Invermere Valley Echo, May 06, 2015

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The Invermere

ALLEY CHO

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May 6 2015

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Panorama Fire Department Lieutenant Thomas Dolezal hangs in a harness as Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Services deputy fire chief Martin Caldwell stands by at the valley’s first-ever Emergency Preparedness Fair on Saturday, May 2nd at the Windermere Fire Hall. The free fair was held to teach local residents about being prepared for emergencies and natural disasters.

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PHOTO BY BREANNE MASSEY

Groundwater not an adequate source for Windermere STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com Windermere’s water woes won’t be quenched by a groundwater source, according to a recent study.

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors received a memo at their most recent meeting indicating there likely is not enough groundwater in Windermere to supply a public water system.

As part of the RDEK’s efforts to see if a groundwater source is an option to solve Windermere’s water problems, Piteau Engineering Associates Ltd. drilled a test well and conducted a groundwater analysis. A memo on the lack of water found was sent to the RDEK directors for their April 10th meeting.

“Essentially no groundwater was encountered. A community as large as Windermere would need more than one, I would say at least a few, productive

wells,” said RDEK engineering services be in addition to the current existing manager Brian Funke, adding there was reservoir. some moisture in the well, but no actual “The old (reservoir) there doesn’t water, and that to be considered pro- have the capacity to meet the standards ductive a well must have a flow of 126 required for fire protection flows within litres per second.

Windermere,” Funke explained.

“There’s only a really slim chance for The new reservoir won’t solve the using groundwater (for a public water longterm Windermere water issue, but system in Winderthe additional camere),” said Funpacity it provides The old (reservoir) ke. “Another conis necessary no there doesn’t have the cern indicating matter which there is little to capacity to meet the standards. longterm solution BRIAN FUNKE is eventually chono groundwater RDEK ENGINEERING SERVICES MANAGER was the nature of sen. the soils.”

There is no cost The soil at the deeper part of the well estimate for the new reservoir yet, since — where it matters most — was almost the project is still in its preliminary stagexclusively fine grained clay and silt, in- es, according to Funke. Once the design stead of gravel (which is more likely to is finalized, the project can be put out indicating groundwater). to tender and a price for it established.

The RDEK is also continuing to move Work is expected to start later this ahead with constructing a new water summer. Funding for the project will reservoir for Windermere, which will come from the Build Canada Fund.

Spur Valley’s new well system a go In the meantime, the Spur Valley subdivision’s well development project also continues to move ahead. The RDEK board of directors has voted to award the contract for the work to Border Holdings Ltd. Construction, which will begin in a few weeks and likely wrap up by October.

“This project involves finishing up the development of the groundwater well systems. It’s already drilled. Now, it’s a matter of tying into the Spur Valley distribution system,” said Funke.

The old water system in Spur Valley that’s being replaced is a surface water system, taking water from a creek.

“Certainly it (the new system) will help to improve the water quality,” said Funke, adding groundwater is almost always a safer source than surface water.

The Spur Valley water system improvements, which have been in the works See A4

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

Y E L L A

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Snapshot

RUSHING WATERS...

The emerald green waters rushing through Toby Creek Canyon sparkled in the sun on April 19th, making for a fabulous Valley Snapshot photograph.

PHOTO BY BREANNE MASSEY

REGIONALNEWS

First Nations request seat at RDEK table TREVOR CRAWLEY Cranbrook Daily Townsman

Can representatives from First Nations have a seat at the regional district board table?

That was the question asked by Chief Lorne Shovar of the Akisqnuk First Nation in a letter to the Regional District of East Kootenay in March.

However, there is no allowance for First Nation seats on regional district boards if they have not completed the treaty process, according to legislation contained within the Local Government Act. The RDEK voted to send a letter back to Shovar and the Akisqnuk First Nation with that information, but some board directors said there are ways for First Nations across the region to provide input when making decisions.

RDEK board chair Rob Gay said while First Nations don’t currently have voting rights at the regional board table, they can still be involved in the decisionmaking process.

He uses Area Planning Commissions as an example.

“For the rural areas, we have an area planning commission and the commissioners are basically hand-picked by the directors,” Gay said.

“What we try to do is get people around the region, so in the case of Area C, I have someone from Moyie, I have someone from Ft. Steele, someone from Wardner, and these people volunteer their time to look at planning and development applications and provide advice.”

Gay said he empathizes with the desire of First Nations to have a voice at the RDEK table.

“We are looking for opportunities for First Nations to become involved with our form of government, so that may be an opportunity to appoint somebody on our planning commission boards,” Gay continued.

Shovar’s letter requested that a full chair, with all associated responsibilities and duties, be given to each First Nation within the RDEK. “The Akisqnuk First Nation, like other first nations in the area, is a democratic community with a council elected to make the best decisions possible for its members,” Shovar wrote. “In this way, first nations are much like the municipal governments that you and your fellow board members represent.”

In addition to sending a response to Shovar, the RDEK board voted to give Gay — the board chair — and Wendy Booth, the vice-chair, informal authority to meet with the Akisqnuk chief and other interested First Nation leaders to explore options that would allow them to provide meaningful input to RDEK decisions.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

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LOCAL NEWS

Valley Voices Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley expands its reach Breanne Massey breanne@invermerevalleyecho.com The measurable difficulty of coping with extremely challenging emotions during a bereavement can be alleviated with some help.

Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley executive director Maria Kliavkoff presented information about the importance of involvement from volunteers and financial backers from Canal Flats at the Monday, April 27th regular Village of Canal Flats council meeting.

“I came down here because I wanted to report on what’s happened within the Hospice Society over the last two years,” Kliavkoff told councillors.

She offered insights about the goals set by the society about how to help mourners cope with grief spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

“We currently have 25 fully trained visitors,” she said.

“We just interviewed 10 more and I just got an application (on April 27th) from three more who are interested in becoming visitors, which is great because the demand is exceeding our ability to deliver with our current base.”

Kliavkoff added the biggest challenge in assigning people to visit stems from a transient and busy group of volunteers.

“Sometimes, our volunteers are away for big parts of the year,” said Kliavkoff. “During the winter time, we’re working with about 17 of them. We have about 18 in the summertime, so having access to a new (group) will be great.”

Six board members and four volunteers from Canal Flats helped out with the hospice in 2014, which almost doubled the numbers from 2013 when there were three members and four volunteers from the village.

The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley also has

support from Regional District of East Kootenay Areas F and G, Radium Hot Springs and the District of Invermere.

“In our first year of operations (between September 16th, 2013 and September 15th, 2014) for visitors in palliative care, we did 452 visits, which is quite remarkable,” Kliavkoff explained.

“That means we’re averaging more than one a day with all volunteer visitors who have done an astonishing job.”

There were an additional 654 visits completed in 2014, totalling close to 1,000 since the services began being offered in Invermere.

“We know that there’s a need out there,” concluded Kliavkoff. “That’s palliative only. It doesn’t include bereavement, which (began) in January.”

In addition, the services may be expanding in the future, she added.

“The RCMP Victim Services approached us about doing a bereavement group specifically for those who have lost loved ones due to suicide or traumatic deaths, such as traffic fatalities, which normally isn’t hospice.

However, the need is great in the Columbia Valley,” said Kliavkoff.

“We applied for funding through the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and they gave us all of the funding that we asked for to get the extended training that we need…

We’re hoping that program will be up and running by next January because it’s four cycles of training in Colorado.”

Kliavkoff recently attended the second training session required to offer this service through the Hospice Society.

She requested $1,500, which covers two per cent of the overall annual budget to operate, from Canal Flats to Radium and Area G.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

COUNCILBRIEFS

Invermere council wary of Interior Health’s request for partnership

Steve Hubrecht steve@invermerevalleyecho.com

benefit to help with reduction in health services, such as the loss of Invermere’s dialysis unit two years ago.

Ms. Wall responded this would be outside her role with Health Community Initiatives program.

Invermere mayor Gerry Taft expressed concern about the possibility of a formal partnership eventually leading, years down the road, to downloading of services from Interior Health onto the district.

“We want to be part of the picture of health promotion, but we don’t want to be the one driving the bus. If you’re too enthusiastic sometimes you get more than you want,” said Taft.

Council heard from a second Interior Health representative at the same meeting. Interior Health Golden and Invermere health service director Deborah Austin spoke about the health services available in the community.

Austin, in her presentation, talked about the seasonal fluctuations in visits to the emergency centre at the Invermere & District Hospital.

