Invermere Valley Echo, September 04, 2013

The Columbia Valley’s Newspaper Since 1956

From Canal Flats to Spillimacheen

VALLEY ECHO T he

invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Vol.57 56Issue Issue 40 Vol. 36

1

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BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont

Deer committee calls it quits

Pg. 4

Canal Flats player back in action for Blazers Pg. 12

MaxWell Realty Invermere

Free floating through Fairmont

GREG AMOS / ECHO PHOTO Chris Zook and Adrianna Marin, both from Winnipeg, enjoy a leisurely Columbia River float through Fairmont Hot Springs on Sunday, September 1st. Mr. Zook, pictured here floating around a bend bordering the Riverside Golf Course, said despite travelling around the world, he has yet to find a nicer summer spot than Fairmont Hot Springs.

Foreign worker changes impact valley businesses DAN WALTON reporter@invermerevalleyecho.com

The federal Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program has seen its share of controversy, and while recent changes to the program may curb some problems, they have also created new ones.

A new $275 processing fee for each temporary foreign employee, which is tacked onto the pre-existing $150 application fee, is impacting the Columbia Valley, where several employers use the TFW program to find employees.

"It's just money that you're going to have to spend as an employer,” said Justin Atterbury, who owns the Rocky

VJ (Butch) Bishop Owner/Operator 4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. Invermere, BC V0A 1K0

River Grill in Invermere and has hired through the TFW program. “Employers have to pay for travel expenses anyway, which gets into the thousands of dollars, so the next couple hundred dollars won't make or break it."

Because the Columbia Valley's economy is mainly based on tourism, the TFW program is often utilized in cases where

no qualified Canadians make themselves available to the employer. For many valley business owners, there are very few alternative hiring strategies.

"One of the challenges in the valley is finding workers year-round, to deliver a consistent product," Mr. Atterbury said.

CONTINUES ON PAGE A3

• Excavators • Mini-Excavators • Bobcats • Dump Trucks • Water Trucks • Compaction Equipment • Snow Plow • Sanding Equipment • Crane Truck • Mobile Pressure Washing & Steam Cleaning • Underground Services • Site Prep & Demolition • Road Building • Land Clearing • Controlled Burning • Rock Walls • Rip Rap • Top Soil • Sand & Gravel CONTRACT OR HOURLY MACHINE RENTALS AVAILABLE

A2 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

A quarter-century glimpse at valley groceries DAN WALTON reporter@invermerevalleyecho.com

If you paid $6.59 per kilogram of ham and 77 cents a pound for tomatoes, chances are your shopping trip took place in 1988.

Using the August 10, 1988

edition of the Lake Windermere Valley Echo as a guide, the Valley Echo looked at grocery prices in the valley 25 years ago, and found that while many items were sold at about half of the current prices, some costs remain surprisingly similar.

Ham has nearly doubled in price, now costing $12.50 per

Sales and Delivery Top Soil Sand & Gravel Products Screened Black Alberta Loam Composted Bark Mulch Landscape Bark Nuggets

MISSING Sara Coates Age 32, A.K.A. Meka or Meko.

CPS reference #12457967

kilogram. Along with tropical produce, products such as energy drinks, water bottles, sushi, Mexican food, many snacks, and seafood were either very hard to find or non-existent in valley stores in the 1980s.

International produce was a luxury unavailable for most of the year — kiwifruit was hard to find, and there was one fruit that was only on sale during a special time of year.

"Mandarin oranges meant it was almost Christmas time, but now you can eat them any time," said Windermere Valley Museum curator J.D. Jeffrey, who graduated from David Thompson Secondary School in 1988.

She recalls a loaf of unsliced bread costing 99 cents at that time. There were no delis in valley grocery stores, and Quality Bakery was the place to go for fresh bread, she said. Non-edible items were offered at grocery stores less frequently in the 1980s, as the industry has since changed to a format where most stores stock a broader inventory.

"If you were having a party, you couldn't get much more than food at the grocery store," said Ms. Jeffery, adding that throwing a backyard barbecue meant having to go into smaller stores to get cutlery, plates, cups, and any accessories for the grill.

The nature of advertising has also changed, as shoppers had to enter the store to find out what was on sale, whereas current promotions are persistently advertised in flyers.

"You would go to the store and feel lucky if you found an item on special – you wouldn't know beforehand," she said.

While the price of some groceries have risen faster than the rate of inflation — 172 per cent for goods and services over the last 25 years, according to the Bank of Canada — grocery stores in the valley today offer much greater service than they did in the late 1980s.

Self-serve checkout lanes in valley stores were totally unheard of in 1988, but they're now here to stay — though not a replacement for the service one can expect from a cashier, said Invermere Sobeys store owner Brad Bromley.

In comparing costs, The Valley Echo took a flyer printed in August of 1988 from Windermere Shop Easy, as well as a recent flyer from a local grocery store. Here are the results: Kraft Dinner 1988: $0.69 ( sold as Macaroni and Cheese Dinner by Kraft) 2013: $0.89. (sold as Kraft Dinner) Onions 1988: 98 cents for three pounds 2013: $1.50 for two pounds today

"We try to create the best customer service experience, and those check-out lanes are basically just for people in a really big hurry,” he said of the four self check-out tills in his store. “If there was a change to be made, I would say it would be a decrease," he added.

Mr. Bromley anticipates a growing trend for meal accessories to be sold within Sobeys.

"We're trying to make things easier for the consumer to prepare food, and give them different ideas on how to prepare it, and I think we'll probably see more heading into the future," he said.

A grocery trend more recent than in-store delis and bakeries is the rise of gluten-free products, which AG Foods coowner Eric Lapointe said is something that's likely here to stay.

"We try very much to cater to the people who have allergies," he said. "Some products come in, and they're here and then they're gone, but that's not the case with gluten-free."

Gluten-free products are the strongest emerging trend he's noticed in his seven years at the local supermarket, he said.

Tomatoes 1988: 77 cents per pound 2013: $1.25 per pound Coca-Cola 1988: $1.19 per litre; deposit fee required 2013: $2.69 for two litres; deposit fee required.

Tide laundry detergent 1988: $10.99 for 12 litres 2013: $7.99 for 1.47 litres.

Concentrated fruit juice 1988: $1.59 for 1.36 litres 2013: $1.49 per litre.

Lake Windermere Pulse Check #13* www.lakeambassadors.ca

Sara was last seen in Calgary, Alberta in August, 2012.

She was with her dog Jasmine (pictured above) and a couple of cats, driving an older model blue Chev Astro van (pictured above).

Any information about Sara’s whereabouts would be greatly appreciated. If you know Sara, or know how to contact her, please contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234. Your call will remain confidential.

This sampling day, the 27th of August, was still warm and sunny. However, the water has begun to cool, with temperatures an average of 2°C lower since last week. Clearly, autumn is fast approaching, so best to get out and enjoy the lake while you still can! John Pitcher, volunteer of the week and avid bird enthusiast, did just that. “Another great day on the lake. Good for birds, too. The two juvenile eagles were still at their Windermere nest, and we boated very close to a group of twelve Western grebes and several pairs of Rednecked grebes.” Contact the Lake Windermere Ambassadors at info@lakeambassadors.ca or (250) 341-6898 to volunteer on September 3rd!

Volunteer of the Week: John Pitcher

*To volunteer, call (250) 341-6898 or email info@lakeambassadors.ca

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Page Three

Numa Creek fire still contained along Highway 93. Park authorities are asking drivers to obey the speed limit (since the smoke may affect visibility) and heed the no-stopping zones.

Park authorities occasionally manage fires rather than suppress them at all costs, in part because fire plays an important ecological role in many mountain parks.

It's particularly beneficial to recovery of white bark pine, an endangered tree species found in the Numa Creek drainage.

Hiking most of the renowned 55-kilometre-long Rockwall trail is still impossible at this time. The entire Numa Creek drainage is off-limits, including Numa Creek campground, the adjoining sections of the Rockwall trail and the Numa Creek trail, which connects Highway 93 to the Rockwall.

The section of the Rockwall trail from

STEVE HUBRECHT steve@cv-pioneer.com

Fire crews were busy in Kootenay National Park last week, extinguishing a small wildfire on Mt. Kindersley.

The fire was about a half hectare in size and was put out completely on Thursday, August 29th. There have been no major changes to the Numa Creek wildfire, which is still about 450 hectares, in part due to some rain and cooler temperatures last week.

The fire has been burning for five weeks and is contained within the Numa Creek drainage. It jumped in size from 100 hectares to 400 hectares almost two weeks ago, creating a huge column of smoke. Fire management crews are monitoring the fire and no-stopping zones have been posted

Helmet Creek to Tumbling Creek has now also been closed due to the fire.

Tumbling Creek trail, another trail connecting Highway 93 to the Rockwall trail, has been closed since 2012 because of a bridge washout. This means that at present the only way for hikers to access the Rockwall from Highway 93 is to do an out-and-back hike on the Floe Lake trail (which goes to the Rockwall's far south end), but Parks Canada is cautioning visitors about smoke in the Floe Lake area.

The fire danger level in Parks Canada's Lake Louise-Yoho-Kootenay field unit remains moderate. Park authorities are asking visitors to keep campfires in designated areas and ensure any fires are fully extinguished before leaving their site. They are also advising people with smoke sensitivity to stay away from the area.

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A3

Have a news tip? editor@invermerevalleyecho.com or 250-341-6299

Echo Index Weekly Content Pulse Check.............................................A2 Opinion...................................................A6 Word on the Street..................................A7 Community Calendar.............................A8 Remember When?..................................A8 Companion Corner.................................A9 Arts & Entertainment...........................A11 Sports.............................................A12-A13 Brain Games..........................................A15 Classifieds.....................................A16-A17 Build Your Wealth.................................A18 Serving the Valley.................................A20

Columns Steve Hubrecht/Off the Record...............A6 Lara McCormack/From Scratch.............A7 Elizabeth Shopland / Grow Your Life.....A7

Features Valley Life.................................................A10

ICBC seeks 4.9 per cent rate hike

Find us online invermerevalleyecho.com InvermereValleyEcho

TOM FLETCHER Black Press

The Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) has applied for a 4.9 per cent rate increase to its basic vehicle insurance rates to take effect November 1st.

For an average driver who now pays $1,369 a year for basic insurance, the increase would add an extra $36. In its rate application to the B.C. Utilities Commission, ICBC is also seeking four per cent decrease in optional coverage that would reduce that annual

bill by $25.

The last rate increase was 11 per cent in 2012, coupled with a six per cent cut in optional insurance where ICBC competes with private insurers.

In an open letter to customers, Mark Blucher, interim CEO of ICBC, says the increase is needed to keep up with increasing bodily injury claims, with higher payouts as more people turn to lawyers to dispute their insurance payouts.

Blucher said injury claim volume is also rising, including crashes involving drivers distracted by smartphones, and

more pedestrians and cyclists on roads.

ICBC cut 260 positions last year after an audit of its operations showed its management ranks had swelled by 41 per cent between 2007 and 2011. Blucher said ICBC's administrative costs amount to five cents out of every premium dollar, with 86 cents going to claim payouts.

Bodily injury claims, for pain and suffering, future care and loss of wages totalled $1.9 billion in 2012, up $165 million from the previous year and $400 million higher than five years previously.

@TheValley Echo

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Call Greg, Nicole, Steve or Dan at 250-341-6299 or email news@invermerevalleyecho.com .

