Columbia Valley Pioneer, April 23, 2020

April 23, 2020 Vol. 17/Issue 17

Your Weekly Source for News and Events

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 1 April 23, 2020

The Columbia Valley

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13 ONLINE EXCLUSIVE • Interior Health issues warning over COVID-19 outbreak at work camp

While residents self-isolate, the birds are out to play. This design, Just Another Day, is a 20x40 watercolour by Alex Fong. The Artym Gallery graciously provided the artwork during this time of social distancing.

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2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 23, 2020 Highlights of the @LiveColumbiaValley Instagram account, brought to you by the Columbia Valley Community Economic Development Office, a service of the RDEK.

Bruno’s Plumbing Service Mike Sylvestre 250.342.5105 brunosplumbing@shaw.ca ~ We now service drains ~ Serving The Columbia Valley

ONLINE ACTIVITIES Ser

Head to our website and follow us on Facebook to access our online resources such as eBooks, virtual story time, how-to videos and more!

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HIGHLIGHTS #ColumbiaValleyBC Labyrinth – Serenity is the state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled. We hope you find some serenity this week, while following physical distancing and hygiene guidelines in areas that are still open.

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While most Columbia Valley businesses have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, business has actually been steady, if not outright good, for local liquor and cannabis establishments.

All three Invermere liquor stores – the B.C. Liquor Store and Copper City Liquor Store downtown, and the Invermere Liquor Store at the crossroads – confirmed that they have seen increased sales since the pandemic and associated self-isolating began.

“It is up and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

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People seem to be afraid that we’ll get closed down soon or something, so they have been coming in and super-sizing, stocking up,” said Invermere Liquor Store supervisor Bruce Coates.

“The sales are slightly higher than this same week last year, considering the ski hill and golf courses are closed and we do not have the usual level of part-time homeowners visiting the valley,” said Copper City Liquor Store manager Julie St. Amand, speaking just after the Easter long weekend. “People are buying larger sizes of beer cases and spirit and wine bottles than usual to try and reduce their trips out. The warehouses are also stocking out on Continued on page 5. . .

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50% SOLD OUT

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

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Local liquor and cannabis retail hold steady or are up in wake of pandemic

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#3, 109 Industrial #2, Invermere B.C. 250-342-3659 • Fax: 250-342-3620

PPE win! – Brian McIntosh of @columbiavalleymakerspace modelled their newly-developed face shields. He is pursuing getting the masks approved for medical use. The design is open-sourced and the shield plastic was donated by @mylocalview.

Maker spaces around the world have been helping communities create personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline medical workers, and the Columbia Valley is no different. Stay tuned for further collaborations with other maker spaces both in B.C. and Alberta.

THE

Serving Residential and Commercial Clients

How amazing is the Columbia Valley?! – So amazing that around 100 local volunteers are sewing cloth masks for the Community Mask Initiative. Over 600 have been distributed to local grocery stores and pharmacies, and on to residents of the Columbia Valley. One volunteer has sewn 200 masks! More are needed. See story on page 12. Financial donations to this initiative can be made to Family Dynamix, through CanadaHelps.org. (This initiative is separate from, and complimentary to, the PPE and N95 donations being collected for health care workers.)

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

VALLEY NEWS It’s our turn to ask for help Pioneer seeks support to continue in print

By Amanda Nason, associate publisher advertising@columbiavalleypioneer.com COVID-19 has changed the way we all plan and do business; we are all in that together. The financial effects are going to be with us all for months to come. As we look forward, our mission at the Columbia Valley Pioneer is to continue providing printed copies of our paper each week. But, without you, this may be difficult.

In the beginning of this pandemic, local businesses had to close down and reduce services. In return we lost adverting revenue, which is what pays for us to provide our print newspaper and online services free for you each week. The Pioneer has always been a free publication, and we want to keep it that way. Our goal is to continue to persevere – but we can’t do it alone.

In times of need the public often comes to us for help, and we’re here for you. When you fundraise for those who are ill, for those who are in crisis — for instance after a house fire — and for your non-profits, we write your stories, amplify your voices and let our readers know how they can be of service. Together, we’ve helped you help countless community members.

When you start new organizations or businesses, publish books or host fundraising events, we write about what you’re bringing to the community. We offer discounts to local non-profit organizations and discounts on long-term contracts. We cover news, local government, events, entertainment, festivals, sporting events (which staff often donate their time to attend), and good news stories about you and your neighbours. We also give back to the community through memberships, donations and much more. Of course we cannot do it all, but we try and

make it fair. By supporting us, you are in fact supporting everyone.

We know just how important our print newspaper is to our community. Some don’t have access to online editions, and many of those who do still enjoy sitting down with a physical copy of the Pioneer in hand each week.

Many smaller towns have unfortunately had no choice but to give up on their print editions and switch to providing their content online only. At the start of April, we believed that would be our fate as well. With community support and hard work, we were able to continue in print up until now, and our mission is to keep printing.

As we begin to plan the next stage of our operations, we know that our business community will expect us to spread the word as business owners get back on their feet and open their doors. More than ever they’ll want – and need – our help sharing their good news. We are eager to support them and want to be ready for them.

We will remain a free publication, but we are asking you to consider making a donation to help us continue offering printed editions of the Pioneer. Many free small newspapers across the globe are making the same request in these unprecedented times.

There’s no suggested amount and all donations are greatly appreciated. But, for example, if you were to pay a dollar a week for a year it would be $52.

Donations can be made at https://support.columbiavalleypioneer.com, by phone at 250-341-6299, or by mail addressed to the Columbia Valley Pioneer at P.O. Box 868, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0.

Not one can do it alone, but we all can together.

We thank you in advance and are grateful for any support you are able to provide.

Columbia Valley businesses continue to feel brunt of pandemic

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com The B.C. Chamber of Commerce has conducted another COVID-19 impact pulse check survey on the state of business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the results for the Columbia Valley show, not surprisingly, that business is down throughout

• • • •

Bruce Dehart

SEPTIC PUMPING DRAIN CLEANING SEWER CAMERA TOILET RENTALS

SEPTIC PUMPING DISCOUNT! Many in our valley are experiencing financial stress due to COVID-19.

To help ease that burden, for a limited time, we are offering a 20% discount on septic tank pumping. *If you are a front-line essential services worker, please let us know when you call to book your appointment!

Call our office at 250-347-9803 to book your appointment or visit our website at www.columbiavalleyseweranddrain.com

DISTRICT DISTRICT OF OF INVERMERE INVERMERE 914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339 Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Tel: 250-342-9281 • Fax: 250-342-2934

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION JANITORIAL SERVICES CONTRACT The District of Invermere invites applications from qualified persons for the janitorial services over a 5 year contract for: • Municipal Buildings • Columbia Valley Centre • Public Washrooms & CPR Building Copies of the draft agreement can be obtained on the Districts website. www.invermere.net.

Sealed proposals, marked “JANITORIAL SERVICES CONTRACT” will be received up to 2 p.m., local time, Friday, April 24th, 2020 at the District of Invermere Office (914 - 8th Avenue).

A non-mandatory site meeting will be held by appointment only to review the required areas of maintenance on Wednesday, April 15th, 2020.

Quotations received after the stipulated time will be rejected and returned to the individuals unopened.

the valley across a range of sectors.

The survey follows up on a similar survey in mid March and was conducted from March 26 to April 1 through the B.C. Chamber’s Mindreader platform.

This second survey drew responses from 64 Columbia Valley businesses based in Invermere, Radium Hot Springs, and Fairmont Hot Springs in Continued on page 14. . .

If mailed use the address provided below: District of Invermere Box 339 , 914 – 8th Avenue Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 The Owner reserves the right not to award a contract at all, and the lowest quote or any quote will not necessarily be accepted.

For information please contact Kindry Luyendyk, Interim Chief Administrative Officer at 250-342-9281.

The 2020 Calendars are here!

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BERNIE RAVEN 250-342-7415

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CHRIS RAVEN 250-409-9323

DORAN CAIN 250-342-1629

STEVE HENDERSON 250-341-5128

DAVE JENKINS 250-341-7344

1214 -7th Avenue, Invermere • Ph: 250-341-6044 • realestateinvermere.ca

JAN KLIMEK 250-342-1195

4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 23, 2020

SECURITY Est. 2005

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RCMP Report

Uniformed Guards Mobile Patrol Alarm Response Property Checks

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Licensed & Insured

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Invermere & Surrounding Areas

Submitted by Sgt. Darren Kakuno Detachment Commander Columbia Valley RCMP This past week, April 13 through April 19 the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 44 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

On Monday, April 13 at 8 a.m. police responded to a report of a vehicle in the ditch on Columbia River Road in Fairmont Hot Springs. A Buick Regal with front end damage was located in the ditch. The culvert in the ditch and a nearby utility pole were also damaged.

The officer made contact with the registered owner of the vehicle who confirmed he had been involved in a collision but would not say when the collision occurred. The registered owner was issued violation tickets for driving without due care and attention, worn tires, and failing to stop when in an accident resulting in damage to property.

Small Business Working Capital Loans Your small business may be eligible for a one-time, low interest loan between $5,000 and $25,000 to assist with current challenges.

How will Earth Day 2020 be remembered? As a turning point.

ourtrust.org/wcloans

Opinion piece by Sue Cairns Special to the Pioneer

COLUMBIA VALLE Y PIONEER SUBSCRIPTIONS

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For only $2.50/week (including the cost of mailing) 6-month subscriptions also available.

N E W S PA P E R

On Thursday, April 16 at about 9 a.m. a motorist reported striking a dog on Highway 93/95 near Invermere. An officer attended and located the injured dog on the highway and transported it to the veterinary hospital.

The owner of the dog was located and thankful that her dog was being cared for.

On Thursday, April 16 at 8:30 p.m. a motorcyclist received minor injuries after striking a deer on Highway 93/95 near Radium Hot Springs.

On Sunday, April 19 at 8:30 p.m. an officer conducted a traffic stop with a Ford Escape on Prospector Avenue in Radium Hot Springs.

The driver did not have a valid driver’s license and the officer suspected he had alcohol in his system. The driver submitted to a roadside breath demand and blew two “fails.” As a result, the driver received a 90-day driving prohibition and a violation ticket for driving without a license. His vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

Contact Amanda at 250-341-6299 ext: 101 for more information.

Earth Day was April 22 and this year marked its 50th anniversary. Earth Day has marked many turning points in society: in the 1970s it helped bring the Environmental Protection Act (US EPA); the 1990s, the 3Rs ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’; and 2000s, awareness of shifts to mitigate and adapt for climate change. Earth Day is now widely recognized as the largest secular observance on the planet, but on April 22, 2020, we didn’t gather. At least not physically. Let’s pause to consider then: What will this Earth Day be remembered for? Where are we at? Has a disruption like this ever happened in human history? And how did it change what society did next? Our understanding of the difference between needs and wants is clearer now.

If we have security of health and livelihood, we have the ability to not just survive, but to thrive. Health, it has been said, is the human face of climate change. Health and livelihoods are our guides as we prepare for a postCOVID-19 future. Our resourcefulness as we learn from this pandemic and build for health and livelihood for the long term will mark Earth Day 2020.

This virus has run like a tidal wave through the economy and every part of society. It has shown us our vulnerability and also our grace. Extremely hard work and cooperation are underway at every level - globally, nationally, regionally and personally. People are amazing and resourceful especially in times of need. We know our world has changed and that it is time to update. Societal health depends on a livable climate and our economy de-

pends on it too.

