development is just a few steps from rugged mountain terrain. Close to Alberta Forest Reserve. $124,000 CALL JOHN MLS

100 ft of Mainstreet frontage, 1,040 sqft fast food restaurant with sit down area. Full basement. Ample parking at the front, the side, and the back. Comes with everything ‘as is’ in the restaurant and kitchen. If you are looking for an affordable commercial kitchen - bring your ideas to life and live in the Canadian Rockies. $199,000 CALL JOHN MLS

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Beautiful and still affordable mountain lot in the Canadian Rockies. Great location and fantastic mountain views. This lot is flat and suitable for many different building styles. Crowsnest Pass is a great mountain destination. The community is located on the Alberta/BC border almost equidistant between Fernie Alpine Ski Resort and Castle Mountain resort. Great access for year-round recreational activities and some of the best trail networks in the Rockies. $59,000 CALL JOHN MLS

3.5 acres near base of majestic Crowsnest Mountain and mountain range to the south. Zoned drive-in commercial allowing for potential of multiple uses. Possibility of a “Residence, secondary to an approved use” – as per municipal zoning by-law. Outstanding surroundings on the Continental Divide. $239,000 CALL JOHN MLS

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coleman acreage neW IronSTone 35 New condo under construction. 2beds up, 2beds down, with 3 bathrooms. Spacious main floor laundry. Open floor plan. Large double car garage. Spectacular views and close to all amenities. Still time to choose your finishes. $499,000 CALL JOHN MLS

Mountain acreage with great view of the South Range. Close to backcountry up Kananaskis Highway and Forest Reserve. Close to town with many different building sites to take advantage of unparallel mountain living. Town water in front street. Opportunity to own 3 acres in the Canadian Rockies at a great price. $225,000 CALL JOHN MLS

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8 – CrowSneSt PASS HerALD – Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Federal election forum to be held at CCHS September 15 DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

of the Residents Crowsnest Pass will have a chance to hear from the major election candidates ahead of the September 20th Federal Election. The forum will allow locals to hear candidates’ takes on different topics and will also involve student participation, something organizer Rob Tkachuk says is vitally important. "Student engagement is everything I need to do to develop critical thinkers and responsible citizens. Ultimately we want kids to recognize that they can directly affect and directly engage in ideas and people

that shape their whole world and their future world. If we start them off early, they get that these candidates aren't some talking heads on TV. It's someone they can influence, it's someone you can interact with and they'll respond. That's responsible citizenship. We're in a democracy so the quicker we get them understanding that a democracy is a participation sport and an engagement thing the better it will be." Tkachuk says the forum will have a little bit of everything. "I will provide some topics the candidates can speak on and then we'll have student questions of

concern and then we'll have some question and

step and stepping up and representing our region in

"Student engagement is everything I need to do to develop critical thinkers and responsible citizens.” - Rob Tkachuk Teacher, CCHS

answer from the public as well." Tkachuk says he hopes people attending will be able to learn about policy. "It's hopefully going to give the community a chance to examine policy and really get a chance to discuss it and see the people that are taking a brave

a pretty chaotic time." Seating at the forum will be limited to help keep everyone safe but Tkachuk says there is a plan to keep the doors open to ensure more people have a chance to hear what the candidates have to say. According to Tkachuk, most of the major candidates will be in attendance.

"We've got most of the major candidates coming. Almost all the major parties will be there and our current Member of Parliament will certainly be there." The forum will be held in the CCHS gymnasium on Wednesday, September 15th and will begin at 7:00pm. Tkachuk says he hopes the community will help show his students how true democracy works. "We do have a problem, this is what I want the community to hopefully do, is to model that democracy isn't WWE wrestling. It's not coming in there with your blatant emotions

just to go and hate everybody. It's to sit down and discuss, share ideas and have respect for everyone that's stepped up and decided these are different ideas that we have to run the country. We need ideas. We need old ideas and need to hang onto some ideas but we also need to have at least a look at new ideas and respectfully consider them. It takes a lot of courage to run. What the students are seeing in the media right now is this mob mentality. We're on the same team. Why are we hating on everyone? It's ridiculous. Hopefully the students will be able to see the respectful side during this as well."

