EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Couple help to provide hospital with CT upgrade Page 3
History comes to life for students while overseas Page 7
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 PM40008236
Vol. 59 No. 18 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Film company planning stop in Sicamous
509 Inc.: Sledding gear/ film company to wrap up season in community.
By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
The end to this sledding season is shaping up to be a big deal for Sicamous. Sicamous Chamber of Commerce executive director Michelle Wolff says snowmobile gear manufacturer 509 Inc., and its movie production offshoot 509 Films, want to come to Sicamous to hold, and film its annual season wrap-up event, that will include the filming of a webisode that will eventually be included in the company’s year-end video. Between the film coverage, and 509’s social media connections, Wolff calls the exposure potential for the community huge. She says the City of Golden recognizes the value of 509 coming to town, and offered them upwards of $20,000 to do so. “They have the hotel tax to draw from for marketing funds. We don’t have that.,” said Wolff, noting SiMichelle Wolff camous’ advantage is Chamber of commerce 509’s desire to shoot in the community. “They really want to do it in Sicamous. This is what’s helping us.” Wolff says the company plans to be in Sicamous between May 1 and 5. Filming will require a helicopter and the creation of jumps, likely on Eagle Pass. So she and the chamber are scrambling to acquire community support, be it in monetary, in-kind or volunteer contributions, to make it all happen. “We’re looking for volunteers to do that (make the jumps) because of the conditions and the cost of trying to get a groomer up there at this time of year,” said Wolff. “Our insurance is done, everything is packed up and put away. So it’s going to be manual shovelling to make jumps.” Wolff says the shoot will feature 509’s top riders in the backcountry. However, she says plans are in the works to show off the community and its other natural asset, Shuswap Lake. See Financial on page 2
Parkview’s
got
talent:
Parkview Elementary students demonstrated their unique abilities Friday during a talent show. Clockwise from top left – Emma-Lee Braun and Addysen Fleming sing “Our Father;” Kaily Jeffrey and Sarah Spencer-Ellis show off their skipping skills; Sydnee Thomson grooves in a dance number; Sacha Munro plays “The Breakers” on piano. Photos by Lachlan Labere
Beautification project proposed for town By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
A movement is gaining momentum to add more colour and character to the community. At last week’s district committee of the whole meeting, Kim Hyde and Sicamous chamber executive director Michelle Wolff opened council’s eyes to what the community could be, a tourismbased community alive with colourful buildings, murals and old boats turned into planters, all embracing the nautical theme encour-
Colour cast: This photo illustration was presented to the district as an example of how the community could be spruced up. Image contributed aged in the district’s official community plan. To encourage buyin by local businesses, Hyde said the district could consider a tax ex-
emption. “If a business in town wants to do a mural, there will be a set of guidelines that they’ll have to follow… We’ve
got to have the town looking relatively the same,” said Hyde. Hyde says such a beautification project could be a positive
long-term investment for the community. “You’ve got to make the town appealing for people to come here, and business will follow,” said Hyde. “I’ve been on council and we’ve been chasing business for years. We have to focus on what we have and make it better.” Hyde says support for the project would also be sought from the high school, local artists and gardeners, and that the process of revitalization would help to bolster community spirit.