“They (the fluctuations) are enough that we have to change our staffing levels to deal with the influx,” Austin said.

Councillor Al Miller Land Act: Notice of Intention to Apply for a asked about how much Disposition of Crown Land.

Golden’s surgery program gets used, pointing Take notice that Columbia River Be advised that any response to this out that the Golden & Stewardship Society, of Fairmont Hot advertisement will be considered part of District General Hospital Springs, BC, has applied to the Ministry the public record. Access to these records has an operating room, of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource requires the submission of a Freedom of Operations (MFLNRO), Kootenay Information (FOI) request. Visit: http:// while the Invermere hosRegion, for a License ofOccupation, www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation pital does not. situated on Provincial Crown land located to learn more about FOI submissions.

“I would’ve thought adjacent to the Columbia River near that we would have more Fairmont Hot Springs, BC, and containing (visits to the emergency 0.01 hectares more or less. centre) here,” said Miller.

The Lands File for this application is Ms. Austin pointed out 4405581. Written comments concerning that the operating room this application should be directed to in Golden only does day

to council about the Healthy Community Initiative.

Ms. Wall described how the Promoting healthy living is Healthy Community Initiative becoming a priority for Inte- program promotes healthy rior Health, which is trying to living options, in a effort to reduce the demand on health prevent people from needing to use more traditional health services.

At its most recent meeting services and asked if the dison Tuesday, April 28th, In- trict wanted to formally partvermere council heard from ner with Interior Health in the Interior Health East Koote- program, as a few other East nay community health facili- Kootenay communities have tator Kerri Wall, who spoke so far done.

“It’s to promote health and WINDERMERE COMMUNITY wellness in the ASSOCIATION community and reduce risk facNotice Of Annual General Meeting tors for chronic 10 a.m Saturday, May 23, 2015. disease,” she Community Hall 4726 North Street, said, adding if Windermere. the district does sign up for a Followed By A Pot Luck luncheon formal partnership, it would get a monthly newsletter as well as consulting experience and expertise for health proSaturday, May 9th, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. motion.

5 Tables in the hall and 6 other sales. Maps Councillor Jusof all sales and lunch will be available at the tin Atterbury Civic Centre. asked if a formal partnership Call 250-349-5447 for information. would be of any

Canal Flats Community

Garage Sales

Front Counter BC, 1902 Theatre Road, Cranbrook BC, V1C 7G1 or email to: authorizingagency.cranbrook@gov. bc.ca. Commments will be received by MFLNRO up to May 30, 2015. MFLNRO may not be able to consider comments received after this date.

Please visit web at: http:arfd.gov.bc.ca/ ApplicationPosting/index.jsp → Search → Seach by File Number: 4405581 for more information

surgery and said part of the reason Golden has a operating room is the long distance the town is from any other hospital (roughly two hours to either Cranbrook, Revelstoke or Banff). She went on to add that the other part of the reason for the operating room in Golden is the severity of the injuries encountered there, many of which stem from serious accidents on the TransCanada Highway, as well as from the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, which she characterized as more fearsome than the ski hills here.

“Your numbers in Invermere are higher, because of the (visiting) Calgarians, but they tend to be more minor injuries,” said Austin. “But the skiers coming in (to the emergency centre) in Golden are train wrecks. They’re just cowboys up there. So between that and the highway (accidents) their ED (Emergency Department) visits in Golden are much more critical.”

Austin also said there’s no reason Invermere residents should be going to Cranbrook for telehealth conferences, since the Invermere hospital has all the capabilities it needs.

Tax bylaws Also at at the April 28th meeting, council members gave three readings each to three different parcel tax bylaw amendments; one for water improvements (setting the 2015 rate at $79.44 per parcel); one for water system upgrades ($38.24 per parcel); and one for sewage treatment works ($38.87 per parcel).

The 2015 tax rates bylaw also received three readings at the meeting.

In discussion on the bylaw, Invermere chief financial officer Karen Cote said the av-

erage increase per residence in Invermere is $50, although the actual amount will vary from residence to residence depending on the house.

Councillor Greg Anderson asked how the tax rates in Invermere compare with the rest of the East Kootenay and Cote responded they are the third lowest in the region.

Taft said it can be tricky comparing taxes between municipalities.

“It’s a bit of apples to oranges. You can look really good in one area, but not in another,” he said, adding that Radium Hot Springs, for instance, has lower general tax rates than Invermere, but has higher parcel taxes for water and sewer.

Council members also received the district’s financial statements for the period ending March 31st. When presenting them to council, Cote mentioned she’s concerned about the number of tax sale properties.

“The list is much higher than normal,” she said, adding there are more than 30 such properties in the district.

“Times are tough.”

She also pointed out that operating cash in the financial statements is low, but that fluctuations are common from period to period and that it’s not uncommon to be in overdraft this time of year.

Municipal projects At the April 10th meeting, council members also voted unanimously to adopt the district’s revised Short Term Action Chart. Several council members commented they are happy to be reminded that work continues on some of the smaller municipal projects that Invermere has on the go, despite larger projects such as the multi-use centre grabbing most of the attention.

GROUNDWATER from A1

for several years, will also include a new meter vault and a pumphouse, entailing a move to universal water metering for the subdivision’s roughly 75 homes.

Total cost for the project — including the construction contract awarded to Border Holdings Ltd., the engineering service and the water meter installation — will be roughly $1 million. The majority of the funding for the new Spur Valley water system will come from the B.C. Community Water Improvement Program, with the rest being raised through service area taxes.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

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The Invermere

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COLUMNIST

Canal Flats welcomes Family Resource Centre ‘T RUUNDOWN

is the season for taxes Regional and Village of Canal Flats council has been working very hard on the budget.

The announcement by Canfor was always in the back of our minds as we looked at the numbers.

As a result, we were able to come up with a budget that saw no increase from last year!

The Bylaw for the five-year financial plan will be adopted prior to May 15th, 2015.

Along with the budget, council also adopted the Road Frontage Tax Bylaw. This bylaw will allow the Village to calculate transportation expenses (ie. snow removal) based on foot frontage rather than assessment. There will be no impact on the average assessed home. However, some of the vacant lots will

see an increase while some of the higher assessed homes will see a decrease in their taxes.

On April 16th, our branding consultants, Tracy Connery and Karen Nikurak, hosted an Open House showcasing the artwork that was created by the students of Martin MorigeTE au Elementary School.

The students were asked what it means to them to live in Canal Flats. What they came up with was simply breathtaking. There were a lot of comments around the sense of community, the wildlife, backcountry activities and how much they love their school. They produced a music video of a song they wrote all on their own.Very impressive!

And there is more exciting news coming out of Canal Flats. Council is very pleased to

U JURAS

announce that we have partnered with the Family Resource Centre and entered into an agreement with them to rent the remaining room downstairs in the Columbia Discovery Centre for $1 for the next five years.

We are very excited to see services come to Canal Flats such as family counselling, family support work, women’s counselling, the seniors Better at Home program, youth outreach and engagement, employment services, an Early Learning Centre for children under six and their families, etc.

This will not only help existing families access these programs where they live, but will also help in attracting new families to the community.

A huge thank you to the Family Resource Centre!

Ute Juras is the mayor of Canal Flats and can be reached at 250-489-9070 or by e-mail at ujuras@gmail.com.

OPINION

Time for teachers to question their union

A

fter the first few glum lines of his speech, it was The appeal court didn’t just overturn the judgment of B.C. IEWS difficult to tell anything had changed for BC B.C. Supreme Court Justice Susan Griffin. It shredded Teachers’ Federation president Jim Iker as he took his her legal reasoning and bluntly corrected her, over and familiar place before the TV cameras last week. over, on evidence she ignored or misinterpreted.

Iker droned on about how B.C. schools are underThe appeal court confirmed at great length what I funded by hundreds of millions of dollars, echoing said when Griffin’s second decision came down in demands from the disastrous strike he led the union early 2014: it was far worse for B.C. schools than when membership into last year. judges decided in 2005 that teachers can bring union The B.C. Court of Appeal had just overturned a bipropaganda into classrooms.

OM zarre trial court decision that tried to give the union Did the government bargain in bad faith? No. Did everything it wanted: a trip back in time to the NDP they conspire to provoke a strike? No. Did they illegalwonderland of 2001, a constitutional spanking for ly strip working conditions from the teacher contract? the B.C. Liberal government and a $2 million bonus of taxpayers’ No.Turns out our kids are not just “working conditions” for teachers, money. and public policy still matters.