Angry protestors hamper service providers at hospitals Dr. verna Yiu AHS president and CEO

This week, we saw some small but angry protests outside a handful of our healthcare facilities. I am proud to live in a country that supports the right to peaceful protest, and I also support the right for people

to voice their opinions. However, I was very frustrated that some of those protests turned into personal attacks on our physicians and staff. I am aware of instances where AHS employees were yelled at, and subjected to harassment. Some did not feel

safe walking to and from their workplace. We are also aware of some patients and families who were obstructed as they entered facilities to receive care. That is uncalled for and extremely unsettling. Our healthcare workers are doing all

they can to care for Albertans, and they deserve the utmost respect and support. If you oppose masking, vaccinations, or any other measures taken to prevent COVID-19 transmission, that is your right. But to target healthcare workers with anger and vitriol is not acceptable, particularly now. It has been a long pandemic, our physicians and staff are under a lot of stress, and their work is exhausting.

Many are feeling burned out and impacts are immeasurable. They are stepping up once again, as we face a fourth wave by the exacerbated highly transmissible and virulent Delta variant. Now more than ever, our physicians and frontline teams need your support. We have certainly heard from many, many Albertans who have reached out to thank healthcare workers, and we are always grateful for that.

Our physicians and staff – and our hospitals and healthcare facilities – are very busy and the pressure is enormous. We should be there for them, just as they are there for us. Please do your part to help. Get immunized as quickly as you can, consider wearing a mask in public, indoor settings where physical distancing is not possible, and please, stay home when sick. Thank you. Stay well and stay safe.

NOTICE OF NOMINATION DAY Local Authorities Election Act (Section 26)

Notice is hereby given that Nomination Day is MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 and that nominations for the election of candidates for the following offices will be received at any of the following locations: Livingstone Range School Division Office, J.T. Foster School Office, Willow Creek Composite High School Office, Matthew Halton High School Office, Livingstone School Office and Crowsnest Consolidated High School Office as set out below within the period beginning on September 1, 2021 and ending at 12:00 noon on Nomination Day. OFFICE

NUMBER OF VACANCIES

School Trustee School Trustee School Trustee

3 2 2

WARD OR ELECTORAL DIVISION NUMBER Ward No. 1 Ward No. 2 Ward No. 3

LOCATION OF LOCAL JURISDICTION OFFICE AND SCHOOL OFFICES: FORT MACLEOD Livingstone Range School Division Office 410 20th Street NANTON J.T. Foster School Office 2501 22nd Street

CLARESHOLM Willow Creek Composite High School Office 628 55th Ave West PINCHER CREEK Matthew Halton High School Office 945 Davidson Avenue

LUNDBRECK Livingstone School Office 215 Robinson Ave COLEMAN Crowsnest Consolidated High School Office 8901 20th Avenue

Dated at the Town of Fort Macleod, in the Province of Alberta, this 25th day of August, 2021. Jeff Perry Returning Officer NOMINATION FORMS: Information packages including the nomination forms can be accessed from the Livingstone Range School Division Website at lrsd.ca/board/elections Information packages are also available from the office of the Returning Officer in the Livingstone Range School Division Office. (Telephone 403-625-3356 or 1-800-310-6579) QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES: A person may be nominated as a school board trustee in any election if they: are eligible to vote in the election; have been a resident of the local jurisdiction and the ward for the six consecutive months immediately preceding Nomination Day and are not otherwise ineligible.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - crOwsnest PAss HerALD - 9

Of Antlers and Horns FJ Hurtak How many times have you heard someone say, “Wow, that is an impressive set of horns on that elk, deer, or moose?” If you are like me the answer is “often”. I think

these days, especially with the advent of the internet, there are very few people that don't really recognize the difference between antlers and horns, but nevertheless, the preference much of the time regard-

less, is to use the word “horns” when it comes to our antlered big game here in North America. It has become almost an acceptable form of slang in many circles because the reference, while technically in-