Numerous well-recognized think-tanks have carried out analyses based on socio-economic and environmental interdependencies as they relate to long term recovery, as well as immediate needs. This report by Pembina Institute: Green Stimulus: Principles and recommendations for a 2020 economic stimulus package offers suggestions related to: • Employment that is resilient to future economic shocks as the world seeks to limit warming to 1.5 degrees.

• Industries and businesses that produce low-carbon goods and services to expand Canada’s low-carbon economy and secure our domestic supply chain.

• Decisions for stimulus and relief through a lens of Canada’s climate commitments.

• Economic stimulus that supports job maintenance and creation as well as climate action in building, electricity, transportation, etc.

• Existing channels to quickly disburse funds across Canada’s economy (including the Low Carbon Economy Fund, provincial energy efficiency agencies, Canada Infrastructure Bank, and others).

A post-COVID-19 sustainable future is our next iteration. Health depends on a livable climate. Together we are innovative and resourceful. We are social and compassionate by nature. And we already embrace multidisciplinary technical collaboration. On this golden anniversary of Earth Day, our focus on health and prosperity is a gold nugget of hope for the future. One that will be remembered as a turning point.

Pynelogs at Kinsmen Beach

PYNELOGS CULTURAL CENTRE, ART GALLERY & CAFE HOURS: CALL FOR MORE INFO AT 250.342.4423

April 23, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

Valley cannabis and liquor customers purchasing more at a time

ICBC AUTOPLAN FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME During the current COVID-19 situation, we are able to conduct business over the phone and email. Policy documents, decals and/or plates will be mailed out to you.

Please note our temporary hours during this period:

Monday 9 am - 5 pm (Closed 12-1 pm) Tuesday – Thursday 9 am - 5 pm Fridays 9 am - 4 pm • Closed Saturdays

. . . ‘Liquor’ from page 2 inventory in some cases, so it forces us to buy large bottles in order to keep a particular spirit or wine in stock.”

The local cannabis stores reported a somewhat similar trend, although both said that in contrast to liquor stores, they haven’t seen so much a bump in sales as a change in how much customers are buying at one time.

250-342-2175 • kis.invermere@kootenayinsurance.ca

www.kootenayinsurance.ca

“Customers are purchasing larger quantities, so even though people are coming in the door less often our sales have kept up.”

Land Act:

Leslie Carlton, Invermere Cannabis Store

Notice of Intention to Apply for a Disposition of Crown Land Take notice that I, Ronald Poelzer, from Calgary, Alberta, has applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), Kootenay Boundary Region, for a Licence of occupation for dock, boat lift, boat ramp and deck use situated on Provincial Crown Foreshore located at Windermere Lake, BC. FLNRORD invites comments on this application, the Lands File is 4406097. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Authorization Specialist, FLNRORD, Kootenay Boundary Region, at 1902 Theatre Road, Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G1.

SHUSWAP BAND OFFICE 93 RCMP Comments will be received by FLNRORD up 95 to May 23, 2020.

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“It’s hard to say if it’s up or down,” said Blooming World co-owner Marjorie Fournier. “The first week (of the pandemic) was busy certainly. People were stocking up. But the next few weeks it slowed down.”

Fournier added that sales had again picked up recently, and said it was perhaps not coincidental that this was coming just as people who have lost their jobs were starting to receive their COVID-19 employment insurance payments. “Overall Easter was busier for us this year than last,” she said.

“People are coming in less often, but they are buying more at one time.”

The Invermere Cannabis Store at the crossroads reported the exact same thing.

“Sales are up a bit, even if customer count is down a lot,” said Invermere Cannabis Store manager Leslie Carlton. “Customers are purchasing larger quantities, so even though people are coming in the door less often our sales have kept up.”

Carton added it’s no surprise that people spending far more time at their homes than normal may be seeking ways to divert their attention and alleviate potential boredom.

Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

N E W S PA P E R

CHANGE OF DISTRIBUTION NOTICE As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to make some changes as to where you will find your copy of the Pioneer. The decision was made to distribute to the following locations that are essential businesses.

INVERMERE: Home Hardware Joe’s No Frills Invermere Liquor Store Canadian Tire Sobeys Pharmasave Lambert Kipp Pharmacy AG Valley Foods The Pioneer Office (paper stand)

CANAL FLATS: Canal Flats Family Pantry

FAIRMONT: Fairmont Mountainside Market

RADIUM: Radium Mountainside Market

EDGEWATER: Post Office (paper stand)

We thank you for your understanding during this time.

Stay home. Stay safe.

THE PIONEER

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

Get your FREE copy every Thursday on newsstands near you!

6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 23, 2020

PERSPECTIVE Making history – from your couch

Historical Lens

By Dauna Ditson dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com Who is having the time of their life right now? Some introverts, maybe. But for many of us, these COVID-19 days, which have turned into weeks, which could turn into months, are hard to bear. It may seem like our lives are now hopelessly boring, but I beg to disagree.

I had a video chat with pals from across the country and was struck by how different all of our lives are now because of the pandemic. One friend lost his job and is starting a new one in a grocery story. Another had barely started his own psychology practice before having to move his business online. Another friend who used to do IT stuff I don’t understand is now working on how to get medical equipment to COVID-19 patients who are well enough to go home if they can keep monitoring their health there. Another, who is doing her best to keep her children’s rambunctiousness contained inside, had to beg a dentist to open the doors when her young son broke his tooth.

I know a jail guard at a prison where they’ve already calculated the death toll COVID-19 would have behind bars if it arrives. My brother-in-law, who works in security at a hospital, now has to worry about whether the patients he has to restrain will infect him.

Here at home, we may all have friends who’ve lost their jobs. We know business owners who don’t know if their ventures will survive. We know families who are now homeschooling and parents who are hosting video calls for work while trying to prevent their children from making cameos. We have neighbours still trying to make their way home, and neighbours who had been stranded when borders closed and flights were cancelled.

We know doctors, nurses, grocery-store workers and pharmacy staff risking danger to keep us safe, fed and well. We have local makers trying to build ventilators. We have elected officials rising to challenges they never could have imagined when they asked for your vote. We have peers who are financially strained themselves but nevertheless are helping the Columbia Valley Food Bank tackle the increased demand.

All of our lives are now so strange and consist of legends we’ll tell down the line. I hope you’re adapting well to whatever fascinating new circumstances you find yourself in as each of us becomes a part of history.

Jammin’ to the oldies This photo of Dennis and Joe LaRochelle playing their respective instruments was taken at the LaRochelle home in Edgewater during the mid 1960s.

Photo C2310 by Windermere District Historical Society

Face masks crucial Dear Editor: When this pandemic began, unlike Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, China and the Czech Republic, Canada did not recommend the use of face masks. Why? There were at least three reasons. First, we didn’t have enough N95’s for our front line workers, let alone the rest of the population (poor pandemic planning on our part). Secondly, there was a mistaken belief that masks were not necessary unless the person had symptoms ignoring the prodromal period of infection prior to the onset of symptoms that exists with all respiratory viruses (poor science on our part). Thirdly, most healthcare professionals have never used a cloth mask and failed to recognize that they may not be as good as N95’s, but they are far superior to nothing at all (failure to look to the past on our part).

The result of this fiasco has been unnecessary rates

of viral spread and associated morbidity and mortality.

In contrast the Czech Republic, which was in the same situation as Canada (no N95’s for the general population), adopted cloth masks in mid March (see You Tube video by the Czech Minister of Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZtEX2-n2Hc).

Not only did they suggest cloth masks, but they also made a very straight forward video to explain the rationale to the public.

If we want to successfully get back to work (which entails reduced social distancing) in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada will need to do a much better job on the use of cloth face masks. The current laissez faire policy won’t cut it. The Czech video might be a good place to start.

Murray Trusler, retired doctor Fairmont

The Columbia Valley

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013

Pioneer

is independently owned and operated, published weekly by Robert W. Doull, President and Publisher, Misko Publishing Limited Partnership.

Box 868, #8, 1008 - 8th Ave., Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Phone: 250-341-6299 info@columbiavalleypioneer.com www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

Amanda Nason Associate Publisher/ Sales Manager

Dauna Ditson Editor

Steve Hubrecht Magazine Editor/ Reporter

Lerissa McLaughlin Sales Representative

Emily Rawbon Graphic Design

Amanda Murray Office Administrator/ Sales

The Columbia Valley Pioneer is available free of charge at more than 137 locations in the Upper Columbia Valley, limited to one copy per reader. We are funded solely through the support of our advertisers. We are published every Thursday. The Columbia Valley Pioneer may be distributed only by its authorized contractors and employees. No person may, without the prior written consent of The Pioneer or its Publisher, take more than one copy of each issue of The Pioneer. The content is protected by copyright. Reproduction by any means is prohibited except with the permission of the Publisher.

April 23, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

Dangerous partners Help for those dealing COVID-19 and domestic violence

By Dauna Ditson dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com When Shelley (not her real name) realized that COVID-19 could leave those who are in similar circumstances to the ones she escaped four years ago at an increased risk for domestic violence, she reached out to the Pioneer to share her story of abuse, her worries for those who haven’t yet left abusive relationships and her words of encouragement.

Shelley left a volatile relationship after 12 years. As she healed, she began looking after other women and helped facilitate a support group for others who had endured abuse. While that support group has run its course, Shelley and the participants are still in contact through social media. As government officials asked residents to stay home during the pandemic, Shelley grew concerned about women stuck at home with abusive partners and shared her fears in an online chat with women from the support group.

“I’ve been thinking that this social isolation is very dangerous for women who are experiencing relationship abuse/intimate partner violence. Women are already isolated due to their circumstances, and the abusive behaviour of their partners likely will be escalating due to the effects of COVID-19,” Shelley wrote.

Talking with the Pioneer, she said that COVID-19 is bringing with it increased financial stresses, job uncertainty, health worries, additional childcare needs and a host of challenges that could cause increased tension in homes across the valley.

“All those extra stresses are in the household. There’s no break from the tension that could be happening,” she said.

Shelley is also worried about those whom self-isolation will prevent from having regular time away from their partners.

“When the abusive partner goes to work or when the woman goes to work, you would get a break from that person. Not only are women in that situation not getting a break, but there’s also extra stresses and we’re isolated so it’s even hard to go for a walk with a friend,” she said.

Before Shelley left her relationship, she found herself in the women’s washroom at the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce visitor centre looking at a sticker about a domestic violence hotline.

“I just stood there in the washroom taking a little bit more time and staring at that and praying that somehow I would get to the help I needed,” she said.

Shelley started therapy sessions by phone and worked up the courage to leave.

While she noted that domestic violence programs are shifting to help people from home during COVID-19, she’s not sure those who are trapped with their abusers will have the opportunity to call for help.

“How can a woman even get to a phone to have a one-hour counselling session?” she asked. “How do you set that up without your partner knowing?”

Long before COVID-19 arrived, Shelley got busted for calling her therapist when her abuser went through her phone records. “It’s a lot more difficult to have some privacy and for women to get help right now,” she said.