The BCTF must now pay back that $2 million and scrape up whatAnd it turns out that making special needs assistants dash beever is left of its members’ compulsory dues to plead for an appeal tween classes to deal with two kids here and three over there was at the Supreme Court of Canada, continuing the executive’s self- a lousy idea. righteous fantasy of controlling education spending in B.C. See A15

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

S

TREET

Do you think the provincial government will allow the Jumbo Glacier Resort project to continue?

“I think it is going to be iffy with the whole avalanche thing.”

“I hope not... I hope Jumbo never gets built.

Tim Hahn Albuquerque, New Mexico

Karen Macrae Calgary, Alberta

OPINION

Local decision-making critical for the land base

I

have always said that local people should MLA EPORT E have control over decisions made on their land base. I have always believed that tremendous wisdom lives within the communities that will be affected, and that the powers in faraway places will never fully understand the impacts of the decisions they are making.

And a decade in provincial politics has not changed my belief. At no time have I seen the ORM removal of local decision-making result in better decisions on the land.

The most obvious ongoing example is the imposition of land use decisions by the BC Liberals in Jumbo. The Jumbo Glacier Resort proposal has been opposed by local residents from the very start.At every opportunity, the people in the region have spoken out loud and clear. And the Ktunaxa Nation have said with absolute clarity that they will not support the development in a place they consider to be sacred.

When I was mayor of Golden, the community developed Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. But the first thing we did was make sure that we had the support of the residents and that we had a credible investor.

Jumbo Glacier Resort has no investor. Despite having the full force of the BC Liberals behind it, no investor has been convinced to fund this project.

But that hasn’t stopped the BC Liberals from giving away control of 6,000 hectares of public land and giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money to run a municipality with no buildings, no services and no people.The latest twist in the Jumbo saga is that the Environmental Assessment Office has now ruled that the two hastily laid concrete pads have been placed in an avalanche zone, which contravenes one of the conditions of the Environmental Assessment Certificate. These two concrete pads represented the only construction of the resort.

Norm Macdonald is the NDP MLA for Columbia River Revelstoke. Contact him at 1-866-870-4188 or by email at norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca.

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N MACDONALD

“I hope it doesn’t get built. We are losing all of our backcountry.

My husband and I used to hike in the mountains all over and we can’t anymore. Now it is trespassing” Alice Stewart Invermere

LETTERS

Sold to the highest bidder

Dear Editor: I am writing to you regarding Norm Macdonald’s report to his constituents and columnist Tom Fletcher’s article that appeared in your April 22nd edition.

They both were commenting on the fact that our provincial government sold a very valuable piece of Lower Mainland property to one of the B.C. Liberal party’s longtime and very generous financial supporters for $83 million despite being advised by real estate experts that the land was worth $128 million.

This type of transaction executed by our provincial government is not unusual.When Christy Clark took over as premier of B.C., one of her slogans was “familiar first.”

If she had been truthful to the voters, she would have used the slogan “our corporate buddies first.”

This recent disclosure proves that B.C. has the best government money can buy.

JIM GALLOWAY BRISCO

Messages for Conservatives — go Green Dear Editor: People think that the Greens are a left wing party but this is a mistake. If you are a staunch Conservative who is dismayed with what Mr. Harper has done to Conservative values and the Progressive Conservative party, then you really owe it to yourself to take a good, hard look at Green economic policy.

Ms. May believes in the power of the market and is more the true successor to the mantle of John Diefenbaker, Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark than Mr. Harper ever was.

LEO YOUNG VERNON

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

��

Do you support the federal government borrowing from the contingency fund to balance the 2015 budget?

NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION:

Do you think the provincial government will allow the Jumbo Glacier Resort project to continue?

INVERMEREVALLEYECHO.com

Yes

No

33.7%

66.3%

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

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LOCAL NEWS

Valley resident attends first Rural Advisory Council meeting STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com The inaugural meeting of the new provincial Rural Advisory Council was held recently with a local valley resident representing the East Kootenay region.

Susan Clovechok joined the 13 other regional representatives in Victoria on Thursday, April 23rd and Friday, April 24th where they went through some introductory matters, and met with Premier Christy Clark and Minster of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) Steve Thomson. The council falls under FLNRO. “(Premier Clark) spoke to us about the council, our responsibility and her appreciation for us stepping up into the volunteer roles,” said Mrs. Clovechok. “It went really well, it was a great start.”

According to Mrs. Clovehcok, the meeting consisted of a lot of introductory, meet-and-greet type formalities since the councillors have never met before. This is the first-ever Rural Advisory Council.

“We all come from different parts of the province, but everybody is united in a vision for a thriving rural B.C. We definitely have a shared vision, which is great,” she said. “It’s exciting to be part of this Rural Advisory Council members were greeted by Premier Christy Clark, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource dynamic group of people. Everybody is so passionOperations Minister Steve Thomson, and Parliamentary Secretary Donna Barnett at the Legislature during the counate about their communities and about doing what cil’s inaugural meeting in Victoria on Thursday, April 23rd. East Kootenay representative and Fairmont Hot Springs we can to boost rural development in B.C.” resident Susan Clovechok is pictured right of the premier.

BC GOV PHOTO Mrs. Clovechok said she’s looking forward to the Mrs. Clovechok emphasized that although her job her in Invermere is executive next meeting, when councillors will begin to disdirector of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, she is acting as a citizen cuss strategies for enhancing rural development in the province.

“We’ll be bringing ideas for all of our communities to the next meeting to discuss and representing the region (not the Chamber) in her role on the council and ways to remove barriers to growth and prosperity in rural areas through rural is happy to talk with anybody from the valley or the East Kootenay about rural dividends (payments from industry and other development) and other means,” development.

The council is scheduled to meet four times a year. she said. “It’s our first priority.”

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD? To get to the Area F Town Hall Meeting!

Monday, May 11, 2015 7:00pm - Volunteer of the Year Celebration 7:30pm - Area F Town Hall Meeting Fairmont Hot Springs Resort - Pine Room The Volunteer of the Year celebration will be held at 7:00pm. Come out and congratulate Shirley and Terry White, enjoy some cake and refreshments.

This Town Hall Meeting is for all residents of Electoral Area F. We hope to see you there!

19 - 24th Avenue South, Cranbrook BC V1C 3H8 Ph: 250-489-2791 • 888-478-7335 Email: info@rdek.bc.ca Website: www.rdek.bc.ca

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

COMMUNITY

G2G campaign spreads African HIV awareness Top photo: Nelson grandmother Sharon Henderson was selected to visit Africa as part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. She gave a presentation of her trip in Invermere on April 29th. Bottom left photo: Canadian and African grandmothers high five as part of a team-building exercise with the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign.

PhotoS submitted

Breanne Massey breanne@invermerevalleyecho.com After travelling through Ethiopia and South Africa for nearly five weeks with the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s campaign Grandmothers to Grandmothers, participant Sharon Henderson from Wymer (near Nelson) began raising awareness in the East and West Kootenay about the African AIDS pandemic.

The 62-year-old woman shared stories about the experience with the Valley Go Go Sisters at the Columbia Garden Village in Invermere on Friday, April 29th.

She was one of 22 Canadians who were selected through the program to visit Sub-Saharan Africa with the Stephen Lewis cohort in March 2014.

“The projects have faces now for me, just being there and seeing the enthusiasm and the integrity of the people we’re helping,” said Sharon, while noting how the donations help fund opportunities such as farming and sewing to make a living to support their families.

“It’s not just like, ‘Oh, we’re getting this money from these guys.’ They are working hard and it was obvious they were putting the money to good use.”

The Stephen Lewis Foundation works with community-based organizations in Africa to offer counselling and education about HIV. It also aims to teach preventive measures for sexual health, reach out to the families who are affected by illness and bereavement while helping orphans access education and work in spite

of the hurdles of daily life in Africa.

“Every day was jam packed and exhausting, meeting so many people and being in a different culture,” said Sharon. “I didn’t know any other grandmothers or Stephen Lewis workers either, so everybody was new… we shared rooms and there was a lot going on all the time. It was very busy.”

According the Stephen Lewis Foundation website, the organization has funded over 1,100 initiatives and more than 300 community-based organizations in 15 African countries since 2003.

The organization also helps distribute food and medical supplies for treatments that are in demand in some of the African countries that have been hit the hardest by the AIDS pandemic.

Sharon showed roughly 30 Invermere senior supporters photos from the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust in Durban, South Africa.

She also showed slides about farming, commuting and living within a harsh climate in rural Ethiopia.