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correct, might just sound better, or hunters are just continuing the traditions established by their fathers and grandfathers. My Dad and uncles who all hunted in southern Alberta certainly never uttered the word antlers in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and later. It’s likely at that time that they didn’t know better and certainly I myself carried that same tradition forward for a time. However, the differences between antlers and horns are very significant. So I thought it would be a good idea to explore the subject, particularly for hunters relatively new to the sport. Goats, sheep, bison, antelope, rhinos, cows, etc. all have horns. A spongy inner core is where the blood supply originates and the horns are made of keratin, the same substance in your own fingernails. Horns remain with an animal for its entire life span. There is no shedding each year. The exception in North America is the

pronghorn which sheds and regrows its horn sheath each and every season. Antlers of course are made of bone. The growth of an antler is fed by a sensitive covering which is referred to as “velvet” which contains blood vessels which foster the nutrition for the bone to grow. When the antlers are fully grown, which in our climates is late summer/early fall , elk, deer and moose begin to rub trees to rid themselves of the itchy velvet. When they do, the types of trees and vegetation they rub on will give the antlers their colour. That can range from a rich dark mahogany stain to almost cream coloured headgear. Genetics also play a role in determining colour and so does age. Older bucks and bulls tend to rub a lot more than younger ones, hence older members of the species tend to have darker antlers. Antlers have a main beam and points of course grow

from that beam. An animal, in terms of antler growth, does not reach its full potential until it reaches 5-6 years old. Factors that influence the actual growth are nutrition, possible injuries, and hormones. As antlers are shed every Spring, they may vary a bit in size each year depending on the conditions I described. Generally though, the older the animal becomes, the larger the antlers tend to be to a point. However, if an animal lives past its normal life span, antlers start to regress each year due to the natural degeneration of its overall physical condition. Whether the animal you are seeking this year has antlers or horns, good luck out there this season. FJ Hurtak is the author of the books Elk Hunting in the Kootenays and Hunting the Antlered Big Game of the Kootenays. All profits have gone to land for wildlife and habitat restoration in the Kootenays.

Poaching is not hunting Know the regulations Hunt responsibly

10 – Crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, September 8, 2021

5 Myths About Grizzly Bears FJ Hurtak In these parts we have what is widely acknowledged as a healthy grizzly bear population which is said by some to be increasing each year. The fact that our human population continues to escalate every year as well, means that there likely will be more grizzly-human encounters to deal with in the future. Therefore, if you use the back country for any type of recreational activity it’s always wise to be prepared if you happen to have an encounter with any bear, grizzly or black. Knowledge of what to do and what you need to have for your own defense for such a time has been widely documented so we won’t go there in this article. I’ve always believed though that the more knowledge one has of a particular species like grizzly bears and their habits, better prepares a person, should a situation arise. It’s hard to argue that point I believe, but still today, there are a number of myths that seem to exist in society in general, about grizzly bears. I’m not certain at all where some of these myths were perpetuated, but there is no doubt that the misinformation that stems from them has been circulating for countless decades. I’m going to list some of the most popular myths about grizzly bears and hopefully debunk them with facts and my own experiences with grizzlies.

1. Grizzlies can’t run well downhill. False! They can run uphill or downhill, on just about any variety of terrain and at speeds that will astound you. Grizzlies have been clocked at speeds of 35 miles per hour (58.5 km) running beside a vehicle or train tracks. In the Spring, when they have lost their fat reserves, the top estimates have been 45 miles per hour (75km). A case in point. A number of years ago a hunting partner and I were watching some slides in the heart of elk country. We spotted both a cow and a bull but we were 800-900 yards away so I started calling using the odd bull bugle mixed in with cow and calf chirps to see if we could convince the elk into closer range. A huge grizzly appeared much higher up on the very steep alder-choked slide and in an instant, literally hurdled himself a 100 yards down the slide in mere seconds, thinking no doubt, that there was an easy meal nearby. We could not believe the speed of that bear especially through difficult terrain. (If you are interested in the full story behind that hunt you will find it in my first hunting book, Elk Hunting in the Kootenays, in a story entitled “Night of the Grizzly.” There is lots more to that story but if we needed to learn any lesson from that day, it was the fact that no human could ever outrun a grizzly because they can run as fast as any good

horse and they can run at full speed downhill. 2. Grizzly bears are awkward, slow and clumsy. False! Despite their large bodies, they are extremely agile, far more agile than us mere humans and can quickly change direction better than us as well. Any animal that can decapitate a small moose with one welltimed swipe of its powerful paw is obviously pretty nimble when it wants to be. And the moose was probably not just standing still!