Staff at Family Dynamix offered suggestions for how those living with abusers can access support. In an email to the Pioneer, they said: “An abuser may take advantage of an already stressful situation to gain more control and may feel even more justified and escalate their isolation tactics during this time. If a woman finds herself in such a situation, there are several things she can do: create several plausible reasons for leaving the house at different times of the day or night; let trusted friends and neighbours know of your situation and develop a plan and visual signal for when you need help; practice how to get out safely and practice with your children; teach your children how to get help; call 1-800-200-3003 for support.”

As for her own healing, Shelley said: “It’s worth it to get the help and to make changes ... The first step was just believing myself and trusting myself.”

She encourages those in difficult situations to breathe, to get out for walks, to be in the fresh air, to take good care of themselves, to try to get into virtual or telephone counselling and to check out https://www.whenlovehurts.ca As for those who wonder if a friend is safe at home, she recommends checking up on the friend regularly to show her you care.

Family Dynamix said their Women’s Information and Safe Homes (WISH) program has had an increase in calls directly and indirectly related to COVID-19.

While Darren Kakuno, detachment commander for the Columbia Valley RCMP, is aware of concerns around increased domestic violence while people are asked to stay home, he said “we have been fortunate in that we have not seen an increase in reported domestic assaults in the Columbia Valley.”

Two domestic assaults were reported from March 1 to April 15 as COVID-19 concerns and precautions arose. During the same time period, that’s one fewer case than last year and the same number of reported domestic assaults as in 2018.

“My hope is that we can all continue to exercise patience with each other during these difficult times,” Kakuno said.

with domestic violence

Submitted by staff of Family Dynamix Association’s domestic violence programs The pandemic has presented huge challenges for shelters worldwide in terms of safety and training for staff, protection of clients, measures to contain an outbreak within a facility, helping staff work remotely while still supporting victims, and ensuring adequate resources are in place. In addition, as families are encouraged/advised to stay at home, women and children who are vulnerable to domestic abuse will be at greater risk.

We recognize that the current COVID-19 response strategies, including self-isolation, quarantine and working from home, could impose new or compounded risks to the safety and security of victims of domestic violence due to the constant presence of the abusive partner at home. This will likely escalate rates of domestic violence for an unforeseen period.

Family Dynamix is deemed “essential services,” and we are still operating and providing support and services to assist women and their children who are at risk of abuse or leaving violence.

Help is available, at any time. You and your children will be supported and made safe, should you wish to leave your situation. We are here to help; you are not alone.

How do counseling and other services happen during self-isolation?

We are providing free remote counseling and other support services during the COVID-19 pandemic over the phone. Programs and services we deliver continue to be available in our community through phone appointments. Please call 250-342-5566 during office hours Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 4:30 (closed from 12 until 1) to book an appointment.

Are temporary accommodations available for survivors during COVID-19?

Family Dynamix does have access to temporary accommodations during COVID-19. Many shelters around the world were not prepared for a lockdown. Fortunately, Family Dynamix had the time to prepare and, with new protocols in place, continue the Women’s Information & Safe Homes (WISH) program.

We offer 24/7 safe, temporary accommodation, meals, safety planning and information for women and their children who are fleeing or are vulnerable to domestic abuse. Call 1-800-200-3003.

What advice do you have for those experiencing domestic violence during COVID-19?

• Access the local 24-hour help line at 1-800-200-3003 or call Family Dynamix during office hours at 250- 341-3963 or 250-342-5566.

• If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 911 immediately.

Support is available from Police and Victim Services Workers 24/7 at 1-800563-0808.

• Remain connected with your support networks, friends and families you can trust.

• Be aware of potential risks with the technology while using your phone, laptop, iPad and computer.

• If someone else has access to your device or you think they can get past your privacy and security settings, or you think your device has a spyware on it, be careful and find another device to use discreetly to access help when needed.

• Set up a new, safe email account to communicate with others that you trust.

• Change the passwords or passcodes on all your accounts, devices and emails.

• Check the privacy settings to disable the location services on all the devices and platforms you use, including social media accounts.

• Practice self-care. COVID-19 is causing uncertainty for many people, and getting through this time while experiencing abuse can feel really overwhelming.

Taking the time to look after yourself can make a big difference in how you feel.

• Reach out for help. Do your best to stay connected with friends, family and neighbours either over the phone or online.

• Create a safety plan. A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan that includes ways to remain safe while in a relationship, planning to leave, or after you leave. Remember that in moments of crisis, it is difficult to think clearly or make logical decisions about your safety. Having a safety plan laid out in advance can help you to protect yourself and your children at stressful times.

• Do not hesitate to call the Crisis Line at 1-800-200-3003 or 911.

What advice do you have for those who are concerned for a friend or loved one who may be experiencing domestic violence?

Seeing someone you care about being hurt is stressful. Do your best to stay connected. You can’t make decisions for them, but try to encourage your loved one to have a safety plan and think about their own well-being. Most of all, believe that what she is telling you is true.

8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 23, 2020

Socially-distant panorama Isaac, 6, had the stunning shoreline at Kinsmen Beach to himself on Monday, April 20.

Photo by Heather McLeod

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April 23, 2020

Columbia Valley

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 9

C VID-19 UPDATE

Hospital’s chief of staff answers your questions on COVID-19

By Dr. Gareth Mannheimer, chief of staff of Invermere and District Hospital and local family physician I would like to thank the majority of the community for continuing to act responsibly. This new reality is clearly getting more frustrating, particularly with the weather getting better and most of you wanting to get on with your normal lives. The state of emergency in B.C. as per Premier John Horgan is still in effect. While we all want to get back to normal, this is going to be a phased and thoughtful process. Unfortunately, it’s going to take time. Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial health officer, has said people need to “think small” and plan for a future that allows for physical distancing, including virtually or with a reduced number of people. I suspect the only realistic way we will see any easing of current restrictions, is if we continue to keep the spread of this virus controlled. This will require continued vigilance by each and every one of us.

All the sacrifices made are paying off and will continue to pay off, if we stay vigilant.

Please, let’s not squander our hard-won gains. Make the sacrifice now so that we can get to a “new normal” as fast as possible. Keep in mind, this virus has up to a two-week incubation period, so health care workers haven’t yet seen the effects of people coming together over the Easter long weekend, or those who traveled unnecessarily in or out of the valley over the last couple weeks. It is this incubation period that dictates why the decisions around restrictions are made in two-week increments.

I know everyone has lots of questions. I am going to do my best to answer some of them.

Did members of our community get COVID-19 and is it still in our valley?

Yes. We have had positive cases in the valley as recently as last week. The virus remains in our community. COVID-19 continues to be spread here. Remember, it is possible to be infected with the virus and not show any symptoms. There are two kinds of silent spreaders: the “asymptomatic” (people who carry the virus in their body and never get sick) and the “pre-symptomatic” (people who have been infected and are incubating the virus, but don’t show symptoms yet.)

Another common form of transmission is via people with very mild symptoms. A COVID-19 infection is often generally mild. And that’s really the secret to its aggressive and worldwide spread. People with very mild symptoms feel a little unwell, but continue to come in close contact with others. Unfortunately, these people often continue to frequent public places with a light cough or fever, and may unwittingly spread the disease in the early days of symptom onset, perhaps at the time they are most infectious.

Will COVID-19 come back to the valley?

The virus is already here. As we increase our testing, we are seeing more evidence of its presence. This increased testing is slowly giving us more meaningful information on actual infection rates.

Won’t COVID-19 go away like the flu?

The reality is we don’t know. This virus is novel. Scientists have studied the seasonal flu for decades and, despite its danger, we know a lot about flu viruses and what to expect each season. Very little is known about COVID-19. It’s a bit of a wild card. We are learning details in terms of how it spreads, how far it spreads, under what conditions it spreads, and how many deaths it will cause as we try to manage it.

What is likely the most important factor is that we do not yet have a cure or a vaccine for COVID-19. We are still unsure if the new coronavirus will react as the seasons change, or if summer will do anything to alter or slow the spread. Until this critical information is clearer, we will likely see recommendations to err on the side of caution, and will continue to push for social and physical distancing. Right now, all we can control is our behaviour. We know from our own data over the past month that following the Provincial guidelines work, if we all respect the rules. If guidelines are ignored, the risk will be a second wave of infection and prolongation of all rigid restrictions. I ask

each, and every one of you, to do your best and be the model of responsible behaviour.

Are the local medical clinics open to address my medical needs other than COVID-19?

Yes. Both Invermere Medical Clinic and Chisel Peak Clinic are open and providing consultations. The majority of these will be telephonic or via video, but in circumstances where you need to be seen in person, these are also being arranged.

Regardless of whether or not you have a family physician, we are ready and able to help all of you. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cooze to our clinic team for a few months. Dr. Cooze is available to assist all patients as well. We will do what we can to get you treated. We are in this together and we are here for you.

• Invermere Medical Clinic (250) 342-9206 • Chisel Peak Clinic (250) 341-6900 • Invermere & District Hospital (250) 342-9201 What do you think getting back to normal will look like?

We don’t know. Any decision to lighten restrictions will be slow and phased. We need to build community immunity and prevent any rapid spread or transmission. We remain concerned about sudden outbreaks and clusters.

There will likely be criteria and timelines set out by Provincial leadership, informed by medical experts, before businesses and public spaces return to normal. States of emergency can only be issued two weeks at a time in B.C.. It is my expectation that data-driven information, involving the health risks posed, will inform any actions on how we gradually return to normal. We do know the way we interacted, shopped and ran our businesses in the past will change.

Rapid response antibody testing will be increasingly important in shedding light on the extent of COVID-19 infections in B.C.. To know you are immune would provide important information to help get people back to work, and feel safe moving around the community, while we wait for a vaccine to be developed and approved.

What will happen if we get a second wave?

Our focus is firmly on playing it smart and staying apart. We know from our own experience and the experience of countries such as South Korea that social distancing, hand hygiene, travel restrictions and the use of cloth face coverings are important in mitigating a second wave. We do feel that if we experience a second wave, it will come because we relaxed these measures prematurely.

Second waves often occur when new cases emerge after a period of time with no to very few infections. Past pandemics of infectious disease are characterized by waves that last several months. The Spanish flu epidemic in 1918 had three waves with the second wave being more deadly and severe than the first. Today, we are watching China, South Korea, Japan and Singapore carefully for important insights on what we can learn and put into practice.

When will we have an effective vaccine?

Best current estimates are 12-18 months. Vaccine development is time consuming and requires multiple phased testing to ensure safety. Be assured, researchers from around the world are working to develop a vaccine at an unprecedented pace to ease suffering, and to get us back to our lives.

Should I be afraid to visit the hospital if I get sick or injured?

No. People can and will get sick and injured during a pandemic. We encourage you to call us first to best direct you.

If you have an emergency, please go to the Invermere and District Hospital immediately. If you have questions, please call the clinic where you normally receive care.

Continued on page 11 …

HANG IN THERE COLUMBIA VALLEY! Your Chamber is here to support you during this challenging time.

Stay up to date with reliable, local information by visiting

www.cvchamber.ca

10 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 23, 2020

C VID-19 UPDATE

Columbia Valley

Resource, Development & Advocacy

Creating structure in your day Vacations are wonderful breaks to our everyday busy lives, but many of us have found ourselves on a permanent “vacation” of sorts. If we do not create some structure and routine to our day, we may start wondering day after day, “what am I going to do today?” If your finding yourself aimlessly wandering through your days, chances are your kids are too. Use the questions below to help add structure and purpose to your family’s day.