“I think it was well-received,” concluded Sharon. “It’s all about spreading the word.”

After Invermere, she was heading to Penticton to deliver her next presentation on behalf of the Nelson Grandmothers to Grandmothers (G2G).

“I had no idea what I was getting into with this group,” she added with a giggle.

“I’ve hardly sat down since I joined the grandmothers.”

ENTERTAINMENT

BC Book Prize author tours through valley

Breanne Massey breanne@invermerevalleyecho.com The prized story about a racehorse overcoming an incredible obstacle course has galloped into the limelight.

BC Book Prizes author Kevin Chong was a nominee for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize for his book Northern Dancer: The Legendary Horse that Inspired a Nation. As part of the BC Book Prizes On Tour, he travelled through the southern leg of BC between April 20th and 24th, during which time he met with students in Invermere.

Chong offered a private reading of the tale to students at David Thompson Secondary School and JA Laird Elementary on April 22nd.

“We had an enthusiastic bunch,” said Chong.

“Invermere is my sixth stop so far, and it’s definitely one of the highlights because sometimes we get groups where people are fidgeting with their phones and talking, but I don’t think that happened with this group. I really appreciate it because it’s hard to be a teenager and pay attention to somebody talking about something that happened a really long time ago.”

‘Northern Dancer: The Legendary Horse that Inspired a Nation’ is a historical book featuring an undersized horse becoming a success story.

“It’s about an underdog,” said Chong. “I teach cre-

ative writing at UBC in Vancouver and I like talking to students who would like to study creative writing; or to go to UBC and let them know it’s an option for them even though Vancouver sometimes feels very, very far away.”

Chong visited students Kevin Chong in Hope Merritt, Sicamous, Revelstoke, Golden, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Creston and Castlegar during the nomination period.

“I think it’s great when students can be exposed to different experiences and different people,” said Chong. “It helps them learn and grow.”

The hardest part of pursuing a passion, he added, is making the time to write.

“We have to overcome our own insecurities and our own laziness,” he added. “And the daunting blank page or blank screen because writing is a great experience. Dorothy Parker once said, ‘I like having written,’ which means she likes to put a book out and labour over it, but she doesn’t like the work of writing — but I actually like the work of writing. It’s just a matter of finding the time to do it.”

BC Book Prizes author Heather Tekavec was nominated for the Christine Harris Illustrated Children’s

Literature Prize for her book, Stop, Thief! visited Eileen Madson Primary School to offer students a private reading of her book during the nomination period.

The duo travelled together for the tour, but split up the responsibility of readings.

“I’ve been going to a lot of the high schools and it’s pretty interesting to see all of the different communities,” explained Chong. “There are a lot of places that I’ve driven through on a cross-Canada trip in 2014… in other communities, I’ve spent zero time, so it’s nice to actually meet people from some of these communities and learn a little bit about them.”

He was impressed by the Kootenay Culture, as he delved deeper into the culturally vibrant region on the book tour.

“It’s my first trip to Invermere,” Chong said, with a smile creeping across his cheeks. “I’ve only been to the school and we went for a lunch at a grill across the street from the Toby Theatre.”

He was curious to know what the theatre’s fate would hold in light of the signage to marks its closure in 2014.

“It has the sign saying it closed, but what are they doing with it and why is it still lingering around there,” he queried. “The downtown stretch is really cute and it’s really nice to see how vibrant all of these (communities) in southeastern B.C. are… People here are very active and engaged with the natural world.”

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

invermerevalleyecho.com A9

HappyMother’s Day Pro skier credits his mom for getting him hooked on racing STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s a fitting time to say “Thanks Mom,” especially if your mom helped you get started on your way to a World Cup alpine ski racing career.

Long before he was standing on World Cup podiums and blasting down Olympic courses, Ben Thomsen got his beginning on skis with the encouragement of his mom, Shelley, who is a ski racing coach.

“I’m doing my dream and she basically started the whole thing,” said Ben. Shelley, who coached at Fairmont and then later at Panorama (where she still coaches), recalls Ben starting to ski at about age three and, not long after, tagging along with her as she coached much older racers.

“I remember I used to hide behind the chairs so I could get away from my Nancy Greene group and go ski on my own,” said Ben. “Once I’d done that a few times, my mom said, ‘Well, if you don’t want to ski with them, you’ll have to come ski with us.’

So when most five year olds were doing ‘pizza and french fries,’ I was doing GS (giant slalom) with 15 and 16 year olds.”

Ben’s dad was also a ski coach (although he worked mostly with older kids) and, according to Shelley, skiing makes for a pretty good family sport.

“For a family, it’s something you do together. Everybody participates. It’s fun,” she said. “To me, the most special part is that Ben’s got the same passion for the sport as I do.”

Ben recalls his mom’s approach to coaching fondly.

According to valley-raised World Cup ski racer Ben Thomsen, his mother Shelley’s passion for skiing is what started his professional racing career.

PHOTO SUBMITTED She didn’t care if we did our warm-up runs the past six years.

“I do talk to her, and my dad, every race,” in gates or by skiing through the trees or somewhere else on the hill. It was about he said. “It’s pretty cool knowing your mom keeping things fun. Nobody else understood gets up in the middle of the night to see how that approach, but I still take a lesson out you did.”

When Ben is home, he and Shelley are ofof it, even on the World Cup circuit,” said Ben. “You need to enjoy your passions, and ten on the valley’s slopes skiing or, in the warmer months, out on the golf course. that’s something I learned from my mom.”

Ben says he also adopted a competitive yet humble persona from Shelley.

Shelley for her part, credits the family’s passion for skiing that helped shape not just Ben’s athletic talent, but his personality.

“Skiing as a family means you learn pretty quick about being organized and that things aren’t always going to be easy. Those traits help create who you are as a person,” she said.

These days Ben and Shelley still keep connected, although they are frequently on different continents.

“I do watch every race, even if he’s over in Europe and I have to get up at 3 a.m. here to watch it Treat your Mom for a nice Mother’s Day through Live Timing,” said dinner on Sunday, May 10th Shelley.

“It is sometimes tough being on the complete other side of the Roasted pork tenderloin with shittake mushroom world, even though there’s Facebook demiglaze. and Skype, but we both get the reality of the situation,” said Ben, adding All Mothers receive a piece of Apple Strudel and a flower. that he’s been away from home for Christmas or his mom’s birthday for Call 250-347-6553 for reservations.

MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL~ $24

“With my mom it was, ‘Let’s go have fun and develop ski skills on the way.’

A10 invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

COLUMNIST

More to spring runoff than meets the eye

Article adapted and reproduced with permission from the original author, Kalista Pruden.

M

Beneath the

S

in years with normal or lower than normal snow packs, flooding is always possible during the snow melt freshet season. Be prepared for variable water levels, and remember how important runoff is to nature.

For more information, please contact the Lake Windermere Ambassadors at 250-341-6898 or info@lakeambassadors.ca, or visit the project office located at 625 4th Street, South Annex.

The Lake Windermere Ambassadors are a charitable organization representing a cross-section of community stakeholders committed to directing water quality monitoring and stewardship. Their work is made possible by EGAN the generous support of Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund, Columbia Valley Community Foundation, the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the District of Invermere, the Regional District of East Kootenay, and member donations!

Beneath The Surface is based on the principle that there is often more to know than what is visible from the “surface” of an issue. If there is something that concerns you about the lake and you want to get to the “bottom of it,” call Lake Windermere Ambassadors program co-ordinator Megan Peloso at 250-341-6898 or email info@lakeambassadors.ca and inspire the next column!

URFACE

any people think of spring runoff as a nuisance because of the resulting high water events or localized flooding. During the spring runoff period, there is more water in rivers, lakes and streams, creating momentum to stir and move things. When runoff slows to an end, the objects (or sediment) moved by high water are deposited or “dropped-off” in a new place.

This process can greatly change the characteristics of a water body and its surrounding area. Nevertheless, spring runoff is a very important event in the natural world.

As spring snow melt and rain rushes into rivers, lakes and streams, tiny sediment particles are picked up and carried within the water, making it turbid (murky or dirty). As more water pours in, larger particles like pebbles, sticks, cobbles and logs get pushed along. Sometimes insects and small animals get carried downstream in the flows, too.

During normal or low water levels, sediments do not move as easily and build up as deposits on the lake or river bottom. When runoff arrives, these deposits are distributed to new locations, benefiting plants, animals and insects in the ecosystem.

Consistent low or average flows can cause too many nutrients to build up in some places and not enough accumulation in other places.