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'FOREIGN WORKERS' FROM PAGE A1

"It can take three to six months to train somebody, and a lot of the workers we have around here only stay for three to six months. Foreign workers are so crucial in the valley with its high tourism base," said Mr. Atterbury.

Mr. Atterbury believes that the changes will be fine-tuned to lessen the burden on smaller businesses. He believes that the changes were a reaction to "giant billion dollar companies that were abusing this program.”

"It was a knee-jerk reaction because there were some bigger players abusing the system,” he added.

While Jason Kenney, the Minister of Employment and Social Develop-

ment who announced the changes, encouraged affected employers to hire more aggressively or increase wage offers, Mr. Atterbury doesn't find those methods practical.

"Fast food, restaurant and hotels – it's hard to fill those jobs. Businesses have to keep their wages in line with what they can sell their products for, and it's really difficult to find yearround employees in the valley."

Kootenay-Columbia Member of Parliament David Wilks told The Echo that changes to the program are a reaction to overuse of the program.

"We're trying to encourage Canadians to apply for those jobs and work them," he said. "We're not finding that, otherwise we wouldn't have the di-

lemma that we're in."

Mr. Atterbury said that the government mandates wages of the TFWs, causing them to cost more per hour than domestic employees.

"They don't work for cheaper wages by any means, but what it offers you as an employer is consistent year-round employees, and in the valley that's very difficult to do."

While Mr. Atterbury expects changes to the program, Mr. Wilks does not. However, the local MP encouraged anybody who would like to see changes to the program to visit his website, david-wilks.ca, and click on a petition icon. If enough signatures are lobbied, the petition will go forward to the House of Commons.

Last week's online poll results: Do you think Fairmont Hot Springs has safeguarded itself against possible damage from future floods?

Total Votes: 5 Yes: 40% No: 60%

(2 votes) (3 votes)

Valley Echo subscription rates Annual subscription rates (incl. tax) Local (Spillimacheen to Canal Flats) $45.30 Office Pick-Up $34.50 Canada $62.60/ Outside Canada $182.00 Seniors (local) $34.50/Seniors (Canada) $56.00 Six months subscription rates (incl. tax) Local (Spillimacheen to Canal Flats) $29.40 Seniors (local) $22.80

A4 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Urban deer committee implodes after members resign STEVE HUBRECHT Committee is suddenly a lot smaller, steve@cv-pioneer.com after three of the The Invermere group's four memUrban Deer Advisory bers recently re-

signed.

Committee chair Stan Markham and committee members Brad Malfair and

James Weir stepped down, with at least two of them saying they didn't feel like the committee was really doing that much.

“When I volunteer, I have to enjoy it and feel like I'm making a contribution," said Mr. Markham.

Mr. Weir could not be reached for comment, but Mr. Malfair gave several reasons for resigning.

“I am disappointed with the inaction and lack of communication and direction from council over the past year (and) the fact that

NOTICE OF SCHEDULED POWER INTERRUPTION SPILLIMACHEEN AND BRISCO We will be making electrical system improvements in Spillimacheen and Brisco on Sunday, September 22, 2013. To ensure the safety of our work crews, it will be necessary to interrupt electrical service for approximately four hours.

the district advertised for six months for a fifth member of the deer committee to volunteer from the apparent majority of citizens wanting something done about the deer and nobody stepped up,” he said.

“It seems the people like to complain but are not willing to do anything about it,” added Mr. Malfair.

Part of the terms of reference in accepting a position on the deer committee was agreeing not to speak with media, he said, but now that he has quit, he said he's now able to address the issues as an individual citizen.

“There has been too much rhetoric, half truths, and misinformation put out by illinformed individuals and groups that has not been adequately addressed or challenged,” he said.

Invermere mayor

Gerry Taft said he agreed with Mr. Malfair that many people are quick to complain about issues but then do not get involved.

“With a pending lawsuit against the district (by the Invermere Deer Protection Society) there's not much council can do (on the deer issue) right now,” said Mr. Taft, adding that the deer committee has done some great work with the deer counts.

The district is hoping to add an opinion poll question about a deer cull to the referendum on the new community centre later this fall, to find out whether or not the public supports the deer cull as an option for managing the urban deer population.

“Some of the members of the committee didn't agree that this was the right course of action,” said Mr.

Taft. “The problem with any advisory committee is that it is advisory."

"We really appreciate the time and effort people put in in volunteering for advisory committees. But I can understand that it's hard for members of an advisory committee when their recommendations are not accepted or followed," he said.

Going forward council will need to look at if it makes sense to continue having an urban deer advisory committee, said Mr. Taft.

“We need to wrap our heads around whether or not there's even enough for a committee to do,” he said.

In the meantime the district has no plans to advertise for volunteers to replace the three resigned deer committee members, said Mr. Taft.

Eagles on the lookout

Where: Spillimacheen & Brisco affecting customers off Hwy 95 north of Spur Valley Subdivision to the town of Spillimacheen. This includes: Snider Rd, Domey Rd, Sylvania Rd, Wolfenden Rd, Nelson Rd, Carlson Rd, Berrey Rd, Brisco Rd, Steamboat Mountain Rd, Galena School Rd, Watson Rd, Sherlock Rd, Vermillion St, Beaverfoot St, Kootenay St, Bugaboo St, Toby St, Selkirk St, Westside 2 Rd and Giant Mine Rd. When: Sunday, September 22, 2013 Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time To prepare for this interruption and protect your equipment from damage, turn off all lights, electric heaters and major appliances and unplug all electronics.

For the first hour after the power comes back on, please only plug in or turn on those electronics and appliances that you really need. This will help ensure the electrical system does not get overloaded.

We are sorry for the inconvenience. We will restore your power as soon as we can.

3993

Prepare for outages and stay informed by visiting bchydro.com/outages or bchydro.com/mobile from your handheld device. Please call 1 888 POWERON (1 888 769 3766) for more information.

GREG AMOS / ECHO PHOTO Three eagles peer out from a prominent nest just a few kilometres north of Fairmont Hot Springs on Sunday, September 1st. The sight caused several vehicles to stop on Highway 93/95 to take a photo.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A5

B.C. Hydro pulls plug on renewable power projects TOM FLETCHER Black Press

VICTORIA – BC Hydro has cancelled or deferred four electricity purchase contracts with independent power producers, and the total may reach 20 by the time a review of projects is complete, Energy Minister Bill Bennett said Thursday.

Bennett said the review is part of a broader effort by BC Hydro to meet his instruction to "spend less money," as he leads an effort to reduce costs across all government operations.

BC Hydro proposed the move, identifying the 20 project proponents

that were not meeting their contract obligations due to financing, regulatory or other problems. That non-performance gives BC Hydro legal authority to delay or terminate contracts.

The utility has contracts with 81 operating projects, mostly run-of-river hydroelectric, and another 47 are under construction or seeking permits after receiving purchase contracts.

BC Hydro released its latest draft resource plan last week, which estimates the province has enough electricity supply to meet growing demand for the next 10 years.

Bennett said he is skeptical about that

forecast, with population growth and industrial demand from new mines and natural gas development in northern B.C., but it gives the utility some breathing room.

"I'm a real fan of the clean energy industry, but obviously we don't want to be agreeing to buy more power than what we need," Bennett said.

BC Hydro has been criticized in recent years for running up billions in deferred debt, as it completes major expansion and seismic upgrading of its network of dams. A new power line to northeast B.C. has run over budget, and the NDP opposition has accused the govern-

ment of forcing BC Hydro to buy private power at inflated rates through contracts running as long as 40 years.

Bennett said he has asked for a detailed analysis of the cost of private power compared to new sources such as the proposed Site C dam on the Peace River or adding turbines to BC Hydro dams on the Columbia River.

B.C.'s Clean Energy Act requires BC Hydro to be selfsufficient in electricity by 2016, based on an average rainfall year to replenish its hydro dams. The requirement is to minimize the import of power generated by burning coal or natural gas.

4.29” x 4”

ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES GR ANTS AVAILABLE Applications for CBT’s Environmental Initiatives Program Large Grants stream are available now. The deadline to submit is October 15, 2013.

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CUPE is seeking raises of two per cent per year.

Black Press "Our members will take full-scale job action if the government doesn't show a comNegotiations with unions representing more mitment to bargaining," CUPE representative than 25,000 school support staff are back on Colin Pawson said in a statement on the weeknext week, with a strike mandate already in end, as the union prepared to start an adverplace for B.C.'s 60 school districts as the new tising campaign to attract public support.

Fassbender said funding for public educaschool year gets underway.

Education Minister Peter Fassbender said tion is at record levels despite falling enrolment.

Wednesday he is hopeful that While some urban districts a settlement with clerical "Our members will take are growing, the education staff, custodians, bus drivers full-scale job action if the ministry forecasts there will and other support staff can be 526,000 full-time students be achieved without picket government doesn't show this year, down 9,000 from lines disrupting classes. Talks a commitment to the last school year. broke off in August and are bargaining," The total budget remains set to resume for three days the same, $4.7 billion, of starting Sept. 4. which about 80 per cent pays The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing most of the wages of teachers, support staff and adminisworkers, says they haven't had a raise in four trators.

Soon after being appointed minister by Preyears. The latest contract expired in June 2012 after a two-year wage freeze was imposed mier Christy Clark, Fassbender appointed a provincial negotiator to take over provinceacross the B.C. public service.

Fassbender wouldn't comment directly on wide issues from the bargaining agent for talks, except to say that school districts are school districts.

Negotiator Peter Cameron told union leadworking to set up "savings accounts" in their operations to fund wage increases within ex- ers in mid-August he would not return to talks isting district budgets. The government's "co- until boards have savings plans in place. Fassoperative gains" mandate requires all raises to bender said Wednesday that "a large majority be funded by internal savings such as shared are well underway, and many are in place" so talks can resume. administrative functions.

TOM FLETCHER

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Learn more at www.cbt.org/eip . www.cbt.org • 1.800.505.8998

Support staff bargaining returns with school year

Tom Fletcher/ Black Press Wind turbine components await construction at independent power project near Chetwynd in 2008. High construction costs stalled B.C.'s first commercial wind energy project.

Back to School 2013 Back to school! Time to learn about waiting your turn, lining up nicely, being courteous to others and following the rules. No, I’m not talking about students, I’m talking about the adults because many of the traffic problems found in school zones are caused by parents driving their children to school. Even the occasional teacher might bend the rules if they are late for work.

We all know that school zones are in effect on regular school days. Until recently, these days were determined at the provincial level and were uniform across BC. Today the school calendar is determined by each school district, so there could actually be a difference from one district to another. For safety’s sake, it’s probably best to slow to the posted 30 km/h limit throughout the school year unless it is a statutory holiday.

Let’s change the viewpoint from go to stop now. Parking around schools may create it’s own hazards by limiting visibility and proper movement. You probably don’t need me to remind you that children act on the spur of the moment without thinking their actions through. This makes them a significant hazard as they pop up in unexpected and inappropriate places. You increase the problem when you park or drive in places that you are not supposed to. Confusion is a bad thing in traffic.

I’ve investigated child pedestrian deaths and I can assure you that it is not something you want to be involved in, even remotely. Take a few seconds extra around school zones. It won’t cost you much more out of your day, in fact, the savings could be substantial.

The author is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. To comment or learn more, please visit www.drivesmartbc.ca.

