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March 28, 2012 Vol. 56 Issue 13
Strong finish for minor hockey
Future of Edgewater concerts uncertain
Page B1
Page A14
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Province says yes to Jumbo After 20 years, BC Liberals approve controversial ski resort ANDREA KLASSEN editor@invermerevalleyecho.com
The long-debated Jumbo Glacier Resort is another step closer to reality, after the B.C. government announced its approval of a master development agreement for the controversial ski resort March 20. Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson and Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett made the announcement together in Victoria, and characterized the decision as a tough but necessary step for the government. "I made this decision after reviewing all of the relevant, extensive documentation on this file as well as visiting the site and meeting with both first nations and the proponent," said Thomson. "I respect that there have been differing views on this project, but after 20 years of this extensive review it was time to make a decision." Bennett, a longtime supporter of the project and the BC Liberal MLA closest to the Jumbo area, said he hoped the decision would allow communities divided by the issue to heal. "It's divided our communities and we wanted it over. We wanted a decision from government and I can't thank my friend Steve enough for having the courage to make this decision," he told media. The master development agreement lays out the terms and conditions under which the resort can be developed and allows proponents STORY CONTINUES TO 'REZONING' ON PAGE A2
Canal Flats mayor Ute Juras celebrates an $800,000 grant for the village arena as Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett looks on. ANDREA KLASSEN/ECHO PHOTO
Canal Flats arena gets big bucks ANDREA KLASSEN editor@invermerevalleyecho.com
When the Canal Flats arena opens for the winter in 2013, skaters and hockey players may find they have up to six extra weeks to hit the ice. A long-awaited upgrade of the arena is now going ahead, thanks to an $800,000 Community Recreation Program grant doled out to the village this week by the B.C. government. The grant is one of 98 going to com-
munities around the province this week as part of a $30 million program to promote healthy lifestyles. According to Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, who met with members of village council and arena staff today, the Canal Flats grant is likely the largest single payment given to any community in B.C. "Certainly for a community of this size, it's huge," he added. Arena manager Matthieu Fournier, says there's plenty to do with the cash. First off is replacing the floor, which is well past the end of its
lifespan. "The slab is 40 years old now, so it's already on borrowed time, and we just have frost heave," he said. "I've been here for 10 years and we've had issues with the building since then. The lifespan of a floor like this is 30 years." After that, they'll repair the foundation, insulate the building (which should allow ice to go in three weeks earlier and come out three weeks STORY CONTINUES TO 'LOTTERY' ON PAGE A9
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