household pets, similar to what you might see in some of Disney movies. Those naturally feature bears which have been trained, and born and raised in captivity. It’s far different in the wild when you are dealing with the unpredictability of a grizzly.

without saying that the key word in dealing with them on their home turf always has to be R E S P E C T. It is also of great help having the knowledge and facts of knowing what these powerful beasts are capable of, if you should happen to run into one having a bad hair day!

In summary, grizzly bears and many other animals put the “wild” in the word wilderness and certainly play an important role in a healthy eco-system. Without them, the back country would never be the same, but it goes

F.J. Hurtak is the author of the books Elk Hunting in the Kootenays, and Hunting the Antlered Big Game of the Kootenays. All profits have gone to acquiring land for wildlife and habitat restoration in the Kootenays.

3. Grizzly bears have very poor eyesight! False! Bears eyesight is at least as good as human eyesight according to experts, but like us it probably varies slightly from bear to bear. The difference maker though between human’s and bears’ eyesight is their great ability to see at night even in pitch black darkness. This is due to the reflective membrane they have on the back of their eye. 4. All bears including grizzlies are total carnivores like cougars and wolves. False! Grizzlies will of course eat meat or fish whenever they can get it, but most of the time they eat plant material such as leaves, grasses, roots, dandelions, berries and insects .That makes them omnivorous. 5 If grizzlies in the wild don’t see you as a

Safety Is at Our Core There are No Access, No Hunting and No Shooting safety boundaries clearly signed around all Teck operations and exploration sites in the Elk Valley. For your safety and ours, please do not hunt or travel in the active mining or exploration areas. Teck’s Elk Valley boundary maps are available at your local hunting or ATV Club and at the mine gatehouses. To view the maps online, visit: www.teck.com/coalmaps

threat, you can spend as much time on the landscape around them taking photos and videos of them in their natural habitat without any fear of being harmed. False! If you are one that actually believes this myth then I would strongly suggest you watch the movie “Grizzly Man” before you venture out into grizzly country again. It is not a movie for the squeamish but it is a tragic, true tale of two people who believed that they could live amongst wild bears and communicate directly (either verbally or mentally) with them like they were

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NOTICE

Crowsnest Community market

aGm

sunday, october 3rd • 4 pm Hillcrest miners Club

New Francophone School officially opens in Crowsnest Pass DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

The new Francophone school in the Crowsnest Pass is officially up and running. The school opened its doors to students last week. Communication Coordinator for FrancoSud, Antoine Begin, says a decent amount of work went into getting the

Thank You the usw9346 women of steel would like to thank the following organizations for their generous donations to our Back to school Backpacks Campaign this year. • teck – elkview for their donation of cash plus allowing us to have a payroll deduction option for employees to contribute to the program this year. • usw District 3 • Gtsi Promotional Products and Corporate wear for the donation of 36 backpacks. • all of our members who made donations • everyone who bought a hoodie in support of this campaign

classrooms ready for the students. "We've painted everything, changed the blinds, we've brought in some school material and some technology also for our students to be able to learn the most and work effectively. It hadn't been used for a while so we made it look good for the kids and got some new equipment for them. Now it really does look like a classroom. Parents visited and they were very pleased with it as well." Begin says the school operates out of the second floor of the MDM. "We've got four classrooms plus a little reception area and a staff room." The school is still fairly small this year. "At the current moment, we have 11 students enrolled. They are enrolled from Kindergarten to Grade 5 with most of them being in Kindergarten and Grade 1. We also have one teacher, one principal and then we have another per-