101A 1028 7 Avenue PO Box 130 Invermere BC • Phone: 250-342-2175 • Fax: 250-342-2669

Tuesday to Friday: 9:00 – 12:30 and 1:00 – 5:00 • Saturday: 9:00 – 2:30

www.kootenayinsurance.ca

A6 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Opinion

Something to say? email editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

Temporary foreign workers are needed GREG AMOS editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

It's no surprise that the valley's economy is heavily dependent on tourism. What might come as a surprise to some is how many employees at our area resorts and attractions are themselves tourists.

Some might be young people trying to live the dream in the Rockies after graduating from high school. A few will fall in love with the valley, find long-term opportunity and stay. But the majority will be moving on within a year.

That's why, as one local business owner argues, temporary foreign workers are needed to keep the local economy supplied with a base of skilled workers.

As much as we'd like to hire local and keep Canadian kids employed, the reality is that many of them are content to travel for a few years, before going to school — or travelling to northern regions of the country where they can make ridiculously good money in the oil and gas industry with little education.

There are few reasons for young Canadians to stay within the realm of limited earnings potential offered by a career in hospitality or tourism. But many overseas workers crave the stability of a job in Canada, which gives them an opportunity to remit money home to their families. And from an employer's point of view, there's some guarantee that months of training won't go to waste when an employee decides to set sail.

Having to rely on workers from other countries to fill out local jobs isn't ideal of course, and one could argue it's a legitimate downside to free trade deals and globalization. Parents working across the globe from where their families reside can also be a strained situation.

But when local people are simply not abundant enough to fill the jobs being offered, there's little choice but to go further afield.

Perhaps a higher minimum wage, if introduced gradually enough to allow businesses to absorb the change, could prove to be a long-term solution. Until then, we're likely to keep finding local restaurants and hotels well-staffed with foreign workers.

Something on your mind?

The Valley Echo welcomes all letters to the editor and submissions from community and sports groups, as well as special community columns.

Please keep your signed, legible submissions under 500 words. Send email submissions to editor@invermerevalleyecho.com.

VALLEY ECHO T he

The NEWSpaper in the Columbia Valley

#8, 1008 8 Avenue • P.O. Box 70 Invermere, B.C., Canada V0A 1K0 Phone: 250-341-6299 invermerevalleyecho.com

Off The Record — Steve Hubrecht

In praise of small-town banking If you walk down Invermere's main street, you can't help but be struck by the quaintness of the town and its mountain surroundings.

The shops — many of them local stores, cafes or restaurants — are uniformly welcoming. The only odd quirk thing that stands out is the automatic door on one of the banks (the Kootenay Savings Credit Union), which flies open any time a passerby comes with a few feet of it.

The first time it happens, it startles you. Even the second time, it catches you off guard. Eventually you realize the sensor is just a little too sensitive and the odd quirk almost becomes endearing, even if remains puzzling.

Thankfully the bank has a second set of automatic door not far into the building, which helps prevents what otherwise would surely be a big waste of energy, with cool-air conditioned air being pumped out into the hot summer streets.

This unfortunately is a common trend in many, although by no means all, Asian cities — particularly ones in fast-developing parts of Asia with hot, humid climates.

In these cities you literally cool off standing a good 10 metres or more outside the constantly opening doors of

Angela Krebs

Rose-Marie Regitnig

Greg Amos

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mega-malls, airports or movie theatres. Indeed, should you actually want to go inside any of these buidlings, you might find you need to bring a sweater with you.

While the desire to not be uncomfortable is understandable, cranking air conditioners to such a degree is ridiculous. It's a mind boggling waste of energy to say the least and it surely can't be cheap.

Unfortunately few local people in these cities seem even slightly perturbed about it Perhaps people at small town banks are just that much more thoughful. Thoughtfulness certainly seemed to be the case during the heavy rains and flooding this past June. The heavy rains had helped put the ATMs in the Bank of Montreal out of commission. The local Bank of Montreal staff kindly stood in the bank lobby explaining the situation to everybody who came in the door, telling them they'd have to go across the road to use the CIBC ATM to get cash and then handing them a toonie to cover the fee that the Bank of Montreal card holders would be charged for using the CIBC ATM. This is just the kind of small town service, the sort of personal touch that you'd be hard pressed to find in a bigger cities, where people just don't have (or take) the time to do such things.

Score a point for community banking.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT: Reproduction of any or all editorial and advertising materials in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the publisher. It is agreed by the advertiser requesting space that the liability of The Valley Echo, owned by Black Press Ltd. in the event of failure to publish an advertisement or in the event of an error appearing in the advertisement as published, shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for only the one incorrect insertion for the portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect or omitted items only and that there shall be no liability in any event greater than the amount paid for such advertising.

BC PRESS COUNCIL – The Valley Echo is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby Street, Nanaimo, B.C., V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

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verifiedcirculation.ca 2009 2009 WINNER

The Valley Echo Wednesday, September 4, 2013

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A7

Word on the Street

I

DIDN'T KNOW

ABOUT IT, BECAUSE

Are you excited about the upcoming Columbia Valley Rockies season?

I'M

AUSI DID ABOUT IT,

NO, WE'RE FROM CALGARY. WE DON'T

TRALIA. IF

WE

KNOW ANYTHING

KNOW

ANYTHING ABOUT

ABOUT IT.

I'D

FROM

PROBABLY BE

DON'T KNOW

HOCKEY.

EXCITED.

—HERMANN NIELSEN

—RYAN BEVERIDGE

—MARIE CLAIRE VALLET

Food From Scratch — Lara McCormack

Preserving summer Living in the valley, as fabulous as it is, sometimes means having summers that fly by, especially when you run your own business locally.

I am currently in the moment of ‘where has the summer gone’? as I think about getting the kids ready for school, and I look forward to another busy weekend in our restaurant.

Not a day goes by in the summer where I am not thankful for the abundance of food we have here our valley. My challenge is how to keep appreciating this in the winter months when the fruit tastes bland in the grocery stores. So here’s the secret — preserving!

Ok – our grandmothers did it, some mothers did, but guess what? It’s a huge trend again thanks to current food magazines, the Food Network and in many ways, the state of our current economy. Saving what is coming from your garden, from the Farmer’s Markets, and from the grocery store at its peak flavour is the best way to enjoy it in the months to come.

Here are some of my favourite techniques:

1. Pick fresh basil and place in a freezer bag.

Blow air into it, quickly close it and freeze immediately. When you pull it out, crumble it over your dish and it smells and tastes like fresh basil.

(Thanks to my great friend Holly for this tip!)

2. Cut an “X” at the top of a tomato. Place fresh tomatoes in boiling water for 10 seconds, then place them in cold water. Then peel them – the skin comes off easily. Freeze on a cookie sheet for 24 hours then place in a freezer bag in the freezer. Pull out in the winter months to replace a fresh tomato, or use in sauces for that “summer taste”.

3. Blanch your beans, peas, kale, and spinach in hot water until it's still a bit crisp, then put into a cold bath. Freeze them on a tray then place into a freezer bag — you'll have “fresh” veggies for the winter!

4. Take your favourite herbs and dry them upside down for about six weeks, then place in a jar. Even better, invest in a dehydrator! You can

even mix these up for a great cup of tea!

5. Again, take your favourite herbs and buy your favourite plain oils and vinegars. Stuff your bottles with your fresh herbs for seasoning in the winter months. Just make sure all the bugs are off!

6. Jam it, sauce it, liqueur it, pickle it — use your imagination and taste buds!

As I am here writing about this, I need to get onto this. My freezer is full of fruit, but I need those veggies.

Don’t forget we have some fabulous people in our valley that you can find at the Invermere Farmer’s Market who make a living off of this. It always tastes better when someone makes it for you!

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and may you continue to enjoy its flavours in the cooler months ahead!

Grow Your Life — Elizabeth Shopland

The answers are blowin' in the wind "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." ~ Helen Keller In our valley, we often experience significant winds, and this week was no different. We rush out to ensure that the sun umbrellas are down, grab the towels and life jackets off the line and glance at the swaying tomato plants heavily laden with fruit and quietly wish them luck. We accept that the wind is a natural weather phenomenon, and we learn from it every time.

Whether we capture the wind in our sails, run after our ball cap as it tumbles down the sidewalk or watch as our papers flutter helplessly away, we learn about the wind by experiencing it.

Simply put, wind is caused by differences in the

atmospheric pressure. When a difference in these pressures exists, air moves from the higher to the lower pressure area, resulting in winds of various speeds.

In our own lives, we have times of highs and lows and with that, storms form. There is a name for these types of storms, and it is adversity.

Adversity is the tough stuff. It is often situations and experiences that we perceive to be negative, ugly, challenging, painful and even frightful. Regardless of the challenges, hardships, addictions or loss, we hear ourselves saying, “how did I get here?”

Again and again, we slowly and courageously walk through the adversity, and by doing so, we grow and learn to make better choices each time.

You may be asking, “Adversity, what is it good for? It is part of the natural make-up of the world.

Without the storms, we would not know and

appreciate the calm. It provides us with the opportunity to dance along our emotional scale.

Feelings of despair, helplessness, anger and frustration fall away as we gain clarity about what we truly want, and we step into actions to help us feel better and better.

Every challenge and difficulty we face throughout our lives nurtures our will, our self-confidence and the essence of who we wish to become.

I know, and you know people who are in the eye of the storm right now and to them, it may seem like the winds are picking up speed. Although we cannot change or fix the storm for them, we can offer unconditional support, compassion, friendship and love.

“Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come!” ~ Author unknown

A8 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Community Calendar

Remember When?

Send your events to production@invermerevalleyecho.com WED SEPTEMBER 4 •Columbia River Kayak and Canoe’s annual Ladies’ Night to Radium. 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. departure times from the CRKC docks with a common pickup time of 7:30 p.m. in Radium. Cost is $50/ person with boat rental, $25 with own boat + tax. To book a spot, call 250-342-7397.

•Hang out night at the Summit Youth Centre, 3:30 -9 p.m.

•Artist opening at Pynelogs Cultural Centre, 7-9 p.m. Show features Neal Panton, Cathy Parkes, Cat McDiarmid, Lori Lees Stout, Elizabeth Stuart and Alice Hale, and runs until September 15th.

•Meadow Creek Kokanee Spawning Channel is open for viewing from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. daily. Gates will be closed at all other times. Run lasts from late August to early October, with peak viewing time in the first two weeks of September. Located 4 km northwest of Meadow Creek off Highway 31.

For more information: 250-354-6333, or angus. glass@bchydro.com.

THURS SEPTEMBER 5 •Extra ice time at the Arena for Initiation, Novice and Atom, 3:45 - 4:45 p.m, and for Peewee, Bantam and Midgets, 5-6 p.m. Start date for Minor Hockey is September 9th.

•Swimming at Radium Hot Springs with the Summit Youth Centre, 6:30 p.m. Registration needed by September 4th, 9:00 p.m.

FRI SEPTEMBER 6 •Hang out night at the Summit Youth Centre, 5:30 - 11 p.m.

•Square dance weekend, hosted by The Columbia Valley Twirlers Square Dance Club.

Mainstream dances Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Radium Community Hall. Callers are Rick and Kathy Utter from Moyie Springs ,Idaho and John Curzon from High River, Alberta.

There may also be a “Funshop” on Saturday afternoon. For more info call Albert at 250347-6573.

•JP Maurice, live at The Station pub. Blues, rock and folk. 9:30 p.m.

SAT SEPTEMBER 7 • Parkinson SuperWalk

at Pothole Park, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. It takes a community to fight Parkinson’s.

Organizations, families and friends will walk together at this annual fundraiser.