1. What is my intention for the day? Patience, to be kind, positivity etc.

2. What will I do to move my body today? Yoga, bike ride, dance video etc.

3. What is one productive task I want to accomplish today? Yard work, bake muffins, clean out a cupboard etc.

4. How will I socially connect in a safe way today?

Phone call, facetime, distanced walk with a friend etc.

5. What will I do for my brain? Schoolwork, read a book, puzzles etc.

6. What will I do for fun today? Play with bub-

bles, make playdoh, go on a family walk etc.

Dedicate time every morning, or once a week, to plan out your day or week. Depending on the age of your children they can provide input into their day, or you might help them in choosing tasks. Use a chalkboard, whiteboard, or a piece of paper to write out your plans and place it somewhere visible in your home.

Dinner time is a great time to recap your day and share some of your accomplishments with your family.

Vagus – The wondering nerve Submitted by Purnima Gosavi, Director of Program Management The tenth cranial nerve of our body is appropriately named the ‘Vagus” nerve, which in Latin means ‘wandering’. Vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve serving the sensory as well as motor functions with a widest distribution in the body that runs all the way from the brainstem to colon, interacting and influencing the vital organs and glands along the spinal cord.

There is growing evidence in the realm of medical and psychiatric research, that improving “vagal tone” is an effective way to combat inflammation and depression. This can be achieved through daily habits such as yoga and meditation or in more extreme cases of inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, by using an implanted device for Vagus Nerve Stimulation. “Additionally, researchers are studying vagus nerve stimulation as a potential treatment for a variety of conditions, including headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, bipolar disorder, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease” (Source: Mayo Clinic).

Vagus nerve is one of the most important channels that directly affect not only our immunity, but also our physical and mental wellbeing. Vagus nerve is a messenger system that enables our body to shift from the fight or flight (sympathetic nervous system) to the rest and digest (para-sympathetic nervous system). In the simplest terms, it sends messages to our body cells to relax and calm down and signals the appropriate systems to begin the rest and restore mode and activating the regular tasks of breathing normally, digesting, cleansing and removing the metabolic wastes and other toxins from our body and thus renovating and enhancing our body’s self-healing system.

The Good News: And the good news is that, you can self-administer the naturally produced Vagus substance, acetylcholine, simply by keeping your spine straight, shoulders wide and open and then taking a few deep breaths; long slow inhales with longer slower exhales- both through your nostrils. One may take three to four deep breaths a cou-

ple of times throughout the day for noticeable health benefit.

How to “tone” your Vagus Nerve to improve immunity?

While deep breathing and other pranayama techniques, yoga and meditation has been evidenced in a number of scientific researches as the most effective way to “tone” your Vagus Nerve, and heal you from various inflammation and depression. There are many other tools to help you align and balance your state of mind to be in the rest & digest parasympathetic mode. They all will help you develop and nurture a robust immune system, increase your vivacity and overall health.

Please consider the following to tone your Vagus Nerve: ✔ Yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises ✔ Cold baths and showers, or finishing your warm showers with a quick cold one ✔ Splashing chilly cold water on your face first thing in the morning will get you in a “vagus mode” to start your day on a positive note ✔ Connecting with the Earth – walking barefoot on earth ✔ Sun & forest bathing, long walks in nature ✔ Laughing, singing, dancing, creative arts

Are you in need of a safe home?

Call the crisis line 1-800-200-3003 for help Women’s Information and Safe Homes (WISH)

✔ Nurturing relations and friendships, social connectedness, ✔ Positive mind-set, gratitude, practicing non-judgemental attitude ✔ Martial arts, exercises, jogging, head & full body massage ✔ Eating well, chewing with awareness, probiotics ✔ Sleeping on your right side for some time, opens the left cooling nostril that helps reduce body heat and has a relaxing, calming effect Basically, all those things that make you happy and improve the quality of your life, strengthen your body and boost your life-force energy are wonderful to help “toning” your Vagus Nerve to improve your immunity and state of health.

Health care disclaimer The above content is here to educate readers on health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Nothing in the content should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your physician, before starting any new self-care routine.

Source courtesy and references: en.wikipedia.org, mayoclinic.org, britannica.com, emedicine.medscape.com, psychologytoday.com

Seniors Support Seniors, please remember that the Better at Home program are available to help with… ❑ Grocery Shopping ❑ Daily check-ins ❑ Transportation to appointments ❑ Pet walking Call Jennifer at 250-342-1110 or 250-342-5566.

Resource, Development & Advocacy

Resource, Development & Advocacy

Family Dynamix acknowledges that we deliver services on the unceded territory of the Ktunaxa and Secwepemc people”

April 23, 2020

Columbia Valley

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 11

C VID-19 UPDATE

Program opens doors for mature workers Submitted by Kootenay Employment Services

As we continue to adjust to a ‘new normal’ way of life throughout the Columbia Valley, the arrival of spring and summer brings the realization of limited outdoor and community activity.

This presents the task of filling days usually spent golfing, hiking or vacationing with new adventures. Moving through this pandemic following the ‘stay at home’ model is pushing us to change how we do things via the use of technology. This brings new opportunities to access education and training, assess a career change and prepare for life post COVID-19.

It’s virtually business as usual at Kootenay Employment Services (KES) … literally.

The employment resource hub’s switch to virtual services in mid-March includes the delivery of various employment-related programs, including Encore.

This 12-week program targets 55+ unemployed or underemployed people and supports the growing trend of people working past traditional retirement years and changing jobs to achieve their goals later in life. Encore is designed to bolster this season of transition.

Encore offers four weeks of paid virtual in-class training led by a facilitator via Moodle five days a week. Participants are given a living allowance. The highly-qualified and dynamic facilitators spend time reviewing skills and strengths, assessing, developing computer skills and office software, evaluating upgrading and skills training courses, researching, and connecting with employers.

This is followed by eight weeks of supported employment or skills-training certification delivered virtually. Options include a short-term course to certify participants for a skill in a desired job, training with a dedicated employer, or development of a self-employment idea.

Older workers are faced with a number of unique challenges when it comes to entering the labour force including discrimination and technological barriers. Older workers also come equipped with a lifetime of experience and knowledge, giving them a lot to offer. The Encore program helps participants identify and utilize their strengths to move ahead with employment-related goals.

Encore starts on May 11. Spaces are limited and eligibility criteria applies.

For more information contact Kootenay Employment Services at 250-341-6889 or visit www.kes.bc.ca.

Stay home.

Stay safe.

Best wishes from the Pioneer during this challenging time.

N E W S PA P E R

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com • info@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Chamber of commerce update: bingo, online events and more Submitted by Pete Bourke, Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Our group of representatives from the chamber, provincial and local government, tourism, social services and community groups continue to meet daily to collaborate and align on all things related to COVID-19.

This results in email newsletters being sent on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. This communication is available to everyone and we encourage you to sign up via our website, www.cvchamber.ca. We are also continually updating our chamber website so you have the most current and reliable information.

Some of our latest updates: Last week we hosted several virtual round table meetings with government officials and other key stakeholders for our valley. You can find the recordings on our website under the COVID-19 page. We will be hosting many more of these in the coming weeks so please watch for information in our newsletters and also visit our Community Events Calendar at www.cvchamber.ca/events-calendar, where you can learn about other training opportunities as well.

Suuport local and think local! Have you played our Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Bingo Game yet? Visit our Facebook page @ColumbiaValleyChamber to support our community and enter to win some amazing prizes!

There are several really important support positions needed on the Volunteer Columbia Valley website, namely a call for “Seamstresses to Sew Protective Face Masks.”

Please visit www.volunteercv.ca to learn more and support if you are able.

If there is anything we can assist you with please don’t hesitate to call 250-3422844 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days per week), or email us at welcome@cvchamber.ca.

Until next week, stay healthy, stay strong and keep supporting your local businesses. . . . ‘COVID-19 questions’ from 9 Why do we not have clearer and stronger rules about what we can and can’t do?

The COVID-19 situation in B.C. continues to evolve. Realistically, it is impossible to provide rules for every situation. Instead, we rely on Provincial and medical guidelines. This means in the absence of clear-cut rules, we must use common sense to apply, develop, adhere and remain vigilant in adopting and living each day with best practices.

If I own or am responsible for an essential service what should I do?

Control the risk of exposure. Focus on maintaining healthy and safe workplaces while balancing the needs of customers and staff. Focus on best practices from Work Safe BC to limit exposure, maintain distance and ensure adequate hygiene to mitigate exposure. Build a solid plan, train your employees, talk about developments and talk about any concerns they have. Call us if you need any help or information. If you need personal protective equipment (PPE), please contact echandler@shaw.ca.

What can I do?

The best way for you to help is to remain diligent and vigilant. Help and support one another safely. Now is the time to be hopeful, but we are not out of the woods. We can say in a very guarded way we are doing our part to flatten the curve, but what this really means is we have, so far, avoided the surge. We aren’t done. It’s not time to host a neighbourhood party. It’s not time to have friends over to the house for dinner or children over for a playdate – we aren’t there yet. We are social.

However, I would urge you to stay social, but try to do it in new and safe ways.

This is hard, but we can’t give up now while we as a community are collectively winning this fight.

Let’s give thanks to those who are out there every day for you. If you want to thank your health care workers, our local heroes working in the grocery store and the pharmacy, those providing take-out and delivery, truckers, and essential services – do it by protecting them! Stay at home, stay apart. You aren’t doing it just for yourselves, you are doing it for everyone.

12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Columbia Valley

April 23, 2020

C VID-19 UPDATE

A doctor’s plea for cloth masks

By Signe Olynyk Special to the Pioneer Dr. Murray Trusler – a retired physician now living in Fairmont with a storied career that includes managing the most remote hospitals in Ontario, disaster planning for mass casualties, and running international emergency departments – remembers the surgical days before N-95 masks, when doctors used cloth masks for medical procedures.

Sometimes in high-risk infectious situations, he would wear two masks at a time, along with doubling up on gowns. Back then, it was an even higher infectious environment because there weren’t as many vaccines. The masks saved him and countless others from spreading disease.

Dr. Trusler believes everyone needs to be wearing a mask. Immediately.

A homemade cloth mask has been medically proven to be 98 per cent as effective as an N-95 mask, provided it fits properly and is well made. Although Canadian health officials and other countries have given mixed messages about masks, Dr. Trusler believes this could be a fatal mistake.

“We have to mobilize Canadians to do two things: make sufficient, properly made masks and get the word out that everyone needs to wear one outside of the home.”

Like Canada and many other countries, social distancing and hygiene (frequent hand washing) were the two key messages that authorities advised to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

But in the Czech Republic, the minister of health insisted on one additional measure: anyone who left their home had to wear a mask. Transmission of the virus slowed significantly, unlike in other countries where the number of infected people continued to rise.

Gail Gross has been working with Dr. Gareth Manheimer, chief of staff at the Invermere and District Hospital to ensure there is enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, and for the public.

“We have had disposable masks and other PPE donated from businesses and individuals,” said Gross. “We have given masks to grocery store workers, cloth masks to pharmacies, and are working hard to get more out to as many people in the community as possible. We want everyone to have this protection, and it is free to anyone who needs it – as supplies are available.”

Because people in the community are donating the materials and time to make the

masks, there is no expense to the healthcare system.

“For every infection, every hospital admission, every ICU admission, every intubation, every death prevented, there is a huge cost savings to the healthcare system,” said Dr. Trusler.

