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Vol. 61, Issue 26
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City councillors ‘blindsided’ by west entrance upgrade project Denise Pallesen alarmed by changes in Elizabeth Lake plans that advanced without council discussion SAL LY MACD ON AL D Townsman Staff
CAROLYN GRANT PHOTO
Peter Moody and Susan Bond are in recovery after an attack by a grizzly sow, the mother of two cubs, in the fall.
The bear by the creek Couple recall the intensity and horror of grizzly attack in November
C A RO LYN GR AN T Kimberley Daily Bulletin
It was a beautiful, sunny late November day when Susan Bond and Peter Moody decided to go for a walk after a long drive home from the coast the day before. The couple, who live just off LD Ranch Road north of Kimberley, decided to walk one of their favourite neighbourhood routes, on the benchlands above Mather Creek. They had no inkling the walk would result in an en-
counter with a grizzly sow and her cubs only 40 minutes from their front door — an event that has left them recovering from serious injury and trying to come to terms with how such a horrifying thing could happen in what they consider their own backyard. Bond and Moody are both avid outdoors people and they have hiked the grasslands and forests around their home for 20 years and more. They had never seen a bear on the route they chose on November 25, 2012.
Susan and Peter sat down with the Daily Bulletin last week to talk about what happened and how they are dealing with it. “It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm,” Susan said. “I said let’s go for a walk. “We decided to do one of our usual routes off LD Ranch Road on an old track — we call it the Dam Road. We walked along the road, then dropped down to the creek at the spot where we usually drop down. Normally, we go down to the creek then go right back up to
the bench. That day we decided to keep walking right there beside the creek. In summer the bush is too dense for easy walking but the leaves were gone and we could pick our way going upstream. “I said, ‘oh, let’s do this. We may never do this again’.” “Susan was ahead of me going a little faster,” Peter said. “I was fascinated by the creek, looking at the ripples and little falls. She was about 10 to 12 feet in front of me.”
See COUPLE, Page 3
A Cranbrook city councillor is worried that council and staff are not being transparent. Councillor Denise Pallesen raised concerns at the Monday, Feb. 4 meeting about the city’s plans to upgrade the Elizabeth Lake entrance to Cranbrook. The project received a $50,000 grant from Columbia Basin Trust in December, in addition to $60,000 council pledged in 2012. On January 24, 2013, council began discussion about adding another $60,000 to the project in its 2013 budget planning. But Coun. Pallesen said on Monday, Feb. 4, that she was alarmed by how far the project had advanced without council approving a broader project. “I was not aware until the January 24 budget meeting that the city had made an application to Columbia Basin Trust for a $50,000 grant, and that confirmation of this grant funding was received on December 12, 2012, from CBT,” she said. Coun. Pallesen said she read about the CBT grant for the project in the Townsman, and read posts on a blog by
the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook criticizing her for not supporting the project during budget discussions.
“If it was a brand new project that we didn’t have council approval on, maybe we would bring that back to council. But we’ve got a project, now we are just trying to see that project to its end and add value to the project. Wayne Staudt
“I do not object to beautifying our wonderful city, including enhancing visitors’ first impressions at the west entrance,” she said. “Nonetheless, there is process that we as city councillors must follow, and clearly this was not the case. “Although council was not asked for a supporting resolution authorizing the grant submission, I feel this is a part of the transparent process we have been elected to follow when considering taxpayers’ funds.”
See COUNCILLORS , Page 4