son as well who is a teacher’s aid and does some of the reception work for us as well. So officially we have a staff of three and then 11 students," said Begin. There is also expectations that enrollment will grow over the coming years and Begin also says parents are excited to have this school in the area. "We know that there are more Francophones in the area then are currently registered. We're happy with the parents that have taken the leap with us this year and that have trusted us for the first year. It is an exciting thing to start a new school for these parents to have the opportunity to send their kids to a French environment. A lot of them are pretty excited with their kids. Most of them speak French and some don't really speak French because French is a language that hasn't been used at much at home as maybe only one of the parents speaks it. A lot of them were also ex-

cited for themselves to be able to speak French again with the school, with other parents and also to help out at home with homework. It's a really exciting thing to have in this region." Begin adds that some families have now considered moving full time to the Pass now that this school is operating. "We've got some families that had a second home in the Pass that would live mostly in Lethbridge that are currently trying to move full time to the Pass. It's a good thing for the community that people know that there is this option now. It may have been a hold back for some families that are looking to settle full time in the Pass. We're happy that we can offer this opportunity and we're hoping that some more families, when they see they have this option, they'll go for it. It's a win for everybody and we're definitely looking to grow and diversify our programming."

thank you for your support to help us have – “all kids equal on the first day”

David Selles photo

The new Francophone School in the Crowsnest Pass is officially up and running. After some touch up work was done to the classroom areas, the school welcomed the first 11 students to school last week. The school serves the Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek area and hopes to continue its growth over the coming years.

14 – CrowSNeSt PaSS HeraLD – Wednesday, September 8, 2021

NOTICE

Crowsnest Community market

aGm

sunday, october 3rd • 4 pm Hillcrest miners Club

New Francophone School officially opens in Crowsnest Pass DaviD SelleS Pass Herald Reporter

thank you for your support to help us have – “all kids equal on the first day”

David Selles photo

16 – Crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Come together to help Ken Dear Editor; I have just become aware of a big problem for a Pass resident who has contributed greatly to the community over many years. Ken Hildebrand was a long-term member of the Rescue Squad, worked with EMS, cared for his own kids and fostered others, and is generally ready to help anyone who needed help. A brief summary of his history might explain why this is so remarkable. Ken was stricken with polio as an infant, and spent liter-

ally years in Children’s Hospital in Calgary. There were more than 20 surgeries. When he finally ended his active treatment, he was left with one very damaged leg, and an impaired arm. Despite that, Ken went on to become a heavy equipment operator. He was also a skilled woodsman, and has run a trap line for many years. Ken captured many of the wolves that Alberta sent to Yellowstone, to start their very successful wolf recovery program. He worked hard with

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his wife to cancer. He refused to listen when his body keep telling him that he really should slow down. Recently, however, he has hit another obstacle, one that it takes more than willpower to overcome. His artificial leg has given out. This is not a simple mechanical leg, but rather a very sophisticated apparatus, that will let him walk on uneven ground and all those other maneuvers that are basic to his lifestyle. Unfortunately, such a leg comes with an enormous cost, somewhere around $80,000. Alberta Health will only cover a

small fraction of that. The Trappers Association is running a campaign to help Ken raise the money, since he has never been a rich man. I am hoping that his many friends and others he has helped over the years will rally behind him and make the fund raising efforts a success. I am certain that Ken will be back helping everybody he can as soon as he has a new leg. Those wishing to help can join me by donating online at bit.ly/3sDDArs.

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the Crowsnest Pass Rescue Squad, and also did many shifts with EMS when it was locally operated. Besides raising several children of their own, he and his wife Lil also fostered multiple others. In January of 2008, disaster struck Ken. He was checking his trapline when his quad rolled and pinned him by his good leg. Somehow he survived for four days under the machine, before being rescued. The medical teams in Lethbridge and Crowsnest Pass worked very hard to try and save his leg, but the damage was too severe. He ulti-

mately had his good leg amputated above the knee. Now, most people with one good leg and an above knee amputation confine themselves to the prepared walkways and such in town. Those with a bad leg and a prosthetic leg never get out of town. Ken, however, is not like any other person Sooner than the physiotherapists and doctors wanted, he was back running his trap line. For the past dozen years he has continued to live independently, support himself and continue on with a full life. This went on even after he lost