For every infection prevented, the risk to healthcare workers and other front line citizens is also reduced. For the relatively low cost of making and distributing masks that slow the disease, it could save millions for the healthcare system, and prevent the economic collapse from being even worse.

“We are facing economic destruction as we have never experienced in our lifetime.

We will be forced to end our policy of isolation soon – in a matter of weeks according to the prime minister,” said Dr. Tesler. “When we return to work, social distancing will decrease no matter how careful we are. The one way we can readily reduce the risk of infection from closer contact is to wear cloth masks. To be effective, every one of us will have to be on board.”

In the Columbia Valley, there are more than 100 seamstresses making masks for everyone in our community – for free. Approximately 700 masks have been made so far, but it is anticipated that we will need upwards of 10,000 masks for local use. Homemade masks are being produced around the clock, and delivered daily to various locations.

In Invermere, masks are available at Lambert Insurance, Pharmasave, and Valley Foods. In Radium, you can pick yours up at the Mountainside Market. They’re at Pipps in Edgewater too.

“Every day we drop a supply off, but the masks are all gone by the end of the day,” said Erin Chandler, a firefighter with the Invermere Fire Department who is helping to coordinate the distribution effort. “More volunteers are needed, as well as donations of fabric and elastic. We have had a lot of support, but there is still a great demand.”

Chandler stressed that masks need to laundered before wearing and need to be cleaned every time before reusing.

“You don’t know who has touched it before you put it on and if they potentially had the virus,” she said. She also emphasized how important it is to “put it on and leave it on.”

“Every time you touch it, you are potentially contaminating it with COVID-19, and there could be droplets on the outside,” she said.

If you can help make masks or donate supplies, please contact Chandler at echandler@shaw.ca.

Community greenhouse delivers year’s first harvest Submitted by Alex Brander

Masks made for others through the Columbia Valley Community Mask Initiative.

Photo by Ryan Watmough

Despite COVID-19 worries, quarantines and lockdowns, many volunteer organizations are continuing to work through these difficult times and Groundswell Community Greenhouse is no exception. The greenhouse’s first harvest of the year produced baby bok choy, baby spinach, tender baby kale, mixed stir fry greens, mint and oregano. It was delivered to Hopkins Harvest this past Friday.

“Everything was gathered at its peak. We have a great team of harvesters who work together in harmony,” said Anne Rose, the Groundswell volunteer who oversaw the harvest. “With the event of COVID-19, we have daily been contacted by more and more willing volunteers who wish to join our team. Teamwork is great for morale during a health crisis and gives the community an opportunity to help and support each other.”

The community greenhouse has been designated an essential service as an urban farm and has implemented health and safety measures including hand sanitizer stations and observation of social distancing rules similar to those seen at grocery stores and other businesses which remain open.

Hopkins Harvest, only a few kilometers away, will also be staying open this season as an essential service.

“We are really pleased with the quality of the produce, and it has sold really well,” Kerstan Hopkins of Hopkins Harvest told Groundswell earlier this week.

From Scratch in Fairmont is sourcing ingredients from Groundswell for contributions to the food bank.

Groundswell Community Greenhouse is located behind the DTSS high school in Invermere, on the corner of 15th Avenue and Westridge Drive. Find us on Facebook for more exciting news and events.

April 23, 2020

Columbia Valley

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 13

C VID-19 UPDATE

Daycares closed until pandemic is over

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com Many of the day cares in the Columbia Valley have closed due to COVID-19, with most saying they will resume operations once the pandemic is over.

The decision to close came in mid March, was made by the centres themselves (as opposed to being mandated by a provincial order) and came after representatives of some of the local daycare centres met to discuss the situation. March 18 was the day most local daycares closed operations, which was one day after the provincial government announced all kindergarten to Grade 12 classes had been suspended until further notice.

“We were talking with the other daycares in the area and all felt – for the safety of the children, their families and our staff – that we were going to all close,” Windermere Valley Child Care Society manager Pat Miller told the Pioneer. “We put our families and staff first for safety reasons.”

“I spoke with two managers of other centres in the valley and we collaboratively encouraged our board of directors that it would be a good idea to close,” said Eva Joseph Cultural Centre’s Little Badgers early learning program manager Carrie Rickards.

Mountain Ridge Academy co-owners Timm and Vassa Stein pointed to the safety and health of kids and staff and, additionally, to a lack of kids attending as reason for closing their daycare, noting that a great many

parents would have opted to keep their kids home during the pandemic even if the daycare had been open.

“We tried to stay open, but it was not feasible ... It was our decision to close, because of the greatly reduced attendance – many parents chose to keep their children at home – and to keep our teachers safe and healthy. Our teachers also have their families that they need to protect, and it is impossible to find other teachers in the valley if our teachers either got sick or chose to stay at home.

Since our teachers are our school’s greatest asset, we need to protect them,” said Timm Stein.

He added that he understands that some parents are still working and may still be in need of daycare.

“However, we – and some of our teachers – also need to stay at home with our own children because the K-12 schools are closed. Unless the licensing bodies relax the restrictions and allow the (daycare) teachers to bring their own kids to school with them, it is not feasible for them to return because they will then need to look and pay for a safe place for their own children,” he said. “In the end, it just becomes a vicious cycle and the operation of the school could change every single day, which creates a huge administrative burden.”

Stein added that out of the 32 families that send their kids to Mountain Ridge, only one showed interest in coming back after the spring break, and that none of the other families expressed a desperate need for childcare when the Steins sent out a survey on the matter.

Rickards noted that in B.C., daycares are considered

an essential service during this pandemic and are being encouraged to stay open to help support parents who work in other essential services and who have children that may need childcare.

“Some of the reasons that helped us decide (to close) were that it is impossible to social distance with young children, and if their families are working the front lines (in health care) then that is putting the other children, teachers and their families at risk,” said Rickards. “It is frustrating because most of the time early childhood educators are looked down upon as just being babysitters, but when it comes to a pandemic then we are now considered essential services.”

Mountain Ridge, Little Badgers, the Windermere Valley Child Care Society and Sonshine Children’s Centre have all indicated that they will re-open as soon as possible – as long as it is safe to do so.

Miller said re-opening may be something that happens “slowly, depends on how it all goes.”

Mountain Ridge will re-open “when the parents’ confidence and the attendance numbers increase, and when the provincial government provides confident evidence that the crisis is under control, especially in our small and vulnerable community,” said Stein. “Our teachers will also need to feel confident and comfortable before they return to work. In addition, our teachers will need to be able to send their own kids back to school at the same time.”

Learning continues although schools are almost empty of students

By Dauna Ditson dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com It is a strange time for students, teachers, parents and Paul Carriere, the retiring superintendent of School District 6.

Following 22 years of service with the school district, Carriere is retiring at the end of July. Over his career, he was the principal for students from Edgewater, Radium and Golden. Now he’s steering the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The main challenge is that so much is unknown.

We are inventing a new way of working and learning in a changing environment, but we are unsure of how things will play out in the coming weeks and what it means for us in the system,” he told the Pioneer by email. “We have confidence in the ministry and public health officials, and we are just being student centred, and patient, as the situation unfolds.”

With around seven students in the Columbia Valley still physically going to school (the numbers change depending on their parents’ work schedules), there are basically as many schools in the valley as there are students between their walls.

“Schools are fairly quiet places right now,” he said.

“We are providing services for the children, ages five to 12, of some essential services workers who don’t have other options for care. This isn’t ‘childcare’ in the traditional sense, as we are providing supervision for these children

to engage in learning at school and play time. At present their teachers are providing the program at a distance – the same way we are providing education services for all students – and support staff members are looking after the needs at the school.”

Principals, secretaries and some support staff are in the schools, with teachers and additional support staff working from the schools as needed.

“Teachers made real efforts to reach out, to make personal connections with students and families, which we know was well received ... We are proud of the work that our staff is doing to help students move their learning forward and care for other needs,” he said. “Our sense is that students are making progress – we all know it is not the same as it was, but under the circumstances, learning is moving forward.”

Carriere noted a few benefits arising from the school district’s pandemic response.

“There is a lot of collaboration occurring between staff members, and innovative practices are emerging – specifically around the use of technology in general. One silver lining is that this is helping our staff increase their knowledge of different tools to support learning,” he said.

Asked what it’s like to be winding down his career with the district during this time of social isolation, Carriere said: “It certainly has been different, but I am not feeling isolated from staff, especially since we have made a lot of efforts to stay connected through this in different ways. I would love to see some return to normalcy before

David Thompson Secondary School

File Photo

my time with the district ends, but all our decisions have been made with a primary focus on everyone’s safety. We will get through this together!”

Karen Shipka, the new district superintendent, will begin her role at the start of August.

14 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

Annual General Meeting

April 23, 2020

Highschoolers at home

By Dauna Ditson dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com

&

Local Grade 10 students, Emma Postlethwaite and Hannah Fullerton, miss seeing their friends and are disappointed about the activities and sports that are cancelled for now. Even so, both are learning, keeping themselves occupied and maintaining socially-distant friendships. They wrote up their experiences during the time of COVID-19 for the Pioneer.

This virtual event is taking place: th

Thursday April 30 , 2020 3-4 p.m.

Email info@radiumhotsprings.com to RSVP. DISTRICT OF INVERMERE 914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Tel: 250-342-9281 • Fax: 250-342-2934

UTILITY BILLS Invermere property owners struggling with the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic now have extra time to pay their 2020 Utility Bill.

The District of Invermere Council recognizes the extraordinary circumstances created by the pandemic, and the financial challenges these circumstances may be creating for some residents and businesses. Based on this recognition, the District will not enforce the five per cent penalty for late Utility Bill payments until November 2nd 2020. Property owners have until November 2nd to pay their utility bill without penalty.

If you have any questions or would like more details, please visit the Municipal Office or the website at www.invermere.net.

Volunteers All the residents, clients, staff and families of Columbia House would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all our many volunteers that visit us in our home.

To all of you, our dedicated and talented musicians, compassionate individuals, Healthcare Auxiliary members, quilters, pet visitors, hospice volunteers and the many organizational members and friends that walk through our doors, or work behind the scenes, you are special because you care. You never go unnoticed and you are what make Columbia House what it is – a warm and supportive community.

We value your gifts of energy, time and talents and whether we see you once a year, or every week, you always brighten our day. During this time, we want you all to know that you are extremely missed and are very important in our daily lives.

Please take care of yourselves.

We look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Please recycle this newspaper

Emma: My life has changed because of COVID-19 in more ways than one. I had a Germany exchange scheduled that got cancelled and I had a Hawaii swim club trip cancelled. I don’t think those events being cancelled are the biggest changes. I think sports and school being shut down are the biggest changes. I think being a teenager in high school during the time of COVID-19 is tough especially at this time of year because the weather is getting nice and people are coming out of hibernation. I was just starting to solidify some of my friend groups before this and now it’s all fallen apart because no one is allowed to see each other. I think my freedom has not been as limited as other kids’ freedom because I’m working.

With COVID-19 making it so many people can’t work, it’s tough on adults and parents because they need an income to support their families. I think that’s the biggest thing parents might be worried about. I have divorced parents, and my brother is living at one household and I am living at another. For me the hardest part is

. . . ‘Columbia Valley’ from page 3 accommodation and food services, retail, real estate and property lease, construction, and other sectors.