Proceeds from SuperWalk go to research and support services provided by Parkinson Society B.C. For more info: www. parkinson.bc.ca, or contact bhum@parkinson.bc.ca.

•Volleyball at Kinsmen Beach, leaving the Summit Youth Centre at 6 p.m.

•Kootenay Savings' Family Movie in the Park, featuring Disney's Wreck It Ralph. Experience the thrill and excitement of watching a movie outdoors under the stars on a state of the art three-storey inflatable screen. Admission is free; please bring a non-perishable food item to support your local food bank. Radium show is a drive-in event, movie begins at dusk.

For more info, contact 250-368-2683, or email aron.burke@kscu.com.

SUN SEPTEMBER 8 •Meadow Creek Spawning Channel open house, hosted by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and FLNRO (Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations), 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Free family event. Talk to biologists, view the fish near the peak of their run, Bear Smart information, and limnologist (freshwater specialist) on site to answer questions about the Nutrient Restoration Program in Kootenay Lake. Spawning channel is located 4 km northwest of Meadow Creek off Highway 31.

For more information: 250-354-6333, or angus. glass@bchydro.com EVERY SUNDAY •Pancake breakfast at the Edgewater Legion, 9 - 11 a.m.

•Fairmont Farmer's Market, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

•Drop-in roller skating, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., $5, Glacier Peaks Gymnastics building, 250-342-5321 •Barn Market at Elk Park Ranch's Old Eaton House, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

•Public Indoor Rock Climbing, Laird School, 5-8 p.m., $5.

•Invermere Badminton Club meets, 7:30 - 10 p.m. at the DTSS gym.

EVERY 2nd SUNDAY •LW Alliance Church Sing and Celebrate, 7 p.m. For more information call Clarence Stauffer, 250-342-9580.

EVERY MONDAY •EK Brain Injury Support Group, 1-3 p.m., Family Resource Centre. Info: 250-344-5674.

•Gentle drop-in carpet bowling, 1:30 p.m., Invermere Seniors' Centre.

•Ladies Motorcycle Born to Ride. Tim Horton’s, 5:15 p.m. Call 341-5646 for more info.

•Cadets, 6:30-9 p.m. for boys and girls, ages 12-17. Cost: FREE (includes uniform). Info: Megan McConnell at 250-409-4455.

•Duplicate Bridge, 6:30 p.m., Invermere Seniors’ Hall, $2/person.

Visitors welcome.

•Ultimate Frisbee at J.A. Laird School field.

Free, for all ages, and beginners welcome.

Call 250-270-0346.

1st & 3rd TUESDAY •OPT clinic, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Inv. Health Unit.

Confidential service: low-cost birth control, and STI testing.

EVERY TUESDAY •Shuswap Bingo at the Shuswap Indian Band Office downstairs, doors open at 5:30 p.m., early bird at 6:45 p.m., regular games at 7 p.m.

•Cubs (8-10 year olds) and Beavers (5-7 year olds), J.A. Laird, 6 - 7 p.m.

1st & 3rd WED •Bingo, Windermere Community Hall, opens at 6 p.m., starts at 7 p.m.

2nd & 4th WED •Seniors' Day at the Invermere Library, 1:15 2:15 p.m. Bus provided.

EVERY WEDNESDAY •Yoga THRIVE - Yoga for Cancer Survivors and Support People.

Copper Point Resort at 4:30 p.m. Call Jan Klimek at 250-342-1195 •Invermere Badminton Club meets 7-9 p.m. at JA Laird School gym.

•Open Mic night at Bud's Bar, beginning at 10 p.m.

1st THURSDAY •Columbia Valley MS Support Group meet and greet. 7 - 8 p.m. at Christ Church Trinity.

EVERY THURSDAY •Open Mic night at the Hoodoo Grill, 9:30 p.m.

LINDSAY McPHERSON/Echo file photo August 2008 - Panorama Mountain Village general manager Kirby Brown responds to calls from spectators during the $250,000 Cliffhanger Shootout at Greywolf Golf Course on August 31st. None of the participants that year managed to land a hole-in-one.

A look back through The Valley Echo's archives over the last 50 years DAN WALTON dan@invermerevalleyecho.com

5 years ago (2008): It's interesting to see the Echo as it was in 2008, at the beginning of the economic recession was getting started. In many ways, the entire community was on an "business as usual" basis, not aware of what was taking place in the larger world outside our mountains. Whether it was a 1950s sock hop or the recruitment of players for the Bighorns football team, there was no sense of any impending catastrophe. The CVCC was preparing to go to fall hours after a busy summer season, while an East Kootenay Wage Subsidy program was being put into place. Much or what was there in 2008 is still there today, even though the economy is completely different as a result of what went on in the next year.

10 years ago (2003): While slight precipitation in the valley gave firefighters a breather and allowed them to get a handle on a few things, it was

not enough to change the situation in many other ways.

Fire officials thought the situation would be back to extreme soon. A full ban was imposed on backcountry activity to protect safety, which was a surprise to many. The ban applied to all activity in the region. It covered all Crown land and forestry roads in the southern third of B.C. 15 years ago (1998): A vehicle had been parked in the Bugaboo Alpine Recreation Area, 45 kilometres west of Brisco, and was robbed of several thousand dollars worth of valuable climbing material while its occupants were busy on the mountain.

Police believed the thieves were also climbers as several other vehicles in the parking area were not touched. On August 16th, a motorhome drove away from the PetroCan service station without paying for gas.

20 years ago (1993): Special needs children of the valley were riding horseback, thanks to financing by the Kinsmen Club of the Windermere Valley. The organization has been donating funds for four years, to provide the therapeutic services that allow several children to ride every week. Stoddart Creek Stables provided the horses,

which give several children a chance to stretch both muscle and mind every week.

30 years ago (1983): Henry Nelson, president and owner of Galloway Lumber company, was elected to the position of Chairman of the Kootenay Region of the Canadian Forestry Association at a meeting in Cranbrook. The Association is a voluntary group which provides guidance for the people of the East and West Kootenay regions to ensure the availability of services and information needed to manage the forests for a multiple use by all citizens.

40 years ago (1973): Tragedy was narrowly averted in a freak accident when a quick thinking young California driver almost drove off the road in Radium Hot Springs.

She was leaving Radium Hot Springs Lodge in a halfton truck when she realized her brakes were not working. Coming to the bottom of the hill and about to meet Highway 95, she realized she could not make a stop. She drove off the road and rode an embankment for about 200 feet, then jumped out of the truck when she realized it was going to cross the road.

The truck veered over the embankment and went across the road into the ditch.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

New events coordinator takes aim at shoulder season STEVE HUBRECHT steve@cv-pioneer.com

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mittees in the valley during her time here.

“We were looking at what we could do to try and increase business in Invermere and at the same time offer residents a service,” Invermere mayor Gerry Taft had said when the district started looking for an events coordinator, adding council hoped the role would involve organizing one major event and several minor events each month.

“The events coordinator will support existing events (such as the Light Up Night, Santa Claus Parade and Visitor Appreciation Day) but we're also hoping the coordinator will come with some ideas for new events,” Mr. Taft said.

Ideally, some of those new events will be in October or November, Mr. Taft had said, in a effort to draw visitors to the district (and to boost local businesses) at a time when Invermere is usually quiet.

Invermere is hoping to have more going on in the district, particularly during the shoulder seasons in fall and spring and has hired a new events coordinator to that end.

New events coordinator Theresa Wood has already helped organize the recent Teddy Bear Picnic and the Sunday music downtown concerts in the triangular green space along 7th Avenue for the district since she started in the role in July. She's got two events already planned for October, including a five-kilometre and 10-kilometre Hallowe'en run and an Oktoberfest.

“They've (district council and staff ) wanted to have an Oktoberfest for a long time, so now we're running with it,” said Ms. Wood, adding there will be mini-golf, music, a German food court and plenty of other fun at the event.

“Fall is a great season here — there's no snow in the valley and the weather is perfect for events. It's a great time,” she said.

The Hallowe'en run, which will be on Saturday, October 26th, will be chip-timed, but people will still need to wear costumes and there will be trick-or-treat food aid station along the course, according to Ms. Wood.

“You can run 10 kilometres and eat chocolates on the way,” she said.

Ms. Wood has lived in Invermere for seven years. She grew up in Fergus, Ontario, studied hotel and resort operations in college before moving to Lake Louise to work at the chateau. After a few years there, she decided to come to the valley.

“I love the mountains but I wanted to live in a town with a strong community,” she said.

After working at a number of places in the valley in a various roles (including Panorama, Radium Resort and volunteering for Wings Over the Rockies) Ms. Wood says she couldn't be happier with her new job.

“I love it. It's my dream job — I love planSTEVE HUBRECHT/ECHO PHOTO ning events and having people come to them Events coordinator Theresa Wood has a Hallowe'en run and and have fun, it's right up my alley,” said Ms. an Oktoberfest among her planned new events to carry Wood, adding she's worked with many com- Invermere through the fall.

C C

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A9

mpanion rner

Animal Name: Sliver Liver Columbia Age: 2 years Family: Columbia House Long Term Care Facility

Fun fact: Sliver came to us from ICAN, after her litter was found in a woodpile. When Columbia House made the request to adopt a kitten, five kittens were brought for our residents to choose from. One Resident in particular said that she was the cat for us!

Sliver comes to the residents to investigate and allow pets, and wow, can she purr! Sliver is very smart, and can open the doors by the handles when she wants to explore. Sliver has many residents and staff at Columbia House who love her and care for her daily needs. She is pampered, petted, and treated to treats by all. She roams through the entire facility as she is an indoor/outdoor cat.

She has her own room with all her personal items where she can find safety or quiet times.

To be featured, send in your companion’s name, age and photo, along with a fun fact or story about them!

Be sure to include your name.

Email editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

250.

341.6299

STORE WIDE

CLOSING SALE We would like to thank everyone who supported us over the many years we were open in Invermere.

We enjoyed offering our services to this community.

Thank yOu!

aLL InVEnTORy

50% OFF

A10 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

School of Dance •Invermere•

ONLINE REGISTRATION AT

www.stagesschoolofdance.com Ages 3 to Adult •Jazz •Ballet •Tap •Hip Hop •Modern •Contemporary •Lyrical •Pointe •Mom & Me

Open House and Registration 733 12th Street, Invermere Across from the Post Office

Sept. 9th, 5 - 9 p.m. & Sept. 10th, 3 - 7 p.m.

For information contact Cranbrook main office

250-426-6735

stagesschoolofdance@shaw.ca stagesschoolofdance.com ICAN – Invermere Companion Animal Network

Available for Adoption

Remember me? I’m DAYA, and I’m still waiting for my forever home. I’m a 2 yr. old, friendly, playful, petite girl, who loves napping in sunny spots. My fluffy coat does require brushing, but I love it!! and reward my groomer with loud purrs, and lots of Kitty Love.