Repositioning of sediments on the bottom during runoff also creates a greater variety of aquatic habitat, attracting more critters to the ecosystem.

Sometimes pools are filled in and new ones are formed, or the shape or path of the water body changes. New gravel beds for fish spawning and aquatic insects appear. Mud flats develop, providing a smorgasbord for birds and bugs and fertile soil for plants. Woody debris gets lodged into banks or sinks to the bottom, producing homes for all kinds of creatures.

Like many ecosystems, the Columbia River and Wetlands depend on regular runoff and flooding to stay healthy and diverse. Even though the Columbia River Basin is the most hydroelectrically developed river system in the world, Lake Windermere is part of the only free-flowing section beginning at the headwaters in Canal Flats. Natural, healthy amounts of runoff and flooding enter the portion of the Columbia River from Columbia Lake to the river’s first dam at the Kinbasket Reservoir north of Golden.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations reported that “given the snow conditions this year for most of the province, extreme (Up to 3.5% of vehicles have mileage errors) weather, such as extreme precipitation or combined hot and wet weather, would be required to produce flooding or higher than expected flows” Get a vehicle history report! Buy from a licensed dealer!

(Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin, April 2015). Nonetheless, even

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He means, “I rolled them back myself!”

Find out how at WatchoutforWalt.com

COMMUNITY

Senior lunches continue

Geoff Hill MaxWell Realty Invermere

Submitted District of Invermere Throughout 2014, the District of Invermere hosted monthly senior lunches on the second Thursday of each month. They have partnered with the Invermere Legion to keep this successful program running for 2015.

Each month, about 40 seniors gather for a delicious soup and sandwich lunch complete with coffee, tea and dessert. The lunches are lovingly prepared by Legion volunteers.

In addition to good company, the District of Invermere arranges guest speakers and entertainers.

The next lunch being held on Thursday, May 14th will host the representatives from the Family Resource Centre — they will be giving an update on the Better at Home program. The cost is $10, payable at the door. All seniors are welcome and reservations are required so the Legion can properly prepare.

To reserve your seat, email Theresa Wood at events@invermere.net or call and leave a message at 250-342-9281 ext 1227.

Early

Deadlines

250-341-7600

connect@geoffhill.ca Invermere-RealEstate.com

Due to the Victoria Day holiday, OUR CLASSIFIEDS DEADLINE for our May 20th edition will be Thursday, May 14th at 12:00 p.m.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

To advertise call 250-341-6299

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

invermerevalleyecho.com A11

THE

WEEKLY Beat Have an event you’d like listed? Email it to: production@ invermerevalleyecho. com

May 6th - 12th 6TH : WEDNESDAY

• Wings over the Rockies Bighorn Sheep virtual tour and educational presentation at Radium Hot Springs Visitor Centre. To register visit wingsovertherockies.org • 10 - 11 a.m.: Preschoolers and Parents, Plant and Play. Runs every Wednesday morning for 6 weeks.

Ends May 13th. By donation, pre-registration requested. Visit groundswellnetwork.ca • 4:30 - 6 p.m.: Summit Youth Centre (SYC) Graphic Design program.

Must pre-register. Email summit. centre@gmail.com or call 250-3423033.

• 6 - 8 p.m.: SYC Drop-in Girls Only Group.

7TH : THURSDAY

• 12 - 1 p.m.: Ask a Librarian / Drop-in tech support at the Invermere Public Library, every Thursday. For more info, go to invermere.bclibrary.ca • 4 - 8 p.m.: SYC open gym.

• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email summit.centre@gmail.com or call 250-342-3033.

• 5 - 6 p.m.: Every Thursday evening enjoy the Wine Tasting in the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Lobby. Learn about BC wines from our in-house sommelier. $10 per person.

• 6:30 p.m.: Master Horseman and International exhibitor Paul Dufresne will be performing at the Brisco Riding Club arena. $15 for adults; under 14 is free. For more information, call 250-688-0280.

• 7 p.m.: Minor Hockey AGM at the District of Invermere offices.

• 7 p.m.: Join Emily Molloy (Brave) and Corrina Keeling (Say Yes) at Safta’s in Invermere.

• 7 p.m.: Texas Hold ‘em Tournament every Thursday at Invermere Legion.

• 7 - 8:15 p.m.: Free Community Yoga at Defining Yoga Studio. For more information contact kelly at thismomentisyours@gmail.com

8TH : FRIDAY

• 6 - 8 p.m.: SYC Games Night.

• 7:30 p.m.: Valley Voices Spring Concert May 8th - 9th at Christ Church Trinity. Tickets available at Tiffany’s Thredz in Invermere, Purple Cow Gift Shop in Fairmont and Meet on Higher Ground in Radium.

9TH : SATURDAY

• 6 - 8 p.m.: Pooch Plunge at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. The pool goes to the dogs in support of GALS and the SPCA. Bring your family and doggie out for some fun. $10/ dog, registration required. 1-800-663-4979 ext 6056. For more information visit fairmonthotsprings.com or call 250-342-6030.

• 7:30 p.m.: SYC Movie and popcorn night.

11TH : MONDAY

AGM at Lions Hall, at the crossroads.

14TH : THURSDAY

• 12 p.m.: Annual Walk with your Doc at Mt Nelson Athletic Park.

Organized by the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice.

• 4 - 8 p.m.: SYC open gym.

• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email summit.centre@gmail.com or call 250-342-3033.

• 5 - 6 p.m.: Every Thursday evening, enjoy the Wine Tasting in the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Lobby. Learn about BC wines from our in-house sommelier. $10 per person.

• 7 - 9 p.m.: The BC Wolf Cull: Science meets Ethics, Ecology and Politics, meeting at Pynelogs Cultural Centre, hosted by Wolf Awareness, featuring guest speaker Brad Hill. For more information visit wolfawarenessinc.org or contact Sadie Parr at sadieparrwolfpact@ gmail.com

• 4 - 5:30 p.m.: SYC Employment Readiness program. Must preregister. Email summit.centre@ 15TH : FRIDAY gmail.com or call 250-342-3033.

• 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.: From May 15th • 6 - 7:30 p.m.: SYC Skills for life – May 28th Permaculture Design program.

Certification at the College of the Rockies and Groundswell Community Greenhouse 15th Ave. 12TH : TUESDAY • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: SYC Youth Focus and Westridge Dr. For more information email Leadership meeting. or • 7 - 8:30 p.m.: Rot On! Competent info@groundswellnetwork.ca call 250-342-3337.

Composting at Groundswell’s Community Greenhouse 15th • 6 p.m.: SYC Rockband Night.

Ave. and Westridge Dr. For more • May 15 – Sun, May 17, Crescent Heights Senior High School Reunion, information email info@groundswellnetwork.ca or Calgary, 100th Celebration. 10191st Street N.W. To register visit phone 250-342-3337. crescentheightsalumni.ca or call th th 1-855-424-2586.

May 13 19

13TH : WEDNESDAY

• 10 - 11 a.m.: Preschoolers and Parents, Plant and Play. Runs every Wednesday morning for 6 weeks.

Ends May 13th. By donation, pre-registration requested. Visit groundswellnetwork.ca • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: It’s Your Life, Cancer Prevention Free presentation by the Canadian Cancer Society at Lake Windermere Lions Hall. Contact Sheila Tutty at 250-342-5266 for more information.

• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email summit.centre@gmail.com or call 250-342-3033.

• 6 - 8 p.m.: SYC Drop-in Boys Only Group.

• 7:30 p.m.: Windermere Valley Rural Range Resource Patrol

16TH : SATURDAY

• 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.: Artym Gallery shows Cameron Bird, Bayot Heer and Vance Theoret exhibition till May 22.

• 12 - 6 p.m.: Summer Kickoff Party at the Radium Hot Springs visitor centre. Visit radiumhotsprings.com for details.

• 7 p.m.: SYC Foosball tournament night.

19TH :TUESDAY

• 4 - 6 p.m.: SYC Cooking workshop.

• 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: SYC Opt night.

Have one of your Youth workers accompany you to the clinic and assist you with the resources you need.

COMING SOON… MAY

20TH : WEDNESDAY

MAY

21ST : THURSDAY

MAY

22ND : FRIDAY

MAY

23RD : SATURDAY

• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email summit.centre@gmail.com or call 250-342-3033.

• 4 - 8 p.m.: SYC open gym.

• 4:30 - 6 p.m.: SYC Graphic Design program. Must pre-register. Email summit.centre@gmail.com or call 250-342-3033.