The survey found a reported 41 per cent overall reduction in sales volume. A total of 80 per cent of business reported a decrease in business, 67 per cent had closed temporarily, 41 per cent had laid off employees, 38 per cent had reduced staff hours, and 30 per cent had deferred or cancelled capital projects. Unfortunately two per cent reported they had closed permanently, and 34 per cent had cancelled contracts or tenders.

It wasn’t all bad news, and many Columbia Valley businesses are doing their best to adapt to the pandemic as much as possible: the survey found that 19 per cent had increased their online, digital or e-commerce, six per cent had introduced new products, and two per cent had actually managed to increase their sales volumes.

In terms of how many employees businesses had been forced to lay off, the mean number of employees laid off by Columbia Valley businesses responding to the survey was 22.7. This number however, is perhaps reflective of a relatively small number of larger business, as the median number of employees laid off by Columbia Valley businesses responding to the survey was four.

Looking at just how far sales volumes have dropped for local establishments, 41 per cent of businesses reported their sales volume dropping by 100 per cent, another 23 per cent of businesses said it had dropped between 75 per cent and 99 per cent, and a further 11 per cent reported sales volumes drops of between 50 per cent and 74 per cent. In sum this means three quarters of Columbia Valley businesses surveyed have seen, at minimum, their sales cut in half, while four out of ten have seen it

not getting to see the other half of my family as much as I’d hoped. I think I’m a resourceful person and keeping myself occupied hasn’t been the hardest. I have been painting and building wood projects and redecorating the house as well as my bedroom and doing lots of yard work. I think I’m doing a good job at staying occupied.

As for my relationships, I think the most important ones I have are still good and strong. I have been communicating over Snapchat and Houseparty and other social media platforms. (Thank goodness for those!) I haven’t seen any of my friends in person since self isolation was put in place and that’s been hard. Of course I don’t talk to everyone from school anymore but I’m confident that my friendships and relationships aren’t changing for the worse.

Hannah: I can’t go to school or see any of my friends regularly. I have to stay in my house and even though I can go outside and see people from six feet apart, it’s not the same as having physical connection with people. It’s very frustrating and sometimes it feels as if there is no point in staying home, but I know it’s important nonetheless.

I miss my friends a lot. My family is coping pretty well and we get along most of the time for being in the house together most of the time. It’s difficult on your mental health, and having a parent in essential services can be scary sometimes. I have been cleaning and doing my school work (even though it’s hard to stay motivated).

Video games are a great time killer and I have been Continued on page 15. . .

evaporate completely.

Of the businesses still standing, 70 per cent said they expect further decreased sales volumes in the coming two weeks. On the other hand, 16 per cent reported that they expect to increase digital commerce in coming weeks. Some three per cent said they may need to close permanently in the coming weeks, while 56 per cent thought they may need to close temporarily.

Only eight per cent of Columbia Valley businesses surveyed thought the economy will rebound quickly here in the valley once the COVID-19 crisis is over, while 55 per cent thought it would be slow, and 38 per cent were unsure. Those who thought the local economic recovery would be slow were asked why: 71 per cent cited permanent damage to customer’s ability to pay, 54 per cent pointed to insufficient global economic activity; 49 per cent indicated permanent damage stemming from the workforce hiatus; 37 per cent indicated insolvency or lack of financial capacity to restart the business, 11 per cent cited insufficient government response, and six per cent said they thought the pre-COVID economy was overheated and due for a correction.

Survey respondents were asked about the top three measures the Provincial government could adopt that would help keep their organization in operation: 56 per cent indicated further reducing taxes facing B.C. businesses and households, and 56 per cent suggested providing direct support to B.C. industry sectors particularly affected by the pandemic. Some 47 per cent suggested rolling back B.C. Hydro rates, 33 per cent suggested collaborating with properties owners and tenants and considering remedies for businesses not able to pay rent, and 30 per cent suggested freezing municipal business property tax levels and allowing businesses to defer payments.

April 23, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 15

DTSS seeks photos of students doing their favourite self-isolation activities Submitted by Lizzie Midyette DTSS It’s no secret by now that this school year is unlike any other. I’m amazed at how well families and school communities are doing with adjusting to remote learning opportunities.

It’s also not a secret that I coordinate the DTSS yearbook. I cannot even begin to imagine how many photos I have taken since then. While it’s a history-making project I do off the side of my desk, so to speak, I am thankful for the students, staff, and community members who share their photos with me. To those wonderful folks, I couldn’t make our yearbook what it is without you; thank you!

This year presents a unique challenge: documenting self-isolation and how learning has changed this spring.

I considered not including this chapter in DTSS history, but it is happening, and I want to reflect how it’s shaping our school year. I thought about how to represent this time, and wanted to shine a light on the positive aspects . . . ‘Highschoolers’ from page 14 calling my friends every day which is nice. Apps like Houseparty and FaceTime are a great way to call and see your friends’ faces. It’s a lot better than just texting because you can hear their voices. I’ve had to take a break from my romantic relationship but I have been able to talk to my friends who live far away and that I don’t get to see in person.I was supposed to go on a swim training camp, which got cancelled.

of family time, learning new things, and taking care of ourselves.

As I am unable to take photos of how self-isolation and new learning is happening for the DTSS community, I am asking for families and students a huge favour. I am asking for photos of students engaging in their favourite self-isolation activities, think baking, cooking, training animals, art, craft, workouts, training, etc. I am also looking for ideas on how DTSS students are taking on their remote learning? Are they curled up in a comfy chair with a novel? Are they at their desktop or laptop, coding and creating? Are their learning opportunities their self-isolation activities? What are our chef training students whipping up for dinner? What creative endeavours are our art, drama, and band students up to?

Photos can be emailed to me at lizzie.midyette@sd6. bc.ca during the month of April. I appreciate the opportunity to reach out to families; thank you to the Pioneer.

It takes a community!

I am also worried that I won’t be able to have a summer around my friends. I know I am going to have to spend my 16th birthday in isolation and I won’t be able to get my drivers license for a while. My friends and I are going to go camping ASAP after this is over.

Isolation is lonely and it really sucks, but it won’t last forever and things will get better. If you are struggling, make sure you reach out to people and try and stay positive.

DISTRICT OF INVERMERE 914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Tel: 250-342-9281 • Fax: 250-342-2934

YARD WASTE PICK-UP PROGRAM The District is running the Yard Waste Pick-up Program to assist residents in disposing of spring yard waste. The program will be a reservation based system where residents are to call the Municipal Office at 250-342-9281 and ask to be put on the reservation list for Yard Waste Pick-up. Residents are to provide the following information to Municipal Staff : • Name; • Phone number; and • Civic Address Pick-up will occur on Wednesday, April 29th and Wednesday, May 6th Resident will be required to place their yard waste at the curb for pickup after 8 am on the day of pick- up after you have placed your reservation and confirmed your street address.

Yard waste must be placed in clear plastic or brown paper bags and includes leaf and grass material. Branches and pruning are to be bundled in maximum 4 foot bundles and are not to exceed 50 lbs in weight.

Staff will not pick up any yard waste if it does not meet the above requirements. If you have not placed a reservation, your yard waste will not be picked up.

The District if also offering a drop off location at the parking lot of the old community hall site during the week of April 27th to May 1st. There will be a bin on location that residents can access to drop off any yard waste as specified above.

For further questions, comments or concerns, please contact the office at 250-342-9281 or info@invermere.net.

Hello neighbours..

We’re postponing our community engagement process.

In response to COVID-19, Columbia Basin Trust is postponing its public engagement process, including community meetings this Spring and two regional symposia this Fall. We are looking forward to future conversations about how you live, work and play in the Columbia Basin. We understand you are focused on public health right now and we will reschedule when you have the time and space to join the conversation.

We will be closing the online Thoughtexchange on March 31. Visit imagine.ourtrust.org if you wish to share your thoughts before then.

Our commitment to people, communities and partners The Trust is committed to providing support to the Basin during this challenging time. We recognize that many of our recipients and partners will experience challenges and we encourage you to reach out to your Trust contact if this is true for you. ourtrust.org | info@ourtrust.org | 1.800.505.8998

16 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 23, 2020

HERE TO SERVE YOU CONCRETE

CONCRETE

READY MIX CONCRETE

Columbia Concrete Inc.

Concrete Pump • Sand & Gravel Heavy Equipment Rentals • Crane Service

20 years’ experience • Anything concrete!

• • • •

Basements Garage pads Driveways Patios

• • • •

Decorative Exposed Stamped concrete Acid staining

For competitive prices and prompt service, call: 250-342-3268 (plant) 250-342-6767 (office)

Serving the Columbia Valley

250-688-3739 I N

Proudly Serving the Valley for over 50 years

P U R S U I T

• Ready Mix Concrete • Commercial concrete sealer • Concrete Pumping retarder for exposed • Over 50 colours available aggregate and in stock • DELIVERED ON TIME • Concrete stamps for rent at a fair price • Full range of coloured release • Full range of sand and agents for stamping gravel products.

O F

EXCELLENCE Skandia Concrete • Manufacturers & suppliers of quality concrete & gravel products • Experienced, professional operators and the right equipment to get your job done • Serving the valley for over 30 years

• Environmentally responsible • Steamed aggregate beds for top quality year-round concrete supply • We stand behind our service, quality and products

Phone: 250-342-5833 • Cell: 250-270-9444

All products are available at 9120, Hwy 93/95 which is five kilometres north of Tim Hortons

CONTRACTING

Specializing in all heating, electric, gas and wood.

• Fireplaces • Commercial and residential • New builds • Renovations.

1756 Hwy 93/95 Windermere B.C. Office: 250-342-6500 • Toll Free: 1-888-341-2221

We also offer roundthe-clock service calls.

A licensed, registered and bonded company

CONTRACTING

CARPET CLEANING

TILE AND GROUT CLEANING Business: 250-342-9692

RR#4 2117–13 Ave. Invermere, BC V0A 1K4

Cell: 250-342-1273 Fax: 250-342-9644

Give us a call! James, 250-688-1267 or Jerry, 250-342-5299 Email: jeffersoncontractingltd@gmail.com

ptarmiganrugclean@gmail.com

INSURANCE

INSURANCE

• Trusses • Engineered Floors • Wall Panels Tel: 250.341.6075 Fax: 250.341.3427 Email: info@duskbuildingsystems.com www.duskbuildingsystems.com

1320 Industrial Road #3 Box 159, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry

INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD.

BOX 2228 742 - 13th STREET INVERMERE, BC V0A 1K0 P: 250-342-3031 F: 250-342-6945 info@lambertinsurance.ca

P.O. Box 130 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Office: 250-342-2175 • Fax: 250-342-2669 Cindy.mackay@kootenayinsurance.ca

www.kootenayinsurance.ca

BOX 459 7553 MAIN STREET RADIUM HOT SPRINGS, BC V0A 1M0 P: 250-347-9350 F: 250-347-6350 TOLL FREE: 1-866-342-3031

kekulibaycabinetry.com LANDSCAPING

THE COLUMBIA VALLEY’S TREE CARE SPECIALISTS WINDERMERE, BC 250-341-7029

• Authorized dealer • Designer • Installer

Dale Elliott Contracting 25 years experience installing cabinets Custom Woodwork and Finishing Serving the Columbia Valley for over 40 years.

dale@decontracting.ca • 250-341-7098

GOLDEN, BC 250-344-0188

GET YOUR QUOTE AT WWW.GREENLEAFTREE.CA INFO@GREENLEAFTREE.CA

R O O T E D I N T H E C O L U M B I A VA L L E Y S I N C E 2 0 0 7

Have an opinion? Email your letter to the editor to dauna@columbiavalleypioneer.com

April 23, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17

HERE TO SERVE YOU LANDSCAPING

PHARMACY

WHOLE 9 YARDS MOWING

LAMBERT-KIPP

Call Wayne at 250-341-5512

SERVICES

P H A R M A C Y ( 2 0 1 9 ) LT D .