Won’t YOU consider adopting ME? Sponsored by:

Adoption Fee: $100 (to help offset spay/neuter and vet bills)

4992 Fairmont Frontage Rd. 250-345-6133

250-341-7888

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Valley Life

Long weekend life in the Columbia Valley Clockwise from top left: a giant bear (actually WildSafeBC coordinator Crystal Leonard in costume) entertains youngsters at the Teddy Bear's Picnic event at Kinsmen Beach on Saturday, August 31st (Steve Hubrecht photo); a Canadian Crossfire guitarist plays at the Oldtimer's hockey touranment fundraiser event on Saturday, August 31st (Steve Hubrecht photo); a cyclist enjoys an evening ride north on Highway 93 / 95 on Sunday, September 1st (Greg Amos photo); parents and kids take part in a donuteating competition at the Teddy Bear's picnic (Steve Hubrecht photo); Donna Strand stands with a piece of art for sale — a Dani Tschudin photo translated into a painting by a Chinese artist named Jackson — at the Invermere Farmer's market on Saturday, August 31st (Greg Amos photo); Kootenay Bayou hot sauce proprietor Dale Hunt offers a sample of his "non-violent, user friendly" hot sauce at the Invermere Farmer's Market (Greg Amos photo); Faith Saunders sells some Saunders Family Farm raspberry pepper jelly to Calgarian Colleen Murtagh at the Invermere Farmer's Market (Greg Amos photo).

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

A&E

Art returns to old house PHOTOS BY GREG AMOS Seven local artists displayed their work at the re-kindled Labour Day long weekend art show at Strand's Old House restaurant on Saturday, August 31st. Clockwise from top left: a photo captures Mt. Nelson from one of 36 angles artist George Oliver is hoping to photograph the peak from; Jill Campbell shares one of her colourful oil and acrylic paintings; Jon Howlett lays next to his painting of a cutthroat trout, inspired by a fishing trip to Halgrave Lake west of Edgewater, Samantha and Keawna Kroontje of Calgary examine artist Elizabeth Stuart's ceramic bowls; George Oliver stands between his painting "Softly Into Night" (right) and mixed media piece "The Weight of Memory" (left); artist and show organizer Meredith Hackler stands with her "Welsh Lakes Larch" oil painting on a hemp canvas, one of several in her series of impressionist landscapes. As an Invermere-born artist, Ms. Hackler saw the need to revive the art show, which had been running for more than 30 years prior to a recent three-year hiatus.

ART · Pottery, Digital Art, What does ART mean to you?

Mixed Media, Watercolour/ Acrylic/Oil · We have it all!!

At Pynelogs Art Gallery · Open Daily Visit columbiavalleyarts.com for our current events calendar, or call 250-342-4423.

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A11

picture framing lighting & home decor

905 7 Ave, Invermere • ph: 250-342-0012 • fax: 250-342-0085 • lionel@lakestylelight.com • jennifer@lakestylelight.com

Geoff Hill MaxWell Realty Invermere

250-341-7600

connect@geoffhill.ca Invermere-RealEstate.com

A12 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Sports

Got something to say?

Send your comments and letters to: editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

Have a sports tip? editor@invermerevalleyecho.com or 250-341-6299

Canal Flats player blazing back after devastating brain injury

BY MARTY HASTINGS Kamloops This Week

Aspen Sterzer has a motor that seems forever locked into overdrive when he’s on the ice, but he was put in park last season with a careerthreatening concussion.

“With the concussion and stuff, it got to a point where it had been so long that I was just like, ‘I don’t know whether or not I’m going to be able to play again,’” said Sterzer, a Kamloops Blazers’ forward.

“In the second game after Christmas against Vancouver [Dec. 29], I took a high hit to the head and I got that concussion and I couldn’t recover. It took forever.

KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK Photo “Four or five months passed and Aspen Sterzer, a 19-year-old forward from Canal Flats, returns this season to the Kamloops Blazers’ then I finally got cleared to start lineup after recovering from a concussion. training again.”

Sterzer would not be back],” Blazers’ was tough to sit back and watch his The 19-year-old Canal Flats prodteammates make a run at the Western uct experienced dizziness, blurred vi- general manager Craig Bonner said.

“Now, he’s going to play in some Conference championship this spring sion and balance problems when he roles he — “I’d just watch the games and hear tried to work out and there was little n e v e r about them knowing I wasn’t there for improvement in the first few months played in the boys.” of recovery. b e f o r e , Concussions are among the hottest Sterzer slowly began to get better with us of topics in sports and Sterzer will be and eventually became symptomlosing the under the microscope anytime he’s on free. centre-icethe receiving end of a bodycheck.

He was cleared by doctors and will men that If No. 11 can stay healthy, he could play this season with the Blazers. we did. be in line to have a breakout season.

The centreman returns to the team “I have He’s been waiting his entire WHL with an entirely different role than in h i g h career to get minutes alongside his years past. team’s best players.

There is room to establish himself as e x p e c t a tions for “We had such a deep team and I was a top-six guy, with the Blue and OrAspen Sterzer him this on a lower line,” Sterzer said. ange having lost a slew of talented foryear.”

“Now, there’s so much opportunity wards to graduation and professional The speedster — once referred to as with such a young team this year. hockey. the Tasmanian Devil by Blazer train“I feel awesome.

I’m so happy to be “There was that possibility [that er Colin (Toledo) Robinson — said it back.”

Rockies Hockey Fun Day! DOUBLE HEADER!th

Saturday, September 14

SEASON TICKETS!

ALUMNI GAME

Saturday Afternoon 4 p.m.

Just 1 week away!

HOME OPENER

Saturday Evening 7:30 p.m.

Tailgate party at 2 p.m. Lots of ‘old’ favourites returning to play in the alumni and a strong, fresh, new team ready to take on the KI in the 2013-14 season. Come cheer on your favourite Rockies veteran as well as cheer on the new 2013/14 Rockies team.

Pre-purchase your season’s pass by calling 250-341-5699

Classic car raffle tickets are available Monday - Friday at Home Hardware or Saturday at the Invermere’s Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS IN THE KIJHL!

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A13

SPORTS

www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Blades of steel

PODIATRY CLINIC with Dr. Joanne Lih Friday, September 13, 2013 at the Invermere Medical Clinic 937 7 Avenue Invermere

Effective Solutions For: Heel pain, arch pain, heel spurs, bunions, corns, calluses, and toenails Including Orthotics and Preventative routine care

For appointments, please call

1-250-304-4792

STEVE HUBRECHT / ECHO PHOTOS Teams face off on Saturday, August 31st at the annual Oldtimers hockey tournament, which drew 14 teams from the Columbia Valley, Calgary, Edmonton and beyond. The local Arrowhead Brewing / Young Guns team won division one (for those age 35 and over, informally), a team from Carstairs won division two (40 and over), an Edmonton team won division three (45 and over), and a team from Stony Plain won division four (50 and over).

Rockies enter exhibition schedule GREG AMOS editor@invermerevalleyecho.com

The Columbia Valley Rockies are shaping up to be a tough and tenacious team for the 2013-2014 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) season.

After a full week of training camp and a couple of exhibition games played, Rockies general manager Ross Bidinger says the team is looking better across the board.

“We're stronger on defence, we've

got more young talent, and we're going to stay as a physical team, with players that finish their checks,” he said. “All the guys we end up releasing will end up playing somewhere else.”

After starting with 30 players, about 25 remain in the camp for this week's schedule of exhibition games. The focus will be on determining which high-school age players will stick with the club.

The Rockies' new affiliation with the Chilliwack Chiefs Junior A hockey team has allowed them to tap into some talent, but a solid summer

of scouting from Bidinger and the Dubielewicz brothers — Wade, Scott and Kirk — has allowed the team to cast a wide net for potential Junior A talent to bring in from around B.C. and Alberta.

The team is showing continued interest in landing a few Junior A players in particular. When the Valley Echo spoke with Bidinger on Thursday, August 29th, Scott Dubielewicz was scouting in Okotoks, Alberta, for a player the Rockies first became interested in during their spring camp.

CONTINUES ON PAGE A14

Windermere Valley minor Hockey association

Golf News RIVERSIDE ROSEBUDS LADIES GOLF CLUB: This has

FAIRMONT MOUNTAINSIDE MEN'S CLUB: Right off

been a great summer for golf and the ladies at Riverside have taken full advantage of our good weather and beautiful course that is in top condition. We have fun weekly games, monthly cups, a few traditional tournaments and we compete in the Columbia Valley Inter-club and East Kootenay Zone tournaments.

The East Kootenay Amateur Team Challenge was August 27th at Windermere and our ladies placed a very respectable 4th. The Club Championship results are as follows:

the bat, or perhaps one should say the driver, congratulations to Cal MacPherson, our 2013 Archie Guthrie Senior Championship winner on July 26th. On July 3rd, the Mountainside team was to prevail over Riverside during our monthly inter-club challenge. Such was not the case as Riverside crushed us on a similar match August 6th. The September showdown — bragging rights et cetera —now becomes crucial.

On July 3rd, the team of Howard Stafford, Dave Gibson, Gary Thompson and Ed Taillieu won the four man two best net competition. With the same format on July 10th the team of Dave Farrell, Dan Wasylyk, Stew Slack and Gerry Power carried the day. Jim Horne rolled in two deuces. Gerry, Dave Gibson, Dave Lapinskie and guest Tom Hardy captured KP awards. On July 17th, Dill DesBrisay, bless his soul won the huge “hidden hole” contest and cash award on #7. On that day as well our three “Jims” - Bussard, Gibb, and Horne plus Steve Seheult won the team competition.

Our monthly cup winner for July was Stew Slack with an impressive 67 net score. Dave Gibson and Steve Seheult were not far behind. Closest to the pin awards were taken by Seheult, Wasylyk, Lapinskie and Norm MacDonell. No one rolled in a deuce this day (July 31st), which left a nice carry over pot for August.

Club Champion (Overall Low Gross) - Susie Bond Overall Low Net - Lynda Devenish Flt. # 1 Low Gross: 1st - Heather Koochin 2nd - Shirley Bergman Low Net: 1st - Lorna Robitaille 2nd - Marg Nelson Flt. #2 Low Gross: 1st - Wendy Hayes 2nd - Delores Neilson Low Net: 1st - Marlyn DesBrisay 2nd - Sylvia Robertson Flt. #3 Low Gross: 1st - Pat Slack 2nd - Bev Palfrey Low Net: 1st - Ingrid Sands 2nd - Joan Selzer Our season is coming to an end, but we welcome any ladies to join us for the remaining Thursdays for the month of September at 11:00 a.m.

Submitted by Lynda Devenish, Captain

Submitted by Barry Jonas

Practice Schedule 2013/14

Starting Monday, September 9th.

Monday:

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

8:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.

Tuesday: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

8:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.

Wednesday: 6:45 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.

Rec League Midget Boys Initiation Novice Atoms Midget Girls Bantoms Peewee

Thursday:

3:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

8:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.

Novice Atoms Peewee Bantam Midget Boys

Friday:

6:45 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. Atoms 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Initiation 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Midget Girls

Note: Midget Girls hockey players must be born 2000 or later.

All players report to their age group for the first week including house players. As well, all players must pre-register and pay before going on the ice. For more information or to register, please call Nancy Wilfley, 250-342-6696.

If you are looking for extra ice time, there is ice available on September 5th, 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. for Initiation, Novice, Atom • 5-6 p.m. Peewee, Bantam and Midgets.

A14 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Summit joins Bare Hands in covering bare feet DAN WALTON

delivering them to people in need.

Ms. Fishbuch got involved after noticing the crucial need during a backpacking trip in Asia.

“I went on a trip a few years ago to India and saw a lot Two local businesses are joining forces in a soleof barefoot people,” she told The Echo. “Some of those searching endeavour.

Heather Fischbuch, the owner of Bare Hands Day barefoot people couldn't go to work because work was Spa in Radium Hot Springs, is partnering with Sum- too far, or they had really shoddy shoes that only covmit Footware owner Jocelyn Brunner to collect and ered a part of their foot; worn out past what we think distribute used shoes through Soles 4 Souls, a shoe worn out is.”