• 5 - 6 p.m.: Every Thursday evening, enjoy the Wine Tasting in the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Lobby. Learn about BC wines from our in-house sommelier $10 per person.

• 5 p.m.: May 22 - May 24, Wetlandkeepers Course is 2½ days of workshops that educate participants about wetland conservation. This is a hands-on, free fieldwork course that provides participants with technical skills to steward their own wetland.

For more information contact wetlands_assistant@bcwf.bc.ca or visit wetlandkeeperswindermere. eventbrite.ca • 6 p.m.: SYC Karaoke Night.

• 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Garage Sale at Akisqnuk First Nation Arbor. Food and items for sale.

• May 23rd & Sunday May 24th Radium Car Rally. Visit radiumhotsprings.com for details.

• 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Plant Sale and Open House at Groundswell Community Greenhouse, 15th Ave and Westridge Dr. For more information email info@groundswellnetwork.ca or phone 250-342-3337.

• 10 a.m.: Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run at Nipika Resort. Register prior to event at new.zone4.ca for more information visit nipika.com/ crazy-soles-nipika-trail-run • 10 a.m.: Windermere Community Association AGM at Windermere Community Hall, followed by Potluck luncheon.

• 7 p.m.: SYC Movie and popcorn night.

A12 invermerevalleyecho.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

EMEMBER WHEN? R A look back through The Valley Echo's archives over the last 55 years

Shop, Peny’s Delicatessen and View Mont Service were all opened simultaneously a week later.

55

years ago (1960): The East Kootenay Health Unit announced the opening of the Creston Kiwanis Health Centre during the Creston Blossom Festival. The 33,000 dollar, two-floor building on Canyon Street was the first local health centre to go into service.

45

years ago (1970): Four new businesses were announced during the annual Radium Hot Springs May Day. Flamingo Gift Shop, Radium Sports and Novelty

B

35

years ago (1980): The Second Annual Milk Run was held by David Thompson Secondary School.

The 3 km run, jog or walk celebrated School Sports Week in Canada and helped raise money for disabled children in B.C. The students were joined by members of the R.C.M.P. Together, they raised 300 dollars.

25

years ago (1990): Invermere received its first automated teller, courtesy of CIBC.

15

years ago (2000): The District of Invermere council established a policy to control the naming of parks and municiple buildings. The policy dictated that naming requests must be presented to the council. The policy came after increased requests from citizens asking that parks be renamed to commemorate and honour local figures.

5

years ago (2010): The Friends of Kootenay National Park completed “Sheep in the Valley, The Bighorn of Radium Hot Springs.”

Group president Wendy Bennett was thrilled about the book’s timing.

S

Answers to last week

UDOKU

RAIN AIN GAME

2010 — Colleen Wagner and her students perform a dance show, with all proceeds going to help provide shelters for people in Haiti.

ECHO FILE PHOTO

Friday May 8

S

Chance of showers

CLUES ACROSS 1. William the Conquerer’s birth city 5. Expired 9. Muslim greeting 11. Hangs cloth in loose folds 13. -__, denotes past 14. Jog 16. Ocean shore 17. Promotion of a product 18. The Constitution State 20. Russian space station 22. Paper mulberry bark cloth 23. Fiddler crabs 24. Drunkards 27. Domestic hog 28. Before 29. Papua New Guinea monetary unit 31. Existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul 33. V.P. Quayle

14 C o

Saturday May 9 Mainly sunny

15 C o

Sunday May 10

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. Figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers named, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

CROSSWORD

W eekend WEATHER

A few showers

34. Expression of surprise 35. Declares untrue 38. Corn dough 40. Ocean 41. Supply with men 42. Spring tides 44. Spooky month 45. To tie in Spanish 47. Possessed 49. Br. Architect Wren 54. Prosecutor for a district 55. Tribal chieftains 56. Fulfill a command 58. Location of White House 59. Happy facial gestures 60. Cheap showy jewelry or ornament 62. Over again 63. Inhabitants of ancient Media

CLUES DOWN 1. Coarse woolen braid 2. Gangster Capone 3. Ingest 4. Drug enforcement officer (slang) 5. Expression of annoyance 6. Romanian capital until 1861 7. A person who enjoys good food and drink 8. A way to reason 9. Sewing junction 10. Sound of bovines 11. Metric weight unit 12. Stalk of a moss capsule 15. Explosive 16. Reddish brown 19. Short sleeps 21. Decay 25. Crepe fern genus 26. Actor Connery 28. Wipe out recorded

17 C o

information 30. Imparts motion to 32. Compared to 35. Alight from train 36. N.H. 03832 37. 2 piece clothing fastener 39. Express pleasure 40. A plan, outline or model 43. Give a spanking to 44. NY Times publisher Adolph Simon 46. 17th Greek letter 48. Small, stout cyprinid fish 50. Lazy 51. Merganser 52. Fall back from 53. Enlarge hole 57. Hong Kong dialect 61. Initials of “10” actress

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The The Valley Echo Wednesday, May Valley 6, 2015 Echo

invermerevalleyecho.com A13

www.invermerevalleyecho.com A13

<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

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Lost & Found

Enjoy Mother’s Day Brunch at the Citadella in Radium Hot Springs, to piano and vocal music from the hit Pynelogs Operetta. Sunday May 10th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Reservations recommended.

250-347-9548

Lost: In Invermere area.

Embarrassed, you bet! A partial upper plate denture. on Monday, April 20th.

250-342-9665.

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 with the exception of Tuesdays.

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HIP OR Knee replacement?

COPD or Arthritic Conditions?

The disability tax credit. $1,500 yearly tax credit. $15,000 lump sum refund (on avg). Apply today! 1-844-4535372.

Personals ALL MALE Hot Gay Hookups!

Call FREE! 1-800-462-9090. only 18 and over.

Lost & Found Found: A hearing aid, in the handicap parking lot in front of the Invermere Legion, enquire inside or 250-342-9517.

Timeshare

Information

Help Wanted

ABC and BC-rated fire extinguishers manufactured between July 23, 2013 and October 15, 2014 could be affected.

If you believe you may have one of these fire extinguishers please contact Kidde Canada at 1-844833-6394 (8am - 5pm) Mon-Fri or visit www.kiddecanada.com and click “Safety Notice.”

As a seasoned Publisher, you will achieve financial growth by developing and implementing strategic marketing and sales plans to generate new business and achieve the company’s business objectives.

Travel

Found: Cat in Invermere, white short hair, blue eyes, tattooed, neutered male. Call ICan. 250-341-7888

Kidde Canada in conjunction withh Health Canada has announced a voluntary recall to replace certain Kidde black plastic valve disposable fire extinguishers.

Are you a seasoned Community Newspaper Publisher looking to relocate to the Okanagan?

We are looking for a Group Publisher to manage our South Okanagan markets.

Lost or stolen in Invermere area. Fuji camera (Lg with view finder) was in black camera case, with all cords & memory cards. Has all art work pics & most recent picks of mountains. Please call 250-341-7498.

CANCEL YOUR Timeshare.

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

PRODUCT RECALL

Group Publisher

Lost or stolen: From Windermere beach on Sat. April 18th, a red Liquid Force 12m kiteboarding kite. Please call Mike at 250-342-1048.

HIGH CASH Producing vending machines. $1 vend = .70 profit. All on location in your area. Selling due to illness.

Details call 1-866-668-6629.

Help Wanted

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

Part and Full-time Positions Available Start date: ASAP

Food Service Supervisor Permanent, Shift

Job Description Available in Store 7 positions available No education required One to two years experience required.

Nights/early mornings/weekends $12.12/hour + medical/dental/group benefits.

You will have at least five years’ experience in a sales or business development role, and knowledge or experience in a community newspaper publishing environment. Your success in developing and implementing sales strategies is a result of your entrepreneurial spirit, well developed customer service and communication skills, knowledge of the publishing industry, and extensive business connections.

As the largest independent newspaper group with more than 170 titles in print and online, Black Press has operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Hawaii and Ohio.

This is a full-time position with a competitive compensation and benefits package. Qualified applicants should send a resume and covering letter before Friday, May 29th to: Bruce McAuliffe, President Black Press BC South c/o Kelowna Capital News 2495 Enterprise Way, Kelowna, B.C. V1X 7K2 Email: brucem@blackpress.ca

Food Counter Attendant Permanent, Shift

Job Description Available in Store 12 positions available No education or experience required.

Nights/overnights/early mornings/ weekends. $11.05/hour + medical/dental/group benefits.

