TUESDAY
S I N C E
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014
New name for Games
Vol. 119, Issue 144
105
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1 8 9 5
INCLUDING G.S.T.
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Columbia River Treaty celebrates 50th anniversary
DAY IN THE PARK
Historic international treaty was ratified on this day in 1964 BY LIZ BEVAN Times Staff
Fifty years ago today, Canada and the United States signed the Columbia River Treaty – the agreement that outlines the development and operation of four dams designed for power generation and flood control between the two countries. Signed by Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in 1961, the treaty went into effect on Sept. 16, 1964, after funding for the dams was calculated and negotiations were complete. While flood control was already on the governments' mind, the treaty was deemed necessary by both countries after the 1948 flood that left a path of destruction from Trail to Astoria, Oregon, washing away infrastructure. It took a few years of research and writing reports and proposals to get a final draft ready to be signed. Gord DeRosa, chairman of the Canadian Columbia River Forum and board member of the Columbia Basin Trust, says the agreement was historic and to this day, is a treaty that should be held as an example. “The treaty itself is probably one the best international treaties,” he said. “It is used as a LIZ BEVAN PHOTO model (elsewhere) and it has served both nations The United Way Day in the Park attracted a few adventurous participants through the wooden bridge crafted by Boy Scouts extremely well.” from Rossland, Warfield, Trail and Beaver Valley. The signing of the treaty provided flood protection for the Trail and Castlegar areas and COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM led to the creation of the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) as a way to address the financial and sociological impact of floods and relocations. Nearly 2,500 people were relocated to build the dams and large tracts of fertile land were lost during BY SHERI REGNIER could not believe it. Some even thought and not everyone knows it’s there yet,” Times Staff construction. maybe Teck isn’t operating anymore said Martin. “But we met our goal which Three Canadian dams – Duncan, Mica and At first glance, many of the weekend’s because they didn’t realize how modern was terrific, because the last provincial Keenleyside – were built between 1964 and 1973 out-of-towners thought Trail might no Teck is now and how much the emis- conference in B.C. had a lot less people.” as a direct result of the treaty as well as one in longer be an industrial centre. sions have decreased.” Saturday’s activities included morLibby, Montana. Canada was paid a lump sum at The former dusty town has reinvented The provincial conference kicked off ning workshops and an afternoon of the signing of the treaty to cover the annual flood itself with so many greening projects, with a Thursday meet-and-greet dinner, “Look at us NOW” tours of the area, control benefits in the U.S. and receives half of that the city’s transformation was quite but the real highlight was the White and Martin said guests were particularly the potential power generation financial benefits. a surprise to Communities in Bloom Night event in Jubilee Park the next taken with the Teck Trail Operations The first 30 years of the treaty payments were (CiB) delegates who were in the Silver evening. tour, and informative speeches by the covered in a lump sum payment of $264 million City for the 11th Annual CiB Awards and About 100 people gathered in the company’s General Manager Greg in 1964, with annual payments starting in 1998. Conference. White Garden which was embellished Belland and environmental health sciThe original agreement gave the U.S. nearly “A number of people spoke about hav- with white lights, white linens and white entist, Steve Hilts. 20 square kilometres of water storage space ing come to Trail in the past,” said Mary candles set up amid the thousands of “People learned so much and were behind three separate dams. Martin from the CiB planning commit- white flowers. very impressed,” she added. See ECOSYSTEM, Page 3 tee. “When they drove into Trail, they “It was an absolutely beautiful setting See TRAIL, Page 3
Trail bloomin’ in eyes of visitors
There’s still time for back to school shopping! WANETA PLAZA IS READY FOR YOU
Late Night Shopping
Thurs. & Fri. to 9pm Free kids playroom and ball pit
www.wanetaplaza.com
5 min. east of Trail on Hwy 3B
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