Because she was travelling with three pairs of shoes, recycling program which collects second-hand footshe left two pairs behind, and was eager to cover more wear from people in “well-heeled” parts of the world, feet upon her return to Canada.

“I noticed how many in the world – even in a relatively rising nation like India — were barefoot or poorly shod.”

As she researched the issue, Ms. Fischbuch found out about Soles 4 Souls.

Advocate • Educate • Provide The charity’s mission was in sync with her goal: provide proper footwear for ICAN: rescuing, sheltering, spaying/neutering & finding homes for companion people around the world who need it animals that are lost, surrendered & abandoned in the Columbia Valley. most.

Volunteers and donations are always welcome.

By collecting used shoes out of her shop each summer, Ms. Fischbuch began helping the charity four years ago.

“The organization advances its antipoverty mission by collecting new and used shoes and clothes,” Ms. Fischbuch said. “Shoes are sent to any emergency situation where people Shelter visits, activities and short

reporter@invermerevalleyecho.com

day?

What do we need to s!

Activities with kid Please volunteer! presentations on companion animals

leave with just the clothes on their back.”

Although Summit Footwear and Bare Hands Day Spa are only asking for used shoes, Ms. Fischbuch will continue her tradition of donating $5 from every massage given during the month of August, as Soles 4 Soles also needs monetary donations to finance the delivery of the footwear.

She said that the organization will make use of any footwear from flip-flops to winter boots. The shoes are sorted accordingly and sent to practical locations.

“They need footwear that people can use to go to work or school in,” she said.

Last year, through the help of social media and dedicated volunteer Bob Benvenutie, “we shared over 100 pairs of shoes and enough money to transport them where they needed to go,” said Ms. Fischbuch, who hopes to one day accompany the shoes and distribute them abroad herself.

“It's getting bigger every year, and I'm happy about that,” she said.

Donating used shoes is now twice as easy in the valley, with Summit Footwear being a drop-off location for Soles 4 Souls.

Collections will take place at both shops until the end of September, at which point they will be transported to a distribution centre in Calgary.

The Soles 4 Soles website, found at soles4souls.org, provides a wealth of information about the mission and goals of the organization.

Cutting edge craftsmanship

will help build a lifelong respect for the furry companions that share our lives.

ICAN is a registered charity.

Tax receipts are issued for donations of $20 or more.

GREG AMOS / ECHO PHOTO Jewelry designer Bayot Heer and Margaret Twiss of Calgary (and part-time in Invermere) discuss the design of a chain to accompany her aquamarine pendant.

Mr. Heer and painter Min Ma were on hand at the Artym Gallery on Saturday, August 31st to discuss their art and ideas with clients.

www.icanbc.com • info@icanbc.com • 250-341-7888 Companion animals can reproduce before 6 months of age. Spay and neuter yours to help stop pet overpopulation.

Eva with Eddie • Photography: Tanya De Leeuw • Design: Donna Deschenes

Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund Technical Review Committee Alternate Expressions of Interest The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) in partnership with the Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) are seeking to fill one vacancy on a five person Technical Review Committee to make recommendations on allocating annual funding for conservation projects for the area from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen.

Term is for two years. Travel expenses will be covered for those who require them. You do not need to live in the Columbia Valley to apply.

For more information please go to www.kootenayconservation.ca and click on Local Conservation Fund.

To apply, please submit a resume and include a covering letter that provides: 1. Contact information.

2. Area of technical expertise (water, fish, wildlife, habitat, or open space and natural area conservation).

3. Any special or unique circumstances that you want us to consider.

Closing date for applications is 5 p.m., MST, Monday, September 30th, 2013.

Applications can be mailed or emailed to: Dave Hillary, Program Manager Kootenay Conservation Program P.O. Box 2767, Invermere, B.C., V0A 1K0 Email: dave@kootenayconservation.ca Phone: 250-688-1508

'ROCKIES' from Page A13

The same coaching crew is continuing at the helm of the team this year. Wade Dubielewicz is the head coach, with the other Dubielewicz brothers taking on assistant coaching roles, and Bidinger assuming more of a front office role.

Also being pursued are a few goaltending prospects, one of whom played in the Salmon Arm Silverbacks camp this year.

At this point, there are about 10 returning players from last year, said Bidinger, but no one will be able to count on their seniority.

“We're looking to see how players are responding to different things we throw at them, whether they'll play our system,” said Bidinger.

For the team's first exhibition game on Saturday night (August 31st) in Creston, the team dressed all rookies and lost by a score of 9 – 1. On Sunday night (September 1st) in

Fernie, playing with a mixed cast of rookies and veterans, the team eked out a 2 – 1 win.

Bidinger emphasized the scores mean little at this point, as the focus is on trying out players in different roles.

The Rockies earned a playoff berth last season with 48 points, posting a record of 21 wins, 25 losses, no ties, and six overtime losses. That was a huge improvement from the 2011-2012 season, when the team had just three wins and 49 losses.

The final roster will be determined in part by a KIJHL rule that limits each team to a maximum of five 20-year-old players.

This week, the Rockies are playing the following exhibition matches: at home against Golden (Tuesday, September 3rd), in Kimberley (Wednesday, September 4th), at home against Creston (Thursday, September 5th), against Sicamous in Golden (Friday, September 6th), and at home against Kimberley (Saturday, September 7th).

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Columbia Valley

Weekend Weather

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A15

SPORTS

Brain Games Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Scattered showers

Isolated showers

Cloudy with showers

invermerevalleyecho.com

Temp: 27 C

Temp: 21oC

Temp: 19 C

250-341-6299

September 6

o

o

September 8

September 7

o

Feels like 25 C

Feels like 22 C

Low: 13oC

Low: 12oC

Low: 12oC

CLUES ACROSS 1. Academy of Country Music 4. Company that rings receipts 7. An explosion fails to occur 10. Bleats 12. Opening 13. European sea eagle 14. River in Florence 15. St. Petersburg river 17. Longest forearm bone 18. Proper or original position 20. Epileptic spasm 22. Snakelike fish 23. Highest card 25. Blood-sucking African fly 28. Coats a porous surface 31. A layer or level 32. Kittiwake genus 33. Digs up in a

customerservice@ invermerevalleyecho.com

o

o

Feels like 31 C

Crossword September 4, 2013

VALLEY ECHO T he

garden 34. Freestanding cooking counter 39. Incline from vertical 40. External occipital protuberance 41. ____, MI 48749 42. Feed to excess 45. Pointed teeth 48. Fishing implement 49. Express pleasure 51. Grew choppers 54. 1916 battle 56. San __ Obispo, CA 58. Halo around the head of a saint 59. Cain and __ 60. Behave in a certain manner 61. Hits the ball in various games 62. Get out of bed 63. Director Michael ___

64. Midway between S and SE 65. Cardboard box (abbr.)

CLUES DOWN 1. Lower in esteem 2. Decays of a bone or tooth 3. Baseball legend Mickey 4. Words having no meaning 5. Rocky Boys Reservation tribe 6. __ Shankar 7. Removal by striking out 8. Vase with a footed base 9. Carries our genetic code 11. Small coin (French) 16. AIDS antiviral drug 17. Ethyl Carbamate 19. Of Salian Franks 21. We 24. Ready money 26. Plant egg cell 27. Stray

29. They carry blood away 30. Where Indiana Jones found the Ark 34. Chief tributary of the Volga 35. What gets stolen on the internet 36. Cover with water 37. Father 38. Factory apartments 39. Ad ___ 43. ___ pentameter

44. Most broken in 46. Midway between N and E 47. 7th Greek letter 50. She who launched 1,000 ships 52. Wheel centers 53. Geological times 55. Paddle 56. Scientific research workplace 57. Fiddler crabs

Answer to August 28:

Horoscope First Week of September ARIES Aries, no matter how hard you work, you just cannot seem to get ahead this week.

Instead of tiring yourself unnecessarily, take a break and regroup.

TAURUS Taurus, although you have many questions, the answers will not come so easily to you in the next few days. Bide your time for a revelation.

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Last Sudoku answer -->:

GEMINI It will be really difficult to put you in a bad mood this week, Gemini. Your energy and cheer will be a bright light to those around you, so enjoy the next few days.

CANCER Cancer, you may want to be friends with everyone, but you may have to accept that you have a few people who just do not meld with your interests. Hang out with those who do.

LEO Exercise can do more than just keep you physically fit, Leo. It also can help boost your mood when you need a pick-me-up, which could be the case in the near future.

VIRGO Virgo, each time you think the grass will be greener somewhere else, you quickly learn it is not the case. Learn to appreciate what you have, and you will be glad for having done so.

LIBRA Libra, generosity will endear you to others, but you have to be generous for the right reasons.

It’s not a good idea to build friendships on false pretenses.

SCORPIO Scorpio, avoid taking on any more projects for the time being. Although you excel in tackling things, even the best of us need a rest from time to time.

SAGITTARIUS Sagittarius, you will have to buckle down and get some things done at work, even if you are a little under the weather.

Take things nice and easy once your work is done.

CAPRICORN Capricorn, devoting time to a spouse or children is of the utmost importance this week, while other matters will have to wait.

Enjoy this opportunity to spend time with your loved ones.

AQUARIUS Aquarius, a hectic schedule is compromising your ability to stay focused on the tasks at hand. You may need some help sorting some things out.

PISCES There are enough diversions around to take your mind off of your problems, Pisces. They may not disappear, but you can address some issues later.

A16 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

VALLEY ECHO T he

<our community. <our classi¿eGs.

250.341.6299 email customerservice@invermerevalleyecho.com

INDEX IN BRIEF FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS TRAVEL CHILDREN EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS SERVICES PETS & LIVESTOCK MERCHANDISE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE RENTALS AUTOMOTIVE MARINE

Announcements

Employment

Employment

Coming Events

Career Opportunities

Help Wanted

GROW MARIJUANA commercially. Canadian Commercial Production Licensing Convention October 26th & 27th.

Toronto Airport, Marriott Hotel. www.greenlineacademy.com.

Tickets 1-855-860-8611 or 250-870-1882.

AGREEMENT

It is agreed by any Display or Classified Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. bcclassified.com cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for the following edition. bcclassified.com reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisment and to retain any answers directed to the bcclassified.com Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisment and box rental.

DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION

Advertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, color, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, or age, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for the work involved.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of bcclassified.com.

Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

ON THE WEB:

SOTA Instruments, a Natural Health Company in Penticton BC, is growing and looking for motivated, hard-working, positive individuals to join our team. Candidates should be driven, lively and most importantly committed to providing unsurpassed service to our customers. Learn more about us, the position and how to apply: www.sota.com/pdf/cs.pdf

Drivers/Courier/ Trucking

Information ALCOHOLICS Anonymous If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. Call 250-342-2424 for more information. All meetings are at 8 p.m. Invermere: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday groups - Columbia United AA at the BC Services building, south end, 625 4th Street Invermere. Radium Friendship Group: Friday, Catholic Church. All meetings are open.

Travel

Timeshare CANCEL YOUR Timeshare.

No risk program. Stop mortgage and maintenance Payments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consultation. Call us now. We can help! 1-888-356-5248.