Come in and browse our giftware

Irena Shepard, B.Sc. (Pharm.)., Émilie Lamoureux, Pharm D., Laura Kipp, Pharm D.

(Servicing the Valley since 1999)

Your Compounding Pharmacy

Spring Cleanups Mowing Contracts

NEW SEWER CAMERA

Open Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

1301 - 7th Avenue, Invermere

250-342-6612

SERVICES

Bruce Dehart 250.347.9803 or 250.342.5357

SERVICES

East Kootenay Plumbing Services & Renovations Available 24/7

SERVICES

Professional • Lawn Maintenance Serving the Valley for over 20 years!

Commercial

Scott Postlethwaite

Resdential

Residential, Commercial Electric Furnace and Hot Water Tank Repair and Service For All Your Electrical Needs

Red Seal Journeyman Plumbers/Gasfitters (B)

eastkootenayplumbing@yahoo.com 250-272-3374

• Septic Tank Pumping • Portable Toilet Rentals

Free Estimates

Everett Frater Enterprises

invermereelectric@gmail.com

1710 10th Avenue – Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Cell: 250-342-5645 • efrater@telus.net

WINDOW COVERINGS SHOWROOM • • • •

Doors Windows Flooring Painting/Interior/ Exterior • Kitchen Renovations • Window Coverings

• Bathroom Renovations • Additions • Decks • Finish Carpentry • Basement Renovations

KITCHEN CABINETS & COUNTER TOPS

492 Arrow Rd., Unit 1B, Invermere • EMAIL: fairmontridge@telus.net • 250-342-4663

• Air Conditioning/Heat Pumps • Fireplaces • Full Heating and Ventilation Systems

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Call for your FREE consultation and estimate

ICBC Glass Repair Out of Province Vehicle Inspections Auto Body Repairs • Painting • Quality Parts

IN THE COLUMBIA VALLEY

North American Warranty

SINCE 1991

We give all students 15% off with valid student ID

All Makes and Models Tire Sales and Installation

WETT Certified

141 Industrial Rd. 2 • 250-342-9424 • Open Monday - Saturday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Sales ~ Service ~ Installation

Your Local Professionals

UNIVERSAL DOORS & EXTERIORS

COLUMBIA VALLEY REAL ESTATE Arnold Scheffer 250-342-6700

unidoorext@live.ca • unidoorext.ca

Industrial ~ Commercial ~ Residential Your Weekly Source for News and Events

JanK limeK 250.342.1195 janklimek@shaw.ca JanKlimek.ca

N E W S PA P E R

Amanda Murray Sales Representative

#8, 1008 - 8th Avenue PO Box 868, Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Ph: 250-341-6299 ext: 101 www.columbiavalleypioneer.com amanda@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Wende Brash Broker/Owner

RE/MAX Invermere Independently Owned and Operated 1022B - 7th Avenue, Box 459 Invermere B.C. V0A 1K0 E-mail: wendebrash@telus.net Fax: 250-342-9611

Office: 250-342-6505 • Cell: 250-342-1300

18 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 23, 2020

P IONEER C LASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

Al-Anon.

Are you concerned about or affected by someone else’s drinking? If so, please join us on a “ZOOM” meeting every Monday at 7 p.m. For more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship, please call 250342-8255.

Alcoholics Anonymous. If alcohol is causing problems or conflict in your life, AA can help. Due to COVID-19 and the need to slow the spread of the virus, all the AA rooms in will be closed until further notice. We have created other alternatives for meetings using “Zoom” at 7 p.m. every evening except for Monday’s. Please call 250-3422424 for more information or to speak with someone from our fellowship.

S

IN MEMORIAM

S

In loving memory of Ted February 3rd, 1934 – April 24th, 2006.

If the roses grow in heaven lord, please pick a bunch for me.

Please place them in my husband’s arms and tell him they’re from me. Tell him that I love him and miss him, and when he turns to smile, place a kiss upon his cheek and hold him for awhile because remembering him is easy, I do it everyday. But there is an ache within my heart that will never go away.

Love you forever. Till we meet again.

~ Edel ~

Nifty Nifty look who is 50.

Happy birthday Shelly.

Love from all of us.

CHEERS & JEERS Cheers to Toni at the BMO for being such a great help to the clients during these difficult times.

S OBITUARY S Fred N Christensen April 4, 1935 – April 16, 2020 Fred was born April 4, 1935 at the lnvermere Hospital and grew up in Edgewater where he met his wife, Margaret. His whole life was spent in the Columbia Valley.

Fred is survived by his wife of 59 years, his daughter, June (Chris) and grandchildren, Paul, Amber and Andrew, two sisters, Eva and Helga, three sister-in-laws, Phyllis, Jean and Lillian, and one brother-in-law Jim (Louise) Harrison, and many nieces and nephews. All have been very supportive during this very sad time.

Fred was predeceased by his parents, Anna and Paul, his brothers Charles and Peter, his sister Elna, his brother-in-laws, Ernie, Willie and Walt.

Fred’s passion was curling, hunting/guiding, gardening, hiking and woodworking in his shop. His beautiful smile and whistling personality will be greatly missed.

For many years Fred volunteered at the Windermere Valley Museum, helping create the wonderful Museum complex that we enjoy today.

There will be a celebration of Fred’s life at a later date due to the COVID virus at this time.

If it is your wish, memorial donations can be made to the Windermere Valley Museum, Box 2315, lnvermere, VOA 1KO.

CHEERS & JEERS

• Phone: 250-341-6299 • Fax: 1-855-377-1312 • Email: info@columbiavalleypioneer.com • Web: www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

CHEERS & JEERS

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

We now have

LEE’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SHOP

A&W ROOTBEER

BARRY BROWN-JOHN Managing Broker “Rocky Mountain Land Man”

Cheers to Greg, our friendly, efficient postmaster in Radium.

No task is too much and you always give first class service with a smile. We are so lucky to have you.

If you want to sell your home, it should be here!

Call Gerry *not intended to solicit those already working with an agent.

BUYING OR SELLING CALL 250-341-1202

gerrytaft.ca

CONDO FOR RENT

250-342-5245

2-bdrm condo near Sobeys, N/S, N/P. Very quiet tenants only. $900/mo, call 250-342-6255.

b.brownjohn@gmail.com

Radium The Peaks Complex, Birch. Loft unit 1450 sq ft. living, dining, 2-bdrm, 3-washrooms.

Kitchen with all appliances + microwave/dishwasher. Laundry room with washer/dryer.

Propane fireplace, heating, A/C, blinds. One parking space/ storage in the U/G parkade.

Facility has an outdoor pool, hot tub and indoor hot tub. 2 balconies, 270 degrees of views.

No pets, No smoking. Equifax report and references required.

Call Jeff Owen 403-660-2120. $1375/mo, utilities included.

LOT/ACREAGE FOR SALE

Rockies West Realty

STORAGE NEWHOUSE STORAGE Various sizes available.

Now with climatecontrolled units.

Call 250-342-3637.

ELKHORN COUNTRY ESTATES Phases 1 and 2 sold out.

Selling Phase 3 now. 2.5 to 4.7 acre parcels. Starting at $189,000 + GST. No building time commitment.

Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-342-1268 www.elkhornranches.com

SUITE FOR RENT ACREAGE FOR SALE Renovated large, bright, 2-bdrm basement suite in downtown Invermere. Private entrance and enclosed patio, five appliances, N/S, N/P, $1,000/mo + utilities.

1 year lease. Call 403-874-0483.

MISC. FOR SALE Top Quality Hay Round bales.

Stored in shed. Phone Elkhorn Ranch 250-342-1268.

Two Toyo open country M&S tires LT285/75R16. In very good condition with 60% to 70% tread remaining. $150.00. Call 250-342-7313 after 18:00 hrs.

FIREWOOD Support Rockies Hockey firewood. Contact email cvrockies.firewood@gmail.com or call 250-342-1624 for more info or to place an order.

SERVICES

Independently owned and operated

4.7 acres. Has its own gravelled road access from Kootenay #3.

Road already constructed.

Drilled well, views, privacy. $219,000 + GST. Phone Elkhorn Ranch, 250-342-1268.

SERVICES

Heaven’s Best Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Environmentally friendly products. Dry in 1 hour! Our disinfectant is formulated to kill COVID-19. Call 250-688-0213 B.B.’s Home & Lawn Care Services: Renovations, Handyman Repairs, Small moves, Dump runs, House Checks, House Cleaning, Spring/Yard Maintenance, Eavestroughs, Tree removal. 250-688-2897.

Pike Contracting Excavating and Skid Steer services.

Call Jason 250-342-5277.

Specializing in chain saws, tillers, trimmers and lawn mower repairs and maintenance.

It’s time to get your tools tuned up and ready for spring!

Industrial #2 Road across from NAPA Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

250-341-2551 Offering excellent service and fair pricing!

LESSONS/TRAINING Rocky Mountain Swim Lessons is open for registration. Sign up now for the weeks you want. Red Cross Swim Lessons, Bronze Level Lifesaving Lessons and DIVING lessons.

Learn to swim at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Email info@ rockymountainswimlessons.ca..

HELP WANTED Opening Soon!

Crossroads Market and Esso Now Hiring!

Cashier, Deli / Bakery Clerk and Grocery Clerk positions available.

Above average wage package with summer bonus!

Full-time and part-time positions available.

Email Resume to: KGTltd2020@gmail.com or phone: 250-342-5402.

Invermere Petro-Can is currently accepting resumes for F/T and P/T employment. Wages starting at $15/hr. Apply in person to 185 Laurier Street, Invermere between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

April 23, 2020

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 19

Lake Windermere Ambassadors to focus on public access Youth and Family Counsellor FULL-TIME - PERMANENT ?akis“nuk (Windermere, BC) The Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child & Family Service Society is committed to working collaboratively with Aboriginal families and communities of the Traditional Ktunaxa Territory to increase their ability to fulfill their responsibilities for caring for their children in a culturally relevant manner.

KKCFSS Supports KNC’s Vision Statement: Strong, healthy citizens and communities, speaking our languages and celebrating who we are and our history in our ancestral homelands, working together, managing our lands and resources as self-sufficient, self-governing Nation.

POSITION SUMMARY: KKCFSS is looking for a Youth and Family Counsellor to provide specialized mental health assessment and treatment services to children, youth and their families when the child or youth are suffering serious emotional, psychological, behavioural and/or psychiatric illness. In coordination with other community agencies and professionals, provides a range of mental health services, including: direct clinical services such as intake, assessment, treatment, and crisis intervention; consultation/liaison with community agencies, schools, hospitals, and other programs; involvement in community education, development, coordination and prevention/early intervention programs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Functions as a primary therapist, utilizing a variety of specialized treatment modalities and therapies, for children, youth and their families • Wait list management and coordination • Provide intake assessment and front line counselling • Provides counselling, support, education to families to strengthen connection and understanding of mental health issues • Provide assessment of basic mental health issues and issues relating to suicide.