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Obituary Gary Charles amatto May 28, 1954-June 25, 2021

Gary was known to his California family as ‘The Canadian’ and was always proud to be referred to as such. Husband, motorcyclist, custom car enthusiast (his 1930 Model A hot rod was his baby!), long time member of Operating Engineers Local 3, and an all around good guy is how he will be remembered. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 19 years Lynn Amatto, father and mother in law Richard and Victoria Davis (nee Silvers-Novik), and parents Charles and Mary Amatto. He is survived by his beloved sister in law’s Kim Lalonde (Duane) and Dian Brown (Ron), sister Linda Vrijmoet, and children Kaynn (Jennifer) Patey, Lindsay (Jesse) Galarneau, and Nicholas Darling. Rest in peace brother, until we meet again.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 17

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18 – crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, September 8, 2021

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Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - crowsnest PAss HerALD - 19

Looking Back

Labour Day weekend I travelled westward to Baynes Lake and in the process passed through the one and only Elko tunnel. It is a must to lay on your horn or gun your engine as you pass through that hole poked through that sandstone bluff. I got to thinking about its origin and recalled some research I had done on it some years back. About 20 year ago I met a railroad aficionado by the name of Max Ulver from Montana. He was a railroad historian who collected railroad artifacts and antiques and loved to chase trains and take iconic pictures of them. That is what railroad nuts do. In June of 1999 he showed up at my house in Fernie and invited me along on a little project of his. Max was documenting the history of the Great Northern Railway (GNR) route from Rexford, Montana to Michel, BC. That early rail line was known as the Crows Nest Southern Railway and for many years ran in direct competition to the CPR. Serious railroad buffs come equipped for train-spotting and research. Max was a retired highway engineer from Whitefish, Montana and had a scanner in his car with no less than 97 railroad frequencies programmed into it. He also had brought with him a complete copy of the GNR's Crows Nest Southern Rail line right-of-way plan from the U.S. border to just east of Sparwood. It helped us solve some of the more tricky aspects of our travelling reconstruction of that old route, with all its water stops, stations, junction switches, crossovers and wyes. Wyes? Most have never seen the term wye. Wyes were an old style innovation which were used for turning railway equipment around in a very short space rather than a rotator, like the one that was located at the roundhouse at Crowsnest. By performing the railway equivalent of a three point turn, the direction of a locomotive or railway vehicle could be swapped around, leaving it facing in the direction from whence it came. Just east of Sparwood near the old Westar rebuild center is an access road that heads west known as the GNR road. It was part of the old GNR railroad bed and halfway down it I was able to locate where the remains of the Michel area wye were located. Max Ulver owned every book ever written about this area and his total railroad collection numbered over 1100 volumes. He knew more than most Elk Valley researchers when it came to early railroad history in the area. This was especially true when it came to the GNR, which incidentally has a historical society state-side with over 1500 members. The Crows Nest Southern Railway was incorporated in 1901 by the GNR with the object of connecting the Elk Valley coalfields and coke supply to their Jennings, Montana mainline. Its main driver was the infamous J.J. Hill, a long time CPR adversary who pioneered several north-south rail lines into BC from the States, making CPR and the likes of John A. MacDonald quite nervous. The crazy thing about this aspect of the GNR story is that J.J. Hill was a Canadian by birth and founding member of CPR. He was the one who actually recommended William Van Horne as CPR General Manager. Hill felt that CPR should not try and build the costly route along the northern shore of Lake Superior. Instead, he wanted them to connect to his United States lines east of Winnipeg. Van Horne, an American by birth, recognized the political reality and promoted the Lake Superior route. Hill was incensed at this and swore revenge and the rest of the story is a complicated one of stiff competition. Probably the best-kept secret of the Great Northern legacy is that it took controlling interest in the Crows Nest Pass Coal Company (CNPCC) very