Apply in person, via email (timhortons.invermere@gmail.com) or by fax (250-341-3177) for both positions.

www.blackpress.ca

YOUTH AGAINST VIOLENCE LINE

1-800-680-4264

info@youthagainstviolence.com

CHURCH SERVICES DIRECTORY ST. PETER’S WINDERMERE ROMAN CATHOLIC RADIUM CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF JESUS FELLOWSHIP CHRIST OF LATTER LUTHERAN MISSION VALLEY SHARED CHURCH DAY SAINTS OF INVERMERE MINISTRY #4 - 7553 Main Street W, 250-342-6167 ANGLICAN-UNITED Radium 5014 Fairway, 100 - 7th Ave., Invermere Pastor: Father Gabriel 250-342-6633 Fairmont Hot Springs 250-426-7564 100-7th Ave., Invermere Confession: 1/2 hr. before Mass 250-347-6334 250-341-5792 250-342-6644 Pastor: Rev. Fraser Coltman Canadian Martyrs Church Pastor Rev. David Morton Reverend Laura Hermakin President: Adam Pasowisty 712 - 12 Ave, Invermere Worship Service wvsm.ca Columbia Valley Branch Saturdays, 5 p.m.

Sundays, 10 a.m.

Worship Services Every Sunday: Bacon, Friends Sundays, 9 a.m.

Sundays Worship Services Bible Studies & Faith, 9:30 a.m Worship, 1:30 p.m.

Sundays St. Joseph’s Church Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

10:30 a.m.

Christ Church Trinity, 10 a.m.

- 1 p.m.

Hwy. 93-95, Radium Hot Christ Church Trinity, Invermere Kids’ Church Invermere Springs Edgewater Hall 1st and 3rd Sunday, 9 a.m.: All Sundays, 11 a.m.

Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.

Saint’s, Edgewater 2nd Sunday, 7 p.m.: June - October St. Anthony’s Mission at St. Peter’s Windermere Loving God, Corner of Luck and Dunn, Loving People Canal Flats All Saint’s, Edgewater.

Saturdays, 4:30 p.m.

St.Peter’s Windermere

LAKE WINDERMERE VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY ALLIANCE CHURCH 326 - 10th Ave., Invermere Hwy. 93/95, 1 km north of Windermere 250-342-9535 250-342-9511 Pastor: Trevor Hagan Pastor: Murray Wittke lakewindermerealliance.org valleychristianonline.com Celebration Sunday May 10th Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

10 a.m. Worship & Word “Let Us ... Encourage One Another” Kid’s Church Provided Pastor, Trevor Hagan ministering.

7 p.m“Sing and Celebrate”

Join us for an evening of singing great hymns of the faith; food; and fellowship!

K.I.D.S Church for children age 3 to Grade 1; and grades 2-7, during the morning service.

Sharing Truth Showing Love Following the Spirit

A14 A14 invermerevalleyecho.com www.invermerevalleyecho.com Employment Education/Trade Schools APPLY NOW: A $2,500 Penny Wise scholarship is available for a woman entering the Journalism Certificate Program at Langara College in Vancouver. Application deadline May 31, 2015. Send applications to: fbula@langara.bc.ca.

More information: www.bccommunitynews.com/ our-programs/scholarship.

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR SCHOOL. NO Simulators. In-the-seat training. Real world tasks.

Weekly start dates. Job board!

Funding options.

SignUp online! iheschool.com 1-866-399-3853 MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or call 1855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONISTS are in huge demand!

Train with the leading medical transcription school. Learn from home and work from home. Call today. 1-800-4661535 www.canscribe.com info@canscribe.com.

Wednesday, May May 6, 2015 The Valley Wednesday, 6, 2015 The ValleyEcho Echo

Employment

Employment

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Officer, Gitga’ at Development Corporation, Hartley Bay, B.C. For full job description visit www.firstnationsjobsonline.com under management positions.

Send resumes to: jobs@gitgaat.net COMMUNICATIONS/EVENTS Coordinator required. Nak’azdli Whut’en Fort St. James B.C. Email applications to: executiveassistant@nakazdli.ca Attn: Maureen. For full details of this job visit: www.firstnationsjobsonline.com under management.

COUNCIL SECRETARY required. Nak’azdli Whut’en Fort St. James B.C. Email applications to: executiveassistant@nakazdli.ca Attn: Maureen. For full details of this job visit: www.firstnationsjobsonline.com under management.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT required. Nak’azdli Whut’en Fort St. James B.C. Email applications to: executiveassistant@nakazdli.ca Attn: Maureen. For full details of this job visit: www.firstnationsjobsonline.com under management.

FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

S.M. QUENNELL TRUCKING

is looking for LOG TRUCK drivers, based in

Cranbrook.

Full time work; home every night.

Excellent medical, dental, & pension benefits, Wages competitive with industry standards.

Fax resume and drivers abstract to:

fax:250-426-4610 or call: 250-426-6853

Services

Rentals Seasonal Accommodation

Financial Services

Auctions

Misc. for Sale

ONSITE AUCTION - MAY 7, 2015 All Assets - Formerly Akari Japanese Restaurant 112 - 3000 Lougheed Hwy, Coquitlam, BC Complete Cooking Line, Sushi Cases, High End Furnishings & More!!!!.....View all lots ONLINE, Register to Bid & Bid via Live Broadcast. Visit www.activeauctionmart.com or call 604-371-1190 buyit@activeauctionmart.com

STEEL BUILDINGS “Spring sales with hot savings!” All steel building models and sizes are now on sale. Get your building deal while it’s hot. Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422 www.pioneersteel.ca

TAX FREE MONEY is available, if you are a homeowner, today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mortgage money is available right now. Rates start at Prime. Equity counts. We don’t rely on credit, age or income.

Call Anytime 1-800-639-2274 or 604-430-1498. Apply online www.capitaldirect.ca

Home Improvements

GPRC, FAIRVIEW Campus requires Heavy Equipment Technician Instructors to commence August 15, 2015. for more information visit our website: www.gprc.ab.ca/careers

Merchandise for Sale

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

FULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, reliable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1800-573-2928.

Teachers

Merchandise for Sale

Merchandise for Sale

Auctions KWIK Auctions Commercial Food Equipment & Restaurant Auction House - Burnaby & Kelowna - Live & Online - visit KwikAuctions.com for Catalog, Pics, Video Preview

Heavy Duty Machinery A-CHEAP, LOWEST PRICES STEEL SHIPPING Dry Storage Containers Used 20’40’45’53’ and insulated containers all sizes in stock. 40’ containers as low as $2,200.

Also JD 544 & 644 wheel Loaders & 20,000 lb CAT forklift. Ph Toll free 24 hours 1866-528-7108 1-778-298-3192 8am-5pm. Delivery BC and AB www.rtccontainer.com

Misc. Wanted Private Collector Looking to Buy Coin Collections, Silver, Antique Native Art, Estates + Chad: 778-281-0030 in town.

Rentals Acreage

SAWMILLS FROM only $4,397. Make money and save money with your own bandmill.

Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free Info and DVD: 1-800-566-6899 Ext: 400OT www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT

green_thumb_lina@hotmail.com

Want to Rent Retired woman and cat would like to rent a small house, mobile or cabin for around $400$500/mth. Away from busy streets and NO dogs. Remote is ok. Prefer to be near a lake.

Year round - long term. (or private property to set up RV trailer). 250 814-0961.

Transportation

Cars - Domestic

Misc. for Sale Invermere Area: Boat for sale 25’ houseboat/camper, 65 HP Johnson outboard, dual axle trailer, 5500 LBS total. Tows easy, sleeps 4. $7500.00. 250342-0603 or 250-341-5845

For rent: 2 RV Moyie River front lots, fully serviced, side by side, 100x40, at 3 Valley Resort in Yahk, BC, $1000/year each including services. Email for more info:

Rare opportunity to purchase private 150 acres 5 minutes from Cranbrook BC. Borders crown land on 3 sides.

Mixture of timber and fields.

Not in the ALR zoned RR60.

Serious inquiries only, $675,000.

250-489-9234

2002 Impala LS 191,000km; Orig Owner, Remote Start; Leather, PS, ABS, PW, CD, A/C, P/heated seats, Incl. 4 snow tires w/rims. $4,750.

250-348-2447

The eyes have it Fetch a Friend from the SPCA today!

spca.bc.ca

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

invermerevalleyecho.com A15

TIME from A5

Now there’s even a credit course offered in high school for students with learning difficulties, which probably has some BCTF minion crafting a pile of grievances about segregation.