Employment

SUTCO Contracting Ltd. requires experienced flat-bed highway drivers. Min. 2 yrs exp. hwy/mtn driving, loading and tarping. New equipment, satellite dispatch, e-logs, extended benefits & pension plan. CANADA ONLY runs avail. Min. commitment of 24 days out/10,000 miles per month required. www.sutco.ca fax: 250-357-2009 Enquiries: 1-888-357-2612 Ext: 230

Education/Trade Schools MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION RATED #2 FOR AT HOME JOBS • Huge Demand In Canada • Employers Seek Out Canscribe Graduates • Over 90% Graduate Employment Rate

www.canscribe.com info@canscribe.com 1.800.466.1535

GET FREE Vending machines 100% lease financing, all cash income, 100% tax deductible, become financially independent, all Canadian company.

Full details call now 1-866668-6629, Website: www.tcvend.com.

Obituaries

scook@macdonaldthomas.com

or deliver to Office Manager, PO Box 2400, Invermere, BC, V0A 1K0 on or before September 13, 2013.

FIELD CLERK Needed for out of town work site (21/7 schedule). Mature, flexible and positive communicator, understanding of importance of safety culture. Reporting to onsite foreman & Edmonton HO. Transportation to & from work site provided. Potential to grow with company; jobs@commandequipment.com Fax 780-488-3002.

Strands Old House Restaurant is Taking Applications for eve. kitchen help. Apply in person to Tony Wood. 250 342-6344

Obituaries

Obituaries

Lorne was born on December 27, 1934, in in Edmonton, Edmonton, A.B. AB. Lorne enjoyed movies, buying and selling properties and vehicles, travelling, and most of all, time with his loved ones.

He had a quiet and gentle disposition and a quick sense of humour. Lorne will be missed by all who loved him.

Lorne is survived by his children Lorna (Jim) Duncan, Rita (Darrell) Peterson, David (Elena) Belcher, Paul (Calico) Belcher and Billie Matheson and his grandchildren Vanessa, Lee, Ian, Christie, Corrine, Jeffery, Craig, David, Amber, Jasmine, Cherish and Jade and his great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his loving wife Genene Belcher, son Robert Belcher, brother Bob Belcher, nephew Walter Belcher and grandson David Sivorot.

A memorial service for Lorne will be held at McPherson Funeral Home in Cranbrook on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, at 1:00 pm. Cremation to preceed the service.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honour of Lorne may do so to the:

…show it!

www.pitch-in.ca

Recruiting highly talented and dedicated personnel.

This is a very exciting time to be a part of SMS Equipment. We are one of the largest Komatsu dealers in the world and believe our continued growth is a result of our highly skilled and engaged employees who deliver excellence in the workplace.

Help Wanted

0911611 BC LTD o/a Tim Hortons 496 Highway 93/95 Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K2

Food Counter Attendant Full-time/shift work Nights/overnights/early mornings/weekends $11.05/hour + medical/dental/group benefits.

Apply via email: timhortons.invermere@gmail.com

Alzheimer Society of B.C. #300, 828 - West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., V5Z 1E2.

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service.

Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com

Heavy Duty Mechanic/Technician HET-14820-130815 Elkford, BC Responsible for the diagnosis, repair, maintenance and assembly of Komatsu machines, your career will have you working on some of the largest mobile mining equipment in the world. Under the guidance of the Mechanical Foreman, you will be responsible for: • Performing assemblies, preventative maintenance, repairs and complete overhauls on mobile mining equipment • Diagnosing faults or malfunctions using computerized or other testing equipment to determine extent of repair required • Making recommendations regarding extent of repairs and suggest methods of improvement • Interpret work orders and service manuals in order to complete the required servicing.

Qualifications • Journeyman ticket or interprovincial Red Seal HET • Must have the ability to follow, use shop manuals, able to use laptop for diagnostics and research • Must possess a strong work ethic, a commitment to excellence and have acute safety awareness • Must have knowledge of repair and remanufacturing experience on mobile mining equipment.

Welder WE-14820-130815 Elkford, BC

Lorne Walter Belcher It is with sorrow that the family of Lorne Walter Belcher announces his passing on Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at 9:45 am in Columbia House in Invermere, B.C. at the age of 79 years.

“litter-less”

Career Opportunities

Hotel, Restaurant, Food Services

Experienced server’s are required at the Farside Pub in Fairmont. Email Resume to steve.kuffler@gmail.com.

Help Wanted An Alberta Oilfield Company is hiring dozer and excavator operators. Lodging and meals provided. Drug testing required. Call (780)723-5051 Edson, Alta.

PRESTIGE Hotels & Resorts require a full-time Front Desk Agents to make room reservations, register guests, provide information to guests and process payments. Position is available at the Best Western Plus – Prestige Inn Radium Hot Springs, 7493 Main St. W., Radium Hot Springs BC. No experience required. Applicant must have a strong command of English (written and oral). Terms: Full Time Permanent, Shift, Weekend and Weekdays. Wage: $13.00/hr.

MSP Benefits after 6 months.

Complete employment application (found on http://www.prestigehotelsandresorts.com/careers.php) and submit with your resume to Career@PrestigeHotels.ca

Help Wanted

LABOURER/Carpenter helper wanted in Fairmont Hot Springs FT $24/hr. to start.

Call 250-674-1643

PRESTIGE Hotels & Resorts require a full-time Room Attendants to clean and prepare rooms for hotel guests. Position is available at the Best Western Plus – Prestige Inn Radium Hot Springs, 7493 Main St. W., Radium Hot Springs BC. No experience required. Applicant must have basic English. Terms: Full Time Permanent, Shift, Weekend and Weekdays. Wage: $13.75/hr. MSP Benefits after 6 months. Complete employment application (found on http://www.prestigehotelsandresorts.com/careers.php) and submit with your resume to Career@PrestigeHotels.ca

Business Opportunities ALL CASH drink/snack vending business route. Complete training. Small invest. req’d. 1888-979-VEND (8363). www.healthydrinkvending.co

Busy law office requires a receptionist for immediate start. This is a permanent full-time position. The successful candidate must be highly organized, attentive to detail and able to multi-task. A description of the position can be found on our website at www.macdonaldthomas.com.

Send resumes to

Hotel, Restaurant, Food Services

If you are interested in working for a very dynamic company where your input, your ideas and your participation is valued, apply today.

Reporting to the Welding Foreman, you will provide welding expertise to repair and maintain mining equipment and components. This position will be responsible for: • Component rebuild of mobile mining fleet including off road haul trucks, shovels, and other mining equipment • Fabrication and equipment repair of loader, shovel, buckets, and haul truck boxes • Air-arc gouging, grinding, flux core and stick welding • General welding duties as required • Other duties as required.

Qualifications • Journeyperson Welding certification, interprovincial certification an asset • CWB Certification or ability to pass CWB testing • Experience with mining equipment repair an asset • Ability to keep accurate records and measurements.

Our growth means your success.

These competitions are open to qualified applicants between the dates of August 15, 2013 and September 13, 2013. Please submit resume quoting the appropriate reference number and position title to: Email bcjobs@smsequip.com Fax 250-865-2644

We’re on the net at www.bcclassified.com

The Valley Echo Wednesday, September 4, 2013

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A17

Employment

Employment

Services

Merchandise for Sale

Rentals

Trades, Technical

Trades, Technical

Financial Services

Misc. for Sale

Homes for Rent

GUARANTEED JOB Placement: General laborers and tradesmen for oil and gas industry.

Call 24hr Free Recorded Message. For Information 1-800-972-0209.

WRANGLER RENTALS LTD. is now recruiting Excavator Operators. Rig experience an asset. Camp jobs, day rates, health benefits & steady work rain or shine. Contact Monika 780-980-1331 or email resume: monika@wranglerrentals.com.

M O N E Y P R OV I D E R . C O M . $500 Loan and +. No Credit Refused. Fast, Easy, 100% Secure. 1-877-776-1660.

1996-18’ SeaRay. Very nice shape. Must See! 4.3 litre inboard/outboard. Two tops Must Sell! $9,000 OBO. 250-342-8773

2 bdrm, 1 bath, riverfront, private dock, newly renovated. $1,000/mth plus utilities.

References required.

250-342-8334 evenings.

HOT TUB (SPA) COVERS. Best price. Best quality. All shapes & colours available.

1-866-652-6837 www.thecoverguy.com/ newspaper?

INVERMERE Fully Furnished 3 BR, 2 Bath, 5 Appliance Home in Wilder Subdivision for rent. N/S, DD. $1400/mo.

Utilities/cable/Internet included. Call 403-819-8121.

RESTLESS LEG Syndrome and leg cramps? Fast relief in one hour. Sleep at night. Proven for over 32 years. www.allcalm.com Mon-Fri 8-4 EST 1-800-765-8660.

Suites, Lower

Services

Financial Services DROWNING IN Debt? Cut debts more than 50% and debt free in half the time! Avoid bankruptcy! Free consultation. www.mydebtsolution.com or Toll Free 1-877-556-3500 BBB Rated A+ GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed?

Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420 www.pioneerwest.com IF YOU own a home or real estate, Alpine Credits can lend you money: it’s that simple.

Your credit/age/income is not an issue. 1-800-587-2161.

Business for Sale

Business for Sale

FOR SALE

DEMPSTER’S BREAD ROUTE

Servicing the Columbia Valley, including Invermere, Radium, Fairmont and Golden. Delivery-based business serving a variety of Grocery, Food Service Customers, Golf and Ski Resorts.

Distributing products, including such brands as Dempster’s, McGavin’s, Villagio, Silver Hills and Venice Bakery. Warehouse and fresh baked products are supplied by Canada Bread Company Limited. National advertising, training and ongoing support provided

by Canada Bread. Business includes an established customer base, delivery truck and all associated handling equipment, computerized ordering and billing system.

Turn-key operation with growth potential and immediate cash flow.

For more information call (250) 344-0954.

Legal Services AT LAST! An iron filter that works. IronEater! Fully patented Canada/U.S.A. Removes iron, hardness, smell, manganese. Since 1957. Visit our 29 innovative inventions; w w w. b i g i r o n d r i l l i n g . c o m .

Phone 1-800-BIG-IRON. CRIMINAL RECORD? Don’t let it block employment, travel, education, professional, certification, adoption property rental opportunities. For peace of mind and a free consultation call 1-800-347-2540.

Pets & Livestock

Lessons/Training Music For Young Children lessons: Group Piano Lessons focusing on piano, rhythm, theory and singing. Lessons in Invermere and Fairmont ages 3-12 yrs old. Limited space so register now for fall!! Call Tanya DuBois at 250-341-1432 or email tanyadubois@shaw.ca

STEEL BUILDINGS, Metal buildings 60% off! 20x28, 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, 50x120, 60x150, 80x100 sell for balance owed! Call 1-800-4572206 www.crownsteelbuildings.ca Two Skidoo Summit snow mobiles. 2001 & 2003, 800 series, 2,500/ea. Covered triton trailer $1,000. Contact mervkirker@gmail.com.

Merchandise for Sale

Heavy Duty Machinery A-STEEL SHIPPING DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS Used 20’40’45’53’ in stock.

SPECIAL 44’X40’ Container Shop w/steel trusses $13,800!

Sets up in one day!

40’ Containers under $2500!

Call Toll Free Also JD 544 & 644 wheel loaders JD 892D LC Excavator Ph 1-866-528-7108 Delivery BC and AB www.rtccontainer.com

Transportation

Auto Financing

Misc. Wanted Genuine Coin Collector Buyer Collections, Olympic Gold & Silver Coins etc 778-281-0030

Real Estate Houses For Sale 107 Westridge Dr. 6 yrs new, incredible views, great location. Large detached garage.