• Evaluates treatment outcomes • Provides counselling/support/education to families and other relevant caregivers of such children to understand the nature, treatment and prognosis of the mental health condition of the child/youth and assist with methods of coping • Consults/liaises with community professionals • Maintains appropriate clinical/client/administrative records • Provides direct clinical services such as intake, assessment, treatment, and crisis intervention; consultation/liaison with community agencies, schools, hospitals, and other ministry programs • Administers and scores mental health-related test instruments appropriate to the profession • Provide comprehensive assessment and treatment planning and monitors treatment and/or care plans • Conducts individual, group and family therapy • Promotes and maintains effective working relationships with clients and families, physicians, schools and hospitals to coordinate services, secure input, cooperation, resolve conflicts, influence outcomes, provide community consultation and provide educational services and training on emotional and behavioural disturbances QUALIFICATIONS • MSW (Clinical Specialization or equivalent training/education), M.ED (Counselling), MA (Clinical Psychology), Master’s Degree in Child and Youth Care or comparable graduate degree at Master’s level.

• Minimum two (2) years of recent experience in a health setting working with complex care clients with a combination of mental health and/or addiction issues.

• Emotionally Focused Family Therapy or Family Systems Training preferred.

• Sound knowledge of aboriginal issues both historical and current in British Columbia and Canada.

• Experience working with aboriginal community.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Ability to work independently and within a team.

• A commitment to confidentiality.

• A valid drivers’ license and clean driver’s abstract - travel is a requirement of this position.

CLOSING DATE: April 30, 2020 4:30pm MST Please submit your cover letter and resume, quoting “Youth and Family Counsellor” in the subject line, telling us what attracts you to the position and how your experiences relate:

Submitted by Shannon McGinty and Georgia Peck, Lake Windermere Ambassadors The days are getting longer and warmer and this has the Ambassadors thinking more and more about all the ways to enjoy Lake Windermere. Hopefully, in a few months you will find many people heading to Kinsmen Beach, James Chabot Provincial Park, and Windermere Beach – but is that it for places you can enjoy the lake?

Not exactly, there are other spots that you may have never even suspected…

Dating back to the legal systems of Ancient Rome, the “public trust doctrine” is a principle which states that certain resources (like air, sea, waters, and forests) have such great importance to the public as a whole that the government must protect and maintain these resources for the public’s use. Ninety four per cent of the land in British Columbia is provincial Crown Land, two per cent of which is covered by freshwater. Crown Land is public land which falls under the umbrella of this public trust doctrine.

On Lake Windermere, Crown Land begins at the average high-water line, and extends down to include the bottom of the lake. This means the land below the high-water line is public access, and any waterfront property owners must provide safe passage to walk around the entire lake, with the exception of the few that have applied for provincial leases granting them rights to this area.

In addition to this walking path along the shoreline, there are 22 ministry of transport public access sites, most of them falling on the east side of Lake Windermere.

Jaime Vienneau, HR Generalist Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child & Family Services Society 7472 Mission Road, Cranbrook, BC V1C 7E5 Kkcfss-hr@ktunaxa.org Preference will be given to candidates of Ktunaxa or other First Nations ancestry.

If you are a Ktunaxa citizen who is interested in this opportunity but do not feel you have the necessary qualifications, please contact the Ktunaxa Nation Council Education and Employment Sector.

We thank those who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

BCYCNA – CLASSIFIED ADS

HELP WANTED Wanted 2 F/T Restaurant Cooks, Rocky River Grill, 8888 Arrow Road, Invermere, B.C. Permanent, F/T shifts, overtime, weekends, days and evenings, $16/hour for 40 hours per week. Overtime after 40 hours. Minimum several years’ experience and completion of Secondary School. DUTIES: Prepare and cook full course meals, prepare and cook individual dishes and foods, ensure quality of food portions, work with minimal supervision, prepare dishes for customers with food allergies or intolerances. Inspect Kitchens and Food service areas. Please forward resume to Justin Atterbury by fax 250-342-8889 or email justatterbury@hotmail. com.

These ministry sites vary in size and condition. Some are accessible from both the road and water, while others are only accessible by water. What do they all have in common? Most of them are unknown to the general public!

To ensure that this information is available to all, the Lake Windermere Ambassadors have decided to take on a project to revitalize these sites. Starting this summer, and continuing over the next few years, we hope to have a couple of these sites cleaned up with signage added until they are easily identified for users.

We plan to take on the first site at the northernmost end of Lake Windermere and have it ready to use this summer. Once we have finished that we will be looking for organizations, businesses, and community members to volunteer and take on the clean up of additional sites.

The Ambassadors will supply all signage materials and provide assistance in removal of any debris necessary, but hope to find passionate volunteers to help improve the condition of our shorelines.

The goals of this project are as follows: • Improve public awareness of public access sites on Lake Windermere from the water, and where appropriate, roadside.

• Clean up and rehabilitate shorelines where applicable.

• Create a sense of community and pride on Lake Windermere.

We look forward to sharing more on this project with you as we head into the spring season. Feel free to contribute to this conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @LakeAmbassadors. Or reach out to info@ lakeambassadors.ca or call the office at 250-341-6898.

BUILDINGS FOR SALE

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Attention

Inventors!

Ideas wanted!

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HELP WANTED

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT CO-OP SUPERVISOR INVERMERE CAMPUS START DATE: To be determined Closing date: April 30, 2020 Please see competition number: 20-FA-13

Please recycle this newspaper

For a full description of this job posting and instructions on how to apply visit: cotr.ca/HRD

cotr.ca

20 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 23, 2020

Alone together part 3: Coping with COVID-19 LAKE WINDERMERE ALLIANCE CHURCH

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

Online Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Visit https://lwac.online.church 326 10th Avenue, Invermere 250-342-9535 • www.lwac.ca

The Columbia Valley Pioneer continues its look at how local families and individuals are coping with COVID-19.

WINDERMERE VALLEY SHARED MINISTRY ANGLICAN-UNITED

The Millers: At home with five kids

Due to COVID 19 all services and public gatherings in our Windermere Valley Shared Ministry church buildings are closed until further notice.

Including the following locations: ANGLICAN UNITED 1. Christ Church Trinity, Invermere 2. All Saints, Edgewater 3. St. Peter’s (The Stolen Church), Windermere LUTHERAN St. Peter’s Lutheran Mission (Christ Church Trinity Chapel), Invermere 250-342-6644 • www.wvsm.ca

VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Worship services are discontinued for the foreseeable future.

Pastor Murray Wittke 4814 Highway Drive, Windermere 250-342-9511 • www.valleychristianonline.com

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH All events canceled until further notice.

St. Anthony’s, Canal Flats., Canadian Martyrs’ – Invermere St. Joseph’s – Radium.

Father Jojo Augustine • 712 -12th Ave., Invermere 250-342-6167 ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN MISSION OF INVERMERE All events are on hold until further notice Christ Church Trinity, 110 - 7th Ave., Invermere (Small Chapel) Pastor Doug Lutz, 250-464-0100 mtzionlc@hotmail.com

RADIUM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Sunday 10 a.m. Worship service Pastor Wayne and Linda Frater • 250-342-6633 No. 4, 7553 Main St. Radium • 250-347-9937

Alone together with Tim Richards and Kris Murrell

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Worship Service, Sunday, 10 a.m.

Relief Society, 11:15 a.m.

President Rick Daniels • Columbia Valley Branch 5014 Fairway, Fairmont Hot Springs • 250-421-3756

The Pioneer can

!

take you r do llar With 6,400 copies far in circulation each week, th er your message is resonating with residents and visitors alike.

Phone: (250) 341-6299 Fax: 1-855-377-0312 info@columbiavalleypioneer.com N E W S PA P E R

www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

This instalment comes from the indomitable Miller family in Invermere, with Ang dishing on what it’s like to self isolate and social distance with five kids at home, ranging in age from kindergarten to Grade 12.

We are fortunate to have our own horses at a field nearby. It allows the kids to get outside, social distance and stay active. We also acquired baby chicks last week and put 36 eggs in an incubator. By the time the paper comes out, we should have some hatching. We have done projects with the older kids such as painting the house and grooming family members’ dogs. (I used to be a professional groomer, so I’ve been helping my daughter Courtenay learn how since people can’t get into the groomers). Connor, who is in Grade 12, has been fixing up old trucks and quads, and then selling them. It keeps him pretty busy in the shop.

We have been playing more games as a family, doing a lot of crafts and teaching the kids how to cook and bake. The teens have been taking part in Columbia Valley Youth Network activities doing art, story telling and drop-in chats.

Being a parent during quarantine/social distancing is hard. Having five kids ranging in age from kindergarten to grade 12 brings on all kinds of different challenges.

Younger kids don’t seem to fully understand what is going on and why they can’t go to school or see their friends, and the teens can follow along online and feel extra stress because they see too much. Having one in Grade 12 is extra hard because there are so many unknowns on their last year of school. Will they get to have a graduation? I’ve talked to a lot of grade 12s and this seems to be a concern for many.

Our lives have changed dramatically due to COVID-19 but it’s not all bad. Usually our lives are go go go and, while we miss being busy, it’s kinda nice to slow down a little bit.

Our living situation has been improving during this time. We’re notorious for eating out for every meal. We’ve started cooking together. And while there are many local treats that we miss, it’s giving us an opportunity to rethink how we spend our money, and how cooking at home isn’t really that time consuming or hard.

I (Tim) am doing great. I’ve been able to keep a pretty positive state of mind. The beginning of isolation was pretty tough on Kris. He had started going back to the gym in December and was doing amazingly. He was really missing that part of his routine, but he has adjusted and is doing much better now.

We’ve been watching a lot of TV. Haha. Kris had never seen Desperate Housewives, and now I have him hooked. Kris is working on becoming a realtor so he’s been hitting the books pretty hard. We also love video games.

We’ve also been mapping out a new room for the Columbia Valley Escape Rooms. We had just created a new one before we had to close our doors. We would really

The Miller family.

Photo submitted.

Homeschooling has been a tough one for me. I’m not a teacher, and I feel it is a high stress time for many parents. Our family is doing more life skills then ever now. Our kids are learning things they hadn’t had the chance before because we were too busy. We are spending more time as a family doing fun activities. Each of our kids is so different and we try to focus on their individual needs. For our two in kindergarten, if they want to do school work, great. We make that happen. If they want to just colour, read and play games that is also great. I’m not concerned about academics and anybody getting behind.

We are all in this together and they might just be ahead with all the extra life skills being learnt. I am also working so the idea of homeschooling five kids while working and trying to keep the house from falling apart with everybody being home is a big task.

So far I have been very impressed with how the grade 7-12 kids in my house have approached their school work and done it on their own. I am also impressed with how supportive their teachers have been. They have been given a reasonable amount of assignments and a lot of time for them. The teachers have also been great supports for them throughout this tough time. I’m sure being a teacher now would be a very difficult task. If we all just work together to make sure kids are happy and healthy we will get through this! like to have two new rooms when we reopen as well as a few options for the mobile escape room we’ve created.

There are so many people in our lives that we had just been used to seeing on a regular basis that we didn’t really think about having to make a phone call or send a text to check on. That has changed a lot.

Tim Richards and Kris Murrell set an example by keeping a social-distance divider between them while out for a walk.

Photo by Kris Murrell