early in the game of developing the west and held it for over 50 years. CNPCC was founded in 1898, a few years before coal got rolling here. As well as for fuel for its own steam locomotives the GNR wanted the coal from the CNPCC to fuel on-line smelters at Northport, Washington and Grand Forks, BC. By 1902 the Crows Nest Southern's construction had reached a connection point at the Morrissey Mines town site, south of Fernie, at a place labelled on Max’s map as Swinton. From there it looped over the CPR and on into Carbonado (Morrissey's short-lived mine site). This mine was just east of the Elko tunnel. In 1904 the CNSR was extended to Fernie and connected to the Morrissey, Fernie and Michel Railway (MF&M) that ran up Coal Creek. Its southern mainline destination was rerouted from Jennings to Rexford that same year. By 1908 the CNSR had reached east of Sparwood to the Michel mines and its station there was known as New Michel (later Natal). When completed, the CNSR was 82.6 miles long and, unlike the CPR line, the grade from Michel back to Rexford was all favorable (downhill). Trains of over 150 cars were apparently not unusual. After World War 1, when the demand for smelter coal declined, GNR converted many steamers to oil-burning and coal competition from other mines caused a decline in the CNSR's coal traffic. The line from Elko to Michel was abandoned in 1926, although Great Northern trains continued to operate to Fernie over the CPR line from Elko. GNR passenger service to Fernie was discontinued in 1936 and the remainder of the CNSR from the International Border to Elko was officially abandoned in 1937. Much of the old Great Northern grade through the Elk Valley is now the location of Highway 3. South of Elko, rails remain on three miles of the old original CNSR as an active CPR spur to the logging mill there. South of Waldo parts of the old right-of-way were flooded by the damn dam. Another railroad buff gifted me a couple of GNR items years ago. One was a GNR labeled brass key for their switch padlocks and the other was a “date nail.” One of the unique things they did on the GNR and other rail lines in the early days was to place what they called “date nails” in the railroad ties. These blunt nails had the last two numbers of the date the tie was installed stamped on the top and could be used as to a reference as to its age. It was an interesting way of monitoring their need for replacement. The Elko rock tunnel is, of course, the old CNSR railroad tunnel and the long straight stretch of highway heading from Fernie to Hosmer is built on its rail bed. The line basically paralleled the CPR track to Sparwood and had a water stop halfway between there and Fernie known as Olson (now a rest area). Probably the best-known story about the GNR in the Elk Valley has to do with Fernie's 1908 fire and how instrumental an engineer and conductor running one of their trains were in saving literally hundreds of lives. Max, being the meticulous collector that he was, managed to come up with a November 1926 copy of the Great Northern Semaphore that recounts this rescue and presents the amazing testimony of one Anna Hubbard, a schoolmistress who was one of the many saved by the almost superhuman effort of those two men. Just recently I posted a series of images on the Crowsnest Network Facebook site about a train that passed through the Elko tunnel in 1999, the same year that Max Ulver showed up on his train spotting junket. The train was Fort Steele’s engine 1077, a 2-6-2 built in 1923 that runs on a beautiful 4 km loop at the Fort. It was loaded onto a Nohel’s flatbed and hauled to Calgary that year to be used in the filming of the Jackie Chan movie Shanghai Noon. I chased it for photos but missed the chance to photograph it going thru the Elko tunnel, which would have been epic. So it is crazy to think that from 1904 to 1936 there were two railways running through the narrow Elk Valley. It is a convoluted story of Federal/Provincial politics, Canadian/American relations and corporate competition. Photos from top: early: GNR tunnel at Elko with tracks In the end we wound up with a lovely highway rock tunnel on Highway 3 that inevitably brings the comment, Fernie Historical Society, Michel looking north with both CPR “Blow the horn Daddy, blow the horn.” and GNR tracks - Fernie Historical Society, Sketch showing wye configuration - John Kinnear sketch, GNR padlock key and date nail from 1948 - John Kinnear photo, Fort Steele Author’s Note: The Anna Hubbard story was run in the Herald in May 2016 and can be found on a website 1077 locomotive on flatbed heading for Calgary - John Kincalled passheraldarchive.ca near photo

By John Kinnear

Blow the Horn Daddy

20 – Crowsnest PAss HerALD – Wednesday, September 8, 2021