Will consider trade. Asking $590,000 call 250-342-8773 after 6 p.m.

Rentals

Pet Services Canal Flats/Fairmont Doggie Day Care. Nothing but the best care. Day’s, night’s, weekend’s, vacation’s. 250464-0377.

Riverside Golf Course lg 2 br walkout suite. $800/mo + half cable-int-utilites. Avail Oct 1.

403-710-1275.

DreamTeam Auto Financing “0” Down, Bankruptcy OK Cash Back ! 15 min Approvals

1-800-961-7022

Acreage

www.iDreamAuto.com DL# 7557

Build your getaway ranch, farm, or eco-lodge campsite - spectacular site on the Columbia River in Edgewater District www.riverlandquest.com edgeh2o@telus.net 250-347-9660.

Trucks & Vans

Apt/Condo for Rent 2BDRM, 1 1/2 BATH apartment for rent, in Canal Flats.

Great view, parking, F/S, D/W, microwave. $700 + utilities & D.D. Available immediately. Call (250)3495306 or (250)489-8389.

AKISKINOOK resort - 1 bdrm fully furnished condo, newly renovated, indoor pool, hot tub. $775/ month includes cable. Call 403-281-3991.

For Sale 2002 GMC Sierra 4X4

Fully loaded 3/4, only 135,500 km’s, tow package with transmission cooler and five point hitch.

Excellent condition only two owners.

Brand new winter tires only used half a season.

Asking $11,000.

Call 403 803-8959

CHURCH SERVICES DIRECTORY ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN MISSION OF INVERMERE Worship Services every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Christ Church Trinity 110 - 7th Avenue, Invermere Pastor Rev. Fraser Coltman Pastor Rev. David Morton 1-866-426-7564

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED 250-342-6644 100-7th Avenue, Invermere www.wvsm.ca Reverend Laura Hermakin

Sunday, September 8th 9:30 a.m.

Bacon, Friends & Faith (All Ages Welcome) 10:30 a.m.

Worship at Christ Church Trinity, Invermere.

Everyone welcome!

CANADIAN MARTYRS CATHOLIC CHURCH

Roman Catholic Parish Pastor: Father Gabriel 250-342-6167 Invermere 250-344-6328 Golden Confession: 1/2 hour before Mass Canadian Martyrs’ Church 712 - 12 Ave, Invermere Saturday at 5 p.m.

Sunday at 9 a.m.

St. Joseph’s Church Highway 93-95, Radium Hot Springs Sunday at 11 a.m.

Sacred Heart Parish 808 - 11 Street, Golden Sunday at 5 p.m.

St. Anthony’s Mission Corner of Luck and Dunn, Canal Flats

Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (served from Kimberly)

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP For more information call 250-342-6633 or 250-347-6334 Loving God, Loving People #4 - 7553 Main Street W, Radium Sundays at 10 a.m.

Bible Studies #4 - 7553 Main Street W, Radium Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Kids’ Church Edgewater Hall Thursday 6:30 p.m.

LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

326 - 10th Ave. 250-342-9535 REV. TREVOR HAGAN Senior Pastor www.lakewindermerealliance.org

Sunday, September 8th 10:30 a.m.

Worship And Life Instruction, “The ‘D’ Word” …

Pastor Trevor ministering.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Hwy. 93/95 1 km north of Windermere Pastor: Murray Wittke Sunday Service 10 a.m. Worship & Word Kid’s Church Provided Call the office at 250-342-9511 for more information. www.valleychristianonline.com

Sharing Truth Showing Love Following the Spirit

A18 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Building your Wealth Market Update

Weekly change

Level

Year-to-Date

12,654

-0.8%

1.8%

Dow

14,810

-1.3%

13.0%

NASDAQ

3,590

-1.9%

18.9%

Oil US$/B

$107.65

1.0%

17.3%

CDN $ Per USD

0.950

-0.3%

-5.8%

S&P/TSX

The economic bogeyman

There’s a lot of economic news out there to get excited about. “The economy is not growing!” “The latest jobs report is terrible!” “The investment you have will never see high returns.” “You need to invest in gold to have your savings survive. No, wait.

You have to invest in silver. No, wait. Natural gas is it!” It’s always the coming thing, and you need to get in on the ground floor. It’s only going up from here.

Since humans invented money, there’s always been an economic bogeyman. And, there’s always some sort of fix, known only to a few, to keep you safe. The prognosticator knows all about it and will give you the formula - for a price.

Like the monster in our closet when we were children, or even a superhero with secret powers he/she doesn’t share with you, the fantasy preys on our fear of the unknown and our attempt to control. And, like the bogeyman under the bed or the superhero in the air above, the economic bogeyman isn’t real.

What are real, are things you can do to protect yourself as much as possible. Such things as working hard; spending less than you earn; investing in diverse things, such as stocks, cash and real estate; and keeping life whole, including education and skills up to date, keeping up to date on a strong social network, keeping debt low or non-existent.

They sound a lot like things your parents said a long

time ago.

If you’re not protected by these efforts, then no one is protected. The situation is beyond control.

Worrying about those events is like worrying about an asteroid hitting earth. It’s a waste of your time.

What you can’t protect against are the unknowns that make certainty impossible.

There are some nice things. For example, the preparations you make to protect yourself against the illusory economic bogeyman are the same preparations you would make to live a lasting and stable life.

The people telling you about the economic bogeyman and the magic solution to protecting yourself against it are salespersons. They are after the money you are trying to save. They’re drawing on negative news to make you afraid, and trying to convince you to spend your money on whatever they have to offer.

As with a broken clock, they’re right every once in a while. When they are, they go into self-promotion mode, writing books and appearing on every talk show that will have them, just like fading moviestars who want to refurbish an image. They get everyone to talk about them as if they are great prognosticators of the economy. Once that’s over, and something happens in the economy that they didn’t or couldn’t predict, they disappear again, left behind in the dust of other people’s dreams.

Think about the people who made outrageous “Dow 36,000" predictions a decade and more ago.

Think about the people who predicted “total economic collapse” a few years ago. They have vanished like dust in the wind. Someone, or time, opened the closet door and there was no real bogeyman in there.

There are at least three lessons here. The first is: Know that you don’t control everything and you can make mistakes like anyone else. The second is: Never, ever, invest based on fear. That strategy may be right every now and then, but fails over time. And

the third is: Keep your eyes open! When you step on the wobbly rock, have a next step in mind.

When you invest, do so with hope as your base and the future as your goal. Invest and live as though you want, more than anything, to protect and insure good fortune for you and your family. Don’t give in to the latest economic bogeyman.

If things completely fall apart, you’ll still have the things most important to you. Change is happening in the economic world, just as it is everywhere else, and it happens in unexpected ways. There will be changes we don’t see coming, and they may cause a lot of loss and pain. Factor that into your plans.

If you spend your time running from the bogeyman, you’ll only help a salesman line his pockets with a nice commission. Anyone who says they can predict economic change - or have successfully done so - is trying to sell you something.

Our responsibility, like that of everyone in business, is changing. We can only profess to speak what we know as honestly as possible. We can say we will work with you to help create a plan for you and your family that will invest in what is worthwhile, and we will let you know when the unexpected hits.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Healthy attitude

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A19

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Subscribe to the Valley Echo today!

250.

341.6299

Regional District of East Kootenay Be part of the community Be part of the excitement Be part of our team

Be A Volunteer Firefighter!

PHOTO SUBMITTED On Monday, August 26th, the new “den” of the Fairmont and District Lions Club played host to East Kootenay Foundation for Health (EKFH) representatives stopping in for a visit and a $1,500 gift presentation.

“What an honour it is to see another great project by the Lions Club; the new den is wonderful and I am sure it is going to make a very positive impact in the community,” said Mrs. Grainger. “For EKFH, the continued support of our fundraising efforts continues to be such a remarkable relationship between us and the Lions Club.”

Left to right: Lions Club past president Ray Kolochuk, past EKFH director Cindy Yates, Donna Grainger and Lions Club president Terry Dawes. Over the past decade the Fairmont Lions have provided $36,260 to date to the regional hospital foundation.

Columbia Valley Fire & Rescue is now recruiting and seeking both men & women of all ages to join.

It’s flexible, family-friendly, and fun!

The CV Fire & Rescue covers the Edgewater, Panorama, Windermere, and Fairmont areas.

Drop by your local Fire Hall, or check out the Facebook page, Columbia Valley Fire & Rescue, for more information.

Columbia Valley Fire & Rescue Service 250-342-6214

www.rdek.bc.ca • 1-888-478-7335

www.bcschools.cupe.ca @CUPEbcschools cupebcschools

A20 www.invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 The Valley Echo

Serving the Valley

RADIUM HOT SPRINGS ESSO • Gas • Propane • Diesel • Automotive Repairs • Tires & Batteries • Greyhound

• CAA approved automotive repair •

MECHANICAL REPAIRS AVAILABLE 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 7 Days A Week

250-347-9726 7507 Main

Sholinder & MacKay

Septic Tank Pumping Portable Toilet Rentals

Sand & Gravel

NEWER SEW ERA CAM

• Complete sewer/drain repairs • Reasonable rates - Seniors’ discount • Speedy service - 7 days a week • A well-maintained septic system should be pumped every 2-3 years • Avoid costly repairs

To advertise, call: 250-341-6299

Complete line of aggregate products for construction and landscaping Office:

Bruce Dehart 250-347-9803 or 250-342-5357

250-342-6452 • 250-342-3773 Cell: 250-342-5833

Call Angela to book a spot in Serving the Valley!

Advertise your business in Serving the Valley.

Angela Krebs

250-341-6299 • 250-341-5216

Call 250-341-6299 to inquire about this space.

advertising@invermerevalleyecho.com

QUALITY AUTO SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

DCS Plumbing • FURNACES • HEAT PUMPS • AIR CONDITIONING • FIREPLACES/STOVES • HOT TUBS • CHEMICALS • SERVICE & MAINTENANCE 385 Laurier Street P: 250-342-7100 Invermere, BC

E: info@diamondheatingandspas.com

www.diamondheatingandspas.com

Lambert-Kipp Pharmacy Ltd. J. Douglas Kipp, B. Sc. (Pharm.)

Laura Kipp, Pharm D. Irena Sedlakova, B. Sc. (Pharm.)

Your compounding pharmacy Come in and browse our giftware!

Open Monday - Saturday • 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere • 250-342-6612

Lake Auto Service

• Plumbing, Repair and Installation • Drain Lines • Hot Water Tanks

ALL MAKES • ALL MODELS AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M.

• Over 30 years experience • 24 hour emergency service • Seniors’ Discount

Main Street • Downtown Invermere 250-342-9310

250-341-8501 The WaTer & air Company!

Call us to advertise in this spot!

Water Treatment: filtration and purification Furnace and Duct cleaning

250-341-6299

Purify the water you drink and the air you breathe!

Kerry Colonna

250-342-5089

Located in the Diamond Heating & Spa building in Athalmer

Sales ~ Service ~ Installation

UNIVERSAL DOORS & EXTERIORS

to give your business maximum exposure for your advertising dollar?

Arnold Scheffer

Call 250-341-6299

250-342-6700

for more information.

unidoorext@live.ca unidoorext.ca

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential

READY MIX CONCRETE • CONCRETE PUMP • SAND & GRAVEL • HEAVY EQUIPMENT RENTALS • CRANE SERVICE

Proudly serving the Valley for over 50 years.

For competitive prices and prompt service call:

250-342-3268 (plant) 250-342-6767

(office)