In the negotiated settlement reached last fall, teachers shared $105 million to make thousands of baseless grievances go away, after the union filed one for student numbers in every class in the province.This bloated perpetual protest machine drains the public purse in more ways than taxpayers realize.

Parents understand the strikes, though. They remember a union that scrapped report cards, disrupted administration and forced schools to shut down at graduation time.

The strike then dragged into the fall, as the government held the line on public service spending. And what was the key issue that kept schools closed? It wasn’t special needs support, where student performance has continued to improve. No, it was the BCTF demanding a raise twice as big as other public sector unions had already accepted.

In the end, their paltry strike fund long gone, the union grudgingly accepted the going rate.They figured they had the elected government on the run in court. Wrong again.

Next up for the ministry is taking control of professional development. A bill before the legislature will enforce standards, once the NDP is done denouncing it. Singing Solidarity Forever around a campfire and calling it paid professional development (a real example, by the way) will soon go the way of the unioncontrolled College of Teachers – onto the scrap heap of history.

There are BCTF members who understand how ill-served they are by their union. They are looking critically at the performance of their leaders, who are too often distracted by grandiose “social justice” campaigns as far away as the Middle East.

Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press.

Find him on Twitter @tomfletcherbc. Email tfletcher@blackpress.ca.

BC NEWS

B.C. government wins appeal TOM FLETCHER Black Press

The B.C. Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the B.C. government on the long-running dispute with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation over the removal of class size and special needs support formulas from classrooms.

In a lengthy judgment released Thursday, four of five appeal court judges found that the province did not infringe on the constitutional rights of teachers to bargain working conditions. The appeal court pointed out numerous errors in the 2011 judgment of B.C. Supreme Court Justice Susan Griffin, and overturned her order that the government pay $2 million in damages, which has been paid to the union.

BCTF president Jim Iker said the decision is “very disappointing.” He announced that the union will seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in its bid to restore classroom rules the government removed from its contract in 2002.

“All teachers are looking for is workable and teachable classrooms,” Iker said.

Education Minister Peter Fassbender said the changes made to classroom organization in the disputed period have led to “dramatic improvements in student outcomes, particularly for students with special needs.”

The B.C. education ministry has argued that caps on class size and number of students in each class with personalized learning plans were unduly restrictive. The NDP government of the late 1990s negotiated a settlement where the BCTF gave up salary increases in exchange for class size caps, specialist teacher levels and limits on the number of designated special needs students in each class.

The appeal court decision leaves in place efforts by the government to settle the bitter dispute, including a provision in the current contract to pay $105 million to the union to retire thousands of grievances filed over class size and composition.

The six-year contract signed last fall after a lengthy strike also includes additional preparation time and a “learning improvement fund” to deal with special needs support.

To advertise, call: To advertise, call: 250-341-6299 250-341-6299

SERVING THE VALLEY Early Deadlines Due to the Victoria Day holiday,

OUR CLASSIFIEDS DEADLINE

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

for our May 20th edition will be

Proudly serving the Valley for over 50 years.

Thursday, May 14th at 12:00 p.m.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

To advertise call 250-341-6299

For competitive prices and prompt service call:

250-342-3268 (plant) 250-342-6767 (office) Septic Tank Pumping Portable Toilet Rentals NEW R SEWERA CAME

• 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

Bruce Dehart 250-347-9803 or 250-342-5357 Join our Facebook Group: “Summit Youth Centre Events & Updates”

to stay in the loop

Interested in Volunteering? Contact us! painting a brighter future

250-342-3033 summit.centre@gmail.com www.invermeresummityouthcentre.org Upstairs: 709 10th St. Box 133, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0

Cranbrook Pest Control • Brakes • Tires • Suspension • Oil Changes • Alignment • Air Conditioners Your Winter Tire Super Store

Certified & Licensed for Pesticide Application & Sale

Thermal Imaging 100% Money Back Guarantee

www.cranbrookpestcontrol.com infor@cranbrookpestcontrolcom

250-342-4433 • Open 7 days a week NATIONWIDE GUARANTEE

250-426-9586 • 1-888-371-6299

Sholinder & MacKay

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

VE

The Invermere

ALLEY CHO

Sand & Gravel

Complete line of aggregate products for construction and landscaping Office:

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

#8, 1008 - 8th Avenue PO Box 868, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Amanda Nason

Advertising Sales

Ph: 250.341.6299 • Cell: 250.341.1111 www.invermerevalleyecho.com advertising@invermerevalleyecho.com

A16 invermerevalleyecho.com

DrivewayCanada.ca |

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Valley Echo

Welcome to the driver’s seat

Visit V isit the Ford Focus gallery at DrivewayCanada.ca

Less really offers so much more right now. Initially, I was skeptical about Every 90 seconds, Ford sells a Focus this particular model’s abilities. somewhere in the world.

In the Fiesta – which is a smaller and That’s a pretty staggering fact. lighter vehicle – it seemed to fit symbiAnd since the Focus’s introduction to otically. But adding additional weight the market in 1998, the North American and bulk to an already small engine had automaker has sold 1.5 million units per me thinking if it was going to work out year thereafter. as well as it did.

Again, another sizeable number, but it’s The Focus is I must stay I was pleasantly surprised. not always about big numbers. So let comfortable, compact For daily commuting, this Focus does me familiarize you with the Focus 1.0L the job and does it well.

EcoBoost: the smallest displacement and certainly has a Though you also have to take things at engine the Ford brand offers in North convenient engine face value with this car. It’s not going America. to accelerate particularly quickly. So, if It was seen first in Canada on the Fiesta size for the city. your plan is to try and merge ahead of in 2014 and now makes its way into Alexandra Straub other motorists from a stoplight, you the automaker’s compact sedan. The might want to choose Plan B. humble powerplant – complete with But when you rev the engine a little higher – upwards three cylinders – breeds 123 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of 3,000 rpm – you quickly forget you have such a of torque. small displacement engine powering your vehicle.

Those aren’t really numbers that send car enthusiasts’ Helping me harness those 123 horses was the 6-speed hearts racing, but for a lot of people, less is more. That manual transmission. Again, another pleasant sursaying holds especially true if the bulk of your driving prise. Gear throws didn’t feel too long and they glided consists of commuting to and from work. seamlessly whether up or downshifting. The clutch Chances are, a chunk of that drive time might just was light, so when I was stuck in construction traffic, be comprised of inching along in the urban jungle or I didn’t wish I was in an automatic! It just all worked perhaps cruising along at highway speeds. Either way, very well together. the Focus 1.0L can accommodate your driving style.

To help in achieving my favourable fuel results, there’s Its estimated fuel economy in the city is 8.1L/100km an auto start/stop feature that reduces gas consumpand 5.9L/100km on the highway. tion and emissions. But it wasn’t just the manual Even with my lead foot, I managed to use an average transmission or the autostart/stop feature that helped of 7.5L/100km, which was better than the estimated my fondness grow for the Focus 1.0L EcoBoost. city fuel economy, since I did most of my driving It came with some optional equipment that made it around town. look better, and gave me a few creature comforts that If looking for big horsepower and not as ideal fuel came in handy. economy results, the Focus ST will be your best bet

‘‘

’’

Question of the Week

The SE EcoBoost package ($1,600) adds fog lamps, a rear spoiler, a full body styling kit, and 17-inch machined alloy wheels.

The Winter Package ($700 – not that I really put it to good use at this time of year) adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, all weather floor mats and a power/heated mirror.

While visibility is pretty good from all angles, the Reverse Sensing System ($700) can always lend a helping hand.

Overall, I quite liked this sedan. The Focus is comfortable, compact and certainly has a convenient engine size for the city.

When considering the Focus with the 1.0L EcoBoost, it’s only available on the SE trim (MSRP of $18,849) and comes as part of the aforementioned EcoBoost package ($1,600.)

The price as tested on this vehicle comes in at $23,315 (which includes the $1,565 destination charge.)

Write to alexandra.straub@drivewaybc.ca

Almost a year ago, the posted speed limits on many B.C. highways were raised to 120 km/h.

Would you like to see them raised another 10 km/h or returned to the original limits?

Go to DrivewayCanada.ca for the question of the week

?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

Safety Tip: Crashes involving motorcyclists increase in summer. If you’re a driver waiting to make a left turn, look for oncoming motorcycles and yield right of way. If you’re a rider, protect yourself from serious injuries – wear an approved helmet and safety gear designed for riding.

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